3monkeysjumping

Our 1st Attempt

2012-01-23T12:24:00.000-06:00

This was our 1st attempt at a Christmas photo, didn't go so well. I actually tried 2 more times to get one that I liked of all 3 kids but it just wasn't happening. I take my Christmas cards very seriously and so i needed at least one good photo. I love this one but it wasn't working for me.

I did actually put this one on the inside of the cards though, it warms my heart.
That's a lot of teeth !!!

January 14th

2012-01-22T17:40:00.000-06:00

Scavenger Hunt Sunday 12/4/2011

2011-12-05T11:19:00.001-06:00

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

This is the pre-post to the massive WaltDisneyWorld post that will hopefully follow shortly. We had such a great time by the way. I love family vacations!!!!

Check out the rest of the amazing interpretations over at Ramblings & Photos, so much fun.

So here they are the topics for interpretation :

1. Portrait :

2. Nostalgia :

3. Time :

4. Full of Light :

5. Motion :

Introducing.......

2011-11-21T22:25:00.001-06:00

Mac & Lucy

Lucy is the brown on the left and Mac is the black speckled on the right.

They are litter mates and about 15 weeks old now.

They are my babies and I think they are now the apple of my eye, I say phew to the kids where are the puppies. Just kidding, maybe.

The kids love them as well, I'm kind of shocked at how much they kids do like them. Today I caught Tyler outside with both of them in the corner and he was having a full blown conversation with them. He's just like his brother, they both are in that category of "a boy and his dog". Now Dylan loves them because she can carry them around kind of like babies, I mean she is in HEAVEN !!!

Oh one other thing, I am in no way a pet photographer. This was kind of a logistical nightmare but no one got hurt!!!!

Holiday Photo Sessions

2011-11-18T17:36:00.000-06:00

They almost killed me, I think I over scheduled, but I learned so much and really enjoyed the intensity of it all. It was a great eye opener to the different types of people that I know and have in my life. You can really tell in a picture who is like what and how everyone works together. I'm gonna share a few of my favorites from the gazillion sessions I did.

Looking back I'm amazed at how different each session looks. The setting was somewhat limited but I think this first one is my all time favorite.

Happy Holiday! I will do this again next year with a few minor adjustments. I know I have grown from the experience more than anything else lately !!!

Latest

2011-11-17T17:30:00.001-06:00

So here is the last session I did, with a family that I shot last year. It is always fun to see them and how much the kids have changed. I have a soft spot for this little boy, he's one of my favs !!!

And this little sweetness reminds me of Dylan so much. They grow so fast.

See you soon.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-09T06:08:00.000-06:00

It's true, their is an angel among us. Sucha n interesting costume choice, I have no idea where it came from or how she arrived at it but I think it was such a great success. We ended up making the wings ourselves and the dress was only slightly altered angel costume we got for $7. Felt great to put this together.

Now I can reassure you that Marvin the Martian and the angel got along just fine this night. The ray gun stayed holstered most of the evening, truly everyone was so into the candy that no one even knew there were others around.

I know that we must watch way too much cartoon network for him to even know who Marvin the Martian is, but he did and that was what he wanted. He did end up telling me that no one at school knew who it was, I reassured him that all the important people, the ones giving out candy, would know who he was and be delighted. They were.

Oh and my sweet little Luigi, Super mario brothers is just the bomb in our house. He was so handsome.

Of course the token group photo, such a lovely group of trick our treaters !!!

I'm Back Today

2011-11-02T21:36:00.002-05:00

Yes that's right, for today I am back. I have actually missed this little blog but truthfully haven't had a lot of time or desire to sit down to it just now. Oh also I haven't been taking a lot of pictures lately.

Anyway here are some of my friend M, whom is kind of like my vicarious child, when I need a baby fix I just find a way to get around him and then I'm all set.

He loved that cupcake, although I am positive that's not the first one that he has had. Happy Birthday M and mom too.

Christmas Mini Sessions

2011-10-24T21:53:00.000-05:00

This is the first time I have ever done Holiday mini sessions, and it might be the last. There was a huge learning curve this year and I'm pretty sure I'm not finished yet. Anyway this by far is not the best picture for a card but I truly love it. One of the best looking little boys I know. As for the neg;act of the blog, well life has gotten in the way. I'm not ready to call it quits but I am ready to slow down and if that means backing off here then that's what I'll do. So much more to come soon.

Look who's in the house.....

2011-10-12T17:48:00.002-05:00

Crazies !!! Our choice of Halloween costumes ranges from traditional to the kind of odd man out. These aren't all the costumes but the 2 that have already been delivered.

As I post this I'm hearing from the kitchen them talk about bad words and Tyler saying bad words like "oh my shits" . It's me, all me, proud parenting moment .

Angel, maybe and I just don't know it yet??? I'll listen harder. Next visit will be by a retro cartoon character, you'll never guess.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-09-25T10:04:00.003-05:00

I'm pulling from the archives, cause this week that's the kind of girl I am. Check out the other entries over at Ramblings & Photos, I'm always excited to see other interpretations.

Low Key :

Monochromatic/Analogous Color :

Circle :

Scarf : This is the first newborn session I ever did, I still love these pictures just exactly like I left them at the time.

Phone : I took this with my phone, no need to comment on how cute this baby is I've already oogled over her for the last 2 days!

It was great for me to look back at some old pictures and see how far I feel like I have coome and then to realize how far I still have to go. Check out the other entries at Ramblings & Photos.

Over & Over & Over Again

2011-09-22T22:23:00.000-05:00

So I have become completely obsessed with this video, that includes the music and the actual sport. I keep thinking someday I'm gonna do that and then I realize that time has passed like 20 years ago. So sad. So I'm living vicariously and think in my next life........

So one of the things that I think is so fascinating is how all these girls are totally GIRLS kind of doing a boy sport. It's like their all tomboys, maybe like they all had brothers, kind of like me. Yet at the same time I think they have this natural girliness. Anyway enjoy and maybe I'll come back again soon, I'm struggling with the blog just now but I think I'll get back into it, when I find a direction.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-09-11T09:25:00.000-05:00

Here are the prompts for todays Scavenger Hunt Sunday. Head on over to Ashley's blog, Ramblings and Photos to check out the other great entries!!! Try to have a good Sunday!

Bokeh :

Process of Elimination :

Remember :

Statue :

Flying High :

I feel a little my pictures are a little drab this week, maybe they will be more exciting next time ! Have a great week, don't forget to check out the other entries at Ramblings and Photos.

The Days Of Old

2011-09-05T17:44:00.001-05:00

I miss them, the old days. I ran across this picture and realized that Tyler no longer does this when he is nervous :

We always called it the neck pull, for obvious reasons.

