Stephanie Howell

As We Speak...

 

Watching Game of Thrones with J. We are way late to the party and just started watching Season 1.

 

Reading The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

 

Cooking This spasagna recipe. The noodles were okay but the homemade meat sauce is EXCELLENT.

 

Buying way too many Fauxdori covers from Cake Paperie (my fave!) and FoxyDori. I've officially gotten sucked into the world of Midori Traveler's Notebooks!

 

Listening to Hypnobabies. I officially started the program this week and I'm so excited to learn more.

 

Preparing to have a fourth grader and a second grader (!!!!!!) as well as two preschoolers. Last year before Kinder!

 

Wearing maxi dresses and maxi skirts. Nonstop. My faves are from Stitch Fix and Pink Blush Maternity.

 

Collecting a ridiculous amount of baby stuff.

 

Realizing that I only have about 6 weeks before this baby makes an appearance.

 

Wondering what's going on with Harper. She's suddenly having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Have any of you experienced this with your 9/10 year old? Wondering if she's having a growth spurt.

 

Planning a day trip to Malcesine on Lake Garda. Please look at this place. OMG. Wanting to make a trip to Portofino, too.

 

Relishing the fact that the heat is gone, for this week at least. It's been wonderful.

 

Obsessing over where we will go next. I should know better by now...this is never a good idea in the Army life!

 

Cherishing every single moment with these four. I know soon everything will be different.

 

Reflecting on whether anyone still reads this blog after I disappeared for so long. Say hi if you are!

 

Happy Tuesday.

xoxo

S

 

 

 

As We Speak...

Craving jalapeno chips, sour candy, and root beer. Super healthy, bahaha!

Feeling tiny kicks all day long.

Listening to the church bells ring outside of my window.

Reading Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan.

Watching Nashville (did NOT like the season finale).

Noticing that all of my "regular" clothes are officially too small/tight/short.

Sneezing nonstop.

Wishing I didn't feel like a chicken with my head cut off half the time.

Wondering whether there's a little girl or boy in my belly. Where we will go after we leave Italy.

Dreaming seriously weird pregnancy dreams.

Sleeping Hard. Always tired when I wake up.

Buying peonies by the bunch every Thursday at the downtown market.

Realizing I'm fed up with one-way friendships.

Cultivating the true,real relationships and letting the rest go.

xoxoxo

S

 

As We Speak...

Watching // 30 Rock (Yes, I know - why in the WORLD did it take me so long? , The Theory of Everything (I think my eyes are still puffy) // Nashville (it's so soapy and i LOVE it.) // Whiplash - watch it. NOW.

 

Reading // Sobbed my way through Tell the Wolves I'm Home and trying out a few things since but I haven't been fully engaged yet.

 

Listening // Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. Clearly I've turned into a 16 year old girl.

 

Making // Not much of anything, sadly. Making a baby I guess. HA!

 

Feeling //

TIRED. Exhausted. And I kind of hate everything I usually love. Reading, crafting, Italian food. Crazy right? My mom says that my babies steal my personality the first three months and that that's why my kids have such big personalities. I kind of love this thought and that's what I'm holding on to.

SCARED. I'm a lot older this pregnancy than I was for my others and that is scary to me. Trying to take care of myself (I hired a personal trainer the day I found out I was pregnant) and rest when I can.

 

 

Love you all. I miss sharing here. Hope I'll be "back" soon.

 

xoxo

S

As We Speak...

 

She (Cate)...

1. Is now scared of pregnant people. She looked at me, horrified, and yelled "YOU ATE ME?" when I was talking about the fact that she shared my tummy with her sister.

2. Constantly has her shoes on the wrong feet.

3. Likes to mess up her room and then tell me gypsies did it. Um...what?

4. Is the sweetest little thing. She likes to tell me "You so pwetty and bwave, I love you mommy!". Ohhhhh my heart.

5. Wears a headband every day. She has short hair now, thanks to a gum incident, and even though I hate the way it happened...it truly suits her.

 

 

She...

1. Has grown out of almost everything in her closet. Pants? too short. Shoes? Too small. Shirts? Show the tummy. Hello long legs.

2. Is a voracious reader. She also loves writing. Math...well she finds math infuriating and confusing. I identify so much with her. We are working on staying CALM and working through math problems one at a time.

