Fall Flashback Week: PROM MOM

**This week I wanted to do a “Fall Flashback” and re-post some of my favorites from the past two years, just in case you missed them.
Here is another favorite, Prom Mom.

It is just me, or do any of you other moms feel a little "under dressed" during the routine errands throughout the week?

Basic things like, dropping the kids off at school or popping into the local Target to pick up some goodies?

I mean some of the moms that I see at preschool are just too much.
Too much makeup, hairspray, and height on their heels.
I just don't get it.

Heels at soccer practice?
No thank you.
I don't even wear heels to go out.
(Ask my sisters what happens when I do. )

So recently, after several years of coming and going from preschool, I made up a name for all those moms that look TOO cute to just be dropping off their kids at school so early in the morning.

PROM MOMS.

I really hate them.
Only because I am a tad bit jealous of how they do it.

I mean, I would LOVE to have this funky fun outfit on while dropping off Mia and Sophie.
But, I think people would stare. 
And I’m almost 100% positive that my husband would not even recognize me if he walked in our house after work and saw me wearing this.

These shoes are fab with this CUTE dress.
But they would make me about 6 foot 8 inches tall.
NOT fab. Scary. Or Scary Spice.  

Either way, I would seriously love some tips on how these Prom Moms do it. I barely have enough time to put a bra on after getting my 3 year old out of bed, dressed, fed, socks and shoes on, hair done and teeth brushed. THEN helping my 5 year old get dressed, fed, socks and shoes on, hair done and teeth brushed!

Don't forget the other three kids I have to feed, wipe down, change their diaper and then pack into the 'Burban making it a grand total of six munchkins to lift and load.

This leaves very little time in my morning for hair doing for myself, any makeup application whatsoever, or high heel wearing.

How do they do it?
Someone fill me in.
I can't possibly get up an hour earlier to shower, dry my hair, and make myself up.

7 am is PLENTY early for me considering my 1-2 am bedtime these days.

So I guess I will have to settle for my (camouflage Michigan) hats, tank tops and yoga pants during the week.

I can only dream what it may be like to be a PROM MOM.

Maybe when Gracie, my third daughter, is in school I will have the skills needed to obtain glamour at 8 am.

But until then, I will enjoy life happily in my hats and flip flops.

 

I may not always be glamorous, but at least I am comfortable.

Fall Flashback Week: Our First Family Photos Since Gracie

**This week I wanted to do a “Fall Flashback” and re-post some of my favorites from the past two years, just in case you missed them.
Here is another favorite, family photos, taken last November.
It’s crazy to see what changes a year can bring…..

Here are a few faves from our recent family photo shoot.
It is our first since the addition of Gracie!
They were taken by my friend from high school, Lindsay (Walker) Orr.
Call her. Immediately. She’s amazing!

 

Haus of Girls

Love.

Girls club.

Our big girl, Mia. (*while she still had her baby teeth)

Sophie girl all smiles.

And our baby, Gracie, with the cutest little smirk.
She may or may not be holding one of the 10,000 smarties that were constantly being passed her way in hopes to get a smile.

This one hangs on my dining room wall.

Gracie was about to jump off the bench in this one. Look at her expression.

Even though it was a bit stressful getting the girls to all smile and look at the camera, it was worth every single one of those smarties.
This time in our life is captured forever.
Thank you so much Lindsay for your hard work and amazing photos.
We can’t wait until next year!

Fall Flashback Week: A Zebra and a Horse, of Course!

*This week I wanted to do a “Fall Flashback” and re-post some of my favorites from the past two years, just in case you missed them.
Here is another favorite, A Zebra and a Horse, of Course!

 

Mia LOVES horses.

I mean REALLY loves them.

Her room is completely filled with all kinds of fun horse stuff
(you can check out her bedroom tour here in case you missed it the first time) and she’s always talking about how she would love to own her very own horse one day, and be a “horseback” rider when she grows up.

So last Friday night, Steve sat down and randomly drew a horse pattern for me.
He thought it would make for some fun new shirts for the girls.
How cute is he?!

And how cute did our shirts turn out.
Total Teamwork, Mom and Dad Style.

Sophie loved the zebras at the zoo last weekend, so we got two animals for the price of one. Holla!

As we sat at the table crafting and drawing together, we looked at each other and talked about how our "Friday night fun" is so different compared to eight years ago.

