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wednesday for me.

May 11, 2011 Filed in parenting,school,special

last night was annie's kindergarten recogniton.
pretty cute.

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they performed "the very hungry caterpillar" and sang "what a wonderful world"

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annie has thrived in mrs. claassen's class this year.
has loved going to school every day.
has made art projects, gifts and cards for her everyday all school year.
that is a good sign of love to me.

 
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ezra is her best buddy in the class.
at bedtime we were talking and she shared that everybody says "why do you always play with boys?!" 
i told her it was ok to play with WHOever she wants.
she said the girls always say "annie…come play princesses with us!"
and i laughed and said "you should say…..DO I LOOK LIKE I WANT TO PLAY PRINCESS WITH YOU?"
talby said "don't say that annie….you'll get in trouble"
we all laughed.

she likes some girly things like babies and house and littlest pet shops
but boys have more energy and action
and they are louder. 
just like annie. 

she has friends that are girls too.
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the magnificent chef ANNIE will prepare  KAK for your meal

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i cannot believe this year is almost over.
it's crazy.
i feel like i am in some weird time warp sucker.
making everything go at super speed.
everyone is growing up and changing so fast.
i want to shout "just stop already!"
for the good moments.
the hard stuff….the tough stuff….it can go away as quick as possible.
move along angry hormones of teenagers….
get going feelings of entitlement and greed or laziness…..
please move faster self centeredness…..
but this good awesome wonderful stuff…like hungry caterpillars & teacher hugs….they can stay forever. 

 

add a comment

Lin - It’s not fair that first grade is just a few weeks from over, that my baby is just a few weeks away from turning seven. It’s not fair that it’s already May. I want time to slow down. I want it to stop, just for a little while.

Sarah Wolfe - adorable pictures!

Staci - I hear ya 🙁 My little kindergartener graduates next Friday….seems like I have wished for them both to be in “all day” school” for a long time…and now that it is rapidly approaching…I’m sad! HOW CRAZY IS THAT?????? I guess I’m a little scared of having alllll that time to read blogs and get nothing else done 🙁 EEEEEK!!!!!! Need a hobby….NEED TO LEARN TO SEW!!!!!!! Anyway…congrats to your sweet and precious Annie 😉

gina - I am so glad Annie likes playing with boys because Ezra sure loves playing with her! And I agree, this year flew by. Pretty sure it was just yesterday that we were bringing them into the classroom for their first day of school.

Kelle - I once said something about watching my kids grow is like trying to hold water in my hands. It just trickles through no matter how hard I try to keep it cupped, and it makes me sad. My cousin (who has older kids) said “yes, but the puddle the water makes below is just as beautiful.”
So true.
Catching up and always, always loving your words, your color, your zest. xo

Jen@thecottagenest - I feel the time passing much too quickly too. This year we have so many endings, one girl graduating and one moving on to middle school next year for 5th grade. Lots of tears here, mostly for the little one. I completely understand the need for time to pass a little quicker for the older ones.

emily - You are the best at documenting your life in such a sweet and sentimental way. I am right there with you not wanting the good things to go so quickly.

happygirl - I love Annie’s haircut. So cute. Yep, they grow up fast. But, sometimes, they move out slow.

Jaime - I keep looking at Mrs.Claassen and I think I might have gone to college with her. Do you happen to know if she went to a small Christian college in Oklahoma? If so…she was the sweetest girl around. She wasn’t married then so she had a different name, but she looks so familiar. Anyway, I would love to say “hello” to her if it is her. Haha! I love blogs, such a small world.
🙂

Carol S - I hear the grandkids stage is fun too…..SLOW DOWN PEOPLE!!

Kait - I’m echoing everyone else who said PLEASE spill on where to get that adorable dress! Annie is always so cute and her clothing is so vibrant. I love it!

Charlotte - annie is precious!
i too love the look of your photos!
i am curious how you tweaked them to make them colored like they are…and also can’t help but wonder if it was a trick to cover up the yellow lighting that always seems to come out in gymnasiums! please…tell us how you did it! 🙂

the.mrs - So cute! LOVE her dress. Need it for me! Spill the beans laday!

Valerie@Chateaualamode.typepad.com - I so relate. So many emotions raising kids.

Rach - Oh such a sweet post. I hope my daughter enjoys school as much as Annie seems to have.

Nicole Q. - man i relate . . . twins almost done with kindergarten and I can’t even believe it. C R A Z Y !!!

Janelle - Check this article out…I keep rereading it and remembering the saying….”don’t cry because it is over, smile because it happened.” My youngest of four is starting school in the fall and I am having a difficult time thinking about this change :\
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/the-best-part-of-parenting/

Danyelle - I know EXACTLY what you mean. These days, the ones where our children are little + happy + sweet as can be pass far too quickly. The good news is, summer’s just around the corner and I absolutely adore summers with all my children home.

Jessie - Had to share this kak with you 🙂 LOVE your blog.
RAINBOW CHEESECAKE
http://taste-for-adventure.tablespoon.com/2011/03/10/rainbow-cheesecake/

elissa - oh my gosh. that little boy with his little open tie. good heavens, i suddenly feel all sappy

Molly - my 6 year old (soon to be 7!) plays with boys alot too! I think it is just fine!

Sarah@this farm family's life - i feel for ya. our oldest will start kindergarten next year. not looking forward to that!
http://www.thisfarmfamilyslife.blogspot.com

Sarah - LOL, the KAK for for your meal is cracking me up!
I totally understand, I have an 18 month old and I just can’t believe how fast she’s growing up. When I saw that her next Dr. appointment will be her 2yr checkup, I almost broke into tears…no joke! 🙂

Jess - Yeah Annie! Kindergarten is definitely the best. 🙂 Glad she had such a wonderful year.

Shannon - She is so stinkin cute! My older daughter tends to play with boys more as well for the same reasons. She is not much of a girly girl and I’m fine with it but daddy does not like the boys as friends at all! 🙂

sam - I love your blog! Thank you for all that you share. I have 4 boys and feel some kinship with the things you write about. Hope you are having a great day!

julia - I’m currently in the throes of being sad about the last day of pre-school coming up. I can’t even let my mind dwell on kinder for next year.
Pls dish on the dress….must know…

Janine - So adorable. I love that her buddy is a boy. I got teased for having a boy as my friend in 2nd grade. 25 yrs later I married him!

merlin - To me this is the perfect stage/age of life, capable, innocent, sweet, carefree, full of possibility….if only we could all keep that part of us forever in the forefront of life.

Maria - sigh…our kindergarten play/celebration is next Wed…these end of year plays always get me…last year was the worst…the preschool graduation…I am always a mess.
Such cute pics…our littlest has girls for friends too…but they are NOT his girlfriends…lol
Our oldest goes off to Jr High (they are actually touring the school today) next year…so.not.ready.
I am ready for a non-homework, sleeping-in filled summer though…

Southern Gal - Love the profile shot. And I’ll take kak anyday.

Cathy - I’d love Chef Annie to prepare kak for me (or even some cake would be fine)! She’s adorable!

Danielle - Hahaha! What did Annie say Kak meant? She is a little spitfire:)

Alisha - I’m right there with you! My son is graduating from preschool next week and he is the sweetest little guy.
Our 13 year old is EXACTLY how you describe your teens. It’s frustrating and will be wonderful when that stage has passed.
Guess we all have to go through it though. Good with the bad, right?

Kerry - Too sweet Meg 🙂 I had to Laugh… I’m from South-Africa and in Afrikaans, ‘Kak’ means poop 🙂 hee hee – Have a fab day, kerry x

Terrie - Isn’t that the truth?! I was going through a mini album that I made for my son when he was in grade school…some days, I just want to go back in time! To the good parts…only the good parts! Well, no maybe some of the bad parts too…then I can have a do-over! I could use a lot of do-overs! sigh….oh well, I think my kids still love me! 🙂
I saw a commercial about crayola glow-in-the-dark sidewalk chalk…I think you need to put it on your summer ‘to-do’ list! I think I will….maybe when my nephews come in a few weeks! Even if they don’t stay the night…I think I need some for me!
HaPpY WeDnEsDaY Meg!

Cara Kapp - Hi, just like to say I really LOVE reading your blog, have to wait till late afternoon with the time difference!! It’s so funny I’m from South Africa and speak Afrikaans – KAK is a really bad swear word in Afrikaans – it’s a “another” word for pooh.

Katy - that is the cutest little hair cut!

Jessica Johnson - that cut is too, too cute on her! and can mrs. claassen be the cutest name ever for a K teacher? you almost have to teach with that name.

Kristi Barrett - Amen. Very well written!

Jessi - What a sweetie pie.
I’m getting nervous about my babies growing up. My oldest is 3 going on 13.

Cindy - very sweet! i have tears in my eyes now. my firstborn has her preschool promotion celebration next week and then is moving on to kindergarten. and my second starts preschool in the fall. i am just going to be one teary emotional mess 😉 we’re really gonna live it up this summer!!

Georgia - Hahahaha – KAK! im sorry but this is so funny, im cracking up at my desk. I dont ever want her to cook me KAK for dinner..haha

erica - love this post:) and i love that your annie likes to play with the boys…my oldest – doesn’t play with the girls – she loves to be in the action with the boys:) i hope they can all continue to accept her in their little circle (and i haven’t dealt with drama, yet!) she’s going into 2nd grade and it brings tears to my eyes when i think about it. aren’t kids wonderfully awesome?!?

Leslie - I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL!!! Great post…thanks for sharing!

Mandy - Meg – I love the color of your pictures in this post. How do you get them this way?!

Holly - oh Meg! We have kindergarten graduation next friday. It makes me sad that my baby is getting so big so fast! I am ready for summer though!

Heather R. - I love teachers who love on the kids. Sweet. The pic of Annie and her Dad are great. Kak is yummy…especially rainbow ones. 😉

tara pollard pakosta - awwwww I am with you on the good stuff can stay,
tween girl (age 11) outbursts of tears lately, can GO!
cute cute cute annie!
tara

Melissa - It all happens so fast, huh!?!?
I got my box of goodies!!! Thank you so much, Meg! You’re a doll!

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - Hi Meg!
I know what you mean about time flying waaaay to fast…it doesn’t seem that long ago you were posting about feeling sad that Annie was moving up to Kindergarten!
Gemma x

Routhie - I want Annie’s hair and her dress. For me. She is so cute!

Niki - I feel you! My oldest son’s last day of Kindergarten is tomorrow! I can’t believe how fast it has gone! Just think…we have a summer full of fun to look forward to. At least that’s what I’m trying to tell myself. It will last one day until the “I’m bored” starts!

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how can this be?

May 10, 2011 Filed in birthdays,special,WAFFLE the wonder dog

how can 13 years have passed since i gave birth to this boy?

he was born ON mother's day.
with out drugs.
just me, craig and dr. saleh quietly in my little tiny room.
they both cheered me on and told me "you're doing great" and "you're almost done".  

it was the calmest of all of my birthing experiences.

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which is funny because he was the least calm baby of the five.
he cried for the first two weeks non stop.

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he was my second baby.
my first boy.
my baby that threw up and threw up and threw up.

i switched him to cow's milk at 6 months old after my mom suggested it.
literally from that very bottle…..
he never threw up again.
after 6 months of non-stop reflux it was GONE in one day.
i had to switch doctors because she was up in arms about the dangers i was causing him.
sorry lady….you aren't the one cleaning up this kid 20 times a day…..he's cured.
see ya!

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he taught me to notice things like trash trucks and construction sites.
we used to drive to a construction site and park there and watch while we ate a happy meal.
i can still name every construction vehicle and tell you what it's for.

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and he asked a lot of questions.
A LOT.

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sigh…….i miss that little boy.

because who is this man that is living at my house?
eating non stop?
talking with a low voice?
wearing giant shoes?
worrying about how his hair looks and if his breath is ok?????

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waffle is always a scene stealer…..

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those ginormous candles were from party city.
they are fun! 

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i made it a KU cake…..but honestly….no one cared.
boo.

the older they get the less exciting the birthdays are.
and the more OLD i feel.

he was a sweet baby.
a fun kid.
and a funny high energy young man right now.
i love to watch him play ball.
i like to listen to him to talk to his dad about basketball (95% of what he talks about during his waking hours)
i think he is going to be an awesome adult.

how cool is parenting?

we get to birth them, feed them, care for them and then watch them grow up and become adults?!
it's crazy.
and awful.
and humbling.
and HARD.

but still so very cool.

happy birthday SON.

i hope it's as BEAST as you are.

his real birthday is today but he will be at a track meet all afternoon and evening so we celebrated early. 

add a comment

Lisa Currie-Gurney - HUGS FROM MY HEART FRIEND

Christina - This made me cry! He does look so old in the present day pics! Hope his day was a happy one (it sure looks like it was)!

danielle burkleo - be still my heart. this makes me so excited and a little bit sad about my boys reaching that stage. but mostly just excited. i love this. what a handsome son – happy birthday!!

Nichole Kopp - My son turned 13 the last week in April. All I could think about was when he was three. He would put his stuffed elephant in his bike basket and ride up and down the sidewalk on the bike he called “steady ears”. His big blue eyes, blonde hair sticking out of his bike helmet. And now? He rides his bike across town and down trails. And his big blue eyes glare at me when I ask him to wear a helmet. Where does the time go? Happy Birthday to our “little boys”. At least they still let us hug them…. when nobody is looking.

Kat - He is gorgeous as a little boy and now too.
Cracked up when I saw the beast top. Lol. Bet that was a hit.
Personally I love your cake and I love, love, love that like me you get so sentimental about each birthday and each year of growth.
It’s what makes us love being Mums and helps us to appreciate it all.
So many mixed emotions and feelings huh?

Sarah - That is one GOOD LOOKING kid.
I love how you listened to your mom and yourself, and not your doctor….I think us moms need to do that more.
Why do your cakes always make me salivate???

Kerry Wiebe - Cow’s milk ROCKS!!!!

Tess S. - My oldest is 4 (going on 34). My husband was upstairs putting the “big” kids to bed and I snuggled the babe to sleep on the couch while watching Glee. It was the prom episode and for the first half I kept thinking about my own proms. All the fun I had and all the emotions that went into it. And then I looked down at my sleeping baby and realized she’ll be going to prom. She’ll have all those feelings. And I have 2 others that will be going through it too. It was a very REAL awkward moment. Parenting in hard. And I’ve only just begun.

Wendy - Happy Birthday! You’ve done a great job I’m sure Meg! Funny, when I saw the first pic of the cake you posted, I thought, “What a tiny cake for 7 people.” Then I saw the next pic…. WOW.. those candles are huge! My little man is 19 this month, it does go by so fast. I remember the names of all of the Thomas the Tank Engine trains and the construction vehicles he loved so much. Times change but I’m so thankful that our memories stay the same, they’re only added to. 🙂

Beth - Mine are growing so fast also…but I did plan mine little different than most moms…lol.
He sure is a cutie! Happy Birthday!

elisa - Right there with ya sista!

Amy Lynne - It was my youngest boy’s birthday too! I hope you all had a wonderful day!

Deanna - My son just turned 12 on Sunday and I have the same feeling – How can this be? They grow so fast! Beautiful post and Happy Birthday to your handsome boy!

Ellie Perez - Aw, beautiful post…I had one of those upset tummy ones too! We did goat milk….after 6 months of seeing every doctor we could find. Chiropractor suggested it and she was great after 2 days! who knew!

Toni :O) - GREAT post! Our boys are only seven months apart in age…crazy! I’m like, I had that same sippy cup for my boy too! I, like you, am amazed at the big feet, but I get “don’t touch my hair” and unlike yours…mine talks about cars, cars, cars in his wakeful hours….nonstop, it’s all about cars-makes, models, colors, types. The boy loves to just ride in the car so he can check out all the other cars on the road! If he doesn’t design cars for a living when he graduates from college, he’ll be some type of engineer for the automotive companies! Good times I tell you! Happy Birthday to your amazing son…boys are awesome, it’s so fun raising a baby boy to be a young man!!! Woot Woot!

Yaz - I am crying. Mine is only 4 and he is soooo fun.. so cute and loving and I am only having one. I cant believe he will be all big and will leave me one day. I swear Ive cried for 20 minutes thinking about it.
You have a great family. Thank you for sharing.

Stefanie A. - oh gosh… this post made me cry. My boy is 6 years old and I feel these days fast approaching. But some days I feel like his teens will never get here and then I remind myself not to long for those days – they’ll be here before I know it AND I’ll wish for the 6 year old days back. Ha! Did I just confuse you? Loved this post and your son is turning into one handsome dude!

Nana - He got that crying business from his dad (I remember it well!), but my theory is that each child has one bad spell and I’d rather it be the first few months of their life than when they’re older. He’ll probably be as easy-going as his dad which will be a real blessing for you.

Amy - I had a *really* tough time when my son turned 9 in January!
http://lifeasamomma-ksmomma.blogspot.com/2011/01/gavin-is-turning-9.html

Kirsten J - Happy Birthday Scott! My big boy is off at college *sniff* – the time does fly. And when I do his laundry, I often wonder how those socks are being worn by toes I used to kiss….BTW, love the cake!

Jen - Just entering the “construction vehicle” phase with my 2-y-o son, who demanded I let him drive a truck today… and was incensed that I didn’t comply. Seeing pictures of your son from baby to handsome teen are making me cry. I can’t bear to think of him being a teenager!
Looks like a great day… even if it is hard to believe it happened.

se7en - Oh Happy Birthday, May your year be totally cool!!! We love living with our 13 yr old!!!

Heather R. - I love the KU cake…Rock chalk! I love the picture of him smiling with “beast” t-shirt and the first one with Waffle. 🙂 I have two girls 10 and 11. I’m not ready for them to get ANY older.

Melinda - My son just turned 13 too! I also had no meds when he was born and he also had horrible reflux. I also put him on cow’s milk under the advice of the pediatrician that delivered me and it worked. Who would’ve thought? Best kid…15 year old daughter = much more drama! Happy Birthday to your son! I love your blog!

Staci - Happy Happy Day to Your Scott!!!! He looks like an awesome kiddo 🙂 and I thought the cake was great! They’ll appreciate in about 15 years 😉

Rachel B. - You two have some beautiful kids! Thanks for sharing and encouraging other moms like me 🙂

Rach - All I can say is “go mom!” How awesome is it when a seasoned mom comes up with the solution over a licensed pediatrician. I love to hear that stuff.

Courtney Walsh - the picture of him on the bike remind me of where my son is right this second and remind me to stop wishing it away so quickly. He’s in the question asking stage and I admit, I’m not always the most patient with my responses!! Love these photos!! He’s such a handsome young man!

Karen Gerstenberger - These are precious reminiscences & photos – the best kind of birthday card. Happy birthday to your precious guy!

Tanya H - Well I was sniffly reading your post and then the comments made me worse. 😛 My {oldest} baby is about to turn 9 on me and I can’t even handle it. LOL. My baby loved trains and every peice and part and what they do. I miss that so much, even tho he’s so fun to have conversations with at this age. sniffle… Scott is such a handsome guy. Good for you and thanks for taking us all on this journey with you.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Born on mother’s day! How cool is that?!

Ann R. - First, I have to laugh because my son too is turning 13 – on the fourth of july! I think I notice the original CM letters used in your scrapbooking – looking back those pages back then seem so archaic don’t they? I too am like what…..how did you get all this hair on your legs, you are so not a soprano anymore and well you are taller than both grandmas and soon are going to pass up your dad and I – crazy! Congrats, I swear doesnt it just seem like yesterday I was worried about raising him up in this crazy world (after 9.11) that he was in preschool. I am sure you can relate. I feel as if from 4th to 7th grade just went in the blink of an eye! Enjoy his thirteeness. I read you EVERYDAY and I am so glad you had the lets say gumption to discuss what we all want for mothers day so freely. I have participated in your vitamins to africa, laughed and cried with you and love you are so real. I can so relate to you that you make my not so great days feel like I can get thu anything cause we are all in this together!
Take care – Ann

Courtney R. - My little guy will be 3 tomorrow…he was born on Mother’s Day too!
I love your blog and look forward to reading it every day!

steph - oh gosh….
you so will NOT want to hear this,
but he looks so much older than 13.
yikes!
he looks closer to 15.
sorry!!
he always seem so mature when you talk about him too.
maybe that’s the difference.
he doesn’t seem like the atypical teenage boy.
he seems like the ‘i’d like to hand pick him for my 12 year old girl’.
ha! that’s if i had a 12 year old girl.
7 year old… yes.
would he mind the age difference?!?!
ha ha ha h!
just kidding.
he is handsome and i hope he has a very blessed year!
your cake is awesome! 🙂

Kelly - I don’t think it matters if his hair is messed up or his breath smells like broccoli, you’re going to have girls lined up for that handsome dude!
And I thought the cake was cool! 🙂

Christi Hoffman - My second baby and my only boy, =/ is going to be 13 in June. I have been longing for the past days when he would run to me, screaming “mooommmy”! after every.single.day. of school until he was in 4th grade. Boo. He still comes home to me but, the scream has turned into, a cool deep voice, “hey Mom check this out today”….. I just listen, look into his bright brown eyes and wonder where in the world did my 4 pound 17 inch premie go? He is going into middle school next year, he is 135lbs & 5’6”. sigh. I am going to make him a KU cake too. He LOVES KU, my husband and him talk “shop” all.day.long. Maybe I should make a k-state cake…they would notice THAT! HA.

Marcella - I married young and had my oldest at 19. He’s turning into a young man now-headed for 10 years before too long.
It’s a bit scary to see him broadening out but he’s also getting more mature which is nice.
Happy son raising!

Laura Phelps - similar post over at my place 🙂
WHY DO THEY CONTINUE TO GROW??????????????????????
and eat
I hate that they eat so much
I can’t afford to feed them
nursing was cheaper

Ashley - Happy birthday to your boy! And I just wanted you to know that I LOVE your KU cake. It made me smile :o)

stephanie - You’ve got a heart-breaker on your hands with that handsome boy!!

Stephanie - And what a handsome young man he is!! I’ve got a 13 year old girl in the house who is pretty amazing too. However I just realized in the past few months that I know NOTHING! She on the other hand knows EVERYTHING!!! Good times I tell you, good times! This too shall pass right????

karen - Happy birthday Scott! Is it weird that I am looking forward to my kids growing up?? They are 3 1/2 and almost 1…and I just love seeing them be more independent.
Who knows…i may be eating my words in years to come.

Amy James - I was reading this at work and an audible cry slipped out. My baby boy just turned 23. Where did that little boy go? I miss him so much but I do love the man that is here as well. We have so much fun together and he will sometimes let me hold him and sometimes if I am really lucky he will slip and call me Momma like he used to when he was little, instead of Mom.
I also switched to cows milk at 6 months for the same reasons. I thought the sky would fall at first and everyone I happened to mention it to was so upset but he was able to keep something down for the first time and he grew. Other than the 3rd eye, I think he is perfect! 🙂

Jen Brandt - What a good lookin’ kid! Better watch out, Mama!

Catriona - I mean Whateversary. As if that’s even a word…

Catriona - Love this post! My first-born, a boy, is 6 next week and the thought of him ever being 13 feels like a lifetime away. I think the hilarious post with all Scott’s questions was the first ‘whatever’ I ever read. That means it’s my first Whatverversary!

Alice H - Where did you find the BEAST shirt? My 10 year old must have one. He says it non-stop!! Happy birthday and I would have been impressed with that cake!

LittleMissAwesome - I must say, your cake looks VERY yummy. One time my sister had a pony on her cake, and she didn’t want to eat the horse! It was in the freezer for months.
:]
He looks so adorable as a baby :} chubby cheeks! awww! :3

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - He is soooo handsome! Lovely : )
Gemma x

Camille - I just went to hug my 5 year old…

Hannah - just what i needed to hear…that it goes by soooo fast. my little guy is turning 4 tomorrow and i can’t believe it. and he is a question asker….which i have to admit….sometimes i just want quiet…while he is asking me questions about things i don’t know the answer to…like toilets and electricity and trucks and bugs….but you reminded me that it will be gone before i know it! 🙁

Cutzi - This brought tears to my eyes. What is it about little girls? They almost seem grown up from the minute they’re born. But boys? My son is going to be 6 next month but he still often seems like my little boy. I know he will grow up some day but I’m happy waiting as long as possible.

