BEFORE:
AFTER:
Personally I prefer her blonde hair better, but I am all about self expression and she's still a doll. :)
12.20.2011
Chameleon
McKenzie has been asking and asking to dye her hair lately. Being that hair is only hair and it will grow back I decided to let her with some NON-permanent hair dye. She went from a blondie to a brunette in 20 minutes flat.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Personally I prefer her blonde hair better, but I am all about self expression and she's still a doll. :)
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Personally I prefer her blonde hair better, but I am all about self expression and she's still a doll. :)
12.16.2011
Winter Formal Dance
McKenzie had her first formal dance this past weekend and it was so much fun taking her dress shopping, watching and helping her get dolled up and then seeing her with all of her friends. What a young lady she is becoming.
12.10.2011
12.01.2011
Busy, busy. busy
Things have been VERY busy in our neck of the woods. Life in general is busy for us. But throw in the Holiday Season and an almost 2 week trip to the Southern Caribbean, things are bound to get a bit out of control.
Vacation was wonderful and it was so nice to get away. We traveled to many places that we had never been before, which was a welcomed change.
I could go for a house on the mountainside.
Shelling coconut - is that what it's called?
Beach baby
The big one getting "buried alive".
Loving to boogey board!
Buying Caribbean spices at Sunny Caribbee.
Eating a delicious meal at the Brazilian BBQ.
Climber
Vacation was wonderful and it was so nice to get away. We traveled to many places that we had never been before, which was a welcomed change.
I could go for a house on the mountainside.
Shelling coconut - is that what it's called?
Beach baby
The big one getting "buried alive".
Loving to boogey board!
Buying Caribbean spices at Sunny Caribbee.
Eating a delicious meal at the Brazilian BBQ.
Climber
11.18.2011
Duck Winner!
Delanie had a fundraiser where she sold cookie dough. She was all over selling items this year because if she sold 30, she won the entire duck family! Oh man, did she want those ducks. And sure enough she won them!
11.09.2011
10.31.2011
Happy Halloween
Halloween was filled with costumes and trick or treating with our favorite family.
Costumes are never in any short order in our house, so we ended up with Ariel, Bumble Bee, Ladybug, Minnie Mouse and an 80's Flashdance Dancer. It was good times.
M's costume for school - super cute.
The girls ON Halloween
And here's the little treat that Delanie took for her class - Halloween Smores. If you haven't had a Peep Smore, you must. So.So.Good.
Costumes are never in any short order in our house, so we ended up with Ariel, Bumble Bee, Ladybug, Minnie Mouse and an 80's Flashdance Dancer. It was good times.
M's costume for school - super cute.
The girls ON Halloween
And here's the little treat that Delanie took for her class - Halloween Smores. If you haven't had a Peep Smore, you must. So.So.Good.
10.21.2011
Cozy Coupe Baby
Haylie got a Cozy Coupe for her birthday, and boy does she LOVE it.
And here's the little sweetheart being fancy. :)
And here's the little sweetheart being fancy. :)
10.13.2011
6 year old funnies
Delanie brought this home the other day. Now, that's some matter of fact - funny stuff.
For those you can't read 6-year old: "Dad you have to clean out your car please. I {heart} you. You are the best."
For those you can't read 6-year old: "Dad you have to clean out your car please. I {heart} you. You are the best."
10.10.2011
Fall Flowers
Every time I walk through the front gate I'm a little disappointed in the lack of flowers and greenery in the yard. It seems like every time we get things going we get a big idea and then rip up half of the yard - which result in all flowers and plants going too.
So now that the yard is starting to be put back together after the big pool project I though it was time to add a little color to the yard. The easiest spot to work with first is the front walk. I have a couple of planters that haven't had anything in them for...oh...about 5 years. No, I'm not kidding. So I thought those would be perfect to plant with the seasons.
