{Thankful Thursdays... before & afters}

This week has been full of "before & afters".... but here are a few that I'm THANKFUL for :)

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Prissy before....

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Prissy after-

   I swear yesterday we were waiting for baby teeth to come in....  My girl got BRACES yesterday {cue the sigh and tears- for BOTH of us- ha ha}.  ** NO amount of cute pink rubber bands or sparkly wax cases can ease the pain of sore teeth & embarrassment :(  She is so much like me that it hurts I tell you...

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But she's a trooper eating milkshakes, soup, & noodles- all the while cheering her brother on.  I LOVE YOU sweet Prissy!!!  

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And... Lizzie got herself some snazzy AGD braces too {I ordered them in a weak moment last Thursday after I heard Prissy was getting hers}.  They were a HUGE hit- Lizzie was very brave!!

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And to combat my heartache at my child being old enough for braces.... I stopped at a tag sale.  And bought this frame for 25 cents.  {It's amazing how much retail therapy helps... no matter the amount spent!}


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So I brought her home & Prissy & I stapled chicken wire to the back...

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She now resides in my sewing closet.  

I {heart} both of them!

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THANK YOU HM & Jenny for the sweet you-just-got-braces-gifts & for just being you to my sweet girl!  WE {heart} y'all!!!  And HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTY- We {heart} you too!!!!

{Thankful Thursdays....}

Tonight.... my eyes hurt from all the tears I've shed today...  Today was my little A-man's very last day of Pre-K.  We just got home from his ceremony- PRECIOUS!  My boys together makes my heart smile in a way that I didn't even know could happen.

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Aren't they the cutest curly-headedest

 cutie pies y'all have ever seen- YES they are!

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A-man is quite the little slugger... who cracks me up!  He asked me "what the object of baseball was?" and my favorite "why can't I just run from 1st to 3rd Momma- it would be SO MUCH FASTER!".  Prissy is his #2 fan {next to his Momma :) }

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Also... I'm thankful another wonderful year of watching her dance.  Her ballet program was tonight before A-man's graduation!  And I'm thankful for sweet teachers that text me when teeth come out at school!  Prissy lost 1 tooth @ school today, got 1 pulled @ the dentist this afternoon, & I yanked one out for her tonight- YIKES!  She is scheduled for braces on Wednesday..... which also makes my eyes sting.  It's been an emotional day...  And I know for sure that I'm blessed far more than I deserve!!!

gallery walls, benches & dough bowls - OH MY....

I finally finished {although just as I'm writing this I'm thinking of yet another print in the attic} the gallery wall in the Master.  I think I love her, but need encouragement.  Almost all of these beauties came from tag sales/Goodwill.  Joey thinks I'm mad to have patched the holes and painted then made a blue million nail holes.... but he just goes with it :)  

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What do y'all think?  Would this wall make you want to get up or stay in bed?

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I love the different prints {the praying girls where in my nursery then in Prissy's now back in my big-girl room}.  Some from Goodwill & tag sales, but mostly from around the house....

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And what about this bench at the foot of the bed?  I picked her up @ TJMaxx....  She brings some much needed drama to all the white.  Don't get me wrong... I do so LOVE white!  Prissy can come home and instantly point out new things {that makes me smile and wince all at once!}.

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And speaking of benches this little guy came home with me last week....  I bought him thinking that he was just what I needed for a class that I'm gonna take in August.  The girls & I are going to a blogging conference to meet Edie, Southern Savers, Nester, Miss Mustard Seed and MORE- I can hardly contain my excitement!!!  Hence trying to find the perfect piece to take along...

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But... in the end he got a few coats of Magnetic Gray just a day later.  Now he resides on the stoop smack dab in the middle of my beautiful new stairwell!!!    And Prissy loves to put her things on him too :)

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And along with furniture I keep my eyes out for Legos at tag sales too.... and guess what I found Friday?  My boys built this massive Lego pirate ship from a bag that I brought home.  I was worshiped & adored!!!

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.... and other treasures too.  I have always wanted a dough bowl- I think sometimes I channel Caroline Ingles!  Mark her off your "looking for me list" Cooner.  

**I love that she has a list with me in mind** - I intend on having one for my sweet Prissy's house too one day :)

{Thankful Thursdays...}

Well... in keeping with tradition .  Today I am thankful for and in no particular order:

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Sweet toothless sweaty headed White Sox players!