Karen - I, too, have a Mother’s Day baby. Isn’t that the best Mother’s Day present? Her birthday is the 9th and she was 29 yesterday. You have a handsome young man – Happy Birthday to him!

Ashlyn - The cake is great…the kid is great…watching them get older is… hard!! My baby is turning 13 in a couple of weeks too -sigh!! xo

Leah - I care about the cake. That’s the BEAST!

giozi - Congratulations!! Happy Birthday 🙂
You have a handsome guy.
My little chubby is single yet 😉 he he he

emily@remodelingthislife - He’s so handsome, Meg. Happy birthday to him! I love the cake and candles.

Suzanne Lay - Everything that you just said at the end about parenting it SO TRUE!!! and it made me cry but they are happy tears! I have three and they just tug at my heart so much!! There is so much love…indescribable!!!XOXO

Teresa - I care that you made a KU cake!! I love it!
What a sweet son you have…Happy Birthday!

shauna reed - meg, he is beautiful.
(hope he doesn’t read this 😉
there is a sparkle in his eye.
he knows he is loved…i can tell.
good job momma!

Valerie@Chateaualamode.typepad.com - Parenting is the most complex and amazing thing isn’t it? My “little” boy just turned 19…sniff, sniff, where oh where does the time go?

amber - What a cute little boy:). And, how crazy to see those pictures build up to that kid you have now. Crazy, crazy, crazy. He’s still a cutie now, too. And, 13 is still little, right? Happy Birthday!

Karen - Awe. I LOVE this age! We have a 13 year old in our house too! They are fun to be with, independent, smiley all the time, helpful (well, sometimes), and yes, they are the “black hole” of groceries…! Lovely cake too! Happy Birthday – you are officially a teenager!

Ana - He is a very cute kid. I love his awesome smile!
Happy birthday!

Jacci - My little guy is about the age of Scott in the pic with the red truck. SO weird to go through the photos and watch the same little fae turn into your 13 year old “man”! All I have to say is, I’m glad it happens gradually. AND I’m glad for posts like these that bring some sweet perspective. Happy Birthday, Scott!

Amanda - Oh my goodness, I just have to share. My little brother will be 15 in August, but I remember he had the same sippy cups, with the dinosaurs! I remember taking the little plastic piece out of the cap when I cleaned the dishes for my momma. Such wonderful memories. Thank you for reminding me. Enjoy 13!

Tonya - Happy birthday, Scott! I love what you said about knowing the names and uses of ALL the construction vehicles…my boy taught me those things as well!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Hey…he looks like a pretty happy kid to me. Terrible teen here? Nah…I dont think so:)
Happy Birthday to your BEAST.
xo,
Sarah

sharron - you had me at no drugs..yikes!
he is so handsome and has a sweet soul that shows in his eyes.
happy day to your son and the cake looked awesome!
blessings~

Mindy Harris - makes me want to cry.
you said it perfectly:
it’s crazy.
and awful.
and humbling.
and HARD.
but still so very cool.
love this. happy bday to scott!

kristy - Oh gosh, 13…. I’m going to faint when my little ones get to that age…. you aren’t old enough to have a teenager, right? 🙂
I LOVE the cake…. stinks when no one oohs and aahhs over it. Before you said that, I thought, “That cake is amazingly cool!” So yay to you… I’ll appreciate it for you. (said from a Mom who tries to make her kids cakes!)
You are a great mom!

melissa - he’s a handsome one.
happy birthday!!!!

Jemm - Happy birthday to your boy! My oldest will be 13 in Oct. I’m really scared for the teen years. Parenting is HARD! I’m TRYING to see the awesome-ness with two “tween” girls…really I am 🙂

Kimberlee Jost - Happy Birthday, Scott!
Why would anyone want to have their picture taken with Waff is beyond me?! Ha.
He IS a scene stealer. Big time.

Dana @ Bungalow'56 - They will remember the special cakes Megan. It just happens later. Even if it seems like it isn’t a big deal. It is. Your love is in each and every piece. It would seem I’m feeling a little sentimental this morning.
Dana

Kris - What a handsome boy! MY little boy turned 22 a few months ago. I miss his little hand in mine. But now I have three marvelous grands whose hands I love to hold, and they have stolen my heart!

freckled hen - Happy birthday to your handsome young man…I guess that means that you have two teenagers now. And though in any other conversation it would sound like I’m bragging I feel the need to tell you I have three. Which really just means that my hair is turning gray faster than yours. My 13 year old son wears athletic clothes everyday and only speaks basketball, too. I miss him in overalls.
I received my Summer with MM yesterday and wanted to tell you your article is great!

andiejaye - aw…you made me all sniffly. my little man will be 3 this fall and i’m already having those bittersweet moments. this just gave me a little peek into what i’m in for. happy birthday to your son. thanks for the continued blessings and enlightenment you give me when i read your posts.
andiejaye @ http://crayonfreckles.blogspot.com

Carly Winborne - he has a fantastic smile!

RLG - I know he cared, but he’s probably too cool to say the cake was awesome. Your family is breathtaking. It’s such a pleasure to watch them grow. I feel old too, and I’m older than you, Meg, with twin 4yr-olds and an almost 7yr-old. Sigh. So much to look forward to. xoxo

Lia - Happy Birthday young man.

Lindsey - My son just turned 2. You made me cry thinking of him growing up. His little body is pressed against mine as I type this. I wasn’t so happy this morning waking up at 6:30 with him but now I’m thinking I should cherish these moments (even early, early in the morning).

heidi @ wonder woman wannabe - I’ve got two boys born in May – one just before Mothers Day, the other just after…gonna make me a sentimental wreck every year because of that, I’m sure! 😉 One just turned 3, the other will be 6 in a few days – you’ve gone and got me all sappy thinking about the day they’ll be man-boys! Just getting started with the sports thang and I LOVE it!

Shannon - Happy 13th Birthday to your 1st boy! I think your cake looks very impressive 🙂

Molly Pearce - Oh Happy Birthday! My brother just turned 15 and has finished drivers ed. accckkk!!! I miss when he was little but we have so much fun now hanging out and talking and laughing! I love my baby brother so so much!!! Again Happy Birthday! Enjoy being 13!!
~Molly P

Holly - I can’t even imagine! My son is turning 4 in August and 13 seems light years away but so did 4 when he was turning 1! I have tears welling up in my eyes thinking about my babies turning into boys and girls and then on to men and women! boo…
your cake is beautiful.
waffle has to be the cutest damn dog ever!!

Southern Gal - Happy birthday to your man boy.

Chaos-Jamie - Ack!Another 13yo! You’ll have to tell me how boys compare to girls. 🙂

jill - okay, you just made me a little teary. 🙂 my oldest boy just turned five and i thought that was huge. hard to imagine that some day he will be 13! so proud of you for getting your boy this far!

Tiffany - Handsome Guy! Great memories you shared. Ur doing just fine, give yourself a hug Mom.

Holly - I know how ya feel! Gosh they grow up fast!

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mother’s day….today.

May 8, 2011 Filed in me me me,special

my saturday.

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waffle and i went for a run…..ran into a friend running with her dog.
that was fun!
kind of….waffle is so dorky and a spaz.
but we made it….all four of us.

after the kids finished their chores craig loaded them all up and they left for scott's basketball tournament.

they left me home alone.

🙂

craig offered it to me a few weeks ago to have the weekend off at home alone
and i thought for sure it wouldn't really happen….

but it did. 

as he was backing out of the driveway he rolled down the window and said "why are you smiling so big?"
ha ha ha.

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i made a pineapple and banana smoothie.

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i checked on mama.

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those are my legs in the bottom corner…..up on a step ladder.

look at how her nest is almost off the edge!
that ledge is……at the most…3 inches wide.

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found these two little globe banks when i stopped in at my favorite antique shop….and i met a blog reader!  
love that.
hi sarah!

i got all ready for my evening alone…..
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i went up in the craft room and opened my mother's day gift.

that i bought for myself and haven't told anyone that i did.

i bought myself a pink fridge.
for my favorite snacks and drinks.

all mine.
in the craft room.
it's so darn cute.
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technically the pepsi is for craig….because i like sharing with him.

i stayed up in the craft room for 3 hours cleaning.
it was a wreck.
and now it's not.
yay.

i watched The Dilemma.
ugh.
yuck.
vince vaughn…..why did you do that to me????  you made me waste my time on my one night alone?! 
your movie SUCKED.
there was no chemistry and i could tell in the very first scene.
BOOOOO vince vaughn.

(but i still love you….)
 
————————————————————————————————————————————

i looked for some pictures of my mom for mothers day in my one box of photos i have.

when i was a kid my dad took my sister & i to an Audubon camp out in ark city, ks on mother's day weekend.
i never even knew that it was for more than a camp out.
it was to give my mom the weekend off!
genius.
i just loved catching the snakes and running on the rocks.

for real….snakes.

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happy mothers day mom.

i love you very much.
you did a great job dealing with what a brat i was.
i am grateful.

and so sorry.

thank you for not giving up on me.

i hope your day is great!

 

and mine is going to be full of more gardening.
while i wait for my carload of goofy kids to return with all their lovely voices that i miss already.

i mean…..i hope they take their sweet time getting here…..but i still miss them when we are apart.

 

add a comment

דומיין בעברית - I wish to all my friends Happy mother’s day. I got several unique thought regarding mothers day. I like it all. Thanks for sharing this blog.

Ohsweetwhatever.wordpress.com - Please please please please tell me you’re going to sell prints of those gorgeous blue eggs in the nest???????

Melissa - Where oh where did you get that pink fridge?? I need one very badly!

danielle - i could go for a couple days in the craft room with you and that fridge. mmmkay?

Brooke - The fridge is to die for!!! So cute! I want one for my sewing room, had no idea I could get a PINK one! Yeeeehaw!!! A day by yourself…..fantastic!!!!!

Megan - At first I thought…is that a pink fridge? then read it’s a pink fridge! love it! pepsi, chocolate, beer…all my favorite things.

Londen - I love the fridge and everything inside…makes me want a bud light. Sounds like a wonderful weekend. I really wanted a whole day to myself but it didn’t work out. Soon.

bobbie - We watched The Dillema too on saturday night. ugh. I agree.
Annie looks so much like you as a kid!! really.

Janie - I just love your blog!!! I have to check out what you are doing everyday. I feel like you are my girl friend across the states. Keep up the great work.
Janie

Lisa - I asked for the same thing on Mother’s Day – my hubs took the two boys to the soccer tournament for the majority of the day on Saturday and Saturday evening leaving me at home with the puppy. 🙂 I ate ice cream with chocolate sauce and watched a movie – Brothers with Toby McGuire and Jake Gyllenhall. Good to get time alone in my own house! 🙂

Toni :O) - Okay, we love the same candy!!! No wonder I love your blog and the pink fridge…adorable! Glad you had a great Mother’s Day, mine was spent napping for a good portion of it, hence, the reason I’m wide awake at 1 a.m.! I often wonder how in the world you keep white furniture with five kids??? You are SuperWoman! :O)

Toni :O) - Okay, we love the same candy!!! No wonder I love your blog and the pink fridge…adorable! Glad you had a great Mother’s Day, mine was spent napping for a good portion of it, hence, the reason I’m wide awake at 1 a.m.! I often wonder how in the world you keep white furniture with five kids??? You are SuperWoman! :O)

Kacey - Sweet pink fridge! Happy Mother’s Day – glad it was wonderful.

karen - too cute Meg..too stink’n cute!!
Happy Mother’s Day!

Rebekah Brummel - WOW! Lauren looks like your sister!

Carly Winborne - everything about this post is de-lish. loving that pink fridge, the pineapple smoothie and a stack of magazines. the time alone sounds like . . . well, i don’t have the right word. perfection? bliss? heaven? unattainable? 🙂 all of the above. glad you enjoyed the day.

Heather R. - Just check my mail…Matthew Mead’s Summer was in it. And your blog. 🙂

jeana - My Birthday was today…I’ve been spoiled since Friday. I kinda wanted a morning alone too, but decided not to be ungrateful for all I did get. Although it still sounds pretty stinkin dreamy! i’m so glad you you got time and I love the idea of having your own snacks in a room far away ha! Happy Mother’s Day sweet Meg!

stacie - Happy, Happy Mama’s Day to you!! Your gift is my dream … the time alone (well, I hadn’t thought of the pink fridge, but I’d love to have some of those goodies too :)). Thanks for being an inspiring, amazing mom to your readers who are mamas too.

Emily Zimmerman - Happy Mother’s Day Meg!! I love your blog!! You always have me laughing out loud! Like today when you bought yourself a mother’s day present, genius idea, I expected jewelry, a book, but when I saw the fridge and a pink fridge…priceless! I love it and think I need one for myself. Every mom needs there own little stash. And I agree about the movie Dilemma. Just watched it this weekend with my husband and I was disappointed. We both love Vince Vaughn but this movie missed the mark. Have you seen Wedding Crashers?? It’s been my husband’s favorite for a long time, but it’s been growing on me. Very funny and classic Vince Vaughn.

Josephbirdsong.blogspot.com - happy mother’s day meg! kudos on that bud light!

Dana @ Bungalow'56 - Ah sounded wonderful. While we here at the Bungalow are emptying out the basement getting ready for a reno. Ugh! Took a Starbucks break though, and did a little walk through at Costco. Just the hubs and me, while the girls cleaned the house back at home. It doesn’t get any better than that!
Dana

Tracy Fisher - Happy Mother’s Day Meg. I love your photos and stories (except the part about snakes). Your kids look so much like you when you were yournger. Isnt’ it funny how we appologize to our moms now. My mom pretends she doesn’t remember the bad things I did. She just says that to be nice. They all do. But notice how they still like to hear the appologie? haha.
Have a great day.
Tracy Fisher

Tara - i love when i visit here and i laugh out loud like i did when i saw your pink fridge in your awesome craft room with beer in it.
still laughing….

Julia - Thanks for saving me from renting a bad movie – I hate wasting the time!

Kimberly Dial - You always make me smile. Thank you for being you. I love it!

Kimberly Dial - You always make me smile. Thank you for being you. I love it!

Terrie - In LOVE with that PINK fridge! Maybe my craft room needs one of those! LOL!!
Hope you got some awesome crafting done!
Have a FaBuLoUs MoThEr’S DaY!!

Jill - Perfect gift!!!
LOVE. THAT. FRIDGE. and everything IN IT! LOVE!

Shannon - Happy Mother’s Day!!! I just received my Mathew Mead mag. and I love the article on your home, great pics!

Kimberlee Jost - Pink fridge + time alone= double love.

Heather R. - Happy Mother’s Day!

Shayne - Your pink fridge gift to yourself made me laugh out loud! I think that’s fantastic, and it’s a perfect color.
Craig was so insightful to give you time alone. I’m convinced that that’s what most moms would ask for, if they didn’t feel guilty doing it. Time alone makes us enjoy the time with our families so much more.
Glad you had a wonderful weekend. 🙂

betsy - HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! I don’t know how you do it all … and get a blog post up every day!
LOVING the pink fridge. Maybe I need one for my classroom. Will you tell us what brand it is? Pretty please?
Have a great day! Enjoy the Spring weather that finally decided to show up in Kansas 🙂

april - my mothers day wish…i could sit in your craft room and craft, drink a beer and make cute stuff….i know i know….dorky…hahaha
xoxo

Carol S - What a gorgeous mom you have, runs in the family. Nice break for you. I appreciate the mom’s day post. Gotta make a couple salads, have pulled pork in the crock pot for dinner, get to church, then my parents and mil are coming for late lunch in the backyard (gardened last week). Thank you God!

Short, Sweet Season - A weekend alone…that is going to the top of my wishlist! My husband and baby went to the store to buy ingredients to cook breakfast this morning, so that 30 minute break was pure relaxing bliss for me! Have a wonderful rest of Mother’s Day!

Alicia @ La Famille - oh ms. meg…a LITTLE jealous of your weekend AT HOME…ALONE! that’s better than winning the lotto 🙂 ha!! glad you are having a great mom’s day weekend. i went shopping for summer clothes alllll alone last night. that was fun 🙂
oh, hey…did you check out page 39 of that magazine on top of your pile? still a little giddy 😉 i consider it a big mom’s day gift 🙂

Leah - Happy Mother’s Day! Thanks for giving me something fun to read every day. And my husband just took my daughter to Starbucks to buy me a drink. I’m cherishing the 15 minutes of freedom and silence. It’s like I’m on vacation.

Penny - I love your pink fridge too! I am looking for globes and can never find any. boo hoo. I remember when my kids were young.
(2,5,8) my husband gave me the entire day alone, to do what I wanted. I soaked in the tub reading magazines, I watched a movie and read my book. I also just ate whatever I wanted, no cooking. It was the best mother’s day ever. I am now waiting for my girls to come and shower me with love! They are 17, 20, 23! I really don’t think the 17 year old is ready to shower me with love though, she hates Michigan’s new law that new
driver’s under 18 must be in by 10:00. I love the law because I didn’t make it, but IT”S THE LAW! 🙂

Lisa - I hope you had a great time alone. I may need to suggest to my wonderful husband that he take the kids for a night like that. I could use it!!!! 🙂

Annika - Happy Mothers Day! That fridge is so cool! (Pun intended!)

Esther Dee - ok…where did you get that pink fridge??? waayy to cute.
Happy Mothers Day, Meg!!!!!

Trina Curran - Oh. Em. Gee. I have to get a pink frig. That is freaking awesome! And I’m so glad your momma birdie is doing well. She looks like she will have a fabulous mother’s day too! 🙂

Sharla - Happy Mother’s Day Meg! Your weekend sounds great – this KS weather is making my weekend too! Thanks for your wonderful blog and starting my day off right 🙂

brooke - You had me at “pink fridge” and bud light 🙂
so glad you had a day to yourself!

Sarah@this farm family's life - You are so lucky and I love the pink fridge! And the Bud Lights look delightful. Enjoy your time alone!

ashley jensen - The pink fridge is awesome!! I want one. I have no where to put it but still. I have no problem with snakes either. Happy Mothers Day Meg!!!

Holly - cute fridge! Wish I could justify that but the kitchen is right off of my craft room so the big fridge is already close by! I am wanting to do some gardening today also but word is that the cicadas are back and I dont love them at all so we will see! Happy mothers day!

Ruth Elder - THANK YOU for validating the thought I had that all I wanted for MY Mother’s Day was time alone, away from my 5 kids!
I don’t feel so terrible now. I mean, we need to re-charge, right? Being a Mom is the hardest job there is.
And the best.

jill - Now I want:
a. to try a pineapple/banana smoothie
b. more globes
c. a PINK FRIDGE! I didn’t even know such a thing existed! Your mother’s day gift of time alone sounds perfectly wonderful (except for the lame movie). 🙂
Enjoy your day today!

se7en - Love your blog, love your comics, love your pink fridge, love your craft room … just love your weekend off, love how kind your dad was to your mom, love how kind your hubs is to you!!! Love it!!! Happy Mothers Day!!!

Krista - i luv ur blog. it makes me happy and i read it every single night. my fav part: happy things! happy mother’s day to you!

Alicia - I LOVE YOUR PINK FRIDGE!!!!
I want it.

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Pink fridge in the sewing room…flippin genious! LOVE your globes too. I FINALLY found two this weekend here at a massive annual boy scout sale we have. One regular sized globe and one that fits in my hand. I had completely given up hope that Id ever find any for a good deal:)
Happy Mothers Day!
xo,
Sarah

Sheri - You are too darn cute. Your post crack me up. Always look forward to them. Happy Mother’s Day! Enjoy.

Michelle from Australia - Hooray for time alone. What a GREAT gift. LOVE the pink fridge. Too cute and functional. The first photo of you and your family. The girl in the red jacket. Is that you or your sister? To me, it looks like Talby. Happy Mother’s Day!

mary - I can’t get over how much your kids look exactly like you! I’m not sure why but when I see that in families…it always throws me for a loop. You’re all cuties!
Happy mother’s day!

Rebecca W - i like the pink fridge!
happy mother’s day!

sue - A weekend off with out the kids. What a great idea. Does that go for kids still at home age 26 and 28. What do you think? ha ha. Happy Mother’s day Meg.

Jennifer O'Steen - i am very much in love with that pink fridge! happy mother’s day!!

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life.

May 5, 2011 Filed in faith,pretty,special,things i love

annie received this little tiny pot with 5 sunflower seeds and dirt for easter from her nana.
the pot is no more than 2 inches tall.
we followed the instructions and it is growing!
she yelled excitedly "it's even still wearing it's seed cap!"
she has been learning a lot about seeds at school.

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i remember my first time gardening in our first house.
i was AMAZED and couldn't believe that all you do is put the plant or seed in the ground….
water it….
and it grew!

i was hooked.

 

we have a mama bird right outside our door.
i love her.
today i was so curious…i had to find out what she was protecting….and how many.

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three perfect lovely blue eggs.
isn't that miraculous?
really?!
there are living birds growing inside those gorgeous blue eggs RIGHT NOW!
life is so fantastically awesome!

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we watched her work for a few days on this nest.
she made a MESS.
but look at it now!
it's like a finely crafted masterpiece.
just her size.
just right for three babies.

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i am in awe of how God made this world.
creating a bird….to build a magnificent home for herself…making eggs…keeping them warm!
and that is just ONE animal.
there are like….a million different kinds of animals and living beings!
each unique and equally fascinating.

wow.

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i'm not going to go all "double rainbow" on you….don't worry.

what's really on my mind is…….my grandmother loves birds.
bird watching was her thing.
and she is not doing so well right now.
she is 94 and has had a rough 2 weeks.
she loves my blog and it makes me really sad to think she won't see this post.
because she would have LOVED it.
it may have been her favorite.

i am not sure i am loving this part of my grown up life right now.
hospitals and phone calls and hard decisions having to be made and seeing your dad cry. 
it's stressful to go through or even just to observe your parents deal with it.
it's just so…..

grown up.
 

God is still good and crazy awesome even when our bodies don't do what we want them to.
or we get sick.
or we grow old.
we can still praise Him for every thing we have and have experienced, everything HE is.
and He'll comfort us when it's sad or too hard.

my hope is in that.

and birds are awesome.

 

except geese.
they are still creepy and psycho.

 

the other thing my grandma loved more than birds was gardening.
so i am going to do that all day today.

for grandma.

add a comment

www.bkjobs.co.il - Nice post regarding life. Every one is struggle for survive include bird, animal and human being. I like your post. There are many similarities between them to survive the life.

Natalie - This post really tugged on my heart. My grandmother just passed this week, on Wednesday, at age 93. I know exactly what you mean about watching your dad cry and feeling that grown-up sadness.. it’s heartbreaking. I am holding on to the hope that she is in Heaven and happier than she’s ever been, after living a long and full life on earth. How sweet it must be to see Jesus after so long! Thank you for the reminder of God’s goodness!

the.mrs - Thank you for the beautiful post. Really awesome to be reminded of God’s amazing truths and creation. Your family is in my prayers!
(on another note, LOVE love LOVE the new banner!)

JustMommer - I’m sorry about your Grandma. My mom is on hospice right now, we are staying with her around the clock, spending as much precious time with her as we can. My dad died in November, in early spring the tulips and daffodils he had planted bloomed, it was like he said hello. I’m praying for you and your family.

Karen - Blessings to you and yours, Meg. It’s a tough time, but anyone who can appreciate things like gardening and bird watching, is probably OK with meeting the creator of all things. Keep that in mind and heart, and remember, it’s in HIS control for the good of all who believe.
On a lighter note, get back to us on how much you appreciate those birds on your porch after weeks and weeks of bird poop building up underneath, not just from one busy little mommy bird, but also three messy babies, toddlers, then teenage birds until they fly the coop! 🙂 Been there. Done that. I appreciate them just as much…and more…..from afar. 🙂

flowerpowermomma - Some days are hard.
http://momofthebridemusings.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-nitty-gritty.html
I”m working on the ‘breath in….breath out’ concept currently.
Not only did my grandmother enjoy nature and creativity. She had beautiful white hair. When her hair brush needed cleaning she would take the clump of hair and put it out in the trees so the birds could feather their nests with it.
Not too long ago I was cleaning out my hairbrush. I looked down to see my grandmothers hair in my hand!
I was not sad to see so many white ones….it kept my connection closer to her in fact.

