Because when you have matching dresses, you have to take a picture.

And you have to blog about it, whether the picture turned out decent or not.
Because everyone knows how hectic Sunday mornings are.
And trying to take a picture of three girls, and get them all to smile and look at the camera at the same time, is virtually impossible.
So you just post what you have, and expect people to say they're cute anyway.
;)

The bunny farm

There is a man that lives right down the road from us that has a yard full of bunnies all the time.

He doesn't keep them in a fence.

He lives on a busy road.

But he feeds them, and they stay there.

He is affectionately known as "The Bunny Man"

Every time Hannah's kids come to visit, we take them up to see The Bunny Man

Cozy just has a way with animals, so she was the only one who caught one, but they all took turns petting it. Olivia was especially enthralled. She was shivering with the cold, but wouldn't give up and get in the car.

I still remember Brad's mom looking at Olivia when she was just hours old and saying, "She's going to be the one to climb trees and love animals."

She was right.

Thanks Mr. Bunny Man!

This is not diet food...

...but if you haven't tried out The Pioneer Woman's Apple Fritters, you're really missing out.

Lucky for us, Brad didn't like the apples that I chose for him this week, and we just had to find someway to use them up. Yuuuummm. Try them. You'll love them too.

Cuteness

We've having a low-key day today. Not because I have the time to do that, just because I'm going to take the time. I want to soak up all this sweetness and enjoy it to its full potential. I've been reminded too many times lately of how quickly these little ones grow up. I don't ever want to look back with regret for not spending enough time with them. So we're headed to a friend's house later this morning to swap babysitting while we vote, but other than that, it will be play time and enjoying and exploring the great outdoors together.

I just can't get enough of this little monster...

Fun in the sun

We sure are enjoying these beautiful spring days. Most of our time is spent outdoors playing in the sand and water table, swinging on the playset, or making mud puddles. Welcome, spring!

Limiting God

"And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread."
Mark 8:16

I literally laughed out loud when I read this passage. I don't ever remember reading it before, and it caught me off guard. In the very same chapter in Mark, Jesus fed the 4,000 with seven loaves. Two chapters before that, He fed 5,000+ with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. I don't know how much time passes between these verses, but it seems like a relatively short time after the feeding of the 4,000 that they get in the boat with Jesus, and He is taking an opportunity to teach them about the leaven of the Pharisees. The apostles are listening closely soaking in every word of Jesus' teaching. Not quite. They are whispering among themselves about forgetting to bring bread on the boat with them.

I love Jesus' response starting in vs. 17:
Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, "Why are you talking about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed? 18 You have eyes, but you don't really see. You have ears, but you don't really listen. Remember when 19 I divided five loaves of bread for the five thousand? How many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food?" They answered, "Twelve." 20 "And when I divided seven loaves of bread for the four thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food?" They answered, "Seven." 21 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand yet?"

How many times do I do this same thing? In so many areas of my life, I limit God. I see His wondrous works, I know He can do anything, but I get anxious - worried - about little things. I doubt that He has time, or cares enough to take care of the "little" things.

31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 7:31-33

This mama's been sewing again!

I "met" Ashley via her blog several months ago. Since then, I've adored the things she makes for her daughter using recycled t-shirts. I was so excited when she started selling her patterns, and I couldn't wait to try them out on my little girls. Does is seem like I'm partial to one little girl when making clothes?? Well, this dress was actually intended for Kathryn, but the size was a little off. Don't worry, though, Kate will not be left out. She is so excited about designing her own dress and can't wait until next Wednesday to go with Nana to the thrift store. We go with Nana on Wednesdays so we can get the senior citizen's discount ;). You can't beat $0.70 a shirt! I made this little dress for under $3.00!! And look how much fun she's having in it ;).

You can buy Ashley's patterns here
This is the Sienna dress with a few alterations. I like short sleeves better, and I liked the idea of them being cuffed, so I bought some ribbed knit for the neck and sleeves. There are a couple of changes I will make next time I make it, but overall the pattern was very easy to use and the dress was so fun to create. I've tried out another one of Ashley's patterns, and I can't wait to show you pictures, but you'll have to wait until a certain someone has a birthday :).

Only One Thing is Important

"But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and upset about too many things. Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will never be taken away from her.' " Luke 10:41-42, New International Children's Bible

I love reading out of different versions. It makes passages I've read over and over come to life in a whole new way. This was one of them for me. I was reading out loud to the girl's today, and their Bible was closest to me when I sat down, so I read them Luke 10, and the story of Mary and Martha jumped out at me in a way it never had before. I know I've probably read it a thousand times, and yes, I got the main jest of it, but today, I really saw myself.

I have had so much going on the last two weeks, and between sickness, taking care of kids, sick husband, laundry, house cleaning, sewing business, dishes, meals, etc, etc, etc, I had forgotten "the one thing that is important". When I read this passage today, this is what I heard, "Micah, Micah, you are getting worried and upset about too many things."

Today is a new day.
This is the day I will start fresh, and will not worry or be upset about all the things that I think have to be done.
This is the day I will put all my trust in the LORD.

Pigtails

A big loss, and a BIG birthday

It started good, then it took a turn for the worse... I'm tired of reliving the loss over and over again. That's part of living in the city of the losing Superbowl team. It's everywhere you turn. At least we had a good party...

Somebody had to take care of the kids, while the rest of us sat on the edge of our seats. Thanks, Trent, for not caring who won the game, and wiping the icing off my little girl's face :)

Click on the picture to enlarge, then check out who our "pizza experience" was managed by. No wonder it was so good!

Happy 70th, PawPaw!!! It was a great way to celebrate!

The whole gang. Can you tell this was before the game was over?? ;)

Cut and paste, cut and paste

Livie is my little crafter. She loves to help me with my sewing projects. Whenever I say, "Okay girls, I need to get some orders done!" She is quick to say, "I'll help!" Usually that means she wants to hand me the pins, or put them away after I'm done, or "push the green go button" on my sewing machine. But her very favorite thing to do is cut and paste. She gets in a zone and will do this for an hour without coming up for air.

Sweetness...

Go Colts!!!

We had a super fun night last night watching the game with friends and family, and celebrating our huge victory over the Jets. Superbowl, and Saints, here we come!!
Go Colts!!!!
For those not interested in football, or even worse, those who don't like the Colts (haters! ;), here's a picture of my cutie patootie. Happy Monday!

Be sure to head on over to Jamie's blog, and check out her hairbow giveaway. You can enter, just don't win, because I'm going to ;).

Christmas at Opryland

This is one of our very favorite Christmas traditions. Every year we head to Opryland to see the lights and eat at a fabulous dinner buffet. This year we went on Christmas Eve and expected it to be crazy busy. Thankfully, it was just about right. There were still lots of people there, but not as many as we expected. Dinner was sooo good, and the sights were amazing.