we heart nj. part 2.

While in NJ we headed off to Lancaster, PA to celebrate Doug's Aunt and Uncle's 40th wedding anniversary...Moses got to play with cousins we hardly get to see.

There was lots of sidewalk chalk to be had for the kids...Moses left covered with it.

We shared a hotel suite, in the area, with Doug's brother, his wife and two kids. It's amazing how fast two (almost) three year olds can wreck a hotel room. It was lots of fun though...we even got to see Doug's sister, who we never seem to get to see. It was all worth the trip.

This was Aaron's part of the suite...we made a canopy with the sheet...it worked like a charm when Moses was a baby too. :)

While there...we tried to take Moses to the Crayola factory...ummm...can you say over stimulation? It was a DISASTER. Way too unorganized and crazy for all of us. We left after an hour.

:) Off to start the day...Mose has some sort of virus. Fun. Hoping to get some real work done on orders today...

And SO SO sad about Jon and Kate...such a tragedy...such a sign of the times...I hope Jesus comes back real soon!

Hope your Tuesday is great!
xo

we heart nj. part 1.

We had a lot of fun in NJ. :) I think Aaron got cuter while we were there...

This may have been the only quiet time between these two cousins...

Moses went on his first boat ride...

And swam his heart out in Great Ma's pool.

We compared cousins...Aaron and Blake here are exactly 2 weeks apart...and exactly the same weight...though Aaron has an inch or two on Blake in length.

We tried to get a photo of all of them together...this was the best I got.

We celebrated Great Ma's birthday...

And had lots of smiles...

Lots of low key hanging out...which is really just our style.

Did I mention this was our first time meeting Blake? He is a cute chunk of baby.

And this one will for sure be a heart breaker when she grows up.

I'm still trying to get my Virginia self back together...hang in there for a few more days until I get back in the swing of things. :)

xo

10 things.

1. My wonderful husband who is a GREAT father!
2. Two very healthy kids!
3. Provision.
4. The sun!
5. My honey's great job!
6. Summer stretched out ahead of us!
7. Great friends!
8. Forgiveness...undeserved from Him.
9. My great little family.
10. Coffee!

Let's see your ten things you are thankful for this AM.

xo

while we get settled...

We are back and rapidly getting settled into our routine...while we do that...here is some food for thought...my brother in law sent me this in an email and I can't stop thinking about it...or how right on it is...so I posted it here to remind me...

Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Country
(edited to add...I was made aware that this is not originally by Billy Graham...however...the sentiments still ring true. :) )

'Heavenly Father,

We come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your

direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call

evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our

spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor

and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it

welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have

shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to

discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused

power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions

and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and

pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the

time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search

us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us

free. Amen!'



Commentator

Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and

received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.

With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and

wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One nation

under God.'

Feel free to leave your two cents. :)

xo

cupcakes.

I made cupcakes the other day for no reason...too bad that look better than they taste. I used new recipes for the icing and cake...box cake makes me gag a little, no offense and they turned out...ok...not great...neither is a recipe I plan to use again.

So I am wondering...do you have a favorite from scratch recipe for cake and icing?

Leave me a link or a recipe in the comments, please. :)

xo

10 things.

1. Awesome in-laws.
2. A nice place to be able to get away to.
3. Baby swans.
4. Seeing Moses and Aaron with family who love them.
5. Home cooked meals.
6. Quality time.
7. Quiet times.
8. Enjoying the Lake!
9. Five more days!
10. A great life to go home to.

Let's see your ten things you are thankful for...

xo

color.

In case you need some.

Bright.

Beautiful.

Simple.

Fun.

Sweet.

Happy Friday!
xo

check.

Get Moses new shoes....that are cooler than anything I ever had at his age...or before the age of 18 for that matter.
Check.

Make matching outfits for the cousins photos.
Check.

Make new neck cushies for Aaron's carseat.
Check.

