i'll admit its cute...here you go
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Mon Petit
Happy Halloween! I guess I can do one more...here's a box for treats...print it out on cardstock paper and cut out and fold.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Mon Petit
I hate halloween. There I said it. I'm sure as my kids grow up I'll start to enjoy it more...but for now, I hate it. Despise it really. Mailey got scared looking through my Martha Stewart Halloween issue for crying out loud. Sigh. What is with the increasing gore and death themes? Blech.
So here's my one and only Halloween contribution. And its labeled helloween. get it? hello...ha.
Super cute broom cookies...yes I'll admit it...
So here's my one and only Halloween contribution. And its labeled helloween. get it? hello...ha.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Be still my heart...
Right now, as I type, Ileana Angeline Libemday is navigating her way through a very thought out, very incredible scavenger hunt...a hunt that will lead her through all the special memories her and Joff have had together...a hunt that will ultimately lead her to a little wooded bridge...strung with lights...and a very nervous young man..on one knee..with a gorgeous ring...just waiting to hear one word. Yes.
I am dying here in Chico. I would give anything to be in McMinnville right now. Ack!!!!! Can't wait to see pictures and CANT WAIT for that phone call in about one hour when she is a soon-to-be bride screaming her excitement to her older sister..who is already almost in tears...I love you Illy soon to be Harnett...
I am dying here in Chico. I would give anything to be in McMinnville right now. Ack!!!!! Can't wait to see pictures and CANT WAIT for that phone call in about one hour when she is a soon-to-be bride screaming her excitement to her older sister..who is already almost in tears...I love you Illy soon to be Harnett...
It was one of THOSE days...
Do you ever have one those psycho, mama has gone off the deep end, children you better run for your lives, type of moments?
I had one of those yesterday.
We live in a modest three bedroom apartment. I love it. But its an apartment, which means all of our storage is whatever we can stuff in the closets. And I am a hardcore, anti-clutter freak, I really really can't function in chaos. My friend Anne (of alamo fame) once made the comment, that she thrives in chaos. I envy her. I do. Because I really, really really reallllllly DON'T! Its an issue.
Anyways, I don't really like my kids having load of toys because I hate the mess they make, and if you're like me, you end up just tossing everything in big heaps back into the toy box most days, because you don't feel like sorting and re-organizing for upteenth time. But they do have a fair amount of toys, and mostly the mess is their toy kitchen. Their kitchen is one of my favorite things they have ever received; its all wood, pink and very retro...and a couple months ago I got a ton of wood food and appliances for super duper cheap. So its a great toy. But lots of parts.
About two weeks ago, I painstakingly organized all the parts and put them in labeled ziploc bags. And the kids were given strict orders, that if they did not return each part back to the bag it came from...well...a monster might steal their soul while they sleep. just kidding. I didn't say that. Almost though.
Yesterday afternoon, right before nap time, I finally got Reagan to stop screaming, and biting, and headbanging (I kid you not, she does all of that when she is fighting her sleep) and take a freaking nap. I went to go tell Mailey and Emry to do the same...and found that somehow a bomb had gone off in their room, tossing every single toy and clothing article from the closet onto their floor along with all of reagans socks and shoes.
I lost my mind.
I stood their like a crazy person, eyes bugged out and teeth clenched while my monsters..er children...stood smiling nervously from the corner wondering what was happening to their mother.
I seriously contemplated scooping up every single thing on the floor and throwing into the dump right then and there, in fact I think I may have threatened it. But instead, I told them I was throwing away everything that looked like junk and that I didn't like, because if this is how they were going to treat their stuff, well, I'm sure there's a giant trash can who would love to eat it all.
I told you, I went off the deep end.
So I hurled around their room like a nut case...I dumped every single toy into a pile in the middle and separated them into four categories...big items worth keeping for the bucket, stuffed animals worth keeping for the white crate, kitchen stuff worth keeping for the magenta crate, and other stuff worth saving for the green one. Everything else? trash.
Mailey stood morosely in the doorway saying sad goodbyes to whatever was tossed in the trash bag, she would sigh and tilt her head and mournfully say "goodbye ugly kitty my mommy hates"..I almost laughed. almost.
Emry got in on the action and started picking up whatever she could grab and bring it over all excited and be like "THROW THIS AWAY MOM! AND THIS! AND THIS!"...it was hilarious.
Mailey finally piped up through her toy funeral fog, and said "Mom, you're acting crazy".
