Baby Shower Brunch

This weekend I threw a baby shower brunch for my good friend Keri. She is having her third baby....her third boy, so I thought I would throw a girly party for her and the baby.

I really love outdoor events and since the party was going to be in May I thought why not risk the rainy Kansas weather and plan an outdoor party. I was nervous about the weather. Rain was in the forecast up until a couple days before, but then the forecast chained to PERFECT weather. Honestly it couldn't have been more perfect.

The theme of the shower was shabby chic/ bird nature........enjoy!
I'll be sharing more in detail this week.

 More links:
Decor
Food

Lots and Lots and Lots!

Lots going on this week. We are having a garage sale starting tomorrow and I am giving a baby shower on Saturday. So I have been lacking in blogging....sorry!

I have been doing a lot of garage sale/antique shopping my self, here are some of my finds:

Last week.....or was it the week before? Not sure. We went to the zoo with our good friends, it was Alayna's first time and she loved it.


This past Sunday we went to Manhattan to celebrate baby Jack's baby dedication.
Sunday was also graduation Sunday, so we had about 8 people send us party invitations, so we were busy!
Taylor, the youth that I mentor graduated also. I wanted to do something extra special for her so I made her a verse box. I can't believe I didn't take a picture of it :( I stained a recipe box then printed off over 100 verses and glue them to cute card stock and added them to the box. I think it's something she'll use a lot.

Here's is the invitations I made for the shower this saturday:I'll probably have a few posts about it next week.

Oh and thank you mom for the cute clothes, they'll be prefect for the beach!

Mother's Day 2011

The Saturday before Mother's Day I requested going to the plaza. We did this last year and had so much fun, so I thought we'd go again. I am now going to make this a tradition.

It was a beautiful day. We ate outside at the Cheesecake Factory...
.yummmy!!!!

The kids did great and it couldn't have been better.
After we ate we shopped then headed back to Topeka for a graduation party. Great day!

On Mother's Day I woke up to breakfast in bed. Over-easy eggs, bacon and sourdough toast...yummy! We went to church, then we went out for a quick lunch then home for some swimming. It was Alayna's first time swimming.....ever! She loved it, but wanted in the "big kid" pool. Taylynn was there, I just didn't get a picture of her :(

It really was a great day!

10 months

Alayna you are 10 months today and the best baby in the world.

New things this month:
You CRAWL!!!! You can now get around all on your own, mommy is so proud of you.

You can also clap your hands.......along with your feet!

You eat people food and you love it!

You also say momma and it melts my heart.

You wear mostly size 12-18 month clothes but you do fit into some 18-24 months. You're my big girl!

You LOVE swinging outside, or just being outside. And you LOVE popsicles and ice cream.


You have two teeth and you show them off, I think you're proud of them.

You went to the zoo for the first time (other than last summer when you were itty bitty) and got really excited until you saw a flamingo.....yikes!

I think I can officially say.....you don't have curly hair :( One day you will probably be very pleased to not have the curls or the waves, but for mommy I think curls make little girls hair so much easier to fix. I have had a hard time doing Taylynn's hair since she lost her curls.

I am pretty sure you can say cracker and thank you, but I think I am the only one who understands it.

You went swimming for the first time (kinda) but you only wanted in the big kid pool. You are very much a water baby. Florida is going to be so much fun!

Your bad habit this month would be putting things in your mouth. Anything you find....Barbie shoe, paper, lint, money.....you put it in your mouth.

You really have changed a lot this month. And you've really started to grow up:( I can't believe in less than 5 months your going to be a big sister..........CRAZY!

You'll still be my baby and I'll love you just the same. I will always love you like crazy!

Mother's Day

Being a mom has been the most wonderful gift. It has changed me and made me into a better person. I am so thankful to have three beautiful children and one on the way. I never expected to be 28 and have 4 children 4 and under. Here's to life and God's wonderful, yet unexpected blessings!

I not only thank God for giving me the strength everyday to be a good mom, but I also thank the mom's in my life.

To my mom,
I am not sure how you did it, but you did! From what I remember growing up, you always seemed to be in control of the situation. I don't remember you mad or angry, unless you had a valid reason to be. You were always kind and loving. I remember you trying to teach us a lesson by using blocks. I don't remember what the lesson was, but I do remember thinking how smart you were for thinking of that :)

I am so thankful for you and I love you so much!

To my Grandma,
I wish I could have seen you as a young mom. I know you were a great mom, because you still are today. I am blessed to have such a close relationship with you, and all those summers I got to spend with you are unforgettable. Lindsey and I still talk about the fun we had.

I love hearing Taylynn and Preston talk about their GG and going to your house to visit. It reminds me of when I was their age and being so excited to visit you. I remember one visit, (I think it's one of my first memories at your house) we were about to head back home and you gave me a toy that looked like grapes, and smelled like grapes. I can still smell it today. In fact the other day I smelled it and it brought me back to that moment. I was sitting on the front porch swing when you gave it to me. I LOVED it!

So thank you for the little things like the grape toy and the big things like letting me bring my best friend to Louisiana with me. I have so many cherished memories because of you!
I love you!

My mother-in-law,

I didn't have you around when I was a child, but I know you were a GREAT mom because of Aaron. He could not be a better father, thank you for bringing him up to be such a great man.

Thank you for bringing me into your family as one of your own. I am proud to be the first daughter you had :)

You not only are a great mom, but a great Oma! Thank you for all you do, we love you so much!

My grandma-in-law,

Although we don't get to see you as often as we'd like, we want you to know how much we love you and miss you.

I am not sure how you raised five, but we're getting close to matching that number (no we're really going to be done at four). I know you are a great mom, thank you for raising a great daughter who raised my wonderful husband.

We love you, Happy Mother's Day!

Wow, I have been blessed by these four women and my four babies. Thank you Lord!

Show us your life- Fav. Vacation

In 2008 we won a trip from Regis and Kelly and they flew us to Antigua. To get the full story and a clip from the show you can go HERE

It was wonderful and beautiful. We spent 8 days there and did more relaxing then I will probably do in the next 3 years.

We went in June and it wasn't too hot or humid. I laid out everyday and soaked up some sun.

We stayed at the Veranda resort, which was really nice because it wasn't overly packed like Sandals and it was much quieter. I suggest it!

Catch Up Day

Life has taken a hold of me these past few days. I feel like we have some where to go everyday. (Its usually the Dr.) I'll be taking both Alayna and Preston to the ENT (Ear nose and throat) doctor on the 16th, so pray everything goes well for them. In the meantime Taylynn is healthy as can be.

Alayna is saying momma and crawling now. She has also really loved falling asleep in my arms......and I let her :) It usually happens on movie night; she has a harder time going to sleep so I'll get her and let her watch the movie with us. She'll typically fall right asleep.

I have my 17 week OBGYN appointment today, and we'll get to set the sonogram date!!! I am not sure how to share if we are having a boy or girl, but expect something!

Aaron is taking me to Kansas City for Mother's Day. We're going to spend the day at the plaza shopping and eating. I think this is going to become a tradition for us. This is Taylynn and I at the Cheesecake Factory last Mother's Day. I would have never guessed I'd be pregnant this Mother's Day too. Sometimes it feels like I never delivered in July, I think I just stayed pregnant.
Aaron has been busy working in our basement making shelves for all my stuff. I have LOTS of stuff! I think I could have my own party rental store. If you need something let me know, I've probably got it!

I have been busy planning a baby shower brunch, it's going to be beautiful! Lets hope the weather holds up.