Butterflies and Dragonflies View RSS

yes it's time to come to the realization yet again that both of the girls turn a year older every March and April
and now my older daughter, Madison, is turning six

I love to celebrate their birthdays
but they all seem to always come too quickly year after year

each year I have moments where I just want time to stand still,
 grab their little hands
and hold onto those precious things

just exactly the way they are in that moment

and so sweet

today

and her new lion friend hanging from her chandi

I felt as though she was saying it with the Junie B attitude
{we are reading that series together}
and the Junie B attitude makes all the difference when reading that statment
trust me

As we were talking about her birthday yesterday

"I know mom!!!"

Ummm...Hayley seemed more shocked about that statement
{when I told her about her very last day to be three}

I guess I need to get with the six-year-old times now
it's not quite as cool to keep reminding her of such things

 I don't seem to say such surprising things to Madison any longer

ooooooo...I think I need to be taking her advice when it comes to birthdays

I love this little girl so much

Over the past year I really took it to heart how hard she always was
{and still is}
on herself

and I didn't want her being stuck on it
feeling like she has to be perfect

and have to work at them

I seem to use myself as an example of not getting things right all the time
it definitely makes her laugh
and to me that's worth her knowing that grace is for everyone's mistakes
or other times when things have to be practiced and tried again

over the past year she has started taekwondo

I'm so proud of how far she has come

to now she loves to do so
{most of the time}

I truly think it is amazing

Madison is my mama bear

focused and on point all the time
all.the.time

 

 her confidence and belief in herself grows every.single.day

a couple of months ago her class was on Channel 5 doing 5 is #1

and when I picked her up from school I asked her because I knew it would make her laugh

She replied "Mom!!!...now you know we weren't supposed to do that...
we talked about this...

My teacher Miss M said we were not supposed to be wild and crazy on camera"

she laughed and said "I'm silly with you guys!"
and yes she is

Kindergarten has done more than wonderful things for Madison

and the perfect fit to Madison's personality ~ I couldn't be more thankful 
for Miss M---

 Madison makes friends so easily 

you know... a likeable girl

{that statement reminds me of Hope Floats...but it's true}
here is part of a note Madison's friend wrote her...I just love it

she loves to joke around

except when the jokes on her...
she wasn't too fond of Hayley and I's spider in her car seat joke we played on her a couple months ago
but she loves to stand around the corner, jump out, and scare the daylights out of me

she is the very best helper
and loves her sister more than words could ever describe

she couldn't be a better big sister or friend

Madison's special gift is the way she makes others feel

she always cares how someone is and loves to do nice things for others

but occasionally and randomly talks about snow
in the middle of summer

odd, perhaps
...but cute because she can be so random with thoughts

she loves, loves to be outside,
ride her bike,
 and run with me

I can't wait for that as it will make me a proud mama

so of course I just keep talking with them about this and that
and sooner or later

I said "oh ~ thank you!!
What would I do without you both?"

oh for the love of her...I couldn't stop laughing

she is definitely a chocolate lover over vanilla
like her daddy

loves cheese, yogurt, broccoli, strawberries, and cheeseburgers

 she loves to wear my sunglasses and come up with her own poses

as I was taking pictures the other day
"Miss Director" said
"I get to do my own poses right Mom???"

so here are her favorite poses she did

four is the number today...

my baby girl turns four today

...and she couldn't be more excited

she was so excited to show me four when taking pictures last Sunday afternoon

because I took a ton...
I mean a whole lot of pictures
{smile}

but we had the best time

"done taking photos mom"

completely done she said:)

I don't blame her because I'm the first person to jet when people start taking photos

As I was going through the photos in the wee wee wee hours of the night

some were of just Madison too
which I'll save for her birthday

because how can you not take photos of both of your sweet girls

...thought you should know that}

to celebrate Hayley

to make one another laugh

so when I have to get it together to talk to her
without laughing,

she runs our house if you can't tell

almost on a daily basis she reminds me of these titles that Parker and her have
{King and Queen of tooting}

I told her I'm going to remember this story when she starts dating 70 years from now
{yes they are not dating until they are 76 and 74}

but most of all a kid

"are they all purple Hayley???!!!"
she said "yes, YES!!! they are"

everyday as we pick Madison up from school Hayley cannot wait to run up to Madison to give her a hug...it makes me smile

