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Addison
06.23.11

Teacher gift

WHERE has this week gone!?  First week of summer has definitely been a busy one.  Summer actually hasn’t happened yet for my Addison.  This is her last week of pre-school and this weekend is her little graduation ceremony.  
For Ellie’s teacher, I kept things simple and just did my standard gift card (always to either Nordstroms or Target – the two places I’d want a gift card to!) along with a personal card from me and one from Ellie.  But with Addison, we went a different route because she has SO many teachers who have had an influence on her during the last two years.  
First, Addison made cookies.  I hate to bake so I just turned it all over to her.  
 Kidding!  Kidding.  Kind of.  She did help a lot.  And yes, she’s wearing a Halloween outfit.  In June.  Because that’s the way we roll around here.  And once Addison is on outfit number 6 of the day – you just stop caring.  Ya know?

Kole was our official “cookie watcher.”  He took his job pretty seriously pulling himself up to his post every few minutes to make sure the cookies were progressing to his satisfaction.   
Since Kole had everything under control in the kitchen, Addison and I got to work on our cards. 
Addison drew a picture of her with each teacher.  She is the one on the right with the curly hair.  :)  
I pulled up the shoe collage I made for Addison’s birthday letter, added a little journaling in Photoshop and had it developed as a 4×6 pic.  Quick and easy.  

Last week I found some cute plates on clearance at Target and snagged about 15 of them.  They were perfect to hold our oatmeal cookies.  Which thanks to Kole, were cooked to perfection.

Then I just used some scrapbook ribbon and plastic wrap I had on hand to tie everything together.

A quick and easy gift with a personal touch.  My favorite kind.
We gave them to her teachers today and I couldn’t help tearing up.  So did several of her teachers.  I am so sad to say good-bye to this second family of mine.  
 Even if it is just for a couple of years until my little “cookie watcher” is ready for pre-school.  Good thing that isn’t for a while though – this little one is needed in the kitchen.

xoxo, Erin
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Family
06.20.11

My favorite guys

Happy Fathers Day to my cute dad who has taught me so many things throughout my life.   

How to play and have fun.  
How to help with yard work. 
How to camp and fish and keep a fire going strong.  
How to cruise down the slopes – with maybe more speed than he would have preferred.

And how to shoot a perfect bulls eye.  Or at least how to use perfect form so that I can fake shooting a perfect bulls eye.  
But even more importantly dad….
You taught me the importance of a good education.  To set goals and to work hard to achieve them.  You gave me confidence and taught me to believe in myself.  
You taught me to love and respect my siblings and parents.  You taught me how much joy and happiness comes from a family who loves each other.     
You taught me what a good marriage looks like and how a husband should treat his wife.   

You also taught me to stay away from boys on bullet bikes.

So maybe I didn’t listen to everything you taught me.  But I did listen to most of it.
And so much of me comes from all that I’ve learned from you.  

Love you so much dad.

And to my Kenny.  Who despite starting out as my dad’s worst nightmare, has surprised us all by turning into an amazing husband and father.  ;)

He is there when life with little ones is pure bliss.

And he is there when life with little ones quickly heads in another direction.

But he is there.  Reading stories, making waffles, practicing letters, cheering through gymnastics, bandaging owies, working hard to provide, praising good behavior, setting boundaries for not so good behavior, dancing to Gwen Stefani, changing diapers, gluing broken barbies, carpooling to school, filming family moments, and watching princess movies.  
Watching A LOT of princess movies.  
Happy Fathers day babe.  The kids adore you.  And so does their mom.   
xoxo, Erin
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Ellie and Addison
06.17.11

Random ramblings

Hi everyone!  Thanks for your comments on my last post.  The summer to-do list was so much fun to make.  My girls loved helping me come up with our summer plans.  I’ve seen such a variety of fun summer lists in blog land so it was fun to finally make our own.  When we were brainstorming ideas Addison told me that all she wanted to do this summer was to “play with mommy.”  Then she said she wished it could be like it used to be before Kole when I would play with her and not just take care of Kole all day.  Ouch.  Dagger to the heart!  She has really been struggling with that lately.  And it’s true.  Kole occupies so much of my time – as most one year olds do – and I’ve felt stretched a bit thin lately.  So, after feeling some major mom guilt in that little moment, we wrote “play with mommy” on our summer to-do list and I vowed to myself to focus on spending some one on one time with each of my girls each day this summer.  Even it it’s just for twenty minutes.

