Happy Birthday Dear Anna!!!!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday Dear Anna!

Happy Birthday to You!

I love you girl, and I hope your day is full of love and laughter!! God is shining on you during your special day beaming with pride of how beautiful of a woman you've grown to be. I am so proud to have you as my friend/sister, and I am thankful for everyday I'm blessed with your encouragement and love. You are such a gem!!!

Make sure you have lots of giggles and treats today and enjoy being you!!!!

I love you xoxoxo

Lots of Sickies

Well, it's hasn't been the best of a week here, let me tell you! I have a house full of sickies. That has been the reason for me not having any new posts for a little while. I'm looking forward to having a new post soon when I get everyone healthy again! :) I at least just wanted to stop in and say HI!! :) xo

Gotta Love a Bonfire!

Who doesn't love a great bonfire on a beautiful crisp day? It was wonderful! The sun was shining, just a slight breeze and nothing but clear blue skies above. We were blessed with such a perfect day, we wanted to make sure that we did something special with it. So, we decided on a trip to the woods for a bonfire and walk, and of course a snowball fight ;) We only had to drive about 1/2hr to get to this fantastic place. The view was unbelievable, and everything was just perfect. We made a big, warm bonfire, and brought hotdogs and marshmallows, and a big bag of chips. Of course we had a big thermos full of steaming hot coffee for mommy and daddy to sip on. YUMMY! mmm mmm good!

Sophie was having so much fun making snow angels! It was so precious to see her giggling while wiggling around in the snow. What a sight! She tired herself out and plopped down by the fire to snack on her chips.

We ran around and played, and made little "Snow Elves" that we hid around the clearing we stopped at. How cute is that??
After we played, we all hopped in the truk for a little fun 4Wheel drive on the old road that ran through the woods. The kids loved it! So did, I :)

After a fun day of play in the snow, we had quite an appetite. When we got home I whipped up an incredible bean soup, and it was warm and cozy and oh so good. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.I hope you all have a wonderful day full of blue skies and lots of hugs and kisses!

xoxo

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!

Only you aren't a baby anymore! You're 3!!!! My little baby girl has grown into a beautiful big girl, and it seems like it happened overnight. I am so proud of you, Sophie. I love you! xoxo

Our day was so filled up that I didn't have time to post all of this yesterday. We had such a fun day. Sophie's birthday seemed to last for three days! It seemed that each time we turned around another person came over for a visit to give her a present. People are so kind :) We are a very lucky family.

So, to let you in on what our evening celebration was like.... in one word~ PIZZA !! Who doesn't love a good pizza? What could be better to kids than a big yummy pizza? Well, a big yummy pizza that we made together!! Yes, I am guilty of relying on store bought pizza when I'm in a pinch and want an easy meal. Well, my days of guilt are all over :) I decided last night that we were going to make our own for fun, and it was way better!! Not to mention how much healthier, too!

We had so much fun making these pizzas. We laughed, and teased, and to be honest, I was so happy to be working with Sophie. I really believe that a little girl learns at a young age what it means to tend her home and her family at a very young age. Every time we do something like that side by side it shows her how important it is to take care of her family. It also shows her that it can be fun!! When we "women" take care of our families, sometimes it can become such a chore. But, there is such an upside to it as well. It is a joy and a blessing that we are able to take care of our family. It is also a joy and a blessing that we have a family to take care of. Aren't we fortunate??!! YUP! You bet we are!!

Well, we ended up making two pizzas, and they were so yummy! We made the crust out of a great recipe that I found at Hillbilly Housewife. I love this site, it's full of such delicious meal ideas. I've tried several and they were all wonderful. Anyway, the recipe we used for the dough is called Homemade Biscuits and it turned out perfect. I'll certainly make this again. The kids loved it so much, that they have asked if we can have pizza night every Friday night. Sounds great to me! It's healthy, and yummy, and my children love it. It can't get much better than that! Plus, it's fun to make, and they get excited about it. It's a hit!

Sophie got lots of nice treats for her birthday, and she was so happy! She got some nice new clothes, a crocheted head scarf, a big child size plush Dora doll, a new princess movie, Dora fork and spoon, two story books, some crayons and colouring book, and a Tinkerbell head band and glove set. So cute!! She's such a precious little thing.

The yumminess (great vocabulary there!) didn't stop at the pizza. We had cake and ice cream, too. I bought the cake, because I wanted the pink icing piped around it. She wanted a pink cake and pink icecream, lol that was her big request. So, I got the cake, and then I decorated it. I got bunny marshmallows and little Easter coloured jelly beans, and had lots of fun! I made it into a little bunny Easter egg cake. LOADED with way too much sugar, but oh, sooooo good!! mmmmmmmm ;)

We had an awesome night. After we had all our treats, we settled in to watch the new princess movie. Even the boys managed to sit through it all with minimal groans! lol poor boys. It was a pretty movie, though. The colours are amazing in this movie. Sophie loved it, and that's all that matters in the end. Everyone was getting a bit tired out after the big sugar rush they were on. Steve fell asleep on the couch while watching the movie. The boys were getting pretty groggy by the end of it, too.

