The job I love . . . . .

Besides being a mom and wife of course!  I am a consultant for Paparazzi Accessories and I LOVE LOVE it!  I am pretty passionate about this company.  We sell BEAUTIFUL and AFFORDABLE accessories.  Necklaces, Bracelets, Hair Pieces, Headbands, and Rings.  Want to know the BEST part of all?  Every single piece is only $5.  That's it.  You would NEVER look at this awesome jewelry and think it is that affordable.  Do me a favor: check out my link, and then if you feel so inclined, let me know what you think, and share with your friends and family! 

http://www.paparazzibylynsey.blogspot.com/

4th of July . . . . .

Yep - We've taken a step back in time.  Clear back to the beginning of July.  Honestly, with the crazy summer we've had, I'm pretty impressed that I'm posting this before Christmas.  We stayed home this year which is nearly the first time we've ever done that.  It was different because we're used to being around family.  We missed everybody!  BUT, we did have fun with our little family.  We went swimming during the day, had a little BBQ, watched fireworks in the Home Depot parking lot and did a few small fireworks at home.  It was a fun day.  I love the 4th of July because it reminds of us how blessed we are.

These pictures were a couple of days before the 4th, but they crack me up.  My kids were determined to wear their rain/snow boots because there was a small stream of water going down the curb.

 

My Red, White, and Blue Cuties . . . . . .

I have a Kindergartener!

Bittersweet!  That's how today was.  I sent my baby girl to kindergarten!  (By the way - she still lets me call her that, but only when nobody else is around, and only after I explained to her that I wasn't calling her a baby, just that she will always be MY baby).  Ava has been looking forward to kindergarten ALL summer!  Then we went to orientation with a lot of people and she's been a little wary about it ever since.  We had a fun "Back to school" party complete with pizza, a lesson on how to treat people, father's blessings, and a movie night.  When she woke up this morning she cam running into my room with a smile on her face.  I said, "What's today?"  She yelled, "Kindergarten!"  She went immediately from all excited to her sad face telling me she didn't want to go.   The next thing I knew she had on her new school clothes asking me to do her hair.  Honestly, she was reminding me of Rapunzel when she leaves her tower.  A bit of a split personality.  Well, she put on a brave face and I, I mean we, made it through the drop off.  She sat right down and started on her little project.  I stood at the back of the class trying to get my emotions under control so I could go and hug her goodbye.  It makes me sad that she's getting so old, but I am also so excited for her!  When I picked her up she said, "I really liked it Mom!  I'm just not sure if I can go every day."  Such a funny kid.  Most of what she told me about her day had to do with the playground rules.  It's really hard for me to just leave her there because I want to be watching what she's doing and how she's reacting to it.  I guess this is just my first lesson on "letting go."

Kai wanted to be in this picture so bad, but Ava was having none of that.  Poor kid. :)

Oh, and believe me, I still have a lot of summer to post about, I just had to post about this asap!

St. George - How we love thee!

We took a little weekend vacay with my mom and it was so much fun!  We shopped and ate of course, met up with fun friends, and went hiking!

We started off in my mom and dad's somewhat bare home.  Thus the reason the kids are using an empty vacuum box as a table. 

We also did quite a bit of shopping to fill up the empty house . . . . .



We went and hiked Gunlock Falls and it was BEAUTIFUL!  We wore flip flops.  If I were to pass on advice, it would be to wear something a little more sturdy.  Especially if you have 2 kids with you.  Just sayin'.  It was so much fun though. 








We were also lucky enough to meet up at the splash park with our good friends who happened to be visiting the same weekend!  It was so much fun to see them and catch up.  Ava absolutely loves Carson and couldn't have been happier.





In other news - we celebrated Fathers Day (without any pictures of daddy for some reason), moved Kai to a big boy bed (which led to a lot of giggles and laughter in MY bed), baked cookies, and watched movies (and apparently took pictures OF the movie cases - not sure why)! Yep!  That's what we do!

Is it just me or are my kid's smiles a little fake in this picture?

On our way to summer . . . . .

Summer's coming up, but first we have some exciting events from the spring . . . . .

Pajama Day at preschool.  Ava LOVES this!  How cute is my girl?

Preschool Graduation . . . . . Again.  This should be her last one.  :)  She was so excited to get dressed up and be honored!  She had such a fabulous teacher in Mrs. Hutchinson and enjoyed every second of preschool.  She is counting down the days to kindergarten . . . . .

We then started out the summer with a playdate to the splash park with kids packed in the car!

And of course . . . . . splish splash in our very own backyard.