Thoughts from Thursday

They are best friends. She looks for him first thing every morning. She loves him. He loves her. He has germs that I would rather her not be exposed to. She doesn't care. It's not worth the fight. :)

How 'bout those pj's with a whole in the toe??!!?

This morning little miss independent would not eat unless I allowed her to feed herself with the spoon. 

Notice she has a different spoon. She dropped the first one and Gus got a hold of it. So we got her a new one. ;)

We spent the afternoon with some wonderful friends.  Lots of babies! Noah, Layla, Jacob, Madelaine and Ella Claire.

By 5:00 we were both ready for daddy to be home. We decided to go play outside and greet him in the driveway.  I took a few pictures while we waited. :)

fall pumpkin topiary project

This year I was a little late getting our front porch ready for fall. I think a combination of planning Ella Claire's 1st birthday party and the weather being so warm distracted me.  :) However, I couldn't let the season pass without a fall pumpkin at our doorstep welcoming our guests. So, when I went looking for a cute pumpkin idea, I found exactly what I was looking for at none other than the Southern Living website.  I actually came across this idea a few years ago, and if I remember correctly, I think I read on the website that it was first published in 2003. They constructed their topiary slightly different than I did and used a strand of lights instead of candles, but either way works. I already had candles on hand, so I decided to use them.  Here's how i did it...

What you will need:

a clay pot or urn

3 pumpkins in graduated size

a drill and large drill bit

3 candles

Step 1:

Choose what type of container you will use as your base.  Pick out 3 pumpkins in graduated size.  Make sure the largest pumpkin with fit snugly in your base.  

Don't let your one year old pick out your pumpkins, they might just be a smidge too small.  ;)

Step 2:

Carve out the inside of all 3 pumpkins, just like you would if you were going to carve them.  You can throw away the tops to the large pumpkin and middle sized pumpkin, but save the top to the smallest.

Step 3:

Grab your husbands drill and large drill bit and drill holes in each pumpkin. You can make the holes all one size or vary the sizes.  If you aren't too handy with a drill (like me) grab your husband too and ever so kindly ask for his assistance with this part of the project. ;)

Step 4:
Clean off your pumpkins, and place the largest pumpkin inside your container.  Put a candle inside the pumpkin, then stack the middle sized pumpkin on top and place a candle in it too.  Lastly, place the smallest pumpkin on top with a candle inside and put the top back on the pumpkin.  I added a leaf and pine cone garland around the base of the largest pumpkin and some mums for color and tada...a very easy and cute pumpkin topiary!

We are all ready for fall around here y'all! Let's just hope the weather decides to cooperate!

THINK

I have been wanting and trying all week to get on and post about something special that has been on my heart.  I hope it's a blessing to you, like it was to me.

Sunday our Church, Orchard Assembly of God, celebrated it's 70th birthday!  Happy Birthday Orchard! It was a great day and such a special day. Before church, Jeremy and I went through our normal Sunday morning routine of scrambling around trying to get dressed before Ella Claire wakes up and this week I also put a casserole in the oven to take to church for lunch after the service.  We arrived at church a few minutes late and Ella Claire had perfect timing with a horrible dirty diaper that I had to change before dropping her off in the nursery. :/ We have completely outgrown our church, which is a good thing, but that means if you arrive late, good luck finding a seat... especially on homecoming!  So needless to say, I found myself a little tired by the time we arrived at church, changed that dirty diaper and found a seat in the very back row.  But, the service was good and before long I had forgotten how tired I was and what an effort it was to get there.  We had guest speaker, Pastor Ken Draughon, for the morning service and he did a fabulous job! His message was very simple: to be a blessing to other people.  He used Philemon 1:7 which says, "For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother."  This really spoke to me, probably because the Lord has been dealing with me recently about this same subject.  How do I treat other people?  Are the words I say uplifting to others? Am I constantly complaining or am I being positive? Are people glad they saw me and spoke to me or when I walk away are they more discouraged than encouraged?  Pastor Draughon had a great acrostic to help remind us to be encouragers.  THINK....before you speak.

T- Is what you are about to say True?
H- Is what you are about to say Helpful?
I- Is what you are about to say Inspiring?
N- Is what you are about to say Necessary?
K- Is what you are about to say Kind?

This really is such a simple concept, but sometimes not the easiest to do on a daily basis. Our lives are busy, and often stressful which sometimes causes us to not think before we speak.  I'm going to do my best to think before I speak and try to be an encourager to others! I hope you will too! :)

                  Here are a few pictures of us recently.....

EC just waking up from a nap

just hanging out at home

See you again real soon with a fun fall craft!

new SHOES, 12 month SHOTS and a backyard photo SHOOT :)

It's a record....two posts in 3 days! I'm trying, can you tell? Jeremy and I recently purchased a new camera that we had our eyes on for a LONG time! Hopefully it will motivate me to get on and share a little more often.  A few of these pictures were taken with our new camera (a Canon T2i) but the first couple pictures were taken with our smaller sony camera.  I think you will be able to tell the difference.

When Ella Claire started walking, I knew she HAD to wear shoes.  I love sweet baby feet and for that reason, until now, I had not purchased any dressy shoes for her.  She has a few pair of Robeez, but nothing fancy to wear out. ;)  So, when Ella Claire turned one, my mom and I took her to none other than J Ray Shoes, and picked out the sweetest pair of shoes for our sweet pea.  This was such a special occasion and I just had to get a picture of her getting her foot measured. Call me crazy, but I was so nostalgic that week, that I was disappointed I didn't think of bringing our video camera along too! This is the same store where my mom bought my shoes when I was a child. 

Ella Claire happy as can be and showing us she is 1, just a few minutes before she got those mean ole' 12 month immunizations.   

Still holding up that 1, but not quite as happy after the shots.  :(  

Daddy took the day off and came to play with us at The Watermelon Patch!!

Bubbles, bubbles everywhere!!

I realized a few Sundays ago, that Ella Claire dresses up each Sunday and I rarely take pictures! So, last Sunday after church we had a little family photo shoot in the backyard. You can even see Gus in one or two of them.  :) I can't believe how growny she looks in this one!

We have so many pictures of Jeremy and Ella Claire in this exact position.  She just stares at him and gives the biggest grin...so sweet! 

Love that squishy face!  See her new shoes?!?!!

This might just be my favorite picture ever! It really does make my heart melt!

 

Happy Weekend! 

Ella Claire turns 1!

This last year was by far the fastest year of my life! I honestly can not believe our little pumpkin is 1! She is such a big girl these days and so funny too! She can follow simple commands like "Go take the book to daddy." or hold up one finger when asked, "How old are you?" She will also show us her muscles and make a strain face if we tell her to "be strong"! Seriously funny to see such a tiny might do that! Since she started walking a few weeks ago, she is now a pro. She basically runs everywhere, which is great exercise for me. ;)

I found this adorable blue gingham bishop with smocked pink and green presents by Vive Le Fete and knew I wanted Ella Claire to wear it for her party. I decided to use the colors in her dress as the theme.

A picture banner with a picture of little miss each month from birth until 1 year.

Pom Pom's and Happy Birthday Banner made with love!

(The largest pom pom was hanging in the middle, but fell right before the party!)

It's been a blast turning one! Thanks for making my party so fun!!

The birthday girl ready for a taste of sugar. Her first taste of sugar!

Loving every bite!

I set a table up outside for the kids. I covered it in bulletin board paper and put a small box of crayons and a party blower at each chair. We also had pink, blue and green bouncy balls in the back yard for the kids to take home as favors and a bubble machine blowing bubbles.