Kelly - Megan, even before I got to the part about your grandma I felt so blessed by this post. I have spent the day at the hospital with my sweet, wonderful mother who was having surgery for breast cancer. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Being a grown up is hard and yet a privilege and I am so thankful for your reminders and LIFE and how cool and wonderful God is! Yes, yes, yes! Those eggs are splendid! He didn’t even have to make them beautiful but He did! So wonderful. I am so sorry about your grandma. I am so thankful for hospitals and at the same time it’s hard to spend time in them. Blessings on your night and the morrow. Kelly

Nicole - {{Hugs}} to you and your family Meg. We just walked this road this year with my grandpa. {I miss him like crazy.} Praying for the peace of God to surround all of you. Your in my thoughts and prayers.
P.S.
Your photography is beautiful.

Amy @ dwell in the season - A mama bird just made a nest right outside of our place too, and we discovered 3 little eggs just like yours yesterday! You’re right, what a miracle!
-Amy

Jen Joy - I love this post. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
After I read it, I said a prayer for your grandma. When I water my flower garden this evening, I will think of her and say another little prayer. May she be scooped up in the magesty of God’s love when the time comes.
This all makes me miss my grandma. She’s been gone for 4 years now. When I miss her, I make a pie. Chocolate cream with a ridiculous amount of Cool Whip, thank you very much. It makes me feel like she’s in the same room. Probably because she is. 🙂

Andrea T - i relate to your post ALOT. my mom is going through a rough patch with her health right now. i think it is so sweet that you gardened all day for your grandma bc she loves it that is such a great way to honor her!

Karen Gerstenberger - I’m sending love and prayers for comfort and strength to you and your family, Meg. xoxoxo

shauna reed - you are not alone.
my seven year old would tell you “at least you have your family”
i would tell you, “have a good cry Meg” that always makes my feel a little better.
it doesn’t fix any of this broken world and make the pain and suffering go away, but at least it does something with the emotions besides come out in anger on every one else.
just a thought.
my heart is with you friend.

Rachel B - This was a beautiful post! Beautiful.

Dawn - Those were amazing pictures and I love the color of those eggs.
Also thinking of you and your family during this tough time.

Kristin S - 1. ADORE the new blog header.
2. That is quite possibly the most perfect color blue. Only God could/would have that kind of creativity.

Jenny B. - I’m so sorry about your grandma. I’m learning that each season of life has its own joys and challenges. I wouldn’t have guessed that mama bird’s eggs would be such a beautiful bright blue color. I hope you enjoyed your day of gardening for Grandma.

Julie - prayers for you and your family tonight…this was a beautiful post.

betsy - Sending some warm thoughts your way about your Grandma. I’m sure she’d love this post!
P.S. That egg color is amazing! I can’t believe colors like this exist in nature!

wendy, NJ - Oh Meg, I can so feel the sadness you are feeling about your Grandma. My Gram was 92 when she went to be with Jesus. Due to distance, I unfortunately didn’t get to really know her until the last 6 years of her life. She was incredible. Her passion of nature and gardening sounds very similar to your Grandma.
And it’s ok if you go double rainbow on me because I believe that when I see a rainbow (or a double rainbow) that it’s my grandparent’s looking down on me. You see when we buried both of my grandfathers and my grandmothers they were dreary days, but at the end of the day a rainbow appeared. So I consider it a beautiful thing!
Hugs to you!!

Erin - Happiness. Wonderment. Sadness. Hope. So many emotions went through me while reading this post. Might be my favorite one to date. I can’t imagine what this feels like. Prayers for your Grandma…your dad…you…and your children. Much <3 being sent to you!

karen - lol at the “i’m not going to go all “double rainbow” on you”!!
Sweet post.

Liz Prince - My grandma is going through the EXACT same thing right now too. She is 95. Been in the hospital 3 different times in the past 3 weeks. Doctor says there is nothing more to do but take her home and make her comfortable. I am sad. Not for my Nana but for my dad. He adores him mom. And soon she will be gone and it will be my dad’s generation that will take over with the “aging.” And I will be taking care of him and my mom. Circle of life ya know? Anyway sorry for rambling but know that I am thinking of your grandma as I think of my own.
Keep up your honesty and being real. I look forward to getting my “meg” fix everyday. You rock! 🙂

Charlotte - i too am going through a lot of “grown up” things…taking care of my aging mom….surgeries and aftercare….emergency hospital stay with the hubs…a child with multiple teeth extractions..etc., etc…..being strong for everyone, has left me weak and weary. your post was uplifting…thanks for sharing your little mama bird’s eggs..they are indeed a miracle. 🙂
xo

Charlotte - i too am going through a lot of “grown up” things…taking care of my again mom….surgeries and aftercare….emergency hospital stay with the hubs…a child with multiple teethe extractions..etc., etc…..being strong for everyone, has left me weak and weary. your post was uplifting…thanks for sharing your little mama bird’s eggs..they are indeed a miracle. 🙂
xo

Diana - Sending up many prayers for your grandma. xx

Mindy Harris - you are precious.
just precious.

Renee - I know what you mean about grown-up stuff. Both my grandparents passed away last year (I am 35, too!). I had many lunches alone with my Dad as he cried on my shoulder and I prayed for him. It is even more difficult to understand how he and my mom are now the oldest generation. Both mid 60s. But times heals. And I enjoy every day reminders of my grandparents- each so special. Especially my Lydie-girl who walk around with my Nana’s name!! Praying for you now.

Jenny Logan - Love this post! I’m praying for your Grandma. (and you & your family.)

Liana - Oh my goodness. I could have written your post, Grandma in declining health, Dad crying, bird loving, gardening…but we are both 35 so I guess it makes sense that we are both in the same place. My grandma died on Monday. I’m happy that she’s happy and healed and with her love (Grandpa) again…but it is still hard. How lucky to have had 35 years with her! Your family is in my prayers!

Laura Phelps - your grandma and I would get along beautifully
I am tight with the birds 🙂

Amy - My ‘hubby’ just gave me a new sewing machine so I could get back into sewing. Sitting and staring at it brings back so many memories of my grandma from when I was younger. She sewed all my clothes and taught me to sew at a young age. Man I miss her!

happygirl - I LOVE Robin egg blue. It’s my favorite blue. Hugs to you, friend.

crystal - I just can’t believe this post…I love it! What is so strange, just seconds (literally just seconds) before I read it, I’m sitting at the dining room table on the computer about to open up your blog, and I’ve been seeing this same type bird here on our back patio for the last couple weeks, and it landed on the ceiling fan today, I wanted to jump up & get my camera & take some pictures of it, but my memory card is in the bedroom & hubby is fast asleep after a late night at work, so I decided to wait & will try to photograph it another time. I just couldn’t believe it when it was the first thing I saw after opening your blog! Great minds think alike, right?!

Beth - Simply beautiful! Life is beautiful and sometimes the not so good news. However, the end is even more beautiful!
Hugs to you, Meg! I know it must be hard on you and your family! I lost mine when I was in my early 20’s. I do hope your granmother gets better! Enjoy your gardening today.
Love your new header!

shannon - Hi Meg! I don’t know if you read all your comments or not. So you may or may not get to mine but it just made me feel better to know I wrote something to you. Your post made me cry. I totally understand and I believe the same as you….I don’t like being a grown up sometimes. I am learning more and more how fragile life can be….my gparents whom I have not been all that close to until the last 2 years or so….are getting older…in their 80s….and their family members, their age, keep getting ill and passing on and I know in my head it’s only a matter of time and I have been trying to prepare my heart but I just cannot do it. They are, on all accounts pretty healthy, but I know the day will come. It makes me sad….and I know God is there to comfort me….it’s just…hard. 🙁

Ryanne - Wow, what a wonderful post on this dreary day. Thank you. I am sorry about your grandma.

Sandy - “I’m not going to go all double rainbow on you”…you’re SO funny! 🙂

Staci - Oh Megan, I”m so sorry to hear about your grandma 🙁 Yes, being a grown up does suck in these times…I will be praying for her…and you too! And those eggs…yes, completely awesome! We had a pair of geese (I KNOW!!!! They are mean little suckers!) at our pond that were nesting….she RARELY left that nest….and when she did…it was for a quick little swim (Man do I get that…she JUST needed time away!) and the funny thing…the daddy goose was flapping his wings at her…letting her know he didn’t think this was a good idea….and she just kept on swimming and then went back after a brief few moments to herself 😉 We would watch every morning at those two….my husband I LOVED it!!! Sad to report…something did eat their little eggs…circle of life…it’s a sad, tough thing. God is amazing to give us all these things to adore…if only for a little while 😉

jess - oh my goodness meg…my thoughts and prayers with you and your family. I was just thinking the same thing, in the last year i have watched my parents health go downhill and our conversations that use to be short and sweet are now filled with health and medical talk….this chapter in my life will be most challenging i’m afraid. on another note…i am in awe at how beautiful those eggs are….the color!!!!!

Alisha - I know exactly how you feel. I think about having to do the same with my grandparents who are now in their mid 80’s and the thought is unbearable. My prayers are with you and your family.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - I love that God made that perfect shade of aqua, just for us. I don’t think I’ve ever thought about it before this post…and I’m not sure it exists anywhere else in nature? I mean, maybe on a tropical island, somewhere. But definitely not in Indiana.

Maegan - Meg, I loved this post. I was recently thinking the same thing. That life is so amazing…that there are tiny baby birds growing in there! However, my four year old found a broken egg that had obviously been dropped/fallen, and it made me think about sin and how awful it is. But our hope is in Christ! We need not fear death!

Shannon - You putting my Sonic sign on your list of Happy Things makes me SUPER HAPPY! 🙂

Molly Pearce - I will be praying for you and your family Meg! Love the color of the bird egg’s! I have a chicken that lays teal green eggs and they are gorgeous too! My granny loved birds as well and had a ton of porcelan musical birds all over her house! I used to love waking up in the mornings and hear her crank the handle and hear the little song sing! That’s one o fmy favorite memories 🙂
~Molly P

Sarah - I love those eggs. So humbling.

Beth - Thank you Meg! I needed this, my husband’s Grandma had a stroke this morning. He used you to speak to me today.

Jennifer - Meg, I lost my grandmother very unexpectedly in March. My BFF lost her aunt in December and her uncle last week. We too have decided that this part of our lives is going to have new challenges that we don’t feel prepared for. It’s going to be an adjustment for sure. I hope your grandmother makes a recovery and you get to enjoy her a little longer. Your post was beautiful and I hope she will be able to see it soon.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Dearest Meg, I am so sorry to hear that about your grandmother. Your family will be in my prayers. Please enjoy your gardening day! I hope it is extra special!

Terrie - Beautiful eggs!
Prayers going up for your Grandma. I understand about the not liking this whole grown up thing sometimes! My 1st grandbaby is on the way…while I’m over-the-moon excited for that…it made me think that my Dad is gong to be a Great-Greandpa. Yeah! On the one hand, I was so excited…then the whole stupid circle of life thing hits me and it was like…Holy Crum! My Dad is going to be a Great-Grandpa!! I’m not ready for his to be the next generation to go!! None of us are promised tomorrow…I know that…and like you, I know that God is in control! But, sometimes, it’s just HARD!
Sidenote…LOVE your new header! Made me smile when I saw it! I have one similar with pretty spring colored skittles! 🙂
Just saw on Hoda & Kathie Lee…ivillage is doing a contest about hot dads…I had to think of you and all your wonderful ‘hot’ comments about Craig. Winner gets some kind of WEEK long cruise vacation…I think you should check it out and enter! Think of the awesome pics we could see of the trip! I’d even volunteer to do crafts with the kids while you were gone!
Have a HaPpY ThuRsDaY!!! I’m off to have some fun with 1st graders!

Kim - I lost my grandfather about 16 years ago now. I still miss him. He never got to meet my kids, and he would have gotten a kick out of them for sure. I hope you enjoy your day gardening,watching birds and enjoying the sunshine while loving your grandmother.

jes - how beautiful. i (obviously) dont know your grandma but i am positive she would have loved it.
sending love and peaceful thoughts your way…
hope the sun shines on your gardening day.

amber - Double rainbow….funny, funny stuff.
I have one grandmother left. Her heart is showing it’s age. She’s had a hard life. I was just thinking last night about how much she’s gone through, & yet has lived so long (83). I wonder how she feels about feeling so bad all the time. It stinks. I’m praying for your grandmother. Peace & comfort, no matter the outcome.
I love grandma’s. And how God knows exactly what He is doing.

Sarah@this farm family's life - loved this! praying for your grandma and your family…

mel @ the larson lingo - those eggs are the most beautiful turquoise color! How neat!
So sorry to hear about your grandma, I will be praying for her & that she gets better quickly! Have fun gardening….the gardening bug bit me this year & I got my garden started last week. So much fun!

adrienne - i love how you captured the bird and her blue eggs! what a fun surprise for your when you finally got up there! great pictures, great post… sending lots of love and prayers your way.

Jenna - Tears … this post hit close to home with me. What better way to honor our loved ones than by celebrating or doing the things they loved? I’ll say a prayer for you, your grandma, and your dad.

Kacey - Beautiful post. Prayers for your grandma and your family.
Kacey

mandy friend - and if you want to see a funny old movie that kinda sorta includes bird watching rent Mr. Hobbs takes a vacation. hilarious!

mandy friend - prayers for your granmother meg. just remember , if He took such care creating those robins in all their beauty, how much more care He took to create the beautiful life your grandmother must have lived and is living. i haven’t had to face it yet, but my grandfather isn’t doing so well either, and he doesn’t know the Lord…
“we are only passing through to the promised land beyond the blue…”

Jessi - Actually, that would be an adjective. Grammar fail.

Jessi - I love that you just used “double rainbow” as a verb.

tiffany m gardner - Thank you for reminding all of us to see the beauty in small things. Life is a crazy, wonderful, scary, exciting beautiful ride. I am 33 and just had my third child. So I just experienced “building my nest” and “protecting my babies” too! This time my daddy wasn’t there to experience this new life with us. He was celebrating with Jesus. He had Alzheimer’s and went to be with Jesus four years ago. Sometimes life is just tough! My mama who as experienced a lot of loss in her life (my oldest brother died of cancer when he was sixteen..I was 2) always reminds me that everyday might not be great…but there are GREAT moments in everyday. Watching your bird build her nest and seeing those gorgeous eggs were great moments. Watching your sweet daughter’s amazement with her flower and seeds…great moments. Being reminded of your grandmother in doing something she loved…great moments. I will lift you up today…each time I see my flowers. I too will be thankful for the great moments. I will stand in awe of Jesus. I will be thankful for LIFE! ……thanks for being my morning cup of coffee! You Rock Meg!!!

Amanda - I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. I just lost my paternal grandmother a month ago and I have had those same thoughts so often lately-this part of adulthood is just no fun.

Jen Brandt - Meg, I love your posts. Look forward to them everyday. You’re right. God is awesome. I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing Mother’s Day.

tara pollard pakosta - You truly are blessed to still have a grandma!
It’s hard and stressful, but wow, to have had her that long!
I never met one of mine and the other died of cancer when I was 5 years old….so just know that this time with her has been so very special and just hang on to the beautiful memories. much love and prayers and I hopes she recovers.
xoxo
tara

Danielle - So sorry about your Grandma:( I will be praying for her. And you’re right, God is so very good to us. Such a beautiful post Meg:)

amy jupin - well hello there momma bird!
your eggs are perfectly lovely.
and your nest is a work of art.
i hope your babies are snuggly and warm.
meg, my grandmother was the greatest gift in my life for so many years.
i am so grateful for all the time i had with her.
just as you are for yours.
i pray your grandma gets well again soon.
i pray she knows how much you love her.
sending many hugs your way.

elizabeth seay - love all your posts- but this one is especially inspiring and hopeful. life is hard- but God is so good!
thankful with you that we have hope!

Vicki - I think that grandmas are one of the greatest blessings God gave us. That and the color of robin egg blue. Garden on today sweet friend. Give that love you have to all those that are around you, your kiddos, your hubby, your daddy, and especially your grandma.

Kris - My Grandma…Nana is 96 yrs young. She is a gem, and I adore her. She is not a bird lover, but she is a unique and special Southern Lady, who I will one day, miss so very much. I savor every day I have her in my life.
I am a huge bird nerd!!! Love to go birding, and I don’t have to go far, as I have a one acre orange grove with so many species nesting here. I also attract them with feeders, and plants and water stations. Gardening is also a passion of mine. And I am trying to pass these things on to my three wonderful little grandchildren.
Have a happy day. I enjoyed this post of yours!

Penny - Prayers for your family as you go through this hard time. I know we are dealing with hard times with my parents, 87year old Mom with Breast cancer and 90 year old Dad crushed watching her deal with this. It is hard. So I will pray for your family and your special grandma. Growing old is not fun! Our hope is in all the new life around us, knowing God has a wonderful plan!
Great post Meg.

Courtney - Thanks so much for sharing those photos, I am in Florida and we get the robins for a few days, they are such lovely birds! I hope that your sweet grandmother gets to see the photos as well. Hugs and prayers for your family during this time! God Bless!

Holly - Praying for your sweet grandmother. My grandmother reads my blog. In fact she calls if I dont post enough. We had a momma bird on one of our colums on our front porch last year.

Sherry Cartwright - Beautiful post and photos. Hugs to you as you celebrate your grandma today — through nature’s beauty. Hugs.

jill - Beautiful eggs and JELLY BEANS! 🙂 We will be thinking of your family and your grandmother.

colleen in Alabama - Hey Meg, My Memommie went to be with Jesus 2 years ago this month. My Andaddy (her husband) is still alive at 96. He has an anuresm (sp?) in his stomach and just found out he has bladder cancer! He is SO ready to go home to be with Jesus. He sings “i want to see Jesus most of all” all the time. I am almost 46 and am so thankful to have had this precious godly man in my life for this many years. I will be sad when He goes to be with Jesus but i choose to pray that God would take him quickly and without pain. Then I will continue to praise my Savior that He kept Andaddy Faithful and finishing strong to the very end. Praying for you and your grandma right now.

Amy - My Grammy just passed away 2 weeks ago today. It still doesn’t feel real but I think its starting to sink in a little bit. There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by in the last 2 weeks that I haven’t thought about her. She was 72 and she loved birds as well. Especially hummingbirds. 🙂 I love this post and am praying for your grandmother and your family during this difficult time.

Taryn - Just checkin’ in….it’s been awhile since we’ve connected. Know that i’m thinking of ya during this time with your Grandma. Love how you continue to keep it real. Enjoy your time gardening, soaking in all God has created today! Love ya!

sarah - Wow…incredible pictures. I want to frame the one of the three eggs shot from above and hand it on my wall! Would you be willing to sell it?
We don’t have many robins where I live now, but I remember ever-so-quietly tiptoeing up to their nests and catching peeks of those gorgeous eggs when I was a little girl and lived in the Midwest.
I’m so sorry your grandmother is suffering and that the rest of you are working through that right now. What a difficult time. 🙁

mel - your post got me all teary.
last year at this time we lost my grandma.
prayers for you and your family.
sometimes being a grown-up is so not fun.

Allison - Beautiful as always… Hugs to you as you deal with facing your grandma’s situation. But what a blessing that you have had a grandma for this much of your life, whom even your children are old enough to know. I am 23, and my one remaining grandparent just turned 89 and isn’t in very good health. I wish with all my heart that my amazing grandpa would live to see my 35th birthday and know the children I don’t have yet. So whatever happens, just be thankful that your grandma has known you for so much of your life. The grandparent/grandchild relationship is so special.

Ann Griffin - Beautiful pictures! I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Katie Sellers - That picture of those blue eggs in the nest almost took my breath away—how incredibly beautiful–what an unexpected surprise!!!
Hope you find comfort in the beauty around you today!

sarah - My poppa passed away on December 16th. Watching my family greive was one of the hardest things I have had to do to date. One thing I learned though, is time heals all. God is the author of time and to me that means he slowly mends our hearts. Growing up is tough, for sure! The color of those eggs also reminds me of how great our God is. So beautiful, eh?

Meg Carter - Meg!
We have a nest too! http://madebymeg.net/blog/favorite-nook-now-even-better/
Sorry to hear your grandmother is not doing well. I just recently did a tribute post to my grandmother that was also very into bird watching and gardening! http://madebymeg.net/blog/happy-easter-love-gram/
Thoughts are with you and your family.

Laura - I have been reading your blog for over a year now and have never commented. Many times I have noticed that a lot of similarities between our lives.
The last 3 weeks have been rough around here as well. My Nana has just found out she has a fast growing brain tumor and has been hospitalized. She is 88 years old and has lived by herself for the last 40+ years on 3/4 of an acre without a car. I flew out to see her last week. I had some wonderful conversations with her, thanked her for all that she has done for me and taught me. I held her hand and told her I love her. In all of our conversations she kept telling me that all she wants to do is go home and garden and she misses riding the bus. Your post today has inspired me to have the most amazing garden just for her and to take my kids on a bus just like she took me when I would come to visit.
As your blog always does it reminds me to delight in the simple things…just like my Nana does.
Keep your memories close and remember she will always be there in your garden. Hugs to you 🙂

Sheri - We have had a lot of birds nest on our front porch but never ever had blue eggs – that is beyond awesome.

Amanda - This made me teary (in a good way). I’m 34 and still feel jolted when I have to make grown up decisions. Really, me? 3 kids, a marriage & a mortgage and it seems I should still be eating at the kid’s table @ Thanksgiving. (btw love the bird’s nest pics!)

Shayne - Ninety-four is such an amazing number of years, which means you have made some wonderful memories. What a thing to treasure, but in another way, even harder to walk through the ending-ness of her life. Our thoughts and prayers are with you; strength for your days and peace for your nights.

Tiffany - Warm thoughts for your Dad and Grandma. We have a nest under our deck, I think birds pick sweet families to build their nests. All the best to you and yours.

Kayla - Just sending hugs your way…and a few prayers!

Ruth Elder - Your post today made me think of my Grandma. She, too, loved Gardening and gave me ‘the bug’. She passed away 13 years ago. I still cry when I think of her. I still plant pink roses that make me think of her. Just remember: True love stories never have endings.

AshleyAnn - are you going to eat what you grow in that garden?

April M - blessed by your post today, thank you
wish i could offer something back but it sounds like God’s got you covered
(He’s so awesome!)
so that’ll be my bit, prayers that you and yours (and others in similar circumstances)
are covered by His grace and love
thanks again

Heather R. - P.S. love the new header. 🙂

Heather R. - Life is amazing. All of it. Enjoy your gardening, your bird with her eggs, and most of all your love for your grandma. Hugs!

debbie - Prayers for you and your sweet grandmother. Thanks for sharing a bit of happiness and beauty even though your heart is breaking.

Wendy - “Fuzzy baby Robins” … a FAVORITE of ours! Celebrate ur Grandmom’s 94 years – u & ur children r so lucky to have had her. I’m so envious of those who still have their Moms & Grandparents. Life … although amazing – is sometimes too short.

Sarah Alcantara - So sorry about your Grandma, beautiful post, beautiful pics….hugs!

Katie - Sorry to hear about your grandma! When my grandma passed away a few years ago I had the feeling that my biggest fan on earth was gone! She was the best!
Also fabulous print! Absolutely beautiful, thanks for following your curiosity and getting the shot! A must have!

deborah@applesinwonderland - my dear grandma loved birds and gardening too. and i loved and still love my now-departed grandma. ((((hugs)))) to you this morning and a good day for your grandma. it’s good to know that we are all connected too, through love and understanding and the need to carry on from one generation to the next.

Nancy - I have been down that road with the aging grandparents. I am sorry to hear about it. Never easy. No matter what age they are. Thoughts and prayers for you.
On another note, were you thinking of putting that robin’s egg picture in your shop or may I purchase an 8×10 of that. I LOOOVE it and would love to frame that lovely and remember God’s beautiful and abundant gift. Just gorgeous. Could you email me and let me know yay or nay. Thanks. xoxo Nancy

Catrina - I have the exact same bird/nest and 3 eggs in my back yard tree! yesterday I was brave enough to snap some pictures! And strange as it may sound, my great grandma is also not doing so well, she has been in ICU for about 2 weeks… So good luck with your grandma, I will keep you in my thoughts.

Donje - So sorry to hear about your grandma. It is hard. My prayers are with you and your family.

Caitlyn - I have the same cute little sunflower pot!

Beth Bowen - I follow your blog, but have never commented. I love this post so much that I’ve come out of hiding. 🙂 I will pray for you and your family. How awesome is God that He gave your family the “gift” of that mama bird and her babies right now in the midst of the situation with your grandma, reminding you that He is Creator and He cares for all living things. Have a blessed day and enjoy your birds and your “garden therapy”.

