Silly Smile!

Sweet Smile!

 Sideways Smile! 

 I love my precious goofy guys!

Obligatory Gross Rice Cereal Face Picture

Whew! Glad I got that out of my system!!

Wordless Wednesday; Alternately Titled: Always Half An Inch From My Face =)

Still Browsing.....So Many Cute Options Out There!

My Three Little Lambs

Thinking Out Loud....Again....

So...now that I have my own land and have started a garden I'm thinking about composting! I hate throwing food scraps out but I've never really composted before! Growing up on the farm we had a compost heap but when you live miles out in the country and have a house surrounded by cow pasture you just take your scraps and heave them into a pile on the other side of the fence....not something that would make me a favorite of the neighbors around here though =) I've found some solutions for catching your indoor scraps. Cute, no? But what about outside? Anyone a composter and have some tips?

My Happy Guy

UnDeR cOnStRuCtIoN

....blah........=)

Cuteness.

$79 for an entire Princess bedroom furniture set? Holy Cow. If Amelie wouldn't die of jealousy I would totally get this for a big girl bed for Maeve!

Window(s) Shopping

It seems like I don't have as much time for window(s) shopping lately! I did spend a few minutes today during naptime to look for bedding sets. I'm still working on moving the girls together into the same room and I hadn't planned on buying matching sets

--but wouldn't it be CUTE?!? I found these-- 

(and yes, cuteness is reason enough for me to be tempted to purchase something! i am saving a ton of money on groceries so....it's ok, right? haha =)

Target = love!

Shelly's Snippets

* It was so nice to have my parents for the first half of the week! My dad did so much work around the house and Granny got a lot of good bonding time in with the girls and did a bit of work herself! It always seems there is so much to do!

* We have a horrid old shed out back--which, currently, we can't afford to replace so I started painting it and it looks marginally better. It's strange to me how people are ok living with gross things around them. I mean--almost everything looks better with a fresh coat of paint. Cheap. Easy. Pretty. I'm just sayin'.....

* All my little grass blades are like my children. I love them so! It's so exciting to see them sprouting out of the ground. I planted most of the rest of the yard today and am keeping my fingers crossed for rain!

* I planted my garden about a month ago. In full sun. That was *before* all of the huge trees in our yard had leaves. I noticed today that there is NOWHERE in my WHOLE yard that is in full sun. This will be excellent for the summer but for my veggies? Not so much. Hoping they will be ok!

* Our new-new-swingset was delivered today. Not to be confused with the old-new-swingset that was delivered on Wednesday. After a 10.5 hour installation process it was riddled with holes and a loose screw or two. I cried. We went to the store showed them pictures and today a man arrived with a NEW BIGGER BETTER swingset--mostly assembled and in 1 hour had our old-new-one down and the new-new-one up! It's awesome. I was secretly just hoping for a price reduction but a new and bigger and better swingset has left me satisfied! So Yay!
* My husband's music team participated in the National Finals of ICHSA (acappella competition)  and they placed second in the nation! Woo hoo! I"m so proud of him! He also won the prize of best arrangements which was exciting because he arranged all of their songs himself! Yay honey!
* My E-boy has awoken! Time to fetch him!
Happy Saturday!

Maeve Says...

"Mama! Why you so obsessed with me?"

....guess there's been a little too much Mariah Carey in the car lately! ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

Thinking Out Loud

So...I got a *freebie* magazine the other day that was really interesting. It's called *Home School Enrichment* and is basically a very conservative magazine for home-schooling moms. 

I feel like I'm in a strange place-

-as a past homeschool-ee-

(I also attended public and private schools) 

I can appreciate how wonderful it was to work at my own pace--to accomplish school work in 2 hours instead of the 7 it takes in public school--to have many homeschooling friends to do art, music, field trips and gym with. 

As a mother who doesn't feel ready to send her little one to the big *k* next year the idea of homeschooling appeals to me because I wouldn't be sending her away to school. 

And when I think of all of the options for amazing field-trip-learning experiences in this area (the history aspect alone--ahhhh) it seems like such a wonderful possibility.

