14 Years of Absolute Bliss

What can I say? We grew up together! He is my prince charming...without a doubt!

Fine Motor Encouragement

Fine motor has always been a struggle for my precious O. It has been a humbling experience for this preschool teacher too. Several comments have been made by others about my not working with her enough. If you know me, you know that isn't true. She had a paint brush in her hand before she could speak!


With that said, something just clicked this summer, and she has made wonderful progress.


I found this drawing on the counter yesterday. I thought that it was a colorful man. She giggled and said that it was the girl in the book, Stripes.

Melt my (guilt-ridden) momma heart...

I did it! I sent my baby to kindergarten! And...she loved it!

A started 2nd grade, and he is counting the hours until he gets to go back. His teacher is very creative and eccentric. He is going to thrive in her classroom.

Can I just say that I love this photo?

And...this one?

This is the face that found me this afternoon.

A difficult milestone for me, but I loved watching my children start these new chapters in their lives. Chapters that God has written just for them!

Family Photos on the Beach

Anxiety

My greatest anxiety as the mother of a beautiful girl is my lack of experience with anything girly. I feel completely overwhelmed by the idea of styling of her hair.

Imagine my being handed a sheet of paper detailing how her hair was to be styled for her very first dance recital.

Let's just say, I didn't sleep well for several weeks.

For picture night, I had it professionally done, and I watched every move that the stylist made and asked far too many questions.

Well, today was the much anticipated event. I am proud to report that I DID IT!
I graduated from college with a 4.0 and birthed a 9lb 13oz baby boy, but this now tops my accomplishment list.

Thank you God for my precious daughter, and the opportunity to learn new things!

Hopefully...Spring Shower

We thoroughly enjoyed the warm, spring-like weather that we experienced this weekend.

It was exactly what I desperately needed.

We spent a great deal of time outside.

We weren't even disappointed with the quick cool shower that we experienced Sunday afternoon.

I didn't get the Easter photos taken, but the photographer in me was happy to capture these precious shots of my sweeties singing in the rain.

Tea Party for Two

Have any of you noticed that I have been really quiet lately?

Well, I have been trying to refocus, catch-up, and prioritize.

I must admit that this crazy blog was taking a lot of my time and attention.

Time and attention that I want directly focused on my precious, sweet children.

With that said...I plan to keep crafting, thrifting, and writing. However, it will probably be less often.

This morning I woke up and decided that the H gals needed to have a fancy tea party.

And...a fancy tea party we had....I really enjoyed watching her try to figure out how to use this contraption.

Yep...this is how I want to spend the majority of my time!

Now, we just need more fancy tea cups!

We will be having a lot of tea parties in the near future.

Would you like to come to a tea party hosted by the sweetheart O?

What memory did you create today!

My Valentine Surprise

I am quite the sentimental gal...surprising?

I have not been able to part with the baby bed that held my sweeties every night for each of their first few years.

I had no idea what we were going to do with it until I stumbled across My Repurposed Life and this baby bed turned bench tutorial.

Several months ago, I mentioned this idea to my sweet Scotty.

This was waiting for me when I returned from my girl's night out Saturday night!Now, I just need to decide what color to paint it, and the perfect place for it in our home.

Here are my sweeties all growing up!
Of course, a seven month old puppy couldn't resist an opportunity to smooch his favorite 2 humans!

What a perfect Valentine's Day surprise!
I am so blessed!

Refresh

I apologize to all of you who visit to see a thrifty find or craft project. I have been heart-broken and sick for the past week, and my craft closet has remained untouched. Hopefully, I will have a fun "crafty" post on Friday. I have something up my sleeve. However, I also have a MESSY house, floors that are covered in dog hair, kiddos who need books read, and a hubby who needs a well deserved break!

I have always valued the importance of transparency, but the tragedy that occurred within the family of my dear friends has given me the desire to become even more transparent.

Our pastor (aka PS) has been sharing a series called, "REFRESH!"

I have spent the past few days in bed reflecting on the desperate need for a refreshing in my life and relationships.

TRANSPARENT: Our marriage needs a refreshing!

Maintaining a healthy marriage is such a hard task with the demands of jobs, parenting, finances, and sometimes even church responsibilities. PS said something to the effect...the marriage of your dreams takes commitment, hard work, and sacrifices. (Yuck!)

I have vowed to stop focusing on my sweet Scotty's short-comings (I know...it is difficult for some of you to believe that he has any!) and REMEMBER the countless reasons why I love him.

Scott's plate has been overflowing the past week. To top everything off, I have been sick. He has sacrificed so much of himself without complaining to pick up my slack.

This afternoon, O entered my classroom proudly displaying the note that she found in her lunch box. She said, "Fanks for the note momma!"

I just smiled because that special note was written by her dad!

What a guy!

REFRESHING!

This note was found in A's lunch box!

Isn't he a cutie!
I hope that my transparency encourages you to find "FRESH" love and appreciation for the ones that you treasure!

....Like Cats and Dogs

Let me start by saying that these 2 have nothing on ....... these 2!
This is sibling rivalry at its finest!
I know what you are thinking....
that poor little kitty cat!
Well, he does weigh 20+ pounds, and....
He ALWAYS wins!
The joys of being a family, and fighting like cats and dogs!
I encourage you to be a peacemaker today!
Happy Monday!

Like Father... Like Son...Like Grandson

What can I even say....the photos speak for themselves!

Scott's father stopped by this afternoon, and this is what happened!He grabbed his jacket from the car, and the photo shoot continued!
It doesn't take much to entertain this bunch!

A decided to spice it up a little...he added some entertainment!

A children's pastor in the making, or have we been spending too much time in Branson?

What a way to spend New Year's day!

Dick's Five and Ten

Let me start by saying....my Scotty has the highest moral standards, and he has NEVER walked away from God's plan for his life.

If you think that the following photos could dampen your opinion of him...please don't continue to read this post!

Several people have encouraged us to visit Dick's Five and Ten while in Branson.

Both sets of our baby boomer parents love this store.

Needless to say, we ended up visiting this "dime" store over the weekend.

Scott and I just couldn't figure out what was so special about this jam-packed, competitively priced store.

We found ourselves laughing at the baby boomers who were tickled pink about a game, candy, hand-kerchiefs, and anything else that they never thought that they would find again. The folks in this store were down-right giddy.

Then I watched as Scott ran up to me with a bounce in his step and a smile on his face.

He proclaimed, "Look what I found....REAL candy cigarettes!"
Yep...he paid $0.39 cents a pack for these candy memories.

He did walk into a store with one in his mouth, and ask the owner about their "smoking" policy. It definitely crossed over into obnoxious!

He also begged for a quarter to put into the "Measure your Lover Personality Type" machine.
And....I had to pull him out of the store in a tantrum over a replica of the Christmas story lamp!

What childhood memory would you hope to find at Dick's Ten and Dime?