I headed to Home Depot and picked up some fall colored flowers and potting soil. They also had some pre-potted jumbo pots of mums, so I picked up a couple of those too in purple, since they were gorgeously huge.
After the pots were done, I lined the front walk with the pre-potted mums and one of the planters, as well as some of the yard art that we have. Then I put the other planter in a corner near the front of the yard to add a pop of color. All in all, I think it works perfectly! I am sure the hubby will be pleasantly surprised that I finished it all up and he doesn't have to clean anything up when he gets home. ;)
These are so full and pretty - well worth the $16.98 ea. They also had some yellow and red/orange - I might just go back and get some more.
These will be easy to change in the spring/summer to put some bright pink and purple flowers. But for now it is perfectly fall.
So now that the yard is starting to be put back together after the big pool project I though it was time to add a little color to the yard. The easiest spot to work with first is the front walk. I have a couple of planters that haven't had anything in them for...oh...about 5 years. No, I'm not kidding. So I thought those would be perfect to plant with the seasons.
I headed to Home Depot and picked up some fall colored flowers and potting soil. They also had some pre-potted jumbo pots of mums, so I picked up a couple of those too in purple, since they were gorgeously huge.
After the pots were done, I lined the front walk with the pre-potted mums and one of the planters, as well as some of the yard art that we have. Then I put the other planter in a corner near the front of the yard to add a pop of color. All in all, I think it works perfectly! I am sure the hubby will be pleasantly surprised that I finished it all up and he doesn't have to clean anything up when he gets home. ;)
These are so full and pretty - well worth the $16.98 ea. They also had some yellow and red/orange - I might just go back and get some more.
These will be easy to change in the spring/summer to put some bright pink and purple flowers. But for now it is perfectly fall.
10.05.2011
Rainbow Crayon Art
I bought a pack of canvases awhile back and have slowly been coming up with projects to use them. The project this weekend was to do some crayon art.
Here's what you need.
Stretched Canvas - size of your choice. I used a 16x20
Crayons
Hot Glue Gun
Hair Dryer
Sort out your crayons to include the colors that you want.
Assemble your crayons on your canvas to ensure that you have enough.
Hot Glue your crayons in the order you want - pointed end DOWN towards where you want the wax to fall. I did mine one by one so I could have the Crayola facing up.
Now you can do the next part outside or inside. But you will drip wax a bit, so make sure you have some paper down or you are outside.
Turn your hair dryer to HIGH heat and blow it on the crayons. I recommend starting on one end and then working your way to the other - that was part of my problem getting started.
The wax will start to get shiny - this is GOOD. This will mean that it is melting and starting to drip. Let the wax run and drip down the canvas as far as you want it to go. Continue across all the colors.
At the end you'll come up with something a little like this.
Here's what you need.
Stretched Canvas - size of your choice. I used a 16x20
Crayons
Hot Glue Gun
Hair Dryer
Sort out your crayons to include the colors that you want.
Assemble your crayons on your canvas to ensure that you have enough.
Hot Glue your crayons in the order you want - pointed end DOWN towards where you want the wax to fall. I did mine one by one so I could have the Crayola facing up.
Now you can do the next part outside or inside. But you will drip wax a bit, so make sure you have some paper down or you are outside.
Turn your hair dryer to HIGH heat and blow it on the crayons. I recommend starting on one end and then working your way to the other - that was part of my problem getting started.
The wax will start to get shiny - this is GOOD. This will mean that it is melting and starting to drip. Let the wax run and drip down the canvas as far as you want it to go. Continue across all the colors.
At the end you'll come up with something a little like this.
10.02.2011
Command Center
This year I have 3 kids in school. At 3 different schools. With 3 different start times. With 3 different pick up times. Except Wednesday's - then 2 of them get out at the same time, with schools on opposite sides of town.
