Butterfly Princess Fairy Ballerina

Costume Number One:

"Ballerina Princess"

Dance class costume Thursday...
I took this through the window...

Then some parachute play at dance!
She is so happy!

So sweet...

Then Friday at school,
I had my students create edible maps!
We used sugar cookie dough for
the land,
and lots of other goodies for the landforms.
There were some very precise and "controlled" countries...
and then some pretty out of control creations.
But it was fun...and educational...right?

He said the black licorice was the oil spill...
and the red the cleaning tubes...
hmmm...

Then costume number 2:
"Butterfly Princess Fairy"

This was a last minute late night
Wal-Mart run...
Miss Thang needed wings - and a comfortable enough
costume to wear to school all day -
so this worked perfectly!

Prettiest Butterfly Fairy Princess
I've ever seen!

I love Allikaye's preschool...
she came home with lots of cute crafts...
went on a hayride...
went through a hay bale maze...
got to hold a snake (brave girl)...
made a pumpkin pie...
and did a trunk or treat with lots of candy!
She had so much fun!

Then Saturday...
party at Allikaye's cute little friend, Brady's house!
Brady's mom, Kendi, is super creative
and fun...
check out the cuteness...

These are tootsie-pops!

Such cute cupcakes!!
I may have eaten more than enough of these cupcakes.

Cuteness...

Kendi cut lots of different face parts out
and put little glue dots on the backs.
All the kids got to decorate thier own...
it was hilarious!

Allikaye working hard on her face...

Ha!

We topped it off with a yummy chocolate cupcake
(that I won at the cakewalk at my school's carnival)...

MmMm!

Looking forward to
a chili dinner with our neighbors and good friends..
then some trick or treating!

Happy HalloSCREAM!

xoxo

Mom, is it pumpkin day?!

It IS pumpkin day, Allikaye!

Finally, after weeks of asking,
we went to pick out our
orange beauties!

We got our pumpkin shirt on...
and got our smiles ready!

Hehe...this picture cracks me up
how she is standing so straight.
Silly girl.

OoOoO...bumpy!

Cheesy Cheesy pumpkin grin...

Family picture!
I busted out the self timer.
Makes me laugh.

This was one of her chosen ones...
she is a sucker for the tiny ones.
So sweet.

Spooky old tree...

Reach, Miss Thang!

Perdy...

Another self timer family picture!
Balancing the camera on a pumpkin!
Oh, yeah, I've got photo skillz! (I wish)

She wanted to stay all day...

Allikaye with her pumpkin.
Designed by Allikaye.
Carved by Mama.

And the final three...
our little family of pumpkins!

Happy Pumpkin Day!

xoxo

Fall break...

A little glimpse into our fall break...
cookie decorating.
fall cookies that is!

We do this every year...
and every year Allikaye gets more
independent.
But still the same...
she decorates about 2 cookies then
says, "Ok, I'm done!"

She's rocking that rolling pin with
her dress up clothes.

Mmmm...
eating a blue leaf...

So yummy!
And then she was off to bigger things,
leaving me with lots of fall cookies to frost.

I also love this pumpkin Allikaye made!
There's a toilet paper roll under the fabric.
It looks so cute on our table!

I just love being home with her this week.
I needed it.
I need it all the time though!

Pro Pics!

New blog header pictures...
courtesy of our favorite favorite
photographer...
Audrey Hannah Photo.
She is the same talent that took
Allikaye's one year, two year,
and now 3 year pictures!!

MaNy more pictures to come!

I am now enjoying fall break!
No school!
Yay!

Flannel sheets are on the bed...
fall cookies are being decorated!

California...knows how to party...

This past weekend was super!

My coffee and smile...
ready to go on a jet plane to fun.

Flying over the mountains!
Thankful for beautiful Colorado...
but so excited to be seeing the beaches and palm trees!

We headed straight for some beachy shopping fun!
First stop, Fred's - amazing view of Huntington Beach!
Oh - and margs and chips and salsa...mmmm.

The view...

One of many bf self shots...

This is just so cool to us!

Pretty Pier...

I texted this pic to Matt...

he said it was "rude."
hehe

That is me being happy...

Then we headed to Long Beach...
lots more shopping and sightseeing...
and CuPcAkEs!!

And our new obsession...
oh.my.
The next day...
after a night of sleep without
kids coming in to the room...
sigh...
we headed out to the real touristy stuff.
Hollywood sign
and the star walk...

Lots of pics! Hi Jess!
We stopped off of Sunset Blvd
for some coffee.
We sat outside and prayed to see a celebrity.
We saw some interesting folks.
But no celebs! Wah!
Oh wait, we did see a star!
Samual L. Jackson!
wax schmax.

Allikaye thinks it is pretty cool that I saw Mr. Shrek.

Then came the wedding of one of my
dearest friends from college...Libby!
She was gorgeous!
And the view from her Long Beach wedding
was unbelievable!

This is where the ceremony and reception was...
yeah, I know, it's beauty-full!

It was so fun to see my awesome friend, Krista, from college there too!
I love these girls!
I wish Arizona, Cali, and Colorado were just minutes away.
There would be some serious laughs happening more often!

Krista and me!!

The food at this wedding was yummo!
Appetizers came around for awhile - mmmhhhmm.
Then the dinner.
Cream puffs instead of cake. Big ones.
Then after some dancing...
cookies and milk came around...
then after some more chatting and dancing...
sliders and french fries!
Crazy good!
Loved it!

All of these pictures don't even express
the amazing and treasured time I had!
I needed the late nights talks
and the time with girlfriends.

Thank you, Jess for your friendship...
it's the frosting on my cupcake.

Meg from whatever said it perfectly the other day...
so I'm gonna steal it...

"girlfriend time is THE best.
it's calming.
validating.
nurishing.
therapuetic.
it's refreshing."

Love.

And the hugs and love from Allikaye
was also fantastic coming home.

This is the picture of her
enjoying her time with
grandma and popa!
While mama was gone...
Love.

xoxo