When the movie was done, I began to get my second wind. I did a quick search online to find some dishcloth patterns to keep me busy until the Winter Wonderland Ensemble pattern gets posted. I was only online for a few minutes when all seemed to get nice and quiet. I turned around to find this...

How cute is that? I guess we were a little more tired than we thought! As a mom, I find I really love these moments. Look how innocent he is... wow, to be think I've been blessed with these little critters.

Only, my other son wasn't so tired, lol he thought he should get the party started back up again. So, what better thing to do but show my maturity level.

Uh huh.. I'm not much older than 3, myself :) We took a few more pictures, and had a bit more fun and laughs.

Well, I've got lots to do this morning, I'm taking my children to see Alvin and the Chipmunks at the theatre for a treat today. Gramma sent them some Valentine's Day cards with a bit of money in it for us to use to go to the movies. I think that was a pretty awesome idea, so I'm very thankful. Today will be a fun day!

Take care everyone, and have a wonderful day. Remember to give someone a cuddle! xo

Friendship

Isn't it wonderful?

Friendships are a blessing, and I am so thankful for each and every one that I have.

I have made new on-line friends, and I consider them to be some of the most special people I've ever had the pleasure of getting to know. Each one of them have touched my life in a different way. I have learned so many different things from you. Some have taught me baking ideas, some have taught me crafting tips, some have provided spiritual wisdom, and some have quite simply just made me smile. What a joy each of you are to me!

I would like to share two special gifts that came in the mail for me. The first one I'm going to show you is a swap package. I was a member of a swap at Lullabies and Lace, and my good friend Deborah was my partner. This is what she sent to me...



Isn't that awesome? Look at all those yummy treats! I've been having my new tea each morning, and let me tell you it's really good. I've never had this type before. The red box is what I'm drinking in the morning. It's called Awake. What a lovely flavour it has.. and with those shortbread cookies... Just posting this is making me want to go brew another cup! What a sweet friend, Deborah is. I'm very thank for this gift.

The next package that I would like to share with you came from my dear friend Melanie. I met Melanie at Lullabies and Lace and she has taught me so much. I'm sure she doesn't even realize the impact that she's had on my life. This is a true Christian lady. I am honoured to have her as my friend. Anyone that gets to know her will be so happy they did.

Before I show you the package there is a little something else I want to share with you. I'll give you a little explanation first about why the next package is so incredible to me.

Do you know what is so amazing about how God works? I registered one day to be a tester at a crochet forum. That's all I was there for. Plain and simply just to crochet. Little did I know what would be waiting for me there. He had it all figured it out. He led me there for my passion to crochet, and there was a purpose behind it all. Nothing just happens. God makes it happen. When I got there, I found two ladies that I had no idea would be used by God for anything other than friends to crochet with. Anna and Melanie are these two ladies. Allow me to sing their praises just for a few more seconds before I embarrass them both!! Sorry ladies, but I have to tell the truth here ;) I have learned so much from both of these women. They are women that lead by example, not just words. They live by the word of Christ. What a treasure each of them are to me! True wives and mothers, and followers of Jesus. I love you both, dearly. I thank you for all you have shown me and taught me. I appreciate you for the talks and the guidance, and the support. You are beautiful.

So, now that I am sure they are blushing and getting ready to swat me for embarrassing them like that, I'd like to get back to my package from Melanie. That little explanation from before sort of backs up what I received in this gift. I was given one of the most remarkable books I've ever owned. Melanie's kindness and generousity really shines through.


I have been seeking to be a better wife. I want to become my husband's Help Meet. When I say this, I don't mean just little things here and there, I mean the whole thing. I want to be the woman and wife God created me to be. I was lacking... oh my was I ever lacking! I've been searching people from all over trying to find wisdom on how to change~how to improve. God gave me all the tools, I guess I just had to learn how to use them. What I didn't realize is the person that could offer me the extra tool that I needed was right there the whole time! She had the book that would turn things around for me. So, finally, lol after all my gabbing, here is the book!!




Yup! There is is!! I'm so excited to own this. I have only just begun my reading, and already my heart is changing. I think it began to change on the first page. If any of you are seeking what your role is meant to be within your marriage? This is your answer. I just can't say enough about this book. It's life changing. Thank you, Melanie. Thank you so much.


Well, if that wasn't good enough, she sent me a whole box full of goodies! Take a look at this...



All I can say is I am one lucky girl! Yarn, patterns, and oops! I just noticed I forgot to include the tea! Well, she also sent me lovely green tea with peach, and green tea with honey. mmmmm Like I said, I'm a lucky girl!


I hope you all have a wonderful day, and that you aren't asleep after all my ramblings ;)


God bless!