Sweet Melissa

My sweet girl had a birthday this month...17 years old.... (insert the Mom sigh here). I'm sure all Moms wonder this, but how on earth can that sweet baby be a junior in high school, driving a car, and be so darn smart?! I know I was just unwrapping her newly bundled blanket from her fresh new body to examine her tiny fingers and toes and talking about our dreams for her. She has dreams of her own now and only a few short years until life is on her own. I still wonder where her life will take her, but I know it will be filled with love and family. The daughter I guide, the friend I share with - my sweet Melissa.

We celebrated her with a fun dinner and a huge cookie cake - baked by her sister and myself. I love having girls who like to bake!




So beautiful - today, yesterday and always. Watching her grow has been a great pleasure of my life.



Giant cookie cake - our first one ever!  How to: make up your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough, spread on pizza pan lined with parchment paper, bake at 325 degrees for 18-20 min or until lightly browned. It spreads quite a bit while baking, so don't let the dough get too close to the edge. Cool and decorate!



"Batman" trying to patiently wait. He even let her blow out her own candles! Being two years old must be so much fun - who else can run around all day in costumes and underwear without too many people wondering if you are crazy?!



Love you my Sweet Melissa!  xoxo ~Mom

Love in the air

This February brought us many chances to share love and I can't let it slip by without sharing some of it here in this little space of mine. I'm terrible at journaling, scrapbooking or pretty much anything to document our lives.  Except for photographs - I love taking pictures.

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it is full of love and full of fun! The girls spent some time crafting, finding little things to share with others to show that they are loved. There was stamping by little fingers, cutting and stickering going on right before the big day.  We had plans to share some love secretly by dropping off little Valentine Blessings to those that might need a little bit of love that day. So they made - and created - and shared the love.







I love these cute bookmarks! Paint strips + heart punch + ribbon = ADORABLE.  Chevron notecards from the Target $1 section - love!




Sisters working together to make someone else's day brighter. And it wouldn't be complete without a little comic humor now would it? I'm so blessed to call this little man my son.  He brightens our days and makes us laugh!







"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7  

Loving each other and showing love is something I am always emphasizing with my children. It is should probably be our family motto they hear it so much! But I just want them to know that they are so loved by us their parents, their siblings and most of all their God. Living this out each and every day, not just Valentine's Day is what I want them to remember most.

Little bird, little bird

With the Texas weather giving us hints toward springtime this week, we couldn't help but head outdoors for some sunshine and vitamin D.  Little birds chirping right outside the window early in the morning, reminded me that we had some leftover supplies for making bird feeders. This little "craft" is so easy to do with a bunch of kiddos and something even I have enough patience to do! Teaching them to knit... uh, not so much patience for that. Brett couldn't wait to get started when he found out what we were doing.



We ended up attracting a few more birds than we had bargained for.  Hello Chickens!







Rocky says "It's nice to share".


Or not... I laughed when I took this picture as that silly Guinea's head popped up just as I took it. It's like the hen is saying "Hey! She was taking my picture!". I think she is giving him the stink eye.



Pine cones and peanut butter - spread it on thick.






Roll it in birdseed. This combo is so good for the winter birds when there isn't much food to be found.



Your fingers will get plenty sticky.



And that's just fine with Brett who preferred to lick his clean. He seemed to really like the birdseed too...



All finished! Hoping some bright red ribbon will help attract the little birds and bring them to the house for us to watch.  Brett wants you to know that this is his bird feeder. Such a beautiful day!



Look what was waiting for them inside! Grandma arrived with lunch and fun Valentine's treats. I love that she does this for us once a week. It gives me a break from thinking about what to feed them for lunch and it gives her something to do - she loves it too I think.



This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24