All Things Springy

Spring!  What a perfect word.  It just sounds so sprightly delightful.  For once, I agree with the inventor of the english word.  (so many words just don't 'fit' their definitions...like blog?  come on, we could have invented a better word for it than that!  how many of you truly enjoy calling yourself a "blogger"?  ugh.  completely without imagination.)  Anyways, back to Spring!  It is lovely this year.  I don't remember enjoying it half as much last year.  I am immersing myself in all things Easter because I am determined not to miss it!  I always have the best intentions when it comes to holiday decorations and craft projects, but those crazy holidays have a way of sneaking up on me (what?  you mean Christmas was in December again this year???)  So, we've been hunting easter eggs and talking about Jesus bringing new life.  Every day.  And Lil Man and I can't get enough of it.  I want to naturally dye our eggs this time and my Mother-in-law mentioned that this flower (below) will dye eggs a pretty yellow.  So, I'm going to give it a try and hopefully we'll find some other natural dyes...otherwise we'll have dozens of yellow eggs.

 I had to post a picture of these positively endearing little peeps I picked up at a thrift store for a nickel a piece. (cheap. cheap.)

O Wisdom, Where Art Thou

I still have the Bible that my church gave me as a gift for my eighth grade graduation.  I grew up on a ranch in the middle of nowhere  (no, really, you've never been to nowhere until you've been there!)  Our nearest neighbors lived a couple miles away and the nearest town (i.e. small village) was over 30 miles away.  Cattle outnumbered people 10 to 1.  We're talking r-e-m-o-t-e.

Wait, it gets even better.  We didn't have cable, or satellite, or even internet.  Shocking, I know.  I grew up completely out of the loop on Saved by the Bell and Fresh Prince of Bel Air.  Everyone I knew was watching 90210 and all we could catch was Bill Nye the Science Guy on the local station.  So, I had a choice.  Either become an avid reader or count cows in the pasture.  I became a bookworm.  I devoured every book I could get my hands on.  I even read the dictionary.  Well, ok, maybe I didn't really read it, but you get the picture.  Looking back on my life on the ranch, though, I wouldn't have changed a thing.  Because it was during that time that I developed a strong foundation in the Word of God.  I pored over the Bible.  I read it and re-read it.  I studied it, slept with it, wept with it, rejoiced with it.  I had such sweet times with my Jesus out there on in the middle of nowhere.  Life wasn't perfect on the ranch.  We had a lot of family issues, to put it very mildly.  But the family problems only drove me closer to Jesus.  He was my rock, my shelter from the storm.  I still have the Bible my church gave me for my eighth grade graduation and inside the cover I wrote this saying that I found:

"I want to master this Book so that the Master of this Book will Master me."

It was sweet to find that old Bible, to re-read my teen and pre-teen scribbles in the columns and the highlighted verses.   I'm so thankful that I will always have that foundation that I built in the Word.  I don't have hours to read like I used to.  I have more responsibilities and demands on my time.  Reading the Bible is now a luxury for me.  But I know what an important luxury it is!  

My spirit must be fed.  And if I don't feed it the Word of God it will starve.  

I meet starving Christians all the time.  I've been a starving Christian many times in my own life.  The bible talks about a famine in the land in the last days of hearing the word of the Lord. (Amos  8:11 )  I believe we are in that famine.  And when you're hungry, you'll eat anything.  False doctrines, worldly wisdom, and new age "spirituality" are springing up everywhere!  And many brothers and sisters in Christ are sinking their teeth into some dangerous lies.

We all desire wisdom...and the enemy of our souls knows this.  That is why Satan's first attempt to destroy Adam and Eve was very well calculated.  He used wisdom as the bait and we all know that they took it-- hook, line, and sinker.  They wanted to be like God.  And we are no different.  We want to understand things that only God will ever know and our pride wants the accolades of wisdom.  God wants to give us wisdom.  But it is a humble wisdom that He bestows on those who ask for it.  Christ was full of the wisdom of God and He "...being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing..." (Phil. 2: 5)   As Christians, we should imitate Christ and hold unswervingly to the message of the gospel as it is written in the God-inspired, living, Word of God.  

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:   "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"  I Cor. 1: 18-20

The gospel of Jesus is so simple.  So very simple.  God made it simple for a reason:  so that all may be saved and rescued by His Love.  The message of the cross is one of incredible sacrifice, unheard of love, undeserved mercy, and amazing grace.  The message of the cross is that  "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)  And that is the most important thing we will ever know or understand.

