Earth Day Scavenger Hunt, made into reusable memories

A couple weeks ago we teamed up with Snapfish for some Earth Day fun, I took the girls on a fun adventure of a nature scavenger hunt.  My in laws have the perfect house for a nature hunt, they live on an acre with lots of nature spots, they have a pond in the backyard and chickens.

The weather was perfect, the birds were chirping, the turtles were playing peek a boo, butterflies were a flyin.  I had so much fun with the girls that day, I made them little books with animals on the front so that they could explore the yard and draw the animals they saw.  The binoculars I made them were from old paper towel rolls cut in half and glued together, I think the girls thought those were the best part.  Like looking through them made the experience that much more fun.

* disclaimer: I was given these products 100% free in exchange for a review, all opinions are my own.

After taking all these pictures what is a mom to do with them all, print them of course.  That's where Snapfish came in handy.  Since we have a beach vacation coming up the totes and travel coffee mug I was able to create using my pictures from our Earth Day Scavenger Hunt are going to be perfect.  Each of the girls have there own personal tote, that we designed together and I was able to design one for myself as well.  Snapfish's website was so easy to use, I pulled up the tote, uploaded a photo from my computer (you also upload from your mobile device on the app) that the girls chose.  We then were able to chose a theme, background or even put there name or saying on it.  I loved that I was able to sit down with each of the girls, let them pick which picture they wanted and then design there totes, they had fun and so did I.  I plan to use these durable totes at the beach and fill it with snakes, drinks, a towel & toys and have the girls caring them down to the beach.  It's perfect cause that means that I don't have to carry all there stuff plus mine!  Plus we all know that on vacation kiddos wake up early so my travel mug in the mornings filled with coffee will come in handy and then fill it with water while at the beach or maybe a cocktail, depending on how the kids are that day....haha

But before we head to the beach in 16 days we'll be using these totes to pack our swim suits, goggles & sun screen in and head to grandma and grandpa's to swim or whatever the girls feel like and have adventures outside. 

I love how durable these totes are, we all know how kids are, they drag there bags, leave them on the ground for the dogs to run across or lay on, or in our case our cat likes to hide inside them.  These totes stood up to all of those things from my kids and still look brand new.  They make the perfect gift for yourself or for a loved one.  I know all you moms out there have hundreds of pictures from Mother's Day, those pictures could easily be put to use on one of these canvas totes or a 15oz travel tumbler

This is how the girls totes will be packed for the beach and mine as well.

so if your interested in making a tote or tumbler then your in luck, 

* Here is your exclusive 60% off code for the Canvas Tote & Travel Tumbler (15oz)

JOEYLEEEARTH

So go ahead make a yourself, someone you love or get your kiddo there own Canvas Tote or Travel Tumblers (15oz)   Couple expires June 30, 2017... VISIT SNAPFISH and get started, did I mention how easy it was to make and fast shipping! The mug would make a perfect Father's Day gift!  They also make the perfect bag for grocery shopping as well, we've used ours a few times for that too.

Kaylee's Ice Cream Shop Birthday

When you become a parent its hard to believe how fast the time will go, no one tells you to make sure you cherish each new milestone or moment because they'll be gone in the blink of an eye.  Being a parent is one of the hardest jobs you'll have but it's also the most rewarding.  When I pictured motherhood (before actually becoming a parent) I thought it was so easy, like rainbows and butterflies.  But you know what it's hard, really hard.  Most days you wonder if you doing it right, are you screwing your kids up in some way, sometimes I think as parents were too hard on ourselves.  We want things to be perfect, when in reality nothing is perfect, there is no perfect way to be parent.  As long as your child are loved that's what's important.

This weekend we celebrated our oldest daughter turning 8, yes eight!  Its hard to believe we've been at this parenting thing for eight years now.  What's even crazier to think about is that in 10 years she'll be 18! AHHHH.  The time is passing a little too quickly for me but I've had so much fun watching her grow and change over these past 8 years.  She has grown into such a sweet, sassy, loving, sensitive young lady.  She may look like her mama but she is 100% her father all the way.  It's so crazy to see the little things she does that are exactly like her dad and it's funny to hear my mother in law talk about thing she does that her dad did when he was little too.

This year, Kaylee decided she wanted to have an Ice Cream Party.

I was excited about this theme, I mean who doesn't love ice cream?  We decided to have an ice cream bar, where you build your own ice cream sundae, which was a big hit.  I also made chocolate drizzled popcorn with sprinkles, dipped rice crispy treats with sprinkles & dipped pretzels...big hit!

Kaylee had a lot of fun with her friends, I think the favorite part for everyone was the zip line, yep the girl had a zip line at her party.  Her awesome grandpa installed a zip line, that goes right over the pool so you can zip line right in!  (the girls know they are only allowed to use the zip line when an adult is outside).  The weather was perfect and it was all in all a great birthday. 

Dress: Crazy 8 / 8 balloon: target dollar spot

Ice Cream Cone: Little Linksters Co / Tissue paper banner: Target dollar spot



Ice Cream Cone Banner & Circle Sprinkle Banner: Target dollar Spot

Custom Ice Cream Bathing Suit: Twisted Candi

Happy 8th Birthday Kaylee Elizabeth



Mother's Day 2017

MOTHERHOOD

______________________

 

Is a choice you make everyday.

To put someone else's happiness and well - being ahead of your own.

To teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is.

And to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.

 

When you have a baby and leave the hospital they don't give you a manual on how to be a good parent.  Sometimes I wish they did, maybe it would tell you how to deal with the excessive whining, the attitudes, the talking back and everything in between.  Motherhood is hard y'all.  Sometimes I feel like I'm failing more than winning, and then someone like my mother in law & mom points out how good of a job you've done with your kids, you feel like maybe your doing a little something right. 

 

My Mother's Day was pretty perfect.  Mother's Day this year just so happened to fall on a Sunday, which in our house is "donut day", so the girls and daddy loaded up in the car and headed to get donuts (I was instructed to stay home).  About 20 minutes later they returned, my younger brother Jake & his girlfriend (who were visiting for the weekend from CO), came over too to enjoy the morning with us.  It was so nice to see them, it's been almost a year since I've seen him, plus it was nice to meet his girlfriend.  Donuts, starbucks, flowers and handmade cards from the girls for school was just perfect. 

 

After saying our good bye to my brother & his girlfriend we all got ready and headed out for a nice hike along the river.  The weather was really nice and it was funny to get out and spend the day with my little family.  We through rocks into the river, saw lots of birds, butterflies, lizards and berries.  After the hike, we headed to Jason's moms for dinner.  Mother's Day this year was just perfect.

 

** warning now, lots of pictures ahead **

 

 

" Motherhood has completely changed me.  It's just about like the most completely humbling experience that I've ever had.  I think that it puts you in your place because it really forces you to address the issues that you claim to believe in and if you cant stand up to those principles when you're raising a child, forget it"

 

 

" Motherhood has taught me about living in the moment.  Our children don't remember yesterday.  They don't plan for tomorrow.  They just exist in the MOMENT.  Be with them!"

 

" I constantly go between wanting you to stay my little baby forever, and

being excited about all of the amazing things you'll do in this life."

 



 

__________________________________________

 

The fun morning with my brother & his girlfriend, they flew in on Friday morning.  I'm glad that they were here to celebrate Kaylee's birthday with us.