Spoiled Rotten...by Me

I love kids. We all know it. While I am slightly bummed that I don't have little ones of my own, I am also super happy that I don't. I love the great kids I get to love and spoil regularly.

I have a collection of adorable and sweet kids who I just adore. I spoil them rotten and I know it. I am the best aunt you could ask for, money to spend and cute kids to spend it on! So, I spoil my little "nieces and nephews".

My girls are the most beautiful girls and I spoil them with puzzles, paints, books, make-up and clothes. Livy loves birds and is very into fashion. Kiki loves tigers and horses and loves to climb on things. Kayli is the most beautiful 9 month old in the universe. Seriously. She loves blocks and hugs.

My boys are pretty amazing, I won't lie. I have the best 2 1/2 year old in the universe with Kade. He babels about any and everything, loves trucks, blocks and gives the most wonderful hugs. Milo couldn't be more boy. Trucks, airplanes and trains are all the matter. Oh, and it is a requisite that at least 1/2 of everyday is spent jumping on the tramp with this 20 month old. I am always on the look out for new trucks and books about trucks and movies about trucks...my boys get them all.

So all in all I am the luckiest girl in the world. I get to adore 5 of the most amazing kids. I may not be related to one of them but they are my family and I have been adopted into theirs. Who could ask for more?

Beautiful Girls

This is a little preview of how I spent my weekend.

I spent the weekend with my girls while their parents were out of town. We got started on the last part of our Mother's and Father's day gifts. Beautiful dresses, make-up and some beautiful weather. Aren't my girls beautiful?

Standing Tall

Kiki was full of energy this week. So this is how she showed it. She tells me I am strong all the time because I don't mind her climbing all over me but the truth of the matter is that I am just already sore from the gym that added pressure of a 40 lb little girl doesn't make that much difference. I love her all the same.

Having a "slumber party" with my fav girls, Livy and Kiki. Made a nest, all in jammies, make-up, popcorn and a classic movie, "Honey I Shrunk the Kids!" couldn't have had a better weekend!

Happiness and Joy

I have so much fun with my girls. Really, they bring more joy than I can tell you. I love that I get "craft time" regularly and am amazed at their creativity. Check our this super cute bird mask that Livy made!

She mixed a few colors for the face and then a few for the beak and diluted them so they were more water based and blended really nice. Then, after they had really dried (more than 24 hours later) we dry brushed the white around the eyes and some dark blue (you can't really see in the pictures) and some darker yellows to outline the beak. She hand picked the feathers and added them and trimmed them to look just right. Then added the little diamonds at the corners of the eyes so that they would sparkle. This project took hours but she was bummed when it was finally done. Loved the project but didn't want to be done. I love her enthusiasm.

My cute Kiki worked just as hard on hers. She mixed the perfect oranges and reds and yellows to make the perfect tiger color. After wet painting the mask orange we let it dry then dry brushed the white down the nose. We added stripes in all the places she thought Tigers should have stripes. She looks pretty tiger like if you ask me.

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I find happiness in little things lately. In the 5 boxes of girl scout cookies that I ordered. I found joy in putting 4 boxes of Girl Scout cookies in the freezer and then eating the other one. In finding cute summer shoes that fit. In finding great new gym clothes. In compliments from strangers and people I know and love. In knowing that I am in the right place.

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I also find joy in Black & Whites. These gems are a big thing in NYC and whenever my friend goes to NYC (every month or so) she brings one back for me. I was happy when she came back late yesterday and had one for me. I have been savoring every amazing bite. Check these out the next time you are in NYC. Worth it.

Masks

This week my girls and I made Masks. It was so much fun and they loved it. Livy got very elaborate with her and Kiki wanted hers to be basic. I thought they were both very cute.

Such beautiful butterflies and how cute are those Elephants?

Milo enjoyed just getting to play. He is always so happy playful with me. He is getting so good at his sign language. Whenever I leave he signs "bye, bye Car" and makes the car sound of vroom, vroom. It is so cute.

I couldn't love these kids more, and yet, I do everyday. I am just so happy that I love my job.

Cute Girls

I give some pretty rockin' presents to little girls. This year my three favorite girls, Kiki, Livy and Hailey all got tutu's. I made each one with favorite colors and styles in mind.

Hailey's is being modeled by Sophie, I wanted to see how it fit before I actually passed it on to Hailey, isn't it cute? A shiny pink and brown toile with different sizes of pink and brown shiny ribbons. I made it long so they can grow into them and with adjustable waist bands.

Ivy is modeling Kiki's tutu. We put the tutu on and she was looking at me straight on and as soon as I said smile, she struck a pose, all on her own! It made me laugh and yet it was perfect. It is one of my favorite pictures now. Not to mention that the tutu is super cute, shiny and a matted pink toile were used with a few splashes of shiny blue toile to liven it up. Pink ribbon was also used in various sizes and shiny factors for some pop and interest.

Livy is modeling her own tutu. It is her favorite colors, bright blue and bright green. Both are the shiny toile and with 1/8 inch lime green ribbon randomly spread through out. She thinks it is very cool, something like Miley Cyrus would wear. For her, that is a big deal.

All in all, I had three very happy girls. I enjoyed making them and really enjoyed the looks on their faces when they got them. I love giving gifts to my kids. I spoil them rotten because I can and all their parents can do is love me for it.

Endless Christmas

So my Christmas keeps coming and coming. I love it.

Today's gift was from my dear friend Liz. In an engraved case she gave me chopsticks engraved with my name (on the box and on the chopsticks themselves!)! I know it seems cheesy, but we have lunch once a week and one of the places we like to eat is a Chinese place. I complain about not getting chop sticks or the quality all the time. So, my dear friend gave me my own set and I love them!

I got this cute blanket from my kids, Livy, Kiki and Milo all helped make it, isn't it sweet? I love it, because it is from them.

Christmas keeps coming and coming. I am so blessed. Over and over again.

Christmas Spirit Day 1

I have decided that I am going to do something everyday until Christmas to get into the holiday spirit. I do realize that is a lot of stuff, but I am happy about it. Part of my own holiday tradition.

Today, I made a ginger bread house with my three favorite kids. I missed them a ton over thanksgiving but we made up for it today with all the details following the Arizona vacation and everything I missed including Milo getting 3 teeth in a week! Ouch! Two of those puppies being incisors.

So, I will have to blog everyday this month about how I celebrated the season. What a great way to remind myself of the wonder of the season as well as share a little of that wonder with you.