All About The Kids

I cannot tell you how excited I am for my moms 2nd Annual Cookie Decorating Party!!

Why??

Why you ask??

Because it involves my kids in absolutely no way whatsoever. Don't mistake that for not wanting to spend time with my kids or loving this time of year any less because I have kids...in fact just the opposite. I have grown to love the holidays in a whole new way since having kids, but I need some me time.

What better way than friends, food, Christmas music, a fun gift exchange and maybe a sip of sangria...

For now though...

I will get back to my post.

This week has been jam packed. I would say it was really just a continuation of last week. Last Sunday I had two photo shoots and needed to finish decorating...glad to say I accomplished both.

Monday was Thomas' holiday performance for school. I am not sure what was funnier...the actual performance or my sister and her lack of patience for the couple 100 K-5th graders.

Wednesday was Thomas' birthday and we celebrated with a good ol' fashion trip to Red Robin...YUM!!! He had a great day and loved every single one of his presents.

Friday night was Taylor's holiday performance for school and like Thomas' it went good only difference though...I thought I would be super mom and volunteer. I can check that off my bucket list. I am just not cut out for more than a couple toddlers at one time.

This morning was Taylor's Christmas dance recital. We took a few steps backwards in the actual performance category...although she made up for it in the cuteness category. In case you forgot what her costume was last year just take a look here. The dance was a little faster and she didn't quite keep up. She was still the cutest girl on stage and I was proud all the same.

To end the week tomorrow I have two photo shoots in the morning and Thomas' birthday party tomorrow afternoon.

Now do you see why I am looking forward to my moms party??

Here are a few pics of my Taylor...

Thomas got the short end of the stick on pics this week. I got nothin of him.

The Little Man In My Life

6 years ago this sweet little bundle of joy entered my life...



I never could have imagined how my life would be changed. I have learned so much from being a mom, but even more from having a little boy. He will always be my baby, but sometimes it is hard to tell between the SportsCenter and deodorant...yes I said deodorant. We'll talk about that another time.



I asked Thomas a few questions this morning and I thought I would share what he said...

1. Favorite Color: Red
2. Favorite Food: Chicken
3. Favorite Treat: Cupcakes (but I kind of think this was because he was holding 24 for his class)
4. Favorite Movie: Cars 2
5. Favorite Thing To Do: Ride his bike (again I think he said this because a brand new 20" bike was sitting in my living room)
6. Favorite Sport: Football
7. Favorite Team: Seahawks
8. My sister is...the best! (This made me stop writing just so I could laugh)
9. My dad is...good to me! (Although this is not untrue, it is just hilarious that this was his answer) I expected something like "the best golfer"
10. My mom is...special to me! (Of course I am, but I think he meant to give the answer that he gave for #8)

Happy Birthday Thomas!! We love you!!!

The Boutique, The Big Guy and Elfy!!

I am happy to report that the Holiday Boutique was a success!! Glue gun burns and lack of sleep aside...I am so glad that I took it on. My ultimate goal was to raise money for the school and we did!! As an added bonus I hosted a table of my own with all of my hair clips and a few new additions and sold quite a bit.

Here is my table...

And here is my latest creation (thanks to my mom)...

My mom had a table right next to me selling blocks (see here they are SOOO cute) and cookies of course...

Tom brought the kids by to see the Big Guy...Thankfully no tears!!!

Thomas wants an electric scooter and Taylor wants a guitar!! No surprises there...thank goodness. I am not sure with all that is going on this month I can handle last minute changes to the lists.

But speaking of surprises though...

Elfy is back this year (Our Family Elf on the Shelf). He has stepped up his game this year and is getting quite creative. The kids are loving it. They wake up early every morning going on the search.

One morning he had completely cleaned up and organized the kids' play kitchen...I told them it was probably to teach them how things should be cleaned up everyday!! They totally bought it!

The next night he did a little playing of his own and attempted to put together Taylor's princess puzzle. Apparently it was too hard!!

The kids thought this was hilarious!!

Elfy is having a lot of fun so far and the kids are eating it up!!

I need to find something to take his place the other 11 months out of the year.

Let me know when it is Jan. 1st

A running joke (well he thinks it is a funny joke, me not so much) between my hubby and I is how all I do all day is sit home and watch TV. That I have a cush life where the hardest part of my day is loading Cookie in the car to go get Starbucks.

Well, today was one day where I wish he was right and that was all I did all day. I am have been so busy lately that my to-do list is never complete. Every time I check something off I add two more things.

The only reason I am even able to blog right now is because I am boycotting the list.

I wouldn't want my followers to think I have abandoned them.

Among everything else, I have been organizing the Holiday Boutique at Taylor's preschool. When I took it on I never dreamed it would be this much work. I just keep telling myself that it will be worth it in the end. I am not only organizing, but I am participating as a vendor as well.

I plan to have a post on Sunday about how great it all turned out, so check back.

On another note I had a photo shoot on Wednesday morning with the Oltmanns Family. It was nice to have an entire park all to ourselves. I spent a little time last night editing and thought I would give you sneak peak.

