Thursday, September 15, 2011

Another one hits home

Homeschool Blindspots - the full article is here.
"I am convinced that the most contagious parenting is living a heartfelt faith before your children. Fruitful interaction is not about what you do to your young people, but who you are with them. It's about having a real faith in God, and expressing it in a real relationship with a real person--not about methods and self-working principles. God intends that the side-effect of loving Jesus and enjoying the grace of the gospel will be that all people--including our children--will be touched by the Savior in us."
- Reb Bradley

~ Mrs. Arcfide

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

These happy, golden days

I treasure them.

The moments when she flings her little arms around my neck, with childish abandon.

The unchecked kisses she liberally rains on my lips, face, and neck.

Her little voice calling, "Mama? Mama?" even if I'm just in the other room.

Her pride in learning how to wear, and walk around in flip-flops.

The association she makes between the animals in her picture book, and the sounds they make.

Her singing, "Jesusss" and humming the rest of the tune to "Jesus Loves Me".

Her big eyes filling with tears when she hears her da-da's voice on the phone.

Her saying "Uh-oh", when she wants a diaper change.

Her sharpie scrawling on my books and table.

Her bulging tummy, and perpetual appetite for food and snacks.

Her crazy dancing when Dada returns home from work.

Her long blink complete with a wink, when it's time to "close your eyes and pray"

Her obsession with typing on our keyboards

But best of all, those generous kisses on my face . . .

I treasure them
.

~ Mrs. Arcfide

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Where I've been . . .

After visiting four new states this Summer, I thought it was time to update my US map again.

I'm hoping to add Oregon and perhaps a few more states this Fall, if Aaron decides to go to the conference in Portland he's been invited to speak at. :)


visited 24 states (48%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

~ Mrs. Arcfide

Friday, July 22, 2011

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Friday, July 8, 2011

3 years

Picture taken at midnight, 7/6/2011.

Since the pictures from our nice,
romantic dinner at Sweet Grass didn't quite turn out. ;)

♥ .I love him more. ♥

~ Mrs. Arcfide

My 4th of July

This year, we celebrated my second 4th of July at my Great-grands' home.
They always give me a Grand time!
Ooma played Patty-cakes with me and made me laugh.
Oompa gave me a little flag, and led me in our mini-parade.

Daddy stuck the flag in my hair!

Me and Daddy, by the pool.

He took me swimming.

After dinner, we went to the park with our cousins
to listen to a band and watch some fireworks.

The music was LOUD . . .

. . . and so were the fireworks. But, I wasn't even a little bit afraid.
When daddy tried to cover my ears, I wriggled out of his arms.

I'd rather watch the fireworks on my back, like this.
Yes, glow sticks and all. :)

I hope you had a Happy 4th ~ be sure to let me know if you enjoyed my guest post!

Love,
Mikaela

Baby Shower Gift Idea ~ The Diaper Cake



















Earlier this summer, a perfect opportunity presented itself for me to make what I've been wanting to try my hand at for awhile - a diaper cake!

Diaper-cakes have always fascinated me, from the very first time I laid my eyes on them. They are so unique at baby showers, and which mom-to-be wouldn't love having her nursery stocked with diapers? ;)

I found this tutorial on youtube particularly helpful, but I am sure there are many other similar tutorials you can find online. The nicest thing about a creative project like this is that you don't have to use exactly the same supplies someone else tells you to. For instance, this tutorial suggested using an empty milk bottle in the core of the cake, but I used a bottle of sparkling juice and a plastic bib (to extend the height of the cake) instead. So long you have the basic concept about tying individual diapers in rubber bands and surrounding the core of the cake with them, your options are limited only by your creativity.

Basic supplies I used:
3 packs of diapers (in Size 1 and 2)
Cardboard for base of cake
1 bottle of sparkling juice
1 plastic bib
Large Rubber bands
Hair rubber bands around each diaper (so the mom can re-use them later!)

I decorated the cake with:
3 rolls of ribbon
flowers
hair bows
3 stuffed animals
1 rattle
shoes
bath supplies (travel size)
2 onesies
2 pacifiers
foam stickers

My cake turned out taller than I'd initially anticipated, because I purchased more diapers than I thought I would need. Better too many than too few, right? ;)

My mother-in-law, with whom I consulted on this project, suggested I use them all by fanning an extra layer of diapers in between two tiers of the cake, to break up the monotony.

The best thing about having made this diaper cake?
Seeing my cousin's face light up in a smile when my husband brought it in. :)

~ Mrs. Arcfide