Valentine Photoshoot with the Little

I love that she loves a photo Valentine.  We have so much on our plate this afternoon we ran out in the early morning light and snapped a few options.  Then she was off to school.  Hope she likes her Valentine as much as I do.  Sweet, simple and oh so easy. (It's the 1st one at the top)

TBT - Planting a Memory Tree

A few years ago my Uncle wanted to plant a new orange tree in his yard.  

He thought it would be fun for the grand-kids/grand-nieces &grand-nephews 

to plant it in honor of my Grandma and my Mother.  

Plus, any excuse to get together is a good one.

So we all met at his house, my cousins and brothers, my Aunt and Uncle and all our kids.  

Aren't they a good looking bunch?  The girls outnumber the boys in this group.

Sara Jane

 Garrett and Abby - two peas in a pod

 Uncle Pete dug a hole then we shared memories of Grandma Betty and Aunt Barbara (my Mom)

Everyone brough something to put in the hole.

Little notes, rose petals from a special rose bush, little girl trinkets and i guess a sugar cookie went in there!  (I don't remember that.) Good thing we have pictures to spark a memory.

The tree being planted.  All the kids got to help.  

This is a fun idea to do every time you plant a tree.

It makes that tree have memories from the very start of it's life.

Every time we go to my Aunt & Uncles house we smile and know that tree is filled with love and sugar. (literally)

 

I brought a Dr. Pepper because we all know that was my mom's favorite. 

 We all toasted and drank Dr. Pepper at her funeral.

It was only fitting to add a bottle to the tree.

Plus, plants like caffeine and high fructose corn syrup....don't they?

Thank You Uncle Pete for thinking of this fun memory making activity.

And good luck little tree!  

We love you already.

TBT = Throw Back Thursday 

Pictures and Memories from Feb. 2010

Jump

Happy July!
What we like to do around here to stay cool when it hits 122 degrees.

InstaFriday

 

Today is Insta-Friday!

Where I post pictures from the week that I captured from my phone.

Little everyday tidbits that come up that aren't planned.

Also, my sweet Aunt doesn't have instagram so this way she can stay up-to-date. ♥

I like to decorate my mantle for the different holidays. 

 It makes it seem less overwhelming to only have to decorate a small space.  

And my kids think I'm the greatest even though I'm cheating with very little effort.

 Last year I was in my favorite thrift store and I found the little drummer boy above.  

Is he not perfect?  I couldn't believe my luck!  

And he was all of $2.95

The magnet board is hanging over my couch.  It holds a lot of different things throughout the year.  

I just took all the graduation announcements off and put up the 4th of July freebie from pinterest.  

If you click HERE it will take you to endless 4th of July Printables.  

The space picture was painted with spray paint by Cassidy in art class.  It's pretty amazing.

After swimming all morning on Monday we took the kids to Iceburg

 for the biggest milkshakes you have ever seen!  

Word to the wise, only order the mini or you may be in trouble. 

 I love that our family lives close and that my kids can grow up near cousins. 

Our chickens are laying everyday.

We get lucky a lot with double yokers.

on Instagram you can click on #iseefaces

and it will show the most amazing photo's that people post of random everyday things with faces.

Try it.  You will be amazed.  

I did that with this photo because I saw a face.  

You can also click HERE on your computer to get a glimpse of some good ones.

Yesterday I was catching up on some computer work and it was Just Miss Abby at home.  

So she crafted and I worked and it was a win-win.

This is what she made.

Gumball necklaces.  

She used a small screwdriver to make the holes then used a large needle to feed the ribbon through.

She made several in different colors.  My favorite was the red, white & blue.

  

Go ahead join in.  

Go post your instapics over on Life Rearranged and make some new friends while your at it.

p.s. my instagram page is private but I would love to have you follow me.  

Don't be shy.  Follow me and I'll let you in. 

Happy Valentine's Day

We did a little impromptu photo shoot so

I could make Amberly's Valentine cards for school. 

She was so cute and came up with the idea of 

I ♥ U all by herself.  

She told me what poses she wanted and planned out what she was going to wear.  

It was the easiest photo shoot ever!

I can't get over how my baby is no longer a baby.

Where did the time go?  Do I sound like an old lady?

I'm not...it's just that yesterday she was running around learning how to walk and 

saying things like "bustard" and "skam-ich".

Now she's planning out her Valentine cards and playing volleyball and making up nicknames for the boys she likes so they don't know who her and her friends are talking about.

 

I sure love this girl and am so lucky to call her mine.  

Happy Valentines Day from our house to yours ♥

P.S. Cassidy was too old and cool to have Valentines cards this year. (teenagers - wink)

Bali Birthday's for the Girls

My girls are 5 years and 5 days apart.  Both born in December. (me too) So every other year I do an easy breezy swimming party at Grandma's clubhouse in her community to save my sanity.  It's breathtaking over there and I try to take full advantage any chance I can get. Plus it's December in AZ and who doesn't like to swim in December when it's still in the 80's?

I love One Charming Party for her amazing birthday party ideas and free printables.  I took full advantage of the Bali Party and put my own spin on it along with her cute ideas.

 Amberly with a sarong I made out of t-shirt material.

We did the girls parties on the same day but at different times.  One time set up and a little refreshing in between and one clean up.  Both girls felt like they had their own party and I felt like I got the best deal by getting them over with in a few short hours. 

Swimming is lovely in the heated pool.  The hot tub is nice too.  

We had fruit, popcorn and pizza.  

Cassidy doesn't like cake so she chose a cheesecake.  

Some of the younger girls got creative with their fruit and made faces.

Amberly wanted a BIG cake so I caved and bought one.  

Gasp!  

I normally make my own but....I was going for easy-breezy so don't judge me. 

The girls played volleyball while waiting for everyone to show up.

My sweet girl turning 14!

We even dressed up for the party. 

My baby turning 9!

 

The favorite thing  at the party for both ages was being able to make their own Bali Sandals.  I bought some inexpensive t-shirt material and cut them into strips.  Then you just twist around the toe and lace up the leg.

The Bali sandals were a BIG hit!

Here's to another set of birthday parties over and done and two happy girls♥!

Back to School 2012

School has started back up.  I can't believe how fast the summer flew by!  We had so much fun this summer.  I loved not having a schedule, sleeping in, swimming everyday and staying up late.  My girls are at a really fun age where they get along so well and we can just be together without a lot of fighting. 

I love taking a picture of the girls on the first day of school.  Looking back over the years it floors me how fast they grow.  Cassidy grew an entire inch from July- August!  One month!  She is now a half inch taller than I am!  Both my girls will be taller than me I just know it.

I won't lie and say that the last week was hard and I wanted school to start ASAP.  The excitement that these girls had for school could not be contained in their little bodies.  They were bouncing off the walls and couldn't focus on much of anything (chores).  It was hard to give up our easy breezy summer schedule but since they were ready so was I.  The first day went off without a hitch and both girls are loving school. 

And this picture is why I don't buy school pictures.  No school photographer could capture the twinkle that's in her beautiful brown eyes like her mama can.  Do you see the love? ♥  So remember, when it's time for school pictures......save you cash and take your own.  It will be worth it.  

Service with Smiles

Abby and her friend Britley did a little service for our neighbors.  At Activity Days (for our church) they gave them some ideas on how to show service to their neighbors.  The girls made cupcakes at Britley's house and took some over to her neighbors then came over to our house and made cookies.  I love how they ran all the way there and back excitement bursting from their little bodies. 

I got the free printable for the neighbor from HERE - Joy Ever After