The Best Years of My Life

My Head is Spinning

2010-03-31T18:30:00.001-05:00

Egg Decorating

Special Snack for Emma's Class

Preparations for Sunday

These are among the many things I have on my plate for this week. We are having both sides of our family over for lunch this Sunday. Yes, it is a bit overwhelming, but important to have everyone together whenever I can manage it. I do it mainly for our girls. They LOVE having both sides of the family together and I can see it is very special to them.
We will also be giving Emma and Lilly each a brand new Bible before we head off to church. They have outgrown their current Bibles and I think they will be very excited to receive their new gifts.
Have a WONDERFUL Easter!

Around our Home

2010-01-28T16:49:00.014-06:00

It's January and it's cold...but, I don't mind one bit. Winter is actually my favorite season - it's so cozy and romantic and it reminds me of our wedding day. Our wedding was held on a cold, December evening with the glow of candles surrounding us - I'll never forget it. Now that the holidays are behind us, it can be difficult to keep that warm, fuzzy feeling for the remainder of the season. Here are some things around our home that keeps us cozy and cheery.

Hot Chocolate with Heart-Shaped Marshmallows
When I first saw these marshmallows in the seasonal aisle of Wal-Mart, I literally squealed out loud. Ask John...he was there...and I'm sure he was a bit embarrassed by all my commotion.

Board Games
Sometimes, we play as a family. Sometimes, just the girls play. And sometimes, just the stuffed animals play. ;)

Lamps
To me, the soft glow of a lamp gives such a "homey" feel. I love, love, LOVE lamps.

Dancing
Both girls are taking dance lessons and they frequently "practice" around the house. It really is a joy to watch them. Now, having to pick up dance shoes everywhere, all the time does NOT give me as much joy.

So good to be back. Lots of love to all my blogging buddies!

This Weekend...

2009-08-30T21:29:00.001-05:00

I became inspired, and made this...

I really like the way it turned out! I found three of the photos in Google Images, but I photographed the "V".

She's Ready!

2009-08-25T20:50:00.003-05:00

First grade begins tomorrow morning for Emma and she is ready! After she was fed, bathed and tucked into bed with clean pajamas, I read "The Kissing Hand" to her. It's our tradition. I read this book the night before her first day of junior kindergarten and the night before her first day of kindergarten. It is such a sweet and beautiful story and I hope she lets me read this to her every year, up until the night before she leaves for college.

As soon as she drifted off to sleep, I got everything set up for tomorrow morning.

Her new outfit is now laid out. Her backpack contains her folder that holds thousands of completed forms and other paperwork we received from "Meet the Teacher" night.

Her lunch is made and put away in her lunchbox along with a special note written on a napkin.

Like I said, this girl is ready to go and is very excited.

Am I ready? Hmmm, I'll get back to you on that one.

Magazine Search

2009-07-21T19:51:00.009-05:00

When John and the girls run errands, they frequently bring home little surprises for me. Last night, they ran to the drugstore to get a few things and decided to also pick out a magazine they thought I would enjoy.

At first, Lilly chose this...

Then, Emma suggested this...

After some guidance from John, they all finally agreed on this because, "Mommy loves food so much!"

They know me well! ;)

Summer Chore Charts

2009-07-19T18:44:00.003-05:00

Before the summer began, I was worried that it would be difficult to have both girls home all day, every day. These little munchkins can really wreck a house in a matter of minutes, if you know what I mean. So, I really did a lot of planning and tried to figure out ways to keep my kids busy. There's a ton of stuff scheduled for children in our community, so I gathered all the information/flyers and kept them in a folder. Then, with that information, I started making our schedule for the summer. I also made each child her own chore chart. Now, I must admit I have tried charts in the past and I could never quite make them work. But, this time has been very successful. Oh, and my house has been much tidier. Huge bonus! Ruthie at Sugar Pie Farmhouse really inspired the look of these particular charts.

This is Emma's chart. It's fairly simple and she really enjoys checking off her accomplishments. If she completes her chart by the end of the week, we award her one dollar.

Here is Lilly's chart. I put pictures on her chart to make it easier for her. She is still a little young for the whole chart concept, but I didn't want her to feel left out. She really likes the routine of completing her chores.

Lilly's Sense of Style

2009-07-07T16:42:00.000-05:00

Need I say more?

Emma, Lilly and "Pickles"

2009-07-06T20:33:00.001-05:00

Here are my three children enjoying the fireworks on the 4th of July. It was a fun day full of celebration.

