Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods:
The day turned from gloomy and cloudy to sunny and blue skies!

One of my simple pleasures:
date nights with my hubby

On my bedside table:
Power of a Praying Wife and The Excellent Wife (reading both of these with other people...so I'm just slowly plugging through them...but enjoying the lessons on how to be a better wife.)

On my TV:
off

On the menu for tonight:
Pepperoni Pizza Pie

On my To Do List:
laundry, mops phone calls, post office and other errands

New Recipe I tried last week:
Asian Style Turkey Burgers (I liked them and Seth gave them a "B+" which I thought was pretty good for being a healthy burger :)

In the craft basket:

still workin' on some spring bows

Looking forward to:
going for a walk this afternoon after little one wakes from her nap

Homemaking Tip for this week:
freeze bacon in rolls. Then when you have a recipe that calls for bacon, pull the number of slices that you need and the rest can stay in the freezer.

Favorite Blog Posts of the week (mine or other):

• This is an encouraging article for moms about finding time for God It's nice to know that there are others who are going through the same things we are.
• The Marriage Dance (a short read with a great quote from Elisabeth Elliot)
• A challenging post about what "Burning the Midnight Oil" means.
  
• My Call to Ministry
• Your Marriage Problems are All in Your Head
• Praying Work- Hey...I can do this!! :)

Favorite photo from last week:
It's so hard to pick a favorite...but I sure do love this picture from Hannah's two year photo shoot. My friend Trenda over at Six Little Feet sure does do a great job!!
On my Prayer List:
Praying for my sister in law who is still in the hospital dealing with Crones and now recovering from surgery.
Praying for Rob Gilbert & his family
Praying for my Mom and Dad to get over the sick bug that they are dealing with
Praying for MOPS moms and our meeting tomorrow, praying for wisdom as I lead discussion tomorrow.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Proverbs 29:11
"A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back."

Hannah's 2 year old photo shoot

I'm blessed that my friend Trenda over at six little feet is such a wonderful photographer. Really...I'm just blessed to have a friend in Trenda...she's been a great mentor and friend to me. Anyway, she just took Hannah's 2 year pics for me this week, and was very patient with my very busy little two year old. Didn't she get some great shots of my little sunshine?! You can see all of her pictures by clicking here and then clicking on the picture of Hannah. I hope her smile brings some sunshine to your day :)

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods:
The most beautiful day we've seen since fall! It's 47 degrees and sunny!!

One of my simple pleasures:
listening to my two year old sing

On my bedside table:
The Power of a Praying Wife
The Duggars: 20 and counting

On my TV:
Seth just bought me The Duggars: 18 kids and counting season 2....maybe we'll watch an episode or two tonight

On the menu for tonight:
Seth has meetings late tonight..so we'll probably just grab some leftovers.

On my To Do List:
work on taxes
laundry

New Recipes I tried last week:
Chipotle Chili Cornbread Bake (made in my deep covered baker)- another new pampered chef recipe...it was great!
Savory spaghetti sauce

In the craft basket:

spring hairbows for Hannah

Looking forward to:
seeing my sisters new house in person...so exciting!

Homemaking Tip for this week:
work, then play. Reward yourself with a treat or getting to do a favorite activity after you have gotten a few things checked off the list

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
The challenges and blessings of one income-living

Wanted: Friends! This post was just another reminder of what wonderful, godly women the Lord has put in my life..I am so thankful!

Favorite photo from last week: me and my two-year old ladybug


On my Prayer List:
my sister in law who is in the hospital with another crones flare up and for testing...praying for healing and wisdom in decision making. Praying also, for other family members who are hurting and struggling with health, my husband, and FBC teenagers

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
John 16:33
" I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart! I have overcome the world!"

Our little ladybug is TWO!

Our little lady bug...is two!

What a great party we had...
We started with ladybug games. We played find the lady bug, then we played a bean bag toss game to give the lady bug her missing spots

sharing beanbags

In our last game, we danced like ladybugs to the music...

then landed on a leaf when the music stopped.

we finished with some good 'ol playtime

then we headed upstairs for presents
thank you so much to all of Hannah's friends and family for the wonderful gifts!

loving her princess castle from mommy and daddy

not too excited about posing on her ladybug box

it was more exciting to find out what was inside...

a ladybug bike from Papa and Grandma!

blowing out two candles...she got the blowing part this year...but just needed a little bit of help from momma

ladybug cupcake!

yum!


