It's a Sugar Cookie kinda Evening

A couple days ago I asked Kadance if she wanted to make and decorate sugar cookies. FYI, we have never made sugar cookies and decorated them together, so she really didn't know what I was talking about. But still in a very excited voice she screamed YAY with a big smile and giggle. 

I got Kadance a chair so she could stand on it and watch while I got all the ingredients out and told her what each one was. She was more interested in how the standing mixer worked, so once we started adding things I showed her how we turn it on/off. 

Kadance loved cleaning the mixer =) Such a big helper!!

Having so much fun cutting out the cookies

ready to go in the oven

This little Gingerbread man got a bite taken out of him by a little girl, even before he was frosted

She had so much fun decorating the cookies

Ashley's Tree

This is in honor of Ashley, who's life was taken WAY to soon!

Every year in December since my sister in law, Ashley Barnett passed away in Oct of 2005, we have went to Forest Lawn and decorated a Christmas tree at her grave site. Some years there's not many of us and other years, like this one, there is a huge huge group! We always have mimosa's, catch up with the ones we haven't seen much of during the year and of course decorate a cute little pink tree.

Merry Christmas!!!

Here are some pictures from this years Christmas tree decorating!

It's Been a Few....

Just a little update!!! It's been a FEEEEEEWWWW =)

Last time I posted I was going to try a detox....The out come of that was not so good. I got through the first day, but that night I got very sick. So, needless to say I did not continue onto day two. I have now just been eating right and started a new phase of P90X (lean). I am finishing up week two and am feeling really good!!!

Halloween:

Kadance was a cute little zebra, I decided last minute to dress up like a witch and Seth said he was either Adam Levine or gangsta LOL (his do rag is in his pocket)
We went to Seth's brother's house and went trick or treating with a huge group of kids and adults...a lot of fun!!!

Thanksgiving:
Through the whole month of November I did the I am Thankful for day challenge on Facebook. Here is my everyday thanks:

I'm grateful for my amazing family!! -day one

I am Thankful for mornings...they are my favorite, that is when I can get up early enough to enjoy them =) - day two

Day 3- I'm thankful for my parents! Everyone has their ups and downs with their parents, but as I get older I appreciate all the ones in my younger years. I realize they were teaching, molding and helping me out of love.

Day 4- I'm thankful for God blessing me with a creative mind

Day 5- while chatting today over text with one of my oldest friends. I decided that what I'm thankful for on day 5 is the true -long friendship that I have with so many of my school days friends! All of us have been through thick and thin together and no matter the distance between us we can pick up right where we left off like it was yesterday!! Most of us met in our pre teens, when AD elementary & Acton elementary combined at High Desert Jr High, others when we were in kindergarten and some I danced with at Dancin' in Acton. I thank God to be blessed with you amazing women in my life! — with Kelly Nielsen Warren.

Day 6- so yesterday I posted about being thankful for all my friends that I have had since grade school. Well today I am thankful for all my friends that I met after school. You ladies have helped me grow and become a strong woman. Many I met when Seth and I started dating, some through beautiful Crystal Dean and others from moving to SD and NYC! I cherish all my girlfriends and am so happy that I have been able to bring the old and new friends together many many times! It's like the Girl Scout song (I was never a Girl Scout lol, but I think the song is appropriate) "make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the others gold." I love you all!!!

Day 7- I know it's late in the day, but I am getting what I am thankful for in before mid-night. ;) I am very thankful and blessed to have an absolutely amazing husband!!! I am thankful everyday for Seth!! He's my best friend, wonderful father, loving husband and I am so grateful for how hard he works for our family!!! You mean the world to me, I love you every day my soul mate!! — with Seth Barnett.

Day 8- I am thankful for my health! I know many people out there that are sick and my heart breaks for them and their families. When we are healthy sometimes we take for granted the health we have. I wanted to make sure to thank God for letting me be in good health.