We have been busy, busy bees this summer and I have been slurping up every moment of it. This last month has been filled with gymnastics, playing, swimming and spending lots of time with good friends. Both of the girls are older and more independent, which makes for really fun interactions with them. I realize the word "blessed" is overused quite a bit, but it's the word I always think of when I look at these precious children. John and I are so incredibly blessed by these two wonderful, little girls. Yes, being a mommy can be quite painful at times (in more ways than one ;), but the intense joy I feel for these children outweigh it all!

New Kitchen = More Cooking?

2009-06-20T16:57:00.001-05:00

I got a new kitchen update a couple of months ago and I love, love, LOVE it. This first picture shows what it looked like before we installed new granite counters, back splash, and sink. Being a loyal Baylor Bear, this Aggie-maroon kitchen was never my favorite room in the house.

Before

After

Oh yeah, this is very much an improvement. I took this last photo before getting all the drawers back in, but you get the idea. Many people ask me if I cook more in my new kitchen. Uhhh, honestly...I really didn't cook much at all in the beginning. It was so shiny and new, I didn't want to dirty it up. Actually, I found myself shining it several times a day. Eventually the newness did wear off, and I do really enjoy cooking in it.

Speaking of cooking, I'm off to prepare sloppy joes for my family. Have a wonderful Father's Day weekend.

Our Beautiful Dancer

2009-06-19T12:42:00.005-05:00

Hello, sweet friends. Hope you haven't forgotten about me. :) Emma just finished up her 3rd year of dance. Her recital was a couple of weeks ago and we were so very proud of her. She seemed to have a lot of fun and was quite the performer. Her photos on stage were terribly blurry, so I apologize for the first picture.

Her daddy and her grandparents each gave her roses.

I enjoyed fixing her hair for the performance - it turned out really cute. I made two small topsy tails on the front part of her head.

Then, I put the rest of her hair in a slick, high pony. I sprayed the heck out of it to make the pony nice and stiff, then took small sections and curled them with a small-barreled curling iron. To add a little volume to the curls, I bobby-pinned several of them to her head.

Lilly will be starting dance in the fall and to say she is excited is an understatement. I'm looking forward to it, as well. She will be an adorable ballerina.

Perfect Photos

2009-05-03T12:13:00.001-05:00

I have a certain file saved for pictures like these. You know what I'm talking about - special photos that will be proudly displayed only when our daughters bring boys home for us to meet. Yep, these will be perfect!
Ok seriously, my girlies look soooo cute in their little curlers! Lilly loved them right away, but it took a while for Emma to get used to them. She told me she looked like an old lady.

A Beautiful Easter

2009-05-02T16:30:00.003-05:00

In addition to our fun and traditional Easter activities, Emma expressed a deeper understanding of why we celebrate Easter. Hallelujah, Jesus is Risen!

I love Lilly's expression in this photo. It cracks me up every time I look at it!

Green Potatoes

2009-03-18T16:46:00.000-05:00

Some of you were asking if the girls enjoyed their green mashed potatoes.
They kept telling me, "Wow, I love these green potatoes, Mommy...MMMM...Thank you so much...MMMMM!" Hearing things like that does a Mommy's heart good.

St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T12:57:00.007-05:00

Today, the girls are proudly wearing their very own shamrock shirt creations. Lillybean and I went up to the school and had lunch with Emma. Here is a picture of them in the hallway. Notice that neither one of them is looking at the camera. It seems almost physically impossible for them to look at me when I am taking their picture.

The girlies painted their shirts last week. Emma had the flu, so this was one way to keep them busy and happy without having to leave the house.

Tonight for dinner, I will be making our mashed potatoes green. I'm doing this to make dinnertime more fun, but I'm interested to see my family's reaction - they will either love it or flip out and not want to touch the entire meal because of the potatoes' moldy appearance. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

Homework Time

2009-02-17T18:21:00.001-06:00

I try to make a habit of having Emma complete her homework as soon as she gets home from school. Here she is, working very diligently on her assignment.

I can tell Lilly always feels a little left out during homework time. She frequently asks, "Do I have homewook?" I found a Winnie the Pooh color workbook at the dollar store and it has been perfect for her. While Emma is doing her work, Lilly feels very grown-up and important while completing her very own "homework."

My Sweet Lovebug

2009-02-13T17:16:00.001-06:00

I received these little notes from my friend, Kristen, who is a fellow mommy in Emma's class. Aren't they cute!

I placed one in Emma's lunch box this morning. When I picked her up from school, she immediately said, "Thank you for the note - I wrote you back." When I saw what she wrote, my heart swelled up so much I thought it was going to explode. She is my little lovebug.

