Sweet Baby Cooper

On Saturday, I had the privilege of hosting a baby shower for one of my very best friends, Katie and her Sweet Baby Cooper.

 We decided on a sweet shop theme since Katie LOVES sweets so much!

Yummy goodies. 

Oreo Pops.  Chocolate Fountain.  Candy Bar. 

 We had diaper wreaths on the front door..... with candy accents, of course!

 Lots of little details naming the man of the hour!  Baby Cooper James!!!

 CUPCAKES!  What is a sweet shop without cupcakes?!?!

The cup cake cups and straws were ordered off of Etsy and turned out so cute!

 Brownie {Ice Cream} Sundaes
These were not ice cream at.  Just a brownie with icing on top!

 The Food Table

 The Sweet Shoppe

 Grab a bag and fill it with candy!

 We wanted something that guests could sign and that Katie could use in the nursery.  After searching several ideas and doing a little tweaking, I came up with this.....

 His monogram painted on blocks!!!

 Christmas balls filled with candy hung from the light fixture.

Hostesses.
Alaina, Erin, me, Katie, Andrea, Cari, Meredith and Candice

 Katie's family

 Paige"y", Katie's oldest daughter and Cilla's bestie!

 Katie and I

 Candice and Katie

Katie's dearie friend, Rachel, made her this fabulous canvas to hang in Cooper's nursery.  I just love it!

It was such a "Sweet" and perfect day!

Our friend Lindsey took some great pictures at the shower.  She also made the invite and the Thank You notes which we gave Katie as a Hostess gift addressed by all the guests!  What mom doesn't love that?!?!  Thanks Linds, for sharing you talents!!!

Colorado

Be prepared for picture overload!!!

Like I said in the previous post, we were in Colorado last week with Flint's aunt and cousins.  It was a wonderful, wonderful get-a-way!  We had tons of help entertaining and taking care of little Miss Priss and that makes makes it easier to enjoy vacation!  And of course, Cilla loved all of the attention.  Every last bit of it!

A Family picture.

 Cilla just adores Flint.  It is so cute to watch their relationship blossom.  Look at he smile at him!

 Cilla had so much fun with her cousins and did not want for ONE SINGLE THING the entire week!

Henry, David and Caroline with Cilla.

 Ice cream after dinner!

 Cilla really took to David over the week.  She could not quit smiling when she was around him.

 She smothered him and thought that he should spend every waking minute with her!

God gave us the most beautiful blessing while we were there.  It was a double rainbow!!!

We (as in Rebekah) clearly lost sight of the fact that I have a very head strong, likes her way kind of two year old and thought it would be fun to join the rest of the fam in the 14 mile ride from Vail to Frisco.  Let's just say it was almost a disaster!  The first half of the trip was okay (at best).  But after a stop in Copper, I didn't think I was going to ever get Cilla back in the bike trailer.  You know, the kind that you always see people pulling their kids around in and the kids are halfway asleep?!?!  Well, not mine!!!

She screamed and fought it so much that she got tangled in the straps, so I ending up walking Cilla and my bike the last leg of the trip.

This is the face of a screaming two year old!

We went on a hike the next day and that was much better than being confined in the bike trailer!

The views were unbelievably beautiful!

So happy to get to run around!

Exploring with dad.

 Cousins.

Henry, Carter, Caroline and David.

 After our hike, we headed to Breckenridge for a little shopping and for lunch.

Cilla loved petting all of the dogs that were out.  She has no fear of dogs.  Not even this 150 lb beauty!  She just hugged her and talked to her.  Our little animal lover!!!

 We had lunch at Downstairs at Eric's.  It is one of our favorites!

 Cilla's favorite part about eating there is the video games!

 Carter, Cilla and Caroline.

We had dinner at The Mint one night.  It is place where you cook your own meat.  It is yummy and a fun experience.

 Caroline and Cilla, silly girls!

 Our last night in Silverthorne was an adult night out.  YAY!!!  The kids volunteered to stay home with Cilla so the mommies and daddies and Coke Coke could all go out.  That was a special treat!  Cilla had so much fun playing with the big kids and watching Nemo and Flint and I enjoyed our dinner so much!

Here is the masterpiece we found when we got home!

It says, "Hi Mommy & Daddy" and "Cilla's Dance Party".  Who knows what they did but I know they had a blast!!!

You know you have successfully worn your baby out with this is the sight in the back seat of the car on a three hour drive home from the airport!

We had so much time with our family.  Enjoyed the wonderful weather.  Had lots of great food.  Did a  little shopping.  Laughed lots and made lots of memories.  But, it is good to be home.

A Fun-filled Fourth

I am sooooo behind on posting.  This is one attempt at catching up!

We went back to Colorado last week with Flint's family.  Of course it was wonderful to escape the scorching weather that we are having in Arkansas, but it was so fun to be around family as well.  Cilla had four older cousins all catering to her every want!  And she loved every. single. second!!!

We arrived in Colorado just in time to celebrate the 4th of July.  We went to the parade in a little town called Frisco and it was so small town Leave it to Beaver and so cute!  Cilla's first parade was a success.

Attempting a family picture.  

