Dear MacGyver: Enclosed is a paper clip, a rubber band, and a drinking straw. Please save my sanity...

Sometimes I wish the extremely resourceful MacGyver could fix all my problems with everyday items that he has on hand. Quick fixes aren't always the best fixes though. With my busy, chaotic, hectic life it is a wonder that I make it through the day. We seem to lose ourselves in the shuffle we call everyday life. Sometimes we need to slow down and take time to enjoy the simple things.

I love to watch my daughter, Teela, explore the world. Everything fascinates her as she takes everything in. Little children are pure in heart and mind. Their innocence is so wonderful. They ask so many questions and absorb everything they learn like a sponge. We should all become as little children (Matthew 18:3)...humble, kind, gentle, honest, having faith and a thirst for knowledge, etc. Pray often.

It is hard to let go of stress. Do something that helps you relax such as: meditation, yoga, tai chi chuan, sipping tea, going to a favorite place (a spa, sauna, beach, quiet place, etc.); having a hot bubble bath, soothing jacuzzi, or massage; reading a good book, listening to nice music, watching a sunrise or sunset, taking a nap, laughing more, playing with your children, etc. Because it really is the simple things that make us enjoy life more.

I am not perfect by any means. My house is rarely spotless. I have laundry piled on my couch needing folded. I have dishes in my sink needing cleaned. I don't spend my time ironing clothes. I try my best to keep my kids faces and clothing clean but sometimes we go out into public and lo and behold they are messy. Those things can wait. They don't have to be done right away. My house doesn't need to be spotless all the time. My family deserves my time more and I deserve to spend my time with them instead of with a mop and bucket scrubbing floors.

I am glad to have a very supportive family and friends. God is also with me. They are, in my opinion, better than MacGyver. They have been with me through thick and thin and have helped me weather the many storms along the way. I thank them.

P.S. I had fun with the MacGyver photo above and placed my husband's face in it :) I hope ABC or Richard Dean Anderson isn't offended.

Teela's First Birthday!

Teela is one!! She had her party to celebrate her Birthday, that was on the 15th, on the 18th. Here are a few of my most favorite pictures taken that day. My parents came by and gave her a riding toy. She had a small party. Just a few friends and family showed up. My mother made carrot cake by request...since it was after Easter and I was craving it :) She also brought her yummy lasagna for dinner that night. Teela sure enjoyed herself. She also received a beautiful homemade dress that was made by her Nonnie, Brian's mother.

Earlier that day her Daddy was putting on his boots in the glider chair and Teela came crawling up to him begging for him to pick her up. She loves her Daddy so much! Dadda was one of her first words. Anyway, he held her a little while and then put her in the swing that is suspended from the rail he built for Tatiana's Hopsa Dress. The swing is actually for Tatiana too, but Teela enjoys it more. Teela's baby bungee is also suspended from the rail. The rail spans the length of our whole dining room and half of our living room. We actually sold our kitchen tables because we needed the space. So...I now eat at the kitchen counter. Well, I rarely used the tables anyway for formal dining...never had the time to sit down and eat there as a family. We should have made the time I guess, but it never was a priority with us. The boys were always sitting at their kid table in the kitchen too...although they will be growing to big for that soon.

Anyway...I kinda got off topic a bit (going to again)...probably because I miss my daughter Tatiana and I didn't get to see her this weekend. She is at the Providence Center for Medically Fragile Children right now. She has been there since April 6th. They are supposed to be giving me respite, but I just feel empty without her. She is also there for them to monitor her sodium levels and try to figure out what they can do to make them more stable. She has Diabetes Insipidus and the levels have been crazy for a while and since she has the g-tube for her thirst recognition disorder and now the portacath to take her blood easier we have been monitoring and adjusting her g-tube feedings and Desmopressin practically every day at home since her last discharge from the hospital. If you are new here reading my blog Tatiana has been in and out of the hospital quite a bit in the past two years.

Teela's First Easter!

Tomorrow is going to be Teela's very first Easter because last year Easter was March 23rd and Teela wasn't born until April 15th. So, I saw that my friend Erin had a picture of her little girl, Melody, on her blog and Facebook in bunny ears. I was like, "Oh, how cute!!". I happen to have a pair of bunny ears from the boys dress up box and so, here you go. Teela in bunny ears :)

Easter Eggs

I love decorating Easter eggs, but haven't really made it a tradition yet in my family. I would love to start this year, maybe if I can squeek it into my busy, crazy schedule. I would love to have my boys participate in the creation of some of them. Maybe I can post the results on this blog later.

There are many ways to decorate an egg. You can paint, dye, tie dye, carve, batik, decoupage, glitter, etc. There is even an International Egg Art Guild. Easter Is Sunday, April 12th this year. There are some very unique egg decorating ideas out there. I love the Ukrainian or Pysanky ones I think the best! They are so pretty!