7.27.2020

Happy Monday! And just that fast, it's the last Monday of the month! And my cousin had her little baby girly THIS morning!! {Ocean Love, you are LOVED! And that name tho! }

Thankful this week that we got to celebrate our 10 year old! She makes life just grand and beautiful and oh so sweet.
Here are the party deets.
The kickoff.
Brunch at The Lola AZ. It was incredible. I loved that we had the place to ourselves and that Hannah loved the vibe there. It was a brunch of dreams, and days later, they sent us a Tik Tok video. It was our 1st Tik Tok, and we both mighta been a little too excited. So much fun. Follow them on insta @thelolaaz

The "cake".
Thanks to insta, we love to shop local in AZ, and we had loved the work that @thebakingmommaaz did for lulu's sunshine cake and macarons, so we used her again! I love that she is a SAHM with 2 youngins and that she has a super creative brain. I showed her the Tshirt ( that never got worn) and the Slime Queen topper and she went to town. The best colors. Hannah loves to bake but she is not the biggest fan of cake in all honesty- Her dream was just macs and candy. The other kiddos wanted ice cream cake, so everyone got some sweetness.

The gift.
 Hannah loved Hudson's ipad, and we wanted her to have her own, since her old one seemed to be from the dark ages now, how does tech go obsolete so quickly!? So group gift time! How to make cash look cuter than just cash. As adults we know cash looks great on it's own! But for a kiddo I felt it needed some pizzaz.  Thank you @craftykary for nailing the adorable balloon stand and the beautiful glitter & cash filled globe. If you know my better half, you know he has a fear of balloons. 100% serious. I think it was a childhood issue but it remains a mystery! Anywho- we arrange our birthday decor to honor that fear and this balloon structure remained intact, untouched and unpopped until the next day. The globe with cash, was plastic, so it didn't make a popping sound at all, and the insane amount of glitter that was in there too was used for... yup you guessed it, slime! It was a perfect group gift! Highly rec this idea to anyone!

Family memories from the party night.
 (The thing about Covid is, the kids get to have their birthday party on their actual birthday. Who ever had a Wednesday night birthday party ? But with the simplicity of no guests - we can just do as we wish!)
When your shirt & ring pop match.

Jammies and the biggest bow.

Her face tho. Oh Lulu. 

Thankful this week for Daisy Duck growing all new feathers! She is a beautiful pattern of black and white!

Thankful for friends that sharpen and encourage. And the views!

Thankful for the nightly virtual meetings wrapping up, freeing up our nights a little more. There is such joy when Matt studies on the daily- we all benefit from the verses and the stories and from the hymns he uses. We will miss the nightly calls, but we are ready for some fam jam evenings too!

Thankful for another birthday coming right up! Our 7th Covid party! Matt turns the big 4-1 on 8-1! We are ready for some Top Golf and a kidless sushi date!

Thankful for the sunsets and the perfect closure to the days.

Thankful for Fro Yo.

Thankful for our Sunday sermon connecting to the daily readings in Psalms! Love when that happens!

Thankful for this song :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLfISY-QQuw

Goal for today: Live what I read. From this verse, to the numerous pages in Live Love Now, especially the phrase- "Just Love Today". The negativity, the criticism, the thoughts that could be justified, but do I really need to verbalize it? Somehow I always DO- but working today... probably hour by hour if I'm honest, at just loving. Let's do this! Happy Monday! XO

Hannah is T E N !

Yesterday was our sweet girl's 10th.
Like any birthday, you reflect over the years and just get all mushy and gushy with memories. (Endless photos. Thank you Costco for keeping all my archived photos for yearssss and Google... Love love love going down memory lane! )
This year was no different, except it's Covid, we're not by her girlfriends, and... we had planned to be in FL...
BUT... that doesn't change how amazingly special the birthday girl is... so this post my dear Hannah Banana is for you! XOXO

😍10 years ago...
We were so excited to get to the hospital ( just a block from our current house!) to have you! Harrison just turned 5 and was excited for a baby sis!  I was still freaking out that the Dr was wrong and that you would be a boy. I had dreamed of a girl for so long & your closet was ONLY PINK - it seemed surreal that I would have a daughter tonight! And we still didn't know if you were going to be named Ella or Hannah!
 So. Excited. So. So. So.