I seriously was in a fervor by now...because I just wanted these darn kids asleep...I never get all three asleep at the same time...and I was desperate to make it happen...but this little comment stopped me in my tracks..I started cracking up and we all agreed, mama was acting like a crack head. So, toys were put away nicely, a giant stuffed trash bag was fed to the hungry hungry dumpster, and the children were sent off to nap or else I would really throw everything away.
Here's the after shock. ha ha. clean room, three sleeping beauties...and one mother who had a moment of startling insanity and enjoyed the results...I'll have to have meltdowns more often.
just kidding.
The room from the door...ah sweet emptyness..how I love you.
Mailey sleeping on my bed...or else her and Emry talk and talk me into another crazy meltdown.
Emry Adysson...my best little napper EVER!
I had one of those yesterday.
We live in a modest three bedroom apartment. I love it. But its an apartment, which means all of our storage is whatever we can stuff in the closets. And I am a hardcore, anti-clutter freak, I really really can't function in chaos. My friend Anne (of alamo fame) once made the comment, that she thrives in chaos. I envy her. I do. Because I really, really really reallllllly DON'T! Its an issue.
Anyways, I don't really like my kids having load of toys because I hate the mess they make, and if you're like me, you end up just tossing everything in big heaps back into the toy box most days, because you don't feel like sorting and re-organizing for upteenth time. But they do have a fair amount of toys, and mostly the mess is their toy kitchen. Their kitchen is one of my favorite things they have ever received; its all wood, pink and very retro...and a couple months ago I got a ton of wood food and appliances for super duper cheap. So its a great toy. But lots of parts.
About two weeks ago, I painstakingly organized all the parts and put them in labeled ziploc bags. And the kids were given strict orders, that if they did not return each part back to the bag it came from...well...a monster might steal their soul while they sleep. just kidding. I didn't say that. Almost though.
Yesterday afternoon, right before nap time, I finally got Reagan to stop screaming, and biting, and headbanging (I kid you not, she does all of that when she is fighting her sleep) and take a freaking nap. I went to go tell Mailey and Emry to do the same...and found that somehow a bomb had gone off in their room, tossing every single toy and clothing article from the closet onto their floor along with all of reagans socks and shoes.
I lost my mind.
I stood their like a crazy person, eyes bugged out and teeth clenched while my monsters..er children...stood smiling nervously from the corner wondering what was happening to their mother.
I seriously contemplated scooping up every single thing on the floor and throwing into the dump right then and there, in fact I think I may have threatened it. But instead, I told them I was throwing away everything that looked like junk and that I didn't like, because if this is how they were going to treat their stuff, well, I'm sure there's a giant trash can who would love to eat it all.
I told you, I went off the deep end.
So I hurled around their room like a nut case...I dumped every single toy into a pile in the middle and separated them into four categories...big items worth keeping for the bucket, stuffed animals worth keeping for the white crate, kitchen stuff worth keeping for the magenta crate, and other stuff worth saving for the green one. Everything else? trash.
Mailey stood morosely in the doorway saying sad goodbyes to whatever was tossed in the trash bag, she would sigh and tilt her head and mournfully say "goodbye ugly kitty my mommy hates"..I almost laughed. almost.
Emry got in on the action and started picking up whatever she could grab and bring it over all excited and be like "THROW THIS AWAY MOM! AND THIS! AND THIS!"...it was hilarious.
Mailey finally piped up through her toy funeral fog, and said "Mom, you're acting crazy".
I seriously was in a fervor by now...because I just wanted these darn kids asleep...I never get all three asleep at the same time...and I was desperate to make it happen...but this little comment stopped me in my tracks..I started cracking up and we all agreed, mama was acting like a crack head. So, toys were put away nicely, a giant stuffed trash bag was fed to the hungry hungry dumpster, and the children were sent off to nap or else I would really throw everything away.
Here's the after shock. ha ha. clean room, three sleeping beauties...and one mother who had a moment of startling insanity and enjoyed the results...I'll have to have meltdowns more often.
just kidding.
The toy tote (still so messy, but alas..)
The room from the door...ah sweet emptyness..how I love you.
Mailey sleeping on my bed...or else her and Emry talk and talk me into another crazy meltdown.
The reaganizer...don't let this picture fool you..this blissful nap lasted...ten minues. sigh.
Emry Adysson...my best little napper EVER!
