Pageantry

So I know I posted the video from the Star Ledger from the Ms. Senior NJ Pageant earlier. These are just a few photos from the day. I choreographed the pageant, which means I ran the rehearsal, taught the women each formation they walked every time they came out on stage minus their talents, and choreographed their production number. Rehearsal day was 9-5 and the pageant day I was there 8:30am-4:30pm. It was a marvelous experience. Its exhausting and can be frustrating but the women are kind, friendly and so appreciative. I also performed a modern dance while a former queen/pageant director sang.
I did a lot of sewing for the pageant. I took the title Modest Mama to heart. I helped make Mom's 3 gowns modest by adding sleeves, or adding a top, or even adding laces to one. I had a blast preparing with Mom. Its a great excuse to shop for shoes, jewelry and fancy things. and then I treated myself to a new dress. This is it. (ps- it was full length and strapless...I chopped the bottom off and built the top the night before the pageant!)
Mom won 2nd runner-up! She sang "poor unfortunate souls" from the Little Mermaid. and one judge confided in her after the pageant they awarded her full marks for her talent. She was fantastic!

Ms Senior NJ Pageant

This is a video the Star Ledger of NJ made documenting the pageant this year. Mom and I are both in it!

Bug Birthday Party

We held Max's birthday party as a picnic in the park. It was perfect! (Except that Max refused his morning nap and was cranky)
The park provided a great place for the kids of all ages to play and have fun. meaning I didn't have to provide amusement.




I brought bags and stickers. The kids decorated their goody bags and then I filled them.

We visited the ducks and turtles.

We made great friendships!

We had fun!

All the adults chatted and ate while most of the kids played

Our Caterpillar out of balloons. the wind didn't always keep it looking cool but that's ok.
another plus about the beautiful park is I didn't have to do much decorating :)

Before and after cup-o-dirt. I served this instead of cupcakes. Lesson learned- never add gummy worms to hot cooked pudding. wait until the next day after its been chilled in the fridge. if you don't wait your worms will melt and the pudding will taste like gummy worms. I found a way to ruin the easiest dessert ever :)we had to add fresh worms

Max fell asleep the instant we got in the car. It was killing Lily that he hadn't opened his gifts yet. So the moment he woke up she wanted to. I made her wait until he was ready. This is one of his many awesome gifts!

Thanks for all who came and celebrated our great guy's big day!

Happy Birthday Mr. Max!

Happy 1st Birthday to my cute and cuddly MAX! This post is a little late but was still well documented :)He's such a big boy!

This reads "Happy 1st Birthday MAX!" We spent the afternoon at the beach playing and having fun!

He was very interested in the candle and adores the song "Happy Birthday" Hesitant with the cupcake. we tried again the next day and he loved it!

presents were fun, but he would've been happy with just one. Lily was a big "help" when opening the gifts. She forced him to continue unwrapping his gifts.

He loves sitting at the table with all of us.
He's enjoying his birthday breakfast of mickey mouse pancakes.

He's such a happy guy!He loved his birthday sign :)

I can hardly believe how quickly he's grown. He's a little person now, with likes, dislikes and an enthusiasm for independence and adventure!

Happy Birthday Max!

Mother's Day Reality Check

Ok so I'm a mom. I love being a mom. I think this Mother's Day was meant to teach me a few lessons... or perhaps a test to see what lessons I've learned. Here are my results:

1- Disney is fun and lovable but teaches bad things to my daughter. These are not what you might be intitally thinking. Lilia's current favorites are Rapunzel and Mulan. The bad lessons learned: hair cutting and writing on your body.

1A- As we were prepared to leave the house Lilia informed me she cut her dolls hair like Rapunzel. Poor Barbie was left with a bad mohawk, no magical powers and no clothes (those were removed prior).
LESSON: Find the blessing amidst the disaster- she only cut a doll's hair and not her own.

1B- As we arrived at church and I go to unbuckle Lilia from her car seat I discovered she's used blue pen to draw all over her right leg(thigh to ankle, front and back), and her new white church sandals, and both hands. Her reason "Mulan do it and say 'Notes in case I forget'". My response, "well Mulan got in trouble too!"
LESSON Continued: Find the blessing amidst the disaster- she spared her dress and the ink was removed with vigorous rubbing of 2 wet wipes.

2- I'm asked to give the opening prayer while I'm holding one child and the other is wrapped around my knees. I agree. Babe in arms begs for milk during opening hymn, falls asleep, and wakes screaming when handed to off to another so I can publicly pray.
LESSON: Doesn't matter if no one in the congregation could hear me over my sons wailing, it brought me the spirit.

3- Sharing Time Prep for Mother's Day: 4 hours (making "My Mother" books for kids to fill out, dipping strawberries, making boxes for strawberries enough for 36 kids and 10 primary workers)
Actual Sharing Time: 20 mins (15 kids and 9 workers)
LESSON: It doesn't matter. They loved it and the extras were given to many more including a few who might have been overlooked today.

4-Terrible Twos have nothing on the Temper-mental Threes.
LESSON: I hold my ground, I put up a good fight. But in the end I must distract the child who is literally kicking me out of her bed so she can go get the purse full of chapsticks and hide them beside her, make her smile and show her my increase of love.

CONCLUSION
I'm a mom. I love being a mom. I love my husband and the beautiful red roses he gave me. I love that he still honors my birthday gift of sleep and gets up with the kids each morning so I can sleep. I love that he gave me a "day of shopping alone". I love that he kisses me 4 times each night before sleep. I love that Max wants me and only me 90% of the time. I love those wet kisses he bestows on me. I love that Lily still wants to be my baby. I love that she wants to climb in bed with me when she wakes up and will only lie on whichever side of the bed I'm facing. My life is unpredictable but this much I know for certain. I'm a mom. I love being a mom.

Beach Broughs

We call ourselves the Beach Broughs for a reason.

WE LOVE IT!

Can't keep her away from the water, not even in April.

Max thought this was a new fun place. He doesn't remember last summer. He was particularly fascinated by the moving waves.

Trying to get a handful of sand without toppling over..... it started out fine but ended in the sand.
These rocks held some water and that was a perfect splashing pool. Thank goodness I thought ahead and brought extra clothes for the kids. Max is playing with Nina our best friend!

Cute Beach Bums!

His first water exploration!

This will show Max's enthusiasm, and Lily's so busy she doesn't have time to talk.

Glorious Easter

We woke to the most beautiful Easter day. It was an amazing reminder of our Savior's love and His atoning sacrifice. We're trying to teach our children Easter is fun and you get candy but Christ gave us the most wonderful gift. He lived for us, He died for us and He lives again so that we might too!

Here are some photos of our lovely day.

these are fabric eggs I made from fabric scraps that we left out for the Easter bunny to hide. He also hid some eggs full of candy :)

Our Easter Tree

Lily in her Easter dress. She calls this her Belle dress cause its yellow.
Max in his Easter finest. I made him this vest and bow tie. the vest is reversible with another print on the inside. I'll show in the future :)

I also made David a matching tie. they look dapper!

sweet sibling kisses!

I've decided to start making and selling neck ties and bow ties soon.

Tiny Ties for Tiny Guys! Also I'll offer matching ties for Dad!

Max found one egg in the egg hunt and was very happy :) Lily wouldn't hold still long enough for a picture, she was too thrilled that the bunny finally came!

Lilia helped me make our annual bunny cake. She's such a big girl!

One more shot of the cute bow tie and cute boy. I couldn't decide which shot I liked best, so I included lots :)

Happy Easter!