3. LOVES Taylor Swift (as does Sadie). I've promised I'll take them to a concert and she is so excited.

4. Writes songs all the time. She's constantly singing a song she's written.

5. Is a hoarder. She has a million stuffed animals all placed juuuust so. Goodness forbid I move one of them. She has vignettes set up all over her room and holds on to every letter anyone has ever written her, every keepsake she's ever found or bought. It's like Scout and her box on To Kill a Mockingbird...but the entire room is her box of treasures.

 

 

He...

 

1. Is so encouraging and loving. He came to CrossFit class with me a couple of weeks ago and was so sweet to me. I had a hard time (yeah, ended up upchucking more than once) with the workout and he was right by my side cheering me on. He finished the entire WOD and then waited for me and ran by my side when I was trying to finish the last run. This is the kind of romance I love.

2. Is in Germany and I miss him so much.

3. Works harder than anyone I've ever known. When he's actually in town for work he's out the door before 4 am and home after 8 pm. Many days closer to 10 pm. And most days he doesn't eat. Sometimes I worry about him, but that's nothing new.

4. Is dead set on going to see The Black Keys when they come to Milan this February. He's super passionate about music and I love that about him.

5. Is a lover of college football and has such a hard time being in Italy during football season. I foresee many late nights as he watches games on AFN in real time!

 

 

She (Lucy)...

1. Likes to cross her arms and yell "NO FAIW (fair" at me followed by a HMPH! I just laugh.

2. Loves fruit. Peaches, blueberries, apples, bananas, oranges, pears, strawberries...you name it, she'll eat it.

3. Likes to wear a skirt with a dress on top of it with a princess dress on top of the normal dress. Also usually a hat (sometimes a swim cap).

4. Made me laugh until I cried yesterday. When having the "you were in my tummy at the same time as your sister" convo with Cate...you know "YOU ATE ME" and all that...Lucy wrinkled her nose and I asked what was wrong and she said "It was stinky in dere, in your tummy???". Bahahahahahha!

5. Completely charmed the socks off of her new teacher when we met her yesterday. She wore her princess dress (of course) and her teacher fawned over her the entire time. Italian school here she comes!

 

 

She...

1. Will be continuing gymnastics this year. She practices OBSESSIVELY. Backbends, walkovers, roundoffs, headstands allll.day.long.

2. Has become a great little reader. She cannot read Captain Underpants yet, but keeps the whole stack by her bed and "reads them" nonstop, usually while snickering. Why am I not surprised that this series spoke to her???

3. Still tries to climb in bed with me almost every night when J is gone. She usually succeeds. My willpower is nonexistent in the middle of the night and she's so darn sweet I can't say no.

4. Asked me not to embarrass her the other day. I asked what I did to embarrass her and she said (ticking these items off on her fingers) 1. Sing loud 2. Dance 3. Say WHAT WHAT??? (when she said this, she mimicked me doing the "raise the roof" motion). Um I don't do that DO I? DO I? Oh wait...I think I do. Sh*^ I definitely do that. I am embarrassed at myself right now.

5. Made a list of things that scare her. It said 1.spiders 2.gypsies 3. bad guys 4. italians that i don't know who try to hug me and pinch my cheeks too much.

Oh Sadie.

 

 

She...

1. Officially starts the Whole Life Challenge on September 13. Goodbye pasta, sugar, and dairy. Hello daily exercise, fish oil, stretching, and water intake. It's going to be a long 8 weeks but hopefully life changing.

2. Turned 37 on August 31. Feeling strong and happy.

3. Hasn't had much time for reading lately. Exercise took reading's place.

4. Needs to get into another Italian class, or find a tutor. Stat.

5. Is currently obsessed with Sam Smith. Goosebumps head to toe.

I am also apparently very succinct when it comes to talking about myself. HA! That's what I get for putting myself last. I've run out of steam. Snort.

Love y'all- Ciao!

xoxo

As We Speak...

Constantly buying peonies from a little shop downtown that I've fallen in love with. The photo above was taken in the store.

I'm planning two summer trips. One here and one here. Advice and input are greatly welcome!

Thinking of how I'm ready for my sweet husband to come home. Missing him ridiculous amounts.

Feeling disbelief that I will soon have a first grader, a third grader, and two preschoolers!

Wishing I was back in Paris today thanks to this fabulous lady's Insta feed. If you don't follow her, follow her NOW. I have a feeling this summer is going to be legendary.

Reading The Storied Life of AJ Fikry.

Grinning because LeVar Burton's Kickstarter campaign worked. BRING ON THE READING RAINBOW! It was an honor to donate.

