katie pie.

i have given each of my children a "food name," i don't know why and it wasn't planned it just so happens that it's one of their many nicknames. i think it comes from my dad. (he used to call my sister hAMBERger and her best friend was hAUDdog.)

I call Taylor - taytor tots; Jackson - Cracker Jacks; and Kate - Katie Pie. Levi, still doesn't have one, i'm having a hard time with his, but i'm sure one day it will come to me.

with the older kids at school, me and katie pie have plenty of one on one time. she loves reading and make believe and can play for hours with two dolls and and a piece of paper to draw their house on. she can color like nobody's business and loves to have her back tickled. she wants to be a ballerina when she grows up, which worries me a little seeing how she is on track to be 6 feet tall and trips a few times a day over her ginormous feet. (last week one of her falls landed her in the hospital getting a couple stitches on her knee.)

next year my katie pie is going to be in kindergarten. i know it's a little way off, but i have become obsessed with spending as much quality time as i can with her before she's really a "big girl." my favorite moments with kate are reading books in my bed during levi's nap in our P.J.'s ignoring the phone and the door. i love my 4 year old girl, and could gobble a scrumptious slice of "Katie Pie" any day.

adventures of levi.

i am levi. i am what some might call "a monster" and others call "muchacho or chachi." i carry a green stick wherever i go for protection and in case i feel the need to chew on something. i can basically do whatever i want, go wherever i want, and be naked all of the time because i am the king of this castle.

i hang out on the stairs with my green stick...

i mock those who can't do what i can...

i turn invisible, and no one can find me, or my food...

i make the girls squeal with laughter, just by banging my head on the couch...

i climb with super speed up to the top of the stairs to meet my sidekick brother...

and i walk...

i am so fast that mom hasn't been able to get a picture of me though, that's how unstoppable i am.

"I AM LEVI, HEAR ME ROAR!".... (or growl.)

talented kiddos...

here are some of my kiddos sharing their talents over the past few months.... not that i expect you to watch it all, but i'm pretty proud of their cuteness...

crib bedding.

decisions.... decisions....

the big bash.

pure talent.

this past weekend we had a church talent show. kate and her friends did a "totally rad" job dancing to the song "She's a Maniac," Taylor and her girlfriends (and one boy) did a singing and dancing number to "That's How You Know" from the movie Enchanted, and Jackson displayed one of his amazing pieces of art, which he entitled "Guys Cool Night."

cutest 80's flash dancers EVER...

jackson was pretty proud of his work.. he said the hidden meaning behind the drawing was, "Don't cross the street if a car is coming." .. ingenious if you ask me.

taylor and her friends worked very hard perfecting their choreography to "That's How You Know" and were quite the performers...

thank you note.

dear aunt krista,
thank you for my super cute hair cut. i haven't stopped staring at my self, flipping my hair, and doing "model looks" all day. i even modeled a new hair clip mom made.... yes, if it's possible i am even cuter than i was. thanks again.

love,
kate

sleeping children

this is one of the latest additions to my "personal" motherhood scrapbook/ art journal....
check out this blog for more inspiration on starting your own "art journal."

baseball boy.

i love baseball. but more than that, i really love watching my little boy play baseball. i couldn't keep the smile off my face for his first game ever, he was such a stud. i can't wait to watch him play a million more games. go jackson boy!

princess party.

preparations for a princess party:

invitations


a place for a ball............................ a princess throne



vanilla cupcakes with strawberry cream cheese frosting.... goodie bags for the princesses

the birthday cake
vanilla cake with strawberry ice cream filling

the princess make up station............. wands for dancing


pink tissue flowers .........................kate's birthday tablecloth

the princes

and of course... the birthday princess

We invited the "real" Cinderella to the party and

Now it's time to PARTY like a PRINCESS!!

kate's 3 today!

Our sweet princess Kate turned 3 today! She has been telling everyone she is 6 (sometimes 7) for the past year, so it was a little difficult convincing her that she is 3. Kate is such a bundle of joy, silliness, grouchiness, princessesness, maturity, and sweetness all rolled into one and she lights up our home with smiles and laughter. Her is a list of some of her favorites at 3- years-old (so that I have it documented)...

Favorite Food: Pizza, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, turkey (she never has a problem eating)
Favorite Movie: Aladdin
Favorite Princess: Jasmine
Favorite Item: her blanky
Favorite Activity: Dance Class
Favorite Home Activity: reading books, coloring, playing princesses, playing kitchen
Favorite Book: Any princess book
Favorite Song to Sing: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Favorite Place: Disneyland
Favorite Ice Cream: Pink...

I love you Katie Pie!! Happy Birthday! I hope you always remember what a beautiful princess you are!

We had a princess birthday bash for kate... pictures to be posted later...

see me read.

I was lucky enough to be asked to review a sample kit for "See Me Read." I got it in the mail last week and I must say, it was really cool. You can customize all of the products with your own child's faces, friends, and things. (I know my children love to be the star...) My kids especially liked the flashcards because I just tossed them in my purse and they could play with them... even the 2-year-old. So basically "See Me Read" gets 5 stars and you can check out their website here.

dancer girl.

Taylor had her very first dance competition this past weekend. (Chad was out of town, and there was no way I could have survived the craziness with out mom's help... especially after Taylor accidentally locked us out of the house as we were headed to dress rehearsal...)
After so much hard work and sometimes 5 hours a week of practicing, she danced her heart out and I couldn't be more proud. The makeup application was rather tedious, but I think she enjoyed every second... way to go tay tay!


I don't have any pics of her in her costumes, but they were adorable! I'm sure I'll get some at the next competition.