cookies, fruit, and cream, mmm hmmm!

So, my sweet friend Emily made these for our little fellowship,
and I fell in love with yumminess and freshness!!!

So I'm sharing it today! It's perfect for summer treats!
I made them recently for a moms group I hosted, and they were a hit!
{and I had NO clue when I took these pics that I had pinned something just like this a long time ago...so there are much prettier pictures of this on Pinterest, but this is my simple take...}

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You need:
sugar cookie mix (I just get the cheap store brand...they are the best in my opinion!)
marshmallow cream
cream cheese
fruit of your choice
(I used strawberries and blueberries bc I had them, but Kiwi would be great too!)

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Make the cookies according to the directions.
I made them extra big.

Mix together the cream cheese and Marshmallow cream until well blended and soft!
(FYI this was always my favorite fruit dip my mom made growing up, but I love this new spin to put in on a cookie!)

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cut up your fruit.
set everything out and include a spreader knife for the cream.
THATS IT!!

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seriously...this seems so simple, and it is, but it is SO so good!!!!
ENJOY!

{This could also be a super cute 4th of July party treat with strawberries and blueberries!!}

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{linking up here and here today!}

YOU, Daddy...

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YOU introduced your newest princess to her big sister.
YOU experienced the zoo for Abigail's first time.
YOU have held your sweet Bethany tightly and felt her snuggly self grow to love you.
YOU have sat next to Abigail as she has learned to swing like a big girl.
YOU brought all 3 of your girls (mama too!) flowers on Valentines Day...
even tiny Bethany got a bouquet.
YOU have spent time showing and teaching Abigail about God and about worship.
YOU went on Abigail's first carrousel ride...and both of you had a blast.
YOU have welcomed your girls to "work" at your office with you.
YOU have slid down countless slides at a certain toddler's request (well, demand).
YOU have shared your "brown chair" with your girls...they love to recline like Daddy.
YOU have explained over and over what things are and what things mean to a very inquisitive 2 year old...and have been so patient doing so.
YOU have been patient as Bethany worked through her colicky stage...and as Mommy adjusted to life with two.
YOU have given countless Band-Aids to A to decorate her "booboos" with.
YOU only have to give a look to light up Bethany's face.
YOU always help with bathtime and bedtime, even after a very long day.
YOU have played "dinosaur" with Abigail on your back over and over.
YOU have become quite the ballerina as Abigail makes you dance for her almost every night.
YOU have prayed with both your girls and encouraged Abigail to pray on her own...
and now she follows your lead every night.
YOU have loved them well, Parker.

AND THEY LOVE YOU.
YOU are an amazing Daddy. I am seriously in awe of the blessings God has given us in our two precious, beautiful little girls.
And I am also in awe that He gave them such an amazing Daddy.
YOU will always hold an untouchable, prized spot in their hearts.
I am blessed to watch the mutual love and adoration you have for each other.
I am blessed that you are their father...and THEY are blessed that you are their Daddy.

Happy Daddy's Day.
we all love YOU.


monotony of motherhood




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I have found myself feeling a little bit in a rut of monotony when it comes to motherhood lately.
And it's honestly hard for me to admit this, especially when I have a husband who does very monotonous, tedious work all day, every day.
But it's a different kind of "monotony" than just working through legal documents.
And it has actually surprised me.
I really never thought I'd feel this way being a "SAHM" (that's "Stay At Home Mom" in case you don't know!).

Especially because I am not the parent who has much "routine" with my littles.
Besides a few planned dance classes or swim lessons, we pretty much just go with the flow around here. So I guess thats why its surprising, because I had no idea it could ever feel like I was being repetitive in my days as a mom.
But here I am...feeling lately like I live the same day over and over.
(Groundhog Day, anyone?)

Maybe it's just the season I'm in with a toddler who throws fits every day and wears me out with her constant "nagging"...and maybe it's that I have a newbie who still nurses round the clock and doesn't do much yet. Or that we watch the same Angelina Ballerina shows every single day, and have the same battles about eating her meals every single day. I don't know.
I just know that I have been feeling the need for a "hiccup" in my days.

So this week, I have tried to mix it up a bit.
{I went to a Zumba class at the Y for the first time ever, and have been three times already this week...it's addicting to shake your booty to Latin music (you should seriously try it if you never have) and it burns a ton of calories too!}

But even in that, in my stepping out to make things a little different in my days, and do something for myself so I don't go crazy....
it's been hard.
Twice now at the gym, the nursery had to come get me because Bethany was crying, interrupting my workout. Last night, because I had to leave Zumba halfway through that day, I went to workout after the girls were in bed...my sweet husband encouraged me to go.
But alas, I was texted halfway through that Abigail was freaking out that I was gone and so I left and came home.

Don't get me wrong people...my babies and my job as a mother are the BEST thing in my life and I don't want to be doing anything different right now.
I love being needed, and being a source of comfort for them.

But I'm just being honest here. (and maybe complaining a little too..sorry!)
I just sometimes crave a little different in my day....a little break from it all.
(Ill take a beach vaca if anyone wants to pay for it)

ONE thing that has helped me...our little neighborhood lake.
fresh air. sunset. breeze (well really WIND, I do live in Oklahoma). open skies.
babies in the stroller, occupied by looking at something other than me.
just being outside.
I need more of this.
And really I need more of Jesus right now too.
(just throwing that out there, ha...clearly I really DO need more of Him and His strength to get me through this season!!)

