a week ago today

She turned 6 years old!  She welcomed her new year surrounded by friends, family, sweets, presents and lots of love.  I have many stories and pictures to share but these two will have to do for today (still playing catch up!).  I'm hoping to share more tomorrow so check back.  Have a great day~

Project Life Week 7

With a little time last night after the kids were in bed, I was able to do week 7 which is a layout all about love.  I adore these valentine pictures of the kids and so I decided to just focus on those and add a few other little highlights (in the upper left corner of the first page).

There's my heart right there.

And now I need to spend some time getting ready for someone's special birthday which is in just 2 days! 

Project Life Updated

Here we go with Weeks 5 and 6!  And last week was Week 7 so I'm just about all caught up. Ahhhh....  I love this project almost as much as I love being all caught up on our life's happenings. 

This week we celebrated Pop Pop's birthday and enjoyed an otherwise quiet week filled with play time and learning.  Oh...and we also started some training with Abby which has already proved to be a good investment.

Week 7 came as Makenna celebrated her 100 th day of Kindergarten & we delivered her party invitations. We had a bit of snow (although certainly not A LOT since we haven't even shoveled yet this season) and the dogs just loved it as much as MC and Ry do.  Lucy ( the little white pup) is my mom's dog and loves to run and really enjoyed the snow covering. 

And now all I have to do is week 7 (hello valentine layout..) to be current.  Woot! 

 We had a lovely Valentine's day full of homemade pictures, creative notes and handmade cards created from the heart.  Starting our day with a special breakfast of french toast and strawberry smoothies before sending the kids to school and ending the day sharing a special chocolate fondue.  
Simply wonderful and perfectly us.

----I'm also ready to share week 4 of Project Life.  This week's highlight was definitely the loss of MC's front tooth!  She was so excited when it finally came out and I just adore her new smile.

That's all for now. We have lots of fun things planned this upcoming week as we prepare for my little girl's big day. #howcanshebesixalready???  xo K

Sealed with a kiss

 It started out innocently enough...

But then Makenna Claire had an idea....

And all of the sudden things changed up a bit as she planted a big ol kiss on her brother's cheek. 

At first Rylan thought it was funny 

and then Rylan became beside himself as sister took pride in her successes.

No worry though.... Rylan got her right back.  

First with a light, friendly kiss.

But then went in and did what he does best...a Rylan Raspberry

 and all of the sudden they were even steven.

Happy Valentine's Day from The Case's. 

Hope your day is sealed with a kiss.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Moving right along

In playing catch up to our family album, here is week 2 and 3.  I am so loving this new format and I am so excited to be able to stay on top of this project for once.  And then I can finally be able to work on all those other things on my list...  Ha ha, I know I am only kidding myself.  My to do lists are always longer than my time but hey, one can hope! :)

close up to page 1 

close up to page 2

close up to page 1

close up to page 2

I plan on being back in a day or two for another update (i hope!) and a few more stories.  xo K

Project Life 2013 style

This is my fourth year doing project life and I have to say the finished books are one of my biggest treasures.  I look back on our older albums and it brings what life was like then all back to recent memory.  Recording the funny things the kids did, their silly words, and all the particular details of those days is something that is easily forgotten.  I love that it not only captures the big events but really concentrates on the day to day activities and the little things that really shape our lives.

The only thing is that it does take a lot of time and I always seem to be digging myself out of a hole to get caught up. Something needed to change this year because it shouldn't be a source of stress..right?  I have been struggling as to what exactly that change was going to be so I haven't even started our 2013 album...or put the finishing touches on 2012 (see?).  Eeeks..

However, while the kids were in school yesterday it all became clear to me and I decided exactly what I was going to do. This year, instead of concentrating on getting a photo everyday, I am instead going to log the week's events.  If I have a picture for each day..great.. if not, I am sure I'll have enough documentation for the week.  I also am going to go completely digital which takes out so many steps for me. It finally became clear to me and I was ready to dive in again. I did the first week of year layout yesterday and I already have renewed energy for this much beloved project.

I plan on sharing them here on the blog so hopefully once I can get all caught up, I'll be able to share one every week.   But until then, here is what life looked like for us the first week of the new year.

The complete layout

Here's a closer look at each side.

Left side

Right side

just 10 minutes

As I rounded the corner of the elementary school parking lot, in line with so  many other parents anxiously waiting to pick up their kids after school,  I quickly tried to find MC to make sure she saw the car.  Our eyes met and she came running down the sidewalk wearing her "i am a  very proud kindergartener hat!"  I smiled and welcomed her into the  car telling her she had the best looking hat ever! She then she proceeded to tell me the story of her 100th day of school.  A magical day it was indeed.

We arrived home minutes later and after she ate a quick snack of animal crackers and water I asked if I can have just 10 minutes to take her picture for her upcoming birthday party invitation.
"Sure mom..10 minutes!" So after a quick shirt change and before leaving for swim class,  I snapped a few photographs of my soon to be six year old.

We turned on one of her favorite songs--- Fireworks, by Katy Perry--- and I just told her to show me her sweet smile and do a happy dance.  Click Click Click.....  I so love this girl and her fun, let it all go, personality.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Be still my beating heart. Thank you Makenna...10 minutes for momma gives us a chance to hold onto this moment forever.   Now if only I can get your brother to give me just. 10. minutes.  ;) HA!

Happy February

Hello there February....

Hello to a month that I love.

Hello to Valentine's Day.   Bring on the heart and love decorations and the cute little valentine preparations for our little friends.  And this year, I have two little people with so many friends.  I am already preparing for our very special breakfast to start our day and little trinkets of love for the kids.   Here's posts from 2012 and 2011.

Hello to the month six years ago that made me a momma.  I can hardly believe Makenna's birthday is just in a mere few days.  Birthday planning is in the advance planning stages and fun times are ahead.  Although most days she wants to be 16, she is so excited to be 6.  After all cool six year olds have lots of missing teeth, right?

Hello to the 100th day of Kindergarten (today). MC decided she wanted to make a poster of 100 hearts and she created it entirely on her own. She couldn't wait to celebrate the day at school.  "mom..I will tell you all about it when I come home" she told me this morning as she jumped out of the car and walked the steps to her school.

And hello to a super week, I hope!  With his smile, how can you go wrong, right?

Hope to be back soon! xo K