Kyla's Photos!

I FINALLY got to go out and do Kyla's pictures. I've been patiently waiting between the weather and Dustin's schedule. Yesterday wasn't the nicest day but it was perfect for the pictures I was wanting. Rain was coming in so we ran out and within 30 minutes we had about 100 pictures taken so it wasn't too bad! She did awesome and loves it when she gets these photo shoots. I love it just as much! I have been so antsy to get out and shoot! Dustin was able to come out with us quickly which was so nice, I made him my prop man.
(I get people who ask where I get my girls hair pieces from, this one Kyla has on I made.)

I'm in LOVE with these photos and they are exactly what I envisioned! She is such a natural and I should get Dustin to video a session of her sometime because she honestly does everything on her own, she does mini movements and is so relaxed and I just eat it up. These are my favorite ones from the session. 
It's crazy to see how big she has gotten from the last photos we did in September! She's growing up too fast!

 Enjoy!

This black and white one is honestly one of my favorites. I LOVE the feel of it.

We sure are lucky!

Supermom

I sometimes feel like I wasn't fully prepared to be a mom. (I don't think anyone really is)
There are days where I say to myself or Dustin, "no one tells you these things!" And even if I was told I couldn't fully comprehend it until I was in it myself.
The days where the kids fight over everything, or the constant messes and then cleaning you have to do in order to stay on top of your house, how high maintenance the kids really are... etc.
Dustin tells me all the time how amazing I am and how grateful he is of me and what I do for this family. It means a lot to hear that. 

I can count on my hand the amount of times my laundry is fully done. There is ALWAYS dirty laundry!
I don't stress over my girls rooms being cleaned and they rarely are clean.
I live in a small house with 6 people, so the only place the girls get to play is in their rooms so that's where the mess will be.
I don't eat healthy or workout everyday (Although i'm working slowly at this and have started working out, go me!)
I don't have the cutest home decor or biggest house and it's not always clean.
I look like i've been hit by a truck most days. I avoid the mirrors those days.
I don't have crafts or activities for my kids to do everyday, I like that they can keep themselves busy and play together a lot of the time.
My kids stay in their pj's all day when we don't have to leave the house, or they just change a million times into random clothes and I don't care and they have bed head all day. It's a win-win, no more dirty clothes and they are already in their pj's for bed!
I forget my kids in timeouts... Ok not all the time, maybe I forget how many but whatever...

Anyways this list could go on.

I definitely don't ever expect to be "supermom". I do my best and what matters to me most is where I put all my energy. I've been trying not to worry about the little things like I used too.

I dance and sing with my girls everyday.
I'll waste time just sitting on the couch with them piled around me because they want to cuddle with me.
I'll lay on the floor and play with my baby when chores need done because she is growing so fast and I am hating it.
I tell them I love them all the time and really try and communicate with them about life and try and teach them the important things. I heard that kids have fully developed who they are by the age of 5! What we do matters!
I let them make messes, because they are kids and that's the fun of being a kid!
I bake with them.
I'm honest with them and I don't sugar coat things, only when necessary.
I try and do little things that make them feel special individually.
I just try and be a good mom. I have bad days for sure, and bad moments but no one is perfect.

I guess lately i've been a little worn out and have a lot on my mind. Sometimes I feel like a failure and I have to remind myself of how my life is lately. Dustin has been working a lot and needs to because we want him in school in the fall and in order to get there we have to save and be prepared. I live in a small place with 4 little girls who just want to play and make messes all day and I know it's temporary until he finishes school.

I don't even know if this post made any sense, sometimes I just write out what i'm feeling.
I love being a mom so much, it is a lot of work. Most days more than I can handle but the joys make it worth it. I have this craft Kyla made in preschool last year and she wanted me to hang it by my vanity so I did. I have been reading it a lot lately and it's a good reminder to me to enjoy these days as much as I can especially with her turning 6, it has gone by so fast and before we know it another 6 years will be gone!
It has her handprint on it and It says,

There used to be so many of my fingerprints to see

On furniture and walls and things from sticky grubby me.

But if you stop and think a while you'll see I'm growing fast 

These little moments disappear you can't bring back the past

So here is a small reminder to keep, not throw away

Of tiny hands and how they looked to make you smile someday. 

Tear!

I also love this quote so much and I need it in huge writing by my front door!

