Baileyandme2 - Where I Live and Create

Tales From Home.

Filed under Family, Home Decor, Thrift by Jenny on September 9, 2011 at 11:18 am {18 comments}

||Miscellaneous pictures and thoughts from our home today. A lot of nothing and something.||

The other day I was reading in the playroom, and I looked over to see Elle doing something odd with her dolls. They were hugging and dancing with this man…

I said a bit nervously (because, you never know…),
“So what`s going on there?”

She said, her face just glowing with a smile,

“The children are being with Jesus.”

(Don`t you just love how Strawberry Shortcake is praising the Lord? And how Jesus has his hand lovingly around PollyPocket?)

I just LOVE to hear and see my girls becoming acquainted with Jesus. And the conversations about Him are often funny.

Yesterday, we were driving to the Dr to check out Laila`s mosquito bites that just aren`t healing– we were just turning into the driveway to the office– and I said to Elle,

“If you talk to God, pray for Laila`s ouchies, will ya?”

Elle said matter a factly,

“Mom, the DOCTOR will take care of it.”

“Well, you can still tell Him about it anyway”,

I said.

Then she said,

“Mom. I think, let`s just let the DOCTOR take care of it.”

She also thinks it`s really funny to sing the Little Brown Bed lullaby like this:

When night time comes

and my prayers are said

I go to sleep in my little brown bed

and God DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF ME!

Then she lays over on her bed and just dies giggling, because she knows I don`t like it when she sings it that way.

My first thought is how horrified that she would sing about God that way. Then I wonder… God understands kids and their minds– does it just make Him smile just a little bit too?

My favorite quote of all time:

Be pretty if you can,

be witty if you must,

but be gracious if it KILLS you.

~Elsie De Wolf

Yes, I wish my handwriting was cooler.

Have a dark corner that drives you nuts like this one did me? I found adding the green-ness of a live plant is a very lively thing for an ugly area.

The plant was Walmart clearance (1.79), the flower pot was 1.99 at IKEA and the label you could cut and glue onto it, from about anywhere.

If the girls get up before I am ready for them, I started giving them a warm “milky”, a pile of books, and a soft blanket to babysit them for a half hour or so. They practically think it`s Christmas– if you make a big deal about it.

The other morning I had this link playing, it must have put Elle in a worshipful mood because I looked over– and she was just sitting there, closing her eyes, and emotionally reading her Bible.

(And by the way, play that link, and leave it running– it`s THE BEST!)

Not that she can read or anything.

Our family is loving:

Make a chicken/rice/black beans/cummin type meal in the oven, then top with all the fresh garden goodness that your garden is putting out right then. Also add CILANTRO and sour cream. Low fat kind, if you must. It is so FRESH and delish.

Do you ever notice how much of your life, you LIVE at your kitchen table?

Art work.

PLAIN PAPER only, neither of my girls will use a coloring book even though we have lots.

Does your little girl ever wear a shirt, you ask? It becoming a bit of a theme isn`t it? the other day I got a text from one of my best friends and I can`t remember it word for word, but part of it went something like this:

“…Hey, I miss you. I drove past your house earlier today and saw Laila looking out the window with no shirt on.”

I laughed and laughed– next it`ll be the talk of the town.

G took me along to a Craigslist seller that he bought some school stuff from.

I ended up buying this awesome leather and aluminum chair for $5. I almost got whiplash from grabbing it so fast.

Thar she sits.

Working on stuff with her.

I also snagged this for $5. Nope, it`s too old to have a CD player in it– just radio and cassette tapes for this old girl. You know what? That`s why I like it so much. I have picked up some of the praise tapes (.25) that I listened to when I was little. I LOVE to give my girls stuff to love, that I loved when I was little. If feels really quality somehow.

Splurged a little more on this industrial lamp from that same seller. I bought this lamp to re-sell but– aw– I love her, and am planning to keepsie her at this point in my life.

Pretty face she has.

Ever have a down day, where you have no energy, but long for connection?

I picked out some pretty stamps at the post office (big to me), and splurged on some special note cards, and then created a spot to get in touch with a few precious friends by mail– that GOD laid on my heart that day.

Make address labels from cut-outs from your favorite catalog (plus glue)… rip out and include a magazine page that made you think of your letter`s recipient… write silly notes on the front… go wild. It`s fun to be creative.

It has proved to be very renewing for me.

Corn day. A good day, but one I do not care to do over.

