winter boots

Some people go to Christmas parties wearing their best Christmas sweaters.  But I'm thinking Jonah and Ava could have a party and it would be to come wearing your best winter boots. I'm pretty sure they would win. Especially when they're worn with shorts or just in diapers...and when worn on the wrong feet (Jonah)...and when they are so old that their mom once wore them.

We're thankful for Grandma's closet and the endless supply of boots you'll find in there. Boots of all shapes, colors and sizes.  Boots from all generations.

Bring on the parties, bring on the snow...they're ready!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

It's really hard for me to believe that Christmas is THIS WEEK!?!  December has flown by.  I wish it would slow down because this is my favorite time of year and I hate it when it goes by so fast.  I love EVERYTHING about the Christmas season.

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to take photos of a sweet baby boy, just 3 weeks old and his big sister, who is 2.  They were precious.  I was so flattered that I was asked to take their photos.  I'll be honest, it was hard!  I was praying he would be reeeeeally sleeeeeepy...that wasn't the case.  He was wide awake and wanted to wiggle and really just wanted to sleep in his mama's arms - but who can blame him?!  I did the best I could with the situation given.  They were both such beautiful children.  I could have stayed all day and took photos, but I'm not sure the mom would have liked it :)  Here are a few of the shots I got.

 

 

 

I love this one.  L's face is SO gorgeous and peaceful while her brother is screaming ;)  She didn't care, all she wanted to do was hold her baby brother.  So sweet.

 

Christmas at the Parsons

 

 

I LOVE Christmas tree bokeh!

 

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours!

"For there is born to you this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  Luke 2:11

She's not 6 anymore

This past week Stella celebrated her birthday. She turned 7 years old! I'm not sure how that is even possible because I feel neither old enough nor wise enough to be a mother of a seven year old. But apparently God thinks I am, so onward we go. I couldn't be more thankful for this girl, my firstborn. She's kind and compassionate. She's funny and likes to have fun. She takes everything literal which makes teasing highly overrated. Her favorite subject in school is math. She told me yesterday she'd like to be an artist and a doctor when she grows up. She still thinks every type of meat is chicken and she still says and does funny things. In the car the other day she says, "mom we're full of chicken aren't we?" (uhhhh...??) "because we've got meat under our skin, so that makes us full of chicken." :)

I don't think I've ever baked as much as I have in the past few days. I went through a whole pack of butter from Costco in 2 days!!! Unreal!!   From 3 dozen sugar cookies and a couple batches of fudge, to almond roca, from cupcakes with purple frosting, to Pioneer Woman's chocolate sheet cake and her YUMMY homemade pizza...It was a busy kitchen and a messy one, but the smells, oh the smells. For the party favors for the girls I made fudge cupcake pops. If you haven't visited BAKERELLA you should. She's clever and makes ridiculously cute things. She makes these things called cake balls and cake pops. I tried them a long time ago for our parenting class and well... they weren't my favorite. The texture grossed me out, but I had the idea to make them with fudge instead of cake. So on Stella's birthday I thought I'd give it a go. They turned out gooooooood. They not only looked cute, they tasted super yummy too! I think I may have oned-up Bakerella. Sure, she's got me on presentation, but seriously - FUDGE inside a candy coating?? Yeah, I got her on taste. ;)

This year was the first year Stella was allowed to have a friends birthday party (I know, I'm a mean ol'mom). I let her choose a few of her favorite friends. They had a fun time. They filled their faces with cupcakes, homemade punch with sherbet, chips... and had a great time just being together.

Happy Birthday, Stella girl!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love you!

my baby's two!

It happened. Ava turned 2 years old yesterday. When you ask her, "Ava are you two?" She'll hold up her hand, all fingers raised, and say "two." That's how fast I feel time is going by. Before I know it, the next time I ask her how old she is, she will be right by keeping all fingers raised because she'll be five. I wish I could slow down time and then maybe speed it up in some areas, like potty training for instance :).  I not only love this girl, I like her. She's full of mischief for sure, but she makes me smile every single day.

Happy Birhtday Ava

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember me?

It's me, Sara.  It's been awhile, but I'm back  Whew!  It's been busy ever since we got home from our trip to California.  It was a great trip.  It was a loooooooooooooooong drive, but well worth it once we were there.  We were able to stay with my sister for a few days, go to Disney Land, go to Jeremy and Kristy's house for Thanksgiving, and relax and have a good time with Sean's family.  It was fun, but it went by way too fast.  Here are some snap shots from the trip...

