{UT trip}

i am going to try my best to post all these pics in the order that they were taken.  my mom flew all my sisters to UT to help celebrate her 60th birthday.  it was such a great trip.  i can't believe how much fun we all have together.  that is one thing that is so great about have so many kids (maybe the only thing :)), is that we are all best friends---fingers crossed.

the day before we left for Sun Valley (the best place on earth), we had some time to hang out and go to a few of our favorite places....Cafe Rio, Pace's, and DownEast.  I eat like a cow when I go to Utah--why are there so many great place to eat??

At Pace's, we treated ourselves to a fresh lime Rainbow: a little Sprite, fresh lime juices, slush and vanilla ice cream.  Seriously, it is to-die-for.  

{leaving for UT to par-TAY!}

I am so excited to say that tomorrow is finally the day Isabella and I will be traveling to UT to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday.  We just can't wait.  This trip has planned for a long time and its going to be a blast.  All of my siblings will be there with their youngest kids, so we are all going to have a great time.  We get to spend the weekend in one of my favorite places ever, Sun Valley, Idaho.  We had a tradition of going there every May since I was young, and I have not been there since before I was married!  

I just thought I'd post these photos with Isabella and my mom because even though we live so far away, Isabella ADORES my mom.  My mom is magical about forming these amazing relationships with my children that she only gets to see a few times a year.  Olivia, Jaxon, and Izzy all hold a very special place in their hearts for Grandma Joyce!

{lucky me}

that's it...I am the luckiest mom.  i have three happy, beautiful children that i love more than anything.  its always fun to see how my kids make Mother's Day so special.  Olivia spent the whole morning decorating the table and making me breakfast.  She made my favorite--toast and cereal with yogurt.  (I am not a big breakfast food fan)  Jaxon gave me lots of kisses and Izzy just spent the day being extra cute.

Sabe treated me to a wonderful pedicure and we found some fun things for the house.

These pictures were taken at my in-laws house on their wonderful porch.  A porch so big, you could live on it.  It was a beautiful day and I am so glad I was able to spend with so many wonderful moms.

what's a post without a picture of miss Isabella?

{yay!}

its so fun for me to decorate a new (and bigger-than-a-farmhouse) house. my sister camille and i have an affinity for apothecary jars and i finally found some more today at Marshall's. can you say, GOOD DEAL? i would've bought 20, but i have to work sabe into it gently :)
here are my fun jars and a half-pic of the cool dining room table and chairs i got for just $235!! i have yet to paint my living/dining room but here is a quick snapshot. the canvas is from PB--love it. i just need to find a buffet to put under it and get some matching lamps, and more jars :)

{easter}

we had the awesome privilege of having the LAKES
come for Easter weekend. even though we aren't completely moved in and i have half-painted walls and a really messy garage, i REALLY wanted them to come. i know we would have a great time and the kids would all be very happy, especially since we have 5x the bathroom space :)
we spent the first day hanging out, letting the kids play outside, taking pics of cute, little Brielle, and then had some yummy soup for din-din that night.
unfortunately, the Lake's plan to visit DC the next day was pretty much an obstacle course only to come to our house. just so you know for the future, DON'T COME TO DC DURING SPRING BREAK! it is crazy and the busiest weekend of the year. i felt sooo bad it didn't work out for them, but they will just have to come again in the summer so we can spend some time downtown. the pizza and strawberry shortcake later that night all made us feel better. we had a pretty mean game of bump out and i kicked every one's butt, especially Brian's :)
we had two easter bunnies this year: their name were McKenna and Olivia. they spent about 5 hours filling eggs and actually took/wasted time color-coordinating the candy that went with the matching egg. ridiculous. and then, Easter morning, they both went out and hid them in the yard.
now let me say, we did not get all dressed up in our Easter finest and went to church. that is completely the Lakes' fault because we had to stay behind and give them a proper farewell. maybe next year we will be more religious :)
can you tell they just woke up?

so Izzy discovered her chocolate bunny....

close-up shot of the bunny....

i kid you not....5 minutes lates....

cute little Brielle, and yes, that is Brian's hiney in the background :)

i feel so sorry for the man that marries Olivia...

{miracle}

we are so happy to announce that Avery Grace arrived on April 11 as a little bundle of joy to Jacob and Ashley!
This was a long awaited miracle for them, and thanks to medical miracles and lots of hope and prayer, these two wonderful people get to be parents to a very sweet and beautiful baby girl.
i am so lucky i got to photograph Avery at just 6 days old. even though i have 3 children myself, i am always in awe when i see a newborn baby and all the little details that are so perfect. man! it makes me soooo baby hungry i can hardly stand it. watch out, sabe!!!

{partner in crime}

There is something so sweet about having a little companion with you all day. Isabella is my sidekick and I feel so lucky to have her next to me. I love her so much. I love her squishy cheeks, her sassiness, and the way she loves me.
I always like making lists of my kids' favorites, so here goes Izzy's...
Elmo....still
Dora, Dora, Dora the Explorer
her Nana (yellow blankie)
other Nana (Grandma Joyce)
big brother Jay-J
Olivia's Juicy jewelry (just the other day, Iz asked me if my wedding ring was Juicy!)
riding her bike
dipping strawberries in sugar
Slurpees
going with Dad--wherever he is going
helping mom cook
her aunt Jenni
her new cousin, baby Avery
Target
Chuck-E-Cheese
Coco, our kitty
bike rides with mom
leaving the daycare at the gym
tubbies with bubbles
mowing the lawn with Dad

I could go on and on--I just love spending my days with Izzy.