When it was just McKenzie is school (and the little girls in preschool), the paperwork was easy to handle. Then Delanie started Kinder and I could still keep things straight. But this year I knew it was going to be getting worse, the amount of paper that comes home that it. So I needed a command center. A place of papers, mail, pens/pencils and the like. A place where the kids could put papers that needed to be signed and where I could get them back to them and nobody risked going to school with the wrong papers.
So after school got under way Operation Command Center got commenced. I was looking for a cute table at Home Goods, TJ Maxx and even the thrift stores, but could not find anything that was just perfect. And things that I did like were $150 - no thanks.
So I headed to the old faithful - Target. I found a bookcase like this, but mine was only $19.99.
Then I knew I wanted some bins for mail and papers. So I got a couple of these small ones for mail. I also got 3 larger ones for school work, magazines and other odds and ends.
Then I headed to Staples and I got a small white board with cork board strip along the bottom to put special notes and reminders. It looks like this, but it's a lot smaller and was only about $15. I also got a wall bin and some cute folders.
I found folders that had a few different colors, so that the kids could easily recognize their folder - they are also labeled with their name. This is so when then need something signed or it's for me to look at, it goes in their folder. I look at it and sign it/file. Then if they need it back, I put it back in the folder and they can get it later to take back to school. This helps to make sure that they get the right stuff back and don't take another sisters blue paper.
After a few other additions our command center was done. It's having a central spot now to keep things organized. And it looks much nicer than all of the piles of paper and mail I used to have on the counter. :)
When it was just McKenzie is school (and the little girls in preschool), the paperwork was easy to handle. Then Delanie started Kinder and I could still keep things straight. But this year I knew it was going to be getting worse, the amount of paper that comes home that it. So I needed a command center. A place of papers, mail, pens/pencils and the like. A place where the kids could put papers that needed to be signed and where I could get them back to them and nobody risked going to school with the wrong papers.
So after school got under way Operation Command Center got commenced. I was looking for a cute table at Home Goods, TJ Maxx and even the thrift stores, but could not find anything that was just perfect. And things that I did like were $150 - no thanks.
So I headed to the old faithful - Target. I found a bookcase like this, but mine was only $19.99.
Then I knew I wanted some bins for mail and papers. So I got a couple of these small ones for mail. I also got 3 larger ones for school work, magazines and other odds and ends.
Then I headed to Staples and I got a small white board with cork board strip along the bottom to put special notes and reminders. It looks like this, but it's a lot smaller and was only about $15. I also got a wall bin and some cute folders.
I found folders that had a few different colors, so that the kids could easily recognize their folder - they are also labeled with their name. This is so when then need something signed or it's for me to look at, it goes in their folder. I look at it and sign it/file. Then if they need it back, I put it back in the folder and they can get it later to take back to school. This helps to make sure that they get the right stuff back and don't take another sisters blue paper.
After a few other additions our command center was done. It's having a central spot now to keep things organized. And it looks much nicer than all of the piles of paper and mail I used to have on the counter. :)
Butterfly Snacks
Our elementary school asks that parents/students bring in healthy treats for the class on special occasions. So that means for Delanie's birthday super, duper and delicious cupcakes were out. I sort of flaked out last year an only took Gogurt and Crackers. But in my defense and I had *just* had a baby (as in 3 days before) and had only been home for 2 days. So hey, at least I took something.
So this year I racked my brain and remembered some cute butterfly snacks that I saw in a magazine a few years ago.
What you need:
Wooden Clothespins
Small Googly Eyes
Paint
Pipe Cleaners
Pencil (for curling the butterfly attenas)
Glitter is optional
Snack Size Zippered bags
Snack Mix
Kix
Banana Chips
Raisins/Craisins
Dried Blueberries
M&M's (yep, I sneaked in something extra sweet. It IS a birthday treat for goodness sake!)
Paint the clothespin - sprinkle with glitter if you want. Wait for them to dry. Then glue on googly eyes.
Cut pipe cleaners in half. Fold pipe cleaners in half, this will make the antenna. Curl each end of the antenna - I used a pencil.
