Nothing better...

...than Galliker's Peach Iced Tea on a hot summer day!  What says "summer" to you?

Happy Birthday, Bree!

My baby is turning 2 today. I'm trying not to be depressed about how quickly time is flying. Seems like it was just yesterday that I held her for the first time & introduced her to her big sister & big brother. Wow!

Thinking about her birthday earlier this week made me think of this song that her Daddy sang for
her dedication just a few days after she was born. It expresses perfectly how we feel about her!

Anyway...here's an overview of how she has changed from a baby to a little girl in the past year:

 Celebrating her first birthday - May 2010

Trying roasted marshmallows for the first time - and LOVING them! - June 2010

At the park - July 2010

Meeting her cousin Kristell for the first time - August 2010

Enjoying church from the comfort of Nana's lap - September 2010

Getting spoiled by Aunt Darlene at Tia Lish's wedding - November 2010

 Spending Christmas Eve at Nana's house - December 2010

Celebrating New Year's with a root beer float at Aunt Brenda's house - January 2011

 Discovering the world of "kuwoh-ing" (coloring) - February 2011

 Little Miss Spunk (Daddy's nickname for her) - March 2011

Clowning around at IHC -  April 2011

 Helping Daddy pick out new glasses - May 2011

Finished Object...Monday?

I wanted to get this posted on Saturday, but my weekend just flew by. I hope I'm not too late to join Charity's linky party...

I have a baby shower to attend this week, and - as usual, I wanted to give a handmade gift 'cause that's just so much more fun! ;-)  So, I went to my faithful Evernote account to browse through all the ideas I have stumbled across online, but never have time to try. (By the way, if you haven't discovered Evernote yet, you need to check it out. It's my sanity saver, creative-brain-dumping-place, etc!)  I decided I wanted to try my hand at making one of these little outfits. I wish I would have had the time to try making the little matching shoes, but I guess that will have to wait for another time. Anyway, I am very pleased with the results & I hope the mommy-to-be is just as happy with it!

Linking to:


Masterpiece Monday

Amaze Me Monday
Making The World Cuter Monday
Metamorphosis Monday

Catching up...

I'm aware that it has been FOR.EV.ER. since I posted. Most of you have probably given up and moved on to more interesting blogs whose authors are far more faithful than I - and I SO do not blame you. To be honest, I have seriously considered giving up on blogging. Sometimes I feel like my life is so busy that I'm spinning out of control. The past few months have been full of...

trying to keep kids from bouncing off the walls,

 

paying bills,

couponing and getting lots of FREE stuff (which thankfully helps with the aforementioned dreaded word),

spending time with Jeff's family Kansas,

trying to keep kids well through flu/cold season,

game nights with friends and family,  

voting on our favorite pews for the new church,

beginning and trying to stay caught up with Project Life 2011,

teaching "The Old Rugged Cross" to the kids in preparation for the Easter season,

squeezing in an occasional sewing project in an effort to preserve at least some of my sanity,

entertaining guests,

wishing for Spring,

decluttering and organizing,

planning and throwing a birthday tea party for Ryleigh's 5th birthday

doing laundry,

combing hair,

saying goodbye to Steph & Glenn as they return to Lesotho,

cutting Grant's hair,

writing thank you notes,

a quick, overnight getaway to NYC (which included getting to see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway!),

traveling to Bus Convention with three kids (seriously, what on earth were we thinking??),

helping Ryleigh learn letters and sounds,

cleaning,

 

potty-training (will it EVER end??)

working out at Curves,

celebrating Grant's 3rd birthday,

Spring revival,

making Lish's birthday present,

finding out that I'm going to be an aunt (squeeeaal!),

meeting Brent and Brenda's new foster kids, Kayla and James,

helping with funeral meals, 

doing miscellaneous graphic design work for the church,

cleaning up BIG messes,

beginning a weekly Bible study in our home,

Spring photo shoots,

traveling to IHC,

 

laundry,

and MORE laundry!

Whew...now I think I know why I'm so tired! :-) Anyway, I guess what I'm getting at is that even though I have a lot going on at this stage of life, I don't think I'm quite ready to give up blogging. I don't know about you, but I really struggle with keeping my priorities straight. I'm trying really hard to enjoy each moment as it happens - including the really difficult (and I do mean difficult - any advice from seasoned mothers would be appreciated) toddler stages that my two youngest kids are in the midst of right now. In spite of the temptation to "escape" to my blog or Facebook when things are stressful, I'm trying really hard to suck it up and deal with the issues at hand. So...please bear with my random postings. I may not always get my priorities right, but I am really trying! :-)