Day9: I'm thankful for reconnecting with family after so many years!!! It's sad we get so busy in our day to day lives that we don't have time to just sit, talk and have dinner. My mom's oldest sister (my aunt) stayed the night at my parent's last night. We had a great time talking before Seth left for work! I'm grateful for those times and hearing the stories! Plus we've recently started seeing my cousin Cathy and her family more!!! it makes me so happy!! Family is everything!!! — with Steve Patterson and 2 others.

Day 10: I am thankful for my in-laws!!! I feel very blessed to have such a loving and caring extended family. I love you all so much! We have so much fun together and for sure have some very memorable adventures =) very lucky to be apart of this family!!! Seth Barnett Adam Barnett Cooper BarnettJamie Barnett Mona Barnett Volk Maddy Barnett Christiane Armendariz Barnett Micky Masters Barnett Michael VolkHadley Million

Day 11: This day is an easy one.... I am thankful for our veteran's!! Thank you for putting your lives on the line for our country! You are so very brave, strong and courageous! Proud to be an American!!! Support our troops!

Day 12: I'm thankful for my little angel! She brightens my day everyday, makes me smile no matter what and teaches me so much! It's funny when I think back to before we had out princess and can't see our lives now without her! I love you Kadance Jane so so much!!!

Day 13: today I'm thankful for disappointment. I know that sounds weird but I feel like with every door closed another opens. On top of that with disappointment you learn from your mistakes and grow from whatever it was that you were disappointed over.

Day 14- I'm thankful for stress. Well I kinda debated if I really was thankful for it lol and came up with one good reason. Stress for me lights a fire under my boota and for that I'm thankful! I get lazy and don't feel the creative juices flowing sometimes. Then stress kicks in and reality hits... I have a deadline... There's my fire. I try and turn a bad feeling into a positive one. Don't get me wrong it sometimes takes awhile to kick into a positive at times...depending on the situation

Day 15 and still a day behind...I'm thankful for forgiveness! We all have the choose to forgive someone when they do something you don't like or hurts you. Sometimes it takes longer to forgive someone and then other times its instant. I like the ones I love to know I forgive them when they have a bad day, when they say things that they really didn't mean or things they did and regret. I like to think I'm a pretty forgiving person.

Day 16- I'm thankful for hot food! Not everyone gets a hot meal everyday, so I am grateful that I can make myself and my family a hot meal on a not so hot day.

Day 17- I'm thankful to have the privilege to stay home and raise our beautiful daughter! It is a blessing and it wouldn't be reality without the support and love of my amazing husband! You worked so hard to get to where you are now and you bust your butt everyday for your family! I'm so proud of you and love you so much Seth! Thank you for letting me stay home to watch and raise our daughter. — with Seth Barnett.

Day 18- I'm thankful for family dinner out! We don't do it very often but when we do its such a treat! I love my family!!!

Day 19- Yesterday I was Thankful for finishing our shopping for Thanksgiving! Even though it wasn't much, I love to get my shopping done early....I try to beat the crowds =) PS I have kick started Christmas shopping already =)

Day 20- I'm thankful for wholesome family oriented friends, that set a great example on how a family should function! Now days there are so many broken homes. It's refreshing to hang out and have lunch with such a great family!!! Xoxo (once again I'm a day behind) thank youJennie Rodriguez and Dustin Rodriguez for having us over for lunch yesterday...we had a great time!!! Sorry Maddy that Kadance tried snagging your Littlest pet shop fish ;-) and thanks for the kitty...she fell asleep with it on the way home :-)

Day21- I'm Thankful for music! I use to dance and I think my favorite was contemporary. There was always a story behind the song/dance we did, you could incorporate your feelings to the moves and really reel in the audience to make them feel how you feel. Also music makes memories. I know some songs remind us of sad times, but for me I try to make that sad memory into a more positive one. By remembering the good times! "Funny how a melody sounds like a memory"

