SANTA BABY.

Santa :: Baby

He's my favorite.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

STRANGE FOLK.

My bestie Jen and I had been dreaming for a long while about doing a craft show together. We tossed around some dates and locations, but nothing was seeming to line up just right. Then one day this summer, she called me up excited, and had just learned about a promising festival called Strange Folk. She submitted her application, and once we learned she had been selected as one of the 150 vendors, I started looking at flights. I was a little nervous about the timing...being just three weeks into a new school year and not knowing yet what to expect with Orelia. But the very affordable plane ticket sealed the deal for us both, and I booked it that very night. We knew that if I didn't, one of us might get nervous and talk ourselves out of it! (fyi-flying with no kids and only a carry on is a breeze!)

Fast forward two months, and there we were, together again! (And all was right in the world!)

We wasted no time in getting to work. Jen was the mastermind behind it all, I was just there to help! One trait that I adore the most about Jen is her attention to detail. She put so much time and effort into planning her tent display, and nothing went overlooked. She's a gem and her efforts were noticed.

 



We rocked the sales, and even had time to sneak in some fun. (She knows how to show a girl a good time!)

It doesn't matter what we do when we're together, time with this girl is a rare and welcome treat. I went home with a very full heart, belly, and suitcase....filled to the brim with Swank of course! (Which my kids were thrilled about!)

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And because Jen is such a doll, she asked me to share a coupon with YOU!

These are just a few of my favorites that Otto is rocking this fall...(Yes, his closet is 90% Swank!)

You can find all these, and loads more, in her Swanky Shank shop. Use the code "amysfaves" for $10 off your order of $30 or more TODAY only! Isn't that a sweet deal? Let me know what you get, Otto and your babe might just get to be twinsies!

BIG BOYS.

Well, my Nugget girl has a month of school under her belt now, and things are going pretty smoothly. We miss her terribly while she's away, but that just makes our time together all the more sweet. She loves school though, and that really makes things so much easier.

School Spirit Day

My boys have also went and gotten big on me, and they have both started school as well. Milo has started preschool, and Otto and I go to ECFE together weekly. This time is so tender and precious, and is some of my favorite of their littleness.

Milo was very reluctant to start school, as he really wanted to go back to ECFE with his beloved teacher Miss Britt. His first morning of preschool was pretty rough, despite it being the same program Orelia had been in for the previous two years.

I really was not prepared for the tough separation, as he is usually so go with the flow. But yet again, I had to leave another one of my babies behind, kicking and screaming, and of course I was fighting back the tears as I walked away. Again, I was humbled by the support of his teachers, and I got a phone call just a few minutes later that he was happy and playing with dinosaurs. Another mom shared this photo with me, and I love it.

 

When it was time for pick up, I spied my little man at the back of the line. He was so serious until he spied me back. Then he couldn't wait to show and tell me all about his day!

He now asks every day "Do I have school this year?", which really means does he have school that day :) He'd go everyday if he could.

Otto was the easiest one to bring to school, probably because we stay together for the most part :)

We walked into his classroom and his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. So much to explore and discover! ECFE is my absolute favorite, and this year is the seventh consecutive year that I have been bringing my babies there. When one graduates out, its time to bring the next one in :)

Here's to my big girl, my big boys, and a year of learning and growing!

AN ENCHANTED GARDEN PARTY.

I've been anxiously wanting to blog about Orelia's sixth birthday party, but our new fall routines are proving to keep us pretty busy. We're getting in the swing of things-with a handful of days of Kindergarten under our belt, along with preschool, ECFE, gymnastics and dance. I know we'll find our new grove soon. But I'm finally able to carve out some time to share my girl's very special birthday celebration.

We started with the theme of a secret garden, steered a bit towards fairies, and alas, mixed the two and settled upon an enchanted garden party. Our new farm was the perfect setting, we just needed to provide the magic.

Celebrating my girl, the day she was born, and the day I became a Mama is pretty special to me. I think this day really captured her magic of being six. It was so "her", which made my heart happy.

She enjoyed planning and creating right alongside me this year, and I think that's the part I love the most.

I shared with the girls a little about the magic of fairies, how to spot a fairy house, and how we have to be so quiet as to not disturb them. I love watching the magic unfold in their little eyes.

We had a little fairy hunt:

And made houses for the real fairies (who we hope will visit us!):

We ate a homemade strawberry cake, which was delicious (minus its slightly wonky appearance):

We opened presents of course:

And parted with fairy treasures:

We played hard, and had some surprise visitors:

And went home with full and happy hearts. Here's to a new year of love and learning, and the magic of being 6!

xo