Love is in the Air

2009-02-12T13:29:00.012-06:00

Hello, friends! Hope everyone is having a good week full of hearts and sparkles. Valentine's Day (week) gives me another chance and opportunity to show my family how much I adore them. Here's some photos from last year. I began the day with heart-shaped pancakes and special treats waiting for everyone at the table.

Treat for John - Everything we needed for a cozy movie night

Treats for Emma and Lilly - Lots of girlie goodies

My parents surprised me with these ladybug and bee chocolate treats! Adorable!

This year, Emma and I made marshmallow pops for her classmates. I got the idea from Kristin at Grace Violet.

We wrapped all the pops and placed a personalized label on each one. I bought the labels from Kristin's sister. You can get them here.

Color Book

2009-01-21T17:02:00.004-06:00

Back in early fall, I helped Lilly create her very own color book. We went around the house taking pictures of items that matched certain color words. Then, we place the photos in a small photo album and matched them with the color words. Lilly loves looking at her very own book and is always so proud that she can "read" every page. I wish I can say that this idea came from my brilliant mind, but I got the concept from Make and Takes.

It was such a successful activity, I decided to create a book with Emma. It was the same as Lilly's except I had Emma write the words herself since she was learning how to spell all the color words in her kindergarten class. It was good practice and she did a great job!

The Perfect Coffee Cup

2009-01-19T17:26:00.003-06:00

I was searching for a long time. I wanted to find my perfect coffee cup - it's a cup for me to cozy up with in the mornings. As I was searching, I had several requirements for it to be up to my standards. After all, it will be the first thing I look at most mornings.

Here were my standards in no particular order:
- It has to be large.
- It has to be girly and pretty.
- It has to look cheerful.
- It has to feel comfortable while holding it.

Yeah, it may sound a little silly that I put so much thought into it, but I like to add little things to my day that will brighten my mood.

So, here it is! I found it at Barnes and Noble.

Welcome To My Life

2009-01-16T12:31:00.001-06:00

I believe Lilly possesses a very special gift. She can turn a perfectly clean and organized room into THIS in about one minute flat. I'm so proud, there are tears in my eyes...and it's not because I'm anticipating the amount of time it will take me to get this cleaned up.

Thank you so much, Lilly. I have been needing to reorganize your dresser for awhile and you have now given me a head start.

See how my two-year-old daughter is so talented and helpful? I know you're envious.

Christmas Organizer

2008-12-06T13:35:00.006-06:00

A few weeks ago, I was pleased to find a blog named Controlling My Chaos. It's filled with great ideas and it even inspired me to create my own Christmas organizer. It was so, so fun to put together.

I even used my Fiskar's "Threading Water" border punch to create tabs for my dividers.

I will keep my organizer accessible throughout the year so I can add ideas as I find them.

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Wedding Anniversary

2008-12-04T14:04:00.003-06:00

John and I celebrated eight years of marriage earlier this week! People always warned me that the first years were going to be difficult, but they weren't. Sure, marriage takes a lot of work and we have to adjust as our lives are constantly changing. But, I really have enjoyed these years with my husband. I am so blessed to be able to share life's joys and trials with my best friend.

John, I look forward to what the future holds for us. You are a wonderful husband to me and father to our two, beautiful girls. Thank you so much for making my dreams come true.

Book Review - "My Little Girl"

2008-11-18T13:32:00.010-06:00

I am excited to get the opportunity to write book reviews on my blog for Thomas Nelson Publishing. My very first review is for "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas.

I was immediately drawn to this book because of its illustrations. The illustrator, Julia Denos, does a remarkable job in capturing the facial expressions shared between the two main characters, a dad and his daughter. The authors, Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas, add to the illustrations well by helping the reader feel and experience the relationship and adventures the characters have together. Katie-girl reminds me a lot of my two little girls - messy-haired princesses who like to get prettied up, but still enjoy getting dirty outdoors. This book is a reminder that the relationship between a father and daughter can be richly nourished simply by spending an ordinary day together. The story did keep the attention of both my five-year-old and two-year-old daughters and I was happy to share it with them as it stressed the importance of love within a family. Their giggles and smiles as I was reading the story made it obvious that my girls were reminded of the times spent with their daddy and they will probably enjoy the story even more when he reads it to them.

Overall, this is a feel-good story and many daddies and daughters are sure to relate to the characters. The last page where readers can share their own stories is the cherry on top for this sentimental story.

October Recap

2008-11-09T16:31:00.008-06:00

Hello, friends. Before we get to the end of November, I want to share some October photos. It was a busy month and I'm honestly glad it's over. I have promised myself to make November and December as simple as possible so that I can enjoy my family during this special time of year.

