Kate is Leaving on a Jet Plane

Stuart's sister, Kate, left today on a mission to New Hampshire-Manchester for the next 18 months. We are so so so SO proud of her (and excited to write to her every week). But so so sad to see her go. This morning was pretty emotional but as I went through pictures on my camera all I can see is how excited and happy she is. That is what I am going to choose to think about because the tear-fest of this morning was just so hard!

First Party

My baby turns 1 tomorrow. I'm currently a huge mixture of emotions. More on that in a future post.

Threw a party for J last night and had our family over. He didn't quite understand that it was all about him but he got lots of fun presents and had fun playing with his cousins. 

Picture banner is from the day he was born up until last week and I used this tutorial to make the balloon banner.

Oh, the band-aid on my arm? Burned it making the cake. Rotating it in the middle of the bake-time was just too difficult I guess.

Made these sandwiches, fruit salad, my MIL's pesto pasta salad, and this amazing Snickerdoodle cake found via Pinterest. It was so so good!

His very own cell phone from his cousins.

Riding Truck and Popper Vacuum: Grandma & Grandpa; Dump Truck with Legos: Nana & Papa; Cell Phone: Aunt Sarah, Uncle Ryan, Lucy, Jane, Grant; Great Grandma: TBD $50 Target Gift card; Great Aunt Wendy: Piggy Bank; Old Papa: Money and Card; Mom & Dad: Quiet Book for Church, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Oh the Places You'll Go, New Rubber Football, Basketball, Soccer Ball (because your nerf ones are ruined and chewed up by you!), Alphabet Flash Cards (Anthropologie's-I had to!), and your winter wardrobe.

I had to.

He got two different trucks and he was so excited about them.

He wanted nothing to do with the cake. This is all that happened for 5 or 10 minutes. I should have known, though, unless it's ice cream he never wants any type of junk.

Future partners in crime. They were laughing hysterically trying to push the buttons on the dishwasher.

 Until next year...

First Haircut

Well, I cried, but the mullet-esque curls really just had to go. Here are the pictures from little man's first haircut. I really cry at every milestone. I'm such a cliche.

Before:

After:


Isn't he dreamy? Seriously, though. Those eyes. AH! I know it wasn't like he had much hair to begin with, but he looks SO different to me now. Like suddenly he morphed into a little toddler. I want him to stay my baby forever. Too bad I will never get my wish.

Church Picture Book

Eventually I will make an amazing felt quiet book for the little munchkin but in the meantime (since he is so OBSESSED with picture books-mainly Goodnight Moon).... a friend sent me this link and I whipped it up tonight. I tweaked it a little to my liking but for the most part it is the same. I'm going to print it at Costco on Monday and then put it into a little 8x8 scrapbook for next week. I may even wrap it up for little man's birthday just so that he has some wrapping paper to play with :) I cannot believe he is turning one... seriously where did the time go?

I Still Love These

Soooo Stuart doesn't really know how to focus the camera and when he picked it up to take a picture the other day I didn't check them afterward... oh well! STILL love them. And this is (blurry) proof that I am still alive. BUSY! But alive.

Strawberry Popsicles

Well we've had a "heat warning" here in AZ for what seems like FOREVER!! So the last few days the little munchkin has had an afternoon treat after we go swimming. It's hilarious how at first he doesn't want to touch it and then within 30 seconds he is fully invested in devouring the (all fruit!) entire thing-including licking his fingers.

My Mom's 50th Bday Party

So last weekend I helped my dad to throw my Mom her 50th birthday party and it ended up being so perfect for her. I sometimes struggle with my birthday and she is such a great example of loving the day. I should be more like that.

Menu: Hoisin Chicken Skewers, Cilantro Lime Rice, Egg Rolls, Fruit Salad, Green Salad, Barefoot Contessa Coconut Cake/Cupcakes, Browned Butter Island Cookies

*My mouth is watering just typing all of that out. I wish there had been more leftovers!

I wish I had taken pictures when all of their friends were there but I was too busy so these are just some pre-party with my immediate family and then with my mom's brother and his wife. As you can see, my baby is just ignored all the time :)


I wish I had know that this was going to happen so that I could warn her but I had no idea! I was taking pictures of her blowing out the candles and all of a sudden my brothers and Stuart decided to silly string my mom. They got her so good-I felt really bad. Stuart was super happy the plan worked as you can see in the picture. I'm so happy she is a good sport-I probably would have been mad and not laughing!