{happy birthday my little Prissy...}

I can't believe that 8 years ago today I helped God with my 1st little miracle.... I have enjoyed every minute with my darling girl- although she is the best & the worst of me! Here are her current successes...

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She has mastered her front flip off of the diving board. She writes perfect cursive {and I still have to think about how to make a cursive "I" once in a while}. She is my #1 helper in any capacity- from watching her brother to sewing. She has the sweetest spirit that I have ever known & I thank God for that! She is also very tender hearted- which means that I do try to protect her still... and always will! She is smart, so smart- she is quick to listen & slow to speak- did I mention that she has some of her daddy to {THANKFULLY}?? She is creative & always amazes me how she can embellish the simplest friendship bracelet into a masterpiece. Her fashion sense in right on & she would gladly fit right into the Paris scene {but they can't have her yet...}! She can hear a song once & finish the lyric- AMAZINGLY! She is much bolder for Jesus that I am- she is quick to pray for things & even quicker to thank Him when He answers her! She is however a bit of an exaggerator {I think that's where her part Cooner comes in} like: when she's thirsty- she's "dying of thirst" or when she's tired "she is gonna fall over" {I feel like Cooner is here with us all the time :) }. I smile everyday because she brings such joy to our lives. I am so proud of you little Prissy & your Momma loves you more than any momma ought to be allowed!!!!

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then...

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& now!

happy

birthday

Prissy!!!!!!!!

{they let their hair down...}

Well.... the party was a huge success. She must have thanked me a bazillion times for her party {and that is why I do it... that & the fact that I LOVE having parties!!}! Here is the recap....

A little Tangled pony tail to greet her friends.....

{courtesy of Cooner & Prissy}

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~the cupcakes~

{inspired by Rapunzel's flowers in her hair during the lighting of the Lanterns celebration}

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Prissy blowing out her candles

{cue- sniffle sniffle from moi}

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~the treat bags~

{Prissy carefully packed each one to the particular party guest- from the mesh gloves, to the lip stick, to the rings, to the necklace, to the candy, to the.... well you get the idea. TOTAL fun!!!

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These babies were ALL handmade & hand glittered {sorry} for all of her guests!

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She was so proud of them & me too.

THANK YOU Cooner for supervising!!!

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And the games..... well let's just say. We played everything from- jump the noodle, to the penny toss, to I spy, to squirt gun top it off, to corn hole, hand stand hold 'em, then back to every diving board game imaginable!!!!!!!! And then some...

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Then we settled down for some Apples for Max served up in... well frying pans of course!!

{I didn't get a picture of the melon basket- Cooner would have been proud}

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And lanterns... we were NOT short of them.

They were strung up everywhere!!!

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And what party of ours would be complete without some craft project....

Here are the girls making friendship bracelets & anklets.

They were gorgeous!!!

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And the A-man loved his little treat bag....

{with a little less makeup & a little more Legos!!}

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And.. my favorite part- the hair pieces!!! The girls darned them in style. Prissy carefully picked out each color for friends & they LOVED them!!!

{And YES- those are the new * improved* Lee press on nails on my little Prissy. I put them on her right before the party. I think next year we should do a nail spa party- the girls went NUTS over them...}

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Aren't they precious!!!!

{Sophie's blond one looks a little bit too real & she didn't want to take it off!!!!}

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The A-man {with his sister's help} won himself some bubbles....

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Sophie lovin' her new beads!!!

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And... a little cameo from Tangled's Pascal!

Prissy made him- too cute!

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The party ended @ 5:00 & the thunder started @ 5:05. Then the rain down pour & lightening started @ 5:10..... Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!! She opened her gifts at home. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to ALL of her sweet friends {and their WONDERFUL mommas} who came & made my little Prissy's party so fun! We are blessed to have you in our lives!!!!!!!!!!

{Tangled up in party stuff....}

So.... we are busy BUSY getting ready for my sweet girls 8th {gasp} birthday! She & Cooner made a definite dent in the party prep, but my second nature to take things to yet another level... is well.... starting to take over. Prissy chose the "Tangled" theme & I was obliged to make her wish come true. We started with the invitation... which meant a little lesson on braiding.

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After showing her 1 time....

she was a natural!

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...and so I put her to work on the rest. She gladly accepted the challenge & the rest is history. I wonder at what age I can teach her to refurbish some furniture- ha ha!

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And here is my poor dining room..... Looks like it's time to let our hair down & get Tangled up in some fun. I'll be back after the party to share the rest of the details!

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And cause I can still remember what I was doing this time last week.... I'll leave you with the Thinker... or NO that's my super hunky husband outside Notre Dame. Did I mention that we had a blast????? We did!!!!!!!!

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p.s. My sweet cousin Abbie is getting married this weekend. I sent this home with Cooner & Daddy. I hope to put this crape paper rose tutorial next week. Super cute & cheap!!!!

BEST WISHES

Abbie & Ben!!!

Bonjour!

