Remember this post?

Yeah. I think stuff is starting to get all shook up.

Charlie starts a new job working for our beloved city! In just a few short weeks…it’s all changing.

A few of the things I have learned from my Mom.

1. There is always hope. You can always have it, choose it, cloak yourself in it, and act with it in mind.

2. Laugh and cry easily. And laugh hard even when there is no real good reason. The belly laughs shared by my Grandma and her sisters, my Mom and her Mom, and my Mom and me, are a legacy that deserves to be always passed down.

3. Give. Whenever you can and to whoever is in need.

4. Sing with children. Loudly, and often, because they don’t care how you sound only how you silly you are.

5. When in doubt; Prayer, Mr. Rogers, Nordstroms, or a good long phone chat with your Mom.

my mothers day was perfect.

My requests: a bath and a brunch with my Mom in attendance. Check. And two little tanned and giggly girls joined in on my bath, bonus!

Gifted to me by my everloving husband: two gorgeous big garden boxes built by him adorning my front yard.

Party Bonus: a decadent meal made for me while I slept in (beet/carrot/ginger juice, coffee, mint water, and fancy fruit filled oatmeal!) and a Happy Hour excursion with some other hardworking Mamas.

I came home from drinks with friends to this sight. What did I ever do to get it so good? Oh, my heart.

five today;

 I am a mother. I spend my days thinking through my words, the weight of my words, the thoughts I have about myself. And putting those words onto my lovely and perfect daughters. I remind them their bodies are their own, and are wonderfully, perfectly made. I remind myself too. And it is sticking

I was dairy free for four months. I felt healthier, stronger, more whole than ever before. I am now back on dairy (for four days), and the sad reality is that the momentary bite of cheese isn’t worth the long term feelings. I’m back on the wagon.

I haven’t been running enough. And I miss it. I had a dream about running last night and tonight I will do on a dreamy run. I think I just might be a bit of a runner.

The sun has been shining. The computer has been collecting dust. And our feet are getting salt water sandals lines.

I feel cliche and stupid to say it. The words don’t seem like my own. But I can’t find a better way to describe it. God has been romancing me. With wind in my new outdoor umbrella, gifts I don’t deserve (like that umbrella), and little girls whose sparkly eyes enchant.

The PNW is having a moment of Summertime. And we are soaking it up.

Be back when the rains come.

Okay, I can’t figure out how to get a video posted here. But really, go to my blog facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/PlayingHouseFullTime

Charlie dancing the baby to sleep while lip syncing to Teenage Dream. It can’t be missed. Fer Real.

It is Papa Approved.

A few weeks ago I moved my computer. It was in a space that was toward a corner, away from a window, looking at a mess I needed to clean (the laundry area, still need to clean it) and? I found myself avoiding it. And that meant I was avoiding blogging. Sometimes I read so many blogs and reminders to “unplug” and “be real” and then I feel convicted. But the truth of the matter? I love to blog. It is therapeutic, beneficial to me and my family, and I am a written processor (is that a thing? cause I’m that.) and the best way for me to sort out my thoughts is to write them out. So down with feeling like I need to “unplug” from blogging just because everyone else does. I’m back! (I did however delete FB from my phone. . . I guess I *am* legit convicted about somethings)

Our little family has been busy growing. Nolie is learning and astounding us with the things she just picks up. We don’t go out of our way to “teach” her, but she is recognizing words, letters, sounds, doing simple math (addition, with her fingers! it isn’t the cutest thing ever, at all) and just generally being crazy smart. And hilarious. She is also so into pretend play. I am always being corrected;

“I am not Nolie right now. I am Fawn, a fairy who helps babies to fly! and learn! and be a bumble bee! Come ON Eviebee!”

Ever is standing, trying to walk, taking stumble steps to Nolie’s outstretched arms, and continually reminding us that she is very much a different person than her sister. She eats like crazy, sleeps much differently, and is the brightest eyed little lady. Offering up a smile without any hesitation, she is heart to the world and joy oozing.

And Charlie and I. We are growing too. Being cracked and grown and built into something new. Partners and best friends, confidants and sparks. We are in a pretty incredibly beautiful season. Holding hands and butterflies. Stealing kisses and falling hard for each other in our new (three years is still new) roles of Parents. Watching each other grow into awesome parents (if I may say so myself) is incredibly romance building. This is a good place to be sitting in.

Also? Dare I say it? Spring is coming! Garden! Mowing! Biking! Hiking! Day trip adventures!

