The Big "1"

I've always cherished first birthdays.  They are such a big celebration to me as SO much change happens in just one short year.  You go from carrying life to a toddling walker in just twelve short months.  We had just moved into our first house when C turned one:

Then there was O:
My favorite memory (besides having to assemble the red wagon twice due to poor attention to the instruction manual, ugh) was Eric giving the girls a "night ride" in the wagon after everyone left.  I can still hear their shrieks of joy.  And yes, all four of our girls have mastered "the shriek" by age 1. :)

Our little M&M:

And our last "first" birthday (sniff):

 It really hit me hard with A turning one, especially since just awhile ago we didn't even know if we were having a boy or girl?  We threw a gender reveal party on the day of the ultrasound.  Such a fun memory and since I had all the decorations we went with this "bee" theme for her first birthday.  This was her invitation:

A week before I attempted to make her own party hat...it didn't want to stay on her head though!

Yup, that should fit! :)

Found this letter "A" for .99 on clearance at Joann's

 (the corner was chipped)

Big sister

Such sweet faces!

We had a couple of good card readers!

She likes to say "hot"

Mmmmm...

 

 

 

Tea Time

For M's third birthday we got her a little table/chair set for her bedroom.  She has a cute little "cove" that needed something cute in it.  While we were on summer vacation the week before her birthday I stopped at an antique store when I saw this cute little set sitting out front:

Originally I was going to do her room in a "berry" theme so the seats really caught my eye.  I ended up going with a soft yellow/pink theme.  The chairs are solid wrought iron, but the table is pretty cheap and needed some girly-ness.   For a $1.47 I got material for new chair covers:

The table cloth still needs to be sewn (I will be visiting my momma for that). ;)  This is the look:

I can't decide whether or not to add the green fringe piece:

What do you think? I like that it matches the cupcakes, but I am not 100% sold.

Who wouldn't want to do tea with this cutie patootie?!?!?!

The winner is...

Our M&M.  I was going through pictures from November and December and it occurred to me that our third child wins the prize for funniest pictures of the year.  I'd like to dedicate this post to M.  Whom, as of late, is more often on the naughty list than the good, but she adds spice to our lives in a way that is endearing. She has the mouth of a sailor (if words like stupid and poop count) and yet she is the most animated and funny girl too.  She is rough and tough, but changes her clothes about ten times a day.  She loves nail polish.   I've learned a lot about nail polish removal...it seems to find its way on everything BUT nails.  There are days when I want to go find a job or reside at Pine Rest Mental Institution. ;)  I kid.  Well sort of...
Today as we snuggled in for a nap (because if I didn't lay down with her we were liable for any damages that may incur while we "thought" she was napping) and after we read "three books" she laid her sweet little hand across my shoulder and says "I love you mommy."  Melted. 

Goofball

Fearless

The classic Christmas picture

So precious in those Christmas jammies...uhhhh

 

 The seals smelled really bad!

 

Please note the roped off area and where M is standing...Rule. Breaker.  Was giving her momma a heart attack in the process!

And then there is little sister...safety is our goal in this relationship ;)

Dad's girl

She is the one in the glass bowl...with her tongue hanging out...

  She LOVES the snow and often asks to get her "snowing clothes" on to play outside

 

Grandma got this perfect shirt!

This picture speaks for itself...

Whats Not to Love?!?!

Sew, Sew, Sew Cute!!

My sista has some mad crazy sewing skillz.  Okay, talking that way + sewing don't really mix...when I think of someone sewing my mind goes all quiet, dainty and towards a cute little house wife.  That is one thing I like about my sister, she is that and she isn't...maybe I just know her fierce inner, wild side. ;)  This ALWAYS happens. Me gets sidetracked  (and yes, you grammatical freaks, *cough* Janelle and Julie) I meant to say "me gets". :P

Insert gorgeous sista:

See...she is cute even in a mustache!! Not many ladies can say that...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 My sister made, as in bought the material and stitched together, MADE these bedding sets:

See that animal print?  Yup, I called it...fierce.

And the dainty side *blinks rapidly* :)

I adored the ribbon ties!

The coordinating pillows - she sewed these too!

The fabric print choices could not get any cuter! She even made the underside of the duvet cover out of a soft sheet so it would be cozy.  That is the great thing about sewing - sew custom! ;) Ok, I promise no more corny jokes.  She also did the bedskirts.  *swoon* 

Some other DIY likes:

Hanging baskets

Loved the mirror.  My sister and husband made the frame and added the corner details

Cute fall table runner she sewed

This table she re-finished to black...she is the queen of Craigslist finds!

This bathroom deserves its own page!!  The stripes were amazing and just the perfect accent.

New dining room wall decor.  We had a lot of fun putting this together during our visit.  Nothing screams girls night more than drilling holes in a wall!  She already had the black shelf and we found the shutters at Home Goods (coming soon near us!!!).  The clock we also found on one of our shopping outings

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On our first day we took my nieces to get their hair done.  They have a really cute "kids salon" in their town.  Check it out...want the kid to look down?? Plop a puzzle in their lap. Genius.

Donating to Locks of Love

One cutie patootie!!

The girls "fed" their hair into a machine and out came a prize!!

 

We were able to celebrate my niece turning three - very special

Cousin love!