3 Birds and a Butterfly

 {this is a part of a series called the 52 project, a portrait of each of my kids, (almost) every week in 2013}

Parker - My 3rd grader, happy to be back in school and working hard. You just love to learn and you talk about all that new to you information all the time. It's so cool to see how exciting is it for you to gain all that knowledge.

Monty - In a brand new school and adjusting so well. I'm so impressed with how you've handled waking up early in the mornings and loosing so much chill time. Your teacher has already realized she's got a feisty little man and referred to you as "Mr. Large and In Charge". Uh oh. (heehee).

Elliot - You're working so hard at being a big boy and you're completely obsessed with the notion. You ask everyday if you're as big as Parker yet. But there are times when you still want me to uppie you and hold you like my baby.

Scarlet - It's a special weekend coming up for you. You'll be dedicated on Sunday along with your cousins Jude and Aletta and we're so looking forward to doing this together with those little angels. 

A Wish List {spicy geometry}

A new wish list for you today! It's all the things I'm currently craving, wrapped into a beautiful package by the lovely Holly. Triangles are having a wholly dedicated moment with me as of late.

1. One of my favorite trends for fall are the cool cut out boots.  I've seen a million and twenty that I love but these are definitely tops! Ruidoso boots from Anthropologie - $130
2. An 8 inch chandelier in brass with tiny crystals. Perfect for hanging right above my bed. Junkyard lighting - $149
3. Sweet little arrow ring. Style Addict -$30
4. A linen banner bunting in grey, white, indigo, brown, mustard, violet, and oatmeal - the perfect colors!  Lovely Home Idea - $40
5. The Leonora triangle blanket would look so lovely in Scarlet's room one day. Ivie Baby - $88.
6. I so need a triangle ring in my life. Style Addict - $22

Mama Style {plus 2}

 {t shirt - Target, belt - Gap, skirt - Forever 21, flip flops - Old Navy}

Just another Sunday ... 

(oh yes! will be highlighting newly purchased/still available in stores items in pink to make it easier for you as most of my outfits are older pieces of clothing)

Mom and Babe {hinting at autumn}

{mom: jacket - Free People from T J Maxx, shoes - Sam Edelman

babe: leggings - Brickyard Buffalo, shoes - Sophie Kate Moccasins from Etsy}

Well, as August winds to a close, we're suddenly experiencing those sultry summer days we've been wishing for. But autumn's chill is just around the corner now and I'm looking forward to wearing and dressing my little Scarlet in these yummy pieces in particular. 

Leopard is always my first favorite for fall and these booties are hawt! And this moto jacket in a floral tapestry is awesome. I spied it in a Free People store last season and then in our T J Maxx a couple of weeks ago. Score! I'm so in love with it though I know full well that it is very similar to a vest I wore in my senior pictures 18 years ago. One that has been the brunt of many, many jokes. And here we go again .... :)

The little miss had to have these tribal print leggings which have been all the rage on my favorite pop up shop, Brickyard Buffalo (all handmade items). Sadly I cannot remember the name of the vendor but they sell similar versions every so often. And we recently purchased these tiny moccs to hide under her dedication dress next weekend. They're super cute and very well made.

Just a few of our favorite (fall) things!

The Butterfly is 3 Months!

Just before the boys went back to school, little miss Scarlet turned 3 months and we took these photos. I'm trying to get caught up here! So I thought I'd catch a bit of her chubbies for these pictures. We placed her next to her measuring dolls again (here she is at newborn, 1 month and 2 months) and as you can see, she's far outgrown Mr. Moose! In fact, she's a long little lady, measuring in the 85th percentile for her height (and 15th for her weight) at her 2 and a half month visit.

She's grabbing at her blankets and at the skirt of her dresses and bringing them up to her cheek. It's cute cause it looks like she's holding onto her duppy already though I know it's sort of accidental. But when that dups goes right in the hand that holds the little thumb that slips into her mouth, oh, it's so adorable! She stills loves to chat with us and smiles all the time, as long as you make eye contact. She's beginning to build some back strength for sitting up and loves to try it out on mama's lap. And she also likes to grab my fingers and pull up to sit from laying down and then to pull up on her wobbly legs to lock them into a good stand. Aaaaaand then she usually poops.

We love you Scarlet bug!

* And as a side note to my dear little one, I just have to mention to you that De Pere's Fashion's Night Out is just around the corner already! It's happening on Thursday, September 5th with the runway show starting at 8pm (little kids take to the catwalk first) and I'll be modeling again this year for the beautiful boutique Azure. So I hope you can come out and enjoy a lovely evening celebrating fashion. Mark you calendars, call your babysitter, and I'll see you there! *

PS: Here's the video my husband made from our first year at FNO.