Yesterday during Kole’s nap Addison and I played soccer together in the back yard and today we did some puzzles.  
Guilt is slowly melting…
In other news – Kole has learned how to do laundry.  He is incredibly helpful as you can imagine.

This first picture is blurry but the expression on his face is one of my favorites.  He sits in the hallway and anxiously waits for me to take the warm clothes out of the dryer and throw them on him.  A fun little routine I’ve done with all three of my kids.  My girls still love it and come running whenever they hear the dryer stop.  Oh the anticipation!  Who knew a load of darks could be so much fun!!

Wheee!!!  Do it again mom! 

Then we sort together.  Kole is a master sorter.

Dad’s socks?  Not so much.  I’ll save those for my sisters.

Ellie has completely taken over our guest room and decided to spruce it up and make it her own.  I went to wake her up for school one morning and found the walls covered in her artwork.


Hmm… maybe I’m putting her to bed just a tad too early?  My favorite is the bumpy picture of her and her friend on the left which she clearly drew and colored AFTER it was taped to the wall.  Classic!

I also get a kick out the way she neatly places her little house shoes to the side of the bed so they are ready to slip on each morning when she wakes up.  Little things like this always make me smile.

And as for me, I’ve become even more lazy with food preparation – if that was at all possible.  Lately I’ve been buying a Spring Mix of lettuce already washed…

and just tossing a few things right in the plastic container to make my summer salad.  That’s right.  I don’t even take the lettuce out and put it in a bowl.  I can just see my grandma (who was an amazing cook) up in heaven shaking her head at me.  This pre-washed lettuce is as cool as pre-cooked chicken.  I’m a fan.
Following Ellie’s lead, I too have decided to do some sprucing up.  Last week I took down most of our living room decor.  I want to move the clock too, but I need to glance at it each morning when I come down the stairs to see how late we’re running this time.
Ahhh.  Nice and empty.  My neighbor stopped by and thought we were moving.  Nope.  Just ready for out with the old – in with the new.  
And until I find “the new” I just want to keep things a bit bare for a while.

Think I’ll keep this picture up though.  It’s a favorite.
BTW – is it so weird to see ads on my blog!?  It’s weird to me.  I have to say that when I started this blog I never intended to monetize it.  (I am more than content to let Kenny take full responsibility for bringing in the bucks!)  I started this blog thinking it would be read only by close friends and family.  Hopefully my mom and sister would check in each day.  Maybe my dad and brother once in a while?  A friend or two would certainly check in once a week.  Maybe a total of eight people?  I feel honored (and a bit surprised!) every day when I see how many people are reading.  I feel even more honored when I hear from some of you.  I get the sweetest e-mails and comments that truly do make my day.  I love blogging. I love everything about it.  The pictures, the journaling, creating friendships.  I got a sweet e-mail today from a friend who I knew in High School.  We danced together on the drill team and spent hours together in practice every day.  Now we live in different states and never see each other.  But we read each others blogs and because of this we know each other so much better than we ever did in High School!  And it’s so true.  People who read my blog know me better than people I see and talk to every day.  I kind of put it all out there.  It’s exciting and to be honest, sometimes it’s a little scary!  And intimidating.  Sometimes I think about the fact that more than eight people are reading this blog and I feel pressure to post something amazing!  But all I have to post is a cleaned out cupboard, a scrapbook page, or maybe just Kole folding my laundry.  Nothing amazing.  Just my life.  I’ve had several opportunities lately to monetize this blog and to be honest, nothing has felt right.  I don’t ever want to change this blog into something it isn’t and I don’t ever want blogging to stop being fun for me.  When I was given the opportunity to join the Blogher Publishing Network, it just felt like a good fit. I like Blogher ads.  I use a lot of the stuff they advertise!  (Hello 2011 Honda Odyssey)  And a lot of great bloggers who I admire have chosen to go with Blogher.  But the best part is that my blog doesn’t have to change.  I can keep posting pictures of a cleaned out cupboard, a scrapbook page, or just Kole sorting my laundry.  So I went for it!  And it’s exciting to think I could make a little money doing something I love so much and will always do regardless.  Maybe just enough money to support my weekly Container Store shopping sprees, but still, I’ll take it!  :)  Kenny loves to tease me about it.  He’ll say at night “hey – get a post up!  I’m ready to retire.”  And then we laugh.  Because there is NO WAY that’s happening anytime soon.  :)  So I know I’m TOTALLY rambling right now but I guess I just feel a connection with you – my readers – and wanted to well, be an open book again and share why I now have ads on my blog.  And to also say, thanks for reading.  
Tomorrow is Ellie’s last day of school and our summer officially begins!  I love summer in San Diego!  Even though the weather doesn’t change much, I can just smell summer time.  It’s a mix of the Jasmine vines in my yard and the neighbors BBQ.  Love it!  
I received a phone call and some text messages today from parents of friends in Ellie’s class wondering about the end of the year party I was having at my house tomorrow after school?  According to Ellie, it’s going to be quite the par-tay!  Only problem is that she forgot to tell mom about it.  HA!  Our summer is off to a great start!  :)
Hope yours is too!  
xoxo, Erin
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Addison
06.14.11