Misadventures in Mothering

Boss Man looking so innocent...and clean!

Thankfully, the twins are in separate cribs right now.  They shared a crib for only about four months and then they got too wiggly and I started to worry that they might kick each other in the head.  So, they each have their own crib and incidents like this morning's make me all the more thankful for that!!  When we went to get Boss Man out of his crib, we were met with quite a surprise!  He had pulled his diaper off and was playing in the poo. It was everywhere!  Luckily it wasn't in his mouth...YET!  Mothering is not for the faint of heart!

Rainy days and egg heads

It's been raining lately and we've all been a bit out of sorts...

but we're still crafty...

and made these lil egg heads.  We planted beans in them.  Afterwards Lil Man ran outside with the rest of the beans and buried them (I have no idea where, but will soon find out).

We named them of course.  Ed and Ted the Egg Heads.

Then we brought a muddy bike inside  (please, mom, the rain will ruin the engine)...

While Boss Man (Mr. Personality) managed to escape being dressed...

and eat paper. ^_^

And I failed at Spring Cleaning in the Spirit (see earlier post) today.  I've been partying a little too late (BLOG partying, folks!  sheesh ^_^)  I've just met so many amazing women and I can't wait to post links to the beautiful blogs I've discovered.  But, there is a balance and I didn't achieve it today.  I'm just so glad my God's mercies are new every morning!

My Jesus,  I can't wait to start over tomorrow, to put you first so that you can fill me with your joy, flood me with your peace and guide me with your Holy Spirit.  Thank you for your mercy and your unending patience with me.  I love you, my Jesus.  I can't wait for the morning.

Alphabet Crackers

We've been getting crafty at our house.  I'm always looking for more "hands on" learning activities and  I've found a definite winner--Alphabet Crackers!   We've done this one twice now.  I discovered it in the back of our Preschool Pencil-Pal Workbook (2008 School Zone Publishing Company) and my Lil Man loves to make these (and eat them!)

The Ingredients:

1/2 c. flour, 1/8 tsp. garlic salt, 2 T. sesame seeds (or flaxseed), 3 T. cold butter, and 2 T. ice water

The Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl and cut the cold butter into it.  Stir until crumbly then add ice water and mix into a ball.  Roll out pieces of the dough to form tubes about as wide as a pencil.  Create the letters of the alphabet and place them on a cookie sheet, flattening them slightly.  Bake for 15 min.  Let  'em cool and make names and words with the letters (quickly--before you eat them all!)  Have fun!

Praying for Stellan!

I just became aware of an urgent prayer request!  My prayers are with little Stellan and his family! For more information just click on the picture. You can grab this button and post it on your site as well--let's join together as the Family of God and pray, pray, pray!

Spiritual Spring Cleaning

I could post some inspiration for spring cleaning...

But it almost seems a sin to stay inside all day when the weather outside is so beautiful and downright springy! 

My house definitely needs some elbow grease and could use a very healthy dose of organizing, but it will have to wait.  Just a little bit longer.  Because my spirit is in need of some spring cleaning as well.  God is showing me just how important it is to let Him shine His light into every room of my soul and clean some things up!

Here's my Spiritual Spring Cleaning List:

1. Throw away some junk.

"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you."  James 1:21

It is so important in my relationship with Jesus to make sure I am serving Him out of a pure, undivided heart.  It is vital that I know the Word of God--what He stands for and what He does not.  The enemy of my heart has a very specific agenda and his opinions are being spouted everywhere and accepted as the "norm"  all too often.  It's easy to let the lines get blurred and start allowing ungodly attitudes, mindsets, and cultural beliefs to creep in.  They gotta go!

2.  Deodorize and Prioritize.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."  Matthew 6: 33

I smell something funny.  Oh!  It's me burning time and misplacing my priorities!