I can't hardly wait until she wakes up this morning as I have her room filled with balloons above her bed {only like 10 but her room looks filled when they are all above her bed...
and yes they are purple}

her giraffe she got at the San Diego Zoo last year is named Gigi
so now she has one more to add to her collection of about 5 now

because it has been so hard for me not to tell her what her surprises are
{I'm not great at holding surprises in and neither is Hayley}

and today we are so happy to celebrate her

when I had the girls out taking pictures Sunday it started to rain just before we were done

this was their reaction:

Hayley Elisabeth

I always love you
I always believe in you
and I am always proud of you
xo

so the gingersnaps are literally the best from Trader Joe's...I purchased the ones in the circular clear container because there was more in the container than the ones in the bag

the color looked amazingly beautiful

and the syrup will be perfect for the pancakes I will make Christmas morning
or even for ice cream

 

***also when I made this recipe I doubled the recipe in order to make around 16 tarts so that's why I had so much syrup***

 

but I found it was probably more like 10 tarts
as I got 20 tarts from doubling the recipe

yes, I made tarts for the very first time
I loved it!

and I'm still pretty darn excited about it
although, it took me forever

I may just be going through a tart phase now
they are just so cute and pretty

my sister and I always, always loved it

Miracle on 34th Street

{almost}

as I was going through my blog last night
I was reminded of my favorite quote in my very favorite Christmas movie

we all celebrated
the girls were great

and I found that quote true so much of this past year
hold on to those intangibles



{waiting at the bus stop down the street}

Oh how I longed to stay with her

And keep her by the hand

To lead her through the places

That she couldn't understand.

And something closely kin to fear

Was mingled with my pride.

I knew she would no longer be

A baby by my side.

But she must have her chance to live,

To work her problems out,

The privilege to grow and learn

What life is all about.

And I must share my little girl

With friends and work and play;

She's not a baby anymore ~

She's in Kindergarten today.

they are a treasure to me

lunches with my mom

we don't get to do much fun things together since my parents are always helping watch the girls when i have work

so it would be nice to enjoy lunch and dinner with them more often

going to see the kids movies with the girls that come out this summer

we all love going to the movies and just don't do it enough

being able to give all that I can with work and those i'm training right now

there is nothing that makes you feel better than to help others meet their goals

and become successful themselves

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm certainly ready for a great summer

and to make a conscious effort to making all my summer wishes become reality

xoxo

and thank you again for all your input with the photos from last post...

I am definitely going to be using your suggestions and top picks for my next order for business cards

or even written on my blog

but a couple of things before I begin...

thank you
all of you that so kindly reminded me to get with it

and get back to normal
and do a stinkin' post

and write again

{this is where I take a deep breathe}

have been the roughest
when things like that happen
I stop writing
because you don't need to hear it all

the verse that has lifted my spirits this past month

"Cast all your care upon Him; for He cares for you"
I Peter 5:7

and then I have focused on many many great things in my life
and I tell you what
even though these past months have been difficult

they have also been so very wonderful
I have close family and friends that are always there for me
my business has been very exciting

and this past month I finished earning my business incentive trip
 I'm going to Atlantis in August
{happy dance}
{happy dance}
{happy dance again}

I'm thankful for an amazing business, family,
and

amazing friends that live here and afar

friends threw the absolute best suprise weekend for me for my birthday

and that's why I felt so badly about being away

the reason why it has taken so long to get back into sharing our life
is because I wondered...

 if it was too late to continue this blog

by being away so long
if i lost you all...

we are enjoying pool time
well just three days of it so far

I would love outside feedback

I would definitely consider Kristen

one.

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eleven.



two months late perhaps

of Hayley's room redo

except maybe some small changes here and there

okay the small change I'm hoping for sometime

is eventually adding white beadboard
when we can
and when Bobby is actually in town
{and willing to do it}

her room is "done"

thankfully I downloaded Hayley's room pictures a couple of weeks ago
 I forgot my camera in Bobby's car when he was out of town
so i haven't taken pictures for weeks!!!

 however, I do have a little post of Hayley's room
after the redo
it'll be nice to have documented this down the road

