Roy G. Biv

 I saw this awesome craft and knew I had to try it.

Wasn't sure how to do it or if it would work.

It did.

We made rainbows.  So bright and so beautiful.

The very next night I had the honor of hearing Maya Angelou speak and she used rainbows as her theme.



 Quoting scripture from Genesis, she shared that rainbows are a sign of hope.

 And then explained that each of us has the opportunity to be a rainbow

to anyone and everyone around us.

We are all rainbows.

I thought of these rainbows that we had made just the day before.

 Each so obviously different.

 Both so obviously beautiful in their own way.

 Just like us.

 We can all be rainbows of hope to those around us.

You never know whose day you might change, whose life you might touch today.

Just by being colorful, wonderful you.

You & Me

During the day, I usually have music on in the house - praise and worship, oldies, country, folk, Beiber.

No, not Beiber.  Well, only on Fridays...when Ellenie requests it.

But I am always looking for "good" children's music. 

Children's music that I actually enjoy kind-of-music.

Put it on in the background while we craft kind-of-music.

Music that we can sing alot with, not scream along with kind-of-music.

We have loved Elizabeth Mitchell for years now and I was pleased to find something similar in Frances England a while back.  They both have some great original songs and some great re-makes of some classics.

There is one song that just says it all about the way I'm feeling right now.

Listen to it here.

(it's the last song on the Family Tree cd)

You and Me

by Frances England

 You and me, happy as can be

Flying through the park on our bikes

On a Sunday afternoon

You and me, rolling on the floor

Practicing your somersaults, cartwheels,

Your donkey kicks and more… 

How did you grow so big overnight

How did you get so smart and bright

Yesterday you were asleep in my arms

  Today you’re growing off the charts

 I’m so proud of you.

You and me, drawing pictures wild and free

While the paint goes flying,
Your big smile brightens up the room
 

You and me, reading books in bed

Your head on my shoulder,

Your eyes on the pages ahead

How did you grow so big overnight

How did you get so smart and bright

Yesterday you were asleep in my arms
Today you’re growing off the charts

 

I’m so proud of you.

Owl bet it was a great party!

Months ago, I saw the cutest idea for a little girls birthday party and immediately thought of Lillianna.

As her birthday got closer, we knew an outdoor party would be HOT

 so we decided on a Night Owl Pajama Party!

It was so much fun to plan this party!

Because owls are so popular, there were tons of clever ideas online and several owl products that popped up before our eyes....like this one that greeted guests on our front porch!

Food was easy with pizza, fruit, owl cupcakes, pretzel sticks (to make their nests).

The decor was super fun.

  I loved making some stuff that the girls have loved playing with since.

  Also, a friend loaned us his fabulous owl collection which added a perfect touch around every corner.

Loved making all the felt owl decorations...I used a pattern I found to make big stuffed ones, flat ones to hang, and as the pattern for the girls to paint on canvas.  I also made a few mini ones, decided to fill with corn (we were out of beans) and knew we could have a precious bean bag toss.

  One cardboard box later, we had a great game for the girls to play while we made dinner plates.

As a present from us, Lillianna got an owl nightgown (and a mini matching one too!)

 that I had made from here to wear to the party.

Hooooo-ray!

The party is about to start!

After a reading of Little Hoot, we were ready to paint our own little hoots...

All the girls had so much fun and did such a good job! (No spills!  No stains!)

I always love a good masterpiece keepsake!

Then, after eating it was time for a story...

you know, the one about the full moon and the baby owls that need to be adopted?

Me neither but I made it up on the spot (forgot that detail) and they loved it!

Each little girl received a baby owl wrapped in it's own rainbow baby blanket (see them in the crib), an adoption card, and care instructions.
 They were mesmerized!

All the Mamas and baby owls hooting hello to you!

Started to make my own adoption cards, but once I saw these, I knew I could save A LOT of time.

Plus, the poems were so precious and made each owl so special!

Next up, the pinata!  We went to a local party store for balloons and came out with this cute guy.

Filled with some candy, gum, and some home made owl stickers...it was a hit!

After this, they had just enough time to snuggle in their jammies

 with their baby owls and watch Bubble Guppies.  Then, it was time to go home to slumber.

I have to say, the party was a real HOOT!

They were all so sweet and had so much fun.  

And a slumber party with cousins was the cherry on top to a perfect time.

What a day!

It was today.

And my reaction was similar to Ellenie's.

Sheer shock and disbelief.

She was excited.

  Her first words this morning as I woke her up were, "I'm excited but I have to get my eyes open."

And I wasn't going to rain on her parade one bit...even though I had enough tears to rain for several hours.

I really didn't know I'd feel like this - 

a big ball of sadness, excitement, thankfulness, and more sadness all sitting in my throat.

I'm so proud and excited that she's starting school, so proud and excited that she'll love it and do so well.

  I am and will be bursting with pride with each accomplishment and each milestone.

I'm just so sad that it's the end of an era.

The end of having her under my wing all day.

The end of morning craft time and treasure hunts.

The end of knowing what happened each moment of her day (and being a part of them).

The end of our "turkey and cheese" lunches together on the back porch or at the park.

The end of reading books and snuggling before nap.

The end of day trips to special events or beautiful places and big trips to see family and friends.

The end of morning tea parties, picnics, and dress-up times...in our pajamas.

Now I know I still have weekends to do these things but...

it's just not the same.

It's the end of an era that I'm afraid I'll miss forever.

Change is hard.

Ellenie started her preschool this week too.

It's only for a few hours two days a week but all I can think about is how I'm going to blink...

And she'll leave my little nest too.

Every parent knows how fast they grow up...how quickly the time goes by.

Every parent feels this sadness or anxiety about it too.

Today, though, I feel it all:

Grateful and blessed to have had all precious moments with my sweet Lillianna these six years.

Amazed at all we've done, seen, been.

Sad that from this day on, it won't be quite the same.

Excited to see what the next chapter will bring.

Confident that it will be just as full of joy, love, and happiness.

What a feeling.  What a day.