Luck of the Irish

There is just a little over a week left before St. Patrick's day and I'm excited! Weird, right? I've never really even thought about this holiday until I saw this:

Mmmmm, come to momma!

I've seen these on a few cooking websites, but the above picture is from Wee Kitchen. I have to make these cupcakes. I'm in love with them! I'm not sure eating only rainbow cupcakes is the best for my family, so I've been looking up some other things to make on St. Patrick's Day. Since my family would totally boycott any haggis or corned beef, I'm thinking we'll stick with shepherd's pie and I might try my hand at some soda bread.

** UPDATE! You can find a recipe along with a chart on which/how much food coloring to use here. **
Are you celebrating St. Patrick's Day? How are you making it special?

Project Simplify

Looking forward to this. Join me?

Hello March!

I have a few minutes before the kid's frozen pizza lunch is finished (nothing but the most nutritious food for my babies...) so I'm going to try and blog quick! Ready, steady, GO!

- I'm so glad it's March. I'm very ready for Spring!

Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.  - Lewis Grizzard

- Right now, Gracie is on her playmat grasping the rings with her left hand. This is a big deal! She doesn't like to use that hand.

- I put cloth training pants on Brenna this morning hoping speed along the potty training process. She soaked herself and could have cared less. Guess we'll still be in diapers a bit longer.

- I'm taking a cue from Flylady's habit for March and making it my goal to actually look presentable each day. No more being embarrassed when the Comcast guy randomly knocks on the door to let us know they are working in the area!  

- I took a 'break' yesterday and didn't do laundry, dishes or really pick up much. Now my house is a disaster and I have no idea where to start. How did it get this bad in ONE DAY?

On that note, perhaps I should take ANOTHER cue from Flylady and go shine my sink. Ugh, I need a maid.

In This Storm

My heart is breaking again. For Karlee, for Karie, for so many people hurting right now. I promise my posts will not always be depressing. I will not always be a Debbie Downer. But my heart aches and I feel like I'll burst if I don't express it. Please pray for comfort and peace for the families who are losing their little ones way too soon.

Five.

How am I old enough to have a five year old? It just doesn't seem possible.

But it IS possible and my little man is five today.

Riley at Five:

Super smart and soaks things up like a sponge. Hilarious. Loves dancing.

 Obsessed with trains of all kinds. Huge imagination.

Such a good big brother.

We're having a mini-celebration today at home.

 (Riley was disappointed there was snow on the ground because then he

"couldn't go outside to build his ferris wheel." Um, okay!) 

And a Mario and Toad Celebration Saturday with family (weather permitting!)

Happy Birthday Stinker!

I See A Miracle

She's growing, thriving. Kicking both legs, reaching with both arms, showing no signs of weakness on her left side. She can see the bird she's reaching for. She talks, smiles, laughs.

Five months ago we were told that she had a severe brain bleed. Facing surgery (for Grace and me), NICU, shunts, so many scary things.  Five months ago we were terrified that she wouldn't be 'normal'. Five months ago Jeff and I sat at Chick-Fil-A and cried because we didn't want something to be wrong with our unborn daughter.

And look at her now.

Some people see a baby, I see a miracle.

Saturday Shorts

Has it really been two weeks since I've posted anything? And it was a book review at that. Shameful. I think of writing often, but actually putting the fingers to the keys is a whole other story. Someone always needs fed, changed, played with, put to bed, etc. It's a busy season of life for me and I'm trying to embrace it. But it's not always easy! So here are a few things that I have been meaning to write about:

• My in-laws were coming to visit, so I hid a dirty mixing bowl in the oven to help give the illusion that we have a clean house. Later that day I went to make snickerdoodles for the family and completely melted the bowl when I pre-heated the oven. Now our house has that nice burnt plastic smell - but that's one less mixing bowl I'll have to wash!

• I bought a package of toilet paper the other day and it said that the 12 rolls I was buying was comparable to 48 regular rolls. What? Does anyone sell "regular" rolls anymore? Do you remember when Charmin came out with a roll so big they also had to sell an extension for your dispenser so it would fit? That's craziness. And what's up with toilet paper commercials? I have never had my finger break through the paper or felt paper left on my nether regions after wiping - but those bears make you believe that it's a common occurance. Bears are Liars.
• Why is it that just when I'm comfortable with my kids' wardrobe they grow? Brenna's belly is now starting to peek out from her 2T shirts and her coat sleeves are looking a little short. Gracie is so long that I've been able to dress her in 6-9 month sleepers lately. Stop growing already!
• Once we get our tax return, we are switching cell phone providers so that means I will say goodbye to my beloved iPhone. The move will be good, it will save us quite a bit monthly and help Jeff out - he gets terrible service at work with our current carrier, but I'll admit it will be bittersweet. I'm considering getting a phone just for talking and texting only, but we'll see.
• We also are planning on buying a new vacuum and cutting board soon. I'm super excited about these purchases - does that make me old? Or just boring? I suppose we should buy a new mixing bowl too...