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Antique Shopping

So I have recently (thanks to the help of friends who know Dallas much better than I do) found some great antique stores. I never considered myself a girl who loves antiques- and I still don't. I don't appreciate them near as much as antique lovers. I basically like to find interesting things that other people don't have- and that mean something to me when I find them. I also like a good ole piece of furniture or home accessory from target or pottery barn sometimes. Heck, I have some great baskets and a play room rug from Walmart, art from France, a sleigh bed from JCPenny's, a desk from Mexico... I picture my home being accented with antiques and not full of them. Ive been going through many magazines and online photos of furniture and decor of all different styles to figure out what I really want my home to look like. My friend and I were recently talking about what our personal "style" is- because hers is similar to mine. She came up with a great name that I will now take on for myself.

My style folks is "global eclectic" that works doesn't it?

Anyway, it is fun figuring out what I want our homestead to look land feel like.

Here are the girls and a few of their friends trying on old hats in a antique shop. Ava and Sophia have been good about letting me drag them around these places. Even getting into it a little. Ava knows when we go to these shops they are full of "old" stuff. She walks around saying "look mom it's an old chair" or "look at this old ritz cracker can."

So, I'm curious- do you have a style? and what name do you give it?

ESME OVERLOAD

Esme just turned 9 months. Here are several pictures of a day in the life of our baby who won't be a baby for long... As you can tell I am still learning about my new camera-lighting, settings, and all the other bells and whistles. I think I need to hire a sitter just to sit down and figure it out! When you say "love" or "kisses" Esme immediately puts her face towards yours-it's the best
She wants to be right in the middle of everything. Her sisters are good about letting her join in...most of the time
Get it! (look at those toes!)

Got it! Everyday she helps me unload...all over the floor!

I think she smiles the ENTIRE time she is in the bath with Ava and Sophia- it makes her feel big
Sleepytime

Yes, in mommy and daddy's bed...somehow we don't mind.

Tagged

I was recently tagged by my sis-in-law to give 7 fun- unknown facts about myself. Here they are- they might not be unknown and some of them not so fun...

1. I played French Horn for 6 years-(I think I was a little cuter than this guy)


2. I don't recycle and I feel really bad about it


3. I have a bowl of cereal or peanut butter and jelly fold over almost everyday between 2 and 4pm- it is emotional eating at its best



4. I once pried two young kids off of their abusive mother, put them into my car, and drove several miles to a nearby childrens shelter while they cried hysterically for her. It was the single most depressing day of my life.


5. When I was in 6th grade I told my parents that my friend and I wanted to sleep in the back of my Dad's pick up truck for our slumber party so we could be outside like we were camping. It was all a plot to walk down the street and meet our boyfriends.


6. I love birthing


7. I wish I was creative on my own but I'm not. Instead I stalk other bloggers who I think are and often times steal their ideas. I'll share this one with you-I love her and don't even know her
Her blog is www.soulemama.typepad.com Her website is even better and is www.amandasoule.com
and she wrote this book


I TAG all my fellow bloggers who feel like doing this...

MY LOVES

I LOVE my husband who I feel so lucky to have everyday. I LOVE my little Esme who is 8 months old and is so cuddly and happy. I LOVE my Sophia who is a little reserved yet so goofy. I LOVE my Ava who wants to soak up all the good in life that a five year old can. I LOVE that I ran a 1/2 marathon with the support and excitement of family and friends.

HIJACKED!

Happy Birthday Cassie!

This is Jennifer, Cassie's sis-in-law, and I am hijacking Cassie's blog.

(I meant to do it yesterday in honor of her birthday, but I ran into logistical and technical problems, issues quite familiar to most Stewarts).

I had a funny little conversation with Ava earlier today where she informed me that her mommy was now 30 years old and that she was 30 inches tall. According to Ava, her mother's favorite food is cake and one her favorite things to do is to play Candyland with her girls. Sometimes, when she has work to do, she can't play.
She also wants to take naps a lot.
Cassie doesn't really sew clothes because she can get them at Target.
Ava says her favorite thing about her mother is that she reads with her.


As for me, I'm delighted to have a friend with whom I have so much in common. I love shopping with her and I love that she loves chocolate as much as I do.
I also love that she appreciates my black bean soup recipe.
She has proven herself to be a reassuring, encouraging and supportive friend (I'm thinking especially of the time around Neva's birth) and of course,
I'm grateful that she makes my brother so happy.
She is a lovely mother to my sweet little nieces, whom I adore.


I easily count you as one of my very closest friends, Cassie, and I'd bet my hands that most of your friends would say the same!

YIPEEEEEE!!!!

OH I can't tell you how excited I am to get my bday present early this year. We have had our digital camera for over 6 years now and it is time to let it go. In fact this pic of my Nikon may be the last one it takes. SO why do I not have any great pics to share from the new camera?- because I am slowly but surely figuring it out. Hopefully in the next few days...

Catching Up- A Fancy Nancy Birthday, Christmas in Nebraska, Let it Snow, Esme 7 months, Ooh La La France, Water Baby Cousins, and MEANWHILE

Ava, Kya and Tessa's "Fancy Nancy" Birthday Party. Some friends of ours introduced this great book to us awhile back and the girls love it (all of you with girls who don't have this book should consider having it in your collection). Needless to say they got really "fancy" and had a great time in Nebraska with my two little sisters who also have December birthdays so we celebrated together!
SO as most of you know we had Christmas in Nebraska. We had a great time and the girls loved seeing the snow. This year Santa brought BIKES for every little girl. How fun is it for my girls to have my sisters to play with!!


OH Let it Snow- and boy did it!! I love the 65 degree weather in Texas this time of year but it was nice to visit Snow for a change.
Where was little Esme?- who by the way turned 7 months in December...she was toasty warm inside sitting up all by herself.Dan and I took off on Dec. 26 for France. We left Ava and Sophia behind. We went to go to Dan's brother, Morgan's wedding. Morgan and Sarah make such a cute couple and we had a great time celebrating with them. We also managed to go on a wonderful hike and spent some time in one of our favorite places- Geneva. We really enjoyed seeing so much family. There are so many more pics I could post here but I let my sister-in-law (with the great camera) take most of them so I only have a few to share right now.
Water Baby Cousins in France.
So we took Esme to France and Dan's sister, Jennifer, and her husband, Slade, took their four month old, Neva, to France as well. These two are close in age and share common birthplaces- at home in water. Not to mention they both have names that make you go "huh?" We thought they might have a special little bond over all of this- and well.... I think they do Here are a few favorites of mine of these two cuties. Esme sleeping at the reception and Dan kissing Neva on the cheek- how could you not kiss those cheeks! MEANWHILE back in Nebraska we were wondering if the girls were missing us... hmmm what do you think?

Happy Birthday Ava

Happy Birthday to our AVA GIRL!!!! Five years ago (well four years and 10 m0nths ago) you looked like this!!We love you!!