hello november*costume round-up

 These are the costumes we made this year. A peacock and two little wolves complete with fluffy tails! They wore them for the Ghouls at School event a few evenings ago.

Last night for trick or treating they sifted through the dress up box and became superheroes and a kitty.

 

 Luca was very grumpy and cried and cried while we got him ready. If he were an only child we would have happily stayed in for the night.

 However a proven remedy for cranky kiddos is lots of fresh air and running. Costumes and treats just sweeten the deal!

Today we indulge! Tomorrow we detox...

birthday number nine for esmé*

our sweet and sassy esmé rose is NINE today! 

nine. half way to 18. the last year her age will be in the single digits. a great big girl who loves bright red nail polish, skinny jeans and who desperately wants her ears pierced. 

when she was born a family friend said her name sounded like pig latin so we called her esmé-ooyay for a long time. and esmé rosie-toes. and her papa likes to call her esmé bublé, just because it has a nice ring to it.

here is esme's eighth birthday post.

this is a sweet post showing how she has changed and grown over the years.

and her love for crafting and creating can be seen here and here.

looking back at blog entries and photo albums today has brought us lots of smiles and some laughter as we remember all the fun and special times we have shared. i wonder how in the world i got so lucky to have such a cool little chick in my life.

happiest birthday, little miss.

♥

weekend celebrations*

 we had a busy-fun weekend of festivities in our house! harper turned five on saturday and we had a little birthday celebration for both the boys that evening.

luca got this little tube of farm animals and hasn't stopped playing with them since!

harper got a new bike helmet and a little bell for his handle bars!

 i got a hammock for mother's day and it has quickly become the very favorite place to share cuddles. never mind that my kids refer to it as a "rope swing"...

 

luca had some candle blowing practice on his real birthday a few days ago so he was all over it when it was cake time at the party! 

i hope you all had a fabulous mother's day weekend, sweet friends! 

xo

harper is five*

birthday boy!

hip, hip hooray! you are five today! 

we are having friends over for food and cake and celebrating this evening. i will try to remember to take a few photos of the fun!

i posted some baby bump photos in this post :: 30 week BELLY!

you can see harper's first day with us here :: finally... a baby!

his birth story is here :: welcoming harper corrigan
and here is harper eating cake on his first birthday :: big birthday treats, oh my!

♥

luca turns TWO*

adorable brothers.

new wheels.

niko's amazing handmade gift for luca.

niko also made his cake!

birthday boy!

i can hardly believe my sweet baby boy is two years old. it was a lovely day for a birthday celebration, but unfortunately i woke up with a terrible migraine. i get them every 3-4 weeks. i felt it coming on when we went to bed last night but hoped (oh, how i hoped!!) that i would feel better this morning. no such luck. my sweet husband let me sleep in a little and then he played with the boys out front until lunch time. i mostly laid on the couch feeling sick but i did go out to see my little guy on his new birthday bike and hear him ring his bell over and over. harper is now requesting a bell for his bike!

after lunch luca and i curled up together and napped on the couch while harper watched a movie. it was a long and cozy nap, exactly what i needed. 

when the big kids came home from school we played in backyard, blowing bubbles, watching chickens and observing garden progress. niko baked the most delicious chocolate cake with buttercream frosting for her baby brother. she also made him that amazing poster pictured above - she has been working on it for weeks. i can't wait to find the perfect place to display it for him! such a special gift ♥

as i nursed my sweet little luca to sleep tonight i thought about holding him in my arms and nursing him for the very first time two years ago. i am overcome with love and gratitude for this family of mine. i really am a lucky, lucky mama!

here is the blog post where i announced luca's birth, and here we finally decided on a name for our new baby boy. in this post he was one week old and i pleaded for him to "grow slow". and here is his first birthday post.

happiest birthday, love. we are blessed beyond measure to have you in our lives!

growing like a wildflower*

little luca. he is growing big entirely too fast *sigh*

next month, the first week of next month to be exact, he will be two years old. i just now allowed myself to count even though i said i wouldn't. nine days. nine days left of this one year old "little" guy. i picked up a gently used tricycle with a long handle that we can guide him along with complete with a bell on the handle bar. it was his big birthday gift and has been hiding in the garage. a few days ago while we were out back doing yard work i suddenly realized he was no longer playing on the slide. we all abandoned our chores to look for him. then we heard the tiny chime from that bell coming from the garage. 

he loves his new trike.

like magic*

 peppermint paddy flavored syrup...

 ...makes magical, festive milk and is sure to impress all the smallies in your life!

happy saint patrick's day, loves!

cheers!

{today i am linking up with gingerbread's sweet saturday party! head over for a visit and more wonderful diy inspiration!}

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cup*cake

yesterday we bought a bag of marbles at the dollar store and baked up a couple dozen heart shaped cupcakes!

devil's food with strawberry frosting...

and rainbow sprinkles!

{idea originally found on pinterest}

happy*day

 it was theverybest birthday ever. 

gorgeous sunrise, bright orange sky, text from hubby telling me he special ordered it, just for me.

i spent the afternoon with my kids and my friends and their kids. 

food, coffee, tea, cake, playing, visiting, laughing, fun*fun*fun.

 {me and my sweet friend bethany}

{two of my very favorite people :: chelsea and bethany}

 {my dear friend heidi and baby solace}

{a new BIRTHday just around the corner}

{fun birthday games!}

{we celebrated my little friend xaria's birthday too!}

 {lovely gifts from lovely friends :: fabric, yarn and handmade lotion. perfect in every way}

soon after our friends left daddy was home from work! yay!

 {and look! he got me a shiny new dutch oven!! gahhh, so happy!}

{birthday dinner, just me and my love}

i feel blessed, loved and completely renewed. thank you for that, dear ones. xoxo

2011 :: an inspired year

 

 

playing * knitting * sewing * mama made * kiddo made * baking * cooking * nourishing * learning * dress up-dress down * nest fluffing * sharing * loving * laughing * crying * healing *

celebrating the simple and the sensational. 

i love the new year. a fresh slate of sorts. i have some new goals for 2012 and some old resolutions that are ongoing works in progress. i want to work on being tidier {especially in my studio}. i am going to work on using my time more wisely. these things do not come naturally to me.

i also want to become a better spouse, and a more patient mama. more understanding, less yelling, don't sweat the small stuff, deep breathing and letting go.

tonight we are settled in with popcorn, sparkling {and hard} cider, cozy jammies and the times square count down. a simple yet sensational celebration...

happiest new year wishes, friends. 

cheers, erika

christmas day :: instagram edition

{christmas swagger}

{handmade christmas foxes}

{new collection of stuffies}

{christmas crew}

{mama, harper, and yet-to-be-named foxy friend}

{super hero cape - tiny tool bench}

{the big kids - new footie jammies - new faux fur and flannel hat - tiny fake tree}

{end of the day self portrait}

i hope your holidays were merry and bright, friends! i am currently looking forward to the brand new year and some selfish, egocentric knitting and sewing. in fact i think i will go ahead and dedicate the entire month of january to creating wonderful things only for myself... sounds pretty good, yes? perhaps you will join me?

***

{the sewing pattern for the stuffed foxes can be found here}

peace and blessings.

 {peaceful garden}

 {reindeer greetings}

{red-nosed bundle}

We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace.

We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace.

We look at each other, then into ourselves,
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation:

Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul

~Maya Angelou - Amazing Peace

wishing you all a peaceful holiday. lots of love,

erika