I would have taken a before picture for you all too
I just got so consumed with getting it done before her birthday
I forgot all about taking the before picture

it is not one I even want to refinish
look at
or really see again
it was a pain to clean
{that's why I say that}

she had a toddler bed in her room too
and some shelves
just not really put together after we changed her nursery to toddler

so how I approached Hayley's room redo...
i wanted it to feel like her own

probably anyone who would listen:)
she is our talker in the family
non-stop talker as a matter of fact
that sometimes Madison even asks her to please be quiet for even a minute

that I wanted to do something practical from us

and I was right because

she now loves to play in her room
and sometimes the peace in quiet when she is in there is worth it to me as a "mom"
whose husband is out of town pretty much every week

but i guess I "should say"
more importantly... I wanted it to feel like it was her space

actually I wanted some personal space a little bit too
just being honest here

and my parents wanted to get all of Hayley's bedding for her for her birthday
because they were on board with me
and once they get an idea in there head to help
there is no stopping them
that's just the way my parents are
i love them:)

 

at no cost
already had the paint...just had to make the time

I also shopped around our own house to find a side table from Madison's room
{Madison now has a different side table as her birthday present in April}

and the display table under her shelves
used to be in our loft area that had our second tv and dvd player on

it is definitely much prettier in Hayley's room than in the loft

Bobby and I only purchased curtains and her new chandelier

which was actually refurbished...
not expensive at all
very similiar to the one in madison's room and our room

I wanted to share with you all that i shopped around my own house
because 'room redos" can be done
without spending any money or very little money

i'm by no means a decorating pro
but I have learned to shop my own home first before buying anything

since my first thought isn't always to buy something new
{unless i have a piece stuck in my head that I know I don't have}

and the color fits her...
since she is a sunshine girl

 I wanted her yellow walls to stand out rather than blend in

I asked Madison if I could take her pillow from her room for Hayley's
only because it wasn't going to fit Madison's new bedding anymore that she got for her birthday

she was so sweet and didn't even think about it when she said yes
I just explained she would have a new one very soon herself

I'm sure you are done with my rambling so I'll just get on to the pictures
it is so bright and vibrant for Hayley
it makes me smile every time i walk in her room
and she does too
...sometimes she even makes her own bed in the morning
well I guess that lasted about a month
but it was nice while it lasted:)
and to me any 3-year-old willingly making their bed is pretty good for anytime it lasts














and this bird cage was from my kitchen
hayley had asked for one just like Madison had
so it finally dawned on me to gift Hayley with this one


two months a little late in showing you all
but i finally have it put together
if the pictures are edited a little funny
it's because my computer has a new screen and the lightening is really off on it to me

xo



courtesy of my parents for my birthday
thank you again mom and dad

we really kept it simple with her friend pizza party
{just wanted to bring simple parties back a little if you know what i mean}

{recipe to follow in another post}
but bobby constructed the houses using pre-made strawberry icing
since i was behind in making it the night before

weekend in pictures
{warning of a lot ahead...and it's only showing about 1/4 of what i took}



for the drink menu for the kiddos

you arrived
with some of the strongest lungs they've heard
they said
but you had the longest eye lashes i had ever seen

after an hour or so after your birth
I was finally able to hold you

there grew a special bond between both you and I
and Hayley and I...

you are such a blessing that we are so very thankful for

and when i woke up this past Sunday morning
~ your birthday ~

i remembered you were born about one hour and 20 minutes
before 8:45 pm

I'm so proud of you

with believing in yourself
having fun
and showing the "you" that we know well

as I'm typing right now

I'm thinking of the day when we found out
that we were pregnant

when my phone rang with them calling to give us the news
either way news

we were able to be blessed with Hayley twenty-three months later

I walked into hayley's bedroom

and you had already put her pillow and laid a blanket on Hayley's bed
for your sister

just because you wanted to help me
and do something nice for her

you 

and acts of service could be a close second

"cacongos"
 {cacongos are coconut m &m's...but you call them "cacongos"}

{we usually always win...chuckle}
except when we lost "once"
you were not happy about that:)
neither was I:)

as you two sometimes talk in your own language

a little girl with such a big heart

it's wonderful to have great friendships in my life
and I've known her since my junior year in high school
and she's a bestie!

into my wardrobe...
and she's a color girl
so she happily helped

color just makes you feel good 

and absolutely loved it
had some wonderful food
enjoyed some wine together
and just plain relaxed too!

