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!