simple pleasures

funny how cupcakes can make a day so bright!

Jeni's Spring Art Show!

Hello April!
This Wednesday morning I'm heading up to my favorite boutique of the season! I look forward to all her shows and I AlWaYs find something unique and fun! If anyone wants to come along, let me know!

Because I Have Been Given Much....

Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.

-James M. Barrie

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
-Mohandas K. Gandhi

I have been blessed with this sunshine and I have loved finding myself in service with

2 amazing opportunities these past couple of months!

It's incredible to see what can be accomplished with hundreds of hearts
in the right place and willing to touch the lives of those in need. The CRAZY generosity of amazing friends, family, and complete strangers is absolutely overwhelming and makes me very emotional just thinking about it. It's so good for me to be reminded of the blessings I have. The blessings I take for granted on a daily basis.

Humbling. Inspiring. Miraculous.


I was privileged to be asked to help with the silent auction portion of the Nie Nie Benefit Concert and Silent Auction for my friend Stephanie Neilson
It was a HUGE success and I felt honored to be a part of the night!

Then, my brilliant friend Laura had the idea to turn a swap party into a giant fund raiser for Mother's without Borders and threw this uber fun "Love Swap"! Another HUGE success!

I'm so grateful for these wonderful experiences and
will hold them close to my heart forever!

max.. again.

Last Friday night our little family went out to dinner. I got Max out of his car seat and took him into the restaurant while Clay was waiting for the twins. As we were walking he looked at me and out of nowhere asked me "Mommy, did you buy us?" I thought it was a good question for a 3 year old to ask. Most of the "things" we have he asks us where we got them, and I tell him we bought it at this or that store.... I paused for a sec, and then said "No, Heavenly Father gave you to us!" he looked at me and said with his head tilted to the side and eye brows raised and sincerely said "He is sooo NICE!" I smiled and hugged him and said "He sure is!" I love that he reminds me of the simple facts in this life... I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me my three gems!

The Best Big Brother Ever!

A little over a month ago I went to a photography class up in Salt Lake since the hubby got me a sweet new camera (with too many gadgets I knew NOTHING about) for Christmas. I asked my parents to watch my kiddies. I was so excited, it was fun, and I actually learned a lot! On the way home, about 3 minutes before pulling up to my parents house, my mom called and asked where I was (I just thought they were waiting for me to eat or something). Long story short, she told me to hurry because Jack's head was bleeding excessively, he was freaking out, and would definitely need to go to the hospital for stitches. My mom and I took him in and he got stitched up and the doctor let him pick out two stickers! After a very long, dramatic hour at the instacare we went to the store (beforehand I had told him that after we got the stitches in he could pick out a toy) and he picked out a little car. I asked him if he was sure that's what he wanted (wondering why he chose such a small little toy after I had told him he could pick any toy he wanted).. he said yes, so we went to pay for it and the candy and gum was right there so I told him he could choose something. He chose a pack of gum (Gracie's fav). When we got back to my parents house everyone ran to him concerned and glad he was ok. The first thing he did was give the stickers to Max, the gum to Grace, and played contently with his little car! What a sweetie, right? He has always been like this so it didn't surprise me too much. Ever since he could talk and I would give him something he would ask for one for Grace...and now for Max too. I love it!
He's awesome!

Valentines '09

I LOVE Valentines Day!

As the kiddies get older and older i'm tickled at how boys and girls are sooo very different.. this week of valentines was NO exception! Sooo funny!

*we made valentine cookies
-boys- goofed around consuming as much sugar they could.. and made a mess
-girls (gracie and her friend ellie)- strategically and carefully decorated each cookie and contemplated about who the recipients would be. oh, and i took some time out and made special valentine cookies for each member of our lovely family!

*we made valentines for classmates and friends
-boys- goofed around and finally (after I nagged them for an hour) wrote on their names on the superhero/Disney valentines they picked out and stuffed them in envelopes. Then threw whatever candy in them that they didn't eat first. complaining half the time...
-gracie- took an entire afternoon designing and handwriting "I Love You" and "heart" Grace D. on each individual valentine. Color coordinating doilie hearts and punching out paper hearts, putting them together... making an assembly line of candy in bowls so everyone got the same, fair amount of candy. Loving every minute!

*we came home after the school parties

-boys (Max, Jack and his friend Justin)- dumped out their bags and rummaged through the candy... scarfed down a bunch in a matter of minutes and ran downstairs to play.
-gracie- carefully, one by one reached in her bag and read each valentine.. absolutely tickled and flattered as I helped her read what they all said! She ate a couple pieces of the candy but most of it was too cute to eat at the moment. then after relishing for a while, put all of the valentines away in a bag and put them out of reach of the boys (she knows better than to leave them laying around).

How I enjoy observing these fun times in their lives! It's especially interesting seeing the differences of the boys and girls.. being so close in age.

Anyway, this year valentines was the best ever! It's always nice to be reminded of how much you love your loved ones and be told by them how much they care about and love you! I am so blessed to have so much love in my life... all year long!

Let's build a school!

Click to enlarge!

This is a huge fundraiser my darling friend Laura Dugovic has been inspired to throw out there for anyone who is willing and able to help "Mothers Without Borders". I think this sounds uber fun! If you want to donate items to help raise some money, email me kdegraff@gmail and i'll come pick up your donations or you can drop them off at my house! Otherwise, I'll see you there where we'll be scoring on a bunch of cute things and help a great cause!