Rainbow Brite

We've had a busy few weeks here so I'm trying to catch up! Skylar and Bailey's birthdays are close so we usually do a joint celebration.  I'm trying to get away with that as long as I can until they start requesting separate parties and wanting to invite their own friends (instead of just our family and family friends).

We do something special on their "actual" day with just our family.  This year Skylar requested a princess cake.  With sprinkles.  Lots of sprinkles.  

Bailey requested cupcakes and a movie.  

I love their simple requests.  :) 

For their party, we did a rainbow theme.  What little girl doesn't love rainbows? Remember Rainbow Brite? :) It was a fun theme and the girls LOVED all the color.  

Rainbow fruit kabobs (made by my mom)....

Rainbow bundt cake (with rainbow sprinkles)...

Rainbow partyware (and rainbow snacks of course)

And rainbow tissue pompoms

The girls had a wonderful party! 

Now on to Reagan's birthday.  Whose idea was it to have these birthdays so close?? :)

Best laid plans

"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Proverbs 16: 9

I need to remember that verse more often.  I had the best laid plans.  My plans.  I was going to spend time while Skylar was at school getting stuff ready for her room re-do.  Then, my parents were going to take her for a couple days so we could do the install.  Then, after she got home, she would squeal and shriek and I would write a nice long makeover post! Then we would make lots of homemade goodies for her birthday; have a party at the park with her classmates; I was going to speak at a board meeting for our school; I was going to wrap up my women's book study I was leading; and then I would leave for the weekend so I could bond and learn with my fellow church board members.

It didn't go that way.

Skylar got Croup two and a half weeks ago.  So she was home from school.  She's now had croup twice in her life.  Both in the last couple months.

Then we all 5 got hit with an intestinal bug.  More missed school.  More time spent NOT preparing items for the room.

Then we were all healthy (yay!), only to have Skylar get the full blown flu the day she was supposed to leave and hang out with my mom for a couple days.  My mom took her anyway (rockstar grandma!!), and they just watched movies.  I worked to get the last few errands in and sewing. The next day Brian cleared her room, we painted, and I tried to finish up some sewing.  Then it hit me.  The flu.  The bad, body aching, high fever, coughin up a lung, can't-stand-upright, flu.

I did my best to help Brian finish up her room, but then I was done.  For the next 5 days.  In that time it also hit Brian, and then Bailey.  Reagan has thus far avoided it (and praying she stays immune!), but she did call my mom at one point and BEG her to come over because there was no one to feed them.  Ha! Rest assured we were feeding the children.  But it was easy stuff like cereal and soup, so we were incredibly grateful that my mom answered the call and came to take care of all of us!!

Skylar loves her new room and it was a great surprise, but it certainly wasn't as I imagined it would be.  I didn't get to finish up my book study. I didn't get to speak at a board meeting for our school.  I didn't get to go away for the weekend with my fellow church board members.  We didn't have a party at the park and I didn't make any homemade goodies.  But life went on.  Other people spoke in my place.  My lovely fellow board members went without me.  My middle baby turned 6.

We're all on the road to recovery but this bug is wretched.  I had the best laid plans.  But the Lord has greater plans.  I'm speaking at church on Monday night so maybe He knew I needed to have some extra time to prepare.  Whatever it is, I need to remember that His plans are best.

In the meantime, here are some snaps from my cell phone.  I would still like to do a whole room re-do post in the future.  For now, this is my best. :)

Our sweet Skylar the morning of her birthday (yesterday).  My mom got her a beautiful princess gown.  It was instant love! 

Skylar's first day back to school after being sick.  How fun that it was her birthday! :) Her class is singing to her while she wears the "birthday hat." 

We were blessed with awesome weather for her birthday, so she played outside with the dogs.  This one is my parents dog.  :) She's the most "willing" to go along for a ride.  Notice the sparkly princess shoes.

A "before" shot of Skylar's room.  We had a beach theme beforehand.  I have other pics before it was cleared, but I'll save those for the longer post.  

And AFTER! We did two colors of pink on the walls; I made a fabric banner, tissue pom poms, a rag quilt for her bed, and a new bedskirt.  This is a shot from standing in her doorway looking in.

Another shot from inside her room. 

Most importantly, she loves it.  She had a good birthday and we're all getting healthier.  Thank the Lord for that!

Mud

I finally backed up our computer and deleted a bunch of files so I could download new pics.  I know you've been waiting on the edge of your seats. :)

For Skylar and Bailey's birthdays my mom asked if she could get the girls a sand and water table.  At first I said no.  We've had a sand and water table before.  I know what happens.  The sand doesn't stay on the sand side.  The water doesn't stay on the water side.  It turns into a mud table.

I don't mind fun messes, but I wasn't too keen on the idea of mud being tracked through the house.

But she convinced me that it would be so much fun for the girls, so I caved.

She was right.  It is fun.  They love it.

But I was right too.  It's a mess.

A big, muddy mess.  

But such a fun mess!

Who needs the beach when you have this in your backyard?

Thanks mom! :)

She...

She is three today.

She is my baby, but doesn't like to be called a baby.  She reminds us daily that she's a "big girl" now.   Since she was our "last" I tried desperately to hang on to the babyness.  But she wanted nothing to do with it! We are a crib-free, diaper-free, baby toy (and giant gear) free house.  She is already learning to write her letters and almost has the 50 states song mastered.

She likes to do whatever her big sisters are doing.  We often hear "I do it myself!"

People tell me she looks the most like me.