Time is flying by. Someday very shortly he won't be able to spend much time staring off into space like this, how sad for him. I wonder what he was thinking, it looks so comfortable.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-09-04T18:02:00.000-05:00

I'm pulling it together this week to contribute to Scavenger Hunt Sunday. There are a few from the recent archives but I'm not telling which, there all new on here. Take a look over at Ramblings & Photos to see some other interpretations of the themes for this week. Here they are :

Stairs

Macro

Clouds

Abstract

Smile

3rd Grade

2011-09-02T15:02:00.001-05:00

This is what that looks like in our house just now. It's schocking how fast they grow. I am working on living an intentional life with the kids and Rob, it's my goal to look back and think wow I really loved every minute of it.

Addy's 3rd

2011-09-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

My little girl so still wants to be a little girl and I love that. We were invited to Addy's 3rd ballerina/dance party the other day and Dylan went all out! I mean tutu and all. I love this uninhibited way about her. She was so proud and I thought she looked so beautiful. She's growing so fast.

This is Addison, and she is stunningly beautiful. She too is a girl who knows her likes and dislikes. She and Dylan have such similar stories. I do know that some day the boys are going to get hit with a mack truck when it comes to these 2 girls.

Something New For Me

2011-08-31T11:42:00.001-05:00

This needs some work but I thought it was fun. I always feel there is so much to learn on photoshop!

1st Day

2011-08-29T20:15:00.000-05:00

Yes that's right, while everyone else's kids have been back in school mine just started today, AND only 2 of them started. It's a very complicated schedule the 1st few weeks as everyone gets adjusted. It was with mixed feelings, mostly sad, that I sent the boys off, one to 5th grade and the other to PreK4. I have enjoyed them this summer although there have been times I felt like jumping out of my skin!!! Actually almost every day but the feeling seemed to pass quickly, most days. Anyway Dylan doesn't start until Wednesday and then I will have 3 glorious days to lunch and catch up with the ladies.

They were all decked out and sporting a coolness factor that jumped right by me. I like them a little dorky myself, keeps them humble and close to mama.

5th grade, I'm not sure where the time has gone. Crack, that's my heart breaking.

Ryan was so thrilled really to see his friends again, these are friends I didn't know he had. I love this child, everytime I tell him how much I'm going to miss him he gets real quiet and introspective. I kow he doesn't like to see me hurt, so sensitive.

Then I sae this picture and told him I was going to marry this dude when he grows up and he just laughs that little Ryan sweet laugh. My boy.

Tyler seemed like a little boy trying to be a big boy. He asked me if I would walk him to his class and I said sure. Then about 10 minutes later told me there was no need and I said "woe nelly I already had my heart set on walking you to class, it's a done deal the 1st week of school, no fussing about it. ". He accepted no problem. See that shy boy standing outside his classroom, this is as close as I got, I wasn't sure I could handle it. This is my baby.

He later told me "wow mom that was a long day!!!" yes it was little man, I'm so very proud of you!

Day 2 : Hot Springs to St. Louis

2011-08-25T20:19:00.000-05:00

This day was long but the payoff at the end was so worth it. Who knew 1) that the St.Louis arch is a national park 2) that you can ride a very scary podlike thing all the way to the top, have a brief look around, and then ride the same pod back down. It's hard being a mom sometimes, you have to act all brave and confident when the reality is you keep your hands in your pockets so on one can see the sweat dripping off them. It was that nerve racking for me and Ryan was right along for the freakout with me so I really had to lock my knees so they wouldn't shake.

He looks scarred, I was too but I had the camera so there isn't any evidence.

St.Louis seemed like such a beuatiful place, I would love to go there again sometime to really check things out.

Day 1 : Houston to Hot Spring, Arkansas

2011-08-24T08:13:00.000-05:00

Our trip started just like any other, with bagels and plenty of frantic packing. Once we got under way it became the norm, 8 hours in a car with 3 kids and the husband , how sad for them or me I'm not sure. Just kidding I loved the whole experience and forgot how much I love to just explore. The first place we stopped was Hot Springs Arkansas. We visited to bath houses, really I thought there were hot springs that you can swim in oooops sorry kids. Turns out that the bath houses are one of our national parks!

This is an example of me practicing my panning. I think this one came out, the other 100 not so great.

Lots of the stuff looked like old torture contraptions. I just kept trying to imagine all these men and women using the tubs and, well really it felt like being in an old insane assylum. Cool but very creepy. These are just a few of the pictures, no one would need to visit there if I posted all the ones I liked!

That day we got in the car for a trip to St Louis to see the arch, I'll post that day soon.

Two at Mortal Muses

2011-08-19T21:22:00.000-05:00

So I've been very busy with back to school stuff, just kidding my brain is just so unorganized that I have yet to actually sit down and get my trip pictures together. All I can say is that it was such a great trip, 3001 miles in a car with 3 kids and a husband, what more could a girl ask for. It was heaven every moment of every day and I will for sure do it again next summer. No it's true I will. Maybe a little better planning so next time when we get to St.Louis the largest convention of the year won't take every last hotel room so weary travelers and crazy parents won't have such a hard time finding a room. Anyway I'm linking up at Mortal Muses with my interpretation of "two" this week. From somewhere in the midwest I think :

Oh by the way this was taken with my iphone, everyone should have one.

More about our trip shortly.

We Are Back !!!

2011-08-17T07:58:00.000-05:00

Wow that was a long trip, but so much fun. I will plan another one for next summer! More on that later. Now I want to comment on how much I love INSTAGRAM on my iphone. It's a free app and it's amazing what it can do to your photos with the touch of a button and then it posts them. It will post them to your instagram account as well as several other places, including flickr! ! Anyway here is a before and after, both taken with the phone.

Before :

After :

Check it out, it's so great !

St Loius

2011-08-09T07:55:00.000-05:00

We have only briefly checked it out and frankly we will only see a little but it looks like a great city to visit. I've already scoped out several places, just in our attempt to find a hotel room, that I'd like to check out. We are off the see the Arch. I'm still trying to figure out how we are going to get Ryan to go up in the arch. Hmmmm

A Great Day

2011-08-07T21:50:00.000-05:00

On the road :

We Made IT !!!

Pretty

2011-08-04T22:17:00.001-05:00

Something dying that is oh so beautiful.

Still LIfe Standout

2011-08-03T22:08:00.001-05:00

I have decided to participate in Still Life Standouts which I saw over at Ramblings & Photos.

It's a Prickly Pear Cactus, I think.

Check out the other entries over at My Reflection of Something. FUN!!!

A Trip To The Children's Museum

2011-08-02T21:29:00.000-05:00

I think these speak for themselves. All I can say is it was fun but it was a total zoo.

The kids didn't mind.

I'm kind of worried. Should I be? I'm not sure how I will handle this experience, it can't be good, I drive ALL the time.

The last picture above says it all. Look at his face and her body position, I want to weep right now.

