Just wanted to share a little Easter loveliness from our Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma Colleen's house...
Oh how much I love these littles!
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Monday, May 2, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
pictures, exhuastion, and lots of love
Motherhood is an interesting thing. I am always amazed that the very little people who wear me out day after day after day are the same little people who make my life so very very happy. And since these little people make me so happy, I am sharing a little bit of their sweetness with you!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
At our friend's annual easter egg hunt...
she was pretty pumped about finding eggs and putting them in her basket.
she was more excited about how beautiful the eggs were
and he was mostly excited about gathering the loot and then checking it out!
um...she is waaay too cute for her own good!
Dancing in the living room...a favorite pasttime!
Brynn looks up to her big sister soooo much.
She wants to be just like her in every way!
Pure adoration!
She wants to be just like her in every way!
Pure adoration!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Happy 4th Birthday Chloe!
Well, my little lady's birthday is finally here! She has been anxiously awaiting this day and now she is finally four years old!
Dear Chloe -
Thank you for introducing me to mothering girls! You came to us from heaven on a pink cloud, loving princesses and dolls and playing house and dressing up and wanting to be pretty and immediately we were smitten with you! You love to have your nails painted and your hair curled and to coordinate every outfit with lovely accessories! You would wear a dress every single day if I would let you and you love it when mom makes you pettiskirts, tutus and hair bows. You love to read books and color and play princesses/barbies/ponies/littlest petshops/dressups/house. Most of all, you love to play with your brother and sister. They are your best best friends and you always want to be with them! You have a mind of your own for sure...and you let us know when our plan is not in line with yours, but you are great at taking a deep breath (after we remind you) and listening to the reasons for our plan...and usually you can be persuaded to be agreeable. You are such a talker. You have been speaking in complete sentences since long before you were 2, and you haven't slowed down since. You have an expansive vocabulary and are constantly making Mom and Dad and random strangers giggle with your "proper" phrases that you love to interject correctly into sentences. You don't say "yeah"...you say, "Of course. I'd love to do that!"
I love your cheery outlook...to you the world is roses and there is joy to be found in all of it! Mommy loves to be reminded of that each day as you find life's little joys! You love to pray...every time we say a family prayer you volunteer. You love primary and learning from your teachers and you have so much faith. As we teach you about the gospel and the values and rules in our family, we also try to teach you that it is ok if other people believe differently and make different choices. You have grasped this concept so deeply at such a young age. You know what is expected of you, but you love everyone even if they do things that you have learned not to do. You are such a loving and caring girl. You LOVE to give snuggles and hugs and kisses and your morning/rest time/bed time are not complete until you have gotten at least one hug and kiss from Mom or Dad or both. When you play with a friend, you love to hold their hand and get really close to them and go places together...it isn't really that great when someone likes their personal space, but you are learning to be aware of that too. ;)
You are the pickiest eater in the family, but you still eat just about anything we give you. You do NOT like the texture of coconut (but you don't mind the taste, which is good because I use a lot of coconut in my cooking). If you eat an Almond Joy you immediately gag it back out and wipe it off your tongue. It is so funny to watch. Sometimes you think things look icky, but you usually try them and end up liking them. You love salad and you still love your meat! Give you a steak any day of the week and you will undoubtedly ask for seconds! You love peanut butter sandwiches and ask for them every.single.day for lunch. mom hates making peanut butter every day, so you acquiesce and have other things, but you would definitely prefer peanut butter. Your favorite shows are Super Why and Backyardigans. You love pretty much all disney movies, but of course, the princess movies are your favorites. You use the term princess pretty liberally though, so Morgan often tries to convince you to watch the movie he wants by telling you that the girl in it is a princess...and you follow along. You have a firm grasp on real and pretend...and if someone is pretending or teasing trying to be silly, you call them out on it. You love to play pretend, but you realize that it is only pretending.
