Valentine Cookie Party 2010

 I don't know what has gotten into me this pregnancy. I just don't have the steam for these celebrations.  Ever since Christmas.  But don't you worry, I can't let a good tradition go to waste.

Creating memories comes first.  It's all about a good cookie party .

My 3 little loves.

Couldn't resist the Valentine photo shoot. :)

The invites:

The kids had a lot of fun!  The boys had a lot of energy! (not surprising)  And the girls were very quiet and into their project.  It was fun to have some of Cole's school friends come.  I about fell over with laughter when I caught Cole and Frankie doing chest bumps!  It's started a chest bump frenzie! Hysterical!

Tissue Paper Flower

A couple of weeks ago, we had New Beginnings for the Young Women of our ward. 

Our theme was Women of Courage and we decorated the room with lots of fresh flowers.

I stumbled upon this cute tissue flower at my favorite store Jolleys 

and just had to re-create it for the center of our refreshment table!

A tissue pom pom hot glued to a bamboo stick.

Easy, cheep and adorable! :)

A little Quick Tip

I always enjoy reading my friend Kami's regular posts on Quick Tips and thought I'd share one of mine.  

This little pouch has become a lifesaver for me!  I bought it at TJ Maxx for $5, filled it with my necessities and keep it in my purse at all times!

As a hairstylist, I have felt a little pressure to have my girls hair styled everyday.  But we all know that on some days it doesn't happen,  or they pull out the cute dew you lovingly spent time on, or it falls out and looks like you've never put a comb to the childs' head.

My Remedy: The On-The-Go Hair Kit :)

I've got all my supplies in this little pouch to rescue me from hair disasters. And an occasional boo boo.

Like when Cole was the only 1st grader in his class who did not bring home the picture packet or the reminder that it was picture day.  I noticed the announcement at school upon dropping him off and luckily had everything I needed to make sure his hair was better groomed for pictures.  

Or when we rush out the door to eat out and realize that Sadie has undone her hair for the day and it is all standing up off her head with extreme static from her coat hoodie.  

Remedy : The hair kit :)

All while we're waiting to be seated

I can't even tell you how many times I've needed my little kit!

Sadie really wanted to model the kit for me....can you tell?  

I love how it is all contained in the pouch and not tumbling around in my Mary Poppins purse.  

Don't be surprised if one day I pull out a lamp from that thing ;)

Tonight we started our fun Love Note  and Secret Pal traditions.  My kids are so excited to do something nice for their secret pal.  Any plans to join in on the fun?

An Owie for MaryJane

Last Friday while I was at the gym, MaryJane had a little injury.  Sadie was trying to pull her by her arm up onto my bed to snuggle her and daddy.  Unfortunately, Sadie had dislocated MaryJane's elbow.  She was in a lot of pain.  This sort of thing can happen easily in children.  So please be careful with their little arms.  I got home shortly and was able to get her in to see a doctor by 9:30.  She put it back into socket but MaryJane still had no desire to use it.  So she sent her home with a little brace.

MaryJane LOVED laying on the couch being doted on by Mommy#1 and Mommy#2.
Eating on the couch and watching Elmo. Heaven!

Sadly after a weekend of still not using her arm or hand, we had to see an Orthopedic doc and she put her in a temporary cast to help possible inflammation.

I love how anytime we ask her what happened, she replies "Sadie pull" in a whiney little voice.
 

Nothing seems to stop my little princess, that cast seems to be doing its job!  She's been moving all over the place and has had major improvement with using her hand! :)

If all continues to go well, we can hopefully avoid an MRI.

We will find out all those details tomorrow. 

Throughout all this, she has become such a mommas girl in a loving little way.  I could just gobble her up! 

As you can tell, I have been a MAJOR blog slacker lately!!!

My excuses...

1. Cole drew it out perfectly in church last sunday...

 I'm pregnant with #4!  Due June 30th.  Now that I'm 18 weeks, I'm feeling much better and less tired.  But for awhile there, I was unmotivated to do ANYTHING!!  I was starting to get myself worried!