 Cilla loved being carried everywhere by her cousin Caroline!

 Enjoying the parade, the view of the mountains and the weather!

 I told you it was cute!

This little two year old completely enjoyed herself.

 Flint, Cilla and Coke Coke (Flint and Cilla's Aunt)

Coke Coke has a house in the mountains.  We are so blessed to have a beautiful, fun place to go on vacation.  Thanks Coke Coke for letting us come out to visit you!  We loved our time with you and our time in Colorado!

Happy Birthday America!

Today we celebrate living in America and the freedom that comes with that!

We are so thankful to be Americans.  We are so thankful for the men, woman, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers and sisters who leave their loved ones behind to help defend our country and our freedom.  The sacrifices do not go unnoticed.  

In the spirit of the 4th of July, I thought I would share this oldie. This is Flint and his best friend, Peter when they were counselors at Kanakuk.  This pic was taken on July 4, 2000.

Happy Independence Day to all and Happy Birthday America!

DIY Brag Book

So, I wish I could take the credit for this cute and fun idea, but it was actually a craft that Cilla brought home from "school" or MDO.  These make the cutest little brag books that any grandparent would be proud to carry around!

I actually made them for the grandpa's for Father's Day.  And then I made one for Flint's aunt, Cilla's Coke Coke!

This one is the original.

The plastic covers are just heavy baseball card protectors.  The ones I used were really thick plastic from a sports card shop, but you can get a thinner plastic, if you choose to.  

Supplies you need: 

Plastic Card Protectors

Scrapbook Paper

Pictures that can be cut down to sports card size

Key Chain Ring

Ribbon

Paper Cutter or Scissors

Hole Punch

I had an example, so that I knew what size to cut the paper and pictures.  But you can use a sports card for sizing.  

First, you must put the scrapbook paper in each card protector.  I did front and back.

Then you will need a heavy duty hole punch.  I actually used my 3-Hole Punch.  It took a little trial and error before I got it right.  But, it seemed to be the strongest punch that I could find.  I actually broke a little single punch trying to punch through the heavy plastic.

Next you need to cut your pictures down smaller than the scrap book paper and small enough that they slide below the punched hole.

Slide pictures into plastic protectors.

Decide the order that you want your plastic protectors and put them on the key ring.  I did 8 "pages" which was a total of 15 pictures if you choose to make the front a cover.  I layered scrapbook papers and printed a message in photoshop for my covers.  But, Cilla's teachers did a "C" on her's and I thought that was super cute!

Lastly, cut strips of ribbon (I did about 6 on each book) and tie them around the ring in a double knot.  Trim them down to the size that you want them to be.

Viola!  Your very own book of your favorite pictures.

I have actually thought about making one for Cilla with a picture of each of her friends so she will remember to pray for each of them by name!  Or you could do this with vacation pictures.  The possibilities are endless.

If I were throwing a party......

If I won the lottery I think I would make a couple of big purchases, I would buy new shoes (probably too many pairs), and I would throw a party for every occasion.  I love throwing parties.  Deep down, I have always dreamed about planning other people's parties and weddings!  I am not nearly as talented and creative as many of my friends, but I sure do love to do borrow other ideas and run with them!

We will not be home on the Fourth of July.  But if we were, I would have my own barbecue with strawberry lemonade, sweet tea, family, friends, sparklers, Watermelon, horseshoes, red, white and blue....you get the idea.

Oh, how I love the Fourth of July!

Just thought I would share a few of the ideas I have seen.

Aren't the desserts so cute?!?!

You can even decorate your kids' table!!!

Wedding Bells

So, the main reason for heading to Texas was for Jordan and Ben's wedding.  Did I mention that the wedding and the bride and every little detail was absolutely gorgeous?!?!  Jordan worked with Flint at Baylor and is so sweet and smart and beautiful!  She was also a Tri Delt at Baylor so we always had that fun bond as well!!!   And of course, Flint liked to make fun of us!  But I am used to it after all these years!  Ben played golf and coached at Baylor which explains the groom's cake in the previous post!

My wedding date!

Flint, Ben, Jordan, me and Katie

Katie is one of our besties from our time in Waco.  She would always come to our house for dinner.  She would come over to swim with us.  She would watch Cilla and even our dogs for us.  We even went on a road trip together before Cilla was born!  She was and is such a dear friend and I am so thankful God brought her into my life.  I definitely can't imagine our time in Waco without her friendship and she will always be a dear friend!  It was so good to see her!

So, on to the food.  The food was literally the cutest thing ever!  

The menu consisted of yummy salad, grilled chicken skewers, chicken fried steak skewers, barbecue brisket sliders, and get ready for this...

a mashed potato bar and a mac'n'cheese bar!  

That is not a new concept to me but for some reason I had never seen it presented in such a cute way!  Oh, and it was delicious!!!

I know it is a little weird that I took a picture of my food, but I could not resist.  It was so stink'in cute!

Congrats Jordan and Ben!  

We love you and are so so so happy for you.  We wish you many years of happiness and pray God richly blesses your marriage.  May you always keep Him in the center of of your relationship!  

Oh, and have fun in St. Lucia.