Ashly's Ins{and}Outs

Thursday, March 10, 2011

career day {101}

So... I got the news from A-man's teacher Tuesday that "Career Day" is today.... I asked my little precious to the core {and that's the truth- I {heart} my little sweaty-headed boy} "what do you want to be when you are big?" He said with NO hesitation "A Lego Builder!" I know I struggled with this one... but I remembered the note from his teacher & how it said "let THEM decide & be SUPPORTIVE".... I do think that I tend to "help" them a tiny bit in their decisions... but it's worked out beautifully so far- ha ha ha!!! Anyway I think the hardest part of his choice was that I how no clue how to portray a "Lego Builder"... but then I watched him play...

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I looked at his tiny little fingers digging feverishly in his big Lego box for just the right block...

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Then I watched him make the most wonderful planes... BETTER than most adults I think!

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and I started looking around his room... It's now FILLED with Lego creations {and he's saving even as I write this for a new Star Wars plane}....

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So I swallowed my selfish pride of wonderful occupations & got out my glue gun!!!

I took this little apron from a Lowe's Hardware free clinic...

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and put a red felt patch over the Lowe's part {sorry... but that cramped our style!}

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Next I {with the help of Prissy} spelled out LEGO {or at least we tried..} and hot glued them to the patch. And "YES {I will give you the same answer as I did the A-man}, the glue does come off."

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...and what

"Lego Builder Master"

is compete without a name badge??

...and I promised that he could wear his Lego head-light too! He hugged my neck twenty times last night at bedtime..... I'm SO glad that I went with his idea & NOT mine... Thank you Lord for giving me wisdom- even in the tiny things!!!

Sunday, March 06, 2011

{gallery walls...}

so... I attempted my {gallery wall}... I think I love it!!!! But... I need more pictures {I have taken all the black & whites that we had}, I need more frames {I have painted all the ones that we had- NOTHING is safe from white paint around here- ha ha ha}, & I need a bit more confidence to put ANOTHER hole in my wall.... Here is my start-

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I {heart} this one....
and even though it is too small for this frame & it's taped to the wall....
I LOVE it!!!

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and I {heart} this one...
I mean who doesn't love a good "feet" picture.... and I love his little diaper bottom!!

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and I {heart} this one...
I love his little chunky monkey cheeks....

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I {heart} this one too...
but she looks 16 & that makes me wanna cry my eyes out!

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I guess you could say that I {heart} them all!!!
And, that is why I love a gallery wall... What do y'all think???

Thursday, March 03, 2011

{ramblings...}

Harris-House has been a bit crazy lately.... but in a good way! We are gearing up for spring break - I {heart} breaks!! And that means- beach trips, IN folks coming to town, & relaxing a bit- all of which give my an itch to freshen up around here... AGAIN! I have my heart set on a gallery wall- any thoughts??? So... while I dream of that- here are some of my other ramblings...

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{this is the new PINK breast cancer campaign t-shirt. Hope you don't mind the cropped off picture- I asked Priss to crop me out cause I was a sweaty mess. I love that they call boobies ta tas- we've been calling 'em that since... well forever!! I think more than 1/2 the $ goes back to breast cancer... so Brenda, Tammy, Aunt Lorraine, & several other sweet sisters- this is for you!!!}

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My A-man made me this today.... I think it's his best so far!!!
~He is my little sunshine~

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I decided to TOTALLY clear out EVERY cabinet in my kitchen {I know- I'm a sicko}. I tried to rearrange it to make things a little more time-efficient & of course I took a load to Good Will! I love the look of my white dishes in the open cabinet- I'll show you soon....

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I found this little doll carrier @ Wally on clearance. It holds 2 18inch dolls & it will be perfect to use as Prissy's Easter basket- {go scoop one up they only have a few left}!

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and.... I've been reading this. It sorta makes me feel like the worst mother in the world?? Thanks to my sweet bible study group- I have decided to NOT let it "agitate" me- ha ha ha!!! I know that God is pouring out His blessings over my children & that the evil one only comes when he feels threatened.... So "good for me"... I think??? Today I am praising Jesus that He is in control & NOT me!!!!

Monday, February 28, 2011

making {every} minute count...

Life is so uncertain... this past weekend I took care of a very young man with cancer. He had undergone the most advanced treatment & had seen the best of the best in terms of oncologists & hematologists yet was dying. His last wish to his bride was to go home & die there. I discussed the options of Hospice with the family & we got it set-up for ambulance transport to his house & the Hospice team would be waiting for his arrival with a hospital bed & anything else to make him comfortable. All day Saturday I kept waiting for the "right time" to get him alone & talk to him. Finally I cleared the room to remove his porta cath {a device used to transfuse his chemotherapy} & I found myself whispering through my surgical mask, "I have to ask you.. do you know Jesus?" {with a huge lump in my throat}. "YES", he said with tears rolling down his cheeks {me too of course}. "I do, but I'm so glad that you asked me"! I held his fragile hand & tried to pull myself together. His precious wife came in & all I could think of was her & how her world was about to change forever. Finally when we rolled him out to the ambulance & I walked his wife to her car, I got to speak to her. She told me of how they decided not to have children and how they had made the most amazing memories together over the years. And how she was so fortunate to have met him so young so that they could start to grow old together. She wept there in the parking lot & I just listened & cried right along with her. Lastly she said how grateful she was that God had given him to her & how much she had to be thankful for. She told me to promise her to "try & make every minute count"..... That night I hugged my sweet Joey a little tighter & tried NOT to take our time together for granted. I too am thankful for my blessing in him & want to "make every minute count"! So today I challenge you all to start to "make every minute count" too- hug your sweet one a little tighter & remember that this life is a vapor.....

Thursday, February 24, 2011

{why this girl loves her mother...}

Today is Cooner's {my fun-loving mother} birthday & I couldn't let this day go by without telling y'all what she means to me {although if you ever read this blog... you surely already know}!

Cooner-

you were:

my life's blood,

my caregiver,

and

my very first friend.

you gave me;

your heart,

your soul,

your patience,

your right-brainy ways,

your blue eyes,

and

ALL of your love!

you became:

my kindred spirit,

my fan club president,

my greatest example,

my smartest teacher,

and

my most cherished mentor.

and that is why:

I will love you:

today,

tomorrow,

and...

all the days of my life!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRECIOUS

COONER!

p.s. I was looking everywhere for this little picture of Cooner when she was a little girl {I love that she fixed my hair like this, then I fixed Prissy's like this too}. I finally found it in Prissy's room- she has it framed on her bulletin board- I guess I'll let her keep it {wink wink}!!

Your Loving Daughter,

Monday, February 21, 2011

{deception=no holes}

Well... we are back from the dentist & I'm happy to report we have "no holes" as the A-man likes to put it!!! I have to admit that I don't let my kiddos have tons of desserts, but they are NOT lacking in the sweets department.... I use little tips from some of my favorite cookbooks like Deceptively Delicious & make yummy things with way less sugar & an occasional veggie pureed in them??? It's true I have been known to puree cauliflower & carrots {they go into most of my cookies, muffins, & cakes}! I tried a new recipe for pumpkin doughnuts tonight- in the spirit of NO cavities. They only called for a 1/2 cup of brown sugar & no oil..... Here is what the kiddos thought of them....