Family Pictures 2012

This year, we didn't scramble to quickly get our family pictures done at the last second.  

This year, I tried to time it during a month that we weren't freezing during the shoot.

This year, I found what everyone else was wearing and then threw my outfit together.

This year, my husband cooperated fully and made me less stressed.

This year, Jobrina Hofleit Photography captured our family.

This year, I am speechless.

I love them all.

Enjoy the picture overload!

 

InstaFriday - Quickie

Notice anything new?!  Hopefully it will inspire me to post more than just InstaFriday updates.  

I know for sure that I'll be sharing the new family photos on the blog tomorrow, so stay tuned...

Until then, I'll leave you with a newly made over page and a few photos from this past week!

My mom brought me the coolest ornament for the tree, little did I know she just wanted to show it to me so that I could make more myself!  I begged, not to hard, to keep it and she let me!  Can't wait to add it to the tree - as our tree has a collection of random ornaments from growing up!

Lola and her makeup compact.  Not the smartest move on my mother's part to give her.  She put so much on during our freezing cold dinner that her face was white!  It was hilarious!  

Really, when grandpa and grandma are in town, I don't see too much of my children.  They countdown the days until they get to spend the night at their house.  This quick trip out to visit was no different!  I had plans to craft all day on Saturday and shoot a wedding on Sunday, so I spent the night with them on Friday when they came in with just Lola.  We had so much fun!

Before the crafting began, Kyan played in his last game of the basketball season!  He did so good and earned the nickname "Money" from his coach!  Fits him perfectly!

Two things I was looking forward to: Super Saturday with my girlfriend Meghan at her church.  I made way to many bracelets, but had so much fun!  My family pictures from the amazing Jobrina Hofleit Photography!  Her packaging is a amazing as her photos!  Can't wait to share more soon!

 Whenever my mama is here we happened to shop.  I found a few animal print skinny jeans on sale at Target for $6.88 that I couldn't say no to!  Lola scored a new pair of slippers, picked them out all by herself!  Great taste if I don't say so myself.

 Thanksgiving Feast was at school on Tuesday and I ate lunch my boy, as we share the same lunch you know!  We also went to the grocery store to pick out some smell good for his pits!  It was time.  Never, ever thought it would be this early of an age, but after teaching 2nd graders and smelling them coming in from recess, I knew.  We probably spent a good 10-15 minutes smelling the different kids until he settled on an Axe scent!  Good call daddy in suggesting to take him to pick it out himself!

That's it!  Short and sweet!  Check back tomorrow for family pictures!

InstaFriday - Two in One...Again!

I have a good excuse as to why I didn't blog last week - it's called grandma's sale!  More on that in a little bit, promise, but first, what happened in our life before grandma's!

Trunk or Treat at Grandma Donna's church.  A tradition each year!

Walking Taco, reminded me of high school basketball games back home and growing up in a small town.

Reading more than ever!  I just finished Barely Breathing, the second book in the trilogy (I have to wait for a while before the third book to come out and it is pure torture).

Lola sleeping.  She always comes in at bed time and doesn't feel well.  The cure is always to cure up in mama's arms and snuggle.

 Two weeks ago it was definitely hoodie weather in the morning!  

I worked all last week on my Sub Tub - everything in there a sub could ever want, and more: lesson plans and copies made, supplies, schedules, behavior expectations, what to do in an emergency, band-aides, nurse passes, snacks, books, etc.  It took me forever to do, but I am so thankful that it is done, and in the event that I need to miss another day of work, I feel like it will be a piece of cake to do so!

 Halloween was exciting for the simple fact that it was one of our favorite holidays to celebrate, but for two other BIG reasons:  vocabulary parade at school and student of the month awards.  Kyan and Lola were both of their classes student of the months for October!  It was nice to be able to celebrate with them both the entire day!  We enjoyed donuts and juice after the parade and assembly!  The vocabulary assembly has become a tradition at the school as well.  Kyan and I had to choose a compound word and design a t-shirt.  He went with snowman, so I played off of his word and went with snowflake!  Felt kinda funny to have a Fall party in my classroom decked out in a winter shirt!  Each member of Lola's class was a number, she was number 25!

Passed out candy on Halloween night after we walked around the neighborhood together as a family.  I think my kids like this part more than getting treats!

