The Summer of Change

My vow to write more has obviously drifted to the wayside! 

No excuses here, just life. 

Compared to last summer, this year has been laid-back.  

We have, however, definitely attended our fair share of birthday parties, baby showers and play dates!

We went on a short family trip to Friday Harbor and camped with the in-laws for a couple nights, but other than that, that's about it.

If I had to pick a theme for my summer, this year would be Change.
So. Much. Change! It is happening all around me...

The change started at the beginning of the season, when I was informed by a friend that we would not be going on our annual family vacation with them anymore, due to their impeding divorce.
This unfortunate event has effected me more than I care to admit.
A friend that I was close to, and was only able to see once or twice a year as it was, is suddenly feeling very distant. Very unexpected!

The change continued when my mother-in-laws father passed away.
We went to his funeral, and gathered with their family for a wake afterwards.

Then I found out that a very dear friend of mine, who I have met through Thirty-One, told me that her and her family would be moving back to their home state of Georgia. Her husband had been trying to get a job there for awhile, and God finally answered their prayers!
While this is great news for them, and I am beyond happy for their family, it breaks my heart to not be able to see her anymore.
The worst part about this change was my fault.
I purposefully did not reach out to say a goodbye in person.
I couldn't handle it. Now I am regretting it.
Live and learn, and don't be selfish.

Shortly after they moved, my mom told me that she would be quitting her job, and moving to Eastern Washington where the rest of my family lives. While I do not see her all that often as it is, it was nice to be able to call her up and meet randomly for coffee, or a meal.

I have also found out that two other people that I talk to regularly, are also moving in the middle of this school year! Apparently everyone's getting the hell out of dodge!

I have been trying all summer long, to come to grips with the fact that I have important people in my life, that I will no longer get to see on a regular basis.
I keep reminding myself that I have so many close friends and family that live far away, that this is nothing new, and that it's all good!

Note to Self: It is NOT all about you.

Change is a good thing...sometimes it's just hard to get through...

Who Would Of Thought...

Ten years ago I would never have thought that I would be where I am today!

Which is totally a good thing, because I had never imagined this life. Never.

As a teenager I used to say that I would never have kids, and that I would only adopt.

I also used to say that I would always work outside of the home, and be totally independent.

HA! Boy did that change! Two children later, here I am, a stay-at-home-parent!

 The thought of being a home owner never crossed my mind. Let alone in the woods!

I also would have never pictured myself driving a minivan, making school lunches every night or leading my daughters Girl Scout Brownies troop...But here I am, and enjoying it! 

 

 

I never would have thought that I would be surrounded by kids all day, or that grocery shopping by myself would be a luxury! I never thought that a day at the zoo would be exhausting, or that my idea of a Friday night would be movie and popcorn at home!

 

But here I am, and enjoying it!

Seriously, who would of thought?!

One of the Good Guys

Most women you hear are complaining or whining about their husbands. 

How they are never around, don't spend enough time with their families, how they are selfish and uncaring. But let me set the record straight: not every man is this way!

 

And how do I know? Because I am married to one of the Good Guys. 

One of the honorable ones. One of the men with good intentions and realistic goals.

One of those men who actually cares about his family and holds us above everything else. 

One of the guys who works harder than anyone I have ever met. Ever. 

 One of those men who makes decisions as a family, rather than on his own.

One of those guys who puts himself on the back burner so that his children can have what they need. 

My husband has been working so hard to reach his goals to become a professional firefighter - his passion - and has just accomplished one of the major steps towards the right direction! He found out this morning that he passed the National EMT exam!!

All those months of grueling classes, work, and drills all paid off! 

 

Moments like these, I am reminded why I love him so much!

I am so proud, and so happy that he is succeeding and getting closer to making his dreams a reality! His accomplishments truly effect our family as a whole. 

Rather than individuals, we are a Team. A unit. 

His successes are mine, and mine become his. 

I am continuously Thankful for having him in my life, and for the fact that I did not have to kiss too many frogs to find my Prince!

Congratulations Babe, I love you! 

I knew you could do it!

Merry Christmas!

This year our Christmas did not go exactly as planned, but it was still wonderful!

Poor Emma got sick that Monday morning with a high fever, and it held until Wednesday {Christmas Eve}. Then as we were literally about to walk out the door and head to our festivities for the night, she started vomiting. So we obviously did not end up going.

Luckily her fever went down a little bit, and she was decent for Christmas morning. She was such a trooper! The one year we didn't get her a flu shot {parent fail?}...

Needless to say, we will not be forgetting to do that, ever again!

This year was our year to host the holiday at our home, and it was a nice, cozy, all-day affair! Howard, the girls and I woke up at 6am and opened our presents, and Santa's of course! He then promptly left at 8am to ride with the Fire Department, and their Santa, to pass out presents and candy canes down the streets of our district! He loved it, and it was fun to watch him do it! 

