First Day of Kindergarten

I think the first day of kindergarten warrants a new post to this very neglected blog. 

Here's to a new school year.

Instagram Update

Obviously I am a terrible blogger lately.  I am a pretty good instagrammer though.....at least, I think.  I try not to "photobomb" everyone's feeds with the latest my girls are doing, with what we are eating, where we are, etc.

So this post will be an instagram upload ..... duplicates for my instagram followers....

Claire decided to sleep with Grace and take over her bed

Loves the color purple.... a little too much?

Daddy/Daughter band

Yoga before bed

Painting at Grandma's

Swimming on MLK holiday....at was 95 degrees in the hot tub but chilly outstide

The future?

Morning Ginger attack

Doc McStuffins at work

Girls shopping day in San Antonio

Happy Valentine's Day 2013

Happy 5th Birthday, Grace!

 
What a fun filled 5 years it has been!

We went from this...

 To this....

Grace, you continue to put a smile on my face and happiness in my heart.

Artrageous 5th Birthday party

Grace is turning 5 this week and no better way to celebrate than with an Art party...Her favorite thing right now.

When a canvas painting place opened up recently by our house, I couldn't wait to book Grace's party.  Since it was an afternoon event, I decided to take it easy on the food and focus on favors.  I embroidered each guest an apron and had a local printing company make art tablets using a file Steve created in Photoshop to personalize.  Each guest also took home a bag with crayons, watercolors and art palette shaped cookie.

I found the idea for Grace's cake on Pinterest and a local bakery did a great job making it for me.

The girls were so cute gathering to greet everyone as they arrived.

Paying careful attention to the instructions

But doing her own thing.

This one is careful to do exactly as instructed.

 After everyone was finished, they gathered on stage for a group photo.

Then we gathered to sing Happy Birthday and have cake.

 A very fun 5th birthday party for Grace!

Super Duper "I-Have-Been-Busy" Catch Up Post

Yes, this is going to be my long, crazy catch up post.   The holidays start my world flying and I am just now getting back down to ground.  Since a picture says 1,000 words, I'll let my photos do most of the talking.  Unfortunately, our point and click camera malfunctioned just before Christmas so most of our Christmas photos are from the iPhone.

Back to November....

The girls had their annual Trike A Thon just before Thanksgiving.  Grace rode her bike while I pushed Claire around and around and around.

We spent Thanksgiving in Dallas with my family.   It was a bittersweet time saying goodbye to my grandfather and the girls' last great grandparent. 

My parents' 5 grandkids

2 seconds after getting to Dallas, Claire fell and messed up her forehead.

Perfect snow angels

We got back from Dallas and hit the Christmas tree lot.

 

 

Our Elf on the Shelf made a grand entrance and surprised the girls every morning.

 

Also in December, the girls had a gymnastics showcase.  Of course, I wasn't prepared and only had my iphone with little battery.

 

The girls have been so good so were completely spoiled this Christmas.  New bathing suits and swim Barbies were a highlight Christmas Day for the girls in light of our recently completed pool.

 

And no Vela Christmas post would be complete without our Christmas Card outtakes.  You would think it would have gotten easy, but it remains a challenge!

The Winner!

 Happy 2013!