it's really for reals {an announcement}.

today is my "it's really happening"  moment.

i'm coming out of the mothers closet {so to say}
and throwing it out there for all to know.

{so sorry for the semi blurry pictures. it was just me, my camera, self-timer and 2 pee sticks just trying to

record a moment}

it's for reals folks and i can barely believe it myself.
if you thought i was crazy before.. well, i may have just placed myself in a whole new
crazy category in your mind.

this new baby will be our 4th.. and we are super excited about it  :)

first things first.. some love messages:

my dearest Thursday playgroup members - you are are just the sweetest. i'm sorry i missed so
many playgroup dates.. but when i said i wasn't feeling good, i really wasn't feeling good. and it wasn't
a simple cold i was trying to fight. all you girls are awesome, i don't know what i would do without you guys.
and you take care of my kids while i eat all your snacks.. you girls rock.

my poor neglected blog and blog friends - you've been sorely neglected. but you see, i can't come up on here and post about food or outfits or the kids without somehow feeling as if i'm not being truthful.

because all i really wanted to tell you was that i haven't cooked a homemade meal in over 5 weeks and that
i'm about ready to bust out of my summer shorts. then you would wonder what was going on and then it would be awkward.

my kids - i know you miss my awesome cooking skills since it's been about 5 weeks since i've been able to make anything.
but you  must admit, i make some awesome smoothies. and i'm pretty sure you've all got your vitamin c intake for the next 2 years taken care of.
bam.
see how that works out?

to the people i've run into around town and you can't figure out if i'm just gaining weight or what - surprise!
i haven't gorged on hostess chocolate cupcakes.
right now, i can't do that even if i tried.

my husband - don't worry. we will survive. somehow, in some way we will survive.
on the upside, you keep getting cuter and cuter with the more kids we have :)

*******

if you find yourself reading this, please send some good cyber wishes my way.
for some reason, i'm extra paranoid about this pregnancy and i keep freaking myself out
but i am comforted in knowing that He in in control and i've just gotta let him go about His business
of caring and creating this little one.

thank you so very much my friends :)

you know it's a good day when...

{the good day was Wednesday. not today, Thursday. definitely not today. just wanted to clarify}

♥ you feel the need to wear red lipstick.
and it was a red lipstick kind of day for sure.
one where you feel in perfect harmony with your Maker,
and you clearly see all the blessings he's bestowed upon you.
i don't get very many days like this, so when i do, i break out the $1.72 red lipstick.

♥ a complete stranger comments on how well behaved your kids are
{while sitting inside a very quiet waiting room}.
i felt as if i had won a trophy and i wanted to kiss her cheek
and say "thank you thank you thank you. you just totally made my day!"
thank you dear perfect stranger, for reminding me of the value of a sincere, kind comment.

♥ your little boy tells you that his day out with dad at a baseball game was "the best day ever".
{note to husband - your baseball game idea was genius, he loved it.
you are now, officially, the cool parent.
and cool parents do laundry and wash dishes and mop. so get to it, honey.}

♥ your morning quiet time rocks your world.
verses that bring peace and comfort to a heart that's
been anxious and worried and fearful.

♥  you get to a hug a friend. and you love her even more for being who she is.

♥  Hobby Lobby has the most perfect material and it was on sale.
this just about makes a red-lipstick-wearing-girl want to break out in dance right then and there.
Hobby Lobby, you rock.
and you play Jesus music in your stores. us Jesus loving people love that.
thank you very much.

hope you have a wonderful weekend!
and if you can, find a perfect stranger and say something nice.
especially if it's a mother with a boatload of kids :)

the big {eight}.

i have an 8 year old.

for reals.

i wonder when i'll start to believe it?

i mean, i definitely feel older but not old enough to have an 8 year old little girl.

but i'm afraid it's all true - i'm old {grey hair to prove it}and i have an eight year old .
i'm not exactly sure how we got from birth to 8 years old but yet here we are.

we had a small little birthday party for my daughter a couple of weeks ago and with my

mothers surgery, i didn't have much time to put it all together.

{i used store bought invitations and left over material to embellish the envelopes.

confession: i almost forgot to send out invitations. almost.}

however, as thrown together as it was i'm pretty sure my daughter had a blast.

bless her heart, i think all the fun made up for the fact that i didn't have time to make or buy her a cake. 

cakes are way overrated anyways.

there is one thing i've finally figured out about little girls birthday parties.

they don't really care about games.

they want to hang out with each other

and talk

and eat

and just be goofy little girls.

kinda like how us older girls wanna be with our friends, yes?

there is one thing little girls wanna do though..

they want to make something, anything.

especially if it involves pretty paper, stamps and candy sticks.

{did i tell you how cute little 8 year old girls are?}

i had planned on having the girls make little flower headbands
but it just didn't work out. mostly because i forgot the headbands.
so instead they created book marks out of clothes pins.

i pulled out everything i could
possibly think of from my baking drawer and my craft drawers to serve as
embellishments for the girls.
who knew my cupcake liners would come in handy?

******

dear miss j,

i didn't know how much i was going to love being a mother

until you came along.

it wasn't until then that i discovered what He had created me for.

to be a mother, to be your mother.

you inherited your fathers generous and loving heart

and my witty sense of humor {wink}

as well as my love for earrings and shoes.

i know it's not easy being the oldest of this crazy bunch,
but you do it well.
and you, my darling, make me so very happy.

*****

the rice post.

this post tonight is about rice.

yes, you heard that right.. rice.

we don't eat alot of rice in this household..

mostly because i just can't get it to come out nice and fluffy like it's suppose to.

i also do not have the patience to let it cook for 20 minutes so it

usually ends up over-cooked or under-cooked.

i've found a good little use for that left-over bag of white rice

that sadly sits in the back of my pantry waiting to be used.

in a quick spurt of energy i decided to finally organize my rings one day.

i have one of those little jewelry hanging organizers in my closet but

let me just be real with you.. i prefer to just place my jewelry on the bathroom counter top.

husband doesn't like it so very much but then again he really doesn't see the point in having

more then one ring 

so i have to take his opinion with a big pinch of salt.

now you're asking what rice has to do with ring organization.

well, feast your eyes on my new little rice-ring-keeper-holder {just made that up because i'm at a loss as to what this is called}

I did not come up with this idea... although i wish i had.

I found it a while ago while blog hopping and didn't make a note of the creative genius

that came up with this.

{if you know where it came from, let me know and i'll update it here}

I bought that little ceramic plate at the $.99 store.

guess how much? yep, 99 cents :)



pretty, isn't it?

my bedroom is under construction right now ...

{and that's pretty much a nice way to say its a big fat mess in there since we are making some changes to it}.

this little pretty gives me such a visual relief from the surrounding chaos.

it's amazing what a little rice can do to make me feel a little more organized.

maybe someone else needs to come up with something using beans.

i've got a lot of unused beans in my pantry that need to be used :)

i'm linking up with my fabulous friend Heather at Finding Beauty in the Ordinary.

she just started a link-up called half cup half full where you can link up

anything that just makes you HAPPY.

whether it be a special moment or event, a special quote or bible verse..

the things that bring you joy..

even if it is just rice.

have a wonderful day!