Sunday, April 1, 2012

Little League Night @ the Ballpark!

**I know, I know...two posts in one day, it MUST be an April Fools joke?!  And real pictures too?!  Shocking!  Have a busy week ahead of us, so don't get used to this!**


 Last night we headed to Goodyear Ballpark for Little League Night!
 We all wore matching t-shirts {Lola's was jazzed up a little, couldn't help myself!  Click here to see how I did it} and got to go out onto the field for the little league pledge - don't feel bad, I didn't know there was one either!  It was so cool to be so close to the action!  We also learned how sacred the grass on those fields are, mannnn, they kept reminding us to stay on the dirt!
 Didn't matter though, the kids had fun!  Even if we had to wait in line for what seemed like forever!
We made our way down several flights of stairs and got to see a couple secret spots that we probably would never have been able to see before we made it to the field!  Kyan plays with a bunch of great kids, several of which he attends school with!

After we felt too cool for school, we headed over to center field, where my dad was saving a nice grassy spot for us!  We enjoyed the game with family and friends!  It was a perfect evening spent together!

There was lots of silly timing going on!

Cheesin' it up for the camera!

And several staring contests!

 We even tried to touch our tongues to our noses (we did this out to dinner with the Swishers a few weeks ago too, becoming a regular game with us I guess)!  Wouldn't you know that Grandpa Jerry was the only one who could make it happen?! 

After the game, the kids got to run the bases before the big fireworks show!  Lola tapped out {you'll see in a minute why} but Kyan and his buddies headed down to the field for a run around!  The dentist office that the kids go to was sponsoring the night and handed out goodie bags at third base!

 It was a LATE night, one we really weren't sure we would make it through, but the kids seriously kept begging to stay for the bases and fireworks, kinda couldn't say no!  So while Kyan ran around the bases, Lola curled up on Grandpa Jerry's lap and crashed out in about 30 seconds of snuggling him.  She slept through the entire show, thanks to grandpa holding her ears {every firework shot off was accompanied by a boomer - my favorites - but not for my sleeping princess}!  Didn't phase her one bit!
It was such a fun night, so glad my dad was here to spend it with us!  Surrounded by family and friends is the best feeling and we are lucky that we have such great people in our lives!


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Our Golf Buddies

 Another yummy season of spaghetti and meatballs with our golf buddies!  
What you can't see is Lola asleep on the ottoman behind them!  Poor girl just couldn't hang the whole night with them, even though she was so excited to see them!  Made for a nice, quite dinner! 
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Friday, March 30, 2012

InstaFriday - with a quickness!

 1.  Masking Tape works every time for a salad bag that pops open on your way home from the grocery store, Wonton Tacos = deliciousness (click on the name, it will take you to the recipe), Oreo got a new treat, Lola told me she was ready to go to school in those heals, prepping for our Sunday dinner of Spaghetti and Meatball dinner with our golf buddies - Kyan loves to mix the meatballs (again, click on the name of the food and it will take you to the recipe, that one happens to be my Aunt Jan's secret recipe for her meatballs and sauce)!

2.  More prepping - this time it is chocolate chip cookies (Aunt Heidi's secret recipe, also shared if you click on the food title!), Merchant Square flea market - serious junking went down, pedi/manicure - how I love shellac, emergency clutches for Kyan's teacher!

3.  Chocolate Chip Cookies done and ready for ice cream, mail worth opening from Lisa Leonard Designs (I LOVE her work, added to my collection), "you can fly" necklace by LLD, downloaded Justin Bieber's new song for Lola, listened about 85 times the first night, after talking all week about our golf buddies coming over for dinner, poor girl crashed about 45 minutes after their arrival and slept right through their two hour dinner/visit, she was sad when she woke up!

4.  Dinner for the gold buddies!

5.  Love dressing for Spring, I have been using some of my dresses that are too short to wear to school as skirts, easy conversion, Mrs. Ashby hair according to Lola and how she insisted on wearing it to school, she loves her teachers, saved 30 cents per gallon on gas and filled my tank for $35, head massage and hair brush - was so worth letting her stay up past bedtime to do, Justin Beiber has entered the building in the form of Lola's first poster - she was so happy when she unfolded it!

