Sweet Love

What a happy Valentines Day we had...after the kids Valentine parties at school the week wrapped-up and we were off for to our American Girl weekend in Chicago. Charlotte and I arrived home to homeade construction paper hearts hung from the ceiling, and roses (a dozen for me and a dozen for Charlotte!), homeade cards and a clean house - all done by our boys!  Sunday was spent as a family - we ate yummy, pink heart shaped pancakes and for dinner we had heart shaped pizza, and heart shape cc cookies (kids choice!). After our little "Valentines" were all tucked in Bryan and I snuggled by the fire, popped some bubbly and enjoyed a yummy chocolate mousse!  In these quiet moments I am reminded how rich my life is, how happy I am deep down inside, how many blessings have been bestowed upon me, how completely and deeply madly-in-love with my husband I am....how my kids give me way more than I give them...I just feel so lucky and so grateful that God choose this life for me! Love, Love, Love...

Birthday Blessings

I turned 37 yesterday...I am one lucky gal!  My hubby and kids (and friends!) spoiled me rotten and I just feel so blessed to have their love day in and day out.  Highlights included:
waking up to OJ brought to me by my little Campbell - IN BED (no less!), the kids giving me the thoughtful gift of music - TAYLOR SWIFT (I suspect more for them...hee, hee...), Bryan surprising me by taking the day off of work, fresh strawberry crepes and a great latte!...Meeting some  fellow "Aquarius"  friends for coffee and lots of laughs and a trip to Hobby Lobby.  Finding a "surprise" gift from my friend who sneek-ily (not a word, I know!) left it by my back door!...The kids wanted to take me to Red Robin for dinner (how cut is that?!), so off we went.  We had a yummy dinner and yummy "mile-high" pie, it was a great night and a great day.  I heard from lots of friends and family which I love.  Thanks everyone for blessing me with your love.

My beautiful family...minus our Daddy the photog!

Lip Lites

Its late, I'm tired and realized it has almost been a week since my last post. I adore blogging, I am pretty sure I could read/write all day long, except I have a family that needs to eat.  Anyway, I am working on our American Girl trip as well as our Happy Valentine's Day posts but in the meantime I just had to share my newest, most favorite find...

Made by Bonne Bell...it is yummy tasting, stays on great but is not gummy, great sheen and is so cheap!  Under $5!  I am loving the Mocha  Mousse and hope to try some other shades as well.  I LOVE lip gloss and a girl can never have too many, so go and treat yourself to a little "happy".

Very Special Valentine...

I am so excited...I have been hard at work planning a very special Valentine's Day surprise...not for my original Valentine (Bryan) but for my little Charlotte!  She and I and her bestie (Holyn) and her Mom, (Jen) are headed to Chicago Friday night for a big hotel sleepover...a fun night of manis/pedis and dinner out !  Of course both American Girl dollies will be in tow so matching pjs for the girls and dolls were a must!  Jen and I also prepared some fun treat buckets for the girls with all the essentials- nail polish, lip gloss, heart shaped suckers, pink gumballs and Barbie notebooks, Valentine bracelets too!  After our big slumber party we'll wake-up and head down the street to American Girl for breakfast and a little shopping treat!  Of course, Jen and I hope to squeeze in a little Nordstrom time too!  (we'll see...ha, ha!).  I am not sure who is more excited me or Charlotte?!  I have always wanted to be a Mother and always hoped that God would bless me with both a Son and Daughter and ...and he heard my prayers, 2 amazing sons and 1 beautiful  little girl!  Anyway, from the moment she was born I looked forward to the days that would bring tea parties, dress-up and dolls - all things pink and frilly and so, so girl!  I love playing with my boys and can tell you most anything about a superhero, Star Wars or the sport of football but there is just something so special about the girly stuff.  Charlotte has never had a sleepover before and these girls have never experienced American Girl together so it will be a very special Valentine's weekend !  Can't wait to share pics next week!

Sunshine Award...

Blog Award







I want to thank KK  over at Pink, Green & Southern  over at  for this lovely blog award. This winter has been tough and I could use a little sunshine!  She has a wonderful blog and I have loved getting to "know her"!

Thanks again for this lovely award!  So, what brings me sunshine on a daily basis?!....Belly laughs from my kids, a hot shower, my first cup of coffee every morning and kisses from my hubby!

Superbowl Sunday

GO COLTS!

Our little "Peyton Manning"

Halloween 2009

My Love...

Not too much to report this week, I have been a single Mom whil my love travelled...it is always a long week and I love when I am back to sharing my parent responsibilities.  In other news, my sweet Bryan is in surgery as I type (from his hospital room)...he is having outpatient sinus surgery - not pleasant but soooo needed, I swear he ill feel like a new man.  Poor guy has had one looonnnngggg sinus infection for the last 9 or so months!  My parents are here helping with the kids today...thanks Mom and Dad!  I have lots of "projects" in the hopper and hope to get some things accomplished soon.  Just heard the new baby "chime" here at the hospital...the hospital where I had 2/3 babies - I rang that same chime!  It is a tradition here and I love to hear it!  Speaking of babies...my friend Jessica gave birth 6 weeks early yesterday to a precious baby girl she named "Gwyneth"....after a very long journey following numerous miscarriages, they adopted a little boy who will turn 1 in April and shortly thereafter got pregnant and carried this baby up until yesterday when she could not wait any longer to meet her new family!  Is God not great or what?!

PS - Someone PLEASE tell me where to find the spell check on this new Blogger screen - ugh!!!!  I am sure I have plenty of type-os!