Houston, We have a Problem...

My best friend's visit is over and she has to go back to Arkansas soon.  *sigh*  

It sure was fun while it lasted, though!  What a blessing she is to me.  :)

How cool is this?

Okay, I don't actually go on many picnics, but I came across this and think it's pretty nifty!

Link - HERE to view the Smart™ Speaker Cooler Bag for MP3.

The Wedding Part 1

We have so enjoyed the Parson's visit.  The girls have enjoyed being united with their friend Jacob, and in fact, there have been several wedding ceremonies this week between Jacob & Clara.  The other one I documented by pictures and put in a facebook album - so be sure to check those out.  This one we actually videoed. You can't see what happens at the very end, because it's behind the tree, but Jacob actually jumped through the window of the playhouse to get away from Clara.  It was CLASSIC.

The Wedding PART 2

After the groom decided he would be a willing participant in the wedding ceremony...

Happy Mother's Day!!

I am so blessed by the relationship I have with my mother.  My mother is truly a jewel and a perfect example of what a Christian mother should be.  She is a kind, giving, selfless, reverent, faithful, godly woman.  She raised us to have strong values rooted in Biblical principles.  She has the most gentle spirit and I look up to her so much.  I know I can call her any time day or night and she will have a listening ear - whether it be for my venting over a recent catastrophe with one of my children, or something as simple as a cooking question. My mom is one of the reasons I have such a passion for photography.  She always had a camera with her and did such an awesome job of documenting my and my brother's childhood through photos - and not just the major holidays or milestones - the little fun moments of life that might have been otherwise forgotten.  My mom and I have always been the best of friends.  Planning my wedding was a blast - but so was planning a scrapbook page or a birthday party.  We compliment each other & I thank her for helping mold me into the woman I have become.  Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

I took Mom & Me portraits this weekend in the studio & asked Lana to come up and take some of me with my girls.  This is one of my favorite LE sessions, because I just really understand the importance of taking regular pictures WITH your children, and not just OF your children.  I hope my girls will treasure these forever!

I hope all you mom's out there have a wonderful Mother's Day!  

Adios Amigos

We have finally said goodbye to the family of opossums living in our garage!  We found them Easter weekend, but after the mom realized we found them, she moved them further into the depths of the garage.  YUCK!  Last weekend, Kevin was feeling brave and finally managed to catch them all - a mom and 5 babies, and took them out into the country to live happy lives AWAY from us!  :)  Thank goodness.

Happy Belated Birthday, Lila!

We celebrated Lila's April birthday today!  She wanted a "Mexican" party, so we threw a Fiesta!

Changes

"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."  James 4:14.

I believe it's human nature to resist change but to also yearn for it at times.  How many times do we want things to be different so we decide we're going to start so-and-so next week... or whenever I finish this, then I'll do this and things will be better... Well, I've been very guilty of that lately.  Things have been crazy hectic and I just keep thinking things will get better when... and I realized that in all actuality, things will not change unless I change them.  It is quite unlikely that my schedule will all of a sudden become less hectic, or that the kids will all of a sudden require less attention, or that laundry will stop filling my laundry room.  So what do I start with?  The little things.  I've been making some changes lately, and I can feel how it makes a difference in my day-to-day attitude.  Things I've been doing...

Planning & following a meal plan.  We have been eating out MUCH less frequently, thus spending less money AND eating more healthily since I'm cooking every night.  I've also been eating less in general & am really watching my calorie intake.

Less soda.  Those of you who know me know I can't live without my diet dr. pepper.  If I were to do without it entirely, I would have a massive headache for at least 2 weeks.  So, I'm not quite ready to do that... but I've been drinking my one in the morning and then following it with water the rest of the day instead of more DDP.

Walking.  I've been walking for exercise at least three times a week.  It's amazing what a change in energy I have just from this small amount of activity.  I actually enjoy getting out there and walking and look forward to it.  Something pretty foreign to me because in general I'm not a big fan of anything that involves sweating.

Studio Changes.  We're planning on painting the studio and giving it a quick remodel job.  I'm really excited about the possibilities & am looking forward to the new look and what it will bring.  I think we're making a lot of moves in the right direction and am excited the company is growing so well.  I'm also limiting my weekend work hours and trying to spend more time at home with the family.

Then there are the things I know NEED to be done, which are my next self-improvement steps...