Our families got to our house around 8:30, and unloaded their gifts. We ate breakfast together, and waited for Howard to come down our street. Once he got home, we started opening family gifts. Once that was behind us, we started dinner. 

It was definitely nice how it lasted all day long, rather than just finishing with the festivities quickly. I did not capture too many photos, since I was busy hosting, taking care of a sick kiddo, and chasing after a 15 month old! 

Yup, that's right! Haylee turned 15 months old on Christmas Day!

But here is a little of what I did manage to capture this Holiday Season:

We hope your Holiday was just as amazing!

The One About the Friends.

friend: noun: a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.

There are so many types of 'friends'! 

You have your best friends, your acquaintances, your work friends, your mom friends, the friends who live far away but are never really gone, the friends you have had forever, the friends who you don't talk to for months but when you see them it doesn't feel like any time has passed at all, the friends whom we have drifted from, and the list goes on and on!

I have friends in each one of the above categories, and I am no doubt in these categories myself. And let me tell you, each and every one of these people are priceless!

I wouldn't trade any of them in for the world. Each and every individual has taught me something. Shown me something. Or has shared something with me along the way.

What exactly does it mean to be a Friend? 

For me, I think that it means: being fun, being a good listener, being able to be yourself, being loyal and forgiving, being encouraging, celebrating triumphs, supporting losses, being truthful, being supportive, being helpful and caring, being attentive and adaptable, being trustworthy, and most importantly...just being!

Regardless of what it may or may not be, we all need meaningful connections, and relationships, with other people.

While I try my best to help encourage, celebrate and support each person, I know that I have plenty of room for improvement in this department. I am nowhere near the perfect friend...but the true friends I do have, know this about me and love me anyways!

Which is kind of what I'm getting at here: Quality over Quantity. 

The people in my life are irreplaceable. They are my chosen Family.

An Ode to Fall

Oh how I love thee so! Let me count the ways!

Well first, let me preface: 

Fall has always been my favorite season. My favorite time of year.

• The colors. The changing of the leaves to orange, red, yellow, browns...oh so beautiful!
• The weather. You can just feel it. You can even smell it sometimes. Ya know? The air gets crisp and clear, it almost has a bite to it. The sun still shines, but you get to dress in your favorite cozies! Which leads me to...
• The fashion. Cardigans, sweaters, scarves, leggings, plaids and flannels, hats, and the best of the best: boots!! Who doesn't love dressing this way?!
• The eats and drinks of the season. Yes, I am talking about pumpkin and spice everything! I have always been a sucker for pumpkin! Add in some apples, some cinnamon...yes please! Coffee, treats and desserts Oh My! 
• Family activities. I absolutely love going to the pumpkin patch, going trick-or-treating, picking out Halloween costumes, and decorating!
• The cozy fires. I love snuggling up on the couch with the family and listening to the fire in the background. Sigh...
• The new TV season. Yup, I'm that person: the one who loves Fall TV shows! Thank goodness for my DVR and modern technology! 
• The new music lineup. This time of the year always brings with it a ton of new music! New albums, new artists, new releases...YEAH! 

But in all honestly, as much as I love all of the above, it is so hard to keep up with it all!

It seems as though, as soon as it begins, it is over. Which makes me sad. Like many other things in life {especially the stuff you look forward to}, it goes by way too fast!

So enjoy it my Friends! 

Soak it all in. 

Because after all, it really only does come once a year!

The Little Things

For me, the smallest, most simple of things always make me the happiest! 

For example; a song, a good cup of coffee, baby laughter, the smell of Fall in the air, the changing colors of the leaves, a relaxing night, and updating photos in my house. 

Yes, that's right. Updating my family photos throughout my home makes me happy!

I recently realized that we did not have one photograph of Haylee in our entire home, and she has been alive for almost a whole year now! I suppose that means I'm slacker...but not anymore! I finally got some photos printed, framed and hung. Thank goodness!

The second I finished, I stood back and smiled. Like I said...the little things!

I can now look around my home and see both of my beautiful girls smiling down on me. 

Granted, we do not have any family photos of the four of us, but I guess it's the girls that are most important...right? When Emma was born, we literally chronicled her life with professional photos every single holiday! We even had some family pictures taken in between. However, since then I have stopped working, and it is just not realistic for us to do that anymore. Thankfully I know a little something-something about photography, and can take photos of the girls on my own. And luckily we have a gorgeous piece of property to use as a prop, so that helps too!

The only thing about taking your own photos, is that you are always behind the camera, which means that you cannot be in front of the lens! Maybe someday I will be able to purchase a good tripod, and put myself in a photo with the girls...someday. :)

Until then, I am Happy with pictures of my girls hanging on my walls!

