Maximum Cuteness

Tickle Ghosts

Nana's Tickle Ghosts

Last week Addie, Preston and Taylor did a little project at Nana's house.  I actually got this idea years ago when I taught at a Montessori Preschool.  We did this every year with black construction paper.  I still have Marci's but the paper has faded. 

I decided to use canvas instead since it was on sale at Hobby Lobby.  I painted the canvas black ahead of time so we'd be set to go.

Addie did not want to have anything to do with painting the bottom of her foot white.  Taylor thought it looked like great fun.  She was giggling the whole time so Addie agreed to join in and of course Preston wanted to keep up with the gang and was eager for his turn.  Hope and I got Ella's after school.

 

Freeman Family Ghosts

 

Taylor's Ghost

Didn't they turn out cute?

Kitty Cat Brunch

I saw this cute cat pancake over at Tip Junkie and fell in love with the idea.  I knew Addie, Preston and Taylor would love them too.  They all love pancakes and they all love cats (especially Addie Cat).  It worked out purrrrfectly to have a little "cat brunch" Monday morning.  

3 Cute Cats

 Cheshire Cat?

Taylor was so cooperative when we asked her to pause for a picture.

 Preston, Nana and Addie

Taylor Jane enjoying her last few nibbles ...

 Cool Cat Preston

A cat's a cat and that's that!

The brunch was the "cat's pajamas"♥

Poor Toes

I had  

Onychocryptosis

I know . . . . Right?

I have been dealing with in-grown nails on both sides of my big toes for quite a while.  I finally got up the courage and went to a Podiatrist my good friend recommended.  It will be two weeks this Thursday since I had the little surgery and today I can honestly say I'm glad I did it! I couldn't  say that until today so I am relieved and excited.  

 "Nervous Nana"

The day after my procedure was "Grandparents Day" at Ella's school.  That was a little scary with all those cute, busy little kids in the halls and the gobs of grandparents trying to make their way to the cafeteria.  Actually, it was so crowded we ate in the Science Room.

Afterward, I really need to get off my feet so I stopped by Marci's for a little visit. Kayley was in Katy for a doctor's appointment so we had some "girl" time. Marci had rented the movie Valentine's Day.  I got to sit in the big leather chair and ottoman with my feet elevated on pillows.  We couldn't stop laughing at Preston.  He just kept staring at my big bandaged toes with the funniest look on his face. If only we knew what thoughts were churning in that cute little head.

  Thanks for a fun afternoon Marci and Kayley!

Mindful Monday

“Laughter is inner jogging.”  

                                                                                            ― Norman Cousins

Preston

via Marci

Finished Finally

I had all of these bright fun fabric pieces so I decided to
make Ella and Addie some summer skirts.

I used this pattern again

One of the things I love about it 
is it easily adapts to different sizes.

Remember these skirts from a couple of years ago?

I can't believe how much these two little girls have grown :(


I thought it would be fun to make the tops this time too...
and we couldn't leave out "the little man"
so a bow tie for Preston completed the ensemble.

Thanks for the CUTE pictures Marci!

  

 
and the beautiful setting is Diane's house....don't you just love it!



One Year Old Today!

Happy 1st Birthday 
Preston Michael Freeman

Mindful Monday

I love the idea of starting the week off with a reminder of how to prioritize things...some sort of inspiration of one kind or another. So I've decided on Monday's I'll share a thought. Here we go with the first one:

"The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls. Indeed, it is easier to 'find' ourselves because there is so much more of us to find."

~Spencer W. Kimball

We made it through the "Whirl Wind Week" ! Actually I have renamed it. It truly was a "Wonderful Week"! We love the new Orthotic's Office. Thanks again to Laura for getting us there! Hope will have her new brace in two more weeks and she is really excited about it. The new one will open in the front instead of the back. That alone will make her life so much better! The whole process was completely different this time. She didn't have to be cast. I could read Hope's mind when they told her.... "yay!" Their process is more scientific. They explained everything every step of the way. It was all about measurements and balance.

