Christmas

Merry Christmas (three weeks late!)

We had SUCH a mellow Christmas this year and it was so refreshing and nice. Andy and I didn't do gifts for each other and saved all our money for our weekend away in Vancouver BC.  The girls had a blast opening up stockings and presents and Andy and I enjoyed sitting back and watching them play with contentment all day! definite win-win I'd say!

holiday movies my the twinkle teepee lights

little girl and a BIG tree (at church)

silly alomae channeling her inner Mary on christmas eve

Santa gifts for alomae

and for Poppy

of course Alomae needed a princess dress OVER her christmas Jammies

overnight blueberry french toast for our x-mas breakfast

 my crew eating

sweet pops never got out of her new ariel nightgown!

play dough! this mamas enemy...

but they do play for hours!

We had two guys over for dinner who didn't have family in town and ended the night with a fierce game of Settlers of Catan (and bbq pulled pork sandwhiches. I highly recommend food you don't actually have to cook on christmas day! made my day so relaxing as well!)

into the woods

We did a little family photo shoot a few weeks ago with two gals I just love to pieces. Lauren has quickly over the past couple years, become one of my best friends. She is kind, real, creative, real, fun, real... All the things that make me tick! We are pretty like minded on a lot of things and it makes being her friend effortless and fun! Lauren styled the shoot, I swear with just me in mind! (did I tell you we have the same taste!)  and the wonderfully sweet and fun Caroline took the photos! 

It was kind of a crazy time as Poppy did not want to sit still and carried around a minnie mouse lip gloss the entire time, but somehow Caroline managed to get some really cute photos of us! 

reading (or am I just trying to keep poppy from running away?!)

the only way to get Poppy in the shot sitting still... allow the lip gloss! haha

close up!

kissing under the mistletoe

loving on my big girl

love how tender Andy is with his girls

me and my man

tangled in lights

just a real life moment

getting squeezed

more k-i-s-s-i-n-g

beautiful girl

cozied up with our first born (while poppy is off somewhere with her lip gloss)

looking out on the city we love

PDX

up close with Poppy

Thank You so much Lauren & Caroline for being patient and good sports working with this crazy crew! I adore you two so much!

poppy & fern

I am not sure if there has ever been cuter baby best friends then Poppy & Fern.

these two have spent a year now playing, growing and learning together and have taken quite the liking to each other just like her mama Lauren and I always hoped they would!

I cannot wait to look back on these photos in 10 years when they are (hopefully!) still the best of friends! 

A fairy tale party: Alomae turns 4

Somebody please tell me how it is possible that my baby turned FOUR?!

So this girl of mine who LOVES princesses wanted to have a party this year,
but this mama is not really a princess theme fan. So my solution, a fairy tale party where she could dress up as princess and I could decorate with decor a little more my style.

 It was such a fun couple of hours where Alomae felt so very special!

Here is how the party turned out...



the birthday girl



food table





Amazing cake my sweet friend Loni made

hedgehog donut holes





birthday girl chair



birthday girl in the chair



forest friends to love on



mask coloring station



gift bags



present time



sweet Poppy Grey



princess alomae, a knight, and Merida



princess Fern



Piper the woodland Fairy





Birthday Party Success

I loved celebrating my girl and am so glad I was able to create a party we both enjoyed!