Happy Birthday Big D!

Yesterday was my better half's birthday. We celebrated with me in the bed with a stomach virus. Isn't that nice??? Hopefully, we'll get a chance to celebrate tomorrow when he is off for the day.

Happy Birthday, Derek!

Derek and I met (over the phone) the day after his 17th birthday. That means we've been together 21 years now! That's hard to believe. I always tell him I knew him back when he was all elbows and knees (oh my, he was SO skinny), but sooo cute! I still remember the outfit he wore the first time he came over to my house to watch television (I couldn't date yet). It was a pink and blue plaid shirt with acid washed jeans and completed by snake skin cowboy boots. Oh yeah!!!

I can honestly say Derek is everything I wish I was...handsome, smart, a loyal friend, has the sweetest heart of anyone I know, incredibly nice, generous, funny, athletic...I could go on! I'm a better person for having been his wife. I'm so thankful God brought us together at such a young age!

I love you, Der Bear. Happy Birthday! He's is going to LOVE this post (hee hee)!

Wanna Know What Makes Me Happy?

On this foggy, cloudy Tuesday, I am dreaming of Ella Grace in this...

Her Easter dress.
It makes me SO happy!

I had spotted a beautiful smocked pink dress in this adorable local boutique and decided not to buy it because it was a bit pricey. I looked online and could have gotten it cheaper, but by the time I paid shipping it would have been about the same. So, I went back to the boutique ready to splurge on the pink dress when I saw this magnificent blue creation that had not been there the week before! I think I may have gasped out loud when I saw it. It is SO precious! She tried on both dresses and I just couldn't pass up this blue. I mean she looked like a princess (plus it was not as expensive as the pink one and I really loved it so much more)!

I love the blue color and the white sash. It is SO Spring! I especially adore this lace trim that is peeking out from the hem line. To die for!!!

And, look at the back. It may just be the best part. Of course she will have to wear a big white bow in her hair and I'll tie this bow in the back better. We'll get some lace socks and beautiful shoes.

I LOVE Spring and I LOVE planning my children's Easter outfits. I must have pulled this dress out three times just to look at in the last three days. Hurry up Spring. I'm SO ready!

My Evan is Seven!

I cannot believe my baby is seven!!!

8 Weeks

1 Year - This was actually taken on his first birthday.


Age 2 - Since Evan's birthday is around Easter, his portraits when he was a baby usually involved an Easter outfit and a bunny. So sweet (However, I felt sorry for that bunny when Evan would shake the basket. Poor thing!).


One of my all-time favorite pictures of Evan at age 3.


Age 4


Age 5 (I just realized this portrait looks a lot like age 4 but it's amazing how his face looks more grown up in this picture in just a year. I love this picture and have it hanging in my dining room.)


Age 6

I wanted to give Evan his name not only because I love it, but because it means "God is good." I am thankful every day for this sweet, precious child that fills my life with unspeakable joy!

Thursday I took cupcakes to Evan's class. His teacher presented him with a birthday certificate and the class sang to him. He just grinned so big!


Today, Evan had his favorite donuts for breakfast, and this afternoon we are taking him to eat at the Purple Cow and making a stop to our favorite local toy store. The real celebrating will be next weekend (Derek has been out of town for TWO WEEKS (ugh!), so we have to wait until next weekend to have his party). Nothing like partying two weeks in a row!

Happy Birthday, Evan! I Love You SO Much!

Thanks, Ben!

I dread it when the time changes. I DO love the longer days and Spring. It just makes me feel better, but it seems like it takes my kids forever to adjust to losing an hour! I just learned Ben Franklin was behind the whole Daylight Saving Time idea. Why couldn't he have just stopped at electricity. Now, electricity is something I can appreciate. However, time change...not so much.

I'm sure when Ben thought up this "fantastic" idea, he didn't have a 6 and 2-year-old he would have to wake up at the crack of dawn to drive to school a town over in the dark. One day of hearing, "I want out! I don't want to go! I want out," (which is exactly what I heard this morning) would have changed his mind about EVER changing the time. This is what it was like for me this morning. However, this is not the full effect because of the cough interruption. :)

It did make EG feel a little better to take some snapshots on our way to school. I thought this one was funny that she took of Evan and me when I was getting him out of the car at school. Evan looks thrilled, doesn't he? LOL! I think he was still half asleep. Poor guy.

It would be fine with me if the time stayed like this and we never fell back! This momma would really appreciate it!

My Boy

Ella Grace is asleep, so I have Evan all to myself for a bit before he goes to bed.

I love to get him laughing hard. It is the cutest, most infectious laugh!
By the way, that front tooth is going to fall out any day now.

I even let him jump on the bed. :) You should see his dismount!

Isn't he cute? Oh, how I love my boy!

Time to Hide the Mascara

This girl loves make-up, especially lipstick and mascara. I usually put a little lipstick on her when she asks for it, but never let her have mascara. Well, tonight she came into the office and said, "Look at me!" I was startled when I first looked at her because she looked a little like Charlie Chaplin. It took only a few seconds for me to realize she had been in my mascara.

"I did it myself," she told me proudly.

She cried when I wiped it off. I was scared she would get it in her eyes. Evidently during her make-up session, she decided to dump out my mineral make-up on the rug. I asked her if she made a mess, and she replied simply, "Kinda a little bit."

She also has on lipstick which is rarely on her lips but rather all around her mouth.

I have to mention two days ago she colored on the columns in our dining room with purple marker (thank goodness they were washable) and today she drew on the leather seats of the car and her own car seat with black ink pen. She must be going through her creative phase. Whew! She is keeping me on my toes!

Cute Stuff

I'm sure a lot of you know the beautiful and talented Kim Wheeler from Endless Possibilities. If you haven't seen her blog or her work before, you should definitely stop by and check out her seriously cute artwork. She made the canvas with Ella Grace's name that I adore, but recently I ordered another piece. It is so stinkin' cute I can hardly stand it...

It matches perfectly with the paint on her walls with just enough contrast.

In person, it looks like real icing!


The sprinkles are beads she sewed on BY HAND!

She really is amazing. If you need anything special for your child's room or a gift for a shower, you should take a look at her website. Just SO CUTE! I also ordered an "H" for my living room from her "Classic" collection, and I love that, too. Thanks, Kim, for helping me put the finishing touches on EG's room! I love it!

I love mail! I especially love getting packages. This week, I got the order I had placed with Jamie's clothing party. L-O-V-E it...

Of course Ella Grace wanted to try on her new clothes. Evan, however, DID NOT want to try on his new shirt, so I didn't make him. I love the little purple and green swing top with bloomers, but I think the orange outfit is definitely my favorite. I also love that EG and Evan will have a similar outfit to wear this summer.

Ella Grace said, "Take my picture," so I did! She looks so cute! I ordered a bigger size than she normally wears, so the pants look cropped instead of capri. She'll grow into them. :)

Oh, how I LOVE ric rac! I remember my mom using ric rac on the outfits she would sew for my sisters and me. It is really back in a big way, and I LOVE it!

Of course, I HAD to get it monogrammed. I didn't get anything else monogrammed though! :)

On Saturday, Ella Grace was invited to her little friend, Emily's birthday party. It was a dog themed party, and EG was SO excited!

EG and Mommy ready to go to the birthday party.

The kids made these super cute dog hand puppets.

Emily's mom made this amazing dog cake! Is this not the cutest thing?!

EG had a great time and couldn't wait to get home and tell Evan and her Daddy all about it. When we left Emily's it was snowing! I couldn't believe it. I had been in the 70's just a couple days before. That's Arkansas weather for you!