Out with a ROAR!

So what do we do when March goes out like a lion?

A little too much of this...

Wish we could do this...

{it came today and I can't wait to break this baby out!}

I do a little of this...

{I was asked to donate a few items to a local school for an auction to help raise $ for the arts...how cute did this little gal turn out?!}

Ethan wishes I would do more of this...

{but I was FREEZING!}

{And no, a window will not stop this 5 year old!}

And then at night, I do more of this...

{Don't you wish you were the lucky one who gets this great towel to dry your dishes on? Well, it will be yours if you are my mother-in-law and its your bday on Sunday!

And don't worry, she isn't too computer savy & doesn't read my blog so it will still be a surprise!}

And may April come in like a lamb! April, are you listening?

Like brother, like brother

Aidan's new passtime=Trains.
Amidst the teething, car seats, and shopping cart restraints Aidan has found a simple joy in his little life. Trains. I thought my "train days" were over once Ethan started having new interests...but boy was I wrong! Looks like we'll be back at the zoo for the little train ride over & over & over again.

{Once Ethan rode the train 4 times in a row & then they gave us a free ride! It was a cold, rainy day, and we were the only ones on the train -and probably at the zoo- and we just kept going around.}

Ethan LOVED trains when he was around Aidan's age. Now that those tracks are back out of the toy closet, he can claims that he still does. Here are Ethan and Trey when they were just a few month older than Aidan is now...

I think Trey was trying to smile for the picture...

And Ethan was definitely trying to smile for this one...

Looks like we'll be "choo choo"ing again for a while!

And aren't these jammies so great?! I forgot to pack Aidan's pj's on our little trip last week and I picked these up at Target on sale. My Dad said he looks like a jail bird, but I think they're sweet.

All aboard!

Picture Catch Up {Bob&My Faves}

{Playing Catch up}

I just realized that it was a month today that we returned from our little CA trip! I can't get behind in my blogging my pictures or it may turn into the huge piles of pictures and scrapbooking materials {heavin forbid} that I NEVER get to! Besides, I knew you couldn't wait another today to see the pictures of our {Bob's and mine} favorite pictures!

{Gina's Pizza} If you're a CA local and can make it to Irvine-- this pizza place is worth the trip. My sister in law's sister {okay, that's a mouthful!} Chelsea told us about it and we had to check it out! {Thanks Chels!}

Not only was the pizza YUMMY, but for get the crayons and color pages. They give the kids pizza dough to play with while they wait! Plus everyone there was totally cool...ah, I love Southern Cal.

{Tanya and Lucy} I love these gals and love this picture.

{A LegoLand Miracle} This was the only time and place that this little guy actually took a nap in his stroller. Yes, I love Legoland.

{DVD player} My best traveling friend...the portable DVD player. And to give you a hint as to one of my little "traveling" sewing projects coming up...it will protect the DVD player while carrying it all over the place!

{The Button} Look out below! You know how toddler's love pushing your buttons, mmmm, I mean pushing buttons?:) I let Aidan's talents be utilized to get a few people wet on this ride! Yes, he LOVED it & so did all of the people watching...

{Ahoy Trey-Boy} I don't know if there is a more photogenic kid around. This is my nephew Trey. Love him.

{Look out Zurg!} Trey and I really went for it on Buzz Lightyear...unfortunately I didn't learn until later that you get more points for the triangles. {There's a hint for you to beat your husbands next time!:)}

{LOVE it} You all know I have a crush on Legoland. Besides having legos to play with while the kids wait in line for rides {come on Disney...help us out!}, the free courtesy tampons in the restrooms, & the best activities for toddlers: Legoland also had this... bless you Legoland.

{Group Shot minus Me} While I was taking this shot a guy came up and asked me where he could pick up his pictures...sorry sir, I don't work here.:)

I don't feel that badly---My dad was wearing a floral shirt with the volunteer tag and he was asked for directions SEVERVAL times. {We took advantage of Disney's Volunteer a Day program and all got in to Disneyland FREE for the day! Thank-you Disney!}

{My Mentor} I love 2 things about this picture...1) Its a picture of Tanya {my photo mentor} taking a picture & 2) The guy with the Oregon hat in the background.

{Little Lu} I loved hangin' with this chic aka my sweet niece Lucy. We loved the rockets, Buzz lightyear, swimming, and a number of other fun activities together.


{Bob + Water= Fun} My husband LOVES to swim...especially with his boys. I'm so grateful. I don't mind getting in, but I HATE being cold. Too many years freezing on the swim team I guess.


