HAPPY is as you make it .

These sweet little Washi tapes that arrived in the mail make me happy as I quite often use them for gifts , invitations , decor items, packaging , HAPPY mail seals and some many other silly but random things . They are very inexpensive and have a wide range of colors & designs . These were purchased from Two Peas in a Bucket .

 These are so cheery, fun and inspirational .

I have so many FUN projects running through my head now.

 1.,2.,3. By: Love my Tape

4.By:October Afternoon

5.,6.,7.,8.,9.,10.,By:Freckled Fawn

11.,12.,13, By: KI Memories

14. By:Prima Marketing

Here's a little link for habits for Happier Life By:Ritchie Norton . He has a few great quotes I have never heard of .

 

 

 

Today do something that makes you happy :)

Empty your head for a few pure moments of happiness.

DO it .I dare you .....

Dear Vann

I want you to know how much mommy loves you ! All of you ! The crazy little boy that screams
 and then laughs  at the sound that you make after . The way you hold on tight to me and wrap your legs around me so tight , then tuck your tiny hands inside in front of your chest and lay your head right in to my neck like we were made for each other . I love that you try so hard to keep up with the girls .I love that the awe of having a little person in our house has not wore off for your sisters and they still squeeze you so tight and sometimes fight to who gets to hold you first . You are full of energy and little ball of fire some days. you keep me on my toes , learning and dreaming of all things good for you .Your toothy grin makes me smile so big . You have definitely cast a spell on this mama and won me over on your ways . You have a sparkle in your blue eyes , red tint in your hair ,and the will power to try anything . Look out world he's on his way .

This is our Vann Edward at 15 1/2 months .

Silly Boy .

Peek- a -BOO

HEY you !

 Whatca looking at !

These two literally stop me in my tracks . This is the boy I know and {LOVE} for sure .

Love you forever and Always Little man .

 

XOXOX your mama

Manstache Monday Update

Our very 1st stache post update is a prickly one!

Happy Monday ! 

And if you feel like making a donation do it HERE. 

Stache Update

The hubby has decided to jump on the band wagon of the hairy men growing a stache for Prostate cancer this month . We will keep track of his GROWTH here on my BLOG every Monday . 

TODAY he looks like this .

(Almost seems like a mug shot .)

you can also donate on his behalf here if you would like to support a great cause. 

Craft Weekend PART 2

I have finally posted PART 2 of CW .

As mentioned before this was a outstanding weekend .

Much needed .

Much deserved .

Helpful

Learned

Dreamed

RElaxed

Embraced

ENJOYED!

 EAT .Well that's what we exactly did . I think that is the BEST part of any crafty weekend . All women know the appreciation of GOOD food. So any crafty weekend I go to MUST have good food. I have even been known to go to crafty retreat for the food.

 Apple pie that was still warm from the oven . YUMMO !

 Breakfast Tea , yogurt , granola and doughnut.

 The "FAMOUS "  CW meal : chicken enchiladas , corn salad , & margaritas. It did get a little WILD this night we had balls flying into the margaritas. Pompoms to be exact .

Breakfast last day .
I must of been so hungry and forgot to take pictures of supper night 1 and cheesecake night 2 .
The food was oh so delicious .
THANK YOU very much to this lovely lady .

The another highlight would be the antique hunting .

 Look at that pile of "junk " some may say . But if I had a truck there instead of flying I could of cleaned that up a bit.

 Meg  took this beauty home.

 I love love these chairs .

 I need one of these too .

My sis  and me @ the barn . Aren't we all cute .

Bird eye view of all our goodies together  . I am thinking we cleaned up in the barn for sure .

well going to leave you all with this for now.Desperate for more.....
CHECK OUT
 MEGS BLOG
or the so sweet helper of CW
 Jess's BLOG
TO BE CONTINUED again................

Thoughtful

             {LOVED}
Getting a random thoughtful gift from a friend for no reason but because she misses me 
Extra special because its hand made . 
That's the way to my heart . 