Storybook Character Contest at Emma's School
She won first place!

Two Little Tinkerbells
I had so much fun decorating their treat cauldrons with paint pens and ribbon.

Treat Packages
These were fun to make. I got the idea from here.

Pumpkin Carving
Every year, we carve pumpkins, roast pumpkin seeds and watch "The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" while munching on our roasted seeds.

Fall Fest at Emma's School

Spice Pumpkin Kisses
The recipe is here.

Oh, I Just LOVE This Gal!

2008-11-04T13:13:00.008-06:00

I have enjoyed Faith Hill's music for several years and I heard that she has a new Christmas album. So, I casually headed over to iTunes and decided to just check it out...not purchase it. Good grief, we just finished Halloween! I was just...just curious.

Ok, so I ended up purchasing it and I have been listening to it for the last couple of hours. I know, I know! I realize it is not Christmas time, but I can't help it! It's beautiful. "A Baby Changes Everything" is especially moving.

Fall

2008-09-29T16:24:00.008-05:00

I'm beginning to decorate our home for fall and added a couple of new touches this year. I really didn't want to spend too much so I headed to Wal-Mart. I got a hand towel for the bathroom and a large pumpkin spice candle for our fireplace mantel. Then, I embellished both with some ribbon. It all added up to less than $10. I really loved how they turned out!

I made this last year in a class taught by Jennifer Stewart . It was neat to pull out and see pictures of my girls from last year - it is such a warm addition to our home.

This and That

2008-09-02T13:03:00.007-05:00

I played with my sewing machine this past weekend and tried a simple project. I just did a little heart applique and then embellished with a ribbon and button. The shirt is for Lilly and she thinks it looks "fritty" (pretty).

I just HAVE to share these Lillybean photos with you. She was "reading" to me and the next thing I knew, she was daintily crossing one leg over the other while pointing her toes. I laughed and laughed and when I pulled out the camera, she told me, "No, don't tay my chitchure."
Oh my, I love that little girl.

And so it begins...

2008-08-26T13:44:00.006-05:00

Emma began her first day of Kindergarten this morning and we are so proud of her. I know that many people have been praying for her as she begins this new chapter in her life and I want to say that I felt those prayers this morning as I was dropping her off. Thank you so much. She walked into the school feeling confident and excited. I can't wait to pick her up from school. Lilly and I prepared some cupcakes for a special afternoon snack.

Oh, I love it!

2008-07-23T17:31:00.006-05:00

It felt sooo good to do something creative, and it came out so well. I made an "E" for Emma's room and I love it so much I want to marry it. Lilly, of course, will have one made for her room, but the store didn't have an "L" in stock, today. My inspiration for this precious creation came from here. Instead of sewing together several pieces of paper, I just slapped on one piece and called it a day. The project did not take long at all!
Who knows...I might even eventually make the other letters of her name.

Sooo...

2008-07-23T16:17:00.003-05:00

I went to a Pampered Chef party last night and purchased these.

I think my kids will have a lot of fun decorating with them. They will be great for Christmas cookies this year.

I have really been in a blogging and crafting slump. When I was at the party last night, my sweet friend, Emily told me how much she enjoyed reading my blog. I felt so encouraged and it inspired me to post. I even started a cute, little project for Emma's room. I can't wait to show you the finished product! Thank you, Emily! :)

Wow!

2008-07-09T21:07:00.005-05:00

OK. I just made a really yummy meal for my family, and they all went bananas over it. Hello!! I've known about this recipe for a while and never thought to make it until this week. I could not believe that the preparation was so easy. If only I thought to take a picture of it before everyone inhaled it. Oh well...maybe next time. :)

Pampered Chef Taco Ring

Ingredients
1/2 lb ground beef, cooked and drained
1 1.25 oz package taco seasoning mix
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbsp water
2 8 oz pkgs. refrigerated crescent roll dough
1/2 head lettuce, shredded
1 med. tomato, cubed
1 cup (225 ml) salsa
sour cream

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine meat, seasoning mix, cheese and water in bowl.
Arrange crescent triangles in a circle on a baking stone or pizza pan, with bases overlapping in center and points to outside (there should be a five inch diameter circle in center).
Spoon meat mixture over rolls.
Fold points of triangles over filling and tuck under base at center (filling will not be completely covered).
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Fill a ramekin with salsa and place in center of the ring.
Mound lettuce and tomato around the salsa.
Garnish with sour cream.
Cut and serve.

