A Sprinkle and a Few Good Wishes

Hello everyone! We had a great weekend here and are settling in to watch The Oscars. Don't you just love checking out the red carpet fashions and hearing amazing speeches on this night? But first I am making a quick post of more pictures from our February. Is anyone else in disbelief that we'll welcome March this week???

On a beautiful sunny day this month we had a Sprinkle for my friend Shanna who will welcome baby girl Sophia in just a few weeks! Kudos to Brenda and Molly who did an amazing job making it a pink-palooza kind of day and so much fun!

I became obsessed with taking pics of these cute (and ever so delicious) mini cupcakes!

Krissy and Melissa looking so pretty! Krissy doesn't even look preggers and you'd never guess Melissa is the mom of two under the age of five!

I finally got to meet Shanna's sweet sister Brenda who is on the left

Shanna and Molly-best sorority sisters forever!

A picture of our Thursday playdate group girls (minus our Linda as her sister was visiting from Sweden)

I had to capture this cute diaper wreath!
On February 15th we celebrated Brian's birthday with some of the neighbors from next door. The kids are so sweet and made these awesome cookies and sweet Valentine's for us!

Teagan loves her Madeline! For that matter, I love Madeline as she is my super duper Mom's helper/babysitter. She comes over to watch Teagan which allows me to get vacuming and such done around the house! In the words of DJ Lance from Yo Gabba Gabba: "It's awesssssssssssssssommmmmme!!"

If Lonnie and Brian look happy here it is because they had one of their BEST days out on the golf course ever!

Landon had a very special ball for the birthday boy!

Tea seems to be thinking, "Enough with the pics, bring on the cake!"

We also celebrated Kade's birthday on February 19th with a Buzz Lightyear theme. Here he is with mom Melissa!

Kade had his party at the coolest place with jumpy castles, video games and more! He came FLYING down this slide so fast I thought the baby and I were goners...the look on his face is priceless!

Tea got a boo-boo on her nose a few days before the party but that didn't slow her down one bit! She loved jumping and going down the toddler slides!

Emily is so great with Kade!

Rylee & DaddyIt was great catching up with Melissa's friend Jill & her daughter Abby!

More posts to come! Have a great start to the week where you are!

Fabulous February & Giveaway Prize Winner

Congrats to my sweet friend Robin who is the winner of the Unshaken book giveaway! Robin and I are Knottie Sisters Forever who met way back when we were planning our weddings. She is wonderfully talented and beautiful with a sweet husband and toddler boy of her own! Robin, your book is on its way with big hugs from me!

I am also trying to get in touch with Brittany McNamara who won our personalized recipe card giveaway. Brittany, you will love these so shoot me your snail mail and email address to teaganstravels@yahoo.com to claim your prize!

It was a fun and gorgeous day here where I wrapped up the week with a day of pampering from my very sweet, very thoughtful husband. I have to take a moment to say this isn't just because I am a slow moving pregnant mommy right now. He's always making me feel special in some way. I am still amazed by how lucky I am eleven years into our relationship. I love you Brian!

Today started with getting Teagan off to a mom's day out program. Then I got to hear the baby's heartbeat at my 31 week appointment! The latest gender prediction is: A GIRL!!! But it is right on the edge which just goes to show this is a true Kelly baby that is going to keep me guessing. Later I went for a lunch where I got to relax and not cut up anyone's food or try to figure out how to change a diaper in a restroom with no changing table. It's the little things that just make my day. I wrapped up with a prenatal massage, manicure and pedicure. Then I picked Teagan up and we had a great time catching the last bit of rays outside while playing with her buddy Roman who is just a few weeks older than Tea. He loves to visit his Gigi Suzy and Grandad Barry who live a few doors down. Tea was absolutely exhausted after the long day and so was I. We both headed to bed early leaving Dad to watch the recap of today's golf in peace.

But here I am, wide awake at 2:30 in the morning. The baby "wanted" Life cereal. Whatever will I do in a few months when I can't blame my cravings on this little one growing inside me? At any rate, I am typing on our new Dell Inspiron 17R and love it! It's been years since we bought a new computer and I love all the cool features. I am especially excited about the webcam and being able to Skype with family across the globe! Plus I got a great deal on Photoshop Elements. Hang with me through fuzzy shots and red eye a few more days until I get that loaded and sussed out!

In the meantime I am so behind in posting pictures from all our fun February events that I will break it into a few days to get caught up. This post features some of our playdates with friends!

