Weekend!

Woop Hello Friday!!! This week has flown by and I couldn't be happier about it! Tomorrow I have an morning date with my Ladies for some of this:

I can't wait! My Bestie Jen and I have gone to everyone together! It's kind of sad it's ending. I mentioned it before but Jen is pregnant too, due 4/6 and today at 10am she finds out what she's having!! Yesterday I texted her this:

Me: TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY!!! What time is it again?

Jen: What? I thought we were going Saturday and you said 9:30am...

Me: Not Twilight Jennifer!!!!! Your BIG ultrasound!!!

Yeah were kind of excited about it! I love that she thought Twilight was the "big day" I was talking about.

After the movie I have another date with my favorite girl! Layla and I are headed to this:

I might be more excited then she is... She's going to go dressed as Tinkerbelle, even though she's technically not a princess. She's going to love it though! If you follow me on Instagram (@kristakins_) be ready for a ton of pictures!

Have a great weekend!!!

Extra Snowy Day Off!

Yesterday we observed Veteran’s Day, so I got an extra day off with my Kiddo. And we woke up to about 2 inches of fresh snow! We had a blast playing in it! An epic snow ball fight, a snowy walk around the neighborhood and a funny looking snowman.

All bundled up and ready to go out! This picture made me realize it’s time to change the chalkboard wall.

1) Our silly snowman! He didn’t last very long… As soon as I let the dog out he ran out there grabbed the stick nose and knocked the whole guy over.

2) Layla making a snow angel!

3) 3) Elmer getting ready to catch a snowball!

4) On our snowy walk

5) At lunch, we had a Mommy/Layla date at Old McDonalds (as Layla calls it). She was making a kissy face for me to text to Ben.

6) And last night playing the “Guess how much I love you” game. Guess how much I love you Layla! I love you more than all the snow! Then she goes and it’s normally something really silly like she loves me more than her toes! Last night it was cookies!

Perfect extra day off with my kid!

Happy Halloween!!!

From Layla the Butterfly:

Layla's Birth Story

Linking up with The Vintage Apple to share Layla's birth story!

The week leading up to Layla's birth was a little crazy! My Dad and Step Mom were in town staying with us, my brother got into some trouble and my OB broke his leg downhill bike racing... Yeah, he's in his 60's. Layla was due on 8/10/08, I remember going to see my OB and on 8/8 and being told nothing was happening. I might have lost it in his office. So we set up induction for Sunday 8/10. Well my older brother Eddie decided to get into some trouble and wreak my Dad's rental car Saturday night... & then I got a call from my OB's office saying my Ob had broke his leg. So I postponed my induction. A few days later I saw a different OB (who was really hot by the way, I had seen him in the practice before and told Ben I do not want him to deliver me, he's too attractive!) and he suggested we set up another appt to be induced, Thursday 8/14/12 it was!

We headed to the hospital Thursday morning and around at 6:00am got my first pill called... um something with a C inserted around 7:00am not much happened. I had to stay in bed for 2.5 hours after getting the pill so I just hung out. Around 12:15pm I got my second pill and around 2:30pm I started to have contractions. Nothing horrible but it wasn`t like everyone had described to me. It wall all in my lower back. Around 5:00pm or so I had some visitors and we started walking the halls and the contractions really picked up. At 6:30pm my water broke and the contractions were pretty bad! But all in my back, I never felt anything in my tummy. I was only 2 cm dilated. Around 7:30pm we had a nurse change and then my knight in shining nurse came in! Dennis was amazing and made the whole experience so nice! Around 9:30pm I finally got my epidural, it was heaven! I was able to rest and relax. At 10:30pm I was 5 cm dilated and still feeling really well. Took a few naps and at 2:00am-ish I was 9 cm dilated I got a little nervous when I heard that! Not much longer and I was at 10! I pushed for about an hour and a half a then there she was! Born on 8/15/08 at 4:50am. She was a little peanut at 5lb 12oz 19 inches long. She was perfect and hardly cried!

Seriously the best moment of my life and even after 4 years I still remember it like it was yesterday. I hope this baby’s birth is a little more uneventful leading up to the big day! I’ve already told my OB he is not allowed to break his leg again.

Here's Layla Louise at 6 days old:

Pre K

Today my Little baby Layla Bean starts Pre K! Which means we are less than a year away from her going to kindergarten! WTH! How did this happen?! I swear it was just August ’08 like five minutes ago and she was a tiny newborn. (& I was only 24 not almost 29!)

In honor of her 1^st day in a new class here’s a ton of pictures of her.  

6 days old and tiny! I was almost 2 weeks overdue with her & she was still only 5lbs 12ozs.

She filled out quickly! :)

9 months old

1st Birthday!

1st trip to Seattle!

