Happy Birthday MARY BLAKE and COLLINS!

Mary Blake and Collins have had all of their parties together - for 9 years now. What I love most about it, is that I get it all over with in one party is that they have never once complained or asked for anything but to have their parties together. I know that this won't be forever. For now, I am thankful.  Thankful for two sweet kiddos with sweet buddies. And I am thankful for Skate Zone for accommodating 50 kiddos.

 For presents, we asked for donations to the animal shelter. We got a ton of stuff!! The kids got to deliver the gifts this morning. The shelter was very pleased.

Phone pics from last week

Organization is not one of my strengths. BUT with 4 kiddos and {thankfully} hand-me downs from 4 boys {thank you Rebekah and Hayley!} and tiny closets I have to be somewhat organized. This past weekend my parents kept all the kids and I dumped out all of the random bins and garbage bags I had collected and started organizing....

I went from this...

and this

and this

and this

to THIS!!!!!! looks so simple and easy, but believe me...it wasn't

Collins' first time to wear a sports coat to church. Thanks to Ms. Coppie and Will for giving it to us!

this makes me happy. waiting on the popcorn.

Collins got glasses! He is just too much in these. I know I am his mama, and I am biased....but really - look at that face.... just made for some glasses

We got this magazine in the mail and we thought Mary Blake looked a lot like the cover!!!

Nicole's Shower

i love to plan a baby shower. thank you sarah largen for your inspiration. i used a lot of your ideas from hap's shower!

painted a "k" from joanns, cups were baby gifts to my babies, flowers from jody's, baby carriage i found on etsy

love some striped straws - found these on etsy. i made the garland out of baker's twine and scraps of fabric.

fabric was leftover from an outfit i made griffin for his first birthday.

bottled coke! so fun. i put them in a old crate that brad's mom had.

ginger's pottery. flowers from jody's.

yummy desserts! Gabbie Benson made the precious sugar cookies.

thank you lis for letting me borrow your 3-tiered tray!

Bedtime happenings and new undies

i love it when they stick their little bottoms in the air

wren got this blanket for christmas...it has a hood and mittens. one night i was making my rounds and found collins wrapped up in wren's blanket!

Griffin got some new undies for Christmas. He really loves them :)

Wren trying out the new undies too

Christmas Break is Over

I'd be lying if said I wasn't a little relieved that Christmas break is over. It is hard keeping all 4 content all day. I also decided to take on rearranging rooms/re-painting rooms. Not a good idea when everybody is out of school. BUT I will really miss a some things about Christmas break: ~Every morning Brad bringing Wren to me in the bed and we would snuggle for another 30-40 minutes before everyone starting waking up ~Watching Wren and Griffin play together and really acting like brothers ~The big kids playing with the littles and enjoying themselves. It just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside ~Not having to be anywhere at anytime - I honestly did not wear a watch the whole break ~Not having to get the little ones up from a nap to pick up the big kids from school Here we go 2013. We have our lunches packed and are ready!