......Purple & Polka Dots, Pink & Stripes, Red Balloons & Orange Skittles....

A fun time was had by all.....4 little girls, cake, pink raspberry ice cream, purple Kool-aid, gumdrops, pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs, pink and glittery presents...what's not to like?!

(the big polka dots on the window are coffee filters that we colored with marker and sprayed with water so that once they dry, they are flat and stained-glass-like)

The cake......they never turn out how they are supposed to at our house!! My friend, Betty, made the most delicious coconut sour cream cake. I was going to make one like it and add pink to the frosting and delete the coconut (sorry, Betty!).. My cake stuck to the pans (I had greased but not floured).....what a mess! So I cut the cake into squares and threw it in the punchbowl amidst layers of the sour cream/sugar mixture and the cool whip. Dave and I were very happy with the outcome--very moist and not too sweet. The kids could have cared less- they were just thrilled about the Skittles on top. You can see the recipe here for how it is supposed to turn out :)

purple + pink + food + friends= a very happy day!

I just had to laugh and feel better about my awful cakes when I saw Melissa's post - hilarious. What has been your cake disaster story? I think God allows many of these things to happen to me to make me realize I am no Martha Stewart.....like today when we bumped the table and the gumdrop tree came crashing down breaking off branches......Hey- this is real life! Parties are meant to be messy and sticky and noisy and loud!!!!

:::homeschool:::

Every year of homeschooling has gotten better. I attribute that to the fact that they are getting older. When we started we had an infant.....then there was the toddler.....those days were real fun. Barney was our best friend (I don't care what you say- I like Barney). Now we have a preschooler who can sit and "do school" with us. She will also sit and listen to our read aloud stories, participate in Science, and listen to the History lesson.


What is nice about homeschool is that we all have our own styles. There is no right or wrong way- except to make sure you are within the guidelines of your state or province. I have felt very secure within my curriculum. Feeling that they know more than I do about scope and sequence and planning what year to teach what content.

But within the safety of the curriculum (we use BJPress) we have had a lot of fun taking some of our own rabbit trails and digging deeper into a topic. For example, we found Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea fascinating. We found lots of books at the library and spent a few weeks reading about them.

This post was very interesting and I decided that I have a definite interest in the Charlotte Mason method- especially when it comes to learning from real books.

I enjoyed reading about Charlotte Mason. What do you think? Do you follow her ideas?

Then I found this post on nature journals. I love this!!! Totally love it.

Teaching is totally different at home than when I taught kindergarten. To have 3 different students at different grade levels- to have to keep up with the laundry- to live with your students. This all adds some interesting moments- but what I am learning is that each year is closer to what I am striving for. The older the kids get the more we can do as far as creative teaching. But there is nothing wrong with - "sit and do your math worksheet, sit and practice your flashcards." As in everything, life included- it is all a balance and some of the schooling is just going to be downright hard work and self discipline!

So this turned into just a bunch of random thoughts about homeschool. Basically I just wanted to share those links that were inspiring to me. Maybe encourage you if you have just started homeschooling and it is not going so well. May you one of these days find yourself surrounded by your children, just as excited as them about the book or project you are working on. That kind of day is precious. Precious are the moments when we really connect and communicate with our kids (whether you homeschool or not).

Precious are the moments when you get to read scriptures together- to see God's Word in a new light. We read Psalm 119:105 today:

Your Word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

Oh that our children would take God's Word and use it to guide their ways- to use it as the light so they do not have to stumble through life.


Any precious moments lately? How is homeschool going for you? How is traditional school going for you? I am not against traditional school and I would love to hear your thoughts as well. I know some parents who do a really good job at carving out that time to spend with their children after a day at school and/or before school.

cute, cuter, cutest

She hasn't opened her presents yet- so she does not know about this (don't tell). Mom made a little Raggedy Ann for the b-day girl. Don't you just love the expression on her sweet little face?! She has her own bed and ................



...a teeny tiny quilt just like this one!!! Doesn't get much cuter. Unless you are looking for girl clothes at Target- then it gets almost as cute............


I got the greatest surprise when I realized that Target carries 0-5T in the baby/toddler section AND in the big girls' section the sizes start at 4!!!!!!!!!! What fun! Shop both areas and no repeats. It took me extra long to go through the clearance sections but I am not complaining!!!! This adorable purple shirt was 50% off and will be perfect for the purple polka dot party!

The headband: Flowers are on sale at Michaels and we glue gunned it to a headband.


Found a use for the paint chips that have the little square hole....name tags for the treat bags.

fun...fun....more fun than one person should be allowed to have on a monday...

Field trip to the grocery store...yes, our tour guide was skipping through the store...the kids loved this. Samples, pet a lobster, tour the freezers, what it not to love about a grocery store field trip?!?!?