Day 22- on this thanksgiving morning 2012, as I drink my pumpkin spice latte and watch Today. I remember the thanksgiving Seth and I spent in NYC. We both had to work that day at quiksilver, I was there early in the morning withSheena LW and Seth Barnett came in a little later in the morning. On my break I had gone outside and called my parents and Sabrina Jiuliano to wish them a Happy Thanksgivi

ng. As I was talking I remember watching the Macy's day parade go by a street over! Now that parade is pretty amazing! I'm very thankful I had the opportunity to live in NYC with Seth. It really helped me grow, made me stronger person and brought Seth and I so close! (before we lived together in NYC we had a long distance relationship) I guess you could say our love blossomed in the big apple!

Day 23- today I'm thankful for this beautiful day!!! Not everywhere is this nice in November!

Day 24- I was thankful for the rebel Seth decided yo buy like 5 years ago. I now use it a lot and yesterday I took fun Christmas pictures for Chelsea Eikenberg and Scott Eikenberg !

Day 25- today I'm thankful for date nights!!!! Seth Barnettand I love our husband and wife time!!!

Day 26- I'm thankful for girls day brunch! Had a lot of fun with Vanessa Perry Chelsea Eikenberg and Tani Bess yesterday!!!

Day 27-I'm thankful for my Dad!!!! He's always been there for me, my sister, my mom and those that he holds close to his heart! He is always BSing about something and giving someone a hard time...of course joking all the time and you know he liked you if he's picking on you lol!!! Happy Birthday Dad!!!

Day 28- I'm thankful for my sister!!!! Today I went up with my parents to visit Kayla for her birthday! We had a fun day!!! Just too bad it was such a short visit! Kayla and I have for sure had our differences and totally don't see eye to eye on many things, but she is my sister and I always hope the best for her. I love her dearly and realize that as we get older we understand each other more. Happy Birthday Kayla!!!!

Day 29- I am thankful that I talked myself into starting another phase of P90x. I know it will be totally worth it in the end and I have really been wanting to shade the last few baby pounds.

Day 30- On the last day of November, I saved the best for last.....I am thankful for our savior Jesus Christ! I thank God everyday for all he has blessed me and my family with. I know that he is always there to help when we need it and doesn't put too much on your plate that you can't handle....even though there are those days that you feel like your going to go crazy. The saying, God works in mys

terious ways, I totally believe it. I believe we all have a path we're going down and sometimes there are detours along the way. You might not like some of the detours, but usually in the end it makes sense on why you went down that side street. Thank you dear God for my family, husband, daughter, in-laws, friends and the people I run into along the way in my journey through life.

Thanksgiving Day - Kadance at the table with her plate!

We also had our Christmas card pictures taken by my brother in law last Friday! Very simple, but exactly what I wanted for this years card!!! Plus, my very old friend Amy Beaumont of Beaumont Ink is creating our Christmas cards this year!!! I am so excited to see them! Thank you Amy! www.beaumontink.com

This isn't our Christmas card picture, but it is from the shoot!!!

Zoo Fun

We had a great day at the LA Zoo a few weeks ago with our longtime friend Tara and her daughter Caitlyn! The girls loved watching the chimpanzees make their crazy calls and the tiger cubs playing in the water. It was a hot day so the tigers were cooling off while playing with a huge plastic ball and I was pretty amazed that there weren't more animals hiding out, trying to stay cool.

Seth decided at the last minute to come with us, which both Kadance and I were REALLY excited he came. With his schedule we really aren't able to do these kinds of things, when he has to work that night. Sad, I know. 