Have you seen two cuter little boys?

I am excited to finish editing, but for now I have to stick to the list.

Holiday Recap...A-Z style

A...An amazing and absolutely busy Thanksgiving!!

B...Black Friday shopping was just not the same as years past, but I still managed to come home with a car full of crap presents.

C...Could someone please tell me where the entire month of November went?

D...Decorated for Christmas!!

E...Ended our long, busy weekend with frozen pizza and football!

F...Football...Thomas is officially registered for winter season and Tom is coaching!!

G...Golfed twice...oh wait not me...Tom did!!

H...Harding's came to stay for the Holiday and it was a great little mini-vaca!!

I...I let Taylor have ice cream for dinner on Saturday night. She was so EXCITED!

J...Just in case you were wondering pregnancy is going great, 28 weeks and counting!

K...Kicking, as in this baby LOVES kicking me 24/7

L...Listening to Christmas music is one of the best things about this time of year!

M...Made lots of hair clip, bows and headbands for my upcoming Holiday Boutique.

N...Next year I will remember to buy some sort of Thanksgiving centerpiece...my tables were not festive AT ALL...but that was the only thing I forgot, so I cut myself a break.

O...Other than the little bit of fighting Thanksgiving night, the kids were so good. 4 kids ages 3-7...could go either way you just don't know.

P...Played Cabela's Monster Buck Hunter for the Wii ALL DAY YESTERDAY!

Q...Quietest baby ever. Little Alexa Jo Harding (one of our five house guests) is the best baby ever. I am not sure I heard more than two peeps out of her the whole time.

R...Rest...I need some!

S...Starbucks coffees, as in I had a few too many over the last 6 days!!

T...Tree is going to be a REAL one this year, our first ever!

U...Utterly amazed that neither one of my kids complained once at Thanksgiving dinner, a pure miracle.

V...Very nice to be the host of Thanksgiving this year.

W...Weather, only in AZ would you be sweating while putting up Christmas lights. It was absolutely beautiful weather last week.

X...I got nothin!!!

Y...Yesterday I got a glimpse of what it would be like to have a "GAMER" for a husband and let me just tell you that I am very thankful I do not.

and

Z...Zero time to relax last week and not looking good for the next two weeks either!!

Why?

Sparked from an impromptu trip to Costco this morning I thought it should be said...

I have two complaints in regards to parking and the holidays, as they relate to each other that is.

Why do people insist upon blocking traffic for a parking spot in the front?

Why do people do this??

Why do people drag out the process of getting into their cars when clearly others are waiting for said parking spaces.?

Why do people do this??

If you see a spot, take it...if you have to walk...well...IT IS NOT GOING TO KILL YOU!!

I spent 10 minutes trying to back out of my parking space because of both of the questions I posed above.

Two ladies...unloading their Costco carts (oh you can just imagine how much stuff they had)...into their cars at a slow, nonchalant pace. Short of being legally blind I am not sure how they could miss the line of cars waiting for their spots.

Two cars holding up three other cars from backing out (one of which was me) to get said spots in the front.  As I sat there in reverse I counted 7 spots that I could see on the next row over.

Seriously people??

Just a couple things...

I remembered to post the final TD's that Thomas scored in the last game, but completely forgot to post any of the pics I took. I actually got quite a few good ones and think that I might put something together for Thomas for Christmas.

If you don't know my son beyond this blog then you don't know how excited he gets over things that would blow you away. He notices things that no other 5 yr old would notice...example... if my mom changes something in her house he notices, if I wear something new he notices. It really is quite hilarious.

Anyway...I just know he would be equally excited over a photo collage of his football season as he would new toys (don't worry he is getting lots of toys).

On another note...

Of course I would prefer to post pics of my kids all the time, but lets be honest...my kids are so sick of me with the camera in their faces. Luckily for them my camera lens has been in other peoples faces lately.

I did another shoot with my friend Jackie on Sunday, only this time it was with her whole family. Although 10 people (including a 1 yr old) is a challenge...it was really fun.

Thought I would share...

Of course I took a few more of Landon and Evan...these two are such hams!

Can I just tell you that I really have been having so much fun lately. I have been super busy with the kids...making tons of new hair bows and accessories...planning a Holiday Boutique at the preschool with 17 different vendors (very excited about that)...hosting my first Thanksgiving this year...taking photos. It is all of that that is making this pregnancy fly by.

Being Thankful...

Although Thanksgiving is a take it or leave it holiday in my book it does not mean I do not get the meaning behind it.

So... I thought I would share the things I am thankful for this year...

1. My husband and my munchkins...I know that they love me despite my yelling, despite my moodiness, despite the fact that at times the laundry is a strategically created mountain and despite the fact that I ask them to do stuff and THEN tell them how to do it (I know it should be one or the other).  I really do not know what I would do without all three of them.

2. The bump that is my third baby...I am so lucky to have had three very easy pregnancies. I am nearing the end of this one and besides having discomfort while I sleep...I have NO complaints and cannot wait to meet this little girl.

