Valentine's Day Card For Kids

Elise's preschool class is having a Valentine's Day party on Tuesday. For her Valentine we went to our party favor stand by, Oriental Trading Co., and bought pop frogs and a roll of heart stickers. Filling clear plastic candy bags with the items, and then sealing them with a printed folded card and a staple we have a Valentine ready to hand out to her pals.

Here is the completed Valentine

"Hoppy Valentine's Day"

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Linking up here

Catching Up

Half way through the pregnancy and my how time has flown by! It's different with this pregnancy, but I guess that is no surprise as I did not have a four year old while pregnant with our first. Combine family life with work and things just got a little more hectic. Overall I am feeling good and enjoying the changes that are happening to our little family. Elise for one is so excited and seems to already love her little sis very much. Yes, you read right we are having another GIRL! I am thrilled, hubby is shocked but equally excited of course, and Elise is over the moon about having a little sis.

Backing up a bit...weeks back we went in for our anatomy screening to see how everything is developing with the baby and of course to find out who is in there! Days leading up to the big ultrasound I found myself referring to the baby as she or sissy. In fact when we went to the ultrasound appointment I said to the technician that I hoped we would be able to find out the gender as our first daughter did not show herself until two months before delivery. Right then and there I was thinking girl! The funny thing was in terms of names we had picked out a boys name, had no idea at all for a girls name, and I was drawn to all things little man for nursery ideas. After many minutes into the ultrasound the technician blurts out, it's a little girl! I swear I saw hubby's mouth drop open in shock and he began scrutinizing the image on the screen, searching for what surly was a boy. I on the other hand I could not stop smiling in total delight. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to have a little boy but I have always seen myself as being a mom to two little girls. After more routine measuring the technician checked again, just to please hubby I am sure, and there clear as day was our girl.

Next came the hard part, choosing a name for her. With our first I knew fairly quickly that I wanted to name her Elise. I had a slight obsession with the name due in part for my love of the movie First Wives Club (Goldie Hawn's Character's name was Elise). This time around however we were at a total loss for names! We opened up Pandora's box and invited friends and family to give us their best name ideas to try and get some kind of direction. We searched though baby name books and websites, tried on a few for size, but still nothing seemed totally right. Just when we thought we would sign the birth certificate with Baby as a first name, my fabulous Auntie Carol gives us her list. At the top of the list is the name Madison and it started to click that this is our little girls name. Next came the middle name and we went with a name that matches Elise's middle name Ellen, and chose Elaine. Both Ellen and Elaine are a form of Helen (my grandmothers name) and means shining light. We are happy to have a name for our little girl, Madison Elaine!

Now onto the nursery design!!! I am thinking along the lines of Palm Springs/Lilly Pullitzer.

Baby Makes Four!

We are expecting!

It's been a busy and exciting couple of months, and we are about to get even busier when this little one arrives!

Planning for our new addition has consisted of cleaning out the guest room/playroom and relocating all the toys and dolls. Elise seems very excited to be a big sister and has loving named the baby "Baby Beluga". I hope this is in no way an indication of the baby being the size of a whale!

I had forgotten how many doctor appointments have to be made and how much juggling there is with the good old work week. For me the balance between work and home is at times overwhelming, but I do the best I can and make sure the priority is on the most important. Also, I am brave enough to admit defeat and take time out when needed. This week for example has started with me being home sick. After battling this cold all last week, hosting Elise's 4th birthday party, and teaching Sunday school to 16 almost 4 year olds, I was down for the count and exhausted Sunday night.

We are slowing finding our way through the recent changes and the holidays are a welcome sign of relief, as vacation days are dwindling...

More to come on my ideas for the baby's nursery!

Have a great day!

Let's Dance Part Two

You may remember this post on our preparations for Elise's first dance class. Three classes later I can happliy report that it is going great! The school is fantastic and she loves every bit of ballet and tap.

One of her favorite parts is getting to have a bun in her hair.

FYI: Goody makes Blonde Bobby Pins!

All set to go with moms old dance bag. The bag is as big as she is, but she loves that it was my bag and now it's hers.