Anywho...that's where I'm at right now.
Any of you mamas tracking with me here??
Am I the only one that gets in this rut?

Well, I'm off to another day.
But hopefully I will find a way to spice it up a bit...
Maybe a little booty shaking at Zumba will help. :)

the girls' rooms {a tour}

I always love seeing other people's rooms and nurseries. :)
As you will see, I like to say my style is not very "pinteresty" or "crafty", but I feel like it is evolving a little as I explore some inner creativity. hehe.
I also plan to do more when we own a home here someday, and can do more with it.

All that said...
welcome to my two favorite rooms in the house!!!

First up: Big Sister
(the green room!)

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(quilt set: Target)
I LOVE these colors. They are very Abigail...sweet but with a little sassy brightness. :)

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Abigail has been in her "big girl bed" since she was about 21 months and she loves it! She took right to it. I think WE love it more though, because we get to cuddle close in her bed every night. :)

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I painted those wooden letters from Michaels, and hot glued pink ribbon to add a little "pretty" to them.

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(sorry the picture exposure is terrible in that shot)
This is of A's nice window and window seat, she LOVES looking out the window and climbing up there to read. Both girls rooms are upstairs, so she has a nice view and can see Daddy driving up from far away!

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her "wall". All kinds of fun pictures and such.
The wooden cross in the middle is one of my favs. It has buttons and jewels on it!
I got it at a craft fair in Dallas, and have recently contacted the maker, and she's gonna be opening up a shop soon...Ill keep you posted on that!

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I got that awesome pink dresser at a vintage resale shop in town, right after we moved here.
I am in love with the color and shape! It just fits perfectly.

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I got those letters at a little store in Dallas before we moved, and I wish SO badly I knew who makes them...they are one of my favorite decorations in her room.
They are magnets that hook together! cute, right?

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The "A is for Abigail" print is from one of my real life besties, Jess.
Aren't those so cute? She can make one for you!!

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and one of my bloggy bff''s, Aly, made that precious hoop art with Abigail's name and birthdate!
you need to get you one of these!! :)

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oh, and she also made that sweet print!
I made the yarn wreath! go me. :)

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I keep a basket of puzzles, and that pink box is full of dress up clothes (think Princess).
On the other side of her room is a dolly bed and a little book shelf filled with books!

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There were some shelves up really high in her room (we have really high ceilings upstairs),
and so of course I filled them with pictures and pretties. :)

NOW, on to Sweet B's room:
(the yellow room!)

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It is also the guest bedroom. Abigail's nursery was the same way, sharing with the big bed.
(so if you come stay with us, be prepared to feel very girly)
But I love it that way, because I slept in there with her for the first few months while she as nursing all night long.

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Bethany's "wall". Doesn't have as much as Abigail's yet, but it will someday!
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Again, the sweet print and hoop art are from Aly at Blossom & Vine. Can you tell I love her stuff?
(She also makes a lot of B's baby headbands!)

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Those sweet dancer prints were in Abigail's nursery. I got them way cheap at Michael's when I was preggo. I just added the same pink ribbon to them as on the name letters.

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When I saw this canvas at Target, I couldn't resist it. (I am a dancer!)

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Abigail made that for B when she was still in my belly. SO so sweet.

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I had searched everywhere for a perfect "humidifier table", and finally found one at Hobby Lobby. I spray painted it light pink, and it is perfect! the perfect little size for the corner.
It holds the humidifier and sound machine.

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This is Bethany's beautiful crib.
And I love her bedding. I found it on Babies R Us, but then contacted the maker and got a better price because she had just launched her line.
It is very Bethany. Light and sweet.
(swoon)

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The rocker/glider was given to us by some friends (we traded a chair with them), and I love it.
and I love having a snuggle bug finally that likes to be rocked in it!
(that's my pink robe I hang by the door for the late night feedings)

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That crib is very special to me.
When pregnant with A, I had expressed to my in-laws that I really wanted this particular crib but that we would not get it because it was too expensive.
But they got it for me as a surprise...a week before my father-in-law passed away suddenly.
So it holds a special place knowing that he had a lot to do with getting us my "dream crib"

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this is my view when I come up the stairs...both their sweet rooms right there next to each other! We plan for them to share rooms eventually and I look forward to the adventures that will bring!

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{I think that above shot is precious, don't you? you can see them together on Abigail's bed!}

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and of course...my FAVORITE part of these rooms?
the girls who live in them!

Thanks for stopping by!!
{linking up here and here}

Abigail's phone call

We took dinner to Daddy's office one night and Abigail wanted to call her Memaw and Hop and tell them she was gonna go to the zoo tomorrow...and it is by far one of our favorite videos of her ever!! her little language and words crack me up. :)

A little pre-translation of this phone call for you:
(some of the things you might hear)

Wanna come see ME?
I go to animals tonight.
(then mama corrected her)
I go to zoo tomorrow.
I see giraffe and a effant and a heeppo.
(how she says hippo cracks us up for some reason)

Daddy's office looks really...really NICE.
(so random...I don't think she meant to say that but she just went with it, hand motions and all)

hokey pokey pokey!
(when my parent's dog rolls around she says she's doing the hokey pokey)

and then the awesome look at the phone saying,
"Wanna See?"

and seriously, those eyes.

enjoy. at least the grandparents will get a kick out of this. :)



Y'all have a good rest of the weekend!