in the blink of an eye...

I swear, just yesterday Leila was starting first grade and Leila was starting preschool. Apparently I blinked, and the whole school year was done.

Both girls had absolutely amazing teachers, and wonderful school years. We could be more grateful for the amazing education they receive, and the fantastic educators in their lives.

And now it's officially summer for us. No big plans, lots of little day trips around the Bay Area. Time to make, and starting working on a Summer bucket list. Any suggestions for what to do with two cute girlies over the summer?

Three Things

1. This funny print. Peonies are awesome (seriously, who doesn't love them?) Their only downfall is their super short season. I don't know about you, but I buy a bouquet (or two) every time I'm at Trader Joe's!

2. The Great Gatsby. This is my book club's book this month, and even though I read (and liked) it in high school, I really enjoyed reading it a second time around! I can't wait to see the movie. Have you seen it? What did you think?

3. My little Minnie Mouse. I love that she wears costumes everywhere we go. When we're home we can hardly keep her in clothes. (Future nudist, perhaps?) :/ But when we go out she loves to dress up!

What are YOUR three things?? Be sure to let me  know in the comments section, and feel free to leave links!

Happy Birthday Coco!

Coco - today you are THREE years old! You are sweet, but SPICY! You keep us on our toes, and keep life fun! Whenever you're around people are laughing at your funny dances, goofy faces, or one of your crazy sayings. We all love you to pieces!

Happy birthday, sweet girl!

Diaper cream: 1 Coco: 0

Spring nights are my favorite.

Dinner outside.

Hula hoop competitions.

Swinging.

Wiffle ball.

Yes. Spring nights are my favorite by far!

Mama Moment: Speaking Milestones.

Most little kids have those words they say incorrectly, but it's so darn cute you don't want to correct them. When Leila was little she used to call coffee "foffee". It was so flipping cute and I never told her it was actually called coffee. One day out of the blue she called it coffee. I was kinda heartbroken.

Gianna loves blankets. She's always been a blankets over stuffed animals girl (Leila's the opposite) and since she could talk she's called them "byup-byups."  The way she said it was so sweet. About a week ago she asked me for her blanket. I was confused. "You want your byup-byup, Coco?"  "No, mama. Blanket please." Heartbroken all over again.

I guess it makes me a little sad because it feels like their babyhood is slipping away so quickly. I know I don't want them going through life saying words wrong, but man it sucks when they say them right the first time. Tony totally doesn't get why it upsets me. Maybe it's a mom thing.

Oh, well. Leila still calls turquoise "turk-ta-poise" and Coco still calls coffee "hoffee." I'm not ever correcting them and am holding onto those little bits of babyhood as long as I can.

Do (did?) your kids have any silly, little words they say?

Olivia the Pig birthday party

Last weekend we held a joint friends and family birthday party for the girls (Leila's friend party was back in January.) They both requested an Olivia the Pig theme. I was pushing for firefighter or barnyard theme, but Coco said "Oyiv-ee-a!" and Leila agreed. Olivia it was.

Here's the food table:

Those white boxes are boxed lunches I made for each of the kids. Each one included a peanut butter and jelly, buttered noodles with pasta, fruit snacks, goldfish and a mandarin orange. (Except for a few without the pb & j sandwiches - they got a squeezable fruit, along with the other things.)

Aerial view of the boxed lunches ;)

Does anyone else stress that there won't be enough food at your parties, only to be left with an obscene amount of leftovers?

There was also food on all of the tables outside - chips and dips, popcorn, finger foods.....no shortage of food.

On the drink table were some fun straws - Olivia on red striped paper straws. I found the Olivias here. I also made up little coloring books for the kids using Olivia printables found here.

 I had a lot of fun decorating for this party! Inside I had bits of pretty trim strung up, and on the trim were Instagram pictures (printed via Postal Pix), and hung with miniature glittered clothespins. There were three separate picture garlands.

Outside decorations were fun and simple. Lots of paper poms and lanterns in the tree, and Olivia books scattered throughout.

I also made "rules of life" signs and placed them randomly inside and out. I used some of the actual "rules" from the Olivia books and show, but made up a few as well.  I put them in the awesome Ikea frames, and had a "rule of life" on one side, with a coordinating picture on the other.  (If you're not familiar with Olivia, rules of life are her trademarks. Her rules are hilarious.)

Tony's only party request (well, besides beer) was a piñata. He loves piñatas just to see Leila's face when she's taking a whack at it...

(Notice her batting gloves?)

Coco wasn't as impressed with the piñata as her sister was.

Then it was time for cake. It was a simple strawberry shortcake from Safeway. I made the little heart bunting, added a handful of red glitter sprinkles and one of the girls' Olivia toys.

We had lots of fun with our family and friends!

Sources:

Dresses were custom made by Barb Tucker on Etsy.

All paper goods were designed by the very fabulous and very talented Jen of Top That! Designs. I'm dying because this phone picture is the only one of the crazy cute water bottle wrappers. You'll just have to believe me that they looked adorable on the bottles.

She also did the cupcake toppers and invitations as well as the background for the "Rules of Life" prints.

Big thanks to my friends Heather and Tara for snapping some great pictures!