A Seuss-tastical 2nd Birthday!

Camdyn just turned two and her party was on Saturday.  I had a blast planning and designing for this event! I went with a Dr. Seuss “Thing Two” theme because Camdyn loves Dr. Seuss and let’s face it: it’s an adorable theme! Here are some pictures from our very fun day!

These invitations were handmade and I really love what the final product looked like!

A welcome table was set up in my entry way – on it was a favorite quote from Dr. Seuss and an important message to stop at the table and write a birthday wish in Camdyn’s Dr. Seuss book!

Sadly this picture is too dark to make out details, but I made a “13-24 months” banner with a picture of Camdyn from each month of the past year! It turned out super cute! Maybe someone else at the party got a decent picture of it!

Camdyn also had a “Happy Birthday” Banner!

Now let’s move on to the food table!

Here we have “Oodles of Noodles” (Pasta Salad), “Green Eggs and Ham” (Green deviled eggs and ham & cheese sliders), “Truffula Fruits” (fruit skewers), “Dr. Seuss Produce” (Veggie tray). “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” (Goldfish), and “Hop on Pop Corn” (popcorn)!

For the kiddos, “Beezlenut Splash” (Hawaiian Punch+ Lemonade) was provided. The adults got Coke in glass bottles with blue straws!

The desert table was by far my favorite! Here we have fun marshmallow and pretzel rods dipped in turquoise and red colored chocolate. I also had a small cake for Camdyn with Thing Two cupcakes!

  

Of course I had to make some favor cookies for the guests.  I made personalized “thank you” tags with my handy-dandy Silhouette Cameo. LOVE that machine!  

Here are some sassy pictures of my birthday girl!

 

 

I love that Jack and Camdyn hold hands everywhere they go!

 

Sweet Rylan enjoying a marshmallow!

  Camdyn LOVES her cousin, Hudson! 

 Of course, we had a wardrobe change!

 

Happy Birthday, Camdyn! 

A Letter to my Daughter: Happy 2nd Birthday Camdyn

My Dearest Camdyn,

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine; you make me happy when skies are gray…” 

You, my baby girl, are the light of my life, my sunshine. Today marks your second birthday…. I can hardly believe that you are two. TWO! It’s true what they say; having kids makes time increase to warp speed! I honestly believe that it was just yesterday that I brought you home from the hospital!

I am blessed beyond measure to be your mommy. This year hasn’t been easy for us sweet girl, but you have never let it stop you from conquering the world around you. This past year I have watched you change in so many ways. Just one year ago, you were still learning to walk and now you are running full steam ahead. Over this year, I have watched your vocabulary grow from calling out simple words to babbling endlessly about your hair bows matching your outfits. Most of all, I have enjoyed watching your personality develop this year! You are full of giggles, wiggles, and sass. As I am typing this letter I am smiling because I am thinking about you taking me by the hand and saying, “Dance, Momma!” You LOVE to dance. We crank the music up loud while I am making dinner and have dance parties! You crack me up by wiggling those hips of yours! You are just beginning to exert your independence and I love watching you try your best to accomplish something after proclaiming “I do it!” I love your intense curiosity. You are always asking me “What’s that?” or “Who’s that?” I love your giant, open-mouthed, wet, sloppy kisses. I love how you wrap your arms around my neck and squeeze. I love how you never meet a stranger. We can’t walk through an aisle at Target without you saying “Hi!” to every person we pass. And we can’t just smile and pass by. You insist that we stop and wait for a response or you will just keep yelling “Hi!” louder and louder! I love how you have such compassion already. Without understanding what tears are, you see them and you respond with a hug. Somehow, you know just what I need. I love how when I tuck you in at night I will say “I love you to the____” and you fill in the blank with “MOON!”

Sometimes you make me crazy. Your favorite word is “No!” and you love squeezing your Capri Suns so that the straw becomes the catalyst in a volcanic eruption of juice (usually in my carpet!) You throw every morsel of uneaten food on the floor after declaring that you are “All done!” But even in the moments where I think our poor house may never again be presentable, I am so grateful for you. Truth be told, I wouldn’t trade all of the craziness of our life for anything. Why? Because our messy, crazy home tells the story of our love!

You are my greatest gift, a priceless treasure that I have been given by God. Part of me wants to freeze time because you are growing up way too fast, but those thoughts are fleeting. Truth is, I have many things that I am excited to share with you and teach you as you grow older. Mostly, I cannot wait to share with you about God’s love and His grace. I pray for you every night – my prayer is that you would grow up to love God and be passionate about His word and for His people.  

Camdyn, I love you so much. Happy 2nd birthday! I love you to the MOON!

Love,

Momma

Has it really been this long?

I looked back at my blog and it says it has been since April since I last posted. Well, I think my resolution to blog at least once a week with my sisters can officially be declared dead. Oh well; better late than never, right?

So here is the skinny on my life...

I'm out of school for the summer. Woo hoo! Camdyn and I have been making the most out of summer vacation. We've played in the pool and even ventured to a splash pad in a nearby town. 

Camdyn LOVES the water. I have a little fish on my hands. 

Speaking of what Camdyn loves.... she's in love with my best friend's son, Jack. When we drive into their driveway, she begins yelling "Jack Jack!" I can hardly unbuckle her from the car seat before she is jumping out and running up to him to hug his neck. Where ever they go, Jack and Camdyn hold hands. It's ridiculously cute!

Just look at these love birds! Cute, right?!

Camdyn is turning two in 3 weeks and I am blown away. How did time escape me so quickly? One minute I am staring at my newborn daughter and the next minute I am having a full on conversation with her about hair bows and dresses.

I turned 30 myself about a month ago.... Sheesh. Talk about time flying!

Well that's it for now. I just put Camdyn to bed a little while ago and the couch is calling my name! Time to veg!

Full of Joy!

So since I last blogged, I became an aunt! I have the C-U-T-E-S-T little nephew! He's such a sweet cuddly baby and I love being able to cuddle with him and then give him to my sister when it is time to feed him!!! Don't miss those days, let me just tell you!

I've spent some good quality time with Hudson (that's his name, isn't it great?)  without Camdyn, so today I brought her to their house to meet her cousin. It was so sweet to see her squeal with joy "Baby!" when she saw him for the first time! I had been worried that she would be jealous of me (or anyone else for that matter) holding Hudson. That was not the case though. She didn't act jealous and was very gentle with him. She even kissed the top of his head when we were leaving. Such a proud momma!

Welcoming Hudson into this world has been so amazing and special. My heart is so full of love and joy because of his arrival. My heart is also so thankful that I don't have to nurse or wake up every two hours anymore. :)

Isn't that sweet???

Cuh-to-the-Razy

Hello friends! There is sooooooo much going right now!  I do intend to be a better blogger.  Someday.  I just don’t know when.  Between school and being a single mom and getting my gifted endorsement, I just can’t keep it altogether!  Really, I can’t.  So, I’ve become the ultimate blogging procrastinator. 

Anywho… back to my life’s adventures. Camdyn is entering her terrible twos – she is cah-to-the-razy right now. I mean really. But as stressful as managing that ‘tude is all by myself, she’s got moments that are absolutely glorious. Like when we went outside and played tickle monster and I got this face.

I mean, how can you resist that! She's growing up way too fast, and I wish I could just slow time down. But, like the wise advice my dad just gave me, I will savor each moment and each stage (even if she is 12 kinds of crazy). :) 

Well, I am off to watch an episode of Ringer. Have you seen that show, by the way. It is incredible. LOVE it! 

<3, Angela 

Sickness is my middle name

No, scratch that. Sickness is Camdyn's middle name. The disease of the week at my house has been Hand, Foot and Mouth. Look at my poor pitiful baby girl! And this picture was taken 2 days before the full-blown spots attacked every inch of her mouth, hands, bottom, and feet! Well, she is finally on the mend. It has taken all week and hours of disinfecting every inch of my house, every single day. My mom has been a-mazing this week too! She kept Camdyn two days this week so that I didn't have to miss the entire week of work. She is so quick to help me in anyway she can, and I am just so blessed to call her "Mom". I can tell that Camdyn has spent some extra time with her "Mam-mow" (rhymes with cow, and Grandma is hoping this name will not stick!) She seems to think that her every desire and whim should be catered to...hmmm... I wonder where she got that idea from?? GRANDMA! :)

On the school front, my kids were apparently coo-koo-ca-choo while I was gone though, so they came back to a teacher who was in a very bad mood! They were perfect angels for me though. They knew better than to test me yesterday.

I am still ON the fitness bandwagon! I had to take this week off because of Camdyn being sick and us not being able to leave my house, but I will be right back on track next week! Wooohoo!!! Size 2, here I come!

I think that is all the updates I can muster at this point. I am hearing "Momma, Momma, MOMMA" from my kiddo... Time to go be MOMMA!

First Week of January

This week has been interesting....

First, I had an awesome week with my kiddos at school. My *darling* that I battle with every single day withdrew. My class was calmer and listened better. Everyone was getting along! It was simply perfection! I enjoyed every day of work last week. Then Friday afternoon, I opened up my email to find a message that read that aforementioned *darling* would be re-enrolling and would be back on Monday. I. cried. For real, went into teacher neighbor's room and cried. It's sad that one *darling* wreaks so much havoc in a room, but this one is a doozy!

Second, I had to attend a parenting seminar for divorcing parents. B and I did it together. That was.... interesting... to say the least. The two presenters were actually quite humorous and it wasn't that bad. One presenter did keep mentioning killing people, so we may be seeing her on the 6 o'clock news soon. Cuh-razy!

Finally, I began my fitness journey this week. I kickboxed attempted to kickbox on Wednesday, and Thursday was a Slim in 6 video. My teammates who are working out with me elected to begin with the "ramp it up" video and clearly I needed the "start it up" video cuz I am S-O-R-E. Muscles that haven't been worked in years are being awakened and they are complaining about it something fierce. But, they will eventually quit barking at me and I will be hot and skinny! You know the song "Jesus, Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood? Well, I have been singing the "Jesus, Take the Fat" version (lyrics by Angela!) I don't know if that will help in my fat burning endeavors, but I figure a little extra prayer and praise during my workouts can't hurt!

That's it for now! And if you want to hear the lyrics of  Jesus Take the Fat, I'll be happy to sing for you!

Love,
Angela