Friday, April 29, 2011

As Royal As We Get

After spending time with the only royal I personally know, King Jesus, my girls came running out their rooms for the day. I flipped on the tv to see the dress. Click here to see it from every angle. Loved this.

We were 10 minutes away from the kiss, so we waited.

We had a royal breakfast.
Two little girls had a royal fight.
And I could feel a royal headache coming on.

The couple had their royal kiss.
These girls were royally grossed out.
Talia said, "You kissed Daddy like that on your wedding day?" 
(She's really into questions about our wedding now.)
I confirmed that we had.

Which got me to thinking...why didn't I break out my own wedding dress this morning before the girls left? It's not like me to not look for a reason to put that thing on as many times as I can?!

Bruce comes homes from Texas later today (again!).
Maybe I should greet him at the back door wearing it.
No, he'd expect that from me by now.
But he wouldn't expect one of the girls to be wearing it.
I have it in me to have some royal fun yet today.
Cheers!
In case you couldn't hear it, those last two sentences were said in my best British accent. :)

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Random Wednesday

Thanks for all the input into my hoop art wall.
Many of you said that it needed something a bit more.
I am all too happy to keep going on this project.
I am ready to go hoopy-loopy.
I knew I could count on you all!
**************************************************
I'm going on a first grade field trip with this one this morning.
FYI. Ella is not smoking, although it looks like she's holding a cig. For some reason my girls are really into playing with straws right now. Whatever. It keeps them busy and straws are cheap. :)
******************************************
I just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to those of you who prayed and or gave to Danielle and Sergey's Dream Big Fundraiser during these past two weeks. They raised over $17,000 for their adoption. Praise God!

Oh and one more thing...make sure that you check back to the fundraiser to see if you won anything. I recognized a lot of the names of the winners. And that my heart smile big time because that's the kind of friends I have...ones who will give.

Now excuse me, I have a first grader to field trip with.
Happy Wednesday!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Hoop Art Wall {it's a start}

I have fallen in love with Hoop Art.
If you would have told me this a year ago, I would have asked you what hoop art was.
I learned about it at the craft weekend I went to in January.
Here's my latest attempt.
It's so nice that I decided to take this picture before I turned on an iron. Brill...
Let's look a little closer.
I fell in love with this fabric at JoAnn Fabrics.
I wish I could say that I embroidered these flowers. I didn't, but I'm sure someone could. No one will know that I didn't.
Except that I just told everyone I know...oh well.
I bought three yards of this fabric for 30 cents at a thrift store. Love.
I used the same fabric to roll these flowers. I'm still learning how to do that well.
It takes some practice.
It also takes some practice to learn how not to burn yourself with a glue gun.
Those things are hot!
I used this tutorial to learn how to roll them. (I liked her pictures even though I didn't make the baby headband.)

I like the texture of the strings sticking out of the flowers to add interest, so I didn't cut them off.
The brown muslin (2 yards!) was purchased at the same thrift store for 25 cents.
I have this doily and a few more from when I lived in Paraguay.
It means a lot to me.
It is a lovely remembrance from a very broken time in my life.
The wall art is in our living room, close to the kitchen.
The living room is still getting some the final touches: electrical covers, curtains, slipcovers and such are still to come.
This wall is long and this is just a small section.
I keep thinking I could add some more hoops.
So, you tell me:
Is it finished?
Should I add some more? If so, what color should I bring in?
Should I take it all down and start over?
I have a small cabinet that I'm going to place here instead of the turquoise chair. Although, I could be persuaded to leave the chair.
You know I've said before that decorating is not my thing.
I'm so glad I have all of you.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter Fun

Easter fun in our little town starts on Saturday morning at the Easter Egg Hunt. 
Do you think Ella enjoyed herself? Look at that face.

We forget that every year we get to see people that we love a lot but don't get to see that often. I got to hug Nic. Why didn't I take a picture of the two of us together? 
I did get a picture of Bruce and Jeremy. (Nic's brother and a good friend of ours.) 
Before we left the house we agreed that we would stay 20 minutes and pack it up. We were the second to the last family to leave. :)

On Sunday morning we got dressed and headed out to church. 
Here's our official 2011 Easter pic.
In true tradition, I set the camera accidentally to cut off my tall husband's head.
I guess when you're tall you get used to that.
Here's the unofficial pic.
Cool. I didn't know my eyes could roll like that.
We hosted a dinner that included both family and friends.


