Olivia Brontë Smith

My sweet sweet Olivia Brontë, I cannot believe that you were born one whole year ago. You are the baby of the family and I desperately wanted to keep you that way. I love the little lady you are becoming and you have brought an overflowing amount of joy to our family.

Being the baby of the family has not slowed you down one bit. In fact, I catch you quite often beating up on your older brother. You are the size of a two year old and you know it! You have been walking for about a month now and you LOVE it. You have the most wonderful personality filled with feisty grins, independent thinking, and a loving heart.

Olivia, I love that chase is your new favorite game. You take off running and when you can tell that I am about to catch you, your deep giggle bursts from your belly...oh how I love those times. I love that you say the word no to any question I ask you. I love that you want to walk down the middle of the street EVERY time we go on a walk. I love how you squeal like a pig when you don't get your way and when you do get your way. I love how you love to snuggle up with me while holding your beloved blanket and sucking on your thumb...but not for too long because you have stuff to do. I love how you love to dance! I love your big heart. I love your big smile. I love your big laugh. I also looove your big belly!

My Olivia, my baby girl...Happy First Birthday

Mommy

Chloe's Sweet Shoppe

Chloe's sixth birthday party was a sweet shoppe.

The invitation that I made

 (with our address scratched out of course)

This is the sign that greeted Chloe's guests to her shoppe

Here is Chloe in front of her shoppe

I made the hanging pom poms and the sign and then I covered diaper boxes in pink wrapping paper to give the table some different levels. I also added some fresh pink carnations to the table. The sign is made from alternating pink and white party streamers that I sewed into tiny ruffles

A close up of the table

Another close up of the table

(The sign says "how sweet it is to be Chloe")

The party hats I made...I wanted them to have a vintage feel

The happy birthday sign that I made for all of my kids to use at their parties

And of course her signature drink is pink lemonade

Chloe's favorite sandwiches have always been peanut butter and jelly and then turkey and cheese
(and I just realized I misspelled sandwiches...of course)

Photo Booth

(I nailed a pink sheet to the side of the house and then set up props for the kids to use as I took their pictures)

The kids filling their bags with candy, with help from Joul the candy man

This may have been my favorite party to plan. Everything was so whimsical, vintage, pink, and just plain fun. I know my darling Chloe and her friends and cousins had a blast. Now to plan for birthday number seven...hmmm

six

My darling Chloe you are six years old today. My, how big you are. Your beauty amazes me each day and your thirst for knowledge is so impressive. You are slowly turning into this big kid and I could not be more proud to be your mother.

Since your birth, I have prayed for your salvation. I knew that I could not give that to you. I knew that I could not make you believe. I knew that I could just bring the Gospel, bring our Heavenly Father to you. I knew that I could have faith that one day you would believe. That one day, you would feel His presence and know that he is God. Well, that day has happened. Weeks before your sixth birthday, you began a new life, a life in Christ. I am overflowing with joy for you, my daughter, my new sister in Christ.

My, oh my, how kindergarten has changed you. Your tiny little world has grown into this vast openness and readiness for learning. Soon, way too soon, you will be in first grade. Turning six is the first step. You no longer need me that much. I am still dealing with that. You are reading...you are reading. I am in awe.

I love you Chloe Elizabeth. I love your silly little books you write. I love your love for Justin Beaver. I love your heart. I love your mind. I love that you love your Spenser and Olivia. I love your girly squeals. I love it when you say that "this is the best day ever" just because I bought you an apple pie from Mcdonalds. I love your BFF, Lydia. I love your first lost tooth. I love that you prefer to wear only dresses or skirts. I love that you are saving up your money to buy your very own video game even though it might take you years. I love that you love me even on my worst day. I love that when I haven't washed my hair in two days you tell me how beautiful I am. I love that you are my first born. I love that you are forgiving. I love that you are happy. I love that you are a believer. I love because you love.

Mommy

Easter 2011

The Smith family had such a wonderful Easter this year. All three kids were beautiful and it was amazing knowing that Chloe was baptized the weekend before. We are one of "those" families that tries to match during each holiday. So, this year, the color choice was pink and then blue/gray. I made Spenser's tie shirt (love it!), I made Olivia's onesie and her shoes, and then I made the girls' matching yo yo headbands.

 He is risen!

What a month....

The month of April is just too much for me these days. I had two MOPS (http://www.mops.org/) meetings, I hosted and coordinated my BFF's baby shower, my sweet Chloe was baptized and my lovely Olivia was dedicated at church, and we have a million birthdays this month. (well maybe not a million, but we have two cousins, two friends, and two aunts who have birthdays....and our very own CHLOE!)

That brings me to a preview of what is to come this Saturday. My oh-so-excited, soon-to-be six year old is having a Sweet Shoppe birthday party. She officially turns six on Friday and she is counting down the days. I have a preview of the sweet shoppe sign that will hang above the sweets table. I attempted a vintage feel and I really think that the party is coming together. My goal has been lately to make as much of the party decor, etc as I can. Most of what I do is either borrowed from the internet or was inspired by something that I saw on one of a million craft blogs that I stalk.

Here is the sign. It's hard to see in this photo, and I promise to get a closer up picture of it the day of the party, but I actually sewed the crepe paper into ruffles to give it more depth. (if you click on the picture, it might let you see it enlarged) I just love how it turned out and I cannot wait until Saturday. I can't tell who is more excited, Chloe or me! I probaby won't sleep much this week, but it will be totally worth it. Until later...

Now my sins are washed away...

Those were the firsts words whispered by Chloe after she was baptized by her Pappy at our church this morning.

Yes, my beautiful daughter, your sins are now washed away.

Her Meme and Papa gave her a cross necklace and a bookmark

 Joul and I gave her a pink Bible

 Family picture attempt #1

Family picture attempt #2 (neither turned out good, oh well)

Olivia and her Nanna (Olivia was dedicated at church this morning)

Getting ready to be Baptized

Chloe and her Pappy

 "Now my sins are washed away"



oh, how tweet....

My BFF is having baby number FIVE at the end of April and a few friends and I decided to throw her a baby shower. This is her last baby, so I really wanted to make it extra special.

Here is the invite I designed. I think it turned out super cute and I really love it. (psst, it's a boy!)