{Random Goodness} Microwave S'mores

First let me say that I do not camp.  This is something very high maintenance about myself I know but it is just not something that I enjoy doing.  However, there is one thing that is right up my ally that I love.  Bonfires and S'mores.  Yes, I know this sounds weird, but it true I love bonfires.  I that it gives you a good excuse to cuddle with loved ones.  I love the smell for some reason and I love anything that gives you a reason to eat more chocolate.  Since I can't exactly have a bonfire whenever I want.  I decided to do the next best thing.  Yep the microwave! Don't mind my dirty microwave.  I just put those bad boys in there for about 3 or 4 seconds and...

my kids loved them!  

Some day they will need to have them from a real bonfire.  But, for now this works.

Have a beautiful day! Smiles, Jessica

{Family Goodness} My Valentine Girls

I can't believe it has taken me so long to get this posted but such is life.  I had created a small Valentine's themed photo shoot for my daughter's the other day.  They couldn't go to school that Friday because it was cancelled due to snow.  What a better way to keep them entertained other than doing a photo shoot.

I do this all the time with them.  Dress them up in matching or similar outfits throw a white sheet over the back of the couch and make them pose.  They love it and so do I.  It also creates a bunch of laughter and free entertainment.

So for this shoot, I decided to change it up a bit.  I hung up a lavender sheet and some red hearts.  As you can see when you look at the pictures I hung them  a little high.  Next time I will have to keep that in mind.  I took over a hundred pictures in less then an hour.  These are just a few of my favorites from that day.

Have a beautiful day! Smiles, Jessica

{Blog Hop Goodness} Dec Daily Blog Hop 3

Hello Scrappy Friends!  Happy Friday!! I don't know about you but I'm glad it is Friday!Welcome to the third week of our Friday December Daily Blog Hop.  We are so excited to share with you are fun December Daily Projects this month.

If you came here from Angie's blog at Living a Crafty Life you are in the right place.  If you didn't come from Angie's blog you can start at the beginning of the hop here.  There is a list of the hop order at the bottom of this post if you loose your way.  I'm also linking up to Ali Edward's Blog today to share in the fun with her.  I thought it only fitting since she is the mastermind behind December Daily!

I'm not going to pretend that I'm not really far behind.  However, at this point in my life I'm ok with that. :)  This week I got the cover for my book done and one of the inside divider pages.  I wanted to share both with you. I'm going to apologize right now for the pictures.  They are really dark.  I haven't been home during daylight hours at all this week. Then I got the bright idea to take the pictures under my tree for visual effect.  It didn't work very. But, this is what you are getting.

And because I feel like bragging, here are some pictures of what we did this weekend.  Have I mentioned I love living in the DC area!! And yes these will all end up in my book.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Your next stop on the hop will be Crystal at Capture the Moment.

Also, you can link up your own projects below.  I would love to see how you are documenting the season.

Blog order:

Leslie

Jennifer

Angie

Jessica

Crystal

Have a beautiful day! Smiles, Jessica

{Family Goodness} Jaleesa Bear

I use to dress Jalyn up every now and then in an outfit that I thought was really cute and stage fake photography sessions with her at home.  I haven't really done too many that have been just Jaleesa.  Most of the time I have done it with both of them.  Last week I decided to have a little one with just Jaleesa.  She had on this cute little fleece outfit, so I picked up my camera and she hammed it up for the me.  I really could never put into words how much I love this girl!  She really just completes our family in a way that is hard to express.

Love you, nib.

Have a beautiful day! Smiles, Jessica

{Family Goodness} Us Right Now

Last week one night we were hanging out in our living room exhausted from the long day.  The girls were still bouncing of the walls a little so John started playing some music for them to dance to.  Of course, John and I have to join in during this time.  It is one of our favorite things to do.  I of course had my camera out and was snapping away.

