Our baby girl turned one last Saturday, and we had a lovely Princess Party for her. I picked up some adorable 4×6 size quick pages, so I could scrap these pictures really quickly. (Read more about it over at digiscrapchat.com later today). Anyway, here are a few of the pictures from the day:

Credits – “Happily Ever After” digital scrapbook kit/brag book quick pages by Mary Fran (NitwitCollections.com) and Kay Miller (kaymillerdesigns.com).

Over at DigiScrapChat.com, it’s Thrifty Thursday – lots of great sales and specials going on in digi-world!

Yes, I know it’s a little late to be sharing hints for Easter, but I just heard this idea from my grandmother on Sunday, and I thought it would be a good one for WFMW. If you think it’s a good idea too, you can file it away for next year’s Easter Egg hunts.

So, next year, my husband and I are going to assign colors to each one of the kids. For instance, Samuel will hunt for blue and green eggs, lil Allan will hunt for yellow and orange, and Martha will hunt for purple and pink. This will help alleviate the issues with the age gaps (they will be 7, 4, and 2) and keep the boys from rushing to get all the eggs before Martha has a chance. It makes it a true HUNT, instead of an egg finding frenzy.

Now, if you have just a couple of kids with small age gaps, this may not be all that necessary, but my husband and I, we liked the idea and we think it will work for us.

What works for you? Be sure to post about it, and link up over at Shannon’s blog.

 

I’m going to write about my kids today (surprise, surprise). If you don’t want to read a post full of gushing and such, go ahead and move onto the next blog now.

Samuel turned six on March 1st. He gives us a lot to be thankful for, each and every day. He is a fabulous big brother to lil Allan and Martha. He likes to be buddy-buddy with lil Allan, and he is very protective and sweet to Martha. I often ask him to be my helper, and he almost always is HAPPY to be my helper (unless I ask him to help me when he’s busy with something really important like watching Scooby Doo or playing a computer game).

Samuel is enjoying Kindergarten this year, and we are enjoying watching him learn and grow. He comes home excited about school and his friends and his teacher. Since his birthday, he has been talking about first grade – somehow turning six and first grade go together in his mind. He definitely has his share of challenges with school (focus, focus, focus), and thankfully his teacher is working really hard with him and with us to get him through this first year. We’re delighted to be watching him learn to read, as well as progressing with his speech and fine motor skills issues.

Samuel’s curiosity, his passion, his imagination – these make him such a fun boy to have around. (These also create challenges for us sometimes, but we’ll focus on the FUN today). I am so thankful to be this boy’s Mama. I can’t wait to see what this year SIX brings.

And then there’s lil Allan. He is almost three, and lately the personality has been ramping up. It’s not like he didn’t already have personality coming out his pores… apparently that hasn’t been enough. We’re seeing more and more of his flair for the dramatic AND comedic these days. He has taken to acting out scenes from movies…flailing about, falling to the floor, tongue sticking out… panting like a dog… stomping around pretending to be the Iron Giant. It’s really better than TV most days.

Allan is also a really good big brother. Now that Martha is getting big enough to interact, they have been enjoying play times together. He is almost always gentle with her, except when he forgets that she is a baby SISTER. Of course, he’s had lessons from Samuel on how to be a big brother, so that accounts for a lot of his rambunctiousness, I’m sure.

Year Three is bound to have it’s difficult moments for Allan – he’s definitely pushing boundaries and testing his limits these days, but I know that more than anything this next year, we’ll all be able to find the laughter behind the frustrations, because that’s what lil Allan is all about.

And what is there to say about our Baby Girl? Martha is such a joy… except for when she’s unhappy. You’ve heard the saying, “if mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”? Well, around here it’s more like if MARTHA ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. The child has a temper and a loud cry/scream thing going on, well, it’s just a little frightening to think sometimes what the “terrible twos” or the teen years are going to look like. I keep praying (and saying) that I hope she’s getting it all out now. Thankfully, she has a laugh like no other, and she is just as willing (well, usually) to share it with us, as she is to yell at us.

