From Annie to Ashes

We've had quite a couple weeks-and I keep meaning to update, but I get so tired if I sit down. ; )  Saturday we met our friends and drove to Springfield, Missouri, to see Annie the musical!  It was sold out, a wonderful show, and we had front row seats!  I was surprised at how MANY cast members there were.  There were 19 orphans, and in Daddy Warbucks house, there were about 30-40 staff members serving and dancing.  It was impressive, incredibly well-choreographed, and the sets were amazing!  I have to say I was definitely impressed. : )

When we got there the man told us we were in the Splash Zone.  Instantly I'm thinking of the floor-mopping scene. : /  And another man came up and told him they ran out of umbrellas for the first two rows.  At this point, I was getting worried.  As we sat, we inspected the stage, and the full orchestra under the stage (with a big netted opening in the stage).  The stage didn't look that clean or wet from the night before, so I didn't know whether to believe them or not!  Turns out, no real water.  Ha-joke was on me. ; )  (thankfully!!)

Then we headed down the street, and had a little treat at The Cup (a must-visit in Springfield!) for a custom cupcake.  Three of us got the Peanut Butter Cup, and Angie got the Raspberry Beret.  They were beautiful and delish!  They were pretty big, so we had to use forks.  (and we were being lady-like!) heehee

I seriously wish I'd gotten pictures before we started eating!  They were so beautiful.  Alas, we were hungry!

Hooray for Girls' Day Out! ; )

We also got to visit Build-a-Bear to get Mary Claire a free shirt for her little bear, and Andalynn made a Marine bear for her daddy's birthday.  We had lots of help, and the girls had fun!  Even said the Pledge of Allegiance before they put his little red heart inside. ; )

We picked up our Girl Scout cookie order yesterday afternoon, so we've begun delivery!  The kids couldn't wait to get them home-we ate an entire box (yes, just the four of us!) as soon as we got home. ; )  It was the new lemon cookies, Savannah Smiles.  Yum.  Glad we bought lots of boxes!  Oh, and it was Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday, so we had to indulge.  (Confession: I had to indulge at Krispy Kreme last night as I drove our carpool group to Bunco-they were hot, and we needed a dozen!)  Thank goodness that sweet red light was on!! : )

And..today is Ash Wednesday.  Ches is still out of town, so I got up super-early and got all the kids ready to make Mass in Rogers by 8am!  It was totally a miracle we weren't late (especially with crazy morning traffic!).  It's not a Holy Day, but I asked the kids if they wanted to go, and they said yes.  They were pretty good-I was thankful since there was only one of me.

I've learned how absolutely hard it is to single-parent.  Yesterday Clay called, and he'd forgotten to take his medicine (since I forgot to give it to him!), and I was on my way to pick up Ethan at Mother's Day Out, so I couldn't rush over to the school.  It was stressful.  We made it, but whew-Long Day.

I'm also on my last two weeks of braces. Hooray!  ; )  On Monday, they made some changes, cut a wire, wired some teeth together, and added jaw-locking rubber bands (seriously-they go up and down on all brackets in the back all the way to the front, and then reach across my front teeth in a big X).  They are NOT fun.  I look like a crazy person and can't even lick my lips!  Oh, and talking is next to impossible.  (and Pain?  Won't even go there.  Let's just say I cried like a baby on Monday.)  I gave up yesterday morning, and took them out.  But last night, they were back in.  They are meant to give me a solid bite, since my back teeth barely touch.  I go back next Monday to check on things, and s-h-o-u-l-d get them out the next Monday.  I can't wait!  Never thought I'd have braces off and a baby within the same few weeks! ; )


Pray for the safety and health of all pregnant women, and for blessings as they choose Life! It's a long, hard wait for the joy at the end.  We are totally earning our Perseverence badge.  That's another one to sew on-I'm earning more lately. ; )
 

Card Tree

I finally figured out why it was taking me so long to write... ; )  I don't want to complain.  I have plenty I could whine and moan about..but I’m still thankful.  Of course, I'm still pregnant..and doing well. : )  Resting a lot more and growing!

And of course, I’ve been busy. ; ) Baby Carter’s room is finished!  I covered a lamp shade with the light blue toile, made a boppy cover with the white minky dot and the toile, added some art and pictures I got in Branson from P. Graham Dunn (love them-all Christian themed art!), and made a decoupaged C for his wall out of handwritten paper.  Ches also finished writing Carter’s prayer on his picture mat, and it is framed and hung.  We also ordered a new Baby Bjorn carrier for the summer (white and mesh, so it’s cooler!).  I’m SO happy to have things finished, so I feel ready for him..I even packed his diaper bag! ; )  Here are some updated pictures:

same-same, I think!

And..I’ve been making more valentine’s mailboxes!  I made some for friends, and finished the kids’.  I also found little buckets at Wal-Mart that were red with a big white heart on the front, so I put their names on them, and have finished their Valentine’s treasure hunt!  We did a treasure hunt last year for their little gifts (more emphasis on hunt, less on chocolate!), and I thought the end could be the buckets.  I put a few chocolates inside, and some rolled up gift certificates with bows-for their booty.  They are also getting some new books, and Mary Claire is getting money in her “Mom Bank” (she has a deposit book with all the money she’s earned!) for the Kindle she is still saving for, and I made her a new pump pouch.  Ethan is dying to have an SD Card with music for his Nintendo DS like his brother and sister, so I’ve got to put some music on it for him!

I used a font that looks like handwriting, so you can't tell their names are even in vinyl!

coupons : )

she really needed a new pump pouch! ; )

Lastly…we are getting ready for Mary Claire’s teacher’s birthday in a couple weeks.  ..and I made her a Card Tree!  (don’t laugh-I went back and forth trying to decide if it was cute, or just CrAzY!)  It is just a decoupaged tin pail with ribbon on the handle, and a big branch from my yard poked into some foam in the bottom.  (I did have to weight it with rocks to make sure it wouldn’t tip!)  I tied tiny clothespins all over the branches with different colored ribbons to hang note cards or gift cards for the teacher!  I used all Me & My Big Ideas papers on the sides with sweet little kid faces-so cute!  It’s so happy-looking, I can’t look at it and not smile. : )

The branch is pretty big!  But..it had to hold at least 24 clothespins! ; )

This is the bucket covered in paper, and the handle is all tied with ribbons. : )  She can always pull out the branch and foam, and just use the bucket.  Not everyone needs a big tree, heehee.

I covered the foam with the white shredded paper.  ..You can't look at those happy kids and be grumpy! ; )