Carol S - God bless your grandma, gardening and birds. My grandma lived with us growing up and at 95 and passed away on Christmas Eve 2001. The last several years I visited her at assisted living places with my little ones which made her day, then the last 6 months were real hard, and she told me in confusion on my last visit, pointing at her body “this isn’t Alice, this isn’t me anymore and who I am” meaning it was time for her to leave. Huge believer, super faithful woman, and she adored cardinals and gardening. So, Meg, I’m right there with you. It’s hard, but she will live on in you forever.

Lindi G - Hi Meg…I absolutely love this post!! Having to be a grown up for situations like this does stink!! I hope all works out for the best!! The colors in the pics of this post are stunning!!
PS…loving the new profile pic and header!!

Marcella - I hear you.
When I was a kid I always thought grownups always had everything under control.
Now as an adult I realize my kids think I’m the one who has everything under control and can handle everything.
It’s scary because as you said, there are things that feel way too “grownup” to handle for even us grownups!
If we can remember our Father’s previous faithfulness that helps us through our present trials!
Beautiful post!

Gretchen - big Hugs meg! I know that feeling having been through it when my husband passed away. I kept thinking to myself, we are too young to deal with this being 31 at the time, it was a year ago. My faith has brought me great strength in times of trial, and I know yours will too. The nest, eggs and mama bird show how great God’s gift of life is. We are lucky to be a part of that gift!

Trina Curran - Oh, I love this. The bird is beautiful and so is her work of art. And, yes, I believe your grandmother would have loved it…bless her heart. And yours. We watch for cardinals to know that my husband’s dad is keeping watch over us…we see them at almost every family event. Coincidence? I don’t think so. We have one that lives in the tree outside in front of our house. 🙂

stephanie - Aging parents and grandparents is so hard. I’m starting to see some of those slowing down signs in my own parents (even though they are VERY active still), but it’s still hard when they have more dr. appointments than my four kids combined. Prayers for you and your grandma today.

Chantelle - Gorgeous pic of little eggs! Wow!! What a blessing to get to see that. Thank you for sharing!

Trish - hugs, it’s never easy watching our loved ones age!

Hoosier at Heart - I’ve never seen eggs such a vivid blue color. Gorgeous! Prayers out to your grandmother. Maybe you could print the pics out and take them to her to have in her room. Love ya, darlin!

Michelle from Australia - My Mum was orphaned at age 6. And as she watched her friends have to take care of their parents she said to me that she always thought she lost out on the parent lottery in life. But she said watching people have to make horrendous decisions on how to care for ageing parents, she realised that maybe she had pain young but was spared a more acute pain later in life. Her parents died young, beautiful, in love, they were her heroes, she has no bad memories of them and they didn’t suffer.
I will pray for your Grandma and your family in the days ahead.

Julia - I’m sorry your Grandma is not doing well. You are a source of comfort and strength for your family, though. When my dad was in the ER with congestive heart failure last year, I was there with my mom. I kept watching the ER doors, thinking someone I knew would come through the doors to help us. I realized that I was the one that came to help my mom and dad. It was a “grown up” realization and I didn’t like it. But, I did the best I could to help my mom and dad. (He recovered from that near fatal event- six weeks in the hospital and lots of hard work).
I love that momma robin. What a nice gift for you on your porch. Down here in Texas, we get them as they pass through onto other places. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen “robin-blue” eggs. Thank you for sharing.

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Sadly, I never knew either of my grandmothers(my moms mom, her best friend, was buried the day before I was born and her only wish was to live long enough to “meet the baby”). But I totally know what you mean about life being hard, tough decisions and all that. Im watching it happen with my PARENTS. They had me at 38 so although Im only 31 their healths have been on a downward slope fopr years now and it totally stinks.
Im praying for you. And your grandma. And that bird is absolutely beautiful!
xo,
Sarah

Nicole - Cannot say how much I love and needed this post. My grandfather has been fighting cancer for 4 years and this past month has been the worst. He has decided to forego further treatment and like you said, seeing my mom cry and watching her heart break for her daddy is way too grown up for me.
Beautiful post. Great pictures. Awesome God.

JulianneB - Praying for your sweet Grandma and you, too. It is the hard stuff of life, and it makes me stop and go…okay I guess this is what being grownup means. I lost both of my grandmas and my mom all within a one year span. So blessed to have had my grandmas into their nineties. My daughter was only 3 at the time, and I am sad she will miss having her grandma and great grandmas around.

Southern Gal - Sorry to hear of your grandma’s hard times right now. Yeah, growing up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Those eggs are gorgeous. Such pretty pictures of that mama bird, her eggs and her masterpiece. Yes, God is amazing.
Love your header. It’s so rainbow-y.

Sandy - I’m so sorry about your grandma, Meg.
I think you should frame the picture of the eggs…those totally match the mirror you painted. Yes??

Bernice - Those eggs are beautiful! Sorry to hear your grandma’s having some rough days. I hope things will get better for her soon.

Shann - So sorry to hear about your dear Grandma Meg. I lost my sweet Grandma last September. I can not tell you how many times I have wanted to go see her to tell her something that has been going on with myself or my kids and she is not there in her little blue chair anymore. It stinks. Although I am thankful for the promise we have in Christ that I will see her again someday…it is still so very hard. I just prayed for you and your family. Grandmas Rock!!! 🙂

Kerry - Those eggs are my fave colour!! Beautiful 🙂 Love the seedlings too! Sending your granny love and strength across the seas x

Annika - I like your new banner! And the bird photos are amazing. Nature is amazing!
All the best wishes for your gran!

georgia - Beautiful eggs! Your house is even more colourful now! Pls try and get baby bird photos too when you can 🙂

Gemma - Hi Meg!
Those eggs are beautiful!
I really hope your Grandma recovers. All you can do is be strong for your family : )
Gemma x

Amanda F. - How blessed you are to have gotten the chance to be with your grandma this long and for your kids to know their great grandma! I lost my grandma when I was only 8 years old and my mom’s mom I never got to meet at all. Prayers for your family during this time.
And beautiful pictures, those eggs are gorgeous! I totally see them as the new “sunflower print” for Summer 2011… 🙂

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Awww Meg, I just love this post for lots of reasons…the little bird and her amazing nest, her most gorgeous blue eggs, the reminder of who God is. Take care. I know this is a hard time for you and having to deal with the reality that life isn’t always rainbows. I will keep you in my prayers. Sending you a hug.

heather @ cookie mondays - lovely post 🙂
those turqouise eggs are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kori - My grandma just found out some not-so-good news (not really *new* bad news, but it’s confirmed…does that make sense?) and I agree that this part of grown-up life sucks. Bad.
I do love your houseguest and her family. They truly are a beautiful thing.
All the best to you and your family…
❤

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winner & eggs & SUMMER

April 26, 2011 Filed in crafts & art,photography,special

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i put off dying eggs until the last minute.
i wanted sunshine and to do it outside…..and to do it all by myself….if i’m being honest.
but kids like to dye eggs too so i had to share.

we had to do it inside.
in the kitchen.
and i just tried my very best to relax about DYE right next to all my white cabinets.
not sure if i succeeded.

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our packets of colors was strange.
we ended up with green…greener….blue….and peach eggs.
not the prettiest set but still fun to make.

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i can breath easier now.
it’s done for the year.

and i have lots of hard boiled eggs to eat.
yum.

 

 

 

 

add a comment

Stephanie - Hi there – not leaving a comment for the book – commenting on your egg decorating!
Do you raise chickens for eggs? (I noticed the brown eggs!) We do and we color brown eggs every year! I love the rich, darker coloring that we always get! They look much country-er! (If that is a word!) Here is how we get better coloring – we don’t use the store bought kits!
All I did was bring water to almost boiling, while that is warming, in coffee cups (1 for each color) pour about 1/2″ – 1″ of vinegar, when water is hot, pour into cups until about 1″ from top (depending on how big your cups are) Then I used the paste food coloring. I used 1/2 a baby spoon full and mixed until it was all the way dissolved. And VIOLA! Let your eggs sit and soak for a little bit and the colors will amaze you!! If you check out my blog – http://www.alittlebitathisnthat.blogspot.com – I have an Easter egg swag that I made out of colored brown eggs! Thanks for letting me share!

s - lazy late afternoons at the lake that turn into evening and we still haven’t left for home or eaten dinner and instead we eat goldfish and pretzels and watch the golden light fade before packing up and heading home for showers, baths and bed.

Emily - My best part of summer is going on vacation to the beach! I’d love to win a copy of this beautiful book.

Courtney M - Best part of summer in 3 words: flip-flops, s’mores, sun!

regina - the best part of summer is EVERYTHING!!! lighting bugs, lying on a blanket and looking up at the stars, lots of movie nights on the back porch, swimming at anytime, cookouts, bonfires (yes we have them in the summer), playing outside and totally forgetting about dinner until its 8:00, going out on the lake, lying on the porch reading a book, though this year it will be a nook:)…i could keep going on and on:)

Lynn - I just wanted to tell you that you have totally inspired me to start taking my photography more seriously. Your gorgeous pictures take my breath away. I bought an SLR and am still learning but I’m really excited and just wanted to say thanks! 🙂

Roberta - How exciting. The book looks awesome. My favorite part of summer is having the kids home with me and not having to have any set schedule. Sleeping late, day trips, ahhhh, can’t wait!

mandy sadler - Best part of summer is no school and we are moving!!! Thanks for the chance…

Jane - the best part of summer is eating the home grown veggies from the garden, my favourites are tomatoes and basil – yum! I would love to win this magazine cos in Australia we’re heading into winter so it Wouk give me lots of lovelies to look forward to!!

Jennie - most definitely the pool!

Cherie T - Stepping into a cold pool on a hot day.

Kerstie - Best part of summer, out door movie nights with the neighborhood.
Kerstie

Vonda - I can’t believe that I forgot to say the best part of summer is when my sister that lives in Florida comes to visit us with her family!!!! That is way up on the top of my list! Up there with having the kiddos home!:)

Caroline - family talent shows on the patio
going to the beach as a family
BLTs with fresh basil
being at the neighborhood pool
no early bus
no rigid schedules
catching lightning bugs with my kids

Lin - Naps outside.

Julie - Frozen lemonade and sandal tan lines

Christy - The best part of summer is eating almost all of our meals outdoors and not feeling guilty if supper isn’t served before 8. There’s too much great stuff going on to get to it before then!

Kristen - many things but. . .first on my mind is staying up late and sleeping in without that alarm clock!

Karen - Aaahhh! The best part of summer……. running outside in bare feet, feeling a cool breeze blow through your light cotton dress, having a cold glass of white wine on a patio on a sultry, hot, humid evening, getting “caught” by a sprinkler on a neighbourhood stroll, watching the sun set on an endless expanse of beach, slurping a popsicle that is melting quicker than you can eat it, al fresco breakfasts in your backyard, lazy no plan days (hopefully lots of them!) and of course, gardening! flowers, vegetables, berries, all there for the taking and enjoying. Oh summer, hurry up and arrive!

Rachael B - The best part of my summer is going to hawaii to visit my brother whom is a missionary. He is only in hawaii for a short while every year resting and training before his next big outreach 🙂 this summer i am lucky enough to be seeing him for a whole month!

Karen - Cross-country road trips to visit family!

holly - the best part of summer is the beach. i know you live a really long way from the beach, but i used to live far too. now i live close. i don’t live close to barns and thrift stores, though!

Lori - The best part of my summer is when the house is a mess, laundry is piled high, beds are unmaid and toys on the floor…the kids and I can forget it all and go outside! Sunshine can fix just about anything. Bring on the sprinkler and freezer pops!

Heather Earl - Best part is spending time with my kids at the beach, vacation bible school, summer reading program, the beach, and of course fourth of july cookout! LOVE summer!

Linda B - That my husband, the college professor, has a more relaxed schedule.

Gretchen - Best part of summer: Lazy Days with my kids, Swimsuits,Late nights playing outside, Visiting my Aunt and Uncles Cabin, Pond swiming, fishing, Fresh veggies from our garden, FLIP-FLOPS!, Slowed down schedule and more time as a family. Thanks for all your inspiration.

Amy Moon - The best part of summer is that sense of endless possibilities. Instead of, “Is your homework done, did you do your reading, you need WHAT for class tomorrow?” I get to say, “What should we do today?” And then the next day I get to do that again.
Oh…and gardening. I love my garden…almost as much as my kids! Hundreds of homegrown tomatoes baby!

Vonda - The best part of summer is definitely having the kids home! No schedules, staying up late and sleeping in, swimming, barbecueing, and taking our 30 pound pug for a walk. I love the flowers and the long days too! We live across from a campground and they have movie night on Saturday nights-so fun! It is definitely my favorite season!:)

Kim Howell - three girls in the pool non stop for 3 months!!

Alice H - I like taking the majority of my vacation days and being with my kids ALL day. And the swimming pool. And the smell of sunscreen. And the lake with friends.

virginia - the sunshine!

jennifer - Summer is…going barefoot everyday…sunshine…homemade ice cream…swimming…wildflowers…visiting on the front porch…and napping in a hammock!

Tammy Sabourin - The prospect of seeing our extended family while on vacation! We live very far away from them, so cherish any opportunity and this summer looks like it will work for all of us. 🙂

carrie - Taking the girls to the beach 🙂

Staci - SLEEPING IN!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Megan!!!!

Emily - The best part of summer is having garden fresh tomatoes growing in my backyard!

deborah@applesinwonderland - best part about summer? that it needs to be celebrated everyday. because we know it goes too fast. and the beach and cooking outside and lightening bugs and bonfires and flip-flops and vine ripened tomatoes and peaches and grass between your toes and sunshine and no school and (well, that’s probably enough).

Anne - I love not having anywhere that we “have” to be during the summer! Our school year is jam packed with scheduled activities, so it’s such a relief to “chill” during the summer months. 🙂

Jeannie P - Hands down, the best part of summer is having my kids home every minute of the day!

Rachel Newswanger - The birds sing’in, the sunshine & NO school schedule to keep up with!

erica - the endless sunny days without an agenda – just me and my 3 lil ones:)

Ruth H. - The best part of my summer is the FREEDOM. I get to have my kids with me all day long, and our schedule is (mostly) wide open. We get to decide what we do all day. I love having my kids to myself!

julie - the best part of my summer is that i get to be a stay at home mom for 9 weeks. i’m a teacher! wahooo!!

Jenny B. - The best part of summer for me is NO SCHOOL! I’m a teacher, and my summer break starts next Friday! Woo-Hoo!

Annie - my favorite part of summer is sleeping with the windows open..listening to the crickets and the cool breeze blowing on my face after a long hot day!!

Whitney R - Grilling, kids with me, swimming, porch swinging, bike riding, lazy days!

Terrie - Best part of summer is the beautiful flowers that I like to plant, then I can spend days outside taking pics…may not happen this year! I’m having so much fun in my new craft room, that I may never go outside!!
BTW, as I was going through the Jan. ’11 issue of Creating Keepsakes…I saw a perfect layout title for your girls and their boots…These boots are made for splashing! You would have great pics to make that a cute page! You may have already done a page like that…but had to think of you when I saw it!

Jennifer Roehl - Lazy days with my family cause we’ll be staying home a lot this summer! We’re adopting baby #3 in June!

Mary - The best part is traveling “home” to Kansas. I’ve lived in Colorado for 20 years, but Kansas is still “home”. This year on my way from my in-laws to my parents home, I will be stopping in Marion at that fabulous antique place you blogged about! Oh, my boys will hate it but I can’t wait….

Rachel B. - Love summer evenings! My husband and I sneak ice cream and sit outside after the kids go to bed!

Sally - Congratulations! How exciting that you work continues to be recoginzed.
My favorite part of summer is hanging out at my Dad’s lake house in the adirondack mountains. It’s so nice to wear a sweatshirt in the summer…ahh! And a huge bonus to be with family since we live out-of-state.

Julie - My husband is a school teacher and I’m a SAHM, so we take the summer off and travel with our two children!

Jennifer - Not having to get up early and get the kids off to school, lazy days, going to CA to visit family and friends… the list goes on!

Ann R. - Spending time with the family, not so much rushing, no homework, no schedule, the beach and lemonade stands!

Kari - Spending the entire day with my almost two year old little lady…running, biking, reading, sunning, singing, swimming…I can hardly wait!

jodi - the best part of the summer is living near my mom (who lives at the beach) after living 1000 miles away for 15 years… my mom rocks!
jodi in pa

amy jupin - i am flipping out excited for you with this whole summer thing!
i’m freakin out!!
but let’s be honest here…the best part of summer isn’t the beach or lemonade or hammocks. the best part is NO HOMEWORK!
🙂

Janelle - I live in the Virgin Islands – every day is summer! My least favorite months are actually June through September because of the threat of hurricanes. But the best thing about living in a year long summer? Wearing shorts & flip flops all the time!

Melanie - Best part of summer…cookouts with the family, sitting on the patio late into the night with a glass of wine, leaving the bedroom window open while I sleep and hearing the frogs croaking, going to my niece’s baseball games, working in my garden, being barefoot, eating ice cream, swimming in a cold pool on an exceptionally hot day.

Robin - where to start….flip flops and bare feet, sunshine and late nights, BBQ and lemonade…I could go on and on and on and on…

ShelbyP - Hmm, I love pool time, being out in the sun, random trips to the library and evening BBQs with friends!

EllenVR - pool, Freddie’s frozen custard, friends, horseshoes…and if I’m lucky lots of the lake

Margo - The best parts of my summer are bbq’s, ball games, and adult beverages on the patio with good friends.

Karen A. - Best part of my summer is spending 5 weeks on a lake in the Adirondacks with my four girls (age 2-10)- with my sister-in-law, our 4 nephews (age 3-11), and my inlaws – and being able to go to Camp of the Woods which is just on the other side of the lake from us. Second best thing is jumping off the dock into the lake after a run! 🙂

Joanna - The best part of my summer is not being cold.

Mrs. - Summer…sticky hands holding drippy popsicles while watching an orange sunset in the cool, green, fresh cut grass.

elizabeth highsmith - mcdonalds ice cream cones-they are the best fun a dollar can buy-i once thought i’d keep a record of how many i consume in a summer-then i realized i can’t count that high!

Stacey - Summer= pretty much no schedule and lots of lazy days!

Stacy - I do not work in the summer so I get to spend everyday with my son. We read, go to the library and find a lot of free stuff to do!

Meredith - I love bare feet in the summer!!!!

courtney - my favorite activity of summer is sitting on the porch with my husband watching our three little ones jump around in the sprinkler. it makes the grass and sunscreen covered kitchen floor ever so worth it!

Linda War Bonnet - The best part of summer….weekly concerts in the park!!!

cheryl - my husband, who is a school teacher, being home for the summer with us!

Nicole Q. - Don’t know if I can only list one . . . oh so many favorites . . . the pool would rank up at the top!!!

phyllis - I love EVERYTHING about summer – especially the yummy summer fruit!

merlin - letting go
and letting time
have its way
never looking at a clock

Kelli - Definitely the farmer’s market in our little town! Then coming home and figuring out a yummy dinner with my finds!

Rebecca L. - Since I love summer so much I can’t decide:
1. long sunshinie days
2. watermelon!
3. that shadow that falls across everything in the evening when the sun is at that perfect spot.
4. sweet corn
5. swimming
6. grilled ANYTHING…mmm.
7. porch swings/ hammocks/ lawn chairs
8. Popsicles with the juice dripping down to your elbows.
9. flip flops!
10. This summer means my FIRST ANNIVERSARY and I can’t wait to celebrate with my favorite man!

alaina - My favorite part of summer is all my children under one roof (2 are in college)and living at the softball field watching them play!!! I just get all giddy thinking of having my kids home once again and just being together…that is bliss (until the dishes need to be done!)

maribeth - a sno cone on a hot summer day . . . so yummy!

Rachel - Honestly, the best part of summer for me is not working. I’m a teacher and I’m not gonna lie…I love my summer vacation! Last summer I went to Italy and France and was gone for nearly the entire two months. It was awesome. I can’t afford to do that again this summer, plus I have to finish my masters degree. But still…no work. Ahhhh.

Lizz - It would have to be making Art outside with some brand new kiddos! Oh, and eating frozen yogurt!!

Jen - the best part of summer is sitting on the stoop in a cool summer breeze, sipping lemonade watching the kids play & relaxing.

Debbie - The best part of summer is knowing that I do not have to drop my child off at a babysitter’s house. I get to stay home with her and go to the zoo and take painting classes and play at the beach in the sand and blow bubbles and whatever we want.

Courtney Henson - The best part of my summer is roasting marshmallows over the fire pit in the backyard at night..twinkle lights on and the atmosphere just perfect and lounging on the hammock soaking up the warm rays of sunshine while my kids play in the backyard!

Tanya - My favorite part of summer is going to the beach, whether it be nearby or while on vacation. Love it! This year will be bittersweet as it is the last summer before my daughter starts school, so we will certainly make the best of the last few months before big school start

Lori - lazy mornings with the kids…NO MAKING SCHOOL LUNCHES…coming and going as we please (for the most part:))…

susie - savoring a slower pace of life with my family…heaven

Suzanne D - grilling out and spending time with my family!!

robyn - our camping trip to glacier national park in montana! the kids talk about it all winter long 🙂

stacie - right now i want summer so badly that i must say sunshine, all my babies in the nest together, ice cream, outdoor fires, grilled dinners, carefree time, margaritas and camps for the kids!

Lacey - finially going to the beach! we didn’t get to go at all last year because of the oil spill. Can’t wait to stick my toes in the sand and relax while the kids splash and play.

Penny - Being off work all summer!! Spending time with my girls, reading on the deck, cooking out, sitting around the fire pit roasting marshmallows. Oh so many things I just can’t pick one favorite!
This summer we will have a litter of Goldendoodle puppies to raise, too!!

shelley - the most wonderful part of summer is the long days. Little Jude and stay outside late and watch the sun go down while we play out on the deck with chalk and his water table.

Heather - The cottage. Slipping into the lake for the first time every summer is golden. When I wake up early and head down to the dock in time to catch the sun coming over the trees and the mist rising off the water I know we are not alone.

Jennifer G. - The best part of summer…….beach, beach, beach. Love the salty smell, kids and their sand castles, and sounds of the waves crashing over and over! Oh and a margarita in there somewhere!

Tami Hiebert - My son just saw this and said, “You should say the best part of your summer is when your kids don’t fight!” Pretty good answer!

Laura Gentle - Sitting in my swing hung from a hundred year old oak tree with a good book; roasting marshmallows in the fire pit and making smores with exotic candy bars and homemade cookies; fishing at the lake all day and then cooking a fish feast for dinner with coleslaw, hushpuppies and cheese grits; chasing fireflies with my one and only child makes me most happy. Smiling just thinking about it!

carly - cookouts, lighting bugs and sidewalk chalk with my kids!!!

Denise - The best part of summer is when my family comes to visit!

Erin T. - Our family vacation in the Outerbanks! I am so looking forward to lounging around at the pool and the beach, playing with my littles and studying photography/taking lots of pictures!

Danielle - Going to the beach with my kids, barbecues and eating outside. Making s’mores outside by the fire. And SUN, glorious SUN!!! We don’t get a whole lot of it in WA.

Heidi - I LOVE lazy mornings!

Jenna - Not working, going to the lake as much as possible, and pretty much everything else. Summer is the BEST.

Carrie Haywood - The past two summers I have been VERY pregnant and delivered babies (June 2009 and August 2010) so usually it’s having my new, beautiful bundle of joy here with me.. but this year my best part of summer will be spending time with them, showing them new, fun things.. can’t wait to take them swimming!! 🙂

Eli - Best part of summer: sitting on the dock, for hours and hours, with nothing more important to do.

Dani - I love that I don’t have to rush around at night with my kids. They can stay up later if they want to. Dinner is not a rush to finish so baths can be taken. Summer time is much more laid back for us. I also LOVE to take my kids camping.

Jennifer - The best part about summer is having my kids home and working and playing together!

