Pinterest Party

Okay, so aside from knowing that I'm LAME for not posting often to this blog - you are also probably very much familiar with Pinterest, right??? So, if not, go google it. I'll wait. Ok. You back?? Welcome to your new addiction...

Pinterest is an online pinning board. So, you skim through a bunch of stuff and 'pin' the cutesy ideas for you to come back to later and create - at your leisure!

Pinterest has everything you have ever dreamed of creating ... and then some. 

Everybody's pinning. It's all the rage! ;) 

Chances are - that new dish your friend at church made ... Pinterest recipe.

That cute little dress made from T-shirts that you thought that lady in the grocery store was genius in making ... Pinterest.

That birthday party you just returned from where the decorations matched the cake, that went with the kid's clothing, that had the bow to boot - yup ... it's all Pinterest.

Recently I saw that a few friends were having Pinterest parties. I did what every good pinner does: I copied them.

So - here a few pictures from that fun night we just had a few days ago.  It was pretty casual. Everyone brought a dish to share that they got the recipe for off of Pinterest. They also brought a craft to work on from there as well. There was a whole lotta laughter, snacking and crafting going on. It was nearly Heaven on Earth.

Oh Luba! I love you!!!

(side note: did you know Luba means love in Russian??) 

 I *think* Jennifer is giving me the stink eye. Can't quite make it out from here ...

(snicker snicker)

My girls creating their own master pieces

GENIUS!! Caprese Salad on a stick!! Just buy the mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes and basil - put it all on a toothpick, and right before serving drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil!! 

FABULOUS IDEA PINTEREST!!

 Little Miss Becky creating her frame!

My sweet pastor's wife: Jessica.

^^ Created by Amanda Savage - pumpkin and cream cheese cookies!!

These were also fantastic! Chocolate chip/peanut butter cookies with PRETZELS!!!! 

See???

Pinterest = AWESOME!

We had a great turn out and I am planning on doing another Pinterest Party real soon!!!

Creepy Crawlies ... Galore

Ok. Asher is fussing, so really short explanation:

These pictures are from about a month ago (I know, I know). 

There is a great BUG MUSEUM in Bremerton ... that is FREE! We decided to go out as a family one rainy afternoon - and visit this place filled with creepy crawlies.

It was GREAT! A fantastic outing for the family. A great place to get gifts for little boys (or Tomboys). We highly recommend it. You can't beat the price either! ;)

Enjoy!

 Dead is a good look for a bug ... just sayin'

 Could you imagine this BUG crawling on you?!? Um ... NO THANK YOU!

 This artwork above is made entirely of butterfly wings.

 Bossy britches, Justus, pushing his sis around.

Asher Lee

Introducing:

Asher Lee Browning

Asher (fortunate, blessed, happy) Lee (in honor of my Dad, Bruce Lee)

Born: April 10, 2012 at 8:51pm

Weight: 8lbs 10oz.

Length: 21"

*pictures are out of order and of poor cell phone quality, but the cuteness is undeniable*

Unprompted, Justus went and dug out this baby doll from the toy bin. Then proceeded to rock and cradle his baby.

We feel incredibly blessed by the addition of little Asher to our family. Incredibly blessed. He is beautiful. Healthy. A little cuddle bug. He is just so sweet, and I find myself falling head over heels in love ... again. I love how God allowed our family to experience the great joy of welcoming Asher just ten months after my own father's death. I love how during a time of great loss, God reminded me that He is the giver of life. I also feel so blessed to be able to honor my Dad by giving Asher his middle name. 

Asher is beautiful. His birth, a healthy and uncomplicated one, was a blessing and just what I needed. I praise God for that.  

*A big thank you to all who have blessed our family with meals, love and support - we appreciate it all so very much*

Rainbow Cake

We had a great laid back sort of day celebrating Gabe's birthday. Well, great - except for the fact that poor Daddy and Max were feeling quite ill, but we mustered through.

I decided to make a Rainbow Cake for Gabriel. I have been seeing tons of pictures online, and decided to give it a try.

Everyone loved it!

I purchased two white cake mixes at the store and one can of white frosting. I already had some gel food coloring on hand. Once home I made up the cake mixes and divided it evenly amongst six bowls - so that I could add food coloring and make the colors needed for a six layer rainbow cake.

I only have two round cake pans, so baking the layers took a bit longer, but once done I just flipped the layer onto a plate for cooling.

I then started with the bottom layer (purple) and crumb frosted in between each layer with the canned pre made frosting. (This used the whole can) I also alternated the layers by positioning them right side up (starting with purple), then upside down (for blue), then right side up (for green), etc. I did this so the cake wouldn't be completely domed. (make sense??)

I really did not want to run out and purchase more frosting, so I made a cream cheese frosting to frost the outside of the cake. I doubled it, being as this cake stands tall - and I had a bit leftover. I should have put some in between layers over the crumb frosting stuff, just for a more uniformed taste throughout. Oh well ...

The finished product. Some people suggest putting straws down the center of the cake prior to frosting the outside so it doesn't topple over. I didn't do this, and it was just fine. I guess if you were traveling somewhere else with the cake you might want to secure it more.

This was really fun to make, and not very expensive at all. The kids just loved it, and truth be told, Phillip and I did too. You can't help but look at it and think birthday! Plus, it tasted pretty good.

I will definitely make it again.

Happy Birthday Gabe!

Tomorrow, March 3rd, is my sweet Gabriel's birthday. He turns eleven years old. Gabriel is a sweet blessing and continually shows a spirit of kindness and love towards those within his family as well as friends.

Gabriel came to trust the Lord as his Saviour in February (just last month) and is desirous to follow in baptism. His heart was burdened after he had heard another man's testimony of recent salvation within our church. He said he thought he had trusted Christ as his Saviour at a young age, but finally realized it was personal. He said he never fully realized Christ died for him, specifically - as well as all mankind. He finally got that right, and feels at peace with that.

The other blessing in that was as Gabe spoke and told us his testimony - his little brother, Ethan was listening intently. He later came to both Phillip and I that night - broken and weeping. He, too accepted Christ as his Saviour that evening.

What a sweet blessing in our home ... and for all eternity.

Happy Birthday Gabriel! Thank you for your tender heart, for always rushing to make mom tea, for greeting all three littles with great joy in the mornings, for being ready to help whenever needed, for your funny sense of humor, for your heart full of burden to pray for others, and on and on the sweetness goes ...

I. Love. You.

Gabriel Alan Browning