St. Patrick's Day Fun {School Treats}

Can you tell we are getting into the St. Patrick's Day Spirit here at AbsoluteMommy?  Well today I'm back with a quick and easy gift for your office, kiddos classroom, or neighborhood friends.  I promise it's super quick and easy, AND you can print out the tags for FREE!

That's right Veronica, from Good Luck Charm Designs has created a printable just for you!  So, let's get in the spirit, wear some green, and get our Irish ON!

All you need are:

Clear treat bags with twist ties or ribbon

Lucky Charms Cereal

This Printable

Circle punch (only if you have one, otherwise scissors work)

Double stick tape

I used a treat bag about half the size of a "standard" size.  I think it's for candy making.  Anyway, I filled it with about 1/2 cup Lucky Charms, used the twist tie to close, then used double stick tape to attach the printable. 

Now, these are for Caitlin's preschool class.  I was thinking about filling the bags with Skittles or Starburst so it would look like a rainbow.  Then I thought about how I would feel if Caitlin brought home a bag of Skittles...

Well Lucky Charms are super sugary for cereal, but I feel like it's ok since they are considered a breakfast choice.  Plus my preschooler LOVES the tiny marshmallows, so I thought I'd stick with the cereal.  But if you are making these please go wild! 

This printable has endless possibilities!

To download this printable click here!

This will take you to the Good Luck Charm Designs Etsy Shop.

Please note that it looks like it costs $0.20,

but it doesn't.

Click on the picture for downloading instructions.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Will you use this printable?  How cute are the other items in Veronica's shop?  Don't forget she does custom orders!!

No WIW post today!  I promise to try harder this week!

Happy Blogging,

Megan

For MORE St. Patrick's Day Fun

stop at Made By Munchie's Mamma!

Where you can do a little of this!

Photo Favorites {Tuesday 10}

Oh, how I love link ups. 

You all know this by now, but link ups with a theme are extra fun,

since you can put your own spin on the topic. 

This week's Tuesay 10, hosted by the lovely Lena at

Mom 2 Memphis and Ruby, is 10 Favorite Photos. 

Here are mine. 

Some captured by my first lovely little digital,

some by my current digital, and some by iPhone. 

A few by a professional. 

All close to my heart.

One

June 26, 2007

Caitlin's Birth Day.

I'm so excited and scared at the same time.

Ready to tackle motherhood head on.

Not knowing it would be the hardest job.

Ever.

Two

April 26th, 2010

Two weeks early.

Harder labor.

Wiped out.

Saved by Miss Mackenzie Grace.

 Three

April 30th, 2005

Wedding Day.

So happy this guy showed up.

After 5 years of tumultous dating...

Picture courtesy of Cary Edmonson Photography

 Four

November 2011

These are my parents.

After 37 years of marriage.

Mom's arm is broken in this picture.

Dad's making her laugh.

This one is one of my favorites.

Picture courtsey of Jessica Velarde Photography

 Five

Valentine's Day 2011

My 2 crazy girls.

I LOVE this picture.

I'm so happy I captured the moment.

 Six

Halloween 2008

I love that cupcake face!

And I also love that WE are happy.

I had just hit my mommy stride.

The fog had lifted.

 Seven

May 2010

Baby Mac and Big Sister Caitlin.

So sweet and precious.

Both so tiny.

Where does the time go?

 Eight

Christmas 2011

Caitlin and Grandma's Christmas Tree.

This girl has got the gift of tree trimming.

She loves trees and Christmas so much.

I love the look in her eye!

 Nine

November 2011

Fresno State Tailgating with Dad.

Just John and his girls.

The first of many journeys, in which he will lead.

 TEN

June 2011

Caitlin's first day at the beach.

Something I took for granted, being

raised 20 min from the Pacific Ocean.

Now in Fresno, we have to make a "trip" to the beach.

This was a great mini vay-cay, and this was our last day enjoying it.

She was so excited.

Just my Caity and the endless wonders of the sea.

Are you sharing your favorite pictures today for Tuesday 10?

Let me know.  I'd love to see them!

Happy Blogging,

Megan

Linking up here!

Joy in a smile {PhotoChallenge}

I had so much fun posting my last photo challenge with Laura at Our Reflection, that I just had to do it again.

This weeks challenge was "childhood", and of course I have one million pictures of my kids.  But while I was looking for one of them together, I found this little gem.  I remember the day well.  Not even a full month after Mac was born.  Mamma was worn out and tired.  Finally, Mac was a sleep and Caitlin, John, and I were in the front yard.  Just the 3 of us, which seemed odd and comforting at the same time. 

Daddy is blowing the bubbles.  The wind is helping.  Caitlin is taking a break from digging in the mud, to stop and chase the bubbles.  And that smile melts my heart.  That is pure joy and excitement.  The chase is on to capture and pop every bubble!  I'm also a little sad.  She doesn't look like that excited toddler anymore.  She looks every bit of the kindergartner she will be in Septemeber.

Happy Blogging,
Megan

Be sure to check out more photo challenges

at Our Reflection.

Great photos are being shared!

InstaFriday {Which is now InstaSaturday}

So, I took Friday off from the bloggy. 

Things were crazy this week.  I almost missed kindergarten registration.  I've been making ALL my meals from scratch, since I'm on this crazy elimination diet.  And it's been BEAUTIFUL here in Fresno. 

I was also going to take today off, but I've got some time, and I felt totally incomplete without posting my "InstaFriday" which is now InstaSaturday...

These are my nurses, as I get my B12 in the bum.

Caitlin even got me a band aid with teddy bears on it.

