Farm yard Three!

I simply cannot believe that Lyla is now 3!
Where have the past three years gone?
Time flies when you're having fun, that's for sure.

Three years ago my life changed. I learned that one little girl can make a BIG BIG difference. She's made me look at the world with a whole new set of eyes.
I love differently.
I hold tighter.
I kiss more.
I cry a with joy and sadness.
I stop and smell the roses, and look at the ants.
I laugh daily.
I worry a lot.
I'm careful with everything.
I'm always on the lookout for hazards.
I'm the master of multi-tasking.
I have let go of many insecurities and I have new ones.
I've learned that a three year old can teach me more life lessons than most individuals can.

Well, to celebrate we did a lot of things, but my favorite was her Farm themed Birthday! As you may know, I love party planning and baking. It's simply fun!
Please enjoy some of the photos....

Credits due:

Invitation graphic design/water bottle design by Dimple prints.
Note: I did alter these invites with my own personal touch of additional card stock and ribbon, as well as personalized circle punches on the back of the invite.

Favor box design:  The Homespun Hostess
I filled the favor boxes with items from Oriental Trading Co. I also purchased the train whistles, bandanas and hats from them.
Buckets are from Michaels crafts and I put them all together with help from my wonderful sister in law, Erin!

The 3rd year banner made by myself, as well as all signs and the cute "l" frame. With most items the Silhouette was my best friend!
Making a banner for Lyla each year is a tradition, I can't wait until she's 18! See past banners here:
2nd Birthday
1st Birthday

The chalkboard sign was made by painting the wood frame with teal paint, using chalkboard spray in the center and at the end distressing it and topping a clear coat. Fun! We will re-use this all the time.
All other signs and decor were made by myself.

Baked goods: I made all the cupcakes and cookies from scratch. All vegan and the coconut recipe was gluten free! The small round vegan vanilla and strawberry cake made from scratch by myself as well as the bunting on top.
My talented father made the gluten free banana sheet cake.
Recipes from Chef Chloe

Good times: credits due to everyone that joined in the fun and my supportive family that doesn't judge me for loving to throw a good party.


 

Time

I wish I was supermom.
I wish I could do everything that I imagine in my tiny little head.
If I actually had time for my inner creativity to take action I think it would be incredible.
I would learn to sew.
I would learn to paint.
I would bake more often.
I would scrapbook all of Lyla's pictures.
I would make toddler activity packs.

If I had more time I would workout more.
I would have abs and be super fit.
I would wear the latest fashions.
I can envision it all, I just can't do it.

I don't have the time and honestly can't make the time pop out of nowhere.
When I do have time I snuggle with Lyla.
We play with dolls and squinkies.
We do crafts and paint.
We bake together and eat plenty of chocolate chips while we're in the midst of madness.
We hug.
We laugh.
We tickle one another.
We sing silly songs.
We run around like "TIGERS".
We paint nails.
We wear princess dresses and twirl in the living room.
We go to cooking classes and gymnastics.
We talk.
We garden.
We LOVE.

So now that I write it all out I know what I want.

I want what I have.

I love what I have.
I have a husband who is loving, kind and pure.
He would never hurt a soul. He's truly genuine and sweet.
He ALWAYS puts me first.
I have a daughter that has a HUGE heart and soul full of kindness.
I also have love of my own, love for others, for my family, for God, for my work.

So, I love my life.

I hope you can love yours too!
xoxo

Simply Overdue

I haven't written for a while.

It's been way way way too long.Simply because my day is filled up with fun things, like making my daughter's breakfast look cute!

Life has been taken over by running around in princess dresses, going on vacation to Maui, new preschool adventures, gardening, and did I mention running around in dresses??

A few brief updates:

I've gone dairy free. So now my baking is VEGAN. Jason is getting used to this, very slowly. I went to my Doctor after multiple stomach issues for years of my life and they had me food allergy tested. No surprise, I'm severely allergic to Milk, Eggs and highly allergic too all other dairy products including whey protein. So I'm on the road to recovery and I can feel it. It feels nice not to have stomach pain on a daily basis.

Vegan strawberry cake for Lyla's Birthday

We went to Maui. ... I wanna go back, pretty please?!

Jason's pancreas is stable. His levels are still elevated but he feels great! He can have a beer or a glass of wine now.

Lyla is a toddler girl. She's no baby. She's in a full size bed, and started preschool.
I cried when we changed her bed. Such a little thing but a big impact on me.

First day of School

Life is taking over, we are living in the moment and I haven't had time to blog.
Now's my time to catch up! 

Conversations with Lyla

I've said it a million times over and I'll say it again.

Lyla amazes me.

Here are a few recent conversations that have touched me immensely.We have been so blessed with an intelligent, healthy, beautiful girl. I knew I wanted Lyla before I had her. She is our everything. God prepares wonderous things if you leave it in his loving hands. The conversations I have with Lyla touch my heart.

  

TREES

 It was a Monday afternoon as we drove down 405 to our weekly Gymnastics class. As always, Lyla sat anxiously awaiting her running, tumbling and jumping. I peered at her in the rear view mirror and she sat with an intelligent smirk as she gazed out the window.

