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a walk in the rain

we were sick of being inside.
so we left.
in the drizzley rain…
and we liked it!

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look how badly we need a fun (& smaller) umbrella.
i’m surprised annie didn’t get sucked into the sky
like mary poppins with that gianormous thing.

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we found many treasures….
rain on new flowers,
bright green moss in between bricks

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and puddles as mirrors.

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too much splashing gets water IN the boots
and off they come.

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inside this yard were lots of purple flowers
and 2 pink flamingos.
annie had to take a peek.

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score!
the best treasure of all…
a dime in a puddle.

then we went in for hot chocolate.
with marshmallows.

Kate of All Trades - We took W to get a haircut on Sunday. A family came in with a little girl that looked just like your naughty baby. She was even sporting some bangs that she clearly cut herself… Annie has a naughty baby twin in Portland!

April - fun little outing…love the puddle as a mirror…great shot.

Melanie - So So Sweet!

traci - what a wonderful little walk. cute boots – both of you. i can’t wait till our weather is like yours.

mom - Was this today? It was gorgeous here today with sunshine and 70 degrees. But the rain is coming tomorrow. Looks like you had a fun walk.

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for jenny

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i agree.
it’s just me…drinkin’ all alone.
i miss you.

amy d - I just caught up from being in SUNNY texas! 85*, I didn’t want to leave. soooo many pretty plants and flowers came home with me. I looked like a greenhouse on wheels! I’m think’n this weekend should be “Sangria Swirl Weekend” on Jenn’s porch of course. hopefully it doesn’t rain and hail like it did last night, yuk!

meg duerksen - come back chicago jen! i miss you terribly.
sober or not. 🙂
i think that’s the first time the word vodka has appeared in this blog…impressive.
hello jenny p. and brenda…thanks for stopping in.
jen and amy…we are ON for jen’s porch…my glasses and sangria swirls. amy you will love them. let’s have amy d. make them. 🙂
traci…sadly i did just fine all by myself. HA.

traci - looks yummy. too bad you have to drink alone.

amy - Save me a spot on your porch, Jenn! I’ve never had a Sangria Swirl… sounds yummy!

Jenn Thomas - Ohh that is a great glass – way to go Jenny (a great friend) – bring it down the street sometime and I will join you for drinks. The other day at SAMS we bought a Jimmy Buffet CD – I’ll provide the music and the porch. Sangria Swirls are still calling me… maybe this coming weekend. Us neighbor females need to ge together soon.

brenda - Just saying hello. I have no idea how I found your blog (you know, you click on a link, another one, another and another) but I really like what I see. Especially the MESS pictures back down there 🙂

Jenny Pocknall - That looks like a great drink.

Chicago Jen - Oh, how I wish I was there! I finished the vodka last week when Dave was at the lakehouse. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it again this weekend. I miss you a lot!

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lunch

so heart warming.
the preschoolers were invited to stay for lunch
with the grandma and grandpa’s.
their house is so cool.
a big great room with a big family dining table and open kitchen.
i get all teary-eyed everytime i go in there.
it’s just so lovely, beautiful and respectful to the people who have to live there.

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annie talks about “gwram-pa howard” all the time
and i finally got to meet him.

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the nurses served lunch so sweetly…pigs in a blanket,
carrots, tater tots and orange smoothies.
everyone got to eat with their hands!

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oh yes…ice cream sandwiches too!
smiles all around.

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annie and her best friend.
everyday she can’t wait to get to school just to see her.
she picks out her clothes and says “eliza gonna love this!”
it’s just too cute.

Tiffany C. - Eliza and Annie are the cutest, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a grin that big! lol

Claire - I want to move to Kansas so that Ben can go to your pre-school! What a GREAT idea!!!

traci - my girls elementary school goes to a nursing home once a month…It was a BIG, HUGE deal for both my girls. They wanted to look pretty when they went and always talked about the people there….it really is a fantastic idea!!!

danelle - I’m super excited now that I will be working in one of the greenhouses!! I will get to see the preschoolers. 🙂

Jennifer P. - What an amazing experience for little Annie. I remember always being terrified of old people when I was little, and now I could just sit and listen forever. Glad she enjoyed herself so much. Hopefully she’ll learn to appreciate age and wisdom more quickly than I did.

