Growing up, my mom always made Valentine's Day a fun kids' holiday. We would buy candy and make cupcakes. I remember always going to the store to pick out a new Valentine's stuffed kitten or bear. So this year, Arie Alex got a pretty pink dress embellished with roses from her Grandma Bonnie, and that inspired a whole Valentine's party. Cupcakes, crafts, and lots of candy!

Beautiful Mess Photography Update

The past few months have been crazy busy for Beautiful Mess Photography, which means not so much blogging for Bailey, but there are three new ways that you can keep up with us and Beautiful Mess Photography...

1. Subscribe to our new Beautiful Mess Photography blog.

2. You also can become a fan of Beautiful Mess Photography on Facebook.

3. Follow Beautiful Mess Photography on Twitter.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome. We are always looking for new creative ways to share our story and what Beautiful Mess means to us. Thanks for all the support and encouragement you have given us so far. Beautiful Mess Photography has been a wonderful success this year and we couldn't have done it without our friends and family. We love you so much!

Pick of the Week: JK Wedding Entrance Dance

My friend, Anne, posted this on her Facebook page. I don't know if it is because I see 20 weddings a year, that all are very similar, or because I love dancing, but I think this is so great. I can't get over how cool this video is. I was so happy watching it, that tears welled up in my eyes

Arie Alex: 15 Months

So our sweet baby girl is 15 months old. She can walk like a champ and is really proud of herself. Here are a few of the pix I took of her toddling around the yard. We think she is the best kid and we are so proud of her. Among her many words she says, "go, go", "hi" "up", "down", "shoes", "no", "woof, woof", "da da", "papa", "mama", "bath", "please", "thank you". She falls down a lot still, but gets up running. Every time she does or says something new, Tim and I are in awe. As far as we are concerned, she might as well be the inventor of coffee cup sleeves. She is so cool!

Random things that happen at the gym: #2

Arie Alex locked herself in the car, and me out out of the car at the same time. I let her hold my keys sometimes. I strapped her into her car seat, and shut the back door, right before I intended to open the front door. At that exact moment, my beautiful child hit the "lock" button on the key remote. I freaked. I screamed, and the lady getting in her car next to me let me borrow her phone, b/c mine was now locked in the car. With my keys. And my daughter. I called Tim to come as fast as he could with the extra set of keys. It wasn't very hot, so I wasn't worried about her getting over heated. It was classic. Airawen smiling up at me through the side window. Me screaming, "Hit the round button!". After five minutes of randomly hitting the trunk pop and the panic button, she hit the "unlock" button. I dove for the driver's door, and breathed a sigh of relief. Lesson learned.

Memorial Day Weekend

We spent Memorial Day weekend at the Lake with Tim's family.  Arie Alex had her first big pool adventure of the summer! There was splashing and goldfish eating, and everything you could want for a 14 month old at the pool.  Of course I missed it completely.  I was at Star Trek with Jake and Drew.  A fantastically, entertaining flick, btw.   Thankfully, Tim captured all the fun. 

Tim's Birthday Weekend

Tim, Joe and Tyler all have birthdays 2 days apart in May, so we usually celebrate together. We relight the candles and sing happy birthday three times, so that all three boys can blow them out. Tyler got Guitar Hero, which was my personal favorite gift of the weekend. Joe got some fancy new duds and Tim some outdoor gear, clothes and a French press, which has been enjoyed greatly. Notice the braclette on Airawen's wrist in the pic of her holding the apple? Gremacha by my friened Greta! A new favorite!