Vintage Dumbo Party

A blogger friend Jessica mentioned Charlotte's Dumbo party dress on her cute blog today!  Thought it would be fun to share the original party post last July! And, when you get a chance, visit Jessica at  littlepumpkingrace.blogspot.com

http://amanda-babymakes5.blogspot.com/search?q=dumbo


And a few more of the party dress and the birthday girl!  Thannks for visiting!

A Few Highlights

Wanted to post a few highlights from December. WOW!  Where did the month go...actually, I know where mine went...it was spent between 2 states, 3 hospitals and 1 Mommy with a brain injury.  BALANCE and being JOYFUL have been hard this month but I had to try for the sake of my family, they deserve a "present" Mom!  Hopefully, as this year wraps, things with my family (My Mom/Dad) are on the upswing and I can find a place of peace and rest withing my soul...its been unsettled and things have been "noisy" for too long!  OK, enough of that...onto some highlights!

Our Church's Children's Christmas Program!

Charlotte and Christian sung in the Angelic Choir and Campbell was a Shepherd in the play!

Then it was onto our local grocery store/Starbucks where Charlotte and Campbell

played piano for shoppers...this is a big deal for Charlotte who get so nervous,

I was so proud of them both!

(It was freezing in there, hence the coat :))

and then it was Campbell's turn and my battery died...no pics of his turn :(

 The  next weekend we headed to our Club for Brunch with Santa!

and...these are the only pics we got because Christian would not sit on Santa's lap...nor did he sing at the Church program (pictured above) ...oh well, he is a little stinker and I was fully prepared!

We celebrated Christian's 4th Birthday on December 6 (need to post those pics?!) and then we celebrated Campbell's 10th Birthday on December 22!

Per tradition we started the day early with gifts and breakfast and for the first time ever Campbell had school on his actual day!

The highlight was the Burton snowboard for sure!!!!

Like my blurry picture of the empty roller rink?!

We celebrated with a party for his whole class (and then some) at the roller rink...it was tons of fun but clearly my photography was lacking that night! :)

 Another highlight for the kids was seeing where I silly little Elf might appear...they love this little guy!

Many more highlights, this was only the first few weeks of December

but some favorite memories for sure!

Happy New Year!

a few of my favorite things!

It's been a tough few weeks to say the least!  ...so, I figured I need to make a list of some things I am grateful for, happy about and feel blessed by!  (in no particular order, either!  :))

• my God and my faith...
• our tradition of seeing the nutcracker again this year...it seemed particuarly great today!
• hot cocoa afterwards with friends where we watched our daughters dance like little sugar plum fairies all through starbucks!
• a roaring fire, sitting by the light of my beautifully "perfect" Christmas Tree
• the amazing smell of my aspen candle
• the homeade wrapping paper that my kids created
• the elf on the shelf who continues to surprise and delight us each day!
• that at 38 my mommy is still my mommy...even if she too confused to know right now!
• snowflakes today...finally feels "Christmas-y"
• my friends...simply put - they are ANGELS in my life!
• Caramel Brulee Lattes from Starbucks - yum!
• my comfy, cozy bed...
• the sheer delight of seeing christmas thru my babies' eyes!
• my church
• that my sweet bryan is on vacation for the nest two weeks...can't wait to be together!
• brunch with santa (tomorrow)

I think thats it for now!

Merry Christmas

Hello!  I have missed you...my blog has fallen wayside to caring for 2 very ill parents who have both been hispitialized over the last month.  To say things have been crazy in an understatement!  I am trying hard to keep it all together and be what everyone "needs"...Mom, wife, daughter,sister and friend but I am failing I am sure...I thank God for this season of grace and beauty and celebration of our Savior's birth!  There is no better time in my eyes, to forgive, to love, to have compassion and gladness, to give to eachother and to look ahead with hope and excitement and anticipation for a new season of health and happiness and renewals...I wont be around much these next few weeks here on my blog, chances are I am trying to prepare Christmas in spite of feeling most "un-Christmas"...but my babies deserve the very best I can give them so I will turn my focus to them...

Blessings to you all this Season! xo

Frames with Friends

Some girlfriends and I stayed up way too late a few weeks ago...we had a ball,of course!  We had decided to get together and do make picture frames as  Christmas gifts!

I love pictures and I love frames and I love "crafting" and making things...I have seen frames very similar in stores,mostly small shops for $35 and up...we knew we could do better than that!  Plus, I think its more meaningful when the gift comes from the heart!

Not the best pictures of the pictures:)  but you get the idea...

So fun to personalize with a "blingy" initial, a cross or an old brooch...we have been collecting lots of goodies and ribbons and frames to make a really fun gift!  :)

Blessings friends and family as we head towards Thanksgiving...I am bound and determined to have all of my shopping done by next week!  Wish me luck!!!!

Baby Stella

My beautiful friend Gindy had a baby girl last night!

Stella Lee Weaver...

I am over the moon excited!  I love babies and I love Gindy and her sweet family - she did not find out ...boy or girl, so that make her news all the more exciting!

Gindy has wonderful style...we met through mutual friends years ago and we were kindred spirits from the get go...we love to shop and decorate and antique...

we love wine and good food and a great candle :)

So, in honor of she and baby Stella I wanted to show you a few quick pics I took on Halloween of her nursery...I just love how it turned out!

of course, these pics don't do it much justice but it is lots of neutral colors...with a silver-gray paint on the walls...all white linen bedding and lots of special, precious touches!

And now...she gets to throw in lots of pin:)

Her son Harper also has a handsome new "big boy" room...

See what I mean...?!  Great style....

This was Gindy (on the right obviously!  :))

on

Halloween passing out candy!...

Congrats sweet friends

 Gindy, Brian and Harper and Baby Stella...

so happy for you all!  We love you-