You are not in love with school, but you always have fun when you go...I can't say I blame you because I am not thrilled with your school this year either. You are fabulous at math and can count like a pro (you may skip a few numbers along the way, but you can pretty much count to thirty). You are learning your letters, but they are coming a little slower. You love to draw and have started to draw very realistic images, but you have no interest whatsoever in writing. You love your family...you know all of your aunts and uncles and grandparents and cousins by name and you love them all. You talk about them often and I know that you feel loved when you are around them. You love your mom and dad and you tell us often. Not a day passes when I don't have a snuggly little girl on my lap telling me how much she loves me. You adore your Daddy and love to spend time with him whenever you get the chance. You can't wait for baby sister to join our family and you have gotten rather impatient waiting for her and have started demanding that she come out RIGHT NOW! I am so glad that you want to be my best buddy forever sweet girl! I am looking forward to a lot of fun fun times in the future with you! Thank you for being my shopping buddy, cooking helper, hug and kiss giver, and optimistic chatterbox. I love you with all my heart!
xoxoxo,
Mommy
Dear Chloe -
Thank you for introducing me to mothering girls! You came to us from heaven on a pink cloud, loving princesses and dolls and playing house and dressing up and wanting to be pretty and immediately we were smitten with you! You love to have your nails painted and your hair curled and to coordinate every outfit with lovely accessories! You would wear a dress every single day if I would let you and you love it when mom makes you pettiskirts, tutus and hair bows. You love to read books and color and play princesses/barbies/ponies/littlest petshops/dressups/house. Most of all, you love to play with your brother and sister. They are your best best friends and you always want to be with them! You have a mind of your own for sure...and you let us know when our plan is not in line with yours, but you are great at taking a deep breath (after we remind you) and listening to the reasons for our plan...and usually you can be persuaded to be agreeable. You are such a talker. You have been speaking in complete sentences since long before you were 2, and you haven't slowed down since. You have an expansive vocabulary and are constantly making Mom and Dad and random strangers giggle with your "proper" phrases that you love to interject correctly into sentences. You don't say "yeah"...you say, "Of course. I'd love to do that!"
I love your cheery outlook...to you the world is roses and there is joy to be found in all of it! Mommy loves to be reminded of that each day as you find life's little joys! You love to pray...every time we say a family prayer you volunteer. You love primary and learning from your teachers and you have so much faith. As we teach you about the gospel and the values and rules in our family, we also try to teach you that it is ok if other people believe differently and make different choices. You have grasped this concept so deeply at such a young age. You know what is expected of you, but you love everyone even if they do things that you have learned not to do. You are such a loving and caring girl. You LOVE to give snuggles and hugs and kisses and your morning/rest time/bed time are not complete until you have gotten at least one hug and kiss from Mom or Dad or both. When you play with a friend, you love to hold their hand and get really close to them and go places together...it isn't really that great when someone likes their personal space, but you are learning to be aware of that too. ;)
You are the pickiest eater in the family, but you still eat just about anything we give you. You do NOT like the texture of coconut (but you don't mind the taste, which is good because I use a lot of coconut in my cooking). If you eat an Almond Joy you immediately gag it back out and wipe it off your tongue. It is so funny to watch. Sometimes you think things look icky, but you usually try them and end up liking them. You love salad and you still love your meat! Give you a steak any day of the week and you will undoubtedly ask for seconds! You love peanut butter sandwiches and ask for them every.single.day for lunch. mom hates making peanut butter every day, so you acquiesce and have other things, but you would definitely prefer peanut butter. Your favorite shows are Super Why and Backyardigans. You love pretty much all disney movies, but of course, the princess movies are your favorites. You use the term princess pretty liberally though, so Morgan often tries to convince you to watch the movie he wants by telling you that the girl in it is a princess...and you follow along. You have a firm grasp on real and pretend...and if someone is pretending or teasing trying to be silly, you call them out on it. You love to play pretend, but you realize that it is only pretending.
