Merry Christmas 2017

Merry Christmas! I had only 2 different Christmas cards this year but I wanted to make sure I shared them here. The fancy one is from Shutterfly and was my first time doing a card that opened up like a door. I really liked it. The second is from Costco and I actually typed Aspen's name wrong on the first order so I had to redo them. Thankfully, they are only $15. I love our pictures this year so it was really easy to make good Christmas cards! You can see some of our previous Christmas cards HERE.

Aspen's Preschool Pictures

This week we got Aspen's preschool pictures back and I could just die they are so cute. I took her to get them done that day because I was off and I knew they were going to be good. I mean, we practice taking pictures daily so she should be. She is still my tiny girl but she is really looking big here. We missed the picture day last year but HERE are her pictures from two years ago. She is doing really well at daycare. She loves her teachers and never complains about going there. I don't want to jinx it, but I don't think she got sick at all this year either. She knows lots of the kids names at school despite the fact that she is completely happy playing with toys by herself. She is a little weird but we sure do love her.

1st Grade Update

We got Everly's first grade pictures back so it seemed like a good time for a little update. HERE is her update from Kindergarten but there is a little side by side below, too. So cute! Everly's first grade teacher is Ms. Mills and she has been doing well so far. She is reading really well and learning a lot of addition as well. They have a behavior scale in class as well where blue and green are good and yellow and red are blue and she has been getting blue and green all the time. She still goes to stinger's club in the mornings and likes it although she got busted this week for buying breakfast without our permission. Like, she was doing it almost daily despite the fact that we send her with breakfast. I was so mad that I called the school and scolded her when I found out. She is learning a lot, which also includes how to lie. I know it is normal kid behavior and that she is actually really sweet but I still can't let that stuff fly. This year we started getting to see her art project electronically so I will start sharing those as well. They are super cute. I think parent teach conferences are next month so I can't wait to hear what her teacher says.

 

I'm dead.

Family Photos: Happy Birthday Aspen!

The last post from out family photos works out perfectly because today is Aspen's birthday! Out little squishy is 3 years old today. We will probably do a fun little dinner or something tonight and we will have her joint party with Everly next week at Pump it Up! Aspen was a little bit difficult during this photo shoot but she was leaps and bounds better than last year so...progress! We had treats to bribe her with and one of these pictures she actually has it in her hands. Aspen's dress is also Alice and Ames. I think our photographer did a great job getting some super sweet photos of Aspen and I just can't handle that she is 3 years old today. Happy Birthday baby Aspen!

Family Photos: Everly

Besides getting great family photos to use for our Christmas cards, I also try to get pictures of the girls every year sometime around their birthdays to document them at each year. It works out that their birthdays are less than 3 weeks apart (and we are actually doing a joint birthday celebration next week). Everly is so good at photo shoots. She really knows how to turn on the charm and is such a good sport about it all. Of course, it helped that our photographer is really fast as well so she never even gets close to losing her patience. She is also really good about helping us with her sister who has a lot less patience. Everly's dress (and Aspen's) are from a local company called Alice and Ames. While they are a little more expensive, they do have occasional sales throughout the year and they also hold up really well and are perfect for twirling so I think they are worth it. Also, I love being able to support small local businesses.

Family Photos: All of Us

One of the reasons that I take family pictures every year is to make sure we have family pictures to use for Christmas Cards. I try to get them done plenty early so I have lots of time to get my Christmas cards out early. It's not hard for me to order the Christmas cards but I am just a slacker when it comes to addressing, stamping and actually mailing them, so I need all the extra time I can get. I also have a really big print of one of our family pictures from last year above the mantel in the living room so I need to replace that with one of these new ones!

Also, one of Justin and I because we do actually like each other.

Family Photos: Sisters

Last month we headed up to Flagstaff for a quick evening trip to take family photos. We did this last year while up there for one of my sister's soccer game and when Julia Romano Photography posted about a summer special we decided to get our annual family photos in a little early. I loved our pictures from last year (HERE) and so was very excited to update them. While it was still very hot in Phoenix, the weather was absolutely perfect up in Flagstaff. The girls actually did pretty good. Aspen definitely did better than last year. We also made sure we had some snacks to bribe her with. It is kinda crazy to think that Julia got so many good pictures in less than 30 minutes. It was soo fast and we got everything we wanted. There are too many good pictures for one post so I am going to start with pictures of both the girls together and with each of us. Get ready to die.

 

 

probably my favorite of these 3

 

 

Pictures Update!

This week we got in a couple of recent pictures of Everly so I wanted to share them here. First, her Spring Pictures from Kindergarten came in. I am completely aware that this crap is just to take my money, but my kid is cute and I can't not buy the picture. HERE are her pictures from the fall. It is crazy how much they grow throughout the year. She was very proud of her pose in the Spring picture. Also, I know I am biased, but I really think she is the cutest kid in her class. Her soccer pictures from the Spring Season also came in. Since a few of the girls were returning, they are the Unicorns again. I love her soccer picture. She is so serious about soccer this season so it is really funny. HERE are her soccer pictures form back in the fall. I am so glad she is really loving soccer. All the other parents probably think I am nuts, but at least I actually know what I am talking about.

 

Christmas Cards 2016

I used the family pictures we took early fall (here) to make our Christmas card for this year. I am still labeling and sending them out, but I have them all made so that is an accomplishment! I got the majority of the cards at Costco when they were on coupon and upgraded slightly for the cardstock version vs. the photo paper version. You can get like 50 cards for $35. I also used a couple of codes for free cards from Shutterfly just to have some fun ones. Our main cards I actually did a full folding card which I have never done before. It gave me room to write a little family update and include a picture of the pets on the back as well. For my Shutterfly ones I did one simple card with rounded corners and another horizontal folding card. I really like them all but it helps to have such cute kids in all of the pictures! HERE are the cards from last year. I love this time of year and can't wait to start getting Christmas cards from family and friends in the mail.

Front and back of the main card

Basic Shutterfly card with rounded corners

This one is probably my favorite, so if you get it, that means I really like you because I only have 10. Haha!

Shutterfly Photobook: Disneyland Trip 2016

I finally finished the photo book from our trip to Disneyland back in October. I take so many pictures that it has been taking me a lot longer to put these together just because I have to decide what to actually put in the book. I also had to get all of the pictures Justin took which sometimes slows me down. I love making these and looking back through how much fun we had. Also, this is the first time I have been able to use the new Disney template from Shutterfly. They didn't have it a couple of years ago after we went. It does cost $5 more but it's not like I go to Disneyland every weekend so it is worth it to me. Can't wait to get that orange box in the mail!

 Click here to view this photo book larger

                                                                                

Everly's Soccer Update

Everly had team pictures last weekend (which we will get in a couple of weeks) and has her last game this upcoming weekend for the fall season. She has actually been doing really well. She is getting more and more aggressive and has also gotten really good at defense. She really enjoys both practice and her games and I think that is the most important thing. She is always excited to go and we never have to convince her to participate. She has also gotten better at being tough and gets right back up after falling down. It will be nice to have a break for a little around the holidays but she will start back up again for the spring season early next year. One of the mom's on Everly's team is a photographer and took some pictures at the game last weekend and was nice enough to share with us. She got a bunch of Everly and she makes the funniest faces when she is working hard out there. So cute!

All pictures are from Poetic Images Photography:

she scored a goal here!