The Swing

Dear Maeve,

I can't really tell if you like this swing or not....


Love,
Mommy

Baby Shower Fun

I had the privilege of throwing a baby shower for a friend of mine. It was special for a few reasons. I met her 6 years ago when she started coming to the Young Adults group at church. I got to witness her meet her future hubby, start dating, and get engaged! Brynn was in her wedding, and then they joined the Young Marrieds group that Rich and I lead at church. Now, we have the opportunity to watch them take this next step and have their first baby!
I love it!

Her little boy is due to arrive any day, and here are some pics from the "sporty-themed" shower!

The Decorations:
The Games:
The "Game Day" Food:

(Yes, that is a huge crock pot full of 'Que Bueno' nacho cheese! Yummy!!!)

The Dessert:

Don't let appearances be deceiving...those are not hot dogs and fries on a bed of lettuce. Those are Twinkies with a twix bar and peanut butter fudge "fries" on a bed of tinted coconut. Too funny huh!

And don't forget the parting gift to the guests! Thanks for coming...We had a ball!

A Dogs' Life

The pros of having a dog....not having to sweep up after dinner.
The cons of having a dog...having to sweep up this...


And in other dog news:
Treks had a run in recently with a farm cat. 3 hours at the vet, a round of antiobiotics, and $150 later, this is what we get...

It was a bloody mess, and I am not using "bloody" like an Englishman would. It was literally a bloody mess. The vet couldn't get the bleeding to stop, so this bandage contraption was the next best thing. They folded his ear back (where the cat swiped him) and wrapped it so that it would stop bleeding.

Ok - let me vent for a second. First of all, we were treated better at the vets waiting room than any doctors waiting room that I have ever been in for my entire life!
Secondly - it was my suggestion to tape his ear like this. Next time this happens (please no, please no, please no) I will do this myself and then go spend the $150 on myself....

Rich has recently suggested that we get another dog....yeah. 3 kids, a dog, and a fish that is on the brink of death every other minute? I need another dog like I need a hole in my head!

Playing Ballerina!

Brynn is pretty happy that Maeve is older and able to play more. She is old enough to dress up, and still little enough for Brynn to try and carry her around the house....
I never knew my life would be filled with so much pink....

I think Maeve is enjoying it too!!!

It Might Be Time...

for a haircut!

My Amazing Valentine

Dear kids,
I just want you to know what an amazing man your daddy is!
We decided this year to not spend any money on gifts for Valentines Day, and use the money instead to have a really nice dinner out. Even though we both agreed, I knew that your daddy would not stay completely within the agreement. (He never does guys! That is part of what makes me love him even more!)
Everyday for the last month, he left me a love note scotch-taped somewhere in the house. (Take note Cannon, someday this will make a girl swoon for you!) Every day I couldn't wait to get up and try to find it. It was sweet, romantic, and really fun.
On Valentines Day, he got up early, like he has been doing lately, and closed the bedroom door. I thought this was so that I could sleep in a little bit, which in itself would have been an wonderful gift. Not that I don't love it when you guys come running in the room each morning and crawl into bed with me.....
He opened the door a little later carrying a tray with breakfast. What a nice surprise! There was an egg white omelet in the shape of a heart, a few petite vanilla scones and a yummy coffee from Starbucks on it. Kids, nothing makes mommy happier than a nice warm coffee in the morning to get me up and at 'em!
I noticed that he was also holding a piece of paper with writing on it, and when he cleared his throat and told me that he had something to read to me, I almost lost it. First sleeping in, then breakfast in bed, and then this? A special note to me? Wow. I felt so treasured! I asked Daddy if he was going to make me cry. He assured me that it was nothing too sappy, just a heartfelt poem that he had written, especially for me. I lasted not more than 10 seconds before I started crying.....

Little ones....lots of little ones with giggles,
skinned knees, morning breath and
knock-knock jokes.
A map and endless roads,
People watching, coffee and a front porch.
She dreams with me

Smoldering pines, dirt in crevasses, and
sticky marshmallow hands.
A box set of "The Muppets", too cold to
go outside.
Books by fireside, walks along shear cliffs,
and saltwater air.
She retreats with me

Playful letters on my phone,
Eyes like sapphires, lips like a peach, and
a warm blanket for arms.
Her walk is like a ram, set on a hill, her
dance like two birds.
She swoons me

*sniff, sniff* Kids, I love this man! I have never had a poem written for me before. I had no idea that I would love it so much!
Kids, your daddy is a good, no, your daddy is a great man!

Love you to the moon and back,
Mommy

Valentines Day

We had a party for the kids for Valentines day this year. I think the kids had fun!

Rich and I decorated the garage the best we could to make it cheerful and full of "love".

Aren't these cute paper lanterns???

The S.W.A.K. pinata! (Side note - I didn't realize that these things took SOOOOOOO incredibly long to break open!)

Each child got to decorate a cookie to eat and one to take home!


My cutie pie nephew digging into his cookie!

The cookie that my son made just for me!!! (It's a smiley face!)

Maeve was enjoying a "tookie" that she managed to steal....

How do you feed 11 kids really quickly for under $20? Red Baron Pizza - that's how!!!

Each guest got a goodie bag to take home filled with cool treats from the dollar store. (I love that place!) I also slipped in a passage on Love from 1 Corinthians too!

Happy Valentines Day to a pretty cute bunch of kids!!!

Suprise!!!

So, this last weekend I threw a surprise party for my sister in law. It was collectively the best and worst plan that I have ever had in my life. The best plan because it was going to be a morning of her favorites, and the worst plan, because I had to really, really throw her off track to be able to surprise her. Long story short, it was a really, really hard two weeks for both of us. She was hurt, and I was so anxious and stressed that I couldn't tell her that everything was going to be wonderful!

But, on the bright side, the party was perfect! Her hubby (who proved to be an awesome accomplice) and I managed to keep it all under wraps, and she was genuinely surprised! She had a wonderful time with family and friends, and we all ate a huge breakfast of crepes and nutella, and enjoyed a yummy coffee bar! As an added suprise, her mom flew in and suprised her with a 4 day visit!


Not that I will ever, ever do this again (don't worry Elissa....) but here are somethings that I learned:
1. A camera doesn't do justice to the amount of surprise in a surprise party. Use a video camera to really capture the effect!
2. Never devastate someone to surprise them....it's not fun.
3. If you are willing to be at a party at 8am to surprise someone, you really do love that person!
4. 80 crepes WILL be consumed even if you think they won't.
5. It was an absolute privilege for me to do this for my sister in law! She is amazing, and deserved every second of a party devoted entirely to her!


Happy Birthday!!!!

Yummy

I think she liked dessert tonight!!!



Next stop : Bathtub!!!

Hey look! We have done this before! (With Brynn!)