Labor day weekend at a friends house.

~~~

I need to go. Always remember:

~jenny

Zoo Weekend.

Filed under Family, Humor by Jenny on September 5, 2011 at 8:58 am {10 comments}

Because it`s a holiday… and I dont feel like hitting the laundry from our weekend away with old friends (fun times, especially “just the girls” sitting around talking, part of the time)….

…I will procrastinate and hang up a few pictures from my side of the family`s little vacation.

My Miller family usually goes camping, but no one was into the hard work of tent camping this year. Blech.

So, we decided to get Priceline hotels– live it up and do a few special things: like go to the Columbus zoo, eat out at good places, and play at the hotel pool. We ended up at a veeery nice hotel for $50 a night. We pretended (pretended, being the key word) we are swanky, and had such a blast.

Here are 4 of the grandkids the one night before we went “out” (to Chipotle across the street).

Elle, Gracie, Isaac and Laila.

Petite Gracie and her very tall cousin Elle.

So, Jason… You been farming long?

Really.

No?

Okay, I thought maybe.

My brother Jordan looking lonely.

My mom and dad.

Little kiddies always get lots of love/attention with these boys. Jason, that`s some sweet Uncle Pride there.

Well, unless they`ve had too much of them then… not so much.

Small sidekick.

The Vinsters

and

The Brothers

likey the burritoes.

It wasn`t until we got this film developed– that we noticed mom and dad`s guardian angels like Chipotle too.

Not to be sacrilegious but I couldn`t resist.

At the zoo. Not many pictures of animals– mostly people.

Thanks for the shoulders, man.

And the arm was great as well…

Elle talked for DAYS about seeing the PINK FLAMINGOS. So we stopped here for awhile and she got her fill.

Cute headbands.

God really must have a sense of humor.

HOW this can be “rest”– I don`t get it. It`s cool if you want to pull up a reed-thin leg to sleep, but twist your neck around and burrow it in your back? Now that`s creative.

My 3 people.

We watched a show put on by animals, all from a homeless animals shelter. It was cool to watch, but the story line was a bit rough. We heard a lot of,

“We need to get the animals ready for the promo shoot! MURPH, MURPH, (run over here) MUFFLE, MURPH, promo shoot, MURPH (run over there), MUFFLE, promo shoot”.

(In case you didnt get that, the sound system was really bad.)

anyway, we gathered the show about them getting ready for a promo shoot somewhere.

Brought coolers for lunch. Nothing as fun as a great lunch in the outdoors and something to drink on a blazing hot day.

Laila is out. Did I mention it was a hot day? I also wore flip flops and walked on blisters the last hour and a half.

Here is my Elle, waiting to get her ticket for the carousel. Can I just say, I know her hands and fingers? Here, she is saying with them,

I am so excited, and I am a little nervous too, but just very very excited.

My heart swells with LOVE over this picture. I love my people.

Restored vintage carousel, very cool details.

See.

Jason, it`s not a senior picture shoot.

Joy, I can still see you.

Jordan looks to Vinnie for wisdom and advice.

Wet boys just got off a water ride.

Put those fetching smiles A-way!

My 3 sisters: Jacinta, Joy and Julana <3

the K fam.

And now, I`d like to play a little game called:

WHERE`S WENDALL?

SOMEONE is very far from home.

~~~

I have a lot more pictures, so maybe one day maybe I`ll do a Zoo Weekend part2.

**Thanks for all you all had to say on the last post. I read and re-read each comment. Thanks for the honesty. It was really encouraging for me to hear your input.

jenny

Blogs and Women.

Filed under Inspirational, discussions by Jenny on August 30, 2011 at 10:04 am {49 comments}

What to write about today?

Oh wait, here we go already…

You can`t really judge a blogger by the topics they choose to blog about. Sometimes my most “empty” posts are written when I have so many other heavy things on my mind. I want something light– because I am feeling all other areas of life so deeply.

Then one day, I might have the most perfect of days, read an article somewhere, or a friend`s Facebook post, and have the urge to write about, something random, say, sorrow.

Sometimes I write things that in retrospect (or days later) make me feel like a hypocrite. But you plod on.

I had an interesting talk awhile back with a few other ladies that blog, and we all said blogging can really make you feel naked. People assume they know you or what you are like, or where your heart is, when it comes to priorities, interests etc. When really, a blog is one-dimensional. You can only see one part of the writer very clearly. There is a lot of spotlight area left unshined on. If you think a blogger looks perfect, has it all together… (and I dont mean me anymore, I mean blogs in general) yell this at the top of your LUNGS!