That I wore on my bum.

That's what moms do, right?

This is Fresno on Monday.

Warm.  Beautiful.  Amazing.

It looks like we have a million kids.

Or a daycare.

Nope.  Just 2 kids.

Kid's Day is HUGE here in Fresno.

This is a day where lots of people around the Central Valley,

go out into the cold spring morning and sell papers

at almost every intersection in town.

The money benefits Children's Hospital of Central California.

It's a 25 year tradition.

I buy a paper every year.

They are $1.

I usually give them $5.

This year Children's Hospital estimates they raised

$450,000.

By selling news papers.

The 25 year total has surpassed FIVE MILLION.

It's amazing what a DOLLAR can do.

This is my sweet baby girl waiting for

her last round of immunizations.

That I forgot.

So that we can register her for kindergarten.

It's one heck of a story.

Read it here.

This isn't Mac's cake, but she thought it was.

She has that look on her face because

I just snapped at her for trying to take a bite.

My dad says I should have just let her take a bite.

Now I'm thinking I should have.

Caitlin loves cake and silly faces.

This is a little of both.

Mac loves cake too,

but she likes to take it one little icing bite at a time.

Look at that face!

This is a cheat.

This pic is from last week, but I just had to add it.

This is sleepy Mac who just fought and fought a nap.

This is at 5:30 pm.

Have a Happy Saturday!

Happy Blogging,

Megan

Saved By Grace

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—
and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

This is the scripture that inspired this necklace by Agape Love Designs.

Find Agape Love Designs at these links
Blog/Shop/Facebook

As soon as I saw it, and read the scripture, I knew.  It immediately spoke to me.  I just knew it was meant to be.

I'm not a religious person, however I consider myself a Christian.  Technically I'm a Catholic.  We don't worship on Sundays, yet I pray every day, sometimes many times a day.  I'm inspired by people to have faith, not just in God, but in His path for us.  I'm learning to have faith in this journey He has put me on.

With that said, I've never had a scripture so heavy in my heart as this one.  Many of you know this story, but if you'd like the details you can find them here.  I'm connected to this scripture because, I was saved by grace, Miss Mackenzie Grace.

The decision to have Miss Mac was a hard one.  I would be lying if I said that back then I wanted a second child.  I absolutely do now, but back before I got pregnant I had MAJOR reservations.  I'm a very sick preggo, so I didn't want to do that again.  I was also afraid I would slip back into my fog of motherhood, like I did with my poor Caity.  Where I was so unsteady and unsure of what I was doing and who I was.  When we revisited adding to our family Caitlin was two and a half, and I was finally a confident momma.  I was doing what I knew was right for me and my child.  I no longer second guessed.  I no longer felt like a bad momma.  I like to say that at that point, I had finally hit my stride.

But I knew.  I knew the hubby really wanted another baby.  In a sense I did too, but I was so scared.  So I threw out the pills, and let God take over.  No, really those were my exact words, to my BF, "I'm putting it in God's hands.  If he wants me to get pregnant he will".  To which my BF replied, "well get ready".  A month later that stick had 2 pink lines.

Here is where God really did take over.  The day Miss Mac was born, I had a post partum hemorrhage.  I lost close to 2 pints of blood.  Four hours after she came into the world, I had to leave her with Dad for emergency surgery.  Here is what I remember about that morning.  I hadn't held my baby since she was handed to me,after labor, and all I wanted to do was kiss her, cuddle her, and tell her all the things she needed to know.  Just in case.  I felt like I couldn't tell my husband I loved him enough.  I couldn't tell my mom the same either.  Then I just wanted Caitlin.  To hug her and hold her and tell her it was going to be fine.  Even though I didn't know.

Me and Miss Mac.
All 4lbs 13oz of her

It was all very dramatic.  It's still dramatic now.  I'm crying right now, and laughing because I feel like a dork for crying.  I was so scared that day.  And I prayed that day.  Really hard.  For peace.  Mostly for healing.  Others prayed too, that's how I know, I was saved by their grace and His.

Now for the interesting part of this story.  I feel like my life, my mothering life, was truly saved by Miss Mackenzie Grace.  All of those moments I missed because I was in a PPD fog, I got with her.  The middle of the night cuddles, the loving gazes at each other, and the calm of a sleeping baby.  We did that.  She gave me a second chance to enjoy this journey from baby to toddler.  I was able to look at the most frustrating parts of this job, and find joy in them.  That is not something I did the first time around.  And it makes me so sad, but I'm grateful that I got the chance to do it again.

Mac's 1st Bday
She likes cake!

First smiles, first words, first time she tried to feed herself, I found joy.  I wasn't worried about the mess, or the time it took, or how I just wanted some sleep.  I've been able to reconnect with this mothering instinct I'm supposed to have.  Turns out, I've got it.  It just needed some time to develop.  A small push, perhaps.  I try not to think about the reservations I had.  My life is so different now.  I can't imagine not having this remarkable child in my life.  So different from her sister, yet such a perfect piece of this Crutchfield puzzle that is my life.  Sometimes I just look at her and think, I would have missed so much, without her.

Yeah, she's crazy funny like that!

Mac will be TWO next month, and on that day there will still be a little catch in my voice.  A little weight on my heart.  It's a weird mix of celebration and being thankful. I find that I celebrate her birthday for many reasons, but the biggest was my second chance.  A second chance at life, at love, and at being mommy.

Yes, this one is mine.
My Valentine's Day gift from the Hubbs.
My little reminder of grace,
who comes in all shapes and sizes.

Happy Blogging,

Megan


Casey Wiegand