HIGH FIVE 4 FRIDAY

HELLO! I am so excited that it's the weekend! We have some fun stuff planned and I am ready! It has been a very wintery week, even though it is S-P-R-I-N-G! I am coping with this brisk weather by keeping our fireplace on, fresh flowers everywhere, pastel nail polish, being crafty with my girls, and baking. Oh the baking.......such an addiction of mine. Here are some high lights from my week:

I have so many pictures of my daughters in the mornings! Never enough, though. I just can not get over their sweetness when the sun is shining in. the cuddles. the smiles. the jammies. and the bond they have. (Kiyah is cutting 4 stinkin teeth. Lord, Help me.)

Andy and I have been hosting like crazy. Like everyday this past week....but it has been great. We got to have our dear friends, Bruce and Sherry, over for dessert. They are amazing, Godly people. They are friends. Mentors. Partners in ministry. Real. I made America's Test Kitchen Chocolate Bundt Cake with homemade whipped cream and raspberries. We made them a Cafe Miel too! (well, right.) yum! 

 Oh my goodness, does this 3 year old act like her........mother. ha. She woke up the other day, starting her day like normal. She was opening her dresser drawer and scratched her hand on the knob....and this is what happened. A day full of "Dramaticistis" FOR REAL! "Mommy, I only have one finger (hand)." and "Mommy, I can't wipe myself" and "Mommy, I can't eat." and "Mommy, Pay (pray) for my hand." and so on. It was hilarious! Thank You to everyone who follows my Instagram and was praying for Zion Leilani. The prayers were answered. She is going at it again. 2 hands. 2 feet. and one spunky attitude. 

Our youth group, THE GATE, had an awesome All Nighter this past weekend. It was full of GaGa ball, sugar, pancake bar, crazy dance party, The Oz and lots of chaos. I hit up the church while my littles were sleeping to spend some time with my peeps. It was a blast! 

I have been getting a lot of art projects done at home. I needed this. I needed to get out my paint brushes, turn on pandora, light some candles and breath in the creativity. I finished up my House Rules for Cass Casa! I will reveal my art in the next few days! Check back! Happy Friday! Have a blessed weekend. 

(Linked up with Lauren at frommygreydeskblog and Jeanette at life rearranged)

lil' ladies

Thought I would share some favs off my camera today. I love my girls. They are such a blast. I have been really enjoying observing them play together the older Kiyah gets. I can't believe she is almost 7 months old already! Wow. She is wearing a hand knitted sweater from our friends Etsy shop. Check it!!!! 

It is like muscial chairs sometimes to keep Kiyah happy right now. (teething) She loves her high chair though. Zi loves to play with her when she is in there. Sister love caught on camera.....

Getting our craft on.....celebrating Easter with glue, paper. scissors, glitter, etc. Love. Zi is a crafty one. 

 Favorite smile again. 

Finished product! Love!

Do you have any traditions for Easter time? A favorite project? I would love hear your ideas! 

Andy brought us girls flowers again! He ROCKS!

SNOW SNOW SNOW

Seriously, MN is getting dumped with snow. It is crazytown. I swear we have over 12" right now. Yesterday, before my hus went to work he made a fort for our daughter Zion to play in. She was outside with our neighbors and I ran outside for about 5 minutes to take a pix. That was enough for me! Note:  Summer toys in the pix! Good grief. Zion was insistent on all of them.

Zion with Collin and Caroline! and water bucket and blow up innertube. well, right.

below is my favorite smile Zion has right now!!!!!

Fortin' it! Yes it is safe. Yes, the dad's checked it....with water bucket.

Are you embracing this brisk season? I am from a window- by a fire- with a coffee- and my red robe!

Thankful for a husband that is cooler than me.

Zakiyah's Baby Dedication

This past weekend, we got to have our daughter dedicated. Dedication is a lot like baptism. We just don't sprinkle them with water. We allow people to get "baptized" when they are old enough to make that personal decision. Having Zakiyah dedicated was our declaration to dedicate Z to God, our church family and to vow to raise her with Christian values. Having our girls dedicated is very meaningful to us. With my husband being a Pastor at our church, he got to dedicate both Zion and Zakiyah! It was so great. Our prayer is that our girls grow up in the church having a personal relationship with God. Growing daily in his promises and truth. Having friends in our church home. We are excited for their future. God is good.

We had both of our families come for the day on Sunday. We were surprised with my SIL, Katie co-leading worship with our team. Katie was our worship leader for 3 plus years before. It was so fun to have her up there again! A funny thing that happened, right before we went up for the dedication, my 3 year old Zion said, " I have to go potty." We, being awesome parents, said, "Hold it." ha. She felt pretty special holding the rose. The rose represents how our lives bud so fast. growing up through the years.....

 Both of our families....

After church, everyone headed over to our house for Tacos! YUM! We celebrated Andy and Zion's birthday and Kiyah's dedication. We had the whole set up with authentic taco meat, gauc, fresh salsa, corn torillas, soft shredded mex. cheese, cilantro, lime, black beans etc. It was so good! We also had apple soda and coke! the essentials....

sister love.

baby girl eating sweet potatoes. 

grandpa time- Wayne and Jim

The girls got really thoughtful gifts! My family did great getting them the perfect presents. My sister, Chelsea made this 10 commandments frame! I adore it.

Andy requested that I made his favorite:  a Triffle. I layer Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownies, homemade whip cream, chocolate pudding, raspberries and strawberries! YUM!!!!

My mom got these vintage Strawberry Shortcake dollys and outfits. Look at that cradle. I adore it. She made Zion sheets and some dolly bedding of course! They can't miss out. Why don't they make dolls like this anymore?! Precious!

After all the festivities, My hus and my (almost) Brother in law hit up our backyard to go ride. It was a beautiful out...for MN. My SIL and BIL took pix of them! It was our entertainment watching them. You can see us in the windows! 

Bird man ridin'

Thanks to our amazing family for celebrating with us. Thanks to our church fam for sharing life with us and loving our daughters! Thanks to everyone who lifts our family up in your prayers daily. We appreciate you!

Have a great day!