Diane - I just love your blog! I was drooling over your house pictures! We are redoing my entire house, and I have to add you to my friends list so I can keep checking in for ideas. You are so creative.

Pattie - Is the school actually a part of the retirement home? I would love some details. I am in Dallas and have never heard of this type of arrangement. I taught preschool and we would do field trips to nursing homes but I am really interested to hear about how this whole thing works. If it is like I am picturing I am in awe. What a great idea!

melissa @ the inspired room - Precious girls, oh how I remember those sweet thoughts they have!
And your post made me a bit sad remembering my own grandma and grandpa who lived in a house just like that. We would visit and every Grandma & Grandpa in the place would light up at the sight of visitors. Makes me feel like I never did enough, or visited enough, now that I look back at how much joy those visits brought.
Choked up. Thanks for reminding us about the lonely folks among us, and how much the need our visits!
Ok. Back to spring fluffing. Looks like you’ve done a little thrifting so what are you going to do with it? Can’t wait to see!

kristin - i am teary.
thanks for the visual reminder of how good it is.

Jill (One Wired Woman) - Very sweet! I taught pre-school for several years. These “little people” can definitely make you smile. What a treat for these grandmas and grandpas! Annie and Eliza… too cute for words. 🙂

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thrifty

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i stopped by our thrift store this week.
i found the turquoise canisters, white dishes, crocheted pillowcase,
some old ribbon and that sweet apron there.
i felt on a roll so annie and i popped in the antique store after pre-school.
i found the printer’s drawer (which i have big plans for…)
and that 60’s kids book.
i love the illustrations.
i am going to use the art for decoupage.
my grandma gave us the house purse/basket thing for our garage sale
(that we will have someday) and i kept it for myself.
it’s adorable.

now i have to stop buying stuff before i get into trouble.

so that’s it.
i am feeling so tired.
i think some sunshine is necessary today!
i am going for a walk.
bye.

mrslimestone - Love the drawer – can’t wait to see what you do with it. Tell us, tell us!!

Jenny Pocknall - That drawer is brilliant. I can’t wait to see what you do with it.
…An interesting collection of things with a piece of glass over it? Hung on a wall?

Adla - canisters in turquoise what a bonus find!

traci - what great finds. i never find cute stuff like that. can’t wait to see what you cook up wearing you new apron.

emily loria - I love a good thrift! You did good!

Jennifer P. - If I see one more person’s post about all the great things they find at thrift stores, I just might scream!–seriously, there is nothing but junk as far as the eye can see at ours–and not the good kind of junk either :)! Good thing I can shop my mother-in-law’s attic for good old stuff when I really need it!
Those are fabulous finds every one! Can’t wait to see where they all end up!

Crystal - I need your mailing address friend. 🙂 can you send it to mosesmakes3 @ gmail.com no spaces. 🙂

chris - Well done, I never find good stuff like that .

carissa - great vintage finds! they are great for smiles!
thanks for all your canon tips… i really appreciate it!
have a really great wkend!

Mary - ooohhhh! While visiting my in-laws last summer they gave us a printer’s drawer that had been collecting dust in their attic! It has been sitting in my craft room waiting for something creative to happen to it! I noticed a while back the Pottery Barn crafty people put shells in theirs–SO cute–don’t know how that would go over in Arizona??!! Can’t wait to see what you do with yours! Please post the finished project, so we can get more ideas:)

Crystal - Lucky! I am officially jealous. Our thrift stores are always nasty junk piles…

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stuffed shells

**disclaimer**
i know that at least one of you reading this
happens to own an italian restaurant.
so you (and anyone else who makes their own sauce) can skip this post.

you will see why from the ingredients….

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this is the only meal that my entire family likes.
seriously.
so if you have some picky eaters in your family
maybe this meal will help you out.

boil your water and pour in the entire box of pasta.

