120/365... Fancy Nancy joy

The day we had been waiting for was here! "Fancy Nancy Party" day! Just for us girls.

I put on lotion. She put on lotion. I put on makeup and then put makeup on her. I put on perfume. She put on perfume. I curled my hair and then curled her hair. I put on my fancy dress. She put on her fancy dress that her grandma made just for her. I put on my fancy shoes. She put on her fancy shoes.

It was just us girls. Fancy girls.



The party was so cute and well thought out by the staff at Barnes and Noble. Each little girl was dressed in their fanciest clothes. We had tea and a cookie while learning some words in French, did a craft, read a Fancy Nancy book, and dressed up with boas, crowns, and sunglasses. We savored every second.

My baby girl wants to go to a Fancy Nancy party every week. And so do I.

Fancy Nancy joy.

119/365... Curious George dress joy

My babies are so very blessed to have her for a grandma. She makes special playdates with them, takes them to movies, has sleepovers, reads to them, plays with them, kisses and hugs them, and makes them sews them ADORABLE clothes.

My daughter adores Curious George. When my mom saw this fabric, she knew exactly what she was going to do with it. She was going to make her granddaughter a dress with a matching bag.

The instant my baby girl tried it on, she just beamed. Partly because it was a dress with Curious George on it but mostly because her grandma made that dress just for her.

My babies are so blessed to have her for their grandma.

And I am so blessed to have her for my mom.

Curious George dress joy.

118/365... Go shopping joy

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, it is just the three of us. I usually ask them what they would like to together. On most days, it is "play outside" and "ride trucks". Today it was "go shopping".

Not kidding.

How can I argue with that?

So, we went shopping. And they were perfectly well-behaved boys.

They made their mommy proud.

Go shopping joy.

117/365... Little domesticated one joy

I don't even have to ask. She just does.

She is my little domesticated one.

Little domesticated one joy.



In other news... Happy Birthday to my best friend, Christy!!! How blessed my life has been to have you as my dear, dear friend for 28 years!!! I love you so very much!!!

116/365... That number joy

Never mind the chubba bubba toes and the horrific paint job. Look at that number! I have worked HARD for that number. Better food choices, portion control, exercise, and lots of prayer have brought me to this number.

And to be honest... I don't NEED to see that number to know that my hard work and determination to live a healthy lifestyle is paying off. I feel better than I have felt in a very long time.

I owe it all to God.

That number joy.



I also need to add that I tried to take a picture from this angle with my slr camera. Not a chance am I adding 3 pounds to that number!

And yet another add-on... my point and shoot weighs 8 ounces! LOL!!

115/365... Egg hunting pros joy

For a little playdate fun, we had a post-Easter egg hunt. The 6 of them found over 100 eggs in less than 3 minutes.

They are Easter egg hunting pros.

Egg hunting pros joy.

114/365... Easter Celebration joy

He is risen!

And our family celebrated Jesus' resurrection all day long!

After a jellybean and chocolate buffet, the kids helped make Resurrection Rolls.
Every part of the recipe symbolized the death and resurrection of Jesus. What a wonderful learning activity for my babies.


Our babies were little angels during the Easter Sunday church service. Two of them slept like angels.

And, of course, no Easter would be complete without a picture of the four of them. Kind of gives you the warm fuzzies, doesn't it?


After a wonderful meal, it was time for the Easter Egg Hunt.

How I loved watching the different strategies and reaction to finding those colorful eggs filled with goodies.


This little man by-passed all of the eggs and headed straight for the slide.


He found the not-so-colorful little balls in the yard more appealing.


She took the egg hunt very seriously. And once her basket was full, she helped her younger brothers and cousin find some eggs.


My oldest is getting to the age where he'd rather find the eggs with money inside.


And my sweet, goofy niece... she will have a good time no matter what she is doing.


And just because I love this one!


Happy Easter to all!

Easter Celebration joy.

113/365... Not-so-smart soccer mom joy

I will no longer laugh at the soccer moms who bundle up in winter coats, hats, blankets, mittens, scarves, long underwear, and boots to watch their children play soccer. For they are smart.

It was cold and the wind had a bite to it. I wore thin yoga pants, a light fleece coat, and a ball cap to watch my son play soccer. For I was not-so-smart.

Even my daughter knew to wear her winter coat.

I will now follow the lead of the soccer moms and my 3-year old.

