Skateboarding Party

This is Nolan he is Taryn's twin brother. 

We of course can't forget him, he turned seven as well.

Isn't he SO cute.

Definitely in his element.

Nolan's Skateboarding Party was just what he wanted for his 7th birthday.

San Luis Obispo just got their first ever Skateboard park,

it is wonderful.
It has a great spot for parties if you get their early.
Snacks + drinks + treats + great outdoors = happy boys.
We had the birthday party early on a Saturday morning.
Hard on parents to get going yet another day in the week, but great time for kids.

 Here's some pictures of the easy breezy boy party:)

 
I seriously can not believe the twins are seven now.
 Love this sweet boy. He has such a kind and gentle heart.

 Boys will be boys.

 

 Homemade cupcakes with skateboarders on top from etsy.
 Chillin boys.

Obviously the boys thought it rocked:)

 

Happy seventh birthday Nolan.

We love you so much "Nolie Polie"
Your definitely a keeper!!!
Xoxo
Mom



Spa Themed Girl Party

This is Taryn.

She is now "seven"

(I can't believe it)

She is one of two "twins"

One is a girl and one a boy.

This was a first this year.

We separated their birthdays to celebrate them individually. 

They are so sweet. 

 One had a skateboarding park party and one a detailed oriented spa party at home.

It was such a huge success that I am going to do a post about the details.

It was just adorable. I am still getting texts from mommies about how much their daughters enjoyed the party.

I enjoyed it too I really did it was so much fun and all the girls were so delightful.
What I enjoyed most was listening to all the girls chit chat.  The sitting and doing the spa stuff allowed them just a chance to enjoy each other and just be girly.

Here's a before picture of the table.

Let me go into some details:)

Each little girl had a place to sit at the table.  Each place setting had a pink mirror from the dollar store $1, a water bottle with www.etsy.com labels from "pink monkey prints", a pink and white straw, and inside the plastic gift bag was a sparkly nail kit that I found at rite aid for .50 cents each.  It came in a plastic zipper pouch I took it out and put all the items in a plastic gift back which included; toe nail divider, cuticle pusher, skin trimmer, two nail files one flower one and one straight and nail trimmers.  It was adorable.  The white fluffy thing in the bag was a thick spa headband I found on sale as well at Michaels for .55 cents each.  So the whole gift bag cost me $1.10 plus like .10 cents for bag.  So $1.20. Entire place setting was $2.20 to $2.50 (mirror, nail and face stuff) 

In the center of the table are washcloths wrapped with "pink money prints" water bottle labels.  I found 12 washcloths in a pack for $4.99 at Tuesday mornings.  I've never even been in that store until roaming around.  Great deal and quality was good.

Also if you look closely there is a small (tiny) container right underneath the pink mirror. It is a small plastic container from Sephora with "Sephora bubble mask".  Brand new $12 a bottle and I only used half for party. It was amazing I'll share more later.

 

 
 
 

For decorations I made this banner from Beverly's super easy it was $3.00 on sale and then I had all the other supplies at home from previous purchases.  Cardstock and black sparkly letters.

 For the pedicures I purchased all the green buckets from the dollar store.  All the white towels I lucked out and still had them in a goodwill bin.  All in perfect condition but just getting old but I had nine, which was the exact number of girls. Crazy awesome.

        

(On the side: We bought a older house on the central coast and we are redoing it bit by bit, rewarding but very time consuming)

I need to introduce Justine, whom helped me the day of the party (could not have done it without her).  She is my cousins niece, love her this picture does not do her justice she is beautiful inside and out.  My cousins daughter is the one taking the pictures, she is a doll as well.  Unfortunately my mother and MIL were both unable to come so I am just truly thankful for these two girls.

 

 Okay back to the party:)

 We started with facials.

I looked everywhere for a safe mask for the kids.  I found this one at the Sephora store downtown but you can buy online at www.sephora.com.  It is called the Sephora bubble mask for $12.

It was perfect for little girls because it comes out clear and you rub it on and it turns WHITE it's that adorable and it tingles a little.  SO stinkin cute.

Here's some pictures of the them doing the mask:)

 

 Then of course we had to have cucumbers. 

 Some needed a little help.

