Remember this depressing post  where I declared that I hate chemo?  Well I suppose I don't actually hate it.  I mean, it did its job.  My husband is in remission!!!!  He posted more details here, but I just wanted to stop in (I know- it's been quiet lately) to say Thank the Lord! Hallelujah!  The tumor is gone!  He still has 3 treatments and 2-3 months of its side effects.  And that still stinks.  BUT the perspective you get when you know it's working is priceless.  I'm so thankful.

moments after getting the news!

Other cancer news: During our church service Sunday, my father in law and a good friend shaved their heads on stage in order to surprise us with this announcement:

It was crazy. It was hilarious. It was shocking!  We are so honored and lucky to be a part of an amazing family and church family.  Besides our family, this benefit will go toward the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Joe has found such value in that organization that it will always hold a place in our hearts.  From monetary assistance, to setting you up with a survivor to chat through experiences, they really are helpful.  If anyone local is interested in details let me know and I'll make sure you get them.

Joe finishing the job.

Like Father, like son.

No more news for now!  Next week I'll be sharing Genevieve's room.  For now, it's time to celebrate.

Today I'm sharing an adorable easy and inexpensive last minute mother's day gift.  When Genevieve saw them, she said "Those are pretty mom!"  ha. So cute!  I needed a handful of thank yous for the wonderful ladies who cleaned my home.  I wanted something affordable and thoughtful. As I was putting together these succulents in a mug, I realized they'd make a perfect mother's day gift. It literally took 5 minutes and cost $6/pc.  These would also be great to make with a child for his/her mom. Want a tutorial? Ok here it is:

I mentioned our surprise gender reveal party in my last post.  I'd always planned to do a party- partly because I wanted a boy so badly that I figured I should give myself a reason to celebrate either gender- but especially a girl.  Also since I am 99.9% sure this will be our last baby I'm really trying to do the opposite of what I feel like doing.  I feel like doing nothing.  I'm busy and exhausted--ya' know--actually making the baby, but also because of the cancer drama.  But I don't want to look back and regret not doing any of the fun or special things I want to do or have done with the girls just because of an extremely temporary situation. Well the exhaustion won't be temporary, I'm sure, but the rest will be. Anyway, while I often sort of felt like gender reveal parties are a bit much (like does everything need to be a party?), I jumped on that bandwagon and was so glad I did!

A few weeks ago we surprised our family with a gender reveal party! Up until people arrived they had no idea we knew the gender of our baby.  It was such a delicious secret to keep.  You might be wondering how this came to be. You might be clicking away onto the next blog by now. Well when I posted something on Facebook about the countdown until our ultrasound someone asked about the date.  It was a week after Joe started treatment so I mentioned that depending on how he felt we might reschedule.  I'd already talked to our family about having a little reveal party but the more I thought about it, the more that seemed risky considering Joe could miserable by then (7 days after his first Chemotherapy).

After yesterday's raw post, I thought I'd share the fun one I was working on when my emotions took over.  Today enjoy the last post of Nadia's Birthday party.  You know, before we're celebrating her 3rd birthday!  In this one, I'll share her birthday cake(s), some party people, and of course the most special part--the birthday girl smashing her cake and realizing "wait, this is all for me?"  I love that moment when kids look around at everyone singing for them!  So sweet!