Friday Fotos and I DON'T LIKE SPIDERS!!!

I had a little inspiration from a friend who told me that by the time a girl is 10 years old she should be able to replace the mother.  Well, heaven forbid that should ever happen, but I'm on top of it now!

So Emma made breakfast this morning.  Actually, it would be a lot easier to open a package of poptarts or something but since we (I) am on a mission to reduce/remove processed foods from our regular diet, I told her to pick out a recipe from her cookbook. 

If you think this looks vintage you would be correct!  Printed in 1979, it is most definitely old  vintage.  And it used to be mine. 

Anyways, she chose muffins so we set to work this morning putting it all together. 

Except for a wasted egg which ended up on the counter instead of in the bowl, I think she did great! 

She was proud of her accomplishment and had fun making something new. 

She even thought it was fun to wash the dishes.  ;)

There they are in all of their jelly goodness. ;)

Finger paints! 

Beau's first time with paints. :)  All he needed was for his big sister and brother to show him what to do.

Probably every child has done this.  It's just too tempting, right?

And something else.....

Cory invited us to drive up to the house with him to lock the gate and check out what the "brick people" did. 

So we did that. 

After we had been there 15 minutes or so he and Cody went upstairs.  Emma started up after them a few minutes later and I was right behind her with Beau. 

But just as we were going up, Cory was coming down carrying the cardboard sample of the shingles that will go on our house. 

As he came closer I noticed something large...long-legged....and LARGE on the back of the cardboard. 

He was coming toward me on the stairs and he had NO IDEA. 

No idea that he was carrying a monster of a spider down the stairs towards myself and two of our children. 

Oh but I did. 

As I elbowed Emma back down the stairs, dragging Beau by his arm so that his feet didn't touch the ground, I tried desperately to relay the message of my knowledge of this ghastly creature that was inches from his hand. 

He stared at me as I pointed and yelled "There's a spider on the back of that thing!".  "On the back of what?!"  he kept saying. 

Oh.my.word.

Seriously?

I was practically falling over myself and my children to get away from him and pointing and staring at what was in his hand. 

I thought it was obvious.

When he finally realized what I was trying to say he threw it down and that...that...THING..that wolf spider that sent chills through my body went SPRINTING across the basement floor. 

I yelled at him to "KILL IT!!"

After a few missed stomps (that thing was fast!) it was finally dead. 

Goodness gracious. 

Help me. 

Lovely Spring Days

Technically it isn't Spring yet but Spring has ARRIVED here and I'm just about ready to pack up the Winter clothing.  It's been lovely today.  Really really nice actually. 

Anyone who reads this blog faithfully should very well know that on nice days I will always have the windows open.  Every day this week has been just right for it. 

The kids and I had a great time spending a gift card from Christmas and then hopping over to an educational store for a couple of things. 

The rest of the day was spent playing outside, doing laundry (the story of my life), math, and reading. 

I don't know if it was all the fresh air or what but Emma and Cody played "school"  together this afternoon for quite awhile and it was wonderful.  Don't I wish they'd do that ALL the time! 

I'm always thankful when they do though. 

I broke out the perla beads again and they have proven to be a great tool for focusing attentions.  Although tedious, it is one of the few things that will keep my 4year old completely undistracted by anything else.  :)

And so with windows open and fresh breezes blowing I plan to enjoy the rest of this week doing what I do.  Being a mom. 

Happy Almost Spring!

Carpe Diem

What a beautiful Carolina day.  :)

The windows were open.

Some time was spent outside.

A hair cut (trim and layers) for a certain little girl.

Smoothies for all. 

A visit to the consignment shop.

Math.

Preschool games.

And an hour of spin class. 

I found these shape/peg toys at the consignment shop that had never been opened. 

She got her American Girl magazine in the mail today and she read it from front to back.

"This is fuzz you Mom."

Just grateful that I get to spend every day with them.

Life is good.

 

A piece of cake

At The Bakers Rack.

Having a sampler. :)

Emma received a cooking/baking class at The Bakers Rack for Christmas from her Aunt Summer.  When I saw this week that they had spots still open for a cake baking and decorating class I signed her right up.  She had a blast! 

