Bike Ride

Tal and I are proud parents! After months of practice, Savannah (7) learned to ride her bike tonight...and now she wants to ride all the time!

Everyday Moments

Life...unedited. 

These random iPhone photos are dark, blurry, and untouched, 

but they capture everyday moments from the last couple weeks that I want to remember forever.

Savannah was the star student in art class! 

She set a good example by cleaning up her work area...

even when other students at her table didn't do their job:

This week Hadley (22 months) started putting two words together:

"Daddy truck"

"Baba Mama"

"Please Dodo" (Hadley's babysitter)

Hurricane Hadley struck again!

Hadley found Savannah's pink lip gloss and smeared it all over the side of her face and inside her ears:

I wore my new sea star (star fish) dress to church, 

and Savannah wanted to take a selfie with me since her initials are SEA:

Hadley looked adorable wearing Tal's hat:

Savannah's new iPad case arrived! 

Savannah picked out the case because she loved the pink colors and high heels:

Hadley loves snuggling with the teal blanket below. She and I have covered up with the fleecy blanket nearly every day for the last 22 months during sleep time and/or feeding time. As a result, Hadley has gotten really attached to sleeping and snuggling with the blanket! 

While Savannah is at gymnastics every Monday, Hadley and I spend an hour walking around the rec building. Hadley wears her backpack (with a leash). It allows Hadley to explore independently, while I keep her safe nearby, so she doesn't dart away. 

Earlier this summer, Tal and I discovered that there's no admission fee at Falls Lake during the week, so our family has been going swimming in the lake after school/work once a week.

Our family has Family Night every Friday night!

After eating dinner at Chick-fil-a, we walked along the Neuse River and ate ice cream:

Family Night at Neuse River:

Savannah got a 100% on her first spelling test in 2nd grade!

Master Bedroom Makeover: Part 5 (Art Above Bed)

Over the last few months, Tal and I have updated our master bedroom with new hardwood floors, curtains, and bedding, as well as a rug and a gallery wall. We recently hung some art above our bed. Our new coral canvas ties in with our room's navy, teal, and pink color scheme.

Tal and I are almost done with our master bedroom! We just need to add some new bed pillows and furniture. In 2017, Tal and I are hoping to trade in our 10 year-old queen mattress and sleigh bed for a king mattress and upholstered panel bed. We are also planning to paint our existing nightstand and dresser. Stay tuned!

Potty Training

Yesterday Hadley, who is 22 months old, went pee-pee in the potty THREE TIMES! She lifted up her dress and then pointed to her diaper and the potty. For weeks, Hadley has been showing signs that she ready for potty training. She takes off her diaper and hands it to me. She pulls at her diaper and says pee and poo. We are so proud of our big girl!

I used my phone to snap this pic of Hadley's first time going potty: 

Trash Can Enclosure: Part 2

Tal finished building our trash can enclosure more than a week ago!

Before our trash cans were visible from the street:

A couple weeks ago, Tal dug four holes and set the posts:

Next, he built the platform and ramp for our trash cans:

Then, Tal installed the rails and lattice: 

Tal still needs to cut down the posts and fix the landscape border, while I need to finish painting. Then, I will be back with a reveal of our trash can enclosure!

Lego Research Study

Yesterday Savannah loved participating in a Lego research study with seven other girls who were 7 years old. During the 45-minute focus group, Savannah played with Legos and shared her thoughts about the products. At the end of the session, Savannah received two boxes of Legos and a paid incentive. 

Then, last night Savannah used the money she received from the Lego study (as well as the money she earned for having good behavior at school and doing chores at home) to help buy herself an iPad Mini. Savannah is looking forward to taking her iPad to school on BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) days and using it for educational purposes!

Kidz Bop Concert

Tal and Savannah had a great time on their Daddy-Daughter date tonight! They went to the Kidz Bop concert at a local outdoor amphitheater. Savannah loves Kidz Bop because they take out the inappropriate content and language from contemporary, popular songs and sing them with family-friendly lyrics. Savannah enjoyed spending time with Daddy and singing along to some of her favorite songs! 

At the concert

Riding High

The joys of childhood...riding on Daddy's shoulders!

My Greatest Blessings!

Tal, Hadley (21 months), and Savannah (7) after church

Tal and Hadley

I love the picture below of Savannah wearing the same pink floral dress when she was 18 months old:

Everyday Moments

Life...unedited. 

These random iPhone photos are dark, blurry, and untouched, 

but they capture everyday moments from the last couple weeks that I want to remember forever.

My 3 loves walking into Home Depot

 Hadley finally has enough hair for a crazy hair day!

Savannah was so brave when she had a mole on her chin removed at the dermatologist's office:

Grandma Barbara came to visit us last weekend!

Hadley loves buckling the straps on her turtle toy!

Thanks to Tal's mom for watching Savannah and Hadley last Friday night, so Tal and I could have an impromptu date night. At 6:30 P.M., Tal and I decided to go to the 6:50 P.M. (and opening night) showing of Jason Bourne. Tal and I enjoyed the movie and spending a couple hours together!

 Hadley was so proud of herself for climbing into her baby's stroller:

Hadley pointed to Grandma Barbara's picture in our downstairs hallway:

While I was putting away laundry, Hadley climbed into my bathroom sink and smeared Vaseline, lotion, and make-up on herself and the mirror. I had to give Hadley a shower and clean up the vanity...it was no fun!

Playing in our backyard

Hadley is a daredevill! She loves swinging on top of the playset:

During Savannah's last week of summer vacation, she spent 3 days in my library. Savannah also helped her 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Smith, get ready for the new school year. Savannah stuffed and put labels on folders for Mrs. Smith:

Savannah started 2nd grade last week, and we discovered that her sneakers were too small for P.E. class on Wednesday. Savannah asked Tal to take a picture of her new bright and sporty sneakers that she got today: 

Below are the collage canvases that I created and ordered for my mom and niece Mya to remember their stay with us in NC a couple weeks ago:

Mya's Canvas

My Mom's Canvas