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who LOVE to play Lego any & everywhere...

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flesh flowers pick just for me... by my sweet girl.

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And... the end to yet ANOTHER florescent light!  Joey pulled down the big-nasty-make me hate pastel colors- looking thing in the master closet.  I found this little pendant light in a box in the attic.... Not perfect, but FREE & MUCH better!!!  Can I get an AMEN!!!!!!

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Also... I could do an entire post ALL about what Daddy did during his visit...  How he put out my kitchen garden {with the help of 4 little hands}, how he hung some built ins in the garage {that I adore- I'll show ya soon}, how he taught the A-man how to field a ball & how to step & throw & how to put your head down & run as soon as you hit it... NO MATTER WHAT, and stop apologizing for not hitting it every time :)  Or how he doted on Prissy & treated her to a trip to Claires.. But my favorite & best thing he did was... wait for it...  He let me draw out a crazy sketch of how I dreamed of having some wainscoting up the stairs.... Then the saint - he went and did it.  I am THANKFUL for my Daddy!!!  Isn't it BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

What about y'all???  What are you thankful for today?

For these children.... I prayed! {a mother's day post}

My darlings....  I adore you more than any Momma ought to be allowed.  I love your little faces, your sweet spirits, your laughs, your freckles, & your smell!  You have brought more joy to this heart than I thought was ever possible.  And... when I met you- I finally knew how much my Cooner loves me.  She loves me when I am unlovable & is the first one that I call for EVERYTHING!  No doubt you can see how much I adore her when we are together & I know I have told you many of the wonderful things that she has done for me in my lifetime....  But there are so many more things that you will never know about her.  How she once blew the yolks out of 41 eggs for an Easter craft when I was in 3rd grade.  Or how she taught me how to make "the cookies" that you love that I make....  She made the most wonderful meals for me growing up {I did not thank her enough for those} and fixed my hair EVERYDAY well into Jr High.  I LOVE her in a way that I pray you will someday grow to love me....  She is a precious soul, one whom I long to become.  

This is the 1st official photo of~Josey & I~
my water broke 2 days before Cooner
was to come... I remember when the nurse
told me that my baby was coming, I said
"but my mom won't be here until Wed."
I felt like I was 12 yrs old...(July 29th 2003- I became a Momma!!!)this is the 1st official photo of
~Ashton & I~
I didn't get to hold
him for 4 LONG days
so this was a moment
that I will NEVER forget...
Joey took this with his phone, it
is a little blurry- but to me it's
PERFECT!!!!!
(April 21st 2007- I became a Momma for the second time!!)

"the Lord is faithful in ALL of His promises"
~Psalms 145:13~

My sweet hubby and kiddos have outdone themselves this week!  It is Nurse's Week {shout out to my girls on 2-Neuro- WOOT WOOT.  We are totally the "brains" @ MRH}.  And Mother's day this weekend- ALL at once.  I have been showered with pretty wrapped gifts, handmade gifts, gifts of service, & my cup has truly runneth over :)  A-man's little "guess my Momma?" game inside his classroom cracked me up.  They had to write 2 sentences about their mommas then draw them ;)  Need-less-to-say... I thought I was a few like the one who "loved salad" but that one also "loved broccoli"- sadly NOT me.  Then there was the one who "loved running"- she had curly hair but sadly she also "loved wrestling and playing baseball"..... not me either.  Then I saw it... A brown curly headed girl with A LOT of accessories, who "loves salad, running, and CHEESECAKE!" "YES THAT'S ME!" I said out loud as I was reading.  I turned around to a beaming A-man.  I had guessed his!   He SO knows his Momma! 


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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
Cooner!
and to my dear MIL Jean!  
and to all the other wonderful mothers that I know....  

{thankful Thursdays...}

When I began this blog... many moons ago.  It was a sorta scrapbook for the kiddos and a way to keep the family updated on all the Harris happenings. Then it sorta morphed into what I was doing too... projects etc.  But along the way I started "Thankful Thursdays" in an effort to mind me as well as all of you that we indeed have MUCH to be thankful for EVERYDAY!  I'm determined to get back to them weekly.  But today I wanted to stroll down memory lane with you... 

