Happy Valentine's Day

Awhile back a friend of mine and our kiddos did a painting were we put tape on canvas and then let the kiddos paint all over it.  I did a Valentine's day one knowing that it was coming up.  She did one for his playroom that was blue and green and said "PLAY" on it.  it was so fun to do and to see the results. 

We dont have much planned for Valentine's Day.  Infact that night I am playing volleyball.  (my first love hehe)  but I think we will go out this weekend to celebrate.  What are you plans or traditions? 

Wordless Wednesday

Pedicure with Daddy!

Wordless Wednesday

When I was going through pictures to print I found this gem.  Mallorie's baptism just over two years ago.  She is such a little doll!

Good Choices

We try and help Mallorie make good choices but love when she makes them herself.  She has always been a good eater and has loved her veggies and fruits.  But like any kid she does like her chocolate and fruit snacks.  I try and trade out the fruit snacks for raisins when I can but she is a kid.  The other morning I was getting myself come cereal (Special K) and also some for her (Trix).  When I gave her her bowl she did not want it she wanted mine.  So i set the boxes next to each other and asked her which cereal we wanted.  Here is what she said.

She ate every bite and then asked for seconds.  How can I say no.  I hope she keeps making these good choices!

Growth Charts

This past Friday my Friend Heidi came over with her son Bryce.  Mallorie and Bryce are best friends.  They are exactly one month apart and love to run around the house copying each other.  I had seen a growth chart craft on Pinterest and fell in love with it.  My husband got some free wood from work that would work perfectly.  We waited until nap time and both kids were sleeping and then started crafting.  (I only have finish product pictures.  I forgot to take pictures while we were working on them.)  

We had gone to Michaels and bought paint and stencils   Heidi also bought some little wooden animals to put on the growth chart.  We started by using Magic Eraser on the wood to make sure that it is clean.  Then we started on Heidi's chart.  We measured out every inch and started to paint using the stencils.  It went fairly quickly and was pretty easy.  We were able to just talk and hangout while painting.  Once all the lines were painted on then we did the same to mine.  At this point the kiddos woke up.  After we got them playing again we went back and painted the numbers on the growth charts.  We also glued the animals on Heidi's.  I love the way both of them turned out.  I decided not to put anything on mine.  I love the way it looks plain.

Below are our finished products!!!

Here is just mine!  I can not wait to get it hung on the wall and tracking Mallorie's growth!!

Cowgirl Party

For some reason the other day I got to thinking about my blog and I thought....I don't think I every posted about Mallorie's cowgirl birthday party.  I looked back and sure enough I didn't.  So here it is only four months late!!!

Mallorie loves to gallop around the house and pretend like she is a horse.  so when it can time to plan her party we thought what would be better than a cowgirl party.  I love to go all out for her birthday parties and my hubby thinks I am a little nuts but I was surprise how involved and how he jumped on board too!  We went to a western wear store about 40 minutes from our house and bought Mallorie some "real" cowgirl boots.  She LOVED them and wore them everywhere.  We invited family and friends to her party and we had a great time! I forgot to get a picture of the food but we had barnyard dogs (hot dogs), Cow chips (potato chips), Pig slop, (Pasta salad with olives, pepperoni, Italian dressing), Watermelon, Hay bales (rice krispie treats), and cow plops (no bake cookies)!

Sorry for picture overload!!!

I made a banner for her!  She also loved the cow print balloons!

 














We used hay bales as seating.

 My Hubby made troughs for the drinks!

We even had a mechanical horse for the kids (or adults) to ride on!

We had ask everyone to wear their western wear to the party.  It was fun.  Even our dog Carter dressed up!

The Birthday Girl in her Cowgirl outfit!

We had friends and family over for a cookout.

Mallorie loved opening her gifts.

One of her favorite gifts was a quiet book my Mom made for her!  

I made her cake again this year.  I cut the boot shape out of two 9x13 cakes.  It was pretty easy.  then I just piped the best I could a design on them to make them look like real boots!

Singing happy birthday!

I had goody bags for the kids to make.  Candy, little toys, and tattoos tied up in bandanas!

Mallorie was scared to ride the horse by herself so Daddy had to ride with her!

 We got pictures of all the kids on the horse but this one just makes me laugh.  (it is so Lewis)

She had so much fun at her party!  (She even got a Jeep!)

Cheers to the New Year

We did a little celebration with Mallorie at 8:00 to ring in the new year.  She thought she was big stuff drinking from a glass with no lid. (Yes is is a tall shot glass!)  Don't worry she only had apple juice!  I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year!