Cole LOVES it when I'm pregnant!  He drew this picture in anticipation for my tummy to get so big that my shirt won't stay down over my belly button.  Silly boy.

We will find out what we are having in 2 weeks!

     2.  I just received and new calling to serve in our church .  Young Women President. To sum up my life for the next little while.... I'll be busy, busy, busy hangin' with the 12-17 year olds of my ward.

     3.  No other excuse other than I have had a lot to catch up on.  And we all know how hard it is to catch up on blogging!

So lets hope I'll be around more often!  I'm DYING to craft and break out my new sewing machine!

Christmas 2009

Christmas Eve was spent at my parents.

MaryJane, Cole, Olivia, Sophie and Sadie

The kids loved performing for us all evening.  They each would take their turn with the mic.

Decorating cookies for Santa

Christmas morning brought lots of Joy!

Early on, Sadie had asked Santa for a hair salon to do hair like mommy.

It is so cute!  The girls had fun all day taking turns to do each others hair.

MaryJane's fake grumpy face pushing her new doll stroller.

The big gift Cole asked for.  Unfortunately, it gets 2 thumbs down. Santa didn't do his research.

Sadie's American Girl Bath Tub.

A few clients (Nana and Jill) stopped by for a new do.

Christmas was great and relaxing!  I was happy to get a new sewing machine form Santa since mine broke in October!  Can't wait to break-in the new one!:)

Temple Square

While Aunt Jill was in town, we all took tracks down to Temple Square.

It was a beautiful night!  I love this fun tradition!

MaryJane is 2!!

I can't believe my little baby is two!  It has gone by so quickly!  She is just growing up way too fast!

I made her a kitty cake since she loves kittys.

We just had a small celebration with the grandparents.

I can't get enough of her in pig tails!  Folding her arms for the prayer.

Her favorite dinner.  Broccoli, Chicken and Rice.

MaryJane is such a happy and friendly little girl!  It is so fun to watch her learn to make sentences and talk!  We love you MaryJane!  You add so much spark and joy to our family!!!  I always ask you, "Will you stay two forever?"  And your response, is "No!" with a big open grin from ear to ear!
Your ADORABLE!!

Sadie's Dance Performance!

I always love watching Sadie perform.  All her cute little expressions are priceless.

Sadie and Daddy.

Santa

Silly Sadie.  When I told her that we were going to go see Santa, at grandma's ward breakfast, she dashed and grabbed her Big Toy Book from Toys R Us.  She just had to "show" Santa what she wanted!

It was so funny to watch her stand in line with that thing.

Santa LOVED it!  Sadie was dead serious and Santa was so cute to take the time to talk to her about it. LOL!  She wanted the American Girl doll sled.

MaryJane, was not so fond of Santa.

Love all the excitement Santa brings!

A few Advents days...

One of our Advents in December is to make shrinky dinks.

I love to see what the kids come up with.

Making the Gingerbread house.

For a family night in December, I had the kids cut out an angel ornament and right a message on the angel, a gift they'd give to Jesus.

I love Cole's : I will listen to my Mom and Dad but I might forget but I'll try.  Ha Ha

and Sadie's:  She drew pictures of her sharing her toys with MaryJane.

It was fun to see the thing the kids came up with.

Christmas Tree

Once again we headed to our favorite tree lot to pick our tree!

I was so thrilled to run into one of my favorite bloggers whom I've never met before!  Stephanie at Simply Radiant.  She is so creative! I can't believe I didn't get a pic with her.  My camera was hanging around my neck the whole time I blabbed to her.  I bet she was a little overwhelmed having a complete stranger call her whole family by their first names.  Oh I was so blogstruck! Ha Ha!

Thanks for being so nice Stephanie!

We had the hardest time picking a tree out for our tiny specific space in our home this year.

But don't you worry, we found one.  Small enough to...

FIT IN OUR CAR!!!  All the way home I wasn't feeling good about it! TOO small!

After debating on the tree while we sipped our hot cocco, I couldn't take it,  I took it back.

I'm so happy I did.  This tree was my favorite of all time of the Tall and Skinny!