Simple Pleasures: Cousins & Cupcakes

This weekend, my entire family gathered to celebrate half a year's worth of birthdays. October through February in one swoop.

Since Ava's birthday was in the mix, she received a special card from the next youngest cousin (7.5 years young).

This is what it said...

What a SWEET little guy, huh?

And I love his rendition of me and my sister's family, in the form of stick people.

(Brian, Scott, Me, My Sister Tonya, Duckie, Katie, Ryan, Hollie & Justin)

And can we just assume that Sprinkles Cupcakes are actually made in heaven??
(Uh, yeah we can!) MMMMMMMMMMM!!!!

Learn to Speak Duckie!

Isn't she the most angelic little thing you've ever laid eyes on?!.... I think so too!

Here are some of my favorite things Duckie says:

tah-da ... daddy

ah-hep-youuu ... i'll help you (which actually means can you help me?)

kig ... pig

urpah ... purple

bah-bah ... bar bar (granola bar or fruit cereal bar)

kink ... pink

pip ... chip

bmmm ... blue

gu-guh ... sticker

a hot ... anything that comes from a drive-thru window
boop ... boots

Duckie Pic!

Because I don't have much to say today, I'm just posting pix of Duckie! (these never get old, right?!)

I love the fact that I NEVER know what she is going to discover next... Or seeing what fabulous outfit she puts together...

Doesn't she look like Buddy the Elf in this??...
Bahahaha!!

Since when did she lose all the baby fat??? :(

I really wish the iPhone camera took better low light pictures... Grrr...

Ba-Bye Super-size Diaper Bag!

As much as I have loved carrying this beautiful diaper bag for the past two years, it's time to retire this monster for something lighter and easier to carry!

I am so excited about this new purchase and even more thrilled about the reasonable price! I have recently uncovered a fondness for Vera Bradley. I know, I know, how out of touch am I to just now be into this. BUT - check this out... I'm using the "Let's Do Lunch" as a mini diaper bag! It is perfect for a few diapers, wipes, a cup, some snacks, has an interior pocket BUT the most important feature of all is that it's fully lined with a wipeable material so that you don't have to worry about it getting all nasty on the inside! And Duckie LOVES to carry this all by herself. Even better!

Hello Vera!!

Goodbye Petunia!!

Verse of the Week {4} 2 Corinthians 4:16

This verse spoke to me quite clearly this week. Last week was tough for me. Nothing groundbreaking enough to mention but I was struggling to stay positive - feeling a little beat down by the outside world. And then this week's verse popped up. What a God thing. Giving praise and thanks to the Big Guy. For remembering me yet again.

I had this one started on Sunday - but wasn't able to finish it for whatever reason. And tonight, what perfect timing. Everything just flowed. No rhyme or reason but felt good to just lose myself in the Words.

Blessings.

Join in!!

A day in my life...

So, this morning started out tough. Duckie developed a mean case of diaper rash yesterday (OUCH!) which always makes changing time a bear. She was fussy because her mean mommy (me) insisted on covering her ouchies with a THICK layer of buttpaste. The rest of our morning "get ready' ritual was a struggle and she would crawl around saying "NO!" when I asked her to do something... EEEK! This is very rare for her - even in her so-called 'terrible' twos, she is just not a difficult baby. Needless to say, I'm still somewhat shocked when she acts even remotely sassy.

Anyway, she eventually gets dressed and then I hear her happily saying "Lesssss go!! .... Ba-byeeee!! .... Lesssss go!! .... Ba-byeeeeee!!" 

I looked around the corner and saw this...

"Yeah, that's a pair of pantieson my head, what's it to ya?" :)
It's actually a diaper-cover-upper-thingy that goes under my dress... that I'm not even wearing...

Mommy, weren't we just in a hurry??...

"What up homey?!"

Needless to say, this precious face and this special "hat" (as Duckie affectionately called it) was enough to make the pre-work-get-out-of-the-house-crazy-rush stress fade away!!!!

Love you Duckie!!

Thanks for bringing me back to reality today.

Yo. Spiderman.

Ahhhh yeah... You didn't know that I was friends with superheroes, did you??

Check it!

Yo! You better check yourself before you wreck yourself!