Lyla: "Mom, let's talk..."
Me: Ok, what do you want to talk about?
Lyla: "Let's talk about TREES"
Me: Sure, what do you like about them?
Lyla: "There are a lot of trees, A LOT. I like the big ones, the ones with branches. They are short and tall. Mama, what do you like?"
Me: I like trees, but more so, I love you.
Lyla: "I love you much mom, sooooo much."
Me: Silent. Tearful. Thankful.  

SCHOOL

We have been preparing Lyla for preschool. She starts June 19th. It will be a big day, a scary day, a sad day, and a triumphant day. The scary and sad part are going to be my reactions. I can only hope that Lyla enters with her confident self, and leaves the same confident girl that we have raised. It is the outside world that can be scary, when a parent puts all their control and hope into another individual, it's scary.

Me: Lyla, pretty soon you will be going to school, it will be great! You will have friends, and play, and you'll love it!!!
Lyla: SILENT
Me: I'll pack you a lunch, you can eat with your friends and teachers, and learn, as well as play... you'll LOVE it!
Lyla: SILENT
Me: SILENT
Lyla: "Mom..... I can't go to school, I just can't."
Me: Why?
Lyla: "I'm not bigger yet." "I'm small."
Me: In thought:  (please stay small, I wish time would stand still),
BIG HUGS BETWEEN THE BOTH OF US.  

CONSTRUCTION

Another day on the road....
Lyla: "Mama... look at that crane! WOW! It's so big!!!!"
Me: It sure is!
Lyla: "What do you think they are building?"
Me: In thought: (What 2 1/2 year old thinks about future construction building??) "Lyla, they can build anything, that's the great thing, it may be a store, a house, a barn or even a fairy princess house."
Lyla: "Wow mom, that's beautiful"

POPA

If you know my husband Jason, or me, then you know how much love we have/had for his Popa.
He was a very influential part of Jason's upbringing and life. He was an amazing man. He made us stronger, he helped us become a powerful Christian couple, and I can't even begin to say enough positive things about him. He met Lyla twice, once in my belly, and once two months after she was born. He passed away soon after meeting her. We are lucky that he was able to meet her and guide us through so many milestones in our lives. With that said, we have always told Lyla about him. As we talk about all of our family members to Lyla.

Lyla before bed one night: "Popa... what him like, what him like?"
Me: Well, Popa was loving, kind and your great grandfather.
Lyla: "Him's dead?"
Me: Yes
Lyla: Oh. Him's my popa.

Nana/Pa

My parents are deaf. I was raised in a deaf household. That has made me the person that I am today.
Take it or leave it. :) I have many qualities that I attribute to this upbringing.
Lyla has been raised to sign. She can sign quite well (yes, I'm bragging).
She has a book that she can sign all the words in and she's proud of that.
We also occasionally go out in public and use only sign language. It's fun!

Lyla: "I love Na Na and Pa."
Me: Yes I know, they love you!
Lyla: "Nana and Pa, why's them deaft?"
Me: DEAFT?
Lyla: "Yes mama, why's them deaft?"
Me: God made them that way.
Lyla: "Oh."

The Little Things

Here are a few little things she says that I love.

Mommy, I'm sorry if you don't feel good.
Mommy, Mommy, This is the best day ever!
Mommy, I love you much, soooooo much.
Mommy, da da go to work and we play all day!
Let's just rest, relax and watch a movie.
Are Deeee and Doug coming?
Mama... you so beautiful.
You look just beautiful.
Mama, it will be okay.
Mom... wait, listen, let me touchamilk, just one second.
I hafeta poop! I hafeta poop!

The joys, the simple pure joys... I love being a mom!

xoxo



 

Babies and Buddies

Laura has been my friend since I met her.
What I mean by that is when I met her I knew we would always be friends. We always have. We don't fight, we don't argue, we don't back stab. We could go weeks without speaking due to our busy lives but when it comes down to it, she would be by my side if I needed her. I could only hope that she feels the same. We did the typical High School things together, dances, parties, etc. Then we moved on and eventually found our way to living with one another. We went through times of laughter and difficulties, but we always had fun. We always laugh.....we laugh so hard we cry.

My point of this  is to tell you that no matter how much time or distance comes, babies or no babies, friends are a must have. Laura now has a little blessing named Jakson. He was brought into this world by the most amazing parents, and I am so happy for them. Now, Lyla has a buddy....little Jakson. I can only hope one day they laugh and cry together (and not just a tantrum cry).
She lives an hour away, and we don't have time to talk much, but when I see her I feel like it was yesterday all over again. God blesses us in many ways and for that I'm grateful.

Snow Days

Snow has always brought me a sense of calm.
 The roads are quiet, the flakes are falling and all is calm and white (at that moment).
This winter we were blessed with some magnificent snow days.
 Unfortunately this meant some missed work and a decreased paycheck, but hey, I got to sled around with my little one! To me, that's priceless!

What is your favorite part about a snow day? 

Here are a few of mine:
Sledding
Hot Chocolate
Snowmen
Snow Angels
Laughter
Snow days
Fuzzy boots

Lyla enjoyed sitting in the snow with her mouth wide open to catch the snowflakes. She loves eating snow (beware of the yellow/brown snow, she knows this...). Jason loved building the biggest snowman on the block (he didn't melt for days!)

Here are a few of our pictures, a little late, but better than never!

Oh and by the way.. it's March and it's still snowing!!!