Monday, October 31, 2011

Day At the Zoo!

Today, I had the opportunity to take all three girls to the San Diego Zoo for the first time!  We've gone to  The Wild Animal Park and other smaller zoos...but not like this one.  They were ecstatic when they saw animals that they have been reading and learning about.  Biggest sister held her zoo map the entire time and leading the bunch with great enthusiasm!  Big sister's favorite animals were the baby giraffe (they were absolutely beautiful!).  Littlest sister was in the stroller almost the entire time..but I know she loved every minute of it watching intently at all the animals that surrounded her! We were also with great friends which made the experience even better!! 








Thursday, October 27, 2011

Photo shoot.

Our neighbor is a photographer.  She has three girls also...one in high school, one in middle school, and one in elementary.. She gives me a glimpse of my future...I can't believe that I will be there someday.

She offered to take photos of littlest sister, so we got together to do a photo shoot outdoors.. It was such a beautiful Fall morning...and littlest sister played with leaves and branches and ate dirt while she took pictures of her...


Her big sisters had fun playing too! 



I can't wait to see how the photos turn out! 

Harvest Wreath.

My mom was recently remaking a Fall wreath she had made with her friends years ago... It looked very easy to make, easy enough for the girls and I to make together... So we we thought we would give it a try!

What you need (All you need):
1 wreath form
1 bag dried corn husks
Box of U pins


As we were making this, I looked up "corn husks and wreath" online and found the directions here on the Martha Stewart website.  And here it is now, hanging on our front door.  It was fun and easy to make, and the girls are so proud!


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Love Letter.


Biggest sister and I were writing "Thank You" cards to our friends and family the other day.  When we were done, she asked me if she could write a letter to Daddy.  And this is what she wrote... Her first love letter to her Daddy. I think he will treasure it forever. 


Monday, October 24, 2011

Serious Business.

Once in blue moon I will cut a watermelon in half, give the girls a spoon and say "dig in"!  This is how Bryant remembers eating watermelon when he was young... I tried it once and the girls loved it!  It's actually a great way to keep them occupied.. they will sit there for a good 20 minutes until all the watermelon is gone! 

I mean, the girls concentrate so hard... and they usually don't speak a word...


They love the digging...


They love that they can eat however much they want...


It's serious business.
(Okay, she's being a little silly here ;D)

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Jam Sessions.



Biggest sister loves to sing and play her guitar. 
She plays for fun. She plays to relax. She plays to entertain. 
It's just in her blood. 
Lately she recruits her little sisters to play other instruments with her for a jam session or performance. 
Maybe someday she will get to perform on a real stage... ;)


Here are some photos of her from this past year...playing and singing away:







Saturday, October 22, 2011

A Week Early...


Our neighborhood does trick-or-treating a week early.  It is actually a brilliant idea.  One street is blocked off so that the little ones can go door-to-door safely (while it is still light out) and they also have different vendors with games and goodies.  One of the things we look forward to is a vendor that brings all different types of reptiles.. snakes, lizards, iguanas, frogs, turtles, even tarantulas and baby crocodiles!  You can see and touch most of the animals!  It may be creepy for some... but I prefer this over ghosts and goblins!

Though she has never seen the entire movie before, big sister has always liked Cinderella. And this year, she gets to be one. :)

Vintage Finds

Recently, I took the two big sisters with me to the Pasadena Rose Bowl flea market.  I've always been curious about it and have been wanting to go.. The place was HUGE and I probably could have spent the whole day browsing if I was by myself... but I had two little ones that were hungry, hot and tired so we walked around for just a short time. 

I wasn't looking for anything in particular...but thought it would be nice if I could find some vintage fabric.. And just as we were leaving we found a vendor with piles of fun vintage quilts and fabric! And  I ended up coming home with these fun vintage pieces! 

This pretty vintage tablecloth, currently being used as a canopy for the girls' bunkbed. 

And this beautiful vintage quilt,which we've been using for picnics and reading books on the front yard. 

The girls think they are great finds too.  Maybe they'll come with me to another flea market? ;)

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Fall

Bryant and I love Fall. 
We love everything about Fall!
Fall leaves, Fall weather, the food, the Holidays, getting cozy by a fire, etc. etc... 
But we especially love it because we got married in Fall! 

This little girl loves Fall also.
Her birthday is in Fall.
Her favorite color is orange. 
And her daddy's nickname for her is "Pumpkin".
She is our little Pumpkin... and we love her dearly.



Monday, October 17, 2011

Photos

I love photos.
I love taking them... and I love remembering the memories and feelings captured in them.

Since I don't have a fancy camera, the photos I will be posting here are going to be taken with my phone.

Here are some from the last few days:

Littlest sister wearing a ballerina outfit that she got on her first birthday.







Big sister fell asleep on the couch while reading books...

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Children..

This morning, the girls and I went for a walk at an unusual time (I was trying to get out of the house before it got too hot). While we were walking, we saw an elderly woman zipping by in her electric wheelchair.  I had never seen her before.. and when we reached the end of the block, I noticed her just sitting there... I thought she was waiting for all the cars to go by before crossing the street, but she didn't move.  So I asked her if I she needed any help... and she turned to me and said "I am lost."  Long story short, I found out that this woman was 90 years old, and somehow came across/under the freeway and didn't know the way back to her retirement home.  I was eventually able to call and ask the staff to come pick her up from our home...but in the meantime I had the opportunity to get to know this sweet old lady who was very sharp and bright (except for knowing directions back to her home).  At one point I asked her if she had children.. and she said "No, I was not blessed with children but my twin sister had five!".  My heart broke for her...at 90 years old she had no children visiting her, or grandchildren, or great grandchildren...  The Lord was showing me what a blessing children truly are... not just today but for as long as we live..



Psalm 127:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

 Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, are children born in one’s youth. 
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. 
They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.





Monday, October 10, 2011

Desert Adventure!

This past weekend we visited our very special friends that live in the desert.  This family just impresses me with the way they make the best of every and any situation.  Well, since they've moved to the desert they have purchased a few toys... Let's just say, we had a lot of fun with them this weekend. :) 

This is where it all began..


This is where we ended up...


This is where we had dinner...

This is where the boys camped/slept in their sleeping bags...
        

The girls and baby went home to sleep in warm, comfortable beds. :)


A beautiful tea party fit for God's princesses!
 

Nothing better than spending time with dear friends!
 

The girls and their sparkly shoes..


 Tire-swinging in the backyard.

 Singing a new favorite... "Baby Beluga"!

The kiddos are such troopers off-roading for 2 hours under the hot desert sun!

A Lot to Live For...

"You have a lot to live for"... is what a kind stranger said to me one afternoon while I was with my first child who was six months old at that time..  I was having a hard time adjusting to life as a mom with my very fussy, screaming and crying all-day and all-night baby.. but God used this woman's words to change my attitude almost instantly from "what have I done?!" to "I have a lot to live for and look forward to!".

Recently a dear friend gave me a gift with a quote that says, "one kind word can make a soul sing."  I will forever remember this stranger's kind words...because they forever changed my perspective and my life.

Today, I have three precious girls ages 4, 2 and 1 (which is hard to believe because I thought I would be done with one!).  In the midst of chaos and confusion, I try to remember how God has blessed me with this incredible life that is filled with amazing things to look forward to, today and in the future. :)