I get so busy and lose track of time very easily.  I say I'm going to read my Bible, but before I know it, half the day is gone and I haven't gotten my Word time in yet.  No wonder I start to crash--I really can't make it without God's spirit breathing life into me.  God's been whispering, "Put me first and I will sustain you."  I have to be intentional about my time with God and guard that time.  God comes first, my husband should be second, and then my children.  I have to be honest, the last couple weeks it's looked more like this:  my children, me, God, my husband.  That's gotta change--and quickly!  I've decided to make a little schedule that specifies what time each day I will spend reading my Bible and chatting with Jesus, and what time of the day I can get on the computer and for how long.  I've also made a list of my husband's favorite meals, and I've planned little surprises and notes to send with him to work.  I'm going to try extra hard to greet My Honey with a smile and a cheerful disposition when he comes home.

3.  Rest!

In the words of Jesus, "Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."  Matthew 11: 29-30

Living freely and lightly.  That's what spring looks like in the spirit.

Jesus and a boy

"Mommy, I see Jesus riding on the clouds."

My Lil Man sees Jesus everywhere.  And I love it.

"Mommy, Jesus must get wet when it rains.  Does He like to get wet?"

"Well, honey, I don't know.  Let's ask Him."

So we did.

"Mommy, Jesus likes to whisper, doesn't he?"

"Yes, the Holy Spirit is sometimes a still, small voice."

"So we have to listen."

"Yes, baby, we have to be quiet and listen."

I always want my children to know that they can ask Jesus anything.  And expect an answer!  

I think Jesus wants me to know the same thing.

Get Your Party On!

Are you ready to PAH-TY? (for all you moms--that is slang for party not potty!)

I'm gettin' my bloggin' groove on and gearing up to win some great prizes!

Yes, PRIZES i.e.  free loot!

Check it out and join the fun!  You don't have to be a blogger to win some great stuff.

Welcome to my place!  I'm a relatively new kid on the blog block.  I'm a stay-at-home mom of a preschooler and twins.  I fight evil laundry, eliminate boogers, rescue lost toys from the toilet, and save the world one day at a time. 

I get a kick out of meeting new people.

I love my Jesus, my hubby, my kids, the color of the sky, decorating and creme brulee ice cream.  Yum.

And about saving the world...this is a random picture my beautiful next door friend took yesterday of me and a globe.  Which is another story...

Here are the top three prizes I'm crossing my fingers to win in this year's Ultimate Blog Party:

* Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer by Moms Who Think  (value of $349.99!)

* Custom Blog Design by Sweet 'n Simple Design

* Handmade Retro Apron by Kati @ Country Girl, City Life, and BoojiBoo

These are some other great prizes I'll be keeping my eye on: INTL 23, US 21, 22, 23, 53, USC 32

Most of all, I'm looking forward to meeting you!  

Look Who's Walking!

~*~*~

   

   

I love it.  Astair and Boston are walking!  Boston is practically running (hence the blurry pictures above)!  My mommy heart is so proud of them, but there's a bittersweetness in this milestone as well, this graduation from babyhood to toddlerhood.  I'm reminded again how fast time flies when you're having kids!  I find myself rocking them a little longer, holding them a little tighter, breathing in their baby softness.   

It just seems natural for them to accomplish milestones together.  Astair crawled before Boston, but after watching her scoot around a lot faster than he was, it didn't take long for him to catch on.  This time Boston was the first one to walk, and of course Astair couldn't resist getting the loads of attention Boston was raking in with every step.  Their little hearts are so eager to please.  

I'm beginning to notice that the twins really do have a special bond.  They are always together.  They follow one another around everywhere and are so amused by the other's antics.  When I nurse them  (and I do nurse them simultaneously for the most part) they love to hold hands and poke each other in the face.  Astair usually wakes up a good bit before Boston but when she hears him start to rouse, she gets so excited and hustles her little self into their room.  She giggles and grins when she sees him.  But, alas, what would love be without war?  I play referee all day!  They always want what the other one has!  Never mind that they already have the exact same thing.

Mmmm....my babies are walking.  And they have such sweet little feet.

Potty Training?

Yes, I made it small for a reason!  I can't believe I'm posting this!  I can't even believe we took a PICTURE of this!  It's horrible, I know.  We are awful parents.

Puddle-di-doo

I never used to mind the rain. I grew up in a desert.  I remember the rain in the sandhills.  It was never rude like the rain down here in the boot.  It would always announce it's arrival with soft thunder and rolling clouds, giving you ample time to find a dry haven. 

 The rain in the sandhills was dancing rain.  The kind of rain that didn't drench you all at once, but made you want to get drenched.  

This southern rain is wet and rude and wears out its welcome. 

But it does leave some fantastic puddles!