Waiting for storybook time at the library. Teagan loves wooden puzzles right now. Isn't Jackson so adorable? I love this picture! I think Tea is thinking about stealing a kiss here... Valentine's Day: Delivering sweet messages to the kids on our street via her Smart Bike! Liam shared his wagon with her on this unsually warm day! Getting a push from Lily Sweet Caleb. You and Jackson are gonna break some hearts! Yep. The girls don't stand a chance!Don't you want to just scoop little Elsa up?
Oh cutie Grayson. Who could resist your smile? Teagan loved Roman's motorized bike tonight! Is it me or do they look like they could be related? Roman and his Gigi say goodnight. He's visiting all weekend so we'll play again tomorrow! Kade and Melissa are spending the night so it will be a super great day!

Unshaken

Good Wednesday everyone. I have been reading the most incredible book about Dan Wooley, a Compassion International volunteer who survived Haiti's 7.0 earthquake after being trapped under the ruble for days.

In my heart I wanted to read the book because I am a Compassion International Advocate and for the past three years our family has been a child sponsor of an adorable little girl named Pascaline in Rwanda through this amazing organization...but I am also claustrophobic. And easily impacted by imagery, especially when pregnant. So as I cracked open the book I decided I would just read a tiny few pages. But as I began to read Dan's amazing testimony of faith and courage, of the work they were doing in Haiti before the devastation hit, of his reflection that pulled his life into perspective-I found myself unable to put this book down.

I bet if we had a race to see who could read the fastest I would come in last amongst all of you. I kind of take my time, enjoy the pages, think about what I am reading and drift off to sleep. But this book kept me up until the wee hours. He details his survival methods —including using an iPhone app to treat his life-threatening injuries, pictures he took while trapped below the rubble of his hotel, letters he wrote to his wife and two small children and the decisions he made that affected his chances of surviving. I began to think on Monday night that that I must pass along the recommendation to my blog friends.

How ironic that just as I was deep into the pages of Dan's story another devastating earthquake hit New Zealand yesterday. Brian and I were blessed to visit New Zealand a few years ago and it is still one of our very favorite places. With the search for survivors continuing on I pray for them and have a very real sense of the desperation that must be there at the moment.

And then yesterday I stopped by Borders for something completely unrelated and ran into this book again. So I feel like God is really hitting me over the head here to spread the word on this by saying, "Recommend it already!!" Hence this post. And while I am at it I am going to pass along my copy as well. If you are interested simply leave me a comment below. I will giveaway the book on Friday via Random.org.

I hope you are having a great day where you are! I've many pictures to catch up on posting this week so stay tuned!

Every Good and Perfect Gift....and Giveaway Winner!!!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

I am starting with my sister's favorite Bible verse because this post is dedicated to my twin Melissa and her son who was adopted into our family as an infant. Today we celebrate Kade as he turned four years old today! For anyone who is considering adoption I have to say it has been the most wonderful blessing not only for mom and son but for every member of our family. We love him dearly and can't remember a time (BTWK)-Before There Was Kade!

Our Kade as we call him, has changed us forever. He has brought so much happiness and smiles. It amazes me that just as Brian and I were weary from multiple miscarriages and infertility treatments God gave my sister this gorgeous baby boy...and being as sweet as she is she shared him with me letting me rock him, change him, shower him with kisses and even walk proudly into restaurants with him on my arm! It was the salve I needed and my first taste at becoming a parent. Brian and I will always consider Kade our son and are raising him and Teagan as if they are siblings. Brian just bought him his first set of golf clubs for Christmas and can't wait to get him out for lessons as the spring weather rolls in.
Kade is the funniest little boy always looking at this silly side of things. He's great at impressions and practically bounces off the walls with energy and excitement 23.5 hours of the day. He's a hugger, which makes him fit right in around our house. And he's so amazing with Teagan. She's his little tag-a-long and wants to copy all he does. He fascinates her and she usually starts each day asking where he and "Auntie Wiss" are. We love you both, Melissa and Kade. Thanks for adding so much joy to so many of our lives.
******************************************************************************

I have not forgotten to announce our super special first giveaway winner on Teagan's Travels! But first I'd like to thank our sponsor KaydenAshley for so graciously supplying the fabulous personalized recipe cards! I'll be featuring this Etsy business again in an upcoming blog so stay tuned!

And to you readers who have joined us in the past few weeks and have taken the time to follow our family and friends, a very big thank you! You are always welcome here and I look forward to seeing what adventures we all get up to in 2011! Keep those comments coming as I'd love to hear from you!

Drum roll...

Our winner is Brittany McNamara!!!

