Spoiled Sweet?

This week has been...something. I don't know what's gotten into everyone around me, but EVERYONE is surprising me with sweet gifts and gestures. It's been one blessed week for this Mama.

It started with my husband deciding that he was going to get rid of his Cadillac and (finally) buy me a mini-van. I've been asking for a mini-van since before Henry was even born. I'm not a sporty person (obviously) so I see no need to trade the style of an SUV for the size and room of a mini-van. If you know me, you know I pack around pretty much everything and my car just hasn't been cutting it for awhile. I need more room, plus this allows us as a family to travel in a little more comfort. Hello nap-time on the backseat!

I hate that it's silver, but I LOVE everything else about it. It has the flip-down dvd player in the back and a SIX disc CD changer. I'm going to be in heaven. (And yes, I still prefer to listen to CDs.)

Then my best-friend surprised me by ordering one of my custom headbands. On top of supporting my crafty adventures, she also surprised me in telling me that she's going to be in town this weekend. I CAN'T WAIT! Mama could really use some girl time.

Then last night I invited my mother-in-law to dinner and she surprised me with this new mug. I LOVE IT! My obsession with owls makes me SO easy to shop for, but to be surprised, mid-week, for no reason with this little gem really made my night. It's even my current favorite color: teal. I enjoyed my morning tea in it first thing this morning.

As if my night wasn't already night, then my husband came home and surprised me with this:

This cute bird house is made from wood from the Eldean bridge which had to have a few renovations done back in 2006. This is Jeremy and I's 'spot'. He took me down below the bridge by the river to propose to me and we took wedding photos there on the cold December morning that we were married, and when we left the hospital with Henry, we drove through the bridge on our way home. He is seriously the sweetest, most sentimental person I know. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband!

I hope you all had a great, short week! I'm looking forward to the weekend. I have to work tonight and tomorrow, but Sunday I'm off for our family reunion!

And because I'm feeling all mushy, here's a few of our wedding photos from the bridge!

Five Minute Friday: Red

I don't even particularly like the color red, but when I think about my home and my life and my precious memories, it seems like red plays a prominent part of it all.

My first car was red. My prom dress - red. We were engaged beneath a little red bridge and had wedding photos taken there too. There were red poinsettias that I hadn't placed there on the alter as we exchanged vows. Red walls in our first apartment and a red truck that my husband loved to drive. Even now, five years from those 'first' reds, some of my favorite things in our home are red: the old sled that hangs on the wall with the red wreath and now the birdhouse that my husband bought me just yesterday, built from that same red wood from the bridge where we were engaged. Even our favorite sport's team is the Red's.

Henry loves the color red. Perhaps all this time, all this red, was just preparing me to have this perfect little boy who loves his red blanket, red ball, red tractor, red Mickey shirt...and I love him, little red nose and cheeks.

I suppose red isn't so bad after-all, and like all things, eventually I think I could come to love it.

Bee Happy

The house next door to us is empty and the owners have been (slowly) remodeling. They tore an addition down a few weeks ago and found this happy little bee family and their hive.

I had to get a few photos. I love how diligently honey bees work...and they don't sting, so that's a major plus!

This little bumble found it's way in front of my lens as well. I guess he was jealous of all the attention the other bees were getting.

Poor Bumble.

I grew the most beautiful array of sunflowers this year and I think they were a major source of pollen for the bees. Every flower was full of little bees working away.

Except for this one, which had a single lonely Bumble.

Poor Bumble.

I was lucky enough to have a conversation and lovely visit from this pretty blue butterfly too. He's a bit of a show off though, he kept flaunting those gorgeous wings and colors for the camera. I bet I took 20 photos of him alone.

I love spending time in my backyard, taking in the sights and the smells and the beautiful sunshine as it's setting in the west. As simple as it is, it's one of my favorite places to be.

Wouldn't you know that one of my favorite places and one of my favorite things could be turned into a gorgeous color board. I may have to do our bedroom in these colors. I just love them.

Just a reminder...

Fly with the Angels

Today I am asking that my blog friends say a little prayer for a family that I know and grew up with (and lived right next door to). One of their daughters lost her daughter last night after a long battle with a brain abnormality. She was 3 years old and her name was Amberlynn. She spent most of her life in and out of hospitals, only learned to walk long enough to become too weak to ever walk again, and missed all of those play-dates, days at the park, and careless fun that you think about when having a child. This family truly believes that Amber is in a better place, that she has earned her wings, and that she is happier than what she ever was here on earth. I had the pleasure of photographing Amber twice in her lifetime, and I am so glad that I did. Go fly with the angels, Amberlynn.

Introducing...

I've been working on some crafty things to sell for this fall and these are the first things that I've finished: rolled flower headbands!

Sizes 0-18 months are all $5.00, sizes 2t-adult are $8.00.

I just love them!! I wish I had a girl to put them on! In the meantime, I did catch Henry trying this one on:

Isn't he cute?

Keep in touch as I have bib necklaces, bracelets, rings, and even boot embellishments planned for later in the season. 

Hellloooo Fall!

A Horrible Night

There are some things that I need to work on in my life, to better myself and to better the life of those who are around me. One of my biggest struggles is dealing with a toddler in the middle of the night.

I didn't have issues dealing with a newborn or even a 'baby'. But once I became accustomed to just waking up long enough to move him from the crib to the bed (which happens every night) I really have no patience for a screaming fit at 2 a.m. With that being said, I will admit that last night was HORRIBLE.

I don't know what got into Henry at 2 a.m. but after I put him in bed with us, he couldn't get comfortable and instead decided to scream and kick and carry on until I finally coaxed him to sleep. No biggie except that he was laying on my arm and after an hour it was dead asleep and dying for some relief, so I carefully moved him over and rolled over so I could get some sleep myself. Within a half-hour he was screaming and kicking again so again, I coaxed him to sleep. Repeat about 3 times and by 4:30 I was exhausted, frustrated and wanting nothing more than to get some quality shut-eye. The last time that I finally rolled over and fell back to sleep, he woke up, took a big handful of my hair and pulled as hard as he could. Talk about a wake-up call! It just made him so mad that I had rolled over and he was no longer sleeping on my tired, achy arm.

You can imagine MY frustrations as well.

At this point I had to wake up Jeremy and ask him to do something with him before I lost my cool. I am really not a happy camper in the middle of the night to start with and this was just the icing on the (very exhausted) cake. If this Mama needs ONE thing, it's sleep.

Now that I've had a little bit of sleep and can look back on the night's events, I get so frustrated with myself for not having more patience. It's hard some times to be a mother, but even when the going gets tough, I want to be the kind of mother whose kids will look back and know that I tried my very best.

P.S. - What color combinations are you LOVING for this fall? I've got some super cute craft ideas in the making and I need some color inspiration!

Craigslist Joe

Jeremy and I watched the documentary 'Craigslist Joe' on Netflix last night and it's been floating around in my mind ever since.

Specifically this: It seems like those who are willing to help others who are less fortunate are actually less fortunate than the majority of others themselves.

If that's true, then I always hope to be a little less fortunate in order to be a little more compassionate.