Forgive Me

2008-06-30T10:26:00.006-05:00

So sorry I haven't been blogging more. Emma will be starting Kindergarten this fall and I'm just trying to savor every moment. It will be the first time she is away from me every day, all day. When my little girl steps into the classroom of her new school on the first day, I don't know how life will be from then on. Will I still know everything that is going on in her sweet, innocent mind? Will her cheery personality change? Ugh, I try not to think about it too much.

It has been glorious these last five years with my little princess and we have had so much fun! One of my favorite things to do with my girls is to take them to our local library. Fortunately, there are always so many fabulous programs at our library and I have built a lot special memories while being there with my girlies.

Here are Emma and Lilly enjoying a play at our library. As you can see, they are having a blast.

Lilly just lurves her sister. Hehe

HOT, HOT, HOT

2008-06-28T17:35:00.005-05:00

We are in the midst of one HOT summer weekend. So, we have the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" mentality. We're off to have an evening cook-out by the lake.

Here are a couple of pictures from our fun trip to the beach. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Arboretum Photos

2008-06-11T15:43:00.008-05:00

A few weeks ago, the girls had some photos taken at our local arboretum by an up-and-coming photographer. As you can see, she did an amazing job and you can see more of her work at Amy's Joyful Image. These photos are such beautiful treasures. Thanks so much, Amy!

I have so many gorgeous pictures, but here are just a few.

New Layout

2008-06-06T21:05:00.003-05:00

I was finally able to do some scrapbooking during naptime this week and it felt wonderful. Everyone needs a creative outlet.

More Hair

2008-06-03T10:27:00.008-05:00

I am having so much fun with this blog.

Check it Out!

2008-06-01T11:14:00.005-05:00

Look at this fun hairstyle! Lilly FINALLY sat long enough for me to fix her hair. I got the idea from here.

It's so cute, I can hardly stand it!

Another Birthday, Another Banner

2008-05-27T21:51:00.019-05:00

When Lilly turned two years old, I made her a birthday banner. Here is the one I made for Emma's birthday.

Emma had a fabulous time with her friends and family at her inflatable bouncer party.
Here she is with her sister and cousins - what a good lookin' group!

Emma said, "My cake is gorgeous!" Hee-Hee. My daughter is such a cutie.

Brand New Room

2008-05-26T09:27:00.011-05:00

Emma is enjoying her new birthday bedding set from Target. She chose it herself and I am absolutely ecstatic with her decision. Isn't everything adorable?

We have had these precious wall decorations for a while and I love how well they match her bed.

We've had this flower frame for a year, but never really knew where to put it. John placed a picture of Pickles in it and set it next to her bed. She loves it!

Now that she is five years old, we are having her make her bed every day...so far so good. She does it surprisingly well and seems to take more pride in her new room...maybe too much pride because she flipped out yesterday when she noticed I was sitting on one of those little pom-poms on her bedspread. Apparently, I was "smashing" it.*sigh*

Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-25T19:56:00.011-05:00

Hope you are having a pleasant holiday weekend. We are so thankful for the sacrifices made for our country so that we can enjoy happy times with our family.

A lot of our time is being spent outside so I decided to make Wet Water Sponges for the girls to enjoy in the inflatable pool. Boy, those sponges were a hit and so easy to make!

Pickles loved them, too.

Everyone also enjoyed snow cones from the Snoopy machine. John and I both had the Snoopy machines when we were kids so the experience of struggling to crank out that ice really took us back to childhood.

My Little Snail

2008-05-15T11:35:00.005-05:00

Emma will be in her first end-of-year school play as a snail. I have to admit I panicked at first when I heard that I had to make her costume. Oh, and I was instructed to make the costume simple...how on earth can I make a snail costume simple?!!? I googled "snail costume" and found a whole lot of nothing.

Grammy came up with a great idea of getting a Boppy pillow and coiling it up to make a shell. Fantastic! I sewed the "shell" to straps so Emma can wear it like a backpack. The rest of the costume was easy - headband, pipe cleaner and Styrofoam balls for the antennae and grey shirt and shorts for the body. I now have the cutest snail in the world!

Play Day

2008-05-13T21:41:00.018-05:00

I had a perfect day. Since we had rainstorms, the girls and I pretty much stayed indoors all day. During breakfast, the electricity went out. It was cloudy and dark, so we got a flashlight and told "scary stories" under a fort that we made with a blanket and chairs.

We also made edible play dough or "day dough" as Lilly calls it. In addition to that, we played games and laughed a lot. Yes, it was a great day...and I can see it by looking at my messy house. I was too busy playing with my girls and didn't have time to clean. I love days like today.

Someone sent this to me a while back and I really enjoy reading it.