 

Seattle Zoo

1st day of school ever! Headed to the Toddler Class

1st Day of Preschool

And this morning!!!!

Oh Hey!

Holy Blogging Break! Here’s what we’ve been up too since the baby announcement.  

• We went on Vacation! We didn’t end up going anywhere, I was still not feeling 100% so we planned a little day trip and spend 3 glorious uninterrupted days with just the 3 of us!
• Layla turned 4! OMG! It’s still hard to believe and I think I’ve been telling her that a lot. The other day on a drive to my Momma’s she said isn’t it so weird Mommy? & I’m like what? That I’m already 4? How did that happen?! Yes, silly girl it is weird!
• We went to Palouse Falls on her actual birthday and randomly ran into Ben’s BFF from high school and his wife! So crazy! They live just over the WA border in Oregon and just decided to drive up.
• At Palouse Falls it was close to 100! So F-ing hot! We went on a hike to get closer to the water and I seriously thought I was going to die! After we made it to the water and start the death hike back I literally almost asked Ben to just all an ambulance. As soon as our friends drove away I might have started crying like a huge baby. I must have forgotten I’m pregnant and haven’t hiked in forever.
• My Dad and Step mom Brenda came up for 7 days and spoiled the heck out of us! My dad cooked for me almost every day and Bren did our laundry and cleaned my house J It’s hard to survive now that they are gone.
• We had Layla’s birthday party! Which got a huge damper put on it by my older brother calling my Dad about an hour before and letting him know he hates him… Um, what! Thanks Eddie. But we had fun regardless and Layla had a blast. We invited her entire Pre School class and only 1 kid showed up. Bummer, but it was over a 3 day weekend and another little girl had a party the same day.
• I had my 12 week NT ultrasound! I love seeing the baby hanging out! Ben couldn’t make it (he had a interview to move up in his Co.) and he missed hearing the first heartbeat. But I got some sweet pictures and poked 5 times to get blood.
• 2 nights ago I totally felt Baybee #2 rocking out! I guess 2^nd time moms feel it sooner? Anyone agree with this? It was def the baby! Seriously best feeling ever!
• One more thing pregnancy related, I am experiencing some serious pregnancy rage! I am so short and pissy with people! Do not look at me wrong cause I might rip your face off! It seems to be the worst at work. I’m training a new person right now and I bet she thinks I hate her and am the biggest bitch. Hormones are evil.

& some random pictures of lately. Yes the last row middle is the baby bump I am already rockin! #ithappenedwaytofastthistime

Currently...

Working on this:

We did end up going with the park I talked about here. So now I get to stress about possibly not getting the covered party area, along with the weather, crafting 1800 things and everything else that goes into a party.

But once we get to party day, everything will work out or get tossed and she'll have the best time ever! I cannot believe my tiny 5lb baby is almost 4!

Plans!

Layla's birthday is just around the corner. We like to take a little time off work and take her somewhere cool. Last year we went to Seattle to the Zoo and the Nirvana Exhibit at the EMT for Ben, Layla could care less. So this year we are trying to figure out what to do. We only have 2 full days. We can leave on a Tuesday night and have Wednesday and Thursday somewhere then we'll probably need to come home Thursday night or leave really early Friday morning. Friday we have family coming into town and Saturday is her actual party day!

We don't want to fly anywhere. I hate flying and love road trips.

Here's a few ideas we've come up with:

We also had an issue with our hotel room when we stayed in Portland back in April, so I complaied to the hotel and they have offered us some perks to come back.

Picture Post

1) Layla waiting for the fireworks, kiddo stayed up until 10:30pm! Poor baby was so sleepy on the way home!

2) My loves! We found a good stop on some rocks to watch the fireworks.

3) Yesterday Layla waiting to attack her Uncle Eddie when he came over!

4) Elmer goes crazy when he sees water. Squirt guns make him nuts! He was trying to attack the water...

5) My little patriotic girl! While we were waiting for the fireworks she sang Happy Birthday to America no less than 8 times. It was really cute!



Pop Rocks

Ben let Layla try Pop Rocks for the first time a few nights ago...

Party Planning

Yesterday I started thinking about Layla’s 4th birthday, yes it’s in August but July and August are super busy for us. I had plans for a camping party, with just close friends and family but then my Dad and Step Mom decided to fly up from Fresno, CA and there’s no way my Mom would camp with them. Agh annoying, it was years ago, let’s get over it. My next idea was a Cowgirl party with a pony! But then I realized we live in BFE and I doubt enough kids would come to make it worth it. So now I’m thinking a party at a Discovery Playground, which is close to her school. We drive about 30 minutes to her school that is close to my work. I’m thinking more of her classmates would come if the party was close to that… Plus the park has all these cool features:

Sun Gateway and Basalt Boulder Play

• Gathering plaza, climbing boulders and a bridge over a dry creek bed

Steelhead Trout River Bed "Splash Pad"

