Welcome to Carrots! I'm so glad you're here. This is where I share thoughts on liturgical living, faith, parenting, culture, and an extra dose of Jane Austen. You can sign up for my email newsletter here to stay in touch, or look me up on Instagram!
And….we’re back! Don’t be misled that this photo depicted Gwen’s excitement over This Week’s Miscellany. That’s a girl who is about to eat brunch. GIRL LOVES BRUNCH. Due to the holiday craziness and then several days of crummy sore throat ice, TWM has not seen the light of day for many a week at Carrots. So I apologize in advance for the insane length and extraordinary epic photo dumpness you’re about to experience.
First up, this guy had a birthday. A THIRTIETH birthday. In addition to his mad skills at pre-bunch toddler entertainment/meltdown prevention, he’s officially a grown up now. Or something. Seems like the right opportunity to tell you a little bit about this mystery man. Daniel watches the kiddos when I sneak away to blog on the weekends. He edits my posts when I need an extra pair of eyes. He takes photos of my weird outfits. He cooks dinner most of the time. If there’s a post you really liked at Carrots, it was probably his idea and he let me steal it. There would be no Carrots without Daniel.
He also once carried an old man hooked up to oxygen out of a burning house before the oxygen tanks exploded (minutes after they cleared the front door). Because…ya know…he just noticed a bunch of people outside a burning house and heard there was somebody still inside. Because that’s how the Bearman rolls. Then he apologized for being a few minutes late when he showed up at our dinner date with smoky clothes. WHAT?! It happened. And they didn’t even have a parade in his honor!
And then there was the time he ripped a snake in half with his bare hands. And the time he changed our laptop desktop photo to Anne and Gil kissing on the bridge because I was having a bad day. How did I get this guy to marry me?! And now that I’ve thoroughly embarrassed him, let’s move on to Christmastide.
Christmas morning my brother came bearing gifts of stuffed animals and LEGOs and there were happy nieces and nephews and much rejoicing. (And because why have a blog if you can’t do any Catholic matchmaking…he’s single, ladies. Just look how great he looks with that baby!)
We did a pretty decent job of keeping the Christmas cheer going. Kids get so excited about the simplest things. Like driving around to see Christmas lights! Minds blown! We had a lot of fun during the 12 days of Christmas with grandparents, aunt, uncles, and sweet little cousin.
On New Years Eve we let the “big kids” stay up late to watch White Christmas next to the Christmas Tree and we all camped out in the living room. It was really, really fun. And Daniel only commented on how weird my beloved White Christmas is a few dozen times. It’s a classic, ok?!
And moving on to bookishness. I started Gaudy Night. Not my first Sayers, but my first Sayers novel. Christy and I assigned each other a favorite book that we’re going to discuss on an upcoming podcast episode, so I gotta get reading!
Speaking of books, when it’s cold, we hang out at the library.
Unconventional sitting position. Unconventional dude.
This one was taken approximately 6 minutes before this young miss decided it would be SUPER fun to run away from mom while I was carrying Gwen and a million books in the check out line. I’m sure the library patrons were just as impressed with my splendid (haha) 3yo discipline skills as they were with my MOM VOICE that I had to pull out for the occasion. Or maybe they were most impressed how I left Benjamin in line with my purse while I tracked down the runaway because #responsible. Mandatory handholding to the car and penitent tears put the icing on the cake of an epic trip.
^Gwen also had stellar library behavior. (Any librarian readers, I give you my solemn promise that we returned every book to the shelf. Truly. SOLEMN PROMISE.)
And for more big news, it’s COLD outside. Like boots and wool coat kind of cold. I had my 5-year-old photographer document the occasion so that we can remember the Florida Cold Snap of 2015 for ever and always. I hear you yankees laughing. But who’s gonna be wearing flip flops in March? Yeah. I thought so.
The Quotable Benjamin:
“Hey Benjamin, can you take a picture of my outfit.” “Sure! Do you need ME to do it because you can’t call Daddy home from work because he might be in a meeting or something?” Well, yes. And I’m not sure he’d be too thrilled to be summoned home for outfit of the day photography, meeting or not. But yeah. Something like that, bud.
This little dude started karate classes this week and it is just. too. cute. Little stinker.
Let me set the stage for the following. Daniel was snuggling with the kids at bedtime and telling them things he was proud of them for. As Lucy was falling asleep, he was telling Benjamin that he loves how kind he is.
Daniel: “Kindness and compassion is what makes a man.”
Benjamin: “Kinda like how being weird and doing crazy stuff makes a mad scientist?”
The Quotable Gwen:
^Really sad that they were actually Mom’s new boots and not “MINE BOOTS.”
Things I hear from Gwen’s post-naptime chats to herself in her crib. “Go away, ‘allerina! ‘Allerina, go ‘way!” What game is she pretending? Why is she banishing the ballerinas? Toddlers are fascinating.
Gwen: “In namebuduh Fadder….” Because you can’t forget to pray before eating your Play-doh cupcakes, amirite?!
And now more links than you could ever have braced yourself for. I mean, HOPED for, right?!
Links Galore!
Planned Chaos with Kelly Mantoan: Fountains of Carrots podcast
I was over at Kitchen Stewardship talking about Spiritual Resolutions for the New Year this week.
Catholics: the Laotians of American Politics: Daniel Bearman (One of my favorite things he’s written lately. Neither political party aligns with Catholic thought. Where do we fit in?)