Here are some pictures from our bike ride awhile back. It was Evie’s first, and it was perfect.

Also, lots of these are pulled from instagram. Follow me there, playinghousefulltime 

My home is quiet and heavy with sleep. I can hear Nolie’s deep breathing through her door and know how her heavy tiny body curls up in her big tall bed. Ever is silent, save for a tiny sigh and rustle every few minutes. Her little swaddled body taking up a tiny corner of our bed. Just waiting for the weight of her parents to cuddle right in.

We have been quiet. Turning in and hunkering down. Our family is in a beautiful season that feels like if we give too much of it up and out it will blow away. So instead we have been holding hands more, smiling often, and letting the gratitude fall with crashes and bangs that shake the walls and fill the house. This rainy, frosty winter, is a good one in our home. Some recent family stuff is pulling into sharp relief just how hugely important it is to appreciate and revel in these good days. So we are reveling. And big things are maybe on the horizon. That possibility of Hold On Tight? I can feel the earth starting to move.

Ever is trying to walk. And Nolie is narrating our everyday. We are all just standing here growing up and into new abilities, and it is mind blowing. The heavy blanket of new baby’ness has been abruptly ripped away, and while that brought a shot of cold air and several week to try and calibrate it, we have found our warmth now in sweet Ever Harbor Joy. We are all reveling in this time.

I have a few incredible posts on the edge here. One epic post about all things nursing, I feel like it is laid on my heart to really put everything I can out there in hopes that it can help another Mom to give that liquid gold gift and feel confident in the struggles.

But, in all honesty, I don’t know when it will get written. These days are full of exhaustion and sleepy eyes, ergo bouncing and sweet potato eating, book reading and fairy land building. These are the days of Revel. I’m posting pretty frequently (probably to frequently, hah!) to instagram (@playinghousefulltime), so follow along there and hopefully I’ll be back here soon too. I know that this piece has been missing and that, now that we are finding some balance in this joy and some footing in this upheaval, I know that the space for writing again is coming.

Best way to fall back in love with you family? Get outside and do something active.

We headed up to Mt. Baker and couldn’t find the playing/sledding area so we just carved out our own fun in the back part of the parking lot by the lodge, and it was just right! Hills to climb and fall down, space for snow angels, and tiny snowman building. Soon as I figure out how to upload pictures from my phone onto my computer, you will be inundated again with fun snow pictures. For now, here are some snapshots of our day!

Beautiful drive up with a sleeping baby and chatty big girl.

Exploring and “snow flake ball” building. I can’t believe that last year she sobbed in the snow, wouldn’t sled, and was scared of “cold white yuck” and this year she couldn’t get enough.

Ever enjoyed the snow too.

Navigating the slippery slopes together.

Getting ready to hike around with baby on the front and big girl on the back. Baby carriers are our saving grace.

Packing the sleepy Nolie all around. This was an incredibly fun way to get a workout. We will for sure be heading up there again before the season ends! And, Nolie was so intrigued by the snowboarders, we are thinking of saving up and getting her an hour lesson with Charlie! Having a full blown toddler is SO much fun!

Because gingerbread houses fall down. And Mamas get tired before we make it to see the Christmas lights. Babies cry even when you have made the perfect meal. And teeth start to ache at the worst times. Sometimes you don’t get to sleep very much and the coffee gets cold, or you want so badly to have a moment alone and it just isn’t in the cards. But, in all of that, there is goodness. There are little girls who want to give kisses and eat all the candy even if the house falls down, and tell stories, and sing songs, and try to walk, and fall down so cutely on a  big clothe diapered bum. There is a husband just begging to be kissed, and moments to slow down and squeeze-hug-harder just because it feels good and is good, and not because you should and certainly not because you have the time to do it. But, just because.

It is easy for me to come at things and see only the pieces that failed.The Christmas dinner that never got made, the alone time to cuddle up that never happened, the house cleaning that has been sorely neglected. But even in the failures (even the really big whole day ruined types) there is so much good. There is a list of thankfuls just waiting to be written. There are prayers of gratitude that should be falling from my lips. And there are big eyed babies just aching to be cuddled, always, and that is the good.

Wishing you a Merry day. No matter how it was on the surface, when slowed down, there is good. Even if the good is only now, sitting quietly alone while you children sleep, knowing that tomorrow you can brew the coffee hot (slept or not) and look out the window a moment longer, or squeeze-hug-harder just one more time before you leave. There is some good.

And, for what it is worth, my Christmas Day flaws and all was just right.