I love the day of love

So many people don't like Valentine's Day but I am not one of them. Even though we should let others know how much we love them every day why not have a special day to really go all out! All things red and pink and shaped like hearts. I say YES! My kids had heart jello, heart sandwiches, heart marshmallows, and even heart ziploc bags in their lunch boxes. I stayed up late working on making love mobiles for each of them. It was a labor of love but so worth every late minute that I stayed up making them. The kids loved them and were sad when it was time to take them down. I wrote on each heart special things that I love about each one of them. I hung these by their breakfast spots then used our special heart plates and place mats and gave each one a little valentines present. Then I got up early to make pink heart pancakes and heart fried eggs to go along with our heart donuts. Mia had a swim meet that night so we had to get the love all in first thing in the morning. When the kids woke up, they loved it all and that makes my world go around!


This was Maddox's valentine's box for school. We made it a monster. He was so proud to take it to school. I saw an idea similar to Mia's shirt and decided she needed it. Thank goodness I have a mom who is much more talented with sewing than I am and could finish it for me!

And another...

The winter is a busy time for our house. Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries... it's pure craziness! Had McOlsen lived his birthday would have been between Mia and Maddox's already close birthdays. So it was Maddox's day. He is 6 years old! He wanted the lego theme party. I thought it would be easy but goodness was I wrong! You cannot buy plain lego party stuff so it must all be made. Earlier in the week I was having serious doubts but it really worked out and he had fun. I have to remind myself, that is all that matters.Everyone got their own lego cake. These were made out of a mini loaf pan then marshmallows that were cut in half. Then frosted. Time consuming but I think so worth it! Then below are the lego sugar cookies. I might have eaten one or ten of these but hey...I'm the mom of the birthday boy!





Once again I must apologize for my lack of computer skills. If my kindergartner wasn't in bed he could probably do it for me. I just wanted to show some of the decorations. I took cheap tablecloths and hung them on the wall then added matching plates to look like legos. Then I filled a hurricane with Maddox's actual legos. We liked it so much we left them for about two weeks! In the first picture above, I wrapped boxes and added circles for decorations. The possibilities are endless with this party theme.

Eight is great!

December 31st I became a little older....I became the mother of an 8 year old! It seems so old. This year her birthday fell on a Saturday so we party hard on her actual day. We had a house full of family. Some drove for hours to be here, which means the world to this momma's heart. I feel so bad for her having a birthday so close to Christmas. I hope that she always feels special especially on her birthday.

That night my parents and my brother's family joined us for our New Year's Eve tradition of going to Chuck E Cheese. I got not one picture. What is wrong with me this year? I have not been in the picture taking mood I guess! We had a really great time as always but by midnight I was extremely tired!


On a different day, Mia and I got to continue our new tradition of a birthday girl's day. She looks forward to it all year. We go to Starbucks, shopping at Justice, and her pick for lunch which both years has been Ruby Tuesday. I love that she has things to look forward to. It's fun to spend the day with just her. I hope that it is something that we can continue forever.





These were Mia's birthday treats to take to her class when school was back in session. She was really excited about them and I think they turned out really cute!

It's D Day....

Today is the day. Once so highly anticipated turned much dreaded. Today had been McOlsen's expected due date. I have thought of this day with much sorrow ever since that horrible morning in August. Those that were expecting babies the same time as me have started having their babies.

Is it possible to be so truly heartbroken and yet so blessed at one time? I am the mom of the most precious angel ever. My son had the privilege of meeting his Savior 100% pure and sinless. He will never know the hurts and pains of this world. And yet the earthly side of me wants him here. To know the fun he would have had with his siblings. To learn to swim or ride a bike. To eat his first birthday cake and lick an ice cream cone. I would have loved to know him and his personality. To hear his laugh and even his cry.

My hope after today is that I can move towards the time when I feel much more blessed and a lot less hurt.



There's no footprint too small to not leave an imprint on this earth.........

Christmas...It's never too late!

It's January and I am finally getting around to posting about our Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve at Matt's parents in Tulsa then headed for a late night drive to my parents house. I wish I would have taken a picture of our vehicle. We were so loaded that the beverly hillbillies have nothing on us. I believe at one point I suggested putting the kids in the car and then putting presents and luggage all around them. Some of my favorite memories are the same thing year after year! We got to my parent's around midnight then proceeded to stay up talking in the the morning until we couldn't stay awake any longer. Christmas morning included the usual stockings, presents, food, oh the tradition of fondue, and more food. Matt had taken off time from work so we ended up staying most of the week. It was nice and relaxing. I even got to play a game of bunko with my mom and the ladies from her church. We missed our McOlsen but know the celebration he was experiencing is like nothing we can ever imagine.





Karber tradition of Christmas fondue. Tilt your head to get the full effect :)


Another one of our traditions is to make Jesus a birthday cake.


I had to throw this one in. Maxi had his Christmas program at preschool. He had a special guest in the audience!