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

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

Lovely Flips

Abby doing a backflip on the trampoline

The weather has been so lovely it makes us all want to flip!

Low 80's and breezy.  

The citrus trees and flowers are in full bloom 

and the air smells like heaven.

This is why I live here. 

I'm That Mom

Abby is sick today.  

I had to go to work today to help Tom.  

So I brought her.  

Here she is asleep on the floor infront of my desk. 

I'm such a good Mom.  

At least I brought her pillow and a warm fuzzy blanket right?  

That should count for something.

Abby's Baptism Day

 We had a special program at the baptism.   Amberly got to pick the whole program.  The entire bishopric was there, all our friends and family came to support Amberly to make this a very special day.  I loved that we had so many of our family helping.  Sariah (cousin) played the violin prelude music, McKenna (cousin) played the piano for the eight year old cousin song of I Am A Child Of God (we have 6 cousins who are 8 or will be turning 8 all within a year!), Matt and Kurt (uncles) gave the talks on Baptism and the Holy Ghost.  Grandma Margie and Uncle Joey gave the prayers, Aunt Joni led the singing.  It was a family affair and I loved every single minute of it. It's always very emotional when we have these sweet baptisms because my parents aren't here.  But we know they are able to be with us on these very special days and can feel them near us.  We love them and miss them and are so thankful to know that we are a forever family♥

I can not believe my baby is eight!  She was just learning to crawl yesterday!  Time goes by way to fast.  We were so proud of Amberly choosing to get baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  She was beaming with excitement and could not keep that darling smile off her sweet face.

 Here we are as a family.  Cassidy is pretty proud that she only has 1 1/2 inches until she is as tall as I am.  I had to wear my heels so I would at least be as tall as she was on this day. 

 I somehow lucked out and was offered a sub in the shape of an eight!  I went in and was ordering some party subs and the girl at the counter heard it was for a baptism and said, "we can make the sandwich into the shape on an eight!"  Oh boy you better believe I jumped on that one!  How awesome is this four foot "8" sandwich?!

 

Amberly got her very own scriptures with her name on them, a special baptism towel

and a CD with songs to help her remember this very special day.  

Thank you family and friends who came and helped and loved us on Amberly's baptism day.  

We ♥ you!

Recipes of Home

Tonight Abby told me,

"Mom I need that recipe so I can have it when I get married and can make it all the time!" 

What a sweetie she is.  I guess I need to start compiling all my recipes into a cool book like Clover Lane did HERE.  Then I can give each of my girls one when they leave the nest.

But for now I will just cherish my warm and fuzzy feeling that my darling girl likes my food which means a whole lotta love to me.