Vacation Memories

Each summer the entire family spends a week together in Virginia Beach. We rent a house and fill it with laughter, lots of kid noise, and just plain fun! Our week started out poolside.

And of course, we had to spend some time on the Sandbridge beach, a short walk from our house.

Jayce, the newest family member loved lounging in the pool. Last year at this time he was lounging in his mommy's tummy poolside!

Kari loved posing by the pool. What a cheeseball!

The afternoon of July 4th, we made cupcakes, which the kids had a blast decorating.

We created a display of their finished products.

Then it was time to eat the cupcakes and two of our crew were ready to dig in!

Dixon and Emme enjoyed every morsel, especially the icing!

All decked out in their fourth of July finery for our annual picture. Getting all eight kids looking at the camera and smiling is virtually impossible!

Little Jayce was loving the attention! We had planned on going to the beach for the fireworks show, but a horrific storm blew in and the fireworks were cancelled.

The sun came out the next day and Emme experienced sand for the first time.

Annisa took these great photos of the kids on the beach. Clara Grace . . .

Sasha Rose . . .

Karianna Joy . . .

Aidan James . . .

And Ryan finds a crab! They were everywhere!

A trip to Virginia Beach would not be complete without a visit to Handel's for

ice cream!

I actually had a little time to scrapbook a few pages. I love this one of Emme on the beach in her little tutu and wings!

It was a wonderful week together and these pictures and many more will keep those memories alive. Spending time with family creates cherished moments. Love to you all!

Cupcakes, Coupons, and Cuties!

I was hoping to be more diligent about posting weekly, but the past few weeks got away from me! It's time to play catch-up! My daughters and I have gotten involved in couponing the last few months and thanks to some awesome websites and blogs, we are stockpiling and saving, saving, saving money!!! On my blog list to the left, I created a new category for these great links. It is amazing how much money you can save and it is extra exciting when you end up getting items for FREE! We are certainly not extreme couponers, but on a recent trip to Target I paid $2.04 for almost $40.00 of merchandise! Sweet!

Since I last posted, our littlest "cupcake" Emme turned one! For weeks, Becky and I made some fun decorations for her party. Some of these ideas came from the blogs I have linked to this blog. Using pastel mini clothes pins, Becky made garlands of photos from Emme's first year. Guests could take any of the pictures they wanted.

Something Becky loves to do is bake. Check out the dessert table! The BIG cupcake is for Emme. She made filled cupcakes, cake pops, and iced and decorated Rice Krispie treats. I had fun helping make this delicious array of goodies!
Aren't these Rice Krispie treats adorable?
One day I saw this cupcake garland on another blog and decided that since Emme's party was a cupcake themed party, I would make one. I headed out to Michael's and found packs of cupcake liners in the pink, green, and purple party theme and while watching TV one evening, strung yards of garland on pliable wire. We fastened the garland to the tops of the cabinets in the kitchen. It was so festive!
I also dug out my holiday cupcake tree and we added it to the decor.
Another idea I saw on a blog were these paint sample napkin/utensil holders. This project took some work. I had to sew 60 of these pockets. I am glad I did because aren't they a great way to package utensils and napkins? Plus they are reusable!
For children's party favors, we found these sweet pencils topped with cupcake erasers. Emme's friends each got one as a thank you for celebrating her special day.
No party is complete without balloons. This is just one of the many balloons Becky got her. Emme loved them!
It was a beautiful day for a party so we spread a blanket on the grass and Emme had a blast opening her gifts. What little girl doesn't like a doll!
Emme's cousin Dixon had so much fun blowing bubbles.
All the cousins love a chance to play together, especially outside.
Even little Jayce was smiling and enjoying the celebration!
Oops! Some people never grow up! Emme's great-grandmother snuck in some swinging!
Now, for the cupcake's very own gigantic cupcake! She couldn't wait to get her hands on it!

Gotta check out the FunFetti frosting first!

It's time to dig in!

It was a wonderful day and we took so many pictures! It will be hard to decide which ones to scrapbook! The following day, Emme and Jayce were baptized together. It was such a special family weekend.

In fact, the weekend actually started with Sasha and Clara's dance recital. Don't they look like Diva ballerinas!
Both danced in two dances and were amazing! Of course I am not partial in any way! Along with Kari, we now have three family ballerinas! Clara has the ballerina post down pat!
I am aiming to be better at posting on a weekly basis. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! Off to read the second book in The Hunger Games series. Stayed up until 1:30 in the morning finishing the first book!

TINY DANCER !

Last weekend my mother and I traveled to Southern Maryland for the weekend. My granddaughter, Kari, performed in her first ballet recital. Kari was in the first dance of the Ladybugs. How adorable these tiny dancers were as they performed so beautifully! The discipline and the skill development in these tiny dancers was amazing!

After the show, her proud brothers gave her flowers. Although they deny it, they were pretty captivated by the dancers.
Mom was so proud of her little ballerina. Watching little girls dance is so different from attending T-Ball and soccer games!
My mom, who is 81, showed off her athletic ability with a one-on-one game with Ryan. Look at that shot! She surprised us with how many baskets she made.

Mom was in her element relaxing with Jayce, aka "moose!" This child is only 3 1/2 months old, but is already outgrowing his 6 months clothes! Future Suma wrestler?

"Capture Photography" by Julie Showalter took these pictures of Jayce a month ago. I love this black and white photo!

Look at his sparkling eyes and pudgy little hands! I just love babies!

How appropriate is this picture of Jayce tipping the scales! He barely fits!

Last Friday I was able to attend Marion Elementary School's grandparents day. Sasha was all smiles when I arrived.

The entire class recited a wonderful poem about grandparents. Then Sasha gave me this art piece with the poem attached. Love the joy on a child's face about the simple things in life. We can learn so much from the children.

Mother's Day Moments

Mother's Day is such a special day for me for so many reasons. This year it all began Friday night when I received a box on my doorstep. Nestled inside were one dozen decadent chocolate covered strawberries. OMG! My favorite fruit is strawberries and who doesn't love chocolate!

Jennifer and her family sent this luscious treat my way. Although they couldn't be with us on Mother's Day this year, these little faces are in my heart. Is Jayce not simply the cutest little baby boy!

And then there's Diva Kari! Those big brown eyes just melt our hearts!
The eight grandchildren began with Aidan's birth nine years ago. It seems like yesterday. And Ryan followed eighteen months later - such a smart, sweet boys! Thanks so much for the strawberries - I am enjoying every sweet morsel!

Today we celebrated at my house with a Mother's Day brunch. Everyone brought yummy dishes including an oatmeal fruit bake, a hash brown, bacon, egg and cheese casserole, fresh fruit, cinnamon muffin melts (a la Tastefully Simple!), and a strawberry pie. Oh My! Annisa and Becky got me Marc Jacob's "Lola" perfume. It smells heavenly! Then it was picture time. Last Mother's Day Becky was awaiting the birth of her first baby and here she is now! Little Emme!

Annisa has such a beautiful family. Dixon is such a rambunctious little boy - full of fun and spunk!
Sasha and Clara, like Kari, are such divas. However, they are very close sisters and someday in the future will share the joy of their children with each other just like their mom does with her two sisters.

On the left is my mom with her only daughter (me), two of her four granddaughters and four of her great grandchildren.

Four generations!

A proud new mom!

Just couldn't resist adding this picture that Annisa took of Emme's litte feet! She is standing now and soon she will be walking!
I have so much to be thankful for this Mother's Day and it all began with my own mom. She is an amazing person of strength, love, and compassion. God bless moms everywhere not only on Mother's Day, but every day of the year. Love you Mom!