Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sent this video message to Pat when he was in Alabama for his first "final interview". It must have brought him luck! He starts on MONDAY!

WOO-HOO!!! We are so excited!!!!!!! (and relieved) More details to come. Right now, we are up to our eyeballs in boxes. :)

WFMW - Teapot Cake

Who would have thought that something like this...

could turn into something like this?

TA-DAH!!! Oh, the miracle of frosting, paper clips (for the handle and spout), and candy decor.

I found this idea for Abby's birthday cake on this website which was perfect for her little Princess Ballerina tea party. The girls absolutely loved it!


For more WFMW ideas, click here!

And to leave a "Gratitude Attitude" nomination - click here!

When life gives you lemons...you may get an award!

An overdue thank you goes to Heather (of Heather's Hodgepodge) who nominated me for this "Attitude of Gratitude" award a few weeks ago...

Cute, huh? I love blog awards!

Here's how to share the love:
* Put the logo on your blog or post
* Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an an attitude of gratitude
* Link to your nominees within your post
* Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award
(I'm tweaking this a little...)
* Share the love & link to this post & the person who nominated you for the award (Thanks again, Heather!)
* Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude

Now for the nominees -
If I may bend the rules just a bit, I was hoping that maybe my blog savvy friends out there could help me extend my nominations. I feel like I'm always passing awards to the same people - all of whom I love! But I would also love to hear about some "attitude of gratitude" blogs that aren't on my sidebar yet. So if you would be so kind as to leave a comment nominating a blog (along with the address), I will be sure to hop on over there and leave a comment letting them know you've nominated them so they can pick up their award. Thanks for your help! I'm excited to venture over to some of your favorite blogs.


How I've come to have a "gratitude attitude" -
It's a work in progress! I have to admit, when I first saw Heather's note about this award, I had to laugh. It had been a crazy day, and my attitude wasn't reflecting much gratitude. Still, the picture reminded me that even though Pat and I been handed our fair share of lemons over the last several months, we are moving in the right direction and trying to focus on the positive. As Thomas S. Monson said in the last General Conference,
"Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith."

I was first given that counsel to "be of good cheer" when I was a teenager, and I have often relied on those words when dealing with difficult situations over the years. "Be of good cheer and do not fear for I the Lord am with you" is just one of several verses in the scriptures that reminds us to be happy and grateful. Not that it's always easy. I have my days. We all do. We're only human. But when I put things into perspective, I am reminded of the many blessings in my life. My children, my husband, good health, safety, supportive family members and friends... And I have to say, I can always count on my kiddos to put things into perspective for me. They make me laugh and smile on a daily basis (between the fighting and whining and throwing tantrums in the grocery store). They remind me of what is really important and how much potential we have. How much we can learn and grow and experience in this life. And for that I am truly grateful.

Catching Up - Part 3 - Birthday Extravaganza!

Abby started making plans for her birthday back in February...seriously. She couldn't wait to turn FIVE! She wanted to make a birthday countdown poster at the beginning of April, so we did and then put it up on the refrigerator. It was a thirty day countdown, and she never missed coloring in even one day (without any reminders from me). She was that excited.

Abby's birthday breakfast - She requested Eggo chocolate chip waffles.

Birthdays are pretty much a week long event when it comes to the kiddos.
On the Saturday evening before Abby's birthday, we had her "family party" for which she requested chocolate cake. (She added those Pet Shop figures to the top as a finishing touch right before we started singing "Happy Birthday".)


Then on her actual birthday, we made a special trip to the Build-A-Bear workshop. As soon as we walked in, she spotted a pink teddy bear with white hearts that she had to have. She added the Hannah Montana theme song to its foot and picked out a frilly ballet outfit to dress it in...just "perfect for my Princess Ballerina party," she said.



Abby squeezing "Ballerina Bear" and Noah posing with "Air Bud".

Next up was the "Princess Ballerina" birthday/tea party. Abby loved her teapot cakes (yes, I made them)! She had so much fun with all of her little friends.




My sweet girl has now been FIVE years old for a whole week, and she is loving it. As for me, I don't think it's quite sunk in yet. Five already? Time really does fly.

Happy Birthday, Doodle! I sure do love you.

Catching Up - Part 2 - The Sombrero

After the book signing, we decided to go to our favorite Mexican restaurant. Abby was already in birthday mode since she knew we'd be having her "family party" later on that evening. As soon as we walked into Mexico, she said, "Mommy, I want to wear the sombrero for my birthday. Tell them, Mommy, okay?"

I was surprised. "You want them to sing to you and let you wear the sombrero? Are you sure?"

"Yes, Mom!" Abby says almost as if she's annoyed that I am asking such a question. "It is my BIRTHDAY."

"You are right, baby girl. It is."

After three more reminders from Abby throughout our meal, and two requests to the waiter, they finally brought out the sombrero and some yummy fried ice cream. The waitress dabbed Abby's nose with a chocolate covered spoon as they sang to her.



Of course, Noah wanted to dig in too, and Abby was nice enough to share with her little brother. Thank goodness!

Catching Up - Part 1 - The Book Signing

Wow! I have some MAJOR catching up to do. Between the book signing, substitute teaching, celebrating Abby's birthday, getting ready for our move, and trying to maintain my sanity, the past two weeks have been a bit of whirlwind.

And I have the pictures to prove it!

So instead of doing one ridiculously long blog post, I'm going to break it down. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, right?


Saturday, May 2nd - The big day! My table was set up right the front of the store. You couldn't miss me. :) I had a little Mother's day craft for the kids to do - tissue papers flowers, just the right size for a wrist corsage. The kids could also make cards for their moms. Quite a few people stopped by, and I signed/sold 15 books! Of course, most of those were purchased by family and friends...







Thanks for coming you guys! It meant the world to me.
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5/15 - Since this has been more like a "Photostory" week, I thought I'd link this post. Feel free to check out PART 2 and PART 3 too!
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Tomorrow is the BIG day!!!

My very first book signing for my essay "Welcome Home" (featured in none other than A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers is tomorrow at our local Barnes and Noble just in time for Mother's Day. The timing of it is pretty neat since it will be five years exactly from this coming Mother's Day that I brought Abby home from the hospital. In fact, that's where my Cup of Comfort story begins...

“So they’re going to let us take her home now?”

I can still remember the look on his face and the angst in his voice when my husband asked me this question. We had just signed a pile of discharge papers and were preparing to leave the shelter of the maternity wing, where we had been guided through everything from breastfeeding to diaper changes.

“I guess so,” I answered him with a nervous smile, as I gingerly placed the baby in her infant carrier and adjusted the straps to fit snugly around her. She looked so tiny in the giant car seat.

By hospital standards, we were ready to venture out into the cosmic world of parenthood on our own. We anxiously waited for an orderly to come in with a wheelchair and courteously push me out to the car, but after several minutes, there was still no one in sight. I finally assumed the wheelchair scenario was only something you see in the movies. Instead, my husband and I walked along the empty hallway and through the labor-and-delivery doors, infant seat securely in hand. Both excitement and apprehension followed us down the elevator and into the parking lot. I eased myself into the backseat as my husband carefully snapped our baby’s carrier into its silver base. Then he proceeded to drive at least ten miles under the speed limit the entire way home. As brand new parents, it’s safe to say we were feeling a bit under-qualified to take on the huge responsibility buckled in next to me.

Of course, if you want to read the rest (along with fifty other sincere, heartfelt, and humorous stories), you'll have to go on out and get the book. :)

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek