Under the Sea with Ellie and Finnley!!

I had the brilliant idea of combining the girls Family birthday celebrations this year and it was hands down the Best Thing EVER!!!

 
Thankfully both girls love The Little Mermaid so going with an Under the Sea theme was super easy...and the girls have quite the collection of Ariel toys that decorating was easy too!  We kept things fairly simple with food basics: sandwiches, chips, pirates booty, pasta salad and a veggie tray.  I enlisted the help of our local grocery store to make the cake and life couldn't have been simpler.



I found the decorations at Party City online and purchased them for in-store Pick Up so I could get cashback through Ebates.  I got a balloon pack, cups, plates, napkins, and forks along with some streamers and a table cloth to use as the back drop.  Then on the day of the party we stopped at Target and picked up a couple more decor pieces that we just couldn't pass up. And as usual I got my chalk art skills at the ready and decorated our chalkboard pantry doors to match the party theme!

per Ellie's preference: Vanilla with Vanilla and all Vanilla (no chocolate in sight 😉)

I made an Under Water backdrop for photos and we used the streamers as seaweed, along with shells from our beach adventures and all the fish toys the girls have collected over the years!

Our simple food station:

Chalkboards:

all the cousins!

I found some sparkler candles that didn't light very well but all the kids got a kick out of them! It was a celebration to remember!

Combining the girls party was an excellent idea and I have a feeling that we will be doing that for years to come.  They totally loved getting to celebrate together (and it minimized the chaos and number of presents) as well as allowed for some together gifts to really shine: like their trampoline!! I loved that all of our family was able to make it and we were able to get a photo of all cousins...which is a rare occurrence.  I highly recommend if you're on the fence about it.

♥ Ashley

Happy Birthday Pal!!

Happy Birthday Paladin!!

This guy has been in my life for about 23 years and I'm still unsure of his age...oops.  He is either 26 or 27 this year and is still rocking at life.  Ellie absolutely adores him, Finnley is finally warming up to the idea of farm life and I just can't keep the smile off my face that my girls get to grow up living this life!

He hasn't always been the healthiest of horses but he sure has a superb personality.  Ellie was insistent all day that we do something special for him on his birthday and I just love how excited she is about celebrating...5 is the best age! I know that my mom would just be elated watching the girls with Pal and all her grandma dreams would be coming true.

Happy Birthday Pal, here's to many more!!!

♥ Ashley

Happy Forever Day Finnley!!

It's hard to believe that just TWO years ago we became a legal family of FOUR!!

Happy Forever Day, Finnley!

Life has been infinitely better since you joined our family and being your mom is simply just the best!!  You're spunky, loving, kind, determined, and fierce. You have brought a new element of fun and enjoyment to our home and our family is complete with YOU in it!

Adoption isn't always easy but you are so incredibly loved and we are so incredibly lucky to have YOU!

♥ Ashley

Happy 5th Birthday Ellie!!

I'm in disbelief that my girl is already 5 years old!!  Thanks to Facebook Memories, I feel like we just made the trip over the mountains to be present for her birth and then take her home.  I still remember that day, driving over...both Thomas and I worked that day, then he came and picked me up after school and we started the 5+ hour drive across the state.  I was riddled with one of the worst migraines ever and it was a miserable drive for me.  The morning of her birth was gorgeous and we arrived at the hospital first!  She came out screaming and was the cutest baby we had ever laid eyes on.  When the nurses brought her into our room I couldn't keep it together and the tears just flowed.

Fast Forward to her 5th birthday.  Ellie is vivacious, loud, hilarious, energetic, and loves so freaking hard.  She is a total Dada's girl and prefers him 99% of the time.  She loves frosting and ice cream (both of the vanilla variety), strawberry macarons, the color pink, and Aurora is currently her favorite princess.  She loves to go to the park, jump on the trampoline, and riding the ferry to our favorite Island to go to the beach, but most of all she loves Disneyland.  She is a thrill seeker and a huge lover of flowers (makes my heart swoon).

She is smart and kind, silly and emotional.  She is the perfect combination of everything and we couldn't have asked for a better first child.  She loves babies (especially their heads) and is seriously the best big sister I've ever experienced.  We are so lucky to have her!!!

