Happy Anniversary!

Today is our anniversary! Time sure does fly by when you're having fun!

Our story goes something like this...
Girl and Boy are 12 years old and in the 8th grade. As fate would have it, Girl & Boy are placed in the same homeroom and the teacher's alphabetical order seating puts the Girl right in front of the Boy. Girl is new in town and Boy sets out to get to know her. They become friends and share many classes that year and in the next four years of high school, but they never date. Boy graduates Class President and Girl graduates Valedictorian. Along with their friends they go on a Senior Trip and then lose touch after graduation.

Fast forward nine years later to the year before their 10 yr. high school reunion. As fate would have it once again, Girl & Boy run into each other while out with friends. Boy has recently moved back after working a traveling job with the Government and now lives across from Girl. Boy & Girl start dating right after Thanksgiving (insert puffy heart here!). They travel, they have fun, and start thinking about the future.

Next fall, they travel to their hometown and during the weekend of their 10 yr. high school reunion, Boy decides to ask Girl to marry him...right at the junior high school where they met 15 years earlier. Girl says YES! Friends are surprised to find out that Boy & Girl ended up together after all these years and all of life's turns. Boy & Girl get voted "cutest couple" at reunion (ha, ha, ha).

Next Spring, Boy & Girl get married on a beautiful evening filled with family and friends. Girl & Boy go on the vacation of a lifetime to Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora and 10 months later, they are blessed with a beautiful baby girl, followed by a baby boy two years later.
And they lived happily ever after...

Reminiscing...

I must admit I was a little obsessed with tiffany blue, chocolate brown, and parasols!

Looking good, hon!

Seeing my grandma for the first time Sweetest flower girls! Anticipation It's just you and me We're in this together We did it! The bridal party Our families One of my favorite photos Time to have fun! For the love of peonies! Groom's cake Such a tender moment! (Lance met my grandmother for the first time the weekend of our wedding) White chocolate amaretto = YUM! Tahiti bound! Happy Anniversary, hon! I love you!!

3 little pigs & mi Abuelito

I had my eye out on this sweet vintage inspired dress made by my friend Angel of TaDa Creations. She's taking a break from professional sewing and so I was bummed when I didn't win it. Then I started thinking about why I loved this dress so much and I realized that as much as I liked the dress, it was the memory it brought to mind that I missed most. The memory of mi Abuelito (that's spanish for my grandpa).

You see mi Abuelito was the most influential man in my life growing up. Actually, he's been the most influential man in my life period. My dad was not a family man in any way and after my parents divorced when I was little bitty, he never made an effort to have me in his life. Mi Abuelito was such a strong, godly man, yet such a gentle soul. I was his first grandchild and he spoiled me rotten - not with material things, but with the things that really matter to a child - with unconditional love, undivided attention, guidance, humor, patience...I always knew he loved me and he always told me he was proud of me. He read the Three Little Pigs story to me, pausing for effect to show me how the wolf tried to blow down the houses and focusing on the moral of the story...hard work. At over 6 feet tall, he never hesitated to get down on the floor with me to play with play dough, paper dolls, strawberry shortcake, barbies or any other game. He watched cartoons with me and belly laughed right alongside this silly toddler. He taught me how to play memory and then pretended I was really winning when I would cheat by looking at the cards from underneath the glass cabinet we used as a table. When I got a D in P.E. in the first grade because I didn't know how to jump rope (seriously, no teacher should ever give a kid a D in P.E. in the first grade!!) he tied a rope to one side of the fence and patiently turned the rope to show me how to jump, never getting frustrated at my non-athletic abilities. He even let me put rollers in his hair and make-up on his face :) He taught by example, taking up the role of family man when his own father died at a very young age, leaving him to provide for his family and 10 siblings. He was a soldier. He was a math whiz. He was an entrepreneur, but with a soft heart. He was never one to take a handout, but never hesitated to reach out to others in need. He loved my grandma in every way imaginable over the 50+ years they were married, and lived his life for God and for his family. He passed away in 2005, after battling Alzheimer's disease for over 15 years, yes 15 years! Oh, how I miss him. His kind eyes, his strong hands, his tender demeanor. I don't think I ever told him "Thank You" in words while he was still in his right mind, but I hope he knew how much I looked up to him. I so wish he could have met Grace...and read The Three Little Pigs to her...I love you Abuelito!

Ava's Tea Party

Ever since stumbling upon Sheye Rosemeyer's blog and learning about her sweet daughter Ava, I haven't been able to get her out of my mind. I think about her, her family, and all who have gone through similar experiences. And my heart aches. For moments that never were, for experiences not had...like this tea party.

