five on friday: a life-sized parrot and a whole roll of chapstick

ONE. Last Friday, we went to a summer music festival in town. It was a beautiful evening, and we really enjoyed ourselves. There was also a big parrot walking around, and Kaya was both terrified of and enamored by him!Processed with VSCOcam with hb2 preset

TWO. Today marks 8 years since I graduated from high school. EIGHT! Part of me wondered where all that time went… but then I realized that I really have done a whole lot since then!

THREE. Kaya is strong enough to lift her shopping cart now… and skilled enough to accessorize her own outfit. Also, my living room almost always looks like this lately._MG_2754

FOUR. I got Peanut two [super cheap] Carter’s rompers and a pair of jammies this week. After all, it’ll be summer, and a baby needs rompers, right? I haven’t really bought much for this new little girl, so getting something just for her made it all a little more real (and might’ve choked me up a little. Ahem… hormones…)Processed with VSCOcam with hb1 preset

FIVE. Hair bows (she’s wanted to wear them instead of pulling them out), horsey hugs, fruit-themed onesies and chapstick (she put a whole tube of it on her face). That pretty much sums up our week. _MG_2771Happy Friday!

Linking up with Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci today!

five on friday… on a saturday!

I’m totally cheating and writing this a day late. Oh well! I have too many cute pictures from this week not to share! 🙂

ONE. This girl and her faces. She knows how to work the camera now and it cracks me up! She’s also obsessed with this little magnetic drawing board Grandma brought for her.05302014collage1TWO. I spent most of Wednesday in the kitchen, making cupcakes for a Young Women’s activity at church and a meal for a family who just had a baby. I’m grateful for my little helper (and taste-tester)!_MG_2690THREE. She has to balance out all that chocolate somehow, right? Kaya is so obsessed with salad lately and will eat a TON of it if I let her. I’m happy she likes something healthy, but also a little bummed that lettuce doesn’t really have any calories to chub her up!_MG_2695

FOUR. I’ve already mentioned Kaya’s new bed… but I have so many cute pictures from our snuggle time together that I just have to mention it again. Also… can I have bright pink sheets, too? I love how much they brighten up her room!05302014collage2FIVE. I love how much these two love each other (and how much Kaya loves ducks, too). Michael went out of town for a bike race today, but he’ll be back before bedtime tonight, and I just can’t wait to see how excited she is to see her daddy!_MG_2702

Linking up with Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci today!

five on friday: yogurt, prayer face and duck hunting

ONE. Someone loves her yogurt again! She lost interest in it for a while, but now she shovels it down like it’s going out of style. I’m pretty happy, especially since she still isn’t drinking whole milk.Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset TWO. For Brittany’s baby shower this week, I was in charge of the punch. I was probably a little too excited to have these rubber ducks swimming in it (but it is adorable, no?)! The original recipe called for blue berry Koolaid, so I bought the blue-colored packet. The powder color should match the package, right? Wrong. It was RED fruit punch, which would have made this scene look a little more like duck hunting than ducks peacefully swimming in the bath.Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

THREE. Every time we ask Kaya to fold her arms to pray, she makes this face. It is so hard not to burst out laughing while we’re praying!_MG_2187FOUR. All these months that I’ve wanted to organize Kaya’s closet, I thought I’d have to order some space-saver bags online. I was super excited to see them at the Dollar Tree this week! We tried one out, and it’s actually pretty decent quality. Definitely worth a dollar!IMG_20140430_100759FIVE. I would cuddle with her all day, every day, if that’s what she wanted. The baby belly is making it a little bit harder these days… but I know that it’ll be even more difficult when I have to juggle two kids. I hope Kaya never gives up snuggling with her mama.Processed with VSCOcam with a5 preset

Happy weekend!

