She really did graduate!

When Jordan finished elementary school in Los Angeles, it was a big deal.  She got a new dress, they had a graduation ceremony, we presented her with a flower lei, and I think we even took her out for a mani-pedi!!  It was a big deal, so big that I even blogged about it here.

Well, this past week Kya graduated from elementary school too (only it's 6th grade here in WA instead of 5th...which I love btw).  But her school here didn't do a graduation ceremony.  It's not that they didn't celebrate; they had a sixth grade picnic, they had a trip to the water slides for those on safety patrol, they got t-shirts with everyone's signatures, and they even did a variety show!  But no ceremony to buy her a new dress for or give her flowers at, or to watch her get some sort of diploma from her teacher!  I was a little sad about that, until I found out that Kya wanted to audition to sing in the variety show and guess what?  She wanted to wear a new dress!!

So Kya sang at her variety show, all by herself, in a beautiful new dress.  I couldn't be prouder of this amazing girl!  She has done so well in elementary school, I just know great things are in her future as she heads to Junior High!!

First Day of Kindergarten

Variety Show

 

 Last Day of 6th Grade

The First Birthday Party

I can't tell you how excited I was to finally have creative control over a birthday party again!!  Summer's first birthday party was so much fun to plan, and even more fun because the guests were family.  So here's what we did:

The theme was bubbles, balloons, balls...oh, and PINK!

It turned out to be a super HOT day, but the kids still played with bubbles, beach balls and hula hoops in the backyard.

 

The rest of us stayed inside most of the time, enjoying the air conditioning!!

Here are the boys, posing with my mantle decorations:)

 

And Grandpa posing with my "1" that took FOREVER to make!

My bowl of pink gumballs...

I found these cute cups and had to make them part of Summer's birthday (Sweet Sweet Summer)!

Summer was so sweet opening her presents!  She loved every single one!

I was planning on making a Finnish cake, but since I had never made one before and we were having so many people over, and the theme was pink, I changed my mind and made a rose cake.  I think it looked adorable for a first birthday cake...even if it was a little lopsided!

 

 

 And here's a little fun I had with the birthday girl...I couldn't resist:

One day & one year--my, how quickly they grow!

 

Because of Summer

The ache in my heart is gone, all because this little one joined our family!  I try to remind myself of that when she throws my make-up on the floor, wakes me up in the middle of the night, and won't let me do anything but carry her around outside!!  I am grateful every single day to have this little girl in my life and I can't wait to see the amazing person she becomes.  Happy Birthday Summy!!!

I get to do stuff too...sometimes!!

These days my life is mostly about my kids.  I'm totally fine with it!  But once in a while, it's nice to get out and do something that I want to do!!!  Sometimes that means, something that the kids like too...like when Jordan and I went to see Swan Lake.

But sometimes, it means leaving the kids with Daddy, driving up to Canada, hanging out with the best friend, and living out childhood dreams...at the NKOTB Concert!!

Taking Pictures With a 10-month-old

I wanted a picture with these adorable shoes before they are too small...and that bow is getting pretty tight, so we threw that in on the way downstairs!

First attempt:

 Uh-oh, she discovered the shoes:

 Shoot, the shoes are off:

She's pretty proud of herself:

Oh no!!  She found the bow!!:

The bow must go:

Now what?!  Why are you still taking pictures?!

A Picture is Worth...

I absolutely love taking pictures.  My favorite thing to photograph is my family.  These days, there is always a lot of backlash when I bring the camera out, which means I have to decide if it's worth it.  Sometimes the answer is "no", but usually (in my mind at least) the answer is an irrevocable "YES."  Yesterday, I was a bit on the fence about the whole thing.

Christmas Sunday pictures are always worth it...

 ...as well as Christmas present shots....

(Here is one of the best present shots of ALL TIME)

...and Christmas jammies shots....

Santa pictures...not as crucial 

(EX. I did not force the girls into this picture nor did I force the kids to take pics with Santa when they were scared).

 Birthday cake pictures...always worth it. 

Back to school photos, very important...

(Tyson's first day of Kindergarten--eek!)

Easter pictures are one of those non-negotiables. 

 

Well this year, Easter Sunday was a week before Easter.  Kya and Tyson had to be at church 30min early and we did not get pictures done before we left...I did get a couple of Summer. 

 

By the time we got home from church, Summer was asleep and the kids changed out of their Easter clothes, promising next Sunday they would put them back on for pictures EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE CHURCH.

Fast forward to the following Sunday and it was a FIGHT to get them back into those clothes!! Believe me, there were multiple times that I questioned whether it was worth it, but in the end IT WAS....at least to me:)

Things I Forgot

It's been a while since we've had a little one in the house...and I had definitely forgot a few things!!

I forgot...

...about this absolutely horrendous stage of refusing to lay still while getting a diaper change!

...how every article of clothing you wear becomes a kleenex/bib/washcloth for baby...and you don't even notice.

...that sweet yet slightly annoying stage when baby wants Mama and only Mama--all the time!

...how incredibly, breathtakingly beautiful my little babies are:0)

...that my heart melts instantly when I see that sweet gummy smile.

...once a baby tries grown up food, they will never go back to baby food--shoot.

...how poorly I function on no sleep.

...how glorious it is to have a moment to yourself:)

...how much fun and excitement comes from watching a baby learn about the world!

...that my hubby is amazingly wonderful with little babies.

...that there comes a day when your little girl pulls those adorable head bands and hair bows out of her hair!

...earrings can't be worn to church anymore...unless you want them ripped out!

...what a miracle it is to create life and watch in grow.

 

 

These kids, they just keep growing!!

Kya came home from school on Monday with a course selection sheet for JUNIOR HIGH!!  Then on Tuesday night we were up at the church for NEW BEGINNINGS!!  What an exciting year this will be for my little (ok not quite so little anymore) Kya.  Young Womens, Girls Camp, Junior High...before I know it she'll be coming home with boyfriends and college catalogs!!

Here she is with a couple friends at New Beginnings