Valentine's Day Photo Shoot

This is our 4th year doing Valentine's Day pictures for Dana. The girls and I each year get all dolled up for this one photo shoot. The girls totally loved it this year and took such great shots that it was super hard to pick which ones to buy. I overspent, obviously, but just couldn't help myself- they were so cute! Dana loved them too, by the way.









And since the studio's collages were triple the cost of these regular shots, I chose to do my own- here are a few:


Dana asked me why I never wait until Valentine's Day to give these to him- he knows why...Leah and Celeste aren't good secret keepers!! I had to take Leah out of school one day to do these, and after telling her a million times to be quiet about it- she nearly told him the same day! Though he knows this is his gift, he is still surprised each time- I said that the girls are getting good at this and he said they look cuter each year- said nothing about me, but about them!! Funny thing- a Daddy and his girls- there is nothing like it in the world! We are so lucky!

Baby Oh Baby- One Super Shower!

Yesterday I got to attend a shower for my college friend, Laura who is having her first baby- a boy this month!! It was soooo fun, so great to see her and my friend Jen and meet so many others. First of all, I knew it was going to be a great shower when the invitation came- it wasn't the hand made kind, or even the print them yourself kind- NO, it was the have made, printed with embossed ink kind- super duper fantastic kind. Second of all, it was going to be at her friends house on a golf course- yeah, the kind I dream of- perfect setting, perfect layout, perfect everything- but what I will never have...pity party, I know....Thirdly, when I got there, the cake, the centerpiece and food table were amazing- check this out:
This is made of washcloths- I fell in love with this- I don't even think I would take it apart! She hasn't revealed his name yet, so we just got Welcome Baby on the cake- which was half chocolate half white, and with raspberries in between the layers- yum!
They actually put more food out after I took this!
They had so much to see and look at! They also created a memory box for her little baby where they put momentos from each person in- people brought all sorts of stuff- mainly magazines from this year and news paper clippings about the Presidential stuff- I took in her shower invitation with a note to her on it and the best thing, I think was that Jen gave her a picture of us girlfriends from 1994- when we decided to room together for our third year- it was so funny- they passed it around and everyone got a good laugh- thanks, Jen!

Laura got some of the best gifts for her baby boy- it made me want a baby boy for about 2 minutes- then it ended and I was so over it! Thank goodness Jen brought Bronwyn- isn't she adorable?!

She is 5 months and is a mirror image of her dad- Jen's son, Landon is a carbon copy of her- so they both win!

Before Jen and I left, we took this of me and her with Laura.

I am looking forward to getting the call in a few weeks about the little guy's arrival- I am so happy Laura is going to be a mom- she will be wonderful!

Throwback Thursday 14- This is my life this week!

Okay this Throwback Thursday wasn't so hard to come up with! It has been snowing, snowing, snowing, icing, snowing, hailing, snowing more here- seriously, I am about done with it! The kids have had a late start and two snow days this week- tomorrow could be another- not sure yet! This brings me to the Throwback part- last February we had nearly an entire week of snow days- and this week is reminding me of it all over again- Ahhhhhhhhh! I could print the pics I took of this week, but they would look nearly exactly like these ones-not kidding!
One major difference from these pictures, is that there are icicles hanging from the roof!
Another difference, is now there is a whole in the basketball backboard due to our neighbor kid throwing ice at it yesterday- nice, huh?!

Besides that- you can now see the driveway, but only because Dana shoveled for over an hour- it was so thick and the street is an entire sheet of ice!

I am just hoping it stops soon- I can hardly handle the cooped-upness! I have too much to do this weekend, the snow must stop!!

Meet Big Bird!

Last week I went to pick up Sister Jones in our ward for a meeting. After inviting me in for a minute, I saw that she had 2 bird cages- and in one a BIG BIRD!! Yes, this is one Big Bird! This is "Pumpkin" the Macaw from Brazil- she is 29 years old!! Yes, 29 years old!! They can live into their 60's! Sister Jones has had her for 22 years! I am not kidding! I was utterly fascinated with her- she is quite threatening looking, but so intriguing! She talks, cries for her "mom", and walks everywhere! You can't let her into cabinets, because she can cut holes in the pipes! She can bite off your finger in 3 seconds! I didn't hold her! Sister Jones said it takes nearly 6 months for them to warm up enough to let you even get near them! After 22 years, she loves to let her mom hold her and even give her a shower! The stories go on and on...I loved it!
So, today, I took Celeste to meet Pumpkin and her other bird, a cocktail, named Bo, who is also 29 years old! Amazing! Here are some shots of them: She doesn't fly, but can spread her wings-check out that span!
Aren't her colors just gorgeous?!
She was an abused bird, both were, actually before Sister Jones got them. Sad. She rescued them, but the torture was so bad for Pumpkin, that she plucked all her feathers on her stomach! Every single one- and they don't grow back! I said her stomach looks like a plucked chicken!
She likes to licks her hand- they groom all day long, and love to groom her too- she will pull hair out of your hand or off your arm if you are holding her- isn't' that odd?!
Here is B0- Celeste liked him too- but he wouldn't let her touch him. If you wave to him, he bounces his head up and down- Celeste never tired of this, but he did!
Sister Jones is such a neat lady- and Celeste just totally loved being at her house. We plan to visit her often- and perhaps one day Pumpkin will warm up to us- but for now- I am happy she stays in her cage! I like my fingers!