You are not in love with school, but you always have fun when you go...I can't say I blame you because I am not thrilled with your school this year either. You are fabulous at math and can count like a pro (you may skip a few numbers along the way, but you can pretty much count to thirty). You are learning your letters, but they are coming a little slower. You love to draw and have started to draw very realistic images, but you have no interest whatsoever in writing. You love your family...you know all of your aunts and uncles and grandparents and cousins by name and you love them all. You talk about them often and I know that you feel loved when you are around them. You love your mom and dad and you tell us often. Not a day passes when I don't have a snuggly little girl on my lap telling me how much she loves me. You adore your Daddy and love to spend time with him whenever you get the chance. You can't wait for baby sister to join our family and you have gotten rather impatient waiting for her and have started demanding that she come out RIGHT NOW! I am so glad that you want to be my best buddy forever sweet girl! I am looking forward to a lot of fun fun times in the future with you! Thank you for being my shopping buddy, cooking helper, hug and kiss giver, and optimistic chatterbox. I love you with all my heart!
xoxoxo,
Mommy
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Valentine's Day is my FAVORITE
I am sure that some of you out there already know this, but I am pretty much completely obsessed with Valentine's Day! I know some people hate it...and some people celebrate singles awareness day...but even when I have been single on Valentine's day, I have still always been a huge fan. When I was in 8th grade my mom gave me makeup for Valentine's day...which was a totally big deal, because until then I wasn't really allowed to wear makeup. When I was a sophomore my crush brought me a yellow rose on Valentine's day...it is the friend rose because we couldn't date because I was not 16 yet, but still, it was twitterpating and cute! When I was a senior I spent the evening making, frosting and delivering sugar cookies with a different crush's little sister. My first year of college I think I was dating 2 different people simultaneously...so Vday was a little complicated, but the next year, Seth and I were "not dating" and he gave me a live plant...a little strange, but he has more than made up for it in the years since...except the year that he decided to take part in a door to door vacuum presentation on Valentine's day which took the full 3 hours between when I got home from work and when he left for his night shift. Still, I LOVE Valentine's day!
Anway...remeniscing tangent there for a minute...since it is my favorite holdiay, I am celebrating with a Valentine's Day Photobooth. Do you remember this cute little valentine from last year?
(that space at the bottom is where he signed his name...
it was a homework assignment for the kids to actually sign all of the Valentines)
(that space at the bottom is where he signed his name...
it was a homework assignment for the kids to actually sign all of the Valentines)
Well, so many people commented on it, that I am offering them to you this year! No more lame-o valentines! Here is the flyer for the photobooth...they are by appointment only and you will have the images PLUS your choice of super cute, designed-by-me, much-cuter-than-the-one-above, printable valentine cards
before Valentine's Day! YAY!
before Valentine's Day! YAY!
You can also find more details about it at the smileabunch photography blog.
And, a little plea for help: I would LOVE your help spreading the word...since I can only take such a limited number of sessions this year, I am trying to keep up momentum by packing as many sessions as possible into this one day! If you send 5 people my way and they book a session, I will do your session for FREE! Please refer your friends and family to this link:
or my Facebook Fan Page for info!
THANKS!
I did a super quick practice shoot yesterday so I would have some pictures to use for the marketing,
and I have cute pics of all the kiddos, so I will post a few here when I get a chance!
I did a super quick practice shoot yesterday so I would have some pictures to use for the marketing,
and I have cute pics of all the kiddos, so I will post a few here when I get a chance!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
One Little Word
I used to be completely in touch with the world of scrapbooking...the magazines, the latest trends, the fun papers and the scrapbooking icons...and through that passion, I found photography. Since I only have so much time in a day, at this point it really has to be one or the other and I am certain that you can guess which one I choose. {...yes, photography!!!}
And even though I know that scrapbooking is on the back burner for now, I still follow some of my very favorite scrapbooker blogs and among them is a common theme right now..."One Little Word". The idea is to choose one word for the coming year, just for you. Even though this concept has been around for a few years, I have never felt inclined to come up with a word. This year, though, I am drawn to a word so much that I just can't resist:
And even though I know that scrapbooking is on the back burner for now, I still follow some of my very favorite scrapbooker blogs and among them is a common theme right now..."One Little Word". The idea is to choose one word for the coming year, just for you. Even though this concept has been around for a few years, I have never felt inclined to come up with a word. This year, though, I am drawn to a word so much that I just can't resist:
EMBRACE
So many things come to mind as I consider this word...embrace change, embrace now, embrace the sweet ones in my life, embrace the challenges, embrace the help that comes from all around me...so I have decided to take on this word this year. I will let it into my life and try to live it each day. And since one word is about all I can handle at this point, I know it will be a good way for me to improve myself and take on the challenges and the wonderful joys that this year will bring!