And then there is this, and the van wasn't even moving!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday July 31

2011-07-31T19:48:00.000-05:00

I did it !!! Well kind of, there are a few pictures in here from the archives but I gotta do what I gotta do. I might say which ones but really it will be obvious by the stretch! So here are my entries for Scavenger Hunt Sunday over at Ramblings & Photos. Check out the other entries there.

Walking Empty Streets : So I wasn't walking and the streets weren't empty but it's Houston and it's hot and the streets are never empty so this is what I got. I certainly didn't imagine finding the Weiner Mobile in my rearview mirror !!!

Repeating Patterns : This is the climbing structure at The Houston Children's Museum, never go there in the summer !!! It was crazy, even for the most tolerant parents.

Floor : The floor in the gym before the 2nd basketball game of the day. I love to see the kids playing ball, it warms a mother's heart!!! Their dad and I fell in love over basketball games, GO ROCKETS !!

Then & Now : On the left was Then, Friday, when Tyler still had nice beautiful long bangs. Now, Yesterday when I came home from an errand, this is what he had done to himself. Ryan says he looks like an Umpaloompa, I tend to agree. But Lord have mercy that it was handsome Umpaloompa !!! I'll be posting more of this episode shortly .

Fingertips : That's Dylan with her come hither look, or with her attempt at a come here look. I'm scarred !!!or is it scared? Either one they are interchangeable in this instance!

So that's it for this Scavenger Hunt Sunday, head on over and visit Ramblings and Photos for more of the amazing entries!

I Know

2011-07-26T11:38:00.001-05:00

I know he is 10 and I know it's 108 outside but gosh I love this child. He was waiting with binoculars in hand and a long sleeve flannel on for the little girl across the street and her mom to come to dinner. Did I mention that the little girl is 18 months old?

Scavenger Hunt Sunday July 24

2011-07-24T23:07:00.000-05:00

Wow Scavenger Hunt Sunday over at Ramblings & Photos, 2 weeks in a row for me, pretty good! I have taken a short hiatus from my camera. I haven't been feeling inspired and sometimes I actually dread carrying it around. Plus I'm loving my iphone and Instagr.am !!! So I really wanted to pick up the camera again this weekend and got some chances to do just that. Here are my entries for the week :

Music To My Ears :

I imagine when I stop hearing the car and the pow pow noises the music to my ears will stop as I know it. I love to hear them softly in their own worlds!

Hat :

OK Hats, I'd like to thank her for always being sooooo ready to get in front of the camera for me. I can't get Ryan to for anything.

Clear : I just did a major kitchen reorg, mainly because I wanted to go The Container Store but also because we needed it, I haven't done any spring cleaning in years. So here are the CLEAR glass containers that I'm putting out to pasture.

Out of This World : This apparently is the bus that takes the kids to Hogwarts. From my little fiery redheaded friend Thomas and his AMAZING Lego collection.

Sprinkles : A while back I saw something about taking pictures in a mason jar, so here are my sprinkles in a clear glass jar. I do love the reflection. (Looks kind of like a donut right)

I enjoyed participating, to see some of the other great entries check out Rambling & Photos.

Random

2011-07-19T21:10:00.000-05:00

So I had several kind of random thoughts passing thru my brain today. Here is one. I happened to take the kids to the grocery with me this afternoon. While I kind of enjoy that most other people find it annoying to have kids in their way, taking up space they need to get thru, I mean really sometimes I feel the same way. But sometimes I really enjoy having them help because they really do help. Anyway what I kept thinking as lady after lady looked kind of put out with my kids, here it is the big thought, ready? I kept thinking wow do you realize that when you are 80 and in a retirement home these are the people that are going to be taking care of you. You will want their patience right, You won't want them to scowl at you or yell at you or hurt your feelings. My kids didn't notice how "in the way" they were at the store and I made every effort today to not make them feel like they were in the way, but wow other people were in a hurry and didn't really remember who they are messing with, their future!!!

He is our future.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday July 17

2011-07-17T21:45:00.000-05:00

It's that time and I actually made it this week. It feels good, I really like to participate, it just doesn't always happen. So here are my entries for Scavenger Hunt Sunday over at Ramblings and Photos.

Black & White. So today in the shade it was close to 90, which really isn't that hot. The pool was actually invigorating, which at this time in the summer is unusual.

Reflections in Glass : This was tough, I had originally wanted something with the windshield in my car but it was dirty and I was resting today so that was a no go. I ended up really liking this kind of everyday picture because of the processing.

Headlights : Muscle car for sure !!!

Seeing Double : HUH!!!!

Bare : Bare Feet get it???

I crack myself up.

To see the rest of the fabulous entries check them out over at Ramblings & Photos.

Not Joking !!!

2011-07-17T07:48:00.000-05:00

Really I'm not joking. I did not take this picture but today on a fairly busy street near my house I thought I was having a hallucination. First I drove by, quickly because we were late for a basketball game, someone actually hitchhiking. Now I know not that out there but it had been along time since I had seen anything like that. Then within a minute I came across a man riding one of these bikes on the same road, really have you ever???? I thought there was something wrong with me. At first I thought he was riding a unicycle, but then as we got closer I saw the true craziness. Interesting day!!!

Gavins 9th Birthday

2011-07-15T13:19:00.000-05:00

Yes my nephew turned 9 last weekend. Time is flying by. It's funny, I was thining about the birth order of all the kids and cousins and it seems to me like all my kids come between 6 weeks and 1 year after all their cousins. Ellie is 6 weeks older than Ryan, Gavin is barely a year older than Dylan and Sophie is 9 months older and Liam is 9 months younger that Tyler. Thanks heavens that baby Tristan is in a world of his own, no babies to close in either direction. I made myself nervous for a second. Anyway here are some pics of the celebration. It was a ball.

The birthday boy himself, he had a good time, I think.

His mother, who apparently can't read. All that education and she fails miserably, maybe she had some misplaced aggression? Who knows but she truly enjoyed this. Next time we need to find her bumper boats!!!

Two of my boys, Tyler had so much fun. I love seeing this, my hearts swells and tears come to my eyes.
Then I start laughing so hard I have to run to the bathroom. The joys of motherhood.

Happy Birthday big boy, the traditional ice cream sandwich cake with army men all over. Last year there were red sprinkles signifying a little blood fro the army dudes. Love you Gavin !!!

A Little Horsing Around!

2011-07-13T20:10:00.000-05:00

OK alot of horsing around. The kids took a lesson while visiting their Oma and I went along for the sweat fest! It was so amazing to see them around these huge animals that I'm so terrified of. I mean really my hands broke out in a sweat, dripping almost when we first approached the barn. Ryan is a natural and Dylan is a natural talker, especially when she gets nervous. Anyway here they are.

This was such a sweet horse, so gentle and so old. Something like 18.

Ryan loves animals and loves taking care of them. he is so very patient.

