Happy birthday to our 9 year old goob! We are so p Happy birthday to our 9 year old goob! We are so proud of this boy. We are constantly told by others how kind and sweet his is. I mean, we know it too, but it means even more when his character shines through even when mom and dad aren't watching. We love you so much "Puppy!"
More photos from this weekend 🍂🍏⚽ More photos from this weekend 🍂🍏⚽
The start of a new school year has always felt lik The start of a new school year has always felt like more of a “New Years” to me than January 1st ever did. The air starts getting more crisp (thank goodness), the leaves start to change, and the house is quieter (now that the kids are in school, and just during the day, ha). 

Every year around this time I can clearly look back and see how our family has changed. Last year, we had just said goodbye to the boys (our first foster placement) and our family was making sense of the whirlwind that had just happened over the summer. This year, David is way more into soccer, Evy is telling me about the conversations the girls at school are having (she’s a huge people-watcher), and of course Cleo is getting so big! Her first two teeth made their appearance this week and we’re also pretty sure she said “Dada” the other night. 

It really goes by so fast. But little memories like the ones in these photos will last. I remember going apple picking with sweet family friends as a kid and I love doing that for our kids now. 

What traditions have you tried to pass down to your kids?
Evy has always been very much a Mommy's girl. Sinc Evy has always been very much a Mommy's girl. Since she's been a baby, I've been learning that she needs love in a very different way than David does. After school and before bed, she especially needs all the love, attention, and cuddles. 

Today I had a pretty hard day with several hours of intensive Zoom calls. They ended right as the kids got home from school and when I was done, I just felt this deep exhaustion and wanted nothing more than to cuddle with my kids and never look at a computer again 🤪. 

I realized that's probably how Evy (and David, but mostly Evy) typically feels after a long day. I can tell that it's especially draining for her. So I was reminded to be extra gentle with her emotions, especially on school days when there's just so much going on and it can feel pretty intense, especially at that age. And especially to us introverts 🫠 Anyone else have highly emotional kiddos?
My phone rang this morning just as we were pulling My phone rang this morning just as we were pulling away from dropping the kids at school. A little baby needed a home until his adoptive family could come get him. 

At the time, we didn’t know his name, his gender, or anything about him. We were told he was healthy and we’d get more details later.

And we said yes! We thought it would be longer but his adoptive family is BOOKING it to get here and take him home forever. He will be so loved!!

I love that we get to share moments like these with our kids. I know they’ll remember them for a looong time to come.
Sometimes I just need to remind myself that not ev Sometimes I just need to remind myself that not every moment needs to be filled with productivity. And sometimes I don't need to multitask. Easier said than done for me anyway. But I'm trying to intentionally practice slowing down. How do you try to slow down?

Shoes @naot.northamerica
Dress @shopbohme
Butterfly hair! It's easier than it looks 🦋 Do Butterfly hair! It's easier than it looks 🦋

Doing fun hairstyles with Ev has been a new way for us to bond, especially since Cleo's joined us. Would you try this one??
I'm working to adjust my mindset from thinking I n I'm working to adjust my mindset from thinking I need to rush while the baby's asleep to get things done to rather bringing them along with me when I can. 

Cleo loves being worn and, for the time being, is super content just watching me unload the dishwasher, make dinner, or tag along to grab Evy and David from the bus. 

And I'm way more at peace when I don't feel like I need to rush or time is running out. We have time and most things we have to do in a day aren't urgent.
Baby's first taste of solids: banana edition 🍌 Baby's first taste of solids: banana edition 🍌 What was the first food you gave to your baby?
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Family, Fashion, Life & Finances, Sponsored · October 19, 2018

How We’re Creating Family Time This Fall

How do you spend Halloween?

In the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot more about living intentionally with my family. I know “intentional” is kind of a buzzword these days but I also feel like it’s still extremely relevant. How often do we go through our days holding our phone in one hand, and checking off our to-do list with the other? I know I’m extremely guilty of this, especially because a big part of my job is done online, I don’t even want to know how many hours a day are spent on my phone!

Which brings me back to intentionality.

You know what I’ve noticed? When Josh and I dedicate time to simply pay attention and be with our kids, they’re actually happier. Actually, they even act like they need us less when we’re able to dedicate even a few undivided moments to them. It’s almost as if they just need a small reminder that they have our attention and are special to us.

Since we’ve been actively trying to be more intentional with the kids, we’ve actually noticed much less whining, even from our 4-year-old who hates bedtime. If that’s not a reason to be more intentional, I don’t know what is!

All that being said, I wanted to share with you a few ways Josh and I are being intention this fall and even during Halloween!

First, we bundled up!