School Layouts (Addison)

Addison’s picture from 2009 – 2010 — her first year at pre-school!

 I didn’t do a complete layout for that year because well, she couldn’t write much yet.  :)  Next to her class picture in her PL book I just added her 12×12 pre-school envelope to hold random things from the year.

 Addison’s pre-school picture from this year — 2010-2011.
I’ll place this next to her class picture in her album.  Sweetest little group of kids EVER. 
A few words about the year from mom and some pictures from her first day of school.  She was so excited that first day — right up until we got there.  Then she was not a happy camper when mom had to leave!  Thankfully that only lasted a few days.  New beginnings are always a little scary, aren’t they?  

And Miss Addison’s first scrapbook page.  Is that not the cutest little self portrait!?  It kills me.  The hand print I actually cut out of an art project she made in pre-school.  It fit just right and I didn’t even have to mess with paint at home!  Love that.  

The completed layout for her PL album!  Quick and easy documentation of her year in pre-school.  It has sure been a fun one.  I’ve been dropping my girls off at this pre-school for five years now – first Ellie and now Addison.  It will be so strange to not spend three mornings and afternoons a week there.  I would bawl my eyes out saying good-bye to all of the staff (who have become like family) at this school next week but in just a couple more years, I know I’ll be back with my little buddy.  So I’m going to try to remind myself it is just a short break – not good-bye for good.  I don’t handle good-byes very well.  :)  Kenny on the other hand is thrilled to not be writing out the pre-school check each month.  Pre-school is seriously worse than paying college tuition around here!  But it is worth every penny.  I mean just look at the way she wrote “MOM SHOES” for her favorite thing to wear!  Clearly my child is a genius.  ;)

For those of you who have asked, here is more on the topic of what I do with kids’ school work.  And here is how I organize school work before it is placed in their PL albums.  Speaking of albums, I am SO going to try to catch up on them this summer!  Not much progress is happening with Kole’s baby book but I feel like I need to get the girls’ albums caught up first before I can really start working on anything for him.

I know – poor third kid.  Right!?  :)

xoxo, Erin
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Ellie
06.13.11

School Layouts (Ellie)

I know a lot of you entered summer bliss a while back, but around here we have still been trucking away!  This is Ellie’s last week at school and her agenda includes a pajama day/read-a-thon, a Hawaiian Luau, a movie party, and a ‘lunch with dad’ day.  Wish I were a first grader!