Then, however, I think of the fact that my husband has worked for 10 years at a private school and that *this* would be the first year we could reap the benefit of free tuition! It's such a good school and Amelie's class will be full of all her little friends! 

If it weren't for the fact that her Daddy's classroom is rightnextdoor I could be convinced to do the school at home thing. I'm thankful for the possibilities, the options and the exciting year Amelie has ahead of her. 

But for right now I'm going to enjoy every last minute I have left with her at home full time. My how they are fleetly flying away!

When The Grass Starts A-Growin' The Lawn Needs A-Mowin'

I was watching Martha Stewart today during nap (I don't usually watch b/c I usually *sleep* but as I am waiting for the swingsetmen to disappear I am napless =) and she showcased the coolest little lawn mower!

It's by the scissor people--Fiskars. I think a push/non-gas mower would be such a great way to go! Has anyone out there used one before? We do have a "mower" and I put that in quotes because it is a)old b)scary c)of questionable safeness as it has no off switch and has to be grounded out to be shut off. nice. =)

I'd probably lose a toe using it though. I'm not the most graceful girl =)

busybusybusy

i've been spending all my free moments working on house projects

so much to do

but so thankful for spring and a house to work on!

i'm currently painting stucco.

mon.ot.on.ous.

it's not just easy up and down painting--it's nit-picky and you have to paint with a stabbing motion to get in the grooves--i think i covered about a 2 x 2 foot section in 30 minutes. yikes.

my father and i worked on clearing the rest of the bambo that was standing in our yard!

yay! no more jungle!!

watering my grass

getting ready for swingset (t-minus two days and counting!)

enjoying my parents

that's all for now

heading out for a short and sweet date night with my man

love.him.

happy monday!

Mr. Grumpy Pants

It's official.

Ezra is having the first grumpy day of his life.

Poor guy!

He's a little snotty....

sick?

teething?

Who knows!

It's a mystery!

And even though he isn't letting me get ANYTHING done--he's is still cute! =)

I Can't Hide This Feeling Anymore!

And that feeling is EXCITEMENT!

I'm so stinkin' thankful that we have a yard! That grass is starting to GROW! AND that in one week we will have a lovely swingset for the munchkins! What a blessing it will be to send them outside to play in/on something besides dirt! =) Our backyard is a HUGE work in progress but a swingset it a step in the right direction! yay!

Wordless Wednesday; 'Cause There Aren't Any Words To Describe The *Love*

3 Children, 3 Milestones, 1 Day; Alternately Titled: That's ENOUGH Growing Up For One Day!!!

Amelie is working on tying her shoes and she DID it by herself today! 

Who hoo!!

Maeve *smiled* for the camera!!

Her smile needs a little work--she's still terrified of the flash! Hahhaha

She's getting the hang of it though =)

And Ezra, my 5 and 1/2 month old boy, started cereal yesterday!! 

I couldn't believe how much he *loved* it!

I expected him to eat 1 spoon full and spit most of it out but he ate the entire bowl!  

About 1/4 of a cup and acted like he wanted more! 

I fed him some again for breakfast this morning and he scarfed it! 

I guess he's more ready for food than I thought he was!

Alright children! That's enough milestones for today!

Mama can't take anymore! =)

Amelie Says...

"Momma! I *love* your new shoes! Can I have them when you die?"

ummmm.................=)

*Cheese*

Man At Work (Love)

Rewind: Easter Eggs

The Thursday before Easter (I think...?) Granny of the East came over armed with 24 hardboiled eggs and egg dying accessories!

We had so much fun working on the eggs--even if Maeve was a little....um, *intense* about it all. =)

(Maeve pretending to call Pop-Pop to tell him all of her egg-dying frustrations! =)

Impossible.

I'm so bummed that all of my *more than one child in a shot* pictures came out so poorly! I think we're going to wear our Easter outfits again in 2 weeks and try a do-over.  =)

The Difference

All of my babies have been enjoyable.

