We had a tiny visitor....

It is no secret that my three year old is addicted to binkies! A couple days ago, however, a tiny visitor dropped by our house. THE BINKY FAIRY! 

We have had a fairy door for a couple years now, but this was our first fairy visit ;o) 

Lillias woke up to find a little trail of glitter {fairy dust} and a note by the fairy door. Without hesitation Lillias handed me the binky to give to the binky fairy.

Here are the notes I made from the fairy to leave...

We have been talking to her a lot about this coming and she had even requested her binky fairy present. Princess of course!

A very creative friend made the fairy door for me, she has a fabulous blog!

I have been impressed with Lilli not asking for the binky back, but she has been a little more grumpy than normal. I keep telling myself that it will get better, hopefully it will. No turning back now!

Love to Shop??....

Just in time for Christmas I found lots of new sites to tempt me! If my daily e-mails from jcrew where not enough now I have several more to fill my inbox with temptation!

Here are some of my new finds in online deals... Enjoy {I know I have ;o)}

Fashion: 

Think Filene's Basement meets the internet on speed!

Rue La La  {LOVE this one!}

Ideeli

Gilt

Beyond the Rack

Gifts and Home Decor:

The Foundary

One Kings Lane 

Children:

Zulily

Mamapedia

Baby Steals

Random Local Goodness:

Living Social

Groupon

T-Minus 1 Day!

Tomorrow is the last day of the quarter for me! I underestimated how hard going back to school would be with kids {one that can not leave me for more than a couple hours} and Shawn also in school. I learned a lot and over I am glad I did it, but it has been stressful finding uninterrupted time to devote to school. I can proudly say that I have an A and lots of new design knowledge under my education belt, but will enjoy having a little free time again!

Designing Away... For a VERY special person!

My nephew Ryan holds a special place in my heart, he joined our family 8 years ago and made me an aunt for the first time. He is such a special spirt. He is an obedient, sweet, thoughtful, SMART, handsome guy! I was reading back through my journals a couple weeks ago and came across several entries where sweet Ryan made my life a little bit easier. 

When Ryan was around 4 years old, Lisa and Ryan had stayed the night at my mom's house. I was about 7 weeks pregnant and had just left a doctor appointment where I found out that I had been pregnant with twins and one had died and the other was not looking like it would make it either. I was devastated and drove straight from the appointment to my mom's knowing that she and Lisa would both be there. As I was telling my mom the news we both started crying. Ryan who had been playing in the other room came in to see me with tears down my face, ran into my arms and gave me a hug. It was perfect timing and much needed. 

The next experience {of many}was also when he was 4ish years old and we were living with my in-laws, Ryan was staying the night and I was sick. He got up pretty early {pretty sure he still does} came into my room and wanted to play, to which I informed him that I was sick and staying in bed. A little while later he came back into my room with a bottle of medicine and a dixie cup of water to "fix me." My mother in law told me later that he came rushing into her room where she had been sleeping and told her that I was sick and needed medicine. She got him the bottle and helped him fill the cup of water all at his request. 

I am so blessed to be a part Ry Ry's {pretty sure he doesn't like to be called that anymore} life!

About a month ago he was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints out in Austin and I was unable to go. Lisa, however, asked me to make the programs for the event. I was so glad she did because even though I was not there to cheer on the boy I love so much, I felt apart of the day. 

Here is the program I designed:

Front and Back

Inside

Addy Ann's First Teeth!

My sweet Addy Ann is 5 months {as of nov. 25th actually}!! I can't believe how fast the time has flown by! She is such a joy to have around, always smiling.

On November 18th I noticed two little teeth poking through. Now her smile is just that much cuter with her little "mouse" teeth as Lillias calls them!

Fall in Review

Since I am looking at this blog basically as a scrapbook/journal I want to make sure I don't leave out the fun activities that made our Fall fun this year! So to recap here are a couple events...

First was a trip to the Olentangy Indian Caverns, it was the perfect crisp Fall day!

We went with the Holloway's, England's, and the Torgesen's. A fun group with lots of cute friends for Lillias to make silly faces with!

Addy went in and out of naps the whole way through the cold damp caves, such a little trooper!

Reese and Lilli making each other crack up!

Classic Lillias bossing the situation! HA! She loved mining for "jewels!"

The day after we visited the caverns, Lillias had her school field trip to the pumpkin patch. Grandma and Grandpa Adams' came up to watch Addy Ann while mommy and Lillias went to the farm. This was the first time since Adelaide was born that Lillias and I did something just the two of us! 

Right after I snapped this picture the pony bit her finger, she was not happy about it either! 

Lilli with her preschool class and Miss Vickie! The sweetest teacher, Lillias LOVES her!

Hello December!

Confession, I probably spend about an hour {sometimes a lot more} a day reading blogs. I start with one of my favorites and by the time I'm finished I have jumped from that one to the one she recommended to the one that, that one recommends.... on and on and on.... It's so neat that I can connect with people who live sometimes around the world through similar life circumstances all through a small personal blog. I, however, am not so great about posting. So many times things I see or that happen each day make me think "I should blog about that" but never seem to find the time to do it. So, since today is December 1st {CRAZY!} my goal is to post once a day for the entire month! That way when I make one of these Blurb Blog to Books it will be filled with lots of the details that fill up our days!

Happy December!!

Building Family Memories!