...inspired by the "healthy eating" theme from the grocery store- we had fresh guacamole for lunch (Lydia, I put in 1 avocado, cut up a fourth of an onion, added lemon juice, salt, and garlic to taste- then put in the blender...)


supper- something new. Pizza fondue...we found it here. Pretty good- the kids loved it.


So excited, so excited! Our little girl turns 4- her party is on Friday! Polka dots! Gum-drop tree! Paper banner! The purple plastic table cloth is ready!

(the banner was so easy- just cut the paper into triangles and staple to the ribbon- I am going to make one for every occasion!!! And this one can go in her room when the party is over--if the kitchen can part with it.................)

sponsor interview: Sarah {Blue Castle}

I am happy to introduce you to Sarah. She is one colorful girl- we have a lot in common (except, of course, that we spell our names drastically different :) :) I have already posted about her here. I LOVE her style and her cute decoupage projects! I am so excited that she is a sponsor for my blog! You can find her link on my sidebar and always go and give her a visit to see what creative thing she is up to!

I love the paint colors! Bright and fun.

That lamp and the wall color make me happy.

I would be a happy baker in this kitchen- the curtains- the chandelier- the "PIE"- Love it. And the best part- Sarah is a thrifter and a crafter- so almost everything she does is very frugal- using what she has + spray paint, thrifted goods and mod podge. Her husband must be proud of her :)




Sara - What was your first ever job?

Sarah- My first job was working at Dairy Queen. I can still make that perfect curlicue cone today.

Did you enjoy art as a child?

I did enjoy art, but only had it as a class for two years in elementary school with a very cranky art teacher, who put a damper on any creative attempts I did make. The school I attended after that did not have an art class, and I think I missed out in a lot of ways because of this. My Grandma picked up oil-painting in her later years and helped me paint my first two oil-paintings when I was in Jr. High. Other than that, I had no real exposure to art.

What was your first decoupage project- do you remember?

I think my first decoupage project was making a window into a dry/erase board by decoupaging paper on the underside of the glass.

What inspires you?

Reading blogs is a huge inspiration as well as flipping through the occasional home decor magazine and watching HGTV or TLC when I get the chance, which isn't often since we don't have cable tv.

What is your favorite medium to work with (paint, mod podge, etc)?

I can't pick. I love how spray paint and paint can transform an object. Mod Podge is amazing too. With all the beautiful scrap book papers available it is very easy for me find something to fix up. And then there's fabric. I could easily spend a fortune on fabric. I have recently discovered pottery and am excited to be taking a class and getting the chance to learn how to work with clay.

What is your favorite color combo?

I don't know if I can answer that! I fall in love with new color combinations on an almost daily basis. Presently it's violet purple with a mustard yellow.

Where do you get most of your arts/craft supplies?

Wal-Mart has good prices on Mod Podge and spray paint. I have even found mis-tinted paint for $6/gallon. I buy my scrapbook paper and fabric from local shops.

What is your favorite room in your house?

My living room and dining room are my favorites right now. I painted them bright, bold colors last fall and have been enjoying the cheery colors during the bleak winter months.

Thanks, Sarah! Keep up the great work!

hair & a quote

I have the best hair stylist. She is great. She does exactly what I tell her- the haircut is what I wanted. Then I told her to give me highlights. I gave no instruction about that- so really, she did a good job. It is just that (this is what Dave thinks) any major change throws me for a loop- I did not expect it to look so blond.

***********************************

In our small group classes at church we are going through a study on Nehemiah by John MacArthur. It has been really good- and so applicable. When I read this quote by MacArthur I was so convicted:

Our society replaces people with things, conversation with entertainment. By so doing, we have lost the simple joys of life, which center on relationships, the essence of Christian fellowship. Material things can pull believers away from those vital relationships with God and others.

Then I read Psalm 62...verse 10:

If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them

So I told Dave that I needed to quit the blog- quit painting, quit watching movies, quit decorating our house, etc, etc, etc.

He is my voice of reason and he told me about something he had read that said: each thing in your life is like a bank and you need to make deposits. It has to be a balance- you need to make deposits in your kids' banks everyday- your husband's bank, your house, the church, your friends, the needy, etc, etc. That does not mean you have to quit blogging, or quit painting. But those things should not be top priority. Things need to be in balance. We need to be out in the world forging those friendships- caring about others- thinking about others rather than ourselves constantly! Wow- I am convicted totally.

We have to be soooo careful here in America where we have everything. It is so easy to sit in our comfortable homes and eat and eat some more.....and watch movies and forget about everything else and what really matters; living for God and reaching others for Him and helping others.

one last quote:

We make a living by what we earn--
We make a life by what we give.