thanks Julie for a great visit

I'm off tonight for a fun event tonight

I have a little message
for this little child of mine


I've been so hesitant to even open up about this
because it makes me hold a mirror up to myself in may ways too
but when it comes to my kiddos
I would do anything for them


I have a precious almost 5-year-old
that is a perfectionist
that does not like perform, talk, etc. in group settings

unless she can do it perfectly



this little child of mine
wants to study something so precisely
before she even tries the first time

she wants to do it perfectly the very first time


this little child of mine
is waaay too hard on herself
definitely more than she should be
and that breaks my heart at times


she wants to take on it all
precisely.perfectly.and.without.failure
every.single.time
to me…
that’s not reasonable
to be quite honest

so this sweet child of mine
I do worry about


I've even been told by a couple of people
"what's happened to her? she wasn't always this way..."
{really, hmmm…}


...a little sting to me as a parent
“when sorry...”
is what I want to say
“you are wrong”


she has in fact always been this way
since the day she was born
both of my children are not like this
Madison and Hayley are completely different
so I know it is with her personality


and with different children you have to do things a little different
depending on that child




this little child of mine has always been
extremely motivated, organized, precise,
and eager to learn/study to get it "perfect"
especially in front of others



she has always been particular
strong
determined
even to hold her head up very early {as a newborn}
she was determined
to crawl and walk so so early
she was determined


I do know Madison
I am her mother
maybe over-protective at times
as I can relate to her personality
so I just want to hold and love on her


I have a sweet child of mine
that takes on so much with that little heart of hers

for a parent knows their child more than anyone
one of the beauties/responsibilities of being a parent
in my eyes
is that you can acknowledge
and see these traits when they aren’t helping them grow
and I have seen them bring her down a bit in her confidence and belief
so Bobby and I are doing something about it


I don't want to change this child of mine and the way she is “wired”
I want to improve, encourage, and grow her belief
I want her to learn to use those traits in a very positive/healthy way
a way that only helps her to succeed and reach her dreams later in life


I want her to be careful about setting unreasonable expectations of herself

I feel like there are days when I can’t tell her enough:


“God made you perfectly just the way you are…
 you don’t have to be perfect…
mistakes are more than okay to make
that's part of life”


all the things I have really learned or succeeded in life
I failed in the beginning or
I’ve had to keep trying
to get better
she is at such a young age that
she doesn't quite fully grasp that concept
{and I don't expect her to...I just want to help her along}


"It's okay to make mistakes"
"It's okay to fail
wipe yourself off and get back up"
"It's okay to have to try again"


every.single.thing,in.my.life.that.has.meant.the.most
I've worked for
I've had to practice at
I've had to fail at
I've had to get better
and I've had to embrace myself with my limits
I do want my kids to still see I make mistakes all the time



this little child of mine
I want to just hold and protect
and tell her all that every chance I get

we wanted her to find her niche
something that didn’t involve me always telling her
and something she could work at herself


she needed this
 something she could learn in a group setting
and not be afraid to make mistakes in front of others


she needed something that had things she could accomplish and try again at
she needed to BELIEVE in herself
that she could do it
all on her own


I want to see this child use her traits to blossom
grow
and to always be herself


I wanted to let her know that she can try new things in group settings
and not *always* get it right
but with practice, study, and trying again she will get more comfortable
she will get it


and that is why


my sweet child of mine
is now taking tae kwon do
and I couldn't be more proud of her after 2 1/2 weeks of it
seriously
I have seen this child of mine
blossom more in these past couple of weeks than ever before


she was very intimidated to begin the first week
both Hayley and her are taking classes together
it really helped to have her sister, Hayley, there in the beginning


now after 2 ½ weeks Madison is keeping her sister “in line” in class
and helping Hayley
line up
run laps
and be quiet when it’s time to listen


 in class…
Madison is trying
and not always getting it right
but you know what
she is getting back up with a smile on her face
having fun
and trying again until she does


that makes me a proud mama right there
her just trying again
and having fun with it


that is all I will ever ask of this child of mine



before she started...I talked with her instructor about my worries with her
about how I want her to BELIEVE in herself
I want her to learn how to make mistakes and continue on
and learn from having to practice
not perfectionism


I want her to be comfortable with herself
and appreciate her strengths
not focusing on her weaknesses
unless it is to work on them in a healthy way


