So long 2012...Hello 2013

2012 was a good year...yes, yes it was! Some of the BIG highlights include: Brynn being completely and utterly potty trained...goodbye diapers forever (or until I change my new nephew OR niece's!) The purchase of our "new to us" boat with LOADS of lake fun! Alexis started 1st Grade and is totally RoCkIn with her reading! I trained and finished my first ever half marathon and Chad ran another FULL marathon all for charity. And finally, supported my mom all the way as she battled breast cancer...bidding a farewell to the "c" word forever!

I celebrated New Year's Eve as I usually do, with my girls and the east coasters!

Happy New Year!

For tonight's festivities, the girls had to pop a balloon at each given time and complete the activity.

Staying true to the teacher in me, I over planned activities!!

First balloon and activity...

Color by number...now, who doesn't LOVE that?!

Monster Feet!!

Brynn wanted nothing to do with this activity (hmmm)

Here's the monster herself!

With Monster Feet!

Doing a monster walk!

Coloring a 2013 page!

We had snow much fun...

Yes, we made snow out of a can!

And made snow with shaving cream and glue!

We even baked!

Her pajamas seemed fitting!

Glow stick FUN!

Colors of choice 

Finding out the next activity...not staged, real shot!

Umm, I think she liked the idea of homemade blizzards!

Wishing you all a {GREAT} 2013!!

Grateful and Thankful

With life just a tad too busy for my liking lately, I wanted to remember the holiday in November. You know, the one about being thankful and eating lots of turkey and pie! I still can't believe how it crept up on us like that...how creepy is that?!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I am counting my blessings...

My daily cup of pure heaven! Don't judge, this is what usually gets me out of bed every morning!

Project time with daddy...lucky girl!

Helpers in the kitchen! Shh, don't tell the "don't eat cookie dough police"

Silly faces that make me laugh.

Smiling faces that make me want to smile back. You just smiled, didn't you?!

A book loving, school loving, homework loving girl!

She's one amazing little reader.

 A loving husband and for a "not so perfect photo" taken by my daughter.

Doesn't this picture just break your heart?  Living with 2 girls there's some drama that happens. The tragedy here is having to wear a shirt underneath her costume

Thankful for a job that supplied me with a laptop...makes hours of paperwork a whole lot better.

 

An 8 year old Golden Retriever who constantly wants out and then back in again. Repeat, repeat, and repeat!

 A little one-on-one time with my make-up assistant!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 XOXO,

 

In disguise

Alexis came home with a very FUN assignment over the weekend. She had to disguise Tom Turkey in hopes to avoid being caught for Thanksgiving dinner!

What a great project to teach about creativity and imagination! And a good reason to put my HUGE stash of scrapbooking/art supplies to good use!

The project started off with explaining what "disguise" meant. From there it was full on brain-storming central. It went from being Santa to a cheerleader to finally this...

The directions and the reason why he needs to be disguised

The turkey to be used

Adding make-up

Making a dress

And finally, a bride is made!

I wanted her to put the veil over his head, but she ultimately decided to do this...it is her project anyways!

Loving Lately

The leaves are doing a happy dance, partly because it's so gosh darn windy out right now, but because they are so beautiful with their vibrant colors. I am doing a happy dance too because we are in my favorite time of year...fall!

Lately, I am loving all the decorations that I have put up for the season.

Decorating pumpkins...my style

Decorating the old wash bins for the season!

Who doesn't love chevron pumpkins?

Thanks, Alexis for painting this!

I am loving making edible acorns and going on a fall scavenger hunt...

Yellow leaf...check!

Beautiful rock...check!

Right now, I am loving fall!

On the Eve of Back-To-School

It's hard to believe that it's that time of year again...back-to-school! My oldest will be starting 1st Grade in the morning and while a part of me is super excited for her, I still feel that she is growing up way too fast. Instead of planning our annual back-to-school party, I will be planning a umm, graduation party. Okay, Okay, I'm getting way ahead of myself here! I'm going to enjoy the present and share what we have done on this eve of back to school!!

My hope for you, Alexis is that you always have fun in school, learn lots, and be a good friend. This is a saying that I tell her each and everyday!!

You will be a ROCKSTAR in 1st Grade!!

The invite for our back to school supper.

Place setting

The table decor for our supper tonight.

On the menu: pizza, strawberries, and milk

More decor

Super excited faces!

We read this book and made jitter juice to get rid of any worries we had!

Our annual hand tracing project...she'll have 13 of these hands for a graduation present!

We had a little fun and read this cute book as well!