{This was originally posted in 2009}

While driving home from school today- a car pulled out in front of me, forcing me off onto the side of the road. All that I could do was sit there, knowing how close we just had come to a complete disaster. Prissy on the other hand yelled "God bless their little hearts, BLESS THEM, BLESS THEM!!!!!!" At first I was taken back by her eagerness to bless a person who was willfully trying to impose harm upon us. But she was quick to explain her blessings "Daddy always says things like that when we are in the car an we almost get in an accident!!!!" "You are right my Love", I said. Knowing that he does say these things, even if he does not say them with as pure a heart as hers. You have heard me say that I want to be like my mother (Cooner)- well today I want to be more like Josey!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Today I have come full-circle with parenthood- what a beautiful thing........

Josey- my prayer for you is that
you will become pre-occupied with
Jesus Christ all of your days,
captivated by HIM!!!!

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances"
2 Thes 5:16-18

Cinderella....

Not so Long Ago...

 in a Kingdom very close by.... 

 Cinderella came to town!

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She was delightful!!!

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And one of her little mice in particular caught my eye...

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 and completely stole my heart!

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Prissy was cast as a lead mouse this year {Jaq- who happens to be Cooner & my very favorite!}.  She had countless rehearsals and a pretty grueling tech week... but in the end it was spectacular!  

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I bought a ticket stayed back stage for the 2 o'clock show & the 7 o'clock show :)  She wanted me there because she had some "quick changes" {she had to change 9 times} & I wanted to be there!!!

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All of the Harris & Hayes buttons were a bustin'.  Cooner said she cried through the whole thing {and now you understand me that much more- ha ha}.  Papaw rewarded her beautiful dancing with a trip to Claires!  

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A-man loved this part!

She cut loose & rocked out in the carriage :)

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I made these little Cinderella inspired cupcakes with little mice on top {in honor of my little mouse- NO SURPRISE - ha}.  And the centerpieces were my little Prissy's once upon a time....

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...And They ALL lived Happily Ever After! 

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And went to Delishi afterwards to celebrate!!

THE END..

Cowboys & Indians- {A-man's 6th}

I know I know.... I have left y'all high and dry!  But I'm back with updates on everything from Cowboys & Indians to Cinderella over to baseball then back to gardening-gallery walls-&-staircases.....


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First stop- A-man's 6th Birthday!!

It was such a HUGE success!!!  The weather was beautiful, Cooner & Papaw were here, & the $1.00 cowboy boots that I found for my hunky tall sheriff- well they FIT!!!!! 

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Joey!

... in true sweet Joey fashion... he wore them {I think he expects a costume for parties by this time?? he he}. I adore you more than any little woman ought to be allowed!!!!!!!!!!!

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The games!

 ...went over VERY well.  We had Papaw @ the gun shoot, Joey @ the Lasso, Uncle Steve @ the Horse Shoes, & Chief Tall Arrow at the Bow & Arrow shoot {who let me paint his face- you rock Nick!!}

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The menu!

 ...was true Cowboy Grub.... and not so nutritious.  Beef jerky {although it was turkey}, twizzlers, pork rinds, rice cakes, pretzels, pigs in blankets, root beer, lemonade, & well water {or bottled water..}

{every real-cowboy works up an appetite}

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The cake!

 ...was fully loaded with Cowboy & Indian Legos {cause I know the ways to my little partner's heart} & I also have a paypal account that allows me to order ebay items in just a click- scary!!

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The sweet faces!

... were such a joy to look at!  Family and friends {some just like family}.  All gathered together to make my little Sheriff's day special.  I adore ALL of you!!!

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Papaw!

 ...was my #1 helper & it was his Birthday too!  He woke up early and stayed late to help me mop.  Then He got to work on a rather lengthy to-do list for me around the house.... THANK YOU Daddy for everything- I love you not gonna stop!!!!!!!

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The decor!

 ...was easy and cheap.  We scaped the tables with everything we could think of... from fake cow hides to real horse shoes!

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The walls!

...made the party come to life.  A-man hugged my neck multiple times throughout the party- thanking me for everything.  I {heart} him!  And that's why sweet friends.. I do these crazy parties.  Cause it's my pleasure!!!!!!

p.s.  We had an Indian bracelet station & a coloring contest for the sisters.... Each was instructed to put their names on the back {cause Cooner was judging and I wanted it to be fair}.  Prissy won!!!

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Cooner!

...THANK YOU too for everything!  We could not have pulled off any of these crazy projects without your sweet face!  I love you not gonna stop & all the way around the world and back again!!!!