Easy delivery. Gorgeous dark hair. Perfect doll face. Sweet as could be.
The baby days were not our easiest... you may have been a little more "spunky" than baby Harrison was, and threw me for a loop!

Then came your hospital stay at 10 months. Looking at your doll like form, motionless, intubated, in a baby hospital gown, our earth just stopped.😢 Like literally.

😍When you woke up days later, it was like we all woke up together. Woke up to the massive blessing that you are- and we reflected how we felt that spunk was what kept you fighting to live! Woke up to the faith we all had in those hard days in a real living God and that as a young family, God had our back. We learned so much in those days and now, years later can be really thankful for them! ( It was not the easiest to rejoice without ceasing at the hospital AT ALL but... )

😍So very, very, very thankful God kept you here... we know He has the BEST plans for you and over the last 10 years we have witnessed your heart just bloom and see His plans come to life! What a joy it is to parent you! We see how you bloomed from the adorable and exhausting "No" to everything stage ( that seemed endless!) to the heart that gives endlessly to others. Your heart has bloomed for others just recently in bigger ways, maybe it has always been but our constant time together allows me to recognize this more and I want to journal here so when you get older and read this someday, you remember how deep and generous your heart was!
😍 ( We went to Goodwill this week, looking for storage containers. Of course we found 0 of those, but a million other things like the Pottery Barn Chair, but I digress... we went, you saw a lady who looked pretty interesting and in a tough state, sitting criss cross applesauce on the floor, with a stack of books by her. You commented to me that "wow, she is reading chapter books". We were both impressed! At the check out you asked if you could give her money. In true skeptic form, I said no, but you could give her a Giftcard to Goodwill. You walked over to her, gave it to her. The sweet toothless lady was in awe. She was so thankful and you know what? I bet you changed her course. She can buy books. And we know that books can transform. She can read and she can go places.
One act of kindness will spread. Thank you for loving her. Thank you for teaching me how to see the good in others who we would seemingly pass along. XO)

😍We are blessed to learn so much from you. We love that you ask deep and hard questions. We love that you are shy yet bold. We love how you support Hudson. We love how you try to act like a teenager to relate to Harrison. We love your dance moves. We love your energy to try new things, maybe one day you will try new foods ;)
 We love that you BEYOND amazing with Lulu. (It's ok... for now, that she prefers you to me!😏😄). We love your creativity. I may not love all the glitter and slime residue that I have to clean up, but one day I know I will miss it! You see the good in situations and we pray that you will live each day like it's your 10th birthday. No matter where you are, what the circumstances, who you are with, you overcame a Covid Bday- baby! You got this! God's got you! We love you fiercely. Like crazy fierce. Like ain't noone gonna mess with my baby girl, fierce. Like unicorn boards are our new thing, fierce. I hope you get the idea 😊
 We have your back. Keep growing in grace and love and shine on, Sis! Now, can we pop this cute money balloon and go shopping already!? 😂😍🙋

Hannah's Faves 7/22/2020
Song: Pocket Full of Sunshine : Nastasha Bedingfield & Speechless from Aladdin
Christian Song: Amazing Grace by Simon Khorolskiy
Book: Judy Moody
Place to travel: Egypt
Food: Pizza, Miso Soup, Grilled Chicken
Junk Food: Hot Cheetos, Pickles, Pringles, Gummies
Dessert: Fro Yo with fun toppings
Hobby: Painting, Crafting, Slime making
Interesting fact: Loves sleeping in the car & napping anytime, and is raising a pet duck

 Day 2! Coming home!

 1st Birthday!

The beautiful curly hair stage.

Nap Lover

Birthday Fun ! 7-22-2020
Although it was a work day for us virtually, we had to get out for a fun girls only brunch date! We had seen yummy pictures from The Lola AZ, and when they said they could make a unicorn board as a surprise, we were sold! Off we went!

