Countdown

In 6 days I will be celebrating this

To him

TEN.

YEARS.

AGO.

So I've decided to spoil myself a little this week, because 10 years of marriage is pretty awesome. 

The best part...

We still like each other!

 (okay, love actually)

I"m going to (finally) use my christmas gift cards to get some of this

So, my spa day will not be AS messy, but I bet I'll look just as happy.

I'll do a little of this

Can't forget this

And eat a little lot of this

 

And yes, I will happy dance like this

 Thank you to all of my un willing models who helped me express my joy and excitement for this up coming milestone.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Dad

I am lucky to have several amazing men in my life who fall into the "dad" role.

First, 

there is Pops

He is the sweetest kindest man on the earth.

He was born to be a grandfather

He is the man who will teach my girls how to:

 fish

drive a backhoe

play a mean game of "pull my finger"

I am truly blessed that he stuck around during my teen years

even if he DID have to take my door off the hinges

Ye-Ye

He was also born to be a grandfather

Ye-Ye has endless patients for the girls and loves to take care of them

even changing dirty diapers

He is the man who will teach my girls:

to cook the worlds best fried rice

climb a mountain

play a mean game of soccer

Husband

 

He is the man who will teach my girls:

Not to settle for anything less that what they deserve in life

That a true man is strong, gentle, caring, and driven

That they can be the best at anything as long as they put the work in

How to bat both right and left handed

Thank you for helping me make such beautiful babies

Happy Fathers Day

2011

Things are kinda topsy turvy right now

but,

 in a good way.

Ayla has her last day of first grade today.

As in right now.

This minute.

T-minus 2h 4m til official summer break

But who's counting?

According to her school nurse she grew an inch and gained 2 1/2 lbs.

She looks so young even in this picture.

This was last week on "Play Day" or field day when I was a whipper snapper.

The weather has been B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.
As in "holy cow" awesome
So we've been going to the beach, riding bikes, & climbing trees.
I'm going to start teaching again next week.
I can't tell you how excited I am to be back in a studio.
I can't tell you how excited my body is to be moving again.

Our lease is up in the next 6 months and mentally I'm already moving out of this townhouse.
While I adore the location,
I HATE HATE HATE:
The ants
(no matter what I do they keep coming back)
The small size
(and lack of privacy for all members of our family)
The inability to personalize
(I'm addicted to DIY blogs & it's torture not being able to implement some of the ideas)

I've already started to clean out closets and drawers in preparation for packing.
Why so early you ask?
Because I have to start looking for another home in the next 8 weeks or so.
And we have to decide if we are going to rent or buy.
Decisions
Decisions
Decisions

Plus,
 I need to figure out what summer camps the girls will attend & when
If we are going to go visit family or not
If I get my 10th anniversary trip that I want to take
or a surgery that I've wanted for 11 or so years
*sign*

Happy Summer!!

Hayden's Birthday (Part 2)

Saturday was perfect.

The weather was warm with a cool breeze.

The food was amazing.

The kids were cute.

And the friends rocked.

Enjoy our Magical Garden Tea Party

the invitation

the flowers

the spread

The Menu

Sandwiches:

Ham, green apple, & brie 

Roast beef, cheddar, & horshradish spread

Black raspberry & Nutella

Sides:

 Fruit kabobs

Chips

Homemade "goldfish" crackers

veggie tray

 Sweets:

Cupcakes (by Kathryn)

Chocolate pretzel wands

Candy dipped marshmallows (the crowd favorite)

Edible flower pots

Chocolate covered strawberries

Beverages:

Strawberry lemonade

Sparkling apple cider

Green tea & honey

water

The Cake:

Vanilla bean with fresh strawberries & buttercream frosting

the decor

see the brown bags with flowers... those are edible flower pots.

the fun

Kathryn aka: the cupcake queen

the aftermath.

 The really cute food labels & toppers came from Shindig Parties TO GO. Amanda was amazing in getting them to me (even after I forgot to download & the link expired). You can see the drink bottle labels, the food cards, the banner, and cupcake toppers. I printed a lot more from the collection, but ran out of time adding them.

Hayden's Birthday (Part 1)

I have to start by saying how stressed excited I am for Hayden's

 "TEA PARTY" bash this Saturday.

Of course I'm having my normal birthday party panic attacks about the whole thing cuz if ya didn't know - I gots birthday part issues (blame it on my special day being a week before x-mas).

Anywhoo, on Haydens

ACTUAL

birthday we let her decide what we did and ate all day

Her choice:

The zoo

Mickey D's

cupcakes

Sakura

I know a lot of eating, but that just how we roll

and no, I'm not talking about the belly kind.

These are only the pics from my phone. I actually took our camera to the zoo and got some great ones there, but i haven't uploaded them yet.

I promise to get the rest up soon.