Jenny - Being outside all day, no structure, kids running around the yard, sprinklers, pools, splashing, bubbles, margarita evenings, sand boxes, kids who smell like sunblock, the beach, frozen pops (any kind), music on the patio, cold food, sundresses, friends…friends…and more friends, water guns, swingsets, sticky kid fingers, art projects outside, bikes, gardens…we live in South Carolina where it become sticky hot and humid…so, I cannot leave out the amazing feeling of coming inside and showering and hanging out with my hubby after an amazing fun filled super hot day. Bring on the Summer!

jennibell - Best part of summer. . .days at the pool with the kids!!! And BBQs.

alise - best part of summer is having no schedule and going to the beach, flip flops and eating outside!!!
thanks for the chance to win….

Rebecca - Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes and basil picked from my garden. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic–best lunch ever!

Rebecca - Fun Fridays! As a reward for good behavior and cooperation all week, we have a swimming/play date with friends. We meet after lunch at a friends house (who has a pool), the boys swim and play and have snacks and moms have frozen margaritas or lemonades with vodka. Good for the kids, GREAT for the mamas!

Alicia @ La Famille - Best part of summer: flip-flops, skirts, NO coats!

se7en - Oh we are headed into winter over here and we have had three days of rain after months of not a drop and I tell you first hand the BEST thing about summer is so much less laundry!!! T-shirt and shorts all round compared to jeans, shirts, sweaters, jackets, hats, socks… I could go on about the laundry but I am trying to embrace the cold – failing dismally!!! I love summer and wish it was always summer!!!

jennifer - Sleeping in and stuffing as much fun as possible into those too short 8 weeks!

Kathy - We homeschool and ar always together and can technically MAKE time for things. BUT there is something about warm Summer evenings and bright sunny days that just feel like you have been given time. The pressures melt away and fun extra things get done without guilt.

Stacey - The best part of summer is the lazy, fun days with BOTH of my kids at home! Love it!

nicki - I’m in NP school, so the BEST is the 3 weeks in August that we have off before the fall semester! Lots more time with family & friends instead of the books! 🙂

Camm Taylor - No schedules…going with the flow….sandy toes at the beach….ice cold beer on a hot night….summer storms….so much! LOVE summer!

Chantelle - My birthday!!!! Usually a trip to the nail salon, a sip of sweet red wine, a relaxing walk on the beach and/or a stress-free visit to the local bookstore, topped off by a hearty meal with my fam! BRING IT!!!

Mel - The kids being home from school. . . and if I had to be honest, I would add that my second favorite part is when the kids go back when summer winds down!! Is that bad?

Sandra K - The best thing about summer – where to start?!
– Lots and lots of time with lots of friends at our awesome community pool
– Diet cokes and soft pretzels at that pool
– Grilling out!
– Awesome produce from my li’l garden or the farmer’s market, especially tomatoes and sweet corn!
– Sno-cones
– S’mores in the backyard
– Dining outside!
– No school and more time with my kids

Sarah - Man you must have a lot of followers…look at all those comments! My fav part of summer is the pool and the color my skin soaks in from the sun. I miss the sun. Someday…

Tracy - I love to spend time with my family outside….going to the pool, grilling outside, going fishing, going to the park, riding bike, the zoo, and playing golf….love it all!

Mindy Harris - Of course I’d love to win my own copy!
The best part of summer is family vacations, freshly mowed grass and the scent thereof, and catching fireflies.
And swimming.
And watermelon.
And laying out in the sun (but only for 10 mins).

Sara M. - Going to the beach on Lake Michigan!

Amy - Swimming in ponds, swimming in lakes, swimming in rivers, swimming in streams! I live in New England so the summer months are the only time I get to swim outside and it is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!

Jacqui - the warmth of the sun on my face and the endless hours outside:)

Trena - I mean…under the stars!

Tanya H - Every summer since before we had kids (oldest is 9) my husband has run a scout camp in the summer. It can be fun but even when we all live there with him Daddy-time is precious, hard to come by and impossible to have his full attention. This year, he doesn’t have a camp assigment and we are all so excited we can hardly stand it! 😀 We’re gonna have some actual FAMILY time instead of just mommmy-kid time!

Trena - the best part of summer for me…not having to pack school lunches…Just kidding…campfires with my family in the yard until the stars! ♥

Shanna - This summer will be special because I’m having a baby!!!!!!!

Alisa - I grew up in Kansas, but I moved away just before I turned 16 in 1986 – and I’ve never been back. For me summer is the blue open sky in Kansas, a yellow sunflower taller than yourself, the taste of a limeaide, the smell of chlorine in my hair, and the feel of a swimsuit dry the minute you step out of a pool. I now have a family of my own and live in Europe – but I sometimes miss the feeling of those long summers in Kansas, and wish my kids could someday feel it too.

Juli - I’ve already pre-ordered my copy (thanks for original heads-up) but I’d love to win a copy for my friend, Amanda! The best part of THIS coming summer, in particular, is that my husband is taking off the semester from his Master’s program so that he can play with us! I am GIDDY!

Donna - Best part of summer……wearing flip flops everyday, and having some time off work to spend with my favorite people….my family 🙂

Michelle - The best part of summer is our annual family reunion week – and this year will be even better ’cause my cousin and I will have our firstborns with us. There hasn’t been a baby in the family in 26 years!

Simies - Best part of my summer is be with my family. Relax at home or by the sea in Italy 🙂

erin - time spent on, in, or by the water….pool, lake, ocean…i’ll take all three!

dawn - Last year we were without our own home, we lived in MANY different places. This summer will be a treat. No moving, no suitcases, our own home/space/stuff… That time really reminded me how little you truly need and how good it feels to just have your own little place in the world. 🙂

Meredith Salmon - I can’t wait to get it. When I first started my job 4 years ago, Tricia Foley was still working here. She would not know me, but she is very creative and has tons of great ideas and takes great pictures, just like you Meg. Congrats!!!!

Robyn - The beach and warm sunshine!!!

Kirsten J - Best part of summer (you mean those 3 or 4 weeks we get here in Seattle?) would be waking up, taking an early walk and then watering my flowers after I get back. Yep, happens about 1/2 dozen times every summer….and, why, yes, I am bitter about where I live lately….

rosemarie - sunshine and swimming in the pool with kids….

sara @ it's good to be queen - oh i really want to win!! the best part of summer is having a cookout with friends and sitting outside for hours talking and laughing while the kids play. can’t wait!

colleen - best part of summer…it’s NOT winter or spring (not very nice here)!!!!! and i’m a teacher…so days to stay at home with MY kids and enjoy the sun…what’s not to love?

Kasey - The best part of my summer this year is going to be having my second baby!

Ana G - The best part of summer for me is the beach! Even though we live in the Pacific NW, where the water is chilly, and the beaches are mostly rocky, my kids LOVE playing in the water and I LOVE hanging on the beach. Looking forward to it! 🙂

Jenni Carlisle - Yeah for Melissa…better yet YEAH for SERGEY!!!! Best part of Summer for me is that I’m a homeschool/stay at home Mom, so I just get to BE with my kids. For years as a working Mom I battled feeling guilty only getting a week off, now I get them the whole summer! Love it!

Kelly O. - the best part of my summer is the twinkly lights on in the backyard and me and my laptop on the porch just listening to the crickets

Katie Sellers - Summer is just more relaxed. This summer my favorite part will be vacationing all over Florida with my kids. It is a stay-cation for us, but we will be starting Key West, moving on to Marco Island and then up to the Destin panhandle! Can’t wait!

LeAnne - blueberries eaten straight off of the tree!

Jes - Our summers consist of a lot of family outdoor fun activities: bike riding, sidewalk chalk, bike riding, swimming, bike riding, fishing, yes we do a lot of bike riding. Most of all, just the relaxing moments Summer brings. The kids can stay up later (not going to bed with the sun up), evening walks, fishing for a whole day! I love summer!

Kirsten P - Sitting on the deck reading a book while listening to the wind rustle the leaves of the cottonwood trees – 25 of them! Walking along the shore of a Great Lake. Enjoying the flowers of summer.

Lori - Best part of summer….the relaxed schedule and atmosphere – we get together with friends more often, even on a weeknight when we have to go to work the next day. And all that fresh produce! Love summer…

Tracie - Not having to force my daughter out of bed in the morning, that’s the best part. We all love to sleep in during the summer, and drink lots and lots of iced tea!

TonyaElise - Summer clothes! So much more fun than winter – sandals, tanks, sun dresses…yea!

Lelia - Having no schedule to stick to so I can spend extra time with the kiddos!! =)

Kimberly Au - Love my summers! One of the reasons I became a teacher was so that I could still enjoy my WI summers to the fullest, now with my own kids. Simple things like going to the wading pool, zoo and concerts in the park. This summer is especially exciting as we are expecting our third baby in just a few weeks!

Jessica R - The best part of summer is fresh, homemade ice-cream!! Something sweet to beat the heat!

AshleyAnn - Days full of nothing but being at home together. Being at home.
It is so stinkin’ cool that you are in that magazine…smart move on their part!

Leslie - The best part of summer is the warm nights so we can “camp” in the backyard. We bbq, roast marshmellows, play board games, run around with flash lights and leave ALL electronic devices (cell phones, etc.) in the house.

Jennifer - My very FAVORITE – early mornings alone with my coffee and the hose, soaking the hydrangeas, followed by breakfast topped with ripe strawberries, and then turning on the sprinkler and watching the children turn their swing set/fort into a water land while I sit across the yard and sip iced tea with my camera and a good magazine in hand. Does it get any better?

Laura in LA - Abundant sunshine, sprinklers, tomatoes, peas, blueberries!!! Ahhh, can’t wait.

Maureen Troop - I just love having my kids home and we can decide each day what we WANT to do, not what HAS to be done! I love the relaxed pace and time together!

Southern Gal - The part when we can all get away to the beach as a family. Sit in my beach chair, toes in the water and a good book in my hand with kids playing in the surf. Absolute favorite.

Terri Upton - The best part of summer is the relaxed and carefree feeling.

Jes - best part of the summer is our July vacation by the beach with my family, especially dinner for the whole 15 of us at Aunt Carrie’s Restaurant (Narragansett RI)

cindy - Checking off things from our summer fun list…esp. craft friday which was inspired by you! 🙂

Sarah Vincent - This summer will be a little different because I am joining team “Stay Home Mom” so this year I am really looking forward to the whole Summer with my two kiddos!!

Molly - the best part of summer is being home with my two girls! i absolutely love it! i count down to summer every year like a kid i am a teacher, so really it’s not that different!:)

Sarah - The pool! And the lake! 🙂

julia - That looks like a whole lot of egg salad {I didn’t even do the whole dye-ing egg thing this year…not my fave thing to do}.

Rebecca - My favorite part of summer is the sunshine and the WARMTH. After a roller coaster spring, that is what I am ready for!
Thanks for the giveaway!

Melissa Lynch - Slowing down..no running to dance, gymnastics, chior..just enjoying each other at night instead of homework? bedtime?

Amy - ALL of summer is awesome. Sun dresses, flip flops, swimsuits, warm lakes, longer days, running thru sprinklers, SWIMMING, picnics, kid-filled front & back yards, star gazing, SWIMMING, water skiing, warm sand between the toes, cute little chubby bodies w/ tan lines…… And having my oldest home from school w/ us. (1st grade, & his first year to be in all day. *sigh*)

april - just chilling with my three lovelies at the beach~ living so close to lake michigan has advantages. we do a summer beach tour to hit our favs. st. joe, south haven, and warren dunes…just to name a few~~oh i wish it was summer now!

Beth Ann - Best part of summer? Lots of days with no schedules and lots of activities to pick from! Lots of evenings around a fire pit with the kids running around outside playing with friends. And after 9 straight days of clouds and rain – SUNSHINE!!!

shiela - camping in our backyard…our 5 yr old daughter getting all excited about doing car wash with her daddy…playdates with friends at church…both of our kids birthday are in the summer…vacation, vacation!!!

merran tatum - eating watermelon and playing outside…and candle-lit outdoor dinners with the hubs. love.

Amanda - Hmmmm, there are so many things to love about summer…..sunshine, warm weather, swimming, sleeping in, being outside, hanging with my girls……I love it all 🙂

Angela Atkins - Fun days with my kids with lots of sunshine and blue skies.

Jen - The SUN!!!!

Jody - Dusk..I love running around outside w kiddos, catching fire flies & watching sun set w our fire pit goin’ w smores!! So fun.

Amanda F. - I love EVERYTHING about summer. The weather, the fruit, the flowers, gardening, kids home from school, traveling, open windows, bug noises, frog noises, lawnmower noises, everything.
We’ve recently moved to California and I am looking forward to a whole new summer experience.

Jen - A more relaxed schedule and all the time I spend watching the kids play softball/baseball. Really, the entertainment value of little kids playing ball is amazing!!

Patricia - I love everything about summer … but right now the thing I’m most looking forward to is no school, no homework, no helping the kids study for tests, no projects, no papers, and no book bags strewn all over the place! Just being honest :o)

rachel p - Being outside with my 2 little boys!! They are so tired of being indoors, and I’m so tired of playing in MUD PUDDLES 😉 We’re all ready for sunshine and bathing suits and lightning bugs and bellies stained from popsicles!

Gale - Best part of summer in Kansas…. hmmmmmm…. not the heat…. not having to shovel snow comes to mind.. LOL!! Seriously, love just hanging out, being lazy, being light at 8:30pm, grilling, wearing my Toms, drinking margaritas on the deck… what’s not to like? 🙂

Nicky Simmons - easy… floating on the lake with a cold beer in my hand!

Jenny K - Eating outside. At home or a restaurant on a sidewalk or better yet a deck overlooking the ocean!

Kim Barlow - The best part of summer for me is more FREEDOM!!! No more practices, No more games, no more 1.5 hour commute each way (for school drop offs and then to work), no more homework battles, no more packing of lunches and the laundry is a LOT lighter! WOOT WOOT!! And most IMPORTANTLY more chances to be bask in the SUNSHINE with friends and family!! I LOVE SUMMERTIME!!!

Amy - Being home with my kids and eating lunch on the back patio!

Dana Banana - Living at the pool!! (hope you and your fam will join me there!)

Susanna - No carpool, bare feet(and painting little toenails funky colors) and family meals outside!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Best part of summer? Visiting my parents cottage on a small lake about an hour away.They’ve had it for 35 years and its nothing fancy but its RELAXING to be there and wake up to hear the water outside your bedroom window.
Their taxes keep drastically increasing each year and theyre not sure how long they’ll be able to keep the cottage so each summer that we have there is a gift!

Su@The Intentional Home - best part of summer. . is less tight of a schedule. . do not have to get up at certain time, do not have to get in car and drop kids off and pick kids up. . .thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of the magazine. . .

jeana - I’ve asked for this for my birthday! I would love to win! My summer favorite? Reading outside in a hammock while the kids are playing.

jayne Barbour - best part of summer is not having to be anywhere and just enjoying the lazy days!

Jill @ Cora Anne Designs - Best part about summer…hmm…only one??? How about lots of time spent outdoors with awesome neighbors, family and friends!!

Alyssa - EVERYTHING! But for this summer it will have to be being pregnant with our new little life 🙂 Due in September! It has been a ball so far and I know the TX heat will be very unforgiving but I cant wait to be outside and with family toting a little baby in my belly!
xoxo

Laurie Schmotzer - The best part of summer…not setting the alarm!

Molly Pearce - The best part of summer for me is when all the children I teach every Sunday and Wednesday night at church get of school for summer! This means, movie parties, bible study outside, vacation bible school, swim parties and my all time favorite thing to do with them is to have a kick off to summer lock in at church!! So much fun!!!
~Molly P

amosclutchpedal - My husband is a teacher with a very busy schedule, so summertime with him is the best!

Valerie Alexander - Flip flops, sunkissed skin, highlighted hair, swimming, I could go on…. Come on Summer!!

Kate - Every year (or at least almost) we head back to my home town, right on the beaches of Lake Michigan. We play in the sand and the surf and watch the sun go down. We ride rollercoasters. We eat ice cream from the ice cream stand I used to visit as a kid. We go for dune rides. We have bonfires. We drink beer and listen to my uncle play banjo. It’s always a great week.

Trish - I’m gonna be honest here:
I like having my kids around, but I LOVE when they go to camp. They usually go on different weeks, so I have only one home at a time, and I cherish that one on one time with them. Plus I know that the other kid is at a wonderful camp having the time of their life!
Oh, my other favorite part of summer is when we get to leave Alaska in late July, early August, in search of REAL summer weather! I love a week or two of 90 degrees!

Courtney - to name just one is impossible…fresh cut grass, watermelon dripping off your elbows, fireflies, candle light suppers on the back porch…I love summer!

Tammy - Aw, fun in the sun, picnics & homegrown tomatoes….yum!
Thanks for a the great giveaway once again!

Laura Phelps - The BEST part of summer for me? Putting on my bathing suit and wearing it in public! I LOVE that!
Oh wait…
that’s my biggest nightmare!
I suppose it is the carefree timelessness of every day…
no schedules
no lunches to pack
no homework
LOTS of BBQ’s and chalk filled driveways and ice cream cones and cold beer at 3pm
I LOVE it..
for about 2 weeks
then I want to shoot myself in the head

amac - Where I live it’s always summer more or less. But during the hottest months (110+) my favorite thing is mangoes. They are in season, they are CHEAP, they are delicious!!! They’re almost good enough to make me forget that it’s so HOT! Thanks for the chance to win 🙂

Tami C. - No set schedule and my mom’s pool. Love it.

Beth K. in CO - There are so many things that I love about summer! Swim lessons, softball games, vacation Bible school, trips to the mountains, it staying lighter outside so there is more play time, BBQs, picnics, flip flops, going to the pool. I should probably stop here, but there are so many more to list. 🙂

jodi @ back40life - time outside, time at the pool and big family vacations…those are the best!

Karen Giddings - Best part of summer . . . not as many “have to’s”. 😀

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - The very best part of my summer… swimming with the kids. So fun.

Rebecca - The best part of summer is long days off with the kids, and late nights up with the Mr.!

Deb Meyers - Best: kids home. Long days. tanned legs and faces.
deb meyers

Karen - The best part for me is the warmth & the sunshine!

Happygirl02 - EVERYTHING!!! The sun, the breeze, the long days, catching fireflies, bbq’s, s’mores, gardening, my kids, fresh cut grass, flowers, not having to wear shoes…. the list never ends!

Toni - Summer night bbqs and Dodger games with friends! Oh, and late night walks with my husband and my beagle.

Laurie Kauffman - I love s’mores in the backyard and laying on the lawnchairs looking at the stars and counting lightning bugs.

georgia - The best bit is going for late night dog walks and watching the sun set 🙂

Courtney Walsh - I totally love that your house is referred to as “The Fun House” lol 🙂 How awesome is that?
Best part of my summer…? Um. Probably going home and spending a week with my sister. But this is the first summer where I havent’ been in Illinois so we’ll see…maybe Colorado will surprise me. 🙂

Sandy W - Dinners on the pontoon boat with my husband and son are most definitely the best part of my summer. I can’t wait! It is still cold and rainy here in Michigan.

Rosita - The best part of summer is the flowers, all the flowers.

karen - flip flops 🙂

Lori - My favorite parts are eating fresh veggies from my garden, yard sales, late night thunderstorms, watching my girls set up their own lemonade/fresh veggies stand.:) Lori

Jen - The best part about summer is that almost everything finally slows down.

Leslie - Hands down being with my kids!!!! After eing sooo inspired by your blog….we are going to start a craft Thursday. I have three boys 15, 14 and almost 10. We just bought the supplies to make the raindow plates with the streamers :} Before I blink my kids will be grown so I am cherishing every moment!Annnd I am holding onto my hat cause my 15 year old is driving. Thanks for being so inspiring :}}}}

Ruth Elder - We moved into a new-to-us house before Christmas. this summer I get to plant flowers in the front yard and the kids will be home to help me put up a picket fence. I’ve never had one before!

julie h - being home with my kids…baby 2 is due in june!

Amy Swanson - Best part of summer: Driving to my parents house with the kids for weekends. They have property where we can fish, ride ATV’s, and swim. Plus my dad makes a big breakfast every morning and my mom does our laundry. Heavenly!

Valerie @ Chateau a La Mode - Best part of summer?…..The long summer nights. BBQs, eating outside, late night walks. Maybe that’s more than one. Oh well, hope it’s me 🙂

Shawnie - The best part of summer is spending time at the lake!

juliana whisman - Eating grilled food outside & hours at the pool!

Megan - The best part for me is not having a schedule – we can go to the pool, stay home, or go on a trip whenever!

jen smith - sleeping in, lazy days, swimming. i love summer!

Amy - The best part is getting to spend time with my 3 year old son. This summer will be even better as we welcome boy/girl twins into our home!

Jen H. - The best part of summer for me is having my hubby home since he is a teacher. We go camping with our girls and it is such a fun and relaxing time!!!! 🙂

Jermaine D. - Gardening!

Becki G. - Sleeping late every day.

Sarah - I already ordered my copy and can’t wait! I would love to win one for my mom though….
Best part of summer…kids, sprinklers, the pool, sun, bright blue skies, sweet iced sun tea, picnics, ice cream socials…..and if we’re lucky on vacaation, the beach!

Benay - Relaxing and having the kids around. Taking family trips. Going to the pool. We live in a big city in Brazil which empties out during the summer because Brazilians get a month off and usually spend it at the beach. So living in a somewhat less crowded city during the summer is really nice.

shelly - the best part of summer is…nothing! doing Nothing at all, sitting by/on a lake…watching parades in camp chairs…..laying out, looking at the stars…..I’m ready for it to be here Now!

ingrid - garden bursting with veggies and blooms!

Wendy - Sleeping in, late dinners outside by the pool, visiting family, enjoying the outdoors, going to the beach….. so many things to look forward to. 🙂

Roxane - My garden, the smell of fresh cut grass, the sound of the sprinklers going, the pool, corn on the cob, snow cones and yummy fruit!

Jennifer - Those are weird colors for easter eggs! We still haven’t done ours. 🙂 We will…eventually.
My favorite part of the summer is not having homework and school. My girls still do dance but that is twice a week only. I love the freedom and lack of a schedule!

Donna - No homework!

mandy friend - my favorite part of summer? going to the Rogue River, rafting, otterpops by the dozens, our cabin, campingi could go on…i’ve never won a darn thing-PLEASE:)

Pippa - The best part of summer for me is, this may sound crazy, but it’s not having to worry about homework, don’t have to make lunch, don’t have to get my daughter to school – I always feel such a relief – like a vacation. Of course, love love love going to the beach too!!!!

lynette - The best part of summer is getting to just “be” with my kids. Not having to do school or anything that we really do not want to. The best part of this summer will be meeting our fourth baby girl.

Wendy - The kids being off school & the warm weather

Janet Biernacki - warm sunshine, flower bed and pots full, easier days.

Talia - Oh, so many things…strawberries, farm stands, trips to the farmers market, impromptu wine parties on the porch w/neighbors, the easy attitude and spirit of summer. All of it is just blissful!

Elizabeth - The best part of my summer..is taking off the nail polish from the summer before..off my toenails and putting on a new color!!!! How bad is that??????

Hayley - The best part of my summer is usually making roadtrips to visit family, especially to Oregon. But this year, the best part will be moving back home from a year abroad in Germany…I’m so excited to see my family and friends!!!

Kerry - The best part of my summer is wearing flip flops and painting my toes bright, happy colours 🙂

tam - honestly, (this sounds horrible) but the best part of summer is no homework for the kids! Do you ever get tired of dealing with the homework battles?

Jena - The best part of my summer is having my two girls (9 & 6) with me, all day long, every day! It doesn’t matter if we are going somewhere fun or staying home in pjs all day. I love and cherish every moment I spend with them! Thanks for the chance to win! selphishgirl@aol.com

Katie - best part of summer: parks and picnics, relaxed days, being together as a family!

Sy, Shaunna & The Boys - eating all of our meals outside on the patio, staying up late, and movies played outside on the side of the house. summer is heaven around here!

Sy, Shaunna & The Boys - eating all of our meals outside on the patio, staying up late, and movies played outside on the side of the house. summer is heaven around here!

Aimee - The best part of summer is the road trips. I LOVE road trips and we usually take at least one big or small road trip. Getting to sleep in is a close second though and this year the best part will probably be the pool we are planning to get.

Vicki - Okay…are you ready…this is earth shattering stuff. The best part of summer is when my hot mocha….becomes an iced mocha. That’s right. It isn’t the fresh veggies from the garden, or the kids playing in the sprinkler, warm nights sleeping with the windows open. Nope. It’s all about the COFFEE!