NO. ONE. HAS. IT. ALL. TOGETHER.

{I believe, every woman hides a secret area of pain at some point in her life.}

There that was freeing.

I have long let go of:

How am I coming across?

And just let this place be my scrapbook of life. Where ever whim or Holy Spirit choses to take my mind that day.

Lately, I have heard SO many people say,

“I have completely stopped reading blogs! They make me feel so inadequate.”

And here I will admit that I probably never felt as unholy as I did when I first read Ann Voskamp`s blog. <Now I think I should delete that sentence, but I`m going to leave it.

Honesty is golden. Or is it silence?

But anyway, (I`m not sure how to put this into words…) because this whole thing of comparing is kinda a LIFE lesson. And I guess I will just share how I see it for me.

I can spend my whole life viewing a 100 women and seeing the 1,000 things they have, that I do not. And somehow everything I see, in my mind is making up the perfect “package woman”. But that`s not fair. to me! I can`t BE the perfect parts of 100 other women.

If I wasted a day being sad beating myself up that I am not a:

playful mom like she is

a coupon clipper that feeds a family of 4 for 75.00 a month. (impossible!)

a hardworking canner and freezer of vegetables like she is

a creative soul like she is

a deep knowledge of the Bible like she has

in touch and in love with her husband like she is

close friends with her grandma like she is

beautiful with legs up to here like she has

able to speak and inspire in a public way like she does

gifted with a social network like she has

popular and stylish like she is

in touch with GOD like she is

kind, patient and humble like she is

ready to serve the needy and those not in her social class like she does

ready to hike, bike, and run a marathon in a moment`s notice like she does…

~~~

(Life should not feel like this.)

~~~

…You get the picture. And btw, I just made all those up– but isn`t it funny how when you read each one, a name came to your mind?

We all are given a gift to give to the world. Something that inspires and points others to God.

Jealousy is poison, it can cause us women to not even enjoy each other, or bless each other.

We have to know and believe WE have something special to offer. Spending time with Jesus and sitting in His presence and asking Him to love you from the inside out, is a great time to ask,

“God, what did you bless ME with?”

Giving your gift and being confident in it, isn`t pride. Pride is when you don`t know who the Author of your gift is. Pride is when you keep it to yourself and don`t give it to others. Giving your gift, is laying it in your open palm and holding it outstretched, for the other person to take. Take it our leave it, it`s up to you, but I am going to give it.

Now. I have shared with you. Will you share with me? I am going to ask you to leave a comment stating 1 gift that YOU in your own special way can give to the world. And then take the time to thank God for that gift. I went first.

Love you! jenny

Trying to Post.

Filed under Family, Humor by Jenny on August 30, 2011 at 9:48 am {2 comments}

Laila: “Look at mom over there, looks like she`s trying to get together a blog post.”

Elle: “Ha! Awesome. Can you imagine all the cool stuff we’ll be able to get away with today?!”

~~~

Maybe one day I’ll get something together here.

Fall is coming! I can feel it. (Ten smileys)

Why is my comment box so light and so tiny? I have no idea. Also, I hate that it`s at the top of the post. I DO adore comments (in case it looked otherwise.) Someday we’ll get that all fixed. I did a little research, and it`s not just “clicking a button” somewhere, it`s reformatting a code of some sort.
WHY do they have to make it so hard. WordPress, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.

Guest Room Re-do.

Filed under Home Decor, Thrift by Jenny on August 25, 2011 at 8:36 am {12 comments}

Quickly, is the key to today`s post. I had pictures of the guest room re-do uploaded, so I thought I`d quick post them so I can move on to better things. I painted this room about 2 months ago, so it`s all a little “over” in my head.

Here is the room before we moved in. My sisters and I painted it a paler pink before we moved in.

The room had a wall to wall chalkboard in it– that was cool…. yet annoying… messy, and not cool at all. It was time for it to GO.

Their room was let go so long it was dusty, unorganized, seriously a train wreck of a room.

And forget that crib– no one sleeps in it anyway!

To make a long story short, (because it would be the boringest long story ever) I switched beds with the guest room and the girls room. Now the biggest bed was in the biggest room! Duh. It made such a difference. Plus, I purged and organized for the girls in their “new” room. Way better– it helped that they have a CLOSET in their new room. Score.

This guest room is the only room in our whole house that I splurged on paint. I knew just the color I wanted and Sherwin-Williams had it. I picked up a day at the restaurant– and so that`s the useless information of where I got the money for this project.

Here is the room after. ^^ I can honestly say I am so so happy with it.

Saved my ladder for this room.

I love the radiators in our house. One of my favorite “quirks” of it.

A shot across the bed. I bet that was real explanatory for you.

Looking over at the dresser, where I can now store junk galore. Kidding. All the drawers are pretty bare as of now.

If you need a lamp, just put a string of white lights in a jar.

I took this picture for the cool label on it.

A great thing to have in a guest room is drinking water. why? So your guests don`t have to gather their housecoats protectively around them, and tip toe across the hall nervously for a drink of faucet water, all the while brushing against you in the dark as they pass you slivering (shivering+slithering) back to bed, completely not even owning a housecoat for less exposure.

Ok. well that`s the end of this before and after.

“You have no idea how annoying my mom is when she paints. She looks terrible all the time and she talks louder too.”

“Tell our mom to put away the paintbrush! We are sick of living on cheese and warm honey milk!”

Come girls, let`s go read a book.

jenny

Rest, Peace, and Comfort in Jesus.

Filed under Inspirational, discussions by Jenny on August 22, 2011 at 3:39 pm {8 comments}

Mark 6:31 And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while.” For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

(via)

Isaiah 57:1-2 The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; And devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from evil, He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, Each one who walked in his upright way.

Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Exodus 33:14 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”

Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:9-11 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience.