Daily Bible Reading.  This is something I have been neglecting.  It's so easy to say I'm too tired or too busy, but I do think it's very important, and the times when I do this I find I am so much more patient and "together" than when I don't.  Just like the children's song says, "Neglect your Bible & forget to pray & you Shrink, Shrink, Shrink.  Read your Bible & pray every day & you Grow, Grow, GROW!"

Scrapbooking.  I have so neglected my albums.  I haven't done much with them since before Clara turned one, and she will be 4 in August!  The other day the girls were all looking at their albums and enjoying it so much.  Clara wondered where hers was... it made me feel guilty!  The scrapbooking room is still Ike-damaged right now, so I haven't had anything set up in there since last fall.  I really should get all that stuff back out and organized.   Even doing a little bit every other night or so would be so productive!

Gardening.  My latest obsession is considering starting a garden.  I think it would be so cool to grow my own veggies & herbs.  I also think it would be something fun for the girls to help me with in the evenings instead of complaining that they're bored and begging me to let them watch the television (which they do not currently have the privilege of watching).  

Laundry.  A load a day would do wonders.  Did I mention how laundry is the bane of my existence?  

Bunnies!

So, since even before I opened the studio I've done pictures with live bunnies every year around Easter-time.  This year was no different.  Oh wait - it WAS!  The bunnies arrived at the studio a couple of weeks ago, and of course, the girls were excited.  They asked if they could keep them (this always happens), and I of course said no, but we could probably keep them for the weekend.  They came up to the studio to pick them up one night.  They all held & pet the bunnies.  After a few minutes, Clara began sneezing.  To make a long story short, she ended up in urgent care due to a serious allergic reaction to the bunnies.  Hives, welts, sneezing, swollen eyes, etc.  She ended up on steroids for a week.  So, no more bunnies for Clara.  She even had a hives breakout one night just from the bunny dander on my shirt.  It really stinks.  I was extremely bummed by the prospect of no bunny pictures this year - this will be the fourth year in a row I did a bunny picture with the girls.  SO... I decided we'd still do it, but it would be strategically planned.  Clara took some Benedryl beforehand, and was in the studio pretty much a total of 10 minutes.  We shot fast and furious, Clara did NOT touch the bunny, then we all came home and took showers!  I know I'm crazy, but I still really like the pictures.  :)

Through their eyes...

Ask your child(ren) to answer the questions and type their answers in. (Taken from my Facebook circle)
(I had them each answer at separate times so they wouldn't copy each other)

1. What is something mom always says to you?
M - Don't bother your sister.
L - I love you
C - Love you

2. What makes mom happy?
M - When I'm nice.
L - listening to her
C - go potty in the potty

3. What makes mom sad?
M - When I don't do what she tells me to.
L - being mean
C - poopoo in the floor

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
M - When she makes a mistake in cooking or something like that.
L - being funny
C - hehehehe -

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
M - read
L - play jokes
C - take pictures

6. How old is your mom?
M - 32, right?
L - I don't know. That's hard.
C - 4, no 5!

7. How tall is your mom?
M - Maybe about 6 foot and a half
L - twenty, I think.
C - BIG!! And Daddy is big too!

8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV?
M - American Idol
L - UM... outter SPACE
C - um.. Cinderella

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
M - go on her computer
L - cook
C - Make supper

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
M - photography
L - um... a trophy?
C - be angry

11. What is your mom really good at?
M - photography
L - playing games
C - kissing

12. What is your mom not very good at?
M - cleaning the house
L - playing Jack & Jill
C - not kissing

13. What does your mom do for her job?
M - photography - that's the third time I've said that, isn't it?
L - work at her studio
C - go to the studio

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
M - Pei Wei
L - guacamole
C - macaroni & cheese

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
M - that she's my mom
L - Eating all her food.
C - um... put dresses on

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
M - Daisy
L - Mrs. Amanda
C - Cinderella

17. What do you and your mom do together?
M - cook
L - cook
C - Go at the hospital

18. How are you and your mom the same?
M - we like to do the same kind of things.. cook, read, help with pictures
L - we have freckles
C - because they just are

19. How are you and your mom different?
M - she is older and I am younger
L - we don't have the same hair
C - because we just are

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
M - I just do. Because I love her.
L - because everybody loves everybody in their family
C - because she just do

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
M - That he loves watching the girls.
L - loving him
C - Hugs

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
M - Pei Wei
L - I don't know.
C - At church