Talia spent a little quality time with Uncle Travis and Great Grandma.
I spent a little quality time with Aunt Verla's Chocolate Pecan Pie. Oh. My. Word.
Bruce's family has taught me the art of an extended dinner. I used to wonder why we couldn't move into the living room to continue our conversation instead of spending four hours sitting at the table. (Which is what we did yesterday.) After ten years of marriage, I've realized that we all enjoy being together so much (and it happens so rarely that we can be together) that I think that no one wants to disconnect even for a moment for the sake of a preserving their "seat". Maybe this is why they all have cushioned chairs in their dining rooms? I think I need to look into that. Obviously, I still have a lot to learn.
Bruce and Aunt Verla.
Talia found a comfortable place on the living room floor for an impromptu nap. 
I had just told her an hour before that she didn't have to take a nap if she didn't want to. Reverse psychology really works. 
I'll have to remember that trick next year. 
:)

Meg Said It Best

My friend Meg brought my eyes to tears this morning when I read her most recent post.
Would you please read this and make a donation if you can?
If for some reason you can't spare $10, pray that others will give.

As Talia so frequently says, "I love you and I like you, too."

Friday, April 22, 2011

A Good Friday in Pictures...Mostly.


Note: The tattoo is a product of what happens when Mom promises a tattoo from a local grocery store for staying in her bed all night long on a night when the Daddy is out of town. Arriving at the grocery store a few days ago,  to my horror we discover that the Disney tattoos have been replaced by dragons or various versions of crosses. 

Who knew there were scary versions of crosses? 
We decided that crosses were okay since it was Holy Week.






I made PW's Hot Cross Buns today. I know I have never thought about them for Good Friday before, but I doubt that we will ever be without some sort of version of this in the years to come. There's something about being reminded about the gift that was given to us by way of the cross every time you eat one...and that happened more than a few times by both family and friends.

PW uses a plain powdered sugar frosting. 
I made a cream cheese frosting after deciding I didn't like the taste of her powdered sugared frosting with an egg white.  And since I'm of the mindset that everything tastes better with cream cheese, you can imagine that I thought tasted near perfection then. :)

Thursday, April 21, 2011

I Totally Wasn't Kidding.

Hey girls...I got you something.
"Ella, let me see your picture." They each chose their own.
Talia has replicated my "Maggie" pose perfectly.
And no, I did not tell her to do this.
I didn't even notice she was doing this until I loaded the pictures this afternoon.
Cracked. Me. Up.
Ella is an ever present and all too willing audience for Talia's final trick.
As I put the camera away, Talia said, "Mom, do we get our Easter baskets now."
End scene.
That's a wrap on this cinematic dream.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Wild Geese That Fly With The Moon On Their Wings...

I talked to the laptop Doctor and she's dead.
Dead.
She didn't even say goodbye.
Nothing can be retrieved.
Thankfully I backed up to Carbonite last week. LAST WEEK!
God is good...ALL THEE TIME...God is good!

Danielle tagged me wanting to know some of my favorite things...so without a laptop or any current picture (I did some crafting yesterday that I wish I could show you) I will "simply remember my favorite things, and then I won't feel...so bad".

My Favorite Things~

Food~Veggie Pizza, Pasta a la Betsy, Pam's Cheesecake
Color~ White or Cream...if you don't count that as a color, then pink.  
Animal~ I would love to own a dog. My dogs (yes, two are already not so secretly named Lovee and Thurston) I have been trying to convince Bruce that it would be good for the girls. At the zoo it's the Gorillas. I always leave with that cheer from high school in my head, "go gorilla, go, go gorilla".   
Artist~ My kids. I love anything they paint.
Pair of shoes~ the red ones.  
Outfit~A white tshirt with chinos and hoop earrings. In the summer, it's a day dress.

Skinny jeans~ Yes! I am currently contemplating these. Waiting for them to go on sale.
Brand~ If I could afford it, J. Crew. I also LOVE the Loft. 
Perfume~  Chanel Mademoiselle. I've been recently thinking I need something lighter for summer. Any suggestions?
Accessory~ Earrings or lipstick. 
Hobbies~ Cooking, eating, crafting. Who am I? 
Beauty Products~ I love MAC makeup. And I can't believe I'm going to confess this, but I started using a nighttime eye gel last week. I can already tell a difference.
Holiday~  I would take a "Holiday" with Bruce anywhere at anytime...except maybe to Wyoming. Inside family joke for my parents. I love people from Wyoming, I really do.
Snack~ Cheetos...the crunchy ones not the puffs. 
Movie~ Somethings Gotta Give, You've Got Mail, and I hope (fingers crossed!) Water for Elephants. Come on Reese don't let me down, the book was soooo good!
Song~  Right now it's "Are you Gonna Kiss Me or Not?" Bruce laughs when I say it's our story in a song, so I love hearing it on country radio.
Guilty Pleasure- Baths with earplugs inserted so tightly into my ears not allowing me to hear what's going on in the rest of the house.


