KaTooM Fest VIII

8 years ago my dad started a camping and dirt bike riding trip with his local KTM friends from Ktmtalk.com. Over the years it has grown and people from up and down the state have joined in on the fun. We decided to go to the 2nd annual KaTooM Fest 7 years ago and never looked back. Every year has been a blast. Great food, riding and some of the most fun people around! This year was no exception. We had both kids and they loved playing in the fresh forrest air and watching the bikes go by. Ashton was especially excited because he got to ride himself with Daddy. Our good friends were kind enough to let us borrow their CRF 50 and Ashton rode it with Jeff on the back all over the place.

the makings of a monthly photo shoot

We did monthly pics with Ashton and now with Ava. They have both gone pretty much the same so far. Start off easy and stress free and slowly moves into capture the squirmy baby who thinks what you're trying to do is one big joke. We have hit that stage and let me tell you, it's a battle of epic proportions trying to snap ONE good shot. The outtakes definitely speak for themselves.

And then for the one I love the most (yes it was hard because those last two about were melting my heart).

instagram lovin'

On most days I want to throw my phone through a window. I went from a 32gb to a 16gb iphone. Dumbest.thing.ever. I am constantly taking pictures of the kids and this POS doesn't hold hardly anything. Never again! So, whenever my phone is full I can usually rely on instagram to save me. I'm already obsessed but it also helps to have when my phone keeps telling me I can't take pictures (jerk). So here's a little instagram photo dump from the last couple weeks.

We took the kids to feed the ducks in Blackhawk for the first time. Ashton couldn't get enough. And seeing Ava's face light up at the ducks was hilarious.

With Ashton's HORRIBLE sleeping lately we decided to take the advice of some and transition him into a a "big boy" bed. I'm pretty sure it was the worst idea ever. He sleeps in it now, but not without throwing a few stuffed animals at the door and screaming for a little bit like we're the worst parents on earth for putting him through this. Ava sleeps awesome in her bed and one of Ashton's favorite things to do on the weekends is go get her when she wakes up. Melts my heart.

Spent St. Patty's Day weekend in my hometown. The kids had so much fun at the festival and were on their best behavior. This was Ashton's first time out of the house all day without a diaper or pull up. No accidents! (I am not counting the awesome poop accident he had 10 minutes before we left of course)

Sunny days have been frequent around here! That means park days! Can't wait for more. It truly keeps Ashton and myself sane to get out of the house.

Since Ava decided she was going to grow up, we had to lower her crib aka break my back ever time I put her in it now. Ashton is such a little helper and was all over it. Kid loves him some tools!

monthly chalkboard

With some inspiration from pinterest, I decided I wanted to track Ava's monthly pictures with a chalkboard. I took a frame we already had, spray painted it white and painted the board with chalkboard paint. She's 9 months tomorrow so I obviously have failed miserably to post the current 8 here. But here they are in all their glory.

 

first birthday sneak peak

Ava's birthday is in 3.5 months! This party is just making a tad bit giddy. Pink ombre goodness with some fancy schmancy gold glitter accents. Fabulous I tell you!!

PINK AND GOLD BIRTHDAY by nirerin033 on Polyvore

ava's nursery

After much planning we got Ava's nursery completed and almost completely before she came! We still have some things to do which will eventually get done....I think. It was so much fun planning. I wanted to have a room that was girly but not typical pink, lace, and ruffles. I like modern clean lines and I think we hit the nail on the head with her room. I couldn't be happier with the turnout.

maternity pics

Before Ava was born I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. I woke up one morning with the entire left side of my face paralysed. It was the scariest thing I had ever been through. I was devastated thinking this would be permanent. Well, it is not completely permanent and I have a great deal of permanent damage. I had the most severe form which meant 100% recovery wasn't likely. To this day, I still don't have a full smile and my eye closes when I try to smile, talk, eat, and yawn. It's extremely saddening and taking pictures blows. And speaking of pictures, this of course happened like two weeks before our maternity pictures. Pictures I had been planning for months. Luckily I have an awesome photographer who was able to get some great shots that I don't look too angry in.