Danielle H. - The best part of summer is vacation with family, late summer nights grilling and eating smores, and no rushing around trying to get here and there by a certain time!

Lisa - What is there NOT to like about summer? I love having my kids home (but so ready for them to go back to school by the end). I love being outside at the river and watching my kids run and play. I love camping. I love being tan. I love having no set schedule. I love swimming. I love having outside BBQ’s. Oh I could go on and on! 🙂

ajdked - No school for the kids, eating on the patio, water balloons, ice cream, strawberry shortcake, flip flops, shorts, cooking on the grill, etc. I LOVE SUMMER, it’s my favorite season!

Julie - The best part(s) sleeping in, enjoying the sunshine, watching my garden grow and more time with my son.

Sarah - The part of summer we most look forward to is heading out to WA State for a few weeks to spend time with my husband’s family. They live on the sound with views of Mt. Rainier…we are on the beach constantly and catch up on a years worth of happenings…wonderful memories that seem like a fairy tale to this midwestern girl!

Marla S. - Lazy days filled with tan skin, bare feet, sno cones, good books, Sonic drinks, watermelon, and riding around in the mom van with the windows down and the music blaring!

Tiffany - my favorite part of summer is longer days. luv them. luv the sunlight and how it makes me happier.

Heidi Bohrer - No homework!!

Jess - I love summer…love being in the sunshine, love gardening, and love backyard bbqs! 🙂

Jennifer - that’s easy…flip flops and watermelon!

Kim - I can’t wait for summer to be here! Fun with the kids, exploring a city still new to us, walks, bike rides, parks, a trip to the cottage, chickens….yep! I think we’re getting a couple of chickens in our very tiny backyard….oh and letting the kids decorate their tree house that really isn’t in a tree…

kathleen - the pool, the pool, the pool!! I have a large family like you, and there is nothing better than spending the day at the pool having fun, then coming home to a light yummy dinner (no baths cause goodness you got clean in the pool, right?), everyone’s sunkissed and happily tired. It’s the pool, definitely. I can’t wait!

Jenn Shock - The best part of this coming summer is trying to make baby #2 😉 And this is my last summer break as a college student! I’ll have my degree in Art Education by the end of the year! Woo!

Teresa - The best part about summer is getting up early on a Saturday morning, making a cup of coffee and going to the farmers market to buy local, fresh produce and flowers.

Karen R. - The best part of summer for me is hands down having my kids home and with me every day. I cherish the endless days of time with them and start really longing for that about this time every year!

colleen - The BEACH! We get to go for at least 2 separate weeks! I have to add: farmers market tomatoes, peaches and corn; picking blueberries right off of my bush for breakfast, sunkissed noses on my husband and kids, lemonade stands, smores over the firepit, lots of friends over for dinner, the smell after rain on a hot summer’s day…. it is my FAVORITE season!

Tere - being off work for a good chunk of time, planning our “to do” list with the kids and sleeping in, even if it’s not on the list…..can’t wait to see the magazine

Leigh - home grown tomatoes

Heather R. - Got my “Summer” coming…can’t wait to see it, either. Our girls dyed the eggs at the table inside. Blue got knocked over a couple times. But we are done for a year, too. 🙂 We had Easter ham/hard boiled egg salad…yum!

Jen - BEING TAN! Cook outs, being outside & I get to take high schoolers away to hear all about their Creator! Nothing better. I LOVE SUMMER!

Jodi @ The Un-Soccermom Blog - the best part of summer are lazy saturdays, hanging out by the pool, talking w/ my daughter about her week, about what’s to come, and now more than ever, her future. :o)

Mallory - The best part of summer are the entire days spent at the beach. Oh, and all that delicious summer food!

Ashley Crenshaw - Summer rocks! I love being able to throw my child outside, turn on the sprinklers, sip fresh lemonade, camping in the backyard(!!!), BBQ’s… man if only I could tan. I love summer!

Kristi - I love sitting on my patio and soaking up the sun!

april - The best part of summer is the trips to the beach with my kids…I cant wait!!!
april
xoxo

April - I love taking my kids to the beach. They have such a blast and it creates great summer memories. 🙂

Amber - Warm breezes, slower schedules, soaking in all the warm sunshine, fresh vegetables from the garden and our first big family road trip….to Wisconsin.

erin j - Limeades during Sonic’s happy hour. I’m miles upon miles from a Sonic though so I’m going to have to figure something else out for this year.

Whitney Benson - my hubby is a teacher so the best part is having him home to help w/ our 3 kids!

Michelle - love afternoons by the pool w/ my family to cool off from the hot houston summer.

Katy Stone - sno cones. and homemade ice cream. and swimming until the sun goes down. most of all, doing all of those things w/ the ones you love! 🙂

Melissa Morrill - popsicles on the front porch in the evenings……yum.

Lisa - Is SUNSHINE!!! We have been so beaten with rain and storms, that sunshine is all I can think about! And lots of fun times outside with friends and family! 🙂

Sara W - Afternoons sitting by the pool while my boys swim,family walks in the evening and fresh garden produce.

Jill jackson - Being able to sleep in.

BriBedell - The part of my summer are my teo little ladies birthdays! Ya, planning some big stuff for them already 🙂

mimi b. - lazy mornings, coffee on the porch, my babies sleeping in, scary movie night-EVERY NIGHT YAH!, all the doors open and kids playing ball in the street, laughter wafting in from outside and millions of water balloons popped all over the drive-way and yard. Oh yeah, and sticky popsicles….I can’t wait to have my kids home again ( of course by July, I will be counting the days until school starts ; )

Katie P. - This summer, it will be spending the longer days with my little girl. She will be 1 yr. old in June. She is AHHHH-mazing!! I love being in the yard and weeding- anything. I love all of it really!!

Jessi - Lots of family/pool/beach/ice cream time!

Melissa - Shut the front door!!!!! I won?!?!?! Woo-hoo!!!!! I’m super excited!!!!!
My favorite part of summer is watermelon and hours spent by the pool. Sun-kissed cheeks and flip-flops. Ok, now I’m praying for summer!!

Miss Emily - The best part of summer is melons, pineapple, blueberries, strawberrys, particularly watermelons. giving me shivers now though, here is aus we’re heading back to winter 🙁

stephanie - Sitting on our porch. Watching kids play. Cookouts. VBS. Way too many things to pick just one. : )

Shawna - Best part of summer…kids are more relaxed, no homework!

Krista W. - The very best part of summer is how free we can be! WE have been known to go swimming way past bedtime, or jump in the car for an unexpected vacation, friends dropping by and being able to stay to the wee hours of the night because no one has to go to school in the morning! OR maybe just sleeping in and waking up to a sun kissed house! 🙂
~We LOVE SUMMER~

Michelle - Lazy days and garage sales 🙂

carolyn - warm sunshine! xo

Four Flights - not having to wake up to an alarm clock! and mint lemonade

Tegan M. - Best part of summer is having so much daylight still left when I finally leave work in the evenings. 🙂

Jessica Shibley - I live at a camp and I love it all! Camping, canoeing, crafts…. 🙂

Kelly - As a teacher I used to love the freedom of no schedules that summer brought. Now as a stay at home mama I am looking forward to this summer of moving into our first house and watching my baby boy learn to walk and explore and be able to play in our yard and grilling out in the evenings and enjoying our new sunroom (& I’m hoping to get a hammock!) Kelly

Cori - Lazy hot days where the kids are in and out of the pool all day. I have a book to read and dinner is made at the grill w/ paper everything.Ending w/toasted marshmellows and a hunt for lightning bugs. It doesn’t happen like this all the time but when it does it so good.

Shar - the best part of this summer will be a visit from my daughter and 2 grandsons from Tennessee. They didn’t get to come last year. We will spend fun times at the beach, etc. And, I get to see both of my children together. a rare occurence for us.
And, i really love that the traffic is lighter for driving to work each day. i know, boring, but time is precious!

Jenny Joy - The best part of summer is a warm, lazy evening catching fireflies in a mason jar… and then promptly releasing them all at once so the air is filled with sparkly lights. I <3 summer!

happygirl - Best part of summer – NO SCHOOL. I work at a college and there are NO STUDENTS around to use the gym equipment, pool, live in the dorm rooms over my office, take my parking spot illegally. I LOVE SUMMER!!

Stacy - I love having my son home from school. Lazy summer days, homemade ice cream, fire works, grilling, sorry but I could go on and on. This summer we will be adding to our family so that will be very exciting. Our little girl is due in August.

debbie - No schedules, zinnias and flip-flops!

Rebecca - Meg- There is a recipe I LOVE that calls for hard boiled eggs (only 2 but hey, it’s a start!) it’s Paula Dean’s chicken pot pie recipe
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/hurry-up-chicken-pot-pie-recipe/index.html
I think your family would love it, since we love all your recipes so much!!!!
Have a great day!
Love you to pieces!
Rebecca

Debbie Smallie - Everything! My husband and I are both home all summer with our four kids and we are schedule free!

elma - The best part of summer is spending time with my sweet babies and just taking it easy and no rushing:) I just love staying home and enjoying life with the littles:)

julie - Today, as I am home with a sick kid, I am longing for warmer days to throw all the windows open and let the fresh summer breeze blow all the stinky germs away. Unless, of course, the wind is blowing just right….err, wrong….and the stank of the pig farm down the road fills my home. Then, I would have to say burying my head in my vintage floral sheets freshly dried in the sunshine. Mmmmmm!

mel - this year the best part of my summer will be when we go to the coast with my husband’s family. his parents rented a beach house for the week in south padre. can’t wait to play in the water, relax on the beach and collect sea shells!

Tammy - enjoying schedule free days! with 4 kids, those are hard to come by during the year!

FeFe - The best part of summer is the fact that me kids are home everyday! We’re free from the bondage of the school schedule!!!

Betsy - No schedule! Lazy days or adventurous days depending only on our morning mood.

Amber P - I live in northeast Ohio where we have on average 52 sunny days a year, so the best thing about summer for me is SUNSHINE! And I love summer clothes and gardening!

Liz @ Perfect Chaos - The best part of summer is sleeping in and not having a schedule. Love it!

Dana @ Bungalow'56 - Best part of summer? Sangria : )
Dana

Alisa - Since I am a teacher, it is definitely the “NO SCHOOL” factor!

Bernice - The best part of my summer? Lazy summer days when all my stresses and worries can just blow away in the warm breeze.

Shanda - It’s been a long winter in Wisconsin. My favorite part of the summer is flip flops. No more coats, snow pants, boots, hats and mittens.

Jennifer O'Steen - I didn’t realize until after a very long winter what my favorite part of summer is. i absolutely LOVE when everything outside around me is green! Green trees mean cookouts, pool time, fireflies, and happy people 🙂

Erin - Getting to spend 3 months with my girls. No work, all play!

alyssa - flowers, grilling, being outside, fruit salad, flip flops!

sarah - best part of summer is being outside, naps in the shade, riding my bright orange vespa, and fun trips!!

Katie g - Grilling out, going to the park with the kids, and taking walks after dinner!

Stephanie - I am a teacher, so the best part of summer for me is that I am home and on vacation with my kids all summer! I am genuinely as excited as they are to be home and have them home! No schedules, no stress just relaxed family time:)

Hannah DeVries - A break from teaching! 🙂

Sharla - Oh wow, the pictures look amazing. My favorite part of summer is heading to the pool with the family when I get off of work!

jill - The best part of summer is having my husband home with the boys and I. Two whole months of FAMILY!

Jennifer - Long days are the best part of my summer. More time to spend outside playing with my dirty, sweaty kids! 🙂

Lydia - The best part of summer is spending all day in a canoe with my very “tan-able” husband while I slather on the whole bottle of sunblock to keep from looking like a lobster!! 🙂

Nichole R - I love the lazy summer days with my kids!
Lunch on the grass, bike riding, water balloons, Popsicles!
Ahhh! I can’t wait for the sunshine!! Bring it on!!

Megan - Just the possibility to do something or nothing…..and eating breakfast on the back patio before the kids wake up, just me and the sounds of the neighborhood.

jessica guidi - The Swarms of Dragonfly fluttering above our pool, the fire pit making smores with the kids both young and old,old time amusement park at the boardwalk, and free summer movies outside at the lake. Water balloon fights, surfing, sleeping in, staying up late, drive in movies, Britt’s Doughnuts and letting my girls enjoy having a true childhood.

MaryLea @ pink and green mama - Holy Cow!!! That’s awesome Meg — you’re a decorating rock star and I always make my hubby look at cute pictures of your house (on your blog, don’t worry, we’re not stalking you….yet!)
Summer plans = gardening, hammock time, playing with the girls outside, three weddings, and a much anticipated trip to the beach the last week of summer.

Allison - The best part of my summer is always getting outside, whether I’m hiking, gardening, or just lying around. I love the hot weather, especially now that I’ve moved to Colorado and it’s hot and dry.

Lindsey@ Piecefully Home - um, that’s hard. i don’t like summer. (y’all can stop throwing your flip flops and beach towels at me) the mosquitoes are brutal, the humidity and 100+ heat is a killer, the worry of copperheads where we live intensifies. we do year round schools so my kids are in school during the summer. so i guess the best part of summer is knowing fall is around the corner. 🙂 but i still really would love to win the magazine!

Sarah Osborn - I love spending more time as a family…going to the pool with my kids, more time in the evening to do family things, vacation…..

Maria - After all the rain we’ve had…it will be spending many hours just enjoying the SUN!

Whitney S - Sunshine, lazy weekends and a general feeling of being relaxed. Oh- and my favorite- swimming! (Plus my wedding is this summer, so even more to be excited about!)

Trista - No homework, and family time outside in the evening almost every night.

rkokes - grilling out and playing with the kids outside!

Ann Griffin - The best part about summer is spending all day outside with my 2 year old – blowing bubbles, swimming, taking naps in the hammock

ashley jensen - Grilling out and eating on our back porch, half naked toddler running through the sprinkler, teaching our daughter how to swim in the river, Big Splash (water park), laying on a blanket in our back yard just hanging out.

Jessica - The best part for me is being able to relax on the back porch reading a book, walking barefoot in the grass, and my husband grilling!

Kate - Homemade salsa! (Just one of the many things I love about my favorite season)

Jules - Aww..that’s a hard one…I love summer…would have to say the no-schedule-ness and the warmth of the SUN! and flowers! And flip flops…corn on the cob! my patio! camping!

Sandy - Being outside in the beautiful sunshine!

Tracy - Staying up late!

Janelle - Oh…would love a copy. I actually love my boys baseball games…sitting on the sidelines with my little girls…having drinks and snacks…and then bringing them all home dirty and tired and getting them smelling good before reading books and going to bed 🙂

Lee Ann - The best part is LESS rain and MORE sunshine here in the PNW. We’re so tired of rain!
And I wondered if you could die brown eggs. I haven’t bought eggs in 9 months because we have chickens – which lay all brown eggs. So I bought white ones to die 🙂

JulianneB - Sleeping in and the taking naps by the pool and then everyone falling asleep early after swimming….notice the theme…I think I need to catch up on my rest

Christine - Back porch grilling, front porch snoozing, fresh veggies straight from the garden, and going to the beach. This year will be the first year our adopted son and our first biological son will go to the beach. I absolutely CANNOT wait!

Alissa - So many things! But most of all being outside with the kids, wearing flip flops, and hanging out on the sandbar by the river:))

Catriona - Long, warm, sunny days giving you extra energy for summer holiday fun: picnics, berry-picking, paddling in rivers, chalk pictures on the ground. And I wouldn’t say no to a glass of chilled Rosé at the end of it, either…

Anna Marie - Getting to spend time with my daughter outside in the sun! But this year the best is going to be our new baby girl joining us at the beginning of June. Yay!!!

Chaos-Jamie - Lazy evenings on the back porch….ahhhh, summer….

Julie K - The best part of our summer? Hands down the beach, camping, and no structure!! Would love to see your spread!

Necole - Best part of my summer is going to my parents house with the kids. We love getting to be on the lake?

Laura - The best part of summer is finding a place to curl up outside, with toes in the sun and a breeze to keep you cool. Cloud shapes, lightning bugs, and long days are the best.

Lindsay - Sooooo many great things I love about summer. I’ll go with spending time outdoors because many of the things I love to do are done outdoors! Thanks for the chance to win! 🙂

Christy Mandin - Grilling out in the backyard garden while the kids play in the water. It has taken over this year. But, perhaps the 44 heirloom tomato plants will provide some shade! Haha!

Trish - best part of summer… are the lazy days, and the warm breeze off of the lake.

Stephanie A. - spending time with my kids…….camping, visiting zoo’s, laying in the green grass, blowing bubbles, trips to the library, bike rides, sidewalk chalk art and the warm summer breeze 🙂

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BIG….and i don’t like it.

April 19, 2011 Filed in family fun,my goofball kids,special

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something clicked with annie this weekend.
she said "let's try my bike mom"  
i have been asking her for a year to try riding her bike….she was finally ready.
and of course she could do it almost right away.

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showing me that she is six.

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technically…..I taught her how to ride.
craig was gone with scott at basketball all day and i was home with the 3 youngest.
and i ran up and down the block.
i aired up the tires.
i fixed the seat.
but no one takes pictures of me doing that.
honestly though…..what is hotter than a man teaching his kid to ride a bike?
it is hot.
plain and simple.
mr. duerksen you are steamy.

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this bike is old.

i think it was talby's first bike.
maybe….but it does the job.
the training wheels came off and it was time to go!

she kept falling and was getting frustrated.

she whined tearfully  "I KEEP MESSING UP!"  

and i said "well….maybe it's because it's your first day and you aren't quite awesome yet ok?"

to which she shouted at me very loudly "I AM AWESOME!!!"

i giggled and said "ok! then go be it!  don't waste your time whining about falling!"
so funny.
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by day two she was a pro.
she wore her soccer shin guards under her pants to feel safe.
there is a parking lot a block away and we spent a lot of time there this weekend….riding in circles.
and only one bike wreck.  :)

we went to the store for helmets and then annie found the bell.

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i think of "the family man" every time i hear it.  (that's my bell.  she took my bell.)

sean is so silly.
we tried to make him laugh and he made his OWN joke and cracked up at that instead.

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while at the store i let talby pick out a bike.
hers got stolen last year and she has never asked for us to buy her another one.
she is sweet like that….she knows they are expensive and didn't want to ask.
so i said "which one do you want babe?"  
i liked her choice…pink bike but a not-too-girly dirt bike….she was thrilled.

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i could kiss that face forever.

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and they all think it's just fine to grow up and be big.
BOO.

it's not.
their mom misses her babies.
their mom liked when they fit on the back of her bike.
their mom liked the tiny bike helmets with dora or dinosaurs.

doesn't anybody care about the mom????

i miss that stuff.

but.….this new stuff is pretty good too.
in the kind of way that makes you want to bawl your eyes out.

time is a mean…..thing.          

(i almost said a bad word there)

add a comment

Carol S - Sweet post Meg. A real milestone…the last one riding a bike. We’ve got no choice but to roll with this! Mine are 12 and almost 17 and I’m loving every stage. Looking at colleges with my high school junior, which is exciting and bittersweet, but if we do it right, they grow up good and ready to leave us and be independent. I can handle this concept now, with the leaving part over a year away. Not sure how I’ll feel a year from now when it is a “year of lasts”. Gotta believe we can do this! Happy Easter!

Crystal - Oh Meg, Meg, Meg. You know what I love about you? You get it. You get how AWFUL (yet wonderful) it is to watch your kids get bigger. It Breaks.My.Heart. Birthdays kill me. They make me sad. Pictures of my little girls when they were babies make me so sad. Why is it so heartbreaking? Most people I know don’t go through this. I truly try to hang on as hard as I can but just can’t make the time stop. 🙁

cam - 2 things.
1) I dig the shin guards. Always good protection when learning to pedal a bike. Last thing you need is the pedals smashing your shins.
(Presumably this was taken either before/after soccer, but y’know… )
2) The Basket kicks ass… what better way to carry mom & dad’s beers while you bike around the neighborhood?!

mel @ the larson lingo - I love that she wore her soccer shinguards to feel safe!!! That is AWESOME!!

Karen - The important thing is that you are realizing it Meg. You aren’t one who looks back and never took it in, in the first place. Then when your children are grown, and you are getting tired, and the grandchildren come along—there are no regrets. Just satisfaction that you did your best. YOU are awesome too!

Lanny - our little Annie …

Jennifer - My girls had that bike too! And I think I have the same bike that Talby just bought (I’m short so I got a kids). I have a lovely picture of my husband running down the street with our youngest teaching her how to ride a bike….with a beer in his hand. Haaaaaaaaaay baybeeeeeeeeeeeee. We’re classy like that.

Sarah - I love how happy your kids are. One day they will look back and remember all of the fun/normal/everyday things you do. This is a good reminder to enjoy the day-to-days time and make the most of ii because another stage is just around the corner.

Savvy - This post made me teary eyed….my lil man is 4 going on 24 I swear.
Having only one has made me more aware of time.
Love your post and pics. Thanks

kari - love this, meg.
and the shin guards…absolutely classic!

Kristin S - She looks SO happy in the pic with Craig. Nothing like a daddy and his girl. I’ll refrain from commenting on your comments in that section! 🙂 I love how you love your man.

Terrie - Okay…I started my morning reading this post…made me cry. My ‘baby’ turned 20—TWENTY! I thought about that…and cried again. So glad no one was home to see that! I feel your pain!
Just checked out the doodle eggs…you will be great at that! Did you check out her watercolor eggs post? Fabulous! I think I’ll head out and buy some watercolor pencils tomorrow! 🙂

Tracie K - Darn you! You made me cry 🙂

Dawn Eshnaur - I agree about wanting to say bad words! My 6’5″ “Baby” is about to graduate! Where did all my boys go? I have been crying every time I turn around these days. How could they all be grown? So very sad……:(

jennibell - Great! I actually liked it once my kids all got big enough to ride their bikes. . .and take out the trash. . .and take their own showers. But every stage is special. I see Annie’s tooth is already growing in — wow! It was *really* ready to come out!!! Hope the weather stays nice so you can have more days on bikes 🙂

AshleyAnn - The Littlest Pet Shop helmet with the front tooth barely poking out…priceless. That is a picture you will do nothing but smile at in the future. Sweet nature that Talby has…

carissa... brown eyed fox - it IS all about the bell ya know! :O)
i had a moment with riley this week too!!!!!!!!
those moments sneak up us… the tough/crazy part… it’s because they are growing up!
all too fast!
all good but…
make it stop! :O)
i love their smiles… yall all have the best smiles!

Staci - Agree…time can be mean…buttt, I try to think of new great things we’ll encounter….and then, having alllll the time you want for Mr. Steamy 🙂 But yes, I do love this time….which reminds me to get the bike back out and have my little guy give it a try 😀 Annnnd, I’m just wondering how many people are going to ask you about that house next door for sale….heeeheee….you know everyone wants to be your neighbor 😉

Lolli - I agree, my husband too…. so hot while teaching our son to ride. I coulda watched that all night. 🙂 Wanna see a picture?

mkpoggie - 1: Totally agree on the hotness of dads. Our daughter is still in utero, but my husband, who is tired of the stereotype that girls aren’t good at math, is already super excited to teach her to love it. I imagine this will make my heart explode.
2: Anybody else want to know Sean’s joke? I do.
3: People that steal bikes make me want to cry. Especially when the victim is a sweet little girl.

Tracy Fisher - oh yeah.. forgot to tell you my bike story…
Brooke took a month of scardy cat screams on “grass only” to learn to ride a bike as I exhaustingly watched and tried to help. Mason learned to ride in 30 minutes when I was at the grocery store because Greg offered him $20 cash if he could ride without training wheels before mom got home! haha
Tracy

Tracy Fisher - I have tears in my eyes. I get it!
Meg, I have a Father’s Day gift idea for you (if you are interrested). I posted the story of “I Love You” frames on my blog. It made me think of Craig when I went to your blog today.
Happy Tuesday… hope it’s sunny so you can all go ride your bikes.
Tracy (www.tfisherart.com)

April M - “I AM AWESOME!”
and I’m going to quit whining about the stumbles 🙂
thanks for that!

