Scared Silly

We are still here.

Up to our usual silliness.

What are you up to these days?

I miss updating Yeebird. Something happened when Ian started kindergarten. Like, someone spun the great big wheel of my life and I am still waiting to see where it stops. There is so much to tell you (no huge updates, just regular everyday "stuff"). So much life happens in one month.

I'll start just by wishing you a Happy Halloween. Stop by again soon.

Yankee Doodle Darlings

What a difference a year makes.

Last year I sat inside holding a frightened Lil while Ian and daddy shot fireworks outside with friends.

This year, while celebrating at Mum and Papa's house, she couldn't get enough. She giggled. She gasped. She leaped with glee.


Meanwhile, Ian is still unsure of the whole fireworks thing, but he's coming along!

Loud noises? He's not a fan. The sudden bangs startle him and hurt his tender ears (he covered them much of the night), and he does not appreciate the smoke getting in his already-irritated-from-allergies eyes and nose.

He is cautious and caring, reminding the neighbor children to "Step back!" and "Watch!" as we celebrated. He makes the most of life--even what he considers an uncomfortable situation, enjoying his friends as usual, being silly and running and falling and rolling with his buddies.

Then there's daddy--helping, lighting, guiding, in the thick of the action.

And me. Watching them all. Loving them with all their differences and uniqueness. Knowing God made every member of my family in a special way and it is my job to love them unconditionally. It's called being a mom.

How was your Fourth? Do you, also, have two very different children?

Mother's Day Wrap-Up

The people

and the table . . . I used three different china patterns: 1. My mother's wedding china, 2. My grandmother's china and 3. See the blue square plates? They are exactly like my great-grandmother's china. If anyone ever finds "Fire King Charm Anchor Hocking 1950-1954 Azurite color" china at a thrift store, call me, please! We only have four plates/cups/saucers.

Yes, we have an exercise bike in our dining/hearth room. What? YOU don't?

The place holders (tutorial for dowel rod flowers found here. I stuffed floral foam into these votive holders-Hobby Lobby-$1 to make a base and turn the flowers into place holders.)


The banners (world's easiest fabric banner: trace a cereal bowl onto fabric, cut out, press in half, fold over ribbon and sew around the half circle)


Never ask my children to "pose" for a photograph.

How many of us are still at the kid table?

The gifts for grandmothers--local honey ("You're sweet as honey, Hoo-Hoo."), birdseed, stepping stones; planters (Target dollar stop) decorated with stickers; the kids scooped the dirt and we added a wildflower seed packet and a chenille stem flower.

This was precious. The kids retrieved their gifts one at a time and delivered them around the table. This is the first year the children were really old enough to choose, make and take ownership of the Mother's Day gifts. It was sweet.

The treats . . .

Anyone else a fan of cake bites? They are easy to make, if you don't mind imperfect appearances (obviously I don't mind). Check out this link for different kinds to make and recipes. Although simple, they are time consuming as the process requires hours of freezing/chilling time.

The grand finale

Could this day get any more perfect? No. But, wait! Is that a butterfly? Yep--a magical moment when this little fella came in on our zinnias. The children were mesmerized. Caleb caught it inside a glass and released it.

And now, we turn our thoughts to Father's Day. Have any ideas to share?

Mother's Day Part One

Look what Nathan did!

Mother's Day breakfast (Saturday morning): french toast, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, sausage, juice, Starbucks' new 3 Region Blend

AND

Check out that precious banner he made and hung across my island pendant lights, and the hanging basket of New Guinea Impatiens for my back porch. I'm so in love (with Nathan. Okay, AND the flowers).

We hosted a gigantic and grand Mother's Day lunch at our home Sunday afternoon. More photos of that coming in the next post.

Here, Lilly and I are planting Zinnias for the mothers and grandmothers on Saturday morning, in preparation for Sunday.


Now, some family photos we snapped Sunday . . .

I will treasure this photo FOR.EV.ER. The 11 of us. Yes, ELEVEN. Did you know my new niece/nephew is growing inside sweet Manda's tummy? My sewing machine can't WAIT to get started. :)

Wow. Love this. What a treat for Hoo-Hoo to bring Jess from the Veterans' Home. We love you all.


Left: The three Ruths (Lilly Ruth, Rebekah Ruth, Ruth the First); Right: We are so blessed to spend our first Mother's Day with you, Aunt Manda.

Three generations of gentlemen, the fourth running up from behind . . .

That smile lights up a room.

Photos of the lovely lunch coming soon. How was your special day? How did you celebrate?

Kindness

This hug, this gigantic hug of THANKS is for you, sweet reader; for all your comments and encouragement on my last post. THANK YOU!

Speaking of TLC . . .

If this garden

and these strawberries

don't flourish and grow this summer, it won't be for lack of love.

Strawberry girl is always ready to help. Heck, she even protects me from the "bad bugs". After stepping on a fly yesterday, she said as she ran to her swing, "Now he's in space with God."

The theology's shaky, but I sure do love those mama moments. Sweet mothers out there, we must be doing something right. Right? Today I am up to my eyeballs in paint and fabric, preparing for a Mother's Day lunch at my house. Pure joy!

Happy Mama's Day to you. Who is YOUR little helper today?

Valetine's Day Goodness

Following are the ideas I presented on the KY3 morning show. Thanks for watching and visiting my blog. Email me with any questions: yeebird[at]gmail[dot]com. Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

Let crayons cool completely. Remove by turning upside down on a soft cloth, so as not to break them.

How about repurposing your Christmas tins into Valentine's Day boxes for the people you love?

Directions:
1. Spray tins with chalkboard paint. Leave lids on when painting.
2. When dry, fill with treats and decorate with chalk--think sweet nothings, remember whens, secret nicknames. Get creative, Schnookums.


Finally, two lovely ideas from the fabulous Martha (We're not worthy! We're not worthy!):

1. Felt fortune cookies. Find directions here. Just add chopsticks and a romantic evening at home with sushi. Only you and your special someone know what is written on those slips of paper tucked inside.

I'm just sayin'.

2. Valentine candy bags. I altered Martha's version a bit by cutting shapes directly from my photos and adding cutesy sayings. You like? Go here for specifics.

Oh, and did I mention today (February 6) is my birthday?

Yep.

More on that later . . .