Sorry for it being so short, big decisions being made over here, hope everyone had a great week!

Linking up with Jeannett over at Life Rearranged!
(to follow us on Instagram:  jenni_roseland)

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Friday, March 23, 2012

InstaFriday

We had another wonderful week, that is for sure - best part, it seemed to fly!  Happy to report that we are one step closer to summer break over here {yes, I am counting!  Nine weeks to go until I am enjoying that backyard with the kids}.

For part of this post, we were still on Spring Break!  On Friday, Chad took the day off of work and headed to the Phoenix Zoo with us!  We hadn't been in quite some time {only for a birthday party and we didn't really explore past the area it was in} and I the kids had a blast!  They walked the entire time {without complaining}!  A major highlight for Kyan was riding Isaac, the camel!  He was so excited!  After watching him, Lola decided that next time, she would be brave and try too {yeah right, we'll see about that}!

Friday evening we met Grandma Donna for dinner after she got off work and had her therapy {hip replacement a few months ago}!  Yummy Mexican food at a local restaurant by her house!   The kids were very excited to get to spend their evening with her!

Saturday morning, Lola and I did some serious shopping together!  We started garage sale-ing, but really there wasn't anything around our 'hood that we were finding, so we hit up TJ Max and Old Navy, where we found some smokin' deals!  Plus, everything at Old Navy was 17% because of St. Patty's Day, so double smokin' deals!  My favorite thing I picked up were those Steve Madden shoes and my maxi skirts {yes, I bought it in three different colors}!  After our shopping day, I came home and played around on my sewing machine for a little bit and got an idea {that I am sure has been done before, I just hadn't seen it} and created a skirt out of an old t-shirt!  You can find the tutorial here if you want to make your own and have 10 minutes to spare!

Saturday night we met the Swishers for dinner at BJ's restaurant, a great spot as they have something for everyone!  We love those kids and Uncle Frank too and did some seriously laughing at the table!  And as you can see above, Lola decided that she wanted to eat her Spaghetti diner noodle by noodle.  Not kidding, she slurped them up one by one.

Sunday I finished making my first LilBlueBoo Sienna dress!  It was so much work and I become one with the seam ripper for sure, but I think it is safe to say that Lola LOVES it!  Not sure if I will be making another one anytime soon, think I will stick to those skirts, but it is something I can say I did!!!   I also did a little bit more shopping - I needed some Mac foundation, so I slipped on another maxi skirt from my shopping trip the day before and headed to the mall!  When I got home the kids went over to the neighbors to play and headed down in the rain and got about 10 feet before Lola came screaming and crying back inside, followed by Kyan and the umbrella.  It stood no chance in the crazy wind/rain we had!  I had to drive them down so they could play!

Monday was a sad day.  I had to head back to work and it was a long one!  But, neighbor Kelly had that Twix Brownie waiting for me when I drove past her house {and her kids' lemonade stand}!  It was delicious, but oh so rich.  I had a bit and had to put it down.  I spent Monday night on the couch, watching The Voice, working, all while bundled up in my snuggie!

Tuesday I finished up Delany's crib skirt with my friend Camille {if you click on her name, you can see the maternity shoot I just finished with her and stay tuned for pictures of her new baby girls room}!  I hope to get a tutorial up on that ruffled crib skirt soon, even though we didn't really measure much!  It was fairly simple, just a lot of hemming, ruffling, pinning and more pinning!  It does look beautiful and I can't wait to see it on the crib in person!

Wednesday was finally warm again and I sported my new shoes to school!  I paired them with an H&M dress I got this past summer, before I headed to Jamaica!

Thursday morning Lola woke up with the cutest grin on her face and came barreling into the bathroom while I was getting ready...
Lola - "Mom, I just had a dream about Justin Bieber!"  
Me - "Oh yeah?!  What was he doing in your dream?"
Lola - "He was singing to me!"
Me - "One Less Lonely Girl?"
Lola - Blushing, "Uh-huh!"
Me - "What was he wearing, his purple clothes?"
Lola - "No, his white ones!"
Too much, for real!  She is in LOVE!
They let me snap a new picture of them before they headed off to school!  I told them if they had good days, we could make our own pizza for dinner!  With a sticker on Lola's sheet and an excellent report card for Kyan, pizza makin' they did!  They loved them and ate every last bite.  They were actually begging for more and I didn't have any, but I know for next time!

