Tye Die Tees with Sharpies

Does the sound of that title scare you?

Don't let it. I promise. You will not find a complicated craft around these parts.

I can appreciate a good craft with the best of them. I'm just not a fan of crafts that are tedious or drawn out for hours or (even worse) days.

I'm all about quick results. And so are my girls. We like instant gratification when it comes to making stuff.

If it requires more more than a few basic instructions AND complicated supplies, it gets nixed rather quickly (there goes about 95% of my craft options, right??).

My other criteria for a good craft is that it usually has to be something the girls can do with me. My girls are craft leaches. If they even think their mama is up to making something, they won't let me out of their sight. I love embrace this in them. "If you can't beat them, join them."

Now, I will say that since this craft had Sharpies involved, we waited until the littles were napping. The very word "Sharpie" evokes such fear and trembling in my 2 year old. We've had a few casualties with our little "destroyer of leather furniture". If she even so much as sees a stray Sharpie on the ground (we have a very specific home for them in this house), she will run it immediately to me as if she is holding a knife. It very much is a forbidden weapon to her. And she has "killed" many things with Sharpies.

This craft was inspired by this post on the blog "The Art Girl Jackie".

It was so simple and we had a blast doing it!

Have you every wondered what to do with a basic stained white tee?? They would be so great to re-purpose for this craft.

Laney Rae getting her craft on. 

Kaylyn getting her craft on.

Supplies:

I found some of our ugly white shirts that had seen better days.
A boatload of Sharpies
Rubbing Alcohol
Dropper
Plastic Cup
Rubberbands
(The link above shows a bedazzled embellishment of some sort...we went for simple. That's our thing. But, by all means bedazzle if you want to.)

I'm not going to copy the exact instructions here since I pretty much did exactly what Mrs. Jackie did. So head on over there for specific instructions.

They took us all but 30 minutes to make. And it was really neat watching the colors transform.

By the end of it all, I was glad that we did this craft. That doesn't happen very often. All I can say is
S I M P L E and cute!

Sisters Playing

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~Marion C. Garretty

It's not always roses and sunshine around here.

Our life is not perfect. It's perfectly imperfect.

And I'm so thankful for the gift of living this life; my life. And not just living it as merely to survive it. But, living to embrace it for all it's perfections and imperfections.

Praying that in the perfect moments I overflow with thankfulness.

Praying that in the imperfect moments I produce growth.......and humility. By His grace alone.

I captured one of those "thankful" moments the other day. I'm trying to be better about that and seizing the opportunity to just stop. and. pause.

"Take it ALL in and slow down," I have to remind myself.

Looking through the lens of a camera helps me do that. I see things I want to forever remember and never ever forget.

How little chubby knuckles held both Thomas'.

How her face was fixated when caught in a moment of creativity.

How sister smiles and belly button parties looked.

Snapshots that I want to etch in my memory when the years have gone by and I'm trying to remember how it once was in this season.

These pictures will one day make me cry- I'm sure of it. What seems as "everyday" now, will one day be but a memory and a photograph.

There is so much more life to behold and take in. But, I want to pause and remember the moments as we meander through it.

Happy Birthday Eldest Love

Happy Birthday Eldest Love,

You are a delight to this home.

My days are sweet with you alongside me. You are my right-hand gal- my "go to". Always eager to help, serve, love. It is pure joy to watch you with your sisters and how you dote over them so proud and grown-up.

Kaylyn, your brain is filled with creativity. Your need to create always keeps me on my toes- and sometimes wears me out because I can't keep up.

Yesterday, you brought me a man made out of leaves.

Your speech in Classical Conversations a few weeks ago was about what you want to do when you grow up. Your answer: a seamstress who made modest "stylish" clothing.

And what 2 1/2 year old knows what the color "magenta" or "chartreuse" is???? You my dear.

In watching your little life, I'm reminded of the gifts that God lavishly gives us to serve His kingdom and for His glory. I pray it's all used for His glory and His alone.

You wake up eager to create and inspire and want the biggest and best thing that the day holds for us.

Lovey, you are full of surprises! You love to give gifts to people that you specifically create for them. It's one of your favorite things to do.

You are also our little joker around here. You love to laugh and tell jokes. You are learning the art of telling a joke. And another favorite thing of yours is to play practical jokes on people.....good ones, not gross ones.

Our firstborn, you came into this world glowing.....literally. We battled jaundice for 2 weeks and had a billirubin light in our living room the whole duration of that 2 weeks. You were our little glow worm. I always knew you had the gift of "lighting up a room".

Kaylyn, you are a blessing to this family. We love you beyond words.

Father, give Kaylyn the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, and the knowledge of You. That the eyes of her heart be enlightened that she will know the hope to which you have called her, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints and His Incomparably great power for us who believe.
(Ephesians 1:17-19)

And just for fun, here are some things I found on my camera yesterday as I was loading pics. A few weeks ago you had a fashion show and wanted me to photograph you.




And then these were extra special because I discovered that you had a photoshoot of your own with your stuffed dog "Flower". So funny! Again, you are FULL of surprises. AND apparently you know how to set the timer on my camera too. Could you show your momma this trick???

I love you sweet girl!

who said.....

Let's talk about this picture for a minute shall we??

Who said my baby could grow up this fast??

There she sits; in the wheel of tractor.

Toothless and all.

With her big girl-haired self.