The magic crates that saved all the toys from oblivion. Thank you target for being cheap. And for having great taste in products. My children thank you.
The end.
Mon Petit...
Okay. Mon petit it is...my little...todays has a very special memory attached to it...When I was growing up, I had this journal, and I would write to my mum about all my little troubles and thoughts, and she would write me back. I loved it so much, I really really loved it. I had an incredible mother who would listen and not force me to be exactly what she wanted, but she let me know my boundaries, she would sit back and let me dress like a nerd put make-up on like a clown, foof my hair like an absolute geek...and never make me feel dumb or ugly (although I think she may have tried to convince me on a few occasions that perhaps having a very orange face wasn't as cool as I maybe thought ) She would let me be me and one of the things I loved most was that little journal writing we did...a couple years ago I found my journal, and I had to laugh at the stupid, petty little things that were bothering my young self, and what I loved more, was that John was in there. I was mad at him, but to be sure, it was feigned, because I've had a mad crush on that boy since I was six...but I was journaling to my mum even way back in middle school about this cute mean boy who loved to antagonize me. This mailbox tutorial made me think of that...I want to make one for each girl, and when they can, I want them to leave me letters, and I'll reply...and I'll save all those letters in special boxes, so when they're all grown up they read back through them, and cry and smile and know their mama loved them so much.
Fabric Mailbox tutorial
Fabric Mailbox tutorial
Thursday, October 28, 2010
The daily
I've never had the starbucks constantine, but it sounded and looked so good I'm going to!! are you?!?
(courtesty of howaboutorange.blogspot.com)
Here's another iced coffee recipe for ya. If you're a coffee drinker and you like chai, you'll probably like this. If you don't like chai, you probably won't.
2/3 cup ground dark roast coffee
4 cinnamon sticks, crushed or broken into small pieces
6 cups water
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom (a tiny bit too much, in my opinion)
2/3 cup honey
ice cubes
half-and-half or milk
Mix together the coffee and cinnamon sticks. Using the coffee-cinnamon mixture and the water, brew coffee by your customary brewing method. Add the cardamom and honey to the hot coffee and stir until the honey dissolves. Cover and chill. To serve, fill tall glasses with ice cubes. Pour about 2/3 cup chilled coffee into each glass. Pass the milk. Serves 8.
Recipe from coffeefair.com
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Que the Mailey Monster!!
Okay Mai Mai...here's your photos!! Tomorrows post will be all the rest..but today is just for my darling little first born. The tender hearted Mailey monster. She really is such a tender, intense, dramatic, heartfelt little wonder. Mailey has this sensitive heart that seriously empathizes with everyone..literally. I don't think I've ever had her just tell me no and be obstinate about it...Emry, yes. Mailey no. She has such a sweet passivity to her that really melts me. She is such an incredible help to me at only four years old, and such a great older sister to Emry and Reagan...She wakes up so excited to see her sisters and loves, actually BEGS, to help me. I love you Maizey Mai...She had a bit of a pre-nap breakdown in mendocino and so never got to see the incredible lighthouse, she keeps asking everyday to go back...my tired little mailey bug, you need your naps love, you can't outgrow them yet!!!
She loved mendocino, I think she was more heartbroken than I to leave! Here she is!!!
classic mailey smile..what is WITH these kids?!
One of my all time favorites..
Can you tell she's grossed out? hahaha
Collecting sea glass with nana...
And thats a wrap!!!
She loved mendocino, I think she was more heartbroken than I to leave! Here she is!!!
classic mailey smile..what is WITH these kids?!
One of my all time favorites..
Can you tell she's grossed out? hahaha
Collecting sea glass with nana...
And thats a wrap!!!
The daily
Twirly girl knotty jumper and leggings
okay..this is waaaay too cute..I can't wait to make it...someday when I stop looking up fun tutorials and actually make something...cough cough...
okay..this is waaaay too cute..I can't wait to make it...someday when I stop looking up fun tutorials and actually make something...cough cough...
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Emry Addyson in Mendocino...
Mendocino was like therapy for my soul...there was something so magical and peaceful about the very still quiet of the redwoods where we stayed. There were no highways bustling with traffic, no people hurrying about, no city noises...just the wind and the rain (boy did it storm that last day!) and the smell...I can't get over that woodsy, grassy, smell...it was like breathing in pure peace. Emry is my quiet, silly, raspy voiced little brainchild. This kid is SMART! And there's such a deep concentration in her when she's trying to learn...it was so sweet to see her observing the woods and the deer...her little self traipsing through green grass and picking up sticks...playing with sand and finding sea glass on the beach for daddy...so sweet...here's her pictures.
