This week was the start of Mark's busy travel schedule.  With the snow and freeezing cold weather we got this week, it was a long week for Mommy.  We were stuck in the house from Sunday afternoon until Wednesday night.  When Mark is gone, there is nothing to break up the day if we don't get out.  We were all getting a little stir crazy, but got some cleaning done, played games, accomplished a lot of school busy work, read a lot, ordered pizza, and even did a craft.  We welcomed Daddy home yesterday afternoon with a plate of fresh chocolate chip cookies.  Nothing shows loves like chocolate chip cookies. 

My fair damsels

We have been studying medieval England the past couple weeks in history.  We (as in Mommy! and the girls) have been learning about the feudal system, knights, kings, and castles. Who knew that history was so fascinating? 

We are also reading through "Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis this winter.  We just finished up "Prince Caspian."  These are delightful read aloud books, with such great lessons for mom and the kiddos.  Right now we're taking a break from Narnia to read "Canterubury Tales" and "Robin Hood." 

The girls have been using our moving boxes to make castles, swords, and coats of arms.  Madeline does a great English accent.

I found this art project on Deep Space Sparkle and thought it looked doable. I cut out shapes for a castle, such as long rectangles, a big square, roundish rectangles, triangles, and more.  Then the girls traced around the shapes to create their castle.  I showed them how to draw bricks and add landscape around the castle.  Then they used water colors to finish. 

Anna's

Madeline's

Lydia's

Amen

“To be Queen Elizabeth within a definite area, deciding sales, banquets, labours, and holidays; to be Whitely within a certain area, providing toys, boots, cakes and books; to be Aristotle within a certain area, teaching morals, manners, theology, and hygiene; I can imagine how this can exhaust the mind, but I cannot imagine how it could narrow it. How can it be a large career to tell other people about the Rule of Three, and a small career to tell one’s own children about the universe? How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone and narrow to be everything to someone? No, a woman’s function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute.”

G.K. Chesterton

The fashionistas

With four girls, there is a lot of fashion going on over here.  I'm slowly figuring out that every girl is different and may not work with her bigger sister's attire.  So, here is what's happening...

 Anna has decided that she wants to wear dresses.  Everyday.  Not just any dress.  "Beautiful" dresses.  If you ask her why she wants to wear a dress, she says "Because I'm a girl."  Got it.  Here she is with a beautiful dress, accessorizing with a headband, pearls, tape measure, and her infamous pink boots.  She wouldn't be Anna without them. 

When Madeline was five, she decided that she would only wear jeans.  No comfy pants, just jeans.  That means I have a tub full of jeans for Lydia at age five to wear.  However, Lydia is a skinny minny with no behind.  She has nothing to keep jeans up with.  After seeing one too many "rear views" from her, we are going the legging route with her.  Seriously, she even has trouble keeping leggings up.  (This is from Mark.  Not Me.)  With a cute pair of boots, she is styling as only our Lydia can be.

Decorating help

Since we have been back home from Christmas, I have been busy making this house feel like a home.  Before Christmas, we got everything moved in and organized.  Then it was preparing for Christmas.  I decided I would not worry about curtains or hanging anything on the wall until after Christmas.  Well, it is after Christmas now and I've been having a lot of fun.  Here is a preview of some of my favorite finds, and a shot of a room that I really need your help with.

This is the dining room, where we eat supper.  Nothing in the house is really done yet, but this room is getting there.  I've had the red mirror for a long time and have always hung it horizontally.  I like it vertical in this room, and am not sure if I'll hang it or just keep it leaning.

This chicken makes me smile.  I got it from TJ Maxx (Love TJ's!).  I am trying to buy things that I like, even if I don't have a specific spot in mind for it.  I think it is great in the niche above my kitchen sink.

The piano room. I have no vision for this room.  It is a big room with high ceilings, right when you come in the front door.  We're planning on getting a comfy chair for the corner.  Other than that, I'm at a loss.  Any bright ideas?

This is the front entry way.  I wanted to get a color table.  But then I saw this table, liked it, was a good price, and small enough for the space.  I have some frames for it, but what else does it need? 

I love these pillows!  The first and third pillow are from Pier 1 Imports.  They were clearanced waay down.  I wasn't sure if they were going to work, so I just got them and brought them home.  They really brighten up the room and I love them.  The red pillow is from the good ol' standby Target.

Another TJ's find.  I have renewed my love for TJ Maxx and Pier 1.  I had forgotten about them for quite some time.  But they have my undying devotion again.  I love the colors in this rug.  Happiness by the kitchen door. 

I was really drawn to this print in the store but really didn't know if it would work.  I brought it home and it sat in our kitchen for a few days, growing on Mark and me.

And of course my three all time forever and ever favorites in this house.  Chocolate chip cookie faces and all!