Four Banana Cupcakes

We're on a fairly unexpected/short notice trip to Texas. Cramming in quite a bit in a week, but making the most of our time in our favorite state!

I had a second and wanted to share the cupcakes we made for Carter's class for her birthday. This was my first go at "Classroom Cupcakes" and they turned out really cute. My mom had a great idea for decorating the top, stamping Necco Wafers with a food coloring "C"...

We then made banana cupcakes with banana icing so we would have something yummy to put our decorations on...

This was a lot of fun and you could spell out just about anything! I'll leave you with a few other pic's from our "family birthday" (seriously the celebration of turning 4 seemed to never end! And a fun video of Carter and her daddy dancing on her birthday...what a dad...

Happy Birthday...With All My Heart

Dear Carter,

This year is is hard to not spend just a little time reminiscing. As I sit here a little over 5 months pregnant with your sister I realize that exactly four years ago I began the same journey with you....What a trip. It is almost hard for me to believe that I spent the previous 24 years not knowing you. Your smile has become something I can't imagine living without, and all those years I never knew it was missing...

In the short time that you have been a part of our lives I have become dependent on seeing you flash me your grin everyday...I'm about as addicted to you as I am Diet Dr. Pepper!
Lately your smile, and every other part of you for that matter, has been seeming quite grown up. You are smart, energetic, and about 95% sugar with a kick of spice. That kick definitely keeps me on my toes (and can make me want to pull my hair out) but, it also means there is rarely a dull moment! Case in point our most recent hair cutting adventure!

For that exact reason I am even more thankful that I snapped these pictures of you at the beach on our last trip to San Diego. They are our last photos of you before you went all short and sassy on us. They also capture your sweet expressions in a very real way for me...

And so, in the spirit of taking all these things and pondering them in my heart, here are just a few of the things I currently love most about you...

The way you say, "Let's go girrrlfriend!"

Your sweet little voice singing along to the music as we drive...

Your "Shake the Booty" dance...

The way you make sure daddy remembers to mention "no bad dreams" every night when we pray together...

The fact that some of your favorite things to do are help me. Be it washing dishes, making beds, dusting, taking out the trash (although you always put a pair of socks on your hands before that one)...

The random way you have of saying "I love you" at least 5 or 6 times a day...

God has taught me so much through you my sweet girl. When you look at me I see the way He loves us, endlessly and without condition.

While you were getting your hair cut the other day I cupped your sweet face in my hands to help you hold your head straight. After a while you looked at me and said softly, "I think I've got it Mommy..." And in a lot of ways you do, you can do so much all by yourself. But, I'm also glad you think you've got it...that means your still not quite sure. So you still reach for my hand when we walk into a new place...or ask me to help you talk to someone when you are feeling just a little shy. You're an independent little lady, but I'm so glad you still snuggle up in my lap and say things like "I love you with all my heart." I couldn't have said it better myself...Happy Birthday, I love you with all my heart right back. ~Momma

Monday Carter Edition #42~Somebody Call the Mod Squad!

Monday Carter was sporting one of my favorite thrift store finds for pre-school today. This Mod little top with giant numbers...

It was kinda' like spending the day with a little mini Twiggy. Make that a little mini-Twiggy who was wound up tighter than a top because it is her ACTUAL birthday tomorrow. This means she'll be doing all sorts of fun things like taking cupcakes to her class, getting choose where to go out to lunch, and getting her very first honest to goodness pedicure (she's pretty pumped about that). Sounds pretty fun, maybe I can do all the same things for my birthday!

A Gift from the Sea...

The theme of the I Heart Faces photo challenge this week is contemplative (you should head over and check it out)...I immediately thought of this photo of Carter as she stared at the sea "contemplating" all that the the ocean holds...

The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach-waiting for a gift from the sea.

~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I just wanna' be fashion.

I was coming out of the bathroom yesterday (yes, mom's have to go too) and Carter was approaching me. As she got a little closer I saw her big grin first and then as my eyes traveled downward I saw she was holding a large hand full of lovely blonde hair in her fist. It took a moment for me to put two and two together, my first thought was, "Why is your hair in your hand? It's supposed to be attached to your head..." Which led to my next thought, "Oh my GOSH...you CUT your hair!!!!"

I'd love to report that I handled the whole thing with grace and dignity, but I come from a long line of over reactors. I came up with my best "What in the world have you done to your beautiful hair!!??" reaction. She calmly stood there with the same big grin on her face. I called my mom and dramatically asked, "What do I do???" She calmly stood their with the same big grin. When I finally got around to asking her what in the world possessed her to go sawing on her hair she replied, "I just wanna' be fashion." From that moment on I found the whole thing hilarious.

At some point my sister pointed out she must have gotten the idea from some where. So, when I asked her she said she got it from the show where the girl walks out and everyone is surprised. This meant nothing to me until she mentioned that it comes on before A Baby Story (which is her new fave ever since I got pregnant). Suddenly it all made sense. While making lunch I turned on the TV so she could watch A Baby Story. It wasn't on yet so instead she caught the tail end of What Not to Wear...you know the part where they give the girl a brand new "fashion" do?? Yeah, that part. When I explained to her that her hair was going to have to be short now she started to cry. "I just wanted to be a rock star," she said, "I had a dream about it." I mean seriously, you cannot make this stuff up!

So, today off we went, to our favorite local salon in search of a fix...

It went better than expected...

And, as an added bonus, we have been praying for a little girl named Kate who is battling cancer and so Carter was very excited to be able to share her hair with another little girl by donating it to Locks of Love...

She was patient and still as the lovely Maggie worked her magic...

and finally VOILA...

Such a happy accident, because I am in LOVE with this chicks hair!!!

Such a grown up do to kick off being 4...

I couldn't stop snapping pictures...

Seriously, if she had been a piece of candy I would have eaten her up!

"Okay Mom...enough with the pictures already!!!"

Carter, I can't get enough of you! You are looking like quite the little Fashion Rock Star...thank you for making my world a brighter place. I love you. Mom

Bella Donne

I shared recently that my sister is now open for business is San Antonio. Partnering with her best friend Cayce they have created an amazing space in Bella Bridesmaid. A very talented photographer Kristin Radicke, of Urth Studio, captured their grand opening and you can check it out on her blog. What an accomplishment for these two Bella Donne's...



Kimmi, I'm so proud of you...it's like I'm your second mom or something! I love you!