My boys and the boat they made

From no limbs to no limits!!

There is a gate between our backyards.  

And we use it often.  It's really the most wonderful gate because it signifies the friendship we have with our neighbors.  No front door etiquette is required.  Back doors are reserved for those closest of friends.  I love it when my neighbor visits me--she always brings something beautiful to share.  A few days ago she came and brought the most amazing gift.  And I want to share it with you.  It's a story about a man named Nick Vujicic who has encountered unbelievable obstacles--but is more than a conqueror.  It's a story about finding hope that is an anchor for the soul.  It is the most beautiful story I have heard in a long time.  I wept when I saw this, but it didn't bring a sadness.  His story brings hope, healing, restoration, and joy.  His story will renew your faith or give you a reason to believe again.

The Beautiful Life

Everyone must be teething.  They must be.  What else could explain why my little darlings have been so cross.  I must be teething, too.  Or at least acting like I am!  My patience is feeling very worn, I must confess.  So, I did what I always do on days like these:  packed 'em all up in the triple dipper stroller and hit the streets!  The beauty of spring soothed my frayed emotions like nothing else can.  My neighborhood is lovely.  My Jesus even more so.

The majesty of live oaks...this one is right across the street from our house.

We walk this sidewalk every day--our little secret passageway...

My Jesus,

I love the way you love me.  I love your gentle, unassuming presence.  Your soft eyes and radiant touch.  There is nothing harsh about you.  You're like the dawn--bathing the world in the tender light of your love.  You are beauty.  Perfect, timeless, captivating.  You draw my soul out of the darkness and into living color.  Out of the rush, the weariness, the monotony and into a hushed awe.  You urge my heart to soar.  And you promise to be my refuge.  My Live Oak.  My secret garden.  My life.

I love you, my Jesus.

Bargain Decorating Files

I would have pursued interior design if I didn't do everything I could to avoid numbers.  I was told that I would have to use math and calculate numerical equations.  Ugghh.  I can't stand numbers.  They're so impersonal.  And snobbish.  Definitely snobbish.  Letters, however, make words and words are wonderful.  I LOVE words.  Words are my choice of design right now (and they are relatively inexpensive), but I still have to satisfy my decorating cravings every now and then.  And I prefer to do that for a bargain.  No bargain, no deal.  I've learned that you can have a beautiful home without breaking the budget!  I've decided to keep all my little bargain hunting design ideas together in one place and call them the Bargain Decorating Files.

The bargains in my dining room:  free antique table  (a woman was giving it away b/c there were stains on the top--hubby sanded it down and voila!), old chairs I bought at a used furniture store for $12 each (I painted them white b/c they needed it and hubby re-upholstered them with 1/2 price fabric), the curtains I bought from Anna's Linens at a great discount and hubby put them all up.  The best bargain?  The hubby!

Wordless Wednesday

"Uh-oh.  I think we've been caught!  Grab the forks and lets high tail it!"

Join Wordless Wednesday for more fun!

Green Thumbs and Parables

My mother-in-law makes my thumbs look green.  But they are decidedly pasty pink!  So pink, in fact, they kill aloe.  And aloe, I have been told, is very hard to kill.  Luckily for me, she knows this and she landscaped my yard for me and periodically rescues it.  I know.  I'm blessed to have such an amazing mother-in-law!  

My flower-bed makes me happy.  But I am so impatient when it comes to gardening.  "What?  You have to wait how long before the thing actually rewards you with a flower for all your hard work?  And then it dies?"  Give me a blank canvas, a boring wall, a shirt, a rug, a pillow, anything but dirt--and I can make it art.  Instant gratification is very motivating for me!  But sometimes the most important things in life have to be planted as seeds, watered continually, and even weeded.  Yes, we may even have to get our hands dirty!  Jesus, in the parable of the Sower, compared the message of the kingdom of heaven to seed.  

