let freedom ring

I don't know why I've been dragging my feet in getting ready for the 4th. I realized Sunday that the 4th was this week and I better get my act together. I finally changed my spring decorations over. Maybe part of the reason is because i have to think up and create the decorations this year since there are new things a spaces in the house.  And I try to be especially creative by not spending any money, just using what I've got.

 I'm in the process of making these tin cans for the cutlery for our neighbor bbq. However, as I was finding a picture to put on the blog I found one where they used red tape and star stickers- REALLY CUTE. But it would cost me money so we'll stick with what we've got.

I'm going to do these stars on our lawn. Spray with water and then sift flour on.

I think I have a plan for dessert I'm taking. I think sugar cookies with m&M's in a flag shape and sugar cookies with strawberries and blueberries in star shape. And pretty much any of the ideas on this blog from Our Best Bites is an option for me at this point. 

Our primary is going to do a parade at our ward breakfast. I bought bubbles and flags for those who don't have bikes to ride. Should I buy batteries for our super old cd player so they can have music? Is that what people do for parades? My parents neighborhood parade is basically a glorified bike ride/walk behind a fire engine...no music. I always felt that the parade was lacking but it is still fun to see all the decorated bikes/wagons etc.  thoughts? And if I were to bring music what would be the best song? Grand ol' flag???

Anyway, I'm getting excited. I even took way too many hours trying to do a patriotic nail art on my toes. But I was watching a movie by myself and it kept me occupied. They are pretty cute for an amateur, if I do say so myself. :)

Happy 4th of July planning so that your holiday can be an joyful and relaxing and not hurried or stressed. :)

Sleeping babes

Every night I check in on my girls before I head off to bead. Sometimes, I feel like a child in the middle of the night peeking at the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve to see what Santa has left me. My children are definitely the best presents in my life EVER.

I took these pictures the last few nights:

Night one:

(Notice all her toys have bows in their hair or on them somehow)

  Thought I'd grab a picture of this sleeping babe while I was at it:

that position doesn't look comfortable at all.

 Night Two:

 love the pile of bows by her head

 Night three:

no crazy piles of stuff on her bed, thank goodness, but this is another thing she does when she is supposed to be sleeping, she'll lay out her outfit for the next day. I can't complain  about her doing that. But i think it's funny she's got her shoes laid out and her headband and any accessories she plans on wearing that day.

Sometimes I really wonder what Boo is going to grow up to be. A hair stylist? even though she doesn't want her own hair done. An artist? since she spends so many hours coloring? A fashion designer (she's getting pretty creative with her outfits she draws)... So far those are her biggest hobbies. can't say sports is going to be her forte but she might surprise us. I don't know. Today we hung out with a bunch of youth from church and realize it will only be a short amount of time until she gets to go to youth conference.  oh time flies. sigh.

skinny fat

I was talking with a couple of friends tonight about exercise and I mentioned a blog post I read that has helped inspire me to keep going and to realize that I shouldn't be afraid of building muscle....I still remember a term she said "skinny fat" those who are skinny but don't have muscle. I'm still afraid of having bulky muscular arms but I'm more afraid of flabby soft arms. Anyway, in case those friends look at my blog, this is the post from Our Best Bites ( a food blogger!!!) About her weight loss journey.

Funny how I did this post after the sweet treats post huh? Like I said before I'm working out but I still haven't forced myself to change my eating habits.....love. my sweets oh so much.

sweet treats, the good life

It's been awhile, I guess I don't have much going on. Just life and it is good. When people ask me how I'm doing, you know the normal question when you see someone, it feels great to say "good" and realize that life is good and I feel good.

Anyway since I don't have anything to really share I thought I'd share something that is often on my mind....FOOD! :) here are three recipes that are yum yum yum.

MILKY WAY CAKE  or should I say better than sex cake because it's b better than that cake...heath bars please, give me MILKY ways and Carmel and nougat filling in my cake.

Stuffed French toast. We tried this one on our anniversary and I was pleasantly surprised. This is just bread with cream cheese ( mixed in some powdered sugar with it) and fruit, roll it up, dip it in eggs, cook it and then dip it in sugar and cinnamon. We even tried it with nutella but I like it better with cream cheese...of course.

Lastly Frozen Hot Chocolate. This super easy and simple. 1 cup milk, 2 cups ice and hot chocolate mix. Simple as that. Now I can imagine it will taste fantastic with some cream on top but still a nice summer evening treat.

If you love sweets, I'm sure you'll love these treats. Hope life is treating you all well too.

now i know why

You know how they never stick anything in your ear smaller than your elbow? Well, I have learned my lesson. Don't do it, not even innocent looking q-tips. Seriously, the pain is awful. I don't think I did anything to my eardrum but maybe broke some skin inside or something, not really sure. I had no idea the ear was so sensitive...it hurts like the Dickens. Thank goodness for ibuprofen.  I'm told that it'll start getting better in 3 days! 3 days! Ughhhhh

Moral of the story...nothing goes in the ear.

blog happiness

I have been a bit absent on the blog world. I just did some catching up on some of my friend's blogs and my heart definitely smiled. It's fun to hear and see the happiness in their lives and even though there weren't any heart felt struggles shared this time, I don't mind reading those either. I love getting a glimpse at their lives...things that don't always come up in conversation. I love blogs.

Anyway, I have a one year old. And I swear she changed over night from a baby to a one year old. She crawls, walks and DANCES!? I honestly don't know when that happened. The first time I noticed it was on her birthday. She is throws tantrums already. So crazy. She giggles when I sternly tell her "no".  She is going to be a handful, I know it. But I think she will be a fun handful. She loves to laugh.

Boo has been spending hours drawing and coloring everyday. Today she asked when she could have a stand to sell her pictures. haha. I guess she loved having a lemonade stand with her friends.  Her friend was selling cookies at the garage sale. One of the customers asked if we had something and Boo said, "no but we have cookies." What a great salesman!

 I sure do love my girls. I am a happy momma. Sometimes, a stressed, anxious or frustrated momma. But a happy momma. What a blessing to be a mom. It makes me sad when people don't know the blessings of being a mom, it's the happiest feeling in the world. That love that fills my heart makes me feel more alive than anything....and the best thing is that I know I can enjoy that love and happiness forever, when others believe it ends when we leave our bodies but I know it goes on and on.

under the weather

I need to write somethings that Boo has been saying. First off is that "throat" is sickness...sore or throwing up I think. Second is one day she said "I can speak Spanish". I asked what language she normally speaks, "Languish". .

Boo is under the weather and caught a stomach bug. She has only thrown up twice: once when she swallowed toothpaste and the other when she gagged herself trying to eat cold spaghetti that the scouts served at a spaghetti feed. This was the first time she threw up because of illness. And boy did she moan and cry all night. sadly, we had to let her cry. I started sleep and I'm pretty sure I woke up to crying, " Heavenly Father, are you really there?" And then a loud cry....which we found out was because she had made
A mess everywhere.  Later on while she was at the toilet I hear her pray,  "Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. Please take away my throat. And help me not be sick....Amen." oh my heart. I prayed that he could answer this little girl's prayer but knew she has to go through this and that it will be over soon. So sad.