This last month as the school year has been winding down, I’ve been working on the girls’ school pages for their Project Life Albums.  I have received a few e-mails from readers asking what I do to document school stuff so hopefully the next two posts will answer any questions.  Several years ago I ordered a kit (actually one for each child) Becky Higgins created called her “school kit.”  The kit came with a few coordinating papers for each school year along with a clear 12×12 envelope (also one for each school year) to hold miscellaneous memorabilia.  Originally when I ordered the kits, my plan was to create a “school album” for each child with a few pages from each school year.  Now that I am using the Project Life albums, however, I’ve decided to just add these school pages in the girls’ albums along with pictures from that school year.  Any other pictures from field trips or other school related activities are just placed randomly throughout their albums.  Here is an example of some pictures from Ellie’s school Valentine party/performance from last year:

School pictures like that are just spread randomly throughout her album in chronological order.

Here are Ellie’s separate school pages I created last year for Kindergarten:

Each year I do a layout including her 8×10 school portrait (why are the backgrounds for these school pictures so awful!?) along with the picture of her class.  I keep these layouts so simple!  I want the focus to be the pictures – not scrapbook supplies.  
I took a minute at the end of the school year to write some things about her year.  Prompts include: “that was the best, that was hard, worth mentioning, and good times.”  As my kids get older I will have them fill in this section.  But for now, they get mom’s perspective.  :)
Then I choose from the stickers in the kit a few prompts for Ellie.  While they are little I will always have them include a self portrait.  It’s my favorite!  

The full layout for Kindergarten
And the layouts I just completed for this school year:
A few thoughts about this year from mom…
and a few thoughts from Ellie.  LOVED that her self portrait also included her favorite little creatures she likes to draw.  I also love that for two of her hobbies she listed “playing and eating.”  HA!  Sounds about right.    
The full layout for First Grade.  I think these pages will be so fun for my girls to have.  Just seeing how their handwriting progresses each year and reading all about things that were important to them in each grade.  Priceless.  This would be SO easy to duplicate without this kit.  Just grab a piece of paper at the end of each school year and have your child jot down their teacher, friends, hobbies, age, school, and anything else you can think of.  Have them draw a picture of themselves and done!  This took Ellie a whole 20 minutes (and 18 minutes of that was spent on the ladybugs and butterflies).  :)  
This year I also did a very simple scrapbook layout of Ellie’s first day of first grade.  When I put this in her PL album I’ll also print out and include some journaling from my blog that tells all about that day.  She was so excited for school!  For Ellie it was like Christmas morning.  I, on the other hand, remember feeling completely exhausted from my newborn and wondering how in the world I would survive the year.  Christmas morning for mom?  Not so much.  :)  Funny how a photograph can instantly bring back feelings and emotions.

These are my favorite part of the school kits and what totally made me want to buy them immediately!  I love having a place to put random things from the year that didn’t make it into their albums.  While you can’t get these kits anymore, Becky Higgins is coming out with something else to help document school days this summer.  I’m sure it will be even better than these original kits so if you are looking for a solution for school stuff, check in with her blog!  Hope that answered a few questions on how I’m documenting school days!  I’ll share Addison’s pre-school pages tomorrow.  
Have a great Monday everyone!  :)
xoxo, Erin
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Addison
06.10.11

Addison’s party

You may remember that my little Miss Addison turned five at the end of May.  We had quite the celebration for her.  Months before her birthday I told her we could do whatever she wanted for her 5th birthday – Disneyland, American Girl Doll Store, party with friends at the park, Seaworld – whatever she wanted.  She said “I want to go to grandma’s house in Utah!”  Sweetest thing.  So – off to Utah we went!

Decor for the party was pretty low key.  A few pages from Addison’s scrapbook taped along the mantel.  

And several of my favorite pictures of Addison taped along the wall.  With the Rapunzel balloons.  OF COURSE it was a “Rapunzel Utah party!”  And the whole family was invited.  
Party started with the opening of presents — funny story about the presents.  I had such fabulous intentions shopping for the party and using the pictures of Addison to make a fun birthday banner.  But the week before the party, Kole had other plans for me.  So the morning of the party my mom and I woke up and headed to Target.  Hardly any time at all to buy all of the presents, wrap them, pick up the cake and balloons, order the pizza, and get the house clean before the quests arrived.  You should have heard us driving to the store.  We were getting ourselves all pumped up for one of the fastest shopping trips in Target history!  We were like football players getting psyched for the big game.  Picture Rocky music playing in the background — “I’ll head to the doll section, you hit pajamas!  Then we’ll meet at the DVD’s and cruise past gift wrap on the way out!  We can SO do this!  Go Go Go!”  We raced in the store, grabbed everything that screamed Addison, and in less than 20 minutes we were back at the car – hi-fiving all the way home.  And not only did I find a doll, but a doll named Addison that can swim in the pool.  TOUCHDOWN!  
Yeah.  We thought we were pretty cool.   

