Thursday, March 15, 2012

365 Project: February 29, 2012 ... My (real) Birthday!

As ya'll know, I'm a leap year baby! I get the question "How does it feel to only get a birthday every four years?" often... and well, it's all I know... so it's good! My family never let me feel "deprived" on the off years and probably gave me EXTRA spoiling because of the 1 in 4 factor! And yes... this was my REAL birthday this year - but as all the adults out there know... even if it's our birthdays, life still has to go on!

My day was pretty normal at my "mom job" but there were a few fun surprises through out the day that made it super special indeed!

In the morning I was welcomed with breakfast...


... a collection of my favorite treats, some of which were imported all the way from the good ole'
US of A :)


... a handmade representation of my new Ipod from Jonathan and new slippers from the girls! 
(No, no... thankfully these aren't the new ones! These are my old dingy slippers that will surfice until the new pair is made!)


... and smiling faces! 
(There might have been a talk to the girls about being on their very bestest behavior for Mommy... and they sure tried their hardest!)


I got several phone calls from you guys... Jon surprised me with flowers when he got home... and then our good friends, Tim & April, watched ALL the girls so my love and I could go out for dinner & dessert! 

Though the day was "normal" it was just. right. and will do wonderfully for the next four years!

365 Project: February 28, 2012

You can only imagine the heart palpitations I had during this event!


Oh the things we do (and the hurdles we overcome!) for our children!


I saw a sign recently that said "Please excuse the mess... the children are making memories." And I think I need about, say, half a dozen of them to hang around the house! :)

365 Project: February 27, 2012

I love her. But I gotta say, some days...


this is the most welcomed sight of the afternoon!

365 Project: February 26, 2012



Wednesday, March 14, 2012

365 Project: February 25, 2012

To celebrate Holly and I's birthdays a couple of us went to a local tea house for a morning out. And surprise, surprise... guess who else got to come?!


Caidrie and her bestie!


(Holly's daughter is just one month older than Caidrie! As you can imagine, they get to spend lots of time together!)

There were blow outs. There were cranky babies. There were nursing covers. There were hurried bites of lunch. But even with all that...


... it was positively de-light-ful!

365 Project: February 24, 2012

Hungry Caterpillar Par-tay!

I gave Larren three options for her second birthday party and a "cah-pill-er birf-day" was, hands down, the top pick! Oh my lawsee, was she ever excited!  


The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of our favorite books and when I first saw the idea on a friend's blog ... I knew it would be perfect for one of the girls!

The invitation hinted at what the theme was about...


... and caterpillar's abounded as soon as folks walked in the door!





In the book there are colored polka dots on a number of pages... so the girls and I did a backdrop with finger paints and long white paper. It was simple enough that I didn't have to stress over it being perfect, and they had a ball! And as with all of our parties... we went with the clearly homemade look! :)


For a split moment I entertained the thought of making all the cupcakes... but for the couple of bucks it costs for someone ELSE to make them (and clean up the mess!)... I gladly went with option B!


I simply made an extra caterpillar face to place on top of a cupcake, and then layed the cupcakes out in the shape of the caterpillar's body. 


The cupcakes were DELICIOUS... but sadly after a few "dye incidences" it was apparent who had a cupcake and who hadn't! Needless to say, no one really wanted to end up with a green mouth, so tasty or not... homemade would have been the better option! :)


I didn't want to do a big meal... so we went with nachos and veggies. Plain and simple!





Part of the caterpillar's "buffet" to add a little festivity to the washroom! :)


Daddy, big sister and I put everything up while Larren was napping and our birthday girl was quite pleased with all the decorations!!


Alia, Larren and I made caterpillar hair clips for the 4 little ladies who were attending the party!


And every time they wear them we talk about the caterpillar who "had no mouth but ate lots of food!" Oh the things they notice! :)


We set up the kid's table at the end of the hallway... and as I checked in on the girls I found this. 


The little lone birthday girl eating all by herself with her baby doll!! We remedied that pretty quickly, I assure you!


We were overwhelmed, once again, by the number of people who spoiled our babe with gifts! Goodness... we are always amazed! Thank you guys!


After gifts we had some ice cream cake and cupcakes, or should I say the BRAVE ones had cupcakes!  And it was evident who those folks were!!! :)



We sent our family and friends home with a little bag of gummy worms, but of course, the little token of thanks is just never enough!


Space was tight...


...yeah, it was crowded...


... but to have our close friends and family together to help us celebrate Larren's life is such a blessing! (And we wish the rest of you could have been with us too!) We thank God for another year of her life and for those who are standing with us as we raise this precious butterfly!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

365 Project: February 23, 2012

With the lack of snow we've had this winter...


it makes THIS...




all the more...


exciting!! :)


Monday, March 12, 2012

Oh Family...

... there is SO MUCH to post, and SO LITTLE time! I'm trying... I really am!

If any of you want to come assist me as a cook, maid, nanny, or life coach... you would be TOTALLY welcome. Hey, who am I kidding? If you simply wanted to come and do nothing... you'd still be totally welcome!

Moral of the story : blogging takes time that I have a hard time finding... cause yeah, life with three kids 3 and under is a tad busier than I might have expected!! :)

Thursday, March 8, 2012

365 Project: February 22, 2012

Betty hosted a delightful girls night for Holly and I's birthdays. We ate lots of yummy food, covered all sorts of topics in conversation, watched The Help... and had a stellar intermission performance by these two stars! 


This little number is called "the wiggle worm"...


... and it makes the crowd go wild! :)

Monday, March 5, 2012

365 Project: February 21, 2012

And just like that... Jon's paternity leave came to an end! It went fast... but WHAT. A. BLESSING!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I am so thankful for this man. So thankful! He puts his family first and is an AH-mazing husband and father. Jon has been super involved since day one of Alia's little life... and he does a fantastic job connecting with his girls, making them feel loved/special, knowing what makes them smile,  and being an example of how their future husbands should treat them.


No one wanted to see him head back to work... but *sigh* that's how normal life is supposed to be! And I tell ya,  it sure makes for a party when he pulls in the drive! :)

So now it's just me....


... and these three little ladies!! 

365 Project: February 20, 2012

Caidrie's first ride in the beloved Chariot was a success! She just took in the scenery without even the littlest peep!


 And Larren... well don't let her eager smile fool you! She loved riding for the first 10 minutes, until she saw her older sister walking...


... then it didn't take long to go down hill, even in these flat prairies!