 It was so cute the girls had never experienced any of this "facial" stuff so it was a first.  It's actually amazing we got pictures of them with the cucumbers because they had a hard time keeping them on their eyes.  Too cute huh.

The bubble mask was a dream to get off just a little warm water and came right off no eye problems or anything.  Great deal well worth it.

 Next was nails.

The photographer needed to help out a lot so we didn't get many during pictures but it was so darn cute.  We helped the girls do their nails due to the nature of nail polish. We first took off all their nail polish.  Then we let them work on their nails for a little bit to "use their kits".  Then we went around the table and gave them a pinch of the bath and body works "super softening hand lotion" and the mint one.  The girls loved both.

Then we painted and painted.  Then the girls got to pick out stickers for their nails that I found at a local drug store.  It was adorable.  Definitely recommend doing the girls nails at this age.  We just kept telling them we were helping them beautify.  O by the way myself and my two helpers wore all black with name tags to match like we were at a spa helping (beauticians).

So here's the finished products:)

 After nails we actually had snack and a trampoline break.

We needed time to prepare for the pedicures.  Whew and we needed a little breather.

Fun.

So we placed a towel on the ground and had nine chairs in a circle. 

 

We collected the green buckets and put warm water in them.

Once they had their feet soaking.  We put a scoop of "footloose and fancy fizz" from www.bathandbodyworks.com they could just move their feet around and enjoy the fizz and chamomille and lavender smells. 

(O I also had relaxation music on Pandora.com during the party)

Once they had their feet soaking for awhile.

While soaking I had some dollar tree spa masks in the freezer that they got to wear while soaking.

We let them have some foot lotion from bath and body works they loved that too.

Here's some pictures:)

 Isn't this one a hoot the lighting is just on her face just right...tooo stinkin cute.

 Here's Taryn the birthday girl.

Next we polished all the girls toe nails kinda quickly we were having so much fun we almost forgot cake and presents.  No joke.

So no pictures of toe nails all hands on deck.

 For the cupcakes I found these liners at Vons in CA.  I purchase the cupcake toppers from monkey prints from etsy.  Super easy. I've been using etsy for awhile.

Here's the birthday girl.

So fun. 

We always ask our kids the birthday song with or without "Cha Cha's". 

She wanted with so sweet.

 Presents.

 Some extra fun photos:)

This is Taryn's 2nd Cousin:) Too cute.

 

 Hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as we enjoyed the party.

My daughter said mom "I loved it" but it was over in a flash next year can we have a longer than five minute party.  Little did she know it was over two hours.

Happy Seventh Birthday my sweet little love bug.

Love you Taryn

Xoxo

Mom

Everyone has a story. I am back.

So I am really back to blogging.

This time for sure with no backing out.

I need this.

I need our story told.

I need to write.

 

We had huge computer issues that we had put off for years and now with a new computer, new town, new schools, new perspective I write again.

:)

Everyone has a story if we are willing to listen.

Some are sad, painful, enlightening, joyful...the list goes on and on.

That is what makes us unique as God made individuals.

I love it.

I love to listen and ask questions about people's journey through life.

Some not willing to open up and share, but most love to share their journey.

 

To start I should share mine.

 

 



To Dog or Not to Dog

We just began a new school year and for the first time in 11 years I have six hours five days a week to help my family without distractions.  Our kids are in a wonderful public school I feel great about their education and I feel good about being home and helping our family while everyone is away.  Which leads me to my blog title:)

This last summer we picked up a labradoodle puppy.   It was kinda on a trial basis with the breeder.  She was adorable friendly sweet with kids already crate trained rarely barked.  Everything appeared to be the perfect set for us our new addition.  However, I was not a peace with it.  I'm a dog person I kept telling myself I've waited forever for a dog like this "I love this dog she is just perfect".  Still wasn't at peace I started seeing how much time the dog was taking from my husband, kids, daily chores and just relaxing.  It was another thing nbc despite everyone's efforts that I had to take care of...although it was a "good" thing it was pulling me in a different direction than I wanted to go.  Everyone kept saying it gets better and better with a dog, but I started to feel more and more depressed about my commitment to this adorable sweet animal. We also noticed that she was growling at the kids more, which was not typical labradoodle behavior.  A vet actually recommend we return her so that was causing hesitation on my part as well.

