5 on Friday: March 25, 2016

1.  All Things Easter

Yay, it’s here!  I love, love, love this holiday so very much.  I wish it wasn’t so early this year so the weather was warmer, but hey, it’s Iowa.  We will be venturing up North to my folks (where they just got 6 inches of snow) to celebrate and both my siblings will be there as well.  It’s sure to be a fun, and very loud, weekend with everyone home.  My mom is making her traditional Easter feast and continues to keep asking me if she should make more desserts!  She’s already whipping up a bunny cake.  She makes the cutest 3D bunny cakes with pipe cleaner ears and all!  My birthday often falls near Easter so it’s become a bit of a tradition for her to make this cake.  I may be 30+ years old, but when your mom wants to make you a cake…you let her make you a bunny cake!  

And if you’ve seen my Instagram feed as of late, you know the only thing I have been doing is eating treats, treats, and more treats.  May as well end this month strong, amiright?

We are also having a fun Easter egg hunt with the little ones and puppies, of course.  I have a few items to bring for the kids for this, but then the other goodies will go into their baskets.  I purchased the kids matching baskets and liners with their names embroidered on them, and absolutely love them to pieces.  I always look forward to arranging their baskets every year.   I’m certain the kiddos will find their baskets and be knees deep in candy before church!  But that’s just one more aspect of such a special holiday.  I’ll make sure to post pictures of our fun-filled weekend soon.

2.  Only Three

With little man, there seems to be only three emotions as of late. 

Sweet Talker

I mean, he is going to melt some hearts.  This little boy has an empathetic side.  When he sees his sister sad or upset, he’ll walk up to her and say “It’s okay, honey.  It’ll be alright, honey.”  I think I mentioned this last week as well, but he loves “beautiful” things.  He will tell Tessa and I how beautiful we are, how beautiful dinner looks when it’s sat in front of him, how beautiful his newly painted bedroom walls are, and the list goes on and on.  Sometimes it may not be the best adjective to use, but I love this new trend from him.

Dramatic

This is what we see the instant we don’t get him something as quick as he wants it. 

If we don’t see this face, we see Brady lying on the ground with his legs up in the air.  We call it his superman. J

Wild

Are all boys wild?  I mean, no pants bandit running around the house kind of wild?  The dumping legos and toys to leave a trail sort of wild?  This boy is out of control and then bam….out like a light!

Sometimes I wish there was a mellow, in between, personality with him.  But I guess then he wouldn’t be my Brady.

3.  Quotes

Every once in a while I’m scrolling through social media and see quotes that make me laugh out loud.  This one caught my eye the other day and I couldn’t stop laughing.  

This is me 100%.  In fact, the morning that I saw this, I was frantic because I couldn’t find two more pennies to have correct change for my coffee.  I felt like I was holding everyone up behind me, got even more flustered, and finally gave in and threw the cashier a twenty!  Why, oh why, do I care so much about an additional 30 seconds?  Please tell me I’m not the only one?

4.  Curls

 When I say I have straight hair, I mean, I have stick straight hair.  I own a straightener but I’m not really sure why.  It may make my hair a bit smoother, but it definitely doesn’t make it any straighter.  I have tried so many times over the years to find a product or a certain curling wand that could work magic on my hair and have always been disappointed.  I have even put multiple stylists to the test, only to find my beautiful curls were only a memory after 15-20 minutes.  Well ladies, my current stylist turned me onto a new product and it is the bee’s knees!  After I put this in my hair, I blow dry, curl, and believe me when I say my curls are now lasting all…day…long!  It is truly a miracle in a small bottle.  Get some today.

5.  National Puppy Day

We love our little Shih Tzu, Mason.  He may be a little silly looking but he is the best dog we could ever ask for.  He has some weird quirks; he sneezes to talk, he hops when he wants to go outside, and will only drink water in one room in our house…but he’s our little man. 

Tess has become attached to him as of late.  They play together non-stop and even sleep together.  I love watching how much she loves him now.  Plus, it’s nice to have an extra hand to help with the “third child.”