 The morning after Halloween, I went to wake up Lola and she rolled over and said, "I just need a break off today!"  I couldn't help but giggle and let her sleep for five more minutes!

 Thursday after school let out, I set up my sub tub for my classroom the following day, and waited for my husband to get home, very impatiently, I might add.  As soon as he walked in the door, I ran out and picked up my friend, Meghan, and we headed to grandma and grandpa's for a quick little getaway!  We laughed so hard with them and my mother-in-law Donna the whole weekend!  Not only did we laugh a lot, but we scored some amazing deals in between the dusting of all the furniture!  I really hope that this sale sticks around for years to come!  Thank you grandma and grandpa for such a great time!

 

 Saturday morning we returned from the east valley and went to a friend's baptism.  I had 800 other things that I should have been doing after the party got over, but I was so pooped from the 40 hours away from home, the only thing I wanted to do was hang out with my babies.  That is exactly what I did with the two of them the remainder of my weekend!  They swam on Saturday (it was so nice outside).  No, our pool isn't heated, they are just crazy!  They didn't make it past the first step in our pool, but they were in, splashing away!  Sunday evening the kids rode the quad around the backyard giggling away.  We even had an outdoor dance party to cap the night off!

 Monday I found myself in LOTS and LOTS of pain.  To the point where I couldn't take it anymore and ended up in the ER.  I feel like I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, but I couldn't take this.  Found out I have TMJ.  At 11:30pm, Meghan dropped me off at home with pain meds in hand, in hopes that it would help.

 I went to work on Tuesday and then took Lola to gymnastics later that night.  She is still loving her class so much!

As soon as I got home, I was wiped.  After being up so late the night before and still in quite a bit of pain, I read myself to sleep...extra early!

 Wednesday morning I found her like this and smooched her awake!  Couldn't resist those sweet cheeks and lips!  She is always so tired in the mornings, but makes for some good sleeping pictures (and I seem to have plenty of them this week of her doing just that).

 Thursday was sports day at school in support of the book fair so we dressed in our Arizona team gear and headed to school!  

I spent my prep and my lunch with the heating pad on my head/neck.  It felt so good and relieved a little bit of pressure.

Headed to the dentist after school to make sure all was good with my night guard and that it was fitting properly and wanted to see what the dentist had to say about TMJ.  After our talk, think we figured out what triggered the incident and how to hopefully fix it in the next week or so.  If I continue to stay in pain after a week, I'll look into a Plan B, but not going there until I try Plan A first!

Whew, what a week!  

Hurry up mom and dad and get her already!  

Can't wait to see you this weekend!!!

InstaFriday - Two Weeks in One!

Oops!  I forgot to post last week! So this week, I give you two in one with as little words as I can (which is hard for me to do)!

  

 Snuggly Babies

Lolita, my stylish little girl!

Arizona State Fair was so much fun, but so expensive!  

Daddy is the cool one and actually goes on the rides with the kids.

Spent time with some farm animals in the petting zoo.  

Big brother Kyan won the BIG prizes for both he and his sister.

 I have missed Rosie J. Photograpy and snuck in a photoshoot for a friend.

Birthday Party at Michael's Craft Store with face painting included!

Movie date with my boy Kyan.  Here Comes the Boom! Go see it, we laughed a lot.

Nom.  Nom.

Caramel Apple Bites.

Corn Zipper (one of the best/most used kitchen utensils used in my kitchen).

Rae Lynn's Enchilada's.  She cooked too many and we got the leftovers.  Lucky us.

Stuffed Bell Peppers (I cook more than what the recipe calls for because it is just as good without it being stuffed inside and I wouldn't have enough if I didn't, I always eat it before)!

My favorite school lunch, bean burritos.  I don't like them anywhere else, but school.  Weird.

Slammed, by Colleen Hoover....just read it and the sequel too, Point of Retreat.  Be prepared to get sucked in.

Been doing lots of reading lately.  A few that I just finished reading (besides the two above):  

The List, by Vivian Siobhan (it's YA)

The Time Keeper, by Mitch Albom

Currently reading a good one right now called Reason to Breathe, by Rebecca Donovan

What are you reading?

Homework.

A picture of my boy in his new hoodie (courtesy of grandma).

Sleeping Beauty (snuck into her classroom during naptime for the first time ever, so sweet).

