How many birthdays?

Those of you who know my daughter, know that she LOVES birthday cake. And it HAS to be "birthday" cake! So, each time we go to visit my husband's parents in Ohio, my mother-in-law bakes her a birthday cake, lights candles, and we all sing "Happy Birthday" to her. We made a trip up there for Thanksgiving, and here she is, blowing out her candles once again! It's so cute!

Cute Photo Frames!

These are so easy to make. Just buy a simple wooden craft frame and a piece of scrapbook paper. I use hot glue to attach and wrap the frame just like I'm wrapping a gift. Then you can attach an embellishment. I chose this affordable flower from the scrapbooking isle, however silk peonies are my favorite! Oh, and don't forget to trim in ribbon or rhinestones. Look for more to come soon!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

My husband and I are headed to Ohio for Thanksgiving this year to visit my in-laws. I decided last minute to host a Thanksgiving dinner at my home, on Sunday night, so that we would all have a chance to enjoy Thanksgiving together before we left on our trip. My sister, her husband, and little boy will be going with us to Ohio. I can't wait for them to see that part of the country!


A banner I made for Thanksgiving dinner. I think it turned out really cute!

Will's 3rd Birthday!

My nephew turned three years old in November. My sister let him choose his own theme and he wanted FIRETRUCKS! Wasn't it adorable?


Firetruck sugar cookies


The kids had so much fun in this firetruck wind tunnel!




the dessert table

Bed-sharing

My husband and I share our bed with our little girl.
Yes, it's true. Everything I said I would never do as a parent, I am now doing.
She sleeps right in the middle of us. We have never had more back pain or neck pain in our lives.
So, I was inspired to move her baby-bed downstairs to our bedroom the other night. My husband took the front railing off of it and raised the mattress up so that her mattress would be level with ours. She got in her baby-bed when it was time to go "night-night," but as soon as my Mike turned the lights out, she starts crawling over me to squeeze herself in between us. When I woke up at 1:00 a.m. I moved her to her baby-bed. It was "heaven!"
So, last night, she refused to touch the baby-bed. She slept next to it, but not IN it. At some point her pacifier (yes, she still takes one, and I LOVE it, so don't judge me!) fell on the floor. At 2:00 a.m. she wakes up asking for it. So, I got Mike to turn on his lamp so that I could find it. While he is reaching under the bed looking for it, Caroline gets up, walks onto her baby-bed and starts jumping on the bed! Mike and I both say at the same time, "You've GOT to be kidding me!"
I mean, it's two o'clock in the morning. How do you go from sleep to jumping?
WOW.

Walmart trips

I have to record this before I let it slip from my memory...
Well, as most of you know, we live in a rather small town. By small, I mean a Walmart and one intersection with traffic lights. Anyway, I've recently really been enjoying a weekly, evening trip to Walmart with my Monkey. Have I mentioned that she talks non-stop? Talk about if you ever want to hear what YOU sound like...well, your kids will let you know what you sound like! She's in the buggy with a stuffed Mickey and a stuffed Pluto, just jibber-jabbering away. And I hear her say to one of them, "Are you telling me the truth? Are you? Okay."
And the whole, "HEY LADY!!!!" thing is getting a little out of hand. For those of you unaware of the out-going personality of my little monkey, normal "Walmart conversation" (one-sided, of course), goes something like this... "EXCUSE MEEEEE! HEY LADY! GET THAT FOR ME LADY! MOMMA, THAT LADY IS TAKING IT FROM ME!" I use caps lock because all of this is being shouted loudly! Every female-buggy-pusher gets shouted at by my daughter. And, at first it was cute. Tonight, I said "Enough!"...and...well...?
We came home with Pluto, by the way.

Upcoming baby tea

In the process of planning another party! It seems to be my passion. It's my first baby "tea." These are the invitations that I've created. I just LOVE Microsoft Publisher! Pink antique china (borrowed from a friend) and a home-made banner are really going to make this party sweet! I'll post pics of the banner as soon as I have it made!

One year ago...

Our little monkey

She's growing up so fast! Her new thing is going to the guest bath and helping herself to kleenex to blow her nose! She's loving cereal right now. Not just any cereal...Kashi Heart cereal and Cinnamon Life. She's into peanut butter and jelly too! She sleeps right smack in between my husband and I, which I promised would NEVER happen! She LOVES to sing, and LOUD too! Something else that's loud are drums...yes, she loves to play the drums. Her favorite show at this moment is The Lawrence Welk Show.
She's definitely our little princess!