April

Hello April what's up?  Other than the fact that you're already almost over and I feel like you just started I can't complain.  Oh wait, that and the fact that you've left me no time for laundry...I could complain about that...but really what are mountains of underwear compared to a little fun?  I choose fun any day and we've been having plenty of it. We carnivaled (I know that's not a word) with Carter and hundreds of her closest school peeps...

Our girls took the cake (literally) at the cake walk, and I can say after volunteering to work that booth for an hour that was no small feat...

And let's just say that while I was working said booth Nate had to manage two cakes and mass chaos so props to him.  It was worth it for this cutie though...

April has also brought us this weird pattern of weather.  So we have found ourselves digging out jackets one day and swimming in the pool in undies the next (don't worry only Emme swims in her skivvies)...

Emme has also been continuing to exercise her creative freedom with some pretty great fashion creations...

Everyday with that chick is an adventure.  Selfie anyone?  Emme likes to take no less than 200 at a time.  Each one slightly different than the next...hilarious.

A few other highlights this month...I made a little (and I do mean little) appearance on the local news for All Things New.  So excited about this taking off and proud to be a part.  It's not everyday the News guys take over your living room...

Another big event this month was helping create a pretty fabulous Sweet 16 party for an adorable girl.  It deserves it's own post but here's a sneak peek...

My mom is a gem and loaned me some of her cool goods for the setup.  Kim and I road tripped them back up to her house and made a pit stop for Kim to do a little motivational speaking (she's damn good).  We found some great furniture deals we couldn't pass up on so in the name of furniture and thriftiness these two shared the front seat (Kim just loves doing that)...

And while you might think we couldn't have squeezed another thing into April you'd be wrong.  We also took on the mammoth task of staining our deck.  In our defense we thought it would only take a few hours.  It was awful and hard and something I really just want to forget but I'm determined to blog about it so that we will NEVER DIY this project again....

Bad, bad, bad...

Thank you a million times Kim and Bryan.  We owe ya'll big time.  I'm scared of how much we will have to do to pay you back for bailing us out! 

Alright April...what else?  Well there was Emme and June chilling on the couch...

Carter looking cute...

Me attending Fiesta Coronation with a couple of cool chicks...

Two really tired parents trying to convince their kids to sleep in on a Saturday (it didn't work)...

Carter heading to ballet...

Nate and I skipping our intended trip to the gym for a big breakfast date instead (I knew I married well)...

And one of my favorite April moments...this thank you not written by Carter....

We've been packing it in and we're not done yet.  This weekend we will Fiesta it up with the best of them and make some mo' memories.  But for now I'm going to catch up on that mountain of laundry...wish me luck!

You Are Beautiful

Photographing Emerson has been hanging over my head since her birthday in January.  I took some of my favorite photos of Carter at that age (to see the full post click here)...

And I am very much aware that time flies...

She has grown so much in four short years...

She is becoming a delightful little beauty who says things like, "How can I help you mommy?"  I simply adore her...

I really do find myself looking at her lately and thinking that I can still see glimpses of the little person she was but they are fleeting.  So back to the pressure of photographing Emme...I just knew that this time of chubby cheeks and long baby hair and plump little fingers would not last forever and I didn't want it to slip away without at least a few intentional photos.  So the girls and I set out to find some wildflowers and a little fun...

We succeeded...

And I feel like I can breathe a sigh of relief...

Because my sweet little Emme, in all her three year old glory, is frozen in time...

I was watching this video earlier from Dove.  I love their "real beauty" campaigns and this one was no different.  They had brought in a highly accredited forensic sketch artist and had him draw women (sight unseen) based on their descriptions of themselves.  They then had him draw them again based on someone else's description of them.  The results were moving.  The women described/saw themselves in such a negative light and the second drawing of how someone else saw them was beautiful.  It renewed this thing in me that hopes and prays that my girls will always see themselves as beautiful...

Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to raise a couple of little diva's who are full of themselves.  I just think that the world today has got so many people trying to be something their not, or look like someone their not and I just hope they learn to love who they are...

That they learn to celebrate and recognize their strengths...

I also hope that they grasp what "beauty" really is.  I just love this quote by Audrey Hepburn, "For beautiful eyes...

Look for the good in others...

For beautiful lips...

Speak only words of kindness...

And for poise...

Walk with the knowledge you are never alone."

Dear Carter and Emerson...let me start by saying this...

image via ETSY

You're not perfect but here's a little secret...no one is.  It's so odd really, we live in a world where so many people are trying desperately to be anyone but themselves.  If I could guarantee one thing for your big bright futures it would be this: That you would never want to be anyone but YOU!  You are each a one of kind.  There is no one in the whole wide universe exactly like you.  Wow right?!  You have the amazing opportunity to be the BEST you there has ever been.  Pretty cool right?

And here's the other thing I want you to know.  Beauty is not just a pretty face.  You know what my Mama used to tell me?  "Pretty is as pretty does."  And I'm pretty sure I rolled my eyes when she did, but guess what?  It's true.  So many people spend so much time trying to make themselves beautiful on the outside but it's all for nothing if you don't spend just as much time (if not more) on your inside.  That kind of sounds silly I know.  I mean how do you work on your inside?  Well you spend time exercising your heart and your mind by treating others with kindness and respect and thinking about how you can make your little corner of the world a better place...

Life can be hard and remembering who you are won't always be easy but you've got some huge fans in your corner cheering you on.  If you ever need a reminder of how awesome you are look right behind you I promise Daddy and I will be standing there with a big smile...

You have our permission to follow your dreams, find your passions and be you.  We will do our best to help you every step of the way...

Strut your stuff little chicks.  Go be great.  Go be world changers.  Go be you....

You are beautiful...

I love you with all of my heart...

XOXO Mom