Saturday, August 23, 2014

{2 Years of Pure Sweetness}

I have been spending so much more time from the girls and trying to step away from technology, because lets face it we all get sucked in! I have decided to take a step back and try to simplify life (So much so I started making decorations for Harper's party the night before!)! I will try to at least keep this updated for my family! Life with 2 girls is fun and exciting and goes by so very fast I am trying to enjoy every second of it!

  I cannot believe that we celebrated Harper's 2nd year birthday today! It seems like yesterday I was getting ready to walk into the OR to welcome her into this world, and as I look at my sweet baby I realize more and more she isn't such a baby anymore! Time seems like it goes by at warp speed. I wish I could slow it down and soak up every single second! Harper is such an amazing and smart little girl.. She has a temper on her but has so much determination! She tries to bargain and reason with us, she never misses a beat, and she loves to chit chat! She is loved by everyone around her, and she can certainly brighten the room! We call her "me too" because she never ever misses a thing and anything her bigger sister does she wants to do "me too, me too!" I love it when she wants to sit on my lap and tells me "me hold you" she loves when I cuddle her into a ball and sing rock a bye baby with her. Her current favorite thing is lipgloss and can rapidly go through a tube of it! She loves shoes and dressing up ( YAY I got 2 girly girls!) She has the most piercing blue eyes,  she has eyes that make you feel like you can see the love in her soul. She loves to love and be loved on!

  Harper had a great day celebrating with her friends and family! Her day started out with a special donut breakfast from daddy! She has been asking for an ariel party for months! So an ariel party she got! Kennedy helped out on her own the whole morning, from helping me decorate the table with shells, to filling the ice chests with drinks, and helping pick up around the house without any complaints! I literally made her decorations last night (yes it was a late night and early morning sewing skirts and making Harper's shirt), and the cake made by Aunt B… All I can say is amazing (pictures just don't do this cake justice!)It was AMAZING!!! Yes it even had a real beta fish on it! I can say I have the best friends and family who helped make this day so special to our little Hapu! Its so awesome to see the love people around have for our little family! Seeing her so excited today and getting to celebrate just her was worth every bit of planning this party! For Harper today was about swimming, food, family and friends, painting, and "my birthday cake"

I was going to edit these pics but it would take more time, so here is our life raw and unedited. This is real life :) Some of the pics are from my camera and some from my cell phone, but I love each of them!







































Happy 2nd Birthday my beautiful little girl! I am so blessed to be your momma! You bring so much joy and sunshine to our lives! A huge thank you to all of our family and friends who helped make her day so special!! 







Friday, June 20, 2014

I AM BACK!

It has been a long time since I posted anything. I took some time away to spend enjoying my family, and realized this blog is where a lot of my family goes for updates! It seems life gets so busy and goes by so fast! I have really taken time to analyze what in my life is important. I found myself spending a lot of time on things that at the end of the day were just not that important. So I have put most of that aside and have learned to stop, look, and smell the roses with Kennedy and Harper. Maybe I have turned more into a homebody… I used to be on the go all the time, never home and had every minute planned out. Don't get me wrong, I am still total type A and OCD person, but I enjoy being at home with the girls relaxing, playing, and enjoying each and every second with them. I don't want them to feel like they have to be on the go all the time. Yes, I have even stepped away from Pinterest! I have even been thinking about abandoning Facebook completely, and would have already done so if I didn't have so much family on there. After listening to our pastor the last few months, I needed to assess "whats important in my life?" and there was a lot of "busy" stuff, and new things I wanted to do, but at the end of the day all that "stuff" would take away precious time with my family, and I am not willing to give that up. I want to show my family they are more important to me than anything else!

Ever since I had Kennedy and Harper it has given me a different perspective on life. The things I used to think were important, don't seem that big or important to me anymore. Life is short, and you do not get any second back! Trav and I get one shot at raising our girls right. You don't get any re-dos or do-overs when raising children. The way we raise our girls, talk to them, show them love and attention, treat others, show them how to appreciate people and what they have,  show them discipline and kindness, spend time with them, raise them in church, and show them how to live a God centered life will effect and mold them into who they will become as adults. We are not perfect parents by any means, but we try our hardest. I think it shows by how kind and loving our girls are. You can see tender hearts and love radiating from them!

So quick fast forward to now;

Travis has taken on a Medical Directorship of an ER. Its nice that he is so much closer to home. He deserves it and he works extremely hard at his job and at his job at home. I am so blessed to have him as a husband and a father to our children, he is a great provider, coach, referee, doctor, pony tail doer extraordinaire to our girls. Our girls adore him in every way. Both Kennedy and Harper are total daddy's girls. He will come home from long days in the ER and still bath the girls, read to them, pray with them and put them to bed to be able to spend time with them. He makes sure they know everyday how much they are loved! He loves us and would do anything in this world for us. He would sacrifice any and everything for us! There are not many guys out there like him!