And apparently so did Addison since she loved her gifts which included shoes, a yellow tutu, smurf pajamas (of course a matching pair for El), dolls, mermaids for my girls and their cousin Claire, and the latest Barbie DVD.  Couldn’t have done better if I would have shopped for months!  :)
Oh.  And a dress fit for a fairy princess.  

Then time for cake!

Loving the attention while everyone sang…
make a wish!
And cue the tongue.  My Addie always sticks her tongue out of the side of her mouth when she is excited/embarrassed.  

And there it is again.  The sign of a good birthday.  :)  We spent the rest of the afternoon lounging by the pool.  I should have taken more pictures of the guests, but I think I was burned out after my mega shopping spree.  I would highly recommend planning a party BEFORE the morning of the party.  

But it all came together – it always does, right!?  And my little sweetheart had a fabulous birthday.  I really can’t believe she’s five.  
I also can’t believe that I’m just now noticing one of the balloons says 1st birthday on it.  HA!
But I did find a doll.  A doll named Addison that can swim in the pool….
xoxo, Erin
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Entertainment
06.08.11

No post today

Oh. my. gosh.  I was totally going to post tonight and now it’s after 11:00 PM and I haven’t even glanced at my computer screen.  It’s summer you know.  Which for us means it’s time to resume what we like to call:
Jack Bauer Power Hour 
Third summer watching 24.  We are on season 7 episode 6 and it is INTENSE!  The conspiracy is deep within the President’s administration (of course it is), a colleague Jack thought was dead has turned terrorist (naturally), and Jack has now kidnapped a deposed prime minister. Meanwhile the President’s husband is in grave danger (is there any other kind?).

My palms are sweaty, I am hanging off the side of my couch, and we just HAVE to keep watching

ONE. MORE. EPISODE.

I can’t even take a bathroom break – but does JACK BAUER ever take a freakin’ bathroom break!?

This is not for the faint at heart.  It’s going to be a long night but I’ve got to be strong.  I owe it to my country.

Jack Bauer Power Hour baby.  Bring it.

xoxo, Erin
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Family
06.06.11

My secret getaway

So I have a secret spot.  A getaway.  My favorite place to visit where I can really relax and leave all of my cares behind.  It is a place where meals are cooked (or bought!) for me, a place where I can visit and connect with old friends, a place where I feel totally comfortable wearing my pajamas all day, a place aside from my home where my children feel the most content.  And, most importantly, a place where babysitting is plentiful and free!

Mom’s house.  Ahhhh.  Isn’t it beautiful!!??  This last trip to Southern Utah I asked my mom if I could photograph and share her home.  Around six years ago my parents decided to down size (yes!  this is actually a lot smaller than the home I grew up in) and build their dream home.  My mom wanted a cottage style home complete with a porch, pillars and black shutters while my dad wanted his dream yard.  They both got their wish.  This house is very similar to the style of home I love and it has been so fun having this beautiful place to escape to now and again.

Is there a better combination than black shutters and yellow roses?  Not that I know of.
Side of the house with a little black gate that leads to the back yard.  

And to the left of the gate is the garage.  I can’t believe I forgot to photograph the garage!  We love to tease my dad about his beloved garage that is actually more like a separate house.  It’s a four car garage with two levels above it.  We call it “the garage-mahal” and if my dad suddenly disappears when his house is full of kids and grand kids, we all know where to find him.  He is no doubt in his coveted, quiet getaway where he can take a nap, do a little fly tying for his next fishing trip, watch sports on the big screen, or just putter in his tool space.  Once in a while he’ll take the grand kids over to feed the fish in his aquarium, but for the most part the “garage-mahal” is a total man cave.  Sorry dad — for forgetting to take pictures of what you believe is the most important part of your home.

