Cheap and Easy

I have recently felt the itch to become more creatively productive. As the girls are getting a little older I am excited to teach them how to make things with their hands. Sometimes the projects I imagine us doing together are a little beyond their grasp, but we're getting there. They have discovered stringing beads, and love making bracelets for themselves (because they don't have the patience for necklaces). Actually I should clarify, Theia likes stringing beads, Eliza likes handing them to me while I string them for her. Theia did recently help me tie rags around a sour cream lid hoop to make this wreath: It now hangs on their bedroom door. And as long as I'm in their room I'll show you a few of the other things that hang on their wall. I love this picture frame. That is a picture of Eliza - from her 1 year pictures. And these are some wall hangings I made last week from embroidery hoops and some clothing of the girls' that had gotten stains on them. I will probably add to it as the girls gift me with "new" material :).

I got the idea from one of my favorite crafting blogs, mayamade, who in turn got the idea from this site. I love trying to come up with ways to use things that have outgrown their original use. Now when a favorite clothing item becomes permanently stained I only have a brief period of mourning and then I get excited thinking about what I can salvage it for.

Backfired.

Theia (while lying on my chest, snuggling): "Mama, do you have hairs in your nose?" Me: "[Groan] Couldn't you have asked Daddy that question instead?" Theia: "Ok. Daddy, does Mama have hairs in her nose?"

America's Next Top Model *

The first step to a good photoshoot is

know how to make your entrance.

Don't be scared to make bold wardrobe choices,

such as pairing platform Mary Janes with a diaper.

Consider every angle. Use props to your advantage. No! Always think of your face first! Its a happening!

*No, I really don't watch that show - but I've seen enough of it to know the rundown. Tyra Banks is hilarious.

I really am in a blogging funk this month. I am certainly not suffering for lack of material, its the time and initiative that is lacking on my part. I could share about how my brother-in-law and my sister-in-law/cousin came to stay with us for 5 days last week, along with their 3 under 3. I mean, could you ask for a better blog post scenario than 6 girls under 3 under one roof?

I could show you what mealtimes might look like in such a scenario

I could share tips on bathing 4 girls under 3 at once

I could tell you how to build an enclosure that small

rambunctious girls actually beg to be contained in

Or how to efficiently transport 4 girls under 3

Or how to multiply cuteness and fun

exponentially in a water balloon fight

I could post pictures of our Easter egg hunt

(because its Easter, and that's just what you do)

And I should inform you that there is some pretty stiff

competition this year in the adorable girls department

And in the cute niece department

I could admit that I must be a horrible aunt because I did not get

a single picture of my brand spankin' new niece, Taylor, while she was here!

But I just don't feel like it.

The Beach

I realized that for someone who lives in Florida, I don't have nearly enough beach pictures on here. And in Theia's opinion, we don't go nearly often enough either. These pictures were taken over a month ago, and we haven't been to the beach since. I do love going to the beach with the girls, but its definitely more fun than it is relaxing, so once a month seems just about my speed. On this particular occasion we went with Jessie's cousin Luke, his wife Lesley, and their girls Josie and Clara. They are such a blessing to us. God was so good to lay the groundwork for us to come down here before it had even been thought of on our part. Luke and Lesley moved down here (also from MI) just last summer. They had already set their roots down in a church (where we have since placed membership) and they have introduced us to everyone there and made our transition so much easier. It means so much to have family within driving distance when you move to an unfamiliar place.

Josie

Ingrid's little toes

Eliza hated the water the first time we went,

now she's a bonafide beach bum.

Ingrid is my little teeny girl

How to involve your children in Home decor...

Step 1. Make peanut butter and jelly sandwich (use extra peanut butter for maximum effect) Step 2. Give peanut butter and jelly sandwich to your 21 month old for lunch * Step 3. Marvel at the results: *You could of course save time by eliminating Step 2 and smearing the contents of the sandwich on the chair yourself. I'll have to try that sometime...

Isn't He Dreamy?

I love that it is no unusual circumstance to walk into the kitchen in my home and find that my husband has, once again, outshone me in the culinary department. Although I am reasonably proficient in the kitchen, baking is not my strong suit. Not because I can't do it, it just doesn't occur to me to do so. You see, I grew up in a family where desserts were typically only served on birthdays or major religious holidays (of course, birthdays were by no means an infrequent occurrence in our household of [insert large number here] children). These muffins were just a Saturday impulse of Jessie's from a few weeks ago. Even though he has comparitively limited experience in the kitchen, he's not afraid to get his hands dirty, um, in the mixing bowl. I wish I had a picture of the puffed pancake I found when I finally stumbled out of our bedroom on Sunday morning after a night of quality time with Ingrid and my allergies. It was almost as puffy as my eyes. Jessie nearly always makes breakfast before church on Sunday mornings - and its hardly ever oatmeal. Isn't he dreamy?