Crewcuts sale!

OK.... seriously though, this sale is quite amazing right now, and I am having a bit of a hard time not purchasing everything I see.  40% off the sale at J Crew with the code SHOPMORE.  Here are just a few tastes of the great deals.  

Outfit 1: jacket, tee, pink shorts

Outfit 2: floral sweatshirt, hi" sweater, eyelet shorts

Outfit 3: yellow tee, striped tunic, light jeans

Outfit 4: awesome tee, striped polo, camo shorts

Photography Workshop.

bath time.

 You would think having 2 babies  - 4 years and 10 months apart, that they wouldn't really enjoy each others company.  Not these two.  They love each other and bath time together.  I would freeze them at this age if I could, they really melt me.  

 Don't mind Asher's bruise, honestly I haven't the slightest clue how it happened, but watching this little destructor crawl around, and stand up on everything, I have a pretty good idea how the shiner came about. 

  

shoe obsessed.

Right now I currently have an athletic shoe obsession.  It's slightly debilitating, I dream of flyknits, Frees, and nike symbols, and create new versions in my head daily.  Here are some that are controlling me right now.

1.   2.   3.   4.   5.   6. 

Cleanse

I am thinking about a 3 day or 5 day juice cleanse for the new year....  I always feel good after a cleanse.  Last one was in July and I somehow got my Mom and Dad to do it with me.   I'm thinking these places with delivery would be a nice, work free option.  We'll see...

Pressed Juicery

Bluprint Cleanse

 

Christmas Card 2013.

 Here is 2013's Christmas card. As usual, Photoshop was used extensively.

Looking for a great place to print your cards... Shutterfly is amazing, as is Minted.

(For MINTED, use the code HOLPHOTO71163 to get 20% off your Holiday Card purchase) 

And here are some of the many out-takes...



Whatever you do Levi... Don't smile.

keeping the cheer tradition alive.

It's hard to believe my oldest is in the 8th grade cheering for the 3rd year in a row and just plain growing up.   Taylor is such a hard worker in everything she does and I couldn't be prouder of all of her accomplishments. One awesome part of this year is Taylor gets to cheer for her cousin Kaden on the basketball team again.  We love to go to the games and route everybody on.  Go Rogich!

Me and my big sister Amber back in the cheerleading days... 

How to backup Instagram photos.

In case you didn't know... there is a crazy easy way to download and backup your instagram photos to your computer/hard drive.  Go to the website Instaport and the rest is pretty self explanatory.  First step is to choose what you want to back up, and the second step is to click download.  It downloads your photos to a zip file.  Once you unzip the file by clicking it, it creates a folder of all your photos.  This software worked perfectly for me and then I was able to create this collage in minutes in lightroom.  Now go download your precious photos.  

the reader.

Kate is our reader.  This girl seriously LOVES to read.  Right now she is into Harry Potter, kind of obsessively into Harry Potter. It's quite adorable if you ask me.  Her last obsession was the American Girl Series, and before that it was something else.

How do you get children to read?  Luckily this isn't a parenting blog, because I am sure this answer would be considered very wrong, but in my humble opinion, you bribe, BRIBE and bribe some more.  (I apologize in advance to those who don't like that answer.)  Kate liked to read but throw in "Read 50 chapter books and get an ipod touch"  and now she loves to read.  Sometimes you just need a little motivation.  I know I do.  I tell myself, every 5 pounds closer to my goal weight, I get a new lululemon article of clothing (or 2).  So if I bribe myself, why can't I bribe my kids?  Taylor had to read 10 novels to get an old iphone's service turned on... it worked, and I think having that sense of accomplishment works even if it takes a little... dare I say it... bribing.

I believe I got off topic, but in summary, I love seeing my Kate reading all of the time and being passionate about something I have always loved as well.

Kate's most recent pick from the library:  TEN RULES FOR LIVING WITH MY SISTER  - I found this rather amusing.

When Kate finished her 50 chapter books for an ipod Touch goal last year.  

Baby Asher.

Our little "Bundle of Love,"  Asher Caleb Slade joined our family on April 6, 2013.  What a joy he has been.  Now that he is 9 months old today, I can hardly believe how fast the time has gone by! We can't even imagine life with out 26 pounder, crazy Asher baby.  Through a year of really hard times, he was a huge blessing.  Happy 9 months Asher! 

 

 

 

Asher baby...

 

 

Remembering 2013.

