Our Exciting Week - Part 2

No, you haven’t missed anything - as in a “Part 1.” But I have just finished the photos for Bill and Debby before they left for home today, so I figured I’d write up about the wedding excitement (part 2 of our week) first, since I have the photos done already. (I posted all the photos up in our Flickr account, but you need to be a friend/family to see them - so if you are not able to see them, let me know and I’ll add you! The photos were a little hard since we shot most of them in the shade, and at 1:00pm, bright sunlight on the beach. Shesh…but there are some good ones, I think.)

So, on to the wedding…

Debby and Bill have been engaged for a few years, but they have been “together” for many years. In fact, they have been a couple since before J. and I got married, so quite a long time. We all knew they’d get married eventually, and they finally decided to “get around to it” while they were out here.

We were shooting for a simple, sweet, barefoot on the beach sort of affair - and I think we pulled it off. We found an officiant who recommended Point Dume State Park in Malibu, and was available for a mid-week, middle of the afternoon ceremony.

So we all headed to the only slice of shade on the beach, next to a big cliff (that you may recognize from several movies and commercials, Planet of the Apes perhaps?).

Nena helping her flower girl across the hot sand. Actually, the girls didn’t seem to mind the hot sand at all, it was the grown-ups that were complaining the most.

We ended up getting the girls’ dresses downtown near Santee Alley. When Nena asked them if they would be her flower girls, I thought Emma would explode, she was so excited. She wanted to wear her Belle princess dress, and the one we found her was actually pretty close. She is in love with it. I’m surprised we haven’t tried to wear it again today, in fact.

We shopped for the dresses and flowers in a two-hour window we had between dropping Addie off at school and when we needed to pick Em up after school on Tuesday. The flowers we found downtown at the Flower Mart. Lots and lots of roses - we just put the bouquets together on Wednesday morning before the ceremony. (I think you may be seeing more of the flowers, like say…maybe on Tuesday? It is the only thing Crafty I have done in weeks!)

My friend Michelle donated her craft to the ceremony and not only played amazing music for us while we were walking over, but also adapted (transcribed?  Is that the correct musical term?) Pachabel’s Canon in D (a piece usually for string quartets) and played it at the beginning of the ceremony. It was incredible. The cliff gave the beach some pretty amazing acoustics and the cello music on the beach really was the perfect touch.

We gathered around Debby and Bill and witnessed the sweet (not too long, not too short) ceremony.

Emma took her role very seriously and tried to school Addie on the proper way to be a flower girl. (Where she learned this, I have no idea!)

She did a great job with Emma’s guidance and made us very proud.

Although there was definitely some monkeying around, Bill and Debby didn’t see any of it until we watched the video, so while it was funny and we captured it, it didn’t disrupt the wedding. A little light-saber action going on here, I think.

Then it was official! They are married!

And it was time for some fun. A little dancing…

Some toasting…

Much kissing….

And playing in the water…

Or hiding from the waves…

Nena taking the plunge (for the second time that day!)…

She was a beautiful bride and I think had a good wedding day.

She wanted sandy toes, and she got ‘em…

After the beach we headed to Ruth’s Chris steakhouse and had an incredible dinner with some wedding cake and called it a day.

It was a pretty incredible day for us, and I hope it was for you (Debby and Bill), too. Thanks so much for letting us be a part of it, guys. We wish you much happiness and love for the rest of your days.

———————

(Stay tuned for Part 1 of our Exciting Week, which was also made possible by Debby and Bill! Gotta go get those pics downloaded now.)

Why we love Fall ~ (Almost) Wordless Wednesday

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, PUMPKIN SCONES ARE BACK?!

Of, course I need to try out the goods.

Mmmm…satisfied customer. We sure do love it when the pumpkin treats return.

Stop over for more (really!) Wordless Wednesday.

Addie’s Day

So, the kick-off to “Addie week” was a hit, I think.

She woke up to a little outdoor birthday card this morning…

And a new water & sand table, which she enjoyed all day long and is already making plans with for tomorrow morning…

She opened up a few other presents before breakfast, too. Including a very funny cat card which meows to the tune of “Happy Birthday.” It has also provided endless entertainment today…

I asked her if she wanted a cupcake this morning, I figured it was the one day a year that she should be able to have dessert for breakfast. And what did my little sugar bear say?

“Oh, Mama. Maybe I can have one after I eat my lunch!”

I guess I can’t argue with that very practical logic, can I?