"...some fell along the path and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell in rocky places, where it did not have much soil..when the sun came up the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plant.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop..."  (Matthew 13: 3-9)

  I've read that before and it always sounded like chance to me-- you're just lucky if you're the "good soil", right?  But this is how Jesus explains what the parable means:

 "When anyone hears the message of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is the seed sown along the path.  The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  The one who receives the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it.  He produces a crop--yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown." (Matthew 13: 18-23)  

We decide which soil we are going to be.  My flower bed is beautiful, but if I would have used the dirt in my yard for the bed it would never have lasted this long.  In fact we not only had to buy many, many bags of top soil, we also had to rent a jack-hammer to break up slabs of cement that would have prevented the plants from establishing a strong root system!  We worded hard, I'm tellin' ya!  When we hear the message of Jesus, he expects us to cultivate it--to make sure the soil is good and deep.  And we do this by studying the word of God--the Bible.  The good soil is the man who "hears the word and understands it."  When we read the word of God and pray for understanding God promises to give it to us!  And then that seed begins to bloom and multiply over and over again...

Keepin' It Real Mondays

I Love my husband.

Yesterday I was waiting in a drive-through line  (for snowballs!)  and I decided to write a list of Everything I Love About My Husband.  I'm up to 100 and I'm nowhere near finished.  There are just so many things I love about this man.  Yes, he is wild, crazy, obnoxiously loud, and impossibly hilarious.  But he is also the most honest, genuine, compassionate, hard-working and generous man I've ever met.   His heart is five sizes too big.  He has taught me so much about loving people and about reaching them where they are, about proclaiming the message of Christ and never compromising the Truth, about obeying the Holy Spirit and always looking on the bright side.   And I really could go on and on, but I will get back to "the list" and the reason why this is a "keepin' it real" post!   You see, I was writing the list because I was angry.  I was upset with my dear husband and I knew I needed to start appreciating him more.  So, I needed to remind myself of all of his good qualities!  Well, it worked!  By the time I got to number 100, I was so in love with my husband I forgot why I had been angry in the first place! I am going to frame that list and refer to it often!

Haughte Hall

Remember my hall?  The one my honey painted neon red?  Well, I had a plan all along.  I've been collecting frames from thrift stores and discount racks for the past two years.  (Don't laugh--frames are expensive, folks!)  I painted them all black (if you buy the ones that are nicked at a discount all you have to do is color over the nicks with a black permanent marker) and I was just waiting for the perfect red hall to display them in.  I printed out black and white photos of the family and added a few interesting vintage ads from LIFE magazines I had found at flea markets. My goal is to completely cover the walls up to the ceilings for the maximum effect.  So far, I'm loving it.  Bye Bye Boring.  Hello Haughte Hall.

My Little Monkey

One little monkey dove off the bed...

and broke his clavicle.

Mommy cried and the little monkey said...

"Mommy, Jesus will heal my bobo.  Jesus takes care of us."

Love Like No Other

God has been pursuing my heart.

And I am chasing after His.

He's showing me what it means to dwell in Him.  And it has been an amazing journey.  I thought I knew God's love.  But there is so much MORE to His love than I will ever be able to comprehend here.  In a conversation I had with Him awhile back, He urged me to Let Him Love Me.  I didn't understand then what He meant.  But I asked Him to show me how.  And He's been revealing to me the limits of my understanding.  The places I've refused to trust Him with.  The areas of my life I thought were already settled.  The lies I've believed.  And He's flooded my heart with joy!  

"Through each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to the God who gives me life."  Psalm 42:8

Thank you, my Jesus, for your Love!  It changes me, strengthens me, empowers me to live and love for you!

If you need to feel His love anew today, get alone with Jesus and listen to His quiet whispers.

Let the words of this song "How He Loves" and the words of His Love Letter, the Bible, speak to the depths of your soul.  He's anxiously waiting.

Soakin' up some sun

MMMmmm....delightful.

It's been cold this week.  I mean, 60 degree weather is rough down here, folks. *wink*  We have to break out the sweaters and the closed-toe shoes and we don't venture outside unless we absolutely have to.  It's tough.  Feelin' sorry for me yet?  Well, today was a much welcomed relief from our "cold front".  I had decided last week that I was going to get on a strict house keeping schedule.  Mondays and Fridays were going to be my laundry days.  Well...it's Wednesday.  And my laundry still looked like a small mountain range... but I just had to get outside.  So, I took the laundry with me.  Great idea, huh?

That is, until a bird pooped on my nice, clean clothes!

(I would have inserted the picture here, but I decided against it, out of respect for my more delicate friends)  My wonderful neighbor walked in on me snapping pictures of bird doodoo on my linens.  Don't worry, she already knows I'm strange.  And we're still the best of friends.  We did a science project with the kiddos--we let them collect objects around the yard and filled a big bowl with water.  They had to guess which objects would float and which ones would sink.  Boston thought it was bath time!

