Category Archives: {F}amily

Read more about the goings-on of our fabulous foursome!

Crafty Tuesday ~ Birthday Time!

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I actually have something to share today!  With the festivities of Miss Seneca’s first birthday party this weekend, I was baking up a storm.  I’ve come to find that I really enjoy decorating cakes, and with practice I’m hoping I can continue to improve.

Birthday Cake

Here’s her delicious chocolate and yellow layer cake, with yummy buttercream frosting.  I’m so thankful I started the baking Thursday night and finished the frosting on Friday because the torrential downpour all night and Saturday morning, meant the house needed a quick once-over before decorations were hung and the Butterfly Garden Party was moved inside!

Calder helped me make little tissue paper butterflies, and this one, is my favorite as it hung on the chain of our ceiling fan and did lots of little swoops and swirls throughout the day.  In fact, it’s still hanging there….

Butterfly

Here’s Seneca’s little birthday crown…I was amazed at how much she LOVED it!  When I was making it, I tried it on her, and she instantly sat so still and smirked!  She would’ve kept it on for a while I think, but I kept hitting it as we opened gifts!  Of course, Calder felt left out, so we crafted a foil-covered prince crown for him!

Crown

Here’s a picture of Seneca’s little birthday cake.  The oringal plan for the big cake was to cover it with pre-made fondant (I’ve been watching a bit too much Food Network Cake Challenge) but, I quickly discovered it was much harder than I thought.  So, I opted to make her cake fondant-covered only.  

Little Cake

I’m not sure if there’s craftiness happening today, but be sure to check it out another time because there’s always good stuff to be found!

Happy First Birthday, Miss Seneca!

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Seneca Cake 2

To My Sweet, Sweet Girl ~

I spent a few minutes (OK, several minutes) looking back through pictures from this past year and watching with amazement at the ways in which you’ve grown and changed and blossomed into an adorable little toddler.  You are quickly exploring the world around you, interacting with your big brother, and learning every single day.   I love your tricky side as you offer to share your Cheerios and then take them back at the last moment, a huge grin making your cheeks even fuller, rounder.  Or when you quicken your pace when you hear me coming behind you as you climb the stairs, the chair, the couch – whatever you can conquer.

On the one hand, I want to suspend time so I can keep you snuggled in my arms forever, feel the soft squish of your chubby arms, watch your slow smirks stretch across your face making your eyes sparkle.   And yet….I see you thinking, learning, watching and responding to the world around you, and I anxiously await your first words, and the conversations that I know will make me laugh and cry.  I’m amazed by the tenacity you already display.  You are courageous and strong, you are funny and silly, you let nothing stand in your way.  You offer glimpses of the young lady you’ll become, sharing a sly side of you that I’m sure will keep me on my toes in about ten years.

Baby Girl, you are the light of my life and I hope you always know how much I love you.  I am so very blessed to be your Mommy and share in celebrating the person you will become.  Thank you for reminding me of the joy that comes both in giving and receiving unconditional love.  Happy Birthday!

Love,

Momma

Seneca Cake 4

Seneca Cake 3

Best Shot(s) Monday – Let’s Go See the Animals, Mommy!

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Our first zoo tripthis summer has become the beginning of what I’m sure will be several.  I foresee many zoo memberships and at least bi-weekly trips in the coming summers.  Garth and I often joke about the poor individual who screens our little man for kindergarten.  Sure, we know that as his parents we are completely biased and think he’s beyond genius, but still, when marmots and komodo dragons are among the animals he names on a whim…I think the whole entry into formal education will be really interesting! 🙂

During a routine grocery trip, I found a little flyer advertising a very reduced entry fee for the John Ball Zoo, so I made the mental note to make the trip.  The plans were set, we headed out with our packed lunch, even Grandma came along for the day.  When we rounded the corner and saw the insanity that was the line to park, as well as the admission line, I realized the grievous mistake of planning a trip on Kids Day! 

While we could scarcely maneuver through the crowds we did manage to see several exhibits – the penguins were among his favorite seeing that he’d recently been on a Happy Feet kick.  In the past couple of months since our visit one of the preferred post-dinner activities involves running to various corners of the house looking at the “animals.”  I absolutely adore the imagination he has, and the blossoming little personality of Miss Seneca.  I suppose it’s better late than never, so here are a few shots from our day at the zoo…
JB Zoo 6

JB Zoo 5

JB Zoo 4

JB Zoo 3

JB Zoo 1

JB Zoo 2

Sunflowers ~ Best Shot Monday

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I remember when we first walked through the house where we now live.  After seeing many homes ~ some great, some absolutely NOT ~ we’d kept coming back to the pictures of this one online.  When we finally decided to look at it, even though it wasn’t in the location we really wanted, we knew it was the one we would buy.  I snapped dozens of pictures on our second walk-through and would scroll through them back at our apartment.  Before long, the house was ours…one week away from our first wedding anniversary. 

Recently, I found a few of those pictures  and was amazed to see the ways in which the home both inside and out has changed to fit the needs of our growing family.  Projects such as landscaping, painting, or updating the deck, or installing the new playset have really changed the look over the nearly five years we’ve lived there. 

A few years ago we pulled out the dead and dying lilac trees that resided in the back corner of our yard.  I was sad to see them go because the smell of lilacs is something I remember fondly from days spent in Grandma Gert’s backyard.  We’ve tried wildflowers, which ended up looking more wild than flowery.  We’d thought about turning it into some type of sitting area with a bench, arbor and fountain.  But none of those plans ever felt right.

This year, Garth sprinkled sunflower seeds (aka leftovers from a winter of feeding the birds) into converging rows.  I liked the idea, but it was really his thing.  He’d be out there watering or thinning them while we played in the yard.  Even when they were small, it already looked so much better than any of our prior attempts.  Then, after two weeks of rain and the sudden warmth, they exploded.  What was once a cute patch of knee-high plants, became a forest through which Calder was suddenly wary to explore. 

Sunflowers 1

The first signs of buds appeared.  Our excitement grew. 

Sunflowers 2

We watched and counted the numbers of buds appearing on a single stalk.  Did you know there could be more than one per stem?  I observed the pride on Garth’s face as his laboring was paying off.  While our time away has been refreshing, we’re anticipating a sea of sunny yellow to smile upon us when we arrive home.

Sunflowers 3

My best shot this week is the first one, I love all the possibility that it holds, and yet wince a little to think about how quickly the time will pass when he really will be forging out on his own, exploring the world around him.  And yet, if you look closely, you’ll see his daddy’s hand, outstretched.  It’s enough to make my heart melt. 

How about you?  What’s blossoming in your world this week?  What are you exploring?