My girl Holly and I, miss seeing her sweet face every single day.

The kids helping daddy fill my tires with air.

The new screensaver on my phone!  I mean seriously?  I can't take this picture's cuteness.

My husband and I celebrated our nine year wedding anniversary on October 21st.  

Best part about it, our letters, written from the previous year.  Started on our wedding night.  Love.

Happy Anniversary Boo.

The start of school spirit week:  Crazy Hair Day!  Green and purple/pink hairspray.

Sewing the elastic tighter on Lola's new PJ's (in prep for the following day's school spirit day)!

School Spirit Week:  PJ Day!

Went to the mall after school, not ideal, but needed to shop for family picture clothes for the kids.  Mission accomplished, but it was definitely a long day.

School Spirit Week:  Mismatch Day

Oreo (Kyan's pet hamster) visited school as Kyan is "Top Dog" in his class! Instead of bringing in a treat, he chose to bring his hamster!

Spray Tan, oh how I missed you.  Welcome back into my life.

 I was greeted by a HUGE 52 ounce drink holder for my daily ice tea from QT, that looks like it really holds about 100 ounces (yes I was peeing all day) and Robek's Strawberry Smoothie for breakfast.

School Spirit Week:  Red Carpet/Dress Like a Celebrity.  Lola chose to walk the red carpet, Kyan went as Justin Bieber chillaxing on the tour bus, ear buds in and all!  His shirt read: I got 99 problems and my swagg ain't one.  Me?!  I went as a country music singer (no one specific)!  Around lunch someone asked me what happened to the back of my skirt, how did it rip?!  I had no clue.  Then she looked at it closer and said...."no, it looks like a chunk is cut out!".  OhEmGee!  At that point I realized that this skirt had once been in my scrap pile, but I had pulled it out because I realized I still liked it.  Yeah, I guess I forgot I used a chunk of it at one point for something crafty!  After laughing hysterically at myself, it was actually a quick fix, as you don't need to hem jersey material and someone else just evened me out!  Embarrassing for sure, but hysterical.

The Halloween festivities began last night at school, with free family fun night! 

This year's costumes:  Stealth Ninja and Rapunzel

Whew?!  Did you make it to the end!  That was a doozie!

Happy Weekend Y'all!

InstaFriday - Fall Break!

Well, it's already Friday.  That means that fall break is almost over {wahhhhhhhhhhhh}!  So sad.  However, we have had a great week together, check it out!

Don't know if you remember from last week or not, but we were expecting Grandpa and Grandma's arrival and arrive they did and they were ready to shop!  So as soon as school got out, we headed to the mall together!  Had lunch together and then shopped until grandpa couldn't stand being in the kiddie playground area any longer!  We met up later that night at the fountain by Westgate to play with friends and listen to the band play!  It was perfect {and kicked off with an icy drink at Margaritaville with the hubby first}!

 Our weekend was spent dipping into the delicious applesauce donuts that grandpa and grandma brought with them from the best little bakery back in Wahoo.  We beg for them a lot and it works only sometimes, especially when you put Lola on the phone!  Also cleaning closets out!  Grandma has a way of whipping us into shape quickly!  She doesn't let us get to overloaded and is a true clean sweeper!  The kids even cleaned out their stuffed animal stash!  I was very proud of them!  We snuggled and decorated for Halloween too, since our house was so clean {for like 35 seconds, because that is about how long it stays that way in my house}!  The kids love those dang spider webs hanging everywhere, but lemme tell you they are a pain! 

 Tuesday we went to see Hotel Transylvania as a family!  Afterwards daddy was hungry so we stopped to eat and I caught one of the cutest and candid pictures I think I have caught of Lola on her daddy's shoulders.  Love it!  She was mid dance!  After the movie, Lola and I headed to her gymnastics class, where so many new skills were practiced, including the handstand!  Sure glad we practiced those all summer in the pool because it paid off when she went to do it during class!  Can't believe how strong her back/shoulder muscles look!?  Lola is loving gymnastics!!!

 Face painting courtesy of daddy!  Not bad huh?!  She loved it, but did not love me scrubbing that green paint off later that night!  She was a tint of green the remainder of the evening!  Enjoyed my favorite candy, do I dare say ever, cinnamon bears!  What is your favorite candy?