Linkin' up with again over at Life Rearranged!  
 Hope every had a great week and has an even better weekend!
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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Recycled T-Shirt Skirt

 In the midst of all of the sewing I have been doing over spring break, Lola needed a little green to wear for St. Patty's day and an idea came to mind last minute...use one of the t-shirts I just bought from Saver's {I bought a bunch of fun colors to use for the Sienna Dress pattern by lilblueboo}!  I wasn't sure if it was going to work, but I did happen to snap pictures while making it, just in case!  Good thing for me {and now you too}, it did!  I can't wait to raid the house for more t-shirts to use on these super simple skirts for Lola!

What you will need:
an old t-shirt {I used an XL}
elastic
matching thread

Measure approximately 15 inches of the t-shirt and cut {adjust accordingly if you are making for someone smaller, but this worked perfectly for Lola}!  Make sure you use the bottom part of the t-shirt, this eliminates any hemming later on, it is already done for you!

 Leave it in one big piece, don't cut it!
While inside out, iron out any wrinkles.

Measure your child's waist {I wanna say Lola's was about 16-17 inches} and add one inch of elastic.  Lay down the elastic to see how much you need to fold over to make the waistband.  Iron and pin without the elastic inside {you just need to elastic for this part to see how much to fold your fabric over}.

Sew almost all the way around.  Leave approximately 2 inches to pull the elastic through.
Put a safety pin on one of the ends of the elastic and pull through.  Make sure to hang on to the other end so that it doesn't go through too while pulling.  Pull out both pieces of the elastic and overlap them.

Sew the ends together.  Tuck into the fabric and finish sewing the top closed.

It is seriously that easy!  Ready for Lola to wear to our St. Patty's day dinner!

She loves it and it really is the perfect length for standing or sitting!

But especially for playing in!  So comfy and all in about 10 minutes!

Ready. Set. GO make a few of your own!

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 Linking with these fabulous parties!

Friday, March 16, 2012

InstaFriday - Spring Break Edition!!!

I love my iPhone, and I might have been a little picture happy this time around, as we {the kids and I} have been on Spring Break this week!  

Yearbook deadline wasn't technically due until March 12th, but I wanted to hit the final submit button before I went on break!  So Friday, after school, I made a few final tweaks before I submitted the entire book!  Wow, what a relief that was!  To celebrate, I went to the local wine bar and shared a bottle of wine with my friend!  It is funny, now that I like wine, all of my friends are very concerned about what I might like and very willing to offer their suggestions!  Holly recommended Stella Rosa and she hit the mark!  Was perfect!

Saturday morning Lola and I met up with some of our favorite girls for a mani/pedi.  Getting girl time with these two is very special to us!
After we were a little more put together from our morning of pampering, we headed as a family to watch Xavier play in the championship football game out in Gilbert!  Was very much worth the drive, the Sun Devils won the game and the kids were so excited to high five, hug, and take their picture with their favorite player!  Lola has the biggest crush on him in the world, Xavier is right up there with Justin Bieber!  We all like to tease her about it!

We were outside all day, running around on the field after the game and it made for some very dirty kids!  They were pooped by the time we got home and you can see how thrilled Lola is to have to get in the bath!

Sunday was a pretty chillax day!  I picked up a new skirt for Lola while I was out and about.  She is obsessed with skirts and tanktops right now.  It is all she wants to wear.  The kids attempted to sleep at the neighbors house, but only one made it the whole night...I bet you can guess who ended up back at home with me around 9:30, while I worked on editing wedding photos?!  Yep, she didn't last too long at all.  Right about time the movie was over, she just couldn't shut those eyes and needed me!  Ha!  It was a nice try though.  Kyan, of course, had a blast!

