Recovery

So, we are in recovery mode around here. We had a fantastic birthday party for the babies yesterday and after I get the pictures loaded into the computer I will gladly share.
The short version= lots of fun!

So, now I am recovering and trying to put my house back together, do more laundry and relax a little. But I'll be back later with pics and details!

Pretty Maids all in a Row

Facebook Fan Page

Are you a part of the Facebook craze??
Yeah, me too.
It's really kind of neat that you can interact with sooo many people all over the world. I really don't understand the internet... but I do like it!
Anyway, I now have a facebook fan page for Puddin Pop Designs up and running so check it out if you have time. I'm still adding photos to it so you may not see your PPK there yet, but it will be eventually. I still have an overdue 1st birthday party to sew for so I better get crackin!

Happy Facebooking!

Bike ride anyone?

Last week little Daisy was pretty sick. She ran a super high fever for several days. And usually, when my children run a fever they will break out in a rash at the end of it. My first experience with this was when Puddin was a baby. I was scared to death! I just knew she had measles or something equally terrible! Our pediatrician (we had a different one then- she was just as great as the one we have now, but moved on to bigger pastuers...anyway...) said that some children tend to break out in a rash after a high fever as a sign that the virus is leaving the body.

So, that has been the case for all of my kiddos, but usually it is a mild rash. The first experience with Puddin was pretty severe and up to this point, had been the most severe case we had experienced.

Until Daisy.

Daisy brought a whole new meaning to rash... poor thing bypassed the road to rash-ville and went straight to the hives!

This picture was taken when she woke up on Sunday morning. By that evening she was covered in hives and was red as could be!

While I felt terrible to see her look like this, I was grateful that I knew immediately what it was and was happy that at least I knew the virus was leaving- Yay! No more fever!!

It also doesn't itch- it just looks terrible.

So we I got a crazy idea that we should go do something fun.
It was a beautiful day so we decided to load up the kids and their bicycles and go ride bikes on the Greenway!

Do not be fooled by these pictures! I seriously should have taken an after shot!

While we had fun, Daisy was still really crabby (AGH!!!), there were a lot of hills (it too ha-ard!), and my children have short little legs (I'm ti-wed!). Combine that with the sunshine (it's hot!) And the "dehydration" (I'm firsty!), and of course the lack of nourishment ( I need a NACK!!) and you have our first trip riding bikes on the Greenway!!

*Note to self- practice some more before you take them without Hubby and practice staying on your side of the road!

Since we have never done this we looked like quite the motley crew taking up the whole path as other's were trying to enjoy the day themselves!

All in all, we had a great day.

Oh- and Daisy's rash hives, well they were in full force by the next day! The poor baby looked terrible. She was covered from head to toe. Thankfully they have gone down today and she is looking much better.

So, dare I ask?? Bike ride anyone??

Easter 2010

Here are a few pictures from Easter. I really had to sift to find just a few to share. It was hard! Who knew you could take so many pictures of kiddos hunting Easter eggs??
So let me give you the short version of our Easter and then I'll show the pictures....

First, Easter is my second favorite holiday. I love it! I love the promise of rebirth, the most importantly, the fulfilled promise of the resurrection. For me as a child, Easter was more about bunnies and candy than anything else. While that's lots of fun, it is not what Easter is about. I really, really want my children to understand that while it's fun to have those things, Easter is truly about Christ.

So, we did a few activities to emphasize that. Resurrection eggs are great, the kids loved those.

I think my favorite activity is one Puddin did at school. She made a craft of Jesus ascending into the clouds. I'm keeping this one forEVER as part of our permanent Easter display.
Ok- back to our Easter events... the short version:
First we went to church. It was great to celebrate such a special day
We came home and took pictures.

The kids found their Easter baskets the Easter bunny left for them while they were at church. (Our morning is too crazy, busy to have Easter baskets when they first wake up).

We changed clothes and I finished cooking while hubby and the kids play with their stuff from the baskets.

I feed the kids lunch- except when they have already eaten their chocolate bunnies from their baskets for lunch, then I just feed the babies.

Our family starts to arrive and we visit... some how I don't have pics of this part of the day!

We hunt Easter Eggs

We have Easter dinner

We have Easter dessert... buffet! Ha! We had sooooo much dessert! Yum-yum!

We play and enjoy each others company.

The family leaves and we do a quick clean up/bath time/bed time
We rest.
I love Easter!

Ok, so here are a few pictures....**smile**

The after church, before the Easter basket shot... It is not easy to get 5 kids to look at the camera at the same time with a smile, especially without dum-dums! These were the 3 best shots... out of 37!

