Monday, June 29, 2015

Our Honey Bee is One!

I know I’ve mentioned it a few times on social media and posted a few pictures, but our baby boy is one!!!!
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN??!?!?!?!?!
All year I have said that time is going by too fast. 
It is.
It’s going to fast. 
But a year?! Where did the year go?!
I promise, sometimes, I still can’t believe we conceived.  I’m still in the mental state of shock: “We’re pregnant?!” Yes we were pregnant, then he was born, and now he is a year old.  I think I’m in complete denial.  No, I’ve taken up residence in denial.  No, I’m becoming a hoarder in denial…..
It took me for-ev-er to admit that his birthday was coming and that I really needed to get started planning his first birthday party.  I just wanted something fun but simple, that celebrated Dutch and all of the people that have prayed for him.  I settled on a bee theme and thought a BBQ in the backyard would be great.  The Mr. spent weeks getting the backyard ready (trees removed, new doors installed, shed repainted, etc.)  I ordered tons of lawn games and a huge bouncy castle.  Then Houston had a huge flood……
Back up plan?
Get creative, and have the tables and chairs set up in the garage and leave the bouncy house in the rain. lol
It wasn’t a Pinterest-worthy party, but we didn’t care.  Our focus remained on our relationships and those that love on Dutch and pray for him.  My sister came to town to celebrate with us and I’m SOOOO glad that she did.  She totally pulled the party off for us.  And thanks to her we have pictures of the party.  She took every single one of these pictures!  Thank you Kellyn! 
Tips for mamas…..GIVE YOUR CAMERA TO SOMEONE ELSE  and ask them to capture the party for you so that you can see everything that you missed while you tried to host!  This way you get to enjoy the party and still have pictures for memories.
We had about 40 adults and children at the house and the Mr. smoked a brisket, pork shoulder, and some sausage.  I made typical BBQ sides.  It was perfect and easy and a great way to celebrate our special honey bee. 
 
I made this invitation for the party, and clearly had too much fun with the bee theme.Invitation- 4DSC_0013DSC_0016DSC_0017DSC_0023
 
I made my Lemon-Honey Beehive Cake and served it with some summer berries and some cupcakes. 
Dutch’s “smash cake” was just a cupcake.DSC_0018We selected a new verse to pray over Dutch this year.  Through pregnancy and his first year it was Pslam 91:4, and this year we will pray Joshua 1:9 over him.  The frame is sitting on his nightstand now, and the previous frame is on the wall.Joshua 1-9For the polka dot garland, I just used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out black and yellow circles and then I sewed them together (tutorial here) and my sister strung them on the island and from the mantle.  Simple and easy decorations.DSC_0024The monthly pictures I took of Dutch were initially very fun, but as he got more and more mobile I began to dread picture day.  The pictures were so challenging to take, but I’m glad we stuck with it and had them to look back at his growth for the past year at the party.  We actually still have this hanging in the dining room.  It’s still his birthday month, so it’s okay, right?DSC_0021DSC_0031DSC_0094DSC_0103DSC_0106DSC_0111DSC_0118DSC_0135DSC_0137DSC_0153DSC_0154Dutch loved his cupcake, but he really didn’t get very messy.  I was expecting to have to strip him down and hose him off afterwards, but all I had to do was wipe off his hands and mouth.  The party was great but Dutch was so exhausted that presents had to wait until after church the next day.  And boy, was this little boy completely spoiled!DSC_0207DSC_0209DSC_0213DSC_0219DSC_0225DSC_0227DSC_0230DSC_0241DSC_0249
 
We are still celebrating this little boy’s birthday, since it is still his birthday month.  The party turned out so much better than I could have imagined, despite all of the rain.  I’m glad it was a simple party that focused on the people.  No rushing around and just fun.
Happy birthday to my Little Peep :-)
xoxo Darby

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Whipped Grapefruit & Mint Body Scrub

Dutch only goes to school for about 10 hours a week but when it was time for Teacher Appreciation Week we wanted to do something special for his precious teachers.  So we made them a handmade body scrub for the loving hands that work so hard everyday.  Don’t tell, but I made a small jar for myself and it smells delicious, and I want to share the recipe with you. Another super fast and easy DIY :-)
Whipped Grapefruit & Mint Body ScrubIngredients:
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbs fresh grapefruit juice
10 drops peppermint essential oil (The oils & resources I recommend)
25 drops grapefruit essential oil

Directions:
1. With coconut oil in its solid consistency, mix with sugar in a mixer on a low speed until a paste has formed.
2. Add in grapefruit juice and all essential oils and whip together until fluffy.
3. Store in an air-tight container (like a mason jar), and enjoy!
xoxo Darby

Monday, June 22, 2015

Currently…

So yeah, remember that time when I was like, "I'm going to get back to blogging" and then I vanished for a week? Ha!  I wish I didn't lie to y'all, but I have been ill folks!  So sick! Like staying in bed for 16 hours a day for a week ill! I'm praying that this week is better.  It has to be better, right? Right? Usually, when I'm sick I pray Pslam 30:5 "Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning." But it has been a week, so I'm praying that joy has to come this WEEK!  Okay, so let me catch you up on some of the things I've been doing lately:

Loving: We had Dutch’s one year pictures taken a couple weeks ago and I’m sorry but I can’t help but stare at how awesome these pictures are.  I stare at them multiple times a day.  It makes me feel vain because I stare at them so long lol Here are the proofs that we’ve received and I just love them.  I adore Grace Hill Photography and her work…..stand out folks!11393290_708142112648155_5185831768731210143_o11406124_708161375979562_7579728759223082020_o
 
Reading: Uhhhhh not much.  I have been rereading Bringing up Bebe again.  But I only get about 3 pages in before I pass out.  But I do love the book and see the value in rereading it because it refreshes my desires to teach Dutch certain characteristics.Bringing-Up-Bebe

Eating/Cooking: Summer produce is my jam! (Oh my gosh did I actually just write that?!?!?!?!!?!?) We’ve been eating tons and tons of summer produce and it’s delicious!  Corn, tomatoes, succatash, brussel sprouts, cucumbers, squash, strawberries, peaches, kale slaw, oh and did I say corn yet? yummmmmmm!
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Watching: I’m noticing a trend and this might be a summer time thing for me, but I love me some Grey’s Anatomy reruns on Lifetime.  I love them!129340_GROUP2013r3
Doing: We’ve been having an awesome summer.  Lot of walks, playing outside, going to the zoo, the berry farm, the children's museum, the library, gardening,  play dates, shopping too many times at Target, visiting with out of town family, had Dutch’s 1 year dr appt, and one year birthday party (actually we are still celebrating it the entire month of June hehe), and so many other fun things.  Daddy has taken several vacation days from work so that we can have staycations and explore even more of this city that we love so much already.  We really have been enjoying this summer.11243838_437078753133429_1107026176_n11244030_647115852100092_1422413595_n11296722_1603484036579250_1331244937_n11334559_932361063454100_1752861190_n11348390_898772540183802_1633707119_n11372312_426576187502900_305940850_n11373631_370533843155526_1924348683_n11378966_1458013691158192_1555167246_n11385120_420782781464898_1804231034_n11428108_835426643208787_1928907946_n

Okay, so tell me about your summer so far!  What have you been doing? Reading? Eating? Watching?

xoxo Darby
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