Happy Birthday Sabrina!

Dear Sabrina-

Exactly one year ago today you entered my life and I haven't been the same since. You are a precious angel who loves to laugh, to dance, and smile above all. Sabrina, I want the world for you, and it's all at your feet. Thank you for being the most incredible little baby. I love you with all my heart. Happy birthday, princess.

Mommy

Who's got the button?

...And so it begins! Here are the invites and the sucker-ties for Sabrina's party. Lots of work left to do! It's been an eventful weekend, but I don't have my pictures on the computer yet, so here's a par-tay sneak-peek!

:)

Happy Baby!

Yeaaaaah, couldn't stop taking pix of Sabrina the other day... Seriously, could she be ANY cuter?!

Back To School PAR-TAY!

SO! My Mom decided to throw a lil' soiree' to celebrate Ella going back to school! I couldn't be more pleased... The summer has flown, but that girl has got some cabin fever and needs more structure! YAY for teachers! Above is a busted Brina who found my phone...

Hahaha, she wasn't too excited about me taking the phone away!

Here's Mom!

Mia is my little water-bug. She LOVES playing in the water!

The BACK-TO-SCHOOL-GIRL!

OKAY, I gave her the phone (if I accidentally texted you this evening, THIS is why!).

My friend (Mom's too) Betsy and her kiddos Connor, Logan, and Teagan (plus a coupla spares) came for some hot dogs and swimming.

It was a fun night. As for having Ella ready; from a mental perspective, she couldn't be more ready, and I couldn't be more ready for her to go to 1st grade, which means big changes... However, from a physical perspective, I have not purchased ONE new box of crayons, a new glue stick, new scissors, or even a sheet of paper.

SHAMEY!

Yeaaaaah, I'll do that tomorrow... While she's at school.

For Fun!

...Taken yesterday. LOVE Sarah's polka-dot shirt! :D

Amelia Photo Shoot

Today I started taking pictures of Mia and couldn't stop. Not one of these are edited... :)

Cache Valley Gardner's Market

It's SO unfortunate that I have only been here a hand-full of times this summer. I look forward to the Gardner's Market every year with baited breath! I love this picture -you don't have a sense of the amazing environment, but the trees give you an indication. :)

Last weekend I went with my sweet Mom. Here she is with Ella and Mia.

They had LOTS of fun playing with her (typical). :)

Finally, here's Mia on the move. This picture isn't edited, she really does have naturally shiny incredibly beautiful hair. Jealous? Absolutely.

My friend Steph works there and sells the most incredible little blankets and things... Her business is Little Bright Boat, and her craftsmanship is impeccable. I saw my friend Brianna there a few weeks ago, and she had some beautiful glass pieces. I love supporting local artists and more, I love the environment and getting out of the house to browse such interesting and creative things...

birthday planning...

You would think that if I have time to take my own stinkin' picture I'd have time to pull a birthday party together??!! Not so much. Sabrina will turn one on the 23rd, and I am SO far behind on pulling something spectacular off... Thanks for setting the bar, Rachael! GRUFF! NO, I'm not out to put on an amazing event that could potentially rival what my sisters/ brother have pulled off for their kids, however, I don't want to jip the kid either. Mia had the worst 1st birthday EVER, since it fell on Thanksgiving weekend/ moving weekend/ announce new bayby slash miscarry new baby weekend. She got a mini-cake and two or three people hung out to watch. BAAAH! I love you, Mia, and I'm so sorry you're so stuck in the middle. This probably isn't the first time you'll be ripped off either. OK! I need to make a concentrated effort for everyone. I must learn from my mistakes, eh?

Buttons. That's my theme. Someone, anyone, throw out some ideas that two/ three-year-olds can participate with. It'll probably be a pancake breakfast party (make the pancakes look like buttons -suggestions???) on the 28th, so I need INPUT.

I realize that this blog is very random, but that's how my brain works sometimes. I am brainstorming, but the storm is fizzling fast. Yeesh!

Jami-Loo!

A few days ago we went to see my friend Jami. I had the girls (naturally), and she was watching her niece Taylor. We visited and chilled on the awesome back porch of her beautiful yard. The girls had a blast jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler underneath... There is a creek in the yard as well that the girls had fun wading in. Jami and I got to catch up a little bit. She's a dear friend of mine, and we go WAAAAAY back. We met at Mount Logan Middle School in sixth grade. I must have been 11 -so we have been friends for about 21 years. I love that girl. She is very self-assured, and knows exactly what she stands for. I love how she also accepts all, and has a very educated and deep understanding of people. Jami wouldn't let me take her picture, but trust me, she's amazing -inside and out.

Love ya Jami, and thanx for the afternoon!

Birthdays!

Above is the lil' poster I made for Mom... I feel terrible that she didn't get a banner like Granny's, but I hope that the chocolate makes up for it... (heh heh)

Yesterday we headed to Layton for the celebration of Sarah's birthday. I made beans (again) and cornbread. The main meal was a white chili, which was actually quite delicious!

Ella looks precious here! Her little cheeks are SO sun-kissed. : )

Sabrina and Mia kept themselves busy with Phoebe's toys for a while.

It's rare when Mia will actually stop and look at you while she says "cheese" -so this picture is precious! Left to right: Rachael, Sabrina, Dave, Lex, Phoebes, Sarah, and Mary!

Happy Birthday Sarah. You're one of my heroes.