As you can see, trying to get this child to smile nicely...well...it doesn't really happen. In fact, when she was at the fence and I asked her to smile for a picture, she literally rolled her eyes and let out a big drawn out, Mo o o o o ommm.....yes, just like a teenager. Ha. however, it really does capture her little silly personality. I love you Emmy...you make me smile so much, you have stolen my heart completely...someday you'll smile little wild thing...someday.
As you can see, trying to get this child to smile nicely...well...it doesn't really happen. In fact, when she was at the fence and I asked her to smile for a picture, she literally rolled her eyes and let out a big drawn out, Mo o o o o ommm.....yes, just like a teenager. Ha. however, it really does capture her little silly personality. I love you Emmy...you make me smile so much, you have stolen my heart completely...someday you'll smile little wild thing...someday.
Mon petit chou
TURN YOUR HANDWRITING INTO A FONT!!!! WHOOP WHOOP!!!!
Do it HERE!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Lets try something fun...Monday To Do's...
I like to download these journal pages from "Grace is overrated" whenever I think of it...just to get some clarity and organization in my head in a fun way...here's mine from today...
(p.s. if you click on the photo it'll blow it up to page size so you can read it easier)
You can download the same page HERE...try it! Its fun! post yours so I can see!!
pleeeeeeeaseee????(p.s. if you click on the photo it'll blow it up to page size so you can read it easier)
Mon petit chou
Lemon pound cake
YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS!!!!!! Sooo tart and lemony and moist and marvelous...mmm....
YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS!!!!!! Sooo tart and lemony and moist and marvelous...mmm....
Ultimate Pound Cake, adapted from Lori Longbotham:
Serves 12 (in theory)
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
2 1/4 cups sugar
6 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 1/2 TB lemon zest
1 tsp. pure lemon extract
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
Preheat oven to 300F. Butter and flour a 12 cup Bundt pan.
Sift the flour, baking owder and salt together twice.
Cream the butter and 1 3/4 cups sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce the speed and add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flou. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon extract.
Pour the batter into the prepared apn and bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Poke holes all over the cake with a wooden skewer
Meanwhile, bring the lemon juice and remaininf sugar to a boil over medium high heat in a small saucepan, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
Invert the cake onto a rack, position over a baking sheet and slowly pour the syrup over the cake, it will seap through the holes and into the cake. Let cool to room temp.
Serves 12 (in theory)
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
2 1/4 cups sugar
6 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 1/2 TB lemon zest
1 tsp. pure lemon extract
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
Preheat oven to 300F. Butter and flour a 12 cup Bundt pan.
Sift the flour, baking owder and salt together twice.
Cream the butter and 1 3/4 cups sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce the speed and add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flou. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon extract.
Pour the batter into the prepared apn and bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Poke holes all over the cake with a wooden skewer
Meanwhile, bring the lemon juice and remaininf sugar to a boil over medium high heat in a small saucepan, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
Invert the cake onto a rack, position over a baking sheet and slowly pour the syrup over the cake, it will seap through the holes and into the cake. Let cool to room temp.
Mendocino...
Since we have begun our endeavor into Chico, our family has not taken a break. We've gone to parks and out to eat, but we have not collectively left town and just relaxed like normal Americans. This year has been a great study in humanity and my own weakness...I have been stretched and tugged and shaped into something that is beginning to look like a woman of God. Slowly, I am learning how to be the mother and wife I was destined to be...but it has been a heart breaking, often confusing, sometimes bitter experience...there are no mountains without valleys. And the valleys have almost broken my spirit, have made me cry with exhaustion, and my heart has had to be checked so much. But boy...God is doing a work in this girl.
But I needed some time away. We all did. John's been working 12 hour days, and then pastoring. I've been mothering three small children, mostly alone. And we were starting to lose heart...then, (que the trumpeting, royalty has arrived, music) my parents booked a cabin in Mendocino and whisked us away to spend some time away from work and toil, and to just chiiii iii iiii lll llll.