Happy 5th Birthday Ellie!!

♥ Ashley

Ellie is FOUR

Ellie is THREE

Ellie is TWO

Ellie is ONE

She's here Part ONE, Part TWO!!

Oh Hey there May!! Mother's Day, Flowers, and the Playhouse

So it looks like Friday is the day that I like to post.  Things have been pretty busy and as most of you know that means that the blog takes a back seat.  I had full intentions of posting all about Mother's Day earlier this week but today will just have to do.

As I mentioned last week, we went to the nursery to start off Mother's Day celebrations and came home and got all the things planted.  But if you know me, it wasn't quite enough and I needed more!! 

::ONE::

On Saturday we got up early and made our way down to the local Farmer's Market, where I was able to pick up the last tomato plant I was hoping to put in the garden.  Originally I only wanted to get ONE tomato plant and here I am the proud gardener of THREE!!  I saw lots of other great things at the market but somehow managed to pass on it all.  Maybe next week.

We then got on a Ferry and made a day trip to our favorite Island.  Our first stop was to the beach.  Several weeks ago while we were at Costco I spotted the coolest sand/beach bucket set and Ellie has been begging to go to the beach ever since.  We finally got to put it to use and both girls adored it!!  After the beach we made our way to lunch, then over to the park for the girls to play some more.  The Island had a Farmer's Market going on so we walked over to that, then to their Pharmacy (which has a great toy section as well as home decor) and finally off to the locally made Ice Cream.  Ellie got Vanilla with sprinkles while Thomas and I shared local rhubarb and ginger swirl - it was so delish!!  On our way back to the car we stopped in the flower shop but I decided to pass since they were all pretty expensive.  Then we hopped in the car...both girls passed out and made our way back to the Ferry to head home.

::TWO::

On Sunday we got up and the girls wanted to draw on the chalkboard.  Ellie made a picture for "Dada" and when I told her that today was Mother's Day she exclaimed in a quite disgusted tone of voice "Again?!!!".  I couldn't help myself from laughing it was just too funny.  We then got to work on the Playhouse finishing up a few things and we are now ready to lay down the flooring!!  I finished planting some boxwoods I had gotten earlier in the week, our hanging baskets got switched out and got the Tomato planted in the garden.  I also fished out my packet of cucumber seeds and green beans and got those in the ground as well.

We then made our way out to lunch for Fish'n'Chips and made a stop at Metropolitan Market for dinner ingredients and flowers.  We got home and the girls took naps, Thomas mowed the yard, we planted a blueberry bush and the girls had fun out on the Trampoline while I took a nap!  Then we had dinner and it was seriously one of the best Mother's Days spent with my favorite people.

::THREE::

Earlier this week Ellie was getting her coloring on...love seeing her improvement in this area...and she made a rainbow!!! It's the first one I've seen her do and I love it so very much!

::FOUR::

After spending the weekend outside in our backyard I noticed how many empty pots I had on the deck. So the girls and I stopped by yet another nursery to pick up some flowers.  I love having them help out and grabbing what they like!  I also picked up a packet of zuchinni seeds, a basil plant, and sage plant for the garden...along with some more Lupine and Poppies to put out front.  We headed home and got the girl's flowers potted up and my herbs in the garden.  I'm loving all the additions we're making this year and how homey our home is feeling!

::FIVE::

I've always loved Snowball Trees.  We bought our house in January and the landscaping left much for me to be desired, it was super low maintenance for the elderly couple who lived here before and being that it was the middle of January who knew what plants were actually planted.  As spring rolled around I began trying to visualize where I could plant a snowball tree and much to my surprise in May the three giant "bushes" in front were mature Snowball Trees!!  They've grown even more over the last 10 years and are one of my most favorite things about our yard!! They bring a smile to my face every spring and Ellie has been pretty enamored with them the last couple of years as well!!

::SIX::

We have ourselves another busy weekend with birthday parties, swimming, and all the other things (working on the playhouse) that I'm looking forward to having lots of fun!!!

Happy Friday Y'all!!!

♥ Ashley

FriYAY it's May!!