Because we can't take a whole family group photo yet, and we always forget to do it when we have people around, we switch up being in the picture. So you have one with me and the kiddos...
And one with Hubby and the kiddos! Again, the 2 best shots out of waaaayyy too many!
Daisy checking out her basket goodies... the must haves on this years list- mum-mums, a new pink cup and a bunny bib!
Bud and Daisy with their baskets. They each also got a board book in their basket.



Monkey See and his new rubber boots! You can't tell from his face...he's my thinker, remember? But he LOVED them!

Ahhh, a girl and her love of chocolate starts early around here!

Monkey Do also got new boots, that he also adored (he is a shoe man after all)! But each year they ALWAYS get a bubble wand. He was super happy about seeing his!

Chocolate bunnies for lunch, anyone?

BTW- I didn't make the Easter dresses for the girls. Nana generously provided the girls with their Easter dresses this year! In fact, I haven't smocked a dress in 3 years!! Who has time to smock these days?!

Next is lunch for the babies, and a quick wardrobe change...
I LOVE this face!!!

This one too! Yes, Daisy is wearing a tiara, thanks to big sister Puddin!

She is so generous, she is sharing one of her most prized possessions on Easter Sunday!

BTW- this was totally un-prompted.
I was changing one of the boys when I looked over and saw this so I grabbed my camera.
(I did make these outfits.)

Now, onto the big Easter egg hunt!
Each of the 3 "big" kids hunt differently... I've already mentioned Puddin's idea of Easter egg hunting. She has since learned about quantity rather than princess quality. I'm not sure that was a good idea. Monkey See, my thinker, does exactly what I would expect. he does not go for the eggs out in the open, but rather the ones off to the side, actually hidden. He really does hunt for his eggs. Monkey Do, on the other hand, does the opposite. He drops his basket and runs to get as many as he can find as quickly as he can, then he runs back to make the drop. Unless, he can find someone to follow behind him and hold his basket. It's just too cumbersome for him.
Monkey Do runing for an egg... where's his basket now??

Puddin searching an egg. I guess if she has to get eggs that aren't princess colors she can at least look like one while she hunts. Her idea, not mine. While she is wearing gloves and a tiara, notice, she is barefoot! Ha!
Cousin J with the monkeys...I wonder whose basket she's carrying? hmmmm. Monkey See surveying his loot...coming up with his next strategy...
and it pays off!! Cousin A with Bud getting his 1st Easter egg!
Uncle T helping Daisy get an egg
Monkey Do...still on the hunt Puddin decided she needed a bigger basket so ran off to find one... here she is dumping her loot into the "GIGANTIC-EST ever Easter basket!"

And we finished with a shot of all of the cousins. Each of these children is so special to me. I love them all so much!

A, Bud, Puddin, J, Daisy, G, Monkey Do, Monkey See

Easter 2010

Mi Amor...

My new love!

I'll be back tomorrow to share more stuff, like the my speckled baby girl, the fortune telling cowboy, my favorite mud pie recipe and of course, details about our crazy weekend, as well as Easter pics... still trapped in my camera screaming to get out! But for now I have a few more PPK's to finish.

I'll also share some details about my new love.
Happy Sunday!

Trying to keep baby Daisy's fever down with pedialite and a cold rag on her head.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Not exactly the easiest thing to do. Especially when you are on the umpteenth virus floating around your house since Thanksgiving.

Yes, sadly, we are sick- again.

But my pediatrician says it's not because I am a bad mom or have a dirty house...uh-hum. Rather, it's because I have 4 children in the "at risk" category.

What is at risk, you ask? Well, according to the Baby Whisperer, (our back-up pediatrician, yes, we have one) children ages 1-3 are at risk for 8-12 viral infections per year due to their age, development and mobility. All that crawling, potty training and hands in the mouth, not to mention strangers that are drawn to adorable children and feel the need to touch them- but that's another post entirely.

So, when you take that 8-12 viral infections per year and multiply it times 4 you get US! We are at risk AT RISK! Yes, I have the poster children for that category.

So back to giving thanks.. yes, we are told to give thanks in EVERYTHING. I don't know about you, but that has been a challenge for me in the past and it is something I have felt a strong conviction about in the past year or so. And while I may be a slow learner at times, the point is, I'm learning.
So without further a do, here is my thankful list for today...

1.I am thankful no one has unexpectedly dropped by since I have been wearing the same pajamas for ??? a while.

2. I am thankful for a husband that can overlook the toys, laundry and messes on the floor and is grateful for a frozen dinner. I love that man!

3. I am thankful that the babies nap schedules are off, actually alternating. This allows me to have more one on one with them and to hold one for hours while the other is sleeping. They don't have to share mommy when they are feeling bad!

4. I am thankful for my pediatrician. He really is an awesome doctor, even if he does tell me, "It's most likely a viral infection."

