Greatest Gift

where oh where have i been?

well... since the boys got out of school, they've been on a steady stream of UNsteady bedtimes... baseball games... video games... fun days with grandma... they're little sis has joined in on all the fun too {which was the cause for that picture. fell asleep with her face in her ice cream cone!  too funny.} Lydia is loving having Collin & Evan home with her! She just plays right along side them or they'll think of something fun to play with her like hotel or shopping mall :) As any mother I love the days or even hours when they are all playing happily together! Now, if it would stop raining long enough for them to get some outside play time without coming back a muddy mess...  

For the last few weeks I've been on an exciting journey as well!  I'll share details soon... but I've been doing lots of thinking, researching & playing! I've also been taking this summer e course by the oh so fabulous Kelly Rae Roberts!!!

 

If you don't know about this amazing artist you should really go check out kelly's website. Her book is on my list to read too... she is truly an inspiring individual :)

Oh & I saw sneaks of the LOADS of new goodies being released for Reminisce this summer... oooooh you're gonna LOVE it all!!!  We've all been busy little designers these last several months!  Keep checking over at the Reminisce blog for new releases!

you know it's summer when...

the calendar reads June...

the kids REALLY don't have any interest in homework...

the slip n slide makes it's first appearance...

 

new swimsuits are revealed...

 

the big guns come out...

 

evenings on the porch are being enjoyed...

and baseball games are in full swing...

 

the long weekend was amazing, but unfortunately our boys have school until June 8th... I think we're all ready for some lazy days ahead!
  
  
 

a little more sunshine in my days...

 

 

 

well, obviously it's been far too long since I've blogged, but with good reason {I think}. We've had lots of changes going on around here over the past few weeks. Dan & I decided after a little shake up at Lydia's babysitter, that we'd try keeping her at home with me. It wasn't so much a hard decision as it was trying to make sure we could make it all work out. With my full time design job at home, I have plenty of work to accomplish for sure, but I've spent the last week & a half trying to work it out. I love having Lydia at home.  My days are now inter-mixed with design work, blowing bubbles, swinging, puzzles & such. Hearing her chatter, extra hugs & kisses through the day & just having someone here with me is a welcome change.  Getting some time away from the computer throughout the day really helps me feel a little more fresh!!! I think it's even made me better at time management:)  I was a stay at home mom with both of the boys, although then I didn't hold a full time position besides... so I know you definitely have to use your "free" time wisely!  I've figured out times of the day that work best for uninterrupted work time & times that I need to take a break to play, read, or just cuddle.  It's such a wonderful thing to watch & listen to her growing & learning new things everyday.  When I have a meeting or an appointment or just because Grandma Mary has been delighted to spend time with her as well. I'm taking all the time I can to soak it all in & enjoy this opportunity. Although some days I might not get done everything I want to accomplish I'm reminding myself to take a deep breath & remember it's nothing I can't work on when Dan gets home or when the kids go to sleep. I love you Lydia & yes you definitely are MY SUNSHINE :)
   

 

ideas for the little lady

Lydia started last May with great success in the potty training department. It's seemed rather effortless for us {at least compared to her brothers} & have gone through this last year happy with her progress & lack of accidents. Unfortunately, it seems that we've also gone though the past year without really realizing we were just happily taking her to & from the bathroom without much thought. Well, she's been giving some trouble to the babysitter as of late as far as the potty game goes, so Dan & I are trying to devise some things to prod her along to be more independent, which we are hoping in turn helps with those troubles.  We're hoping this will progress quickly as most things we've tried with her...but alas, our little lady is quite stubborn.  The above is just one idea, a chart that she could color in every time she does "it" by herself.  After filling the chart, we're thinking the reward would be something like a new dvd... which she loves.  Another idea was a similar chart, but she gets to place a sticker in each square.  It may take a little tweaking, but hopefully we'll have success soon!!! Wish us luck :)

  

playing around

I did a real quick layout this morning while I was sending some new product off to the printer :)  It's a mix of my unwritten line & some stuff I just got in the happy box from Studio Calico.  I loved how some of the things I had gotten from Studio Calico coordinated so well with unwritten!!! 