And then it was time to head off to her school for our visitation day. She insisted on wearing her new kitty rain boots that we got her for her birthday. I did manage to convince her to leave the umbrella home. At least the boots matched her dress, and they came in handy since she did find a few “sprinkler puddles” to slosh through on our way to school…

She was so excited to have a backpack “just like Emma” and made me put a snack in her bag too…just like Emma.

I actually didn’t take my camera to her school. (Gasp! I know!!) I figured that I would get plenty of pictures of her official first day on Thursday, and honestly, I just wanted to enjoy our hour there and not have to feel like I was documenting everything.

In the end it was the right choice. And I am more and more convinced that Ad’s school is going to be a fantastic place for her. I love hanging out there just as much as she does! And her teachers could not be more loving and caring.

I already had a good feeling about them from when I had met them before, but when we arrived today they both squatted down to Addie’s level and immediately asked her about her new boots. They just have a way with little kids - it is pretty obvious just from watching them. Within seconds Addie was chatting them up like they were long lost friends and was showing them her backpack, pulling out her Ariel for them to hold, and offering them some of her snack.

Me thinks she is going to do just fine on Thursday.

Whether Mommy is going to do as well is still up for debate.

An Addison Rose by any other name…

…well she is just as sweet, no matter what we call her. And today we can officially call her our big 3-year old girl.

Dear Addison Rose,

You are three. Which is so weird to write because for the last four or five months I have had to keep reminding everyone (including myself) that you were only two, not yet three! You just often times seem so much wiser than your three wee years. But now we can finally add our “big 3-year old” to the ever-expanding list of nicknames for you.

When you were born, even though you were a very, very big 8lb. 8oz. (remind me to thank you for that someday, by the way!), Daddy looked at you and said, “Wow, she is just so tiny!” You had these scrawny little legs and toes and everything about you seemed, well…tiny! And when you came home from the hospital Emma picked up on Tiny and she would call you my “tiny baby sis.” So from then on, we have always just called you Tiny. Usually this works to your advantage. Since we will always consider you the baby of the family, I think you are given much more leeway than your sister was on a good many things. But I guess since she gets the glory in being the “first” you get the advantage of being the “baby.”

I already knew when Daddy named you Addison that we would end up nicknaming you Addie. And Addie is what most people know you as. For people just meeting you for the first time they might think that you are shy and a little bit of a Momma’s girl. You ask to be picked up and hide your face in my shoulder whenever you are in a situation that makes you the least bit uncomfortable. But once you have the lay of the land, the true Addie really shines. And I do mean shine.

When you are well rested, fed, and the planets are aligned, you are the sunniest, funniest and absolute most pleasant child to be around. You have your Daddy’s good sense of humor, you have Mommy’s crazy expressions, and I think you take great pleasure in making people laugh. I have video after video of me just laughing at you - and all you are doing is laughing, with that crazy, infectious giggle of yours. It is one of my favorite sounds.

Daddy calls you Rosey-Toesy, which many times he will shorten to Rosey, Roses, Toesy or just Toes. When you are our little Rosey Toesy you could be mistaken for an elite gymnast in the Preschool Olympics. You will hang on everything that will hold your little wiggling body, fling your body off of the sofa, or scream “more flippy upside dooown!” as Daddy flips you over and over, repeatedly. Or you can be found very solemnly telling Daddy, “no more tickles, Daddy” as you cuddle up with him and then the next minute you are squealing “Yes, tickle me Daddy!”

You have a very serious side to you as well. Sometimes you will be off playing and I have to listen for you talking to your kitties/pollys/babies, or try to catch you humming or singing just so I know where you are. You can entertain yourself completely for well over an hour. I’ll come in and say, “What you doing, Addikins?” And you’ll just reply, “Nufin, Mama. I’m just playin here. You want to play with me, Mama? You can be Cinderella?” It is so impossible to turn down an invitation like that. To be included in your little world.

Obviously Emma is the only one who calls you Little Sis, and I honestly think this may be the most important role to you. Emma continues to be the one person who can influence you like nobody else can. Although you have started to figure out that you don’t have to do everything Emma tells you to, and there have been a few more disagreements lately. But, for the most part, Emma still stands as your favorite playmate and your best friend.

I think those moments when I end up using the nickname Lovebug, or just Bug, are my all-time favorite moments with you, though. We could have suffered through a complete meltdown and you’ll come off of the timeout step, climb on my lap, cuddle up and whisper “I love you, Mama.” The rest of the world just fades away as I soak in your sweet heart-shaped face, your big eyes, and your content little smile. Tantrum? What tantrum? All I see is my little loving Bug who loves me unconditionally even when we clearly do not see eye to eye.