Now, creating fun stuff for our three girls is our Friday night excitement.
Steve said, after taking a sip of his brewskie, "I wouldn't have it any other way." 

Fall Flashback Week: I Am No Martha Stewart

 

 

This week I wanted to do a “Fall Flashback” and re-post some of my favorites from the past two years, just in case you missed them.

First up is one of the few in my “I Am No Martha Stewart” series. 
With a name like Marta, it’s often confused with Martha. But I assure you, I am no Martha Stewart. 

However, in this series I give you some of my personal household/parenting tips and ideas. The best I got. Definitely in Marta style, not Martha……

I don’t know about you, but to me, there is nothing worse than walking into my house & tripping over shoes. 
Teeny tiny shoes.  

So I invented the idea to make a fun little piece of furniture, the most functional piece in my home….

 

The SHOE BIN!

I got this priceless piece, before I even had kids, from Pier 1.
I saw the vision then as I thought to myself,
"This would be PERFECT for all the little shoes when I have kids!"

I truly do not know how other moms survive without this.

What a life saver it has been over the years.
It sits directly next to our front door and our girls, as well as all the children I watch during the week, know to take off their shoes and throw them on in the “shoe bin.”

It may or may not have been one of Gracie’s first words.
Just saying.

 

For the back patio door I solved the shoe issue as well.
I bought this medium size “shoe basket” from Target, the greatest place on Earth.

My girls come in from playing in the backyard and throw their flip flops or crocs in there.
Easy as PIE! And so WORTH not tripping over all the little shoes on our floor.

The back door shoe basket is great for the mobility factor.

In the Winter when we aren't going in and out of the back door as often, I stick this basket in the laundry room closet to get it out of the way.
Not that it takes up too much room, but if we aren't using it  it's nice to have the option to put it away for awhile.

I hope these “I’m no Martha Stewart” shoe organization tips will help you in your home.

If you are anything like me and HATE stepping & tripping all over shoes go out and buy yourself a shoe BASKET for the back door and some type of SHOE BIN for the front door!

I think an antique of some kind with cubbies would work perfectly! That is, if you are an antique stalker like me :)

Let me know if you use this tip. I would love to see your  new SHOE BIN in action.

Thirty-Three Years Ago

 

This professional baseball player….

married this adorable trampolinist…..

and began their life together.
They started a family,  had four daughters, and always put them first.

The end result.

The said four daughters with their husbands (one soon to be husband) have now all started their own journeys through life filling it with laughter, love, children and strong principles of family togetherness.

All thanks to these two.

Happy Anniversary to my Mom and Dad!

Pride and Pumpkins

Sophie was so proud of her “Fertificate” that she received after reciting her full name, birthday, address and phone number in Preschool this week. 

She received the same “Fertificate” last year when she was three, but it’s funny how a summer of fun in the sun (aka not practicing quite as often) forces you to use a little extra brain power, along with Mommy’s fun songs, to re-remember what you’ve already learned.

She worked hard and finally got her long awaited (a grueling two weeks of school!) “Certificate of Achievement.” Hooray!

She skipped/sprinted out of school on Wednesday, identical to last year, smiling ear to ear telling me that she had something to show me.  When we got home, she wanted to pose next to our front porch pumpkin for a picture.
To send to Daddy of course. 
She couldn’t wait until he got home from work!

Speaking of pumpkins, I added a few new tees to my Etsy Shop! this week.
Nothing fancy.
Nothing crazy.

Just a simple polka dot pumpkin on a shirt to celebrate the upcoming fall season of Halloween and Thanksgiving.
(I can do a boy version as well in a fun fall fabric!)
These are so much fun for Preschool parties.

And also fun for babies!

Happy first day of fall (yesterday) to all!

You Know It’s Monday When…

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the comic Jeff Foxworthy and his famous “You Might Be a Redneck When” one liners.

A few of my personal faves?
You know you’re a redneck when your stereo speakers used to belong to the Drive-in Theater.
You know you’re a redneck when you keep a can of Raid on the kitchen table.
You know you’re a redneck when people hear your car a long time before they see it. (Been there.)

Anyway, today I experienced a little something I like to call, “You Know it’s Monday When….”

You know it’s Monday when the day starts off with your sunglasses falling off your head into the toilet at Preschool drop off.

You know it’s Monday when the Elementary school nurse calls you to tell you that your first grader has a “possible fever” and needs to be picked up. Then after packing up the minimal five children dance partying here with me today, and getting said first grader home, you decide to take her temperature for yourself (because she’s acting perfectly healthy, happy, cheery and FINE) and she has no fever.
97 degrees to be exact.   