Song for a Fifth Child
Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake,darling and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby. Babies don't keep.

~~Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother's Day

2008-05-13T14:30:00.010-05:00

Hope everyone had a fabulous Mother's Day. For me, it was a day of many blessings. I did not have to lift a finger for the entire day - it was so very relaxing. Special thank you to the love of my life, John for making it absolutely amazing. I couldn't stop smiling all day.

Emma made a card for me using her brand new Cuttlekids die-cut machine. The machine was an early birthday present from her Mama and Grandad and she uses it ALL the time. I have to say I'm thrilled that she has caught the crafting/scrapbooking bug. Oh, and the answer is yes...I will be using the Cuttlekids for my own scrapbooking needs. ;)

I gave my mom a shadow box containing a photo that dates back about 27 years. The picture shows my mother dressing me in a yellow raincoat. The background in the box says, "A Mother's Love."

I loved that photo so much that I enlarged it and hung it in my own home.

Magazine Obsession

2008-05-10T15:50:00.005-05:00

I REALLY love magazines. When I see them in my mailbox, my heart starts racing and I get deliriously happy. Yes, you read that correctly...DELIRIOUSLY happy.

Every mom has guilty pleasures and reading magazines is one of mine. I can stop whatever I'm doing in the middle of a busy day and curl up on the couch and flip through one...even if it's only for a few minutes.

I just got my first issue of Family Fun and I am enjoying it so much. It is packed with family ideas and activities...DEFINITELY a new favorite.

Yay! I can't wait to get more...

Little Reminders

2008-05-07T20:01:00.006-05:00

I love all the girly things throughout our house that are reminders of our two sweet, darling daughters.

Ladybug hooks with personalized backpacks

Emma and Lilly's favorite table

Basket of books nestled between two rocking chairs made by Grammy

So Very Blessed

2008-05-05T15:42:00.005-05:00

Not only do I have a wonderful and supportive family, I also have a fabulous best friend, Christin. Chris and I go way back...20 years to be exact. We met in the 4th grade and even though there were times when we drifted apart a little, we always called each other best friend. When Chris and I get together, it's almost annoying to other people around us. We have a million inside jokes and laugh loudly and uncontrollably the entire time.

This last weekend, Chris and I got together and spent the ENTIRE day in Dallas. We did all the girly things best friends should do - shopping, pedicures, eating out and more shopping. We were without our kids and it was fabulous to have a day doing things for us and ONLY us.

My highlight of the day was getting cupcakes from Sprinkles. If you like cupcakes, you must try this place. Chris and I both agree that the strawberry cupcakes are the best! Yum!

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!

2008-04-28T10:07:00.006-05:00

Good morning, everyone!

This morning is absolutely gorgeous. We had some thunderstorms this past weekend and the air now looks so clean. We have the windows open and the fresh, spring air feels wonderful.

I have to share another good thing with you. I am officially OFF of caffeine and I really feel great! I'm not gonna lie to ya - it felt like someone was jabbing a thousand knives through my head over and over the first few days. I'm soooooo glad I got over that hump. Believe it or not, I actually have more energy now without the caffeine.

And one last piece of good news...Emma is now swimming WITHOUT floaties! Congratulations to our big girl! We're very proud of our little water bug!

Here's another layout of our sweet Lilly bean.

A Few of My Favorite Things...

2008-04-24T13:58:00.011-05:00

A Fresh New Issue of Real Simple

Emma's "Starfish"

Lilly's Little Piggies

Buckets, Buckets, Buckets

Should I be Jealous?

2008-04-22T16:03:00.005-05:00

This is what John saw when he came home from work. We don't know why, but the girls LOVE to play with their toys on OUR bed. Yesterday, we had a bunch of scantily-dressed Barbies sitting on John's side of the bed. Should I be jealous? ;)

Sneak Peek

2008-04-21T13:01:00.005-05:00

Last night, I did some party planning for Emma's birthday. Here's a little peek at the paper for her banner. You can also see a blank invitation on top.

I'm having so much fun! Seeing pretty paper makes me absolutely giddy.

The Notebook Has a Purpose

2008-04-18T13:43:00.004-05:00

Remember this Anna Griffin notebook?

Well, I have now put it to good use. I printed out all my blog entries on ivory parchment paper and put them into this gorgeous binder. Hopefully, when my girls are all grown up, they will read through it and get a clear idea of their mommy's personality during their toddler/preschool years. Maybe, my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will someday read it - wow, what a surreal feeling!

