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family traditions...

by having a baby girl last February I knew that a new tradition was going to enter my home... the yearly homemade Easter dresses... I loved that my grandma made us matching dresses almost every year and I even have some still... so here is a sneak preview of this year's... and another little surprise is to come hopefully on Sunday(if I find time with my brother and Jayme in town)...

I think...

Jim Carrey came and stole my baby girl and left me with Ace Ventura...

a young love...

our weekend away went very well... it was fun being together just us, no kids, first time in almost three years... I feel that our love for each other has grown lots but we still have a long road to walk together... we are in chapter three or four... you know when the plot of the story thickens.... as far as Ted Tripp's conference... we are encourage, energized, rested, and at peace with our roles as parents... and since I waited all week to post this I can report our game plan is going well... Carter is doing much better at looking at Mama and Daddy's eyes when we are talking to him... and Daisy... well she is showing that she is testing the waters to learn her boundaries but... we are up for the challenge!... this is all part of learning!

just in time...

for our road trip to Dave and Jayme's... their church is having a parenting conference this weekend with the keynote speaker Paul Tripp... we are reading and studying his brother's book "Sheparding a Child's Heart" and really love it so far... seems as though it is sealing our parenting/discipline styles (if you will) in cement... I never thought this would be a struggle but it is sometimes hard to be on the same page since we grew up in very different homes... but God has drawn us together to a closer place in our almost three years of parenting... hope we learn more this weekend and are encouraged... so (back to the magazine) I am now a subscriber to Martha's Living mag again (after a two year hiatus)... I just love the pictures so much!... and the gardening issue... perfect for dreaming about my new yard to be.......

"wibbits" is what he calls them...

yeah I am talking about those too cute for words boots that I spent full price (14.99) for at Target.... I never see them on sale, clearance, or in thrift stores... it was worth it cause he wants to wear them everywhere and since it has been rainy or snowy for the past few weeks... they are somewhat gender neutral so hopefully Daisy will wear them too! money well spent! (yeah I am still trying to justify it)

a new type of peek-a-boo...

she likes to still be able to see you when she plays peek-a-boo... so this piece of cheese(wooden of course) works great!

getting refocused...

I am organizing my life today... catching up on phone calls... finishing Daisy's scrapbook... making list... setting goals... you know all the good stuff in that life needs retouching... and I am starting a new adventure... me the non-reader is joining a book club tonight!... yeah for new adventures!

decorating a new home....

brings so many ideas... love the old mirrors and vintage wood in this home... love open shelving... love the neutral with the red... I can smell the fresh air just by looking at the pictures of this home... here is a fun inspiration
... just love having inspiration all around me!

the Daisy party...

I had sooo much fun... a little stress but I had dreamt about this party since this magazine hit the shelves four or more years ago... I had help and inspiration from many... the use of the very cool, old house my mother- in-law works in... the soulemama for her inspiration for Daisy's Birthday crown and my friend Heather who made Daisy's matching shoes... Iparty for the balloons because I just didn't want to make another thing... Jennier and Bella for coming to ice the cookies... Carter was so wonderful as mama was busy and he couldn't eat the sugar!!!... and my wonderful husband who did endless amounts of dishes and allowed me to be crazy all week and make a mess! It truly was what I had dreamed of and hoped for.... everything went smoothly and I hope she appreciates it when she grow up... now I have more scrapping to do... wow that sounded like an Oscar speech!

she's one!

I can hardly believe it's been a year... plans are in full swing for her daisy party... I'll be busy momma today... last trip to Target and the craft store.... I hope!

gotta love....

"Jim from the office" hair

something we have been focusing on....

a new space to decorate... a little girl room to dream about... vintage tile to drool over (sorry I just LOVE it!)... gardens to plant... a porch to rock on... ah... did I say focus?... or "un-focus?..... introducing our new home in a little more that two months!

our "Valentimes"...

since I worked last night and I am working tomorrow today was not an easy day to celebrate our love for each other... Kevin and I did have a wonderful evening in Boston on Sunday seeing U2 3D at the Imax and eating at Giacamos in the North End... we even missed the snow squalls... the kiddos loved getting Valentines int he mail... these ones are from my grandma... I see she has a stash of "vintage" cards somewhere... I love them!... like would pay $$$ for them... I still have Carter's from last year pinned to the mirror in the nursery... Oh and today marks 3 years of this love being a part of our lives!... still going strong as my boyfriend!

I am trying to keep it, however, my house is a mess!... sorry babe I know how much this bugs you!... my focus has been on Daisy's 13t birthday party... the 2peas photography class... work- took a preceptor workshop and have started helping out in a different unit with new nurses who need a little guidance now that their off orientation... trying regroup and to take this week (only working my 24hours) and trying to catch up on friends and helping Em and Sean move home(well close enough)!

talk about a focus....

check this out! this husband/father is amazing!!!!... I am just addicted to his site... he has such a healthy focus in this difficult situation... it is inspiring to read the thoughts of this man as I deal with difficult family and stories with sad endings everyday at work... I am amazed with his faith as well as his wife Tricia... their baby girl Gwyneth is so beautiful and growing everyday!... please join me in praying for this family every day... I am praying this is a happy ending and we rejoice with this young family shortly

word of the year....

taking the idea from Ali Edwards (one of the best scrapbooking/ life artist blogs i read) I chose a word for the year.... drum roll please....

F O C U S: 1. a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity: 2. Physics. a point at which rays of light, heat, or other radiation, meet after being refracted or reflected. 3. Optics. c. the clear and sharply defined condition of an image. d. the position of a viewed object or the adjustment of an optical device necessary to produce a clear image: in focus; out of focus. 4. Geometry. (of a conic section) a point having the property that the distances from any point on a curve to it and to a fixed line have a constant ratio for all points on the curve. 6. Pathology. the primary center from which a disease develops or in which it localizes. –verb (used with object) 7. to bring to a focus or into focus: to focus the lens of a camera. 8. to concentrate: to focus one's thoughts. –verb (used without object)

...just trying to not be so distracted and focus on the things that matter... God and his desire for me, time spent with my husband not being distracted and to focus on my children and their joy, growth, abilities, I want to be with people and make them feel like they matter... shop with a list and focus on it... make a present and finish it... sell our condo and know that it is God working and not us... I am off to do a quick scrapbook page about my word... lata