~~~

What emotions do these photos evoke in you?

I don`t know why, but I felt lead to post a few promises from Jesus today. I think concentrating on verses like this: can slay fear, worry, and stress. Satan is the author of those emotions. Maybe you can claim one of them today. And always remember– sadness, feeling down, and experiencing disappointments is not wrong. They are natural emotions. Jesus wants to experience those with/for us too.

Rest in HIM today.

I hope some of that made sense.

That`s all.

Love, Jenny

Puttering Week.

Filed under Family, Home Decor, Thrift by Jenny on August 17, 2011 at 3:33 pm {10 comments}

What is puttering? I like to think of it as joyfully playing house. You know, taking time to plop down with the girls for no real reason during the day. Going from room to room, to act out on all those ideas that have been festering in your head the whole long week before.

This week felt so slow compared to some of the other ones I have been having. Good times were had by all.

Here are a few pictures of nothing much (as you will see by the next 2 pictures) that I snapped this week.

You never know what you will find at Walmart!

No, this picture is not to show you how cluttered my fridge is. I found these faux push-pin MAGNETS at Walmart.

They really kinda made my day when I found them– plus I needed them badly. Plus, plus.

Here is one of the inspirations I worked on one night when G had a meeting. Painting this superugly door of ours.

I LOVE Sherwin Williams mis-tints. Fifty dollar paint cans for ONE DOLLAR? (ONE DOLLAR!! you can`t even buy a pack of gum anymore for $1) Yes, please!

I love to mix the colors myself– then end up with high-end, quality paint for cheap. Let`s just say I have a nice little stash-io in the one room in my basement.

Fresh flowers.

It is SO amazing how cleaning up an area, and picking a few little flowers and putting them here and there, is just utterly transforming to an area. I am a fan.

I mean, what is more unglamorous than a plain old black eyed susan? Yet they still “speak”.

Postcards are fun for anywhere everywhere as well.

Here is another BEFORE.^

The fireplace was looking pretty bad. It was painted when we moved in with a very low grade paint (learned my lesson there.)

Just started painting.^

Again, I mixed a little paint together to get the texture color I wanted.

AFTER. ^

The wall and the mirror also got re-painted– various shades of white on white. Very fun to watch it come together. Looks so much cleaner and prettier now.

Here is Laila at Anthro last weekend.

sigh.

Every part of that store is breath-tak-ing!

I wish I would have a friend there to absorb it with. Instead, I had my trusty, and very whiny, (but oh, so darling) Laila with me… The color schemes were so incredible. For anyone who likes decor/colors/design, Antho is the “Mecca”.

I saw light goldenyellow floors, aged and scratched to perfection. Lots of colorful, yet muted tones. Pale gold, the muted green my grandma had in her kitchen when I was little, rust, turquoise, lemon, navy. Botanical to the max. Herbs in colorful clay pots. Heavy industrial influence. Cameras, vintage fans, magnifying glasses, old books, big old lights like my grandpa Wenger had in his office– 30+ years ago. Heavy, aged, silver lettering. Ruffles and cardigans and blouses in cool colors like pink and pale gold.

sigh.

