Family makes the world go 'round...

 There is a ridiculous amount of beautiful going on in Brady & Andrea's house....

Good luck Dad..... :)

NAP and Lake Schools could use your help....

I'm asking for a little blog love this week... My good friend and neighbor Kristin has put together a proposal for a $50,000.00 grant from the Clorox Company to help fund summer programs for the kids here in Lake Stevens.  It is NOT school specific- we just want the kids of our community to have some great opportunities and experiences this summer that are painfully lacking here currently.

You can vote two ways everyday!!!  Help us make a difference for the kids in our community!  Look for Summer Discovery Camp Grant or by city and look up Lake Stevens, WA.

With much love and graditude..... Didi V.

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It is so simple to vote for our kids! click on the link below and register, and text "clorox2414" to #44144


Clorox Power A Bright Future Program - Summer Discovery Camp Scholarships VOTING PHASE

www.powerabrightfuture.com

Clorox is giving schools a chance to win school grants. Vote for your favorite entries between 10/24 and 12/9 at http://powerabrightfuture.com/!
 
You can also join the group and follow our progress on facebook:
 
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php#!/pages/Summer-Discovery-Camp-Grant/184954834918610

back2skool

Ahhh... fall.... crisp air, turning leaves... the chaos of back to school shopping.... admit it- you know you secretly love back to school time.... everyone has to clean out their closets before you stock them back up.... your kids have to get their act together, get a haircut, find their alarm clocks and get back to a routine.... {sweet-sweet routine}

The only bummer is the generic school photos-  hence why my friends Brooks & Samaya are bucking the trend.  We went and played somewhere fun, modeled some of their new duds and got some super fun pix along the way!

Don't be afraid to break tradition- Let's go play, make some memories and get REAL photos of your kids!

xoxo Didi V.

Back 2 School.... First Day!

Woooo hooooo! It's the first day of school!!!!!

My little Elle from next door came over to show us her back to school looks for pre-school- so I had my gaggle of girls pose up for a few shots before we made the mad dash for the bus.

Elle loves the girls- they are like built in big sisters for her....

And of course my big girls- are getting bigger- can't believe how grown-up they are looking these days.... I gave up a large portion of control on the choosing of their clothes and shoes this year... they are definitely showing off their individual tastes..... Oni is definitely more sporty and relaxed....

Gabbi is all about the bling....

And as it has become part of our routine- we stop and pick up our friends on the way to the bus stop...

and they were all smiles and giggles as they compared new "stuff" and chatted excitedly about who had which teacher- and while Gabbi & Lorin aren't in the same room this year- I have doubt they will be hanging out at lunch and recess like usual. :)

Oni and Halle were happy to know they are together again- as they have been good friends since before they were born! (almost birthday buddies- her momma and I have known each other forever!)

And a collective sigh from all of the parents standing at the bus stop this morning as the bus pulled away.......aaaahhhhhhh! A few of us even did a little dance!!!!! I can't wait to hear how the first day went!

Back 2 School....

Oni- lookin' tough in her new track suit....... So- not working in any particular order-AT ALL....as I've had an insanely busy- but very productive weekend!!!

Here a few shot yesterday- the girls wanted to have a 'fashion show' since the garage studios were already set up for another shoot- that I'll share shortly.....

Gabbi in her favorite piece- her bumble bee yellow sweater dress- which is I kid you not a total throw back to 1984.... followed up with the clip in neon colored streaks for their hair--- and no amount of reasoning would do.... that those totally straight, synthetic pieces... will not, under any circumstances... mesh with their uber-curly curls.... but, hey.... what are ya gonna do?

Oni once again- staying way away from super girly-girl- prints and styles... opts for the athletic, almost pre-punk casual styles....white/black/hot pink- skulls and Ed Hardy- tatoo inspired clothes and shoes.. (not that I can blame her.... same stuff I love...)

And G- as cute in her girly ballet flats and leggings as she can be.... stay tuned for the official first day of school- comin your way soon!!!!

Crazy crazy crazy

August isn't but half way over and September is officially already booked! Thank you all!

I'm up to my eyeballs in photos to be edited and my head is spinning with the upcoming appointments. :) You know they say, "never say never".... I said I would never do weddings..... and I've done two so far this year and three more coming up..... weddings- hmmmm..... :) Once again the stubborn girl has had to eat her words.... So hard to admit I'm wrong......

The summer has absolutely flown by-vaporized- how did that happen???? The kids start school in two weeks! I've had their backpacks and school supplies purchased, labled and packed for weeks now- but it's becoming a sudden slap of reality as I've started doing the back to school clothes shopping chore- e-gads..... The girls have grown so much this summer- you don't realize it as it happens- they are in shorts and flip-flops all summer- then you go to try on their jeans and shoes..... well- let's just say- it wasn't pretty..... we're going shopping......

The girls have had some fun day trips to Birch Bay to the water slides with their daycare Goddess and her family (T is a love- so patient!), horse back riding/training with our neighbor, the zoo with another nieghbor & I, two weeks with Papa John & G'ma Vicki in Idaho. The addition of a two way radio at our house has enabled to girls to have a bit more freedom this summer.... and they have aquired roller blades, new safety equiptment, lots of scrapes, bruises and scars from said roller blades, hours of endless fun in the sun, pool, slip n slide, scooters and bikes! They've made tons of new friends this year and are soooooo excited to start school! We got their class assignments this week- and we (the parents) are thrilled- ok- Gabbi is thrilled- Oni sighed in dis-belief.... "but she's tough".... but of course we had nothing to do with that..... " this conversation never happend and we were never here"..... mwaaahaaaaa! :) We have bbq'd with family and friends all summer- so it has been a great summer- just seems too short!

Husky Football starts at home soon.... on September 6th- so I'll soon be a football widow again! Some wives would be bent out of shape about this- but it gives the kids & I a chance for bonding. We use those days for shopping, movies, scrap-booking- girl time. And he gets to go and connect with friends, rub elbows with the Tyee Members, drink margaritas from Rodger's gas powered blender at the tailgate parties and comsume all foods known to clog arteries! So a fun time is had by all!

The Miles family was intensely involved in our friends' wedding last weekend. Oni & Gabbi were the flower girls, Ron was giving the bride away, and yours truly was the resident photographer! :) Oh- add seamstress and pediatric hair dresser to that list as well..... Heidi and I looked and looked- and couldn't find dresses that fit the bill- so as a last minute decision- 8 days before the wedding- I began sewing!!!! But they turned out fine and the girls looked adorable in them! :)


Anyhoo- that's enough rambling for tonight! Have a great day! xoox D