the little one is totally part of the crew

Glow is totally part of the crew. She is definitely still our baby, but she’s playing (and even sometimes fighting) with the big girls too. She’ll see something she wants and will try to get it, usually from Soul, and she always wants to be part of the action now. She still doesn’t talk, but she does a whole lot of baby babbling. We all love her to pieces!

Looking at these pictures, I still can’t believe I have four girls and Ben has five of us to deal with. Poor guy! That time of the month when these girls are older is going to be pretty crazy in our house. I will be the first to say that when that time of the month comes for me, that whole Pissed-off Mood Swing (PMS) comes in full force. Now times that by 4 more! Oye!

We’re slowly working our way out of the baby phase. The girls are getting older and making certain things easier and harder at the same time. Glow is getting so big that I find myself asking Ben if he’s sure we’re done and in my moment of amnesia, I say I want another. Then I remember how full our hands really are and then I’m like, yeah… we’re good. I’m thankful for how helpful True and Brave are and we have to be intentional in teaching Soul to be just as responsible. I think because she is in the transitional toddler to little girl stage and has two big sisters that will do things for her that I forget to teach her responsibility too. One thing she is pretty much in charge of is getting herself dressed and it’s pretty much the same thing everytime. If you look back at most pictures of her in recent months, it will be that Mexican embroidered dress (or her other one in red) tucked into her leggings.

It’s been pretty warm lately, in the high 80′s, and I can totally feel spring creeping up on us. As much as I love winter, I’m pretty excited to have longer days. Are you?

on me: sweater, thrifted. shirt, thrifted. jeans, forever 21. necklace, homako. boots, emerson fry. on true: dress, c/o winter water factory. leggings, gap. boots, gymboree. bag, diy here. on brave: dress, misha lulu. sweater, vintage. leggings, misha lulu. shoes, gap. on soul: dress, vintage. leggings, misha lulu. shoes, c/o freshly picked. on glow: dress, c/o winter water factory. shoes, old ones since true was a baby.

my winter wears

Ankle boots and chunky scarves are my winter must haves. For sure. Yes, I love the cold and am a native Southern Californian and so I’m kind of wimpy when it comes to the cold, but I love it all nonetheless. Oh! And sweats. Those are getting me through the winter too. Ben got me some for Christmas (because that’s all I asked for) and then I ordered these (in grey and stripe). It was my first time ever ordering from stylemint, but I figured the purchase was justifiable because my old sweats that I have had for about 10 years started getting holes where there shouldn’t be any holes, so yeah… I figured it’s time to make another investment. I’ve been wearing my sweats with denim tops and cozy cardigans, so while still in sweats, I don’t feel like I’m back in college in sweat pants and a sweatshirt. Though, those days do happen too.

My go-to boots are also these clog boots from Lotta from Stockholm. I seriously wear them everywhere, all the time, and my BFF was laughing at me because I even threw them on with my sweats when we went out for dinner. There just so comfy that they are the best thing to throw on when I’m headed out the door. Actually, an epiphany came to me a month or so ago and my favorite types of shoes are ankle boots! Not only can they be worn in the winter, but also in the summer and spring with shorts and dresses. If you looked at my shoe collection, I’ve amassed quite the collection of ankle boots. Therefore, not only do they get me through the winter, they get me through year round too!

Then you have my chunky cowl scarves. I wear them in the house and out of the house. I just love the feeling of my neck warm and toasty. I wish I had time to crochet myself more, but maybe in the summer I can get a head start for next winter. Knowing me (and my household), that really won’t happen though. I really love this one, so it will be on my to-do list next winter.

What are some things that have been totally helping you get through the winter? Or maybe the summer for some of you Southern Hemisphere folk?

out to school: 2/11

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a school style post for the girls, so here’s their latest getup. They dress themselves and pretty much wear the same things all the time, but slightly change up the layering here and there, but whatever. They’re clothed and it works. Actually, it sounds a bit like how I get dressed, wearing the same thing all the time but changing it up a bit. Though, my same thing usually consists of sweats and a sweater. I would say my daughters dress up way more than me!

I love their smiles and I can’t believe how much older they are starting to look these days. How is this possible?! Didn’t I just give birth to them?! My oh my!

on true: dress, vintage. poncho, little bean shop. pants, misha lulu. socks, target. shoes, salt-waters. beret, anthropologie (gifted a long time ago). on brave: sweater, vintage. pants, misha lulu. shoes, toms. actually, this was the same day they wore these outfits.

out to school: 2/10

It was Pajama Day at school. Nope, not homeschool, but their enrichment classes (they go once a week). If it were homeschool, then it’s pretty much pajama day all day, every day!

It was kind of exciting to get ready the night before. I have to admit, I was really jazzed to not have to worry about rushing around getting dressed the next morning. The girls took baths, got into their pajamas that they were going to wear to school, and then went to bed. The next morning, I woke them up, fed them breakfast, they brushed their teeth, then off to school we went. Love it! Somehow though, I still ended up running late! Oye! It’s the story of my life.

At school, they also had a special breakfast with Santa (instagram @rubyellenbratcher). I dragged the two babies and we helped the PTSA a little bit, but just until Glow started getting cranky for  a nap and then we headed home. True’s classmates were telling me she never talks and she just whispers because she is so shy. HA! At home, it’s the opposite. She never whispers, she just yells!

And somehow their Pajama Day ended up being Crazy Pajama Day based on how they dressed themselves, especially that True. For being a shy girl, sometimes she makes some bold fashion choices.

our sunday morning

Sunday mornings are chaotic getting everyone dressed for church and out of the house. This morning was slightly different because Ben and I were going to two different places; I went to my mom’s house for breakfast, since we have family in town, and Ben went to our church gathering. We split up the kids to make it more manageable, so he had the big two and I had the little two. That’s usually the combo we resort to when we separate the kids, but I’m thinking we should switch it up sometime. Maybe True and Soul and then Brave and Glow. That would be interesting. I hesitate to say Brave and Soul because Soulie bullies Brave. That girl knows how to terrorize Brave like it’s nobody’s business!

What has helped in getting us all out of the house with minimal yelling and some sort of peace, is that the girls pretty much dress themselves these days and I don’t contest it. Their combos are pretty funny and random (at times), but as long as they are appropriately dressed for the outing and the weather, it’s cool. Soulie also pretty much picks out her own clothes and now that I am looking at these pictures, this is the first time in a long while that she didn’t tuck whatever she is wearing on top into her pants.

The weather has been vacillating between warmer and cooler days of late, but as long as it’s not scorching heat, we’re good. I prefer cooler, but I’m thankful either way. Speaking of thankful, you guys are really so awesome! I love reading all the comments of what you all are thankful for and it is such an encouragement. I think it’s so important to cultivate a constant spirit of thankfulness in our lives. It’s definitely something I really need to work on and something I want my children to do naturally. We’re all works in progress, aren’t we?!

on me: shirt, anthropologie. skirt, vintage (it was my mama’s when she was a teenager). clog boots, lotta from stockholm. on true: jacket, misha lulu. dress, c/o tag you r it. shoes, gymboree. on brave: shirt and jeans, c/o molo kids. jacket, vintage. shoes, gap kids. on soul: tee, misha lulu. leggings, gap kids. shoes, c/o freshly picked. on glow: sweater, vintage. pants, f21 baby (True wore this when she was a baby!).