Just thought I would share our sweet, fun and funky announcement with you...I took the photo then Sara did all the work...
You can find Sara and all of her FABULOUS work at Less Ordinary Designs...I have used her before and I will say it again, she is WONDERFUL to work with! :)
Spring is finally here!! And you can see it all around our house!
The mantle is all decorated...I LOVE green bunnies...don't ask me why...if you find any good ones you just let me know. :)
Just a little something to make it fun and cheerful...light and springy...
I also collect yellow chicks for Easter/Spring...this one is from middleburg.etsy.com. :)
Sweet little eggs and Easter grass...in Spring green of course...
...this green bunny and Spring sign are from Target...
...Spring colored towels in the shop...
...with Spring colored pom poms to match...
...things blooming in the garden...
...being OUTside!!!!!
...and loving it! :)
One of my friends from MOPS made this a couple of weeks ago...it was so good that I saw some ladies scraping crumbs on their plate when the majority of the cake was gone. Streusel Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
This is yummy and very easy. Definitely good to have your butter and cream cheese at room temperature before you start.
Batter:
1 cup butter (softened to room temperature)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
Filling:
2 8-oz. packages cream cheese (room temperature)
1 egg
½ cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Streusel Topping:
¼ cup flour
¼ cup sugar
2 Tbsp. butter
Preheat oven to 350.
For batter, place butter and sugar in large bowl and beat at medium speed until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix well. Spread 2/3 of batter onto bottom of a 10-inch springform pan.
For filling, combine cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla in medium bowl and mix well. Spread over batter in pan. Spoon remaining 1/3 of batter on top.
For topping, combine flour and sugar in small bowl. Add butter and blend until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over batter. Bake for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
The biggest challenge in having two kids so far is making sure that each of them feel loved, special and an essential part of our family. Doug and I decided when we got pregnant with Aaron that his arrival would be a good time to start doing special outings with just Moses. :)
Then on Monday, when Doug got home, I asked Moses if he was ready for our date...he jumped at the chance to go out, just the two of us...I took him out for frozen yogurt and then to pick out a new train at Toys R Us. :)
I knew he would enjoy the undivided attention but I had no idea that he would beam so much. You could see it in his face how happy he was and how loved he felt. :) He told everyone that we saw on our outing that he was on a date. :)
This is where the littlest one sleeps for the time being...normally I probably wouldn't bother sharing this but that little bassinet is special...
This bassinet has been through at least 27 babies in Doug's family...starting with Doug's dad...or at least his sister...I'm not positive. Regardless, it is special to use something for my little one that has so much meaning and sentimental value. :) Aaron just loves it. :)
And just in case you were wondering about why we named him Aaron Howard...Aaron is obvious, I hope...brother to Moses...we wanted to set-up a foundation for a great friendship and special bond between our two boys. Howard...well that is Doug's middle name, and Doug's dad's middle name and Doug's grandpas name as well...even his initials have special meaning AHJ. :)
...play-doh! :) Because of it Moses is content for hours at a time. :)
Our new life that is...we have a pretty good rhythm going on...if you know me, you know I love a good organized day...we pretty much have that here now...and each day seems to run a little smoother...one of my core beliefs as a parent is that chaos breeds chaos...if I can get the days running in such a way that the boys know what to expect and when...things run much more smoothly. :)
8:30-9ish...we all have breakfast together while Little bit watches...this is his best awake time of the day. :)
From breakfast until noonish...we craft at the table...
...Moses likes to sit next to me and read or draw...
...we get down on the floor to play trains...or cars or to read...
...I am relearning what can and cannot be done with one hand...
Noon-we all have lunch! :) Moses' special treat this week has been to eat lunch in his new wagon...it came to our house filled with baby goodies from all the folks at our church. :)
1:30pm is nap time...usually for both of the boys...this is generally when Doug will catch up on sports and I do crafty or bloggy things. :)
I couldn't wait to share...
...they still have some work needed...more soon!
we are finally getting to a "normal" stage...I have lots to share...new projects, new schedules...new ideas but for now how about some new eye candy? I promise to catch you up really soon! :)
We took full advantage of the super warm weekend...Saturday and Sunday we went to parks...
Moses got to stretch his legs and run around like a crazy toddler should. :) I love the look on his face in this photo...
Moses has really enjoyed his extra time with his best buddy...there are times that people give us grief for just how attached Moses is to Doug but I think that every boy should be so lucky...Doug is attentive, fun and loves nothing more than making Moses laugh...Doug going back to work today put Moses in a sad little funk. There were tears when he realized that Doug was not here this morning...he spent a lot of time looking out of the window waiting for him to come home...and A LOT of time getting some extra loving from his other buddy Doggy. :) The joy on Moses' face when Doug got home was a beautiful thing. :) 
The two buddies had a blast at the parks...running and playing and being silly. :)
We even got to eat lunch outside...warm and sunny...a super weekend. :)
Little bit found his thumb...SO stinkin' sweet.
This is where the littlest one likes to be...all snug in the sling...
Last night we went on a walk...I carried Aaron in the Baby Bjorn...when we got home Moses wanted a turn using it...first he wanted to carry Aaron in it...but he settled for Doggy.
And here's a good idea if you need one...Moses' activity stuff was starting to take over the top shelf of the closet...then I thought of this as a way of storing it all...an inexpensive over the door shoe rack had perfect sized compartments for all of his art supplies, stickers, play dough and more...the less I wanted Moses to get into something the higher up I put it in the rack.
You're not tired of seeing them right? Cause I'm not tired of looking at them. :)
I make em cute, right? :)
Enjoying our last day of 80 degrees...winter is supposed to come back this week...
...say a little prayer for us...Doug goes back to work tomorrow. :(
xoxo
