What would I do without you?

Our "Little Man"

We have had our little baby man for 6 months (this Saturday!) It's amazing how fast kids grown even when they are not your own. I get really sad that I cannot post pictures of him, he's the most adorable smiley guy.

 

J hugging on Shane.

This was after a very drooly hug. 

As I was typing this I just found out, that he will be leaving at the end of April. We start overnights next month and a week long visit in April, followed by a week back here and then that's it. He'll be with his grandparents for the last three weeks before the court hearing. :( I know this is the way it's supposed to be, but it sucks just the same.

Cherry Squares!

My little helper, Sam, and I made a delicious Cherry Square desert. I am NOT a baker. I love to cook, cooking is easy, a little of this and a little of that. Baking is too precise for my taste, but these guys just looked so good. I got the the recipe from this lady.  Sam was a delightful helper for once :) Here's our yummy finished project. They do have an icing to go on them, but this way you can see the yummy cherries! Sam was quite the guardian of the oven!

                                      

Shane's Baptism!

Today my 7.5 year old was baptized. What an amazing morning! And he just lost his tooth number 8! Growing up way to fast, at least he's keeping what is good! :)

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4

Over the River and Across the Country!

So facebook has heard all about my 29th birthday present! Brandy (look I made her a link :) ) are going to Forks, WA. We had always wanted to do a 30th birthday trip together, our birthdays are 3 weeks apart. But our 30th birthday is the same summer as my 10 year anniversary to my darling hubby. 

 We want to be able to take a trip somewhere that summer. So obviously we couldn't do both trips at once. All that to say Brandy and I are going this year summer. September 10th we'll be leaving out of Richmond and flying to Seattle. I haven't been on a plane since I was 15, long before 9-11, so this should be interesting. Plus is across the country! We're staying at The Cullen House also known as The Miller Tree Inn. It's a B&B (another first) that was named the Cullen house by Forks Chamber of Commerce. It's pretty exciting for those of us who are Twilight fans! Seriously though, I'm excited about the whole thing, Forks, all the sites, La Push and the Quileute Reservation, the rain forest, and most of all the trip with my oldest friend! 

 It's also Stephenie Meyer weekend, which is pretty fab as well. We'll also be staying a very long day in Seattle touring the city and Brandy's future seminary. Then we have like 36 hour trip home, that's another long story. Let's just say the Delta Airlines is not my favorite! Then there's the whole putting my feet into the Pacific Ocean before I'm 30 thing. I always thought it was going to be in California, but the ocean is the ocean is the ocean. We'll be putting our feet in First Beach, WA in La Push!              

                                 Well there will be a lot more to this adventure, but that's it for now! :)

My Free Re-Do

So I did not have my camera for the before shots, it was vacationing in Colorado. :) Here are the pictures of the after of my bored weekend projects!

 

The New Entry Way!!!

The updated version with our new family photo!!!

 

The clock was an oak color and the table had a oak top and maroon legs and wood drawers.

                                           Added the diffuser the collection basket and a bamboo plant.

 

This was an off white with the distressed look of a beige under it, the little vases were a yard sale find last year for .50 cents each!

A closer shot of the clock!

 

This is just random, but I wanted to share, this is a perfect mollusk that Johnny found at the shipyard, the little critter was still inside, but no longer living. Johnny saved the shell for me!

The inside of this shell is a bright orange and pink, it's really pretty!

Quiet time!

Johnny has flown off to Colorado to visit one his good friends. Adam is one of America's heroes and will be deploying to Iraq next month. I was so happy to be able to send Johnny out to see him before he leaves. They moved quite awhile ago, so it's good for them to see each other. Adam was a groomsman in our wedding and Johnny was in his. Anyway, after a long day of him being gone (though probably longer for him and all his flight mess). I got the kids to bed on time and am relaxing in the quiet. I have spent most of the evening painting a bunch of small items around the house. Now, this household only has one camera so I can't show you the cool before shots, but when the camera gets home from it's vacation, I'll post the awesome afters! I painted a solid oak frame black, it had a wonderful picture of a snow covered mountain and now the picture just pops with it's new frame. I also painted a small key holder type shelf black and painted the knobs white, I also made a wood clock black and a small sofa table is now black and white. It's sounds like too much, but the entryway to the house looks great now!!! And I used some great little colored glass vases I found at a yard sale to adorn the shelf and added a basket and bamboo plant to the sofa table. It looks great and it was fun to change up the entryway free of charge.

Enjoying your kids through the Cabin Fever.

*disclaimer, this not aimed at anyone in particular, it's based of the complaints of facebook as of late.*

The weather has been insane! The schools have been closed or delayed for weeks, I think they only went to school two days last week and the week before. Now, I'm going a little stir crazy!

I have my kids all day long every day, the way I feel I'm supposed to do. I feel I'm supposed to have these little people here with me and that I'm supposed to be teaching them at home. Our lives work really well this way. Yes, it takes a lot, yes I give up a lot, but I think we're getting more in return. Yes, there are days I want to throw in the towel, I want to put them on a bus and leave it to someone else. But I take a deep breath, and go on with my day. (maybe having to issue an apology along the way)I'm happy that I can be (for the most part) happy to have them home. I'm happy that I don't feel the need to complain over and over again that my kids are home for a few extra days because of snow. As we get closer to having to hand "little man" over to his grandparents, I'm trying to take the time with all my children and enjoy them more. (even if I'm with a little less hair than normal)

Each day is new and we get a fresh start (even if our kids our quoting our words from yesterday). We all need a break, we all need a night out, a fresh start. But when you can't seem to enjoy you're kids on a Monday, because they're supposed to be in school, that's a sad day. When I asked the kids what they enjoyed the most about the snow, they replied, football, bingo, and daddy was home. So through all my babbling this morning, I guess the main point, is through the screaming, the fighting, and the endless episodes of Dinosaur Train and Calliou, they are growing and I don't want to miss it.