You are a complicated little creature, that is for sure. But I am thankful every single day that I get to witness you growing up. I look forward to uncovering all of the different facets of Addie, and loving each and every one of them.

I hope you have an amazing year, Tiny-Rosey Toes-Lovebug-Addie-Addikins.
Happy Birthday.
I love you,
Mama

Crafty Tuesday

Crafty Tuesday will resume next week. I have a few cards to show. But right now I am trying to get a bunch of stuff for A’s birthday sorted out. I promise goodies, soon. I do know Stacy has some stuff today - so head on over there! See you next week!

Wonder ~ Theme Thursday

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder…

For more Theme Thursday wondrous photos, visit Stacy’s.

Crafty Tuesday

I have a completely legitimate reason this week. Really, I do. I don’t have a thing to show for Crafty Tuesday, and I was also hoping to partake this week in MammaDawg’s Scrapbook Saturday, but…nope didn’t get in on that either.

BUT, like I said, I have a reason!

Somebody in our house is finally getting her wish and starting soccer. And, another somebody in our house is apparently a huge pushover and can’t say “no,” and who consequently is now the assistant coach on that soccer team.

Yeah, so instead of doing some fun scrapbooking this week, I’ve been trying to learn…um, well, everything about soccer so I don’t make a total fool of myself. The coach assures me that it is a great way to learn the game and totally help him out at the same time.

As he was selling me on the job, I could hear my brain telling me, “Um, hello? Let’s not do this. Let’s just hang back and see what this is all about. Maybe next year? I mean, do you even know how to play soccer?”

And then I hear my mouth saying, “Ok. Sure. Sounds good.”

Gah. My mouth is officially not allowed to answer any questions.

So I’ve been taking the AYSO coaching courses online and taking photos of my cute little soccer player, of course.

What? Don’t you wear your soccer cleats and shin guards with your pink sundress?

But hey, the girl has got some moves! She has been practicing every night since we got her all the gear. She is just so excited.

In other kinda crafty news. I am working on Addie’s birthday preparations. Yikes! I know. She is turning three in three weeks. The party is going to be Ariel themed (of course) with this fun sandcastle cake. I think we are just going to do a very simple little pool party with Addie’s two little friends. I figure with sand and water involved, the fewer kids - the better.

So when I do get the invite finished, I’ll have something for Crafty Tuesday - but from me, just excuses this week. What about you? Any crafty goodness to share?

Antique ~ Theme Thursday

I have been playing with vintage/antique treatments for the past few weeks now, so when Stacy suggested antique for the Theme Thursday I figured I might be able to pull something out for it.

This photo (despite Addie’s crazy, frizzy hair) just reminded me of two little porcelain dolls, and when I started playing with it and desaturating the color, I like what it added to the photo. I also warmed it up a little bit - I think the yellow tones add to that vintage feel.

And then this photo - one of my favorites of the week. It didn’t look quite right in black & white, or even sepia toned - but I just desaturated the color and added a little bit of a textured mask around the edges and now I really like it.

Just lying back, watching the clouds go by. I wonder what is going through that mind of hers…

Fashion ~ Theme Thursday

Stacy’s challenge for today was to show some style and our mad skills while fashioning our photo shoots. I had intended on putting together a little “shoot” with the girls, but kind of ran out of time. (Always with the excuses, I know.)

So, I started perusing the archives and trying to find some examples of our more fashionable shoots.

Um…I think I perhaps, subconsciously, wanted to have twin girls because, ah…I have years of photos with the girls in matching, or at the very least, fully coordinated outfits.

Like this one…

Or this one…

(Even the same backdrop, the ‘ol blue chair!)

And this one, not just coordinating outfits, full-on matching! The same dress (and white sweater!)…

And apparently whenever a holiday comes along it is the perfect time to dress them alike.
Like Easter…

Halloween…

And, of course, Christmas!

Unfortunately I think my days of coordinating their fashion are numbered. Apparently (who knew?) they are not twins, and they are very much their own little individual selves, with opinions on what they should be wearing. A lot of opinions.

Doesn’t mean I’m not going to keep trying to stage perfectly fashioned photo opportunities, though.

Parents….can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em! ~ Wordless Wednesday

(J. took this one on his iPhone at the Grove the other night. It cracks me up every time I look at it!)

More Wordless Wednesday fun.