Amanda's B-Day Party/FriendsParty..

Amanda's birthday is coming up on November 20th...But this weekend she wanted her friends party. So Friday night one by one my house filled up with 13 other teenage girls for the night. It was a sooper party. Amanda told us today that is was her best bday party EVER!! ~ always nice to hear when you are a parent right. Happy Early B-Day Angel Face!! 

Anyway here are a few pics from her party!!

 She loves Harry from One Direction!!

How many times can you do a bon fire and roast marshmellows in November!! We were so lucky to have such great weather..

 I had a challenge with the cakes..Yes cakes. Did two other round ones with great intensions and they stuck to pans..What can I say...I am not the Cake Boss here!! LOL.

Celebrating the big one...

This weekend I celebrated my 29th birthday ...again!! LOL, yep , it was the big one this year and to be honest with you the hardest one of all. Most the day I was down in the dumps...don't ask me why, I guess just something about that certain number. A feeling like oh my gosh I think I am old. I remember my mom turning this age and having a special party for her. I thought then how old it was, and now I am that age. Ok yes I would rather be this age than the alternative. But I am just saying I was not ready to leap into it quite yet. Oh well right..Live it to the fullest and treasure every moment! I am grateful for so many things I know that. Most of all for the people that really love me! 

thanks family and friends for making my day a good one!!

 Good thing they remembered my age for the cake....29!! LOL!!

 New sweatshirt!

We are blessed by Adoption

Our family has been so blessed by the gift of adoption...Gracie is the light in every day. What a joy and blessing for us all. 

Happy Halloween

my Beautiful little butterfly!!! Gracie could not wait to trick and treat around our neighborhood. She was totally counting down the days for the past week..finally it go here! Too much candy, but alot of fun..I hope you all had a great night too!!

 Bailey is too big to dress up I guess, but not too big to eat a whole box of pizza left over from our Middle School Pizza party!! My growing 6foot 2 Teenager!! lol

 Gracie with her buddy Tenley!! Two cute little sweeties

 Terry greeted all the middle schoolers with this disgusting mask..totally grossed us all out!!

 Amanda with her Middle school friends..and sporting one of my very old dance costumes from when I was her age...at our first boy/girl gathering at the house. ...yes a big deal for this mama!!

 Gracie proud packing her snacks for her preschool class!!

Happy Birthday Storff

Happy Birthday to a wonderful man, father, son, husband, and friend! We hope your day is wonderful!
We love you !

To many more happy happy birthdays!!

Smokey & Fire Crew Visit Preschool

 Today the fire dept took a little visit to the preschool Gracie attends. She was on cloud nine this morning knowing today was the big day. Even more thriilled when in her words "the real smokey bear from in the hills and in the sky came". LOL. Sooper cute things they are doing at her preschool. Im totally thrilled at all she is learning.

Enjoying the beauty of Fall...

This past weekend we all got out to enjoy some of the beauty of the fall season. ...My most favorite season of all , and it just does not ever last long enough. Love the crisp air (although it has still been high 80's here lately), love the changing of the colors. After that I could pretty much go live on a beach some where warm for the winter season :-)) winter is not my thing at all. ..so here are a few pics from our family date out that started with just going to the park and ended up going through the canyon. I love to make traditions for my family and this is one tradition that we have had for 16 years.....would love to hear some of yours??

 I can't believe how fast my kids are growing up on me. I know I repeat that alot, but they are all growing like weeds. We just bought the teens pants for school and now they need more because they are getting taller. So crazy..:-)

 Gracie was leading the way to the water fall...

 Bay is taller than his daddy now..:-))

 cute sister moments...

 always wants to get her photo taken...she asked me to take it here..

 posing for photo..lol

Later we got kids some ice cream and then hit the pumpkin patch. Grace just wanted a really small cute one..so the search began...

Happy Fall Everyone...

School Girl

Well we have a couple weeks of preschool under way and Gracie is doing amazing. Her teachers are constantly telling me how very smart she is. She has been writing her name for a while now, and now the newest thing is she will say "mommy how do you spell......". Then you tell her and she will write it down. The other day my sister was here with my little niece Eira. We were sitting outside, and Gracie said, Boo boo (my sisters nick name) how do you spell Eira? Boo told her and then Grace wrote Eiras name on the drive way and put a cute heart by it. She is a smart little cookie that is for sure and absolutely loves school and her teacher Mrs Krim! I have a feeling this will be a great year for her.

Photo date with Amanda

Goofing around with film...taking my beautiful daughter out for a photo date.....We had a fun time, till we started running out of light! Here are a few of my faves ! These are the moments I treasure ...alone time with each of my kids i know is a must.

 Amanda has the most amazing personality I have ever know. She is always so positive about things.
We all know how hard middle school can be. The  pressures, expectations from teachers, homework loads and dealing with other personalities. Amanda is a leader and seems not to follow others, she stands her ground and on her beliefs, sticks up for people when they are being bullied, and seems to always carry a positive attitude as much as possible. Yes she has her moments...as we all do....but I can tell you one thing that I think is so great that I admire about her......It never matters how someone els may be acting, grouchy or mad..,  she will just brush it off and not let it ruin her day or her mood!   I told her the other day that I love that about her and how hard that is to do. I really think that is a great quality to have.   I told her I wish that I could do more of that with my own life. xxoo

A Few Summer Highlights....

With Terry working his new job and a very busy summer season for him he did not have an opportunity to take time off so my girls and I took a road trip to go visit mom and have a little time by her pool side. It was great to see my family while home, especially my grandparents who I am so lucky to have in my life!! I realize more and more how lucky I was to have grandparents in my life while growing up, and I have many great memories I will forever cherish with them. 

 Big sister is always teaching Grace something new...this week she worked on swimming and Gracie loved it!

The bond of these two sisters will never be broken!!!

our new dresses and excited to go out for dinner with grandma and papa!

 cherish the moments...No matter how big or small they are!!

 my two lovely Grandma's!!  Luved my time with you two!!

 My Grandpa... He is 89 years old and a spit fire!!. He has worked his tail off his whole life managing his own business which by the way he still works. I'm not sure what he would do if he was not building homes and selling them. Even with emphysema and his eye site slowly degenerating...he still has such a strong will to keep doing, keep going and making the best out of the day. Every time I see him I take a "self" pic with him..he always thinks it is hilarious !!!

 PRICELESS

Some hair extension fun!! Some liked it and some hated it...LOL..

 Soaking in the last weekend of the water park. We did not even come here all summer long..Guess I am not even sure why..it was about 90 degrees..perfect day for it..and the kids especially had a good time. !!

 Gracie and Daddy tubing!!

How on earth are these two growing up on me soooo fast!!?? It has really hit me this summer that Bay has only 3 more years till he is off to college. Ok, so I will try not to think about it too much, but it's reality..The big question is ..."how do i still stay young"...LOL! Yeah I know one day I will look in the mirror and say "yikes I look old"..