Mama(s) of the Week- Award Style!

Since this week is a very special week for me {I'm headed to the beach with 7 of my closest friends from college on Thursday!!}, I'm highlighting 7 of my friends and passing along this award from Leanne. Wow! Thanks, Leanne!

Here are the rules to share this award:

1. Post the award on your blog, and link to the person who gave you the award.
2. List seven things you love.
3. List seven blogs you love.
4. E-mail or comment on those blogs to let the people know you've given them the award.

Hmmm. Just seven things I love?
This should be easy, but it is hard! OK- shopping when I have money to spend and find what I need, rainy afternoons with a nap, sitting under an umbrella on the beach {have you noticed my fair skin??}, laughing- in general- like a good, belly-hurting laugh, listening to my husband's jokes {he is much funnier than yours truly; why do you think I married him?}, enjoying my children {not disciplining or teaching them- just enjoying their company} and sappy romantic comedies.

OK- now the EASY part! There are so many blogs that I love, but this week I am awarding this Kreativ Blogger Award/ Mama of the Week to 7 "Other Mamas" who don't have physical children, yet. Not that they aren't mamas by my standard, only in the technical reproductive they still have control of their bladder sense.

1) Laura at Do Not Stop Thinking of Life as an Adventure {the longest blog title in the world}.
Laura is one of my dearest and oldest friends. She is 5 months older than I am, so I can call her old! I've known her for such a long time that I have blackmail pictures of her handy- I mean anywhere. She's 3rd from the right here. You should definitely visit her blog for her awesome wedding tips. She got married in November in her temporary {*ahem* move home, puh-lease} hometown of Austin, TX {I was there- as a non-bridesmaid} and it was amazing- TRULY. She is also a phenomenal photographer!

2) Mary at Social Graces
Mary is somewhat related {my cousin married her sister}, but it feels like we are much closer than that. We've even tried to make up a pseudo name/ title for ourselves, but cousin-in-law-ish will have to do. Mary is a FAB-O designer in Tallahassee and she also doubles as drop-anything-to-help-my-new-niece Aunt Mary and a wonderful photographer. I can't wait to spend time together over the 4th! You've got to check out her designs and photography. She's also an excellent writer!

3) Hollie at Happenings in Holliewood
Hollie is a friend and sorority sister from college and has a FUN blog to read. It's all about her happenings with Janie- her Airedale Terrier. Hollie {and Janie} are so stinkin' creative! They always have a fun adventure with a short, furry perspective! You will love to check in on them all the time!

4) Amy at These are the Days of My Life
Amy is formerly a friend from work, but now she is just a wonderful friend! We aren't officially working together anymore, so I love being able to keep up with her through her blog. You have got to check out her posts highlighting her grandmother's small town newspaper happenings. They are too good to be true!! Hilarious! And Amy has gotten into some painting lately and her work is fantastic!

5) Sara from Trying to Survive Sin City... One Day at a Time
Sara and I graduated from high school together {for the record, if you know me, Laura and Sara- that would be 1/ 10th of our graduating class} and she also just got married last fall! She has the most fun story of meeting her dream guy and picking up and traveling cross country to live in Las Vegas! She's a die hard Alabama fan {I'll forgive her for that} and has a great Southern perspective living out west. Definitely a fun read!


6) Ivy at The Smith Family
Ivy and I are blog friends and she also lives in Tallahassee {do you and Mary know each other? You should!}. She just had a birthday this weekend, so Happy Birthday, Ivy and she has great stories. I loved her recent post about a local football coach. You should click over there and hang out with her for a while!

7) Shana at That's What She Said
Shana is one of my dear friends and sorority sisters. She wins the funniest blog title of most that I know. She is dry, witty and serious about her walk with the Lord. Did I mention she's also brilliant and a PA? She is one of the people that made me realize in college that you could still be rip-roarin' funny and be a Christian. She's the whole package and lives really close to our Christmas-baking-partner-in-crime Donna and I am super jealous! Drop by and tell her Hey!

Whew! Talk about a Click Fest this week! You can do it! You won't regret one single second of visiting these Other Mamas!

He is Risen! The Easter Post

How 'bout some chocolate? I'm sure that's what the Lord intended for Easter Sunday, right? Nothing like a hollowed out chocolate bunny ear or sugared up marshmallow to remind you of the miracle of salvation!
We know it's a worldly version of the real celebration, but we still do it- because I love chocolate! And what better excuse to party? I wish I could tell you I made a cross cake like Donna or tomb cookies like Darby, but I just stuck snickers and kit kats in plastic eggs this year. My lack of craftiness was compensated by the weather (and the fact that I the Easter Bunny gave the boys new trains, so they were happy)!

We had a glorious day here in Huntsvegas, so we were thrilled! Not since this Easter
had it been sunny, so we were excited for the sun (and the Son) and the warmth.

After our service, we were off into the wind to take our ceremonial picture in front of the flower cross at our church.
Will there be a day when we can plop our kids in front of a camera and tell them to smile and they DO IT? I'm not sure such a time exists...
We went out to Jason's parents' house to eat massive quantities of deviled eggs, veggies (hidden in cream of mushroom soup and fried onions) and ham until we couldn't hop around after eggs any more.
This is Jason's sister Carrie (and girls) minus her hubby who had to work (Boo! Hiss, even!).

