Easter Comes! 2013

After much anticipation for Peyla, Easter weekend finally arrived! We had such a fun time celebrating with them this year. Peyla is at the tender age of "getting it" (ok, so we need to hit church more), and experiencing the joy of the holidays. Ali...well, she just tags along after big sissy and follows her lead! Both girls loved finding their eggs outside and later had visits from their grandparents. A very low-key day, just as we like it!

 

 Anxiously waiting to start the search...Peyla is already scoping it out.

 Baskets...check!

 Mini basket for a mini girl.

 She found one!

 "does it go in here mommy?"

 Peyla snatched up her favorite color blue!

 More eggs!

 Ali was pretty enthralled with the whole process.

 I found Peyla sitting prim and proper in our bed...waiting for the grandparents to arrive.

 Picture time!

 

Dresses were hand-selected by Peyla...they look like two little cupcakes!

Random moments

 Ali and her Nana! Do they look like they're having fun??

Peyla's blue dress. She's a lot like I remember being about clothes. Not too into dresses, takes one item of clothing and requests to wear it daily (ahem! Cinderella shirt), but for some reason she digs this particular dress. Must be the color!  

Bad to the Bone

I found this picture that my mom took on my phone. Are they sassy or what?!

Ali is 1!

Ali is now a big 1 year old! We celebrated her birthday with a small gathering of close family and friends. I was worried she might feel overwhelmed but was I ever wrong! This girl lived it up and enjoyed every moment of her special day! We went with a "Winnie the Pooh" theme party, mostly because it just reminds us of her. So happy and sweet. Plus she loves the stuffed Pooh I bought her after stumbling into the Disney store. I just can't believe our baby girl is toddling her way through the baby years. 365 days with this girl, yet I feel like we've loved her forever.

 

Here's her "stats" from the doctor: 18.9 lbs (11%), 28 in (17%) and walking EVERYWHERE. She is curious, determined and starting to develop a serious sass. She's cuddly, loving and fiesty all at the same time. My favorite thing is watching that fiery sparkle in her eyes when she's up to something. Her little eyebrows go up just slightly and it always clues me in that she's got a plan. I know all parents feel this way about their children, but this girl is going to take the world by storm! I feel so incredibly lucky to be her mom. Every day with Ali is a sunny one. Happy birthday Aliyah! We love you more than anything!

 

 

 Party girl!

 My "homemade" cupcakes (oy!)

 Goodie pots for the little ones

 That smile!

 Ali and her Papa

 We had many helpers opening and sorting gifts. What a spoiled girl!

 Ali's mini-me doll

 Our excellent paper-folder Ava! Saving the world one tissue at a time.

 Patiently waiting for cake

 My sweet nephew Kellen

 Going straight for the flame!

 First cake experience! Yum!

 Recovering the next day...

Ali and Pooh...friends forever. ;)

Owl Sisters

Most peple know that Peyla is pretty into owls. The infatuation started last summer, when four owls made a home in our mesquite tree. Then she wanted to be an owl for Halloween. Winter rolled around and with it came snow hats. She found...you guessed it, an owl hat. Now her latest stunt is to put the smaller owl costume hat on sissy Ali and throw on the winter hat for herself. I guess the old saying is true, birds of a feather DO flock together! 

Tinkering with Lightroom

After much procrastination, I finally purchased the Lightroom 4.1 editing program to enhance my pictures of the girls. In my next life, I'd love to be a professional photographer! But for now, I will be happy with just tinkering with my camera. By the time the girls hit high school, I should be a pro!

 

 Sleepy girl getting warmed by the sun.

 A photo that captures their relationship perfectly.

 Ali loves tags...on anything!

 Lips McGhee

 Ali sitting pretty!

 The following are vintage Peyla- 6 mos. Does she look like Ali?

 

A Little Ali Lovin

Ali is going to be turning one in just a few short weeks. I can't believe it! The old cliche of "where does the time go?" keeps running through my head every time I look at her. She gives so much love, it's so easy to think you are her favorite! She lights up when Peyla comes near. She crawls full-speed at me when I get down to her level. And daddy? Oh boy! Daddy is the best toy there is!