I want this little girl to be confident
and see herself succeeding
I want her to approach new opportunities without even thinking about it
I want her to know that perfection is not what is important
but more importantly
learning from everything she does is what is important


I think we have found "that something"
that is helping her with all of that
to see this little girl’s confidence grow and bloom
has brought me some tears during her class
happy tears of course that are quickly wiped away
{I swear I cry at everything they do now}


Miss Madison
is very proud and happy about her uniform by the way
yesterday before her class she wanted to put it on
and pose for me in a pictures
all poses volunteered by her
{she particularly loves that she has a belt by the way}


I just think that is the cutest
how excited she is


this sweet child of mine
I will always be very proud of you

{btw...the "wait and see" song I just love in that He does have a plan for each of us
obviously all the wording doesn't all apply to Madison with some things}

yes...I'm way over due on posting about the celebration
almost a week late
ouch...

I thought I would just do
"a celebration in pictures"
from both days

we had a fabulous time on her birthday
 I had a very special day with her last Tuesday

just her and I during the day
and then an evening of just close family

Saturday was very much a get together for the adults as well as the kids
{smile}



and maybe something inexpensive I would like to convince my husband to do
in her room when he gets back in town

I'll probably have to make his favorite meal
{chuckle}

I've had sort of an overwhelming week to be honest
I'm allowed to admit that
and be human, right?

 I'm managing
and just did a happy for me
and got something in yellow
and I'm freakin' out bc I don't wear much color
but I'm determined this spring to do so
my heart actually raced when I clicked "purchase"
seriously, it wasn't because of the cost
it was $32 for crying out loud
but apparently...it was because of color

so it's all about Rapunzel

and there were these linen bags left over
I ran over to her and said
may I pretty please get the left overs from you

they were already sewn too!
there were sixteen left

I just believe in treating people nicely and if someone helps me save time
I will be so grateful!

watch many pointless shows very late at night
and cause you to pour another glass of wine to help you
keep sane from all the cutting, printing, gluing, etc.

it also doesn't mean that you won't have skin missing
from scissor marks on your thumb

and I didn't even know it

she happily ablidged
because she loves to help me with anything

next

 I
{err...Bobby} printed off tangled image coloring paper from the internet

he just hit control P about a million times for me though

{I realize this picture is upside down...but I'm not taking the time to fix it}

and necklaces my girls love

to save money
and more importantly it saved time

{duh}

{100 would be better, right}

I saw at Trader Joe's a 3 pack of chocolate bars for $1 and change

I couldn't forget the tangled stickers

all kids love to make noise
so I purchased these party blowers
{although they were supposed to be pink to represent pascals tongue}

found a template for pascal to attach to the party blowers
cut, glued, drew the eyes and mouths

hopefully I'll have some party pics to show you...
I found these darling edible flowers for the cupcakes on etsy!

it was all happening before we even planned
when it would happen

was a very difficult month for us ...we decided it was our last and final failed cycle
we were going to do

just like what we experienced with Madison
after 3 years of trying with her

I just look at you sometimes and remember seeing you
as you looked
the night you were born

{sigh}
and those lips you purse

but you never give up asking me
because you ask me again every single night thereafter

and as a matter of fact you are all over the place when you sleep
nudging and often kicking someone in the side
all accidental of course

you love vanilla and strawberry
over chocolate anyday

vanilla or strawberry

 

as with you
there is also no time but "Hayley time"

when you are done taking pictures
it means you are done
and not "one more"
even when I say pretty please to you


that is...unless I bribe you
{smile}
and the day I took these
you wanted a strawberry milkshake
I said "you got it!"

well actually this is the face you give
right before you smile when you are trying to hold a smile in

it is really hard leaving
but when both you and Madison are with me
you two always make Grandpa and I laugh

it has me feeling grateful and so happy
about our visit with him

or when will we see him again
at the "hosbul"

the repair guy you offered a valentine to

every day...your boots are the shoes
you have to wear

no ifs, ands, or buts about it
as a matter of fact...

and fit you and your personality quite well

it's sooo hard to say "no" to those big blues of yours
and I often find myself laughing when I'm supposed to be putting you in timeout

and love to tease daddy by calling him"Robby"
when he is Bobby

you look up to your big sis so much
I'll catch you just studying and watching Madison's every move

thank you for all your love and all you do even at age three
that inspires me to be better

with hidden meaning
{not that I'm a profound person by any means}