We are so proud of our little dancer! Great job sweetie!

Taste of Fall

Hubby met me for lunch today, and we made a quick trip to the local nursery/home decorating store. With temperatures in the triple digits (going on 20 days), and absolutely no rain in sight for months, we are so ready for Fall! Here is a little of what I captured on the trusty cell phone. Enjoy!

Soulful Sunday: Worship While Waiting

You know the moment in which all the focus on life being too hard is trumped by real perspective? Well, true to form, while reading Romans 8:22-25 perspective was delivered, especially verse 24-25.

"24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." 

 Click here for The Message translation.

What are we putting our hope in? Keeping up with the Joneses doesn't last, as there is always something to chase after. What will we be remember for? What will matter when all is said and done, What is eternal and everlasting?

⁴ Show me your ways, LORD,
   teach me your paths.
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are God my Savior,
   and my hope is in you all day long. 

Psalms 25:4-5

This verse is on a post-it inside my medicine cabinet door. It is a daily reminder of where my hope should be.

"I put my hope and my trust in you Jesus"

Let's Dance

Today was a milestone day, as we helped prepare our sweet girl for her very first ballet and tap class! I could hardly contain myself as we entered the dance shop, and Elise had a fabulous time. She loved trying on the shoes and leotards and is really looking forward to starting dance...Mommy is excited too!

Pinterest

So who is addicted to Pinterest? If you have not found your way over to this site, stop now and check it out! Basically Pinterest is a place to "pin" images found on the web to inspiration boards with a click of a button.

Much like a Lays potato chip, you can't pin just one!

Here is a link to my page if you want to see what all the fuss is about.

This is a little something that recently caught my eye

Source: urbanstylevibes.com via Opie on Pinterest

Happy Pinning!

Drab to Fab Spray Painted Frames

I have been hard at work on a few projects and finally had a minute to sit down long enough to save off the photos. Remember the dining room wall makeover? Well, I took down the brown mirror and replaced it with this!

The mirror was a hand-me-down piece that was just begging for a face lift!

While I was at it, another old empty frame we have had hanging above our bed, was in need of some TLC. 

  Eventually I would like to add a piece of printed burlap in the frame, but that is for another day. For now I much prefer the fresh white coat of paint on this old beauty.

Soulful Sunday: Art Appreciation

(Above image features my Grandma's quilt, which has found a home on my daughters bed) 

Lord,

Sometimes when I look

At my life

It seems like a homespun

Patch-work quilt...

Quaint, but not quite "together"!

There are bits and pieces of

Cloths and colors,

Scraps of material,

The days of my life...

When you began to put together

The days of my life

You must have know

Where each piece would go...

You've told me that I am

Fearfully and wonderfully

Made...

And I believe you, Lord,

I do!

I may not be a velvet tapestry,

But even crazy-quilts

Have purpose,

To give warmth and

Cozy comfort and

Color to a room!

Whatever I am, Lord,

You made me...

Lovingly,

Carefully,

Reverently,

And exactly right!

(Author: Joy Morgan Davis)

Psalm 139:14

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Mary Poppins Remix

For about a year, our sweet girl was obsessed with the Mary Poppins movie, and would want to watch it at least once a day. I very much enjoy the movie, but after the 365th time of watching it, it starts to get old. This remix gives a new sound to an old favorite.

Mini Turkey Meatballs

These mini Turkey meatballs are a huge hit at our house, and are so easy to make.

Click here for the full recipe.

Sunny Side Up Finds

1. A 2 Z
2. found here (can't remember where I first saw this image, but it seems to be a popular one)
3. C+S
4. decor pad (love the giant photo on the back wall!)
5. Lee Kleinhelter
6. found here (how cool is this?!)

Italian Quesadillas

Keeping up with our new family menu, next on the list is this fast and easy Italian take on the quesadilla.

Simple Ingredient list (click here for the full recipe)

• 4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 9 (8-inch-diameter) flour tortillas
• 3 cups shredded Fontina
• 3/4 cup jarred roasted red bell peppers, drained well and patted dry
• 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
• 1/3 cup freshly shredded Parmesan, plus 3 tablespoons for garnish