Hope you are full of joy today because of God’s crazy incredible love for us.
Happy Easter.
Archives for March 2013
March 29, 2013 By 4 Comments
Insta Friday
Today is Harper’s birthday + Good Friday. Makes for kind of a stellar day. I’m sure I’ll be blowing my Instagram feed up with this lovely little 6-year-old lady. She’s my sanity and love. She makes my day. Come check us out at pitterpatterart
I know two little boys who are going to be pumped to find Darth and Yoda in their Easter bucket. Star Wars for Easter…it’s just how we roll.
He’s kind of got this crazy cool swaggar going on. I fear the teenage years.
Prepping for our birthday week. We gave Amon a little walker for his birthday on Monday and then he took his first steps on Tuesday. I’d say we totally got our $20 money worth.
I would like to re-live his birthday over and over and over again. He is just delightful.
This was our waiter for lunch one day. I thought he was pretty cute.
He studies and examines everything. He could look at books for days. I really love this about him.
I found the kids man handling this dead mole. Huddy was super empathic when I told him the mole was dead…”Well now he just looks sad.” and “But he was so furry.” The best part was when I said, “Why did you pick up a dead mole?”…Harper’s reply, “Well we didn’t know it was a dead mole, we just thought it was poop.” OH.WOW. Well that makes it all better.
I’ll admit it. This kid completely melts me…and I’m totally okay with that.
3 days left…I can do it. #70miles
Birthday prep for a girl who adores color. That’s my kind of girl.
Harper’s 6th birthday door. My most favorite one we’ve done for her yet. Her exact words, “This is awesome.” She has my heart.
She asked for donuts for breakfast. Boom. Can’t believe I now have a 6-year-old. Say it ain’t so. I feel too blessed by this lady kid. She’s the best.
Birthday cake. She requested a big chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting and “lots and lots of sprinkles”. Ask and you shall receive. #nosuchthingastoomanysprinkles That’s my girl.
Hope you have an incredible Easter weekend. So thankful for a Savior who defeated death, took on my nasty sins and saved the world. That’s a mad kind of love.
Happy Friday!
March 28, 2013 By 4 Comments
Running Them Ragged
I like chill days at home. I’m not one of those people who has to go out and go places…I am perfectly good to just stay and stay and stay at home. It’s just part of who I am. I mentioned we’re on springer break right now and so far the weather had not been cooperating…until late yesterday. So good weather and having some errands that just had to be done meant we went…and we went hard. That meant some driving and some fun and a meal out with me and all 4 kiddos and Amon napping on the go. We threw caution to the wind and schedules out the door. It was fun.
Amon held us all hostage briefly before we hit the road. He’s too cute to be taken too seriously. We revolted.
We’ve been mailing packages.
We’ve been picking out Easter treats for cousins. I let Harper pick surprises for her girl cousins and the boys got to pick them out for their boy cousins. Huddy came up to me with arms full of swords. Nothing says “Praise Jesus” or “Happy Resurrection” like a sword. Nothing.
And yes, that is a temporary tattoo of some character I don’t know right in the middle of his forehead. They were left unattended with a wet wash cloth and temporary tattoos. They cannot be trusted.
We went to the Lego Store…which is amazing. But I’m thinking about petitioning Lego to make more girl Lego sets. Harper was a bit ticked about the only one small section of girlish Legos VS an entire store of more boy geared Legos. She was though the only one who left the store with a purchase, but this is only because money burns a hole in the boys’ pockets and they didn’t have enough money. They’ll learn one day.
We hit up the Disney Outlet Store. Loved it! The boys figured out if they put their money together they could afford yet again, more weapons. What is wrong with them 🙂 So they ended up buying another sword, a “real” axe and the spikey ball slinger thing…for lack of better wordage.
We even ate lunch at nearly 1’oclock. We have been cray! Living on the springer break edge for sure. And we ate at the Rainforest Cafe which was super fun. We had never been so all the animals and the rain storms in the restaurant were rad. They loved it.
Amon just chilled the whole time. He’s cool like that. Easiest baby ever.
And then after all that we hit up Dairy Queen for some icecream and went to the park. The weather is amazing and it only seemed fitting that we keep our crazy fun going.
Pretty sure we’re all going to crash like…now. But, hold up, not yet…we still have to do a quick dinner and then onto soccer practice. Then they’ll crash and I’ll begin Harper’s birthday cake and a few decorations. Today was a busy, fun-to-the-max kind of day and tomorrow will be just as good.
Happy Thursday!
March 26, 2013 By 11 Comments
Springer Break
So I totally cracked myself up with the title of this post. Come on now…don’t play dumb. You know you remember the amazingly terrible Jerry Springer show called Springer Break where he took his wonderfully trashy little show out on the road to some Spring Break hot spot like Panama City and let the drama ensue via the road. Oh the memories. Even funnier thing is…I remember having to watch it at friend’s houses because my mom had certain channels blocked for this very reason.