• Basalt water sprays, trout sculptures, seating and jumping water jets

Fossil Maze

• Herb garden, fossils, benches and a raised planting bed

Outdoor Classroom

• A quiet group gathering area

Secret Garden

• Wavy walk, bridge, larger-than-life objects, vine tunnel and sensory plantings

Bear Den Sand Play with Mammoth Fossil Find

• Bear den, mammoth and fossils, water spigot and raised sand table

Big Horn Sheep Challenge Steps, Double Slide and Sensory Garden

• Shallow and steep steps with wrap-around garden, and sculpture/seating/talk tubes

Eagle’s Nest Observation Deck

• Watershed and salmon wall, glacier rock slide, climbing wall, giant eagle’s nest sitting circle, swings, spinners, fish climbing sculpture and boulder seating

Elk Valley Picnic Plaza

• Shelter, tables, seating, boulders, sundial, fossils and split rock

Musical Elements

• Musical elements in seating nooks with a larger musical area

Landscaping

• Features Eastern Washington flora with a variety of scents, textures and colors

Discovery Pavers and Hidden Walk

• Educational pavers leading along a pathway with benches

Accessible restrooms

The best thing being the Splash Pad! BUT you can’t reserve it. So should I plan a whole party around a place when we might not get the shelter? I would be totally willing to get there early and try to steal the picnic area but it majorly stresses me out that it’s not a for sure thing. Would you do it? Or should I find a place that I can reserve?

And because I hate a post without a picture here's Layla before school this morning.

Wednesday

Random Randomness today and pictures of my girl!  

Do you Pick Your Plum? I signed up for this website a week or so ago and I've already bought 2 things from them! They email you daily deals, just what we need right? I ordered this Elephant necklace for $3.95! Plus $2.95 shipping and had it within days. I'm a nut for Elephants. A little info from their Who We are section:

We post one time a day Monday-Friday at 7 am (MST). Good Times. 

It's in our blood. 

Have you ever glued your fingers together trying to put a project together? Stayed up all night just to finish that last project before your kids wake up? Gussied up your home just so the neighbors could gawk over your detail? Borrowed an idea from the store knowing you can make one too? 

We have. We know. Join us.

 

Get it before your neighbor does:
We have limited supplies on some of the most swank supplies. We have agents out in the field who find killer deals on high quality products.
 We delicately slap prim-o pricing on crafting, clothing, baking supplies, home decor and other fabulous finds. Stellar pricing. Cool.
 We sell it 'til it's gone or 'til time is up.
 You leave feeling like you just won Martha in a crafting contest.
 The supplies arrive in 7-8 shipping days and you've just picked your 'plum'! Doesn't it feel good?

It's fun, I love a good deal! Today I ordered a ton of pretty cupcake liners. Check it out if you want. 

(No one asked me to post this or sponsored this. But it would have been cool if they did. I just like the website)

And a few more pictures of Layla from our hike Saturday:

I love this shirt! It's a 24 mths (She'll be 4 in Aug) It's getting close to being too short, but it's just so cute!

And 1 more, this is from last Monday, we went out to dinner, oh Instagram what did I ever do without you?

It's almost the weekend!!! 

Silverwood

Two weeks ago? I think, I mentioned we were going to take Layla to Silverwood this is our semi local theme park. It's about an hour or so away. Its def no Disneyland or anything close to that but it’s not bad. It’s a lot of fun, and in the summer there is a water park so that is pretty cool! I mentioned before but I grew up in CA so weekend trips to Disneyland or Six Flags happened fairly often, the first time I went to Silverwood I wasn’t impressed. But once you live here forever and it’s all you got, you learn to love it!

1. Layla on her 1st ever ride by herself!!! I might have almost cried
    
2. It was super cold that day!
    
3. On another ride, this ride kind of sucked basically just a mini Ferris wheel and it was very slow.
    
4. Layla with Ottie! So cute! She’s not afraid of these things at all! 
5. Ben on the Carousel
    
6. Layla on the “go up high & drop you ride” again
7.  My two loves! Layla didn’t nap at all that day
    
8. Layla Lou on the Carousel, we rode it like 9 times
    
9. Lou on the planes again, this was by far her favorite ride! 

My Week in Pic's

Well most of my week in pictures. And mostly pictures of Layla.

1) Layla a the park the other day, Ben grabbed this before she ran off like a crazy kid

2) Layla taking a picture of her bbf Elmer

3) Elmer waiting for Layla to throw a ball

4) Pink Lemonade Cake! I need to make this! It’s from Better Homes and Gardens

5) Layla rocking my shades

6) Layla “talking” on the phone, I think to my Mom’s dog.

7) A new inspirational quote on the chalkboard wall. “Life is not about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself.” I saw this on a store front window in Portland and really liked it.

