Swimsuit Season

during the winter/hibernation season,

it's difficult to remember how to put on a swimsuit.

let alone actually fit into one at this point.

BUT

if you have some unwanted pounds, the method of  accessory distraction is quite effective.

Everyone will be noticing your BOOTS, and not ur chunky thighs.

this is pretty much genius.

swimsuit season is fast approaching.

ur welcome for this amazing tip.

Love...

i hope you all had a chance to spread the LOVE yesterday.

and you're right, it isn't about all the cards and flowers and what not.

(as Bewtcut's card shows perfectly)

but it IS about stopping to show a little bit extra love,

even when u haven't gotten any sleep

and ur grumpy

but u took the time to write a little love note before heading to work.

(thank u Bewtcut, u hot boy-toy u.)

I won't say Valentine's Day is over commercialized, cuz guess what?

so is EVERY holiday!!

Christmas, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Mother's Day, Father's Day

you NAME it

there is a card, candy, gift for you to spend money on.

and you know what?

that's OK!

We SHOULD be letting our loved ones know EVERYDAY how much we love and appreciate them.

but it's also ok to take a moment to celebrate

or remember

or say things you haven't been saying for awhile

and have a holiday to do it in.

I see no harm in that. :)

So regardless of your circumstances, I hope you had a chance to share the love,

to spread it thru your friends and family and loved ones yesterday, and everyday!

like mostly, i was just glad Bewtcut was home this year!!

Usually he is deployed during Valentine's and his birthday (which are days apart from each other) so just having him HERE, safe and sound--no dangerous missions on deployment was gift enough for me. I was really grateful and thankful he was with us for the holidays this year!

on a side note, 

I figured out that Valentine, baby cheekies are better to munch on than chocolate.

so, that's my new diet.

But truly, just love each other!

don't look at what you're lacking

YOU can be the LOVE to those around you!

You can share your HEART and TIME

which is what our hearts want anyway, 

time, attention, and love.

We ALL can give that...

 and that's free. :)

Xoxo

Hillary

4 is more!

..and no, I'm not talking about how I feel about having that many children, ahem.

.

Miss Belle turned the big 4!!

the night before, we all went to Chuck e Cheese,

She walked out after 500 tickets, with a plastic slinky and small squishy lizard toy.

Chuck must a mob boss i think...;)!!

So at night when she was sleeping i blew up balloons and put them on her door

(thanks Pinterest!)

and the next morning was filled with donuts and presents,

now that's MY kind of birthday!

and thank goodness there is still regular snail mail,

so that she could open gifts from California Grammi and Grandude (my parents)

on her birfday!

I did take her on a bday lunch date to TGIFRidays,

But failed to document it.

What a shame, we both looked cute that day…pfffttt.

now, my kids are a mix of healthy eating, candy/sweets, and fast food.

I like to think of them as well-rounded.

I let them pick what they want to eat on their birthdays

so when your 4yr old,

THIS

sounds like the PERFECT birthday dinner.

and her wish was my command that day.

Hot dogs, green jello, popcorn, and chips

Since Bewtcut had a funky schedule that day,

we had her Tangled birthday party the following night, surrounded by all her loving aunts, uncles, Grandma and Grandpa Northrop side! :)

She dressed in her Rapunzel costume and was ready to go!

*please disregard crying, gremlin baby in the background*.

ya ya, made it myself. her movie is called "Tangled" remember??, her hair is supposed to look like that when made with frosting, so shut it.

Princesses tend to get bashful when all her minions are singing Happy Birthday

to her face.

I wonder if she wished we'd all disappear,

ha!

So she basically partied all week, hope she had a great one!!

She asked me a few weeks ago, "Mommy am i getting heavier?..cuz I'm almost 4 now"

i wanted to say, "no...but my heart is."

what?? awwww, let's all cyber cry together.

but truly,

i can't believe she is 4yr old already

she was just a little "bitty" not that long ago...

time sure flies when you have 500 kids. ;)

Happy Birfday our sweet Scarlett Belle!