So with my good cup of coffee, and with a good song playing in the background, I will stand back and admire what we have created...

Two beautiful little ladies!

Mom's Day times Two

This was my first Mother's Day with two kiddos! And it was surprisingly relaxing {good job to the Hubs for making that happen for me}!

Our weekend started on Thursday. Or should I say, our very BUSY weekend! It was pretty much non-stop every day, but it was fun! Thursday was Howard's 30th birthday, so there was that in itself! Early that morning was Emma's Kindergarten production of The Three Piggy Opera! So stinking cute! After that, we had some errands to run, then it was off to swim lessons. After those were over, we got changed up and headed on over to the Kanaskat-Palmer State Park. Luckily, it is literally around the corner from us, so we didn't have to travel too far! Howard's parents recently purchased a 40 ft. fifth wheel trailer, which I like to refer to as a  "Celebrity Status" trailer! They were there camping, er Glamping, for the weekend, so we stopped by to have dinner with them, and took a walk down to the river. The weather was absolutely perfect! Since Em had school the next day, we headed home and got ready for Friday...

The best we could get...!

Emma and her AMAZING Kindergarten Teacher!!

On Friday, Howard had both girls all day, while I was at a vendor event for Thirty-One. When I got home, we packed up all of our stuff for an overnight stay in the trailer! It was technically Em's first time camping, and it was a lot of fun! I forgot my camera, and our phones had zero service, so I didn't get any photos. :( But we have the memories!!

Daddy-Daughter

We stayed all day Saturday at the park camping, and got home around dinner time. We were all pretty tired at that point, so we all got cleaned up and went to bed fairly early that night...when I awoke on Sunday it was Mother's Day!


Emma and Howard made me coffee and breakfast, and I didn't have to change a diaper for awhile! WOOHOO! :)  Emma had made me a couple of presents at school, one of which is my new favorite necklace. It simply says MOM. And I love it!!
We had a pretty lazy afternoon, just all of us hanging out around the house. Later that evening we got some sitters for the girls, and Howard and I went to see the movie I have been dying to see for awhile -The Great Gatsby!
{A very special thank you to Kathy and Katie for watching the ladies last minute for us!!!!}
The movie was pretty good, but you know...the books are always better!

My afternoon view...

My new fave accessory!

Happy Mother's Day to me!

Over all, I would say that we had a pretty Ah-mazing weekend! The only thing that would have made it better, would have been to spend some time with my Mom...LOVE YOU!
But now it is back to our regularly scheduled programming. Otherwise known as Reality!

I hope your Mother's Day was Fabulous!

Six Months Already?

Where did it go? A whole half of a year gone already {if time decided to slow down a little bit, I would not be upset at all}!

I am still in disbelief that our littlest Haylee Bug turned 6 months old yesterday! She has been having a rough week or two. Fighting off a cold, so her poor pretty eyes have been gooped up in the mornings. She has been a little more cranky than usual, not napping as well as she usually does and waking up once or twice at night. However, for the past two days she is starting to get into the swing of things ago! PHEW!

Our little Doll Baby!

 So yesterday she had her 6 month check-up. Here are her stats:
- 27 inches long, 90% for height!
- 17.04 pounds, 75% for weight!
Needless to say, the doc said that she is a pretty good size for her age! 

She is already so much bigger and taller than Emma ever was! We cannot believe that she is in the 90% for height! Crazy girl! And of course she had some vaccinations. Thank goodness Howard was able to go with to this appointment, because the shots are harder on me than the kiddos...So I make him take over for that part!

While little miss H is not rolling over from back to belly yet, the doc said that he is not concerned. After all, she tries like heck to sit up, and can roll to her sides, and from her belly to her back. We have been working with her for months now, on how to roll over and do exercises with her. And of course, the time she really wants to try is when she's getting her diaper changed! Stinker! We are truly convinced that since she hates her tummy time so much, that she just doesn't want to be on her tummy. EVER. I guess the girl already knows what she likes, and doesn't like!

She is loving her solids, especially her oatmeal cereal and fruits! But she does take after me in the veggie department: not so into the peas!

Recently we were visiting a friend who had their daughter's old Glow worm for Haylee to play with. She loved that thing! So much so, that I just had to get one for her! Granted, the new versions of the Glow worm's are not as cute as the old one...slightly creepy in fact. But she doesn't know the difference! But I must say, she really does love that little glowing face!

Lullabies and Snuggles

One of the things that Haylee loves more than anything, is when her big sissy Emma reads to her: it is possibly the cutest thing I have ever witnessed! It doesn't matter if she is upset, cranky or restless. The minute Emma opens up a book and starts telling the story, Haylee will calm down and just gaze at Em with her big blue eyes {which are starting to get a little more grey these days...} and start smiling!

