The Boxes

Today when Annie got home from school she opened the door & yelled, "MOM!!!!  There is a huge box out here and it is for me!  And there is one for you too!"

I hadn't been expecting a package so I was very curious!

Beth.  Beth is a forever friend.

We went to Kindergarten together.

We were in a little charity pageant together.

We tortured neighbor boys together.

I could go on & on & on!!!

And in 3rd grade when she moved...my heart was broken.

But we stayed friends.

The best of friends

And although we don't get a chance to visit each other very often she still finds ways to love up my family.

You should have seen the boxes she sent today!!!

Yes!  Those are colored socks in there!!!

Painful.  Very Painful :)

But seriously it was like she bought out an entire store

 & shipped it to my kids!!!

Not even everything is pictured because 1/2 of it was

already all over my living room! 

They were busy smiling, giggling & exploring for HOURS!!!!

Look at this cute little stationary set!

And I have a little glass hen collection & she sent me this!!!

To which Annie said, "Cool!  That will be mine soon!"

"Annie, I told you that you can't have my hens until I die."

(She asks me for them all the time.)

"I know."

Great, does anyone else find this a little premature? :)

& also a Fancy Dancy microwavable neck wrap...

...I am trying it out as soon as I am done here!

It had this little note on it:

DO I EVER!!!!

But even I have to admit...

those dreadful colored socks looked adorable on Annie & she needed them for our St. Patrick's Day Birthday Party

(Hi Cal)

 we are going to tomorrow.

THANK YOU BETH!!!

We LOVE YOU TOO!!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!!!

Okay...this girl is gonna be trouble :)

Let's Love

On Sunday morning we just had Rocco because

Bo & Annie had spent the night with my mom.

So before church we broke our usual routine & went to Caribou.

It was a relaxing morning and as I stood in line to order drinks I couldn't help but smile & then sneak my camera out to take a pic of Rocco and his Dad across the shop.

Then as heard myself ordering my own drink:

"Medium, Macadamia, coconut, mocha, with dark chocolate, non-fat, decaf, no whip please."  I was struck by a sense of guilt & pain for those in Japan.  Here I was ordering this ridiculous (delicious) drink when the initial, very devastating, news of Japan was pouring in, and besides heartbreak, it really hadn't effected my life at all.

I looked at Rocco all cozy & safe with his hot chocolate, waving for the camera, and thought of his innocence to the world around him,

and I thanked the Lord.

For many things.

Then in the last few days I have been trying to think of little things I could do for people HERE.  So many families close to home have their own worries & heartbreak and are so easy to help.  I decided I wanted to step up my LOVE FOR CHRIST with actions.

The little things like:

Sending off a note to SOMEONE

who needs some encouragement in the midst of his own battles,

and sending Annie off to school today with a handful of daffodils for her teacher whose son was one of the first American Troops arrive in Japan.

And then last night my mom surprised me, LOVED ME, with the sweetest pot of flowers I have ever seen.

And I was happy.

The little things.

Let's not take our safety & comforts for granted.

Let's encourage others in love while we can.

If you have a little act of kindness in the next few weeks please let me know & if you blog about it & I would love to link to your post.  Not to brag but to be contagious.  You never know who you may inspire.

 Let's Love.

It All Makes Sense

My husband is VERY IRISH

I mean his name is Kelly Doyle,
it doesn't get more Irish than that.

So this week when Bo:

Painted the back of Rocco's head with nail polish

(picture taken after a week of scrubbing & scrubbing)

and

emptied the sugar shaker,

on Rocco's head & in his pocket,

It really isn't his fault because...

They are leprechauns!

"...a mischievous elf in Irish folklore."

 

"...clad in a red or green coat,

who enjoys partaking in mischief."

 

"They are tricky fellows and like to

play pranks on unsuspecting people."

It all makes sense now!

Just took one trip to the Target dollar bins

& it finally is all clear.

So single girls...

...watch out if you find yourself falling

in love with an Irishman.

Boys Redecorating

So you know those 2 crazy little boys I have?

20 minutes upstairs alone

(yes...I was on the computer)

and they did the funniest thing.

They took everything they could out of Annie's room

& were attempting to set it up in Bo's room.

Rocco was busy moving everything into Bo's room.

Bedding, books, toys...

And Bo was busy setting it all up nicely on his shelves.

I loved that he even tried setting up her doll shoe rack. 

Bo just said this was Annie's room now

& she would have to sleep in here.

I stopped them before they totally cleaned her out,

but they did a pretty good job for a 1 & 3 year old!

And of course they couldn't resist digging

into this little beauties make-up:

& he had thick layers of eye shadow

all over his lips!

You should have heard the grumbling when

I made them put it all back! 

That wasn't quite as much fun :)

Oh Brothers!!!

Excited

I am so excited! 

My very talented friend Jessie of

 Joyful Girl Photography

came over & took some pictures of Annie on Saturday. 

She sent me over a sneak peak photo of the shoot! 

 I am in love! 

So I thought I would share it with you! 

I can hardly wait to see the rest!

If you live in Minnesota you might want to check her out,

really REALLY talented!

Joyful Girl Photography Link

Boy or Girl???

"Hon, I am going up to

pray & read with Annie.  You got the boys."

20 minutes later...

"Bo!  Why are all the cushions off

the all the couches!"

(That little white circle in the middle is Rocco's buns.)

"Bo, where is dad?"

Now why didn't I see that coming?

People often ask me if I am having a boy or a girl.

I don't know, but everything in me says another crazy boy.

But this week I won a giveaway by 

Cassandra

(amazing mom, baker, artist...)

at

A giftcard to the most FABULOUS baby boutique!

Baby Night Night

Oh my...if you need a special gift...

GO THERE NOW!!! 

Even though everything in me is screaming BOY,

look what I picked!

I mean really...how could I not? 

So even though I love love love my boys

I kinda need a little girl :)

These adorable bloomers will look funny

on my baby boy...

...but don't think I won't try it.

But now my lil' sis Rach who is expecting a month after me is praying I have a boy so she can get her hands on these bloomers.

Tricia has great prices, amazing designs

 & my package arrived so fast! 

THANK YOU

Tricia

&

Cassandra !

Sleepover Cookies

I was looking through my picture files tonight & I found these pics of the kids eating these ridiculous cookies I bought them when the cousins slept over.  Now I just can't stop thinking about the cookies!  I seriously am typing this post just to stop myself from running out & buying myself one! 

They were so sweet that the kids could only handle a bite or two & then they tucked them back in the fridge....but I promise you if I had one right now I would eat the WHOLE thing RIGHT NOW!!!

Is anybody with me on this? 

I still have 2 hours before Target

closes & they are only 99 cents.

This might be a problem.

Darn Boca Burger I had for dinner.

Now I am all starving.

Please don't ask if I went out & got one...

...I'm not telling.