Camano Island

The kids and I just spent the last two night at my In-Laws, while Justin was away for business. There is something so refreshing about heading out of the city and into wide open spaces. The heritage is rich and the land is lush... we took the low road by Grandpa's old dairy farm and homesteaded land. Headed onto the island into a place that is now so familiar to me I can call it home. We laughed and were loved on by Justin's Great Grandma, my kids Super Great Grandma (who just turned 96 on May 1), both Great Grandma's, Great Grandpa Moo, Grammy, Baba and Oscar (the dog). I feel so blessed, as I soak in the family I have married into. The treasure of such faith, loyalty, and love that is folded into the fabric of my babies beings, makes me beam with gratitude.

 super great grandma & lillian  

 happy great grandma & lil clap your hands

 red, white, blue, me & you

 pretty princess

 standing alone

 corvette cool- happy 50th grammy!

Lillian Deer & Baba

pure joy

coloring eggs

as our eggs sat in the window soaking up the dye, my Lil beamed with excitement as the sun set on her pretty little curls. she is absolutely delightful! 

each time we pulled an egg out of its cup she gasped with delight exclaiming, "BLUE!" or "PINK!" amazed a dozen times that our white eggs were now a color. her joy was contagious and i began to be more in awe myself in the mystery of each eggs saturation of color.

she hugged me so tight as i carried her to bed and whispered (in her not so quiet- quietest voice because Rowen is sleeping), "i love you mommy. i love you mommy so much. you are my best friend ever. best friends ever." and that is one of those moments that i could live in, freeze, stop, just stay like this forever.

Fashion Friday::Violet

Love me some violet! And especially on two of my heart throbs. A cute little ruffled cardigan on my  little beauty & a bit of Purple to put the P in power suit.

Quotable Lil

Lil with her "daddy treat"

Mommy, you are a nice girl. I'm married to you. But where is my ring? Maybe you get me one for my birthday. A flower one? Yes for my birthday.

Dr. Seuss, By Earth's Best Organics

I love you just because. I love you best. 

Mommy I want to give Jesus a hug.

Rowen's Awake! I'm going to go get him. I'm coming Rowen, one second. I'm going to jump in his bed. I ask first. He said yes.

Daddy you look handsome.

Why? But Why? Because Why?  

 

 

 

fashion friday:: turban

thanks to my fabulous friend at The Concrete Catwalk Lillian and I sported the oh so hip turban today! let's be honest it is so adorable on Lil & Minnie looks pretty trendy too! A super fun & easy DIY! 

az vacay

after a fabulous vacay in phoenix & my parents new "lodge" in payson with the utterback clan, my kids and i have returned home to A NEW CAR (thanks husband!) & the stomach flu (thankfully not baby row). i had huge ambitions of recapping my time with a compilation video & i still hope to get around to that, but since i only have a wee bit of energy here is a taste...

 my son has the most amazing smile & he was the cutest conductor on the train at the Railroad Park

sissy loves being with all her girlie cousins & nana never passes up an opportunity to dress them 

matchy-matchy

the best for last... a star in the making! 

this could of been a post of it's own... i love my indian princess, SO!

p.p.p.p

PARK

i'll bundle up and take on the crisp air any day there isn't rain.

PIZZA

one of our new years resolutions is to make pizza dinner together once a week. we are getting pretty creative & lil is quite the sue chef. we are shooting for resolutions that we can keep... along with our saturday morning chocolate croissants (yum!)

PLAY

a recent outing to the zoo was twice as fun with her two bf's Ollie & Wes!  the entertainment abounds with two year olds and my favorite is when they have their own little conversations. cutest little people!

PLEASE
manners are the matter at hand and i actually wish that i meant just please. with the resent whining and murmur of "i can't" resounding through my home, i am buckling my two year old down to PLEASE "say it with a smile"- makes it hard for her to keep the whine in her tone while cheesing up her cheeks. And really why say you can't when as a two year old all you want to do is say " I CAN!" (like the little engine that could). I love reading parenting tips and i often laugh thinking of all the strategies- redirect, encourage, be positive, patient, and really just be present cause the truth is I need to say things with a smile even if it is "Please don't sit on your brother" =)

happy holidays

We had the Merriest of Christmas' this year! Now that we are back home i must note a few tidings of christmas this year...

I love christmas! It is exciting and magical every moment set to a melodious tune... Lillian had me singing carols around the clock. Her favorites were a tie between Rudolph & Away in a Manger. 

ABC

Lillian talks so much & the alphabet is her favorite (Happy Birthday a close 2nd). So, my day is filled with letter matching & i spy the letter version. The alphabet according to Lil:

A for Annie

B for Baba

C for Carly

D for Dada

E for Eleanor

F for Faye

G for Grammy

H for Hi

I for I love you

J for Justin Dean

K for Tina (Katrina)

L for Lillian Faye

M for Mary Faye

N for Nana

O for Ollie

P for Pappy

Q for Queen

R for Rowen

S for Seckel

T for Tree

U for Uncle

V for ...

W for Wendy

X for ... 

Y for Yes

Z for Zion

now i know my ABC next time won't you sing with me... SING WITH ME!

SPECIAL NOTE TODAY: Happy 30th Birthday Josh! Love you brother!

feature presentation

starring: lillian & ollie

 charlie brown christmas

yummy popcorn & coco with whipped cream

best friends & best movie night ever

true confessions

our two year old lillian faye spends her last moments before shut eye telling God the on goings of her day. they have recently gone something like this:

Dear God, love to Daddy, Mama, Rowen...

i made cookies with Laila & couldn't share so baby in time out, cause couldn't share.

happy know it clap your hands. sing that song today and i like it and i danced too.

daddy wouldn't let me watch Elmo.

AMEN.