And the view from the back of their home.  Which is just as darling as the front.  If I had zoomed in closer to the porch you would see several doll houses that my mom set outside so her granddaughters could play with their dolls in the shade.  And a race track and cars for her grandsons.  Even though Kole is the oldest of the three grandsons and the cars were mostly used as teething tools.  Still mom.  Such a sweet gesture.  :)
I just love the vines growing around her pillars and the flowers planted around each tree.
Another favorite spot for the grandkids.  Right inside these beautiful trees…
is a delightful, shady sand pile.  My girls spend hours here always making me wonder why in the world I don’t have a sand pile.  Then I remember how I can’t stand them bringing sand into the house.  We get enough of that from the beach.  My cute mom couldn’t care less.  She is all about the kids.  She says she’ll clean later – let them have fun.  Then after we leave she tidies everything up.  Except for the hand prints on her french doors.  She’s never in a hurry to clean those.  
Of course we always spend lots of time here every time we come to visit.  

The girls and I love “the baby turtle and his mommy” that live in the pool.
This last trip after watching her daddy’s mad skills…
Ellie finally dared to jump off of the rock.
We also love all of the big open space (so hard to come by in San Diego!) where the girls run and play.

And next to grandpa’s garden full of all sorts of colorful vegetables, is a little swing for a little person…

 who loves swing time…
 almost as much as his grandpa does.  
While I love so many things about this beautiful home and yard, the thing I adore the most…

is the darling couple who own it.  
Love you mom and dad!  Thanks for letting me share your home.  If I come and bring your grandkids again really soon will you let me photograph the inside?  I have a feeling I’ve got a deal.  
:)
xoxo, Erin
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Ellie and Addison
06.03.11

Summer Time

Wow!  Friday already!  We spent last weekend in Utah with family and came back Tuesday so this short week has flown by.  I’m finally feeling caught up from our travels!  Hoping to have more time to post next week.  This is such a busy time of year with school ending, isn’t it!?  
Just a couple of pics from our weekend that signal summer time!
 Girls “helping” grandpa mow.  Is there anything better in the summer than the smell of a freshly mowed lawn?  I think not.  

And my little guy’s first time in the pool!

He loved it so much.
 What a stud.  :)
Have a great weekend everyone!

p.s.  Thank you so much for all of the sweet comments lately!  They mean so much to me.  I’m well aware that I have the best readers/friends in blog land.  :)
xoxo, Erin
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Addison
06.01.11

Dear Addison,

My sweet baby.  I can’t believe you are five today.  I know.  You aren’t the baby of the family anymore, but you were the baby for so long.  And you’re still my baby girl.  And now you’re five and starting Kindergarten in the Fall.  I have to say it out loud to believe it.

You and I had such a special little bond right from the start.  Our first night together in the hospital you were crying in the bed next to me.  I started talking to you and you immediately stopped.  You turned your little head towards me and calmed right down.  I was overwhelmed with love and I knew you felt the same.  We’ve been pretty much inseparable from that day on.  You are a total mommy’s girl and I absolutely love it.

You love to snuggle.  It’s one of my most favorite things about you.  You have always loved to cuddle and as soon your daddy or I sit down, it isn’t long before you are on one of our laps.  It takes you some time to warm up to other people, but once you do, you are such a lovable little buddy to have.  You give the best kisses and the biggest hugs.  You love to love.  Something so special about you that I hope never changes.  

You have a very mischievous side.  You love to tease your sister and stir up a little trouble.  You are no stranger to “time out” and have made a hobby of testing your mommy’s patience.  But it’s impossible to stay mad at you for long Addison.  You are always quick to apologize and to tell me you love my outfit or that I look so pretty.  Did I mention how smart you are?  You are a VERY smart and perceptive little girl.  And you win me over with your sweet words and charming smile.  Every.  Single.  Time.  
Your first few years of life you were SO FULL of energy.  You wore me out.  You really did.  I started calling you my little curly topped firecracker and the name suited you so perfectly.  You have calmed down a lot this last year.  You are much more content to play with your toys, color and draw, work on letters with mommy, and just chill.