Had she not come home though, I wouldn't have got to see this sweet little face Monday morning when I rolled over...on the floor, to my right.  Nine out of 10 times she winds up there.  One day I know she will grow out of it, so for now, I just let it happen.  I woke up with what I thought was a nasty sinus infection {been battling it for a few days actually, just thought it was finally at sinus infection point} so I went to the doctor.  Turns out I didn't have one at all, just a reaction to all the Afrin I squirt up my nose.  I know it is bad, but I do it because it helps, I just do it too much for too long and it wasn't working like it was supposed to anymore.  I was given strict instructions to get off the stuff and squirt Flonase instead!  I also was given a steroid shot in the butt to help open up those airways and it huuuuuuurrrrtt!  Now everytime I want to use the Afrin I think about the burn that sucker left me and just deal.  So far, no squirts!!!

Chad took the day off of work Monday to spend with us, so after the doc appointment, we headed to the Goodyear Ballpark and watched the Diamondbacks play!  While in the bouncy play area, Chad got hit by a fly ball, so we took home a souvenir!

After the game, we did a little shopping.  Kyan needed a cup {so he could play catcher, in the big boy league now} before practice started!  Lola fell in love with that cute little hat!  Think I might have to go back and get it for her!  After practice, I had to meet up with my uncle, which cut into the Bachelor Finale!  I did make it home just in time to see him make the worst decision ever.  The Final Rose show was even more confusing?!  Hate that I can't tear my eyes away every single season.  Monday also marked the first week of vitamins and eating better and feeling good about me.  Whew, what a day!

 Tuesday I spent it crafting {unfortunately I can't show you, a surprise for my girlfriend's baby whose shower isn't until the end of the month} while my kids played with the neighbor kids!  They were so good!  Morning/Noon/Night, Kyan is playing catch with himself or anyone else that will toss him the ball!  I made him switch to tossing socks when he is in the house.  I made my favorite bell peppers for dinner again, this time using gold peppers instead of green!  I also forgot to take the sticker off one of them, but turns out they were still delicious as ever!

Wednesday morning Lola slept until after 9!  She is taking full advantage of Spring Break and was so tired from all of her playing the day before.  Camille came over for a crafting time, where we ruffled our little hearts out!  I am helping her make a crib bed skirt for her soon to be new baby girl's room!  Kyan played so good with Lola and Avery, I called him the babysitter, while we crafted, that when they left, I made sure to play catch with just him.  We were outside for over 45 minutes and having a blast until he took a shot to the head, when the ball bounced off of his glove.  Nothing a little frozen veggies can't fix!  After a little bit of rest, it was time to go to practice!  He was the only kid who wore his cup, so he was the only one who got to put on the gear and play catcher!  He had been waiting all day for that moment and was grinning from ear to ear the entire time he was wearing it.  Check out his form too, looks like he has been playing for years, you would never know it was his first time behind the plate!  He was on cloud nine from practice, so I figured I would keep making his night and served him dinner in the bath!

On Thursday, I spent some time contemplating whether or not to try the Sienna dress pattern by lilblueboo.  I have gotten as far as cutting out the size 4T size for Lola, but that is it.  Hoping to work more on it...soon!  Camille came over for about an hour and we got a few more layers done on her crib skirt!  She was also very sweet and brought me a new bottle of wine to try and this cute little Chirpie Wine Pourer!  I have been without wifi for about four days, something about the modem wasn't talking to the router {'cuz you know they have to do that?!}, and after being on hold with what seemed like forever and then following very specific instructions from Cox, I was able to fix it all by myself!  Can't believe how much I depend on the convenience of wifi and how annoying it was to be without it.  We enjoyed lots of time outdoors today too, at the park and riding bikes!  I love how sweet Kyan is to his sister.  When she needs help, he is always there for her!  I tried a new recipe too, Avocado Chicken Salad that I had pinned earlier in the week!  Has two of my favorite ingredients ever, cilantro and lime, of course it was yummy!!!

 
Mannnnn, what a week we have had!  We have had a great spring break so far and I look forward to finishing up the weekend strong as ever!  It has been so nice to play with my kids and get to know my sewing machine so much better this past week!  How close are we to summer vacation?! 


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