Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

This is one of those things that came out a bit different than imagined...in this case, the end result was better than the plan. I used the ready made cookie dough (from the refrigerator section) and sliced round cookies and baked. I intended on using the round cookies as the outside of my "sandwich". Well, the cookies came out ginormous, so I used a cookie cutter to cut out heart-shaped cookies. This actually worked out really well because the cookies were the same exact size...AND, the bonus was that we could eat all the left over pieces...YUM!

I put vanilla ice cream in the middle and rolled them in sprinkles...the kids loved them! I'm thinking star shaped with patriotic sprinkles for the 4th of JULY.

"Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos. "

~Don Kardong

I'm linking up with Heather today.

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Pay Off

It's been 14 years since we moved into our house. We work hard every year to expand our gardens and plant and transplant flowers; it's now paying off. We're reaping the rewards and trying to slow things down this year so we can take it all in and enjoy it.

These buckets are perfect to contain the perennials that tend to take over and intrude in others' space.

Our bird bath is one of my favorites, although we try not to keep water in it for too long because of the breeding mosquitoes

"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides."

~W.E. Johns, The Passing Show

A Special Day

It's the birthday of someone very special today....my mom!

I'm pretty much the luckiest person around to have a mom like my mom. I hope that someday I can be to my kids what she is to me.

Happy Birthday Mom!

I hope your day is filled with love, peace and happiness that will last you all year long!
"I love you to the moon and back!"

xo

Here is a picture of us on Mother's Day styling in our shades. You wouldn't be able to see our eyes anyway because both of us squint when we smile. (Yes, our smiles are just that big!)

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate!"

-Oprah Winfrey

DIY Coasters and Trivets and Pinterest

First of all...

I am LOVING pinterest...it's endless inspiration! These coasters were one of the first things I saw after joining and I had to try them out.

Source: thecottagehome.blogspot.com via Linda on Pinterest

I bought some tiles at Home Depot for 16 cents each and used some paper I had at home to create these. I made a set for a gift and a set to keep.

I used cork on the bottom instead of felt. I also made a larger version to use as a trivet. I'll be making more of these sets for gifts this coming Christmas.

I really like the paper that Lindsay used in her tiles, so I went to Michael's and bought a pack...lucky for me, it was on sale.

“Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity.”

-Bo Bennett

I'm linking up with Heather today.

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Update

The eggs have hatched.

Meg has a cool video on her post. Check it out. Little Miss and E were imitating the hatching birds after watching it.

All 6 of the Painted Ladies have emerged from their cocoons. This one's wing never straightened out and was having some trouble flying, but we released her into the garden and hoped for the best.

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”

-Charles Darwin

Painted Ladies

Two of our Painted Lady Butterflies have emerged from their cocoons....so cool. We didn't see them in the process; they were already out when we woke up this morning. There are three left and we're hoping to catch at least one of them in the act. Here is a great video I found online showing the life cycle of the painted lady... awesome!

"Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life. And everyone deserves a little sunshine." ~Jeffrey Glassberg

Random

The seeds are planted.

Little Miss insisted they were growing 5 minutes later.

Another photo of our grassheads...just because.

Little Miss on the way to her cousin's pirate party...she was very excited!

AAAARGH!

I love being able to take a walk outside and 5 minutes later be able to look at this on my kitchen window sill....Spring is here!

"Living is more a question of what one spends than what one makes."

-Marcel Duchamp

I'm linking up with Heather.
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Science in the Spring

There are mini science lessons going on all around us this Spring.

We ordered some caterpillars that are now in the Pupa stage. In another 7-10 days, we're hoping to have butterflies. I successfully transferred them to the other container...that was stressful!

This little bunny was so scared; it's hard to tell how small he is, but if you look at the dandelion next to him, it gives you more of an idea. I hope his momma found him.

And, our yearly treat....a Robin's Nest...this year there are 4 eggs. Last year there were 5 eggs, but sadly they didn't all make it out of the nest successfully.


Hoe while it is spring, and enjoy the best anticipations. It is not much matter if things do not turn out well.
~Charles Dudley Warner

Baby Gift-a quick one!

A month ago, I saw this post on Ashley's blog.

I was excited to make some, but didn't have anyone to make them for; now I do.

This project was super quick and easy. It took me 20 minutes from start to finish and I did it while I was on the telephone....is that rude? Sorry.

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities."

- Eda J. Le Shan

Bald

A few weeks back I did this post.

Our bald heads now have hair. Although we think "Bald is Beautiful", we're kind of excited to see the green heads of hair on all the pots.

...and speaking of bald...my cousin's baby...just because she's so darn cute!

..and just because it has the word bald in it,

"Experience is like a comb that life gives you when you are bald."

-Navjot Singh Sidhu

I am linking up with Heather today. Check it out.

Thanks

I think I was born wanting to be a mother and now I get to live in the reality of motherhood each and every minute of the day. Sunday will be my 8th Mother's Day, yet I can still remember what it was like to ache for a baby that would call me Mommy. Two selfless young couples healed the hurt when they trusted me to be the Mommy to their babies and I am blessed and grateful to have the best job in the world! To all birthmothers...thank you for choosing adoption and Happy Mother's Day!

I had a link to a video of "Everything to Me" by Mark Schultz on yesterday's post. It wasn't the best quality, so here's a better one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPYaRJOWznk

For birthfamily gifts this year, we kept it simple. Artwork and pictures always seem like a good idea.

Here are Little Miss' finished butterflies. She drew the butterfly, but I must admit, I did end up painting a couple of them...she got bored. (Excuse the poor photos in this post...very bad light and wrong settings will make for wonky photos.)

Here are E's mini canvases.

They also decorated magnetic frames...they're in my last post here.

"He is mine in a way that he will never be hers, yet he is hers in a way that he will never be mine, and so together, we are motherhood." ~desha wood