It’s that time of year when all three of my girls celebrate their half–birthdays, one after another.  Sometimes I regret starting this tradition back when Waverly Maye was six months old (because there is 0% chance any of them would give it up now, they reaaaaally love that spotlight a second day of the year 😉 )– but mostly I love any chance to celebrate and make an ordinary day extra fun, especially during these crazy Covid times.  We always bake a cake + cut it in half and sing, except this year Waverly chose ice cream instead since cake really isn’t her favorite.  This is also always such a good reminder to update on my girls at their current ages, hands down my favorite posts to write, and the ones I know I will cherish forever.

Waverly Maye, eight + a half, third grade.  My mini me forever.  She looks the most like me + has so many of my traits, especially the type-A ones which equally drive me crazy and make me smile all of the time.  She thrives off a good routine, craves organization, doesn’t like anything out of place, and loves a good matching outfit or celebration.  She loves to dance and has recently become a really good artist, her favorite tv show is either Fixer Upper or Flip or Flop and she walks around the house planning new projects we can do.  She is a natural oldest child, loves to take the lead + run the show with her little sisters, but also loves to spend time outside making up stories and riding her bike all alone.  She’s so big now (less than two years from fifth grade!!) but also always my baby, I am so proud of the big girl she is becoming.

Avalon Elle, five + a half, kindergarten.  Sweeeeet Avalon Elle.  She is the funniest, listening to her talk is my favorite, both her little accent and her thoughtful stories.  She looks up to Waverly so much and takes care of Remie, the perfect middle sister with the biggest heart — she always will say “you never leave a sister out” and wants to make sure everyone is happy + included.  She  still is (usually!) my most laid-back kid, and I am still so very thankful for that 😉  She is really athletic but also has such a girly side to her, this is pretty new and always takes me by surprise.  Her current favorite color is rainbow, she loves unicorns, and wears a plastic tiara she got for Christmas 99% of the time. She always tells us she wants to be five + live with us forever, this was one of her half-birthday wishes, goodness I love her so.

Remie Rue, two + a half, first year of preschool.   The cutest tiniest human, almost three years later and I am still pinching myself over our surprise girl.  She is such a mix of her two older sisters, she has Waverly’s sass + Avalon’s shy and sweet side, and is so full of joy.  She LOVES school, this was such a relief for me since we have never sent one of our kids anywhere so little, but with Avalon starting kindergarten it seemed to make sense and it’s been the best thing for her!  By far her favorite thing to do is read books, she does this 75% of the day and holds the book out like a teacher.  She still sucks on her same two fingers and plays with her hair with her other hand, she also still looks like her daddy the most and still is SO LOVED by her big sisters!  Our little dream babe, she is just pure gold.

A few recent photos, we were recently gifted these leos + I usually don’t go for pieces so flashy, but they LOVED them just like I knew they would.

My three golden girls, I love you forever + ever!!!! XO

Like many other families with school age babes, we are rounding the corner in just a couple months on one year of on + off virtual learning and it has been a JOURNEY.  Each day we try to get up and just do the best we can, and also are the first to admit that the day we all get to go back to school will be a very good one! 🙂

My motto is to work smarter not harder, always, but especially in this situation with my two big girls on a computer all day, me working full-time, and of course a tiny toddler.  We were first introduced to Vooks a couple years ago (and loved it then!) but it has taken on new meaning during this time.  Vooks is a streaming library of animated read-aloud books, there is an entire library of options and so many that my girls get excited to read!  Both Waverly + Avalon can navigate it on their own, this gives us an option to get their reading time in even when I am working or with their little sister.  There are also resources to help supplement their reading, creative lesson plans and fun activities for holidays or other special occasions.  Such a gift for mamas!

Vooks is currently offering a free month subscription, no purchase necassary!!!  The perfect time to try it.  If you do, both my girls love the Grace for President book, we highly recomend!  Happy reading + happy Thursday friends, sending our love to you during this crazy time of learning! XO

This post was sponsored but all thoughts + opinions are my own.

