my hair

summer is almost here and i'm feeling like i need to switch it up a bit with my hair.  i would love anyones input on which style they like, i'm having a hard time deciding.

 style #1
 
style #2
 

style #3
 
style #4
 
i'll be heading to the salon next week and need to make up my mind!

let's build

these two were excited last saturday morning to build again.

this time, they made heart-shaped frames.

my mother's day

my husband and kids made me breakfast in bed...swedish pancakes, my fav!  when we got home from church, i opened my present...they made me a cute book! the picture on the book was from last year at mother's day.
we spent the afternoon working outside in the garden and we ran to our local home improvement store for some things for the garden.  while we were there, the kids got their face painted.

my special day wouldn't be complete without a drumstick ice cream cone...another favorite of mine!

Bryan's Bacon Brussels

i have an amazing cousin, more like a brother, Bryan. we got to spend some time with him and his family over spring break and he made this wonderful recipe for us.

i have never in my life eaten brussel sprouts, until a month ago.

preheat oven to 350 degrees.  
chop up a couple pieces of bacon and mix with the brussel sprouts that you have cut in half. drizzle some extra virgin olive oil over it and season with salt and pepper.
 
lay them on a cookie sheet and place them it the oven.  cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring them a couple of times.  they taste better when they get a little crispy. drizzle a bit of balsamic vinegar over them and eat! thanks Bryan for a yummy recipe!

Happy Mother's Day

these beauties are right outside my kitchen window. i've been hoping for another momma bird to build a nest close to our house. we had one two years ago and i just find it amazing to watch...the bird build her nest, lay her eggs, the baby birds hatch, etc.
Mother's Day is always a bit of a mixed bag of emotions for me.  it's bittersweet.

i'm grateful for my two beautiful children and the amazing story God created when He wove us together.

i grieve for the dream of wanting to experience a life grown inside of me.

i cherish the sweet kisses that my little ones place on my cheeks and their giggles as they bring me breakfast in bed.

i hurt for my children's birth mothers and the loss they must feel on this precious day.

i'm beyond thankful that God made me a mother to two precious children.

it's bittersweet.

awana awards night

the other night, we went to our kids' awana awards night.  my little guy completed his first year of cubbies and my little lady completed her second year of sparks.  i'm very proud of all their hard work and how many bible verses they have memorized.

mandy...the picture in the lower right corner is of Charles Fay,  Mr. Love & Logic.

our girls

our girls have been out in their coop for two weeks now.   they are getting bigger and bigger each week. it's nice to have their home completely built. my man built the coop out of a bunch of free pallets. our girls have caused quite the ruckus in our neighborhood.

they haven't been noisy and have been easy to care for, however, they have been a tease to all the different wildlife in our little area.  

the other morning, our neighbor who lives behind us, saw a fox and her babies and a raccoon and her babies trying to have a little chicken dinner.  luckily, our girls have not become dinner and my man did a good job making the coop like fort knox.

anyone have any tricks to keep the wildlife away?

this is betsy buttercup or bets for short. this is my little lady's favorite hen.  we also started planting our early spring garden.  i have broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, brussel sprouts, snow peas, sugar snap peas, spinach, carrots and onions planted.

i also spotted this nest by my kitchen window. the momma bird is hard at work and hopefully in a couple of days we will see some eggs.