My first grader then informs me of their new “head strips” that they are now using at school to take their temperature. Perhaps they aren’t quite as accurate as a good old fashioned thermometer?

One thing is for sure.
I am not repacking up the, now six, children to take her back up to school.
And so, nap time begins.


Although Mondays (all days here actually!) may be crazy and challenging at times, these smiles make it all worth while.
A glimpse into our daily fun around here…..

My cousin’s adorable little girl Samantha (Gracie girl in the middle loves them so much!) and my sister’s cutie son Meade spend their days here with us at Haus of Girls.

Poor Meade is a bit out numbered wouldn’t you say?
Sophie’s tears? Poor girl. Mean Mommy is making you pose right after a meltdown of some kind.

Can Gracie squeeze Sam any tighter?

Girls club.
Sophie finally cheered up for a cute picture with her buddy Lily, who lives up the street, and her little sister, Gracie Popeye, who is proudly still in her jammies, that may or may not be a few sizes too big, at 1 pm.

Cuteness!!!
I love my job!

Hope you all have a great Monday!

I Gotta Feeling

You may recall this post from a few weeks ago.
If so, you’ll already know that at Haus of Girls, we love us some Black Eyed Peas.

So when the girls and I saw this for the first time tonight we
# 1. Had a crazy dance party with huge smiles.
#2. Had to share with you.

Tonight’s gonna be a good night.
Just sayin’.
Have a happy weekend!

A Fair to Remember

 
Last Saturday we packed up the girls and headed out to the annual local fair.
Rides, cotton candy, games and, this year, lots o’ mud.

Gracie was ready to roll in her new headband I made thanks to this awesome tutorial.
A big thank you to Heather for informing me of this cuteness!
 

Ready for some Fair fun in their mandatory boots, as we were pre-warned of the mud situation by Aunt Adie.
However, in person, the muddy mess was so much worse than anyone could have ever imagined!

Here we come!

Me and my big girls.
Where the muddy messy fun began!

(Hollas: Note that my left wrist was in full fist-pumping mode!)

After Mimo kindly bought all the kids tickets, we were off!
Our first stop? The carousel.
Basic. Too basic for my Sophie.
She is our rebel, our risk taker.
Our middle child.

So she took on…..

THE SWINGS!

I must be getting old, because I don’t recall them ever going quite as fast as they did this year.

But Sophie loved every zooming minute of it.

So much so, that she had a distinct “post swing” pep in her step along with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.

Gracie and Meade cruised in the cars.

I can still hear that awful honking weird noise they make…. ehhhh ehhhh ehhhh ehhhh ehhhh ehhhh ehhhh ehhhh ehhhh.

And our final ride of the muddy evening?
The Farris Wheel of course.

Don’t tell him I said so, but Steve was a bit terrified.
He hadn’t been on a one in over 10 years and after initially being a few tickets short, a friend came up to us and gave us their extras.
Exactly the amount that we needed in order for him to be able to ride with Gracie.
Fate I tell ya.

I was able to ride with Sophie and Mia.
It’s a tradition now. As is the (unsuccessful) self photo at the top.

And finally, my favorite picture from the night.
My buddy boots overlooking Steve and Gracie on the Farris Wheel.

It sums up, rather well, why this was definitely A Fair To Remember for, not only the girls, but for Steve and I as well.
There may have been some mud scrubbing boot cleaning afterwards, but it was completely worth every spray of the hose to see my girls so happy.

We Welcomed Fall with a Fire

Last weekend we decided to throw a little “Welcome Fall” party at our house.
We made some snacks and invited some family and neighbors over to celebrate the start of Fall with a bonfire.

Sassy Grace was ready to go in her pigtails and fur cuffs.

Sophie played on the slide with her sisters while Daddy got the fire going on our back patio.

I helped Gracie roast a marshmallow or two.

Loving the fire.

Not loving the smoke.

All of our windows were open that night so the next few days our house smelled like a giant campground!

My girls had a blast playing in basement with a few of their neighborhood friends.

And I had a blast inhaling about 20 of these tasty treats. 
Lazy Mama’s Cookies, courtesy of Julie.

Thank you to all who helped us celebrate a new season full of fairs, rodeos, trick or treating and falling leaves.

Happy Fall!