Catching little moments

The big girls are back at there first week of school after winter break.  As one of my goals for 2017 is to spend one on one time with each of the girls, its also to catch little moments of them, capturing those uninterrupted, not staged pictures of them.  I want to look back and remember there innocence, the natural expressions on there face and them just being them! 

 

 

As a mom watching your kids grow brings so much joy but also so much sadness, sadness because they are only this small for a short time.  I absolutely love watching them learn, discover & experience new things.   But as they grow older I miss that some of those things they did when they were little they may not do as they get older. I love that Kendall is my snuggle bug and when the day comes that she doesn't want to lay on me cause she's too big for that that's the day that my heart will break a little bit.  I don't want to miss any moments with them, which is probably why they aren't ever away from me for more than 24 hours.   Even though some days they drive me bad shit crazy, I wouldn't change this thing called motherhood for nothing!

 

When I hear people say "you better watch out, those girls are gonna be heart breakers" I cringe, not because I don't agree with them but because I don't want to think about my girls dating or having to think that someday they might get there hearts broken.  I don't want them to go through any type of pain, I know every parent feels this way about there kids.  I just want to bottle them up and keep them this small.  I know I cant slow time down, so Ill just enjoy these girls while there little cause they don't stay this small for long!

 

 

 

So on top of my photo of the girls each week, I'm also working on taking more lifestyle photos of the girls around the house or out, just being kids!  The animals might get thrown in there from time to time, you cant leave them out, there like our kids too.



Little Mama

Since I can remember Kendall has had a love for baby dolls.  Timehop likes to remind me each year that on her birthday when we go to the store to pick something out for her birthday, she always picks a new baby.  This girl has been obsessed with babies since her first birthday.  And that obsession hasn't went away,  its now gotten to us to her new baby, who she calls Ella (the one sitting in the high chair).  For Christmas she got a gift card to Target, she spent her money on new baby clothes (real baby clothes on clearance) and swaddle blankets.  Each morning her and her baby get up and eat breakfast together, they then get dressed for the day and either play or watch cartoons.  This baby has become part of her everyday life.  It is the cutest thing to watch her with the doll. 

She's the best little mama around, she treats her baby like a real baby.  She's so tender and delicate with them.  She rocks it like a real baby and it gets swaddled each night and tucked into bed with her.  I hope she never loses that motherly side of her and the wonder and imagination while playing with her babies.  I don't think her obsession with babies will end anytime soon, she's already asking for a brother for Ella, a new crib, stroller and more clothes.

Also if you know where I can find a good wood doll bed & wood stroller (that aren't super expensive) please let me know!  Thanks

 Kitchen: COSTCO / can food: HOME GOODS

Baby doll: WALMART / Beanie: CRAZY 8

Felt Breakfast: TARGET DOLLAR SPOT / High Chair: AMAZON



Cheers to 2017 & goals for the year

Happy New Year!

 

2017 you've come so fast, 2016 seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye.  There was so much to be thankful for in 2016, I celebrated turning 32, we spent our annual week at the beach, we celebrated Kaylee turning 7 with a donut party, daddy celebrated a birthday, we bought a house, we went on some camping trips, we celebrated Keira & Kendall's joint birthday with a kitty party and celebrated 4 Christmas' with family.  We did ring in the New Year with 2 family members sick, but here's hoping 2017 is the year of good health and happiness.

 

 

I am proud of how far I've come in my photography, I want to keep going with it and be able to learn more.  I want to be able to photograph some families or littles this year.  I don't know if I'm ready to make a full on go with putting myself out there as a photographer, I feel like I want to learn a little more first, my kids are the perfect practice.  I'm so happy that I was able to finish our #jesssistersproject52, where I took a picture of them each week for a whole year.  I've attempted the 365 challenge and the 52 week challenge in the past and never quit finished them, so I'm glad to say I was able to finish one.  Plus it's really fun to look back on the them.  I will be getting them made into a chatbook so we can look back on them when ever we want.

