Toddler Activities

Seriously, I loved this game as a kid. And I'd forgotten about it until just the other day at Tarjay, I saw it! It was on sale for $4.99. I couldn't pass it up.

So I took it home and Emily and I have been playing it ever since! It's super easy for her to grasp the idea of one bean at a time and we take turns. At first when it would spill out she would be all bummed and pout for a second. But now she gets it, and she even tilts the bucket when I'm not looking to make them spill on my side. Little stinker!

I've really enjoyed finding all these cute little games that she and I can play together.

Here are some other cool games for the 2-3 year olds:

This fun little game I got for $3.50 at Kid2Kid. (It's a little re-sale shop, but it has nicer stuff cause they buy it off of you. They don't just work off of donations) The bummer thing was that it was missing one wand and a ton of the little butterflies. So I just sewed some ribbon in the same shape and it works great!

I got this at Tarjay as well. I don't remember how much it cost but it defiantly was worth it. I have to edit out a lot of the cards for her, otherwise she can't really play. First we started with 3-4 matches, and now we are up to 6-8. She loves it and asks to play all the time!

Insta-Friday. Instagram Weekly Photos

Linking up with Life Rearranged and sharing my silly Instagram photos. (If you don't know what Instagram is, it's an app for iphones that turn your normal and sometimes boring iphone photos into cool and awesome photos!)

Here are mine for the week. I know there isn't much but, I am moving across country this week!! (...how long can I keep that up!!??!!) 

Sleeping on the way to the park.

Reading at Barnes and Noble, we needed a break from cardboard boxes!

Running on the stage and dancing crazy! 

Double thumbs up. 

Showing off her sunnies and her TOMS!

Crazy static on the trampoline!

Moving Day Birthday's

{via} on my Pinterest Board!

Here we are on the eve of our move to Houston, Texas. My daughter is going to be 3 on Sunday, and it has become somewhat of a tradition that we move on her birthday weekend.

The proof is in the pudding:
-One day after Emj's birth, my husband moved us into an apartment. My Mom and Mother in law stayed in the hospital with me and kept me company... mostly to kept EmJ company as I was completely whacked out on morphine (thank you unexpected C-section!)

That's my mom holding EmJ. I wouldn't trust me either in that crazed morphine state!

1 day old EmJ. Happy 1st moving day!

-Her first b-day we didn't move! But we did move when she was 6 months (out to Los Angeles to work with YWAM)... and then again when she was 1 and a half (out to Phoenix, AZ cause our time with YWAM had ended).

EmJ's 1st b-day!

-On her second birthday we moved into a condo. We stopped unpacking breifly to have cupcakes and open a few presents.

-This year we are moving to Texas on her b-day weekend.

We are those crazy gypsy people.

{via}

We have moved so much that I feel like I'm a pro at it. I get rid of TONS of stuff by way of garage sale and Goodwill. The rest of it gets boxed up and loaded into the U-Haul.

I am hoping to end this moving trend! 5 big moves in 3 short years! Here's to staying in one place!
And happy birthday to my sweet girl! 3 years old already, you are so smart and bright. You bring joy to all who meet you! I love you!!!!!!!!!!

{via} my Pinterest Board!

A Miracle in the making - Anna Joy

My friend Alissa is the strongest and bravest woman I know. She was the maid of honor in my wedding, and seriously a sister to me during our time in missions with YWAM. She loves the Lord so dearly and trusts Him with so much! Recently she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Anna Joy. This sweet little girl has two different heart defects and the doctors didn't give her much time to live after birth, and if she did, they knew that many operations would have to take place.

Well This little miracle is a fighter! She did have to go in for heart surgery after only 9 hours of life, but she is recovering and doing well. Please, please be praying for continued progress for Anna Joy, and her family!

Please go and check out their blog for more information! And leave them some comment love on their page!
http://babyannajoy.blogspot.com/

{via}

Thank you so much!

Her story once again leads me to gratitude. Thank you Jesus for healthy children in our lives, and for the grace and mercy you are showing to Anna Joy!

Insta-Friday. Instagram Weekly Photos.

Linking up with Life Rearranged
It's a great way to share all those photos and it's got me taking more pictures!
Sooooo here we go!

My Dad is a handy man out here in Arizona, and he's the keeper of this castle up on Camel back Mountain. He had to do some handy stuff so we went up with him to take a look around. 

The whole driveway was decorated with all these white stones. The whole castle was built with the rock of the area. Pretty cool.. actually really cool, it was freezing up there!

This is my arty pic from the balcony. I love cacti and wrought iron. 

And the door knockers were epic. The whole place really! I kept saying "Nice Knockers". Nobody laughed. *sigh*

The stain glass alone was amazing! This place is like an actual castle. It's nuts. 

Then we bundled up and headed to the Grand Canyon! My brother and his girlfriend had never been. And Emily kept calling it the "Green Canyon", at first it was really what she thought we were saying... then it became her own little joke! 

It was cold and this little girl did so good! She's happy no matter what! Such a blessing from God!

My brother and his girlfriend are down there somewhere.... it was too scary for me! But I loved the view!

These are just a few of the other pics of Thanksgiving weekend. Yes my daughter is still wearing her Tinkerbell costume as often as she can! This girl loves holidays!

This is how my daughter "helps". She wanted to give Sandie a treat! Sure the door is closed and she can't get to them... DETAILS!!!!.... she'll just let her STARE at her treats! Hilarious!

We don't have a tree yet but we were looking! 

This is my favorite! We are all getting into the Christmas spirit in our house! I love that EmJ is so silly! Merry Christmas!!!!!

Find me on Instagram : @chasing31

Love ya!

Bri

Turkey Christmas Santa Comics

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this time of year! I get to cozy up with my family and laugh and joke and remissness about the year and previous years! My brother and his girlfriend have just flown in to visit for Thanksgiving. I'm so happy to have loved ones around! EmJ was so excited for her Uncle Nick to come and visit that she stayed up till midnight! And she kept saying "all my friends are home". Just melts my heart!

My brain starts to wander to Christmas already, but I have to remind myself to stay in the moment, enjoy and be thankful for today!

{via} and also on Pinterest

{via} and also on Pinterest

Happy Thanksgiving!
Love,
Bri

Pinterest Advent Calendar - Inspirations

So now that I've got an Advent Calendar for EmJ, the one I made last year (found here)
I've decided that I want one of my own. I'm all for the cheesy cheese of holiday prints and festive greens and reds, but I also really love the updated versions. And who says you can't have 2 Advent Calendars in your home!!???!! I'd like to meet that person and give them a piece of my Christmas! (Ok I'll calm down)

So here is some Pinterest inspiration for my next Advent Calendar!

{via} also on my Pinterest Board

I love this one, there are so many possibilities and it still looks so clean and pretty! I might do shells or metallics or all my favorite ornaments I have from my childhood. See!!??!?!? The possibilities ARE endless!

{via} also on my Pinterest Board

Another simple yet stunning advent calendar! And this could use up more of my stash of clothespins!!
 

{via} also on my Pinterest Board

This one is a little more cutsie, more for kids, but I love that it's an updated version. And seems easy enough to tie up the presents and pull them off.

{via} also on my Pinterest Board

I like this one, mostly because I'm obsessed with those little tins from Ikea. Also because it's super easy! And I could just hide the date inside to be posted on the outside. Oh who am I kidding!? I'll hide candy in there too! You wouldn't want the numbers to be lonely would you???!!!

Well this has been fun. We'll see which one I decide to copy be inspired by.

Thanks for stopping in!