Morning Birdsong

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Friday, July 08, 2011

8th of July

T-Shirt: Target; Skirt: Old-School Urban Outfitters (10 years ago?)

This is really how I felt at 10:30 on Wednesday. This week has kicked my butt. The children are contentious and wild and dangerous and careless. And I am over-reactive and lacking in emotional self-control and sleep. I am exhausted. But today my dad exhorted me to persevere in doing right. And then I came home a debacle of an outing with the kids, got them fed and put down for naps, and opened up my church' blog to find a Mark Driscoll sermon posted that deftly and strongly exhorted the exact same thing -- stand firm, persevere in doing good. In due time you will reap the fruit of right-doing. God is able, God is willing, God is graciously kind. The steadfast love of the Lord is everlasting -- it doesn't waver, it doesn't fade, it doesn't fail. Hesed.

T-shirt: Urban Outfitters (I know -- heavy on the U.O. -- What can I say? I like their t-shirts.); Skirt: Yep, Urban Outfitters (slightly altered). Hair: You can't really tell but it was a simple braid (mostly because I had a crown put on my tooth at the dentist early in the morning and a braid was the most comfortable hair-do to lay there in the chair).

Reading in Bed on Hot Summer Nights

6th of July

T-shirt: Urban Outfitters; Skirt: Same Old-Navy Refashion

Earrings: I made them a few years ago...I love swallows...

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

5th of July

So this is my actual outfit (The one sleeve pulled up was a surprise to me...what is that all about?) -- We didn't get a picture until 10:30 at night and I even started the day out exhausted after a night of all the children waking repeatedly. So when I got dressed I put on this t-shirt because it is the one I put on when I want to be comfortable in every way. It is from my friend Liz who bought it for me in Korea when she and her husband were teaching ESL over there. These t-shirts are hilarious because they have completely nonsensical combinations of English sayings on them. This one has trees printed on the front and back. The front says, "Good things happen when you go for it!" And the back says something unrelated (which I would find out for you except it's in the washing machine right now and this is the only time I can do this post since The Cat in the Hat is on PBS right now and it is my half hour of quasi-parenting. The skirt is the same re-fashioned Old Navy jeans. No shoes -- I think I wore the Reef flip-flops to PetSmart earlier in the day. My hair? Just a messy braid. I'm actually wearing very pretty pale green glass and silver earrings that Brad gave me as a gift a few Christmases ago. But we couldn't be organized enough to get a close-up -- Brad had to stop in the middle of doing church finance stuff to take these (and he still had to finish that up and take a shower before bedtime -- and he tries leaving for work at 6:30 every morning so...basically, he's awesome to even take these photos, right?).

Here's a tiny glimpse of the pretty earrings from Brad...

But what if I had been wearing an outfit like this? Would I have felt more cheerful and given more happiness to my kids and husband? Would it have been like keeping a smile in your pocket that broke the spell of the chaotic moment? Maybe. Anyway, I don't own this awesomely Sarah-perfect A.Cheng Dress.

I could wear this with the red Saltwater Sandals -- They would be perfect together.

And for dressier (or gloomier days) I could wear this belt...

But this one would probably be more my style and better for everyday...

But this dress from Shabby Apple's new nautical line is so so so cheerful. I adore it. I would like to dress like this...But I would wear either flat sandals or red mary janes...or these Seychelles or Frye shoes that are on my long-term dream list:

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Bikers!

For the 4th of July Brad and I packed up lunches, swim stuff, and all the kids and ventured out on a 5 hour, 14 mile bike trip around Minneapolis. We biked from South Mpls. where we live up to Theodore Wirth Park. Brad has never been to the Eloise Butler Wildflower Park, though the kids and I have gone many times. It is lush and magical and jungle-y -- very different from the more quiet and tame park we have seen when we go every year in early spring to see the wildflowers. I loved it even more to see how she changes with the seasons. We hiked through parts of the paths and then made our way over to the playground nearby to eat our lunches and let the kids play for awhile. Then we decided to call up my sister who lives downtown and meet her for some water fun at the Loring Park kiddie pool next to her apartment. Then we packed everyone back up. said our goodbyes to Aunt Bekah, and pathetically made our way back home (well, actually, I was the pathetic one -- Brad who commutes in his bike to work everyday was awesomely unflagged -- what a stud!). It was hot and Thea wasn't too happy for parts of the trip, but overall, with piles of books and water stops, the kids did great. And Brad and I felt completely guilt free eating our grilled-out feast and fudge-sicles for dessert (-: I *LOVE* my bicycle. I love how the city just "opens up" to adventure with our bikes and kid-carriers. Hooray!!!!!

Fun playing and so much conversation with the wonderful Matt, Monica, Olivia & Nora Larssons!!!

July the 4th

I actually wore something else most of the day -- adventure post to come...But didn't get a photo of that...In the afternoon we had friends over to grill out, so I showered, changed and here's my patriotic attempt. Blue tank top: Gap; White tank top: H&M; Skirt -- modified Urban Outfitters; (No shoes all afternoon or evening, though I did change my toenail polish into something shiny red (-:).

This is the non-style...this is the, I-just-jumped-out-of-the-shower-our-company-is-at-the-door-quick-get-dressed hair.

Thea Belle at 10 Months

Thea Belle turned 10 months on June 27th. She cut THREE teeth in one week. She had a nasty cold (that all four of the kids took turns enduring). She is having trouble sleeping (for the first time in her short, calm, easy-going life). She is sweet and gentle and affectionate. She can move anywhere she wants to now -- not crawling but deftly scooting along on her bootie. Her hair is thick and wild and not long enough yet to tame with hair clips -- I love it. Liz bought her this little dress at a garage sale for 50 cents. It is actually a woman's tank top from Banana Republic that I sewed simple little placket-ed pleats into the front and back top-yokes to turn into a baby sundress. So simple and satisfying. Thank you, Liz, for coming up with the idea and forcing me into this fun 5-minute project.