Sorry if I have been preaching- I mean only to preach to myself :)

around the house

my baby girl is getting so big

my other baby girl

decoupage plate...mod podge- I love you- you stick to anything.

my baby girl and her new haircut

my hair the way it used to be....now it is shorter and way too blond

(poor Dave....one female in the house cut her own hair and had to get it all chopped off....the other female has a drastic new color- all in the space of 2 days, you can imagine the drama)

laundry room before and after

This was my little laundry nook.........


Now it is green!!!! And much more organized.



I painted it the same green as the pantry (paint I had on hand). Then added the flowers with paint a shade darker. I found some green containers for the shelf- and look! An extra paper lantern was just sitting around...and it was green......


The painting says: Live each day as if it were your last.....which is a crazy quote to have in the laundry area because if you truly are living each day as if it were your last --you would NOT be doing laundry! But...I do like the quote none the less (and it was green).


So when I come around the corner into my kitchen I can catch a tiny glimpse of my little calm laundry oasis down there.


**********************************************************************
I added the painted flower background to the pantry too.

My pantry: I love you, you make me happy. Thank you for being there for me :) In the process of re-doing the pantry (see before pics here) I discovered my design style.......
**Kindergarten Chic (KC)**

You know you are KC if you use 3 or more of the following in your decor:
#1 primary colors or rainbow colors (not just one of these colors- it has to be multicolored)
{2} numbers, rulers, yardsticks
[3] ABC art
::4 chalkboards and/or chalkboard paint
(5) children's books as art
=6=art supplies as art

Anyone else out there KC? I know we are a dying breed...:)

I am linking to:

what color are you?

take the color quiz

I was red...I had decided before I took the quiz that I had better be orange or red- so I am happy.....:) Let me know what color you get.

***I can't wait to show you--I painted my .laundry area to match the pantry- spring fever has truly struck here. Don't stand still or you will get painted or cleaned.....

the perfect date

Our sweet pastor's family always has a valentine's babysitting night for everyone in our church. We all drop the kids off at church and get 3 hours of free babysitting and date night time! The kids love it as much as we do. They play fun games and eat pizza.

We ordered out from Outback and Coldstone, took it home, made a fire, watched a movie.......perfection!!!!! Anytime spent with my valentine is good- but this was the coziest, & very romantic. When we went back out to pick up the kids there was the most beautiful snow falling- it was as if Dave had cued the snow as a perfect icing to the evening.

Dave got the gold coast shrimp & Alice Springs chicken quesadillas. I got the outback special (steak), shrimp scampi, & baked potato.
Dessert: (their description: Deliciously designed in a rich chocolate shell, Cold Stone Signature Cupcakes include a layer of moist cake, fudge, then topped with our super premium ice cream and finished with a dollop of frosting and a decoration) Yum, and the perfect ending to a perfect evening with my sweet, sweet valentine.

I love this crazy man!

Hope your valentine's is sweet!

cookies, Q & A, and a movie

We made cookies today! The crushed candy in the middle melted just like it was supposed to. Little pink stained glass....(just make regular sugar cookies- cut a hole or heart shape in the middle- sprinkle in some crushed hard candy and bake like usual.)

My sweet little helper

Answering your questions:

Q- Is that a chalkboard wall in the kitchen?

A- Yes- we have several walls in our kitchen painted with chalkboard paint (as well as a little in the kids bathroom, and a section on the mantle). I adore chalkboard paint! It has been the best thing to happen to my kitchen.

Rachel asked: "When do you do your painting?? like what are the kids doing??"

A- The kids are getting to an age where I can do more of these projects during the day- during rest time in the afternoon- they all play quietly in their rooms- I get a lot done then. Also, they are playing together better than they ever have- I do not need to supervise them every minute. Mornings are when we have school, so that time is spent mostly with them, but I can do little projects here and there when they are busy with the assigned school work.

When you do a project like the pantry there is always something that gets neglected- and usually it is the laundry and cleaning....but I do have the sweetest husband in the world who does the dishes for me.....the kids, of course, are harder to neglect- they need to be fed and cleaned and taught.

When the spring fever hits and you have an urge to paint.....you have no choice but to paint! Hhmmmm, I guess when that happens I should sensibly sit down and write down what needs to be done and see if I have time to paint the pantry green. The only problem is; I am not sure if there is really any perfect time to do a project like this- you sometimes need to just do it and then deal with the mess and laundry later. Everyone still had clothes to wear at least :)

Thanks for all the feedback about the pantry! I am so happy that you like it too. I do things that make me happy- but I realize it is not like it is the latest style- I sometimes try to have a modern look, but that lasts about 2 minutes and then I clutter everything up. Coming to grips that I like my life cluttered and colorful and layered.

Thank you for the romantic movie suggestions. It made me think of this old favorite.......
Have you seen it? It is a great movie.

Also, thanks to Rachel for featuring my heart pancakes on one pretty thing. This is a great site- she finds the cutest stuff on the Internet.