So we live in the mess and try not to stress about it too much. I have been spring cleaning and it feels great but it's those little messes that the kids are making that I don't worry too much about. They are kids after all, that's what they do! I just love that they play together and have so much in common, it definitely makes life a little easier. :)

You know you need a break when you look forward to getting your wisdom teeth out and having to recover for the day and not be needed for a while! Ha.

Easter!

This long weekend was SO fun! Dustin actually had it off and after working a 24! It was so relaxed and fun which is so us. We colored eggs, rolled them down the hill (I forgot my memory card for the camera at home, thank goodness for our phones so I did get a couple pics and we videoed it too) the Easter bunny came and we even had a yummy turkey dinner at Jill and Travis's house! Sunday was also Laken's birthday! She is officially ONE now! I'm in awe of how fast this year has flown by.
The weather wasn't the best but it could have been worse, at least we didn't get snow! And luckily it's just getting warmer which makes me so happy. It's crazy how the weather affects us and our moods. Well mine anyways, I'm so much happier when it's sunny out!

Speaking of Happy, PMS is in full swing in this house today. The girls are so emotional and "having a hard day" as Presley keeps saying. Dustin should be glad he is back to work! Laken is even in on this one with cutting 4 teeth. So that's all I can say for today!

Here are a big jumble of pics. Enjoy!

Laken on her Birthday!

Rolling Eggs!

Easter Morning!

Laken's hilarious smile I caught. 

Coloring eggs!

 

Easter Sunday!

 

 Hope everyone also had a great Easter weekend!!

Birthday for two!

Kyla turned 6 on Wednesday and Laken is 1 on Sunday! So crazy right?! It's been a busy birthday week. On her actual birthday we did a birthday breakfast, lunch and supper, I made some cake pops for her school class and she even invited Emma over for her special dinner that she picked. I asked her what she wanted so we had Ham, Mashed potatoes and gravy, Green beans with mushroom soup and carrots. It was quite the feast! Then cake pops for dessert since I made like a million.
She is so appreciative of everything and told me how fun her day was so many times.

Today we had her friends party! She had 7 friends come over. She wanted to have a birthday party with Laken so we did! You can't do much for a 1st birthday party but we made it special... I think. We did a pink and yellow themed party and it was pretty simple.

 So most know how much I love making the cake and what it will look like etc. So I found this pic and naturally thought mine would look like this. (top pic)

Cute right?

I loved how different it was and I could make it yellow and pink alternating to match the theme and it looked pretty easy to me. Well here is mine...

What the...
So close. ha! It's a HUGE hot mess!!!
 I had a feeling it wasn't going to work out when I started to carve the cakes. They were terrible cakes to cut. I was a little frustrated then cried then Dustin and I laughed our faces off because he didn't understand what it was. ha. Britt said, "i'm trying to figure out where you went wrong, but I just can't!" haha
We had a good laugh over it!

I did end up totally revamping it, and made it into something at least. She loved it and that's all that matters! Dustin was awesome and at 9:30pm ran to walmart to grab some fondant so I could cover this thing up! It all worked out in the end.

Kyla's actual birthday morning surprise!

Peanut being Peanut.

Birthday Breakfast of her choice as always.

Cute coat from Grandma and Grandpa Petersen! Too bad she could only wear it for that one day and now it's FREEZING out again. Leave winter.

 My other two models. Jayci says, "We're like super agents!" Ya sort of.

 School day with her cake pops!

I have to document. Me redoing the dreaded cake at midnight.

Party day!

 Four beautiful girls. All mine! Well Dustin's too... I guess.

The new cake! I did what I could...

 

Easter egg hunt!

Painting their own spring canvases. I loved this and they all did so good!

 

Jill and Travis!

 Presents!

Note Kyla's expressions. 

 

ha. I'm glad she's happy!

 

At least it looked cool inside the cake!

 I love her baby legs.

Kyla's gifts!

Laken's gift from Anderson's.

 Her new scooter from us! We got her a new helmet and knee/elbow pads too. She loved it!

I think they are partied out...

Ok that's all. I'm hoping to get out on Monday to do their yearly photos. If it warms up enough! I'm spent. That took forever so i'm done. And I think the Easter bunny is coming tonight. It never ends! ha
Until next time!!
Later!