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it cooks for 10 minutes or so.
while it’s boiling combine the stuff for the stuffing.

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when the pasta is cooked, drain it in a colander.
while i do this i check on the kids outside…

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daddy is doing a good job of keeping them busy.
and scooby doo is helping too.

now you fill each of the shells.
if i run out of stuffing i just throw in the last few empty shells.
no one will notice.

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this part took me less than five minutes.
it seems tedious but “you can do it!”
especially if you have music on (a little sinatra maybe?)
and if you feel cute in an apron that matches your shoes.
(thank you jenny for this adorable apron)
i was feeling very modern day donna reed with the pearls and all.

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now you have a whole pan of shells.
all fat and happy.

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now comes the real fancy part…
open the jar.
and pour all of it over the shells.
just like real I-talians do. 😉

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it will look like this.
then you cover it with the rest of the cheese.
you could use mozerella cheese but i am lazy
and i only buy colby jack cheese and use it for everything.
very lazy.

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bake it at 350 for 25 minutes.

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now it’s time to call in the kids to do the dishes!

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look…some of them actually came!
such good helpers i have.

it’s time for dinner.

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it’s yummy.
and every bite is always gone.

hopefully this is a meal that will help you out.
give it a try.
it feels good to see your family fight for the last one.
*the recipe is in the sidebar.

Diane - You are too cute! I love the apron. I enjoyed this post.
Diane

Andrea - I’m totally making this this week. Though I doubt I’ll be looking as cute when I make mine. What do you think about adding some ricotta in withe the cottage cheese? I think I’m going to give it a try.

Leah - I made it last night! SOOO GOOD! It was the perfect meal for a busy day! Love your blog… keep postin.

meg duerksen - oh you are too kind!
i saw that some of you have already tried it and i hope it worked out well! that made me so happy to see i helped a few of you make dinner. sometimes i call my husband and say “just tell me what to make so i don’t have to make another decision today!” it works sometimes.
i did wear that outfit all day…even to mcdonalds playplace. but i don’t always look that glammed up to make dinner (do i craig?) in fact my kids kept mentioning my hair or my make-up or my jewelry and why did i look so “fancy”. i’m usually in my sweats and unshowered from working out. i think everyone enjoys seeing me not so schlumpy.
i did get some sauce on my white shirt too.
you all need an apron…it changes the whole cooking experience.
but i will say…i try to spruce up a bit right before my husband comes in the door. some minty gum, some lip gloss, brush my hair. it makes him happy…i think. ???
juliann asked about picky eaters.
i cook dinner almost every night. they will like some and not like some. i always have applesauce, yogurt, cottage cheese, bread on the table too. so if they don’t like the main dish…they only eat a little tiny bit and fill up on the other stuff. we don’t do veggies at our house (hardly at all) so there is always a fruit option too. they all have to have some. and the usually get full. we give ice cream for dessert nearly every night before bed…so i they have that to look forward too. i don’t make a big deal about how much they eat…just that they eat something.
i guess i just always have thought…they’ll eat when they are hungry. and when they get a little older i let them have freedom to get snacks for themselves. they say they are hungry and i say “then go eat something.”
i don’t know if it’s the right way but it works for me. someday they will try new foods…right?
this was long.

Juliann - Megan – I am printing this one out…. I could use some advice on kids and eating. I feel like I cook and clean all day for mine – four, three and now six months…and daddy too. No one seems to like the same thing and they eat two bites, say they are done and are hungry in an hour. I have started saving their food when they do that then giving it back to them to finish…what do you do with your FIVE??

Jill (One Wired Woman) - Thanks for the comment on my new blog! I’ve been admiring “Whatever” for awhile now!!
Reading each post, I’m amazed at how much we have in common… especially those laundry baskets, you tube videos, the computer obsession, sporting the “June Cleaver with Taylor Swift Hair” look when we cook the only meal our entire family likes, and basically being distracted with anything creative that takes the mind away from daily chores such as dishes, laundry, etc. Was that a run-on sentence? 🙂
My middle name should’ve been Sanguine…
a kindrid spirit for sure, Sistah!!
You are adorable and your blog is so much fun!!