Amelie was my sweet sensitive cuddle and sleep-the-day-away baby.

Maeve was extremely content. 

Never cried. Ever. Content to sit anywhere, go anywhere do anything. She was amazingly easy.

And Ezra? Ezra is happy. 

I can't describe him any other way. He is full of smiles and has been since the very first day he arrived on earth. He will smile for anyone at anytime and is such a delight. What a joy to have such a happy little guy!

I'm so thankful for all of my different wonderful precious little and not-so-little ones!

Easter. Fail. Alternately Titled: Another In The Long Line Of Failed Three Child Pictures =)

Right Now I Can Hear....

* ezra jumping in the jumperoo--

jumpa jumpa jumpa jump.....coo.......jumpa jumpa jumpa jump..........laughcoo

*maeve playing with her doll house 

"hi gwanny! hi mae! hi pop"

*amelie riding outside on her 4 wheeler

whiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr---errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr--rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

*birds chriping

tweettweet chirpychirp

*my husband raking the dirt 

scratch scratch scratch......

and I couldn't be more thankful for this moment of happy noises.

my ears and my heart are full.

My Easter Bunnies

He Is Risen Indeed!

Matthew 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

A Lovely Day

*Today was a lovely day.

*I had a happy morning with my little family and sent them on their merry way to collect easter eggs, meet *the* bunny and lunch at chuck e cheese.

*The boy and I were able to meet another boy and Brie for a lovely lunch at Nordstrom (food, service, atmosphere = ah-mazing!!) in a belated celebration of my birthday. We did some shopping, picked up some cute pj's for assorted children and finished the afternoon with delicious mocha drinks. 

*Yum. O.

*Behold my commemorative water bottle. It's too cool for school =)

* Happily I arrived home at nap time and took one with the boy and the girls and awoke to find Granny and Pop of the East had arrived with an outdoor table/chair set for our backyard! Ah! We have a backyard! Somebody pinch me!! And after a nice chat fed the girls pizza and put them in bed. 
*I am currently awaiting Applebees appetizers and my husband. 
*So thankful for a peaceful day.

My Handsome Little Guy Is 5!!! (Months)

Where did the days go my Precious Little One?

They are fleetly flying by and I am so thankful for every single second that you have been a part of my life.

You are the sweetest, happiest, precious-est little dude a Mama could ask for.

My heart is full of happiness whenever you are around.

I love you so much it hurts me....

Muah E-boy!

What I'm So Thankful For Today (And Everyday!)

Romans 5:7-9



7 It is unusual for anyone to die for a godly person. Maybe someone would be willing to die for a good person. 8 But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


9 The blood of Christ has made us right with God. So we are even more sure that Jesus will save us from God's anger.

In The Spring, Fancy Lightly Turns To Fairy Tales and Delightful Possibilities

"Marilla," she demanded presently, "do you think that I shall ever have a bosom friend in Avonlea?"


"A--a what kind of friend?"



"A bosom friend--an intimate friend, you know--a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my inmost soul. I've dreamed of meeting her all my life. I never really supposed I would, but so many of my loveliest dreams have come true all at once that perhaps this one will, too. Do you think it's possible?"


"Diana Barry lives over at Orchard Slope and she's about your age. She's a very nice little girl, and perhaps she will be a playmate for you when she comes home. She's visiting her aunt over at Carmody just now. You'll have to be careful how you behave yourself, though. Mrs. Barry is a very particular woman. She won't let Diana play with any little girl who isn't nice and good."




Anne looked at Marilla through the apple blossoms, her eyes aglow with interest.



"What is Diana like? Her hair isn't red, is it? Oh, I hope not. It's bad enough to have red hair myself, but I positively couldn't endure it in a bosom friend."



"Diana is a very pretty little girl. She has black eyes and hair and rosy cheeks. And she is good and smart, which is better than being pretty."



Marilla was as fond of morals as the Duchess in Wonderland, and was firmly convinced that one should be tacked on to every remark made to a child who was being brought up.



But Anne waved the moral inconsequently aside and seized only on the delightful possibilities before it.