Let me tell you about Rachel.....

Yesterday (well technically the festivities started on Saturday and lasted all weekend...) we celebrated Rachel's 10th birthday. I know, I know, I couldn't possibly have a child THAT old, right? Well it's true. Can't believe that beautiful girl is 10 already. It's crazy to watch that little baby you created grow into this amazing, beautiful, smart, compassionate (unless it involves her sister, but that's a whole nother post...) young girl that is becoming her own person.
She is a lover of anything with fur. if you could see her closet right now, you would find about 800 Webkinz (okay, maybe that's a stretch), and other stuffed animals that she hoards. I am hoping to NOT see her on that show "Hoarding" in 20 years! She loves school, and excels at it. Her teachers have all commented on how well she gets along with others, and loves to help.

At home she is a HUGE help for me. She loves to cook, and frequently will make breakfast for the daycare kids. She tried her hand at making bread last week and it was a big success! She loves taking care of baby Jakob, and does very well. Sometimes I actually forget that she's only 10, she acts so grown up.

As wonderful as it is to watch her grow up, this whole parenting thing scares the beejeebers out of me. At least when they are little, you have reign over them, the older they get, you have to learn to let go a little more. We'll see how this goes:) I am PROUD to be her mom, and proud to see what an incredible person she is becoming!

Rachel's Grown Up Room Redo

Since I have come to the conclusion that winter will never end, I have a desperate need to find my happy place. Since my happy place involves decorating, I figured I could find some rooms that needed redecorating, bwahahahaha!!! Rachel got her own room about 2 years ago, when Alayna moved in with Emma. We painted Rachel's walls a bright blue, and a lime green color. She picked them out, not me. I was able to get her comforter set on clearance at JCPenney's, and also had a gift card to use, so I think I shelled out $10 for it! Of course I didn't take a before pic of her room, but it was kind of a hodge podge of furniture and stuffed animals, and everything she has kept over the last 2 years. I spent a couple days looking at kids bedrooms online at HGTV to get some ideas, and this is what I came up with!
The swaggy thing I got at Crafts Direct for $8, the hooks were $2 a piece. The two pics on the side wall are actually box tops that have the same colors as her room, I got them for .50 cents a piece at the discount craft store. The cube nightstand with the fabric cubes I got at Target, for $25. The one on the other side of her bed I found at a garage sale for $2.

I LOVE her lamp! It's an old antique style lap that I have had for years. I bought some cheap flowers at the craft store, and hot glued them on.

I moved her dresser into the corner, to free up some space and hung some paper lanterns, dragonflies and a tissue paper pom pom above it.

I love, love, love how it turned out, and so does she! She says she feels so grown up now, and of course she says she has to keep it spotless. Ya, we'll see how long that one lasts!!

Linking To:

Fingerprints On The Fridge

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Computer is Back!

I have been without my laptop for a few weeks getting fixed, but finally got it back today. I am THRILLED to get it back, the ole PC was not cuttin the mustard here! I had to include this picture of Miss Alayna wearing one of her favorite outfits....a flowery leotard, Grandma Omi's red hat, and her pink high heel shoes. Quite becoming, isn't she?? I'm thinkin she'll be the next big designer, like a Betsy Johnson or something like that. You know, funky, quirky, spendy, right?? Anyhoo, that kid is cute as a button, and makes me pull my hair out, all at the same time.

Where I've Been.....

So, if you've been wondering where I have been, I will show you.

Here.

No, I haven't been sipping pina coladas on a white sandy beach while reading the latest crime novel waiting for Benito to bring me lunch. Ohhhhhh no, I have spent more time in my bathroom in the last week than I care to admit. I was struck last Tuesday with the stomach flu, and it literally has taken a week to REALLY feel better. Unfortunately the only one to not get it was Emma. Poor Brad succumbed to it Sunday night and had to leave Wednesday morning for a business trip to Florida. He still doesn't feel the best. Our family has NEVER been this sick.

I guess the positive of this would be that I lost some weight! Although I would rather it be naturally rather than feeling like an earthquake is ravaging my body.....

Dance, Dance, Dance!

Rachel had her first dance competition last Sunday and her team came in third place!! WOOT WOOT!! She was super excited (as was Mom:) with this being her first year of dance. She had joined Just For Kix back in Kindergarten at a different location, and did that for a couple years, but did not enjoy it. She decided to try gymnastics which she loved, but then her best friend Lucy wanted to try dance so Rachel obliged, lol! She LOVES dance, and it is so fun to watch her and see how much she has changed and matured.

So, congrats Rachel, Mom and Dad are SOOOOOO proud of you!!

On the Mend....

Ok, ok, so this wasn't taken today. It was actually taken on Christmas day. My three beauties healthy. I am hoping that we are all done with this fever nonsense. They both stayed home Tuesday and Wednesday, Emma was perfectly fine yesterday, and Rachel was "better". By about 3:00, she was feeling punky again. By evening her temp spiked again. After a good nights rest, she felt good enough to go to school. I am hoping she had a good day. That girl is SUCH a trooper!

I want to add a few prayer requests...

I have posted before about my friend Annie over at
The House That Jade Built they are excitedly awaiting the arrival of their sweet baby girl Ollie who has some health conditions that will need to be dealt with. Check out her blog, and send up some sweet prayers for their family!

I found this blog through another blog, it's called The Simple Wife. 38 year old Joanne suffered a stroke last week, and her husband is blogging updates about her. They have two beautiful daughters that had to start private school after being home schooled. Please keep their entire family in your prayers!

Amy over at New Nostalgia is battling breast cancer. Please pray for her and her family, and that the cancer will stop growing and the medicines will work.

And of course, pray for my peanuts that we will get rid of this crud!

Our Day Today......

Lot's of popsicles (real fruit ones, of course), cozy blankets, Spongebob *sigh*,

and Poptarts. Yes, my kids LOVE Poptarts, hence the reason they love getting sick, because I will actually buy them! Both Rachel and Emma came down with colds and high fevers yesterday. I took them into a quick clinic last night just to rule out strep (which was negative, yay!). I am keeping them on steady doses of homeopathic medicines to keep them comfortable, and hopefully cut the duration of this flu short.

So, today we will sit and watch tv all day, play games, and take naps. Sounds like a day I can handle!