Follow along on Bloglovin'

Mama Style {summer black}

{sunnies - Target, dress - Hey Daisy! (GB), purse - Anthropologie, belt - Gap, bracelets - Forever 21, rings - Hannah Naomi at Etsy, shoes - Aldo}

A pretty dress from last summer turned backwards for this summer (here's how it should be worn). I can't wear dresses yet as it's too tricky with nursing but when they have a lovely wrappy front like this one, then it works! And such a fan of these teensy rings by Hannah Naomi. They can be worn together on one finger or spread out like I have them here. Don't mind my grandma, freckled hands though. I have a complex about my hands so this photo will be a rare one in a million. :) 

Follow along on Bloglovin' if you wish! 

3 Birds and a Butterfly {backyard movie night}

{this is a part of a series called the 52 project, a portrait of each of my children, *almost* every week of this year}

Our last weekend before the big boys go back to school

Parker - changing, growing, and in your own world. I'm trying to figure you out again. 

Monty - a free spirit with a wild side that I'm praying we can teach and shape towards a passionate and wild love of God.

Elliot - I'm seeing very little of that tiny 3 year old that I had before summer. Now you want to pick out your clothes, dress yourself, pour your cereal, and be a sassy pants all the time. Great.

Scarlet - you wonderful little thing you.

PS: Monty and Elliot are the best of friends and the worst of friends right now. But one thing they completely agree on all of the time is their absolute love of sports clothes. For me, this infatuation with sporty clothing is both terrible and funny. And they love to wear socks with their sports shorts and tennies (usually mismatched for little E). Sheesh! Not my fave but I'm going with it. Letting them "express themselves". Ha!

I'm Inspired By ...

 outdoor dinners 

 dainty rings

 this tiny wardrobe

 backyard parties (every which way!)

 water nymphs

 chocolate caramel cake 

sheer kimonos

Shenanigans

Adorlee holding her baby brother Jude, a sight to behold, and something she's very proud of!

I took these pictures last week when we were over at our cousin's home to play. Monty will be in the same class as his cousin Adorlee this year and they're a little giddy about it (as are the moms!). They've always been such wonderful friends and this little guy just knows, when it comes to girls, you're all sweetness and charm. He's so incredible with his little sister too. Now with boys it's another story but hey, we're working on that.

I think it's kind of hysterical that he got everyone to do The Rolling Stones face here. Well, little E managed just a smidge of the pose correctly. This Monty of mine is such a little rocker and it's truly just pumping through his blood. Not only does he play drums pretty stinkin' well for his 6 years but he wears his little headphones around the house with his ipod playing rock music, drumming on everything all over the house. He even has a little speaker pillow that he sometimes likes to sleep with. He prefers the radio stations that play that sort of style and after he hears a tune he likes, we have to get it on Spotify so that it can be played on repeat at home. His latest favorite is Seven Nation Army. That one even gets Elliot going with his drum sticks and his head banging. :)

Every summer we have a song or a little set of them, that end up being our theme for those months. The tunes that, should they ever play again, bring back a swarm of sun bleached memories. Last summer, for me, it was Everybody Talks by Neon Trees. I think it was cause it played every time we swam at the pool and for that particular deliciously hot summer it was frequently. This summer it was an entire album, Family of the Year's Loma Vista. Phil, Scarlet and I listened to their music on repeat when we were in Nashville and it now has with it the most sweet, sweet memories. I love what music does to our  hearts. How it pinpoints so many different moments in our lives, little arrows that mark the year we moved to America (I Can't Help Falling in Love With You - UB40), or the time I worked at Paper Chase in Tulsa when I was a senior in high school (Natalie Merchant). Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer reminds me of when I was dating my husband and Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway brings back memories of my first pregnancy. There's a song for everything in my life really. Some of them are awesome and others make me blush.

Well, I went off on a tangent there but let's circle back to my original thoughts. Ain't kids great?

Mom and Babe {oceanside}

{mom: shirt - Azure (GB), pants - Target, sandals - Lady Savannah (GB)

babe: sweater - knit by great grandmother, harem pants - Zara Kids, flower sandals - Kellseys boutique}

As the sun begins to set in a kaleidoscope of color, we're sitting together snuggled warmly on the rocks, staring out into the ocean as waves roll up and break just a few feet ahead. 

Mama Style {chasing summer}

{shirt - Asos maternity, shorts - Free People from Besselli (GB), shoes - Target}

Just one week left of this beautiful summer and then 2 of my little men return to school. It has been such a memorable 3 months together. As our vacation together winds languidly to a close, we'll be chasing what's left of our summer till the very blessed end.