Not-so-smart soccer mom joy.

112/365...Coloring Easter eggs joy

I have no idea what I was thinking when I boiled 4 dozen eggs for Easter egg coloring. No one wanted to give up their color. 1 dozen pink, 1 dozen blue, 1 dozen orange, and 1 dozen yellow eggs. Some with coloring. Some with words. Some with stickers. Some with cracks.

All beautiful.

Coloring Easter eggs joy.

111/365... New treadmill joy

My brand new treadmill has arrived!

So many hands were involved in making sure this mommy was a happy mommy. Neighbor hands. Hubby hands. Little hands. Mommy hands.

And by the end of the night, it was assembled... with my running shoes right by it's side... ready for day one of the couch to 5k program.

My new treadmill joy.



In other news... please help me convince my hubby to repaint our bedroom. I was delusional and pregnant when I picked out this baby poo color.

110/365... Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day joy

It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad morning. Foul moods and yuck weather. Not a good combination.

Nothing that a little trip to the library can't fix.

A bag full of books and children's videos made for a wonderful, quiet, peaceful, happy-go-lucky afternoon.

Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day joy.

109/365... Beautiful for Jesus joy.

My baby girl's face lit up when she saw her new Easter shoes. She said, "Mommy, I am going to be beautiful for Jesus."

You already are, my sweet baby girl.

Beautiful for Jesus joy.

108/365... Beautiful spring day joy

Waking up to snow on the ground in the middle of April was not the perfect way to start the day. Looking at my poor wilting flower covered in frozen rain made me sad. Watching my kiddos' faces fall when they saw the snow and not sun broke my heart.

I found myself asking God, "Where is spring?".

He answered rather quickly.

By the day's end, the sun was shining. The snow had melted. The tulips were standing tall. The kids were playing outside.

It was a beautiful spring day.

Beautiful spring day joy.

107/365... Jesus time, Nap time, Family time joy

All Sundays should be like today.

I took all four children to church by myself so hubby could relax. He was exhausted from his training and visit to the ER. Our babies were so well behaved during the service.


The older two went to their Grandma and Grandpa's house to play while the younger two, hubby and I relaxed. I took a two hour nap. I can't remember the last time I took a two hour nap.

We then went to my mom's for a WONDERFUL meal and good ol' family time. Watching my babies ride bikes around their Grandma's house brings back memories of riding bikes around my Grandma and Bumpa's house.

Jesus time. Nap time. Family time. All Sundays should be like this Sunday.

Jesus time, nap time, family time joy.

106/365... My hero joy

He was ready for his day-long fire training.


Although it was cold and rainy, he was fired up to fight fire.


It's amazing how quickly things can happen.

Near the end of a long training day, he was lighting a road flare when it popped in his face. The chemicals instantly went into his eyes. After flushing out his eyes, they were still burning.

A trip to the ER was necessary. He endured 15 minutes of pure misery while they flushed his eyes. My heart went out to him as I slowly watched the saline go down through the tubes, right into his eyes. When it was all done, he stuck his tongue out at me. I don't remember doing that to him after no less than 15 hours of labor with each pregnancy. Humph!


He was lucky. Very lucky. Some swelling. Minor scratches that will quickly heal.

It could have been so much worse.

God is so very, very good.

My hero joy.

105/365... Colorful cabinet joy

Before I know it, this cabinet will not be as colorful.

And I will miss it.

Colorful cabinet joy.

104/365... Grant and mommy time joy

I love spending one-on-one time with my babies.

This morning was his turn. He helped me fold 4 loads of laundry and put the clothes away.

My favorite part of our time together was going outside to chase birds and look for bugs.

I think that was his favorite part, too.

Grant and mommy time joy.

103/365... Shiny new motorcycle joy

Little brother spent this beautiful spring evening showing off his shiny new motorcycle to his big sister.

I was even lucky enough to get a ride.

Maybe I'll trade in our minivan for a Harley.

Shiny new motorcycle joy.

102/365... R is for Regan joy

Maybe it is the teacher in me but I get so excited when my babies learn new things.

I'm not kidding.

I clap and dance and sing and hug and get my camera and act like a big goof.

And that puts an even bigger smile on my babies' faces.

I will never stop being my children's biggest fan. Even when the day comes when they want to hide in embarrassment.

Celebrating every single achievement is what life is all about.

R is for Regan joy.