Starting them young

After a weekend of teaching now I'm home and we jumped right into

Photography 101 for munchkins.

Do you have your self-timer photos ready? Posting mine next.

happy happy

One of my new years resolutions was to send out happy mail to people I love once a month. At first I was going to say once a week but then I settled on monthly. Well guess what peeps...? It's now September and here I am mailing off some letters! Finally. So I sent out 9 one for each month to play catch up.

Happy mail can lift anyones spirits. I especially love sending notes in vellum bags and envies so you can see what's inside. Also added Studio Calico stamps and my Dear Lizzy tape.

There are some bills in there but I moved them to the back of the picture for pretty's sake.

Also making me happy at the moment is listening to the record player I got for my birthday not to mention the vintage records I found in a box in our basement from when I was a little girl. There is also a whole box of Donny Osmond and Osmond Boys records, but don't worry mom we will not touch those! ;)

Collin picked up a couple more vintage Disney ones (Jungle Book and Bedtime Songs) last night when he dropped up a truck load to goodwill.

The best part of the girls listening to records, when the vinyl has a scratch and skips they think it's part of the song. So now whenever Avery sings Tomorrow from Annie... "Tomorrow tomorrow... I love ya tomorrow you're only a... only a... only a... only a... only a... only a..." haha

And last but not least on my happy list today, this dolly.

Have I told you that she took a step!!? It was more like a little scoot but still I was proud. And, yes, our kids are fast walkers.

Have I also told you that she has 4 big chompers? At first she had one buck tooth but the other on caught up. She's pretty much the cutest.

This picture was taken just before the top toofers grew in. But believe me they are there. (Ouch! bring on the bottles. ;)

I'm in the middle of moving my office back upstairs from the basement. I'm excited. Now back to work. The bigs are at school and I have 2 hours and counting...

Happy day to you!

Back To School Feast

Last night was the night before school started & I thought it would be fun to celebrate with a feast, like my friend Stephanie aka nie nie does. This spontaneous thought struck me only mere hours before dinner. Soooooo, that meant I didn't have much time to make it not just any typical night but a memorable one before they soar off to Kindergarten and Preschool.

One thing that I loved about my Dad is that he was enthusiastic about traditions. Many of them are still going strong to this day. I'm sure he would definitely approve of this impromptu, new tradition- a feast fit for our back-to-school princesses.

Collin was in charge of the theme and the meaning for this school year. He chose the word Discover and the thoughts behind it were very sweet. He also gave them each a Father's Blessing. A tradition both of our families did each year before we started school. It's a blessing to magnify their spirits, filled with encouragement and any added support they need for the year. I remember feeling loved and less nervous... Avery said she felt happy.

Headbands & Clips c/o: Dear Lizzie Boutique // Dresses made by my friend Annie. She has a darling online shop for fabric: Sew Obsessed. She sells all the cute designer fabrics.

I asked them what they wanted for dinner and they said spaghetti! We also enjoyed artichokes, twice baked potatoes (add equal parts mayonnaise & grated parmesan cheese to potatoes for a yummy topping then brown just before serving) garlic bread, lemonade with frozen berries & sugared donuts for dessert. Nothing fancy schmancy.

Polka Dot Shirt//Feathers & Headbands: Dear Lizzie Boutique

Generally I keep dinners very low key but for our feast I broke out the wedding china we haven't used in 9 years. The night definitely turned out to be way more work than expected. Just as I was down to scrubbing the last pot and spoon, Quincey walks into the kitchen and says "I'm hungry." haha!

Just like that

Yesterday a string of events forced me to realize the inevitable. My little Aweeey is growing up.

It started with a back-to-school meeting with just us and her new teacher.

She was so elated and drew a picture for her. She also wanted to bring her a flower but needed to find out her teacher's favorite color first. (She's very thoughtful.)

Everything went wonderful and her teacher is very sweet. She showed Avery the classroom then quizzed her a bit and Avery willingly showed off her sounding out skills, that's my girl!