One of my ultimate favorite things about fall is the fact that you can layer up without having to cover up your entire outfit with a huge coat. I love being able to wear a cute top underneath a cardigan or light jacket. At the beginning of the season, I headed over to Marks & Spencer and was able to get a few fall staples for each of us! I love the prices available and the fact that I can get a few things for everyone without breaking the bank. I LOVE the cotton button-down and stretch jeans I got for David! Each are only $20! It fits him so well and I know it’ll grow with him over the next several months. Evy desperately needed a new coat and I been debating getting her a rain jacket (Washington falls and winters are WET) or winter coat. This 3 in 1 Fisherman Coat solves all those problems in one jacket! Not to mention how cute it is with her unicorn boots.

I also was able to treat myself to a little something once I was done shopping for the kids and Josh. I loved this open-front coat! I think the color is beautiful and it layers perfectly with so much! To go with it I got some genuine suede trainers that are super cute and awesome for being out and about with the kids.

We made a special trip to the pumpkin patch!

We talked about all the new fall colors we saw, the crisp and cool temperature in the air, and the silly shapes of all the gourds. After we picked our pumpkins, we took a ride on the hayride and looked around the farm. We let each of the kids pick out their favorite gourd before we left and they loved having something of their own to hold on the way home.

Next, we decorated!

Instead of cobwebs and fake blood on Halloween, I love to play up the natural beauty of the season. We went to a local nursery together and the kids helped me pick out some pumpkins and corn stalks for the porch! I convinced Josh to let us get a huge flower pot as well. I couldn’t resist those fall colors!!

We got Halloween ready!

This Halloween is going to be extra special because this year, Evy will be able to join in on the fun rather than being pushed around in a stroller! I let David pick out his own Halloween costume from Marks & Spencer. He chose this adorable pirate costume for himself and we together picked out a unicorn costume perfect for Evy. They were so excited to try on their costumes that we gave them a bit of a practice round 🙂

We also picked out a few Halloween-themed treats to get in the spirit of the season! (I may or may not have already used up my share of cheat days this fall).

We made bedtime special

During our usual bedtime routine, Evy goes to sleep well before David (our night owl) but recently we’ve been making an effort to start their bedtime routines together by having a family story time together. Can you take a guess where the kids’ pajamas are from?! How cute are they? The kids will be wearing these well into the winter months and they may even make an appearance in a few Christmas photos as well.

I’d love to hear how your family is making Halloween special this fall! Tell me you favorite Halloween traditions in the comments below and how you plan to be intentional with your family this fall!

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In: Family, Fashion, Life & Finances, Sponsored · Tagged: autumn, baby, boy, cheap, coat, costume, cute, dress up, fall, family, fashion, friendly, girl, halloween, inexpensive, kids, make believe, marks & spencer, marks and spencer, men's, noads, pink, pirate, pretty, pumpkin patch, quality, sneakers, store, style, suede, time, toddler, trainers, unicorn, women's

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Comments

  1. Indya | The Small Adventurer says

    October 20, 2018 at 4:02 am

    In our house it’s just me and my partner and we still struggle to spend a lot of time together! As we’re both students and one of us works nights whilst the other works days, sometimes we don’t get to see each other until it’s time to go to sleep! So we always try to make whatever little time we have together special by doing something we both love, which usually involves making food and watching something funny together. Such simple activities, but when they’re done with the right person, they can bring so much happiness to your heart.

  2. Leah Ashley says

    October 21, 2018 at 5:05 pm

    Love all these!! My favorite is the Making bed time special!! To me there is nothing better at the end of the day then getting ready for bed and having story time!

  3. Alexis says

    October 24, 2018 at 11:28 am

    Your kiddos are so adorable! This is my first holiday season with our own kiddo. i love learning how other people celebrate the seasons/holidays because it’s a great way to see what everyone does and if there’s anything to adapt ourselves. I, too, don’t decorate for Halloween with cobwebs and creepy things, I’m all about decorating for fall and the natural colors fall brings.

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Hi! I'm Chelsea and we're the Damon's. We spent the last two years in WA state paying off student loans and just bought our first house in SC! I love a smooth black coffee, Josh's first love is the Seattle Sounders. Our kids are huge dorks and constantly make us laugh and we all love spending as much time outside as possible.

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Happy birthday to our 9 year old goob! We are so p Happy birthday to our 9 year old goob! We are so proud of this boy. We are constantly told by others how kind and sweet his is. I mean, we know it too, but it means even more when his character shines through even when mom and dad aren't watching. We love you so much "Puppy!"
More photos from this weekend 🍂🍏⚽ More photos from this weekend 🍂🍏⚽
The start of a new school year has always felt lik The start of a new school year has always felt like more of a “New Years” to me than January 1st ever did. The air starts getting more crisp (thank goodness), the leaves start to change, and the house is quieter (now that the kids are in school, and just during the day, ha). 

Every year around this time I can clearly look back and see how our family has changed. Last year, we had just said goodbye to the boys (our first foster placement) and our family was making sense of the whirlwind that had just happened over the summer. This year, David is way more into soccer, Evy is telling me about the conversations the girls at school are having (she’s a huge people-watcher), and of course Cleo is getting so big! Her first two teeth made their appearance this week and we’re also pretty sure she said “Dada” the other night. 

