Babies

I've never really been filled with much doubt about God.

Faith has come so naturally to me. If it's written in Bible, I'll believe it without question.

It's a gift God has given me!

But there is not one thing on this earth that screams of God's fingerprint than babies.

Josiah @ 3 months

Pregnancy is a miracle! Being able to hold life inside of my belly is amazing. Knowing that in 9 months I will be holding a baby in my arms. Feeling them kick. Feeling them move. And seeing their face for the first time, makes me love my God even more!

And just knowing how complicated pregnancy is, and how many things have to line up JUST PERFECT in order for life to begin, is amazing.

How could life "just happen" without a amazing designer behind it?

Micah @ 6 months

Hearing my babies laugh for the first time. Holding their tiny fingers. Seeing their first smiles. Or hearing them say "Mama". Having them reach out to me for the first time. Taking their first steps. Kissing their soft cheeks. Smelling their necks and feeling like that's what Heaven will smell like.

These are the moments I know I serve a powerful, genius God.

Ella @ 6 months

And even as babies turn to toddlers; and then to kids makes me marvel at our Creator.

God is good!

I'm amazed when my babies say "I love you" out of their own will for the first time. When they begin to run. When they start to show signs of their humor. When they understand what it means to give and share. And even in their pain.

I see God in all of these moments.

I am so blessed to believe in a God who believes in LOVE.

He's given me these amazing gifts.

How could I not believe?!?

DIY Grandparents Board

I'm always trying to give my the kid's grandparents thrifty, yet meaningful gifts. I've given oodles of pictures, but it's never enough. Grandparents just LOVE their photos. So I thought this would be the greatest gift. Each year they can just swap out the pics!

It was pretty easy to put together.

So here's How To make your own GRANDPARENTS BOARD

#1: Buy an unfinished wood plaque.

I bought these at Hobby Lobby for $7.99 each

(with a 40% off coupon making it just under $5.00 each)

#2: Prime your board with a basic white primer paint.

#3: Paint your board using any paint color of your choice.

I used Ceramoat Black Cherry

#4: Paint unfinished wood letters.

I got these at Hobby Lobby. $.77 per pack of 4 letters.

(I wasn't feeling like stenciling out all the letters!)

I used Americana Acrylic Paint in Bleached Sand

I also painted my clothespins to match the letters.

#5: Nail in picture hooks to the backside of plaque so it can be hung.

#6: Lay out letters and clothespins and glue, glue, glue!

I used Titebond Original Wood Glue for this step.

Let dry and voila!

Your board is ready for the pics!

Christmas Break

Because my husband is a teacher, we all get a Christmas vacation. It's just one of the many perks of being married to a teacher. But what this means for me is that my schedule gets thrown completely off!

Our break has been awesome so far!

Here's a {brief} recap.

Christmas at my parents house.

All the cousins!

Gorgeous TuTu my sister Rach made for Ella!

Sisters!

The ADORABLE hat my sister-in-law made for Ella

Sledding on the hill by our home.

How lucky am I to live with those mountains out my front door?!?

All bundled up!

Kids being exhausted from playing with Daddy all day.

More fun in the snow, with forts and such.

Our early Christmas at home.

{Santa's Note He Left The Kids}

"Those are the best cookies ever"

Josiah's Superhero Costume I made.

I have been so blessed to have so much fun over break!

God is good.

Thankful for my family!

What I Love About....Santa Pics

Here's What I Love About....Santa Pictures.

Yes, I'm one of those Moms that tortures her children and makes them sit on Santa's lap and take a Christmas picture.

Every. Year.

I want one until they are too old to take one of themselves and must make their children take one.

I. Love. These.

So here's the pics from when Josiah was 3 months old to today. Enjoy!

{Cause I do!}

2007

He looks so lonely.

{Josiah at 3 months}

2009

Josiah wasn't loving Santa.

Micah was loving Santa.

Santa was NOT loving any of this.

{Josiah 2, Micah 10 months}

2010

I'm pretty sure this will be the best picture my boys ever take together.

Isn't this AMAZING?!?!

{Josiah 3, Micah 1}

2011

First attempt not so great. I know...lets do it again... : )

Our second attempt...much better. Less tears.

{Josiah 4, Micah 2, Ella 6 months}

What I Love About...Coffee Cup Cozy DIY

So this Monday I was feeling a little crafty and was not in the mood to make another hair clip!

So here's what I love about a DIY coffee cozy/sleeve!

It was so easy I thought I'd share how I did it.

Step 1: Trace the pattern of a coffee sleeve from onto a sheet of felt and cut out two separate pieces.

Step 2: Place the two pieces on top of each other and thread together. I used embroidery floss because it's a bit thicker and easier to see than thread.

Using this sort of threading pattern made it easy to pull the two pieces of felt together to give it a little "fluff". Just pull on the thread as you are stitching to pull it together.

Step 3: Tie a knot at in the corner to secure the two strands together.

Step 4: Trim off any part of the felt that doesn't match up perfectly.

Step 5: Cut out a tiny circle and a tiny rectangle in a different color and sew a button to the circle felt.

I use a tiny spool of thread to give me a perfect circle pattern.

Step 6: Hot glue a 1.5 in piece of elastic to the rectangle and glue to the inside of the cozy.

And you're done!

I just love these!

These are going to make a great teacher gift!