Mix up your snack mix. Fill bags - don't make them TOO full, or it will be difficult to split it in half and put the clothespin on.
Separate the snack mix in the bag in half. Put clothespin. Put antenna and close clothsepin.
Voila! Now you have a super cute and healthy snack for your next class party. :)
So this year I racked my brain and remembered some cute butterfly snacks that I saw in a magazine a few years ago.
What you need:
Wooden Clothespins
Small Googly Eyes
Paint
Pipe Cleaners
Pencil (for curling the butterfly attenas)
Glitter is optional
Snack Size Zippered bags
Snack Mix
Kix
Banana Chips
Raisins/Craisins
Dried Blueberries
M&M's (yep, I sneaked in something extra sweet. It IS a birthday treat for goodness sake!)
Paint the clothespin - sprinkle with glitter if you want. Wait for them to dry. Then glue on googly eyes.
Cut pipe cleaners in half. Fold pipe cleaners in half, this will make the antenna. Curl each end of the antenna - I used a pencil.
Mix up your snack mix. Fill bags - don't make them TOO full, or it will be difficult to split it in half and put the clothespin on.
Separate the snack mix in the bag in half. Put clothespin. Put antenna and close clothsepin.
Voila! Now you have a super cute and healthy snack for your next class party. :)
9.25.2011
M&M and Kit Kat Cake
Today was Matt's birthday, so of course that meant a cake needed to be made. I saw this M&M and KitKat on Pinterest and thought that it would be simple and yummy. Boy was I right!
It's very easy. Just bake a cake, frost it, circle it with the Kit Kats, then fill the top with M&M's. Finish it off with a ribbon and voila - M&M and Kit Kat cake.
It's very easy. Just bake a cake, frost it, circle it with the Kit Kats, then fill the top with M&M's. Finish it off with a ribbon and voila - M&M and Kit Kat cake.
9.14.2011
Delanie.is.6.
Sweetest Delanie,
Six years ago we welcomed a dark haired beauty into our lives and that sweet little darling was you. It's hard to believe that six years have gone by since that early Friday morning since I held you in my arms the first time. You were my second daughter, but my heart filled with just as much love for you as I had for your sister. Who knew that was possible? But it was.
You are the perfect 2nd sister in our family. You are silly, crazy, adorable and sweet. You are smart, sarcastic (yes already), sneaky and fun. You are a dark haired beauty that has the ability to rule the world.
You've grown a lot in the past year. And I don't just mean in height. You have come our of your quiet and reserved shell tremendously. You love to socialize and play with your friends. You are a reader and boy do you love school. You are even on the swim team AND participate at swim meets! And you have an amazing backstroke!
Your zest for life is something that I hope you never lose. I hope your drive to get what you want is something that follows you in life and I know it will help you accomplish many things. May you never lose the desire to do things that make you happy.
You make me proud to be your mother and I am so happy that you were picked to be my daughter. Keep jumping for joy and being wonderful. Because there is no other way to be.
And here's a little journey down memory lane. Happy Birthday, Delanie!
Love, Mama
Six years ago we welcomed a dark haired beauty into our lives and that sweet little darling was you. It's hard to believe that six years have gone by since that early Friday morning since I held you in my arms the first time. You were my second daughter, but my heart filled with just as much love for you as I had for your sister. Who knew that was possible? But it was.
You are the perfect 2nd sister in our family. You are silly, crazy, adorable and sweet. You are smart, sarcastic (yes already), sneaky and fun. You are a dark haired beauty that has the ability to rule the world.
You've grown a lot in the past year. And I don't just mean in height. You have come our of your quiet and reserved shell tremendously. You love to socialize and play with your friends. You are a reader and boy do you love school. You are even on the swim team AND participate at swim meets! And you have an amazing backstroke!
Your zest for life is something that I hope you never lose. I hope your drive to get what you want is something that follows you in life and I know it will help you accomplish many things. May you never lose the desire to do things that make you happy.