Dylan did her entire lesson while talking a mile a minute. The teacher was so patient with her, kindly redirecting her focus. If only I could be that patient.

There is the whole follow thru with riding. I mean the horse has to be groomed and fed some treats for a job done well.

Ryan did most of the grooming on his horse while the teacher assisted. I'd love to find a teacher like this around here.

She was teaching him how to control the horse with his body language and breathing. When he looked down and let out a deep breather the horse came right to him. It really was amazing.

On My Mind

2011-07-10T17:19:00.000-05:00

This was the scripture that we looked at in church today. For some reason it struck me, I am not letting Christ live through me, I am fighting it at every turn. It would be so much easier to turn my life over to Him and choose those things that would be pleasing to God but for some reason I'm compelled to make other choices. Like to yell at my kids when I could very calmly speak to them, to get frustrated with almost anyone, especially those I love. This life is not about me and if I could live with a servants heart, I can only imagine.

I think the reason this comes up now is I have been really distracted and let things really distract me from what my focus should be. I feel sometimes like I'm a juggler trying to juggle all these different people and needs and wants. It should be rather simple, maybe.

The mission trip that went to Rwanda returned and had things to share, so very moving. They talked about the genocide and how something like 80% of the people there are under the age of 25 !!! They are rebuilding everything, from their laws to the courts, the schools and the communities. The part that made me cry like a baby was when the young man speaking talked about the act of actually going over there to serve. He said that he initially thought it was very expensive and the what good would he do, he could just send money. Then he put it all in perspective for me. He said if there was a genocide here would I want those people to help my orphaned children by sending them money or would I like them to help by giving them a hug. WOW moment for me, when I can relate in a personal way it's so powerful. So while I know that those kids do need financial sponsors no matter what, they also need to know love, His Love and that would mean physically touching them and smiling with them and spending time with them! I don't know where this leaves me or how I will change this but I feel like I must.

Thanks For Coming !!!

2011-07-01T20:36:00.001-05:00

So lately I have been involved with some birthday parties, which I think is so much fun!!! My nephew is having a go-cart party next weekend and his sister wanted to do something for the invitations. Since they were already out we decided to do something for thank you cards instead. So the girls got going and made this little car out of a box and then we got the fan out and well we tried our best. I love how it turned out.

Happy Birthday Gavin !!!

This is the card I made for Dylans thank you notes. It came from a picture we took at her party. I also love how these came out. Currently I'm looking for where I fit in in terms of my photos. Do I want to do some stylized photos, which I really love. Do I want to do just parties? School portraits? Portraits? Newborns? Kids? Families? I'm at a loss and searching.......

A Touch of Whimsy

2011-06-27T21:21:00.000-05:00

Over at I Heart Faces this week the theme is A Touchy Of Whimsy. I pulled this one out because it is a forever favorite of mine, my sweet niece whom I adore, she has the best sense of whimsy !!!

Check out the other great entries over at I Heart Faces!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday !!! June 26th

2011-06-26T22:24:00.000-05:00

This week over at Ramblings & Photos the themes for Scavenger hunt Sunday are :
Windows/Doors, Eyelashes, Paint, Leaf Veins and Faceless Portrait.

I love the idea of these themes but I'm not so sure about my concepts for them, some are rather boring. I tried!!! Here they are in no particular order, well ok the order Ashley put them in.

Door

Eyelashes

Paint

Leaf Vein

Faceless Portrait, I know a stretch, I mean who wants their feet to be their portrait?

He had very little choice, thanks honey !

To see more entries go over to Ramblings & Photos and check out some of the fabulous photos!!

Family Crazy Shoot !!!

2011-06-22T12:37:00.000-05:00

I love this family and their sense of humor. It was a pleasure to get a chance to photograph Katherine's side of the family when they came in town for a visit. So willing and fun, they all just go along with whatever. That makes my job soooo easy!

Can't wait for the next meeting !!!

Gus' 1st Birthday !

2011-06-21T19:50:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of being asked to photograph sweet Gus' 1st birthday party. Kelly went all out with personalizing everything !!! She also set up the cutest "photo booth" opportunity for everyone to wish Gus a Happy Birthday. Here are some of the outtakes. Happy Birthday Gus !!!

Cooling Off

2011-06-17T19:44:00.000-05:00

We decided since Tyler has an ear infection that today we would cool off in the sprinkler. It is just sooo hot here and we had been outside for VBS all morning. I'm just in shock mode at the temperature and how anyone can be outside without being in the water. It seems so unsafe.

It's also been such a long time since I took really candid pictures of the kids I thought it was time.
But really this is who they are at this moment. Tyler thought this was hilarious, frankly I can get down with a little potty humor occasionally, I try to limit it though.

It feels very uncanny to me how much these 3 pictures look exactly like they are, at least today.

Men Of Faith

2011-06-14T20:46:00.000-05:00

These are the future men of faith.

I'd like to think this makes me sentimental because my boy is included in this picture and it's just one of those things I get sentimental over, but I think really it makes me feel that JOY that I should be feeling all the time. It's like my chest is going to explode and either I'm going to cry or giggle uncontrollably, not sure which. Anyway it's VBS at church and I think I love the fellowship and being around and meeting all these other great people. I couldn't be any more happy.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday !!! June 12th

2011-06-12T21:21:00.000-05:00

It's Sunday again, and I am participating in the Scavenger Hunt Sunday over at Rambling & Photos. I took all but the long exposure with my Iphone and all while sitting at dinner. I saw this woman called TheCoach&Me and her pictures that she had taken with an old point and shoot and I thought they were amazing. I'm not trekking on some glacier but I was eating chips and salsa in Lupe Tortillas when I took these. Enjoy !!!

Long Exposure : Last night I dragged Rob outside with me around 10:30, I'm sure he would have rather been in bed, but really I don't like all the little creepy crawlers in the backyard at night.

ISO 400 35mm f/4.0 8seconds

Shapes : Yummy Queso !!!

Green: Well I guess they look more orange but really they were green?

Fruit : I wished this was a margarita this was hanging off but tomorrow is the start of VBS and I have to be in top form ! Lot's of responsibilities for me ;)

Childhood Memory :

Go check out the rest of the entries over at Rambling&Photos, they are usually great !

OHHHH Summer

2011-06-10T11:26:00.001-05:00

It's true, we are wrapping up our second week of summer vacation and while it has been a ball of fun I am ready for a little RNR, or a drink would probably suffice. Anyway I haven't been taking very many pictures lately but am going to get back in the swing of things. Here is a self portrait that really is more like a smooshed portrait but it's what I got.

Personally I like the woman/men bathroom sign in the background. I sent this to Rob hoping it would brighten his day to know that everyone appears happy and breathing.