She marches to the beat of her own drum (and dresses herself).

She cracks us up daily, which is good since she also tests every bit of patience we have. :)

She....

is our blessing.

Happy Birthday Baby! 

Yay! 5!

There's an old episode of The Cosby Show (probably from the first season) where Rudy is sad because she is the littlest in the family.  But her mom convinces her that she is growing up each day and can already do lots of things at 5, that she couldn't do at 4.  By the end, they were both saying "Yay 5!"

Today we are saying, "Yay 5!"

Skylar is 5 today! She has already spent the morning showing me how many things she can reach, and how her feet almost hit the floor when she sits on the couch.  She is convinced that she grew a foot last night.  The funny thing is....it looks like she did.  :) I could have sworn that the jeans she is wearing today actually fit her last week.  Thank the Lord that capris are in style!

Skylar is our fearless one, but also the most tender.  She is incredibly flexible and just goes with the flow. She just doesn't get bothered by much.  She is equally as good of a big sister, as she is a little sister.

She is definitely our happy-go-lucky kid! She makes us laugh; she's quick to listen *(most days) and loves to be a helper.  We are blessed to have her in our family!

Happy Birthday sweet girl! Yay 5!

Holly-Days!

This lil' old blog has been quiet for a while.  But that just means we've been having lots of fun! Well, mostly.  Brian had surgery three days before Christmas but he's recovering well and already back to work.

The girls had a fantastic Christmas and now we are working to put things away (toys, laundry, Christmas decorations, etc.).  I haven't run in WAY too long and I'm starting to feel the effects, so I'm starting that back up again soon too! I don't know what it is about post-Christmas, but it always makes me want to purge, organize, clean, and decorate.  You can bet there will be plenty of that going on here as well.  Meanwhile we're enjoying the rain (and we've had plenty!!) and just staying inside.

I've been trying to jot down a few of the funny things the girls have said so I can revive the Friday Funnies, (look for a new year's edition soon)!

I can tell you all we've been up to, but I know you'd much rather see it!

 Reagan's classroom Christmas party:

 Mom's birthday a few days before Christmas (and a delicious chocolate cake made by my sis-in-law):

Walking "Christmas Card Lane" (and a rare family pic):

Delivering cookies to daddy's office:

Reagan and my nephew Dylan (best buddies). He was teaching her all about something called a "Nintendo DS" :)

 Christmas Eve at my mom and dad's house:

Christmas morning at our house. The girls all got a giant dollhouse to share.  Love Reagan's face (and the fact that she's throwing paper in her baby sister's face). :)

 Reagan REALLY wanted a globe for Christmas (something that's easy to find for cheap in August.  In December, not so much).  Thank you Craigslist!!

Skylar with her new Princess bike (complete with a baby seat on back)!

Skylar and Bailey wearing the slings that Reagan made for them!

Mom opening the quilt I made.  She's going to hate this picture, but I just love it!

The girls playing with their new dollhouse:

Matching Christmas jammies!

Our tree on Christmas night.  We have some crazy LED lights!

 

We hope your Christmas was blessed and your home is filled with warm memories! We are gearing up for a busy January (with every week/weekend already booked!), my return to teaching, and squeezing in some playtime too! :) 

Happy New Year!!

him

I'm thankful for so much.

My family.

My home.

My God.

I could go on and on about each and every one.  But today I'm thankful for him.

He is my rock.

My better half.  

My heart. 

He knows how to make me laugh, how to make me feel important, and loved.  

He is *adored* by our three blessings. 

He's an amazing dad! 

You won't find someone more honest or harder working.  

He also happens to be incredibly intelligent, rational, and level-headed.  

He makes sacrifices and plans ahead so I can live my dream of being a stay at home mom. 

He's introverted and quiet around people he doesn't know well.

That makes us a good team. :)

He leads our home spiritually and I am secure knowing that his relationship with the Lord is solid. 

He prays with me and for our girls each and every day.    

It's just a bonus that he's so handsome and his gaze still makes my heart race.  

He also happens to know exactly how I take my coffee.  

I am so thankful for him.

Happy Birthday Honey! Each day with you is a gift!

Lucky 7

Seven years ago today was a good day.  

I became a mom.

After a marathon labor, Reagan arrived a month early. 

She was born at 12:10 in the afternoon and was a tiny 5 pounds, 10 ounces.  

She fulfilled my lifelong dream of being a mom.  It's the only thing I ever knew I wanted to be.  

I never knew I could love anyone as much.

It was love at first breath and she has had my heart ever since.  

She made her television debut at 3 months old 

(Hurricane Isabel knocked power out at our church so her dedication was outside and the news thought it was great!)

She has always been full of joy!

And filled us with joy.

(don't you love the long jammies!?)

It's hard to believe that she's seven.  She has grown into such a beautiful young lady, inside and out.

She has such concern for others and a tender spirit.

She's a great big sister and loves to "take care" of them (whether they like it or not sometimes!).

She is my heart. I couldn't be more proud.  

Smart, kind, and beautiful.  

This is the first year she did not ask for toys for her birthday.  It's a sign she is growing up.  While I'm happy to not add more toys to our growing collection, I'm a little sad to see the little girl years behind her.  I know we're not far from the request for cell phones, ipods, computers, and gift cards.  

For now, I will cherish her snuggles.  

And be thankful for her loving heart.  

And pray.

Pray for the calling on her life and that the Lord always keeps her tender toward others. 

Happy Birthday sweet girl! I love you to the moon and back.