a {proud} mama

we just met with ella's teacher, miss keen, for parent/teacher conferences.

i left the school beaming and so incredibly proud of my ella. 

i just gotta brag for a minute...i will keep it short, promise.

we went through page after page of different concepts, from numbers, to letters, to words, to sentences....

being able to actually see her work there in front of me and being told that she is performing far beyond what is expected at this point. 

it was a very proud moment for barth and i.

when you send your baby off to school you pray for the absolute best for them.

that they would succeed and grow, discover new things, begin to realize their God-given gifts. 

today i realized my baby girl is thriving. she is exceeding any expectations i may have had for her. 

her strengths and gifts growing more and more apparent. what a blessing for this mama.

ps...think we have a budding artist on our hands. 

off to pack for a last minute trip to oregon. riley and i fly out today to celebrate the life of my uncle who passed away yesterday. would love for your prayers over my family during this time♥

10 on 10 {october 2011}

it was a crazy day for 10 on 10.
i just barely made it.

{good morning sunshine}

{meal planning}

{morning cartoons}

{last minute errands}

{prep for afternoon school photography assignment}

{tiny shopper}

{fall is here}

{dinner prep:: taco salads}

{buff hubby...}

{learning lots in kindergarten}

weekend with the baileys

we are back from a fantastic weekend with our dear friends.
we had a chance to catch up and soak up the sunshine in palm springs.
our friendship with nathan and kristi goes way back to college, 1999 to be exact. has it really been 12 years?! my we are getting old.
we always have the best time ever. the kiddos love each other, our hubbys act like long lost brothers {see pictures} and ming and i could talk for days about nothing.

{the boys went for a coffee run and a spin in the ferrari}

{where most of our time was spent...poolside}

{little miss ava, so sassy}

if we weren't in the pool, we were eating...haha!

{popsicle time...check out those eyes}

{it's naptime mom}

there was a whole lot of this going on...

thank u baileys for a fun weekend....♥ u guys!

milestones

this has been a week of sweet little milestones for riley.

we now have a very mobile 8 month old.

after many frustrating attempts she finally figured it out. time to baby proof.

that's not all...this next one melts my heart. her first word, "mama".

she has been making sounds that sound like words for quite some time now....

baba, nana, even dada. but this was different. this one she actually understood.

i got up to leave the room and she cried out in the sweetest little voice..."mama!". love, love, love.

mama is so proud of you, but please don't grow up too fast.

creative play

now that ella is in school all day, chloe has more than enough time to let her imagination run wild.
the other day it got a little too quiet for comfort. quiet and chloe usually don't go together.
who knew a bathtub could make for the perfect house....

a {fun}filled weekend

today is my brother-in-law's birthday....happy birthday brian!!
typically birthday weekends are celebrated in san diego at my parent's home.
we decided to mix things up a bit and spend a weekend in our home town.
our time spent together was filled with a little bit of everything.
it was as if we were trying to fit in as much fun stuff as we could.
i think we succeeded....

an impromptu trip to the pool was a must.

a diego themed party celebration...this particular theme has been used a few times by the men of our family. i retired it after that night.

{the birthday boy}

{riley and her "onion"}

on of my favorite things about where we live, an incredible walking/biking trail.
we took an early morning walk to starbucks....

{the boys}

{the besties hitched a ride in the jogging stroller}

playtime at the park and a little drill lesson provided by none other than my hubby....

{a guy of many hidden talents}

the babes were just taking it all in. a little concerned about barth.

this time...

...last year.

it's october.

yet i look out my window this morning and you would never guess it. 

the sun is just beginning to peek over the roof tops and the sky is crystal blue. it's beautiful. 

i am looking forward to all things fall...crisp mornings, the changing leaves, trips to the pumpkin patch, cozy clothes...

for now i will simply reminisce about seasons past.