Busy Bees

2008-04-17T14:24:00.007-05:00

Hello! We have had a busy week! John's birthday was successful and everyone had a great time. Emma and Lilly's present for their daddy was an ice cream cake. It took a lot of strength for Emma to keep it a surprise. She wanted to tell him so badly.

Part of my gift for my husband is a date night tomorrow WITHOUT our darling daughters. We haven't decided what we are going to do. All we know is that there will be NO high chairs and kid's menus.

We have really needed this date night...and I am forever grateful to my mom and dad for keeping the girls. I love my little cherubs with all my heart, but it will be a nice break.

Before I go, I want to show you these coupons that John made for me about a year ago.

Aren't they hilarious?!!? Basically, I was able to hand over one of those cards if I ever felt frazzled and needed a break. I could either have him take the kids and leave OR I could leave by myself...no questions asked.

Crayon Roll

2008-04-14T16:16:00.007-05:00

We have very busy days ahead of us. My husband's birthday will be this week and we have lots of special things planned for him. Needless to say my "to do" list is extra long. Before I get back to work, I want to share this with you.

It's a crayon roll and so very fun for little ones. The one in these pictures belongs to my oldest daughter and she just loves it! A crayon roll would be fantastic for an older sibling who has a new baby brother or sister in the house. Just present it along with a little notebook or coloring book and you have the perfect gift! You can find the tutorial at Skip To My Lou. Make sure you snoop around on her blog for a bit. You will find AMAZING ideas.

Another Layout

2008-04-13T16:22:00.005-05:00

Last night, my youngest little darling went from crib to toddler bed for the first time. We had no choice since she just started climbing in and out of her crib all by herself. I really don't know how I feel about it...maybe a little sad.

Here she is, sound asleep with baby by her side. Doesn't she look like an angel?

Wow, it's late!

2008-04-12T23:01:00.004-05:00

I'm usually not up this late. I like to go to bed pretty quick after our girls are down. Tonight, I was going through some photos of my oldest daughter and suddenly felt the urge to create a layout.

Sweet dreams, everyone.

Auntie Em's Blackberry Sugar Pie

2008-04-11T20:54:00.009-05:00

Hmmmm...I wonder if I could make this...

Look at this PERFECT pie! I always thought pies that looked this good were actually made of ceramic and not really edible. It's from a fabulous blog called Warm Pie, Happy Home. Don't you just love that name?

Someday, I might actually attempt to make that pie, but not without my mom. I've heard people say she cooks like a gourmet chef and I completely agree. She has taught me everything I know about cooking and baking and I am eager to learn more from her. If anyone can make a pie look as perfect as the one in that picture, it's my mom.

A couple of people asked how the meatloaf came out. Eh...it's not a recipe I'll use again - it was a little too dry.

Now, the enchiladas were awesome and so easy to make. The whole family loved them.

Smile for the Camera

2008-04-09T20:09:00.004-05:00

Isn't that a cute, wittle face? I'm positive that he would love to reach through the computer monitor and give you a big kiss.

Chee!!!

2008-04-08T15:59:00.004-05:00

There are days when my toddler decides not to take a nap and it can be really frustrating for everyone in the family. Today, Lilly was happily playing in her bed instead of napping and when I went in to check on her she gave me the sweetest smile. I quickly grabbed my camera and as soon as she saw me with it, she yelled out, "Chee!!!"
There is no way I can feel frustration with that sweet expression.

On My Wish List

2008-04-08T15:20:00.008-05:00

There is a cool border punch made by Fiskars and I would LOVE to get it! Only problem is that everyone else wants it. I cannot find it anywhere but eBay and the ones there are going up to around $40! It's like the Tickle Me Elmo in the scrapbooking world and I refuse to play a part in it. So...I will just try to wait patiently and let all the excitement die down...but it's really hard. Did I mention that I really LOVE this punch?

Water Bottles

2008-04-07T16:57:00.005-05:00

Aren't these adorable? I saw them at CVS this morning and snatched them up. Each bottle has a stick inside that you can freeze and it will keep the drink cold all day long.
Emma and Lilly just love them and I think they have already consumed about a gallon of water between the both of them. I consider that a victory because I sometimes have a hard time getting them to drink anything other than just juice and milk.

Fluffy Tutus

2008-04-06T08:46:00.005-05:00

Last year, I found an excellent tutorial on how to make an adorable tutu. I could not believe that is was so easy. They are the perfect gifts for the little girls in your life.

So, wanna know how to make these precious pretties? Go to Plumtickled and I promise that you won't be disappointed.

Lazy Saturday

2008-04-05T13:17:00.006-05:00

Hello, friends.