Martha wants to walk. She wants to play with the boys. She wants to eat what we are eating and do what we are doing and go where we are going. She wants to be older than she is – and she is only ONE. (And apparently, if you ask her maternal grandmother, Martha gets this trait from her mother).

Martha is also as smart as they come. We are surprised reguarly with the way she plays with toys, with her attempts to communicate with both us and the boys. She already is playing head games with Mama, usually when I have a camera in my hand and want her to LOOK AT ME ALREADY. Yeah, she apparently isn’t interested in having her picture taken, and knows just how much this pushes my buttons. Smart girl… stubborn, smart girl…

Today, I am thankful for my children. I’m thankful for their strengths and for the weaknesses. I’m so glad to be their Mama, even on the really, really difficult days (and we have those occasionally!) I thought for a long time that I wouldn’t have children, and I sometimes just shake my head in amazement that I’m raising three (and of course I’m not doing it alone – hardly – but I’ll post about my wonderful husband another time). So yes today.. I’m thankful for my three kiddos.

What are YOU thankful for? Right a blog post about it, or post a comment over at Laura’s blog for Gratituesday!

Just an FYI – it’s my first “Giveaway Day” over at DigiScrapChat.com. If you are a digi-scrapper, or want to be, go check it out!

For the last week, we’ve had six extra people in our home for spring break.  (Have I mentioned that yet.. yes? Ok, then).  This morning at 7 a.m. they left to head back to California.  They have a long, probably not-so-fun day ahead of them, while we are left behind to grieve over their leaving.  (Well, my children are doing most of the grieving – I am just looking around my VERY QUIET HOUSE and trying to decide what I want to do first).

During the last week, there was LOTS and LOTS of fun being had, so I’m not sure I’m up for much more fun today.  My kids have been on overload, between the extra cousins, all the activities, Martha’s birthday party on Saturday, and a big Easter hoopla yesterday.  ALL three of my children fell asleep during worship services yesterday morning, so that tells you just how tired they (we) all are!

So, it’s a recycled idea, but we are having a PAJAMA day today, while Mama does loads of laundry and attempts to put things back where they belong. (There were lots of cooks in my kitchen this week!)

Oh yes, and Mama will also be making a big boatload of egg salad for sandwiches all week, since we have three dozen colored eggs in the fridge!  We have a ton of leftover ham and potato salad from yesterday, so dinner tonight is easy.  And of course, there is all the CANDY everywhere.  I’m sure we’ll have a LITTLE fun with that!

What are YOU doing for Monday Funday?  Be sure to visit Ann and tell her (and us) all about it!

Yes, I know it’s Saturday, but I usually do pics on Photo Friday, and yesterday was QUITE busy with the extra six people in my house and all…

So, did you know it’s Martha’s birthday? Today? She is ONE! Thought I’d share a couple of pictures to celebrate, and I’ll come back with more pictures after her Princess Party (or I’ll be back in a week or so, when I recouperate from the six extra people in my house… wait, did I mention that already, nevermind).

Ok, moving on…

Look at our baby girl, one year ago…

And today…this is the best I could do this morning, folks. The girl, she is on the move, and taking pictures is not her favorite thing. In fact, she has learned the art of NOT looking at the camera until steam comes out of Mama’s ears. It’s SO fun!

Sigh, the year went by SO fast. It’s been full of highs and lows, happy and sad, lots of joy and a few really tough days. And we honestly don’t know what we’d do without her. I’m so thankful to have this baby girl, there just aren’t words to describe it.

Now, if she could just get some HAIR already – life would be fabulous. So many bows and clips, so little hair…

Happy Photo Friday, everyone (on Saturday!)

It’s Thrifty Thursday over at DigiScrapChat.com. If you are a digi-scrapper (or want to be), it’s a good day to click on over. You’ll find lots of great deals and specials!