for now, you can find me at Olive Everly - starting new

Well, the time has come to move blogs.  One day I plan to pick things back up here with their original intention, blog posts on teaching, but for now, that is just not where my passion for writing is, so a change was needed.  If you have been reading this blog for some time you will realize, Olive Everly is the same blog you have taken time to read, but I just needed to have my blog "make sense" to me, so I hope you join me in my newest online venture.  I am excited to embrace the mom blogger status, and I know that one day I'll come back to the place where my love for blogging began.  But for now, I'm going to write my heart out about my daughter, and not feel guilty for never posting about my classroom anymore.  I tried, it just didn't work anymore, but one day it will.

Thanks for reading...hope to see you at Olive Everly too!

Oh hey, I'm ONE [12 months]

well, well, well

it has been quite some time since I have written

I've decided now that I'm such a busy one year old

I will just be checking in monthly with all my favorite things

because if I thought things were fun as a crawler

they are way better now that I can walk

and practically run
and climb on everything my parents don't want me to

I may have taken my first steps at ten months

but I officially mastered life on two feet

the week of my first birthday
crawling is for babies, clearly

on the food front I am eating a lot more these days

and as we found out at Disneyland

I am quite the carnivore

[sorry auntie meg, grandpa wins this one, for now at least]

when I practically ate half of my dad's cheese burger

all my eating has officially brought me to the 12th percentile for my weight

and I'm now tipping the scales at 17 pounds 3.5 ounces [sarcasm inserted here]

and I'm in the 34th percentile for my height at 29 inches

at my 12 month check up I was given the green light for everything

[tummy, toes, and nose all in the right places]

and besides the fact that I am not a fan of my nurse

[serious tears just looking at him, yet the burly bearded guy at home depot, no issues]

so mom said we would give this young guy one more chance

and then we may have to change doctors in the practice

if they won't let us see another nurse - apparently they are a strict package deal

on a happier note, I am dancing often

I love anything with a strong beat or drums

I can play my xylophone like it's nobody's business

I'm practicing my snapping skills

[because I have clearly mastered clapping]

I wave hello and goodbye to everyone

[except before mentioned nurse]

I'm getting better at hugs

and any little squeezes I give away to my family seem to be well received

I suppose I will keep the hugs coming

mom and I have a new lunch time classroom routine that involves

me getting to walk the empty hallways after

my speedy boobie snack session

and if I'm lucky, there may even be a big kid or two to stop and 

say hello to - they are always my favorite

mama and dada are still being thrown about

but mom hasn't declared them as "real words" until they are used properly

and more than once

that's what I get for having a mom who is also a teacher

no babbling here will be passing for language

I do mimmic very well

and animals seem to be at the top of my word priority list

duck, cat, and dog have all been muttered in some way, shape, or form

so I think I will keep practicing my words

remember to give hugs

and hey, while I work all that out, I'll definitely be giving away free smiles

until next month

-Everly Mae

Fairytale Town [local lovin']

There are just those things that you always imagine doing once you become a mom.  For some, it may be the first tea party, for others it may be a sporting event.   For me, taking my child to Fairytale Town was one of "those moments".  I had the amazing idea to take Everly to Fairytale Town on her first birthday.  However, my child was born in November, and her birthday fell on a Tuesday, so the place was closed due to "winter hours".  Sad face.  However, something glorious happened, they were open on Veteran's Day, and our family had the day off together, so mommy dreams do come true!  Here are some glimpses of our first trip of many I'm sure.

sorry, two parents with a camera = too many photos 

We loved our visit.  They have a few new additions to the town since I've been and we enjoyed all of the friendly animals, freshly painted characters, and next time, we will be taking on more of the slides!  Even so, this place still has a very classic feel about it, and it was such a great way to spend the day.

Fairytale Town

3901 Land Park Drive,
Sacramento, CA 95822

Main Office:
916.808.7462

24-Hour Info:
916.808.5233

Visit their website here!

today we say goodbye Craig

Well, I will keep this short and sweet because I have family to get to, but today, I have to say goodbye to someone very special to my family, our Uncle Craig.  His passing is sudden, and exactly the way he would have wanted it.  He joked that his body was done here on Earth, and he was ready for what was next, but for those of us around him, we are not ready for him to be gone.  Craig welcomed me into the family immediately, and he is the reason for this blog.  When I first started teaching Craig would listen to hours of my stories from the classroom and always said that I should write them down, and one day, maybe write a book.  Well, I took that advice and started this little blog.  And as silly as it sounds, I love this thing.  It has morphed recently from my profession into the greatest diary of my daughter, and I am so thankful that I have chosen to record my life in this way.  So for now, we will allow ourselves to be sad, try to pick up the pieces from his passing, and remember what an amazing son, father, uncle, and friend he was to those around him.

I hope wherever your energy is now is as amazing as you hoped.

everly turned one [our party]

Last weekend we celebrated Everly's first birthday with friends and family.  Besides the chilly wind that decided to also join the party [mind you, the day before was 78 and sunny], the day was perfect.  We put on sweaters, bought a new outdoor heater, and enjoyed the day.  Because I'm a working mom, and I knew I wanted to enjoy the party planning process, I think we literally started doing little projects in August.  That would be my tip for success and enjoyment, start early, and allow yourself a week to decorate.  And if it wasn't for our families, we would have never been able to pull off a party of almost forty!  It was an all hands on deck situation to make sure we got everyone fed and happy - so thank you to all of Everly's grandmas, grandpas, great-grandparents, aunts, and great aunts that helped make the day possible!  And because I am one insanely lucky mama, our friend Sarah and her family also joined us for the big day, and brought her camera.  Enjoy...

Thank you again to everyone who helped us celebrate ONE!  Everly is so lucky to have such amazing people in her life.  She soaked up every minute of her birthday party and could not have had any more fun!

all images by Sarah Maren Photographers