Miscellaneous Finds and Surprises!

So, as I mentioned before, January had not been a month full of things to blog about. I have had plenty to do- but just not things that are particularly interesting in the blogging world, or things I feel I want to write about. But I found a few, so here are some things that I have found/purchased/discovered/finished this month:

New cute brown shoes- Mudd- my favorite trendy brand (that I can afford)- normal price $49- clearance for $9.99 and I saved 15% more- love them!
My curtains in my kitchen- the green in the pattern totally goes with my green walls and adds so much depth to the room. Sorry that the pic does not do them justice- oh, and my wonderful mom made them for me!
So, the girls have separate beds in their room, right? Well, Celeste would get cold in the night, so she would climb in bed with Leah- her bed is a full size. Leah was complaining that her room was too small, so last Saturday, I pushed in the trundle, (Celeste's bed), and cleaned off Leah's big bed and now the duo share this big bed! They love it, and don't stay up late either- they have been threatened!

Just another view of the room- but notice the white bookcase- try not to pay attention to the clutter on it (I asked Leah if she knew what a "hoarder" was- she answered, "yes, it's 25 cents!" I said, "NO, a HOARDER". Love that girl- anyway, I told her I would absolutely NOT let her become one! ) She would save everything if I let her- I go through her room now on a regular basis- you'd be amazed at what I find and then THROW AWAY! So, the bookcase, I found at Target- the "do your room" brand- regular price $89.99- it was repackaged and on clearance for $30.00! Love it- so easy to assemble and not missing a thing! Great deal, I think!

The last view of their room, where Celeste's bed used to be- now the vanity has a home! Yah!
Here is my project I worked on for my friend Laura's baby shower- she is having a boy, but won't tell his name, other than his first initial that I dragged out of her- I think it turned out pretty cute. If you can't read the center, it's because I couldn't get a great view- but it's on vellum, over brown paper and it reads: Welcome to the world, little one...You are so loved! The embellished brad in the center says, "brand new". I put the glass behind it, so when she is ready to frame a picture of him, she can take out the paper and put the picture in. Hope she likes it!

Another shot- The lion kind of hangs off the side. Another shoe find- love these bone colored sandals for fall- normal price $49- my price $3.49! Gotta love Kohl's- right?!

And finally, my new door!! I love this door- seriously, it is the little things, I swear! I have wanted a new back door for a very long time- we finally decided it was time. I looked and looked for a simple style- this one is just like the one we had as our front door at our condo. It is just a white steel door- pre-hung, so they had to cut out my old door completely, including our hideous black wrought iron door that I hated....so that wasn't all bad! Anyway, Lowe's had it for $184- I saw it on sale at a competitor's store I thought for $148. I asked the guy at Lowe's if they matched prices- long story short, they called the other store, and they actually had it marked at $124- so, that is what they gave it to me for!! So, after locks and other things I needed, I got it all for $155! Installed by our good friend, who happily hung my curtain rods (pics of the curtain to come later), and fixed my floor trim that you can see in the corner, and happily hauled off the crappy doors that I no longer have to see!! Since this is the door we use as our "front" door, it is perfect, just perfect- and today I painted the trim, so after the curtain is done (another one from mom), I will be smiling every time I walk into the kitchen!
On a side note, Alex has been playing basketball every Saturday this month, but today had his best game ever!! It's not even about the points he scored, either- but that he had more assists and passes to others that made it so awesome. A mom came up and told me that he was a really great player, but more importantly, that he took time to give other kids an opportunity to score, even when he knew they probably wouldn't. I told her he knows what those boys feel like, because last year, that was him. He is a great boy- we love him and love that he is so kind- oh, and he got "offensive player of the game" this week.

Happy Hair!

Today was a good day!! All three kids got a much needed haircut! For Leah and Alex it was their routine cut and style- but for Celeste, it was a BIG deal!! She was getting her first real "big girl" haircut! Renee had cut her hair last May for her first trim, but this time, it was much, much more! Get ready...how short do you think I had her go?.....!!!

It is hard to see, but when her hair was combed down it was really long!! But it was getting scraggly, and I just wanted it to grow thicker and healthier. Only Renee could have the patience for this job- Celeste loves her and so does Leah, so that is awesome.

Ta Da!!

Check it out- not too short, but the wave just bounced right up! Now that it is dry- it is super smooth and even more bouncy- I LOVE IT!!

I love the natural flip- and it really changes her look, don't you think?!

Leah's turn: Her signature cut- thanks to Renee!
Full of sass- this wouldn't be the same on any other girl of mine!
Her two bottom teeth are coming in, finally, so her smile is still a little empty.
Last but not least: the boy... Daddy does this one.
Just about every 3 weeks or so he gets his done.
And now, before bed, without the spike in the front, but you get the idea: Oh how I love haircuts!! Everyone looks so nice and groomed- all ready for a new school week starting tomorrow! I just love that they love getting it done, too- I would be one miserable mom if they put up a fight- thank goodness for a wonderful friend who does it at the drop of a hat for me- I love ya, Renee! You are the BEST!!