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Our neighbors just returned from China with their 6 year old son.

He has the greatest smile and is so sweet...

We missed them while they were gone and couldn't wait to meet the newest addition to their family!

Leap Day Quiet Book Pattern Sale

My Favorite Quiet Book Designer, SW Designs

is having a Leap Day Sale

All of her Quiet Book Patterns are 29% off TODAY... She has just about everything...

Isn't the farm book cute??

I have bought several of her patterns they are well written and EASY to use...

Remember my Forest Friends books??

Leap over and purchase a pattern or two...

JOYfull

Such a fun season of JOY...

One of the little guys I take care of did the 12 days of Christmas for me, I felt like a kid again... It was sooo much fun opening a gift a day...

Another little guy gave me a gift card to get a pedicure... YES please...

... and one of my besties hooked me up with tons of thirty-one products and a Christmas bonus!

I feel soooo loved by my little friends...

On Christmas morning our boys got so see what Santa brought,

he only fills stockings in this house...

Tinko

Bird and his doggy Dolce

Polly Wog

FoFo Juice

Dancing Daisy

I purchased this cute little daisy from the Dollar Tree, you know the item they have featured at the register and ask if you would like to add? Well, how could I resist a box of dancing daisy's? I spotted the little red pot with a white daisy and it came home with me. I enjoyed watching that daisy dance every morning, my kids liked the dancing daisy, my friends liked my dancing daisy, and unfortunately my cats liked the dancing daisy. So much so they batted it right off the dresser and then my daisy danced no more... I tried to shake it, look inside (it was too tightly sealed), and finally decided, I would just have to throw it away... But instead, I set it in my hutch in the kitchen. Weeks have past and just yesterday I saw slight movement?? Was my daisy dancing again? I picked it up and set it outside in a super sunny spot and just like that, she was dancing... I am so happy I didn't throw my daisy away...

Which got me to feeling thankful that when I am not "dancing"

( praying as often, reading the word, having the right attitude, being appreciative, etc )

that my Jesus doesn't give up on me,

He patiently waits for me to start "dancing" again...

I'm much happier when I am "dancing" my kids are happier, my friends are happier, and I would venture to say my cats are happier too...

Back to School ( and a cookie recipe )

Today my kiddos go back to school...

This day makes me a little sad,

I miss them when they are gone...

This year I decided to make Back to School cookies for them,

and let's be honest for me to scarf while they are at school...

Cut Out Sugar Cookies

1/3 cup cold butter

1/3 cup shortening

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

dash of salt

2 cups flour

Beat butter and shortening with electric mixer, add in sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Add in flour 1/2 cup at a time until mixed well.

(Chill for a bit)

Lightly flour surface roll out to 1/4 thick, cut to desired shape and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes, do not let these cookies golden.

Cool.

Sugar Cookie Icing

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tsp corn syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp of milk or less

food coloring

*add milk slowly until desired consistency.

I put mine in a Wilton squeeze bottle and used the "flood" technique.

Linking Up

Happy Birthday Christopher...

Happy 18th Birthday Christopher...

In less than a week, you have graduated and now are 18...

Slow down momma's not ready for all these changes...

Senior Pictures...

On a warm Sunday evening we went out with our very good friend and photographer Jaime, for her to take Christopher's seniors pictures...

Over 300 were taken of the said 300 I LOVE 296...

I am thinking I should have them ALL printed and make wallpaper out of them...

I ♥ this guy...

He went from being our little inquisitive, talkative, curious, loving, smart, happy, easy baby...

To our God seeking, honorable, loving, generous, hard working, intelligent, polite, young man...

He is Risen...

Let no one caught in sin remain

Inside the lie of inward shame

We fix our eyes upon the cross

And run to Him who showed great love

And bled for us

Freely You've bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead

Trampling over death by death

Come awake, come awake

Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead

We are one with Him again

Come awake, come awake

Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin

You bowed to none but heaven's will

No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown

No burden great can hold

You down In strength You reign

Forever let Your church proclaim

Christ is risen from the dead

Trampling over death by death

Come awake, come awake

Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead

We are one with Him again

Come awake, come awake

Come and rise up from the grave

O death, where is your sting?

O hell, where is your victory?

O church, come stand in the light

The glory of God has defeated the night

Sing it, o death, where is your sting?

O hell, where is your victory?

O church, come stand in the light

Our God is not dead, He's alive,

He's alive

Christ is risen from the dead

Trampling over death by death

Come awake, come awake

Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead

We are one with Him again

Come awake, come awake

Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead

Trampling over death by death

Come awake, come awake

Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead

We are one with Him again

Come awake, come awake

Come and rise up from the grave

Rise up from the grave

He Died for You and Me...

Good Friday

Although this day always makes me feel sad and weepy,

it also makes me feel HAPPY and REJOICEFUL...

Thank You

Jesus

for dying for me...

* As a reminder we use permanent red marker to represent His pierced hands, and a permanent black marker to write our name... and guess what in 3 days it's gone...

Happy Easter

Why Pray When you can Worry?

What a sermon title... Got my attention and this was such a good service

I thought I'd share my notes with you all... Just click on the pictures to enlarge...

Gifts of ♥

No secret I ♥ mason jars, apothecary jars, and baby food jars... Ha

When Lisa created this My Treasure necklace I knew I HAD to have it...

I entered EVERY giveaway to win one, and didn't...

I emailed the link to my hubby... He didn't order...

Then when we went to his work convention he told me to go online and order it...

Yipeeee... It came last week wrapped in this cute packaging...

and I am in ♥

My mother in law has a February birthday. She loved the verse sign I made my sister in law and sent me her favorite verse {unlike her son I picked up on the hint} HA

To go along with her plaque I made her a jar full of cookies...
I got the idea form here to scoop my cookie dough out with a 1/2 TBSP measuring spoon and make mini cookies... so CUTE and they fit perfectly in a wide mouth mason jar...

Random Monday Ramblings

Last weekend my hubby and I got to go his work convention...

We were put up in a gorgeous suite...

I mean a girl could get used to this...

I think the bathroom was my FAVORITE
We don't have dual sinks at home, nor do I have a vanity,
or a flat screen TV mounted to our bathroom wall...

I would also like to add, I now want a magnifying lighted mirror...

This HEAVENLY tub that could fit about 4 people was opposite the flat screen TV,
one night I watched part of Pride and Prejudice while soaking...
I am a BATH girl for sure.


At the convention center a flooring display was set up and this mannequin was wearing carpet clothing... hahaha

P.s. I got my lighted mirror yesterday...

Bye Bye