Another Goodbye

Ok for starters, I have had way to many friends move away this year!  Seriously friends, you must stop!  No one is allowed to move away anymore, K? On that note, anyone wanna be my friend since everyone is leaving?

We had a good bye party for our friend Matt & Liane a few weeks ago, they are off on a new journey into Kansas City! Have you ever had a friend that just touches your life, the one that makes an impression that will never go away? Well that is Liane,  she is such a sweet and dear friend to my heart!  She is just one of the best people I know, she loves the Lord with her whole heart and anyone who is around her for more than a minute knows that!  Her example has just inspired me, and she has been right by my side during some tough tough times.  She is full of grace and wisdom and is going to be such a good mom someday, can't wait!  Kansas City is a very lucky city indeed, they now have this treasured woman!

 There really isn't anything better than celebrating great friends surrounded by the beauty in Colorado.

  I didn't really know how to theme and "good bye" party, and actually pinterest wasn't even very helpful on this one.  I saw one idea with globes and did my own spin on things doing a picnic/map theme.  Kinda random but it worked. 

I got state maps for Colorado, Kansas & Missouri, and I also got a few US maps, and guess what?? they were totally free!  Yep, I am a AAA member and I just called them up and asked if I could have some maps and they mailed them to me, I didn't even have to go pick them up with my train of children to lug inside!  Then I got the maps laminated for like a nickle at Mardel to make them a little more sturdy.

Along with the maps, I incorporated :

a picnic table cloth,

some mason jars with red twine

flowers

red licorice

red & white paper straws

a picnic basket

oh and lots of food (thanks to the help of all my friends!)

Oh, and I pulled a few strings and got a fire truck to roll in mid party, even while they were busy fighting a huge fire down the street, thanks guys!

Norah wasn't a huge fan of the inside of the fire truck

  Did I mention Matt and Liane don't have kids, but there were 12 kids at the party!

And how Matt & Liane have loved all of these kids

a little ladder golf

some eating

 

and then just handing out

and way to soon it was time for goodbyes

I feel so pale and tall next to my petite Asian friend

   This group of friends will never be the same without you guys

Norah's Box

Lately thinking of a few things to take with you from your home during an emergency and/or fire has crossed my mind and I am sure a few others that live here in Colorado.

Other than our fire safe box (with all the important docs) the first thing that came to my mind to take was Norah's box.  I have boxes for all of my girls,  "baby boxes."  Does anyone else have these? 

You know boxes, with some of their baby stuff with their importants? Like their hospital bands, ultra sound photos, first hair cut, etc.  Am I weird, or do other people have these, my mom did so I just think it is normal, but is it? See

Sarah's box, Maya's & Norah's

Ok, so Norah's box is different than my other kids, besides the obvious art that I didn't do. It probably isn't like the typical baby box, it has things that are relevant toward her mommy Carrisa, things that will probably be more important to her as she becomes older.  When Carrisa died I tried to take a few things from her home that I felt might be important, but I really didn't know, it's all a blur. My mom had the box for a while, but now we do.  So welcome to Norah's box....

Carrisa's memorial service program and obituary

A onesie made for Norah, I don't know if Carrisa made this or someone else?

I found this PJ set in Norah's closet at Carrisa's house that she had set aside for when Norah was older. well Norah has worn it, many many times and out grown in, but I want her to keep it because it was special from her mommy

this is a book of special words for Norah, from other people, reminding her of memories of her mommy.  If you want to add to it you still can!

Carrisa's adult bible

Carrisa's baby bible

Norah's hand print

Carrisa's jewelry box, remembering her love for Mr. Mayer

a blankie

words of encouragement/advice Carrisa got at her baby shower. 

Unfortunately I don't know the relevance of every item, like who made it, or why it was kept,  but I do know that it is special and the thought of losing things like this (in a fire per se) is not something I want to picutre.   I know I know, store up your treasure in heaven, so true, but these are memories, gifts for Norah that I think she was meant to have on earth even if for just briefly. Something to connect her to her mother, something that I cannot replace, something I would rather not lose in a natural disaster.

And then there are a few special memories that start with us, like Norah's new name and her dedication to the Lord. 

 

A new start, without forgetting the past

What would you take?

Embrace the Camera July 5th

An oldie but a goodie, how about we Embrace the Camera today, brought to you by this lovely blogger.

I realized the other day I hadn't taken any photos with my girlies lately.  So what better thing to do than have someone take a family photo on the 4th of July, so that is exactly what I did, see!

Oh and Maya decided she wanted to be a photographer yesterday and took this photo of Norah and I, love it!

These are the days

These are the days

I hardly ever eat sitting down.....

really sometimes after making breakfast, feeding Sarah, emptying the dishwasher, watching the cat eat (yes she won't eat unless I watch her), brushing hair, changing a diaper, pouring milk, getting vitamins, feeding the baby more and cleaning up a kitchen mess, I have almost forgotten to eat at all.

My mornings are a clashing symphony, they are chaos, loud, and sometimes obnoxious but somehow routine and organized in a strange way.

I usually don't look in the mirror at all, seriously who has time for that?

Some mornings by noon I realize I haven't brushed my teeth (way nasty, I am a hygienist) Then I freak out and brush for like 10 minutes. 

By mid morning there are already a pile on the stairway, a collection of things for me to take upstairs (I try to take a load up every time I walk upstairs)

I clean the kitchen WAY to many times a day.  I really can't leave dishes all day...they get so nasty and gross and harder to clean, plus I stress out if the kitchen gets out of control.

I have to pick things up off the floor non stop, because I have a little human vacuum who has already pooped out a pile of stickers and glitter sequence (for real)

Sometimes I just resort to putting food directly on the floor (it's good for her immune system)

I say "No" way to often (trying to work on that)

I have to break up fights, and put children in time out

 I usually never go to the bathroom by myself, yet my girls demand "I need privacy!" when they go, sheesh

There is usually many moments of crying (I mean, it's all girls living here)

We are usually never at home all day because of many of these reasons, but some days I love to be at home simpy because of many of these reasons

Like seeing this smiling face every time she wakes up, she is always so happy!!

Or when I see how much they love each other, or simply show it

 

Or  when we cuddle on the couch

Or when we play "road trip to Texas" for the 20th time

Or when we just stop and dance

Sometimes I just want things to "feel" easier for me, for the girls to be more independent, but then some days I just don't want them to grow up at all, I want to cuddle their tiny bodies forever......

And today I just want them to stop and be little. Forever.