~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
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{pretty}
I will never tire of these views. Every time we head up Mt. Scott (to be clear: you drive to the top. We would not make it there so often/ever if we had to hike!) I fall in love with this place. Would you have expected Southwest Oklahoma to look like this? I certainly didn't expect Southwest Oklahoma to look like this. But here it is, in all its glory!
Selfie on top of mountain, with baby. (You can see the one she “ruined” on my Instagram feed.)
{happy}
Molly turned two on Sunday! She was a little intimidated by all the singing, and needed a little help with her candles. Help which her big brother was more than willing to provide.
After cake and ice cream, the kids and their two little friends who had joined us to celebrate played a few rounds of “pin the stinger on the bee,” which was a hit. (Molly loves bees. Toads too, but I couldn't figure out what we'd pin on the toad. A fly, maybe?) Our other party activities were “throw around all the balloons” and “ride bikes and play baseball outside.” And, of course, “eat.”
Simple thrills.
The scene the next morning. Did I take pretty pictures during the party? Of course not. How do moms throw parties, hold babies, and take pictures? My hat goes off to them.
All those balloons were the extent of our party decorations, though, because when Aunt Natasha sends a fabulously cute balloon party dress to the birthday girl, you overcome your party-throwing lameness and get some matching balloons.
{funny}
My brother-in-law spent a few nights here on his way back down to college in Dallas. He generously offered to make breakfast the morning he left, and I turned around to find him attempting to fry six thick slices of bacon in the tiny pan I'd left on the (messy, sorry) stove after scrambling Pippo's egg earlier in the morning. (According to him, you can't always count on the availability of more than one pan in a 20-something single man's apartment, but he also didn't want to cheat anyone out of his fair share of bacon.)
I laughed, took a picture, got him a pan of reasonable size, and then enjoyed a delicious breakfast.
{real}
We've been plagued with sewer issues over the last few weeks, all the details of which I will not trouble you with, but suffice it to say that we were left in a precarious indoor-plumbing situation for several days at a time.
In our rural neighborhood, our sewer is handled by the homeowner's association, and since the problem was in the main line, it was their responsibility. It was an interesting education on how these things can be handled at such a local level — one part experience, one part neighborliness, and one part Macgyver-like ingenuity.
And when they were all done (we are cautiously optimistic that the problem is resolved!) they hooked a fire hose up to the hydrant and flushed out all the pipes. Pretty exciting stuff!
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Margaret Thom says
Living in Scotland, your scenery reminded me of all those cowboy films of my childhood, which was a little time ago.!!! Such a pretty part of the country you live in.
KellyD says
At our house, we call those kinds of clouds “Jesus clouds”. Like He’s going to appear standing on one and announce “Ok people, it is time to go!” Absolutely beautiful!!
Rosie says
Haha… Exactly!
Lori Richmond says
Rosie,
I love the way you have imitated your Mom’s Little Oratory the dining room of your home! You have your own piece of home with you and continuity from Grandma & Grandpa’s to give your children connection. Well done! I pray my own children might do the same one day!
diane says
Did Aunt Natasha make that lovely party dress? I adore making little girls’ clothes; God had quite a sense of humor in keeping me single all these years. Still, I’ve been able to bless friends’ girls with frilly things. I love the piping on the arms and neck.
My HOA is….dysfunctional, at best. At the end of the month I’m hosting a dessert get together for about 15% of us- the neighbors closest to me. Just to try to foster some actual neighborliness. LOL – I’ll take all the prayers I can get, if you are so inclined.
Rosie says
Oh, good luck. If anything is going to foster neighborliness, it’s dessert, right?
Jill Foley says
Beautiful views from Mt. Scott – I would never have imagined OK to look like that!
Your children are adorable, as always!
Ali says
Please oh please tell me where I can get an adorable balloon dress for my soon-to-be birthday girl? How adorable!
Rosie says
I know, it’s really perfect, isn’t it? Such a treat! It’s made by Rachel Riley.
Maurisa says
We lived in Oklahoma for 5 years and I had no idea there were mountains! Those really are some pretty views! Such sweet photos of your little ones.
Deborah says
The tryptych in your dining room is lovely. Do you have any idea of its origin?
Plus, a lovely family you have, truly blessed by God…and raising your children to love and live for him too.
Deborah
Rosie says
Thank you, Deborah. We really are blessed. As for the tryptych, it was a gift from my brother-in-law, who wasn’t the one to find it originally, either. I’m afraid I have no idea of its origin! There’s a label on the back in Italian that names the saints pictured and possibly the artist, but I’d have to pull it off the wall to check. (I could do that if you want…)
Dawn says
What a sweet party dress for a sweet girl. I am glad you sewer issues are resolved.
blessings, Dawn
Annie Dill says
Rosie, I applaud your simple party style. Yes, please! Balloons and cake, whatever else does a two-year-old need?! It brings back a happy memory of my older daughter being sent a balloon birthday dress by HER aunt when turning 5:)
Melissa D says
Part of the reason why I skimp on balloons is because I think I have to bunch and hang them up on the ceiling all the time. It feels like a lot of work (because I can’t handle heights of any kind)! I like how you have them on the floor where kids can play with them! rethinking our birthday decorating strategies now….
Rosie says
I was convinced of the simple joy balloons bring to the under-5 set when we went to a party decorated by a handful of helium-filled balloons, each tied to a matchbox car. At the end of the party, every child brought one (car+balloon) home. Simple, festive, incredibly satisfying: brilliant. (Much cooler than mine, though we did send our little friend home with an armload of balloons…)
B says
Pin the tongue or the back bumps on the toad? Or if it was the character from Wind in the Willows you could pin the hat on.
Kimberlee says
Happy Birthday to your sweet birthday girl! Her party sounds perfect. Love those red shoes of hers. And I didn’t know Oklahoma was so very beautiful! Lovely, lovely sights you have there. (and happy for you that your sewer is fixed- eek!)
Robin says
Thanks for always sharing the beautiful mountain views, Rosie! They make me replay some very happy scenes from my childhood every time. (Your kids are adorable too!! :))
Becky says
I need Aunt Natasha to share her fabulous sense of clothing style and sources- especially for children. Perhaps instagram?
I’m so glad your sewer issues go resolved!
Rosie says
I know, right? She has a great eye!
Wendy says
When you visit Mt. Scott do you eat at the nearby Meers? It is a ghost town with just a restaurant left in it, but one worth visiting. The Meers burgers are the size of your plate – plenty to share around, and the cobbler they serve one would serve a whole family – homemade cobbler with home made ice cream. it’s a treat. Check them out
Rosie says
But of course! We love Meers. Such a quirky, fun, tasty place!
Leila says
Best steak ever.
Chere Mama says
The birthday girl is just so darn cute!! That age is so fun. But my kids were also a bit alarmed when my loud and boisterous extended family would sing them Happy Birthday.
Woman of the House says
Awwwww, two years old! How great! The party looks fun and the dress is adorable. Love the OK views too!
Melanie says
After reading this blog for so long and having you all fixed in my head as “in the northeast”, some vague yankee part of the country to which I’ve never ventured, I just can’t get over you all being in Oklahoma! If you ever venture to Arkansas…. 🙂 Molly is lovely in her birthday dress and sandals, she looks like such a big girl.
Rosie says
It’s crazy, right? I can’t quite get over it either! 🙂 Swing by for a visit, neighbor!