Beauty in Bloom

Easter weekend part 2

Our day started out very early Sunday morning.  We had to be at church by 8:30 for breakfast, (which we didn't make) and hunt for 50 eggs that the Easter Bunny left hidden inside. Two weeks of severe weather and a foot of rain kinda cramps his style. Liv was still feeling very sick so these next few shots my husband took while I tended to the little one.

 
(yikes, what a messy countertop)

 
 

This little one was such a trooper. She tried to have fun and play with her Daddy, but it was super short lived.  We decided to go ahead and take her to church with us. It was probably not the best thing for her, but we did anyway. Hey, she was part of a trio and I didn't want to break that up :)

 
 

 

Look at them! Sporting pink toenails and hair flowers handmade by their Momma. I will miss the days when they refuse to wear things I make for them. *sigh*  After church we headed home to drop off Liv and Daddy. Then the rest of us were off to my Dad's house. We had some good food and the kiddos got to play with their cousins and hunt eggs...inside again.  I was sad that Bob and Liv weren't there. She was just too miserable. :(

These crazy kids had a blast jumping off the stairs!

 

 
 

Thank goodness the rain finally stopped because they needed to run off some energy. Yes, I brought rainboots because I am sort of overbearing and I did not want them to get their shoes dirty!  Uncle Jake kept them busy for a while in the back yard. Faith did not like this keep away business. 

 I really wanted to take a family picture this year but sadly, it did not happen.  I actually wore a dress to church! My goal was to have someone snap it at church after it was over but Liv had fallen asleep in the nursery. Oh well. I can not document every second, even though I want to.

***

Today is the day! I still have so much to do! I hope my husband took the 50 'impossible to blow up by using only your mouth mini balloons' because I almost passed out last night. He is supposed to blow them up at work. Sheesh! Great, now I am distracted by the Royal wedding. Is it bad that I cried when I saw Kate Middleton for the first time? Don't answer that. :)

Easter weekend part 1

Our weekend began by singing to the newest member of the 8 year old club...

Then it was onto dying eggs...

 
 

 
 

Then it was time for Grandma's house to celebrate with family...

 
(Faith's dress)

 
 (Annabel's dress)

 

We had cake and opened presents!!

 

 
(This chick scored $80 in Justice gift cards. Thanks Grandma, Uncle Jake & Aunt Vicky)

 
 

This little nugget required constant Mommy attention all afternoon. She was so winey and seemed to be in pain. Later that night she came down with a fever. After going to the doctor's office monday morning we found out she has a double ear infection. It also did not help that two molars are coming in too. We had to leave Grandma's early.

 
(poor baby)

But before leaving we had to take a spin on Mickey in Grandma Kim's famous Mickey Mouse room. All the kiddos just love it in there. It is sort of our inheritance. LOL! (kind of a running joke in our family) 

 

On the whole the day was good. I just wish Olivia had been feeling better. This post has taken me so long to write because I have been planning and preparing all week for Faith's birthday party that is tomorrow night. I hope to post part 2 of our weekend later today or tomorrow. I had it all wrote out 2 hours ago, but when I hit "publish" it ALL disappeared! AHHH!  Besides party prep and cleaning I have to go to Faith's school today to watch a play that her whole class has been practicing for weeks. I also must go shopping for all of the mini food that I will be serving at her party! If Olivia would just stop climbing on things and falling down and getting hurt then maybe I could get something done! I guess spending 2 hours posting this was probably a bad idea. Oh well!

Happy Easter!

This is why our family celebrates Easter.  The truth in this video gives me great comfort. No matter what sin or struggles I face in my life, I know that I am forgiven and that I am not alone.  My Redeemer lives!!

I also just want to say how grateful I am that our family and friends escaped the devastating damage of the tornadoes that hit our bi-state area. This morning my hubby and I were watching the news and they were interviewing people who had lost everything.  Houses were leveled. Entire neighborhoods too.  I can not imagine walking out of my basement and seeing the sky.  It seems so strange that they hit such a populated area.  Praise God that there were no fatalities. I hope these people find strength in God and in their families and communities. I hope.

Lord, thank you for blessing me with small problems. 

