Project 52: week 52 x2

This is what should be week 51 in our Project 52...but like I said last week, somehow I got a bit off.  So we'll just call this the "extra week" :) 

 

June 22-29, 2014

Sunday Snapshot:

Sunday is pizza night!

Every Sunday night we make pizza as a family.  We use this pizza dough recipe.  I try to make it during the week in the bread machine or on Sunday afternoon.  We used to make only big pizzas, but recently we started cutting the dough ball in half and making one big one for mommy and daddy and three personal pizzas for the littles.

 

Don't have a bread machine? Here is a great recipe to try.

 

We love creating our pizza and feel so guiltless eating it--especially since I use some wheat flour in it

 

 

 

 

Mr. Blue Eyes is teething!!

How can I sweep the floor with three toddlers?!?!  Build a fort, of course:)

They liked walking around the outside then we had a picnic under!

 

Love the moments they all do something together.  And this held their attention for quite a while!

I used to not let the kids sit in this stroller in fear that it would break.  But they always play so well with it together and it is especially cute how they push each other around in it.  So one day I'm sure it will break.  But they will have made some fun memories in the mean time:)

"Mommy, we're going to Wal-Mart. Declan, you can walk next to me and hold my hand."

We enjoyed time at a splash pad with friends this week!

Even Colt enjoyed the water this time!

Songs for Saplings

   

Have you heard of Songs for Saplings? 

We have owned this music for a couple years but have recently started enjoying it more now that Raelynn can sing along. 

I HIGHLY recommend either buying their CDs or downloading their FREE digital downloads HERE

It is a wonderful teaching tool to teach Scripture as well as reinforce some of the catechism questions.
It doesn't follow an exact catechism, but some of the questions overlap.

So generous of them to offer these resources to us for free!!!

 

My Mommy Minute: July 17

Hello friends,

How are you this week? Serving the Lord with gladness or struggling to survive the storm you are in?

Take encouragement from Mark 4:35-41, which is what I read this morning.  Though it may appear we are alone in the storm or just uncertain why God is allowing this storm to be present--be hopeful! God has not left us alone.  He is behind all the details of the storm and for His perfect reasons, He is allowing it in your life.  He could stop it at any time but part of His plan and your refining is that you walk through it.  Keep your eyes on Him-the author of life and ruler of the storm.  When we look at how big our God is it makes the storm seem so much smaller.

 

 

 

"I have decided that this act of mothering is my worship to Him right now.

Dying to self and delighting in them. 

There is failure and yes, it is messy and sloppy sometimes.

Yet forgiveness and grace and growing."

-Lovelyn Palm

 

 

This week's links:

Every single one of these can be read and applied by any woman, not just mothers!! 

Don't Settle For A "Quiet" Time at Crossway by Gloria Furman

 

Three Immodestly Dressed Women Walk Into A Church by Kimberly Suchta

Longing For Tomorrow and Missing Today's Treasures at True Woman by Courtney Reissig

Words from Crossway Daily Devotionals by Ann Voskamp

Cow Appreciation Day 2014

We have made it to the Chick-Fil-A "cow appreciation" day the last few years.  Who doesn't like to play dress up? And for free food??? Count us in.

We got our spots on and headed over to Chick-Fil-A to meet up with family.  We got our food to go and enjoyed it at Grandma and Tank's house because it was Friday, so it was our "swim and din" day!

They were all coming down the stairs dressed in their cow clothes I had to take the opportunity to capture this!

Elliana was the only one brave that would high five the cow!

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This was a selfie taken specifically to help show a headband I ordered from a fellow adoptive mama
check out her awesome hand made headbands, bows, and scarves for adults and children at HopeOne27 and also "like" her on facebook! She has adopted two children from Ethiopia and her business donates 20-30% of her sales to orphan care.

  Cousins!

here we are!!

 

Declan turns 2!!

We celebrated Declan's 2nd birthday on Sunday.  Remember last year, we celebrated Declan's birthday just three days after Elliana was home with just our immediate family.  This year was so much fun celebrating him turning TWO! He was so excited about his Elmo party and knew it was coming as I started to get decorations up.  He kept asking about it and anytime we asked him what he wanted for his birthday party he said "Elmo, stars" to us.  We thought it was cute because he would say it over. and over. and over.  Seriously--it was on repeat.
Finally I figured out that "stars" meant candles!! We saw a candle on a cake in a book a couple weeks ago and he pointed and said it once again, "Elmo, stars" so I had figured out where the "stars" came from. 

Declan's real birthday is not until July 17, so we plan to have a special day as a family.  Daddy is taking the day off work and we will do something fun.  So more about Declan and a look back at his years in a later post:)

We had the swimming pool set up in the back yard for the kids along with a sprinkler ball and the slide.  It was of course very hot outside, so the outdoor play didn't last as long as we had thought it would.  The kids played outside until lunch (homemade nuggets, tater tots, and corn on the cob) and then we did gifts, cake and a piñata.  It went well and Declan loved it!

Here are the photos:
 

 

 

 

 I wish I could've got a better picture of Declan with his cake.  For some reason his eyes always blink when I use my camera! He did such a good job of blowing out his candles all by himself:)

The awesome Elmo cake made by aunt Kacia!! It tasted AND looked great!

  Pinata fun!!

going for the candy!

  Enjoying the delicious cake!!!

Once everyone had left other than family, we took Declan upstairs to see his big present from his grandparents.  Mimi and Papa and Grandma and Tank got him a nice train table and tracks and little city set.  We found it on craigslist so we got a lot of different parts and pieces.  We are excited to have something that the kids can all use.  It will give us a fun family activity as we can help them build it!

 

And the decorations for those that care:)  Because that is part of the fun!

 

Elmo is SO easy for decorations! Just cut some eyes, nose and a mouth on anything red and you've got decorations.  We did a red theme and gave out elmo invitations that I cut out of paper.  Absolutely everything was DIY and so easy...

these pictures were the most expensive part of the décor.  But I always like to print the monthly milestone pictures for the first birthday party, and since last year was a bit busy I didn't do it.  So that added cost to it.

one table cloth covered the entire front door and this much of the backside.

Elmo balloons are at the dollar store!! The 2 here is from a foam set we have.

The topiaries I made out of tissue paper and I cut a dowel to the size I wanted, painted it red, and stuck it in a mason jar with glass stones and some green foam. 

The bags I made for the piñata and the piñata were great additions to the decorations.  I found the little elmo loofa at the store and just stuck him in a mason jar. We actually don't own anything elmo other than books, so I didn't have a lot to set out.

Made some large tissue paper balls and hung those around.  Super duper easy!

Perfect little smile....but closed eyes.  can't get both I guess! :)

 

Also just taped some extra photos of Declan on the cupboards:)