{Jon Had another Birthday}

We celebrated Jon's Birthday a few times. We first started celebrating his Birthday early sense we were leaving on vacation without him then we didn't make our flight sense we were flying standby and then we ended up being there for Jon's Birthday and that was fun. So Jon got to celebrations! We took Jon to Merrick  and took him to the Best Toy Store on Long Island. It was so amazing! Christmas Toys from there for sure! He got a cookie cake and a yummy most delicious cake from Malverne Bakery too. 

He's so spoiled!

 I know you all know I am obsessed over Malverne Bakery and it's true I am! I seriously have never had anything in this Bakery that wasn't my favorite. Well Malverne Bakery is Famous all over Long Island. People come from all over to get their goods and I live only blocks from it. The cakes I here are absolutely the best but we have never had one until now. HOLY COW IT WILL NOT BE MY LAST.  I know I know I say this but SERIOUSLY this was the best cake ever! I am not a cake person and fact Jon and his family know that I sometimes would only eat one bite out of my cake just to be polite. In fact my mother would buy me ice-cream cakes cause she knew that's all I would ever really eat. Well Jon knows now where to buy my cake no more ice-cream cakes for me. All I keep thinking is what will I eat when I move from Long Island.

Addison just walked in while I was writing this and she said,"Whoa that was supper supper yummy!"

They called this 

Pistachio Raspberry Summer Delight

Okay this next picture has no place in this post but here's my lame cookie I made for Jon when we celebrated his Birthday early. I think he was happy we didn't get on that plane too : )

{Saying Goodbye to Good Friends}

In my life I have come to realize that people come and go. I know you maybe thinking to yourself.. "she's just finding that out?" Well in a sense...yes I am. Yes I know people and go all the time, they move you move, they pass on to another life or life just began. But the new thing I have grown to learn more and more as life goes by the important role these people play in my life and even though I may not be connected with them all my life I had a strong and important connection with them while I was with them. For how many times I wish I can meet, connect or cross paths again I can also come to terms even if we don't they will always have a spot in my heart. 


Stephanie was my first friend I made on Long Island. She took me under her wing and helped me with anything, invited me over for party after party, playmate after playmate, girl time after girl time. We would laugh at times how we had nothing in common but EVERYTHING in common. Stephanie and her wonderful family will always have a spot in my heart for them. I probably will never think of Long Island without them popping in my head. 


We will miss you and hope for our paths to cross one day again! Good Luck for your Future where ever that takes you!

A picture says a millions things!

Random kids doing Random things!

Here I am with absolutely no make-up at all but that's how Stephanie and I were. We were REAL friends.

So here we are keeping it REAL!

{Schools Out-So Let's Celebrate}

School ended Friday June 22nd for us. The girls had a 2 hour day of school where they received their report cards and the State Assessment Scores. And I am happy to report my girls did exceptional on their report cards; as well as, their State Assessment. Where both girls received the highest mark possible. Addison not only received the highest mark but a 100%!

Great Job girls I am so proud of you both!

Hard work is what got you here and Hard work is what will keep you here!

We also made a countdown chain for our Summer Break to Begin. The girls took turns everyday after school to pull of a chain. Addison was happy to finally pull off the last one so of course we had to celebrate the evening with games and NY PIZZA!

{Moving Up & Lobster}

Alix is Moving up to 3rd Grade. 

3rd Grade here starts a new school... Which means my girls are going to attend different school next year : (. I was so happy that Alix and Addison did have the opportunity to be together one year. Addison loved having her to walk into school everyday and peak on each other in the middle of school. 

Well here is Alix's school having a Moving Up Assembly for the 2nd graders. I tried to pull Addison out of school, but she asked me not to.. she wanted to finish up her 2nd to last day of school so I let her stay, but we sure did miss her.

In the Assembly the kids sang a few songs. 

We are so proud of Alix. We always try to make a big deal out of accomplishments. Even when they are mini accomplishments like moving to a new school for 3rd Grade. 

I feel it is important to celebrate the small steps because it's only through small steps that we can create GREAT Accomplishments and let's just face it -it's nice to take a break and see how you are coming along and refocus on the future.

I feel like Jon's road especially have been created by all the those small steps and accomplishments and life really is about the small things we do in life that make us so GREAT!

SO YES HERE WE ARE 

Celebrating the SMALL STUFF!

Jon bought these flowers in the City for Alix on his way home from being on-call for 24 hours. Talk about cutting it close. I dropped off Alix at the middle school then Addison at her school then grabbed Jon at the train station and back to the middle school. We made it with 2 minutes to spare! Jon having gotten no sleep was a champ this day. I have so many of those stories and even better. I love that my husband does everything to be a part of my children's lives even when he has to sacrifice sleep in order to do so. The crazy thing is he does it over and over again and never in a million he would ever complain. He loves seeing his children and me : ).

Again it's the small stuff in life that counts! 

Here is one of Alix's greatest school friends Lia. 

 After the Assembly we headed to some down the road for the yummy Seafood.

Waiting for our Lobster and Fish & Chips we saw some swans.

 Checking out all the Lobster. I wish we bought this one  :)

{Backyard Father's Day Campers}

For Father's Day Jon insisted that we camp in our backyard. I had errands to run most of the morning and I came home to all of this in the backyard. Our yard as you can see is not very big. It seemed like our tent took up the whole yard. LOL. The kids had a complete blast all day and will agree to this any day.

We tried to stay outside and play all day. Here are the kids playing bored games Yahtzee in the tent.

The kids put on a play for us. As Jon and I put on a puppet play for them. They loved our play I thought we had pictures but maybe not.

We as BBQ up some yumminess and had smokes on the BBQ as well. 

In the morning Jon woke up to Breakfast in his air mattress and opened up his presents.

I found some fun Ideas on the Internet and Pinterst

Happy Father's Day to what I think is the Best Dad Ever!

{Meet the Malinka's}

I can't believe people are starting to trust me taking their family photos. I am so glad they do cause it's a bit of a gamble for them. Here they put all this time coordinating outfits, getting hair done and all ready, driving to a location to finally have someone who is just starting out and learning how to take good photos not only with her camera but with talking to them how to position and everything. Here's a sigh of relief that they can be happy the won the odds on this gamble. Thank you so much for letting me do your photos. Your family is beautiful.


One last thing as I go through these pictures I start to think about how spiritual this hobby is for me. It amazes me to capture many expressions. One of my favorite pictures is of the mom with her children. I remember even shedding a tear seeing in this picture not only how beautiful she is on the outside but you can see how beautiful she is on the inside in this picture. 


I am grateful to the Lord for helping  me develop a talent and being able to recognize the blessings that come with it. 


Here are a few of my favorites....and there is so many.