Finally I woke up in the middle in the night prayed and realized I was feeling bummed about it because it was a thing that was taking my time away from were my heart was, so I shared with my husband and we decided to take the dog back.

Now before you judge my actions we lovingly let our kids know in the most loving way possible this was the direction we were taking.  Then.  We all cried.  We love  this dog.  It was  just too much for our family at this time and it would of been neglected too much too with our busy schedule.  So we cried, but I am so thankful the kids understood and saw our hearts.  It actually brought us together as a family because it was hard.  Life is hard.
We can't protect our kids from mistakes or hard things in life.  We need to step out and trust that God will through the hard things teach even the smallest person lesson about himself.

Life has losses.

So we decided for now we "are not going to be a dog family", but we learned so much and though our hearts hurt I am so thankful we made our decision.  Our kids are only kids once.  We get one shot to make a difference in their life.

Dare to enter again...

So I've officially blow it as a blogger.

This year has been completely crazy.

I thought I could do it all and that just was not the case.

With all three in school for first time, different schedules, New area and new house plus medical emergencies it just did not happen in the blogging world for me.

But I'm back with a new perspective and new stories to share.

Life has it's ups and downs doesn't it.

Join me as I start again...

Enter our crazy life just one more time.

Starting School

Moving In

After Months of waiting we are finally starting to move in.

It has been such a journey, wow.

The movers come sometime this week, yipee!

We are done with painting and carpet and some demo.

(We filled up part of a huge dumster out front)..

We still have a ton of stuff to do, plus lots of cleaning today, but I am officially saying we are starting to move stuff in...

Crazy.

More soon...

Trampoline..demo... yardwork

All In One Picture.

Another Fun, But Hard Work Day.

While Triming Bushes Look What I found.

For Little Hands And Feet After The Beach.

This Faucet Is In A Great Location

What A Fun Find On The Property Today.

(I Still can't Believe We Were Able To Get This Home)

So Thankful.

Paint!

So All We Have Done For A Whole Week Is Paint.

Imagine.

I don't Want To See A Roller For Awhile.

We Decided To Paint Ourselves Becsuse We waNted To Afford Some Bigger Items, Like Carpet...Which Is Being Installed Tomorrow.

So Here Is Another Peak At Our BungalOw Painted "Navajo White"

More Later. So Tired.

Family

The Best Part Of Being In SLO Is Having Family Around.

I Just Love it And They Just can't Wait To Spend Time Together.

(This Is A Picture Of Some Of Kids Helping The Oldest Feed The Animals) 

Moving + Stress = Disastrous Diet

With All This Stress Of Moving And Finding A home Has Left Very Little rOom For Consistency With Diet And Exercise.

I'm Trying But it's Been Tough Especially With The Onset Of Summer.

So Back To Eating Right And Getting In Shape For The Race In The falL.

Tis The Nature Of Life Huh.

Well Here's To A New week.

Of Effort

Discipline

And Consistency!

We Can Do It Moms

self~Control...

Happy July 4th

Tie Dye.

This Year We Made Tie Dye Shirts With The Swim team, for The Big Swim meet This Weekend.
This Is A Great July 4Th Activity Just Make Sure You Wear Gloves when Creating.
Have A Great Fourth, Off To A Picnic.

July 10th

July 10th is our big closing date.

We can barely wait.

The house was built in 1946 and the original home has concrete walls.  Yes you read correctly "concrete walls" that means no indecisiveness about putting up pictures. 

Jason said he would have to get a special drill bit just to hang a picture, too funny.

The house we purchased is not for everyone, but it is definitely up our alley and exactly the type of house I was interested in finding, but not sure we could find.

It needs work, but has a TON of character and it's in such a ideal location in SLO.

Walking distance to downtown, trails, Great schooL and much more.

I'm super excited about it, it's Been A Dream Forvever To Raise Kids And Own A Home Here, What A Blessing.

I'll be posting housing pictures once we get in and get settled.

Lots of before and afters.

Right now the house is packed with color and we are going to change it up a bit.
Stay tuned and
Have a great 4th of July.