It was a 2 hour class and she came home with a cake and additional cupcakes that she made and decorated herself. 

:)

It was such a fun and different kind of activity. We may even go back just to sit and have a cupcake sometime.  They looked amazing! 

Happy Weekend!

February the 1st?

Is it really the first of February?!  Such a mild winter we've had so far!  I try to make sure the kids get some outside time every day especially on these mild days like we've had today.  Well, really all week actually.  Here are some pictures from the day. 

And sometimes this is just the reality. ;)

I hope ya'll are enjoying this day too. :)

Ps. 118:24

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Spontaneous Craft Day

I made my first craft from Pinterest today.   

I have brand new twin nephews who I plan to make a visit to this weekend and I wanted to take a gift.  :)

When I saw this idea on Pinterest I just had to try it!

First I had to gather what I needed so off to Hobby Lobby we went this morning.

The onesies came from Target but the rest I found at Hobby Lobby.  Next is the finished product.

It was super easy so don't get too impressed. :) 

Of course the kids always LOVE crafts so I try to find inexpensive things for them to do. 

Cody always picks ceramic figurines to paint.  He loves those things. 

Emma was inspired by the shirt craft so she chose to make her own.

I did the iron patch for her and she painted the words on.  I think she did a better job than I would have. 

Country Girl

I made Beau's craft for him. ;) I did something similar to this for Cody a couple of years ago. 

Again just more iron patches.  The bag came from Hobby Lobby too.  Now he has his own little bag to take to the church nursery and co-op class. 

Love!

My House Smells Good!

After taking the kids Christmas shopping this morning my mom came back with these Gingerbread House Kits. 

It kept them busy for a good little bit.

Beautiful works of art. ;)

I spent MY whole afternoon in the kitchen. 

Guess what I was doing?

Apple Pie time.

Best crust I've made yet.  I'm not sure why but it just rolled out just right.

Apple Crumb Pie. :0

Blessings

Do you ever look at your growing children and remember when they were babies?  I do that all of the time. 

Sometimes I look at Emma and I remember seeing her scrunched up face for the first time. 
My first baby. 
That little girl that I had wanted.  There she was!  Now she is one month from being 8. 
Everyone says she looks like me. 
Anyone who knows her knows that she loves books.  At just the age of 2 she would sit and flip through a magazine page by page.  She would read a phone book.  Any catalogs or flyers that come in the mail do not escape her. 
She has an amazing memory! 
She loves going to Co-op on Mondays.  She hates Math even though it seems to come quite easy to her.  She loves to learn. 
She's into horses much to Cory's dismay.  All things Princess, ballet, and pink have passed.  She prefers blue. 
She will be taller than I.  I think 5'7 was the last prediction from the pediatrician...possibly taller.  I'm happy for her. :) 
She likes to go anywhere I go. 
She likes I Love Lucy reruns. 
She can't wait until we build our house so she can have her own room. 
Her husband will have to be understanding of her love of books.  He will probably need to be somewhat intelligent and have a love of learning like she does but not too stuffy.  He has to get along with her father and brothers.  A knowledge of guns and hunting is highly recommended. 

And I look at Cody and remember that fat little face he had.  He was the biggest baby I've had weighing 8 pounds 3 oz.  My first boy. 
He looks like Cory. 
He's rough. 
He's tender and sweet and always the first to give kisses and say he loves us.  He climbs into bed with us in the morning to snuggle and occasionally a wayward knee or elbow to the face.  :/
He's not too shy. 
If he gets a boo boo you hear about it until it's gone. 
He has learned the alphabet song and when I call out each of the 50 US Capitals he can recite back to me all corresponding 50 States.  He still sees a speech therapist every week so they (the States) aren't always recognizable by just anyone but I know what he's saying. :)
He's our picky eater.  He lives on Ritz crackers, cheese sticks, chocolate milk, yogurt, and pb on a spoon.  I just give him his vitamins and fruit smoothies (he likes those thankfully!!) and I don't worry about it.
I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes a rodeo cowboy.  Whatever he does it will not be boring and always full steam ahead.  His wife will probably need to be the calm type who doesn't frighten easily and who also loves a little adventure herself.   

