:: Crafts - end of school year treats

It was Ava's last day of preschool today.

They had a little program that the parents were able to watch.

Talk about adorable.

I found this cute "end of school year" bag topper

from Anything But Perfect.

And thank goodness we have a WinCo near us.

That's where we bought the yummy candy (for cheap).

We gave them to each of her classmates.

So, go here to print these free printables!

Oh, and guess what Ava wants to be when she grows up?

A ballerina and a dentist.

{I guess the visit to the dentist's office wasn't a complete failure.}

Although, when I ask her, she always seems to say "a ballerina, a dentist, and a nurse."

Look at my little multi-tasker!

Happy Memorial Day!

I'm so grateful for days like these where we can remember

and pay tribute to those that have served and are serving this country.

My grandparents both served and so did the hubby's grandfather.

I am grateful for their example!

Happy Memorial Day!

:: Outings - blueberry farm

Every spring we make a trip to the blueberry farm not too far from us.

The girls love it and when it's not too hot, I love it too.

We went there yesterday and the weather was perfect.

We spent maybe 45 minutes there,

picked our pint of blueberries and left.

Such a perfect morning activity.

Do you have U-pick farms near you?

There's a strawberry one that I've been wanting to try out.

:: Tasty - freckled lemonade

The other day I opened my fridge and this jug of lemonade was staring at me.

I all of the sudden had flashbacks of when I was pregnant with Reese and we were at Red Robin.

I kept on having refill after refill of the deliciousness they call "freckled lemonade".

Good thing I had some frozen strawberries in my freezer.

I was able to make it right then and there.

Unfortunately, there were little eyes staring at me and my delicious concoction,

 so I had to share.

All you need is lemonade and frozen strawberries.

Let the frozen strawberries thaw in the lemonade for about 10 minutes before drinking.

And then you'll have a tasty freckled lemonade.

Will be linking to these linking parties here.

:: Family Happenings - graduation

So, I've been MIA for the past week.

Sorry.

We've been busy and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Yesterday was graduation.

Which means we've had family in town and I've been using all my free time with them.

I'm so proud of my husband.

He's worked so hard for this goal!

Law School isn't easy.

But he did it!

Here are a few instagram pics from the day . . .

On our way to graduation.

And a few pics from my camera . . .

Congrats to all of you graduates!

:: Design - graduation announcements

This is what I've been working on all morning.

The hubby's graduation announcements.

His graduation is this upcoming Sunday.  Oops.

And, yes, he's so embarrassed about the picture.

He says he looks all "high and mighty".

But he's not.

  Don't be fooled.

By they way, I love washi tape.  Do you?

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

What a special day to celebrate all the amazing women out there.

I first want to say how grateful I am to be a mother.

It's not the most glamorous job, or the most exciting, at times.

You get to wake up multiple times during the night,

 you have to deal with multiple diaper changes during the day, 

have to deal with an endless amount of temper tantrums.

Messy faces, runny noses, ER visits.

Oh and this list could go on and on.

But it truly is an amazing calling.

The rewards far outweigh these tasks.

Like on those nights that I lay down with Ava and she tells me I'm her "best friend".

Or when Reese comes running to me when I come home from work.

It's little things like these that make it all worth it.

I love this job.

Here are a few things the girls made me.

I'm also so grateful to be raised by my amazing mother.

I'm the person I am today, because of her.

And my mother-in-law?

She's a wonderful woman too.

Always so thoughtful.

And she raised an amazing man that does so much for our family.

And for those who haven't been able to have children, or adopt,

or get married and have children. 

 This day is as much for you as it is for me.

I have cried with many that have had miscarriage after miscarriage, 

or have had a child die,

 or have waited months to adopt,

or have experienced the heartache of not being able to find the one to be married to

and because of that, not being able to have the family they've dreamed of.

This day is for you too.

You help teach my children.

You are amazing women/mother's to the children of the world.

We appreciate you!

Happy Mother's Day!

:: Food - fast homemade wheat pizza

It was 4pm yesterday and I hadn't even begun to think about dinner.

{let's get real . . . that's how most of my days are}

One of the blogs I follow had a recipe for some fast homemade wheat pizza.

It looked tasty and pretty easy for so late in the afternoon.

And it was.

By 6 we were all eating.

It may not look like The Busy Budgeting Mama's, but it sure was delicious.

Ava even told me I was "the best maker of pizza".

She ate it all . . . even the crusts.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

:: embrace the camera 05.10.12

I took some pictures for my husband's law school graduation announcement {that was a mouthful}.This area we went to had so many beautiful buildings.So I had the hubby take a few of the girls and I.
Oh, how I love them!

{the photos and the girls}

:: Mother's Day - crafts

Mother's Day is almost here.

Are you ready?

I really need to mail a few special packages within the next few days.

Well, here's some cute Mother's Day printables

and crafts that I've found recently. . .

Source: myblessedlife.net via Amy on Pinterest

:: inexpensive mother's day canvas

Source: papercoterie.com via Amy on Pinterest

:: free printable from paper coterie

Source: smittenblogdesigns.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

::  Mother's Day Brunch printable (hope the hubby is reading this . . .)

Source: tiffkeetch.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

:: mother's day card

Source: thecreativeplace.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

:: printable gift idea

Source: ourdailyobsessions.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

:: the girl's made these for their grandmothers last year and since I've been
getting a ton of traffic from pinterest, I thought I'd post it again.
This one that Ava made me two years ago, is still hanging on my fridge!