Bunny Brunch

Yesterday was a beautiful Sunday!  Filled with eggs and sunshine, friends and the Bunny...two Egg Hunts, my boys all donned in their Seersucker, my little girl in white with a big bow in her hair...all the flowers and trees are budding, birds are chirpping and life is just really sweet right now...so much to be thankful for!  I love this time of year...the renewal and the promise of beauty right around the corner...



Mom and Me

I wanted to post a picture of my Mom.  I am missing her today...I am praying that her health continues to improve and that her brain is healing every second of everyday.  The  picture is from a few weeks ago when I got to spend some time with her talking and catching-up...it was very special to both of us to have that opportunity!  I love you Mom!

Hello!

Charlotte, Camryn, Ellie

Hello friends!  I am still alive....to date I believe this is the longest time I have been out of touch.  LIfe happened and as much as I love my blog I am afraid I love all of your blogs more...oh, and of course Pinterest!  I am SMITTEN with Pinterest and spend way too much time there! 

I won't go into all the sorted details but between both parents accident/illness last November and a very dear friend's daughters' diagnosis of Brain and Spinal Cancer (above) I have been in a sort of  sad, unhappy place - have not wanted to Blog!  I have needed and enjoyed visiting all my favs blogs though....you all helped pass the sleepless nights in more ways than one.  So; thank you!  and that little friend who is battling Cancer is little Camryn (above, middle) she is pictured here with her little sis Ellie and Charlotte - last Summer at American Girl ...she needs lots of prayers as she battles this horrible disease!

So now, in the blink of an eye...I have an almost 5th grader, one almost done with Kindergarten and my little guy about done with his first year of preschool!  We are gearing up for Spring break trip to Florida (much needed! family trip) and then Summer will be staring us in the face...plans are already being made for camps, vacation and other  activities.  I also have a long list of house "to-dos"  that I am ready to tackle - excited for that...being at home and nesting and cleaning and organizing and decorating makes me so happy!

I hope to be back to blogging soon with lots of pictures and stories and updates...

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