Last but not least, my little Beau.  His baby days are easier to remember being they were just last year!  He was my smallest baby at an even 7 pounds.  And what a good baby he was. 
He was a good sleeper and still is. 
I never tire of kissing his face. 
I'm not sure who he looks like but he's a good mix of all of us.
He likes to eat. 
He likes to be outside. 
His personality is still developing so I have so much more to study about him. 
He is cautious.  He likes to wrestle with the "big boys" but don't throw him in the air!  He freaks out and stiffens his body like a board. 
He seems to gravitate toward being musical.  At least he enjoys it anyways.  He likes to dance.  He's not a music snob either.  He likes it all. 
He is being toughened by his big brother and loved on by his big sister.
His wife will probably be spontaneous and bubbly.  :)

Well this post went in a different direction than I had planned but that's ok.  I do that often and when it happens I just go with it.  :)  Until next time!

This is the best, most recent picture I could find of me with all three.  Beau is being squeezed by Cody but hey, what's new?  ;)

BEAU

A Beau belly :)

Tomorrow is my baby's first birthday!  I thought I would take some time to reflect on the blessing and joy he has been to us.  That's no understatement because one thing is for sure, he has been a wonderful baby! 

With Emma and Cody we found out beforehand what we were having which is fine of course.  This time around though I wanted to wait.  I'm so glad that we did.  It was fun!  It made the guessing and anticipation that much better. 



Skin to skin

 And then there he was.  My sweet little boy...without a name.  We didn't have a name yet!  We just thought it would come to us after we saw him and you know what?  It did.  Beau Haddon Peters.  I love him and I love his name. 

That very first night I remember Cory had gone back to the house and I was there with Beau.  I thank God that the nurse was there checking my vitals and checking in on Beau when a very scary thing happened.  While I was holding Beau he suddenly gasped for breath and couldn't get any air.  Very calmly the nurse picked up the aspirator and sucked out his passage ways and he could breathe.  All better!  I was so thankful that she was in there with me when it happened! 

Then we brought him home and there was the normal challenges of adding another baby but I honestly couldn't have asked for a better one.  I remember those first weeks when he wasn't yet sleeping all night.  Believe what you want about co-sleeping but that is what got us through and I loved having him close to me.  Now he sleeps and sleeps.  Still takes two looong naps a day.  I remember one night after I swaddled him up and layed him down how he smiled and smiled at me and made me cry because he was so sweet.  I swaddled him until he was too big to swaddle and was rolling over!  Now we just rock every night before bed and he goes right down. 

He is my "whatever you give me I'll eat it" child.  I have yet to offer him something that he won't eat. 

He is pure joy!  I can't believe it's been a year already but it has. :(  It really does go by fast doesn't it? 

Happy Birthday to my sweet little Beau.  Thank you God for that "bonus" baby. 

Happy Birthday Cody!

It's been a wild and crazy ride for the last 4 years! This Memorial Day, May 30th, will be Cody's 4th birthday.

I've been sitting here reminiscing about his babyhood and the memories are coming back to me......

He was my biggest baby of all three weighing in at 8lb. 4oz. Cory guessed it right even before Cody was born!

I remember most of my time spent at the hospital was with him undressed down to his diaper and inside my hospital gown. And there we laid and snoozed together for mommy/baby bonding time. :) Ok, now I'm getting teary!

The months sailed by quickly and he grew fast and was mobile fast too. He was my earliest walker at 10 months and once he took those first steps, well, there was no slowing him down! Unless, of course he should trip and make contact with a window sill and get his first black eye!

Cody Jackson. His first AND middle names are from cities in Wyoming and I think the wild, wild west is a great way to describe him! But he is also the most affectionate and loving little boy you could ever meet. He tells us that he loves us several times a day and is always ready for hugs and kisses.

I can't wait to see what God has in store for him and what he becomes when he grows up. He can drive me nutso but I love him so much!

Happy 4th Birthday to my Cody Jackson!