 

 

This year I hope to spend more one on one time with each of girls.  I get to spend one on one time with Kendall because the big girls are in school, so I hope to have more mommy / daughter dates with them.  I want to have that special bond with each of them.  Being a mom and splitting time between the 3 of them is hard but I want to make that a priority this year.

 

 

Our plan for the new year is to go on more family trips.  We want to go camping in our trailer once a month to new places.  For the girls to be able to look back on the all the fun adventures we had would be awesome.  The hubby and I are finally taking our honeymoon/anniversary in February to Hawaii, which I am totally excited about.  I haven't been since I graduated high school in 2002.  So here's to more family time and fun memories to be had.

 

 

For more date nights with this guy.  I love that on Friday nights when the girls go to there grandparents to spend the night that me and this guy get to spend one on one time together.  We tend to talk about the kids most of the time but hey what parents don't.  I want our relationship to continue to grow and our love to grow deeper.  We've been together since 2002 and our relationship has changed since then but I never want our love to fade, so we do have to work on keeping the spark alive and not falling into a rut.  I love this guy more than anything and all the hard work he does for our family.

 

 

And finally to continue working with small shops & some big ones.  We have loved working with small shops on instagram, watching there shops grow and knowing that you were apart of that.  We have been repping for 2 years now and have loved every minute of it.  Being able to also be apart of some big name shops like Skechers, Kent Bicycles & Crazy 8 have been amazing and we are so happy to continue working with them into 2017.  Thank you to all the small shops we rep for and to the big name brands that have brought us in, we love you all!

 

I'm sure as the year goes on we'll be adding to our goals and things we want to do but for now we'll start with these!  Hope everyone had an amazing New Year!



Holiday Bucket List

The holidays, the most magical time of year.

Each year around the 1st of December we sit down as a family and make a lists of things we want to do over the holidays.  This year wasn't any different.  As the girls get older Christmas has become so much more fun with them.  To see the joy & excitement on there face after completing each thing on our Christmas bucket list is the best!

 

JESS FAMILY HOLIDAY BUCKET LIST

 

1.  DRIVE AROUND & LOOK AT LIGHTS

2. BUILD & DECORATE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE - (done)

3. BUY TOYS TO DONATE TO KIDS -  (done)

4. DRINK HOT COCOA & WATCH CHRISTMAS MOVIES - (done)

5. DECORATE OUR CHRISTMAS TREE -  (done)

6. MAKE COOKIES TO PASS OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS (new tradition)

7. WRITE A LETTER TO SANTA

8. READ CHRISTMAS BOOKS EACH NIGHT

9. GO VISIT SANTA -  (done)

10. BAKE COOKIES FOR SANTA & SET OUT REINDEER FOOD XMAS EVE NIGHT

11. ELF ON THE SHELF - (in the process)
12. TAKE FAMILY PICTURES - (done)
13. SEND OUT CHRISTMAS CARDS - (done)
14. DONATE TOYS TO KIDS IN NEED - (done)

 

What is on your holiday bucket list? 

What are some things we should add to our bucket list for next year?



Kent Bicycles: Sparkle Bike Review

There's something special in watching your toddler learn to ride a bike for the first time, having her daddy there to watch over and make sure she doesn't fall.  To teach her the right way, show her where the brake is, to reassure her that she'll be ok.  The joy and excitement she gets from learning how to ride and the wonder of when the time will be for daddy to let go and she'll be able to do it on her own.  I'm excited for that day to come when she can ride on her own and hang with her big sisters.

I remember when they first learned to ride there bikes, they had so much joy and excitement.  I can still remember all the laughs and screams from both them and me.  That sense of pride they had and the pride you had in them.  As a parent its so much fun to watch your children experience new things.