We kicked off 2021 last weekend with a cousin trip to Wintergreen, this was one of my girls surprises on Christmas morning + they were soooo excited to get a weekend with their cousins and to see snow for the first time in forever.  Snow is hit or miss in VB and it has been three years since we have had a big snowfall (the last time was when Remie Rue was in my belly), so we were extra happy for her to get to see snow for the first time!

The big girls were able to go tubing + Avalon got to finally do the snow angel she had been waiting months for, this was a big dream of hers since we read about book about Peppa Pig making one – the sweetest!  Scroll to the third picture to see what Remie Rue thought of the snow 😉 nooot a fan at all day one, but luckily she came around on day two.

And now that we have seen snow, are over winter + counting down to SPRING.  Wishing you a happy weekend!  XO

A new year!!  Always such a refreshing time, and this year it definitely takes on new meaning after one of the weirdest years ever.  My girls never want to miss celebrating a holiday, just like mama, and we had the sweetest low-key New Years Eve at home, a dinner with fancy plates + sparkling apple juice with our annual funfetti cake for dinner.

2020 was unexpected and hard in so many ways, but also a really good year for our family (I realize we are lucky in this and send love to those who are still facing challenges because of the pandemic).  We were able to spend so much time as a family of five, at home, time we never would have had with two full-time working parents + I cherished it so much.  It wasn’t perfect or easy, but it brought our girls closer than ever and we are a stronger family because of it!  We had time to dedicate to a lot of house projects we had been wanting to check off and love our home (and neighborhood) more than ever.  And my husband is loving his job and I am so proud of him for how hard he works for all of us girls. 🙂

Also a huuuuuge highlight of the year for me, after five years of working my way back to a high school position, I got a job at the high school right outside of our neighborhood, the school that our girls will go one day — this was a complete dream come true for me + honestly five months in and I still can’t believe it actually happened.  I will never forget the day that they called and officially offered me the job, all three of my girls dancing outside in the rain with me, they knew how badly I wanted this and how hard I had worked for it.  I hope they always remember that some of life’s biggest lessons come from difficult times, waiting for a new job the last couple of years got so very hard, but also came with some of my biggest personal growth ever.

We are heading into 2021 with not a lot of specific plans or goals, other than my usual reminder to myself to slow down (something I am always working on because, type A).  This just doesn’t feel like the year for huge laid out plans with so much uncertainty still and I am honestly good with that.  I am hopeful + excited for the year ahead, and wish the same for you.

Happy New Year, friends! Hope it’s off to the best start! XO

Happy 2021!  We are slowly preparing to get back into the pace of normal life after a very low-key + relaxing holiday at home, it’s been a much needed break from screens and busy school schedules after the last couple months of virtual learning.  Sharing some favorite photos of our Christmas today — the girls on Christmas Eve in jammies (which they wore ALL day long!!), a couple images from Christmas morning (it was super dark + rainy so I didn’t get many, but it was the sweetest morning), our Christmas dinner candle holder my husband made me (I looooooove it and can’t wait to use it all year long!), and a quick family photo we managed to get in on a very cold Christmas Day.

This was not my favorite Christmas ever, I really missed being at my grandparents on Christmas Eve, a tradition for as long as I can remember, and dang Corona just seemed to make everything harder this holiday season — especially planning for gifts and get togethers and making it all happen.  I honestly felt a little overwhelmed by the time the actual day came around!  But we are all about those silver linings + obviously we have a lot of those.  Our sweet girls had the best time (Avalon screamed “Best Christmas Ever” repeatedly) and I am so very aware that these magical holidays with little people are numbered.  I never want to forget the sound of their little feet running down our stairs Christmas morning + I will never take it for granted, I will forever say it, these are the days!!

Sending you our love as we kick off a new year with all the good things in store! XO