And may our {and YOUR} next big family vacation be as memorable as this one.;) {And may it come sooner than later!:)}

Flower Cookie Bouquet {the 411}

{Flower Cookie Bouquet}

Hello! For those of you who missed this post during the "Sporatic Spotlight" over at Crystal's Craft Spot on Monday here you go! And if you haven't visited her blog lately she is sweet gal and she's having several guest post each day for this whole week! I just checked it out and there is a TON of great ideas from ALOT of great bloggers!

Okay, this is a little late notice...sorry! I just got back into town after playing with my parents {visiting us from Oregon} so I'm a bit out of it. {And you know me-- the pictures will be coming!;)}

Anyway! This one would be a great centerpiece on any table {Easter dinner?} or as a sweet little gift for a friend or neighbor.

{Make Circle Sugar Cookies}

First you have to grab your favorite sugar cookie recipe and make a nice, fresh batch of dough. If you don't have a recipe or just want a REALLY good one here's the link {scroll down in the post to find it} to the one I use. I LOVE it...well, except when I'm trying to lose a few pounds.;)


While your dough is chilling {or baking}, let's make your sticker flowers! This is the size of label I used to make my flowers. If you decide to download the ones I made {please feel free to!!} the you will get 12 pretty little flowers.


Now download, print, and cut out your flowers...

Nice work!

Now pull that dough out of the fridge, roll it out, and cut it in a circle shape...
{I just used a kitchen drinking cup--it was the closest I had to the size of the stickers. I'm all about just making it happen with what you have!}


This next part has several options. You could use popsicle sticks, toothpicks {for tiny little cookies}, or anything else you may have. I opted for the wood skewers.

Now just squiggle that "stick" into the center of the cookie from the bottom as shown below. Just make sure that the stick is in the middle of the dough so it will stay in the cookie once its baked.


MMM, love that smell! We'll just let these little guys cool for a while...


Once they are cool, just put a nice royal icing on them. Using this type of icing keeps the frosting from sticking to the wrapping. Need a recipe? Here the one I used.

Optional: Cut around the Edges

This next step is optional. If you were lucky enough to have a cookie cutter that made the cookies the size you wanted then you don't need to cut around the edges.

Cutting around the edges just a allows for more control over how your flower will look...

Time to wrap! All you need is some clear wrapping to put around the cookies...once again, I always just try to use what I have on hand, and this time it was some leftover clear party bags:

I just cut it open and then wrapped that cookie right up!

Tie the wrap {so it won't come off} and put your cute little sticker on it!

Here's your chance to be the florist you always wanted to be. Flower arranging has never been so EASY, FUN, or YUMMY!:) If you missed my post about planting grass and would like your flowers to be in home-planted grass here you go! Otherwise--look around your house and find something fun to use! Maybe a vase, or that green sponge stuff that florist use, or just tie a few flower cookies together and make a "cut" bouquet!:)



Tah Dah! Don't you just love Spring...and cookies?! Happy Easter!!

DIY Real Easter Grass!

Can you believe today is the 1st day of Spring? In the Ashby home the countdown is definitely on for the warm weather, water parks, shorts&tshirts, farmers tans, & summer fun!

To help the time pass, here's a fun little project for you! Its been fun having a little grass garden in my kitchen window to remind me that winter is actually over!!

I was inspired by one of my favorite blogs {I love her eggshell grass!} and this was the result! It takes 10-14 days for the grass to be ready, so if you'd like it by Easter you'd better get your grass on!:)

Here's what you'll need:

You may also want to grab a little helper--I LOVE my little helper & he LOVES helping.:)

We added a little bit of water to the potting soil to prepare it for the seeds-like Darby recommended on her blog. However, don't add too much or it will turn to mud and the seeds may not make it (ask me how I know):).

I have to admit, I'm not a "green thumb", but I figured that grass grows all over the place without any help--what do I have to lose?:)

You can pick up some grass seed anywhere garden supplies are sold.

Just put some seeds in each of your "planters":
Don't worry about covering the seeds with dirt if you don't want to--they do fine just like this!

Now pick a sunny spot for them to grow...a kitchen window works wonderfully.

Patience is surely a virtue. But don't worry, you won't have to wait too long. {10-14 days} And in the mean time, relax & enjoy a some Cadbury eggs. Mmmmmmmm.

And before you know it--you'll love what you see! These little sprouts came up after only 4 days! You go little guys!

And in 2 weeks we had grass growing all over the place!

This was the fastest, and most detailed mowing job Bob has ever done! {hee, hee}

OOh, looks great! Now what?

How about "growing" a cookie flower bouquet?!

To learn how you can hop on over to Crystal's Craft Blog on Monday March 22...I"ll be a guest blogger and I'll be showing you how I made these cute little flowers! {And I"ll share the link to download them!}

And I almost forgot! The 1st 10 people that comment on this post will win some grass seed! Yes, I'll mail you your very own seeds to plant! So you'd better hurry and make a comment!!

Happy Spring!:)