"Katrina Needs"

i saw this funny little tag on my sister-in-laws blog and wondered what random answers it would give me.

after reading, play along. here are the rules:

type in your name and the word needs in quotes ("your name needs") into your favorite search engine and see what comes up. list the first 10 and then tag some of your friends!

here are my first 10 *needs*



"katrina needs" the gulf
"katrina needs" emergency
"katrina needs" commission
"katrina needs" psychiatric disabilities
"katrina needs" disaster
"katrina needs" the church
"katrina needs" donation
"katrina needs" new orleans
"katrina needs" congress
"katrina needs" tariffs

now play along!

Numero Nueve

i can not believe that my oldest daughter is 9 years old today! it seems like only yesterday that i was taking her home from the hospital. poor kid, i was a nervous wreck. how could they let me take this poor, defenceless infant home?! i didn't have a clue of what to do. i did know that she needed me as much as i needed her. and that if i gave her all of my love she wouldn't turn out half bad.


and here she is!

beautiful! kind! loving! smart!
strong! compassionate! joyful!

what more could i want?!




well, i could want some of her color. ha! look at this girl...and it isn't even summer!



happy birthday alexis anais!

i love you!



look at how much she has grown in a year.

here she is at her bowling birthday party last year.

Pay It Forward

this is how it works..... the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a hand made gift from me during this year. when and what will be a surprise. BUT, in order for you to leave a comment on my blog, you have to post this on your blog first. (that means that sometime during this year you will send a gift to 3 people as well.) get it? so, the first 3 people to comment on this post will be the lucky ones!

good luck!

Baby Time

yesterday, we all went to my youngest sister's house for dinner and a pre-baby celebration. as you can see she is just about to burst.

here is eire and her beautiful pregnant mommy just hours before...

ariah haileigh villella was born!

she was born this morning at 7:53 am.

7 lbs 1 oz and 19 in long and what a cutie! she looks just like her big sister.

proud (and tired) mom with baby ariah.

ariah's first time meeting her cousins...hi!

congratulations bean and nova! you now have two beautiful daughters.

Pretty Petits Fours

last wednesday was caila's 12th birthday!

i was asked (more like volunteered) to make treats to celebrate.

they came out so cute that i just had to share with you

how to make easy, pretty petits fours:

cut frozen poundcake into 1-in cubes

spoon canned frosting into a bowl; tint with gel food color as desired

microwave frosting 10 to 15 seconds at a time until it's the consistency of heavy cream

with a fork, dip each cube into frosting to coat (let drip into bowl; tap fork to remove excess)

with a dull knife, slide frosted cake onto foil-lined baking sheet

decorate some with sprinkles

using tube of decorating icing pipe message on others

Cheese!

here is ariana. she is showing off her new hair cut for the camera...

isn't she lovely?!

caprice also got a trim and i had to show it off...

what a doll!!!

and the most drastic of all the hair cuts was alexis'. she has been begging to have her hair short but i just didn't have the courage to cut off her long, beautiful, dark hair

...until saturday.

she wanted it..... she got it!

jay said that she is a mini me.

as alexis would say 'awesome'!

thanks julie!