dallas vaca: american girl store

after much debate, we finally decided it was time for a very special trip within our trip. vivian had been saving her pennies (literally, folks, we pay her in pennies) for quite some time, and after we emptied her piggy bank and had a few BIG discussions (one involving an advance in birthday money from popa)...we were off to the american girl store!

after pouring over the catalogs for more than six months, vivian new EXACTLY which doll she wanted (although her evil mother made her walk the entire store twice before i would let her choose). but in the end, julie, the girl of the year from 1973, was the pick.

here vivian is handing over the big $100....i don't think i smile as big when i spend that much. ;)

but i might if i knew it was gonna make this girl that happy!!

of course big cousin natalie was there to enjoy the moment.

and mommy was there to capture the two new best friends later that very night. :)

dallas vaca: day three

legoland! really that should explain it all...

miss vivian was chosen from the crowd to get the lego machine cranking.

the entire city of dallas was re-created including texas rangers stadium,

south fork,

and of course, the grassy knoll.

my favorite part was the 4-d movie. complete with showers, smoke and even SNOW!

i'm not sure what theses kiddos favorite parts were...

they were too busy to decide!!

after a lot-o-legos....

we headed out for a quick bite at the rainforest cafe.

where everyone got a balloon animal. man i love that cute smiling wild beast...oh, and the lion, too!

dallas vaca: day two

we started monday at my favorite dallas stop: the world aquarium. seriously...just go, it's great!

this year we have 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. whew....that is exhausting just typing it...but aren't they cute?!

the best thing about the aquarium is that everything is so interactive....a sloth might just be hanging out in a tree right over your head!

or the sting rays might be just splish-splashing away.

and the indoor three story rainforest (even though it does a doozie on my hair), i LOVE it!

"why no mommy, i would NEVER pull your ponytail while you carry me around!" :)

the oldest and the youngest cousin in the shark tunnel.

the crew on the bamboo bridge.

flamingos and the boys.

daddy does backpack duty, too! and what does all this fun lead to....

some snoozing kiddos! :)

dallas vaca: day one

we started this summer with a bang...our annual bender-day vacation! so on a very nice sunday afternoon we loaded up these beasts and headed out...

after a quick six hours we were all checked in and waiting...

and waiting...

and ohhhh....what a wonderful reunion it was!!! so much so, that all i managed to capture on camera was this one shot. but i think it truly captures the moment...let the photopalooza begin!!! :)

a little business venture....

hello everyone! i think it is about time to make a little announcement (nope, sorry, no bun in the oven, here!!)...

i have been waiting for sometime to officially open my etsy shop. as most of you know, i have been sewing for friends for years.

it is such a fun and creative way to express my deep love of textiles! so without any further ado...

i welcome you to "caroline kate" a little brand that i have been secretly working on for over a year, but will be officially starting over the next few weeks.

i will begin by offering just nap mats (pictured above) for $20!! if you have ever priced these before you know this is a STEAL! this set includes the nap mat cover, a coordinating pillowcase, and an attached ribbon tie that doubles as a handle for easy carrying! here is how it works. you provide the fabric (i will specify yardage) and i provide the labor...easy as that! please feel free to contact me at somerclarkday@gmail.com with any and all questions. in the near future i will be adding more items (take a sneak peek below) but until then, i look forward to hearing from you! and please...check back often for give-aways, and updates! :)

super duper hero capes.

sweet and sassy baby items.

perfect and practical pillowcase dresses. (did i mention they are reversible?!)

custom brother sister creations.
happy shopping!
:)

*photo credit the fab whitney loibner.

summertime!!

it is finally here....summer! (well at least in our books) we have been spending lots of time here, on our new swing set (thanks lee's)...

and here, running through the sprinkler with friends!

and by the way, don't you wish you could rock a bikini like this girl?!

of course we also love meeting friends at the pool...here is saturday's crew.

sweet sister giggling in the shade makes me smile...

and who wouldn't love these red headed cuties, sydney and kate?!

but even with all those day genetics, sometimes we need to head indoors for a little cool down time. our favorite place is the historic argenta district library with miss kathy and her crew. they are currently signing people up for the summer reading program and will have fun activities like crafts, puppet shows, story time, and much more all summer!! check it out here....and we will see you there!

m^3

our weekend was filled with lots of fun:
1.mulhearn birthdays...

our sweet niece and nephews celebrated their birthdays this past weekend. daylee and hayes will be one in june and setler turned four in may. unfortunately, this was the only picture i took...but it really sums up how much fun everyone had at the party!

2. memorial day camping with gege and pawpaw...
joan and greg drove the rv down and everyone gathered for lots of fun and grilled goodies. the babies three.

the big kids three.

and the silly three! i'm not sure who had the most fun, the kids or the grown-ups!!

3. max is 80!!...

and to wrap up the weekend we had a little birthday celebration for popa who turned 80. (i know the cake says 81, dotdot said that was one to grow on.)

it was a marvelous, merry memorial day weekend!!!