We are enjoying a week off from everyone’s school for spring break. So far it has been quite uneventful minus Amon’s epic birthday yesterday. I had grand visions of all kinds of crazy fun…mostly happening outside our house in amazing spring weather…and so far we have had only craptastic cold weather. We’re talking cold and icy, which even kept me from running this morning after I almost busted just walking down our back 2 steps. I am not about to risk a leg/ankle/foot injury. I just don’t have the patience or the time right now 🙂 My miles are going to be cutting it super close this month. But I still have 6 days left.
This is what a Tennessee snow storm looks like. Yep. That’s all it takes for Tennesseans everywhere to flock to every grocery store within the vicinity and buy out every last loaf of bread, gallon of milk and carton of eggs. We’re crazy yo! And this is right before both boys licked snow off our canoe. Harper was having no part of that nastiness.
We’ve been doing lots of artsy stuff. Of course. Harper just never gets tired of crayons and paint. The boys never get tired of scissors and tape. I hope they are always in love with their creativity and imagination.
Huddy looks older to me today. It’s like he aged over night.
I’m fairly confident he could belong in any number of Wes Anderson’s films. He would make for a most excellent character…that is for sure.
Harper is pretty darn pumped for her birthday. She’s actually ecstatic. She is the funniest little thing and surprisingly hard to buy for. When we ask her what she wants, she gives a consistent “I don’t know” and a “It’s a gift Mom, just buy something you think I would like.” Totally cracks me up.
Does anyone else have strange kids? I know you do. Mine are over the moon quirky and I love that about them. “Plays” or “Puppet shows” have been the choice of activity today. I’ve never quite seen a play or puppet show like this before though. Poor little animals…just dangling there buy a scarf. #strangekids
And I’m pretty pumped about a new change. Let’s see if you can guess what I’m excited about.
Dishwasher Before
Dishwasher After
Did you see that? Boom. Once again I have the top rack of my dishwasher back. So long bottle cage thing. I always cut my babies off literally on their birthday of the bottle or (cough, cough) the teet 🙂 I gathered all of Amon’s bottles together this morning and bid them farewell. I don’t know why, but with all of the wee Kelleys I have loved this farewell day. It’s like a small victory. Check you later formula and bottles…parting is not such sweet sorrow in this case.
Now anyone need some bottles 🙂 Hope you have a great day. Just know we are Springer Breaking it up at the Kelley house. Livin’ large with art supplies and massive snow storms and animals hanging from scarves and a wonferfully awesome lack of bottles in our household today. Holla.
Happy Tuesday!
March 25, 2013 By 13 Comments
Amon’s 1st Birthday
Amon is officially one! How can that be? Where did the time go? I still remember that day last May when Josh and I sat on the floor in his parent’s bonus room and opened those incredibly longed for pictures and stared at this adorably small, dark headed, big eyed 6 week old baby boy. There he finally was.
I’ll be honest in saying I’ve always struggled a bit with Sol’s birthday…and now Amon’s. Today was a very hard, celebrated, tear filled day. With adoption there is so much joy and beauty and love, but also sadness and grief and questions. I ache for my kids in many different ways and I grieve for Solomon and Amon and all the questions and possible sadness that they will face…especially on their birthdays. I so wish I had all the answers. I so wish I knew exactly what to say. But I don’t and Josh doesn’t either and this is the part of adoption that is really hard.
But, I am thankful for the amazing, incredible parts of adoption…the ones that fill my heart to the tip top and make me absolutely weep with gratefulness to God. These moments out weigh all the hard ones. Today I cried so much…tears of sadness for Amon and tears of absolute thankfulness for this child. He is just amazing. He blows us totally away. I wish I could accurately describe how honored and grateful and blessed and just in awe of God for allowing us to be his mom and dad we feel. There are really no words to even begin to capture our gratefulness.
We choose specific verses for our kiddos before they come along. I remember sitting in church scanning over 1 Thessalonians when I read Amon’s verse. I knew the moment I read it it was suppose to be our next little boy’s verse even though we had no idea who he was yet. And I held tight to that verse…hard.
“How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the JOY we have in the presence of our God because of you?” 1 Thessalonians 3:9
Every time I think of Amon’s verse now, I am thrilled with God’s loveliness. I adore how He moves and works and enjoys even the smallest of details like a scripture that absolutely nails our son…long before we knew his joyous personality. Amon really is joy. I opened a card from my Aunt Linda today to Amon for his birthday and absolutely sobbed. She nailed it. My Aunt Linda understands what this child means to our family. What hope we have found in God through this crazy, beautiful boy and his beautiful heart.
So today was Amon’s day. We ate muffins for breakfast and had doctor’s appointments, and shared cupcakes with medical staff who take mad care of our family and we enjoyed cake ourselves and we enjoyed each other and we loved on Amon hard.
And like everyday, he brought smiles into our family. And he brought his typical joy.