5. My backup pediatrician...aka- the Baby Whisperer. When we see him, which lately has been pretty regularly, (our regular pediatrician fills up pretty quickly)he has an amazing, calming affect over my children. It really is pretty awesome. When he walks in a hush falls over the tiny exam room. It really is a gift.

6. The pediatricians office staff. I LOVE THEM! Everyone there knows us and that is worth every cent. They look out for us and really make each visit much more pleasant than it would be otherwise.

7. I am thankful for vicks vapor rub and humidifiers.

8. I am thankful for pedialite and IBUPROFIN. Beacause even the most seasoned mom gets nervous when a fever reaches 103.9.

9. I am thankful for friends that pray for us, even when I don't ask for it, and they understand that it may take me days to return a phone call and they don't take it personally.

10. I am thankful for silly brothers that can make a sick baby sister smile.

I am reminded, It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
And again, I am thankful.

Little Miss L

Here is a sweet picture of little Miss L and her PPK.

The Easter bunny made a special delivery for her!

So precious!!

Today, while my children sleep, I will be sewing, and sewing and sewing! I have a few orders to finish up this week and get shipped out so the posts may be a bit sparse.
However, when I get a chance I will post some pics of our Easter weekend. I love Easter! Next to Christmas, it is my favorite... and not because of the bunnies!
We had lots of fun this year at our house learning what Easter is really about... He is Risen! And I have lots of fun ideas for next year too!

As for business...
I will be taking a few weeks off at the end of May to regroup.
My house is a gigantic mess MESS! I really need to clean out my closet, unless I plan on wearing jeans and sweaters all summer.
Plus, Puddin has a dance recital in June and she needs a dance bag to be made and the boys will be having their 3rd birthday in July and I want to get some things made for that as well.
And the list goes on! So... If you are looking for a PPk for your little sweetie in June, in might be a good idea to send me an email late April/early May.

Girl Eggs Only!

Puddin 4/1/10

Today Puddin had an Easter party at preschool.

It was precious!

Skip to my Lou had a great idea with these cupcakes! Easy too!


First, they had breakfast and then they had an egg hunt.

Her teachers are brave, I tell you.

When I was teaching we saved all that fun stuff for the end of the day when we could send everyone home all hyped up!

close up of the bunny cupcake... she has a free printable too!

Anyway- she insisted on wearing a smocked dress with bunnies on it.
Everyone else was dressed casually, as I suspected.

She had her fill of donut holes at breakfast, as did her brothers... we travel in a pack remember? Bud and Daisy blinded by the beautiful sunshine!

Monkey See... charming his mommy!

Monkey See and Monkey Do hunting for the perfect flowers for Mommy!

Then it was time for the egg hunt.

Here are the children lined up.

Poor Puddin, unless she is dealing with her brothers, she in not an aggressive child. So, she was at the end through the gate. In fact I think she held it open for about half the class.

Anyway, I noticed she was being selective about her egg choices while the other kids, just as one would suspect, were not. For the other children, it was a mad dash to get as many as possible, as quickly as possible.

I encouraged her to pick some up off of the steps when I realized she had left one behind.

Sooner than you could say "Happy Easter!" the eggs were all gone and the kids were going over their loot. Puddin looked a little concerned. So I walked over to see what was wrong.

This is how our conversation went:

Mommy: What's wrong?

Puddin: I just don't understand why they don't have more eggs out here?

Mommy: Well, they had a lot of eggs, remember?

Puddin: Yes, but not enough for me!

Mommy: Well, why did you pass over so many eggs instead of picking them up?

Puddin: Well Mommy, (all of the other mommies are now listening to my smocked Easter dress wearing, four year old in preschool, with the gaggle of siblings near by) those weren't girl eggs! I only like girl ones!

Mommy: ????

Other Mommies: hehehehe!

Mommy: What do you mean girl eggs? (as I look into her basket and see 4, yes 4 eggs. 1 purple, 2 pink and 1 shiny gold)

Puddin: You know, the pink ones and the sparkly ones. Ya know those are girl ones and those are the ones I like.

Oh my!

I was then informed by her teacher that most of the time she will only use pink paper at school too. Ugh! I think we created a girly-girl monster!!

Here is a picture of her and her bestest friend...polar opposites if there ever were any, but oh how they love each other!

Puddin checking out M's basket.

Hmmmm... maybe I should get a better game plan next time!

All is well! M was very sweet and told Puddin, "Well, it's ok if you only got 4 eggs, they are really pretty ones!"

Just for the record- Puddin came home with more than 4.

Her teachers divied them up after the egg hunt.
Puddin was really happy to see that some how she had lots of eggs when she came home!