The talented Mandy of Belle & Boo created this amazing illustration in honor of Ava (click on the image to make it larger). Knowing how much my little pumpkin loves tea parties, I thought this would be the perfect artwork to add to her room, all the while reminding me to live life to the fullest, to not take today for granted, for we never know what tomorrow may bring. If you haven't stopped by Sheye's blog, I encourage you to drop by - tissues in hand - but I promise you won't leave empty handed. You'll definitely hug your little ones tighter and find even more beauty in the everyday...all thanks to the SuperPrincess.

burpies and tunes

So you may remember THIS adorable quilt from Amy Smart. It is now folded over the side of Hudson's crib and I just love to walk in the nursery and see it - it makes me smile with anticipation of Hudson's arrival. Amy was so kind to make these adorable coordinating burpies for Hudson that I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!
I have a weakness for sweet little vintage baby items, especially vintage books like THESE. Today I stumbled upon 2 new treasures: Vintage Children's Records!! Never mind that I don't have a record player to play them on, I just love the covers!! These will make a perfect addition to the little pumpkin's room. And they were a steal at just $5! Grace is getting better at singing along to her favorite nursery rhyme songs. I love listening to her try to keep up with the beat and make words for those she doesn't quite know. I think I'll put the date and a little note on the back of these records to remind me of her sweet singing voice at 2 years old :)

that was then, this is now

Today was Grace's last day of "school" (mother's day out). I got so sentimental this morning thinking about how much she's grown over the past year and how much her world will change in just a couple of weeks as our family of 3 becomes a family of 4 with Hudson's arrival.

These were taken on her first day of school back in September 2008. My little pumpkin was just 18 months then.

It's all fun and games...

...until it's time for Mama to leave. Then the tears (no, make that sobs) began a few minutes after I left and lasted for several weeks! It broke my heart and I seriously thought of pulling her out thinking she wasn't ready to be away, even for just 3 hrs. twice a week. But slowly and with the help of a new book packed in her little backback to help her transition during those crucial first 15 minutes every Tues/Thur, she started to like school.

She went from telling me "no school" and "mama, Grace go home" to knowing which days were her school days and talking about "playing with my friends" and even "let's go already" while waiting for me to get her out of the car on school mornings.

These were taken this morning (age 26 mo.) right before we left to go to school for her last day in the 1 y/o classroom. She couldn't wait she was so excited for the special activities of the last day...playing in the "jumpy jump" and eating the special happy meal lunch they were having at their party today.

She talked about her classmates (who are all now 2 years old) and her teachers sweet Mrs. Veronica and Mrs. Laura, and when it was time to leave, she didn't want to go. What a difference a year makes! Can't wait to see how she does come September. But from what I can tell, she'll be alright. After all, she's already made friends with the 2 y/o teachers by uninvitedly (is this even a word?) perching over the bottom half of their split door every time I pick her up just to wave at them, "see what those big kids are doing", and tell them all "bye friends" :)

my little ray of sunshine

She makes me smile inside and out and helps me see the world all over again through a child's eyes (I really like this vantage point the most). That squeal was the result of telling Grace to put on her shoes so we could go to Gymboree!

Curious... Tender... silly & cute... ... the perfect combination!

a little sewing project

Take one cute gymbo skirt +

a couple of $3 tanks from Target and Old Navy













and what do you get?

3 one-of-a-kind summery tanks
1 cute 3-tier flirty skirt and
1 fun pair of ruffly capris
all for less than $30 buckaroos!

It all started with that cute tropical flower skirt and a 30% coupon. Sizes started at a 3T and on the little pumpkin the length was a little too bohemian for my taste. Nothing that a pair of scissors and a doting grandma couldn't fix :) leaving behind the perfect little ruffle

to make these and this cute little tank using Jona's fun and easy tutorial so cute together!Mix in some fun buttons, a few little fabric remnants, and cute yo-yos I made courtesy of this nifty little tool I picked up last year at a local quilt shop and you get these two sweet tanks All leading to one happy, fuzzy slap bracelet-wearing (remember these????), barbie-loving toddler! (never mind the deer-in-the-headlights look :) Just one more day of nursery school* and then it's full on SUMMER!

*I can't believe I picked up Grace's first "class picture" today. Ten little wiggly kiddos and two sweet teachers make for a fun photo! My little pumpkin is growing up so fast **sniff, sniff**