Amon Kelley you have rocked our world in the best way ever. God has used you my joyous baby boy and will continue to do so. You have touched hearts with your perfect one. I am honored to be your mom and CANNOT wait to see what God has in store for your little life. I know it’s going to be grand. I know you are going to change the world. I love you madly! Happy 1st Birthday to our Ace of Hearts!
March 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Saturday Sale
Today’s sale is up and running. CLICK HERE or click the Currently Available button above to check everything out. Hope you all are enjoying your weekend. Thanks so much!
Happy Saturday.
March 22, 2013 By 1 Comment
Insta Friday
Crazy day…again, but super happy it’s Friday. Excited tomorrow is my Saturday Sale. I have 10 canvases that will be up for sale and tonight I’m going to try and bust out a bunch of key fob love. My sewing machine knows how to treat a lady right on a Friday night.
Sale will begin at 4pm central. All the items will be posted under the “Currently Available” tab above. Price and size will be posted with each piece. You may purchase as many pieces as your sweet heart desires 
Just send me an email using the “Contact Laura” button above and let me know which piece or pieces you would like. These will go first come, first email. Once the sale starts I’ll hang around my computer pretty steadily and get back with people as quickly as possible and will also update the page letting others know which items have sold and which items are still available. I think that about wraps up the details. Hope to “see” you tomorrow.
Now onto my Insta Friday. A weeks worth of my crazy Instagram. I’m pitterpatterart.
Sunny, warm, outside lunches may be the best kind of lunches around. We are sooooo ready for warm spring weather to come…and stay.
I cried. Like multiple times and really really hard. So incredibly proud of her. Cannot wait to see her piece.
He’s trying to keep up already. Sweet boy.
New cleats. They literally stayed clean for about 2 hours…seriously, only 2 hours. Now they are covered in mud.
I’ve been on a hiatus from sweets. I even resisted Harper’s Funfetti cupcakes. If you even remotely know me…you know this is absurd. I have the biggest sweet tooth ever. But it’s been really good for me. Ashley did it with me, so it’s been nice to have some accountability. I think I’m going to try and do a “no sweets during the week, then reasonable sweets on the weekend” kind of thing. Today I celebrated my no sweet success with a Snickers egg. Delish.
This picnic went terribly wrong apparently. #boysarehilarious
Cartoon mouthed Amon. Such a funny boy. He was busy this week too. Several doctors visits…getting to the bottom of things. It feels good to like and trust the doctors who are working hard for your kiddo.
Don’t judge. I thought long and hard about this decision and then did it. And boy am I glad I did. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. And yes, you are totally entitled to use all capital letters to type out your love for Cheddar Jalapeno Cheetos. Totally normal.
Their love is really quite lovely.
We have a sick ace of hearts. He’s pitiful. Having to just let the funk run it’s course. Love his sweet little hand with every fiber of myself. LOVE!
Balance.
“Let’s try and clang our teeth together” said Huddy to Sol. Enough said.
A blurry baby, but a standing blurry baby at that. I can’t wait to see him walk.
And we Easter partied hard today. Excited for spring break.
Hope you have an amazingly grand weekend. Hope to “see” you tomorrow at 4. Thanks so much for stopping by and reading. I completely appreciate it. You guys are crazy cool.
Happy Friday.
March 21, 2013 By 2 Comments
Hectic
This week has been crazy hectic around the Kelley house. So full and busy. I welcome spring break next week…a slow, easy week. We’ve just had a million things going on and have been pulled in every single direction…good pulls, but just a lot of them.
I’ve made funfetti cupcakes for Harper’s school March birthday party, red velvet cupcakes for a special birthday and chocolate cupcakes for Harper’s Easter party tomorrow.
At the beginning of this day I new I had to make cupcakes for Harper’s Easter party, but quickly forgot until about 30 minutes ago 🙂 Thank you Pinterest for an easy Easter cupcake topper. Starburst + Mint. Boom.
I rocked some early morning runs this week. One morning I heard Weezers’ “Say It Aint So” song while driving to meet up with Betsy at 4:50am. All I could think was, “How appropriate.” And they’re even playing hacky sack in the video. That totally dates me. Josh Kelley could probably win a hacky sack contest to this day. #oldschool
(My clock is an hour off.)
This morning’s run was ungodly cold. I watched the temperature gauge on my car bounce between 21 and 22 degrees. WAY.TOO.COLD…but it got done. Love my running ladies Betsy and Jami. They are mad crazy.
I watched this go down while waiting in the car rider line. At first I wanted to break it up, but then I said to myself, “Let’s see where this goes.” Good parenting or bad? Who cares when you get these picture results. Huddy just wanted some brotherly love. Word.
A super busy day bouncing from here to there and back to there again welcomed an easy dinner night with a school spirit night at Chuck E Cheese. A big welcome.
Soccer started this week. And so the “being at the soccer fields 4 days a week” begins. It’s a love/hate relationship.
And this girl, well, she’s kind of rad. Love her whole little self.
Now I’m off to stay up waaaaaaay too late and try and finish up a few more items for Saturday’s Sale. Wish me luck.
Happy Thursday!
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