CRAFT WEEKEND { Part 1 }

I still cannot believe it ! That I have attended Craft weekend . It was everything I hoped for and so needed too.

 A lovely package from Bake it Pretty and a Craft magazine sat on our bed waiting for us . The goodies inside were awesome. Four XL icing tips & a bag ,Halloween picks , & cupcake liners as well as my fave paper straws.

Some of the beautiful decor. that was in the rooms. Most of it was a thrifty find too which is always my favorite things too .

It was all crafty , inspiring , put together  and just so darn cute .

 Lovely working stations and look at our SWAG .

 Close up of the swag !

Munchies and vintage type writer . BEAUTIFUL . WANT ONE . please.
still wandering .......how Ginger made out with her antique typewriter in her carry on bag.

 We were oh so Creative . {love} this banner hanging on the mantle .

 FRESH Flowers  wrapped in burlap with lace trim . This is so my style .

 THE chalkboard that hold all the memories of past CW .

These boots were made for picking antiques on a rainy Kansas day . So sweet and she even made those sweet lace top knee socks or a least did the DIY . Send me some Jamie and Jill . LOVE me some lace socks.

My sis and I standing at a door that was screaming to have its picture taken . Conveniently my sis and I were color coordinated and only by chance . This was at the antique barn . Well I am going to leave you all here with this with more to come .
{TO BE CONTINUED }

Home Sweet Home .....

There is something about leaving the nest and flying back home. Its refreshing , a little empowering  , grateful , encouraging , dreamy , strengthen ,motivating but exhausting , self worthy and just down right NICE . Just nice. I made a trip to Newton , Kansas over the weekend . Who would of dreamed of me dreaming to go there ? I will update you all on all the details the fun , THE food , crafts , BLOOPERS all later .And soon I promise.

                              (the people My friends NOW  I got to spend my time with this weekend )
But to be gone from the people you love most and back to them again . Makes lots of good stuff to happen . I came home more appreciated for the everyday hard work I put in without too many complains. I get a little tighter hugs , longer snuggles and wetter kisses . I cherish each of them and hope to never take them for granted either . I had the kids doing extra special things around the house and so proud to parade me around to show me all the details of what they had done . Waiting for praise and love for each of it too.  Maybe as much as me thinking they were all taking my daily things for granted maybe I was also doing the same to them . This way it opens all those doors to see everything fresh with clear eyes.The girls noticed that maybe Mom was better at doing their hair but that dad tried so hard to do the same . Addy even told me she thought dad missed me lots when he was doing her hair .How stinkin cute. The girls also made a point that dad is funnier to go to the store with cause he caves and buys the Dora Popsicle treats when Mom quite often finds it easier to say No.
Today I want to
-Remember that hubby and I made arrangements for him to take Addy to her music class while I good snuggle a little longer with the little kids
-Remember Izzy and I made cookies together
-Remember Vann loved being held in his mamas arms with his hands tucked in the inside of me  ***NOTE to self take a picture of this some day hes not going to do it forever and its our thing
-Remember Izzy helped me hang all my crafty projects up around the playroom that I made for them
-Remember she held the hammer so tight with her little hands.
-Remember the smell of cookies in the house is what makes this house a home
-Remember Both little kids are still kinda sick from the weekend and you could really tell Izzy pulled around her blankie around the house which I let her today usually blankets are meant to be kept on your bed
-Remember Vann want to snuggle and sleep in my arms which he never does
-Remember BOTH little kids are napping at the same time which has allowed me to write this post now in the middle of the middle of the day
-Remember that hubby called to tell me that he was glad he took Addy to music now when he helps with her daily practise that he understands more of what she does .He said it makes sense now.