 Arizona has a store called Last Chance that is absolutely wild.  You can get name brand everything for a fraction of the cost (like TOMS shoes for 18.99, no matter if they are the wedges or the originals and phone cases for 2.97)!  So I headed there with my friend Meghan to try and score some deals - mainly for Lola.  Girlfriend only wears her flipflops, so I was hoping this would inspire her to change it up!  Once you get to the place, you don't wanna leave.  You wait for the next time they restock the shelves.  It could seriously be an all day affair!  Good thing that I can't go very often or I would be in trouble!  It was my goal to get there once before break was over!  Then, it was home to spend time with my babies!  I am a lucky mama that they like to snuggle as much as they do!

 

Cousins came over to play with us last night too!  I tried to snap a picture for Grandma Donna of all her grandbabies and getting 5/6 of them to smile was an accomplishment!  Whew!  At least they are all looking my way!  I love how this one turned out and so did grandma!

Usually I am happy the weekend is here, but this is one of the times that I am not.  Only 3 more days of Fall Break left and I am hoping to soak up as much family/kid time as I can {with a little bit of neighborhood garage saling sprinkled in too, I am on the hunt for mismatched wooden chairs for cheap}!

Hope y'all enjoy your weekend!

InstaFriday - Almost Here!

Despite all of the tears that I cried this week, and I cried A LOT, when I looked back on my week in pictures, it was a nice reminder that I really am blessed.Whew, I could cry almost even typing that.  It has been a doozie.

I spent most of my weekend working, 3/4 pictures - WORK!  Grades are so not like they are in middle school and the way you post them is even more different.  Even with help, over half of them didn't post right anyway.  Ugh.  Walked for Education Saturday morning before Kyan's basketball game and Lola joined the crew!  She was hot and tired by the end and fell asleep the last 15 minutes!  

 My entire weekend was not spent working however and we managed to spend time together as a family for my nieces baptism.  This picture is a little bit blurry, but we were all dressed up for the occasion, so I jumped at the shot for a quick family photo.  

 Our week was busy!  The kids had to be up earlier than usual so that I could hold parent teacher conferences bright and early before school starts, which makes bed time a breeze!  Nights were spent a little later at school too to host conferences afterwards for working parents.  But Tuesday night was gymnastics time for Lola and then giant ball time at home before bed in Kyan's super ball that he was awareded by the Apex Fun Run team!  It looks like one of the hamster balls that they run around in while you clean the cage, only giant sized, so humans fit in it!  Hilarious!  I had a sweet surprise from my Auntie Heidi too!  My cousin has the coolest cup holder thingie ('cause I really don't know exactly what I am going to put in my yet) that hangs off of the desk in her craft room and I said I wanted one, sure enough, she sent one!  Totally wasn't expecting it and made me smile today!  Can't wait to craft next week!

 Sweet dreams my babies.  My kids sleep in the same room (even though they have their own), on bunk beds!  I know I always say it, but they have an incredible bond.  I know they look alike, but this picture shows how much they sleep alike too!  Crazy to me!  Love them.

 Wednesday was the BIG day we were all waiting for at school - RACE DAY!

Thank you to any and everyone who sponsored Kyan and Lola as they raced around the Apex Raceway!  Preschool went around the track for about 5 songs (they didn't get pledges per lap) and burped up a little water after she was finished.  Her teachers said she ran the hardest of all the kids in her class!  Kyan made it around the track 46 laps (don't worry sponsors, you only owe for 36)!  Just under 3 miles!  It was so exciting!  He begs to eat lunch with me all the time, so I figured this was a good time to reward him!  He raised the most money in his classroom per lap!  If I would have let him go through every contact in my phone, he would have called them to try and get more pledges!   I ran around the track as well, although I wasn't planning on it!  The back of my shirt said I went around the track 40 laps, but I think I might have begged for two marks a time or two running through, so my guess is I was closer to the 36!  I wanted to motivate the kids while running, so I held a lot of hands and high fived and ran with the kids that needed me!  During lunch, I rested on the floor!

 

So that was our week!  Want to know the icing on the cake?

MY PARENTS GET IN TO TOWN TODAY!

The truth is everything is better when they are here.

I finished all of my conferences, so when school lets out and I am done with all of my duties, I am taking off with the kids to enjoy time with them!  I can't wait.  I am going to soak up all of the Fall Break sun that I can with them!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!