Yesterday I received a SURPRISE package from my inspirational friend Tracie!! {Her Blog Here}

WOWSERS.  It was so pretty I didn’t even want to unwrap it. 

Inside I found three books and letter press cards— OH MY!  Funny thing is we sent each other packages on the same day without even knowing it!  :)  Thank you so very much Tracie!

And look at this necklace!!!  Christy from Beachbrights (remember my I pick you, Valentine) recently sent me this.  Just because.  JUST BECAUSE!  I mean come on.  How incredible is that?

I had to search for this photo… a sweet gift from last summer… Candies wrapped in PAPER STRAWBERRIES!  From my ultra creative friend Heather!    

And ALL the sweet treasures from friends afar I haven’t photographed… my heart is going to burst with gratitude and love because of you guys!

“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship:

 it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovered that someone else believes in him

and is willing to trust him with his fellowship.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you friends.  I cherish each and every one of you. 

shhhhhh don’t tell my kids I can’t spell!  The really sad part is this was my SECOND attempt at a hotel sign.  First time I spelled it Leprechan.

The kiddos enjoy checking their trap every morning. On the the 18th they may find a surprise!   

Hotel is a recycled juice box.  Lunch hat is an oatmeal container.

Hope you are having fun getting ready to celebrate ST. Paddies Day!!       

Now here is something to jump-for-joy about,

from the inspirational author Joel Osteen– 

 ”God sees you as a champion. 

 He believes in you and regards you as a strong, corageous, successful overcoming person. 

You may not see yourself this way, but that doesn’t change God’s image of you!”

Cupcakes Anyone??

We’ve had a week of cupcake CRAZINESS! 

From our cupcake party (each kiddo had a lunch tray with a little cupcake magic):

How many ways can you say cupcake?

Jello Cupcakes

Clay Cupcakes

Felt Cupcakes

Traditional Cupcakes

Necklace Cupcakes

Mason Jar Cupcakes

Meatloaf Cupcakes

Favorite activity of the week was our cupcake hop (old fashioned cake walks with a twist).  Kiddos  kids jump from (large paper) cupcake to cupcake until the music stops, mom draws a cherry with a number, match the cherry to number of sprinkles on your cupcake and you win the round.  

You must be on cupcake overload by now?!

Ya, me too. 

And I’m not even done yet! 

Mission: Kindness is a new tradition I’m weaving into our theme of the week.   

Kindness Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

 ⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

Our act of kindness was to send twelve of our far-a-way friends and family a litle happy in the mail.  We set up cupcake factory and made cupcakes in a jar:

 I wasn’t joking about meatloaf cupcakes!  The ”frosting” was mashed potatoes {turquoise even}!  I’m not sure why but I was the only one who ate them?! 

Joy’s Hope  has wonderful step-by-step directions for the Mason jar cupcakes.  Her blog is a wealth of beauty, creativity and inspiration—  you’ll love it!  I can’t leave her comments because I don’t have a google account so if you visit, tell her THANKS for me!  

See ya later, Cupcake!

When we exhasted this question book I went on the search for MORE DINNER GAMES! 

We are now loving–

THE UNGAME:   My dad  introduced me to this game when I was a kid. I’ve loved it ever since and it’s perfect for dinner questions!  It comes in several different versions— Christian, Kids, Teens and Families.  I found these are our local educational store.  

and

PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD:  Spin the dial and pick a “food” question card—                 

Ham it UP: Pretend you work in a shoe store. See if anyone can guess who you are and where they are.

Easy as PIE:  What candy don’t you like?

Mixed VEGGIES: Ask everyone… are you feeling sweet or sour today?

Use your Noodle:  T/F Insects are commonly used in yogurt, ice cream and juice drinks.  {TRUE! Carmine is a food dye that is extracted from boiling dried insects.} 

In a few short weeks she will be three???  How can this be??   

Find the Good.
It’s all around you.
Find it.
Showcase it,
and soon you’ll start
believing it too.

Jesse Owens

I won’t ever be able to send her a package again.

She left for Heaven early this morning.       

I will miss her love.

I will miss her kisses.

I will will miss her voice and her smile and her laughter.

I will miss her asking, “When ya gonna have another baby Katherine?  I need another great granddaughter. Get busy!”

Grandma I would send you a million packages to heaven if I could.

Thank you for loving me and making me feel like I was the most special person in world.

Good-bye Grandma. 

 I love you.

[2009 Green Flashback]

[Green Eggs for Sale! Fill each egg with pennies, nickles, dimes and/or quarters.]

Green Eggs & Ham Words:

a     am     and     anywhere     are     be     boat     box     car     could     dark     do     eat     eggs     fox
goat     good     green     ham     here     house     I     if     in     let     like     may     me     mouse     not on     or     rain     Sam     say     see     so     thank     that     the     them     there     they     train     tree     try
will     with     would     you

[Dessert Dr. S Style:  Melted Chocolate + Corn Flake Cookie]

Learning Fun:

Pin the YOLK on the Egg

Speedy Dinner Board Game

Egg Word Fill

Green Egg Painting

Eggs for Sale! 

Pin the YOLK on the egg (and get the fork on the napkin bonus) was the big hit of the week! 

  Dr. Seuss’ birthday is March 2nd! 

ICK! I do not do not like them Sam I am! (Not if they are over-easy that’s for sure!)