I want to live there.

But. BACK to reality.

Another thing that happened this week was this print arrived in the mail for me. I was lucky enough to WIN it from Arielle`s (A Beautiful Journey) giveaway. I like it so much, and it fits in my playroom perfectly. Feeling quite blessed, yes.

It even had a little message with it. It`s like a I also got a free autograph.

Had some close friends over for a nice supper last night.

Did anyone else ever notice it`s so HARD to have people over and be a good host when you have little kids? I love having people over but honestly, I hardly do anymore. Last night was fun again…

I dropped this lovely little salt shaker a few days ago, and the antique lid just busted right off of it. I think it makes a sweet little bud vase now.

~~~

I came upon this story earlier this week. I thought of her for days. Prayed for the author of this blog many times. Her blog even inspired a long conversation at a coffee shop one night this week. I SO admire the way she SPEAKS OUT for the needs of what the world sees as “the least of these”. Moving story after story on her blog. Through ADOPTING, GIVING, and PRAYING we can all help heal these little kids.

~~~

(Don`t you love how her hair looks beautiful and fluffy, but mine is all sweaty looking? NOT COOL.)

ANOTHER huge highlight of my week was meeting Miss Clarita. She was traveling through the area with her little family and wondered if I`d meet her for a short meet and greet. (No, she didn`t really call it that.) I was very happy to! I will admit there was an awe factor there for me, I admire her blog immensely and find her soo inspiring. It ended up my girls and I got to meet her whole family. And her and I, sat in a gazebo and talk for what seemed like 5 min. while our girlies played together. I think we both wished for a LOT more time, but I counted it a real treat to get to meet her. She proved to be a genuine kindred spirit and I felt I could be 100% myself with her. (A must in my book.)

Here is Laila, Elle, Zoe and Olivia.

Three of them could be triplets. (If the one was big for her age.)

Galen saw this picture and said,

“It looks like 3 Lailas.”

The 2 oldest were a bit shy, but the 2 littlest were little hams (monkeys).

It was so cute, about 10 minutes after we met up, we were walking across a parking lot, and I looked over and saw Laila playfully pinch Olivia`s elbow and say,

“I like you.”

There is Miss Zoe in her famous dress.

I want to cozy up my livingroom without spending many $. I was hugely inspired at Anthro, and here are my items so far that inspire the “look” I want.

I found the prints at a thrift store for 50 cents for the both of them. (!) I want to paint 2 frames pale yellow to frame them in.

The white flower is inspiration of a pillow I want to make replicating it. Probably a linen fabric with a larger version of that white flower sewed onto the top.

The yellow drawer pulls are for…. something.

The 2 jars and the grey thread represent colors and textures I want to incorporate.

I would really like to buy an old pale yellow couch or love seat– so if you see one?

I told myself I can`t even think of joining Pinterest (however one does that) until I “tend” to my blog. Well, now I posted. It looks so fun. Only time can tell.

Anyway! That`s what I had on my mind this week…..

What`s on YOUR mind? Any topic at all.

Jenny

Repurposed Drink Table.

Filed under Family, Home Decor, Repurposed Junk, Thrift by Jenny on August 8, 2011 at 10:42 am {11 comments}

