Tobin is Two!

Happy Birthday, little man!

Getting Ready

The dining room table is all set up with colorful napkins and cups.

Chairs are circling the living room waiting to be filled with guests.

The cake stand is ready to hold some delicious treats.

Our kitchen counters are covered with rainbow sprinkles.

The homemade banner declaring our reason for celebrating has been hung.

We have been practicing our songs and candle blowing skills.

We are excited and thankful and hopeful as we remember the past and look toward the future.

All because...two years ago today...we were doing this.

And one year ago we were doing this.

Spring Cleaning: Kitchen Edition

This is what my "baking drawer" used to look like. It started off just being a drawer that held cookie cutters and measuring cups/spoons. But pretty soon it became a dumping ground for any miscellaneous kitchen utensil. It was very frustrating trying to find things in there. Especially the 1/4 tsp.

I really dislike how measuring cups and spoons are always on a ring. If you keep them together they just get in the way. If you take them off the ring they never get put back on. I needed a way to be able to access whichever size I needed without having to deal with rings or digging in a messy drawer.

The solution? Peel and stick hooks! I also rearranged this cupboard to hold my mixing bowls so they would no longer be buried under rubber spatulas and sandwich cutters.

The other door to this cupboard now holds spices on a rack I found at a thrift store. And that drawer full of clutter? Now it looks like this:

I used cardboard boxes to make sections for cookie cutters, sandwich cutters, mixing utensils, and just a small area for misc. stuff like funnels and pastry combs.

Of course after I did all this I had to reorganize ALL the other cupboards but I'll spare you the pictures. It feels so good to be organized! Have you started spring cleaning? What organizing tips do you have?

Ginger Pear Bran Muffins

Doesn't this look delicious? I posted the recipe over at Food Love. Check it out here. Special thanks to Misty for introducing me to these amazing muffins!

For my fellow calorie counters: this recipe should make 24 muffins and each muffin has approximately 112 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 4 grams of fiber.

Stuff

What a week! Here's a random list of stuff for you.

Health: So after Toby contracted the horrible, horrible stomach bug, I had my turn. It was awful but I am feeling much better today. It's a terrible sickness but thankfully it runs it course fairly quickly. I'm just glad it's over and that we've all been through it and can now move on with our lives. Thank you, Jesus! And thank to the many who were praying for us. Seriously.

Recipes: I had a great recipe for Ginger Pear Bran Muffins up here a couple days ago but I just couldn't leave in the middle of all those posts about being sick. They are really great muffins and I don't want their image to be tainted. So I'll re-post the link to the recipe tomorrow.

Birthdays: Happy Birthday to one of my favorite nieces, Analia. She's seven years old today and is growing into a beautiful, talented, intelligent, gracious, fun young lady. I am so proud to be her aunt and everyone in the little yellow Linhart house misses her very much. I hope she got the birthday package we sent!

It's also my friend Celina's birthday so here's a little shout out to her, too: Happy Birthday, C!

I spoke too soon...

When Geary got home from work he went to get Toby up from his nap only to find Toby completely drenched in vomit. I showered him off and got him into clean clothes while Geary cleaned up the crib. Toby has thrown up once more since then. I guess we are in for round two! So keep those prayers coming, please!

Health and Restoration!

Everyone is doing so much better today! Thank you to everyone who called or emailed or commented here saying that they were praying for us. Geary and Noah went to school today and I even got to have a little nap! Now I just need to put away all that clean laundry. :)

Emerging from the silence

A horrible stomach bug has attacked Geary and Noah. So far Toby and I are doing okay despite running on only a few hours of sleep. I have many, many loads of barf covered laundry to take care of. Including some furniture cushion covers. This is what some people call being baptized into motherhood. Pray for us!

Interview with a 6 year old

There is a meme going around Facebook that asks moms to interview their children. Noah's answers are pretty amusing.

1. What is something your mom always says to you?
Don't run in the house.

2. What makes your mom happy?
Me doing a good job.

3. What makes your mom sad?
Me doing a bad thing.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Make crazy faces.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
She had a brother.

6. How old is your mom?
13

7. How tall is your mom?
about 20 inches

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Make jewelry.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Help Toby.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
A talent show for moms.

11. What is your mom really good at?
Making jewelry. Sewing. Cooking. Making stuff. Doing art. Lots of things.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Making food that I like.

13. What does your mom do for a job?
She doesn't go to work. At home she takes care of our family.

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
Pizza? I don't know.

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
When she does good things.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Hmm...I'm trying to think of someone who knows everything.

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Go to places. Watch 'Design U'. Play games and do art.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both need haircuts.

19. How are you and your mom different?
I have short hair and she has long hair.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
It's no secret. I just know.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
When he comes home they get to spend time together.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Target.

Congratulations, Granny!

My mom is graduating from college tonight and we are incredibly proud of her. Not only did she work very hard but she is graduating 2nd in her class, is receiving an award, had near perfect attendance (only missed one day) and has been invited to be on the schools advisory board! Here's a little video the boys made for her.

Mom, you are such an amazing woman! I'm honored to be your daughter and extremely proud of who you are. I know God has fantastic things planned for your future and I'm eagerly looking forward to finding out what they are with you. Congratulations!