motherhood on my mind

With Mother's Day just around the corner, I've had "motherhood" on my mind as I've been browsing online lately...I always tell myself I'm going to do a fabulous photoshoot with myself and my kiddos, and surprise surprise...life gets busy and it never happens! Yesterday I came across this wonderful photo checklist by Rebecca Cooper, and decided to give it a try. She suggested using the self-timer on your camera to get some snapshots with you and your kids ('cause let's face it...WHO exactly is going to take a picture with ME in it?) so Gabby and I sat down and this is what we got! These photos that took about 5 minutes in total to take have already become so precious to me. This is the last few months that I'll have Gabby home with me during the days before she starts grade 1 in the fall. While she is so ready to be at school all day like her big sister, I can't help but be emotional at the thought of her being gone all day and taking that next step towards becoming a big girl. Gabby is always full of kisses, snuggles and "I love you's"...I will sure miss our afternoons together. (When she's being a sweetie...let's not even talk about the meltdown she had on our driveway the other day for the whole neighborhood to see! Heehee.) So now I need to get that camera out and do this with all my kiddos! Thank you Rebecca for the inspiration!!!











(Also, come and see my "Motherhood" Board on Pinterest for all things mommy...quotes, tips, ideas, good online reads, and more!!!)

gabby's valentine parfaits

I just wanted to quickly share Gabby's little treats that she and I made for her Valentine's party in her Kindergarten class this morning. She was such a great little helper, and they turned out so yummy and cute!! I found this pin on Pinterest (surprise!) and knew that this would be right up my alley...I like finding alternatives to cookies and cupcakes...nothin' wrong with either, but we all know how I feel about baking and decorating!

To make your own Valentine's Parfaits you will need:

-a cake mix

-cool whip

-vanilla pudding mix

-vanilla yogurt

-sprinkles

-plastic cups

Decorate plastic cups. Bake cake according to instructions on the box. Let cool completely. Scoop into bottom of cups. Mix together cool whip, pudding, and yogurt. (add food coloring if desired) Scoop into cup. Top off with with cool whip and sprinkles. Done!

Hope you like' em! I'll be making these again for sure!!

xoxo

gabby's popcorn & movie party!

A little peek at Gabby's "Movie & Popcorn" birthday party....






(plastic popcorn containers are from the dollar store and I made the banners using some of my old House of 3 digital kits!)

Yes, she turned 5 back in July. But, it was summer and it's always hard to plan parties with friends when everyone's away on holidays. So we did her party and few weeks ago and it was such a hit! All of her friends came over in their jammies and we had pizza, pop, popcorn and treats! Everyone got a little purse with "money" in it and they had to line up at the concession stand to pay for their treats, tickets and popcorn. Then they went downstairs to the "movie theatre" where thet saw the debut of "Barbie and The Princess Charm School". Honestly, the girls had soooooo much fun! We'll be doing this again for sure!!

Love you Gabbs!!! xo

T:)

hello, school.

Well, here we go again!

The girls both had their first day of school yesterday and they couldn't have been more excited. They had their outfits all picked out by Wednesday morning, and they had been counting down the days till school started for over a week. So needless to say, they were ready to go!!

I can't believe Payton is in grade 2 already! She lost her other front tooth the night before school started, and I think she just look so cute with those missing teeth in her smile! Losing baby teeth is kind of momentous, ya know? She's always been my little girl, but looking at these photos now, she seems all grown up. It's scary how quickly time goes by!

I popped into her classroom with her quickly, but she didn't need me at all...she was so excited to back with her friends. I was so proud of her!!!

And my little Gabby started kindergarten!!! She has been waiting for this day for such a long time!

She was soooo cute in her class and I am beyond thrilled with her teacher and classmates. She was a little apprehensive at first, but once they got to "playing", she was good to go! A little peek at some of their activities...

Gabby just melts my heart! Again, I was just so proud of her and excited for her...the house will feel very empty on weekday mornings with her away...she is usually attached to me, so this year will be an adjustment for us both. :)

Oh, and let's not forget about KK...

She thought she was going to school, too. (wink)

All in all, it was a great day and the girls are happy, so I'm happy. Here's to yet another school year!!!

Tal :)

(And with it being the beginning of another year, I just thought I'd share this post again on how I organize my kids school and artwork throughout the year...I love this system, it works great for me!!)

five

Happy Birthday to the sweetest little 5 year old I know!!!