I Heart Faces - In The Distance

2011-06-06T13:52:00.000-05:00

This week at I Heart Faces the theme is In The Distance. It has been a while since I participated so here goes. :

Check out the other entries over at I Heart Faces :

Scavenger Hunt Sunday !!!

2011-06-05T14:48:00.000-05:00

So this week, well really yesterday, I looked at the words for Scavenger Hunt Sunday and for some reason they just seemed really daunting. I'm not sure why because in the end they came to me so easily. I can only assume it's because I was creatively tapped out? Who knows. Anywho, after reading Ashley's post at Ramblings and Photos about it taking practice to get good at something I decided to challenge myself. I gave myself 5 minutes to come up with and take the pictures of the 5 words this week. I spent more time editing them afterwards but I think sometime it's the jump off the cliff that's really the hardest, then things fall in place. So here they are :

Hot Hot Hot :

Finding Form : I bought these hats because they were so unusual. They actually are formed to fit more like a bike helmet than a hat, very "form" fitting I thought, and cute.

Front Page of The News : We are so bad, we don't read the paper or really even watch the news. I just can't I mean I would love to actually sit down and read the paper but I ind it really hard to trust in those things sometimes.

Chore : I mean really what is normal?

Beads : These are from our chandelier, which I am in love with. We got it from Rob's grandfather and I never thought I would love it as much as I don but it just fits right in.

Check out the other entries over at Rambling & Photos.

Dylan's 8yr old Slumber Party

2011-06-04T23:54:00.001-05:00

I'd like to send out a big whoooo whooo that the experience is over. My lordy I can't believe we survived, but I did and I am here to blog all about it. The idea was that I would get my friend Alicia, a makeup artist(check her out), to come over and do the girls makeup. I would then have kind of a little photo booth thing set up so we could do a little fashion shoot type thing. I must admit it was crazy but fun all at the same time, here are a few of the pics that I got that night. Granted I won't post alot of them because I didn't ask for permission but these I know will be ok.

My SIL and niece, who apparently is very comfortable in front of the camera !!!

This little girls parents are video artists, she seems very comfortable in front of the camera as well, or she could just be a ham?

We should just rename this child hambone ! She worked it like no one else, it being her party and all she felt she must show them all how to do "it".

This baby girl is going to be so into this when she grows up a little. She is the cutest ! Her mama is the best, she helped me keep it all together during the whole evening.

Overall it was great fun and I think some memories were made. i would do it again, maybe with more reinforcements, Baby girls mama was there to help and I'm not sure how I would have done it without her.

It's All In The Eyes

2011-06-03T00:16:00.000-05:00

I feel like I so rarely find time anymore to post pictures and that has been making me sad. I take so many great ones of the kids and want them all in a place that I know I will see them again. It's so funny, I'm so afraid of forgetting all the great shots of the kids, if I could plaster all my walls with them I would. Here are a few from last night. I have been wanting to try these B&W actions from Kellie Hatcher, here are a few.

This one screams : "Whach you talkin about Willis" to me.

This one says : " Yeah lady I got your number, your not foolin me"

These next 2 say :" Mom I'll take care of you don't worry" or "Someday some girl is going to come along and take my big brown eyes away from you mom, but don't worry I'll still be with you"

You might think this is just a mis fire catch of a fairly sedated child but the reality is he actually looks at me like this on purpose. He kind of like already knows he is the class clown, third child, handsome devil !!!
I'm not sure who gave him those ideas .....

Really who could be mad at this face ? Well he is 4 and quite the pain in my .... But my goodness I am so looking forward to having all my babies around this summer, ask me how I feel next week.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-30T09:08:00.002-05:00

Scavenger Hunt Sunday, visit over at Ramblings and Photos and check out the rest of the great entries. Two weeks in a row !!! I made a concerted effort yesterday to get these photos, or find them in the ones that I took this week. So here they are :

Classic Still Life : It's apparently cowboy week here, my kids want boots and hats these days.

Self Portrait : This is the only part of my body I will post while laying by the pool. The rest of the picture is reserved for those that are brave enough to swim with me in person ;)

On The Floor : Regan and Tyler, so sweet.

Lines : Straight lines and curvy lines.

Fresh : In Austin there are many farmers markets, all selling local fresh food. Oh there was even a lady that would write a poem for you while you shopped !!! That's Austin for you !

Little Mama's Birthday !!!

2011-05-29T22:02:00.004-05:00

She's 8 today.
Really I can't believe it .
Where does the time go?
She will be moving out in 10 years.
Will she still want to be around me?
What will she be like. I know she will be beautiful inside and out.
Will she be funny like she is now? or will things turn to serious?
Will she make those bird sounds like she does sometimes, the ones that I make with her?

Will she still have that sense of adventure?

What will she be wearing?

Will she still love kids like she always has?

I can't wait to see who she turns out to be and yet at the same time my heart is breaking to see her grow up. No one told me how horribly painful and at the same time how horribly joyful watching your children grow up would be. I would still be where I am today, with 3 kids and a very confused heart. I don't know what would have changed, I still would have ignored whomever gave me any advice about having kids. I had to experience it for myself. So remind me I said that when my kids get to that point, please.

Happy Birthday Little Mama !!!

Baby G !!!!

2011-05-29T10:00:00.000-05:00

I told his mama I would have this sneak peak up the same day, and here a week later I have a moment to myself to post. This is the cutest happiest baby ever. Believe it or not he missed his nap this morning and still gave me an hour of smiles !!! I love these sessions !

Enjoy your sneak peak Amanda and thanks for letting me spend time with you guys !

Summer !!!

2011-05-26T22:32:00.000-05:00

So today was the last day of school for Ryan and Dylan. WOW I am so excited not to have to shuttle them to and from school and all that. It will be great to be on our own time table for a while! I wanted to post my sunflower pictures because I think they are truly evidence of God's awesomeness. So enjoy them.

By the way these are all SOOC. I love sunrise and sunset !!!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday !!! On Sunday!!!

2011-05-22T21:45:00.000-05:00

Wow I am motivated !!!
It's been a week and again I get to participate in Scavenger Hunt Sunday. I did steal one from the archives but I won't tell you which one cause really, does it matter?

So here they are in Ashley's order :

My Passion :

Sound of Music :

Inner Beauty :

Ethereal :

Sharp:

Check out some more great entries over at Ramblings and Photos, it's fun!!!

Finally !!!

2011-05-16T13:01:00.000-05:00

I am back in the saddle again !!! Well at least until next time life overtakes every fiber of my being! Things have been crazy, the end of school, all the pictures I've been taking for people... It just goes on and on. Oh and did I mention the people with those big loud fans that dry out hard wood floors etc and coming in a minute to set up in the living room. Not sure how we are going to handle that. Things could get cozy for us for a while.

Anyway I wanted desperately to participate in Scavenger Hunt Sunday over at Ramblings and Photos. So I pulled it out, from where I'm not sure but here they are :

Give Me Flowers (My soon to be giant sunflowers !!!)