Okay, let's here it from you. I want to hear some of these (or all) back from you! Let me get to know your favorite things better!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

What's Going On

1. I miss blogging.
2. My laptop bluescreened last weekend and I have not been the same since.
3. The laptop Doctor told me he would get back to me on Monday, it's Tuesday.
4. That's not a good sign, is it?
5. I watched The Way We Were over the weekend.
Source: Amazon.com
6. Hubbell broke my heart. I still don't understand why he and Katie couldn't have worked it out? Could someone explain this to me?
7. I sat on my couch and sobbed when the movie was over.
8. Then, I texted the entire storyline to Bruce, who was in Texas.
9. And then I cried some more because Bruce was in Texas. He comes home today. :)
10. I really miss him, my laptop, and Hubbell.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Ripped in 30 [Day16]

I am having the kind of day where I refuse to feel bad for one single second that I have one daughter watching a movie in the living room and the other watching one right next to me in our bedroom.
All for five minutes with you.
And 45 minutes to myself. :)

Ripped in 30----it's a challenge. I knew it would be. I knew Jillian would be mean to me and she is.
I am seeing results.
Here's more information than you need, but I'm giving it to you because I don't think it's fair when people say they are "seeing results" but don't give you details.
The details:
1. I have been working out four days, then take one day and work out another four. 
    I plan to continue like this for the rest of the month.
2. I have not changed my eating habits and wonder what could happen if I did, but hey, I like to eat!
3. I have lost one pound. I am telling myself that I am gaining muscle, but this could also be the effect from detail number two.
4. I have lost a little over an inch from my waist.
5. I have lost a half inch off my hips.
6. My legs have gone up a quarter of an inch...I knew this would happen. Same with the Shred, but now they have shape.
7. My arms have also gotten bigger by a little less than a quarter inch. They also have more shape than before.
8. My bust---no change. No shock there. I will be the same size until I die.
9. My clothes are fitting better.
10. I still need to buy a swimsuit. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.
11. I could do without Jillian talking about biting people. 
     We already went through the biting phase around here, and I'm over it.

Anybody thinking about Ripping and have any additional questions about it?
Have you Ripped with Jillian? What do you think?
I would love to hear what you have to say.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Sunburns and Springtime.

Yesterday was a glorious day in Kansas.
Thee best this Spring has offered us to date.
There was hardly a wind...and that doesn't happen very often.  
The sun shown and 78 degrees was never more beautifully received as it was at our house.
A neighbor and I sat in our driveway for three hours while the kids played.
She's gloriously tan today, and I'm the shade of watered down red Koolaid.
Well, at least on the left side.
This is my left arm.
I thought clarification might be in order
since some of you probably have legs this size.
The lilacs are blooming.
It put me in the mood to plant some more things, so off I went to purchase some more plants from my friend Jana at Serenity Gardens, as I do every Spring.
I'm adding peonies, more lavender (can one ever have too much?), and more dianthus today.
I'll make no less than five more stops out there this Spring. I have tons of questions when I'm planting.
I hear that my new peonies won't bloom this year. I have to wait???!!!
Good to know. I would've just thought I killed them.
This farm girl can kill about anything. Good thing I left the farm.
I am adding rhubarb. I have tried to start rhubarb roots before, and they have always died.
Well, look what I won from Jana last week---rhubarb half as big as Talia! (Hey, locals they are only $9!)    Thank you, thank you, thank you, JANA!
I'm already dreaming of this Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with streusel topping.
Jana says I have to wait a year to harvest it.
First the peonies and now the rhubarb!
And I thought my sunburn the shade of watered down KoolAid stung!

What are you planting this Spring? Anything new?

Monday, April 11, 2011

Did Somebody say iPad 2?

The number of children with Down syndrome that are waiting to be adopted on Reece's Rainbow
list breaks my heart every time I visit the site.
I cry big tears over those little ones that have been cast aside.
Every. Single. Time.

And every time I hear about a couple that wants to adopt one of these children, I rejoice!
Every. Single. Time.
But it's expensive, and it takes time to raise the funds.
And many of the kids on the list don't have a lot of time.
Our beautiful Lady Ella.
Right now there's a fundraiser going on at Danielle's Blog.
Would you consider making a donation to Danielle's family to help bring little Sergey home?

Oh yeah, and there has been a slew of things donated for the fundraiser...like an iPad 2! 
For every $10 you give, you have a chance of winning.

Ella, Talia, Bruce and I are dreaming big dreams with Danielle and her family.
Click here to read their story and give.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Ten on Ten:: April 2011

Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month. 
Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments. 

It was a good Sunday.
A full one.
But if you'll excuse me, I have a three year old that doesn't want to go to bed. 
Yet.
And I'm suffering from a Chuck E. Cheese hangover that needs to be knocked out by a couple of ibuprofen.  
Good night, all.
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