 

Easter memories

There was a lot of anticipation for this little lady about some bunny coming & leaving some eggs & candy.  We started with our local egg hunt on Saturday... she decided that she would search out all the plastic eggs & skip over all the other candy.

as for Evan, he just went for it all!!! But he was polite enough to throw some of it back for some kids who got there late & share some with Collin & Lydia as well.  

 

Easter Sunday we started with an early mass & then hosted a brunch with my family.  The big kids hid the eggs... I'm guess Alec thought they needed a challenge!

ready... set... GO!!!! 

cousins :) They just crack me up when they get together.
 

Collin found his 6 eggs first, so he got the bonus egg with $2 in it! There favorite eggs are the ones with money in them...

 

Evan checking his loot.

EXCITED!!! 

 

listening for money... I think the kids re-hid Lydia's eggs 3 more times. She LOVES hunting eggs! She also wanted to call the Easter bunny to see if he could bring her some more candy. We were continually looking in the yard to see if more had appeared :)
 

all in all, it was a perfect day with our family.
 

   

she loves ya Chuck.

> I can't get the little lady to wear anything else right now. I keep sneaking other shoes on her in the morning... Mary Janes, which have always been her staple are now sitting unworn in her shoe bin. Her love of Chuck was reinforced when we were reading her Olivia book the other day & guess who was wearing a pair of red high top Chucks? Yep. Now she "needs" a pair in red...

to be outside...

Today it's dreary & cold here, so I was thinking of the days we've had over the last few weeks that have allowed us some much needed outside time.  Last week we spent a nice evening outside playing & it's a good thing we did... that next day it snowed!!! We've had a few nice days this week too with some sunshine & warmer temperatures.  Hopefully they will come back soon... please? 

 

this little girl LOVES playing outside

 

love that kid :)

the 4wheeler is definitely the boys favorite outside activity right now. I think the extra mud adds to the excitement for them...

 

big monkey:)

 

 

that face says it all... we love outside!!!
 
 

 
 

yesterday...

we celebrated YoU with a birthday party!  

 

 

complete with lots of presents, lots of cupcakes & lots of LoVe from our friends & family that joined us in your special day.  I love having birthday parties & you were so excited to have everyone to come to your house & play. You had a very full day, no nap & you finally gave it up about 7pm in your rocking chair {grandma Klesner style}.  You were such a happy little lady the whole day... we all had a great time watching the little girl excitement. I think one of your favorite moments was when I finally showed you your cake.. complete with Dora on top!  You even had to blow out your candles twice! This morning you told me you thought today would be a good day to have another Dora party!  Too cute.  Love you so much.... happy happy 3rd birthday Lydia! 

{photos by Aunt Carol}

{digital elements from Houseof3 & Ali Edwards} 
 

happy birthday little girl

today our little Lydia turns three... 

at three...you're sweet, loud, thoughtful, imaginative, happy, stubborn, ornery, funny, you love wearing dresses, not jeans, pink is your favorite, love your "boys" {Collin & Evan}, your daddy, want your mommy {unless I won't let you have your way... then it's all daddy}, you love Olivia the pig, Dora the Explorer, Curious George & Cinderella, you like butterflies, you love being at home, staying in your pjs all day, you recently gave up your binky, you've been potty trained almost a year, you got you're ears pierced a few months ago, you still carry "stinky pinky" that you've had from day 1, you don't enjoy change, you always know when it's Lydie Friday, you hate snow & anything else that gets you wet & dirty, you freak out a little when your fingers get wrinkly after a bath, your favorite breakfast is pink oatmeal, you like sandwiches & pizza & fruit & lots of milk! 

we've had a great time having you in our family, little girl.  you've brought lots of laughter, lots of pink, & just lots of girly stuff!  there is definitely days when you challenge us with your strong personality, but you always makes us smile & laugh with your funny ways. we love you miss Lydia Marie :)

 

happy birthday to you!
 

{pictures by aunt carol}

{photo overlays by ali edwards @ designer digitals}