She's one!

On her birthday, Faye enjoyed playing outside. (So happy to be doing the rocking horse all by herself!)

She also enjoyed opening gifts from grandmas and grandpas. 

We played some family games, planned by Carson. (His idea was "pin the eyes on the baby" since duh, Faye is a baby.)

And she enjoyed some yummy birthday treats!

The boys were SO excited for her to make a huge mess and gobble up her cake. Unfortunately all she really wanted to do was pat it.

I made her taste a bit.

So she played with it a little.

Ate a tiny bit.

Spit it out.

And then finally smashed it like Carson wanted her to!

Carson says Faye's was the BEST PARTY EVER! We love this girl!

Day 7: Bright Colors.

Maybe not the brightest outfit in the world, but the belt is a pretty pink, right?

Tomorrow's prompt is to dress up a coat. Coat?? Who needs one? We're off to the park to enjoy the 65 degree weather!

Day 6: Decade

The 60s-inspired dress is actually from Old Navy, although I never would have guessed it would come from there. (Is 60s right?? I don't know my decades, I guess!) It wasn't long enough for my liking, so I wore a navy Target skirt underneath. The boots were purchased in Southern Chile!

Are you following the challenge on Kayla's blog yet? Here it is.

The Birthday Girl does Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Should have had the video mode on for this one. But seriously, how cute is this girl?? I cannot resist sharing all these pictures!

The itsy bitsy spider

climbed up the water spout.

Down came the rain

and washed the spider out.

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.

And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.

Yay!

Day 5: Pattern Mixing.

Pattern mixing!! This is the prompt I was most excited about. I pulled all the striped, floral, whatever out of my closet and mixed and matched. I got quite a few outfits I otherwise would never have put together. Here is today's.

shirt/belt: Target. skirt: DownEast. necklaces: antique store.

Another twisty bun.

Pattern mixing in action. It's Faye's big day!! More posts to follow, of course.

Day 4: Channel Someone.

So today you were supposed to channel someone.

We don't own a TV. The only TV show I ever watch (and I watch it religiously) is the Biggest Loser. I watch it every week the day after it airs online. Whenever Rick catches me watching BL, his first question is, "what is Ali WEARING today???" So obviously part of my BL obsession is the anticipation of Alison Sweeney's wardrobe and hair styles.

I didn't really feel like wearing a super tight dress and heels today, though, so I wore a striped sweater like one she wore a while ago. And I did my hair into a fun twisty bun.

LOOK at that model-like facial expresson! Maybe I AM a fashion blogger!!
Also, thanks to my sister for handing down this sweater to me. It's Abercrombie, which makes me feel a little bit like I'm in high school. The jeans were $7 at Old Navy, and the boots are good old Target (the one Black Friday purchase I didn't return!)

Aaand, the hair looked way better when I did it at 7 a.m. It was pretty much falling out at this point. And it really fell out during my evening workout. Oh well!

Day 3: oops.

So for today's theme, "embrace a trend," I was all set to wear my red pants. I even finished sewing a striped circle scarf to pair with it. But for some reason I just couldn't make the outfit look right. I tried a fun hair do and also failed. Meanwhile, my boys were playing a super fun game in the playroom where they pulled back the rug, imagined it was a giant whale, and fed the "whale" every toy in the playroom plus everything they could drag in from their room, plus a few furniture items. What?? So I wore my red pants with a boring black shirt, and after running errands, having a picnic, and making homemade tortillas, the outfit was wayyyy past photographable. Plus I had to hurry and change when Rick got home early so we could go on a family jog to the park!

Here's the lovely outfit from the evening...oops!

I don't feel too bad though, because I did get some cute pictures of the kids at the park.

I am so proud of this boy, who decided to stop sucking his thumb (except to go to sleep) a couple of weeks ago and has really stuck to it. And only occasionally asks for a treat for not sucking it.

It's nice that both boys can go to their room and independently get dressed, but really, I've got to hide things like Christmas-themed shirts and his beloved sweat pants.

It took about three years for Carson to get the courage up to go down a slide by himself. Miss Faye? She can climb up those stairs, sit down (or forget to) and fly right down that slide.

Climbing up.

Moseying on over.

Everett wanted them to go down together.

Whoops, there she goes! And thrilled about it!

Man, she is a fun girl.

Day 2: Monochromatic

THIS is why I did the challenge. The pink skirt is Old Navy circa 2002. (BYU Freshman girlfriends, do I remember buying these together??) I never wear the skirt and never would have thought to pair it with more pink. But I kind of think it works! The cardigan is almost equally old, and the belt is a new-ish clearance item from the Loft. I think I can make lots more outfits out of my closet using this monochromatic theme. Yay!

I have lots of pictures like this.

I am (not) a fashion blogger.

Ok, so I don't consider myself to be a very fashionable person. Being a full time mom on a budget doesn't really give me many opportunities or resources to dress super cute. But, lately I've subscribed to a few fashion blogs and have thought I could get a little more creative with my wardrobe choices.

SO, I am totally nervous about this, but I am participating in Kayla's 10 day challenge. I thought it would help me use more items of clothing that I usually don't pull out. (And maybe decide on some that I could give the boot.)

Day 1's prompt: Layers.

Here we go.


Totally awkward photo of me pretending to be a fashion blogger.


I feel much more natural when holding a baby.

You should join the challenge! See here for the next prompt.

Funny kids.

Carson during his afternoon "quiet time." He often listens to a book on CD in this position.

We have been having daily dance parties in the playroom. Pandora's "Toddler Radio" is great.

Faye has taken to riding in her doll stroller instead of pushing it lately. She has also been stealing all my necklaces, putting them on, and wearing them around all day. She has also been making lots of friends at church: she tackles, hits and bites other babies and children.

We read the cutest book called, "The Gingerbread Girl." (SPOILER!! She is smarter than her brother, the Gingerbread Boy, and outsmarts the fox.) So somehow these two talked me into making gingerbread people and decorating them. At least I had leftover icing from Christmas.

While we decorated I kept pretending the gingerbread girl was trying to run away and I was holding her back. Carson's too smart for me, but I think Everett was trying to decide if it was for real.

Lovely girls!

Sometimes Everett just doesn't want to go to bed yet. (He takes a great afternoon nap, so I don't really blame him for not being tired at 7 yet.) So he gets to choose to sit here in the time out spot or to lay in bed. Lately he's been sitting here for several minutes, entertaining us with songs and chatter until he decides he's ready for bed. I sort of love it. (I also LOVE Faye's new/old high chair that she can't stand up in!!)