AFTER.

~~~~~

The other night, I was paging through the latest Country Living…

And came across this picture (above). I was so inspired, I got up from the couch, ran upstairs, grabbed a few things, came back downstairs, put it all together, and started drilling. I`ll show you what came out of it and how EASY it was!

{And by the way– how much do I love Country Living? This old home re-do was spellbinding. Call me, CL.}

To make a (side bar) Drink Table you will need:

electric drill

heavy duty stapler

fabric or pretty paper

2 screws

a stool (or any other kind of “legs”– get creative

a tray, shallow crate, butcher block, etc. (again think outside the box!)

Here is Blondie with mine. It was SO much fun to make.

Just screw tray to stool, staple on burlap and PRESTO! (Is presto only for food? I may be confused…)

I am pleased as punch that out of a radiator and this drink table, I have a made a buffet area. My kitchen is a galley kitchen (teeny tiny) and so a place to serve food is a happy place for me.

A few perty tangs.

Glasses: 61 Surplus

Pitcher: IKEA

Burlap: Joann Fabrics

Tray: Target

Stool: Antique Mall

Flowers: my garden

From the top of the tray, looking down.

Let`s do that again!

The idea is to serve hot food above.

Where are the girls when I make stuff?

Right with me. After I took these pictures, they wanted to try the drink SOOOO bad.

Ok, sure.

I said (being stupid),

“Do my princesses want a really, really pretty, special drink?”…

…They both took a sip from the glass glasses.

Elle yells,

“It really doesn`t taste any different, mom!”

Laila crowed,

“It`s WATER.”

Yeah, cant fool them. Ever.

Here is another cool idea I found online. See the red crate in my header above (back behind the recliner)? That would also be a great idea for a drink cart. SO MANY ways you could do this…

Take it away, my friend!

The Par-tay.

Filed under Family, Thrift by Jenny on August 4, 2011 at 2:29 pm {13 comments}

I`m not going to promise anything too thrilling here today. I have this thing lately where I feel a little lost when it comes to blogging. Why do I do it? I don`t even know. Do I feel the need to post an online diary? Nope. Do I like attention. Not really. Is it to make a connection with other women? Yeah, that`s part of it. Share my life and my faith in Jesus with others? Yes. I really like the art/self expression part of it, so I`d say that`s a big part of it for me. Likely.

Anymore, it seems like EVERYONE blogs– and I mean everyone. So why do you blog? And do you ever feel a little lost and uninspired like I do right now?

Thank you. Thank you for the nodding heads.

(And I see you with your head shaking in pity.)

Sooo….

Elle`s birthday. G and I woke her up. I was going to stick a BUNCH of balloons and streamers all over her room for her to wake up to. But then Scrooge Mom kicked in, and I lost the urge because I thought of how I`d have to get in the car (too hot out) and drive to Walmart… and also all the work it would be to clean it up.

So we gave her kisses instead, and she said she liked that WAY better anyway. Not really, but pretend.

Waking up face. I`m excited mom, but I just can`t see straight yet.

Laila: A sandwich box for a birthday gift… who`s ever have thunk it! Poor Elle, she seems so happy with it.

We had Elle`s grandma and cousins to the park a block from our house for a party. Yay, for leaving the house alone and taking the mess to the park. We just loaded the red wagon up and hauled `er down…

Party table. Easy just a few trinkets from Target and we’ll call it a party.

I said before I was going to do a tutorial on her birthday shirt that I– cough!– made. Well, all bragging aside, if you ever make one, make sure the sequins are WASHABLE! Apparently these were not. The first time I washed this shirt all the pretty sequins turned to clear plastic, the color washed off. It looked so horrible and was so sad, that I threw the whole thing in the trash before I could have a chance to be too sad about it.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Ready for the little people.

My mom and sisters…

The little party fun-havers.

~Isaac, Gracie, Elle, Jacinta and Laila~

Tire swing. (Favorite caption ever.)

All the kids looks winded. Like they are just whipped. Now we’ll fill them up with cake and punch– oh, boy.

Our 4 year old Elle, who we love and adore.

Rainbow cake.

The children playing “Ruth and Boaz”– not really– it`s a candy throw.

Umbrella from Gracie. HAPPY ELLE.

Since we are talking about children, I thought I`d throw a few of my recent thrift store finds on too. If you know me, you know I LOVE kid`s clothes. I would love to be a kid`s designer in my next life. Heaven? Unless we just wear robes…

But anyway. A few “hits” lately made me realize again how much fun thrifting can be.

Red Gap top: $1 @ Other Mothers

White skirt: had since forever

Red Gap shoes: $3 Other Mothers

Red flower pin: $3 Joann Fabrics

Yellow shirt: $3 Other Mothers

Grey skirt: $4 Walmart clearance

Gold Gap shoes: $3 Other Mothers

Headband: $1 clearance at the mall

.50 cent clip-on earring makes a great broach. I LOVE to make stuff with old baubles.

Guest room is done! Photos one day when I get one of those round Toits.

Haha, corny joke.

Going camping today for the weekend! Enjoy yours, Jenny

Elle is 4!

Filed under Family by Jenny on July 16, 2011 at 9:29 am {9 comments}

Elin (Elle) Julia

Born July 16, 2007

I`m not even sure what to write. This picture brings back memories of how I felt when I first met Elle. They are so intense and happy– it`s like I can`t even contain the memory.

We waited so long for her. It might not be correct to say another person can MAKE you happy– but my baby Elle did.