Courtney Walsh - wooohooo! Go Annie! 🙂
Ethan was six before he was ready to ride alone…now we just tackled the big bike (it’s a size bigger than the one he learned to ride on) and seriously he was ecstatic. It never gets old, does it? Watching them do something new!? 🙂

Erin - love this whole family! i think you should take another michigan vacation so that the michigan meg fans can have a big party!

se7en - You have the cutest kids… really, enjoy every second of them!!!

Alisa - Gretchen you are so right about the taking off the pedals thing – that way kids really learn to balance first and then pedal. We live in Germany and here most kids have a no-pedal bike made from wood when they are 2 – and then ride bikes at the age of 3-4. It is also common here to never ever even have training wheels – they are considered dangerous on curbs and they keep kids from balancing on their own. Kids also tend to be more fearless at 3. At the age of 6 they are more afraid and falls off of bikes are from a higher distance. Of course then you end up having lots of different sized bikes by the time kids grow up. But we ride a lot here and a bike is cheap compared to the price of gas!

Amber - I love everything about this post EXCEPT that the two older kids are not wearing helmets Yikes!!

Jennifer Evans - must be something in the air- my six year old learned to ride her bike without training wheels this week also! I know how you feel- breaks a mama’s heart!

Julia - I walked past the baby section at Target this morning and got all sad. Then I slapped myself upside the head and went to the beach…alone.

Laura Phelps - dang it
ok
I changed my profile back
it is me

Laura Phelps who should go to bed and not be reading blogs this late at night - Craig IS hot
and the bell in The Family Man…oh man, I cry thinking about it
my favorite movie
and I am with you on the BIG
not a fan
I have been stalking babies
Jack looked at me at the mall today..I was playing peek a boo with a baby
he rolled his eyes, and said, “come on Mom…”
we went to GAME STOP
no babies there
but BIG is OK I guess
I know
Let’s have margaritas to make ourselves feel better….

Jen G - I love how much you love your husband!:) And you are so right, nothing is hotter than your husband spending time and teaching your kids how to do something! I also loved the “I AM AWESOME” quote from Annie – I think I may use that when my children are mad at me about something or don’t like what I make for dinner.

julie - awww your post made ME want to bawl my eyes out! my youngest is 8 (almost 9!) months old. i know that sounds really young, but it’s not. she’s growing so fast. i tell her every day to stay little, but she just doesn’t listen. she’s stubborn, like all three of her big brothers. and her dad, too. i refuse to say i’m stubborn. ha!

Gretchen - Love it, Meg! My daughter just learned to ride sans training wheels too! And get this — it was in less than two total hours (spread over two days). I asked another mom how her little one (maybe 3?) was already zooming around on a bike with no training wheels and she shared with me the most amazing secret — and I have NO IDEA why it’s still a secret! (And incidentally, she learned it by asking someone she saw at the park.)
So I’m officially spreading the word here:
Take off the training wheels (yeah, a no brainer) AND take off the pedals. Yep. I said pedals.
Have them sit on the seat, make sure their feet touch the ground enough that they can push off the ground with their feet. Then lift the feet into the air and coast. Small coasts at first, but they get longer and longer. They learn to balance soooo much faster this way. I guess they’re not distracted with balance and pedaling. I dunno. Anyway, we found a spot at a park with a slight decline (nothing crazy at all) and then when she pushed with her feet she coasted a good long while! Her face lit up. It was like we were sledding — she just kept wanting to go back to that incline. Push the bike up, ride it down.
The pedals were back on that evening when we got home and …. she took off. Un-friggin-believable!
I remember all that dad time running alongside me as a kid, too.
I know what you mean — it’s bittersweet. So sad to see her not need the training wheels. But so huge to see her have her “girl power” — I’m guessing that’s her version of your “I am awesome!”
You go girls!
(And seriously folks. Try it. Take the pedals off. Make it a push bike. Takes less than a day. The balance clicks. Put the pedals on and off they go.)
Then you can sob. 😉

Sarah - Oh say the bad word…I think the same thing!!!

Lisa - Love this post! My youngest is 2 but is already so independent. I have baby fever. But I try to focus on the positives of my kids getting bigger… like no diapers, no toddler to keep busy while trying to watch my older kids activities, vacations being easier (they do get easier right?!) etc. its hard having them grow up for sure. btw I love that you let your kids dress themselves. I sometimes feel like I’m the only one whose kids are mismatched and not perfectly dressed! 🙂

danielle - go annie!
i love all these pictures.
come to new york and you can have a baby fix.
seriously. come to new york.

Necole - My almost three year old just let me know she was ready for school. This means I will not have any of my babies home two days a week. My seven year old already wants “to be left alone” so she can relax in her room. What is that?

elisa - Ha- Cole did the same thing while learning to ride- shin guards, roller-blade pads, etc. SO funny.

kat - Sweetness! This post totally made me tear up. It’s amazing how fast they grow up!!!

alaina - Dangit Meg….you made me cry!! The comment that dropped me was “I could kiss that face forever”. I have 3 of those faces, one who is 10, and he still lets me sort of, and 2 who are in college. Life is awesome at this stage and I am so proud of the godly men they are and are becoming, but I can barely look at those photos from their childhood without getting that “I miss you so much” feeling in the pit of my stomach. I remember telling my husband on their graduation day, could I have just 1 day back in time to hug and kiss and snuggle my baby boys? It goes quickly…but it is all good. Off to grab another box kleenex – thanks Meg!

Michelle B - I have a six year old that we need to work with getting those training wheels off – can you drive to Iowa to teach him? Because you do a great job! And here you are sad your babies are growing and I am knee deep in sleepless nights and dirty diapers and maybe wishing to get past this stage. I was just crying to my mom last night that how hard it is with a 6 year old, 4 year old and 8 month old..in which she reminded me that it is tough…but I will miss it. someday I will miss it. I guess I will. But sleeping all night and riding bikes sounds good too. 🙂

Andrea - Oh, and I also LOVE how much you are still in love with your husband and are not afraid to tell everyone how sexy you think he is! I love a man in a t-shirt and ballcap. Good thing – that is about all my husband wears when he is not in his firefighter uniform (talk about looking HOT!).

mandy friend - love your girl’s confidense. my daughter taught herself to ride a 2 wheeler…i felt like a totally crappy mom for not doing it. she just ran iun one day and said”mom, aiden took off my training wheels and i’m riding my bike”

purejoy - pretty sure your daughter gets her awesomeness from you. and yes, your hubs is hawt.
with a 19 {almost 20-year-old} and one that’s 21… my “babying” days are far behind. but not my mothering days. thank goodness. celebrating all their accomplishments… it’s a great thing. even getting big. hugs, mom!

Andrea - I love that my youngest, also 6, still wants me to cuddle with him every day after kindergarten. I remember pushing my oldest to walk, talk and do things – excited for each new step. Now I just hold on, hold on, hold on. I squeeze my little boy each night and tell him he is not allowed to get any bigger – he just giggles at me and says “you can’t stop it!” 😉

tara pollard pakosta - awwwww I hate that they have to grow up!
My daughter just learned how to ride a 2 -wheeler last year, at almost 9 years old! I was fine with that though!
hugs mama!
xoxo
tara

heather - my baby turns 7 today.
7!!! how in the world did that even happen?
time IS a mean, mean…thing. 😉

Ashlyn - I am with you. I have loved every age and stage they have been…but ooooohhh it is hard to watch my babies grow up.
I had one home sick yesterday, so I got to do some babying…which I love!
Great pictures!
Ashlyn

leonieke - yeah,.sure. new things are good too. But I so understand your feelings about the time they were babys! those little shoes, little clothes, all the hugs in the world, and especially the thing that they think there mother knows everything.

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - So cute! I really like Talbys bike : )
Gemma x

Shannon - Everytime I read one of your posts you make me want to have another baby! Everybody keeps telling me I can’t just have more and more because I want babies and I don’t get why they have to grow up then!!! Sorry all your kids are getting big, it really isn’t fair at all 🙁

Daniele Valois - I love how you always talk about your husband being so hot! It’s so fun, and lovey! I do it too, and embarrass people, and my kids!

robin - The look of glee on Annie’s face in the pic with Craig is priceless. It brought a tear, thinking about how all of our kids are growing up.

Judy @Considering the Options - Time does go by so quickly! Our boys are 13, 15, and 17 and I feel like life is a NASCAR race. New phases coming at me at break-neck speeds. And I’m busy trying to capture the moments – if not with my camera, at least in my heart. Savoring every moment!
Thanks for sharing and reminding us to enjoy life!

Darcy - I agree, Meg. My youngest is turning 7 today and I am so sad. (happy for him, but sad for me).

Kim - Love “I AM AWESOME!!!” and your comeback “ok! then go be it! don’t waste your time whining about falling!”
My youngest will soon be eight. He is cool and querky and says the most amazing, funny things. I want to freeze this part of his life.

Katrina - Time IS a meanie. I totally agree. My oldest will be 13 in two short short months. I keep thinking about your oldest hiding from the camera. I don’t want my baby hiding too. We do have some amazing kids though. We just need to try to grab some of those little moments (like teaching the little one to ride a bike) and hold them tight inside. Best wishes.

Tiffany - Mr Duerksen you are steamy, crack me up! He def has the whole shoulder thing going on, in a your husband is kinda hunky kinda way. Kudos to you too Mom, you hit the nail on the head, with no one takes pictures of me doing that…But they do, in their heads and they will remember in their hearts. Holla!

alyssa - time is a mean thing. they get so big so fast.

Jessi - “and honestly what is hotter than a man teaching his kid to ride a bike?”
I can’t wait for this in my family 🙂

Kimberly Dial - I agree … ‘time is mean’ …. I remember when my boys learned to ride .. yeah, back when they were boys & not men (31 and 28 sniff, sniff)… your children are adorable … enjoy!

Kimberly Dial - I agree … ‘time is mean’ …. I remember when my boys learned to ride .. yeah, back when they were boys & not men (31 and 28 sniff, sniff)… your children are adorable … enjoy!

JulianneB - Such fun memories. I taught both our boys, now 18 and 15 how to ride bikes. We didn’t have sidewalks on our street so it took a while. Naomi, our seven year old, basically taught herself. Over a year ago, she came in and asked for us to take her training wheels off. We did and warned her that it might take awhile to get the hang of it…it didn’t she went right out and rode by herself. The next day our neighbor girl, same age, saw Naomi riding and asked her Dad to take her training wheels off and same thing happened. From then on they have ruled the sidewalks of the ‘hood with their bikes.

Emily - I just love your blog! It’s the first thing I look at every morning and it makes me smile everytime 🙂 Thank you for doing what you do!!

sarah - I HATE that time passes so quickly.
Kenzie has been riding her tricycle, I will probably cry when she gets a big girl bike.
A man being a Father is so hot. 🙂
Kenzie saw the close up picture of Annie with her helmet on, and said “She’s pretty!”

Stephanie - Have you seen the hysterical bike helmets at Target? So darn funny! Shaped like different animals with ears and things sticking up from the top. I want one!

brooke - meg- i have two babies…16 months and 20 months thanks to the joy of adoption. anyway…it’s been a hard couple days with two tantrum throwing teethers. thanks for the encouragement to enjoy this stage…even though it’s tough.
your little girl is too much fun! and yes, she is AWESOME 🙂

Alicia @ La Famille - mine are getting too big too 🙁 almost makes me want to have another…almost 🙂

Jodi @ The Un-Soccermom Blog - super, super sweet. :o)

Zizette - We need to take the training wheels off my baby’s bike as well. I agree boo to growing up too.
Zizette

Sarah@this farm family's life - Cute. We are trying to teach our 5 yr. old how to ride a bike and she keeps saying when she is 6 she will do it without training wheels, but not right now. Maybe she is right….

melissa rice - Amen. I once heard at a conference the speaker said “men if you want to turn on your wives, play with their kids”!!! so true.
It goes by so fast… I wish they came with a pause button

happygirl - I can’t even remember when I didn’t want my son to grow up. I love hearing it from you. I enjoy your blog so much. I love hearing how your children are breaking into each new stage of life. Love it.

Ryanne - Good post. I try to remember the “growing up” part and time whenever I am frustrated with 3 under five. Thank you for the reminder and perspective.

Tess S - “I AM AWESOME” this will be my quote for the day. The Family Man is one of my all time top fav movies. (Maybe not all-time…)

Chaos-Jamie - I feel ya, Megs. Baby fever like you would not believe over here.

Rebecca - They DEFINITELY shouldn’t be allowed to grow up. I LOVE the movie Family Man! Nicholas Cage is so good! I love the little girl with a lisp, knowing it’s not her daddy when he’s changing the diaper and then knowing he’s “come back” at the end!!! Genius!
Have a great Tuesday! XOXO

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - This spring will be my latest attempt to get my SEVEN year old on her brand new bike. She hated it last year. We had taken her to a big open parking lot to teach her in a wide open space and she had a really bad fall. Maybe if I wrap her up in bubble wrap she’ll feel more safe. Ya think?:)
Love the pics. They document this step of her life so well. And I totally know whatcha mean about babies growing up. Mine will be off to 1st grade in the fall and I cry every time I think about it.
You always hear “treasure these moments. They’ll be gone all too soon.” but you dont believe it until you’re THERE and by then its too late.
Have a great day!
XO,
Sarah

Dianne - She looks SO MUCH like Talby in that first picture! She is getting big! My oldest will be in kindergarten next year…and quite frankly…I’m in denial 😉

Sandy - I still have the cute little bubble (looking) helmet my son wore as he rode on the back of my bike 14 years ago. So sad…he’s 17 1/2 and over 6′ tall now. In some ways that’s not a bad thing, but I sure miss my babies too!
So sweet of you to surprise Talby with a new bike! I’m sure she was thrilled.

Heather R. - Cute. My hubby taught our girls to ride. He was so proud of himself. 🙂 I love the one tooth missin’ and the shin guard idea…sweet.

Ana M - You are truly and deeply AMAZING and AWESOME !!! I love to read your posts… Always funny and full of truth in every word… Tomorrow my youngest will turn 7 !!! She is the last child of the family and I’m already missing these days of childhood and innocence…bummer…but life goes on…We must cherish every single moment of theis lifes and enjoy just being with them…
Love

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craft weekend.

February 1, 2011 Filed in antiques,awesome bloggers,crafts & art,etsy goodness,special,things i love

lots and lots of pictures from the weekend.

three of the girls flew to kansas…two from california…one from alabama.
two of the girls drove from oklahoma.
the rest of the girls were local within 30 minutes.
three of us went to the airport to pick them all up…there were even some tears of joy upon meeting in real life. 

craig is a super star and took all of our kids to his mom's for the weekend…with the stomach flu.

all the blogger girls stayed at my house.
i have lots of beds….a little known fact apparently.
everyone had their own mattress. 
we must be mattress hoarders. 

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my dining room that turned into a game room decided to become a craft retreat lodge this weekend.
we fit in there so well!
all the sewing machines were on the pool table!
it was like the room was made for it.

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on friday night we made our first craft led by julie.
we used this tutorial by little miss momma.

they turned out so cute.
almost everyone chose a different color.
you need to make this!

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kimberlee didn't have on lipstick so we had her use her necklace for lipstick.

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lots and lots of chit chat while we were crafty.
and i see waffle's paw at the bottom left corner of this picture.
he was by our sides every minute….loving the the attention from the ladies.

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there was so much good food.
cindy made breakfast on saturday.
we got to sleep in….a requirement made by me.
don't you hate going places for a "retreat" and then have to be at breakfast by 7:30 am??

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there was even a sweet little baby in attendance!

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after cindy filled us with crepes with fresh fruit and quiche we loaded into a 15 passenger van to go antiquing.
we debated about decorating the van with bunting……

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so fun.
we are any stores DREAM.
a van pulling up with 10 women to shop???
we were met with big smiles.

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9 out of 10 ladies left with new found treasures.

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cole with his mama picking out all the best doilies.

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i took them to my favorite antique store…Bearly Makin It.
so much to choose from.
if you are in kansas….you should go.

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heather found silverware for her party planning business.
a total score!

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anyone need a milk jug???

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loving the sunshine!    

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all the ladies took turns holding sweet baby cole.
it was our pleasure.
he hardly made a peep the whole weekend. 
and everyone had envy of julie's gorgeous hair….it is soooo pretty.

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on saturday in kansas we had a really odd extremely warm day.
we were so grateful for it.

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can you guess what i bought from all these goodies?  ha ha ha

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after a sonic happy hour run we made it back to my house for more crafts.

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the ruffle pillow tutorial heather taught us with is here.

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3 women had never sewn on a machine before.
they ended up being ruffle making rock stars!
they did fantastic.
ashley's machine made the best ruffles…we all waitied for our turn on her machine.
no one knew what the secret was….but it worked….no gathering required.

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i love being around people who love technology as much as i do….

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threading a needle….

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the third craft was embroidery hoop art.
we were given lots of examples that we could make or we could make our own design.

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amy's was amazing.  

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we stayed up crafting and listening to frank sinatra on pandora and eating tiramisu until 2 in the morning.

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kimberlee made breakfast on sunday.
there was frosting involved.

YUM.
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another great thing about crafty girls weekends….women clean up.

always.

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there were cameras everywhere.
and fabric everywhere.

dreamy.
and my brass lamps from the thrift shop.  :)

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there is a peek at amy jupin's ruffle pillow.
i am in love with the ruffle pillows…i want to make a hundred of them.
and her turquoise flower necklace is also in the picture.

these were all of our hoops together…not all finished but all together.
mine is the one right 
here under these
letters.      

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trying to set up our cameras for a group shot….caught kimberlee being silly.

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                                                  jana (no blog….yet) and amy jupin.

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                                                             jess  and  julie.

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                                                                  ashley and cindy    (also no blog….YET).  
cindy came with ashley so she didn't have to drive alone and show up to a house full of women she had never met and be trapped with us if she didn't like us…
turns out we LOVED them both!
very much.

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                                                                    heather, cole and me.

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                                          amy   (my neighbor) and  kimberlee  (my cleaning partner)

and that was that.
they went home with their suitcases full of new crafts, antiques, julie's messy flowers and full tummies.

and i haven't stopped smiling since.

God gave me blogging.
He gave me a gift that i get to continue opening when i meet new friends from all over.
God is so awesome.

my mind feels full of creativity.
my heart feels full of love and friendship.
my body feels too full of cinnamon rolls and cheesecake.

the retirement center has been missing me.

my bloggy friends left just in time….we are snowed in here and it's FREEZING.
my house has never been this cold.
i am bundled up in a blanket with many layers and hot coffee and i am still frozen. 

add a comment

T.McClelland - Hi! I came across this by accident,and I am so glad I did! My friends and I have started to do craft weekends together; we have a great time! Don’t know how much crafting we actually get done……we stay in our PJ’s…sometimes put on a chick flick…eat chocolate….we take turns going to each other’s houses. It’s a nice, fun, relaxing, full of laughter good times.

Ali - I second the request on a “how to” for making a banner! I love those banner’s! They would be adorable for my daughter’s birthday!
~ Ali

Ali - So fun! I’m from TX but, I’d love to come next year! Can’t wait for sign ups for your next craft weekend!
~ Ali

Sarah from Create Studio - Wowzers! I really want to do this in my area! What a great way to refresh your creative juices with a bunch of other like-minded women! Awesome! Thanks for the inspiration!

Vitagirl64.blogspot.com - That looks like an INCREDIBLE weekend! I wanna be your friend! LOL
Those good times make life so special! I miss my group I used to do that with. Hmmmmm, maybe it’s time I create a new one. 🙂

Dominique @ Craft Couture - This is just awesome! Looks like soo much fun, I would love to do this! :)Glad you ladies had a great time! 🙂

Jami - I am in crafting envy! That looks like sooo much fun. What a blessing, God IS good!

Jennifer - Wow sounds amazing!! Found your blog through through Little Miss Mama. I have never wanted to live in Kansas till now! 🙂
Jennifer
http://alwaysinwonder.com

teresa - O~My~Goodness!
This is so AMAZING I don’t even know how to EXPRESS myself!
HEAVEN…yes…HEAVEN!
xo

jen @ tatertots and jello - Oh my goodness — that looks so fun!! I love all of those little embroidery hoop creations!!! So cute!
What an amazing weekend!!!
xoxo
Jen

Kaitlyn Bright - Would love to join from Nebraska for the next one!! FFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!! I hold a craft retreat at a local B&B here, love that you had some structure and everyone worked doing the same things. Ours is just a free for all. The hoops are my favorites!

Michelle - It looks like all of you had a fabulous time. You are all so lucky to have one another. Thank you for sharing your great time and providing links to your projects.

aubrey - I love your bunting hanging across the room. I love love love bunting, but I s-u-c-k at making it. Something goes missing between the picture in my brain and what my hands end up creating. How did you make yours?

Amanda - OH Man! I see at least five of my favorite bloggers in the same room being crafty! I have gained so much from you and looked forward to all the inspiration from your creativity!!!

Wendy - That sounds awesome. I can’t imagine a day of hanging with friends & crafting, much less a weekend! I miss having friends that live in the same town as me 🙁

Jessica @ These Are The Days - Well I was going to guess and say “if it were me I’d have gotten the globe”, but in one of those last pictures I saw the globes so I’m pretty sure I was right.
Love the necklace you gave Edie…I was coveting it the whole weekend at Blissdom. If you would tell me where I can snag one, I’d be over the moon. 🙂 Thanks, Jessica

Kristen - Absolutely dreamy. No other words….seriously.

Jessica - just discovered your blog and am so glad i did. this looks absolutely amazing! i can’t believe how well orchestrated this was. what sweet friends. can i come next time!? 😉

Dana @ Cookin' at Cafe D - Hi,
Found your blog via The Nester.
Your retreat weekend looks so joyful!
And, MAN,how I would love a milk jug – lol.
(looks like you visited some amazing stores.)
Thanks for sharing with us 🙂
Dana at Cooking at Cafe D

princess lasertron - this looks SO fun.
I want to drive down and join you.
(how far was it again??)

Kristi~The Slipcover Girl - looks like such fun! we had a craft night recently…it was a blast!

Diane @ InMyOwnStyle - This is the best idea for bloggers to get together – so much better than a big conference. Reading through your post was so enjoyable. I love the globe you got – wish I lived closer to go to that antique store.

Bonita - I’m not even crafty and I don’t know any of you (came over from Nester’s blog), but the fellowship looked like so much fun that all the way through the post I kept thinking, “I wanna go.” So glad you had such a fun time!

Amanda @ Serenity Now - I’m visiting from The Nester’s and I had to tell you what a dream this looks like! 🙂 It’s hard enough to get my local girlfriends together to do anything, so I can’t imagine the planning that went into this. What a fabulous time you all must have had. 🙂

Sarah @ a drop of golden sun - Wow, what an amazing bunch of women, and amazing talents! Tonight is our first of what we hope to be many more, “craft club”! I am hosting at my house, but I don’t think it will be anything nearly as spectacular as your whole weekend was! Something to strive for I suppose. Thank you for sharing!

Jenn - That looks like such a dream! Thanks for giving me a little glimpse into a heavenly weekend-love the crafty ideas, too!

Cherished Hearts Vintage - Gorgeous pics! Any chance of a tutorial to show us how to make the ruffle necklaces?

HMama - I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this. *sigh*

Katie Sellers - Such awesome idea!! And that antique store I am so jealous! Meg–could you possibly share where you got the string of light bulbs hanging in your beautiful room?? I am looking for something similar. Thanks!

Jacqui - please please please meg, can i come next time!!

Rebecca@This Present Life - Just found your blog via The Pleated Poppy and I’m so glad I did! It looks like you girls had such a great time! I would LOVE to do something like that. There is nothing like getting together with girlfriends (new and old) for a little crafting, good food, and girl time.

angie - That looks incredibly fun and awesome and like something I need. Can we be friends and you can invite me next time? I even have a cute baby to bring. 🙂

Michelle - Sounds like the perfect weekend, I’m inspired to do this with girlfriends that I don’t see enough!

Kimberly Dial - What a great idea – a crafters weekend. Sure looks like your gals had fun! Thanks for sharing!