Linking up with Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci today!

blog every day in may | day 1: ten things i love about myself

One of my goals for May is to participate in a “blog every day” challenge. I’m pretty excited about the topics, and I think it’ll help me learn to be a little less apprehensive about pressing “publish” after I write a post. So, here we go!
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I don’t like to talk about myself too much, but I think it is good to recognize our strengths and appreciate our talents. The ten things I love about myself are…

1. I’m really really good at baking. I might be known for my sweet tooth, but all our friends know they can count on yummy treats when I’m in charge of dessert.
2. My body’s strength. I run five days a week and I’ve grown two babies with this body! I’m so grateful for it and I’m proud of all the hard work I do to keep it strong and healthy.
3. I have a special connection with animals. I’ve had a special bond with animals ever since I was small. I love that I can understand them in a way that a lot of people can’t.
4. I have a testimony that Christ lives and loves us. I would not be the person I am (or even be working toward who I want to become) if I didn’t have a testimony of our Savior.
5. I am fulfilled through motherhood. I never knew how much I could love my babies or what I’d be willing to do for them. They have completely changed my view of the world and are helping me to become better every day.
6. I’m consistent. I write in my personal journal and read my scriptures every day. I’m also good at keeping up with my workout schedule.
7. I’m good at making people laugh. I’m quiet until you get to know me, but then get ready… corny, goofy jokes will be coming your way.
8. I’m good at photography. Photographs mean so much to me and I’m glad I have some great ones to look back on.
9. My eyes and the way my hair curls. I got my eyes from my mom (although hers have gone from brown to more green in recent years) and I think my crazy curls go well with my personality.
10. I’m good at standing up for what’s right and doing those things. When there’s conviction in my heart, I’m pretty good about taking what I feel is the right course of action, even if it’s something hard or something that will bring criticism from others.

it’s the little things || the way she holds my hand

Some of my favorite moments are the ones that seem the very smallest in our day._MG_1984It’s the way she smiles and points out all the sheep, puppies, and ducks on our walks.
How her hair blows in the springtime breeze.
Feeling the warm sun on our skin.
When she holds my hand just because she wants to, and my finger goes numb from her gripping onto me so tightly.
The smell of sunscreen on her baby-soft skin.
Splashing and giggling in the bathtub.
The kinks and curls her wet hair naturally falls into.
A long “goodnight hug” where she strokes my arm with her tiny fingers.
It’s the way I miss her when she’s sleeping.

Linking up with Ashley and Jess!

Sadie Sky Boutique

five on friday: poptarts, snail mail and ice cream

Five great moments:

ONE. Because I can’t text without making a million typos… and we think poo jokes are hilarious (#yeswearefiveyearsold). I’m glad Michael has the same weird sense of humor I do.

IMG_20140407_140718TWO. Speaking of pootarts poptarts, someone had her first taste of them while we were all sick. If it comes down to eating poptarts or not eating anything… well… at least she (happily) got some calories._MG_1926 _MG_1928

THREE. Suddenly, the grass is green and spring is HERE! We’ve been playing outside every day and I don’t know what we ever did being cooped up inside for all six months of winter.

_MG_1974FOUR. Does anyone still get excited for snail mail these days? I’m super pumped because I used to get Better Homes and Gardens magazine, but never renewed… so they sent me a deal to renew for three years for under $10 total. If it gets cheaper than that, I haven’t seen it!

FIVE. Michael took us on a date to Coldstone, and our little sweets-monster just couldn’t wait to dig in!Processed with VSCOcam with m5 presetHave a sweet weekend!

Linking up with Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci today!

five on friday: bronchitis, beads, and nutella

ONE. I’m finally sitting down, happily exhausted, to write this. I had such a productive day, and it feels amazing to be so accomplished! I ran, went to my church institute class, did some grocery shopping, cleaned the kitchen, scrubbed the bathrooms, mopped, vacuumed (I even did the baseboards and furniture… hello nesting!), folded laundry, and had a photoshoot. Phew!