My dad found this incredible little haven...called Antioch Ranch. It was founded by a couple in the early sixties as a place to bring the gospel to the hoards of hippies...literally, one time they had 700 hippies flood the ranch and Jerry preached and saw multitudes saved. The story is incredible. But the owners were on vacation and so some friends of theirs were standing in. They turned out to be one of the most intensely, radically saved, born again, Jesus was in their every word, type of couple. I have never been so touched. I want to save their story for another post, because it deserves it.
Antioch ranch was the most incredible blessing. No TV's, no radio's, no internet. Just this darling rustic cabin, beautiful woods, and Jesus. Mendocino, the little town close by, was breathtaking...a place where American colonists pioneered, and ships on their way to spain wrecked...the town is full of history and rich with character. Here are the pictures of our babies enjoying this beach town...and us..falling in love with God's green earth...
Thank you Mom and Dad. I felt like I let out the air I didn't realize I'd been holding. How did you know we needed this so badly? Truly...you blessed us so much. Thank you.
Lets start with Reagan's pictures...don't you love these ones with papa? oh he's so good with them..it kills me.
sleepy little reagan..hung with papa the whole time
mmm...this one steals my heart 
I'm in love with these cheeks!!!
My absolute favorite! smiling at daddy...
Standing at the fence watching her sisters play..soon baby girl...soon you'll be toddling around after them...
But I needed some time away. We all did. John's been working 12 hour days, and then pastoring. I've been mothering three small children, mostly alone. And we were starting to lose heart...then, (que the trumpeting, royalty has arrived, music) my parents booked a cabin in Mendocino and whisked us away to spend some time away from work and toil, and to just chiiii iii iiii lll llll.
My dad found this incredible little haven...called Antioch Ranch. It was founded by a couple in the early sixties as a place to bring the gospel to the hoards of hippies...literally, one time they had 700 hippies flood the ranch and Jerry preached and saw multitudes saved. The story is incredible. But the owners were on vacation and so some friends of theirs were standing in. They turned out to be one of the most intensely, radically saved, born again, Jesus was in their every word, type of couple. I have never been so touched. I want to save their story for another post, because it deserves it.
Antioch ranch was the most incredible blessing. No TV's, no radio's, no internet. Just this darling rustic cabin, beautiful woods, and Jesus. Mendocino, the little town close by, was breathtaking...a place where American colonists pioneered, and ships on their way to spain wrecked...the town is full of history and rich with character. Here are the pictures of our babies enjoying this beach town...and us..falling in love with God's green earth...
Thank you Mom and Dad. I felt like I let out the air I didn't realize I'd been holding. How did you know we needed this so badly? Truly...you blessed us so much. Thank you.
Lets start with Reagan's pictures...don't you love these ones with papa? oh he's so good with them..it kills me.
sleepy little reagan..hung with papa the whole time
mmm...this one steals my heart 
I'm in love with these cheeks!!!
My absolute favorite! smiling at daddy...
Standing at the fence watching her sisters play..soon baby girl...soon you'll be toddling around after them...Tune in for tomorrows post, featuring Emry!!!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
MENDOCINO BABY!!!
My parents...what would I do without them? They took John and I and our lovely wild things to Mendocino this weekend. We spent two and half days in wooded, beautiful, oceanic bliss...Our first vacation since we moved here...our first time doing something just for fun and boy, was it needed....Will post more later but here are a few pics from the trip...
Mon petit chou
This picture isn't from the actual blog, because she disabled the right click function. But Go visit it HERE! its incredibly crafty and will make you want to go out and make one right away!!!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Mon petit chou
CLOTHESPIN CHORE CHART
I think this would be so fun to paint a picture framed piece of cardboard in chalkboard paint then add velcro to the board and to the backs of the pins...but check out the tutorial its really simple!!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Mon petit chou
How fun would this be to put in party bags? I mean, who doesn't love a bath bomb?! And one with a toy inside? We got ourselves a bona fide winner folks. This totally takes the coolest party favor in town award. Except there's not a party....yet. :)
BATH BOMB SURPRISE!!
BATH BOMB SURPRISE!!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Mon petit chou
Sunflower tail notecard and envelope download!!
Just click on the link below for the card and envelope pdf
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Mon petit chou
The butter pen...I kid you not. This invention is the awesomest thing around. Lacy, we're totally making this when I come to town...however...I'm getting new unused deodorant containers..I'm not sure I'm down with recycling the armpit perfume holder, to butter my toast, or greasing my cupcake pan, ...but holy moly, tell me this isn't pure GENIUS!!!!
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