Celebrating 5

We did birthday pancakes on Isabella's party day because I had something else planned for her birthday morning.

A relighting sparkler candle. She thought that was fun.    Mom's #5 cookies for the party.

Isabella debated for months about what type of party she wanted to have and in the end chose a "Belle/Ariel tea party". 

Fruit wands

 It was her first time to have a "friends" party and she was thrilled.

Love those little bow ties!

She had seen a pinata on Curious George once and ever since had been talking about having one at her party.

Collecting their spoils

There was a lot of friendly beating each other with these punch ball balloons. :)

 When we discussed cakes she said she wanted a half Belle/half Ariel cake. Which left me quite stumped. But my sister came up with a vision and we went with it. I baked and did some of the roses, but Mom did most of the icing.

I was really happy with how it turned out!

They worked together after the party to put together her new lego set.
She loved her party and is already talking about her ideas for the next one. :) 

Quincy Diane

My friend Michelle asked me to take some newborn pictures of her sweet baby Quincy. Newborn sessions can have some challenges and I'm still getting experience with them, but I had fun hanging out and chatting between pictures.

Before Quincy was born Stephen found an old card where Michelle's Mom had written "I love you" and gave it to a company that turns handwriting in to jewelry. And he gave Michelle this bracelet in the hospital when Quincy was born. So, so special.

 Quincy's middle name is Diane, after Michelle's mom. She bought these books for her unborn grandchildren years ago and it has become a tradition for the grandbabies to have their newborn picture taken on the books that their grandmother who loved them without ever getting to know them had bought and saved for them. (cue all the tears)

Welcome to the world Quincy! You are so loved.

Askew Family Maternity

I got to take some pictures last month for my best friend, as their family prepares for the arrival of baby Penny. It was one of the hottest days of the summer so far, but everyone did great to hang through it. Here are my favorites from the evening.

Love you guys and can't wait to meet Penny!!!

Starting PreK

Isabella started afternoon PreK last month.

We celebrated this new chapter with a day before school starting girls Tea. She's been asking for a while to go to the tea room so I thought it would be a fun time to go.

That morning she asked me if I thought her backpack would make it in time for school to start the next day. It had come in the mail a couple months before and I had saved it to give to her.

The night before I made her chalkboard sign and mulled over this new beginning. I had asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, and she said 'loving and kind'. I told her that was great and asked her a few times what kind of job she wanted to have or what she wants to do and she kept saying the same thing. And finally said, 'Mom- being loving and kind is the most important job of all!'

Nana and Cappy came over for breakfast for her first day and brought all of her favorite things. 

She was surprised and happy! 

After breakfast we got dressed and went on a walk and played at the park. 

She and Benjamin frustrated each other the whole walk home.

Then when we got home I made lunch. And I heard Benjamin say, Izzy snuggle. And she held him for a long time. It was like he knew things were changing. She held him for a while and then they moved on to fighting over their favorite trains.

Heading off to school.

We walked her to the drop off and headed to sonic. Benjamin was pretty pleased to get to take over her seat which he loves doing the rare times she isn't in the car with us.

After school we went to our annual Hartman back-to-school ice cream.

She had a great first day and has been loving school so far making new friends and playing.