We are back... and what a trip it was. I'm still operating on European time {meaning I've been going strong since oh about 4:30 this morning}! I am keeping with the London tradition of tea & toast- LOVE it! I have many MANY wonderful things & pics to share about our trip including but NOT limited to: Phantom, REAL fish & chips, shopping, flea markets, flowers, castles.... but that's for another day.

The very best, most wonderful part of our trip was being with Joey. I know that sounds corny {but I think we could all use a bit more corny in our lives}. I genuinely enjoy being with my husband and these last 9 days have given us the opportunity to sow into each other's lives like we did b.c. {before children}.

He has the best way about him, the kind that makes you want to be around him {I hope our kiddos get some of that}. His sense of humor is dry & sometimes inappropriate, but hysterical & I LOVE it! I cracked up at him the entire trip!!!

I had forgotten how wonderful it felt to be swooned over again. I love holding hands {I think I had forgotten how much I do- we did a LOT of it}. I also love doors being opened for me first, without having to hold the hand of a child and whimsically having it pushed back open for me {although I do appreciate that gesture as well, it's not the same}. Or, how wonderful it is to eat an entire meal together without looking at the kid's menu & then cutting it up & then having to "persuade" them to eat all the while playing tick tack toe with a crayon, & trying to find out about his day. Don't get me wrong- the children are our pleasure & someday very soon I'm sure I'll be missing those things. But until then, I think its crucial to sow into your marriage & guard it with ALL of your heart! Now I'm good to go for another 10 years {wink wink}!!!! Now speaking of children taking your focus off of your husband... Prissy is turning 8 next week {tears would fly right now ordinarily but I'm WAY behind}. Gotta get to work on the last details of the party. See you soon mes amis!!!

{peaches, parades , Paris & precious finds}

One of Joey's patients brought him these lovely creatures.... I wasn't sure what to use them for?? Cooner spouted off about 10 things right off the bat. I saw this on a blog that I love & it turned out absolutely WONDERFUL!!!! So summery & fresh & light & YUMMY!!!!

.Summer Peach Galette

{Paula Deen's perfect pie crust recipe}

10 ripe peaches

1/3 cup sugar

1 heaping tsp cornstarch

squeeze of lemon

1 egg white

{this recipe makes 2 galettes}

Peel and slice peaches, leaving a border of 3 inches of dough.

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Add a tiny squeeze of lemon to the peaches, mix cornstarch and sugar together in small bowl, then sprinkle the cornstarch and sugar mixture. {and because this brain of mine remembers random things like: Indiana became a state on Dec. 11th 1816 & nutmeg goes with peaches??? I added some. I know.... if only I could channel some of my useless memory for the good of man!!!!!}

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Wrap dough around peaches to form rustic edges, perfection not necessary. You can tuck in the edges underneath which also makes for a neater presentation.

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Coat dough with a small amount of egg white, then bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove from oven when crust is golden brown.

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Bon Appétit !

{I'm starting to brush up on my french.... cause I'm gonna need it next week! Cooner & Daddy are headed into town tomorrow to keep the kiddos while Joey & I venture off to Europe!!! YES- I can't wait- we are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary & I can honestly say "I would marry him ALL over again"!!!!!!!! I have a million things to do, but here are a few more little Harris' happenings....

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The kiddos & I decorated the golf cart for the neighborhood July 4th parade.... and WON! I was shocked {but NOT Prissy- she was very confident in our work}!

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...and I found this little darling thing for $1.00

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...a little chalkboard paint & some straws later- TA DA!! Isn't she PRECIOUS!!!

I {heart} her!!! I wonder what treasures I'll find abroad???

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Au revoir !

{perfect summer skirt tutorial}

I saw this idea on another blog & fell in love... I have been looking for a knit summer skirt forever & this one is PERFECT! I mentioned that all I needed was a soft old t-shirt & some elastic thread to Cooner on the phone.... and guess what came in the mail today? YES you guessed... she had sent me 2 of daddy's shirts {from Wally- soft & I LOVE the colors} and the thread. Now if she could just fly here & make it for me- ha ha. I got the kiddos started on coloring- promising to join them in 15 minutes........

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first get some soft men's t-shirts

{Good Will has them for $2.00, but they looked pretty worn. Wally has the best, I think for $3.00. I went with size L}

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then whack it off right under the arms

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then get yourself some of this stuff in the notion section of Wally

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and hand wind it around your bobbin

{don't try to do it with the machine- it knots up TRUST ME!}

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then get to work on the gathered waist. Gently give a little resistance with your machine & put it on a loose stitch setting. I just did 3 rows on this one {because I only had 12 minutes to spare by this time & the natives kiddos were getting restless...} But next time- I'm gonna shoot for 6 rows- I like the ruffly look. I LOVE my new summer skirt- perfect for the market, the pool, the beach, and school pick-up. The possibilities are endless & the price is even better!!!

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Have A Wonderful 4th!!!

and

Happy 2nd

Birthday Corbin !!!