HAPPY 2011!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Already Ready?
We had a lovely Christmas. We simplified (per my declaration to simplify last year and per the upcoming move) and it was so nice! The kids have been able to actually enjoy their gifts because it wasn't major overload...and everything has a place already! Yay! We have been enjoying lots of events and visits with family and friends and have more to come...lots of late nights, missed naps, good food, funny memories, and sweet moments.
And yet, for the first time in all of my life, I am ready to take down the twinkly lights and the pine garlands and the tree and the stockings right away. Usually I want to sip hot chocolate by the tree for at least a few days after new years...maybe even until the end of January, but this year, I would be quite content to have packed Christmas into boxes yesterday. I wonder if I have missed the true spirit of Christmas this year...or if I am just anxious to get started on my very long preparation for the move to-do list...or if I am wanting to make sure everything is done before Seth starts his semester? Or maybe I am just learning to live in the moment as I get older...to enjoy the holiday while it is here and then just keep moving along. I'm not sure what it is, maybe a combination of everything, but I am already ready to box up December and move into January!
And yet, for the first time in all of my life, I am ready to take down the twinkly lights and the pine garlands and the tree and the stockings right away. Usually I want to sip hot chocolate by the tree for at least a few days after new years...maybe even until the end of January, but this year, I would be quite content to have packed Christmas into boxes yesterday. I wonder if I have missed the true spirit of Christmas this year...or if I am just anxious to get started on my very long preparation for the move to-do list...or if I am wanting to make sure everything is done before Seth starts his semester? Or maybe I am just learning to live in the moment as I get older...to enjoy the holiday while it is here and then just keep moving along. I'm not sure what it is, maybe a combination of everything, but I am already ready to box up December and move into January!
Monday, December 27, 2010
More Christmas Fun
Sleepover Under the Tree!
Hitting Grandma's piniata
Counting the Days
Finding Jessie in her sneaky hiding places every day!
Exploring ornaments on every tree she sees...this one is Grandma Becky's.
More to come...I have another card to upload.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Christmas Magic
Just some lovely shots of my beautiful baby girl enjoying the magic of Christmas! It all just seems more magnificent when you see it through her sweet little eyes!
Christmas Card mishap
It is with saddest regret that I must inform all of you that the Christmas Card order I placed a few weeks ago never materialized to my lab despite me receiving a message that it had gone through (system glitch apparently). So, while I am a huge fan of the tradition of sending Christmas cards and have so enjoyed receiving them from so many of our wonderful friends and family and even though I did go through all the effort of getting pictures and designing a card (or 2 or 3 just to make sure I loved it)...nobody will be getting a cute little Christmas greeting from us this year. We still love you all and hope you have a merry Christmas! Also, I promise to make up for it on a different holiday! I'm considering New Years...but I really am a huge fan of Valentine's Day, so we shall see!
Monday, November 1, 2010
taking each day one zofran dose at a time
I definitely spoke too soon with my last post...
(and consider this fair warning that this post is sure to be filled
with my complaints about the awfulness of pregnancy!)
Last Friday I literally called my mom from my bed at 10:00 am to see if she would bring me an asiago bagel from einsteins because every time I tried to stand up, I literally fell back down. Thankfully she came to the rescue with multiple asiago bagels and did my dishes and straitened up my kitchen (not an easy task, but, as she told me later...she knew I needed the help because my face was literally green when she got here).
I have yet to actually throw up this pregnancy, but the nausia doesn't ever go away...ever. 24/7 nausia. It is horrible! I have been able to eat quite a variety of food, but I absolutely cannot survive a full day without an afternoon nap (and usually that nap is 2-3 hours...and still not long enough). I take zofran with apple juice every 4-8 hours...and drink a whole lot of apple juice since it is the only thing I can drink that doesn't make me gag. I go days without even turning on my computer...which is quite unusual for me...good think I have email on my phone, or I would be completely out of the loop!