Mallorie 2 year pictures

So I am way behind...Today I went and had Mallorie's 2 year pictures taken.  Yes she turned 2 in September but I guess better late than never.  She did AMAZING!  she usually does pretty good with me taking her picture and getting her pictures done but I was afraid all of the shots would be of her cheesy  "Cheeeeeeeese" smile.  I could put her into a pose and she would stay still and give a real smile.  Here is a link to see the proofs.  Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

Mallorie's first "Yuckies" on the Potty.  (9/4/12)  She was so proud!  (what a cheese ball smile)

Wordless Wednesday

In honor of hunting season I post a picture of Mallorie "hunting"
(We had to go to Gander Mountain for my Hubby and Mallorie found a toy and wanted to show us how she used it!)

Mommy's little helper

I have learned that Mallorie loves to clean.  It doesn't matter what it is she clean but also wants to help.

From windows....

To vacuuming....

Ever toilets!




















I know that this "want" to clean will go away with age but for now I will use it.  But remember she is still a two year old and she does make messes too!

Fun Food Friday

Last week Friday I had my friends little boy, Bryce, for the day while she worked.  He is exactly one month younger that Mallorie!  It is so fun to watch them play together.  I did not have anything special planned for lunch and just thought I would "find something".  They were playing with PlayDoh and cookie cutters and I got an idea.  Fun Food!  I found some they were not using and got to work.  Here is what I came up with.

Starting at the top and going clockwise:
     * Fish cut out of turkey
     *Fishing rods (pretzels)
     * bait (peanut butter)
     * gold fish in a pond to fish for (with the pretzels and peanut butter)
     *Fishing line (string cheese)
     * Worm (peanut butter sandwich)

Two plates for two hungry kiddos!

Mallorie "fishing" for goldfish and loving her fun lunch!

Bryce caught one!

These two love to copy each other! (sorry Mallorie's picture is dark.)

Both plates were almost clean.  They loved it!  I am enjoying making fun lunches and have some more in mind.  I wonder which one I am going to make today?

Wordless Wednesday

 

                      2012                                                          2011
It is crazy the difference a year makes!

Wordless Wednesday

One of my favorites from your vacation to the cottage in Ludington!  Priceless!

Wordless Wednesday

Here is Mallorie at my nephew Lewis's breack dance battle this past weekend.  She ADORES her "Cousin Lewey".  She is wearing his hat and her sunglasses and standing in her "Bgirl stance"  So proud!

Wordless Wednesday

My Favorite!

I think I have mentioned this before but these two have such a special bond!  (this is Lewis my Nephew)
Mallorie ADORES her cousin Lewis!  These pictures are just priceless!

Wordless Wednesay

The other day I was picking up Mallorie's toys and I came across this sweet, adorable, precious, and priceless picture.  My hubby must have been playing with Mallorie and he traced his hand and then hers inside of it.  I had to take a picture!!!

Wordless Wednesday

I was at my Volleyball game and my Husband texted me this picture.  His caption was " A mess Daddy!  I mess!"  He said she was lucky she was so beautiful otherwise he would be mad. She was so proud!   I laugh every time I see this picture!

Busy Bottle

***I am not sure if this is the right name for this project but it is what we call it.***

So Mallorie no longer goes into Nursery at church.  It just was not working out and she would just cry and work herself up to the point of almost getting sick.  So about 3 months ago we started taking her into church with us and it is honestly going well but we are always looking for QUIET toys and books for her to play with in church.  The other day I came across a pin on Pinterest and thought... I need to do that.  Basically it is just a water bottle with little trinkets in it.  Here is a photo tutorial for you!

 First I had her drink some of the water from the bottle.
(she spilled so much water I had to change her shirt!)

I got a bunch of left over buttons, sequins, googly eyes, and scrapbook stuff and let Mallorie pick what she wanted to put in.

Here she is picking out her "Prettys"

 She had a lot of fun putting everything in the bottle!

A friend of ours came over to pick put some tools from my husband and their son Elliott was with him.  He is 3 1/2 and also made one.  He LOVED it too.

Here is Mallorie's finished busy bottle.  She found some tiny string of pearls that she HAD to have in there and I think it turned out great.

I tried to get a good picture of her holding it but that would not happen.  If you notice it is tucked under her arm.  and this is her saying "CHEESE!!!" every time I held up the camera.