I mentioned last week that I love May and that sentiment continues on this week as well.  It's been a BIG week in the Kids department and I am seriously soaking it all up.  We have about 10 weeks until our lives are flipped with a new baby and my first ever Post Partum recovery and breastfeeding experience!!!  Thankfully that will all take place during Summer Vacation so the Hubs will be home all day every day to give me an extra set of hands as we adjust...but honestly bringing home a new baby isn't that daunting, I just know it'll be different this time around since I am actually giving birth!

Anyways lets get on to this week, shall we?

::ONE::

Last weekend we had a "pre-Mother's Day" outing to my Mothership, Flower World and I got to look at all the floral and plant goodies I could get my eyes on.  We brought home some plants because #plantlady and the girls absolutely adored checking out the animals (goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, and Peacocks/Peahens.  Going on these outings with two "independent" kiddos is amazing and the fact that they listen 80% of the time is perfection.  We came home from our excursion and we got to planting: tomatoes, parsley, rosemary, and cilantro.  Additionally I got some Foxglove (can't stop, won't stop) and another Pink Blueberry bush - this time it's Pink Popcorn and I cannot wait for the fruit!! that we planted on Monday.

::TWO::

The girls got this super cool Slip'n'Slide for their joint birthday party and the both had a blast trying it out this week before the rain came!  I'm loving turning out home into an oasis where the girls can have fun outside and we don't have to leave, it's going to make this Summer so much easier 😉.  Now their outdoor entertainment includes: goats, a pony, a gator, a trampoline, a swingset, and the slip'n'slide!!!  All we need are a lifetime supply of popscicles and bubbles and we are set for the Summer!!!

::THREE::

I've mentioned it before but Finnley is my little leech.  She often times gets overwhelmed when we go on social outings (without Ellie) and just is glued to me until 5 minutes before we leave.  Well this week Miss Thang ventured away from me at the Library and I so enjoyed watching her blossom and explore.  I'm sure she had so much fun but I mostly loved that she wasn't attached to me!!  I love seeing her out on her own and checking out all the things, seeing what she's interested in, and developing her self.  Maybe it's because its the second time around or maybe because she's been so timid but I definitely give her more free reign than I did Ellie when we are out and about...anyone else the same??

::FOUR::

Speaking of Finnley, she did spectacular at gymnastics this week.  We made it to the gym for both days and she is really coming along.  I didn't get to sign her up for the skills class this session so we've been going to the open gym instead and I like that it's a little more relaxed but I also really miss the structure of the skills class.  Nevertheless, I've been working on having Finnley jump off of items with 2 feet instead of stepping down and she finally picked it up this week.  She loved stepping up on the balance beams and walking to the end to jump off all by herself!! I love that she has picked up this skill and we've been practicing it off of curbs, over painted lines in parking lots, and on the bottom step of a staircase!!  However, Finnley's favorite at open gymnastics is hanging on to the rope and swinging, this girl LOVES to swing!!

::FIVE::

Ellie's preschool had it's Mother's Day Tea this week and I loved having Ellie host me there.  Finnley came along too because SAHM life and both girls were awesome.  Ellie served me my snacks, poured my "tea" into a fancy china teacup, smiled for all the pictures, sang songs with her class, and presented me with the sunflower she grew from seed along with a Mom questionnaire that I just adored!!  I'm going to miss her preschool next year but I know she is going to rock Kindergarten so hard and it's going to be the best for her!!  I am so impressed with the progress she has made this year and love her zest for learning.  

::SIX::

We also celebrated my horse's 15th Birthday this week.  It was bittersweet because it is the last birthday I'll get to spend with her as I have decided to sell her.  I've had her her entire life and am going to miss her incredibly, but I know that I am not giving her the life she deserves and she has so much potential to go on and do great things that I need to stop being selfish and send her off to someone who is going to help realize her potential.  She will always be in my heart.

We're off to go on Ellie's field trip and Finnley gets to hang out at Ellie's school while I chaperone!!!  Hopefully the teacher's bring their earplugs today because Finnley has got some lungs 😉

Happy Friday y'all!!

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

♥ Ashley