Laura T. - Yep, I’m even married to an Italian and this is how I cook (his grandmother would be so upset). I have yet to master making my own sauce.
Thanks for sharing your kitchen with us.

sophie - I can’t believe you can look so good while making a TOTALLY homemade meal. Anything that you use a pan, I consider homemade! What a great job, too bad I’ve already eaten dinner & dessert – this looks good! Maybe an idea for tomorrow 🙂

melissa @ the inspired room - Could you look any cuter while cooking? I’m depressed now.
That looks delicious! Now, do something springy and come link it up to my blog. We’re going to play a little Spring Fluffing game. Oh, yeah, you don’t like to be told what to do. Would you like to play? Please?
Happy yummy dinner,
Melissa

Jennifer P. - Sauce from a jar is better than any homemade stuff I’ve tasted. And any recipe that involves pre-shredded cheese is a keeper in my book. Your salad looks super yummy too! Thanks for sharing–we will be eating this sometime this week for sure!

traci - just so you know….I made this for dinner tonight…EXACTLY what you had on your dinner plate..lol..such a copy cat. My kids were kinda not so sure about the stuffing part but THEY LOVED IT and actually wanted seconds!!! You are right, it doesnt take hardly any time to stuff the shells either! I dont love cooking and I kinda found it relaxing..lol

Ainslie - Thanks for the recipe…it looks delicious and I’ve already printed it out so I can try it on my family!!! I have to say…you do look VERY glamorous in your kitchen..very much the ‘Domestic Goddess’!!!

carissa - meg…
would you mind if i ask you what camera you use? your pics are just incredible… i’ve been researching… what better than to ask someone who’s pics i simply adore!
thanks a ton!
carissa

Lanny Stanard - Megan, all I can say is Yum, I’m waiting for my husband to get home so we can eat.
Lanny.

Crystal - near future that is….

Crystal - I see these in our ear future…forgot I even knew how to make them…Thanks!! You are ever lovely as always…I never look that cute making dinner. 🙂

Erica - We have a similar recipe and I LOVE it. It’s the only recipe I make 3 batches and freeze the other 2. Good call… except Peter doesn’t really like it. I could eat the whole by myself however. Oh and about Alan Jackson… you REALLY don’t have to send us a copy. thanks. 🙂
i’m gonna have to talk to Jenny about giving me an apron.

amy purple - What an adorable apron!

mom - Not only are you cute wearing your pearls but BRAVE to wear a white shirt with spaghetti sauce!

hqm - looks delicious…i might have to give it a try!
thanks,
h.

amy d - Love the HAIR, and I’m soo gonna try that recipe.

Allikayes Mama - Before I finished reading your post, I was going to say…how cute that you are wearing pearls while you cook! And then you mentioned it! Funny! You are such a cute mama! And I am making that! Yum!

carissa - i know my kids will love that too… thanks for sharing!
NOW… i just need a cute… fun apron like that! 🙂

Sara - wife of owner of Italian restaurant admits dark secret. I melt 3 slices of Kraft singles, add a dash of milk and an eensy bit of garlic…mix in with my pasta and BAM the kids say that I, Sara, make the best pasta sauce. Heehee.
Chef husband rolls his eyes…but is happy that he doesn’t have to make dinner. Its ALL good. And let me add that wearing an apron is one of my favorite things. Yours is adorable. Hope you had some wine while preparing….:)

traci - OH MY GOGH…you look too pretty cooking at the end of the day!!! You just mentioned your fancy apron and pearls but neglected to mention your CUTE shoes and fancy hair!! I am definately trying this…it looks easy and YUMMY!!!! I think maybe for dinner tonight…Im always looking for surprise, new, creative dishes

chris - Looks fantastic, I should give it a try, my kids are such plain eaters.

traci - you look so cute while you cook. that looks wonderful. i am making that really soon. yum!!!

kristin - i am making this.