Sister GETAWAY

My sister and I are off on a weekend away today marks its first day for us . Flying out of Minot to Newton Kansas . Well actually flying too Wichita Kansas where a lovely lady in a colorful home made apron should be waiting our arrival  to whisk us off too . Newton Kanas for ... well anyone that follows her BLOG should already now where we are off to by the few hints in the post already .
If you guessed Meg Duerksen and Kimberlee CRAFT WEEKEND you are right .
My sis.. yah ...my sis was picked way back in June actually 5 days before my birthday I received a call on hubbys cell phone (we were on our way to Calgary )for my sis to tell me she was picked for CW . Would I like to be her guest ? YES . There was screaming to be had and OMG are you serious talk for awhile then reality hit we are going to CRAFT weekend .
We had a pack that when we entered for craft weekend that whomever got picked first would take the other . So off we go today . We will be waiting at the border this morning to cross as soon as it opens to catch our first flight out of Minot . YIppeee . It so hard to believe the day has finally come . I have been a follower of Megs for quite sometime now. SO she is mostly like a celebrity to me .The crafty projects dying to fond out what we will be making and the loot bag oh  my its going to be alot like Christmas to us.The food that Kim will be cooking for us and just the time away from our regular routines of life will be a blessing . I am so looking forward to it . Oh I did forget the antique barn do I need to say more. Everyone that knows me knows that all it would of took to have me in .
Well farewell until my Happy weekend away from home is over .
P.S
I think you need to be on the LIST too so email whatevercraftweekend@yahoo.com
now . Get on that LIST .
Watch for my CRAFT Weekend posts coming soon..........

HAPPY Wonderful GREAT

Weekend was had this past weekend was one of the most relaxing , fun  and enjoying weekends I must say I have had in a long time .
BONUS part it included all of my children with us.
Another Bonus was these pictures I got of the four of them together.

            I have so many reason to be grateful and I must say that these four are right on top of that list .

                                           Hope you all had a great thanksgiving weekend too.

I want to remember days like these.....

I want to remember the day started out frantic  and unorganized .
I want to remember the sun shone .
I want to remember Addy wore a dress with no fight .
I want to remember that today I sent Izzy with her papa K on the semi while I took Addy to her 1st day of music.
I want to remember that Vann behaved himself like a perfect gentlemen during Addy's class.
I want to remember what it was like listening to Addy tap out her first little song on the keyboard today for the first time.
I want to remember picking up a bag of apples from my moms and the smell it left us on the drive home.
I want to remember the feeling of the sun on my face while driving home.
I want to remember that after lunch I put Vann down to bed the girls and I piled into our bed . WE read Addys school book and all drifted off to never land in a big monkey pile. (with dishes not done or laundry not caught up ..) it felt so good. Note to self do that way more often .
I want to  remember the feeling of being FRESH and full of energy when we woke up .ready to tack the world.... or at least the dishes and laundry .
I want to remember heading outside and the sun was still shining and we dug out as many potatoes as my wheel barrel could handle .
I want to remember Addy teaching Izzy how to handle the water hose while water the trees.
I want to remember how gentle Sasha is with my children as she kissed Vann on the cheek and then sat beside him like she was guarding him with her  live.
I want to remember that Addy wore her tights and dress in the garden .
I want to remember Izzy pouting when Vann wouldn't share the kids hoe in the garden .
I want to remember it all and more . These are the memories I will lose if I do not keep track of them some where and this is why I  BLOG and have memory books because sometimes a picture doesn't say a thousand words .

BACK SEAT - Driver

She is one fine helper when it comes helping me do up the little kids buckles or undoing them . Helping me distract one of the other kids to make the last few minutes of a drive home . Always making sure I have locked the doors and have the keys.
Thanks for always helping me out Addy
LOVE MAMA

Harvest means...

to me

Long days and even longer nights

bagged lunch & supper in the field

family

dirty sweaty faces

farm pants and ball caps

working together

water lots and lots of H2O is consumed 

Machinery 

weather updates daily ... even hourly . 

summer coming to a end 

but fall beginning

tired

ups 

   and 

     downs