The Lazy Dazy - Looks like balm for the soul! Blessing! Great idea…those girls are so blessed to have been on the guest list.
Thank you for sharing. I feel like I had a little micro-retreat myself!
Carrie

Beth - Totally jealous! Looks like loads & loads of fun!

sonal shah - I can’t imagine a more fun weekend. I dream of having people like this in my life. So wonderful that you all have found one another.
Anyone in New England want to connect for something like this? http://prettylittlethingy.blogspot.com

Linda - DId you make the pennant banner? If you did could you please give instructions it is just adorable. Thanks

marylea @ Pink and Green Mama - So fun!!! WISH I had been there too!!!
I think a weekend spent crafting and antiquing sounds like the perfect way to spend time with friends!!
xoxo
MaryLea

Tonia - So fun! I have followed most of your blogs for quite some time and it was just so fun to see you all in the same room. I just know if I knew you all we would be great friends! Thanks for doing this blogging thing and for sharing your lives with the world!

hearttypat - what an amazing weekend! I’m too envious of u right now!

ashley - I can’t even begin to tell you how happy it made me to read this post and see that ALL these incredibly talented, beautiful and amazing women made MY pom pom tutorial–wow, I am amiling from ear to ear still!
Your blog is fabulous and I am wondering where you have been all my life! better late then never–so glad I found you and thank you so much for linking to Little Miss Momma!
I can’t wait to have a craft weekend of my own one day!!!

miss chris - Wait?! You guys are in kansas?! this crazy blog world is so big it shouldn’t surprise me that I’m surprised. Anyway… it looks like you had a wonderful time. Good for you all! xoxo, chris (kansas city)

nancy in ks - Bearly Makin’ it! I see Oggie in the orange sweatshirt. One of my favorite places! It looks like he took you out to his barn too. That’s a treasure land for sure.
This is the first time I’ve read your blog. So thanks to Ashley Ann I have another great stop in the morning before I start my day. Pretty soon, I won’t have any day left. Just blogs.

Tara - so much fun.
this is SO on my list of 40 things I wanna do before I turn 40…I’ve got 2 1/2 years left to make it happen!
you are my inspiration.
(totally meant to put the song my the group Chicago in your mind all day) :))))))

Meaghan - Just wanted to say this looks like so much fun! You have inspired me in the past to do crafty night with my friends…now I am reminded to do it again. I love that it gets us out and together during the long winter months, esp after christmas. Thanks!!

asibtroy - What i wouldn’t give to be in a room so blessed! And yay for Ashley Ann coming over with Cindy! Love it when blog worlds collide 😉

Nancy - glad you posted a pic w/amy j! she’s my local blogger rockstar!

Courtney Hohimer - Can I come next time?

Candice - Oh my goodness! Looks as though everyone had a wonderful time! Hmmm…maybe I should looking into planning my own craft weekend with my friends and family! 😉

Lorilee - That looks like sooooo much fun. How did you plan the crafts? Did each person bring their own supplies for each craft?
Blessings,
Lorilee

Daniele Valois - this looks like a dream come true!!! So jealous!

Heather - Dead freaking envious!!!! That looks like a truckload of fun!

jaz - Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxoxox

Talysa - I love the whole thing….what a great idea! But I left half of my brain with that first picture and those pennants….love.
Then you lost the second half of it on the hoop art.
I did manage to catch up when we hit the frosting though. 😉
Ps. You totally got the globe. 😉

Krystle - I’m new to your blog my m’dear… you are fabulous! I first found you because your house was adorable and I fell in love with your kitchen. I now love you all the more because I see that you’re using the gift of your home to share with others for fantastic retreats and fellowship like this! I’m so glad to have “met” you!

Mindy - What a fabulous weekend! Now I want the weather to get better so I can go on a road trip and check out the antique store!

Danielle - What a kind and gracious heart you have. I can’t even begin to tell you the smiles I got at seeing you gals have so much fun. I follow Amy Jupin’s blog and Jess Mac’s as well and am so happy that these two special women got to have some girl time. Your blog always puts a smile on my face:)

Kristin S - Meg, what a dreamy weekend. Your husband is a trooper! I bet he knew you NEEDED that girl time.
Your perspective at the end is shaping a seminar I’m doing at a women’s conference this coming weekend for women who work for our ministry. I am SO NOT an expert but just want to share from my heart about how it has ministered to me and others.
Most want how-to’s which is fine. I can do that. Sort of (I still don’t know how the heck to change my header). But I’d rather give big picture.
Thank you!

Sandee - Ok. This looks like the best weekend ever! Every time I get the chance to see pic.s of your house I’m in heaven… loved the one of the globe mixed in with other things at the antique store where you asked which thing you’d buy out of all those things. You got me started on wanting a collection of old globes and I just found my very first one on Monday!!! I’m so excited and can’t wait to find more.. 🙂

Sara - There is nothing better than a house full of friends with food, fun and crafts. How kind of you to open your house….I wondered what the major cleaning was about! Does anyone else think that Cindy looks like the brand new wife on Sister Wives? She is a doll…and I just put my thumb on why I thought I knew her. Funny! I obviously watch too much TV.

Charity - I’m in love with the hanging banner and lights. Could you PLEASE post instructions on how to make the banner and the dimensions of the triangles? I would love to make one!!!

Tammy Sabourin - So what you’re really saying is that this weekend was BEAST. 😉

melinda - new reader here! that looks like such a good time! i think i may have to partake in something similar!
ps love your blog 🙂 it is so cheerful!!!

Jenny B. - Wow… I can see from the previous comments that I’m not alone in being just a tiny bit jealous (ok, make that a lot!). 🙂 What an absolutely perfect weekend!

Leslie @farm fresh fun - This looks better than Blissdom! So much inspiration and happiness found here. Loved learning that some gals hadn’t sewn before… Thanks for the great link to Bearly Makin It! My hubby loves to go out to KS for bird hunting… Now I know where I will dream of if I tag along! (Plus dreamin of a photo shoot with* you*.)
(((hugs))
Leslie in MD

Tanya H - I love everything about this post but my favorite is your hoop art! My mom was a creative circle….something or other when I was tiny and they just moved and we found a HUGE box FULL of those hoops…..Now we know what to do with them! 😀 THANKS!!!
I too love the blessing that blogs are in my life. You are one inspiring lady and I love you for it!

sarah - So jealous! What a great time for you girls. I was glad to read that some of you had not ever worked on a sewing machine-gives me hope for my craftin self to improve still. Thanks for sharing-I love seeing women loving on each other.

Melissa - Ugh! I’m jealous! LOL
It looks like you all had a super time!!!
Is it weird that I read this post yesterday then last night had a dream that you invited me over for crafty fun?? LOL You have a lot of admirers, girl!

Tracy - Wow! looks like such a wonderful time and how sweet of you to host it. I have to admit…I am a bit jealous as I imagine all the crafty fun and girl talk that was oozing through your walls all weekend (plus I really want to meet waffle, I am in love with him!)
If you ever want more friends…I would love to visit Kansas…I just claim waffle as my roommate! ; )

Lynn - i am so in love with this idea. i’ve always considered my blog a huge blessing, its let me connect with people i probably never would have met before. you’ve got my mind spinning now! 🙂

Heather - Thanks for the antique store tip. I’ll have to stop by the next time I go back home as we always drive past Marion.

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - Great fun! I’d love to do something like this..would be fab!
You have a lovely house btw 🙂

DanaD@BoysMyJoys - That looks like SO much fun… sighhhhh!
And, I’m lovin’ the dark do!
Stay warm!
It’s in the 60’s here in SC today.

Kirsten J - Almost as good as being there. Almost. I’m officially jealous…and need to find some new friends who like crafty stuff, because while lunch and shopping are fun, crafts and antiquing are more my cup of tea 🙂

Esther Noordman - Looking good!! I was wondering, what exactly do you mean by ‘cleaning partner’? (sounds like something/one I could be/use..;).

Jen@thecottagenest - I love that you did this Meg. What a way to express love for your friends! I love what everyone created too. I especially love those hoops and that swirly graphic fabric! Where is that from? I’d love to play with that!

Ruth - Oh my goodness, that looks like SO much fun! Next time please invite me! 🙂

leonieke - wow,…
you’re a verry lucky lady, to have the room to enjoy the company of so many friends! the pictures show that you had lots of fun (o, en excuse me for bad spelling; english is not my language,..i’m dutch)

amy jupin - i love each and every one of these pics.
especially the one of cole’s reflection. genius.
miss you, sweet friend.

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - That looks completely awesome and I am now really jealous! You are blessed.

Marie - How awesome! I am going to confess being a little jealous of your fabulous weekend. I have no crafty friends here and a weekend like that sounds like a dream come true. I should just be bold and plan something like that and see what happens. Pretty amazing of you to open up your home like that. 🙂

Kelly - The bunting and big round lights are fantastic and it looks like y’all had a wonderful time. I really enjoyed seeing everyone’s embroidery hoop art together. A bunch of neat ideas! Kelly

Jeanne - It looks so amazing! I am sad that I had to miss it but I hope you invite me again next time:-) I love all the bunting in the “craft room” 🙂

Nicole - HI! I found your blog through Julie’s blog. :0) Okay, I have to ask. I am a Kansas blogger/crafter. What antique shops did you go to? May I ask what town too?!!!
How fun of a weekend. How do you guys know one another? It would be fun to get together like that. :0)Kansas should have a blog meet-up.
Thank you,
Nicole
“Cole”

Carol S. - Oh my, what a fun bunch and awesome agenda. Your hair is really cute dark. Really clever way to spend a weekend, and yes, your husband (and inlaws) are amazing for their coordinated getaway as well. Very cool for everyone to have their time to party, and you totally deserved yours this weekend after being an amazing wife and mom all year long! Just went on a fun blogland stroll with your links on a snowy night in Chicago. Thanks Meg.

Emily - this looks like quite possible one of the most fabulous weekends ever!

Michelle Holden - Oh my gosh!!! I was looking at your fun weekend pics and I noticed Cindy Wells!!!
I was thinking this was such a great idea!!! And she experienced it 1st hand!!! I love her~ she is my cousins wife:)
Rockchalk!

mary beth - Oh my gosh, I’ve been in that store! I was tired after the Hillsboro fair, so I was pretty overwhelmed by it, but can’t wait to get back there! What a wonderful idea for a weekend! We are in the middle of a Kansas blizzard right now, but I’m scheming in my mind for some good cabin fever crafting here all by myself! Great job Meg…stay warm with you memories of a great weekend!

shauna reed - what a hostess you are Meg.
that looks lovely.
what a dream come true to have nice clean people take over your house.
other mommies that know how to take care of each other.
that is the best medicine…for anything.
i love your hair and your whole deal….you know that, just thought i’d tell you again.

Red Shoes Rolling Red Shoes Rolling - What a cool retreat! I want to start planning one with my mom and sisters. Love your blog Meg. You inspire me everyday with your ideas, links, humor, love for God and humor. I look forward to reading everyday. Thanks!

Joyce - wow. it’s like a mini-bliss.

deborah@applesinwonderland - looks like a most fun weekend!!!! it’s so super-cool when you can recognize a gift when it’s given. love that!!!!

elisabeth (bovagoods) - that just looks like a dream come true!

Tonya - That looks like so much fun! Where at in Kansas do you live? I am in KCMO.

Sonia - I wish I could have just been there to watch!! I’ve actually made Little Miss Momma’s pom-pom necklace! I love em! I love the whole craft weekend. I wish I had a lot of crafty friends to do one.

sarah - so many blogging celebs in one place…love it. it looks like you all truly enjoyed yourselves, and i am so proud of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to be creative, beautiful women together!

danyele - is it totally wrong to be jealous??? i want a fab girl weekend with crafters…maybe when all the kids are a little bigger. maybe.

Lucylu ~ - Ooh! We too are snowed in we have a MILD blizzard going on outside!
Oh and I wish I could’ve been there!
Smiling
-Lucy

Beth - what a FABULOUS weekend!! makes me want fabric stores and antique stores and craft stores close to me!! thanks for sharing.

jennie - meg…totally random and not related to craft weekend (which looks fabulous) at all. but my pandora station just played “what is” by anna vandas, which you must listen to if you haven’t. the last verse of the song is, “What is good, what is pure, what is right? What is love, what is truth, what is holy in your sight?” Of course, it made me think of you. 🙂

mel - ahhhh!!!!! So FUN!!!!!!
Look at all those fun crafts you made!!
LOVE those necklaces!!!
Yay for Blog Friends & blog friend weekends!
What a blessing, indeed!
p.s. next time you need to invite someone who can teach you photoshop, since that is on your 35 before 35 list 😉

Kristin Hayne - What an awesome time!! So jealous…. that needs to happen in my life more often…. and was it a pre requisite to have blue eyes? LOL

kasey - I am so sorry i couldn’t make it…
you know…with the snow and all..i was just afraid of driving.
But you know how MUCH i love to craft…so i am really sorry that i wasn’t there to help you all hot glue buttons.
Next time for sure…and i’ll make the drive.
pinky promise.
I’ll even pick Laura up on my way…or maybe she could pick me up.

amber - aw, this is awesome Meg. I would love to do something like that someday. Blogging is great and the inspiration I get from you and other women/moms/crafters is so much fun. I am thankful for you sharing a glimpse into your life with all of us. I am so going to take a day trip to that antique store, I am seriously drooling over it! Thanks for sharing your weekend pictures. I am inspired as always.

Laura Phelps - I’M CRYING
seriously CRYING
but I am a DORK Meg..because I am looking at the pictures, wishing I had made the trip, but thinking at the same time how UNQUALIFIED I would have felt around these talented beautiful women!
I think I would have felt ugly and useless!!! HA
I need to find something I am good at before I walk into a room full of these ladies!
ugh, insecurity sucks
I LOVE the pics
I LOVE that God brought you all together
it looks PERFECT
you are awesome for doing this
God really is speaking through you
amazing
still crying…

Jen H. - Looks like a complete and utter blast! So many people have good intentions of meeting up and getting together, but it is great that you and these women actually MADE IT HAPPEN! Good job! 🙂

sue - World Globe.

sarah @ Perpetual Blind Date - You literally grouped all of my FAVORITE bloggers into one large crafting weekend. How fun?!

sara's art house - LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my dear! I wish I could have come!!!! :):) LOVE the hoop art.

Sixty- Fifth Avenue - oh my goodness, what fun!! your beautiful home was the perfect place to have a retreat. we are getting snowed in as i type under my warm blanket.
Londen
xx

Emily Zimmerman - Oh your post is making me tear up!! Seeing the picture of Jess and Julie together!! Oh boy makes me cry!! Makes me cry because of their loss, but tears of joy that they have met each other. Wow! Love all the pics and all the crafts!! So I have an idea…next year when you host your weekend (no pressure 🙂 or anything) what about having a contest where the winner gets to join your big weekend???!!! Or I’m pretty sure you could auction off tickets to the big event and make lots of money! Sign me up!!

Dina - LOOOOOOOOVVVVEEEE this post:-) I wanna do this with my gf’s. And thank you thank you thank you for sharing Marion:-) My bff and I went to Hillsboro in Sept.(craft fair)… we drove and drove and drove looking for barn sales — you had blogged the previous year about them…Marion, right? Can’t wait to take her:-) You’re the best!

Heather - ahhh that looks like an amazing weekend!!! One of my life goals is to have fellowship like that (with great women, great stuff to do, yummy non-diet treats, maybe a little book club action?) at least once a year or so. It has been lacking in my life since college and moving away from home, many years ago. Camaraderie without competition, that’s what I want. Meg, you always inspire me so much! And if I ever get the guts to show the world my blog, maybe that will be the vehicle God uses.

wendy, NJ - Wow! I am so jealous! I love that you were able to host such a wonderful weekend full of friendship and making memories!
Big hugs to you!

Jen - What fun! I am as crafty as a “big rock”. What I want most from you crafting weekend is Kimberlee’s HAIR!! Sigh…………..

Donna - I want to do this so badly!!! I wish I had a big enough house and a MIL that lives close so I could send my kids there.
You gals are awesome! I love all the craft projects. I’m going to have to make on of those necklaces and the embroidery hoop project. Love it all!
Thanks for sharing!!

se7en - I was going to say that photo looks lovely but then that other photo looked lovely too and so on and on… I t all looked so divine!!! The crafting, the outing, the awesome shop, the scrumshish food… the friends … totally love it all…. And if you didn’t buy that globe then I am sailing the se7en seas to come and get it for myself!!! Love it!!!

Becky - I’m not crafty but I love your crafts! They are the kind I would make or buy. I despise so many of the crafts (crap) out there. You have the most fun style, love it!

Amber - SO much fun!!! I would love to be a part of a fun craft weekend like this! It seems like all the friends that God has places in my life lately are from blog land and far away!

Heather - Hey Meg! I totally get hives even thinking about crafting like that! I have no creative abilities at all. None. BUT – next time you host a weekend, give me a buzz. I’m a great cook and I’ll come down and cook and do all the clean up for the ladies, just to be there. 🙂 I’m in Topeka – it’s doable! Ha!

Terrie - Isn’t it great to have a WonDerFul reason to clean your house?! Was wondering why you were so into spring cleaning in January! Thanks for all the Fab ideas!! I just got my sewing machine back yesterday…it’s been in the shop for 3 months! Not sure what I will work on first…ruffled pillows, the bunting I want to make for my craft room…or that quilt laying over the back of my chair since November waiting to be finished! So jealous…(I know one of the sins right…thou shalt not covet) of your women friendships! I’ve only had one dear friend who likes to craft…and having moved from her all the rest, missing that part of my life. You are Blessed Megan! Thanks for sharing with us!

Dawn Eshnaur - My friend and I both have ties to Newton and would LOVE to come to a craft weekend with you! My son dates a girl from Newton and my friend grew up there! We read yours and Ashley Ann’s blog….looks like too much fun! It’s funny….people make fun of us because we call our blogs friends “Our friends from Kansas” 🙂 Enjoy the snow!!!

Renae - Dang! I was in Kansas this weekend (okay, Missouri and some Kansas) and didn’t know this fab party was rockin’! 🙂 Oh well, looks like you girls had a fantastic time!! Meg, i’d love to know where you got your drinking glasses, with the dots on them. LOVE those. Thanks for sharing!!

Megan - You’ve shared so much. Can I ask for more? How about the tiramisu recipe?? Pretty please?

anne c - holy craziness! how fun! I need friends to do this with! what lucky women you all are to have each other and to experience such a great weekend crafting. I probably would have peed my pants to meet you and ashley…in fact I know I would have! thanks for sharing!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - That is so fantastic! The hoops are PRECIOUS!

Tracey @7294cottageway.blogspot - How do I send my resume for that fun? I can cook, craft, clean..and I know a few really great jokes…so glad you had fun. LOVE that ruffle pillow!

debbie - I love everything about this! The crafts, the camaraderie and the food! I agree…you are indeed blessed!

Michele - Loved this post! How generous of you to open your home and your heart to all of these creative women. Thanks for sharing!

Lisa - This is what I call Utopia. Seriously, I am so inspired. I have dreamed of doing something like this but have thought, “My house is small. Who would want to cram into it for the weekend? On top of people they don’t really know.” What a lame excuse. This is the year. Maybe just a few friends, but I’m making it happen! Thanks so much for sharing! (I love that antique store too. My “girls” and I went Hillsboro weekend and I’ve been dreaming of it since!)

Jodi - I know it’s wrong to be jealous… but I am SO jealous!! I don’t know very many women here w/ the same love of crafting as I have. You are SO very blessed!!! :o)

sara @ it's good to be queen - oh my word, that looks like my idea of a good time. that antique store looks rad. I’m going to have to go there next time we’re in kS. seriously, that was such a great idea to do in the middle of winter. something fun to look forward to. I would love to do something similar. How did you decide who to invite? I think that would be the hardest part for me…not hurting some people’s feelings. also, LOVE the lamps down the middle of the table. so cool.

kat - Oh my gosh!!! So wish I could have been there too! What a super fun weekend!

Janie Fox - Looks like so much fun. I am new to blogging but there are some great hearts out there I have met by reading and now writing.
We are iced in here in central IL. Power was off for a bit but it is back on in time for me to read some fav blogs! 🙂

Beth @ odd girl out... - looks like you girls had a GREAT time! i miss KS so much, especially after a post like this, i went to school in lawrence!

mandy madison - Looks like a fabulous time had by all! Now you got me in the crafting mood 🙂 thanks for sharing!!

Amanda-ThriceBlessed - Looks like such a fun weekend!

Jill - So that’s why you were cleaning like a maniac last week! 🙂
Looks like soooo much fun! (the crafting that is, not the cleaning!)

Trish - FUN!

sarah - Looks like lots of fun 🙂

colleen - Okay, so which one of those girls is from Alabama? I live in Alabama and don’t know many other girls who are as obsessed with crafting as i tend to be! Have toyed with starting a blog and would love to know of another alabama girl i could learn from! Looks like you girls had your souls nourished! Something that for me usually comes from time with other likeminded women! Glad it was so much fun! Well worth all that cleaning!

Shayne - You have an amazing, dedicated husband! So sweet of him to take the kids, esp. when they weren’t feeling well. Hope they’re better now.
Glad you were able to create fun girl time for yourself. Girl time is special. 🙂

Ariel - How come Julie gets the amazing hair AND insanely long eyelashes??? Looks like so much fun…I need to make one of those necklaces, fast!

Kori - I wanna come play in Kansas too!! 🙂
My husband wanted me to keep lights up after Christmas and I didn’t have any ideas that didn’t resemble a frat house…lights on the walls, etc., but I am in total LOVE with the way you strung those big daddy globe lights above your table! Like dining al fresco but not. I think I’m gonna do that.
And add me to the list of chicks who have sewing machines who have never taken them out of the box and/or tried to thread them. I did take mine out of the box only to be scared by it and put it back. 🙁 I need to get over that ‘cuz I need some bright colors here in the cold of Spokane and don’t want to have to go hunting for the perfect thing when I *think* I can make it. Maybe.
Glad you had such a great time and hope Craig is better….

Suzy - I love the flowers. Does Julie offer a tutorial on how to make the pretty messy flower or does she just make them to sell? Thanks! Looks like it was a blast- good idea!!

tammy hebert - Looks like you had a great time. And all that crafting- I am jealous. Thanks for sharing..
tammy

Penny - Thank you so much for sharing photos of your time together. I am having a bunch of friends over to craft. Just for the day. But I love your ideas. I will borrow some and my friends will be impressed! Thanks. Looks like you all had a wonderful time. And they got to love on Waffle, lucky them!

rhonda - Just seeing all yall have fun together is GREAT! (I love it when women are shown as loving and supporting and real!!) So glad yall did this!

Beinghappygirl.blogspot.com - This looks like SO MUCH FUN. and thanks for the pictures. I have GOT to add pics to my blog. The crafting is WAY over my head.

Kari - Sounds like an amazing, fun time! I wish I had a bunch of fun gals to teach me to use a sewing machine. I’m ashamed to admit I bought a new machine about 4 years ago and have never taken it out of the box. I’m a chicken, LOL! Love your projects, especially the hoops. So cute!

Rachel - What amazing FUN! I have to admit, I’m a bit jealous. I’d love to host a gathering like that. I love that you just jumped in and made it happen. You’ve got me thinking…a dangerous thing indeed haha.

pam - How fun! My parents gave our 21 year old her great grandmother’s 1949 Singer….it has attachments that do things I’ve never heard of….I am VERY JEALOUS. It has a ruffler…..that you would be in awe of….does all the work and REALLY FAST.

Kristin - How awesome! It looks like you had a blast with an amazing bunch of women. 🙂

Susan - I wanna be one of your friends that you invite over! Seriously…I think if I knew you, you could make me a better Mom and person! It looks like you had so much fun! So, if you are looking to do another weekend and need a lonely mom of 6 kids 8 and under and would like to give her a reason to get away for a weekend, COUNT ME IN! I would be in my minivan so fast! You are truly blessed to have a great “family” of friends to surround you!

Courtney Walsh - Looks like a ton of fun, Meg! I am seriously thinking about doing something like this…too many people online that I’d love to meet and no guarantee that’ll ever happen!! Gotta take matters into your own hands sometimes! 🙂
I really want to learn to embroider…I am clueless, but I always love the way it looks!

amber - SO fun. Thanks for sharing, especially all the crafty fun. I’m loving the ruffle pillow too…

Heather R. - Thanks for the heads up on the shopping in Kansas. We’re in the blizzard fun, too. I don’t think the kids have gone to school in like forever. I bet you guys had a great time. Love all the crafts!!! 🙂

Peggy in TN - How much fun. New friends, old friends, far away friends. Blogging makes this big world so much smaller. Nice to see.

Courtney - looks like you all had an awesome time!
i am so going to that antique shop sometime it looks awesome! its only a 3 hour drive, i am sure i can convince my husband :)!

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