Joyfully Weary

I'm such a lucky momma. My older three kiddos, with the help of Jeremy, surprised me with breakfast in bed yesterday. Jeremy made sure I knew to stay in my room and they all headed  downstairs early to make me bacon, eggs, and chocolate chip pancakes. It was so much fun hearing their happy chatter as they prepared their surprise.  Big Buddy is so past giving kisses to his Mama, but he knows is makes me happy so once in awhile he will amuse me. 💓 They day before they also worked together to make this spinning Lego heart. I love that they are such a team! The breakfast and the heart were wonderful, but them working together is what makes me beam with joy.  BabyZ gave his own gift and slept in super late! He didn't wake up until after my breakfast was served...and then he helped me eat some of my chocolate chip pancakes 😉 He was convinced that all the candles meant it was somebodies birthday and started to sing "Happy Birthday". The old...

This past Christmas the kids made all their grandparents and aunts/uncles decorated wooden spoons. The were a big hit with all our family members and would also make a great Mother's Day gift or an end of year teacher's gift.  I  found the spoons at HomeGoods for around $4 but a similar set can also be found on Amazon . 

For the grandmas' gifts on mothers day we went the traditional route - a handprint craft.   These were inspired by this "tin ceiling tile craft " I did with my VBS kids last summer.  Our Supplies: cardboard (trimmed to size/shape preference), pencil, tacky glue, heavy duty aluminum foil, shoe polish, tissues, packing tape, scissors, and ribbon.  Step #1: use pencil to trace hand onto cardboard Step #2: cover hand prints with tacky glue. i also had the children add their initials. the boys also added claws - i almost said 'no' but figured their grandmas would get a kick out of it.  Step #3:  once the glue has completely dried, cover cardboard with foil and use eraser end of pencil to press foil around glue lines. Step #4: smear shoe polish on top of foil. use a tissue to remove any excess polish.  i found this shoe polish (in a pack of 3) at dollar tree Step #5: if you wish to hang your tile, cut a pi...

A weekly reflection inspired in part by Bob Bennett's song "Small Graces". " these are the small graces, the little moments when the miracles come... they are a reminder to the heart there is more to life than meets the eye... He is in the small graces.... small graces pointing me to the larger one... little glimpses of the kingdom come..." "... sometimes they slip by without notice sometimes they are very hard to see other times it's very clear when they are happening to me"  spinning in the street, big smiles, & frog boots outdoor bubble baths may day baskets  putting away winter socks to find a candy bar hidden underneath she asks to paint everyday a cookie baking date when she lets me braid her hair unique playground equipment, little giggles, & dizzy walks silly face, dirty legs, popsicles....a good ending to a spring day ...