Wordless Wednesday

In honor of my upcoming anniversary;)

Photo Credit

Happy Birthday Bella!

My Bella turns 5 today!

We threw Bella a "Cupcake Shop" themed birthday party on Saturday and had such a great time! Her friends (which also meant our friends) came over and we ate, talked, and enjoyed ourselves. Each child was able to decorate their own cupcake. They really got into it and we definitely had some masterpieces in the house!

The kids played tug of war and had a chance to take a swing at a cupcake pinata filled with candy. I actually felt compelled to apologize to the moms for contributing so heavily to their child's "sugar high." Bella was so excited to get many of the things she wanted for her birthday including 2 goldfish! She named them "Goldie" and "Bella."

Here are some pictures of Bella we used for the party...

Dearest Bella,

I think you are even sweeter than a cupcake:) I love you and wish you a very happy birthday!

Love,

Mommy

How Blogging Keeps Me Sane

Case in point - Blogging keeps me sane because it keeps me bonded with others for whom this is a normal course of conversation:

 "Get down off the counter. No, it is not snack time yet. Yes, you need to take a bath. Now. Put the cat down. Please pick up your crayons. Please pick up your shoes. Please pick up your jacket. Please put down the cat. No, it is not snack time yet. Did you wipe? Did you wash your hands? We do not throw fits. We do not write on walls. We do not pull people's hair. Would you like someone to speak to you the way you just spoke to your sister? What? She took her diaper off? Where is she? Everyone stop what you are doing and find the baby! No, it is not snack time yet. Didn't I just say that?" 

 -Katherine from www.raisingfive.com

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

I love this poem. It's such a boost of "mothering inspiration!"

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

Author: Unknown

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I believed that there was a God to talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I felt you kiss me goodnight,
and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it's alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw that you cared,
and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I looked....
and I wanted to say thanks for all the things
I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

The Mommacino

My friend Tiffany is always coming up with cute and creative gift ideas. However, this one is probably my favorite, for obvious reasons...

Is this not the best idea for mommy coffee drinkers and chocolate lover's or what?! Flock on over to Tiffany's blog in order to find out more and to get the the free download!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Crystallized Hot Pink Mixer

Georgetown Cupcake, NY

A Beautiful Weekend

I had a beautiful Mother's Day weekend. I attended a Mother's Day brunch in downtown Chicago with my mom, grandmother, and aunt. We were able to get a professional photo taken of the four of us, which I know will become a treasured possession of mine.

On Sunday, hubby and I took the children to church and then went to dinner with my mom, dad, and brother. We ate good, my children behaved fairly well, and I recieved a gift set from Bath and Body Works in the Paris Amour fragrance. I love it! 

Read the descriptoipn of the scent:

"Our exclusive Paris Amour is a dreamy blend of French tulips, apple blossoms and sparkling pink champagne, inspired by a romantic stroll through the streets of Paris."

Yes. It smells as good as it sounds.

To top it all off, my friend treated me by giving me an opportunity for a Mother's Day "photo shoot moment." So many times we moms end up being the one always behind the camera, so this was a great gesture. Here is one of the photos...

Wordless Wednesday ~ Siblings

Crystal of Crystal Clear Photography is a friend of mine from high school. She has obviously made a smart move by embracing her talent and going into newborn/family photography! Below is a photo from a shoot she did with 6 of the most darling siblings!

Women and Depression ~ Part 2

Lacey Sturm of Flyleaf shares a powerful testimony of her experiences with depression and how God delivered her from a suicide attempt. It is amazing to see how the love of God is shown through her story!