tender, sweet, and wild

This child.

She brings me so much joy. She reminds me that life is exciting and wonderful... that imagination is a gift.

It's very, very late at night (early in the morning?), but I think I might sneak into her room right now, stand on my tippy tip toes, and kiss her through the slats of the top bunk.

Because.

shug's mama date (ETC)

I really need to work on getting out my real camera for some ETC action. But, the iPhone is just right there. Being all small and portable. Being all easy to hold up in front of me. Making embracing so easy! Still, it's the quality. I want some crisp, clear, high-resolution shots with my kiddos, too. But, iPhone... you pull me in.

Especially on days like last Saturday. When there's no way I was gonna lug that biggie camera around all day.

On half birthdays, I take my girls out for an all day Mama Date. On Dude's half birthday, Sam takes him hiking, just the two of them. The girls pretty much get to pick what we do... but, I may throw a request in here or there. And, of course, I have full veto power. It has to be something we can easily do in just one Saturday.

Shug wanted to visit the replica of the Santa Maria.

She's really into this kind of thing.

If only there had been pirates, but no. Only gold-hungry, history-making explorers.

Thankfully the rain held off for most of the morning. The ship was fun! And I really liked letting her take her time, just focusing on her interests.

Then lunch at a nearby restaurant. One of my favorites.

Because these pancakes are the best stinkin' pancakes known to man. They're made with ricotta. Sounds weird, but they're fantastic.

The some shopping. But, not before I took a little nap in World Market's parking lot.

Not kidding.

Disappointing World Market day. All I found was the two mugs I originally went for and a hook for my bags in the entryway. The stuff at World Market is just too global-looking for me. Go figure.

A little more putzing around and then... Jeni's. Too expensive to take all the kids at once. Perfect for a mama date :)

Have you heard of Jeni's? It's one of the top 5 ice creams in the U.S. It may even be #1... not really up on my ice cream stats. But, at any rate, it's seriously good. Bizarre flavor combos or more traditional ones with just a little flare added in.

I almost always get the same thing. Because I'm boring. And too safe. Salty Caramel. But, I know I won't go away wishing I had chosen a different flavor.

Can I show you the inside of this little shop? It has nothing to do with ETC or our Mama Date, but it's just too cute.

Those are cupcake liners. And how great is that tile?

So fun.

I branched out and got crazy. I got two half scoops and tried a new flavor. One half scoop Salty Caramel and one half scoop Honey Pistachio. YUM. But, I still liked the Salty Caramel best :)

We had a terrific day. I so look forward to taking my girlies out one on one. Sometimes we get closer to the true half birthday mark than others (this one was 4 months late!), but it's always fun to just hang out and do some special things together.

Word.

(That was for you, Emily.)

Happy Embracing, y'all!

crazy busy

It's been a crazy busy week.

But, not too busy for a little Embrace the Camera!













Happy Embracing, everybody!

Target, my second home (and ETC)

(linking up with ETC)
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I live at Target.

Seriously.

My children, especially the two oldest girls, are growing like mad. A couple of months ago, they both very suddenly outgrew all their jeans. Over night. At the same time. They wear the same size, so there are no hand-me-downs to rely upon. I had to make emergency runs to Old Navy and Target. ASAP.

Sometimes I take the children clothes shopping with me. All of them. But, I only do that when I feel like I need a super-shot of sanctification by trial. I can't think of a whole lot that completely exhausts me more than taking all five children to Target so my 11 year old daughter can try on jeans. Heaven help us all.

So, when my people have to try on clothes, I try to take just one or two if I can.

I'm usually pretty strict about store behavior. I admit it. I'm a "don't touch" mom. When they were all little I'd even have designated spots for them. This one in the cart seat. This one on the end of the cart. This one walking beside me hand on the cart. No yelling. No rolling around on the floor. Definitely no walking away. It might sound harsh, but it was so much more pleasant for everyone this way. Friends would ask how I took 4 children under 6 to run errands with me. Well, this is how. I'd just be a complete control freak.

It worked for me.

It has relaxed a little as they've gotten older, but there's still very little room to let anyone get rowdy when we're all out together. It escalates quickly. So, the rules are still the rules.

All that to say, I have some target pictures for you. I love my iPhone. I would never take my massive camera into Target at 9 o'clock at night, but the phone? Totally taking pictures with it... unashamedly. This particular night, I just had SweetP and Shug with me. It was rather late when we headed out and not many folks were around. I wasn't feeling the need for so much restraint.

They caught on quickly.















Trying to walk past the televisions in the dvd section. Does this happen to you, too?







They were having a blast. It reminded me of my sister and I acting like complete dorks in stores when we were kids. I have very fond memories of the two of us publicly humiliating ourselves.



They kept it up the whole way home, too. We were in Sam's car (which is a total treat for them by itself) and I let them roll down the windows and stick their heads out. You would've thought I gave them a ride in a limo. They thought I was just THE best. The whole 10 minute drive home they were yelling and carrying on and singing at the top of their lungs. Goofballs. They did wear their seatblets, by the way. Always. We were still in the parking lot in that last photo, and I had SweetP come over to Shug's side just for the pic.

It was a great night. Bonding, even. You gotta live a little, right?

I hope they remember pushing each other down the aisle at top speed at least as much as they remember marching single file down the toilet paper aisle with their hands folded.

ha ha.

You think I'm kidding.

phone dump and embrace the camera

Good morning, everyone! How are ya?

I'm in the mood for a good phone dump. Phone dump posts are such fun, because the pictures upload crazy fast. So, I can get a bunch up in no time flat. I wanted to Embrace the Camera this week, but it was an extra busy week and I knew it wasn't likely I'd get out the tripod, edit the pictures, and get a post up.

Enter... the iPhone.



Quite possibly the fakest smile I've ever given the trusty phone cam.



I'm starting to really get this whole ETC thing. Like, I actually remember to do it now. I hear myself say get in the picture. Fairly often. That's fun.



A little Hipstamatic action in the church bathroom. Because, hey - it's Embrace Everywhere All The Time. And because someone (ahem, Little Baby) was being LOUD. (But, you know, I don't really like Hisptamatic. I feel like I should. Because everyone thinks it's so great. But, I don't like it. It bothers me and I am not aesthetically pleased).

I'm an Instagram girl.

A little sleepy Baby progression...









You're wondering why she isn't in the nursery, aren't you? Well, I love my church, but I only put my kids in the nursery in the winter if I am just really in the mood for the stomach flu. We have a nursing mom's room, though, and they pipe the sermon sound in there. So, I can rock her, listen to the sermon, and... she sleeps. It's pretty nice, actually.

But her nursery days are coming. Once the contagion dies down.

You all take Sunday afternoon naps, right? Baby's still little enough to nap with me. I'll be sad when she's all over the place and the bed isn't safe. But for now...

We nap.



She plays with my face.



And sings and babbles for a while.



Then she starts to get quiet.



And falls asleep.





The End.



Happy Embracing, everyone!




Oh, by the way! I got the "in progress house tour" button and the "about us" link in the sidebar all sitchutated! :) very fun.

My Instagram feed is private, but if you're interested in following me, send me an email proving you're not a stalker, and I'll give you the deets!)