It really goes by so fast. But little memories like the ones in these photos will last. I remember going apple picking with sweet family friends as a kid and I love doing that for our kids now. 

What traditions have you tried to pass down to your kids?
Evy has always been very much a Mommy's girl. Sinc Evy has always been very much a Mommy's girl. Since she's been a baby, I've been learning that she needs love in a very different way than David does. After school and before bed, she especially needs all the love, attention, and cuddles. 

Today I had a pretty hard day with several hours of intensive Zoom calls. They ended right as the kids got home from school and when I was done, I just felt this deep exhaustion and wanted nothing more than to cuddle with my kids and never look at a computer again 🤪. 

I realized that's probably how Evy (and David, but mostly Evy) typically feels after a long day. I can tell that it's especially draining for her. So I was reminded to be extra gentle with her emotions, especially on school days when there's just so much going on and it can feel pretty intense, especially at that age. And especially to us introverts 🫠 Anyone else have highly emotional kiddos?

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Happy birthday to our 9 year old goob! We are so p Happy birthday to our 9 year old goob! We are so proud of this boy. We are constantly told by others how kind and sweet his is. I mean, we know it too, but it means even more when his character shines through even when mom and dad aren't watching. We love you so much "Puppy!"
More photos from this weekend 🍂🍏⚽ More photos from this weekend 🍂🍏⚽
The start of a new school year has always felt lik The start of a new school year has always felt like more of a “New Years” to me than January 1st ever did. The air starts getting more crisp (thank goodness), the leaves start to change, and the house is quieter (now that the kids are in school, and just during the day, ha). 

Every year around this time I can clearly look back and see how our family has changed. Last year, we had just said goodbye to the boys (our first foster placement) and our family was making sense of the whirlwind that had just happened over the summer. This year, David is way more into soccer, Evy is telling me about the conversations the girls at school are having (she’s a huge people-watcher), and of course Cleo is getting so big! Her first two teeth made their appearance this week and we’re also pretty sure she said “Dada” the other night. 

It really goes by so fast. But little memories like the ones in these photos will last. I remember going apple picking with sweet family friends as a kid and I love doing that for our kids now. 

What traditions have you tried to pass down to your kids?
Evy has always been very much a Mommy's girl. Sinc Evy has always been very much a Mommy's girl. Since she's been a baby, I've been learning that she needs love in a very different way than David does. After school and before bed, she especially needs all the love, attention, and cuddles. 

Today I had a pretty hard day with several hours of intensive Zoom calls. They ended right as the kids got home from school and when I was done, I just felt this deep exhaustion and wanted nothing more than to cuddle with my kids and never look at a computer again 🤪. 

I realized that's probably how Evy (and David, but mostly Evy) typically feels after a long day. I can tell that it's especially draining for her. So I was reminded to be extra gentle with her emotions, especially on school days when there's just so much going on and it can feel pretty intense, especially at that age. And especially to us introverts 🫠 Anyone else have highly emotional kiddos?
My phone rang this morning just as we were pulling My phone rang this morning just as we were pulling away from dropping the kids at school. A little baby needed a home until his adoptive family could come get him. 

At the time, we didn’t know his name, his gender, or anything about him. We were told he was healthy and we’d get more details later.

And we said yes! We thought it would be longer but his adoptive family is BOOKING it to get here and take him home forever. He will be so loved!!

I love that we get to share moments like these with our kids. I know they’ll remember them for a looong time to come.
Sometimes I just need to remind myself that not ev Sometimes I just need to remind myself that not every moment needs to be filled with productivity. And sometimes I don't need to multitask. Easier said than done for me anyway. But I'm trying to intentionally practice slowing down. How do you try to slow down?

Shoes @naot.northamerica
Dress @shopbohme
Butterfly hair! It's easier than it looks 🦋 Do Butterfly hair! It's easier than it looks 🦋

Doing fun hairstyles with Ev has been a new way for us to bond, especially since Cleo's joined us. Would you try this one??
I'm working to adjust my mindset from thinking I n I'm working to adjust my mindset from thinking I need to rush while the baby's asleep to get things done to rather bringing them along with me when I can. 

Cleo loves being worn and, for the time being, is super content just watching me unload the dishwasher, make dinner, or tag along to grab Evy and David from the bus. 

And I'm way more at peace when I don't feel like I need to rush or time is running out. We have time and most things we have to do in a day aren't urgent.
Baby's first taste of solids: banana edition 🍌 Baby's first taste of solids: banana edition 🍌 What was the first food you gave to your baby?
Just a Wednesday afternoon and a book 📖 👀 th Just a Wednesday afternoon and a book 📖
👀 the comfiest heels I own by @naot.northamerica 
#naotic

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