Starting the 30 day shred. Yet again. Le Sigh. Let's hope I make it past the 10 day shred. Which is my personal record. Don't act like you're not impressed... Today the littles were watching me do the video and they were yelling WHY YOUR FACE SO WED? YOU SWEATY MAMA! YOU NEED TO GO TO SWEEP? MAMA? YOU CWYING??? Um, thanks girls.

Watching Nashville. Obsessively.  Finally caught up. Oh Deacon...I love you so. Listening to the Nashville soundtrack. Also obsessively.

Picking up freaking Rainbow Loom bands all.day.long.

Wearing Zara. Almost every day. How did I live pre-Zara?

Learning more and more Italian, thanks to Duolingo.

Smelling jasmine on the breeze. Daily.

Wanting a new camera. But I have no idea where to start.

Loving this time of year in Italia.

What about y'all? What are you up to?

 

As We Speak...

She...

1. Is doing CrossFit again. After a REALLY long time. And it's hard and she hates it sometimes but she also loves the way it makes her feel. She's not very in shape or very coordinated, but she's tired of excuses and she's ready to treat her body like a temple instead of a trashcan.

2. Got through an entire discussion in Italian the other day. And she felt unnaturally proud of herself when he finished.

3. Has a million blog posts she wants to write but no time to write them. Life is flying by lately and it seems like there are less hours in the day.

4. Hit a reading plateau. It goes in cycles. Now she's wanting to create again instead of reading. Ebbs and flows.

5. Is currently planning a trip to Positano. Paris one weekend and Positano the next. April is going to be a good, good month. :)

 

He...

1. Is currently away training in Germany. He's missed terribly.

2. Called tonight just to talk to Harper about how her play audition went. He's such a GREAT daddy. He makes each of them feel so very special and cherished.

3. Might love Frozen as much as the girls do. He does the Olaf voice a LOT.

4. Has the funniest voice when trying to speak Italian. It sounds kind of German and very stuttery. HAHAHA.

5. Has now officially knocked both side mirrors off of his car. AKA the Green Machine. Oh my. Italy is treacherous for drivers!

 

She...

1. Has become a voracious reader. In the photos above she was telling me alllll about Nancy Drew.

2. Auditioned for her very first musical last night. The Little Mermaid. She blew me away. Tears and goosebumps. Her confidence is amazing. I love that she has found something that she is passionate about. I really want to cultivate that.

3. Will be eight soon. EIGHT? How is that POSSIBLE?

4. Never stops singing. Ever. Ever ever ever. Harper's life is a musical. And it's magical.

5. Is really blossoming this year. Improved self-confidence...not so hard on herself. She's finding her niche and it's beautiful to see.

 

She:

1. Is really walking that fine line between spunk and sass lately. We struggle with that. I want her to be respectful but I don't want her to lose the spunk. The spark. I love her so much but being her mama can be hard!

2. Rocks at gymnastics. Definitely her "thing".

3. Has a crazy desire to LEARN. She absorbs everything. She is competitive with herself in a good way.

4. Asked me if she could hold my hand today. It melted my heart. God may have made her wild and stubborn...but he made her extra sweet to even it out.

5. Wants to grow her bob out. This breaks my heart but I'm honoring her wishes. I SO hope she wants to go back to the bangs and bob one day.

 

She:

1. Wears this crown almost every single day.

2. Is the leader in the "Howell scowl" competition. She makes this face at me multiple times a day.

3. Has taken to saying "SURE!" in a Boston-esque accent. Lucy? Can I hold you?? SHOOWAH!!!!

4. Likes to tell people she likes them. "I YIKE YOU!" She once said "I NO YIKE YOU" to someone but I nipped that one in the bud.

5. Does a dance to "Happy" by Pharrell Williams where she shakes her bottom and looks over her shoulder at it. HILARIOUS.

 

She:

1. Wears this monkey hat just as  much as Lucy wears her crown.

2. Weighs 4 1/2 pounds less than Lucy.

3. Could eat yogurt 9240820384 times a day if I let her.

4. Is in a whining phase. WORST PHASE EVER. I tell her I'm deaf to whining.

5. Loves playing baby/mommy with her sister. Watching them is HILAROUS!

 

xoxo

S

 

As We Speak...

Fighting a massive sinus infection. Can't taste or smell a single thing.

Exploring close to home. Because of work, J can't go far right now so we are trying to see what is in our neck of the woods. found this gem just minutes away.

Wishing there were more hours in the day. I'm back to feeling like a hamster on a wheel. Just.Can't.Catch.Up.

