A little sparkle is distracting.

This week, I sent my first baby to his first day of kindergarten. I think it has been traumatic for all of us. Today was the third day. I think it was the hardest for him. Can not wait to pick him up in an hour. Its only half day, thank goodness!

I have been in need of distraction. Everything here has shifted, and I have been trying to figure out my new routine. But as my husband always says, if there is a sparkle around, it will catch my eye and distract me. So I got out the rhinestones and glue, blinged out a pacifier and then made a pacifier holder. (The clip is a badge clip covered in more rhinestones). Once she outgrows it, it can be converted to a bracelet.

Only an hour until the weekend begins! I'll try to not think about Monday coming!

Pin It

Life is but a vapor

First off, today was a convicting day. The sermon from church really struck me, and then we went to a memorial service for a coworker of Micah's this afternoon.  He was only 29. 29 is so young, and so unexpected. It really makes  you think about whats going on in your own life and your own heart, because you just don't know when its your time. Time is so much shorter than we think. 

 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14

...and a picture.... because time really does fly.

Pin It

The biggest baby of them all

...that would be him when he is sick. Its just downright pathetic. 

I love his lips. He has great lips. I wish I had inherited his lips...oh wait, it doesn't work that way. And he has the thickest longest eyelashes too. It makes a girl jealous, it really does.

So this is where I will be today. Hanging out with my little sickie.

Pin It

Mickey Shirts in Action

And of course, with Mickey, himself!

Pin It

Learning how to knit..

....and here's how!

Pin It

Santa Claus Adventures

Yesterday afternoon, we trekked up to the Bass Pro Shop for the second year to see Santa. I was a bit dissapointed, as last year he was in this awesome rustic sleigh, but what can ya do, money is tight for everyone this year!

Jaden was SO excited. He couldn't wait to go see Santa! He kept asking JJ if he wanted to go too, and Jackson kept shaking his head no and get a worried look on his face. I know why. He was traumatized at Disneyland this October and then we always tell him that Santa Claus is watching him. Poor kid was freaked out that this was the guy that has been spying on him!

So Jaden hopped right up on his lap and gave him a big hug.


Then he got down to business. "I want a rocketship."

As soon as he finished letting Santa know what a good boy he was, he turned and automatically posed for the camera. I love him.


Then it was JJ's turn. Santa wanted Micah to sit on his lap too...hahahaha. Micah declined.

Don't worry Jackson, its just Santa! Jaden, obedient and taught well, kept his pose on.


"Seriously guys, let me down. I am so out of here."

"I like Christmas cookies, lights, and music, but if I have to sit on Santa's lap for presents, forget about it."


and with that, he was out.

Jaden, however, had to make sure that Santa didn't forget. "Thats a rocketship. and I will leave you cookies."

Candy makes everything better.


One more week! Pin It

8 more days til Christmas?

How can that be?!

Yesterday, Jaden was helping me clean up my scrap stuff and found a big bell. He told me he wanted it, so I let him go ahead and take it. I was thinking it would be a lot more fun to have on a string so I put it on a green ribbon. Then he wanted some wooden "Beets" on it, and it grew from there with the button eyes and red pompom on the bell into a reindeer! Can you see it?

Pin It

Jaden's first spelling word :)

Posted on our family blog too, but I just had to share here. I am so proud!


Pin It

Christmas Cuties

Thought it would be nice to get a start on Christmas photos of the boys. I still want to do a few more outside and by the tree, but it was right before naptime, and we all get grouchy around then! I also still want to do some family portraits. I thought these were sweet though:

And these are just a couple I played around with. Very over processed, I know.


And I might do this one for the Christmas card....as of now, its in first place.

Pin It

He makes me laugh

ok ok, I know I keep posting Jaden pictures, but its so hard not to! :) I just liked how this picture turned out. It was shot in color and converted to b&w.

Pin It

My boys really are my "son-shine"-

Today was the funeral... no, thats not the right word for her ...celebration of the life of Grandma Eloise. Now, it seems that our worlds are supposed to resume back to "normal". Our family has to resume back to jobs, homes, and life that was going on before. Normal from last week though is no longer the normal for us.

The boys (Jaden, Jackson and Cousin Deacon) have all been such rays of sunshine through this. Seeing their beautiful smiles and love for life really puts things into a different light.

How can you not smile when you see this guy?

Pin It

sweet moments

Tonight I wasn't feeling well, so I was trying to take it easy before a very busy day tomorrow. The boys had been a little crazy and ended up going to bed earlier than normal. Well, they weren't too happy about it. This is when it can go one of two ways. It can either be frustrating and tiresome, or it can turn into one of the best moments a mommy can have.

Jaden was crying in his bed that he wanted his water (something that he gets every night, but I wasnt moving fast enough for him this time). When I went in to give it to him, his little arms shot out and he said "Mama, I need a hug." Normally, I retuck him in, give him lots of hugs and kisses and then leave, but tonight was different. I don't know if it was because of feeling bad, the tone in his voice, or just a mother's instinct of realizing he needed me at that moment, or maybe I just needed him, but either way, I pulled the covers back and crawled in next to him.

Jaden is not a touchy person. He never has been. He has never been the type to crawl up in your lap and go to sleep, or take naps together, or just wants to cuddle unless he doesn't feel good. But tonight was just different. I crawled in, tucked him in better and quietly asked him to close his eyes. Instead of fighting it, or making it a game, he closed his eyes, and then didn't open them again. He was a little wiggly but slowly, as we faced each other and I gazed at my first baby boy, and rejoiced at this gift that God has given me, I heard his breathing steady and he was soon fast asleep.

As I laid there, I kept thinking about so much. I thought about how fast the boys are growing, and how these moments are treasures that I hope to keep forever. Things I never want to forget or take for granted. I thought about how I try to be the best mom I can, and how much they teach me too. I ran my fingers through his silly hair that grows forward and marvelled at his long thick eyelashes and the way he still sucks his tongue in his sleep. He has grown so much in three years. Watching his videos just from one year ago, makes you realize just how fast time goes. I just want to put the brakes on. I want to freeze time, wrap my arms around his teeny little body and never let go.

I may screw up a lot in life as "rebecca". I may make stupid mistakes and do dumb actions that I can't take back. And I can get down on myself for it all...but at the end of the day, these miracles show me how to take ME out of the picture and see that I am not here for me. They show me how to love, how to give, how to teach, how to be patient and kind, how to rejoice in the little things, how to see something for the first time. They show me compassion and beauty, joy and hope. They help me to focus on God more as I try to raise them to be the God-fearing men that He gave them to me to be.

3 weeks old...
1 years old


The day before I had Jackson


2 years old.
3 years old.
Jaden saying his prayers at 2 years old:
Pin It

Rodents in my house!

We have quite the infestation here!

..and the only thing that satisfies these two little rodents is candy.


We don't trick or treat, but they are still little, I always still dress them up, and then we just add it to their dress up clothes. (Plus I got a great deal on these costumes!)



Jaden gets mad that he cant get the wings to fly. Whats a bat to do? Oh wait. Jumping off the furniture seems to do the trick.
Pin It

pages of my boys

I don't know if its because I am not feeling good or what, but I feel like these pages are lacking something...

This one was fun playing with the picture. I used digital frames from Two Peas and a saying from Shabby Princess....

Lots of bling and glitter with the acrylic letters. It works with boys pages, I promise!

More two peas digital frames and shabby princess sayings! I also sewed on all but one of these four pages.


Acrylic Crown I cut out earlier in the week...


And this one is a scraplift from a scrapbook forum I participate in. Its always cool to take a page and try your hand at it.


Pin It