Visual Contrast :

Friendship :(Love this)

Before & After : Not exactly what I would have done if I had been at the top of my game but sufficient.

Dark : I love my camera

Check out the other great entries over at Ramblings & Photos, I always love looking at the amazing people who contribute.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T22:15:00.000-05:00

As I sit here and try to write this Motherhood calls, in the form of a 4 year old who wants to play a game. Now how can I say no or scram politely? Well really I can't, I guess I'll have to finish this later.

OK now I'm back, and I have played and laughed and cleaned up with and after the kids and really if I had gotten more sleep I might just have been a little pleasant on Mother's Day. As it turns out I am sleep deprived=much less patient.

Sooo anyway as I sat at lunch today, at the place I picked because I'm the Mother of this Mother's Day, I started thinking about the real meaning of Mother's Day for me.

Suddenly with a rush of emotion and a few quiet tears I realized the meaning of Mother's Day. It is so that Mother's can realize how incredibly blessed they are. When I looked around me and saw the amazing faces watching my every move, making sure that I was sooo happy with everything I thought, oh my goodness God has given me this gift that is beyond all words. It was my day to sit there and look and listen to the people who love me most and realize that I love them and need them more than anything here on earth.

So when I look at these pictures of a birth I took about 6 months ago I just think wow how fast times flies and how full my heart really is.

Happy Mother's Day !!!

3 Months already

2011-05-04T22:51:00.000-05:00

I feel like this little guy was just born. He is so very cute and looks so very much like his 3 older sisters.

I'm looking forward to seeing him grow!

Scavengar Hunt Sunday

2011-04-25T20:53:00.001-05:00

I haven't participated in a while, not for lack of trying. Hear are my entries, to see more entries head on over to see Ashley at Ramblings and Photos :

1. Reflections

When I was thinking about reflections I was thinking about how we reflect on certain things in our lives. Here though I was reflecting on middle-school when the magic 8 Ball was "it" and I'm also in the reflection on the magic ball.

2.Guess what this is?

We dyed out Easter eggs with all natural ingredients again this year. This is the red cabbage that we used.

3.What's inside?

A monarch, or one of my other children.

4.Playtime

At tennis lessons Tyler gets hot and bored. We bring stuff to entertain.

5.Lawn & Garden

A bloom with a succulent.

Something Amazing

2011-04-24T23:53:00.000-05:00

We have been following the Caterpillar/ Butterfly transformation like a hawk. I have sat outside staring at the chrysalis waiting until the kids come out and say I need to feed them. Well I might have missed the actual transformation from a caterpillar to a chrysalis but I actually witnessed a butterfly come out of her cocoon. I say 'her' because I'm fairly certain, after all the research I have done, that this particular butterfly was a she. Anyway so here goes:

The first sighting of a caterpillar :

I call these the triplets :

I know this picture is blurry but I just love it.

So initially we kept finding the caterpillars in the ground around the pot of milk weed. I kept telling my kids to pick them up and put them back in very gently. I think my head wasn't screwed on at the time. I guess I didn't realize that they fall off and crawl something like 30 to 40 feet to do their thing. The caterpillar is escaping while he can.

They crawled up into the top of our clubhouse, all 4 of them :

and found some great places to make their chrysalis's. They stay in these for the next 9 to 14 days in order to ripen. Despite my best efforts the transformation from caterpillar to chrysilis was so very fast that I never caught on in action. I did look religiously and in about 30 minutes one of them went from caterpillar to chrysalis, shocking to us all.

The amazing thing was that we just happened to catch this guy just after she had come out of her chrysalis. Her wings are still drying, which took about 2 hours. At this point I felt that I had already seen something so very amazing, little did I know that God had something else to show me.

So as all this was happening Rob was kind of farting around watering plants when he found this otherwise undiscovered guy about to hatch.

Now I knew that when they looked like this they were close to coming out, I just didn't know how long any of this took. So I pulled up a chair and just watched for about 2 minutes. Meanwhile Rob had gone inside to get everyone to show them this new almost hatching butterfly. As one child comes out I see the thing start to bulge and I start screaming. I had no idea this butterfly would emerge so quickly. It all happened in about 15 seconds and I was blessed to wintess it. Even more so to have my camera pointed exactly on it. I can say this was truly a gift from God, I mean the chances of all this happening the way it did are just overwhelming. So here are the pictures :

So that's it, in a nutshell. I waited for almost 3 weeks for this lifecycle to cycle and here I am. I felt like a nervous wreck having these things hang in the top of the clubhouse. I was so worried that the kids would inadvertently knock one off. But they didn't and I've seen something amazing and am feeling so honored and blessed by such a miracle.

Crying Wolf

2011-04-22T16:51:00.001-05:00

Yes my children haver done it and this week I was got, hoodwinked, swindled, but I GOT HER BACK !!!. Yes the life lesson was big this week for Dylan, she lied about being sick at school and really disrupted my life, my recovery from another sick child and the schedule for the day, but do not fear I stuck it to her!!

You may ask me how such a sweet angelic looking face could perform such a devious task and I would say really she's 7. She has a little model envy, I think it's just innate in little girls kind of like the desire to wear high heels or make up or paint your nails etc.. I could go on forever but let's talk about what happened......

I had a child at home(Ryan) that was legitimately sick, I know this because I had been up all night with him. Well little Ms. TweerpyPants decides to go to school and shortly thereafter tell them that she is sick and needs to come home. They, the school, being the temporary caregivers that they are, call me and say "she looks flushed. her face is red and she says she is going to throw up" and I say "really are you sure? " "Yes we think she looks like she is sick" I say "i'll be right there as soon as I make some sort of arrangement for the child on the couch with stuff coming out everywhere, surely I can't bring him in the car this way so it will take me a few minutes to make some arrangements" . This is when I get lucky, I realize that the lady that cleans our home is here and maybe if I ask nicely she will just get Ryan out if there is a fire or not let him answer the door if someone knocks. I ask she says sure. So I'm off to get Dylan. I arrive take one look at her and know for a fact that she is not even remotely sick, sparkly eyes and all, she has just gotten herself in a little over her head. So as I'm signing her our I asked her to wait outside for me and I tell the front office that "i will eat my words if that child is really sick but I'm here already so I'll take her home". We get in the car and I decide I'm in need of a Starbucks. I say to Dylan " Would you like some chocolate milk and cookies from Starbucks?" I get this Oscar worthy response of "Well I can try" .Wait one minute, you can try???? Yes that's what she said. So we proceed to Starbucks and just as I''m about to order I look over and say to her "I think I've changed my mind, and chocolate milk and cookies probably isn't very good for your belly just now so let's just pass this time" I then proceeded to pull up and order my drink.

The moral of the story little Dylan is I'm your mama and I know when your sick, your eyes tell me so !!!