5 on Friday; March 18, 2016

1.  Big Boy

It is so wonderful to watch your children grow up into little humans, but at the same time I find it a bit heartbreaking as well.  I want to hold on to moments, take it all in, and pray my mind never forgets some of these wonderful days.   Lately I have been struggling watching little Brady grow up.  Even though his stature is tiny which allows me to still cradle him like a baby at times; his maturity, vocabulary, and activity level brings to light the reality that he is growing up.  These past few weeks we’ve been transitioning his room from a nursery into a little boy’s room.  This project is much to blame for my nostalgic thinking!  The nursery furniture is now gone, the walls are being painted, and soon he will have a little boy space all to himself.  As we’ve been working on this project, he has been walking in to admire the progress.  Last night he says “it’s so beautiful” and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.  Let’s hope he likes the finished project as much as the construction zone we have going on now.

2.  Art….Everywhere

We are finishing week three of Miss Tess with mono.  She is finally feeling and acting like her old self which brings on new challenges of keeping her activity level down.  If you know Tess, you know she prefers to hop or cartwheel to get where she is going!  Since she feels better, she doesn’t understand that she’s still “sick” and is getting pretty feisty when I say that she needs to walk, lie down and rest, etc.  Well, this week my mom came to the rescue with a “care-package” of art projects from Hobby Lobby.  This girl has been in heaven coloring, using new markers, and creating some fun new art to display ALL over the house (I say that with a huge thrill in my voice….).  

 Only one more week left and hopefully we will get a doctor’s release that all is well and life can get back to normal for her.

3.  Bracket Fun

Is everyone excited for the NCAA tournament?  I’m not a huge basketball fan, but can’t help but jump into the excitement of filling out a bracket and following along.  We’re having a little bracket challenge at my work and it just makes it all that much more exciting as we give each other a hard time on teams we’ve chosen, discussing the upsets, and cheering on certain teams.  I never really know who to pick and sometimes choose teams based on their school colors (did I just admit that?) but at least I’m not doing too badly so far!

4.  Safety First

We had to make a Home Depot run this week which ended up being a little close to bedtime.  Regardless, when there’s time in the schedule, we take advantage of getting projects done!  So, with Brady in his jammies we made the trek into town.  I’m certain I may win yet another mother of the year award when you see how my children function at HomeDepot?

Push your sister on a cart?  Sure

Line five carts up together and climb through them like an obstacle course?  Why not

 

(Also note the suckers in hand...choking hazard and great idea at 8:30...am I right?  Mommy is knocking 'em out of the park!)

Hang like monkeys from a cart with wheels?  Of Course

5.  St. Patties Day

We don’t do much to celebrate this holiday, but one thing I always make sure to do is prepare some type of fun treat for desert.  For the last couple of years I have made Lucky Charm Treats.  If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my photo I posted. 

The recipe is truly very easy.  In fact, I don’t even follow one.  I’m sure you bakers out there are probably losing your mind as I say that.  I have NEVER been good at following a recipe for baking but am diligent about it when I cook….completely opposite of how it should be, but that’s how I roll.  Regardless, here’s the “recipe” for those who were asking.

½ Stick of Butter

1 Bag of Marshmallows

1 Box of Lucky Charms

Melt your butter in a large pot on the stove.  Add at least one bag of marshmallows.  I typically add even a few more because I love mine shmallowy. ;)  Once the marshmallows are melted, reduce the heat and slowly mix in your cereal.   Pour into a greased 9x13 pan and voila! 

I will warn you that the Lucky Charms do not stay as fresh as Rice Krispies so they’re best to make the day you want to eat them.

6.  Eggs & Bunnies

You all know my love for Spring and Easter in particular.  I have been lighting my favorite scented candle and oil nearly every night.  I wrote about this last year.  You can find this at Von Maur or Dillards here in Iowa.

 

I have been searching for a cute little candy dish for the counter and stumbled across one for 50% off already….score!

We are decorating eggs this weekend and I can hardly contain myself.  Seriously, I enjoy it more than the children.

Finally, I have been a little behind on grabbing items for the kid’s Easter baskets.  I found some really cool bubble whistles but so far that’s it.  I typically throw in some new sidewalk chalk, a few things of candy, and a new book.  Does anyone have some fun new ideas for me?

7.  Simply Love

I have mentioned this family on my blog before and want to give new readers an opportunity to read their story.  I think of my dear friend, her husband, her babies, and her extended family each and every day.  I pray and I encourage others who believe in the power of prayer to pray for them as well.
Read Here

I think that’s all for this week!  I apologize for my lack of weekly posts as of late, but at least I’m finding the time for my Friday posts, right?