I am a full time stay at home mom! I still work in the ER very part time to keep up my skills as a PA. I always joke that going to work is my "adult contact time" I get to turn off my mommy brain and use the other part of my brain! I am thankful and blessed to be able to stay home with our children and make sure they are being raised right. I could never imagine having to leave them everyday to go to work. Its hard enough the few days I do work (those days Trav gets Daddy Duty)! We host a small group at our house (I may be biased here but…) I think its the best small group ever!!  We are real with each other, can talk serious, and laugh a lot! I couldn't imagine my life without them! Kennedy loves having bible study with "her friends". We are all friends, and the 3 ladies in small group have become so dear to me. I treasure my friendships with each one of them. We hang out together, workout together, go to church together, have playdates together. Each one of them always has good advice. I always say they are my " counsel" I go to.  I honestly don't know what I would do without the 3 of them. I cherish all of my friendships, especially as I get older I see what true friendships are supposed to be like.

 Kennedy has turned the big 4 (Of course she wanted a frozen party)!  Can't believe she is already 4, seems like just yesterday I was going in for surgery to have her. She is stunningly beautiful with her big blue eyes. Trav and I are pretty certain she has a photographic memory (no joke here), she can remember the smallest detail from 2 years ago, and she forgets nothing! She is smart, and crafty, and talented, but most of all she has such an amazing and kind heart. She goes to Montessori, she  loves her friends and church, she loves family dinnertime, she loves painting and sewing with me. She writes in cursive, knows all her shapes (even ones I don't know), writes 1-40, writing 3-4 letter words, knows her entire alphabet and sounds, and can point out her continents on a globe.  

Harper is almost 2 (and very adamant about an Ariel birthday party)! She has earned the name "Twinkle Toes" she runs everywhere super fast on her tippy toes.  She is equally as stunning as her sister! She is my fearless, curious, and always into mischief little girl! She is hilarious and has such a shiny personality, but oh so determined. She is very vocal about what she wants and she loves to be just like "Koko"and loves to do everything her sister is doing. She started Montessori and loves it so much! She enjoys painting with chalk, coloring, and she loves to help me organize! She will always do the opposite of whatever I ask her and she loves to snuggle with me with big arms and tell me she loves me (melts my heart) I could snuggle with her all day long!

My last blog post was in October, so I obviously cannot go back and post pics from October to now… I will keep up with my blog posts and post more pics! I will try to keep my family updated!







Saturday, October 5, 2013

Childhood Cancer Foundation

    Today I am attending a Childhood Cancer Foundation Taste of Life Fundraiser being held at my friend Brenda and Ali's house. I must say I am excited to go and support such a great cause! Brenda has worked so hard on getting ready for this fundraiser without any complaint! She is truly an inspiration. I spent most of yesterday at Brenda's and we were making centerpieces and picking apples for the decorations, leaves, Rosemary, and trying to keep our Apple Topiaries from falling apart as we were making them! I took a lot of trips to her garden to pick and eat the best little yellow tomatoes you will ever eat! We would stop working and pick some apples off the tree to have for a snack! There were a lot of laughs and good conversations. One of the conversations was Brenda asking if I would ever consider becoming a board member for the Childhood Cancer Foundation... The 1st thought in my head was "Can I do this, or is it another thing added onto to my plate?" I didn't give her a definite answer because I knew it was one that I had to come home and pray about, and really search my heart about. I woke up this morning with the clear answer of YES. This is something I absolutely want to do! If I can help make 1 difference in someone's life then it is so worth it!

    I believe we all have God given talents to use for good and to help and share with others. I know each person has their own opinions, but here is mine;

    I think life is filled with a lot of "busy work." People get caught up in things in life that really in the grand scheme of things and at the end of the day really do not matter... I know this because I am clearly a Type A/ OCD person, but over the last few months I have purposely slowed down my life, to enjoy each and every second with my children, husband, family and friends. I try to make sure I make a difference everyday in their lives for the good. I have distanced myself away from people, and truly have become happy and content with who I am, where I am and who I have in my life. I thank God for everyone and everything in my life. I thank God for my sweet children and family every second of everyday. 

    I have seen a lot of death in my life. Maybe from working in the ER as long as I have, and have had a lot of deaths in my family. Life can change in a blink of an eye. We are not guaranteed to be here tomorrow. So like it says in the bible each of us truly need to live each day as though its our last. At the end of my life I want to know that I used my life for good, to make a true and real difference in people's lives. I cannot think of a better way to use any/every talent I have to help make a difference in a child's life who has/had cancer, a family member who has lost a loved one to cancer, then to be a part of it. Even if thats just donating my time. Hearing your child has cancer has to be some of the worst words a parent could ever hear, I couldn't imagine the pain the parents go through. It makes my heart hurt to even sit here thinking about it. So I have decided I will help make a difference, even if its a small difference its better than no difference at all.  
     I am a firm believer and always have been that actions speak so much louder than words. People can talk all day long, but if your actions are different, your words mean nothing. I have truly come to believe what good is any talent you have if you can't share it with those around you?! It is a wasted talent!! I am very excited to be a part of this, because I know my time will be well used on something that at the end of the day does matter and does make a difference. 
                                                    
                                                                


   (1 John 3:17-18)    

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Celebrating Harper

    We are now officially on vacation to celebrate Harper turning 1 year old... I really cannot believe it! I feel like I have blinked my eyes and now she is grown! Harper's Woodland Fairy Cottage birthday party was a success! I love how each detail for her party turned out perfect! I always tend to do parties over the top and spend about as much time planning a birthday party as some people plan on their wedding, but I love every second and every detail of it! I love putting a special whole day together just to celebrate this little life that I am so blessed to love and raise!

