Blog

Springtime and the backyard

This time around, I'm home. With Julia and Nate, I worked outside of the home. With Riley, I get the privilege of hanging out with him all day. My days look so different that they used to. I'm still just as scattered and feel like I can't quite get everything done....

read more

Be Crafty Workshop – the afterglow

This past weekend I was a hostess for Be Crafty. Amanda came down and put together a beautiful workshop! Lesley,  Katy, Heather, Cole, and I were the hostesses and we had an amazing time! Heather found a gorgeous location - ASU Old Main. It was the perfect venue - we...

read more

Nate and the Sea Turtles

Disclosure: I attended this event on behalf of a campaign with Blended Extended. I've been trying to spend a little more time with Nate lately. Riley is home with me all day (bless his heart). I take Julia to her activities and volunteer with her youth group, but Nate...

read more

A challenge to adore your husbands Series – part three

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth— for your love is more delightful than wine. -  Song of Solomon 1:2 Brian and I haven't always been as in love as we are today. It honestly seems like it gets better each and every day. Before we fall asleep, we usually lay...

read more

Happy first day of spring from the desert!

This week, I've been getting the house ready and prepping for a seriously fun weekend! Be Crafty Arizona is happening and some of my favorite people are coming in from Minnesota, New Mexico, California, and Oklahoma! My heart is full and I am bursting at the seams!...

read more

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Last week, Julia's class built a float for the Phoenix St. Patrick's Day Parade. She and a friend learned a collection of Irish songs and they sang acapella on the float. It was absolutely enchanting. When they pulled up in front of the Grand Marshall, the announcer...

read more

A Letter to 39

{Nate had just sneezed - bless his heart - his allergies are in full swing} Dear 39, Please remember to give Brian the camera more. Pictures like this make me happy. Please remember to be gentle with the morning people in your family. Maybe you will become a morning...

read more

Adoption – Update Part Eleven

Last summer dear friends came to visit. Riley had just started living with us permanently. We had passed the first month where all seemed happy and perfect. Slowly, he began to reject me. He would run to Brian, Julia, and Nate and he would bite me. As we sat in the...

read more

Falling in love, many times

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. - Mignon McLaughlin Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how having children under my roof really is a fleeting blessing. Maybe it was Ashley's post. Maybe it is Riley's adoption...

read more

Adoption – Other Mothers

This is a quote from my dear friend, Lylah, at The Simple Farm about one of her new baby goats: This is baby Ava. Storm took her in when her own mama Karrie rejected her because of three boys and a very hard delivery. She's become Storms. Life has it that way...

read more

Local bands, vinyl, and food – a recipe for success!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Whole Foods Market Tempe. The opinions expressed here are my own. I am so thankful for companies that work with me to provide quality products for my readers and my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal...

read more

Scottsdale Mom’s Blog and one of their new contributors!

If you are local, you are probably familiar with Scottsdale Mom's Blog. Well, I've accepted their invitation to contribute and I'm thrilled! I love living here and I love telling people about fun local places and events! It's a perfect fit! So, ever so often, I'll...

read more

Dr. Seuss’ birthday with PBS KIDS

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Series copyright 2010, CITH Productions, Inc. and Red Hat Animation, Limited. Underlying characters copyright 1957, 1985 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. We love Dr. Seuss around here!Julia loved writing stories Dr. Seuss style. Nate loved drawing...

read more

Adoption Update – Masterpieces take time

Tonight's phone call was to tell us that all adoption paperwork has been completed and the final petition will be filed with the courts on Monday. A huge weight has been lifted. I feel like I could sleep for days. So many times, I wanted to write here and ask for...

read more

My new friend…

Have you ever stumbled onto a friendship? So many things line up that you just sit there smiling? Earlier this month, when I headed to Blue Lily, I traveled by myself. As night fell, fog and rain rolled in. The drive was terrible. Yes, I'm probably being over...

read more

Riley’s Birthday

Today, Riley turned three! This is such a precious time. Yesterday, we celebrated at the train park with friends and family. New family, neighbors, friends from MOPS, friends from work - past and present, blogging friends, and church friends... It was so special to be...

read more

Tween and Teen Style – Hair Styles

My girl J. She loves doing fun things with her hair. Bless her heart, I still don't know what to do with my own hair, so I am not any help in this area. She is so inspiring. If she sees a hair style she wants to try, we find a tutorial on Google. The blog, A Beautiful...

read more

Moms’ Night Out – Movie Review

Oh this movie! I laughed, I cried... Wait. Let me start at the beginning. At 3:30 pm last Thursday, I was laying out an outfit for my middle child's orchestra concert, cooking dinner, charging the video camera, and wistfully thinking of the evening ahead of me. At...

read more

Puerto Peñasco, Mexico – continued and finale

When I woke up the second day, I laid in bed blinking in the sunlight. I suddenly remembered that I was in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico! I jumped up and we all got ready to head to El Malecon (Old Town) to shop and eat. We had an amazing breakfast by the Sea of Cortez. The...

read more