Relentless Forward Progress: What Running 100 Miles Taught Me About the Spiritual Life: Catholic Gentleman
And for the bloggers out there, I really loved what Tsh had to say in her State of the Blog Address
NPR published a great story about my amazing friend James: Education Plan: Sell Goat, Ride Bus 500 Miles, Sneak into President’s House
Ayn Rand Reviews Children’s Movies: The New Yorker
Pope Francis hails motherhood as the “antidote to individualism”: Catholic News Agency
Pope Francis Is Writing an Encyclical on the Environment and Both Sides of the Political Spectrum Are Sharpening Their Knives: Rebecca Hamilton
Pope Francis to Open Vatican Farm to the Public: EcoWatch
Did you know about the Walk for Life West Coast? After the March for Life in DC, the Walk for Life West Coast is the largest pro-life event in our country – last year it drew over 50,000 attendees. It’s January 24th in San Francisco so if you’re nearby, check it out!
And would y’all join me in praying for a reader, Kerry, who is suffering from infertility? She asks for prayer that she will conceive and also that if it is God’s will, her heart will be open to adoption. In fact, prayers for EVERYBODY who is suffering from infertility, subfertility, pregnancy loss, and infant loss. And my dear friend Molly recently wrote a beautiful piece On Miscarriage and Mordor that everyone should read.
Whew! Did anybody hang in there til the very end? You’re rockstars.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Lots of love,
Haley
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My husband finally came around on White Christmas this year when he comprehended that the plot is really, “How many unrelated Irving Berlin songs can we cram into one movie?” He found a Wikipedia article, I think, and kept quoting me factoids about the production. Once he could say WHY he found it absurd, and not just THAT he found it absurd, he had way more fun as a viewer. =)
Haha! Love that. It IS a weird movie. But just the best
Oh the pictures you shared from Christmas are just so precious! I did think to myself, “who’s that great guy holding Haley’s baby?” in that photo! As a single Catholic gal myself, always a brings a smile to my face to see great Catholic guys who like babies! Thanks for sharing all those cute photos of your babes … just warms my heart!
Thanks, Katie!
But what about the Quotable Lucy? I feel deprived.
Also, my little one is about the same age as Gwen and is also obsessed with boots. She may have rainboots that look like caterpillars.
Haha! I’m sure Lucy had some gems this week, I just didn’t write any down
Ahhhh! Gaudy Night should NOT be your first Sayers. The Lord Peter series is fantastic, and the relationship between him and Harriet Vane is one is my favorite romances in fiction. Might even trump Darcy and Elizabeth.
But . . but, but, but, but, but. You can’t jump into the middle of their story. So much better to start with Strong Poison, when they first meet. Strong Poison is also more standard Sayers fare. Gaudy Night is one of my favorite books of all time, but it’s very different from her other Lord Peter stories. It’s like coming in half way through the best romance movie. You’re missing some of the back story and build up.
That’s just what I was about to say! It’s a great book but you’re definitely starting at the wrong end.
Well I’m liking it so much, ladies, that I promise to go back and read the others when I’m done
It’s actually not my first Sayers, but it is my first of her novels. So good.
Well, as long as you promise.
I am very glad that you are liking it. Someone needs to host an online book club type thing where ladies can chat about that book in depth. It really has some beautiful and challenging things to say about the relationship between man and woman.
Mine says ‘ indanameofda fadder, son, howy pirit. Amen’ as she pats her shoulders and puts her finger in her belly button. We’re working on it.
Aw! So cute.
I love matchmaking! I really think it is important for people to help their single family members/friends (when appropriate of course).
This is super weird but how old is your brother/how serious are you?! I have a friend (legitimately not me) who is a great woman of God!
P.S. I have been reading your blog for about a year and didn’t think my first comment would be this awkward. Alas.
Not super weird, at all, Katelyn! I’m pretty serious about the matchmaking but I’m not how serious HE is about it.
He’s 35…36? One of those!
Re: Daniel’s 30th: And he punched a rat to death. The guy has a lot of adventures in store for the next 30 years, I am sure. Surely there is a great Catholic girl out there for your brother.
Adventure is the name of his game.
And surely, right?
You can NEVER have too many pictures of your cute kiddos! Am I the only one who looks at Benjamin and says, “That is Daniel Stewart all over again!” Daniel was seven the first time his family welcomed me into their home and he filled in for my little brother who was 1000 miles away. I love how you trumpet Daniel’s godliness and good-husband-and-daddy-ness loud and clear!
It’s so funny, Joanna, because he is totally Daniel’s twin, but then he also looks JUST like my big brother. Thanks, sweetie!
So I’ve been reading for awhile; I think I’ve commented once or twice. But as a librarian, I just HAD to hope on and say that it’s OK to put the books on a shelving cart or leave them piled on a table. REALLY. Lots of libraries even prefer it that way. They pay people to put the books away (or sometimes they get volunteers, but still…). Used books are way better than books neatly on the shelves that never get read!!
That is good to hear, Libby!
As a library worker myself, please leave the books out! It gives us job security.
The more books there are to put away, the better!
Also- as a single Catholic lady over here: How is you brother still single?
Well we will consider it our sacred duty to provide job security for the Leon County library staff
Gorgeous photos thank you for sharing them.
Thanks, Claire! <3