Sweet Bliss...

Isn't this a picture of pure sweetness? I just love my 3 darlings! I just had to share this moment with you...

I also want to share this... look what I received from Barbara over at Oodles and Oodles! She was having a blog giveaway and had 11 of these cuties to share with 11 lucky people. I happened to be one of them. I had shared that I love embroidered floursack towels that my mother, grandmother and great grandmother all used to embroider... but I had never seen an apron like this one. So, so cute. Barbara has a really fun blog. You should go and check it out. She even shared the embroidery pattern on the apron for all that wanted to reproduce it! You can get it here.
Oh the memories this brings back... ;)
Thanks for stopping by!

(picture courtesy of Oodles and Oodles)

HOPPY EASTER!

Have a warm & springy Easter! May you be blessed in countless ways...

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!
The LORD’s right hand is lifted high;
the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”
I will not die but LIVE,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-17


A cheery Easter Day song from a 1950's Jack & Jill Magazine:

ART RETREAT!

I was over on Pam Garrison's blog, and she and Anahata Katkin had this posted! "Art in Ashland"...Oh, how I would love to go, but I already have vacationing plans at that time... :( I'm sure it will be fabulous though! (The hotel looks just grand!) If you're interested.. go check it out here!

That's pretty much what I've been up to... blogging, working on some Etsy shop things (it's still to come, I had hoped to have a grand opening before Easter... but ya know, it just isn't gonna happen. ;) AND we are all about spring break and Easter eggs today! (Pictures to come)

Happy Saint Paddy's Day!

An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

_____________________________

A Wish for a Friend
Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers-
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours-
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!

Some family fun for your "green day"...

Family Fun: recipes, crafts, games and more!
coloring page
shamrock tetris-like game (lots of fun!)
word scramble
word search
online dress-up game

Still into crepe paper rosettes... ;) and needed a wedding card. Why not put a rosette?
Also, a friend sent this in an email: What is your Fairy name?

Your fairy is called Feather Hailglimmer

She is a protector of the lonely.

She lives in high places where the clouds meet the earth.

She is only seen when the sun sets on the day of a completed harvest.

She wears pale blue like the sky. She has cheery turquoise wings like a butterfly.

Aaahhh... a little fairy wearing blue with turquoise wings, protecting, living high in the clouds... Sounds gentle and peaceful.
Catch y'all later! Got to get back to work & play...

Easter Carrots (Cheeto-style)...

Today was McKenna's class Easter Egg hunt. Each of them were to bring 7 filled eggs. We filled hers with a bag of Hershey's Kisses mini cookies. I thought they were a fun treat.
We also made an Easter treat for each of her classmates to take home with them: Cheeto Carrots! The kids just loved them(as did her teachers, and a couple of other moms who happen to catch us carrying them in... Later, when I picked McKenna up from school, I saw them bringing in Cheeto carrots for their classes!) It's just soooo easy...

I have seen these carrot-shaped cellophane bags, and even boxes, filled with orange M&M's or orange jelly beans.. but for a two year old, I didn't want all that candy. (I know, are Cheetos any better?) But it's Easter, there will be plenty of candy in their baskets!


Supplies you will need:
Triangular-shaped bags
(I just used cake-decorating bags because I had them on hand)
Green curling ribbon
(or large width satin ribbon looks pretty too)
Cardstock (for tags)
Tag punch (opt)
Scissors


Fill each bag nearly full (leave about 2 inches clear) of Cheetos (Hint: select 2-3 smaller cheetos to place in tip of bag) Cut two 14inch ribbon lengths, tie one to close bag, tie the other with tag attached. Curl ends, and viola! You've got Cheeto Carrots, a really easy and fun treat for kids of ALL ages! Enjoy!

Ta Da!

Well, I know it's rough, but it's my first attempt at making a web banner... I wanted something more than a white framed box, so I gave it a shot. ;) If anyone has any helpful hints on making a banner, throw them my way?! (other than: "You know you can pay someone who knows what they are doing!?") lol
Not much more to write about today... I may drop off on posting in the next few days... I am hoping to get my Etsy shop up and going soon. OH, surprise! Yes, I am getting around to making a go of it~ finally! I'll keep you posted as the time approaches... Until then, lotsa HUGS!

Snow and Friends in Texas...

Well, my friend Elizabeth is here and we are having a really great time. She arrived safely after coming into town in a near blizzard! (for Texas anyways). It's been really rather exciting around here this past week. We had not just one, but TWO snow-filled days, here in Texas! The first time really happened in the dark, which was kind of a bummer for the kids... but on Thursday it started in the morning and just kept coming! By the time the kids were out of school, we had a good 3-4 inches and they were beside themselves. Elizabeth wasn't prepared for a winter storm, so I helped bundle up the kids as best we could with layers of clothing and extra mittens, gloves and hats. The last thing Braden's teacher said to him as they headed out the door was "Now, get out there and build a snowman!!!" I just love Ms. Cain- she is the BEST! She's so small and petite and has such a great kid-friendly personality... the kids just love her. So, that IS, IN FACT, what we all did! We bundled up, set out, and made snowballs, a snowman, snow angels, ice cones, you name it! And I think almost every family in the neighborhood was out doing the same thing. ( I later saw evidence that it looked like the whole town had been out doing the same thing... there were snowman piles everywhere I went!) What a day and what a weekend. So much fun, So many blessings...

Giving Peace and Hope...

God was already working in me to help give her peace...
I was working on this post with the quote and scripture already typed when Bailey (my oldest) came to me to see if she and Braden could ride their bikes to school today. She has her TAKS reading test today, and I could tell she was feeling nervous inside (she had also been talking nervously about it for the past two days). They older she gets, the more in tune she is with the "importance of keeping good grades". I told her she didn't need to worry, that she's a good student, and that it's much like her Ready Writing for UIL competition (which she thoroughly enjoys). I then sat down to pray with her, and I felt the tension in her hands melt away as I spoke. Prayer is such an awesome thing... especially first thing, starting the day. What a way to start the day!

"May the love hidden deep inside your heart find the love waiting in your dreams. May the laughter that you find in your tomorrow wipe away the pain you find in your yesterdays."


Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

Have a wonderfully blessed day!
~Shannon