Today I am 9 weeks. This little one is the size of a grape and the heart is dividing into 4 chambers. It has eyelids and all of the major organs in place. The kids are LOVING tracking the growth...they look forward to Mondays when I get the email update complete with picture of the growing baby. "Is your computer connected to the baby?" Morgan asked me today. LOL! It is such a beautiful miracle to watch how this little one is growing and developing each week...and kind of incredible that something the size of a grape can make my entire body feel so utterly horrible!
I need to update about all of the Halloween festivities too, but since I am never on the computer, suffice it to say, we had a lot of festivities - and a lot of fun. Our activities committee threw a fabulous trunk or treat/dinner/carnival, Grandma Colleen hosted her annual trip to the pumpkin patch and halloween bash, I was in charge of Morgan's Kindergarten Halloween party, and the kids got to have a sleepover with Grandpa Mark and Grandma Char the night before Halloween (which meant a morning of sleeping in without interruption for me and Seth, but a night of no sleep for anyone having a sleepover). And finally a night of trick or treating in the rain with the Barlows...we were literally soaked to the bone! Anyway...lots of fun!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
I need a nap...
This weekend has been uber crazy...we got through the ward trunk or treat last night, primary program practice and party this morning and a halloween party with the cousins this afternoon. The kids' costumes are well worn and in need of serious cleaning before next Thursday, my body is exhausted, my car looks like a messy spook alley, and my house...well, we won't even go there. Anyway, we are having fun, keeping very busy, and in serious need of frequent naps!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Under Fire
Since the first year we were dating, Seth and I have been watching the Liberty Park fireworks together on the 24th of July (Pioneer day - our state holiday - for those of you unfamiliar with it).
Every year, we lay out lots of blankets/tarps in the morning to secure the best seats possible and invite friends and family to join us. It is our own little tradition that we love and the fireworks are always fabulous. Last year we found this fabulous new place with fewer people smoking pot in the vacinity of our little babies and no trees blocking the view. After the fireworks, we decided that it would permanently be "the place".
So, this year, just like each of the 8 years before, we staked our tarps down in the morning and headed back with blankets and snacks in the evening.
We could see the trailer of fireworks out in the middle of the field on the other side of the fence - the perfect spot.
People joined us the sky got darker and we had light saber wars with glo-sticks and headlamps shining in nalgene water bottles.
And then those first "bangs" shook our whole bodies as we watched the fireworks explode directly over our heads. (Brynn was a little too surprised by those first big bangs...but she quickly moved on to the oohs and ahhhs and woahs.)
And then the "ground show" started as a firework exploded sending its glittering sparks to the every edge of the field. The next firework flew over the fence to the middle of the street before it exploded smack dab in the middle of the crowd - "that one got out of control" we thought to ourselves. But one by one, each of the fireworks exploded on the ground in random sporadic places. I could tell that this wasn't right, but I wasn't sure whether to run further from the field or stay, but sat scared to death trying to account for one, two, three little heads who were seated on various family member laps. Morgan was standing just 2 or 3 feet from the fence when the firework landed 2 feet inside the fence and exploded. I saw the silhouette of my baby boy 4 feet in front of the firey burst, and Seth reached out and grabbed him by the arm to run with him to safety. Again, this time as I ran, I counted for one, two, three little heads. My heart raced as we continued to see the bursts exploding around us. We found cover behind a tree, where we calmed three crying children and held them close. I don't know how calming it is for a child to be cuddled close to mommy's chest where they can feel her heart racing and her body shaking, but we huddled until they were calm. Finally, as the regular fireworks continued up in the sky where they were supposed to be, I sent Seth to check for injuries. Luckily, near us, all that happened was burn holes in blankets and tarps, but further down there were injuries. Soon the fireworks stopped and the only flashing lights left were the ones from the ambulances and firetrucks.
We walked back to Seth's family's house and did some sparklers to help the kids overcome the fear of the night. Morgan wasn't up for it quite yet, but Chloe timidly took to it.