 ( This place is usually hustling and bustling! Such a fun area, but we had it to ourselves! )

 This board tho.... came out with a sparkler going nuts too... we were facetiming my mom as it came out, so it was like she was there too! So special!! And who knew there was spearmint cotton candy? The craziest yummiest flave!!
 ( and no, we did not finish all this!! but the boys sure loved the leftovers!)

 Family party at night!
 ( More party pix next week on Monday!)
Loved all the party details & can't wait to share!

Love you Hannah! 😍

7.20.2020

Thankful this week that it's Hannah's birthday week!! T Minus 3 days, and she will be 10! We can't wait for our brunch date and her macaron cake! This slime lovin' sweety will def get her own post. Stay tuned!

Thankful this week for....
 this new book arriving...have you read it? I have wondered what Enneagram number I am for too long! Let's see how this goes.

back to school ideas... I love greeting the kids at the classroom door physically... with either a fist bump, high five or hug each morning and I know that will drastically change, but we also know they need love somehow as their 1st thing... sooo here are some cute ideas for whenever the back to person teaching starts.... and I love the "Cant touch this" theme!

 house visits with the sweetest friends and  cutest little doggy, Patty!

 Virtual VBS! Just 1 day a week, for 4 weeks. I love that it's not daily. I love that it gives both kiddos an hour activity together, and it's independent although you know I hover.

 

{This is their VBS verse that they are to recite, and video. Hudson and short term memory is interesting and adorable and I submitted his video as was! "The heart is ceetful above all things and smart - Jericho ". Bless his smart heart! }

 

Thankful for ways of getting endorphins! Like my fave author Ann Voskamp says " Work out to get the stress out". So very needed during the many hours all cooped up! Annddd.... since the gym is closed but the pool is open., we are getting creative!
 When Matt goes in, he goes all in... ( swimming pun ...smh...)with whatevs... sooo basically... he is now Matt Phelps ;)

 Thankful for DIY creativity during Covid. Some days the stir craziness is very real and the longing to just go to a beach or get away is also real (we had a generous offer to spend a few weeks at a friends gorgeous FL condo, and had our flights booked and then literally the next day, the news had FL as the top Covid place etc etc and we just got totally weirded out and cancelled... SIGH SIGH SIGH) so doing things to distract is nice ( and thankfully we were surprising the kids, so noone was let down- but STILL!).
This is the before. The used Melissa and Doug Grocery/Lemonade Stand. Thank you Hissyfits for the bargain!

Since we have 3 paint colors in the garage, those were what I used!

White Teal and Hot pink. Pretty much the best combo in the history of combos 

I am not a good DIY-er. I have no patience to take things apart. I did look for a millisecond at someone's blog to see how they did their makeover but alas, I took the lazy approach and did not unscrew every bolt... or even a bolt... and it still is ok! Not amazing, but in cutesie play condition. 

 I knew the red stripes had to go. The kids have no playroom here, they share a little corner in our living room or use their bedroom as the playspace, so I needed it to match our decor. Painting over the stripes and wording should have taken longer and I should do another coat, I really should, but the kids dont care at all and Im over it for now too ;)

 This is their little shoppe area. The lights actually have letters on them and they say "Sushi & Sprinkles". They have ice cream and sushi "for sale" and a cute little cash register that speaks English in a high pitched Chinese voice. Thank you to Auntie Mila for the amazon GC! The kids were thrilled with some new toys!
 And Hannah made some adorable menus.

 Hudson and Hannah can really play and it is presh. Lulu comes and they pretend she is the thief, because she legit takes ALL the items out, and runs away. And leaves their shop totally robbed. Hudson of course then goes from Sushi chef, to Nerf Ninja and then we just get crazy. I love their play time. I don't love the mess but I am learning that when bedtime comes they do a great job of picking things up. I love their imaginations. I love hearing them give and take and share and squabble and make amends. I hope they remain this close. They are just such good friends and I am loving most of the days at home with them. Let's keep it real ;)

 I am thankful for this book, Live Love Now... Mark Batterson's The Whisper is DONE ( Please read it tho k? It's SO good) Now I am onto this gem. Hits those parenting nerves ever so closely. I think Rachel Macy Stafford and I would be great friends.  Please add this to your reading list too ;)

 This tho... mind blown.

