another cute one

silly boy. Happy Sunday. We'll be enjoying the day today - hope you do, too!

sister and brother

I can feel it... I WILL get a picture of my two kids for my christmas card this year! I think it will happen soon! Addie is cooperating more and she actually got a "new" camera this week - it is a princess purple camera and she loves it! Funny... she clicked the button and she looked at the back thinking it was digital and she wanted to know where the picture was!

Did everyone know it was my birthday this week??? Yep... the 26th. I worked at the flower shop that day and NO ONE remembered until I had to tell them at lunch! They felt bad and Friday I got a really cute belated card and (my favorite) a bag of M&Ms.

We had a lot of rain this week, which we desperately needed. The skies parted and we had a gorgeous day today. I think tomorrow will be the same, so the kids and I will be out in the yard tomorrow - gardening gloves on and shovels in hand.

Got the video camera out today after not having used it sine MAY. Jack thought it was the coolest thing... I turned the screen so he could see it and he kept waving to himself saying, "hi Me!"

Too cute

my children

there are things they do that drive me crazy. there are things they do that make my heart melt...

Tonight:

Jack...
obsessed with basketball and firetrucks.
Today he wore TWO, yes, 2 fire truck tops. One was a t-shirt and the other a sweater. When it got to be bedtime he wanted his firetruck sweater. He actually wore it OVER his jammies for a bit while we were doing the bedtime routine.
So, the time came for Jack to get in his crib and he wanted his firetruck sweater in bed with him, so what did we do... we put the sweater over his little pillow!
I just checked on him... guess where his head is??
Oh my. My heart skipped a beat.

Addie...
we colored tonight during bedtime routine. She printed out two pictures from Higgleytown Hereos from her computer time tonight. I colored the "electrician" and she colored some woman... she was laughing at my picture because I gave the electrician green hair, purple overalls and pink shorts. For some reason she thought that was funny.
It was time for me to leave her room and let her put herself to sleep, so I told her that I would leave my picture (after she told me I needed to sign my name to it) for her. I propped it up on a book so she could see it. She told me it was silly and I could take it to my room. No problem... I took it out of the room.
I just checked on her and guess where HER picture is? Propped up in the same spot my picture was... she is nestled in, sweetly dreaming the night away, and again, my heart skipped a beat and I said a little prayer for her, God bless that little girl.

love those kids.

facepainting

Big day today!

Today is our 6th anniversary! I'm going to try to drum up an "old" (6 years ago) picture of us to post. What a beautiful day it was! Perfect in every way! We're headed out to dinner to celebrate. Kevin was very romantic... Addie came in to the room wearing a beautiful necklace and said, "happy anniversary!" Kevin sent in the little messenger with a beautiful gift. Too cute.

Addie busied herself all afternoon by painting beautiful masterpieces. She asked if she could paint Jack's face, to which I agreed.... here are the results. He thought it was fun.

my little motley crew

this one is for you, Ellie...




Remember the picture from yesterday... the smile, the giddiness??? Yes, the smiles came out and I have lots of those to show mama and dada... but, how cute is that little girl?? She snarled for a good 1/2 hour!!! I actually love the last one of all three... I think that sums up a certain part of their personalities! Fun, fun kids!

remember this smile...

I had a FUN. FUN. session tonight --- and I want you to study this picture. Look at this little one's smile. She is gleeful, she is laughing, she is giddy....
just wait until I show you her other expressions!! She is a HOOT!!!

and the winner is...

ADDIE!!!
Yesterday was a fun day. Our town held a little festival celebrating all of the civic and non-profit organizations - the library, the garden club, the historical society, parks department, etc... The recreation committee had a duck decorating contest for children. Children were given all sorts of embelishments to decorate a white wooden duck. Addie, of course, spent a good half hour with stickers, ribbons, tape, glue, etc and created a beautiful duck! Later in the afternoon they announced the winners and Addie won for her age group!!! I chuckled and she was so excited! She got a big wrapped box to open for her prize, and inside was a blow-up chair. She loves it!
We're having fun today in the cool autumn air. Hopscotch anyone???

good question. can anyone answer?

we're getting ready to take the kids to a high school football game and I said, "we'll watch the boys play football." Addie responded, "well, why don't the girls play?"

Hummmmmm???

growing. up. too. fast...

man, doesn't she look old.

borrowed...

images from a borrowed 135mm 2.0L lens and a 30D.
Like 'em???

She arrived!

And her name is Avery Logan. Can't wait to meet her (and take pictures of her!). She was 8lbs, 4oz with a head full of dark, dark hair. Addie wanted to know if she could talk to her! So cute.

