Needed!

It was something I haven't done in a LONG time! I sat at Starbucks with my Bible, a book the ladies at the church are reading through together, coffee, and no kids! For 3 hours! It was seriously a gift. We're reading through a book by Timothy Keller called The Meaning of Marriage and it is so rich with the gospel that I would literally chew the words if I could. I'm still daydreaming about my morning. God has met me right where I'm at lately and I feel like every time I turn around I'm being encouraged by something someone says, or does, or what I read, the Spirit is making himself known and ministering deep within my heart. I am blessed and to God be the Glory because of what He's done!

New Wreath

After crafting all that stuff for Taylor's party I realized I hadn't crafted like that in a while so I decided to make a new wreath for our front door! And I'll be honest, I looked to pinterest first for inspiration but didn't see anything I wanted to replicate so this is from my own brain!
 

I started with a wooden S from Michael's, and covered it with cute chevron paper I printed off of.

I made a few flowers from scraps I had leftover from the girls Easter dresses, and some burlap.

I went ahead and attached them to some alligator clips so it's effortless to change out and I can use them as hair clips anytime.

And voila! Tied it up with another strip of burlap...I just love it!

Doesn't it just say welcome?

Come on in!

3 Years With Taylor Jo

We celebrated Taylor's birthday this evening. Her birthday isn't until the 13th but today...we celebrated!
I put together this video of the first 3 years of her fantastic little life.


So I asked Taylor a while ago what she wanted her cake to look like...I love making my kids cakes unique to them and I didn't want to do my own thing so I asked. Her answer? Pink, pink polka dots. So I went from there, and turned it into a pink party! We only had family over, but once you get the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins...it's a hefty crew. I've been in a bit of a funk lately, some have informed me that it is called being depressed, but that's for another post altogether, and trust me, I'm writing it. One thing that I've noticed though is that I have a strong push to craft things, not that it's a big change from the norm but still, I went for it for a simple family party.

The spread, pink treats

Her cake, all from scratch...cake, butter cream frosting and marshmallow fondant! It was delish, if I do say so myself!

Balloon backdrop

Taylor wall, you can't really see it but her birth announcement and headband are on the bottom right. 

Taylor is 3! Picture's from each year of her life...and the real thing in the flesh!

My baby!

Of course the sun came out and so did the neighbor kids...and our guests.

Tay Tay in her birthday hat!

My Grandma, Momma, Payden and Birthday girl watching the Taylor video

I just love the way it all came together!

Her birthday hat up close...I seriously LOVE it!

First bite

Family

Sweet girl was so thankful and bashful all at the same time while opening gifts.

The girls with Great-Grandma

My grandma got Taylor a vanity, and it took the cake as far as consumed their attention for the rest of the evening...my mom souped it up a little with all the accessories...they are obsessed!

It was a gloriously beautiful day, and a gloriously beautiful life to be celebrating!

Tea Parties

Since my grandma has decided to move back to Kentucky we are soaking up the time we have where we are able to just hop in the car and go see her. One of the favorite little traditions that has started is having a Tea Party. There is a tea set that the girls have been playing with since Payden was little and now it's getting used to it's full potential. I need to fully document the festivities one of these times. I'm sure a little dress up wouldn't be turned down either. But anyway this was taken a little while ago.

There is 'tea' being had here (really apple juice), banana's sliced thin, and skinny slices of toast with butter in the butter dish. It is a highlight of the day whenever an extra hour or so is spent at my parents because Great-Grandma is lovingly willing to oblige the tea party requests!

Lincoln's Dream

Ahh dreams, they make for some funny stories don't they? Lincoln came in to see me the other night, with the encouragement of Payden, to share a bad dream he had a few nights earlier. Here's the dream according to Lincoln:

   You were making a birthday cake for Great Grandma and I was a wolf hiding in the woods and when you set the cake down on the table and went back inside I snuck over and ate it then when you came back out and    saw it was gone you were really sad and looked at the woods but didn't see me and then you looked sad (this is where he broke down crying because he was sad that he did something that made me sad). And I felt so bad that you were crying.

All the while Payden was rubbing his back sympathizing with her brother and seeming so proud that he was sharing so freely.

Then Lincoln snapped out of the emotion and tells me,

L: But, Mom, you were younger in the dream 

Me: Oh yeah, how could you tell?

L: You weren't as big as you are now. You were skinnier that's how I could tell you were younger, you were skinnier, not like skinny like a stick just normal skinny. Not bigger like you are now.

Me: Well that's a pretty clear way to tell if I was younger. 

At that point Payden looked a little embarrassed that he was sharing so openly, she sensed he crossed a line and I was trying my hardest not to bust out laughing. You can't beat the honesty of children!

 

 

Easter

The family got separated due to age at the Gladstone Easter Egg hunt, I've never been to a community egg hunt like this and oh...wow, it was a little bit crazy!

This Easter I had an itch to make the girls Easter dresses. I just learned to sew a few months ago, that's another post in the works but I loved it. And when Wendy had some patterns at church a few weeks before Easter I thought to myself. I can totally do that...by myself too. So this is what I made...

pretty basic but I was proud of myself. I watched Phantom of the Opera and sewed to my hearts content.

Jer is now affectionately called the king of Craigslist. And this has been one of his finds...

A bounce house. So we blew that baby up for the kidos to enjoy

Happy Hailey

Payden with her hot chocolate...she begged me to make a head scarf/handkerchief thing and was one happy girl when I oblidged. 

The beautiful Alissa, with her baby boy in tow and all. She recently had to close the her coffee shop and has poured her love for good espresso into a ministry here at Church. And I get to help, and will fill in at the end of May when the little guy joins their family.

Tay Tay

Some of the gathering before we gathered.

Our friends neighbor raises bunnies and she brought them to church on Easter so the kids could pet, hold and walk them on leashes....it was pretty fantastic.

Skylar and Quinny...their perfect faces here pretty much sum up the joy that the kids all embodied all day!

The lovely Jeremy and Dea, it is their neighbor who brought the bunnies...I've never seen a more dapper gentleman holding a bunny!

Hailey helping send the bunnies home.

Cousins!

They're a little obsessed with piggy back rides.

Our family...thanks Hailey for that face...

Grandma Tammi joined us for church and of course all the children smile perfectly for their picture with her...stinkers.

For the weeks leading up to Easter each family got a canvas to take home and create on it what the resurrection means to them...there have been a few more added to the gallery but they really turned out beautifully.

After church meeting we went over to Grandpa Kevin and Grandma Kari's for dinner. I caught Jack eyeing Jer, he was just captivated with him, and let's face it, I'm pretty captivated by Jack.

Seriously such a stud!

Cousins again after their more structured egg hunt.

Each child had an egg that contained a clue to their very own goodie bag. I love when my kids enjoy gifts fully and Hailey summed it up here with her love of her new chapstick. 

It was a beautiful weekend and made it nearly impossible to ignore God's blessings and beauty in His creation, relationships, and gifts, all of which stem from the perfect gift of His Son who saved us and reconciled us to the Father. He is Risen! 

Getting a new sister!

I can't believe that my little brother is going to be a husband in a few short months! He is one of the funniest people that I know and I'm so thrilled that his lovely bride-to-be, Kirsten, will be joining our family! All four kids are going to be in the wedding in August and they are so excited to get to call her Aunt Kirsten.
Here are the lovely betrothed couple!

Isn't she darling?!


So sweet

Oh Markie...I don't know if I will ever be able to call him Mark!



 
Don't forget the ring

The night he proposed...Yep that's a giant pizzookie! She had no idea...I love it. And I love you Markie and Kirsten!