Coooooooaaaat!!!

Gracie has developed a rather strong attachment to this jacket/vest. Other than being in the washer twice, she has worn it going on a week now.
When it was covered in applesauce I convinced her we needed to clean it, and the lure of getting to play with the washer was great enough that she let it go. Then she cried for 15 minutes until she found another coat to put on:
At first it was just during play and meal times, but we have escalated the coat wearing needs to nap and bed times as well(as seen here over her pj's):
The only way she will cooperate with diaper and wardrobe changes are if we promise up and down that she can put her coat RIGHT BACK ON afterwards. It is preferable if you can somehow keep the hood on at all times though. Of course, I could fight her on this, but as many parents know, it's just easier not to.

At least she is letting us change all the clothes underneath daily so people don't think I'm neglecting her and call CPS.

Here's hoping she grows out of this phase by kindergarten.

Good Morning

Our car was stolen.

Trying not to freak out. I think that about does it.

Park Day!

We went to the beach/park this weekend! Seattle had a great string of about 5 sunny days in a row. It was still chilly, but the sunshine brought out all the dogs, skateboarders, families, and ultimate frisbee enthusiasts. We met a random assortment of friends at a local park and had a great time soaking up that vitamin D!

Hard to see here, but Tate is exploring the wilderness on his own. Cute especially because he brought his pink burp cloth (lovey) with him.

Lent

As Lent season is upon us, I am in the habit of giving up something. This is so that every time I suffer not getting the thing I want, I am reminded of how much greater Christ's suffering must have been. It's a practice I think is valuable though it's not a lot of fun. In the past we've given up TV (ouch), starbucks, fast food, coke; basically anything I adore is fair game. This year I've decided on the internet. Not cold turkey because I do use it for some practical things, but I am going to restrict myself not to use it in the evenings. This is a favorite of mine when Sean gets home, to turn over childcare to him and read blogs. So I am going to make the effort to be more present with my family during these hours and give up that escape. Sean's a big fan of the idea, so I think it's probably a good one.

Photo Shoot

I love to play around with my camera when we have some quiet around here. Lucky for me, I have a willing subject.

I totally stole this lipstick idea from somewhere online. The maternal lens maybe? Can't remember, but I think it's adorable.

Favorites

I find it so easy to complain about life. Kids, house, husband, body, you name it I can whine about it.
So!

In an effort to be more positive, I wanted to run down a list of my favorites instead:

Gracie: Now says "Woah" whenever she falls down. So freaking cute. She has new words for us every day and is less stingy with her kisses. She pats Tate on the back when he is sleepy and loves to sit in my lap with a blanket for cuddles. It's precious.

Tater: So affectionate and I adore it. Tries to make Benny laugh by spinning around and putting things on his head. It's hilarious to see what is hilarious to him. He also likes to shake his head no to tease me, we laugh.

Benny: Started babbling. Cuddles galore. Sometimes he grabs my face with both hands and gives me a sloppy kiss, can't beat that.

House: (This is a toughy) but our tiny house keeps us warm and safe. The lack of space keeps us (literally) closer together. We can all lay on my bed and giggle.

Husband: Unwaveringly supports me. Loves our kids unabashedly. Always has our future and best interest in mind/heart.

Body: Ugh, It isn't where I want it, but I am losing weight and (gasp!) running again. It is healthy and equips me to keep up with my life!

You Get the Idea