First Day of School 2011

We started school yesterday!  Kaden is in 2nd grade and Kinsley is in 1st grade - time is moving too fast!!! I can't let myself think about it, seriously...I am loving this time in our lives:)

Here's Kaden all set and ready to go!!!

And Kinsley excited about the day!

Precious brother and sister - I love that they are only one year apart in school!

Kaden already hard at work!

Kinsley with two of her besties - her sweet friend Landri (on the left) was in tears because her big sis is now in 5th grade and not at the same school - so...we stopped to give hugs and get a pic.  Landri and Emma (the one on the right) are in the same class this year but Kinsley is in another:(  We will still get together for lots of playdates though!

Here's Kinsley happy go lucky - getting started with her day!

Mom, Jae, and Kai met up with me because Mom wanted to buy Kins a Justin Bieber backpack she had been talking about - it just worked out that they stuck around and were able to see the kiddos after school - so fun!!!

Kaden with his Aunt Jae J. 

Kinsley with Aunt Jae J. - can you tell she likes her Justin Beiber backpack?

All the grandkiddos and Justin with Mom:)  

Kai is growing up so fast too - she talks nonstop and is so cute - she has learned how to smile and squenches up her little nose - it is too precious!!!

What a great first day!

Our Back to School Party 2011

We had our Back to School Party tonight!  It was so much fun thanks to the folks at www.eighteen25.blogspot.com!  I got all these ideas from them and of course put my own little twist on some things;)  I love doing stuff like this! 

Each kiddo received new markers, crayons, and pencils as a little surprise gift!

Here's Kinsley's place setting!  I used yellow scrapbook paper, school themed chalkboard scrapbook paper, white square dishes, and dry-erase nameplates from the dollar bins at Target!

The rice crispie cake inspiration came from www.eighteen25.blogspot.com, actually the whole party inspiration came from them (including all the printable decor).  Their cake was a little more simple - but I wanted to use my huge cake/cookie cutters so I chose the flower shape and the heart shape and just put one on top of the other!

Here's what our buffet table looked like before I propped up the cake - it was sliding down into the cakestand:(

Ahhh, nice and propped with a little M & M decor added!

For other decor I added a little chalkboard sign and a Mason jar with pencils and the Oh, so cute printable from eighteen25 that reads You're So Sharp!

Kinsley didn't like the M & M idea too much so she decided it would look better with big gumballs - I thought this look was just as cute if not cuter!  I think eighteen25 used Captain Crunch Berries, but we didn't have any so we made do!

The plan was to have dinner, dessert, and a fashion show with the kids modeling all their new school clothes...but...they weren't "into" the whole fashion show idea so I just took a pic of the clothes!  We are so blessed to have an Aunt Jae, and a Grammy that spoil us!

Kinsley and Daddy!  We tried to talk with them about what their goals are for the year...but they were in a really silly mood, and had really goofy answers like "learn about barbies", "recess", etc.!  We'll ask again another time:)

Me and Kaden - I love this sweet boy!  Can't believe he's in 2nd grade already!

Here's my place setting with our simple dinner - the kiddos picked tomato basil spaghetti, fresh green beans, and buttered toast!

Kaden's drink in a Mason jar with straw flag - too cute!

This was the kind of mood they were in!  So silly but I'm glad they were having fun!

I love the joy these two have for life!  They are so excited about starting school and can't wait to see all their friends again!  Lord, thanks for the JOY!

Here's another little decoration I had at the entry table leading into the dining room - I am really loving Subway art right now!

Stay tuned for more pics of Meet the Teacher, First Day of School, and Mine and Curt's 12th anniversary - can't believe its been that many years!

Happy Back to School!!!!

Playdates, Cotton Pickin' and Horses

Kinsley had a playdate with her best friend Landri the other day!

These two are so cute and funny together!

So cute - I'm praying they are in the same class this coming year!

And here's a little something I love about living in Texas - on our way to a wedding shower the other day we came upon these cotton fields - we live in the suburbs so cotton fields are not the norm for us - I love that my hubby pulled over so the kids could get out and pick some for themselves!

Love these boys!

What could she be dreaming about...a life in the country???

Once we got to the shower they had these two horses - Kinsley wanted to ride them soooo bad!

But we just said hello!

Back to School Party Decor:)

Ok, remember that blog I was telling you about called www.eighteen25.blogspot.com?  They've got me all pumped up for Back to School and here's why:

Super fun ideas for a back to school party!!!

A rice crispy cake and flag banner - How cute is that???

 Straw flags for the milk - and these name tag white boards came from the dollar bins at Target - you know I love me some dollar bins!!

Simple - Yellow scrapbook paper, black scalloped paper - could cut it out if you have the tools, or like me, go freehand, its ok:)  Top with a napkin, pencils, and adorable "Sharp" tag they provide:)

Seriously - the cute factor can't get any cuter!

Not to mention, they have all the free printables to create the tags, the flag banner for the cake, and the straw flags!  Umm, yes, and thank you!!!  I've already got mine printed:)

Check back for more pics of our Back to School Party/Fashion Show!!!

What are you doing to get ready??? Our school starts a week from Monday...lots to do but loving it!!! 

I Am Crazy! But FUN!!!

Hello my name is Jara and I am a Pinterest-a-holic!  I have been printing subway art like its going out of style - by the way, I hope it doesn't any time soon - I think I've just about got every holiday's art printed!  

So...of course I wanted to share them with you...all of these are on pinterest - just FYI!  Join pinterest, follow me, you will find all of these under "Happy Holidays".  Pin it to your own board, and print!  A lot of them come from www.eighteen25.blogspot.com - these ladies are amazing...just wait...I have more to show you from them later!!!  You can also print straight from their website!  

Here's just a little taste of what you can do...Enjoy!

This one is just for fun - I think I might frame it and put it in my kiddos bathroom - cute!

Lately...

Kinsley and Kaden served in church last week - they were greeters and handed out bulletins:)

They were so excited to have this "big" job!

My running club had a super fun Bachelorette party the other night to watch the season finale of the Bachelorette - go team JP!  The sweet girl on the left was the hostess and she had a final rose for us all and ring pops - so cute!!!

My inlaws were in town this last week and brought this little cutie with them - this is my nephew Malakai - I could just cover him in kisses - if he'd slow down long enough to let me:) 

Those chubby cheeks get me every time!

My best friend from high school and her little boy came over to swim today!  I love being with them!!  Note to self - get new pool toys - sweet James played with a broken basketball hoop - he was super creative and made "instruments" out of them - it was so cute!

Kaden and Kinsley thought that idea was pretty cool!

Sweet James - the one man band!!!  Precious!!!