Oliver took the above picture!
This weekend was full of a lot more rest (man, this abdominal surgery really knocked me on my behind!) as well as some reorganization and brainstorming about what I want to bring to the blog this new year. In addition to the old stand-by’s (Dress That Mama will be up in full force, with Dress That Prof making the occasional appearance; as well as recipes; DIY Fun for the kids; and Favorite Places), I will be posting portraits every Saturday morning of the boys in coordination with the 52 Project inspired by Jodi. I am really excited about sharing more of St. Louis with you, especially because it gives me an excuse to get out and discover new places. And on those days when I am struggling for a kid’s activity to share with you, I will be sure to share a favorite book for kids. And of course, as soon as spring has sprung, we will do plenty of garden-related posts. It’s going to be a great year!
Seasoned came this weekend! It turned out great!
Tomorrow is Andrew’s first day of teaching this year, so we will go back to a somewhat busy schedule. I am hoping not to undo all of the good that has come from Andrew taking care of the boys for the past 5 days. Seriously, he put my parenting to shame. He has Emil on a nap schedule, Oliver getting himself dressed and undressed and independently toileting (he always asked for help for all of these things before), laundry and dishes all caught up, and Emil sitting at the big boy table eating breakfast every morning with his big bros. Plus, he took them on all sorts of adventures and has started their third Roald Dahl book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:
Look at Oliver’s concerned expression! They were reading the part about Augustus Gloop getting sucked up the tube from the chocolate river… troubling for sure!
And I do have one teensy tiny question for you, if you don’t mind my asking… in order to improve and reach my readers, I was wondering, what is your favorite feature of this blog? In other words, what would you like to see more of? I really appreciate the feedback!
You and Andrew seem to have such a balanced and wonderful way of parenting those three incredible boys. I enjoy all of what you share, but always do enjoy seeing St. Louis through your eyes and now that Izzy is here I just might discover newq adventures for her through your space. Have you all been to the sculpture park? http://laumeiersculpturepark.org/ If not, I’d definitely recommend a visit.
Other than cute family photos, I LOVE recipes! It’s fun to see what other people are eating and cooking. Also, selfishly, I love the St. Louis hot spots because I can enjoy them too! I have been thinking about how I can get back into blogging as well…. Thanks for the inspiration!
I love your blog, Lauren, and I think that its a great balance of a lot of wonderful things! I’d love to see more of what you’re cooking, recipes, etc… Also, you have a fabulous sense of style, in everything from your own clothes/hair, etc… to your kids and your home, so I’d love to see more of that!
Thanks for the feedback, ladies! I am seeing a trend… 🙂
Holy cow, Sara! That place looks awesome! And free!
Going to check it out on the first warm day we have… thank you so much for sharing!
I think everything about your blog is great. If I had to pick favorites.. I love the dress that mama feature, the out and about in St Louis photos, and weekend wrap-ups a lot!
Glad you’re on the mend!
p.s. I love seeing hardcopies of that magazine!! weee!!
i love your style. so, that being said, i love the Dress That Mama feature and pictures of your home and how you keep it looking so organized and stylish, etc.
i also like it when you cover relevant parenting topics. like the bit you did on Public School or cell phones. those really get me thinking 🙂
whatever you decide, i’ll always be a fan. thanks for sharing.
btw – are those figs or cherries or what next to your cheese up there? either way, can i be invited to snack time?
You’ve got such a lovely family!! So much love.
Of course I love your blog, your personality comes through in a way that I think is very tough to do. I think my favorite posts are just the ones that recount a particularly crazy day with the boys, and make me laugh out loud. It’s all good!
So glad you are on the mend, and I think both you and Andrew are super parents. Quite the team.
Lilly- thank you! That means so much!
And Whitney, they are baby beets marinated in balsamic vinegar and honey… sooo good!
Andrew sounds a lot like my husband – is it a prof thing? I don’t know. But sometimes I think my boys just listen to their dada more than their mama.
Anyway, I love all your Dress That…. features and recipes too. And I love seeing outings with your kids. It encourages me!
xo
cortnie
Hi Lauren,
My favorite thing about your blog is YOU — which comes through in every part of it. It makes me miss you both less and more, if you know what I mean.
Practically speaking, I like the recipes and kid-project ideas. I’d love it if your readers could contribute to these features.
Also would like maybe a monthly installment on what kid-books you’ve read. We recently finished “Charlotte’s Web,” which has been hard to top. Or even match. I find libraries kind of overwhelming, and I like to hear what other families are reading.
Otherwise, don’t change a thing.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better.
xxo
Great suggestions, Nora! You have my wheels turning now! Thank you, and I miss you very, very much, friend!
My favorite parts are the photos of the boys and your writing voice, so you could pretty much do anything and I would still stay a reader. However, please keep mixtape monday, I love it.
Oh, good, Elisa! I will tell Andrew- Mixtape Monday is all Andrew. And I love it too!
Dear Lauren, Happy New Year! I’m glad you’re well after the surgery. I had no idea, having been a little absent from blogland lately, but I love that there’s ALL these awesome posts to catch up with. For the record, I got to say too that I love that you took pictures of your surgery scar. Major life events require documenting, whether they’re cute or not. As for suggestions, I’m with Jamie, I just made your chili (with some additions and subtractions) and loved it! More recipes please. I also love ‘dress that mama’. I’d like more musings on your style. Otherwise, don’t change a thing. I’m so impressed by your blogging pace what with kiddos, surgeries and all. Thanks for sharing it all!
Excited to see what 2013 brings for you, your style, and your sweet family. xo!
Your blog is so fun! I love all of the photography, and the features I find most useful are the crafts/games/pinterest-y stuff you do with your LOs (I totally steal them all the time) and the recipes (which I also steal, all the time.) I am just a big thief.
I enjoy blogs because each has their particular and unique “voice”-yours included. Whichever topics you find inspired to write about and however you organize your posts, your voice comes through. Thanks for sharing!
Lovely photos!
Thank you! Great feedback! And Liz, you are no thief! I post these ideas/recipes for sharing! Glad you are finding them useful.
Sixlets?!? I love those little candies so much.
And I agree with all the above…. I love all the features you do. But if I had to pick just one I’d say the food posts. I’ve made so many of your recipes (that chili with the beer ROCKED) that whenever you post one I’m sure to make that for a meal within the same week! Keep it up.
XO.
Less costuming, more funny stuff.
Lauren, I only stumbled across your blog a few days ago and I love it! I’m the mother of a 7-month-old boy, living in Germany. I enjoy reading about your life in general and places you travel to, but what I most enjoy right now are your posts about family and kids, the recipes and the DIY ideas. Thank you soo much, you’re a great inspiration!
I really enjoy your blog and I’ve been inspired to undertake a project or two based on your posts. Chicken chili – yum! And the mudpie kitchen – it’s so going to happen! I’ve also been inspired to take more interesting photos because of your blog – I’m focusing on the light in a way I never considered before. Thanks for the inspiration!
As far as requests, I love it all. I, too, love to hear what other families are reading. And, I’d love to learn more about what you are reading – maybe a little bit about the blogs that you enjoy? I’m always on the search for a good read that I can fit in during the 10 minutes of quiet I get on my days with the kids or on my lunch hour at work.