On the way home we stopped at Marci's to help with Joy School. It was perfect timing.

Preston had just decided to wake up from his nap.

Those little girls are so cute and Addie was so excited to see Hope.

That afternoon the Mia Maids came over to frost the cupcakes for New Beginnings  and make little "Courage and Strenght" flags.   Miss Kayli, our Mia Maid president, is quite an amazing little baker.  She made 3 types of cupcakes and all from scratch.  She brought lemon, raspberry and peanut butter (of which happens to be her VERY OWN recipe) Yes, she is all of 15 years old.  

She had specific instructions of how she wanted each cupcake to be frosted. 

The raspberry cupcakes were frosted 

with icing pastry bags to give them a pretty ruffled effect.

   The lemon cupcakes were frosted and then the rims

were dipped in pretty yellow shimmery sugar. AND ... 

THEN the peanut butter cupcakes...

She frosted with a Gnash frosting

and topped each cupcake with a halved miniature Reeces Peanut Butter cup.

Kayli  had extra lemon and raspberry frosting and left some with me.  It was a delicious butter cream base that she added fresh raspberries and fresh lemon zest.   I had grahm crackers with frosting in the middle for breakfast ... okay .... and lunch!

I hid the cupcakes  in the oven and had to peek at them every few hours. The oven was ooooozing happiness!  I found this cute little template HERE and the girls put together the flags lickety split.

New Beginnings was BEAUTIFUL. Heidi found Jenni Phillip's website and we based our program from her script and music "Strong and Courageous". We have some very talented girls. We loved all the music and incorporated it with several musical numbers. Three duets from our Young Women, a song that all the leaders sang to the girls (we could barely get through it) the lyrics are so poignant. Heidi showed some video clips from Jenni Phillip's program as well. We have three laurels and they were asked to talk about how reading the scriptures has increased their faith and to share their favorite examples in the scriptures. Their thoughts and testimonies were so uplifting and warmed our hearts. They are beautiful girls inside and out.
Of course everyone loved the cupcakes and Heather made a delicious punch.  I don't remember what all she put in it but it was very pretty.  I'll have to get the recipe from her.  Favor bags "Live Like You Believe", the title of the song the leaders sang to the girls.  More to be posted HERE.... soon I Promise.

Hope did really well at her Ensemble Recital. Her competition is this Saturday.

She and David are the two bassoonists in the Symphonic Band.

Cassandra's wedding was wonderful.  Cynthia really should be a wedding planner.  I don't know how she managed to pull it off.  Her mom made all the table toppers, the ring bearer pillow, the flower girl dress, just to name a few with no patterns.  She is like my grandma.  Just show her a picture and she's good to go.  Must be nice!  Sharon, Cynthia's sister, made the cake.  Beautiful three tiered fondant cake.  It was very sophisticated... all cream with little edible pearls and a monogram.  She made all the beautiful picture (that her husband Scott took) ornaments of Cassandra and Dan that we hung on the branches for the table centerpieces. What a talented family!  I wish I had more pictures, but I  was busy being a worker bee.
I took a couple before we loaded everything to take to the location.

Two of my favorite

GUYS in the whole world!

Preston and Grandad at Mack and Chery'ls Reception

Yesterday our Church and the Ephiphany Catholic Church across the street had the annual Christmas Concert.

Two Churchs ~ One Message

"Jesus is Born"

was on the title page of the program.

I loved it~

The Concert was amazing!  Both Marci and Hope participated in it.  It was professionally recorded and  I  can't wait to post  some of it. If I can't get my hands on a recording, I'm sure Marci will have something I can steal from her blog. She always lets me do that~ (thanks marci)

Mike brought Ella and Addie to the concert but little Preston is getting over a cold just like Grandad so Preston came to our house and had some one on one time with Mr. Mark.  Aren't they cute!