days of nuwanda

Double Digits!!!

My oldest turned 10 on Saturday. Holy cow, how did we get into double digits already?! I tried to convince Jacob to let me throw him a big party--even renting a bouncy house playplace--but he just wanted a few friends for an overnighter. (He's definitely a small-group kind of kid. I should've known better.) And they had a great time. :)

Jacob didn't want a regular birthday cake either. He requested my zucchini chip bread that is his all-time favorite. Candles in zucchini bread? Definitely a first for me. :)

I love the unique individual this boy is! He marches to his own beat, a quality I admire. It's a great privilege to watch him grow, form opinions of the world, and decide who he is. 

7 years of little girl fun

My little girl turned 7 today. Man, time is a flyin' :)

She looked in the mirror this morning and said, "Wow, I do look seven now!" Indeed. 

On Sunday we're having a girls-only Hello Kitty party at our house. Pray for me as I somehow stay sane with 12 hyper little girls. Oh and we're having a candy buffet. And lots of coffee. Candy for the kids; coffee for me. I must be crazy. :)

T-shirt Tuesday

Faithful Friday

Keep Calm Wednesday

Can I get an AMEN?!

T-shirt Tuesday

Wow, is this ever true! :)

My new green-ish thumb

I am so not a plant person. I kill plants without even trying. Just by looking at them. Just by being in the same room. I tell people I raise kids instead of plants because at least they cry when they're hungry. :) But when I saw this succulent at the store, man, I just fell in love. It's so beautiful, I just knew I was supposed to take it home with me. 

So the kids and I found this cute plant stand (to match the one my sweet MIL gave me) and we brought this plant-aka-piece-of-artwork home with us to surprise Daddy.

And he was surprised! Because I'm about the last person on Earth to go out and buy a plant. 

Two days after we bought her home, she bloomed! 

Happy pink and yellow blooms that are now open. 

I know...it's just a plant, and my excitement seems a little over the top, but this is the first plant that ever liked me. My Man usually buys plants, cares for them, maintains them, but this was all me. And she's still alive. :) I almost want to name her....almost...

Here are some fun edits...

Faithful Friday

New music

tobyMac's new album Eye On It is out this week! This guy is such a great artist. I started buying his music for my kids, but now I'm a real fan. 

And somebody somewhere seriously LOVES ME because iTunes is streaming the upcoming not-yet-released Matchbox Twenty album for free right now. The entire album. All the songs. For free. All day long. Awesome.  :) (Did I mention I'm a big fan?) This is their first album in a long time, so I'm pumped. Rob Thomas has only improved over time. The song "She's So Mean" is just so wicked, but I can't help but love it. 

Keep Calm Wednesday

T-shirt Tuesday

A friend posted this on FB, and I chuckled. :)

New MPJ

Matthew Perryman Jones' new album is outstanding. (New in May, so not really all that new). Perhaps it is even epic. I have listened countless times. This title song is a grand finale. "You cannot love in moderation..." 

Crack Brownies

I love trying new recipes, and I save the really good ones to try when friends come over. So game night with K & A seemed like the perfect time to try these amazing caramel brownies that everyone was raving about over at FrugalGirls. Besides, if you're gonna make crazy-addictive-caramel-brownies (aka, Crack Brownies) you need some people to share them with, right?

Well, these brownies did not disappoint. They were quick and easy to whip up (just enough time to melt the caramels while the first part of the cake baked), and they were gone very quickly. There were a couple leftover for the kiddos the next day, which was nice, but I was glad they were then gone and out of my mind.

These brownies are not for the faint of heart--they pretty much require a fork b/c of the ooey-gooey deliciousness of the caramel and the melted chocolate chips. And you must go into the baking stage with a determination to share and not eat the whole pan before they even have a chance to cool. Seriously, say it outloud and coach yourself..."I will share, I will share, I will share..."

This recipe is a keeper! Go here for the full recipe. But consider yourself warned b/c they are ridiculously good, and you will want more than one. 

Preschool begins

Last week Harrison started preschool--5 days/week, all morning. He was super psyched and ready to jump in, in true Harrison style.

In the past I would've thought my youngest heading off to preschool would seem more momentous, but the day came and went without much fanfare, besides the photos and his excitement, of course. I guess watching my kids grow up becomes more normal over time, so to speak. It's sorta old hat to watch them go off to school, getting used to a new environment, making new friends, and doing just fine for a few hours without me.

Maybe it's a mother's pride that makes this transition easier--pride in how well they are doing, how they're growing up into these established, well-rounded people, pride in the part I've played in getting them ready...

Lord, thank you for these amazing children. :)

Home for a bit

My Man is home for a couple weeks--YAY! He did bring me a new mug from his home-away-from-home, so I do enjoy some perks of his travel regime. :)