Drinking endless lattes that my friend Grazia makes. So good. And only one euro per drink. And the coffee never tastes burnt. :)

Eating fritelle. The delicious fried treats are so unhealthy but so good. And everywhere right now since it's carnevale!

Studying Italian. I've started my first class and I love it. It makes my brain hurt (it's been a L O N G time since I was a student) but it's awesome. And I can now say helpful things like Sono sempre confusa. I am always confused.

Listening to the Frozen soundtrack. On repeat. LET IT GOOOOOO.

Anticipating the Oh Joy for Target collection. It is marked on my calendar. And I have an American shopping liason. :)

Learning about Paris. We had to cancel our Valentine's trip due to work stuff. We've rescheduled (in April) to celebrate our 11 year wedding anniversary...dreaming and scheming. And praying it works out.

Wearing yoga pants and my fuschia NorthFace fleece. No 'ashion for me when it's gray and depressing and cold. Comfort clothes for the win.

Missing Body Pump classes. Due to my new Italian class schedule, I can't do Body Pump any more. And my body and brain miss it.

Holding on to the one day of sunshine we got. It was glorious.

Imagining our summer in my mind. Cinque Terre, Amalfi coast, Sardinia...and the imaginary list goes on and on and on.

Making pretty things using my Gossamer Blue kits.

xoxoxo

S

 

This Week...

I started a new book:

and finished it (good but weird, and i like that combination).

Sadie got dolled up in green for a St. Pat's parade at her school:

Harper was called to the office and was given a special sticker for having great behavior and for being kind:

She also continued to wiggle her very first loose tooth. It's on the bottom and she waited a LONG time for that sucker.

Jimmy and I rented The Master (hated it) and Joshua (thought it was okay).

I found an awesome striped dress (great Kate Spade knock off) at Marshall's (for SIXTEEN BUCKS!):

The mint top was cute, too. But I didn't need it. The dress? Was a MUST.

We had another book themed family dinner night:

And one glorious day of a cloudless sky and a 50 degree temperature.

We pretended it was spring.

it was 30 degrees the very next day and J saw snow flurries.

The babies played LOTS of peekaboo:

I got the This is Me class kit from SC. The first class I've bought there. So proud of my sweet friend, Lexi.

Sadie started Level 1 gymnastics, they pushed her out of Minis. SO proud of her. She loves it and is so good:

We had a family dinner out (fundraiser for Sadie's school).

Sadie hid in a giant sunbeam to prove to me that I do not, in fact, have the power to make her be in a photo.

Touche.

What else? Hmm.

We watched JT's SNL hosting gig. LEGENDARY.

Laughed so hard I cried.

Caught up on Nashville, played lots of "grocery store", went to the real grocery store.

Read with Harper,J went to lots of physical therapy,

Tried a good crockpot meal. Next time I'll double the recipe, add more water, and remember that it actually cooks in about 3 1/2 hours.

Hope your week was beautiful, tell me about it! I'd love to hear.

xo

S

as we speak

 

as we speak...

she-

1.is still loving school. she's very serious about it. she has to do her homework ON MONDAY!! even though it's not due until friday. she won't let us walk her in her school...she doesn't mess around with this school stuff,ha!

2.is dressed up as rapunzel when she's not in school clothes

3.loves writing stories in a little composition book she has at home. she illustrates them as well. so cute.

4.is VERY into all types of music. she is the child that knows all the words to every song she hears.

5.is having a hard time after school each day. we leave at 7:40 and get home at 4 pm...that makes for a LONG day. she's tired and it's causing her to get very grumpy,bless her heart. hoping she'll adjust soon.

 

she-

1.gets herself dressed every morning as soon as she wakes up and before she comes downstairs. she used to choose dresses but now has moved on to separates which can be...um...interesting? don't you DARE tell her that that striped tunic does not match that floral skirt. don't you DARE.

2.tries to pick up the babies and carry them around all day long. responds to SADIE NO!!! with a smirk.

3.loves the fresh beat band, always wants to watch it and sing and dance along.

4.is loving taking showers "ALL BY MYSELF"!!!

5.could do puzzles all day long. she is patient, serious,and VERY good at them.

she (lucy)-

1.smiles all.day.long. this is not an exaggeration. she is the happiest baby i've ever known.

2.splashes like a MANIAC in the bath and scares me half to death. she lunges, bounces, tries to stick her mouth in the water...terrifying.

