Margot Meg

The smallest of the smalls had her 2nd birthday on October 22nd.  The phrase she has coined is, "Me help me."  And she means just that- you don't help me, I'll help me.  Mmhm, and is that how your jammies ended up upside down on your body?  Thought so.

The other day I asked what her name was.  "Mahgo."  Asked who named her that.  "Jogianna Toftness."  Thanks for the cred, pal.

This past weekend we had a little party for Marg.  I was going to do a cute little cow theme (her favorite beast of burden), but used all my mental and physical energies to tear apart some recipes that were sitting dormant on my Pinterest board instead.  The menu: Fried apples (success), bruchetta (not from Pinterest, but  bruchetta is always a success), mozzarella sticks (total flop- someone put hoaky directions in the description of the pin and I followed them.  Stupid.  But the real recipe looks really good.  Lesson: get to the original link before diving into a pool of milk and breadcrumbs.  But you all know that.), creamy mushroom tortellini soup (success for the second time).  And Requisite Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting.  I think foregoing the cow theme for the sake of good food was a good choice.  Good.

Party pictures:

Is there a reason why you're taking my picture?

So much help with gift opening.

So many thank-you hugs.

And stealthy help blowing out candles...

She must not have noticed Oliver's involvement, as she is very pleased with herself.  Me help me.

The frosting on the cupcakes was a butter-creamcheese-sugar trifecta of all that is good.

BFF, Rue.

We are so thankful for our precious little 'Pearl'.  I'm going to follow a trendy trend and say she is so goofy and brings such laughter and joy to our lives, as all parents are saying about their kids.  But this one is the limit.  She is extreme.  Everything she does- playing, goofing, being stubborn.  She NEEDS her two blankies and her Nuk to take a nap, asks me to sing 'A Bible' (Jesus Love Me), as I rock her, must have her milk poured on the side of her cheerios so as not to upset the honey I've drizzled over her morning meal, and above all, she must help herself get dressed.  Andrew and I have been praying for wisdom as we parent this bundle of passion.  There is so muchness about her (something a friend once said about G.  Also true.), and it can be hard to channel that energy in a positive direction.  Sounds new agey.  I just want her zeal to drive her to do great things...which means as I mother her in the daily grind, I need to remember to encourage her instead of stifle her.  I'm tired.  But pleased as punch to train up this person in the way she should go.  Love you Margot Meg.

The Living Room

I try not to make excuses for my shortcomings.  Alright I lied.  'Words of affirmation' is one of my top Love Languages, so I try to eek out as much encouragement as I can, even if it's back door-ish.  However, I have been working on this manipulative way of receiving a complement- not to hone the skill, but to tone it down.  That being said, I think this post is worthy of a little 'pardon the picture taking skills.'  I usually apologize for my shoddy camera, but this time I used my mom's good one.  I have no more excuses.

BUT, what I lack in artistic flair, Andrew makes up for in spades with his wicked good woodworking.

Let me show you the evolution of this room:

The room beyond the room.  This was right after we bought the farm in 2008.

 

   Rebuilding after tearing out all lath + plaster.  Looks hopeful, right?

That door was made of plywood and plastic for an entire year.

Early 2011.

Early 2012 I think...

And now.....

I'm thinking of taking out all goldenroddy accessories- not because I don't like them, I just don't love them with the painted wood color and the pink furniture (in our house back when we bought it, last seen here).  Thinking of this rug, or something like it with that Moroccan vibe.  And I L O V E the slipper chair, so it'll find a new spot to nestle into around here.  I also want to paint the dining room.  Though I love the color (Ben Moore's Berkshire Beige) it's obnoxious with the living room color.  I'm thinking a charcoal next?

I love the hardware, color, storage.  So many of my favorite things all wrapped up here.  Andrew's craftsmanship can tend to make me crazy (perfectionist to the maximum, unlike his 'getterdone' wife), but the end result is well worth the 4 month process.  Wasn't that nice of me, Honey?

Now here's some mad photography.  Lessons, anyone?  Okay, in all seriousness, this Tobacco Caramel candle from West Elm is one of the most melodious scents in the world.

Do I get props for capturing so many angles?  And leaving that book under that chair and not even caring?  It's called art, people.

One of my favorite thrifted finds- this mid-century coffee table snatched at a *crazy* church rummage sale for $5 (marked $10, but Andrew knows how to work the church sales).

Do you want to reach into this picture and kick that book a little farther under the chair?...or just put it away.

Off topic, but during all of the rearranging, Oliver's school desk got moved up from the basement, and is now in a bright and cheery spot under the south DR window.  The desk and chair were my father-in-law's when he was little- love the sentimentality!  I painted the chair pale purple, then taped off the lower part of the leg and sprayed it gold.  The girls have already defaced it by applying pencil/pen/crayon alloverit.

I love this paneled wall.  And I'm still beholden to Edith

Reasons why I haven't blogged:

This person--

(Along with her 3 counterparts.)  Baby girl just turned 2 and wow.  'Gusto' is a gross understatement for her enthusiasm over her age and her ability to be the stereotype.

Another reason I haven't been keeping up my blog (like I usually do..oh wait...)-- The wedding of my dear cousin, Megan.

I got to do most of the hair styling for this event-- wow.  It was a stylist's dream come true- the prettiest heads of hair atop the prettiest faces. (every time I caught a glimpse of my own hair in a mirror, it seemed to be an inch wider.  Hm.)

The wedding was at the family farm, and great lengths were taken to transform a pole-shed into the reception hall of dreams.  My cousin Josie handcrafted three of these bottle chandeliers.  They were stunning! And topped with cedar boughs cut from the back 40.  Also drop dead gorgeous-- the drop ceiling of streamers.

Up tomorrow- the living room update!

It's a...

B O Y!!!!!!

The gender reveal party was so sweet and special.  My dear friend made the loveliest cupcakes.  She frosted half in blue, half in pink, and everyone took the color they thought would be inside and...those of us with blue were right!:)

Seriously, these were the most beautiful and best tasting cupcakes ever.  Way to do the most, Tab!

Cousins missed each other.

Baby Daph is almost one!

I wish I had a video of Oliver's reaction to a baby brother.  Just kind of excited.;)

Looks like Auntie Anna chose wrong...

Two of my handsome brothers, Uncle Jesse and Uncle Jonny.

Grandma and G.