crepe paper roses

I made centerpieces with crepe paper roses for Dahlia's birthday party. They were really easy to make, but a little time consuming.  I love working on crafts at night, after the kids go to bed.  These were fun to make while watching TV.  For the vases, I used some of Dahlia's empty formula containers and spray painted them gold.  I wasn't able to take any pictures of the decorations at the party, because I got too busy, so I had to document these flowers, because I spent so much time on them!  I used this template to make the roses, this website also has lots of other templates for different types of flowers.

four!

Our little, bitty girl has turned four!  Each birthday we have with her is such a precious gift.  Dahlia brings so much joy to our family and has us all wrapped around her little finger!  It is hard to believe she is now four!  It really seems like just the other day, I was with my little baby in hospital, while she was waiting for a heart transplant.  At that time of such despair and sadness, it was hard to imagine that we would ever be celebrating her fourth birthday.  Fast forward four years, she is a thriving, happy four year old and we are so grateful.

beach day!

On Saturday we decided to squeeze in one last trip to the beach before fall.  We took the four oldest kids.  Dahlia doesn't really like being in the water and makes Brian hold her the whole time, so we didn't bring her.  For it being Labor Day weekend, the beach was surprisingly empty.  It was nice and relaxing siting in a chair, under the beach umbrella, watching the kids play.