After watching the tiger cubs play for a good amount of time, we passed a stand that was selling shaved ice. Kadance got all excited, so Seth took her to get one. When he got back to Tara, Caitlyn and I, with shaved ice in hand, I was amazed at how HUGE the thing was.....well worth the $4.00 

Caitlyn and Tara

Seth and Kadance watching the apes

Posing in front of the elephant

Family zoo photo

Caitlyn was all about the shaved ice....Kadance had her moments

Wedding Accessories By: Lady Kadance

I had the pleasure in handcrafting my friend Kristen Nielsen's wedding accessories! She wanted elegant, but simple hairpieces and a pastel/gray tutu for her flower girl. I incorporated burlap, lace (that matched her dress) and brown tulle to the satin pastel flowers for her bridesmaids hair. I kept Kristen's hairpieces all cream with lace, pearls, satin and a little larger than her bridesmaids.....since she is the bride! I am hoping to get a picture or two of these pieces in the girls hair and the flower girl wearing the tutu! 

Thank you Kristen for having Lady Kadance be apart of your very special day!!! 

www.ladykadance.com

The Days Just Slip Away

It was a bittersweet day for me, my little pumpkin turned 2! The day was so busy, I wanted everything to be just right, but I of course was running around like a crazy person. I think next year I will scale down or just decorate the night before =). I still can't believe she's two already.....time just flies so so fast and I wonder were the days go. 

When our friends and family started to arrive for the party, Kadance got so excited! She didn't know were to go first......the bouncy, finger painting station, food table, tri-cycles or painting birdhouses. After running around the first hour, she needed water, cool air and a nap. Yep! Kadance feel asleep at her own party! It was good that she did, cuz she was over heating and needed a little power nap. Once Kadance woke up, or I should say when I woke her up, she joined everyone painting birdhouses. 

Later we sang Happy Birthday and opened presents! 

Today was a success!!!

The Birthday Girl!

Our big 2 year old

The cones and holder we made for the popcorn

Painting & Creating

The Dessert Table

Painting table was for sure a hit

Kadance & Rayder 

Kadance's birthday cake

Kadance loved the bouncy slide

My Inner Party Planning Lady

Before getting married and having a baby, the art of party planning wasn't too crazy involved. (well at least for me) Once Seth purposed, there was a switch that turned on and the planning lady came out, full force with glitter, pearls, sequince and crafts pouring out of her pours. She hasn't left either, but I think has gotten a little stronger after finding out I was pregnant with Kadance. 

After recovering from planning our wedding, I planned my own baby shower, Kadance's first birthday and now working on her second birthday party!!! I've learned secrets and inexpensive ways to make party favors, fancy foods, decor and activities. So I don't break the bank. 

Sneak peak for birthday #2

The dinning room table is getting full of party fun!

Kadance's cake topper! I made out of craft paper, twine, and small wood dowels

Dinner Date

Dinner time with our family is usually a challenge. Seth and I aren't picky eaters and more times than not, we don't care what we have for dinner. This can go on for an hour between us, while I am making something small for Kadance, so she doesn't have to suffer in the decision process. Now this doesn't happen every night, mostly when we are going to go out. Last weekend was one of those non hour long decision nights!!!! I called the spot without hesitation and Seth agreed. On our way to Kabuki we thought it would be nice to invite our friends that just moved to Valencia and my school days girlfriend and her family. Needless to say we thought about it too late and neither could make it. During dinner there was a large family sitting at the table next to us taking pictures of each other. Every time Kadance saw the flash she would say "cheeeeeeeeese"! I ask her if she wanted her picture taken and she nodded yes! I pulled out my phone and said, "Ok baby take a picture with Papa and say cheese!" She was up and saying cheese right away!

When we walked outside Seth asked Kadance if she wanted to take a picture with Mama.....she wouldn't take another picture without Papa being in it. (totally getting to the age of being Daddy's little girl) So sweet!

After the photo session, on our way to the car, we noticed people feeding some ducks at the pond by CPK! I thought Kadance would have a blast watching the ducks, we didn't have any bread to feed them, but she could still watch. After a few minutes a very nice lady that was also there and actually feeding the ducks, offer a hot dog bun she had, so Kadance could feed the ducks too. Kadance thought is was really cool how the ducks would get so close and when you threw the bread they would go crazy over it.