On the road...

Stella in the way back with the luggage.

 

 

When Ava wasn't sleeping she was asking for dum (gum).  I believe she asked around 100,000 times for some and I think she probably swallowed about half that  much ;)

 

I like how you see the highway in Sean's glasses.  That's what we looked at for 2 straight days.  Fun!

 

First stop, Heaven on Earth...

  

 

 This picture does not do this cinnamon roll justice.  The thing literally was the size of a small child.  It was HUGE and good.

Second stop, In-N-Out...

 

We stopped in Sacramento for some In-N-Out and met up with Liz.  It was a treat.  It was so great to see her.  I wish we could have stayed longer.  She spoiled the kids rotten and provided them all with a bag full of goodies.  Oh and please excuse my "car" head.  I mean really, I was struggling.  My hair was having major issues.  And I guess I should say please excuse my "car" clothes.  Good grief, Sara. 

 

 

 

 

YUM!  I love you #2.

 

Car head.  Liz, you look great.

 

Next stop, Aunt Tricia and Uncle Koby's house...

 

 Jonah was in heaven when he saw Uncle Koby's garage and all the "toys" in there.  Jonah's obsessed with motorcycles so when he saw Uncle Koby's Police motorcycle, he was pretty much excited.  This picture cracks me up.  Tricia was taking one at the same time with her camera and she said, "Come on Sean, you know you can smile bigger than that."  HAHAHAaaaa!  It was SO funny because Sean was trying to smile bigger but he forgot the helmet was covering his mouth.  Funny.

Disney Land!!!

 

Mickey, strolling down Main St.

 

 

Every square inch was covered in Christmas decor.  It was amazing.  I can't even imagine what that process to decorate would look like and how many people it would take.

 

Sean's brother, Nathan hooked us up with a good deal to get in to both parks.  Part of the deal was getting to eat at Club 33.  The food was amazing and it was so nice to have a quiet spot to relax and enjoy the company.

 

I had the chateau.  Yum. 

 

Stella got a Minnie Mouse drink 

 

One of my favorite things about going to Disney Land with kids is seeing their faces light up in amazement.  This is Jonah's face during the parade, up on Sean's shoulders, when he saw Buzz.  So cute.

 

This is Stella's face during the Small World ride.

 

10pm...getting tired.

 

Aunt Tricia and Stella on Dumbo

 

On to Nana and Papa's house...

 

we played some Wii

 

This is Lauren.  This is the face she gave me when we first met.

 

But this is the face she gave me after I took her to the M&M jar and she figured out I was the good Aunt ;)

 

She kills me, she's so cute. What you can't see in this picture is her pointing to some candy on a table.  See she's giving me that same face!   She loves me.

 

The newest addition to the family, sweet baby Ella Louise.  It was fun holding a newborn again...sigh...they grow up way too fast.

 

 

Cousins, Lauren, Ava and Samantha.

Heading home...

Tricia met us at Starbucks.

 

 Sean came in to the store like the paparazzi and started firing away pictures of Tricia and I.  The reason being because I didn't get ANY pictures of Tricia and her cute pregnant belly.  Sean said it right about Tricia, she is glowing.  It is so true and was so special to see.  I can't wait to come back in March and hold that baby boy!!!  

 

I can't believe I'm posting this picture.  First of all it's blurry and secondly...CAR HEAD.  We hadn't been on the road for more than 35 minutes and I already had car head and car clothes.  It's instantaneous.  The second I get in the car it happens.  But this photo shows Tricia's growing baby, and that's what we need to see!  I love you, Tricia.

Home Sweet Home...

When I got home I had two packages awaiting my opening.  The first one I opened was from Kirra and this is what was in the inside...I screamed.

 

 

Then I opened it up and I gasped, got teary eyed and my hands started to shake!  Can you believe this girl?!?!  She got me a signed book from the one and only, Pioneer Woman.  Kirra, thank you!  Words can't even begin to describe how happy this made me. 

And then I opened this... 

 

A lovely, beautiful, one-I've-ALWAYS-wanted, mug from Anthropologie.  Jamie, thank you.  You are one of the most sweetest girls I have ever met.

I am blessed BEYOND what I deserve.

It's good to be home.