and so it begins...

I call it the three room shuffle.  I decided the office/grands nursery needed to be in the back corner bedroom instead of the front one.  

Quieter, out of the way.  Then the two front bedrooms could be true guest bedrooms.  Now that ALL our chicks have flown the nest it made sense. 

and so it begins...

It is a not huge house people, so thus the dual use room.

Office, grands nursery before

Back corner bedroom before

back corner bedroom

front corner bedroom before

I just want everyone to know that hubby was not on board.  I also want everyone to know that hubby ONLY helped move mattresses and the desk!  I am woman hear me roar!  (and be sore!)  That means I moved chests, tables, bed frames, headboards and footboards, and every single piece of crap lovely accent pieces by myself!  

Up next - the horrible in between time.

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow

Do you and your hubby have a song?  About fifteen years ago my best friend heard a song on the radio and said "ohh that is our song".  She and her husband had a "song".  Not fair, I wanted one too.  So hubby and I got together and found our song.  One that we both loved the lyrics and an added bonus, it is such a great slow dance song.  Now at almost every wedding reception you will think of us. 

Then last week, one of my favorite blogs was featuring "our song".  I can't tell you have fast I clicked, paypalled and hit send.   They are postcards.  But, I will be framing one or two.

They came yesterday!

And then the package came, and even the packaging was exciting.  I know, I am easily pleased.  

You know "our song".. you have heard it maybe, by Louis Armstrong.

Here is the post that sent me to ordering my package of 10 cards.  Hurry if you want some too, they might be sold out.

Dear Lillie

I about fell off my chair when I saw her post with "our song".  

Bright blessed days... dark sacred nights 

I hear babies cry... I watch them grow

and I think to myself... WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

Songwriters: GEORGE DAVID WEISS, GEORGE DOUGLAS, BOB THIELE

I see trees of green........ red roses too 
I see em bloom..... for me and for you 
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world. 

I see skies of blue..... clouds of white 
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights 
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world. 

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky 
Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by 
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do 
They're really sayin......i love you. 

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow 
They'll learn much more.....than I'll never know 
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world 

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky 
Are there on the faces.....of people ..going by 
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do 
They're really sayin...*spoken*(I ....love....you). 

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow 
*spoken*(you know their gonna learn 
A whole lot more than I'll never know) 
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world 
Yes I think to myself .......what a wonderful world.

Just Miss Layton

Just Miss Hadley

Bluebonnets and babies

Oh what babies will let us do.  They were asleep in the car.  We set up the picture area and woke them up.  Sat them in the bright sunshine and they didn't cry one bit.  They still look a little dazed.  And really enjoyed chewing on their dress and feet more.   

My baby with her babies in Texas Bluebonnets!  

and then I decorated a wedding cake

Wow, was I busy last weekend.  Both Moms were in town for Melissa's baby shower and about six months before I had booked a job for wedding flowers.  I'm still trying to catch up on my sleep.  

I think the cake was perfect. Simple and elegant frosting buttercream frosting and flowers.

Orchids, sunset garden roses, ranunculus and hypericum berries.  

I decorated the church before the shower and delivered the bridal party flowers.  Thanks, Lynn, Nickie and Norene for helping.   After the shower we helped drop off gifts at Mel and Sean's and then the Grand-mother's sat napped in the car while I decorated the cake and table arrangements.  

I prayed for this child

and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 

You could feel the love at Melissa's baby shower.

Now this was a cute sign in idea.  A children's book to leave a note.  

Let's start with dessert.  The cake balls had strawberry oreos inside!

There was plenty to eat.

These were the lovely friends and sisters that hosted.

Yes, these girls are resourceful and used some of the things from her first shower to decorate for this one.  Melissa is a beautiful glowing mommy to be!

Ann Marie showing off the bumper pad I made.  

These were the party favors. One of the hostesses made them.  Pretzels dipped in chocolate and sweet verses on each one.   There were also prayer cards to take home.   

Great Grand-mother's were there.

Grand-mothers too!  

Sean and Melissa are pretty set for Raylyn to arrive.  I think they just need a few more bags of diapers.  

A footstool nobody wanted, now they want to fight over.

But, it has Raylyn all over it. 

I started with a chipped wicker footstool from GW for, I don't know a dollar maybe.

It sat in my garage, then Ann Marie's garage and now it will have a true home in Raylyn's nursery.

Sneek peek below.

I added layers of soft batting.  

Staple gunned everything with one of these. Pure muscle, no fancy electricity for me.  

Pulled and stapled tight, right into the wicker frame.

Ruffled fabric sides.  I sewed together one long piece of the fabric, ironed down the top egde, hemmed the bottom edge and stapled as I ruffled.  

Almost there....

Now tell me, who doesn't love super huge pink ric rac?!

Tadaa... hot glue on that finishing touch and Mama Melissa and Daddy Sean will have nice little stool to rest their feet on for those two a.m. and four a.m feedings with Miss Raylyn. 

PS ~ I got to see Raylyn on a 4D sonogram today.  Yeah for full, chubby cheeks.  More to kiss all over.  She is absolutley perfect.   I can hardly wait and I hope the next 8 weeks go really fast!

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My Favorite Things

Sweet Potato Souffle

Not just for Thanksgiving anymore..

This was super easy and I made it the day before and just popped in the oven to heat up on the day we had our family dinner.  

The recipe did not call for pecans, but because I had some and because I love them, they ended up on top.

Recipe

Eight baked sweet potatoes

(scoop out of skin and place in a large mixing bowl)

Add:

2/3 to one cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 stick butter

1 tsp. vanilla

about one cup milk

Couple handfulls of chopped pecans (optional)

Mix with a blender until super smooth.

Place in your baking dish and heat until the edges are bubbly.

375 degree oven for about 30-40 minutes.  Covered with foil until the last five minutes.

Easter Sunday Fun

Layton is bored with it all, I guess.

Oh it just gets better every day!