Halloween 2016

Happy Halloween 2016! A white witch and the tooth fairy took to the streets this year with friends: a devil, a cowgirl, and a cowboy. They all enjoyed quite a bounty of treats, and we even encountered a haunted house along the way. Even thought it was a Monday night, we had a ton of trick-or-treaters, and were glad we decorated a little.

Daphne's Preschool Graduation

Sweet Daphne Frances Graduated from Preschool! She had a great year at Grant Elementary School's LAUP preschool program. Preschool graduation is definitely bittersweet, because she's made so many sweet friends, and very few of them will go on to the same elementary school. She loved teachers Melinda, Jennifer, and LaTanya, and her best friends were Kaia, Holliday, Ella, and John. For their end-of-year performance, they sang their favorite songs (like the months of the year) and did a choreographed hula dance. We gave their teachers a movie bucket with movie tickets, lots of goodies, and lots of cash to say thank you for such a great year. 

Violet's 8th Birthday

A few fun memories from Sweet Violet's eighth birthday. Her actual birthday fell on Mother's Day, and we had fun celebrating together. We woke up early to go mini-golfing, and we went to a Japanese steak house for dinner. We had a little family cake at home.

Friends from far and wide came to Violet's Sno-Cone birthday party. It was her idea to serve Sno-Cones, and the whole family is still benefiting from owning a Sno-Cone machine!

Water Balloon Toss:

Mother's Day

Ran across this, which I wrote 2014 on Facebook in 2014, and didn't want to lose it. <3 <3 

To all of the mothers in my life; those who are, those who are yet-to-be, and those who have shown me the way:
For all the times you've patiently explained that frosting is not for breakfast, but that broccoli will give you super-powers. For the times you've sat on the toilet holding a wailing child because of an ill-timed injury. For that one time your toddler snuck a sip of your just-bought iced coffee, then spit it back into the cup because it was yucky. For all of the fruit snacks you've peeled off of the carseat, the bottom of your purse, the carpet, your husband. Allll of those fruit snacks. For that afternoon that you had arrowroot cookies and Gogurt for lunch at the park because your kids were having such a good time and you forgot to pack for yourself. For the permanent marker on your favorite handbag and you barely even yelled. For all the times you've counted to four. For giving up manicures and lattes so you could pay for ballet classes. For all of those late nights: comforting, disciplining, feeding, fretting, working. For all of the nights you've stood crying over your sleeping child's bed because of gratitude or guilt, each in their turn. For that sincere and heart-breaking plea you send out to the Universe and to the depths of your Soul every day, that you will be good enough. You are. Happy Mother's Day.