I was supposed to do a shoot this morning for a senior girl, but she was worried the weather wasn’t going to cooperate so we ended up postponing it last night…..I woke up to a glorious morning and couldn’t stand the thoughts of the morning going to waste.  I decided it was time to go do some exploring in this new place we live…time to get familiar with our new surroundings and start looking at it through the eyes of a photographer.  I have to tell you my heart was melting editing these pictures tonight and words can not express how grateful I am that I didn’t let a morning go to waste.  I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Our baby turned 3…I can’t believe the time has flown so quickly.  What a joy our little Hattie has been to everyone of us….she refers to herself as “Princess” and I think that all of us have come to think of her that way.  So what could be more fitting on this day than a custom made crown…that was how we started it off…making a beautiful crown.  I had such grand ideas for it, but Hattie helped me get the first step completed and that was as far as she wanted to go…She just wanted that crown on her head and that was where it stayed in its unfinished state for the rest of the day and night!  Oh and our little princess also insisted on dressing herself…I of course had the perfect birthday ensemble all chosen for her to wear..but she was having none of that, and since the rule at our is on your birthday day you have no chores, you get to eat what you want and in Hattie’s case wear what you want…she did exactly that!

As I made the cake Hattie and London danced and sang for me…it was most entertaining.  Hattie loves to sing and has quite an impressive repertoire of songs for a 3 year old. I was being serenaded with a song from Hair Spray in this picture.

Here’s our little princess enjoying the remains of the frosting from her cake….and London wondering if  her sister is maybe going to share.

Lizzy came and set a festive Spring Birthday table for the special occasion.

Hunter and Holden enjoying the party and birthday feast!  As I told you earlier on your birthday you get to eat whatever you want….even if it’s ice-cream for breakfast.  Well, Hattie wanted pizza, breadsticks and salad (ummm maybe I wanted the salad..lol).  We had delivery from Pizza Factory and it was yummy!

Daddy showing some birthday love.

………and time for the birthday dance, of course the first one was with her daddy.

Time to blow out the candles and make that wish…….hmmm, what do three year olds wish for?

and she was not going to let a drop go to waste.

Oh Manhattan our beautiful baby girl….we love you so completely.  You bring joy to our home and to our souls.  Your Heavenly Father has blessed you with a happiness that is so contagious, and all who are around you want to feel it and be a part of it.   I know there are such big things in store for  you.  Your spirit is immense!  I am so grateful to be your mommy.  I love you Baby Girl!!!  Happy Birthday!!

As many of you know I married a man who loves to play,and that love has been passed to his children.  And I have to tell you I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I didn’t say I love to watch them play.  This weekend was Hunter’s turn to play.  He was playing in a tennis tournament held at the Summit Racquet Club in St. George, Utah.

I’m still figuring out my new lens, and I’m excited to see my growth with it.  I figure with all the players in my family I’m going to have plenty of opportunities.

After two days of hard play and exciting matches Hunter emerged the victor.  I was so proud of him…and mostly because he kept his cool.  No out bursts, or banging of racquets.  It was a great tournament to be a part of, and I want to give my thanks to the club that put it on.  They did a fabulous job!!  Talk about a beautiful facility!!

It got even sweeter than this though because Hunter’s teammates were there playing too, and his team also took home the first place trophy….Now that’s a great weekend!!  Go Dons!!!

Many of you that know me, know Lizzy.  And, if you know Lizzy you know she likes to sew.  Well, she came over the other day and asked if she could go through my fabrics…(we’ve already talked about the fabric I have in a previous post).  She was in the mood to sew, so I let her and she then proceeded to do what I call “pull fabrics”.  After making quite a pile of fabric she turned to me and asked if she could sew them into a quilt…..something you need to know about me is I love to acquire fabrics, but some I have had for more than 20 years and I’m just not ready to cut into them….I like to think of them as not being quite aged, so after holding them, touching them and smelling them I gave her a pile of those I was ready to part with…..and the results were stunning.  And, I just had to share here.

I will share that she has decided to start selling these again, and if you are interested just leave a comment and I will gladly hook you up with her.  I know you won’t be disappointed….these are all one of kind and made with lots of love.

Just had to share one more picture…this one is of Lizzy and her little “Minnie Me”….also known as her baby sister Hattie.

I love Saturdays and especially when I happen to get a little time to myself to go treasure hunting.  My dear hubby John laughs when I use the term “treasure” because a treasure to me is usually junk to someone else.  I was lucky enough to get to slip away and trek to one of my favorite treasure sites….Deseret Industries better known where I live as “DI”.  I just wanted to share some of my pretties I was able to score, and let you see how they will find a home in our humble nest.

My first one was the sweetest little wooden sign…I loved the crushed velvet ribbon and if you notice I also found this perfect runner that it is lying on.  I thought it would be perfect for the upcoming Easter holiday.

I’m a sucker for crochet and this little piece is made to hold a pillow, I love knowing that this was lovingly made by two hands….oh if only I could know the story that comes with it, and how much I would like to be able to tell the person how much it will be loved by me….It is going to look perfect in London and Hattie’s bedroom.

Okay, I have a confession to make…..I am a “fabriholic”.  I love fabric….I mean love it!!!  I love to hold it, touch it, smell it, I know that if you could eat it I would.  We won’t even talk about how much fabric I have, just trust me on this one…It’s a lot!  I couldn’t pass off these little gems.  I can picture them sewn for Hattie and London in comfy leggings and swing tops, can’t wait to grab my serger and whip something up.  And two of the pieces are truly treasures…100% polyester, just like Grandma used to wear.  I can’t not wait to cut into them.  Oh I know you’re thinking they are hideous….but trust me on these, they are so ugly they are going to be Adorable…especially on my girls.

My favorite colors are blue and white…and if you don’t believe me just come to my house and I know you’ll be convinced.  They have been my favorite as long as I can remember….I even grew up in a blue and white bedroom.  I have been collecting blue and white now for mine and John’s whole marriage and let me tell you it’s been 21 years now, (I have to insert an amazing 21 years) and I just can’t seem to get enough…you’re asking enough of what and my answer is blue and white and John!!!  Well, DI did not let me down on Saturday…look at all these fun plates I got for my kitchen, is that pot fabulous or what and it cost me a whole $2.00.  And don’t miss the shelf it’s sitting on.  I scored two of  those, just what I needed to help me organize my home office.

Here’s another little something I love…vintage suitcases, and I couldn’t resist this fabulous orange carrying case.  I found it as I was leaving and made poor Lizzy run back in and purchase it for me.  I mean I did still have $3.00  left and I needed to spend it on something.  As you can see it’s spilling its contents of ties a little something that my missionary son Elder Hullinger loves.  I’m always on the look out for polyester ties for him…he can’t seem to get enough.  I even found a great one that John wore to church today, and yes that made me smile as I sat by him in church today seeing him one of my treasures.  Now,  how can I not mention the great piece of Irish Linen you can see in the picture?  I absolutely loved the colors in it.  It’s a history of New Zealand.  I had to have it, I mean I do collect vintage linens and one of my most favorite cousins served his mission in New Zealand…a match made in heaven for me.