The Best Gift

If you had asked me 7 years ago what I wanted for my birthday I would have probably told you clothes.

If you had asked me 5 years ago what I wanted for my birthday I would have probably told you a trip to the spa.

If you had asked me 3 years ago what I wanted for my birthday I would have probably told you either of the previous things.

BUT

If you asked me this year what I wanted for my birthday I most definitely would have told you I wanted my kids to get along...behave...listen.  Any of those things would have been the perfect gift.  Well, I got my gift one day early this year.

I have been meaning to take 1 year photos of Tatum for a few weeks now and finally had the perfect morning and some assistance (Thanks Mom).  And because Thomas and Taylor were feeling SUPER generous...they decided to behave and let me take pictures of them as well!!

Can you believe I might have TOO MANY to choose from??

100% opposite of our Christmas card photo shoot...needed 4...got 4!!

I am so lucky to have these three munchkins!!

When you become a mom the things that you want in life change quite a bit!!   Happy Birthday to me!!

Just The Two Of Us

For a very short 3 hours each morning I have one munchkin!!  While Fric and Frac are at school it's just me and Tatum.  Some mornings we shop...some mornings we clean...AND some mornings we play!!

When Thomas and Taylor were this age I did not appreciate it like I do this time around.  I am honestly trying to soak up every minute of every stage this time because I know how quickly time goes by. 

{Spring} In My Step

Well I know that spring doesn't technically start for another couple weeks, however it has officially begun in my house.  I have had some major "spring" in my step and in turn have been getting things DONE!!

The girls and I had a nice peaceful week last week while my hubby and Thomas were out of town, but it was almost TOO quiet.  No worries though...all was back to normal on Sunday night, complete with fighting, yelling and whining.

That hasn't kept me from getting things done though.  I have been a woman on a mission.  I wasn't entirely happy with my craft room purge a few weeks ago.  I definitely had cleaned it, but I really needed to GET REAL about the things I was keeping and why.  I want to start working on the kids' scrapbooks again, but in order to do that I needed to inventory the 100's upon 100's of supplies I have and get rid of everything I won't actually use.  CHECK

I am not sure about you, but I usually have multiple craft projects going at the same time.  As of Sunday I had a total of 5...and today...ZERO!!

I made cute little St. Patrick's Day treats for Taylor's preschool class, finished a set of cards for a friend, filled out Thank You cards for Tatum's party, updated my Etsy shop and finished some hair bows AND made Passports for my friend Jackie's kids' birthday party.

Yep...this girl is on a roll!!

And...since I am getting things done...I decided to clean up my computer and send more pics to Costco for printing.  It really does feel good to get things done!!

The weather is perfection in AZ right now, so the kids have been outside any chance they get.  I took these at the park before the boys went on their trip.

Mission Completed

I am happy to report that Project PURGE was a total success and with the exception of the garage (really my hubby's department) I finished the whole list.

Our garage sale was a gigantic success.  We made a grand total of over $1400, split pretty evenly between all of us.  But more importantly...my house is clean...my house is pretty organized...and my house has been DE-junked!!

My final two spaces in the house that really needed tackling were my closet and Thomas' room.  I finished the closet prior to the garage sale, but had to take care of Thomas' after.  His room just needed a real good DEEP clean!!

Our master closet on the other hand...It needed a complete overhaul.

Here are the before pics...

Again...I wish I could say I messed it up just for affect...sadly though I did not.

I cleaned the closet while my hubby was at work.  I highly recommend this because he was not there to argue with me about the rather large get-rid-of pile.  Out of site...Out of mind...he will never know they are missing if I don't tell him!

Here are the after pics...

I couldn't reach the top shelf, so it still sits the way it was, but there isn't much up there anyway.

As you can see I even color coordinated all of our shirts.  My hubby is colorblind, so this actually helps him out A LOT and I absolutely love the way it looks.  If you can believe it...I was excited to get all of the laundry done so I could complete the project.  Sadly the laundry has since started to pile up again.

Oh well...I can't change everything!

Mission Completed!!  I think I completed my list in good amount of time.  I worked on the list as I had free time and didn't get burnt out.  Now the only thing left to do...keep it this way!!

Her Day

OK I admit it...I was over-the-moon excited for Tatum's first birthday.  I have been planning it since before Christmas if you count all the ideas I have thrown around.  I made the invitations...water bottle labels...party hats...and cupcake toppers.  My super talented friend Lisa made her smash cake and 24 beautiful cupcakes.  AND of course my amazing mom made cookies...for both "Thank you" treats and a little platter to snack on.

I planned every little detail...and for the first time EVER...I was not running around like a crazy person minutes before the party started.

We talked...we laughed...we tried to get Tatum to take her first steps...we ate A LOT...we helped her open her presents...and we watched as she stared at her smash cake and SCREAMED!!

Yep...

She DID NOT want anything to do with it.  I think it was my fault though.  I had anticipated her loving it, so I quickly removed her clothes beforehand so she would not get frosting on her cute outfit.  It backfired though and she hated being in just her diaper and immediately started crying.

It might not have been the reaction I was looking for, but I kept clicking my camera to capture the moment.

It was a wonderful day!  The last year flew by, but I look forward to all the things to come.

365 Days Ago

I absolutely cannot believe that many days have gone by.  Time has flown by, but I can honestly say that I have truly embraced all things baby this time around.  I have snuggled and kissed on her a million times.  I have sat by her crib and watched her sleep more times than I can count.  I love the little person she is becoming, but get a tiny bit sad every time she moves up a size in clothes. 