You are my best little helper each December when it’s time to make Pretzel Hugs.  It has become our fun little tradition to do together.  You are totally in it for the chocolate and have decided that chocolate hugs are your very favorite food.  :)  Other foods you love to eat are “green yogurt” (key lime), Bran Chex (we have these every morning for breakfast together), and Pat and Oscars Pizza.  You’ll eat pizza from other places, but make sure each time I understand that it isn’t the same as your favorite Pat and Oscars Pizza.

You are my true girly girl Addison.  You LOVE dresses, skirts, jewelry.  You have a strong opinion about how your hair should be done each day and you always insist on some sort of headband or bow.  Accessories really are your best friend.  You go through several wardrobe changes each day and take a lot of time and care picking out each component of your outfit.  Unlike your sister, you have no problem sacrificing comfort for the sake of fashion.  I envision you having a very successful career in fashion some day!

Of course your favorite fashion accessory is mom’s shoes.  You have been prancing around the house in my shoes since you were two years old.  It always makes me smile when you come around the corner or down the stairs in some of my heels or boots.  They look so much better on you sweet girl!  Now when I buy a new pair of shoes I always think won’t my Addison just love these!  :)

You are a total clean freak!  You don’t like being dirty and it took forever for you to enjoy the beach because of all that dirty sand!  You would take a bath four times a day if I let you (always after we return from an outing) and you scrub your little hands and feet like no ones business!  You like life to be about order and routine and clean, clean, clean.  Wonder where you got that from?  ;)  

You have always had SO MUCH personality Addison.  It’s impossible not to smile when you’re in a good mood. You can be so comical and you make us laugh all the time.  Sometimes when Ellie’s friends are over you get on a roll and before long our house is full of laughter.  We have to be careful though.  Sometimes you want others to laugh at you and sometimes you don’t.  You can be a bit sensitive with things like that and your daddy and I have become experts at navigating your various moods.

Speaking of moods!  You are extremely stubborn.  You always want to do everything yourself – your way.  You often refuse to let me help you with things and this is a struggle for me because I like to be in control.  You have made me beyond frustrated with your stubbornness, your refusal to back down.  There have been days we have both been SO MAD at each other.  We have to take a minute to cool off and to regroup.  You have taught me patience and compromise.  And you have made me a better mom.  And while this stubbornness and independence drives me crazy, it is also one of the things I love most about you.  It makes you strong and smart and capable.  And sometimes, in the midst of my frustration, it makes me proud.

And I am proud of you Addison.  So so proud of the beautiful girl you are becoming – inside and out.  We both love the song “You are my Sunshine” and we often sing it together during singing time at your preschool.  You really are my sunshine each day.  You are so uniquely you and I love you with all of my heart.  Happy 5th birthday sweet girl.  
xoxo, 
mommy
xoxo, Erin
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Kole
05.28.11

Survive

Oh.  My.  Goodness.  This week has been just short of insane.  Remember the letter I wrote to myself during the newborn stage to help me get through that crazy time period?  Well here’s a new letter to myself to help get me through the next year.
Dear Erin,
          SURVIVE.
Love, Erin
You see, I had plans this week.  Places to go, projects to complete, activities to attend, e-mails to respond to, a birthday party to plan, a trip to pack for, a house to clean, and let’s not forget fun pictures to post on the blog.

But alas!  Here’s what my week looked like instead:

First mom can watch me pull out all of my toys and her wrapping paper…

then I’ll move on to dad’s socks.
Scrapbook supplies are where it’s at.
Mom won’t care if I munch on these stickers.  They are so last year…

Pasta is my favorite.  The messier the better.  Mom especially loves it when I show her I’m done by  chucking my food at record speeds.  Love to watch that food fly!
Ha!  She THINKS I’m contained.  Not for long…
Ahhhh!  The one year old.  This stage is KILLER.  And Kole just might kill me.  
One munched on scrapbook sticker at a time.  
Have a fabulous long weekend everyone!  You all know what I’ll be up to.  :)
xoxo, Erin
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