8) Layla and Elmer, Besties! Which is so weird because up until about 6 months ago he didn’t want anything to do with her. I guess he realized how fun she is!

9) And the weather for this weekend! Tomorrow 68 & Sunny, Sunday 76 and SUNNY!!!! Woo Hoo!

Have a fabulous weekend!!!

Weekend Round Up

This weekend…. Friday night we had some friends over for a nice round of Apples to Apples. I didn’t win. The house across the street from and to the left is for sale. I know the owners have moved out so late Friday night Becca & I snuck across the street and looked in the windows. Do you ever do this? It looks nice, a lot like our house but smaller.

Saturday I hung out with my Mom. We did a little shopping; I bought a dress for our upcoming trip to Portland. We never made it to the Falls, it was rainy and cold.

Sunday, we woke up to a beautiful day! We cleaned cars out, took a trip to the dump. Layla loves this, I don’t know why. It stinks! I finally found a pallet for my project. While the kiddo was napping Ben and I did some yard work, planted some blubs that we got in the Fall… Yeah I doubt we’ll see the flowers this year, but maybe next. When Layla woke up we went to the nearby elementary school, we played and rode bikes. It was the perfect Sunday! We finished the day with some yummy bbq’d steaks for dinner!

And here is the cutest video you will ever see! J Layla telling her favorite Knock Knock Joke.

Layla: Knock Knock
Me: Who's there
Layla: Smell Mop
Me: Smell Mop Who?
Layla: Disgusting! I don't want to smell poo!

Have a great week!!!

Layla & #Marchphotoaday

Monday morning I had a super rough morning with Layla. I had her all dressed and ready to go went to finish getting myself ready, come back out and she has on a completely different outfit on top of her other outfit. A fight ensued getting her to change and about an hour later I felt like the biggest jerk. Why can’t she wear whatever she wants? Who really cares if it matches? She’s only young once, why can’t she pick out her own clothes? So Monday when I picked her up I let her know she could start picking out her clothes and wear whatever she wanted! (as long as it’s warm, fits, whatever) I honestly think she’s doing great! Here’s this morning’s outfit:

Also I have decided to join in Fat Mum Slim for the March Photo of the Day. Here’s a list of what I’ll be doing. I doubt I’ll blog it every day, but I am planning on tweeting it every day! (@Kristakins_ ) So follow along or join!

Happy Thursday!

Sunday Funday!

Yesterday I got to do something I’ve waited a long time to do! Since I was 20 weeks pregnant and the ultrasound tech said it’s a girl!

Layla and I went and got Mani’s and Pedi’s!!!

Ha! She looks a little frighten here!

Being Silly!

It was a lot of fun! She was so good and sat so still! (Something she never does for me when I paint her nails!) Afterwards she said it was so much fun! Daddy wasn’t too happy that she picked out red for her hands but it was a special treat so I let it slide.

And on a different note, I have perfected the Oatmeal Raisin Cookie:

Bad cell picture, but oh so good!

Mix Mash

Hola! Throwing a post together today. I am insanely busy at work! My co worker recently left our bank so our tiny 3 person Credit Card Dept. is now even smaller and tiny-er with just me and my Boss. Anyone want to work in a bank?? Lol, but seriously anyone in Eastern WA?

Ben and his buddy at work were having a beard growing contest. Well his co worker caved and shaved (ha that rhymed) last weekend but Ben hasn’t. I took this trying out a Retro Camera App I downloaded so you can’t really see the hugeness of it but it’s large! I know a lot of women who are anti beard but I really like it. Just maybe a little shorter and trimmed up.

When we ran to Home Depot for Caterpillar Green paint, Layla noticed the orange gates at the end of each row they have to block the rows off. Anyways so were looking at light fixtures and she’s playing with one then we start walking to somewhere else and she runs in front of me to play with another one trips over my shoes and falls face first into the damn gate.

Lots of blood and a fat lip later! Poor Kiddo! She’s totally fine now and by Monday she was excited to get to school and show it off.

And here's Layla's Valentines we made! Melted crayons:

I’m off tomorrow and Monday for Presidents day! Have a fabulous weekend!

Picture Post

This post is just a bunch of pictures J

Ben & Elmer. I love it when his bottom tooth sticks out, such a goofy dog!

Layla at Jump n’ Bounce. This was our first time there. It’s basically a bunch of blow up jumpy toys in a warehouse and you can run around a play!

Ben at Jump n’ Bounce looking kind of sweaty! Gross, but he was literally like a 5 year old. Right before this picture he asked,”Can we have my birthday here this year?”

Then he hurt himself…

My little Sweetie! She just got her bangs cut and we were headed for a Mommy & Layla target trip.

And a sweet picture of my Girl. We had a Saturday morning to ourselves!