It's just not right. It's just SOOOO not right.

I love this little girl. She is my buddy. My sidekick is she.

Whatever I'm doing, she is usually right beside me doing the same or an even more awesome version.

She started cracking jokes too.

And she has such a funny sense of humor. She laughs watching "Nacho Libre" in all of the right parts. Oh how I love this girl.

I keep begging her to stay on the farm with me forever. I've even bribed her with the possibility of her very own ALL-pink cottage. But, she just laughs and says she is a city girl.

This momma thinks she looks mighty beautiful sitting there in that wheel of a tractor.

And in case we need one more reminder....

look at this little girl. She has officially entered girl-hood.

This photo says it all.

nEsTiNg::::: the big girls' room

With the arrival of our 4th girl in just 9 days, you better believe I've been nesting like crazy.

Living on a farm, I realize that nesting is just a normal part of life for humans and animals alike.

Something happens when a woman is expecting a baby- whether in the womb or through adoption.

We fluff our nests, clean like crazy, re-organize, craft, paint, and find ourselves tackling projects we've put off for months all because a little one is about to grace us with their presence.

One of many projects we've tackled is converting Kaylyn's room into a room for her and Laney Rae to share. They were sharing her full bed, but let's just say that one of these girls sleeps a little on the crazy side (bet you can't guess which one) so two twin beds were in order.

My sister found the perfect twin beds at a gigantic antique sale for a bargain. We painted them a watermelon pink to match all of the pillows and linens that my friend and designer, Holly, had given us for Kaylyn's original room.

The other two pieces of furniture that are new in the room, is the great pink shelf my friend, Robyn, purchased at a garage sale and the white double locker I picked up at Warrenton this past year.

And let me just mention the monkey on Laney Rae's bed. My friend, Kirby, made that for Laney Rae along with 7 other kiddos in our homeschool group. It has become a favorite of Laney Rae's and she sleeps with it every night. I'm so thankful that it happens to be adorable and sentimental.

Do I have some great friends and family or what? I love that there are so many things in this room that were given to us or found for a great price with this room in mind.

**side note: You should go check out each of the lady's blogs mentioned above. They don't disappoint when it comes to "all things cute". Promise.

The prints above their bed are from Sarah & Abraham that used to be in the schoolroom.

I've gabbed long enough.

Here are photos of the finished product of the girls room that they now share.

More nesting projects to follow.

A snapshot of my day

The girls and I loaded up in the "farm buggy" and drove around for a bit today.

As we were driving around, I was taken aback by the glitter, cheetah print, and PINK!

I snapped this photo to remember this season of life.

Little girlie feet out and about on an adventure. Oh how I love those little feet!

And this photo serves as a reminder to never ever ask my girls to say "CHEESE" to capture a photo. It just doesn't work in these parts.

Bluebonnets:::::The Keepers

Because the post below is freaking me out on a whole new level, I now bring you, "the Keepers."

Score! I love this one of all three girls.


Little Miss Ruthie....


Minus Laney Rae....she wasn't feeling this at all.


My fun one!


And THIS is totally her smile and the way I think of her.


So sweet of these two!


Watch out Little House on the Prairie. Ha!


She has got this down!


And this!




And she is just herself. No matter what.


Ruthie sitting in a suitcase.


So sweet!

Tot Shred

I snapped some photos of the girls doing Jillian Michael's Shred with me.

I seriously had to capture the moment because they were so into it and too darn cute.

I was seriously wishing I had stamina like a 2 year old and calves like a 5 year old as I took my place behind these two workout pros.

Laney Rae got out her "mat"....aka The Sheep Pillow.

Kaylyn got out her water bottle...aka Raw Milk with some cocoa powder.


Laney Rae decided she needed to work towards her abs of steel.


But, first she had to loosen up by doing some knee circles.


And more knee circles.


And more knee circles. Because can knee circles get any cuter than this?


Her push-ups are perfection;)


And so are hers. Kaylyn's tongue is what makes her push-ups extra perfect.


Ruthie was quite entertained by watching all of her favorite people partake in all sorts of weird gyrations.


Laney Rae has found that holding her cheeks really does the trick in helping her get through her crunches.


And when its all said and done, you get legs like this to adorn beautifully with stickers. Ha!

Laney Rae's legs are seriously my most favorite part of her. They are absolutely squishy and wonderful!

And this momma ended up getting no workout time in whatsoever because I just HAD to capture these two in all of their workout splendor. Excuses, excuses!


I also think its pretty hilarious that Laney Rae is missing her shirt in the above photos, but missing her pants in the latter photo.

This is typical around here. She is our free spirit. It's a monumental accomplishment if we even make it through the whole day with one stitch of clothing on at all.

We once had a visit from a preacher during potty training.

She totally mooned him.

When I potty train my girls, I put long dresses with no underwear underneath. You may call it immodest, but I call it practical. Except, I do think I should have remembered to put some drawers on her before the preacher showed up. That, I regret.

On a separate occasion we had a visit from the UPS man. Laney Rae ran to the sidewalk to greet him (when you live on the farm, the littlest things excite you). The UPS dude noticed that she wasn't wearing shoes outside.

"Where are her shoes?" He asked in a confused voice looking at my baby girl's feet pressed up against the warm concrete.

To which I explained,"You are just lucky she is wearing undies."

I should not have said "undies" in the presence of a UPS dude. That, I regret.

But, it was the truth.