a typical morning...

...looks something like this:  stuff all over the vanity (and floor), Millie freshly clean because she stripped down (without warning) to get in the shower with daddy.  Reece decides a shower might be good too (bonus: clothing change), so she goes in after daddy and Millie.  Then we remember that Graham hasn't bathed in almost a week and has visible wax in his ears...so we drag encourage him into the bathroom to take care of personal hygiene.  Then it's my turn.  Super-duper quick shower. When was the last time I shaved above my knees anyway?)  Blow-dry my hair almost dry and fix it in my new favorite way, a little make-up and dig through my closet hoping that I'll find one thing that might match.  YES!  Last one.  Throw in a load of laundry (because I've now exhausted all of my options) and move on to breakfast.  Ezekiel bread toast and yogurt.  Kiss Dan goodbye, say a prayer and take a deep breath.  Our day has begun.

This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!  Psalm 118:24

LOVE

This year, I tried some new ideas for Valentine's day fun!  Thank you very much, Pinterest.   

Heart-shaped hard-boiled eggs...these were a hit!  Graham said he thinks we should have these EVERY Valentine's day;  :)  I agree!  Super easy and cute.

I wanted to add this to the bottom because they were actually dinner, but I'm having trouble with that.  First,  I poured a little batter into a sauce cup.  Then I  added a couple drops of pink food coloring, drew it up into a medicine dropper,  and made the "heart" in the waffle iron base.  I let it sit for a 10 seconds or so, to firm up and then added the plain batter, as usual.  Voila!  Valentine's waffles!  These were a big hit.  

We emailed dear friends and family members this pic as a valentine this morning.

A special valentine for my love...waiting in the sock drawer for his discovery, ha!

Special love notes for the kids when they woke up this morning.

Graham:  You are handsome, You are a great dancer, You ROCK, We love you!!, You rock at angry birds, You are so funny, You are an excellent reader, You have interesting ideas

Reece:  We love you!!, You are smart, You have a pretty singing voice, You have a beautiful smile, We love to laugh with you, You have a special way with animals, You are a hardworking girl, You are an awesome helper!

Millie:  You are learning to use the potty, You have cute dimples :), Your kisses are so sweet,  You are a fast runner, You make us smile, You are a great sleeper, We love you!!, You are a funny girl

I love how these turned out.  I plan to bring them out every year.  Target dollar section mailboxes, glued to wooden spray-painted candlesticks from Salvation Army.  Total cost:  $5!  The kids have really enjoyed surprising each other with  little Valentine cards over the last two weeks.     

Everybody pitched in on this little project.  Tissue paper hearts:  wrap tissue squares around  the pencil eraser, dip in glue, and press onto heart, repeat...again and again!  

Our photo wall all dolled up for V-day!   Gobstoppers in the mason jars.  Handmade Valentine's for each family member from Reece.  Millie's is covered in dried oatmeal, she loved it so much!  :)

resonate.

“God appoints people who do 

disappoint – to point to a God 

who never disappoints.”  

-Ann Voskamp

cotton candy sunset
{taken from the back porch of mom and dad's beach house on Thanksgiving}

Water Works

tiny tears!

Millie is almost 20 months old.  She want to do everything Bubba and Sissy are doing...which sometimes leads to bumps and bruises...and tears.   I have learned that one of the easiest ways to settle down a fretful, otherwise inconsolable baby is WATER!  :)  I turn on the faucet and she just watches it run over her fingers, wiggles it around and even sometimes tosses a little on momma which she thinks is hyterical!  It has worked with all three of our little people.  I know when I hear "Wa.  Wa!" baby girl is asking for a little water therapy.  :)

Sunday Morning

If your house is anything like ours, getting myself and three kiddos ready for church Sunday morning can be anything but a holy experience!  And my husband's a pastor for cryin' out loud!

Here's some encouragement:  remember that GOD does not look at the outside (kids messy bed hair or our bad attitudes, mom's clothes pulled out of the laundry because that's all that's remotely clean....I claim all of these today!)  GOD loves us (stinky clothes, bedhead, bad attitude and all!)  :)  Now go dig some clothes out of the hamper and let's get to church.

This is how we feel about going to church with you today, Momma!

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.  By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.  And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.  Hebrews 10:19-25  (NLT)

A report from the front lines

-rescued a climbing toddler from peril (repeat about 100 times)
-repaired Barbie's amputated leg
-attacked mount laundry--vowing never to lose this much groud again. ;)

Headband Holder

Here's a little project that was inexpensive and super easy.

Problem: Headbands everywhere!  :)  They fall on the floor, get chewed on by the dog/baby sister, and the bows get squished up. 

Solution: Homemade headband holder!   

Supplies needed:  empty extra-large oats container, contact paper of your choice, (found this one at Tar-jay) for about 5 bucks-with lots left over to line the bathroom drawers....or maybe some other fun projects to coordinate??)  ruler or eyeballs ;) ,  scissors

Step one: measure (eyeball) and mark on back of contact paper where you want to cut.  Glad for those gridlines on the back that make it easy to get a straight line. 

Step 2: Cut

Step 3: Peel off backing

Step 4:  Stick it on!

Step 5: Put the lid on and put your headbands on it all pretty-like.  

When I finished, Reece cried.  CRIED!  Not happy tears either.  She said she liked it better the other way.  A good lesson that my girl does not mind the aesthetics of things, she can appreciate the function, and so shall I.  :)

I could very faintly see the writing through the contact paper.  You might need to put on another layer if you chose a lighter color of contact paper for this project.

Next up, cleaning out the garage with my dear Daniel.  :)