Later that night she made a full confession to her father, smart kid I'm telling you.

The Many Faces

2011-04-21T16:51:00.000-05:00

This handsomeness has many faces. they are particularly cute sometimes but other times he likes to make "funny" faces. Not sure how funny they actually are but my heavens he is some serious good looking. People tell me he looks just like me!

I'm not sure the one on the right screams intelligence but I'll take him anyway

These kind of scream schmuzer to me. I don't know if that is a word but if it is then this is the look.

I always love the leftover lunch/snack/all day long left on his face. I often wonder, or try to remember, if I ever even cared about how clean the kids faces were. I think when you break that certain threshold of children outnumbering hands then the cleanliness of the face kind of swings full circle to the bottom of the priority list.

Easter is coming and I think this is actually the first Easter that I realize the magnitude of this holiday. It's the first time I have even considered asking the Easter Bunny to go another direction. He will bring some chocolate, cause really that's all they will remember, but that's it this year, no nick nacky stuff from the dollar store!

Reminders

2011-04-19T08:25:00.002-05:00

I don't want to get all sappy but these flowers remind me of my mom. I 'm not sure if it's the actual flowers or the colors or what but they make me happy and sad all at the very same time.

It has been a while since I posted and I miss it, time is just getting away from me. I might start another photography project that kind of forces me to post daily, we shall see. Lots has been happening. We have Monarch butterfly chrysalis in our club house. I feel like a new mom, I mean I bought the milkweed because Ryan wanted it, with no thought to the responsibility it would bring on me.

Then unbeknownst to me the butterflies laid their eggs and we all of a sudden had all these caterpillars. They munched like crazy and then we had all these very fat juicy caterpillars who started falling off the plant. we started putting them back on only later to find out they were on their way to metamorphosis. But we were vigilant about getting them back on the plant.

Then Rob comes in one day to tell me her found a chrysalis. I felt like I had just acquired a new child. I am so protective of the 5 yes 5 chrysalis that we have I can almost not stand it. I'll write more about this when I actually post the pictures of the whole process.

Otherwise I am taking lots of pictures and feeling pretty good about them sometimes. I'm loving the macro lens, it amazes me every time. For now I must get children to their appropriate houses of knowledge, the time is coming when things will be changing !!!

Special Visit

2011-04-13T22:02:00.000-05:00

It's been a long time since I blogged. Busy times, busy times.

This mass of handsome love came over for a little while this morning.

I'm pretty sure that these speak for themselves.

All I know is that he can barf on me like no other baby, except for Ryan and he is smiley like no other baby, except Ryan !!!

I'll take it almost, any day !

Now, how to convince his mom to have another baby, did I mention he is #3 in the pecking order!

Shoot and Edit Week 13-Up

2011-04-07T08:17:00.000-05:00

Shoot and Edit - Week 13

I haven't ever participated in a shoot and edit but I think it's time.

I'm still working on the art of editing, doesn't seem to come very naturally for me.

I also just started shooting in RAW and have found that I love it!

Today I'm linking up with Ashley at Ramblings and Photos

So here is the SOOC :

Dad's Hands, oh and I guess this could work for UP, we are on the roof.

Here is my crop and texture edit.

I did it all while ignoring my children, I'm so proud.

Before After

Growing Up

2011-04-03T21:36:00.000-05:00

I was thinking tonight about how fast my kids are growing up and how desperate I am to keep them with me forever. Really I can say that with all honesty at this moment because they are all in bed asleep. No really the thought of them out in the world making all the decisions for themselves really scares me. I mean really they are young and don't always make good choices and what will happen when there is no one there to tell them what they are doing is dangerous and could really hurt them.

All this has come about since Ryan turned 10 a few weeks ago. Really it's my first kid in double digits and the reality is heartbreaking. I know he thought I was psycho when I started crying taking him to school that day. He doesn't like to see people sad but he certainly didn't understand.

Putting the kids to bed tonight I actually got to rock Tyler and sing a song to him. It was the first time in a long time, he likes his dad to put him to bed. As I sat rocking him I started thinking about all the different bedtime routines that we have gone through and how they have all had to evolve as the kids have gotten older. Singing has been a part of all their routines during the younger years but now the big kids need to talk and then read a little on their own before they decide to turn the lights out and go to sleep. Time is flying by and I am trying very hard to embrace every moment with each person in my life. I can only as God to remind me to continue living in the moment, He will take care of me.

It's True

2011-04-01T23:22:00.000-05:00

I bought these in the $1 bins at Target with this exact purpose in mind, really. It worked out perfectly. It was all about speed and dexterity, who got to push the button and then who made it back in time. Who sits where on whom and then can we all give a decent smile? I should post the whole series so you could see how Big Daddy moved not an inch the WHOLE time. Needless to say he failed the "movement" part of the whole experience.

I know this sounds weird for me, honestly, but I am ready for summer vacation.Time to goof off with the kids and not really have to be anywhere at any certain time. It's going to feel so luxurious this year, I can't wait.

Although Ryan will miss his friend Wester. Wester, like his name is apparently full of character. Ryan comes home telling me about all the crazy stuff this child does. Like just the other day Ryan comes home to tell us that Wester came to school today after having shaved all his eyebrows off. I thought I was going to DIE laughing. What kind of 4th grader goes home one day and decides he's going to shave his eyebrows off ? Wow and my child loves this kid, thinks he is the cat's meow, so funny. Really I'm not sure funny is the word I would use.

Been A While

2011-03-28T14:19:00.000-05:00

Time is just flying by. This guy was at the zoo. They really are country looking aren't they. I think they have very complex feather patterns.

All I can say is "IT'S ENROLLMENT TIME" around here and the ladies are all in a twitter. Did they get in, where did they get it, what are you going to do? Those are the questions dominating the conversation. Of course I was there until about a week ago, although I knew the school we were going to just not if they where letting us pick the class for the fall. It is a great dilemma, tears are spilled and much heart ache is experienced over such an important decision. All for the child going into Kindergarten. We are so out of whack that we now totally freak out over where you 5 year old will learn his letters. Well let me take that back, your 5 yr old should really already know their letters, maybe it should be a freak out over where they learn to read, or how about waiting to freak about when they learn to drive. Wow there are so many things to freak out about when it comes to our kids. I know we all want the best for them and for them to be strong and healthy and happy. I hope all you mommies out there freaking out about where you baby is going, I hope you all realize this too shall pass, they can eventually switch over to the Pre-School you really want them in and then they can truly begin to compete !!!

Same Old Face

2011-03-22T22:50:00.001-05:00

I know I post alot of pictures of her but she is always so willing. I'm thinking maybe I should go for the more challenging subjects like Ryan but he just gets mad at me and makes awful ugly faces. Anyway I'll write more about our Spring Break fun later but now I'm just feeling so bad for not having kept up with things so here they are.

