great quote...

"I am still far from being what I want to be, but with God's help I shall succeed."
Artist, Vincent van Gogh

sweet success...

sake2me packaging...

I came across this beautiful Sake packaging by Micheal Osborn Design. I love the color palette and I really want to drink one!

ambitious? hmm ...

okay. so i may have way over-estimated my cake decorating prowess [!] but this is the princess castle cake i'm attempting to make for gabrielle's 3rd birthday we're celebrating next saturday. when i asked her what kind of birthday cake she wanted she squealed "pink" then said "wait, princesses!" (incidently she also answered "pink" when i asked her what she wanted for her birthday, ha ha, guess we got our dress code?!!!) sooooo, here goes ... wish me luck! me'thinks i should do a back up sheet cake?!!!

too hot...

Ugh. Be careful what you wish for! About 15 degrees too warm for this mommy!!!

i'm 3!

Gabrielle helped me make cupcakes and we had our own little party at home tonight for our "baby" girl. we are planning to celebrate her birthday with the rest of our family and friends on the 24th...

Come Lord Jesus...

So cute. Gabrielle loves saying our prayers before meals.



"Come Lord Jesus, Be Our Guest, Let this food to us be blessed"

Happy 3rd Birthday Gabrielle!

Our darling Gabrielle, Happy 3rd Birthday sweetheart! You are the light of our lives baby girl and we pray you always know how much you are loved. :) XoXo, Mommy & Daddy (& baby "bwother" Zachary!)

tiny dancer ...

Well, my daughter, Gabrielle, and I thoroughly enjoyed Classical Ballet Academy's evening performance of Snow White! (Could have went either way as it was past her bedtime but she was positively captivated, truly on the edge of her seat and only had a melt down when she found out we were leaving!) We are very anxious for her to attend their Cinderella Ballet Camp this summer. If she likes it, she can take weekly lessons in the Fall. Time and time again I hear/read of little ones being exposed at young age and just live for it from that moment on. Who knows? I so want her to find her passion someday. We were invited to the show by one of the advanced ballerina's mother. (ironically she was an attending nurse when my 8 mo was in hospital earlier this month) and Cosette was gracious enough to present her with a pair of her pointe shoes last night. So sweet. (thank you, Cosette, she'll have them forever! see pics as she attempts to use them, ha ha)

happy mother's day...

Hi, I just wanted to say I hope you and your Mother have a blessed Mother's Day today. And for those who have lost your mother, hold tight to the memories and give their favorite flower to someone else in their memory. (In my case it's lilacs) As for me, I'm just basking in the joy of my little darlings all day long and am so very grateful God chose me and made me their mommy. Also, please pray for the little children who have no Mother to celebrate this day with. May God Bless You, Lisa

birthday ballet....

It's a mommy-daughter date! I'm taking Gabrielle to her first ballet this Saturday night for her birthday. She already skips and hops and twirls around to endless Nutcracker Ballet DVDs. I am hoping this will be something she enjoys. The performance we are going to attend is a rendition of Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs performed by the Classical Ballet Academy in Portland featuring all of their older pre-professional ballet students. This is the same company she will be attending the Cinderella Ballet Camp for her young age group this summer. (should be a hoot!) We are both very excited, and she is tickled , well ... PINK! Her mommy is crazy about the Arts so hopefully she will be too someday... her call.

on the mend ...

Got home earlier this week on monday evening. we ended up spending 2.5 days in hospital while zachary got re-hydrated. we are happy to report is doing MUCH better now. still not 100% but (praise GOD) well on his way! his little personality is back, his energy level is almost like it used to be and he's gobbling up his milk (and pedialyte). This mommy is very much looking forward to a healthy household again!!! Thank you again for all of you who sent your loving thoughts and prayers our way...

now zach has the tummy bug ...

Well folks, we spent the last couple days inside the beach house with our poor little zachary. In spite of our best efforts, he decided he too was going to catch gabrielle's little tummy bug. we just sort of hunkered in and tried to ride it out and keep him comfortable before our trip home. he was looking much better friday and we were encouraged but saturday when we got home he decided he was gonna go full force on us and was not done being sick. he is unable to keep his milks down and blowing through his diapers so fearing dehydration (as he was looking kinda puny) brought him in to the ER again (big sigh) at 10pm Saturday.... long story short: here we sit, in exact room number as before as they admited him for 24 hours to see how he re-hydrates..... once again, we are guests at the hotel legacy salmon creek hospital. did i mention his little IV is in the top of his head ---- my heart it breaking for our little man...and i am one tired mommy. so grateful chad is able to be home with gabrielle again... makes it not so disruptive for her.