Diva.  It ain’t just a nickname.

Poolside

 The pool days are starting.  And I’m so excited. 

   

Diva’s already a pro in the water…

…so that just leaves little Munchkin.  I’ll get to work on her soon enough and then I’ll relax about 5% when my kids are around water.

Plus, nothing wears out two rascally girls like 3+ hours in the sun and pool. 

Let down your hair!

One of the many things I love about this girl is her imagination and creativity (okay..two things)  She put together this ensemble and said, “I’m Rapunzel!”

Yes, we are a wee bit obsessed with Tangled.  Myself included!

Miss Five

          

Somebody turned five today.  And she was really, really excited about it.

And yes.  I did it.  All by myself.

           

         

                                        

 

And of course, a picture of Miss M.  For good measure.

Happy Birthday Diva!!

Summer is just around the corner…

            

            

              

As well as all the delicious foods that come along with it!  Mmmm…..yummy. 

The thumb

When Diva was born, she refused every single pacifier I put into her mouth.  She’d spit them out as if they were poison.  So I gave up.  Then at four months old she found her thumb. 

Now I can scarcely believe that it’s been almost five years since that day and the thumb is still very much a part of her life.  She saves it only for movie time and bed time, and only if she has her beloved, tattered blanket.  No blanket, no thumb. 

Part of the reason why I have such a hard time taking away Munchkin’s binkies is because I cannot take away Diva’s thumb.  How fair is that?  Both bring comfort, both bring sleep. Yeah, there’s that whole it will ruin their teeth kind of thing but guess what?  Hubby had his pacifiers until he was four years old (heck, he even brought them to preschool and stored them in his cubby!) and his straight teeth never saw a single brace.  jealous.

So I let them have their thumbs and their binkies and their precious little blankets because childhood is fleeting. 

Safety and comfort are feelings that should not be disturbed.

I told her so…

My kids have made it a (very very annoying and obnoxious) habit of not listening to me.  In one ear and out the other.

They also have a habit of holding things out the car window.  Yeah.  Blankets, dolls, toys..whatever.  Apparently it’s exhilarating.  They scream with glee when the wind catches whatever object they’ve decided gets an adrenaline rush.  It’s weird.  I know.

And guess how many times I have said, “Don’t do that….you’re going to drop it out the window and I’m not going back to pick it up!”

A lot.   

So…Saturday we’re heading to the beach (on a 65 mph highway mind you).  Diva decides it’s Etch a Sketch’s turn.  I’m enjoying a conversation with hubby when we hear a loud “BAM!” as the Etch a Sketch hits the side of the car and out onto that very busy highway, followed of course by full blown hysteria. 

Think she learned her lesson?

R.I.P hot pink Etch a Sketch.

 

The Final Countdown

 Ahhh…G.O.B.                                           

                              

Anyway….

The countdown has begun. Ten days.  5 years.  Not sure if I’m ready for this.  And by this I mean

this:

                                     

Daddy let Diva peruse various Princess Youtube videos.  Click click click and she found that blasted doll cake. She couldn’t wait to show me.  “Mommy THAT IS THE CAKE I WANT FOR MY BIRTHDAY!” (seriously, she shouted it.) Oh my gosh.  Save me.  Or hold my hand.  Walk me through it.  Can I just call that woman and have her come make it?  What kind of LDS, stay-at-home, Caucasian, blogging, Facebooking mother would I be if I seriously paid someone to recreate that frilly masterpiece?  Not a very good one.  That’s for sure.

Oi Vey.  Wish me luck.

Baby Claire

My good friend let me photograph her sweet, adorable little peanut of a baby girl.  Only 6 days old.  If I can’t have another newborn of my own then I am going to force myself upon all my friends’ and siblings’ babies.  So there.

   

      

Photographing a newborn is a LOT harder than it looks. Take these pictures for example.  The little stinker absolutely refused to let us take her paci from her mouth. She wouldn’t relax or stop crying if we did.  Oh well, at least it’s a cute pacifier. 

She definitely kept her eye on me; making sure I didn’t try stealing it again.

                 

So to all my newborn photog friends…hats off and major props.

Dana Point

A fun but short overnight trip to Dana Point.  The girls and I tagged along with my mom and younger brothers.

     

Diva was so excited to sleep in a hotel. And even though it was a very nice one I couldn’t help but wonder about those nasty bedbugs I heard so much about last year.  Ick.

And what did Munchkin try to do?  Oh that’s right, climb the railings. 

And we went to the beach.  Of course. 

Say hello to my creepster brother who enjoyed popping in on some of my shots. ^^

 

 

But the main reason we were there?  To snuggle (or smother) my adorable nephew.

                                     

                     

  And in case anyone was wondering….

…I was actually there.  Evidently I don’t trust many people with my camera.

Hey Nate.  Payback.  Couldn’t get this picture any larger. Too bad.