Speaking of - Addie started back to preschool this week and of course had a great first day. She is in class with many of her same friends as last year, so it was an easy transition. She got a new horn for her bike, which she thinks is the coolest thing ever...

We had some much needed rain yesterday and our plants are saying "thank you!" We had a beautiful late summer evening tonight... gorgeous light and crisp air.

Another week of swim lessons tomorrow.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!

Christi is in LABOR!!!!!
Quinn just called and Christi's labor pains started at 5am... they were admitted to the hospital and at 8:30am she was at 3cms... apparently she is comfortably resting with her epidural -waiting for the next stage of the game!!!

I'll keep you posted.

More silly friend pics...

A couple more pictures from the night when our friends came over... and two different processings... one is more sepia/chocolaty than the others. Which do you prefer?



We had a great night tonight. Kevin and I took the kids out to dinner and I must declare that they were the best behaved they have ever been at a restaurant. They stayed in their seats, they were quiet, they ate their dinner --- we even let them have ice cream for dessert they were so darn good! It was so nice!

We broke a weather record today. The previous record was 91 degrees and I think it hit 95 or so. It was hot.

trying to be big

Isn't he the cutest! He tried so hard to get that shirt on!

How do you like his new haircut. I miss the curls, but he does look cute.

"I wuv Mama"

I hear this from Jack at least once a day. Its followed by a wet kiss.

I love it!

Not to pressure the situation, but we have a bit of potty training going on with a certain 2 year old boy. Nothing consistent, yet... but he definitly enjoys the cheers and claps when he goes in the potty.

Jack wanted to try to dress himself this morning and it was so darn cute that I had to get the camera out. I will upload some pictures tomorrow (too tired tonight!). He tried so hard!

Tonight I was on the phone and I called for Addie to see where she was, since she was rather quite. She told me she was "doing her laundry." I went into the living room and that little girl was folding her clean clothes from the dryer. Fold. Stack. Fold. Stack... I was amazed! Also, she picked some flowers from the garden (ok, so she didn't acutally ask to pick them....) and she told me she wanted a vase. I kinda forgot about it- after I put her to bed I noticed a vase of flowers on the dining room table... designed by Addie. And, they were rather cute. She's a little girl after my own heart! She even stripped the lower leaves off the stems, as I do! Too cute.

Pictures tomorrow.

PS... big hugs and prayers to my friend Tyna who is going through some really tough times right now. I have had her on my mind for several days now... sending hugs.

Best friends, perfect evening, lots of pictures!

Here it is... Labor Day is about over. I hope everyone has packed away your linen and your white clothes! Hard to believe that it's the beginning of September. We had a very eventful day today. First, we were invited to our neighbor's house for a little swimming. I do declare that we have a fish on our hands. Addie loves the water. She starts her swimming lessons tomorrow and I'm so excited, as is she. She's done lessons before, but it has always been the level where mama is in the water, too. Tomorrow she goes with her new class and instructor... without mama! I'm sure she'll be fine.
Today at the pool, she ACTUALLY "swam" for a few seconds by herself. We let go of her and encouraged her to use her strong legs and arms to stay afloat.... her eyes got so big, but she did it for a second. She had a ball. Jack... he enjoyed sitting on the chair with a towel wrapped around him!!!
Poor guy... he did have a touch of a fever today. I guarantee he has an ear infection... we'll see how he is tomorrow, but I bet we'll be at the doc office sometime this week. Tonight, our friends came over for dinner and some playtime in the back yard. It turned out to be a gorgeous evening. It was so nice, the adults were able to have an adult conversation for 75% of the time while the 4 kids played so nicely together. I don't recall hearing any crying, screaming or fighting over toys... they just had so much fun.

Jack and Riley were especially cute, exchanging kisses... then he ran up to me and declared, "I wuv mama!" and planted a wet kiss on my face. Then, he looked at my friend Angel and said, "give me a kiss!" Then, he did the same to dada. He is too cute!
Enjoy the rest of your Labor Day! Happy beginning of September.

What a weekend!

My favorite kind of weather. Crisp air, blue skies, puffy white clouds scattered through the sky... it makes the green grass look more green, it makes the pink flowers more pink, it enhances my mood, it's just lovely! We've had a few days of this perfect weather and it's just great!

I can hardly believe that it is September already. September is one of my favorite months for many reasons - my birthday is later this month, as is my anniversary. The weather is generally great, the autumn solstice occurs this month, which brings a new excitement of change... I just love this time of year. Quinn and Christi will be having their baby this month, which is also exciting...

We're off to do some shoe shopping today. Both kids need some new sneakers/sturdy shoes, as they have been wearing sandals and Crocs all summer.

Had a session late last week with two gorgeous kiddos. I 'm saving one of my favorite images (think marketing material) for mama, but here is another one that I really like.