Henry heard there was a bunny on the loose and he was bound and determined to find him.
That waskally wabit is not going to get away with his littering this year! Diesel and I will catch him!
We did actually see a real bunny hop through my in-laws' yard! It was great! He was not carrying any goodies, though, so he couldn't have been the real Easter bunny.

And, as is true to form if you have more than one child, there are plenty of cute pictures you can get of them individually:

But it's REALLY hard to get a picture of them in the same shot looking at you, much less pretending to be happy (one child is not even in focus below, so you know I'm reaching here). I think it's easier to get your children to sit still during church on Easter Sunday... wait- no... that's UNHEARDOFANDIMPOSSIBLE, so the picture thing is still your best bet.
You can't blame me for trying. I got nothin' frame-worthy, but I've got a King who is praise-worthy, so I'll take that as cause for celebration any day!
Hope you had a wonderful Easter!

You'd think this would be a post about Easter

But it's not. We did do some *mean* Easter egg hunting today and had a wonderful time with family, but I'll update that info {and hope for ONE good picture} tomorrow.

Today, we had a big bunch of family time at the house. I love those Saturdays when soccer games get cancelled and we don't have a birthday party to attend you get to relax. I have had one big project on my list for a while now and today was the day to tackle it.

Remember this Multi-Cultural Festival that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago? Well, it's still on- even though it was MOVED {danggit}- and it happens next weekend. There are 7 classrooms in our pre-school and each one focused their activities, performances, decor, etc on one continent. Ollie's continent is North America; Henry's is South America {our family is Western Hemisphere, Western Hemi only, apparently}. Henry's only class assignment was to bring in paper towel tubes for the rain sticks they are making. Wheesh! We can handle that. We go through those suckers like fruit snacks and wine bottles capri suns.

Ollie's big home assignment was to make a poster about a state that he chose. And he chose Texas- presumably because it's the size of a planet. I'm sure the size appealed to him and there was probably a cowboy or barbecue or something on the map.

I've been putting this durn poster off now for a while and was secretly THRILLED when I didn't have to have it in last month. But, SINCE I'M GOING TO THE BEACH AT THE END OF THIS WITH GIRLS!!!, I figured I'd go ahead and get this knocked out.

As much as Jason and I tried, begged, pleaded and threatened Ollie to help us, he did not care one iota about this poster. It was like we were trying to get him to watch HGTV. Or maybe a movie that we want to watch that does not include animation or talking animals.

We tried to lure him with the stickers, the glue, the scissors- anything- but NO! He would get into it for about 4.6 seconds and then he went on about his business with trains or something that makes sounds and has wheels. Here is Mr. Excited with the finished product. You can see the thrill exuding from his rolled eyes. Taking this picture was about as much time as he spent with the poster.I hope you can see the poster because I'm actually proud of it. The whole background is a state of Texas map and we highlighted the Texas state flag and flower (bluebonnet- thanks, Laura!), the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, the state capitol in Austin, the Alamo in San Antonio, Gruene Hall in New Braunfels {oldest dance hall in TX} and Johnson Space Flight Center, of course. {Jason and I have actually been to most of those places when we traveled all the time pre-children.} Then I put the cute little stickers all over and a bandana in the corner.

With all this work, and since I'm firmly anti-plagiarism, here's the By Line for Ollie's first big school project:
{As you probably know, Ollie is not his real name, so the real part on the poster looked normal.}
He's not getting any sort of a grade {can you imagine grades in pre-school??}, so I'm not too concerned. And I thought the other parents would get a good chuckle out of it.

I may do my kid's homework, but at least I'm honest about it. Until he gets to elementary school. Then I'll just have to lie...

Good Friday

His Choice
By Sharon Cumiskey

Nothingness, an endless void
Until He raised His voice.
All that ever will be – was!
Creation was His choice.

With life the seas were teeming,
He filled the sky and land.
Adam and his mate came last. Perfection was His plan.

A Tempter seeking victims
Connived to gain a soul.
In an instant all was lost,
Redemption was His goal.

He sent a plan through Moses,
The Law – to guide our lives.
Man fells short of God’s demand
To win His heavenly prize.

Now holiness is foreign
To mankind’s sinful heart.
Another way was needed
One Satan could not thwart.

God chose a teenage virgin.
Angle choirs rejoiced!He knit a babe within her womb.
Creation was His Choice.

The Son who grew with wisdom
Into a faultless man,
Sent her as a sacrifice.
Perfection was His plan.

The tempter sought this God/ man,
But lost as was foretold.
Sinless as a spotless lamb.
Redemption was His goal.

A plan so cruel and heartless,
The Cross – to bear all sin.
Christ chose to hang there for you.
That heavenly prize to win.

Still holiness is foreign
And mankind is still lost,
But Satan was defeated
By Christ’s death on the cross!

And the walls...

Come tumblin', tumblin'...

BEFORE

DURING (we won't call this after quite yet)And this is how our kitchen stovetop area looks right now. Hopefully there will be a big hole there soon! We're trying to determine if that is a load-bearing wall. We might be looking at our roof right there soon if it is...

Here's hoping this is going to be a "interior" re-model and not a sunroof addition to our home!