party planning kicked into high gear...

so i have been super on & off about doing a party for my kids birthdays this year or taking a trip. since both of there birthdays split Christmas i thought maybe we should do parties on even years & trips on odd years. i know that you are probably thinking... "just scale down & do both." & i know that is the logical answer, but that is just not my style. i hope that one day i will be able to let go & scale back, but for now this is the way i am & i will just embrace it:)

anyhoo- the whole theme for Avi's party came a few months back when i got her this shirt that she became so obsessed with she wanted to wear it day & night. it's no secret that she has a sweet tooth (& that is an exaggerated understatement!!!!) this child wakes up wanting sugar & goes to bed still asking for treats! so it was only appropriate that i buy her this "candy makes me happy" shirt.

i had seen a lot of candy themed parties over the last few years & i just wanted something a little different. still cute & fun & playful, but just different. so i was really excited when we found the shirt & had a very TRUE theme for avi's 3rd birthday. now for all of the work that goes into throwing the party, planning activities, the cake, the favors & all that fun stuff. i'll post the lollipop invites soon. stay tuned!

holy cow... i won!

i am not a big contest enterer, because i have always thought to myself- "if i like something, i don't need someone to tell me if they agree with me."  & i don't mean that with any sort of disrespect!  i just have never needed to walk the same way as everyone else.  but i have to be honest~ i am totally flattered that cjane & whoever else was looking, liked what they saw!

anyway... onto the details.  i was on my friend Haley's blog & i saw that she had submitted a picture to this little blog contest, so i followed her link & did the same.  i didn't think much else of it until i was reading a comment from someone on my blog & saw that they had seen me on cjane.  so i went back & low & behold- i won.  thanks cjane for the fun contest & for making my week just that much happier:)

p.s. i might not pass on all contests anymore.

{my sweet avi bug waving at the flag was my winning shot}

roller derby Avi & the bug atrium...

first let me start by saying, i am not dead... just super busy & a little overwhelmed.  i won't go into that right now, but i will give you a funny glimpse into the past couple of days at our house.

yesterday i was doing some painting ::: more on that to come ::: when i looked over and saw becks helping avi get decked out in his roller skating gear.  when i asked her what they were doing he simply looked at me & calmly explained that he was going to hook a rope on to the back of his power wheel john deer tractor & then avi was going to hold onto it & he was going to pull her:)  when i calmly told him that was a very terrible idea, he smiled & said..." maybe when she's 45."  i chuckled & said, "maybe:)"  after i foiled that plan, avi wasn't ready to give up.  she sported that look for a good hour.  even after becks moved on to his potato bug atrium.  as soon as i had gotten them to bed, i went right outside &  released his captives from there 'honey i blew up the garden' home & finished my painting... which my mother-in-law won't comment on.  i'm pretty sure that no news is bad news on this one.  i'll put it up for vote later in the week. 

{securing the safety devices}

{admiring how great she looks sporting super hero garb}

{she caught me with the camera & couldn't help but make the prettiest face}

{beckham collecting his captors}

{all in an hour with my kids:)}

when life gives you rain...

make a fashion statement!  lately the posts have seemed to be all about avi... becks has been a little camera shy.  anyhoo, when it rained today we were just getting ready to go to dinner but avi wanted to play in the rain before we went.  i loved the miss matchy outfit & couldn't help but grab my camera & snap a couple shots.  even though it has been super gloomy lately, avi seems to really brighten up ANY day!

 

 **check back next week & i'll be giving you these little picture scalloped picture frames i made:)

what am i gonna wear with these boots?

{boots 'n bottoms}

don't judge me for post a pic with my child's naked patutti & not having a private blog:)  but i just couldn't help it!  this is what i found this morning when i told avi "no sweetie, you can't wear your boots over your jammies."  so this little smarty pants took her jammies off, put her boots on, scooted her chair over & was on her way to picking out her outfit by the time i got to her!  what a goof!!!

tea for two...

this last week, while becks was at school, avi had a little tea party in her room.  i could help but grab my camera & snap some shots!  she is so funny while she plays pretend.  she talks in a higher voice & is so polite:)  now if i could only get her to clean up after herself!

    {just a little tea party}

  {she is such a good sharer:)}

   {aren't plastic cupcakes delicious!?!}

     {good till the last drop}

{tea parties are too much fun!}

{just the right amount of cream & sugar}

{it's my tea party & i'll throw a fit if i want to}

imperfect perfection...

this little crooked smile is my favorite face she makes!  i love how it isn't perfect, but yet it is just about the cutest thing a mother could ever see.  just looking at this face brightens my day!  love you Avi bug!