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I almost posted this on Halloween, but those aren’t costumes 😂 The big kids are back enrolled at our local parochial school. There are several reasons we stopped homeschooling, but the most important one is that we know that this option is what’s best for our kids and for our family-for right now. Thank you to all our family and friends and teachers who have so loved us (and especially our kids) in these transitions. And thank YOU for putting up with all these quasi-melodramatic “grand announcement” posts 😂 I just didn’t want anyone to be too surprised by our Christmas card. 🤣😘❤️ #howeveryouschoolisfinebyme #allthefeelings #thoseuniformsthough😍Homeschool 😳😳😳 Our reasons are many, varied and deeply personal, but, at the very core of this call, I know I am to work especially hard on my relationships with these five tiny humans this year. So, I’m going to try and be “here” less and out “there” more. Less Little Squares. More Little Loves. Maybe some day I’ll be good at balancing IG life and in-person life, but I’m not. And, right now I need to tip the scales really far in the direction of my kiddos. Also, I love you guys, but I gotta love them more. 🤷🏼♀️😂 That’s some serious stuff, so here are some idyllic homeschooling pictures that thankfully have no sound #alltheyelling And be sure to scroll all the way to the end for a laugh. My life is 95% outtake, but that’s ok. On a COMPLETELY unrelated note, please pray for me #fivekidsisalotofkids #andihavenoideawhatimdoing PS We love the school they attended last year and I feel really good knowing that they can always go back 😂 PPS Txt or email me all the good memes and photos I’ll miss #mamraderie #FOMO and please assume I ❤️ everything you post #ineedyoutoknowi❤️you PPPS I’m going to dust off the blog, so if you want to know all the ways I’m failing (ahem) rocking life in the next year, check it out. 😘I bought @floretflower ‘s book in the dead of winter, desperate for a little color and a dream of summer. It is such a beautiful book. Then her simple instructions made a flower garden seem doable and attainable and...necessary. As someone who’s mostly only grown edible things (Practical! Delicious!) it took a little encouragement to jump into flowers. But, jump I did! Into dahlias. And I’m so, so glad. Heading out in the cool morning hours to check plants, touch blossoms, cut and arrange flowers has been one of the most joy-inducing, depression-abating activities I’ve ever done. What a gift! I can’t wait to divide them this fall, replant in the spring and have (even more) beautiful bounty to share. 😍Archives
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Author Archives: Caitlin @ TOTE
Wordless Weekend Returns
*Breaking the WW mould with some words here… A very dear friend reminded me today that I used to post photos on Mondays about what we did over the weekend. I’m going to pick that habit back up (Thanks for … Continue reading
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State of the Family 2018, Part 1
February is a good time to stop and take stock, right? January is full of recovering from Christmas while simultaneously trying to reorganize and revamp stuff, life, food, exercise- ALL THE THINGS. By February all the pretend motivations have fallen … Continue reading
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Currently…
Life is busy. So, busy. But also, not. You know? There are times of the day where the minutes fly, and my temper flares, and we are always running late (mornings, evenings…). And then there are hours of quiet. Sleeping babies … Continue reading
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How We Remember
October 18th is the day we remember our Saint. It’s the feast day of St. Luke and the month that correlates with Lucas’ loss (and infant and pregnancy loss awareness month). There is providence even in the details. As a … Continue reading
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Moving Away but Keeping You Close…
Gosh, moving is hard. I’ve done it enough times that you would think I’d remember the physical and emotional strain of leaving the familiar for the unknown. I’m not sure what I expected to feel, apart from sadness… I’ve mostly … Continue reading
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The long road to…Tulip Festival 2017!
We recently took our annual trip to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. 6 years running now! Cue traditional two wooden shoes photo, which we seem to be completely filling up now: Here again are the last 6 years, just for … Continue reading
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Grandpa Labrie’s Eulogy
My paternal grandpa, my Dad’s Dad, passed away on March 16th. Baby G and I spent a whirlwind couple-a days down in the Bay Area attending his rosary, funeral and burial. The priest at his rosary and funeral knew him … Continue reading
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A Different Outcome
So, after waxing poetic this week about Monica losing her first tooth, today, during dinner, she lost her second! And accidentally swallowed it. For the record…. That tooth will not be in my jewelry box.
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Nostalgia and First Teeth
Monica folds herself up like a grasshopper to play on the floor. She is all arms and legs with seemingly an extra limb in there, because goodness that’s a lot of skin! There is not an ounce of toddler … Continue reading
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