weddings

my youngest brother got married last november. my oldest brother got married this past march. these are pictures mostly from march - the mississippi wedding. shots were taken by my sister - in - law, laura brown!

dancing with cousin, felicity, at the atlanta wedding in november.

cake boss at the cox house

i love making birthday cakes for my son. i look forward to making them for my daughter!
above is his first birthday cake - caterpillar!
this was made by using two bundt cakes that were cut and pieced together to make the squiggly worm. i used spice drops for feet and oreo sticks for the antennae.

when he turned two, he had a tractor birthday cake. both of his grandpas have tractors and we had a garden that year so he got to see his papa plow which was very exciting.

just this past weekend we had a race car birthday party for his third birthday.
i learn a lot when i make each cake. and each one is thrown together at the last minute.
cake boss has definitely inspired me to do more challenging cakes. this cake took me two hours to build and ice. looking back i realized a much easier way to build it. but, with the help of some family in town and a picture of lightning mcqueen - oh, and a lot of icing - it came together. really i just started out with the idea of a race car. and i knew i wanted donuts for the tires and a spoiler on the back. it is red because will keeps saying his favorite color is red.

some lessons learned - if you're gonna have red cake, get some strong food coloring and get ready to see red everywhere!
it is okay to bake and decorate the night before and let the cake sit out until the next day. this was wonderful news to me this year.
whipped icing is not the best stuff to decorate with. i used store bought this year to save time which was important, but in the future i need to perfect a homemade icing.

more cakes to come. i get to make two next year!

will's prayer tonight

dear Jesus,
thank you for prayers. thank you for supper and i ate it all up. then, i took daddy's nose off and ate it all up. thank you for mommy's walk and she liked that.
in Jesus name, amen.

had to write it down before i forgot. classic!
side note - taking daddy's nose off and eating it is one of the games they play.
okay, lee just said he doesn't eat will's nose - he instead throws it down the stairs. had to clarify.

scrambled waffles

what's for breakfast?
scrambled blueberry waffles.
make waffles as you normally would - you'll just need to use a very old waffle iron that barely works.
they tasted good.

when you're smiling...

statue elivery

my children are so different!

will - left handed, outie, loud, big nose, light hair, hated tummy time, wild

phoebe - i know it's early but i think she's right handed, way innie, cool, calm, ears poke out, small nose, dark hair, loves tummy time

their similarities - independent, alert and curious, beautiful!!!!

what's for lunch?

here we have leftover sauteed veggies (squash, red pepper, black beans, corn) with shredded monterrey jack cheese on top. dill snackers and lays stax are a wonderful combo. with a side of fresh strawberries. not pictured - 2 pieces of homemade lemon poppyseed bread!

Good morning!

will tries to get out of taking a nap.

pizza quesadilla

i haven't done a serious grocery trip in awhile. i'm tired of sandwiches and i'm actually out of peanut butter and lunchmeat anyway. so i had to be creative today.

this is a whole wheat tortilla with mozzarella cheese and turkey pepperoni sprinkled with oregano. broil it in the oven for about 5 minutes. fold in half and slice like a quesadilla. serve with carrot sticks and raisins and there's your toddler's lunch for the day!

how to use your bachelor of fine arts as a stay at home mom

will is potty trained but he still has trouble sometimes stopping play to go poo poo. i decided to make this chart so that if he goes 5 days in a row with no accidents, then he gets a caboose to add to his thomas the train take n play set. he really likes looking at his chart.

i knew i got that B.F.A. for something!

perfect peace

stay close by my side
keep your eyes on me
though this life is hard
i will give you perfect peace

in this time of trial
pain that no one sees
trust me when i say
i will give you perfect peace

and you'll never walk alone
and you'll never be in need
though i may not calm the storms around you
you can hide in me
burdens that you bear
offer no relief
let me bear your load
cause i will give you perfect peace
stay close by my side
and you'll never walk alone
keep your eyes on me
and you will never be in need
though this life is hard
know that i will always give you perfect peace
i will give you perfect peace

perfect peace
song by Laura Story

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:6-8

²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. matthew 11:28-29

babies don't keep

"The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."

Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

i read this today and cried. having a second one has made me realize how they are babies only for a little while. what a gift they are. what a miracle they are. how sweet and short this time is.

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.
Psalm 127:3 New Living Translation

victoria bryant camping

water was cold. will got in and played, but it took a little persuading. a toy bucket helped.

Rice Creek

phoebe's first camping trip. 12 weeks old. she did great. she is such a trooper.

victoria bryant state park campground

i enjoy camping. grew up camping every summer. this was a good trip despite a very cold first night - 45 degrees - and the fact that our air mattress deflated every 4 hours. but, it really showed me how much my babies can handle. they did better in the cold than i did, and they slept through the air mattress blower.

it was a great opportunity for family to get together, to get away, and to enjoy outdoors. and it always makes me appreciate my home more - makes me see how easy i have it.

more Easter pics

it's been a long day.

i love my hands.

my first easter

the best picture we got.

Easter 2011

open them, shut them

open them shut them
open them shut them
open them shut them
give a little clap

open them shut them
open them shut them
open them shut them
put them in your lap

creep them creep them creep them
right up to your chin
open up your little mouth
AHHH
but do not let them in!

future blackmail

my Help and my Strength on this journey

My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
psalm 121:2

Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
psalm 124:8

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.^[d]
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
psalm 84:5-6

will isms at 2 1/2

i can't know
a little bit
you only did a good job
i only want to watch my train video (the boy is obsessed with his alphabet train video)
no, my not
no, you're not
my not need to take a nap today
my not need to wash my hair
it's oat ay Heebe
i love you the most too

he loves his ABCs. he will sing the whole song. still can't pronounce C, G, P, and T. he used to sing the last line, "now my ABCs i love, next time won't you sing with me?"