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

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.  

Budding Artist

Cassidy's two loves in life are singing and art.  She was in her art class at school and her teacher had started to make this crayon project.  Cass was so excited to try it she made me take her to Joann's that night so she could buy some canvas and crayons - with her very own money!  She would not tell me what the project was even though I questioned her and tried to help her find the best supplies.  This is hard without any knowledge of what it's going to be used for. 

 She put the crayons in her own rainbow order.

 She hot glued the crayons onto the canvas in a straight line across the top.

 This took awhile but she was very focused on her project.

She's such a cutie!

 

The crayons are almost all glued on.   

Then the excitement will begin.

 She is so excited to see if it will work!  Truthfully so are we!

She started blowing hot air onto the crayons with her blow dryer 

but it just wasn't getting hot enough.

 So we went and got my blow dryer and it started to work instantly! 

It was so fun to see those crayons start to melt and run together onto the canvas.

The whole project start to finnish took about an hour.  It was the perfect Sunday family activity.  Cassidy was the artist while we sat and watched her in awe.  We didn't care that we weren't involved because it was so fun to sit around Cassidy and watch her work. 

She was so excited and felt so proud of herself and so were we.

 Here it is all finished.  So cool!  We have it hanging on her wall in her room.  

It's quite a showstopper in person.  We did this in the family room on newspapers 

because it was too hot outside.  But if you can I would recommend doing this 

project outside just in case melted wax escapes the newspaper.

Our proud artist. 

Two more pictures - I know this is a long post but since I'm being a proud Mama 

I thought I'd share:

 She had another canvas that she was going to make into crayon art to give away but changed her mind and drew this owl.  Isn't it so cute?!  I love the glasses and the long lashes.  Do owls have lashes?  I don't know but they sure are darling.

Done any fun art projects lately?

New Glasses

Cassidy got new glasses for Jr. High.  Don't they make her look so old?  

She is quite a beauty and these glasses frame her pretty brown eyes and help her see better. 

She is loving Jr. High and that makes this Mama pretty darned happy!

She's growing up wayyyy too fast.  

She let me take these pictures of her and I didn't even have to bribe her!

She could only stand to be serious for 3.5 seconds then the goofiness cuteness came out in full force.

We sure love having you around Cassidy!

And your glasses are adorable!

Art 2.0

I really need to get Cassidy into art class!  

It's her 2nd love right after singing.  

This girl has so many talents I'm excited to see where she takes them.  She did this portrait one night because she was "bored".  

Um, I wish I could draw like that when I was bored.  

She said, "eh, it's o.k. not my best".

Like I said this girl needs to be in art school! 

Love Week ♥Day6♥

Today my baby girl who's not a baby anymore walked 11 miles.

I'm so proud of her.  She did an amazing job and she was in the front leading everyone the whole way!
When asked why she stayed in the front her answer was:
"That way I can get to the rest stops faster and have a longer break!"
That's my girl...always thinking.
She is now on a mission to get this family walking for fun and we are SO game.
We wouldn't be complete without her and are so lucky to have her in this family♥

Fun with Cass

You don't need much to have fun over here at our house.  

Just a dry desert night, a couch and your imagination. 
Step 1 - rub your head/hair all over the couch.
Step 2 - laugh really hard!
Step 3 - Do it all over again.

We have decided to call this "Static Hair".

Cassidy is so funny!

Same Size

Today I went shopping to pick up a few last minute items for our family pictures on Saturday.  It turned very cold this past week and the outfits I had planned are just not warm enough.  Charlotte Russe has the cutest stuff right now and guess what?????

Cassidy and I can wear the same size sweaters and shirts/tops!

I know I sound a little excited in that sentence but.....I'm not quite sure I'm ready for this.  I mean I knew it was going to happen but I thought it would be when she was closer to 16................. not 12?!

I wish I was skinny enough to share pants.  Wouldn't that be nice?  I was her size when I got married but that was 16 years ago and well lets just say we aren't going to be sharing pants anytime soon.  Skirts maybe but pants....nope.

Last night she put on my new coat and it fit her!  We already wear the same size shoe, our legs are the same length and now tops - oh boy - next it will be make-up. Help?!?

 

Cassidy is pretty excited about all this can you tell?

(secretly I am too...I just need a little minute to wrap my head around it)

Baby It's Cold Outside

Photo Petit Champlain, Quebec, Canada © Camille MARCHAND via tumbler

Not really but....I am starting to get chilled after the sun goes down.  Next week we are supposed to be in the 60's all week and that's COLD for us wimpy Arizonians.  I looked in my closet today and realized that I have 2...yes two long sleeved shirts and to be honest they aren't even long they are 3/4 length.  So I went over to Khols and Old Navy to see if I could find something cute, warm - yet not too warm with real long sleeves and I turned up with nothing.  I also don't have any shoes that are warm.  I think I'm in trouble over here.  I may need to go on vacation to a chilly destination just to shop.  Yeah, that sounds good....I need a vacation and who doesn't like to shop?!

I have another problem as well.  Cassidy (who will be 12 next month) can no longer fit into the children's section of any store.  I ordered her a jacket from Gymboree - to small, I tried a jacket from Gap Kids - too small, Justice - all the pants are too short.  We went to old navy and everything was "old lady" as she called it.  We went to Charlotte Russe and she only liked the boots. BTW we now wear the same size shoe and our legs are the same length.  Where do you take an almost 12 year old to find clothes that are age appropriate, modest yet cool and hip? 

And everyone living where it's chilly and cold....be grateful warm and sunny does get old after awhile.