I managed to get two amazing pictures from the evening.  And when I say amazing, I don't me award winning, they will win every photography contest out there amazing.  I did just snap these pictures with my little point and shoot camera.  I mean amazing in the fact that we are all smiling, happy and having fun.  On this particular day, there was no whining or complaining.  There was only a live in the moment and enjoy each other attitude.  Forget that the house is a wreck, dishes are piled up in the sink, there is a sea of laundry in the basement, boxes need to be unpacked, and there were deadlines that needed to be met kind of day. This was amazing because we were being goofy, laughing, dancing as if no one was watching and overall enjoying that specific moment of our lives.  This is us right now.  That is what I mean by amazing pictures.  These two photos are hands down my favorite photos right now.

I'm hoping to have many more of these moments in my life, especially with my children.

Have a beautiful day! Smiles, Jessica

{Family Goodness} Wordless Wednesday- Mesmerized

Have a beautiful day! Smiles, Jessica

{Family Goodness} My Girls

A couple weeks ago we went to Indiana for a couple of days.  On the drive back we stopped at a rest stop in Maryland for a quick potty break and leg stretching break.  The rest stop had this amazing view and I couldn't help but take a few photos while I was there.  I captured this one of my girls and it is absolutely my favorite right now!  I have so much love for both of them.  They are my joys!

Have a beautiful day! Smiles, Jessica

{Family Goodness} Jaleesa at One!

Ok, so this post should have gone up over 2 weeks ago.  I will hold my hand out and someone can slap it for me.

I have to say that I am really struggling with Jaleesa turning a year old in a way that I never did with Jalyn.  I have several theories as to why but it would take more then a blog post to sort through them.  The reason I think that sticks out the most is she is my baby, my youngest, the last baby that I will feed, change diapers, clean up throw up, pick out those cute little baby clothes for, snuggle with after bath time because she as that incredible clean, fresh baby smell, watch walk for the first time.  I could keep this list going on forever probably.

But the other truth to all this is I'm glad she is my baby, my last child, my last all of the above.  I think part of the reason I'm struggling with that is I feel sad and guilty and happy all at the same time. Ok, time to end my therapy session for today.

With all that being said,  I really couldn't ask for a better baby.  She is happy, independent, adventurous and wicked clever.  Jaleesa is continually smiling.  I don't have a lot of trouble snapping picks of her smiling.  Looking at me and not something else that has caught her eye is a whole other story.

Yes, at one she is adventurous.  She has no problem taking a total nose dive off the couch to get something she wants or try to climb up the pillows on the floor to get that remote control.  Clever, that girl is.  She will figure out how to get what she wants.  She will climb Jalyn if it means getting something she wants. Oh her independence will astound you.  She wants to do everything on her own already.

I love watching Jaleesa grow up.  I love seeing her love for life and family grow.  Her excitement when she learns something new.  Her irritated look when she has decided someone has cried long enough or she can't get into something she wants. She has an amazing infectious laugh and smile that will brighten any one's day.

My sweet baby Jaleesa, Momma loves you more than you will ever know.

A few pictures from her celebration:

all that giggling is making me tired...

mom get this off my head...

mmm... what is this?

ah cake... I will stuff the whole thing in my mouth now. Thank you.

Have a beautiful day! Smiles, Jessica

{Family Goodness} Jalyn's Birdhouse

I wanted to take a minute and show off the birdhouse that Jalyn created last weekend.  We stopped by Michael's after her dance class on Saturday.  As we were walking down the aisle, she paused and started looking at all the different birdhouses.  She got really quite and said mommy can I have this birdhouse and pointed to the largest birdhouse on the shelf.  My first reaction as no not for $12.99.  But then I realized they were on sale and they were only 9.99 at regular price. Since they were 40% off and I had a coupon that let me take an additional 10% off my purchase that day of sale or regular price items and I was feeling very nice and it was raining outside; I said yes.  She was so happy and excited.  I was for that moment in time the best mommy ever. *insert big cheesy grin here*

She worked so hard on it for about an hour.  She even picked out all the colors she wanted to use on the house.  She was so proud when she was done.  She is turning into my little artist.  She is always drawing or making pictures with stickers.  I can't seem to keep enough crafts in the house for her.  She is an amazing girl!  My heart is bubbling over with pride.

Have a beautiful day! Smiles, Jessica