There's construction going on on our street, so the boys sat out on the porch to watch the diggers live. They were thrilled!

Also showing off their new duds they got last night for our upcoming trip. Do you think Drew likes SpongeBob?

Caribbean Shawl

 I know. ANOTHER shawl. But they're so pretty and work up so fast!

This one's a "thank you for putting up with us and bombing in on you and eating all your food" gift for my mother-in-law. I'm thinking of making my sister-in-law one as well. Getting excited for our trip to Denver!

Project 52 - Week 21 - Dream

Now it's Rob's turn to be sick. =(

It takes a LOT to bring him down - and even more to get him to fall asleep on the couch. Hopefully he's not having those wacky, sick dreams. (You know what I'm talking about - we've all had them.) Hopefully he's just dreaming about feeling better.

I hate seeing my little guys sick. =(

Mixed Berries Shawl

Same pattern as here and here.

Working on inventory for my shop. Stay tuned.

A Rose For My Rose

"A rose for my rose," he says as he hands me this lovely. I'm rather smitten with the man. ♥

Gray Shawl

I pretty much have this pattern memorized, now! Same pattern as I did here, but with a different yarn and hook. This one was made as a bartering deal with a friend from church. I get a couple jars of her wonderful homemade sugar scrub in exchange. Makes me happy. =)

I'm currently working on a luscious red one to sell. Can't wait to see how that one turns out!

Project 52 - Week 20 - Motherhood

This little guy wasn't feeling well this morning (and required a little more TLC than I wanted to put upon the nursery people), so I stayed home from church with him.

I was pretty bummed, but that's just what motherhood is all about - sacrifice.

Sometimes I forget this, when all I want is five seconds to myself. Or to the bathroom without a chaperone.

Blinged-Out Granny Bags

A friend from church asked me to make some of these for her grand-daughters. She requested the particular colors and “lots of bling”. So, I hand-sewed some iridescent beads on to them. I'm pretty tickled with them! =)

Blinged-Out Granny Bags, Granny Stripe Boutique Bags by tangled happy

Watermelon Baby Set

Okay. I admit it. When I stepped back from finishing this set, I squeed. A little. A lot. Isn't it ADORABLE?! Much better than anything I could have hoped for!

I redid the dress to make it smaller, added green trim around the neck, and made the seeds bigger. I'm much happier with this version. The shoes and hat were easy after that.

I'd like to make more of these sets for my shop - if I ever get a moment away from gifts and commissions.

Dress: Little White Dress

Hat: Baby Flapper-Girl Hat

Shoes: Dainty Mary Janes

First Irises

My irises are starting to bloom! Yippee!! =)

Magic Crust Custard Pie Recipe

It looks like a giant snickerdoodle, right? But it's so much better than that - and I love snickerdoodles!

I came across this recipe on a Facebook ad for Just A Pinch. It kept popping up and driving me nuts, so I decided to try it last night. Let's just say it didn't survive the night. Even the boys had two pieces each! It's so dangerously easy and tasty, I highly recommend it. And the whole "flour will settle to make its own crust" thing is pretty spiffy, too!

Magic Crust Custard Pie

From Robyn Witt, Just A Pinch

INGREDIENTS

- 1/4 c margarine

- 4 eggs

- 3/4 c white sugar

- 1 pinch salt

- 2 c milk, 2% (or higher)

- 2 tsp vanilla extract

- 1/2 c all purpose flour

DIRECTIONS
1. Put all ingredients into a blender. Blend for 30 seconds.
2. Pour into buttered 9 inch pie pan. Sprinkle with nutmeg.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes (mine was still pretty jiggly after 45 minutes, so I left it in for another 10). The flour will settle to make its own crust.

Rob's First Bike

 Last night, I suddenly became the mother of five. No, I didn't give birth to multiples, nor did we adopt. We simply offered to watch our friends' three, wonderful children so they could attend a banquet. They are such a delight and so well-behaved, I didn't really think twice when we were asked. Our night involved lots of soda, pizza, popcorn, romping, and a water fight. Needless to say, it was a little crazy, but a LOT of fun and we all crashed when it was over!

This same, very sweet family blessed us with some awesome hand-me-downs - a bike for Rob and a Power Wheels John Deere Tractor for both of them. Talk about ecstatic little boys!

More after the jump...

Project 52 - Week 19 - Weather

So glad it's becoming flip flop weather again!

Note: Foot model I am not.

Proud Mama Moment

Pretty proud of our little Cubbie. Not only did he finish his work book, but he was the only first year that memorized ALL 24 of his verses. Glory goes COMPLETELY to God for giving this little boy a beautiful mind - we seriously slacked on working with him! A HUGE thank you to his teachers for working with him and encouraging him.

Zzz...

Someone fell asleep on the floor...

Rob & Drew

Gosh, these two are so precious to me! ♥

Project 52 - Week 17 - White

I just LOVE spring! The end! =)

Flower Clips

More Retreat prizes. They have alligator clips on the back of them so they can be attached to a bag, headband, hat, coat, scarf...whatever, really. Very versatile.

Flower Clips, Croco Flower by Bonita Patterns

Flower Frolicking

Some handsome gent brought me a flower, beckoning me outside. Don't tell my husband. =)

"Flowers, Mama!"

Enjoying the nice weather and the lovely flowers it's bringing with it.

Project 52 Weeks 15 & 16

I'm behind. Ugh.

Week 15's topic was "Movement". I was hoping for something slightly more thought-out, but it just didn't happen. This was just a casual shot of the boys playing in the yard one lovely evening last week. Despite it being not-particularly-warm weather, Drew insisted on letting Daddy soak him with the hose as he was watering the lawn. Crazy kid.

This one was timely.

Long story short, I haven't seen my birth mother in almost 13 years. Before that, it was very hit and miss. Things were never good when she was in the picture and I had a lot of resentment towards her. I liked to blame her for all my heartache and troubles growing up.

Fast forward to Easter weekend this year. I get handed one of her letters. She's been in prison for the last three years; this doesn't shock me at all. She's been in and out of prison several times over the course of her lifetime. Usually her letters are disjointed and random, but this one was very different. She actually sounded...remorseful. Coherent. Something I've never experienced from her - ever. It shook me to my very core.

So many times I've regretted not writing her; even more times I regretted not sharing the Gospel with her. If ever a lost soul was in need of saving grace, it was her. But I drug my sinful feet. I put it off. "She's too far gone to understand, " I justified. Not far from the truth. A life of drugs and alcohol have completely fried her brain. She'd never understand.

Or would she? I set out to write her a letter.

It was the hardest letter I've ever had to write. I spent a great deal of time praying over it; stopping and praying some more. I had to get this just right. It might be my only chance. In the midst of it, I started seeing my mom for what she truly was - a sinner just like me; not the super villain of my life story.

I cried. No, I bawled in repentance. Instead of seeing the monster that had washed her hands of me years ago, I saw her as a broken lost soul, no different than I was.

And then I did something I've struggled with for years. I forgave her and changed my perspective.

Praying for hearts to be softened and eyes to be opened. May God be glorified.