When it was all over and we walked out of the school Avery and I just stood there side-by-side with one arm around her. Excited but stunned and with out saying a word we knew what the other was thinking. She is growing up.

Then, just like that, her first tooth was loose. Quincey was running around saying, "her looth is toose!" It was quite a dramatic episode which gave me a glimpse of the teenage years to come.

First, there was some much-needed reassuring from Dad that another "big" tooth will grow in. Next, we tried numerous techniques to get it out but decided to tell her to "wiggle" it out... so she started wiggling her hips. Not quite. haha.

A little while later, and lots of tears, she came running excitedly with her tiny tooth! I grabbed my camera and we took a couple pics. Then she wanted to show Dad that she'd lost her tooth and the next thing we know she literally lost it- outside. That's when I started searching for the tooth on my hands and knees like I'd lost the diamond from my ring. But no luck. There was talk of painting a rock white for the Tooth Fairy. heehee But we explained to her that the Tooth Fairy would find it outside.

The next big question: what do Tooth Fairies leave these days? Do I slip an ipad under her pillow or is a quarter still acceptable? ;) Late that night, Collin and I snuck coloring books under each of their pillows sprinkling a little fairy dust in our tracks and just like that, she's growing up.

The End.

Feel free to still enter the giveaway below...

savor it

Sometimes when we are outside, for the whole .2 seconds the kids are still & quiet, I savor every single bit of summer. This usually occurs when our crazy Q-bear is sleeping. Despite the fact that it's a very fleeting moment, I don't let it pass by with out a few snapshots and nibbles on baby toes.

Savoring the smiles from her two-toothed grin since the poor thing has other toofers fighting their way through. Collin would say: she's been crying so much you'd think Hello Kitty died. ;)

But we can't complain because she is our most cheerful baby. Ever since she was born, no matter if she's sick or teething, she smiles through it all. I often anticipate seeing the personalities and characteristics they have now evolve or change as they get older.

nigh night!

No matter how eventful the day is there's always time to read "I Love You Stinky Face," & say your prayers then fall into bed.