3.puts everything in her mouth

4.loves to give me big open mouthed kisses (more like slobbery licks, but i'll take 'em)

5.says DADADADADADADADA all day long ever since j came home. hmmph. i only hear MAMAMAMAMAMAMA when she's hungry. :)

 

she (cate)-

1.has taken to making this LOVELY face constantly. this is the "bulldog" face. all of our children have a period from about 9-11 months where they do this face obsessively.

2.snatches and grabs at everything. especially faces.

3.loves baby mum mums and gerber puffs. i buy them in bulk mainly because of her.

4.doesn't want to be held. there's too much CRAWLING and EXPLORING and PULLING UP to be done!

5.screams really loud and sooooo high pitched at me if i take something away from her!

he:

1.is always holding at least one of his daughters. i cannot find a photo of him without at least one girl in his arms since he's been home.

2.may or may not have called 911 (his first time alone with more than 2 of the children) 10 minutes after i left b/c sadie swallowed a nickel. you decide whether this is fact or fiction.

3.has been helping me do some crossFit work outs. he is in amazing shape. me? i almost died. but i didn't throw up and i didn't quit. i consider this progress.

4.is very very jealous of the iPad he gave me.

5.made us the best hamburgers this weekend. one of the best hamburgers i've ever had,actually.

 

she-

1.is certifiably obsessed with her iPad2. she could spend all day on stumbleupon and flipboard if she let herself. it's a serious addiction.

2.is in a slump at the gym. still loving zumba and strength/cardio classes, but HATING step. also not loving turbokick or kickboxing. burned out. reevaluating how many classes per week to attend and how many crossFit workouts to subsitute.evolving.

3.is wanting to do a blog redesign BADLY.it is consuming her thoughts !:)

4.has been getting ocular/silent migraines lately. think the aura that comes with a migraine without the actual migraine. it's been a lifelong thing, but they are never fun.

5.has lots of fun craft projects in mind. MUST get hands on twinkle lights asap.

 

and we?

are loving being a we.

happy tuesday y'all!

xxo

s

as we speak

**moxiemandie giveaway still open below!**

Overheard:

Sadie: knock, knock!

Harper: who's there?

Sadie: POOP! (said with great glee)

Harper: EWWWWW! sadie caroline howell, that is NOT attractive!

♥

Sadie: OW! someping hurts!

Harper: oh...i know what it is! hold on, let me check.yep, that's it.

Sadie: WHAT????

Harper: you're too big for your britches!

♥

sidenote: does anyone really think your kids don't listen to every word coming out of your mouth? ☺ harper kind of sounds like a mini stephanie in both of these examples. hehehehe!

 

On the Table:

I made the most delicious slow cooker chicken and turkey sausage gumbo yesterday.

It is a weight watchers recipe (5 points!!) and I can't get over how seriously yummy it was!

 

Trying:

Kickboxing last night for the first time. It was probably my least favorite class I've taken so far, but it definitely worked. My abs are super sore today. I need to try spin, but to say i'm scared would be an understatement. haha.

 

Reading:

well, i say "reading" very loosely as it's been sitting on my bedside table for a week. not much time for reading these days, but i am getting a paragraph or so in each night before i fall asleep out of sheer exhaustion. HA!

 

Making:

trying to make things using my july kit from SC. i got add-on one and though i love everything, you could say the exact same thing about crafting that i said about reading. no time these days.

summer+exercise=priorities shifting and much less time for creative play. i have to figure out how to fit it back in. :(

i do love the layout above, though!

 

saving:

being smarter about the ways i'm trying to save. learning it takes patience and smarts. i'm doing better and feeling less frustrated...and finally figured out about all of the "multiples coupons" that baby companies offer for moms of multiples!

it takes some time and phone calls, but almost all baby product companies will send you major coupons and vouchers for free products if you have multiples!

also scored a pretty good deal here the other day:

i saved hundreds of dollars (seriously, like 300) on a double stroller from phil&ted that i've been eyeing for ages.

if you haven't joined zulily, you definitely should. the deals are incredible and shipping has gotten much faster lately!

 

photos:

 

miss h playing "princess kate" and miss h wearing her new hat,which she says is "SOOO savannah".

 

sadie looking at me disdainfully...but gosh i love her green eyes. and lucy's thighs of thunder.

  

sitting practice (they are SO proud of themselves!) with lucy on the left, fourth of july outfits from carter's

 

modeling their new amy tangerine tees (lucy is in the green). these are some of my favorite all time photos of them. i can't believe they will be SEVEN months old next week!

have a beautiful, blessed weekend!

xoxo

s