Make Aaron a cute new crinkle square using Julie's tutorial.
Check.

Pack Moses' backpack with new books, goodies, a new movie and snacks for the 6 1/2 hour road trip.
Check.

Fill a bonus container with little doo-dads that Moses is sure to love...including tiny colored pencils!
Check.

Turning off my phone because we are OFF to our vacation!
Check!!

Don't worry...I've left you with some new reading material for between now and when I return...you won't even miss me.

Peace out!
xo

i think i'm funny.

So this is the ice cream truck that comes by our house daily. And sits outside our door for a good twenty minutes or more waiting for each child within a five mile radius to come to it.

I personally think ice cream trucks are creepy...I expect some equally creepy clown to pop out of them...

Anyway...you ask Moses what this is and he will tell you that it is the "Time out truck". :) I presently have him convinced that this truck drives around giving out time outs and spankings...though he has no idea what a spanking is he is fearful enough of a timeout to want to avoid this truck. :)

I am sure that believing this won't last too long.

And my current favorite way to entertain my infant? Put his own feet in his hands...his instinct is to clamp down on whatever gets close enough to them...it's cute to see him confused about who is tugging on his feet. :)

Hey, a stay at home mom has to keep it interesting somehow, right?

xo

available.

I will be listing a high chair sling before I leave on vacation and in time to ship before I leave...send me a convo via Etsy if you would like it reserved for you. :)

It will be made from THIS. and brown polka dot material. :)

If you don't get this one I will add you to a list. :)

XO

10 things.

1. Vacation!!!!
2. A husband who works hard and expects nothing in return.
3. Blue skies!
4. Two paid for cars!
5. Aaron's awesome naps on Saturday that allowed for Moses and mommy to have some good quality time!
6. As much business as I can handle!
7. A new lens!! Coming soon!
8. Being saved by grace.
9. Having lost ALL of my baby weight!
10. Peanut butter sauce!

Let's see your ten things you are thankful for!
xo

success.

He did it!

I love the toes curled tight in concentration!

Love the tray...

Cute!

And happy!

Made my first family name pillow...makes me wish this was my name...

My favorite DREAM pillow so far is in the shop...working on a RAINBOW one!

Happy Saturday!

xo

product tester.

So say you have a small apartment...or restaurant highchairs gross you out...or you don't want to throw down $100 for a highchair...what DO you do?

You get one of these of course...portable, washable, fun and clean!

I saw these in passing at Target...then my best gal out in L.A. told me how she needed a highchair...then last night I was wide awake making them in my head...I wanted to make them more simple...and cuter of course. I busted this one out in about an hour...

It even works to keep big kids in their seat...you know when they are too big for the highchair but move around too much for the booster?

I love my sewing machine. And product testers. For real.

xo

i love this kid.

My sweet, sweet Moses. He is such a cool kid...and I am not saying that just because I am his mom...but he is. He is thoughtful and sensitive...qualities that are too often extinguished in little boys...in our house we encourage and praise him for these things. :)

Of course he is also two and a half...and can go from sweet to nearly biting your hand off in a second. :)

He is also funny...sometimes we laugh when we shouldn't because he is just that funny...

He is also a little odd sometimes...notice the mittens on his hands...in June. He has a fascination with putting socks on his hands...I have no idea where he gets it from...the other day I pulled out some "hand sockies" for him...aka mittens.
Apparently they are a must for water golf.

He eventually soaked himself in the pool...repeatedly refusing my offers to get his bathing suit...

This is him dunking his head in the pool...

Then saying "aww man"...like it was not intentional.

This is him "falling" into the pool...

I did my best to stand back and let him have his fun...he was having a great adventure.

Eventually he plopped right down in it...and I said "hold it right there"...

It was nearly bath time anyway...I gave him some soap, stripped him and told him to scrub up. He thought it was fun until we rinsed it out of his hair. :)

I love being a mom of boys!
xo