What A Hoot!

 An 8th birthday party for my daughter with an owl theme.  Her choice...so we brainstormed some ideas!

Owl Cake made by my cousin Brittany.  Tasted delicious and looked absolutely perfect!

 Kids attendance presents!  Thank you for attending Annabelle's 8th birthday :)

THE FOOD!  Also made a banner with pictures of her over the past 8 years.

Green Thumbs

 My amazing husband put this dream I had of a patio, in for me this spring, and I couldn't be happier.

Our first attempt at gardening is a success!!!  We will probably have to learn to can vegetables next because we will not be able to keep up with eating all of this.

 

We have obviously been busy and I have been out of the blogging business for a couple months.  I have always loved to plant flowers, but before now had never attempted vegetables!  We have an assortment of tomatoes, white sweet corn, zucchini, summer squash, green beans, peppers, strawberries, romaine lettuce, broccoli, and carrots.  WHEW and they all fit into our 2 raised garden beds.  With plenty of natural fertilizers, sun, and water...they are growing ENORMOUS.  Now we are going to have to research how to harvest each plant.  We have already had some delicious romaine, and almost all of our plants are already producing more vegetables.  

Our next adventure was a homemade composter for our yard...and is seeming to cause us more trouble than the garden itself.  We can't seem to get the perfect mix of greens and browns, although we are learning quickly.  Hopefully soon we will be buying a rain barrel for watering our garden!!!!

I absolutely love my backyard full of flowers and plants!  I just can't stop trying to be green and my husband is addicted to saving a dime :).  Together, we are unstoppable in the world of all things green...hopefully our neighbors don't mind.

Caramel Explosion

The messiest, stickiest mess I have ever had to clean up.  It wasn't the fact that it was messy or sticky that bothered me...it was the extent to which my son poured caramel syrup all over my house.  The square footage of the disaster was incredibly shocking at 6am.  I got up to step in sticky carpet throughout our master bedroom, the hallway that leads to the kitchen, covering the kitchen floor, on the walls, and all over my master bath WHITE bath mats.  SO instead of getting ready for work...I was washing walls and mopping floors (twice)...and they need done again.  The day didn't get much better when I went to work.  Although, it brought me back into perspective.  Just like every day, I realize how blessed I am with such a healthy, happy family.  It could be a lot worse than a 2 year old making messes.  My only regret now is that I didn't get pictures :).  Nothing a peach mango margarita can't cure! 

Be Mine, Valentine

I am not the only mom that knows about great ideas and crafty projects to do with your kids.  I am also probably not the only one who gets a free parenting magazine and tears out the super cute projects to do on another day, as they sit in a pile or basket until they are considered trash.  The sweet little character cupcakes, holiday decorations, and Valentines cards that are not only fun to make...but make you feel like Martha Stewart in training. This time...I really did it.  Unfortunately, I had thrown out any cute project ideas...so I totally just made something up.  We painted paper, cut out hearts...put them on wooden sticks with glue and stuck them in a big red bowl of dirt for a centerpiece...hahahaha.  I know...sounds really great doesn't it????  Now my son thinks he can play with dirt at the kitchen table. 

Last night we made up for the dirty Valentine by having some other kids over to make heart shaped pizzas and sugar cookies.  They actually turned out adorable and tasty....maybe Martha is channeling her fabulousness through me after all?  Until next time...I am going with YES!

The Bathroom Sanctuary

I saw an Oprah episode about finding peace and living a "happy" life.  As I am watching, I KNOW that I have a very happy life in my own opinion.  Then the idea of having peace and quiet comes up.  Ah-ha!  Something I have absolutely NONE of.  Then they said just try to take one minute...in the bathroom if you need to, for meditation.  WOW, I thought...I can do this.

Now, I know that all mom's can relate to this one.  I am going crazy with laundry, homework, and kids screaming at each other and I decide to escape....where?  Meditation.  To the only place, the bathroom.  Of course, the little train I call my children follow within 15 seconds.  Do they start yelling MOMMY!!!!???? Yes.  Do they knock? Yes.  Do they open the door and barge in? Yes.  Do they ACTUALLY try to climb on me when I am pretending to go to the bathroom?  Yes.  Meditation FAILED. 

Snow Day

As I write this, my 2 year old is climbing on my head with no underwear on screaming POTTY, for the 10th time this hour and my daughter is talking-talking-talking and I am wondering if anything she just asked me registered in my tired brain.

I decided to start blogging my truths of motherhood, because maybe it will be a venting spot for me.  I am pretty sure nobody will take the time to read these honest posts.  Facebook is my usual place of posting updates, but I realized, that only gives a snapshot or an often dishonest, quick picture of my day.  I muster up the energy to say the most positive piece of information as to encourage myself that I DO rock at juggling all of this....but lets face it, I don't...but what mom is perfect?