It is so hard to believe that 5 years have come and gone since we had our sweet little Gabby. There is never a dull moment when she's around and without her our family would be incomplete. We love this little munchkin so much...I wish she would stop growing up on us! She is so beyond excited to be starting kindergarten in the fall...I will be crying on the first day of school for sure. (heehee)



Happy Birthday cute girl! We love you sooooo much!!!




xoxox

gabby

Now onto my #2...Gabriella Mae.

(click on collage to see larger)

Once again, where oh, where to begin with this little munchkin? Gabby is now 4 and a half years old and is a little firecracker to say the least. Oh, don't let those cute looks fool ya! She is our stinker, but we sure do love her to bits. This little one has a mind of her own and usually wants to do things HER way...but she makes up for it by equally sweet (when she is in the mood...heehee!).

Gabby looooooves to be cuddled and loved, and she loves to cuddle us in return! She could honestly sit in my arms all day if I would let her...she is very content being held. She's learning her alphabet and still has cute ways of pronouncing words...I don't have the heart to correct her most of the time 'cause it's just too darn cute. Being in the middle 'aint always easy...but she sure does love her sisters. She looks up to Payton so much and looks after KK like any good big sister does. She loves dancing, riding her bike, getting "boy toys" from McDonald's, playing with flashlights and her latest obsession is Disney's "Tangled." She is funny, sweet, silly and LOUD...we're still trying to teach her what "whispering" is, haha! She melts our hearts when she says the sweetest little prayers every night before bedtime on her own...she never forgets to thank Heavenly Father "for her family and that the baby will come out of mommy's tummy soon." She has been such a blessing to me during this pregnancy...I have been soooo tired in the afternoons, and she is honestly AMAZING when Kherington goes down for her naps. She knows that it is "quiet time" and just plays and entertains herself all afternoon long...allowing me to rest, too! (wink) I have been so very lucky...at such a young age, she has managed to be very patient with her mama.

She is our perfect mix of sweet and sassy. While she definitely keeps us on our toes, she is always the first person to say "I love you"....and she says it alot.

We love you, too, crazy girl.

xoxo

gabby's first day!

On Wednesday, it was back to school for this lil' cutie, too. She was sooooo cute and sooooo excited to get back to playschool. This year she gets to go for 3 mornings a week, so she is feeling very much like a "big girl". And let me tell ya, for a little sister that has to watch her big sister go to school everyday, her first day of school was a very big day, indeed.

(she picked out her own outfit...)

And once we got to school, this little bug wasn't going to be left out! No way, man!

Gettin' ready for some messy fun...

...and just plain old happy to back.

We are slowly to adjusting to the "new normal" that is school, schedules, bedtimes and lessons. I am liking it and not liking it...we really needed some routine and structure after a crazy summer and moving homes, but I sure do miss our lazy days! Ah, well.

My kids are happy and that's all that matters.

Tal:)

happy happy birthday

This sweet little girl is 4. FOUR.

I can hardly believe it. I still think of her as my little baby...how is she growing up so fast? (excuse me while I wipe away my tears!)

A few things about Gabby on her special day:

-she is the BEST cuddler. Like, the best. She's so small and she can curl up into the tiniest little bundle...perfect for snugglin'. We love it!

-she is hilairious. I feel like every other day I'm telling yet another funny "Gabby story"...whether she's been naughty or nice, she always makes us laugh!

-her favorite song at bedtime is "Book of Mormon Stories"

-she loves to play outside...in the water, at the park, riding her bike, going for a walk...whatever!

-she is very determined lately...not getting her way can result in major upset! yikes.

-she does NOT like Barbies. She'd much rather play with a flashlight. Or any other random object you can find around the house.

-she loves her sisters! oh, yes, they fight at times...but her sisters are her best friends!!

Happy Birthday, Gabby-Gabbs! We love you sooooooooooo much!!

xoxoxox Mommy, Daddy, Payton and KK

splish splash!

And let's not forget about little Miss Gabby in her costume as well! She was soooo cute and was so awesome on stage this weekend. A natural, I tell ya! It was funny, 'cause she's still at the age where they're still supposed to follow their teacher, but you never really know what's going to happen...but she did great and even whipped out a few crazy spins. Loved it!

(and I love her round little tummy, too.)

Tal :)