Meeting Shortcake

Over the past two weeks we have had lots of family make the trek to help us welcome our Mr. Shortcake. It started with his baptism affirmation weekend when he got to meet:
1 Grandma (he met the other the day after he was born)

2 Grandpas

1 Uncle

2 Cousins

2 Aunts

1 Great Grandma

The next weekend he got to meet
1 Aunt

I promise Aunt Jenny got to hold him as well, but she also took good care of his sisters.

1 Uncle

3 Cousins

And the following weekend he got to meet
1 Aunt

1 Uncle

He sure is one loved little man!

Picture Frame Barrette Holder

A friend recently mentioned to me that her daughter needed an organizer to coral her hair barrette and clip collection. Since the little girl's birthday was coming up, I filed away this information and turned it into a birthday gift.
I used the same basic concept that I used for the girls' holder that I made several years ago.

This time I started with a decorative frame that I purchased at Hobby Lobby, on sale, of course. Since the glass could not be removed, I cut a piece of cardboard to fit the opening of the frame. Using my glue gun I covered the cardboard with a piece of fabric that I had cut to be 1 to 2 inches larger than the cardboard.

After the cardboard was neatly covered, I wove ribbon on top of the fabric and wrapped it around to the back side and once again used my glue gun to secure the ribbon ends. Finally I glued the entire cardboard piece on to the glass front of the frame and we were done. (If you were to use a frame that the glass could be removed, I would just place the cardboard piece into the frame in place of the glass.)

Sweet Smiles

I grabbed these sweet pictures yesterday and had to share them. It appears that our sweet boy has learned to turn on the charm.

Preschool Butterfly Projects

We are welcoming spring this week with some fun butterfly projects. These projects are great for multiple age levels. I also love that they are, for the most part, open-ended. I threw the fabric butterfly project in for mommas or older kiddos. (The local fabric store had an origami butterfly demonstration the other day and I thought that they would be a great way to use up some of my scrap fabric. This method is a bit different, but the different fun fabrics are great.)

1) Paper Plate Butterflies: Allison McDonald shares this fun activity on the blog No Time for Flash Cards. We always have plenty of supplies around for a simple project like this and I know both girls would love it.

2) Fabric Butterflies: This project is from Fancy That. Every Christmas Nikki makes a different fabric ornament, love that idea. In 2012, she made these fabric butterflies. It appears that the tutorial she used no longer exists, but if you search the internet or Pinterest, you will find plenty of other options.

3) Contact Paper Butterflies: Another fun project from Allison McDonald at No Time for Flash Cards. Once again, something that we have all the supplies on hand for a no-mess fun project for all ages. I think I would hang these on the window as a sun catcher of sorts.

4) B is for Butterfly: I have recently started to think about introducing letters to Cream in a little bit of a formal/fun way. A project like the B butterfly from Cindy at Along the Way would be perfect. I would have the girls use daubers on a large sheet of paper and then cut out the B shape for the butterfly. (I would even have Peachy cut her own.)

5) 3-D Butterflies: Using a pencil to make art 3-D, love it! (I am sure dowels would also work well.) These butterflies from Krokotak look so pretty and fun! The symmetry folding is also a fun concept to introduce.

Foodie Friday: Quick and Easy Meals

Some days I really enjoy spending time in the kitchen. And other days I would rather just get a meal on the table quickly and be done with it. Today I am sharing some quick and easy meals that we have been enjoying on our table lately.
1) Wraps: (Image and recipe from Exos) Wraps are great for the days when you don't feel like a sandwich, but you don't feel like making anything either. Spread some mayo, mustard, cream cheese, or whatever suits you on a tortilla, throw in what you have on hand as far as meat and cheese, add in a vegetable and roll. If you need a little inspiration, just do a quick search on Pinterest and you will find more than you need.
2) Chicken French Bread Pizza: (Image and recipe from What's Cooking with Ruthie) Here is a great way to use up some left over chicken, or even turkey. Spread on some Alfredo sauce onto a loaf of french bread cut in half and top with chicken, tomato pieces, and mozzarella.
3) Pizza Quesadillas: (Image and recipe from Land O Lakes) We love quesadillas in our house. We love pizza in our house. Why not combine the two? A little mozzarella on a tortilla topped with pepperoni and whatever other pizza toppings you like. After cooking, serve with pizza sauce to dip.
4) Taco Casserole: (Image and recipe from Bombshell Bling) This is a great way to have the taste of tacos or taco salad with an easy to prepare, serve, and eat casserole. When I made mine, I added some green chilies to the meat and you could really add whatever you wanted to the casserole or when serving.

Shortcake: One Month Old

Last week Thursday marked one month from Shortcake's arrival. As usual, it is hard to believe that it has been that long.

Mr. Shortcake has been very good to us. He is a very chill baby who really only cries when he is alerting us to some sort of discomfort. The Lord knew that with the two girls at home a relaxed #3 is what this house needed.

He continues to be a good eater. He averages about three hours between nursing, but will sometimes go longer. He has had some good nights where he only woke up once. I have no doubt that he is well over 10 pounds by now as he was already 9 pounds 14 ounces at his two week appointment,

He spends lots of his days napping so we really haven't tried anything like tummy time or playing on the floor mat. In time, all in time.

He and I were able to take an infant massage class together this month and the few massages I have given him have been fun. He also doesn't mind his baths as long as we time them right.

People are always asking how the transition to three is going, and really, it is going more smoothly than I anticipated. I was most worried about Cream, but she really loves her little brother and likes to help out with him.

Peachy is a very good helper and fetches things for me when I need them. (She even, unbeknownst to me, changed one of Cream's diapers one morning after they had gotten up and were getting dressed.

All in all, we are feeling very blessed at the amazing miracle of not one, but three little kiddos that call us mom and dad.
And here are pictures of Peachy and Cream both at one month. He is really a good mix of both, minus the hair, of course.

Spring Has Sprung

Spring has sprung, well in our house at least. We've had a few tastes of spring in the air as well, and it feels wonderful! I added a few touches of spring to the house in honor of March and hoping that the outside gets the hint and joins in.

I finally got the Christmas hanging off the front door and replaced it with this springy wreath. It started with the hello cutout and a Styrofoam wreath. I added scraps and other tidbits I had on hand and came away with this wreath. I just searched Pinterest for inspiration and there was plenty on there.

Of course I had to redo the chalkboard. (This only went back as far as Valentine's Day.) I used the method that you print the message out on the computer and trace it onto the chalkboard by covering the back of the paper with chalk and then going over the top. I like how precise the font turns out this way and will be trying it again.

By searching Pinterest for Easter printables I came away with two great pieces for the bookshelf and our entry way shelf. I also had the perfect frame for the Hosanna egg print (found here). I added in a decorative bird's nest and eggs I had on hand and finished it off with some blue Mason jars I had around wrapped with fabric scraps.

I used some stand jars filled with grains to go along with the I Know That My Redeemer Lives print also from Pinterest (found here.)

There you have it. Some simple touches of spring with little cost to me.