Tiffany - Will have four more people living here in a couple weeks, will definitely be serving this!

amanda az - A favorite around here as well, but I need a cute apron to really do it right. Too sweet!
Amanda AZ
queenbeedesigns.blogspot.com

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good painting

a little good painting…
which happened to be before the bad painting occurred.

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watercolor is so much more furniture-friendly than acrylic.

i wiped off the paint in the craft room
but there is no way it is ever coming out.

sara is right…
it’s the price you pay for being artsy.

Brenis - Awww Megan!! 🙁 I know these kinds of days!
God bless you – you’ve got the patience of a saint!!
Just wanted to share one of my all time favorite cleaners – it’s absolutely amazing, and a definite must have for moms!!
It’s called Spot Shot – it’s made by the same company that makes WD-40. And you can find it at Target, or Home Depot, and i’m sure other places, but that’s where i seem to find it.
It can get out massive grease stains, kool aid stains, blood, you name it out of carpet and appholstry!!! Ask me how i know. LOL
Anyway, it might just work on your chair! It does wonders on my carpet!! Worth a shot!!
blessings, bren

Amy - I just found your blog – I love it!

traci - see she was still in painting mode. you can’t stop creativity!

Jennifer P. - I have been such a lazy, lazy blogger lately–but I LOVED all your posts I missed. My house is forever covered in laundry and dirty dishes too–so glad I’m not alone :). Poor Annie and poor you. At least it was a cheery yellow and not a dull gray. Nice to see everyone working with wipe-friendly watercolors. They really all do seem to have artistic souls. Maybe one day someone will pay a lot of money for that painted-on TV that the famous Annie Duerksen did.
Best to you :)!

mom - Perhaps this primed the pump for the craft room makeover!@

Lanny Stanard - Megan, I’m so glad to see that little one painting on paper!!!
Hugs, Lanny

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naughty baby

she’s back….

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let me set the scene.

we host a small group bible study in our home each sunday night.
10 adults and 14 kids when they all show up.
people begin showing up at 6:15.
i start cleaning and cooking around 4:3o every sunday.

halfway into making some cheese dip
i realize i don’t have as much cheese as i thought.
i ask my neighbor and take her $4 worth of cheese (which i will replace).
i go back and continue cooking and cleaning.
also the KU game is on so i am getting help only at time-outs.
(he said he cleaned while i took a long nap so he is spared my anger)
i do the dishes, wipe the counters, vaccum and cook simultaneously.
it’s now 6:10.

annie walks into the kitchen covered in yellow paint.
i yelled asked “what did you do?!”
she was nervous but answered “i paint in da cwraft woom”
i said “talby go see and give me a report.”
talby came back with big eyes and said “mom…it’s BAD!”

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besides the tv also the rug, the ottoman, a chair, the ironing board,
a suitcase, a cabinet and of course the floor were all wearing yellow paint.
i asked talby to run a bath for annie.
i wiped up what paint i could…which wasn’t much.
got to the bath and she’d filled it all the way up with ice cold water.
annie is screaming from guilt and from anger over the cold bath.
i drained it half and added hot.
i stuck back annie in the bathtub and said “DON’T GET OUT!”
we put lauren in charge of finishing that problem.

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it’s now 6:17.
i look outside and 2 cars are in my driveway.
i am sweaty.
the cheese dip is not made. 🙂
talby yells through the downstairs bathroom door
“mom…there is no toilet paper”
i remember at that moment we are now completely out of toilet paper.

i take a moment to breathe.
i tell my guests what has happened and we laugh.
i send craig to another neighbor’s for toilet paper.
i make lemonade and the dip.

annie comes down clean in her jammies
and what else can you do but forgive and put the paint up so high
she can never get in it again?

naughty naughty baby.

Melissa - Oh, you have no idea how I needed a good dose of perspective when you wrote this. But now I have received one, and I thank you. Holy moley.

Jenny Pocknall - Oh dear!. I think I would have cried.

Tiffany - Oh my! I think the toilet paper, or lack there-of, would have been the last straw for me, I would have lost it, big time. Way to go on keeping your cool! lol

Chaos-Jamie - That’s what you get for hosting small group! (We’ve hosted for years, so I say that in perfect confidence and with no indicator that you should stop!)
No kidding, those cherubs seem to conspire against us.

