Laughter fills my home & my heart

I have been so blessed with Happy girls! Karis & Kelsie always find something to giggle about! The joy on their faces reminds me of my Lord!!! 

Just some thoughts...

These are some things that have been running through my head recently. It has been so long since I've boldly shared my faith with someone, resulting in their salvation. Churches are falling apart, godly couples are divorcing...even the weather is signing the times. Life on earth is limited and it's moving fast.

Who is Jesus? Do you really know? What has He done for you? Are you grateful? Is it worth telling others about? Do you care if your loved ones aren't heaven bound? Don't you know the alternative? Is your Savior apart of your daily life? What can you do for Him? Do you pray for others when you say you will? Are you proud to be a child of God?!!

Wake up, Brit!! Life is too short!!

Birthday & Easter in the same weekend!!

Wow! Have we had an amazingly fun filled weekend!! The girls turned ONE on the 23rd and Easter was on the 24th, so we have been celebrating the twin's birth and the Savior's resurrection at the same time!! It has been wonderfully full!! And, our honored guests, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Ginger came in from Wyoming, and Susan from Denver!! 

Both girls are still in the 90% for height and the 25% for weight. Karis has 6 teeth; Kels 7. They are not walking yet, but are very close. Two of their favorite things are Dad and water!! Here are a few pictures of our fun weekend!

We went to church and then to Nana & Grandad's to hang out with the Schmucker's & extended family! We had fun digging into our Easter baskets, splashin' in the pool & swingin' on the swings! 

Parenthood, in a different form

Being the camera nut I am, I had to document this. Today, we were blessed to witness a "training" lesson. These two gorgeous cardinals were teaching their baby bird how to fly. It must have been a big deal because the other birds gathered in the tree to watch. It was as if Mom & Daddy Bird invited the relatives to be there for the Big day. 

The nest is in the rain gutter on our roof and we were startled by a ruckus at the window. Baby fell & clung to the window screen while Mom & Dad fluttered about vigorously trying to assist the li'l fella. Baby finally found his footing on the sill, sat and watched his parents flying above him for a while before baby bird got up the courage to mimic his parents movements. Finally the family flew off together. It was pretty amazing to watch!!

Winged Parents

 Baby bird

 Family gathered in the tree

 Daddy Cardinal

 Sweet Mohawk!

 Ali Cat wanted a snack

 Momma Cardinal

 C'mon Li'l Buddy, FLY!

 The parents never gave up! They were coaxing him for over an hour.

 Quite the encouraging pair!

 Such beautiful creatures!

 Wrig thought he was interesting too!

Thank you, God, for Your creation!

StayDates!!

As you can imagine, being parents of twin toddlers, Ian and I don't get out much. Time to ourselves is rare. We also live by a pretty strict budget and that limits our "dately" activities. ;)  However, I believe that it's imperative for a husband and wife to date one another frequently throughout their married life. So, I've done some thinking! Who ever said a date had to be an "outing"? Or cost money? All you really need is a little creativity. Here are some ideas for "StayDates"!!

Fort Funville:
As kids, Ian and I loved to build forts, constructed with many sheets & blankets. Make a fort & have a slumber party. Pretend it's a cave. Snack foods only. No lights allowed. For atmosphere, have a thunderstorm playing in the background.

Theme night:
Choose a movie based in another country and create a meal to accompany it. To make it even more "authentic", consider an outfit for the occasion. For example:
Italy. Movie - "Letters to Juliet", "When in Rome", or "Return to Me"; Meal setting - candlelit table for two; ravioli or spaghetti (bread sticks are a must!). Accompanied by a glass of wine. Perfecto!!
China. Movie - "Mulan", "The Karate Kid", or "Shanghai Noon"; Meal setting - blanket on floor, sit on pillows. You could splurge & order Chinese, or you could make stir fry with soy sauce & won tons (Must eat with chopsticks!).

Campout:
Pitch a tent in the backyard. Since the H.O.A. may have issues with a real campfire, grill your meal (hamburgers or hotdogs) on the grill. Roast s'mores too! Get out the camp chairs and stair up at a starry sky until you get sleepy, and then cuddle up in your sleeping bags. Keep monitor close. ;)

Sports Date:
Baseball, basketball, football... Put on your caps & jerseys and cheer for your favorite team! Meal: hotdogs, nachos, coke(with straw). Movie options: "Field of Dreams", "Leatherheads", "Invincible", "Remember the Titans", "Rudy", "Angels in the Outfield", "The Air Up There", "Glory Road", "Eddie", etc...

Spa Date:

Calming music, a glass of wine, massages, and a nice candlelit bath...Together! Need I say more?!!


Covert Ops:
Get a pair of water guns. Dress in your gear...dark clothes & cap. Make it pitch dark! Inside the house & backyard boundaries. Flashlights allowed. Start on opposite ends of the house and try to be as stealthy as possible. Be very quiet & find your partner!!! After you're both thoroughly doused with water, reward yourselves with a meal of the winner's choice. Then watch "Shooter". ;)

Puzzling & Pizza:
Ian and I used to be working a puzzle all the time before we were married. There is something so nice & relaxing about "Puzzling" together!  No ordering of pizza allowed. :)  Create your own & make it together. Get pizza dough if you can't make it (we get a dough roll from Double Daves), choose your preferred toppings. Enjoy your meal while piecing together a puzzle.

Breakfast in Bed:
Comfy PJ's a must! After making your breakfast meal of choice, you are confined to your bed. Feel free to have a pillow fight accompanied by some cuddlin'.

Later than Late Laughter:
I don't know about y'all, but there is nothing more hilarious than watching a very ridiculous movie at an insanely early hour! Some of the "ridiculous" that have provided us with much laughter are:
- "Robin Hood: Men in Tights"
- "The Stupids"
- "Space Balls"
- "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"
- "Rat Race"
- "I Love Lucy"
- "Science Fiction Theater: The Final Sacrifice"

Dessert Night:
Be creative! You get to create a dessert out of your spouse! Chocolate, caramel, chocolate chips, brownies, whip cream, cherry on top...Make a sweet mess of each other!! Have fun!

Reminiscing:

Go through photo albums of your "together days of yesterday". Dance/Sway to your "wedding"song. 

Hope these few ideas are helpful in your pursuit of your spouse! 

"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine...his desire is toward me." Song of Solomon 6:3, 7:10

Inexpensive Photo Cards!

I have been following moneywisemoms.com and have been enjoying her tips on ways to save. Y'all know I am a picture fanatic, so you can imagine my excitement when I came upon this GREAT deal!! Wanted to share it with you! 

25 Easter Cards just $2.49 Shipped

Get 24 Flat 4x8 Photo Cards for FREE at SeeHere and just pay $2.49 shipping. These would make great Easter cards, Birth Announcements, Party Invitations, or Thank You cards. Here's how to do it:

1. Sign up for SeeHere if you don't already have an account.
2. Choose the 4x8 flat photo cards, either vertical or horizontal. You do not have to order 24 of the same design. Put a total of 24 cards in your cart.
3. Use code 25cards at checkout to remove the cost of the cards, and you will only pay shipping. If you choose 25 cards, shipping will be $4.99, so stick to 24 for the lower $2.49 cost.