Congratulations Brittany! Please email me at teaganstravels@yahoo.com so we can arrange to have your recipe cards personalized, printed and shipped to you along with the digital file.

Last Chance to Enter Teagan's Giveaway!!

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope the sun is gorgeous where you are today. We had a great morning at church and then lunch out as a family. Teagan kept asking for "choco-mole" (guacamole). Now it's naptime and then we're heading outside to enjoy this weather!

That means I have just enough time for a super quick post to remind everyone that tomorrow is the LAST DAY to enter Teagan's First Blog Giveaway!!! I'll use Random.org to select the winner after 5:00 pm EST.

This gorgeous set of printed personalized recipe cards with the digital file included as a bonus comes to us from KaydenAshley! Check out my previous post for some more pictures of their offerings. And if you are on Facebook or Etsy be sure to see their latest addition, an elegant damask Easter collection.

We have several ways to win and your odds are pretty darn good as this is our very first contest. Thanks to those who are new to Teagan's Travels in the last few days! A BIG, hearty Texas and Irish welcome to you from our family! I'll be back to posting regularly this week. In the meantime, here's the scoop on how to win:

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
The giveaway period runs from February 14, 2011 and ends Monday, February 21st, 5:00 pm EST! There are several ways you can increase your chances of winning including:

1. Become a follower of Teagan's Travels (worth 2 entries, my favorite way)

2. Visit KaydenAshley's Facebook page and "Like" it, come back here and tell me which product caught your fancy! (worth 2 entries)
www.facebook.com/KaydenAshley

3. Vote for Teagan's Travels on Top Mommy Blogs (you may do this daily using the button below, just leave a comment letting me know you've done so, worth 1 entry a day). You just click the button and go to the site. Once you are there the vote is counted, you don't have to type in our name or anything. Easy-schmeasy.

4. Visit KaydenAshley's Etsy page and make it a favorite. Leave a comment here letting me know you've done so (worth 1 entry)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/KaydenAshley?ref=seller_info

Teagan's First Giveaway Week!!

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a wonderful Valentine's Day with your loved ones! To celebrate this special day Teagan is offering her very first giveaway from KaydenAshley, a wonderful printable design Etsy shop! I adore their gorgeous stationary and cute party supplies.

Looking for a unique hostess gift or a little something for your favorite chef? This giveaway prize is a set of modern polka dot recipe cards that make a great personalized gift! But they also make an excellent treat for yourself! You will get one printed set in addition to the digital file which makes it a gift that keeps on giving. Tie up with twine or ribbon and for an extra special touch write down your favorite recipe on the top card.

Read below for the scoop on how to enter!

But first, take a look at some of KaydenAshley's additional offerings for weddings, parties and more....

Aren't these beautiful? They'd also be wonderful for an outdoor summer party!
I love these adorable cupcake decorations. Teagan will have some with a pink cowgirl theme for her April birthday party. Custom designs are a synch for KaydenAshley and I can't wait to feature the final product here!

Can't you just picture this on a party table? What an inexpensive way to add a pop of color fitting in with your theme!

Teagan is using KaydenAshley for all her party supplies this year including invitations. The great benefit of having a digital file to print from is that it is inexpensive and I will not be limited to a set number. How many times have you needed 10 invites but found your pre-made package only included 8? These, along with the water bottle lables, cupcake flags and more can be printed at Snapfish, Shutterfly, Costco or any print shop! How smart is that?

KaydenAshley offers elegant options for weddings to whimsical fun for children's parties!

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Now for the fun part! The giveaway period runs from tonight, February 14, 2011 and ends Monday, February 21st! There are several ways you can increase your chances of winning including:

1. Become a follower of Teagan's Travels (worth 2 entries, my favorite way)

2. Visit KaydenAshley's Facebook page and "Like" it, come back here and tell me which product caught your fancy! (worth 2 entries)

www.facebook.com/KaydenAshley

3. Vote for Teagan's Travels on Top Mommy Blogs (you may do this daily using the buttons below, just leave a comment letting me know you've done so, worth 1 entry a day)

4. Visit KaydenAshley's Etsy page and make it a favorite. Leave a comment here letting me know you've done so (worth 1 entry)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/KaydenAshley?ref=seller_info

Our lucky winner will be picked via Random.org. If your profile page does not show your email address, please include it in your comment. The winner will be notified by e-mail. I was not a paid for my opinion, however I will receive free product for a future product review. Thanks to KaydenAshley for their support in this giveaway!

Enter away friends and help us spread the word!