Collin couldn't find his headlamp so the flashlight had to do... :)

~~~~~~~~~

It was fun today to meet up with Amy from Paper Life & the fabulous Kristine to film a segment for Craft Channel. It will air in this Fall. I showed a couple techniques using the Dear Lizzy fabric paper and I'll share more details about all of that later... nigh night.

Dress//Belt: Shop Ruche; Sweater: Anthropologie

yesterday

Breakfast//messy baby

Sisters reading// Collin tasting his flavor saver

at the park with cousins (Lime Ricki swimsuit.) // at home

after dinner treat in the form of ice + sugar water// me enjoying said ice + sugar water

cutest bright eyed baby (wearing her Bit 0'Whimsy bow//and her bright moccasins from Freshly Picked

best in the west

I love the fact that one of my best friends is 5 years old!

Yesterday we had a blast with our friends at Park City so today I am excited to have started my week in the life with Ali Edwards.

On a completely different note, my sister in law, Emily, is having her baby with in the next couple hours and my other sister is at the doctor and she is hoping he has good news for her and that her baby comes any day! yay!

how to spell summer: l-a-z-y

Summer has been busy going here and there but most of my favorite memories are just lazing around at home! We plan on doing that lots this weekend.

Laughing at Collin's toe nail polish left over from our Lake Powell trip. More evidence of what an awesome daddy he is to let his girls paint his nails. ahaha

We started our Something Splendid felt cupcakes class on Wednesday. I guess I shouldn't be surprised when Collin films and edits the video and includes out takes and embarrassing moments from filming. He does an awesome job making it fun!

Here's one of my favorite videos that he filmed during a family photo session. There's something about videos that really captures everyones personality and creates emotion. Many of Collin's clients are out of state so if you are in Utah or if you live further away you need one of these priceless videos of your family! !!

Since Lola can sit up (and crawl and pull herself up onto things to stand) I am off to book my session now too. Here's his email: Collin@MakeSomethingSplendid.com

You can thank me later. ;)

3 Little Birds from Collin Kartchner on Vimeo.

superstitious

Tonight as I was uploading and editing photos from our weekend somehow between the cherry picking pictures and thinking about what I would write about the song The Summer Wind got stuck in my head. It was my favorite song that my grandpa sang. I can hear it clear as day... "it lingered there to touch your hair and walk with me."

Now with my Grandpa in my thoughts, instead of the weekend photos I keep going back to these captivating pictures of my Grandma and Avery.

They were taken after my Grandpa's memorial service and luncheon as we were all outside visiting. It was so hot but we sweat it out to get to visit longer with everyone. I can't remember exactly how it ended up in her hands but I look over and Avery has a ladybug. When I was little my sisters and I would count the spots and say that that's how old it is and talk about how they are good luck.

Since I am a superstitious person I took this bug very seriously and what its business was fluttering its tiny wings through a crowd of people to say hello and land in this very moment.

So we held that little bug and made a big wish then let it fly away with the summer wind.

Of course, I can't share what our wish was but I have a hunch it will come true.

PS This week Ruche is celebrating their birthday and offering Dear Lizzy readers %15 off the entire store. It's only valid today, July 11th. Enter code DEARLIZZY15 at checkout.

Not only that, but we also get the above sneak peak photo of their upcoming Summer Lookbook!

grow and grow

When I'm not caught with a tub of frosting you will find me neck deep swimming in this bean-corn pico salad... it has yet to be named in our family. My sister makes it for every occasion. My very ambitious goal this summer is to have everything in my garden to make it, besides the black beans. Which reminds me, I need to clean up our garden box and plan my starts asap. But since I can not keep a house plant alive we will see how this goes.

I just kinda make it with what I like and don't really measure things but here's a start to a recipe.

a small can of black beans rinsed and strained

16 oz of fresh corn on the cob or a bag of frozen corn

1 green pepper chopped

a bunch of cherry tomatoes chopped or large tomatoes chopped

avocado cut into bite size pieces

some cilantro chopped

a 1/4 cup of red vine vinegar

a couple tablespoons of olive oil & 2 t Cumin or to your liking

AND a bag of tortilla chips

Besides wanting to grow a garden we are doing our best keeping up with how fast our sprouts grow. Collin measures them on the wall and marks the date. Crazy to see the difference in the past year.

Last night we had our dear family over to celebrate Quincey's birthday! Wow, three years old. As cheesy as it sounds I truly feel blessed to be her mother. Knowing that God trusted me with her. Trusted me to 'lead her, guide her, walk beside her. Help her find the way. Teach her all that she must do to live with Him someday.' Love you! (based on the song I am a Child of God.)

PS If you need a laugh you should check out the video below. Or actually don't do it. Don't click on the link or press play because you actually really don't want to see this. It's pretty looney.

Just know I had nothing to do with it. :)

light & laughter

Sure, I could reminisce about the days before we had 3 munchkins... but those days don't have nearly the same warm light or contagious laughter.

Even though there's more laundry, more drama, more patience needed.

There's also more purpose, more meaning, more love.

Even though I can get lost in my role as mother and, some say, I might lose a bit of elizabeth... it's actually made me who I am and a better me.

No matter what it is in life, the difficult times always makes us stronger. Sometimes I even get scared when things are going good because I think, okay, it's time for something horrible to happen. Like a Disney movie and their extreme movie plots, where the absolute worst thing has to happen before you can find happiness.

But slowly I am learning to trust that God has a plan for me & to not be scared. Instead treasure the light & the laughter and... just be prepared for the crap! ;)

In other news: It's this girl's birthday today. The birthday party will be another day which I am so glad we didn't plan today because she had a 103.2 temperature last night and we were on the phone with her Pop Pop who's also a Doctor making sure she's ok. She slept like a dream & is her same silly self today.

Happy Birthday my darling girl! xoxoxoxo

I was soooo giddy about the pictures I captured last night of my girls! My grandma sent Q&A those outfits so I promised her I would take pictures.