Astair my dear

I love me some chil'ren

mine and the neighbor's

the neighbor's "dorothy wore converse" shoes!  can I get a pair?

you gotta love these ice cream scented bubbles...

and days like these

Answered Prayers

I have kept a prayer journal since I was 13.  

I never really got into the whole "diary" thing.  It just seemed a little pointless and monotonous to me at the time.  Now, in my oh so old age : ) , I have come to appreciate diaries for the memories they preserve, but....they are still boring.  Prayer journals, on the other hand, are never boring.  It's exciting to go back and read them and see how God has answered so many cries of my heart.  I could literally list hundreds of answered prayers.  God is just that good!  Whenever my faith gets a little shaky I just flip through one of those journals and start recounting all the times God has pulled through for me.  He's amazing.  He's made so many of my dreams come true.  And all I had to do was ask. 

 In the Bible we are told that we "have not because we ask not" (James 4:2).  There are things I have been reluctant to ask God for.  Or, to be honest, I have simply forgotten that I could ask God for them!  They didn't seem spiritual enough.  Sometimes they seemed silly.   Or too big.  Or too small.  But God has never thought so.  Nothing is too big or silly or too small of a request when it comes to our Daddy.

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"   Matthew 7:11

Keepin' It Real

I feel like I need to make some disclaimers about this little bloggity blog...

Being new to the whole blogosphere, I have been completely overwhelmed by the absolutely amazing domestic divas that exist out there in cyberville.  See, I'm even learning the blog slang.  Yikes! I can learn a lot from these super moms.  And I want to learn a lot from them--because I want to be the best wife, mommy and happy little homemaker I can be.  My first reaction to all this information, though, I just have to admit, has been condemnation.  But, thank you, Jesus, He didn't let me stay there long.  I've come to accept that I'm not perfect, that I NEED Jesus!  Yes, there are habits He wants me to change, lessons He wants me to learn, but I will never be able to accomplish anything of eternal value in my own strength.  I can't do it.  And I only exhaust myself and everyone around me when I try to!  Jesus in me is my only hope of glory!  (Col. 1:27)

Phew.  It feels good to say that!  I think one of the most important character traits to me is transparency.  So I'm going to start a series of posting titled "Keepin' it Real Mondays".  (If this is already a series, let me know so I can change the title)  Every monday I'll be posting a little confession...or two...maybe three?  Don't worry--nothing heavy!  Not too messy.  Just real and hopefully relevant.

Here it goes:

Confession No.1:  My closets are potential lawsuits.  I cleaned my house like a frantic woman for the twin's birthday, but I was growing short on time (the party was for 2 and I was still cleaning at 1!)  I remembered reading in a magazine that over 60% of house guests peek in the hostesses' closest.  I freaked out.  How was I going to get my closet organized in time?  I know what you're thinking--I should have worked on that weeks ahead of time.  And I really did try to--but with twins and a toddler "helping" me--it only got worse!  Then I thought of just taping a sign to the door:

"DANGER!  OPEN AT OWN RISK!  BEWARE OF FALLING OBJECTS!"

Or maybe this one would work better?

"EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY!"

Confession No. 2:  Ummm....should I even mention what's under my beds?

Twin's Birdday Party!

the "bird" day cakes

Although I did decorate them, I cannot take full credit for these cakes.  My talented and beautiful mother-in-law baked them.  Which is why they tasted even better than they looked! (And I was sick all night because I ate half the frosting I decorated them with!)  The twin's did not technically have a birthday this year.  They were born on Leap Day!  But we celebrated one anyway.  : )  It was all for the birds.  I hid easter eggs in the backyard and the kids had a blast hunting for the "mamma bird's lost eggs".  We had face painting for the older kids while the twins had a blast "cake painting"!  The pictures tell all.

The Beautiful Bird-day Girl

Sitting pretty

The Bubbly Bird-day Boy

Sportin' converse!  (kisses to the Aunties)

Big Brother Tiger (courtesy Orissa: face-painter extraordinaire)

It lasted all of two minutes!

My babies are one!  Is that a gray hair?!

"Oh yeah, baby"

"Cake Fight!"

"Umm, this is so messy.  Look, my fingers are dirty."

"Hmm...what does yours taste like?"

an ending and a beginning...