When Kent Bikes reached out and asked if they could send us a bike I of course said yes, little miss Kendall was in need of a new bike (her sisters got new ones last Christmas & birthday) so it was her turn.  The bike is a little big for her as it's an 18" bike but she'll be able to grow into it.  Her sisters do enjoy riding it around and having her ride around on the back pegs, which Kendall loves!  When the box arrived I was curious how easy it was going to be to put it together, lets just say it took my husband 10 minutes to put together.  They sent us the Sparkles bike, which has an oversized frame which is painted black with pink & teal colored graphics and really cool hot pink wheels, you'll totally stand out while riding this bike around town.  It has adjustable BMX - style handlebars & an easy adjustable seat with reflector.  Front & read sidepull handbrakes, making it easy to control the speed for your little one or yourself.  It does come with training wheels, if your little ones need them, my husband didn't put them on.  I think my girls love the little bag pouch because they are able to put there treasures that they find inside while out riding.

Don't have your Santa gift for your toddler, teen or significant other?  I've got you covered, head over to www.amazon.com or www.walmart.com and type in Kent Bicycles (or Kent Bikes).  They have bikes for all ages, toddlers all the way up to adults.  They make the perfect Christmas gift.

"Trusting your intuition is like learning to ride a bike.  Everything takes practice before it becomes second nature."  - James Van Praagh

The perfect mom bag

If you are pregnant with your first baby or you have multiple kids, this diaper bag from Twisted Mustard Seed is the diaper bag for you.  Yes my kids are older but that doesn't mean that I don't hold all there stuff, on top of all my stuff.  So when Vicky from Twisted Mustard sent me this "heartbreaker" diaper bag I instantly fell in love, the cowhide leather & turquoise color is beautiful.  I love that it's not your ordinary colored black or brown diaper bag, I love the bold color.  The inside lining of the diaper bag is so easy to wipe down and is water resistant, it makes clean up a breeze.

 

 

It is the perfect bag for the every day mother, if you have a baby there is a changing pad in there, its the perfect size for changing your little one on the go (its lightly padded). But the great thing is if your little one is older its perfect for picnics in the park.  I love that the pad matches the polka dot interior of the diaper bag.

One thing I love the most about this bag is the wet/dry pouch, its perfect for holding toddler snacks and drinks, it comes in handy while your out running errands.  It has strong magnets on the back and snaps into the purse to keep your drinks and snacks in place, SCORE!  It does take up a lot of room in the purse so if you don't have a lot of stuff to put in the diaper bag it works good but if you want to put a change of clothes & diaper you'll want to carry the pouch outside of the diaper bag, it has a nice strap on the top to carry it.

 

 

Some other awesome features to this bag is that the zipper zips all the way down, which makes it really easy to access things in your bag.  The mini LED water resistant flahslight is perfect for when your looking in your purse at night to find your keys or chapstick.  It comes with a shoulder strap, little studded feet on the bottom which are perfect so it doesn't get damaged.  There are 2 bottle holders if you have a little one who still takes bottles or perfect for holding your phone or toddler sippy cup. 

All in all this diaper bag is perfect for any mom, it is a little pricy but its totally worth the price, the quality is amazing and holds up really well.  I would totally add it to your Christmas wish list.  I even use this bag when I'm not carrying my kiddos toys, sip cups or snacks around.  Also if your husband is looking for a bag for when he has the little one then he'll need The Voyager Bag 

 

* I received a Twisted Mustard Seed "The Heartbreaker Bag" for a review.  All opinions are my own

 



Toddler Fashion: Christmas Edition

I don't know about you but Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year.

Spending time with your loved ones, family traditions and toddler fashion.
Here are some of my favorite holiday outfits so far, yes I know were only 7 days into December but I told you it was my favorite time of year!

Tee: Ahoy Amigo / Jeans: Farm Fresh Denim / Hair Ties: Hobsonville Co

Flower Crown: Wildflowers & Wander / Dress: Bugs Boutique

Bow: Girly Bowtique / Sweater: Cate & Cruz / Skirt: Taylor Joelle Designs

Beanie: Hobsonville Co / Peplum Top: Dream Big Little Co

Raglans: Hello Apparel

Bow: Girly Bowtique / Raglan: Neverland Crew Clothing / Pants: The Hairbow Co / Blanket: Miss Giggle Buns

Beanie: Henns Nest / Dress: Trendy Arrow

Raglans: Hello Apparel