I promise to stop complaining about the little things.

Faith is 8!

 (Posing for Mom & blowing bubbles at her Girl Scout Brownies meeting)

This girl. How did I get so lucky?  This girl is such a gift to her Daddy and I.  Life is so beautiful with her in it.  If you know her then you really know just how special she is.  Besides being smart and beautiful, this sweet girl is also very loving, generous, thoughtful, loyal, and very tender hearted(Just like her mother). We cry alot...SO WHAT! :)  She genuinely cares about others needs and feelings and often prays for "everyone in the world." Her words.  What a doll!  We love you Faith Marie!         

 Happy Birthday baby!

Love, Mom & Dad
 

Mini birthday party invites

My oldest is turning 8 this weekend and we are having a mini party! She also talked me into a sleepover. Yes, 8 eight year old girls! Oh my! We have lots of fun things planned. I hope I survive. :) These are the invites I came up with in Photoshop. I will post party pics after the party.

The envelopes:

 

The invites:

 

They are about the size of a business card or credit card. So fun!

Linking to:

Just a Girl

Not sure what to call this one

 

I love this show.  Maybe I shouldn't, but I do.  When I listen to this song, it makes me cry a little. I guess it is because I kinda always feel this way. Will I ever get it right?  No, I do NOT want to run away, but I do feel inadequate....almost always.  I struggle with keeping up and keeping it together....almost always.  I make mistakes....often(daily). I just want to get ahold of my life. My weight. Our finances.  I hate that us as women compare ourselves to each other.  I know that I have value and I know that God has given me special talents.  I am so thankful that He knows me and my struggles. I am so thankful for what He has given me. And I really am thankful for who I am...weight and all.  I just wish that I would get it right more than I get it wrong. That is all. 

What we did today {Random}

Today I had to get to a few embroidery orders. A couple of bowling shirts and 2 baby blankets. Let me tell you! This thing is such a pain to work with! Don't get me wrong, I am thankful to have it but after you break your last 2 needles and run out of backing because your machine keeps messing up, you tend to get a little frustrated. Nevermind the closest fabric store is 40 miles away....or something like that! Anyhoo...

 One of the bowling shirts
 
 
The baby blanket that will have to sit in the machine until I can get to JoAnns!

 
 
This one is for a sweet baby girl who has yet to be born with 4 names!

 

This is what they do when Momma is working(Faith is still home recovering from her sickness)...watch tv and,

 
play dress up...

 

and make messes! This little girl is a holy mess maker!

 
BUT...I love her anyway!

 
(Love you Olivia Jane!)

 Ok, this is my view from behind the embroidery machine at the kitchen table. Looks like I will be cleaning this kitchen in my near future!

 
Its really not as bad as it looks! Can you spot the Christmas hand towel?

After dinner we are off to dance for a couple of hours and then its Applebee's trivia for me tonight after the kiddos are in bed! Can you say half price appetizers and good friends?!

Spring has sprung!

This is my version of Dandee's Spring in a Can. I just love her style! So simple, so beautiful. Her Spring in a Can inspired me to share this with my mom's group, Project Motherhood. Since it was not in the budget to spend $15 a person for her creation, my friend Cristalle and I got to work. We checked out prices for small paint cans and wheat grass. Turns out those paint cans are 2.99 a piece and you can't even buy wheat grass where I live. So, I suggested that we use larger cans of fruit. Instead of wheat grass, we just used quick growing grass seed that actually sprouted within 4-5 days. I dug through my endless supply of hoarded...ahem...paper and found some cute spring prints. Oh look, I put a BIRD on it!

Linking to:

Craftaholics Anonymous

My SPRING banner...and Put a bird on it!

 (a close-up of the bumble bee detail) 

I love making these paper banners for all the different holidays. I just use my Cricut and go to town! A dream of mine is to sell these in my Etsy shop to make a little extra doing what I love....to craft! Maybe when I have extra time...ha!

I am so in love with bumble bees right now! I guess it has become my new obsession. It used to be owls...Instead of "Put a bird on it,"  I now put a bee on it! HILARIOUS!

 

Linking up @

Tatertots & Jello

Craftaholics Anonymous