TWO. Speaking of photoshoots… Our dear friends are in town this weekend and asked me to take some pictures of their boys. How handsome are they? I also just loved watching siblings interact, since they are about the same distance in age that Kaya and Peanut will be!_MG_1790

THREE. Poor Michael has been feeling sick on and off since Wednesday, so he finally went to the doctor this morning. He has bronchitis! Seeing him just bumming out on the couch, coughing up a lung, breaks my heart. Kaya had shots this week, so she’s been a great cuddle buddy for him.

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FOUR. My dog is stylin’ (Mardi Gras beads courtesy of Kaya).

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FIVE. Nutella!!!_MG_1720

Happy weekend!!!

Linking up with Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci today!

five on friday: (mostly) outside things

Every week seems to go by a little faster… am I right? Here are five of my favorite moments from this week:

ONE. Spring came to visit for a couple days, and we soaked up as much sunshine as we could. Kaya LOVED being able to run around all on her own and explore nature a little bit.

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She just didn’t like getting dirt on her hands…_MG_1559

TWO. We took a family bike ride on Monday evening, and it ended with these two climbing a tree. I love my little monkeys!Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

THREE. I made this foccacia bread for our paninis this week, and it was better than anything you could get at the store or even Panera. Mmmmm. The best part was that it was SO easy and took almost no skill. Seriously, if you can stir some ingredients together, you can make this bread. Try it!Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

FOUR. Babies are starting to be born 🙂 Michael sent me this picture from his bike ride last Saturday. I miss my horse time so much!Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

FIVE. I’m in trouble. She’s figured out how to go get the stepstool, climb on it, and open drawers. She also learned how to unlock the dishwasher this week. Ahhh! (Also, please notice her amazing outfit… designed by daddy! Haha.)kayacollage03092014Happy Friday!

Linking up with Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci today!

five on friday: pizza, paint, and kisses

ONE. My dog obviously failed “Cuddling 101.”Processed with VSCOcam with c1 presetTWO. We got pizza last weekend… and Kaya thought that all the sausage was for her (especially the pieces that were on Michael’s plate)!IMG_20140228_200717

THREE. Lately, she wants to eat all her meals on my lap (and since I still miss our cuddle time from nursing, I don’t mind at all. She also seems to eat a lot more food if I sit with her and help her take bites). She loved these pumpkin muffins!
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FOUR. Sometimes I feel like a “sub-par” mom because I don’t plan a lot of crafts or structured activities for Kaya to do. Well, this week, we painted, and it lasted all of maybe three minutes. She got paint on herself and cried in the first millisecond that we started, so maybe I don’t feel so guilty about not planning these sorts of things for her. I don’t think she’s quite at the age where she can enjoy it yet._MG_1507FIVE. There are no words to describe how adorable this is. Watch it, it’s worth it!


Linking up with Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci today!

five on friday: colds, cuddles, and cookie dough

ONE. We’ve all been sick with colds this week. It’s not the most fun thing, but I can’t really complain, because that just meant I got a whole lot of extra snuggles.Processed with VSCOcam with t1 presetWe’re almost back to our normal selves, just a little congested and sleepy.Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

TWO. Lately, Kaya wears her jammies Tarzan-style! She can wiggle one arm out of the neck hole and then gets stuck. I really can’t imagine that this is a comfortable way to sleep…_MG_1478 THREE. These two together… I love how he looks out for her, plays with her, and tolerates all her antics. I love how she’s started giving him hugs and bringing him his blanket. (also note Kaya’s mess pile of favorite things surrounding her…)IMG_20140226_111702

FOUR. She got this balloon for Valentine’s Day from our friends, Bianca and Aaliyah, and if you can’t tell, she’s crazy over it. She has liked it even more now that it’s lost some helium- she can hug it and grab it a lot easier this way!kaya02242014grid1

FIVE. I love this smile… and she loves sweets, just like her mama. She gets so excited to lick the cookie dough off the beater when I’m finished mixing._MG_1405Happy Friday! 🙂

Linking up with Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci today!