I can remember the anticipation of her arrival clear as day.  I wondered what she would look like...whether or not 6 solid months of heartburn would produce a head full of hair.  I remember wondering if I would know how to take care of a newborn again, I was pretty far removed from diapers and middle of the night feedings.  

Tatum Marie Moore came into this world at 8:41pm on February 22, 2012!  She was just like her brother and sister in so many ways.  And since that day she has shown us even more ways she is like them, but has also developed her own little, amazing personality.

I know that every mom feels this way, but being a mom is the most amazing job.  I have three healthy, happy, crazy kids and I love them.

Happy Birthday Tatum!!!  Just like your brother and sister...You make me smile a hundred times a day!!

To Be Young Again

My personal thoughts on Valentine's Day are comparable to that of the Grinch at Christmas.  I would prefer chocolates and flowers on a "For no real reason, but because I love you" kind of day randomly during the year than on Feb. 14th!  Just my opinion!!

My kids on the other hand...were OVER THE MOON excited this morning to finally get to take their Valentine's to school.

I don't really remember Valentine's Day when I was a kid.  I am sure we had class parties and such, but clearly they left no real impression on me as I don't recall a single one.  It doesn't bother me in the least though because I get to experience it through my kids.  They have enough excitement for me to enjoy as well and it's awesome.

Taylor couldn't wait to pass out the Valentine's she made and the extra little treat her Nana made for her friends.  A class party just isn't complete anymore without cookies!!  Thank you Nana!!!

She has been admiring all of her treats since we got home from school.  I imagine Thomas will be doing the same this afternoon. 

On another note...I have been crafting lately, so jump over to my other TaylorTHIS blog and see what I have been up to.  I have brought life back to that little blog!!

Dollar Tree Tuesday...On FRIDAY!!

In case you are wondering...

My love for the dollar store is as strong as ever.  I will be the first to admit though, you have to be careful in getting caught up in the "Everything is ONLY a dollar" idea.  It sounds great, but with some items it isn't as good of a deal as you might think.

Today's trip though...full of good little finds.  Currently in our house Thomas and Taylor fight about EVERYTHING!!!  Yesterday's fight of the day...Getting into the car...Thomas got in first and Taylor flipped out!!  Seriously?!?  I am positive I am being repaid for all the fights my sister and I had as kids!

I digress...

I needed kids' flossers and saw two little bottles of mouthwash...one for a girl and one for a boy!!  Score!!!  I have just eliminated a fight that we have EVERY morning over who gets to use the mouthwash first!!

As you know we are having a garage sale and I am super picky about the presentation of the kids clothes I sell.  Ziploc bags (or the knock off brand) are a small investment to help bring in good money by showing and keeping an outfit together.  I would normally say that these ARE NOT a good deal at the dollar store (less bags in the same size box), but I don't need that many so it was OK.    

I have been wanting a roll of brown wrapping paper and the dollar store is perfect for this.  You get quite a bit on the roll and it is way cheaper than Staples.  I use it for projects for the kids and to mail a package I did not want to put in an actual box.

I picked up erasers for Thomas' class (at his teachers request)...6 for $1.00...SCORE!  And a tablet for Taylor to practice her handwriting.  The preschool uses this paper and she insists on using it at home.  Again...SCORE...school supplies are really only a good deal before school starts...then they go back to regular price and stay that way until the next year.

And last but not least  I picked up two packages of 10ct valentines for Thomas!!  I am all for the kids handing out Valentines, but really do not want to throw a bunch of money at what will undoubtedly be in the trash by end of day!  He was happy as a pig in...well you know!!  Kids don't need the most expensive, over the top stuff...as long as they get to write the names themselves...THEY ARE HAPPY!!

And there you have it!!  My dollar store trip!! 

Project PURGE...Update!!

I have still been plugging along on my list!!  My deadline is February 15...as February 16 will be our garage sale.  I am SO ready too.  Although I have not made it through my entire list, I seem to have tons of "garage sale" piles around the house that I am sick of tripping over.  I've been doing a pretty good job of pricing as I go, so in theory I shouldn't be up until the wee hours of the morning before the sale.

In case you have forgotten here is my list...

1. Master Bathroom
2. Mail Area
3. Kids' Bathroom
4. Laundry Room
5. Craft Room
6. Kitchen Drawers
7. Kitchen Cabinets (Upper)
8. Kitchen Cabinets (Lower)
9. Night Stands
10. Entertainment Center
11. Kids' Closets
12. Kids' Bedrooms
13. Playroom
14. Master Closet
15. Pantry
16. Hall Closet/Coat Closet
17. Refrigerator
18. Freezer
19. Garage
20. Outdoor Patio Bins

I am more than halfway through my list, which is great.  I am happy to report that the areas that have been finished are still clean and organized.  I am NO June Cleaver, but I have been trying really hard to get the house vacuumed and picked up every morning after I take the kids to school.  I am hoping this habit sticks.

I have finished the girls' closet/bedroom and hope to tackle Thomas' soon.  I will say this about his room...it usually doesn't end well when I walk in, so I need to be prepared!!

This is just a fraction of the clothes that have been removed from the girls' closet.  I have three piles...donate, sell and save!!  I have always done really great with reselling kids' clothes at my garage sales.  In season or coming into season are the best sellers, so I tend to donate the items that are off season.  My "save" bins were getting a little out of control, so I decided to down size and keep only things I absolutely LOVED or items that would not go out of style.  

Tom will be out of town next week, so those days I will get a lot done!!!