Papa and Amelia

Olivia

Seth and Joshua sitting at the guys table

Mia & Addy

everyone was exciting for balloons!

playing with her first Barbie doll and car

and her baby doll and homemade chair from Gran and Pa

me and my sweet little two year old :)

Thank you Lord, for her precious life and that many blessings she brings!

Hannah's second birthday party: decorations and invites

For Hannah's second birthday...the theme was ladybugs! It was a very fun theme to do.

The invitations

treat bags and decorations

lady bug cupcakes

lots of red and black

A Chuck-E-Cheese birthday

For Hannah's actual birthday on Tuesday, we made a family trip to Chuck-E-Cheese. We had pizza for dinner and enjoyed watching Hannah play and play. We even enjoyed a few games of ski ball ourselves :)

"riding" the Gemini

time for a ride with Daddy too!

Calling Chuck-E

now watching him sing and dance

Hannah loved Chuck-E!

He stooped down to talk to her, so she stooped down to talk to him :)

After Chuck-E-Cheese's we went to Baskin Robbins for Hannah's free scoop of birthday ice cream. She told the lady at the counter that she was two and got a big scoop of strawberry ice cream with sprinkles on top! Yum!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Hannah Grace!

Today we celebrate the 2nd birthday of sweet Hannah Grace! Two years ago today...my life changed for the better and I became a Mom. Hannah brings so much joy, excitement and energy to our lives. It's been amazing to see how at such a young age she is already touching the lives of others. Hannah loves people. I hope and pray that God will use this gift for his honor and glory. It's neat to see her already ministering to the lives of others.

It's been fun to celebrate her birthday with her today. We sang to her this morning and after breakfast Hannah and I were off to MOPS. We both love going. Today was bring a friend day at MOPS...so there were double the number of friends to play with. She had fun playing with her friends and reading stories. I heard that she read "The Monster at the End of the Book" 3 times! She loved it so much, that they sent it home for her to borrow. I remember reading this book when I was little, it kinda took me back. (Hey mom...do you still have that book somewhere?!)

We have been helping Hannah practice how to say that she's two...and she's got it down pat! She struggled holding up two fingers on one hand, so my friend Trenda gave me the idea to have her just hold up both of her pointer fingers...she loves saying that she's two! Actually, when you ask her hold old she is...she holds up both of her fingers and says "I be two!!"

I still can't believe it...is it really possible?!

my baby is growing up so fast...just another reminder to cherish every moment of every day!

Here are some fun facts about my little two year old:

• she still only weighs 23lbs..she's our little peanut
• she loves Seasame Street! Right now..she's into saying "Guess what?! It's Seasame Street time!"
• She loves to dance. She loves to dance to Veggie Tales (I listen to the cd probably on average 5 times a day) and to dance like a ballerina.
• She loves books, puzzles, playdough, bubbles, coloring, etc.
• She loves to pretend play. She enjoyed bringing animals to life by making them talk...but many times it's Mommy or Daddy making them talk to her ;)
• Hannah loves to sing. She is finally starting to sing songs on her own now (for awhile she just wanted to hear us sing them to her). Some of the songs that she loves to sing are: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", "Rock A Bye Baby", "Jesus Loves the Little Children", and Ring Around the Rosie".
• She's a little chatter box..I really don't think there is anything that she can't say.
• Hannah is a great eater...she eats pretty much everything...especially if she has ranch dressing or ketchup to dip it in!
• Some cute things she says: tights= "big socks", waffles= "affles", "you crazy", when she toots she says "hear my toot?!" (we're working on the excuse me part :)
• She loves "sports" (as much as a two year old can). She seems very athletic already. She loves to kick the soccer ball, and hike the football, and march with her "flute" (my husband would not appreciate me including that in the sports category :)).
• She loves her Daddy and without a doubt is a daddy's girl!
• She loves grapes, yogurt, applesauce, pretzles and pizza!
• Hannah is a very polite little girl..always saying please, thank you, excuse me

I could go on and on...if you made it this far..thanks for reading! :)

Happy Birthday to our sweet Hannah Grace!!!