birthdays

Three birthdays have gone by, this year...the first:

Evolet Olivia Grace
03/20/2012

We didn't get a chance to celebrate her shabby chic birthday party, due to fact that she had a stomach virus, that was passed around the five of us. But I did manage to take some pictures of her in the little outfit that I made.

the birthday board I created with photoshop

I made (mod podged her name on) the blocks too

I made the burlap crown 

These 12 month pictures are way overdue...cause she'll soon be 18 months on the 20th!-oops!

The 2nd:

she woke up to balloons and music playing

Elena Leigh Maria
07/15/2006

since Evie didn't have her big birthday party, we decided
to keep the rest of the birthdays simple and small with just
family

and the 3rd:

Auntie Laura threw Christopher a little birthday party, this weekend
THANK YOU, AUNTIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dinosaur theme!!

I just love the candles!

Christopher Revie Ned
09/15/2006

Chris and I often find ourselves recalling, how it wasn't very long ago, we thought we would never be blessed with little people of our own. But look at us, now. Three. We have three little people. And it's hard to believe that they are now a seven year old, a five year old, and a one (almost eighteen months) year old. <WAAAHHHH!!>

class of 2027

look out world!

,

bless you

So, the first school week has gone by, fast-AND! rather smoothly. Kids have (re)adjusted well to their bedtime routine and since they hardly ever sleep in past 6:30AM ( I know, I'm soooooo lucky about that), the morning routine has gone by just as well.
Ellie had face timed grandma Karen during the week to let her know how her first day went. She was so excited, went on and on about how much she loves school and her new teacher. Then she informed grandma, how...on the way home, we had seen a dead deer on the side of the road.
Grandma, "do you know what I say, when I see a dead animal? I say bless you. Isn't that nice...for them to get a final bless you?" The kids agreed and then said their goodnights.
The next day, we all went to the Y, I picked up some paperwork to renew our membership. Yay! I miss  working out and having someone else watch the kids. Uninterrupted workouts and showers, getting ready...I might even shave my legs without nicking myself.  Anyway, on the way out, Ellie walked up to a moth that was on the sidewalk and... she stepped on it.  Looks at me and sees that my jaw had dropped because I was kinda surprised. I mean, if we see a moth in the house, I do suck it up with the vacuum but that's because...it's in my house. If you're a spider outside, I leave you alone...but if you're in my house, you're dead. That's just the way it is. So, right after she killed the moth and saw the look on my face, she quickly leaned over the squashed moth and said, "bless you".

hello, first grade!

Today was the first day of school for my big girl. I stayed up (way past my bedtime) the night before, making sure her backpack had her new gym shoes, getting her lunch box semi-ready (she is a very picky eater, that girl of mine), I ironed a couple of outfits (and mind you, I am severely allergic to this chore but I faced the possible outbreak, all for the name of "it's the first day of school and my child shall not have any wrinkles on her 100% cotton dress). Picked out outfits for the other two, and set the table for breakfast. Woke up at 5:30, took a shower and got myself ready, then proceeded to wake my girl up and have her shower. By the time we were all ready, it was 7:15am and already behind schedule. How?-do you ask?? is that possible?? Larson time. Folks, it simply does not matter, how early I get up, get everything ready. How, I have the best intentions...we.are.always.late. No matter what. I did manage to get a couple of shots of my FIRST GRADER, holding up the (DIY-thank you pinterest) chalkboard.

it just blows my mind how big she's getting

To say she was nervous, about her first day of school, would be an understatement. She was fah-reaking out. And it took a good talking from daddy, at bedtime, to calm her down. She woke up in good spirits, ready to tackle the day. She was doing her best to be brave and kept commenting on how excited she was but through her smiles, I could tell, that she was still nervous and a little anxious.

We all went as a family to drop her off. Placed her book bag in her very own locker- cause first graders get their own locker! And she showed daddy her desk. Then she looked at us and said,"okay, you can leave. I mean, I love you. But you can go now. I'm okay." Just like that. She was ready to face her fears and day...alone.  She gave us all hugs and kissed us goodbye, a quick I love you and that was it. We left her and she didn't look back...because I did...and it's only NOW, at this moment...that I get a little teary. Cause MAH BABY is a big first grader! And, oh! how I'm PRAYING, that she has a fabulous year, that she makes friends, that she doesn't struggle with any lessons. She's such a sweet little girl, my Elliebear. You just want everyone to love your kid, and to accept them, and to just be nice to them. Know what I mean?? Does it get any easier?? This, having your heart step outside of your body, all on it's own?

On a lighter note, since I only had the middle and the youngest, I decided to take them out for breakfast.  Pooh was over the moon to go to his favorite place- The Friendship House, otherwise known as: "da bacon pwace" cause that's what he gets- bacon and fries (or as Chris calls it- cholesterol on a plate). I don't have any pictures to share because I wanted to give him my full attention-as best I could with a toddler who loves to shriek like a banshee when she's out in public and hears the word NO.

Surprisingly, the day went by fast and before I knew it, it was time to get my girl. Who, by the way, exclaimed "I LOVE SCHOOL!!" when I greeted her on the blacktop, for pickup. She loves school. Let's hope that lasts <fingers crossed>.

messy hair. wrinkled dress, big smile, and one finger
up: proof that this first grader had a great first day 

fresh

the blog, that is. I wanted a different look. I found a theme that I just fell in love with...but it was on wordpress and I'd have to pay to customize it. Ah, nothankyou. But I really loved that particular theme. I mean LOVE. It's called Ever After and it's just simple and somewhat elegant and I love it. But not enough to pay a yearly fee-I mean, that's a real commitment. Know what I mean? And sometimes (like the past 7 months-give or take) I don't have the chance to blog. So, I began my search for free blog templates, backgrounds, headers. Nothing that I was interested in. So then, I thought-hey! I'll make my own!! Thru photoshop. Which is the devil. THE.DEVIL. It took my awhile and like 5 different drafts but I am reallyreallyreally pleased with the final one. I love it. I've really been into the whole family tree with the bird family lately...so, that's what I came up with. And I love the font for my title, it's called pacifico-simple and somewhat, elegant.
So, I'm hoping to start up again, writing about my little family. Lot's of stories have been missed, but hopefully I can play catch up. Not tonight, it's midnight and I have only six hours left before my alarm goes off. Tomorrow is the first day of school for Miss. Elena-she's going to be starting first grade!!! Can you believe that?