September 26 - Officially a Big Girl

Guess who is officially done with pull-ups and has a big girl bed now?

And look at these cuties reading together?

And look at these fur babies...wondering why they were locked in the office when the bed was being delivered. 

September 24 - Birthday Memories

Jillian's 3rd birthday party was last weekend and she was so excited, she couldn't stop talking about 'her party.' First and foremost, I have to thank our amazing event planner, Julia. Julia did the majority of work for this entire party. Jillian wanted a Paw Patrol theme and Julia planned around it. She picked out the bounce house (she researched several companies and presenting pricing to me), the plates, napkins, table clothes, party favors and the cupcakes. Amazing job Jules!!

We invited 9 kids in Jillian's class plus Kason (Kennedy and Kaleb's little brother) and we ended up with 6 total. It was the perfect number. The littles jumped in the bounce house for awhile, indulged in some light snacks, ate pizza and cupcakes and then opened presents. There was a small snafu with the bounce house (the company didn't provide a motor strong enough and it kept collapsing. Luckily Julia, Kennedy and Kendall stood in there for an hour holding it up) but overall it was a fabulous time!! 

Julia and Kendall frosted the cupcakes

These trooper held up the bounce house in 90+ degree heat for an hour-ROCK STARS!

Happy Birthday Jillian!

September 13 - Save the Hamsters

Julia asked me for a hamster a few years ago and I said no. That was that, she never pressed the issue. Luke asked me for a hamster last year and I said no..but Luke being Luke, he didn't leave it at that. He has been asking and asking and asking. I finally told him to write a persuasive essay to convince me. He didn't write anything for a week or so and then one night he gave me this:

Well, well, well. That little curly man has a secret talent for writing, who knew? He also is extremely persistent. I received this the next morning.

We then took a trip to IKEA and he spent the entire time begging me for a hamster. 


I am still resisting a hamster but he did guinea pig sit for Midnight for a few days. I've never seen  him so happy (seriously, look at that face, pure joy). 

And guess who else has a love for rodents? 

September 10 - Jillian is THREE

Dear Jillian,
Hello sweet girl. I cannot believe you are 3. THREE! How did my baby become a toddler so fast? I love the little person you are growing into you. You are so funny and have the most expressive face. Here are some of your favorites:

*Food: mac and cheese, spaghetti with marinara sauce, yogurt, croissants, desserts of almost any kind, pancakes
*Color: pink
*Person: mommy, you love to slip into our bed at night and snuggle with me (we are working diligently to get your to sleep in your own bed all night)
*You love preschool and you are so excited for your birthday this weekend
*You love the dogs and call them 'Baby Apollo' and 'Baby Bella'
*You started ballet a few weeks ago and ask me almost every day if it's time for 'ballet'
*You are very opinionated about clothes and how you wear your hair (you like a low ponytail like Julia)
*You hang out with the Girl Scouts and think you are a big girl
*You love Paw Patrol, Super Monsters, Minnie Mouse, PJ Masks and unicorns
*You are super loving and ask me to snuggle all the time
*You have already figured out how to delay bath-time and bed-time! (smart child)


We love you Jillian Noelle Yamo!!!!

September 9 - Tiny Dancer

Jillian started ballet a few weeks ago and blog readers-let me tell you, there has never been anything cuter. She is at the same dance studio Julia used to go to and is in a combination ballet/tap class once a week. She has a dance "uniform" of purple leotard, pink tights, pale pink ballet shoes, snap tap shoes and hair must be in a bun. Her first class went fantastic. There were just 3 girls and they all did a good job listening to the teacher. The 2nd week was not so great. There were 10 girls and none of them listened or paid attention. If one had to go to the bathroom, they all had to go to the bathroom. Jillian also discovered the exit doors and kept leaving the room. The studio broke the class up in half the following week and it's been much better since. We love our little dancer!