I know... it's January 6th and I'm a little late in the game.  Here is what we are filling out for Family Night tonight.  It's a mix of goals and memories, and something for us to hold on to and look back on.  I think I will attach a Christmas card pic to each one, just because I feel like everything needs a picture to be complete.  Feel free to print one for yourselves and family.  

Click here to download printable.

 

Update with pics  1-7 2013: 

 

Kate is 8.

My sweet Kate was baptized in April.  Such a beautiful day and such a sweet daughter I have.  I couldn't be more lucky.  Here are a few shots from our last minute effort to take some photos.  We did it in about 10 minutes in the backyard with a backdrop, and Kate was a dream model as usual. My mother made her dress... yes, I know you're jealous.  Kate designed the whole thing, and we found the lace and trim at Heddy's Fabric.    Her beautiful necklace was customized by the amazing artist James Dixon of Goldesign.    We all love this little angel and couldn't be more proud.

To purchase baptism cards, you can head to my Etsy Shop.

And if you are in the Las Vegas area or want to see what my travel schedule is for Baptism photos, check out my Photography Website. 

Backdrops for these photos were purchased from Drop it Modern.

To purchase baptism cards, you can head to my Etsy Shop. 

making cookies.

A person who will rename 'nameless" alluded to my mother in a rather condescending way when stating,

 "I just think it is ridiculous when women stay home and bake cookies all day."

First of all, no one talks down about my mother. Ever.

Secondly, my mother accomplishes more in a single day than any human being I have ever known.

I am so unbelievably lucky to have had a mother that cares more about me, my siblings, my children, her parents, her husband, etc.  more than herself.

Yes my mom, made us cookies, my mom still makes us cookies, why do you think that is?  Is it to eat them for her self, no. (she rarely eats any) Is it to practice her culinary skills, no.  My mom makes cookies because she loves making others happy. And it works.

When my sweet nephew Caleb had just gotten his leg amputated, all he asked for when he woke up was for some of Grandma's homemade chocolate chip cookies. 

My mother cooks dinner for everyone usually 12 or more people at least, every. single. Sunday. Truly amazing.  I can't imagine it is that enjoyable to do so much cooking, but my mom does it with a smile as we call her the busy bee.

My mother is a memory creator, she creates wonderful memories for all of us and brings everyone together.

My mother knows every grandchild's schedule, from the time they wake up to what sports and activities they have after school.  She knows their likes, their favorite drink, their favorite show, and they all know they are loved by their Grama.  My mom will drop everything to help her grandchildren or her children. 

If only everyone could have a grandma like that.

When I was in high school, I came home to a Mother that was present, that was engaged, that was many times making homemade bread and yes cookies, for me and all my friends. Truly, my friends were envious of my amazing mother.

Now that I am a mother of five children,  I am very aware of my own mother's sacrifice for us, for our happiness, for our well-being.  This is the mother I want to be.  My children are only little for so long, and I hope to embrace them as well as my mother did for us.


The moral of this story, "If only every mother could stay home and bake cookies, what a wonderful world this would be." 


(I wrote this a few months ago in attempt to get my feeling/ rampage out on paper and never published it...here it is).

I wrote this post before my sweet nephew Caleb passed away.  He is the bravest boy I know and I miss him desperately.  I know we will all be making cookies again in Heaven soon.  I love you Angel Caleb.

Taylor and Kate's Shared Room

So, it's been a long time... a whole lot has happened including a new little one.  Baby Asher arrived on April 6th.  Now I am the lucky mother of 5!  I figured I'm just going to jump right in on whats going on today and try not to stress about catching up...  Why blog again??? I miss looking back at accomplishments and memories, I miss creating and sharing it with others.... Let's begin again!

 We are working on new room situations around here, trying to fit in the newest addition to the family, so Taylor and Kate are going to share a room.  Here is a picture of what it looks like right now... not too cohesive I would say... We are working on a navy and coral theme, and I will keep you updated on how it's coming. The hardest part so far has been finding a gray color for the walls, yikes! It's so tricky!  We are aslo working on Asher's new nursery, I didn't think he should have to live with pink walls, even if they were just painted.  Here are my favorites:

Favorite Grays:
Horizon  - Benjamin Moore
Moonshine - Benjamin Moore
Revere Pewter (more of a taupe) - Benjamin Moore
Classic Gray - Benjamin Moore
Gray Owl - Benjamin Moore


Here is the before... not much to see.

The first picture is after I had it painted a Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore.  

This is actually what it looked like before it was painted (with a little photoshop help)  I just want you to have the full effect when its finished. 

Loved the inspiration I found from here. 
Cute pillow! here.