 She does an Index Card activity when she speaks and teens write down what they wish adults would know.... here were some of them... hit your heart at all?

 Thankful for this little stink. She is such a goof and her sass is showing more which kills us all. Here she is sucking on a nerf bullet trying to look innocent. That hair. Those lips. Those cheeks. Killing us.

 Thankful for these beauts. Hottest cars around of course right by the gym in Scottsdale! Thankful for dad son dates - speaking Harrison's love language. Quality time and car dreams.  (And this is the before hair cut pic)

 Lifetime has the best salon!

 After! Although he rocked that cool shaggy look we are all LOVIN' the fresh new do!

 Both the guys with their new dos.

 Thankful for Hobby Lobby and Hannah's love of all things crafty! Her 1st canvas is off to a good start! She wants to add a big H in the middle with sparkles of course.

 Thankful for some time to kill at home... let the junk drawer be cute!

 But 1st line it with cute Dollar Spot posters that I haven't found frames for, for months.

 And then sort into Dollar Tree clear plastic thingies and viola. If these red scissors leave this drawer one more time, so help me. We literally need 2000 pair of scissors.

 Thankful to be in AZ and to be able to support our niece at her dance recital!

Hannah and her twin. Jovette is ageless!

 Thankful for actually listening to that alarm clock. Hitting the road early to get to the 1st cycle class of Covid was beyond exciting!

 Distanced, Outdoors, sanitized, and masks up until class starts = perfect.

 Thankful for our tribe. I really hope and pray that post covid, and in their young adult years they always remember 2020. Remember it for the funny times, the annoying times and the times when they walked ( initally unposed) arm in arm through the parking lot on the daily to get AJs. AJs has at least 15 unsweetened ice tea flavors, with the best circle ice of all, with fresh fruit slices in the $1 teas!! Yes, $1 for 32 ounces! And the kids get bagels or bialys with a side of bacon.
 ( Of course my camera was not handy during the unposed time, so I made them re-pose!)

 Thankful for this book! Hannah and a girlfriend are doing a book study on it! We are learning together and it is so cool!

 Thankful for Daisy growing so fast! Her new feathers are growing and she is so tall! She is officially an outdoor duck now, no more laundry room bedtimes. Her pool and tire time seem safe and fun and we keep eyes on her often to make sure the stray neighborhood cat doesn't find her. It is pretty sweet having an animal around. She hears the sliding door and pokes her head up ready for us to chat. Lulu loves watching her. Hudson loves spraying her pool with fresh water and we all take turns cleaning that nasty tire.

 Thankful for virtual VBS Part 2. The bag of supplies was so kindly given to us this weekend, in it were crafts and magnets and snacks! He made the compass necklace and it was so good for fine motor skills and so good for quiet time! Thank you Clearview Gospel Hall!

 Thankful for week 2 of Virtual Gospel starting strong! Join in and give it a listen! Dave and Matt speak nightly at 8pm Eastern. Text me for the Webinar link!

Thankful for yummy eats! ( This is a record of eating in, you all! I am still too nervous to actually eat out anywhere except for outdoor patios, which in 110 is not really relaxing even with misters, but we made brunch plans for Hannah's bday Wednesday, so I better get brave really quick!) 

This is basically rice-less sushi! 

Raw Salmon, Cukes, Avocado, Wasabi, Soy

 Thankful for this view as I scrub a dub dub. My aunt made that adorable little house for my bday and I love looking at it a million times a day while at the sink, and that quote makes me smile too.

Reading through the Psalms is a great way to kick off each morning, or sometimes depending on the day, end the evening. 

Psalm 50 really spoke to me, especially with all the unknowns for next school year.  God is in control, He speaks and boom, there's the beautiful sunrise, or the cotton candy majestic sunset. 

He has all the work and schooling and finances and life stuff figured out. 

And this hymn sums it all up too. I need it on repeat especially when the 1000 texts from the teachers union and friends come dinging in, all stressed... God's got it... He has our best... And I should be demonstrating this peace...

Yet not I, but Christ in me. @cityalight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zundjUFazfg