Gini - Imagine my surprise when after having two perfect angels (questionable at times…) that my third would be the exact opposite. He has a love of all-things-magic-marker and when he gets his hands on one – LOOK OUT. Shame on me for not keeping an eye on him better. At least for the most part the marker washes off, how about the paint?

emily loria - Ohhhhhhhhhhh no! Gotta love kids.
The good ol saying “can’t have anything nice” comes to mind.

mom - Isn’t it amazing that Talby didn’t do much of the Naughty Baby things! Maybe it’s that your house is so big, that she could be anywhere doing anything!
I laughed very hard at all of this. It is definitely “reality blogging.”

chris - Oh my goodness wow, she sure keeps you on your toes, she should be an easy teenager.

traci - oh my – but then you see her sweet face in the first picture with tears in her eyes and you just melt. i just think she is going to take after her mommy in the creative department and she is starting early.

danelle - Why is it that things like that happen always when company is coming over or already there?? You handled it well!

Queenie Bee - oh. my. goodness! What a sweet little ray of sunshine …sharing her favorite color for all the world to see and enjoy! 😉 I just pray that it was tempra and not acrylic! LOL! Thanks for sharing! It truly is a funny little story and warrants a two page spread in the scrapbook!

Sara - Meg – I think its the curse of the creative types. You just tend to have a lot of “stuff” laying around that just begs to be used in large quantities. Can you say Glitter glue? hee hee.

carissa - bless your heart!
will be a good memory… now that it is in the past!
we tend to have chaos hit before company too! some of our (my husband & I) biggest arguments occur then too! 🙂
hope it all came clean!

Laura T. - Oh my GOD. It sounds like you stayed pretty calm, and I don’t know how you did it. I don’t even know what I would have done in that situation.

melissa @ the inspired room - Ha, laughing at the evening you had. I’ve totally been there. So funny to look back on! I’m finally over it. LOL!
Funny funny girl. Naughty baby indeed!
Melissa

Pattie - I can’t help it…. I love her! That look on her face is priceless. I would have loved a picture of Talby’s face when she came out of the craft room.
She needs a playhouse in the back yard to paint any way she wants.
At least she’s still breathing – that says alot about you!!!!

Lee Ann - And I thought I have a crazy time getting ready for bible study. I have YET to experience anything like that. I’m so glad you remembered to breathe!

Crystal - Oh my…that post had my smiling and laughing and gasping and wanting to BEG you for more pics of her handy work…
how can I post today…there is no topping that! 🙂

Melanie - Oh My! I was reading the post and scrolling down and when I got to the picture of the paint on the tv, I put my hand up to my mouth! YIKES! It has been so long since I had a little one that you forget how much trouble they can get into. She is adorable though:)

Kate of All Trades - Ha! I love that naughty baby. But of course that isn’t my craft room she painted yellow.

kristin - i am relieved that e wasn’t there that day, yikes. it would have been worse.
and yes, i would like that orange desk. please.

jerusalem - what a real life story that is! my youngest is the “artist” in the family and I am always finding little bits of his handiwork on furniture and walls….

traci - bless your sweet, patient, patient heart. WOW, she really did have a fun time in yellow paint!!! I had to completely crack up at going to the neighbors house for toilet paper!!!

Lanny Stanard - Megan, I’m so sorry but I’m laughing my head off,see I don’t have kids!!!!!
That’s all I have to say. Hugs! Lanny.

Allikayes Mama - Wow! No one could have handled all that better than you – I’m sure! I’m taking pointers! Yes, I am a new mom, but I am still working on how to handle stressful situations like that! I do love how you write though – I feel like I’m right there with ya! Also, thanks sosososo much for your traveling advice! You are great! And the suggestions are on my list!!

cynthia - oh goodness!
i would have WANTED to really get her…i know you did!
but what’s a mom to do….while dad is sitting there watching the game (just had to add that!)
i would have been completely stressed!

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