A couple weekends ago on a beautiful fall night we went as a family to Easton to "walk around" a.k.a. shop ;o) 

I love photo-booths and the candid shots you get as a result. Not sure why Shawn's face is blurry, but still a memory maker!

p.s. if you happen to look at this in the next couple hours {until midnight tonight} check out the minky  couture website I have linked on the bottom right side of my blog for a giveaway. Super easy all you have to do is put their button on your website and then send them the link, your address and the mini minky you would like your little prince or princess to cosy up to. Thanks to Ashley for posting this on facebook!! Addy will LOVE it!

3 Halloween's in 2010

Our Halloween Adventures started on Thursday night with trick or treating in my mom and dad's neighborhood. This was the first and only night Addy got into her ladybug costume, as you can see from the picture she was not loving it! Lillias on the other hand loved her costume made by her fabulous seamstress a.k.a grandma Adams! She went back and forth for months leading up to Halloween on which princess she wanted to be, it landed on Cinderella! I was pleased with this choice because being blonde and having blue eyes she made a pretty cinderella! {just a little biased} Next came our church trunk or treat which was really fun because she got to play with all her friends. And finally came trick or treating on the real Halloween at Grammy and Papa's. Lots of fun and LOTS of candy!

Lillias with the cousins at the church trunk or treat.

In the midst of all her friends at trunk or treat.

In Grammy and Papa's neighborhood trick or treating... just couldn't wait to eat the pink sucker! She asked everyone handing out treats for PINK candy! Funny girl!

Lately...

We have been keeping REALLY busy lately. I am taking a graphic design class {hoping to put another degree under my belt} it's probably going to take about 100 years at the one class per quarter rate I am going at. I'm glad I can fall back on teaching, but am really enjoying this major and kinda wishing that I would have done this the first time around.... With Shawn back in school too it is hard to fit in homework time, but overall it's working out. Friends, Family and church are taking advantage of my new design hobby, which is keeping me busy but is good experience. 

Time is flying by and Addy is four months {still need to do a photo shoot to document that} Lillias is loving preschool and mommy is too! ;o) Last week we had two excursions one with some friends and the other with her school, pictures to come... 

We are really enjoying the crisp Fall weather and since daddy is away at work, school or studying much of the time we girly girls have gotten into a good routine just the three of us.  I am loving our time spent together! Thankful to Shawn for working hard at work and school!

 hAPPY fALL and hALLOWEEN wEEKEND!

Love This!

One of the blogs I follow madebygirl posted these pictures from photographer Jen Thompson's studio. I love the lofty modern shabby chic look she used! If I ever {probably never will} have a big fun work space to decorate I would like it to look like this!

Texas Ya'll!

I just got back from beautiful Austin visiting my lovely sister and her new adorable addition, Chloe Belle!

Addy and I flew in on Saturday and flew out Wednesday, a quick trip! I wish I would have taken more pictures but below are a few... 

I can't remember exactly what this place was called but it was SO gorgeous!! The rain chased us out after about 30 mins but I was glad that we had beat the rain long enough to take in the view!!

Of course the trip wouldn't be complete without some shopping ;) We did a little of that at the outdoor mall by Lisa's house. Below are the best we got with the girly girl cousins together...

My Sweet Adelaide at 3 Months

Here are a few shots from her 3 month photo shoot. I saw this dress at Janie and Jack and could not leave without it! It made the perfect prop! 

There has been some debate in our household on how to get these cute bows to stay put on her little head. My mom used Elmer's glue when I was little to get the bows to stay, so that's what I used. Shawn however thought this was strange and did not think I should use glue... it has worked out great so far! Ha!

Adelaide is still the best baby, I love her to pieces!!!

{p.s. this post is about 2.5 weeks behind}

1st Day of Preschool

Yesterday Lillias started preschool! She has been a mixed bag of excited and hesitant about this day. It was so cute to see her walk right into her classroom and feel right at home playing with the all the toys. Lillias is the youngest child, but with her height and overall outgoingness you'd never know it! She will go Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:30 - 3pm which is right during her nap... so we'll see how that plays out...

Her teacher is Miss Vickie, she seems to really love working with this age. We are excited to have her as our teacher this year!

A couple days ago we went to her 3 year well check and here are her stats:

Height: 38 1/4" -- 70th percentile

Weight: 31 1/2 lbs -- 55th percentile

My beautiful big girl is growing up SO fast!

Lillias' Birthday Party

When I asked Lillias what kind of party she wanted this year she said a princess party... no surprise there! Everything is pink and princess for this girl! When I originally made up the invitations I made them in two different color options pink and red or pink and purple. The pink and purple won Lilli over immediately!

We reserved the Orange Park Shelter for the event, which worked out great. The kids seemed to have fun going between the shelter and the playground equipment.

A family Shot

Taking a whack at the pinata, so funny to watch the kids seriously whacking this poor pinata!

Blowing out ALL three candles!

Grandpa Adams, we sure do love him!

As soon as anyone would put down a present on the present table, Lillias was right there to open it up! No long drawn out present opening session at this party! ;)

The dessert table

Crown rice crispy treats with pink sprinkles, pink and purple lollipops, and cotton candy cones!

For the favors I made up these personalized bubbles.

I made cupcakes and then topped them with fondont toppers made by twosugarbabies on Etsy.

They turned out so cute, even though she sent half of them with a "1" instead of a "3" ...

For the table centerpiece I used a large mason jar and filled it with pink and purple nerds with a pink and purple balloon tied around the rim and princess wands around the jar.

Place settings

The present table after Lillias got through with it!

A fun night with friends and family celebrating Lillias!