You make me proud to be your mother and I am so happy that you were picked to be my daughter. Keep jumping for joy and being wonderful. Because there is no other way to be.
And here's a little journey down memory lane. Happy Birthday, Delanie!
Love, Mama
9.06.2011
Happy 1st Birthday, Haylie Mae
Sweetest Haylie.
365 days. One Year. 8760 hours. One Year. 525,600 minutes. One Year.
One year, that's how long you've been apart of our family. It's hard to believe that a whole year has passed. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was cuddling a tiny version of you and introducing you to your big sisters.
You've grown from a *not so little* newborn to a *little and petite* baby girl. I won't call you a toddler yet, because well, you're not toddling. You are however, a master crawler and getter-inner. As in you get into lots of stuff that you probably shouldn't. Your sisters are learning that things of importance must be out of your tip toe reach, because there is no telling what you will do if you get a hold of it. I am also learning that yes, I DO need to make sure the cabinets are locked. Thanks for rearranging the Tupperware, baby.
You still don't have much hair and I'm patiently waiting for pigtails and bows, because well, everyone loves a baby with pigtails and bows. It looks like you might have some curls coming in, which isn't surprising, but we'll have to keep waiting to truly see if you're just a mini version of your big sister, Aubrie. But if the photographic evidence is to be trusted, you're on your way.
This past year has brought many wonderful things, but I truly think you were the best. I've loved watching you grow and become a little person with personality and opinions. Yes, even at one, you certainly have opinions of how you want things done.
Your sisters adore you and I like to think the feeling is mutual, at least most of the time. They love to play with you and you certainly have them wrapped around that little finger of yours.
It's no secret that it took some convincing on my part to get your dad to agree to baby #4. Now that we have the first year under our belt, I think we will both agree that you were very much worth the wait. I've loved spending the last year as your mom. Loving you, cuddling you and watching you grow. I look forward to many more years of watching you laugh and cry and play and love. You'll do it with a family around you that just loves you to pieces and there is nothing sweeter than that.
Happy Birthday, Haylie Mae.
xoxo,
Mama
365 days. One Year. 8760 hours. One Year. 525,600 minutes. One Year.
One year, that's how long you've been apart of our family. It's hard to believe that a whole year has passed. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was cuddling a tiny version of you and introducing you to your big sisters.
You've grown from a *not so little* newborn to a *little and petite* baby girl. I won't call you a toddler yet, because well, you're not toddling. You are however, a master crawler and getter-inner. As in you get into lots of stuff that you probably shouldn't. Your sisters are learning that things of importance must be out of your tip toe reach, because there is no telling what you will do if you get a hold of it. I am also learning that yes, I DO need to make sure the cabinets are locked. Thanks for rearranging the Tupperware, baby.
You still don't have much hair and I'm patiently waiting for pigtails and bows, because well, everyone loves a baby with pigtails and bows. It looks like you might have some curls coming in, which isn't surprising, but we'll have to keep waiting to truly see if you're just a mini version of your big sister, Aubrie. But if the photographic evidence is to be trusted, you're on your way.
This past year has brought many wonderful things, but I truly think you were the best. I've loved watching you grow and become a little person with personality and opinions. Yes, even at one, you certainly have opinions of how you want things done.
Your sisters adore you and I like to think the feeling is mutual, at least most of the time. They love to play with you and you certainly have them wrapped around that little finger of yours.
It's no secret that it took some convincing on my part to get your dad to agree to baby #4. Now that we have the first year under our belt, I think we will both agree that you were very much worth the wait. I've loved spending the last year as your mom. Loving you, cuddling you and watching you grow. I look forward to many more years of watching you laugh and cry and play and love. You'll do it with a family around you that just loves you to pieces and there is nothing sweeter than that.
Happy Birthday, Haylie Mae.
xoxo,
Mama
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