Bday Prep and Blog Awards

It's almost time for my baby to turn 1. I am feeling very emotional about this and am busying myself with the preparations so I don't have a breakdown! Had a few photo shoots last week so I can use her photos for decorations at the party. I'm considering dedicating the blog to Daisy next week and posting all about her first year.

Last week I received 3 more blog awards from 2 lovely ladies! I have found so many interesting people through the MckLinky Blog Hops! And since it is customary to pass these awards on to other deserving bloggers, I searched last weeks blog hop and easily found new blogs to bestow these awards upon.

The first award is from Mama M . Thank you so much for thinking my blog is fabulous. Coming from you that is a huge compliment!

And now to get down to business....rules are I need to admit to 5 current obsessions and re-award it to 5 bloggers. Are you ready?

1. I am obsessed with ribbon (for scrapbooking). I love to buy it, display it and admire it but I never want to use it. I'm saving it for that ONE special project! Who knows what that is!

2. I am obsessed with preparing for my daughter's first birthday. Birthday banners, highchair banner, decorations, photo back-drops, cakes, birthday headband, birthday dress, birthday party favors, birthday photo shoots, etc, etc.

3. I am obsessed with Wipeout. OK, not really obsessed, just really "in to." Do any of you watch this? I cry and pee my pants from laughing so hard. Lily and I watch it together after the other kids go to bed. Not a good show for the boys to watch before bed. After they watch they turn their room in to an obstacle course. Did you see the girl last week that kicked herself in the head after jumping on the big balls? Good stuff!

4. I am obsessed with my blog. I lie in bed at night and think of things to post. It is really hurting my beauty sleep which is already wounded by a little girl who thinks she needs to wake up several times during the night! The unnamed child woke up twice while I was trying to post this.

5. I am obsessed with Chipotle. I know where I am going to lunch tomorrow!


And the "Your Blog is Fabulous" award goes to:

Tracy - My Sacred Journey

Genie Marie - The Blazi Gang

Barclay - Unfailing Love

Alyssa - Talley Family

Kristen - Bradley Family Times


The next two awards are from Ave . Thank you Ave!!! Adorable and Uplifting? OH STOP! No rules with these babies, just pass on the love!


The "Adorable Blog" award goes to:

Smith Soup
Joanne - One So Blessed
Ashli - Chasing Today

The "Uplifting Blogger" award goes to:

KT - Sneaker Teacher
Jonna - The Kahrs 6 Pack
Angie - The Sanders Family

What Would Your Children Say?

Ok, I know I'm late, but I couldn't miss out on sharing another funny story. Lily likes me to re-tell her this story all the time!

Lily was 4 and we were in a public bathroom. There was someone in the stall next to us.

Lily said (not quietly) "Wow! It really stinks in here. I think someone is going poo!"

I put my finger to my mouth to try to keep her from saying anything else, but she responded by saying (not quietly) "Why do we have to be quiet?"

OH THE EMBARRASSMENT! And Comedy!

Here are a few pictures of all the kiddos around this time:

Lily bowling for the first time.

Ashton Lily Bailey

My Two Guys. Doesn't Bailey look like he is going to chub right out of his skin?

Movin to AZ

Ashton and Bailey's first birthday

Brothers watching their sister play outside

I love to look at old pictures and reminisce about old times! I hope you don't mind!

Hop on over to http://familyamericanstyle.blogspot.com/ to hear more from hilarious kiddos!

Blog Hop - Favorite Photos

Luckily, I didn't use all of my favorite photos in the last fave photo blog hop! Here are a couple more!

SistersDo you think these two like eachother? Hard to tell! Lily likes to close her bedroom door, turn her music up really loud and dance in her room. Daisy has joined her on a few occasions. Now, whenever Daisy hears Lily's music she goes nuts. She starts dancing and crawls as fast as she can toward Lily's room. Yesterday I thought she was going to bounce right out of her walker she was jumping and dancing so hard.


Brothers

Usually when I see this scene, I am sitting on the couch looking out the window and wishing I had my camera. But on this lucky day I had my camera around my neck when I witnessed my two boys heading out to the sandbox together. I just flicked a tear off my cheek from remembering.

Not Me Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.


I DID NOT leave the whites in the dryer all last week because I didn't want to put them away! And it DOES NOT look like the same thing is going to happen again this week. No Way.......NOT ME!

I DID NOT sneak food out of of Bailey's bowl to help him finish his dinner so he could get dessert. And I DO NOT routinely help whoever happens to be sitting by me at the table. Are you crazy? I would never do that..........No Way...........NOT ME. DO NOT tell Donn! Maybe that is why they always fight over who gets to sit by me?

Makeover

Edit: I forgot to talk about how to remove the border that is around all the photos posted on blogger blogs. Go to "Layout" then "fonts and colors" and change the "border color" to match your background. White is the easiest to change.

So.........did you notice that I am in the process of giving myself a blog-makeover? While skipping through the blog-hop last week I saw an ad/button for Shabbyblogs.com. And they offer FREE blog designs! They have a bunch of fun backgrounds and great instructions on how to install them on your blog. I also got a Twilight blinkie and the cute little flower post divider. I'm going to try to add some of their cute sidebar titles or I might even try to make my own. I haven't decided yet. They have an excellent tutorial on how to add your signature to your posts (my first attempt at this needs a little help). I couldn't find a header that I liked that also matched my background, so I made one myself. Nothing too spectacular but it will get the job done for the time being!

Another source for do-it-yourself blog support is Jenie Shell's Blog. She has some really helpful tutorials. I made my "button" with the help of her instructions and although mine needs some tweaking, I think it turned out pretty good for my first attempt. And my button was successfully added to Ave's Blog. Very exciting!


How did you design your blog? Are you using a good ole blogger template? Did you design it yourself? Do you know of other good sights for blog makeovers?





Last week, Ashton decided he wanted to form a band. He got Lily and Bailey to join. Ashton was the lead singer/boss of everyone, Lily played the guitar and Bailey was on drums. Ashton has one of those echo microphones, so I don't know why he was using rolled up paper that he MADE me put an elastic on. Lily's guitar strap is made from some scrapbook ribbon that I had to make wedding invitations with. It has little pearls along the edge (very rocker) and it is attached to the guitar with duct tape. The drums are my favorite part. Two bowls placed on top of the boys' desks and chop sticks for drum sticks. Daisy and I were waving our lighters during the concert! Oh these kids make me laugh................A LOT!

What Would Your Children Say Wednesday

This week it's Bailey's turn. The following conversation took place in May 2007. Bailey was a few months shy of 4 years old. Bailey and I were in the backyard picking weeds. We were chatting about this and that when he said to me:
"Mom? I want to call you Majesty."

I said "ok"

One second later he said

"Majesty? I want to call you Mom. I changed my mind actually."

I said "ok"

Here are some pictures of Bailey from around that time.

Don't forget to visit http://familyamericanstyle.blogspot.com/ for more hilarious kiddos!

Encouragement - Blog Hop

The secret to having it all

is believing that you already do!

This is my favorite saying! I don't know if anyone in particular said this. I saw it on a StampinUp! stamp.


Everyone in this picture + many other family members not pictured = Heather Has it All!