We have had a nice, care-free weekend so far. We started the day by picking up a Cinnamon Dolce Latte for myself and then did a little shopping. I needed a new pair of running shoes so we stopped by the shoe store. Let me just say my girls are OBSESSED with shoes. As I was trying on different pairs, the girls were excitedly pulling out every colorful, sparkly, flowery shoe they could find. They just HAD to try on all of them and say, "Awww, how pretty!"

I felt like I was in an after school TV special when Emma tried to convince me to buy them by saying in her sweetest voice, "Come on, you can get them. It will be fun." Is she trying to get me to buy drugs or shoes? I don't really know.

Now, they really did not get this obsession from me. I think I'm going to have to out their Grammy and say that they got it from her. ;)

Here's a sweet photo of our Lilly Bean. Have a fabulous weekend!

An Excited 4 Year Old

2008-04-01T13:02:00.007-05:00

Well, Emma starts swim lessons today and she is VERY excited. I bought her a new swimsuit a few weeks ago and she obviously loves it. Here she is getting ready to go for her first lesson.

Did I mention that this picture was taken at 10:00am and her lesson isn't until 6:00pm? She is currently napping in the swimsuit right now as I write this.

I'm laughing at her pose in this picture. Emma feels the need to make a very dramatic pose every time I pull out the camera. John and I find ourselves snickering at her during her soccer games because she is very focused on perfecting her "getting down to business" pose while the ball sails right by her. The pose I'm referring to consists of her bending over and putting her hands on her knees like she is really concentrating on the game.

Happy Tuesday!

Ugh!

2008-03-31T15:17:00.008-05:00

Hello, everyone. I'm not feeling great today. I have a really bad headache. I have been trying to cut out coffee and it is so difficult. I LOVE coffee, but I have become way too dependent. I'm not very talkative right now so I'll just share a layout with you.

Tonight, I am making a meatloaf that I saw on Oprah last week. I'll let you know later how it will taste.

Happy Sunday!

2008-03-30T14:10:00.004-05:00

It's been a nice Sunday. We went to church then had brunch at a local restaurant. I had the best banana walnut french toast. It was so yummy and the girls loved it, too. Emma and Lilly are now napping and John and I are just lazing around the house - a much needed break.
I was able to do some scrapbooking this weekend. John told me that this is his favorite layout.

Party!

2008-03-28T14:21:00.000-05:00

Many of my friends and family know that I LOVE to plan birthday parties. Emma's birthday is coming up and she has announced that she would like to have a Barbie Princess party. I have a couple of months to plan, so I'm still in the brainstorming stage. One item I know I will create is a "Happy Birthday Emma" banner. Every year on Emma's birthday I will pull out that banner and hang it up for her. Hopefully, it will last at least until her 18th birthday.
Lilly's 2nd birthday party had a cupcake theme. Of course, I made a banner for her, as well. My whole banner idea was inspired by Aby at Creative Organizing.
Here are the pictures from Lilly's party. It was mid-afternoon so I had some finger foods for snacks. There were sprinkles, spring colored M&Ms and jelly beans for guests to decorate their own cupcakes. Everyone had a fabulous time.

God Made Me!

2008-03-27T13:50:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, before Emma's soccer practice, the girls and I decided to eat dinner at McDonald's. As we were happily munching on our hamburgers, Emma blurted out, "Mommy! God made you." I couldn't help but to smile from ear to ear. Of course, I knew that God made me. I have been fortunate enough to hear that phrase all my life. But, hearing those simple words coming from that little, innocent child sounded sweeter than I can describe. God did make me and it reminded me of a Bible verse that is already frequently on my mind.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

A person can read that verse and feel quite overwhelmed. The thought of having to help in the world can be almost too much to bear. But as my children are growing and I can see the love of God in them, I know that John and I are exactly where He wants us to be. We pray that we can continue to love and care for our girls just as God wants us to...

I will leave you with this layout I created for Lilly's 2nd birthday. She looks like such a big girl.

The Notebook

2008-03-25T16:35:00.001-05:00

Isn't this darling? It's a Anna Griffin three ring binder and the possibilities in my mind are endless. It will either be a notebook containing all my recipes or a homekeeping organizer. Hmmmm...

My Girlies

2008-03-25T12:08:00.000-05:00

I honestly never pictured myself with TWO little girls. But, here I am and having the time of my life. I cannot get enough pink and sparkles. Poor John and Pickles are such troopers. So here are my two ladybugs.

I'm off to assemble chicken enchiladas for tonight's dinner. The girls and I were at a friend's house last week and we were served the enchiladas for lunch. They were so yummy and of course, I had to get the recipe. Thanks, Brandy!