Our family dinner night was so fun we didn't want it to end! Seth and I thought why don't we go get ice cream, Kadance was for that!!! I navigated us to the closest Cold Stone. We got our ice creams, sat outside to eat them and some little girl (Kadance) took over my ice cream. LOL! She wouldn't even share with me, I think she likes ice cream. Seth had to go in and get me another spoon, so I could also enjoy my treat! After a few minutes of letting her have at the ice cream I started to eat it, pretty fast too, so she wouldn't eat the whole thing. I got a little bit of a brain freeze =-(

Slide Slide Slide

 I Slide ~ I Slide ~ I Slide

She's so excited that she's going up the stairs all by herself!

 

There are so many joys when having a baby and watching them grow. I have loved watching my little precious angel grow in the past 2 years. There are so so many firsts and it's so hard to document every single one of them. Believe me I try. With the help of keeping a journal, writing in her baby book, blogger.com and making albums on Shutterfly, I think I have done an pretty good job =) 

August 22nd 2012 we had gone to watch my friend Stephanie's softball game, it would have been her last game if they didn't win....but they WON!!! Yaaaay! Anyways, there was a playground and Kadance made her way over after having a few snacks and becoming a little bored with the game. She hit the swings first, then saw the SLIDE!!! I went up with her a few times and even slid down the slide with her. After three times doing it with Mom, she wanted to go for it on her own. Up the stairs and down the slide all by herself.....well as being a scared Mom I tried to guide her half way down, but I don't think she really needed me to do that =)

Take Me Back to The 80's

This past Saturday we went to our friend Vanessa's 30th Birthday Party and can you guess the theme......oh yes the 80's! It was so much fun dressing up and seeing every ones outfits for what they thought the 80's style was! I wanted to make sure mine was bright and it needed to have sparkle and big hair. I managed to get my hair big for a little while, but it just kept falling.....oh well!

Kadance & I getting ready to leave...Mom had to take a picture of us before left! This spot is where Mom always took my first day of school photos =)

Vanessa's Amazing birthday cake!

Scott & Chelsea were fun and funky

Scott's pants were MC Hammer style! Loved

Kadance with her amazing retro glasses

Lila made matching plastic spike necklaces out of bracelets for her and Kadance

My 80's hair! 

A New Chapter...For Mama-in-Law

The last few weeks we have been trying to go to Burbank on Seth's days off, to help his mom pack up her house. She has been in her place for over 12 years and there has been many great memories. Even though I have only been around for almost 7 years now; Seth and I lived there after we moved back from NYC, we got engaged while living there, we had our engagement party there, Jamie let us have my parent's 40th Anniversary Surprise party there, many great game nights, Christmas Mornings, Thanksgivings and there are some sad memories too, but I like to always keep the good ones at the top of my list!!! =)

Anyways, there are SO SO many closets, drawer, corners, nooks and crannies to go through. Needless to say we found some AMAZING pictures while going through boxes!!! I just couldn't pass up sharing some!!!

Seth's brother Cooper and our good friend James

Seth's younger brother Adam and him (Dodgers vs. Braves)

Seth in the most amazing Christmas outfit ever!!

A Fish is Born

In an earlier post, our friend Sheena and her boyfriend Chris came to visit us for a 5 days and we house sat for a friend of mine's parents. They have a pool and my goal was to attempt to teach Kadance to swim or at least get the hang of it.
The last two days we were at their house, something seemed to click and Kadance was jumping off the step with the kick board. I got to the point that I didn't have to hang on to her and just have my arms close, in case she flipped or something. She was all smiles every time she jumped off the step and swam around the shallow end!

So proud and excited!

She was screaming cuz she was so excited! I had to scream with her LOL

Having so so so much fun!

Just loving it!