Sisters that read together, stay together

Lately Haylee has found her feet, and is obsessed with those tootsies! She loves to play with them, and she tries like heck to get them in her mouth: not so successful with this task yet...but still adorable non-the-less!

Overall, we just cannot believe how fast time is going, and how big she is getting! Considering how small she started off as, at a mere 6lbs 9oz. Now she is a whopping 17lbs, 4oz! She is honestly one of the happiest, smiley-est babies I have ever seen! Now I know that I am biased, but it is so true! We love our little Bug more than words can describe! And before you know it, we will be celebrating her first birthday!

My two favorite Loves!!!

The Happiest Place on Earth!

So we finally did it...We bit the bullet and booked our trip to Disneyland! 

 

{I could most definitely use a visit to the happiest place on earth!}

 

We are pretty excited, to say the least! I feel like a little kid myself all over again, and cannot wait to see the look on Emma's face when she gets to see the Princesses {and other characters} up close and personal! To see that sparkle in her eyes, that I know will be there, is going to be absolutely priceless! 

Especially since this will more than likely be a once-every-ten-years type of thing! 

 

The best parts about this trip, are that #1 - we will be there over Mother's Day weekend, and #2 - we will be going with two of Em's best friends from school, and their families, and #3 - this will be our first {official} family vacation! We will all be staying at the same hotel, taking the same flights, and meeting up sporadically during the trip. I have no DOUBT this is going to be a blast! 

 

We are going to officially tell Em on Christmas, which means we will be having a Disney-themed Holiday in our home! Her gifts will mainly consist of things she can take on the trip, such as toys, dress up outfits, PJ's, books, gift cards, etc...Also, since we don't travel that much, this will be her very first time in an airplane! So that should be interesting...to say the least! 

Anywho, I just had to share this exciting news because we have been talking about it for awhile, and finally decided to just do it! The initial shock of the bill is still sinking in for me, but I'll get over it! 

 

This just means that I now have an excuse to go check out the new Disney store at Bellevue Square!

Unanswered Questions

This past week has presented to be quit difficult for a lot of people in my life.

{...deep breath...}

The first of many unfortunate events took place on Monday - my husband's grandpa's passing. We all took this very hard. He was a much loved man, who in many ways, reminded me of my own Papa. He was such a sweetheart. He had a truly kind soul, and a heart filled with love. We are all going to miss him deeply.

 

Then on Thursday I received a call from a very good friend of mine. She informed me that her and her husband had lost their precious twin babies at 20 weeks. The pain that they are feeling is unfathomable to me. I want to help them however I can, but for something like this, there is unfortunately not much I can do. Except for what I have been doing - being a friend, and being there if {and when} they might need me. My heart has broken for them, and the pieces left behind ache for them. 

Then that same night, I found out about two other people I know who had miscarriages that same week. And recently I found out that another friend of mine lost her job last week, and a friend of hers passed away. Not to mention, yet another close friend of mine had her best friends brother pass on. Seriously?

I understand that things happen for a reason, but this many? All at once? Sometimes I feel like these people being associated with me may have a cause in this - silly, I know. But what are the chances of all of these things happening, at the same time, to people that I care for and love? 

 

I for one, am exhausted for watching bad things happen to the best of people. Why do the good people need to suffer? And why with this amount of pain? 

I know that there are no answers for the questions that I have, but the only explanation that I can come up with is this: It is not fair. As childish as that may sound, it is simply the truth. 

 

 ...In time...

SnapDragon!

Awhile back, my mom had this idea to start a family business. One that would include her, my aunt and I. There was no way I could turn this down! It has been in the works for months now, and as of yesterday we are officially up and running! 

What is this business, you ask? Why, let me explain: 

My mom used to own an incredible floral shop, which unfortunately shut down due to the economy and other circumstances. But she is continuously getting orders for her amazing arrangements from all over the place! 

And my aunt is one of the best painters I have EVER seen! 

{And no, I am not just saying this because I bias}

It comes so natural to her, like she was born to do this! She is so modest about her work, that she doesn't honestly see how truly talented she is!

And then there was me. My mom knows that I have always wanted to be a photographer, so why not start off this way? What a great way to get myself out there and jump in the water all the way! The three of us are continuously searching for ways to better ourselves and hone in on our talents and passions. And we are most definitely hands-on learners!

We figured why not harness all of our abilities, and pour them into one powerful machine? That is exactly what we did, and decided to call it SnapDragon Floral and Photography!

www.snapdragon-design.com

 I have not told anyone about it, because frankly I did not see the point in mentioning something that had not yet come to fruition. But now that is has, I most definitely feel the need to talk about it!

We are so excited to start this new journey, and see where it takes us!