    I had a lady tell me today when she found out we were celebrating Harper's 1st birthday and said an 80 year old woman had told her once  "Remember you will have long days but short years with your children" That couldn't be more true!! I cannot believe I have a 3 year old and now a 1 year old! Where in the world did the time go?! I feel like every day is such a blessing! I wish sometimes I could stop time where it is, I want to soak up every moment with these beauties. I have really slowed life down when it comes to my girls to appreciate the moment I am in with them. I journal everything about them, and do albums every year! I want them to grow up and look back and see how much they were loved and cherished, every second of everyday. The big and small celebrations of life!

    My oh my how Harper Abigail has made her own spot into our hearts! When I was pregnant I couldn't imagine how I could have as much love in my heart to share with another baby as I had for Kennedy. Our love has doubled! My heart bursts with love for both of my girls. My life is so complete with them in it. There are too many things to list about why we love her so much. She is such an amazing little girl! She demands attention, and she is a crafty little thing.... We have already had to get rid of her walker (found her standing on it a few days ago), manages to get out of every high chair we put her in, no matter how tight we strap her in, and anytime is she mad or scared she is hollering "dadda" looking around for Travis. She is stunningly beautiful!! She has the most perfect skin I have ever laid eyes on! She looks like a porcelain baby doll. I love when she gets excited her hands and feet are moving back and forth and she makes a scrunchy face with a funny breathing sound!  I love when she laughs, its a full hard belly laugh... Its a laugh that if you are in ear shot of, you can't help but to smile. I love how her and Kennedy have "laughing wars" and just laugh back and forth! I love how when she grabs anything with her fingers or when she eats she has her little pinky sticking up in the air, she makes me work for each and every picture that I get of her actually looking at the camera! I get so excited when I actually get one! I think there will be a lot of "action" shots in her baby book! Most her her birthday party pics of her were blurry because she is always in motion!  I love how she touches my face and smiles at me, looking at me with the most piercing blue eyes as though looking deep into your soul, it absolutely melts my heart! She warms my heart and soul. It makes me smile to know every time I go to pick her up from her crib after nap or nighttime she will be bouncing up and down laughing on the left side of her crib. She crawls at lightening speed and is into EVERYTHING exploring! And she finally has a tooth coming in and a second on the way! She eats more than Trav, K, and I all put together (with no teeth)! I love every big and small detail about my girls!

    I often think what Kennedy and Harper will be like when they get older. Which in turn makes me stop and evaluate my own life.  I always try to make sure I am doing the right things, forgiving, and showing compassion, love, and kindness to my girls and everyone around me, because I know children will emulate their parents. I want the girls to grow up and be the best that they can be, I want them to be kind, compassionate, loving, God fearing, truthful, good friends, good wives, and mother's someday, and I fully believe those qualities start at a young age. I want to be a role model for my children. They have made me a better person in so many ways. There is much to be learned by young children, if you stop and take the time to look at the world through their eyes. I look at Kennedy and see innocence, beauty, compassion, and pure kindness radiate from her, and I know Harper will follow in the same footsteps! We must be doing something right. I use every opportunity to hug and kiss my girls and tell them how much I love them and how sweet and kind they are. My heart will be so broken the day Kennedy or Harper tell me to quit loving on them so much! I just want to hold both of them so tight for the rest of my life! I use every opportunity I can to snuggle and love on them and teach them life lessons! I have truly come to know what is the most important and most precious things (my 2 littles and my hubby) in this world!

    A huge thank you to everyone who helped with Harper's party! I couldn't have done any of it without you! I truly have the best friends around and cherish them so much!


Our sweet girl decided to stop and look for 1 picture

Such a proud and helpful big sissy (Kennedy helped with so much stuff for the party)

I have become a wood burning master :) 


Almond Joy Cake Pops!







Cutest lady bug and butterfly (Made by Aunt B) Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

(The most beautiful cake I have ever seen!! Made by Aunt B)


Didn't want to cut into this cake!

Cookies made by Carrie

Perfect set up for a sweet unique little girl!






Bird House Craft


Kennedy trying to see if Harper needed "help"

Creating a beautiful house for her "Sissy Lulu"

Kennedy had the time of her life! I guess creativity can get messy

Thank you to everyone who came to make Harper's day so special! 
We are truly blessed.