Butterfly Birthday, Part 1

Annie requested a butterfly theme for her third birthday party. We were happy to oblige and her party was a hit. I found these sweet invitations on Etsy. Hobby Lobby and Target had cute butterfly decorations--a couple of fluttery banners, some butterflies on a stake that I added to pots of daisies, butterfly birthday plates, and a pinata. Honey made the personalized birthday girl banner and picked up balloons. For food, we had chicken salad and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (cut in the shapes of butterflies), a butterfly fruit tray, cheese with butterfly shaped crackers, goldfish, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and ice cream. For activities for (mostly) two year olds, we had a pinata, suncatchers to color (I had these out to do as guests were arriving), and a pin the butterfly on the flower game. I think I finally found the right flow for a child's party--family came an hour early and Annie opened her numerous gifts. Then friends arrive, we did the suncatchers as we waited for everyone. Then lunch, then cake. Then the pinata and butterfly game. Then opened gifts from friends and thanked everyone for coming. More photos coming next week!

Annie is 3! Banner by Honey.


Goody bags for little friends.


Entry table with balloons, butterflies, and daisies.


Suncatchers to color with markers.


Pin the butterfly on the flower. Annie got right in the middle and I promise she wasn't cheating!


Pinata. Found this cute butterfly at Target and decided we needed it for the party. Each child took a few swings at it.


Cousin Dillon was pretty adorable taking his turn.


But since none of the kids were successful, Honey finished it off.


The food!


Honey's butterfly fruit tray. Everything but a lemon slice was gone by the end of the party.


Sugar cookies, decorated over many hours by Mama.


Butterfly cake! I like to bake my kids' own cakes, though I'm not the world's best decorator. But I think this one turned out pretty great, if I do say so myself.


Annie wanted cake, cookies, and cupcakes. It was her birthday so I gave in. :) Especially when I found these sweet little butterflies at Hobby Lobby.

Annie is Three

Happy birthday, sweet girl! Your Daddy and I love you with all our hearts. We have had so much fun watching you grow this year. Your vocabulary took off and hasn't stopped. You sing all the time. You love to make up your own songs. You have memorized your favorite books and read them to us. You are a big help with Sophie and you and JJ play well together--most of the time. You are independent but like to cuddle. You are memorizing Scripture. You are finally potty trained. You started your first little dance class this year. You love college football. You enjoy puzzles and cooking in your play kitchen. You like being "Mommy" to your dolls. So glad you were born on this day three years ago!

Birth day


One


Two


Three

A little Friday adorableness for you

Sophie and her tongue.


Big sis and little sis. And the favorite camera.


Introducing the cup.


She prefers us to hold it for her.


The cuteness. Can't hardly stand it, she's so precious!

Lord, I Need You

Lord, I Need You - Chris Tomlin

Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Yes where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay

We sang this in worship last Sunday. I find I sing this song as a prayer throughout the day. I always hoped I'd be mama to lots of little ones. I dreamed about it. I knew it would be hard. I knew it would test my patience and take a lot of energy. I knew my organizational skills would be put to good use. But I never thought about how it would bring me closer to God. Because each day, moment to moment, I realize I can't do this on my own. So this song goes up like a prayer, in the middle of potty training and cleaning up blocks and reading books and making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches again...without You I fall apart...I need You...I'll fall on You...You're my hope...teach my song to rise to You...

Valentine's Day 2014

We celebrate Valentine's Day with breakfast. This tradition began many years ago when the Gent made me breakfast in the dorm kitchen freshman year. It has grown to include (so far) three adorable children. This year the Gent made blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, and--for the grown-ups--coffee. Yum yum yum. We gave the munchkins their Valentines and they were very excited. They love mail.

To continue the celebrating, at lunch I made the kids peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cut into a heart shape and gave them a mini heart cake they picked out at Publix. Easy peasy and they were super excited. After the little ones went to bed Friday evening, the Gent and I made fondue for a date night in. Sweet Valentine's Day, y'all.

Snow Part Deux

Annie Update

I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that my baby is about to be three. I figure this will just get harder each year. Annie's imagination is soaring and I get so much joy out of listening to her games and stories. Annie loves, loves, loves to sing. She sings anything and everything and makes up her own songs, too. They usually only have a few lyrics that are repeated over and over. :) Last week it was "Tree Branches," sung while holding her hobby horse over her head and pretending it was a tree. She adores her baby dolls and has taken to borrowing my nursing cover so she can nurse Pinky (her current favorite baby, not to be confused with Favorite Baby, the name of another doll). Annie is working 12 piece jigsaw puzzles and is about ready for a 24 piece one. She can sort her Melissa and Doug stacking game perfectly now. She has been hosting a birthday party for Pinky every day this week. Pinky is turning five and she loves cake. Annie is learning to pray and is memorizing a Bible verse with me each week. Isaiah 9:6 is her current favorite, especially the last phrase: "Prince of Peace!" Parenting Annie certainly has its challenges--she is strong-willed and is at times openly defiant. I feel like we are finally turning the corner on some of that these past few weeks. It is exhausting to be consistent with her all the time! But I know it will all be worth it in the end.

Annie and JJ's First Camera Photos

Annie and JJ got V-tech cameras for Christmas. They adore them. I finally got around to looking at the photos they've been taking. Here are more than a few of my favorites.

the playroom


Annie's feet in her house slippers


JJ's Tigger


Mama


Annie's dolls


JJ's self portrait


Sophie!


JJ's Baby Blue


Annie's bed


JJ took this one of Annie


Mama's hand


Cake at Uncle Tyler and Aunt Kayla's wedding


Annie's self portrait


Sophie in the clouds


Modern art


More modern art


Daddy's hands