I am so grateful for our safety and realize now more than ever how dear and sweet my family is to me and how precious this life is. It made me squeeze those three little people a little tighter and cuddle up to my sweet husband a little closer. This is not an experience I will soon forget!
Every year, we lay out lots of blankets/tarps in the morning to secure the best seats possible and invite friends and family to join us. It is our own little tradition that we love and the fireworks are always fabulous. Last year we found this fabulous new place with fewer people smoking pot in the vacinity of our little babies and no trees blocking the view. After the fireworks, we decided that it would permanently be "the place".
So, this year, just like each of the 8 years before, we staked our tarps down in the morning and headed back with blankets and snacks in the evening.
We could see the trailer of fireworks out in the middle of the field on the other side of the fence - the perfect spot.
People joined us the sky got darker and we had light saber wars with glo-sticks and headlamps shining in nalgene water bottles.
And then those first "bangs" shook our whole bodies as we watched the fireworks explode directly over our heads. (Brynn was a little too surprised by those first big bangs...but she quickly moved on to the oohs and ahhhs and woahs.)
And then the "ground show" started as a firework exploded sending its glittering sparks to the every edge of the field. The next firework flew over the fence to the middle of the street before it exploded smack dab in the middle of the crowd - "that one got out of control" we thought to ourselves. But one by one, each of the fireworks exploded on the ground in random sporadic places. I could tell that this wasn't right, but I wasn't sure whether to run further from the field or stay, but sat scared to death trying to account for one, two, three little heads who were seated on various family member laps. Morgan was standing just 2 or 3 feet from the fence when the firework landed 2 feet inside the fence and exploded. I saw the silhouette of my baby boy 4 feet in front of the firey burst, and Seth reached out and grabbed him by the arm to run with him to safety. Again, this time as I ran, I counted for one, two, three little heads. My heart raced as we continued to see the bursts exploding around us. We found cover behind a tree, where we calmed three crying children and held them close. I don't know how calming it is for a child to be cuddled close to mommy's chest where they can feel her heart racing and her body shaking, but we huddled until they were calm. Finally, as the regular fireworks continued up in the sky where they were supposed to be, I sent Seth to check for injuries. Luckily, near us, all that happened was burn holes in blankets and tarps, but further down there were injuries. Soon the fireworks stopped and the only flashing lights left were the ones from the ambulances and firetrucks.
We walked back to Seth's family's house and did some sparklers to help the kids overcome the fear of the night. Morgan wasn't up for it quite yet, but Chloe timidly took to it.
I am so grateful for our safety and realize now more than ever how dear and sweet my family is to me and how precious this life is. It made me squeeze those three little people a little tighter and cuddle up to my sweet husband a little closer. This is not an experience I will soon forget!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A Beautiful Holiday
We started our little family Christmas festivities at our house opening Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve and then opening our Christmas books (Fancy Nancy Christmas and I Believe in Santa Claus). We then read the nativity and the Christmas books, put out the magic reindeer food, cookies for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer. We like reindeer! Then it was off to bed.
Seth and I got to bed by 11:00 pm...which is a serious record for us!
(Thank you FlyLady for helping me get ready for Christmas early!)
Before the kids woke up and went in to see what Santa brought, we snapped some pictures. Yes, it is Waaaay more that it should be...we are setting more specific guidelines for Santa next year. He (or maybe it is his wife) tends to go a little crazy buying too many presents!
Since I made lots of play food, mail, aprons and such for the kids this year, we decided to set it up like the Santa stuff (mostly so we didn't have to wrap it).
At 7:30 Christmas morning, the kids looked like this...
Where's the excitement? Oh, don't worry...as soon as we snapped this picture we headed to our Christmas Countdown to get out the star...
then they got really excited!
And why wouldn't you with a morning like this!
It was wonderful and magical and so much fun! My favorite part was watching the kids help each other (and us) open the gifts from them. So sweet!
Added bonus...I had muffins ready to go, so we put them in when we started opening gifts and they made our house smell wonderful and were hot and ready when we were done.
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