3. My family...I am reminded everyday how lucky I am to have a family that is close.   I know that not everyone has what I have in the way of family and for that I am a million times thankful.

4. As an extension to #3 I am going to single out my mom. She is the best inspiration a girl could ask for. She definitely challenges me to be the most productive SAHM possible. I honestly wonder sometimes how I used to have a job. I feel guilty when I am not working on a project because I know she has at least 4-5 on her plate.

5. MY FRIENDS...I have some of the greatest friends. About a year ago I was highly contemplating seeing a therapist. Not because I am crazy...well I might be...but more because I just felt I needed a sounding board. Having friends that know exactly how I am feeling just by the look on my face is so great.

6. All of the people that are boosting my confidence and pushing me to follow my dream of making photography a bigger part of my life. I am SOOOO thankful...grateful...even amazed...that you have taken a chance on me.


I know that my little list is probably no different than Sally down the street, but I thought it needed to be said.

What are you thankful for??

Back at it

I have had my camera in hand a lot lately, but not just to capture my kids' every moment. Last weekend I had the pleasure of taking family photos of my good friends The Becker's and The Tavenner's.

I thought I would share a little of what I got. I can not begin to tell you how nice it is to take photos of kids that actually respond when I ask them to look at me (without even having to use bribery).

Thanks to these two ladies...Jackie and Dane...I have three more family shoots in the next couple of weeks. I am loving all this practice and I cannot begin to tell you how nice it is have this extension in my life.

On the Farm...

Sunday morning I took Taylor to a birthday party at what will probably be the destination of her next birthday...Marley Farms.

This is the second time we have been to the farm and she loved it just as much this time.

She would have fed the animals all day if I had enough food to accommodate.

Teaching a Kindergartner = Torture

If there is one job I am 200% positive I would suck at...

It would be teaching! In fact my teaching skills are so great I am actually blogging while I am supposed to be helping Thomas with his homework. Don't judge...he is right next to me at the dinner table and I am multitasking. A while back (I think, not positive) I mentioned that I truly believe things like child birth are suppressed deep in your memory for good reason. If you remembered such things it may keep you from repeating. Well, I am adding learning to spell, write, read oh just learning in general to the list. I have absolutely no idea how to teach my almost 6 yr old how to do these things. None!!

And as if that wasn't challenge enough all on its own add to it he is EXACTLY like his dad. In what respect you ask...every respect. His concentration is horrible, he argues with 99% of what I tell him and says "I can't" more times than I care to hear.

Don't bother asking me why Tom doesn't help him with his homework...I compare my reasoning to why someone dieting should not go into a bakery...nothing good can come from it. I will leave the teaching of sports to Tom and take one for the team when it comes to the education. Although he had a great first flag football season, I haven't seen any scouts just yet.

In case you were wondering...

In the time that I have typed all of this...Thomas has asked me five times what the score of the Monday night football game is. I don't know Thomas...keep practicing writing your address please...Do you think Green Bay is winning?...I don't know Thomas!!!...Please pay attention or you will never know what the score is.

Seriously people...we aren't even through Kindergarten. I see lots of wine in my future.

Unbroken Streak

Saturday was the Bowl game for Thomas' flag football team and the boys went out in style. They won their game earning them the cutest little third place trophies I have seen.

I would be proud either way, but Thomas was not about to break the streak on the last game, so right out of the gate he sealed the deal.

First play of the game...



His 2nd touchdown of the game...last one for this wonderful season...

Breaking out the winter clothes!

Although my complaints about the AZ weather are minimal I do wish we hung around in the 80's just a little bit longer.

It was just a few weeks ago and we were still in tank tops and flip flops...if you don't believe me just ask my sister what she wore to my Halloween party. Shorts and a tank...It was in the 90's.

Fast forward a week and I am scrounging around looking for anything that resembles winter clothing for my munchkins to wear. Looking for pants that have not become capris and coats that have not become three quarter length. I have pulled out my boots and scarves and instructed the kids that socks are to stay on (they hate socks).

Needless to say I will be doing a little winter clothing shopping this weekend. You only get a pass in AZ for about a week before people start questioning your parenting if your kids don't look warm.

My pictures this week are dedicated to Jaime Frederick for commenting on our "WINTER" in AZ. No it is nothing like Seattle, but it's all relative people and for us it is COLD!

In Case You Were Wondering...

The streak continues as my Thomas scored two touchdowns on Saturday!!





On a side note after the game on Saturday it is very clear why there is a parents code of conduct. The sidelines were pretty heated, you just had to laugh.

Next Saturday is Bowl Games and our first season of Flag Football comes to an end. Not to worry...he will be back on the field in January for winter football.

Tired, but so worth it!

I think if you ask the kids they will tell you that Halloween 2011 was great! We threw a party, went to a few school parties and of course ended with some good ol' trick or treating!!

Again my mom did an amazing job on the kids' costumes!!

She even whipped up a costume for my sis to wear to work and I couldn't resist getting a picture of the kids with Aunt KiKi!!