Really she didn't know that I brought a dress for her out to the country, after all usually they don't bathe or even change their clothes the whole time we are there. As a matter of fact I know they didn't bathe and I'm thinking there were very few wardrobe changes the whole week.

There is freedom in the fresh air and the lack of responsibilities.

I will morn the loss of the pink boots when they go. Hopefully they will be replaced with something as fabulous !

I Heart Faces - Sun Flare

2011-03-14T14:14:00.001-05:00

The theme this week at I Heart Faces is SunFlare, which I love and am always working on capturing. Sometimes it works out well and other times not so great. I think the key is the time of day. Anyway here is my entry. It's almost totally SOOC except there was one little spot on her lip from the sparkles.

Summer is coming quickly, I can't wait for those warm, not hot, days out by the pool, not ours we don't have one. That's the best to me, just feeling all warm and cozy and the kids being happy. Cantaloup and watermelon and ice pops.

Take a look at some of the other entries over at I Heart Faces.

Did I Say That ?

2011-03-10T22:10:00.000-06:00

I found part of a project that was never finished the other day. I must admit that I was rather sad I didn't stick with it but the timing wasn't right. Anyway here is what the paper said:

It's just a blip on someone's radar but what a difference it can make, that smile or hello. What a difference I can make if I walk around shinning in Gods glory. If I believe myself secure in Him I radiate His love. What an impact we can have on each other just by loving, caring and reaching out. Do I do enough, do I fulfill my obligation. Do I love enough to fulfill my obligation. Am I willing to sacrifice to fulfill that obligation given to me? When will I know, I know now that I don't do those things that I should, I am fallen and only by His grace am I saved. So are we really just a blip or are we so much more? God knows us and has chosen us to be so much more. It's a challenge to live in a world where there are so many ugly pulls ones we never even recognize as ugly or pulls. Can I change enough? What do I want my children to see, a changed woman, someone at peace and secure with their beliefs? How do I get there? I think we are all so much more that blips on someone's radar, we are life changers.

So since the time I actually wrote that we went over James 3 at church which I believe is a passage about taming the tongue . It was such a great lesson to teach the kids, we only had to wait a few minutes for a teaching opportunity to come up !

Belly Laugh

2011-03-03T21:42:00.000-06:00

My goal is to get great at taking pictures of bubbles. It's a really tricky thing but they are just so cool I can almost not stand it.

I have been spending alot of time just hanging out with the kids. I know we should be doing that always but there is ALWAYS something going on.

Anyway yesterday I took the kids to the park, no one meeting us or with no hope of friends other than each other. I even refrained from taking the camera ! It was so much fun, they played tag and the truth is that while Ryan can run Dylan really can't. I mean she can run but she's just not fast at all, add in the hysterical laughter that comes with chasing someone and it's like watching a girl trying to wade through molasses. But I must admit it was absolutely hysterical and if someone had been there for me to talk to or someone for the kids to play with that moment wouldn't have happened and I would have missed it.

The other belly laugh the kids provided me with happened today after school. Ryan really has a routine, just like his dad, that when he comes home from school he immediately goes to the bathroom and sometimes 1/2 hour later I find myself calling for him to get out of the bathroom. Mind you he does this without closing the door, he doesn't want to be totally isolated from what's going on. So today Dylan decided she was going to "GET" him, he's always getting her. She snuck up to the open door, he couldn't see around the corner, and she screamed "BOO". Luckily he was already sitting on the potty or he might have pooooed his pants. I was in the kitchen but I heard the whole thing. Immediately after she "GOT" him she came running "MOM I GOT HIM MOM I GOT HIM". It sent me into hysterics. My stomach muscles hurt so bad, wowowowow. I new these kids were good for something.

I Heart Faces - Anything But A Face

2011-03-01T11:51:00.000-06:00

The I Heart Faces challenge this week is "Anything But A Face" and at first I was thinking about actual body parts and what might be interesting like little toes or feet. Then we were at the park and this happened. I new the angle would be unusual but I had no idea I would love it this much. So here is my entry :

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-02-28T12:10:00.001-06:00

It's Scavenger Hunt Sunday over at Ramblings and Photos. Go check out the other entires and be sure to say hi to Kitty Paw.

It's been a while since I participated but I tried this week. I'm having a hard time picking up the camera at times for any real focused efforts. Here they are in order, I think:

Capture the Sky : I used my Lens Baby for this shot. It fills the requirements. I used to be really into the sky and the clouds, at all different times of day, it seems like recently I'm just trying to make it thru the day

Everyday : The zoo is across the street from the medical center here and when I hear a helicopter while at the zoo I always get the chills because it's always Life Flight. Sometimes going and sometimes coming but always while your at the zoo. This just screamed everyday to me, it is someone's everyday, I'm happy to have another everyday.

Furry : It seems I am partial to animals with hair instead of fur. I'm to lazy to figure out the difference between hair and fur.

Life : It's what it really is all about.

Blurred : The tunnel at the zoo, best opportunity to get some blur I had this week.

She is Ye tall ????

2011-02-17T20:25:00.000-06:00

What? Ryan says to me " yeah she is ye tall". The food came flying out of my mouth it was so funny, ok it wasn't that funny but really. I said you mean yea tall? He never responded, I couldn't tell if it was because I was laughing at him or he was just so involved in the conversation.

After consistentaly thinking about 3monkeyjumping everyday for a year, taking a week off feels like heaven. Really I miss this as a creative outlet but I guess I haven't had the energy to document lately. I have decided that I would like to post pictures with words or saying on them but I haven't decided how much the pictures and words actually have to relate. This is what I struggle with.

There were plenty of smiles from me to go around today. This was supposed to be a squirrel that Ryan made in art but let's be realistic, it looks like a beaver and I like it as a beaver. It made me smile when he showed me this.

I got this card from my book club for my birthday that had this saying on it. It's a tender thoughts greeting card ........ I usually don't feel like a tender thoughts kind of girl but this time who knows what happened.

Loooong Week

2011-02-09T22:02:00.000-06:00

So last Friday was a "snow day" or kind of like an "everyone freak out in Houston because it's really cold" day. Dylan had already been home since Wednesday because she wasn't feeling well. She had a strep test on Wednesday that came out negative. By the time the ice storm came we were all a little stir crazy. This is what she does when we go out and everything is covered in ice.

I warned her that her tongue would stick to the stop sign, she just couldn't help her self. She had to try it. Luckily for her it didn't get stuck but wow, she is brave. By Monday she still wasn't feeling better and I was starting to get nervous. I actually listened to my mother's intuition. On Monday I took her back to the doctor and asked them to give her a blood test and see if it really was just a virus. Well it was just a virus but it happened to be MONO !!! Yes we have been struck by the kissing disease, I didn't tell her the whole kissing disease things because really why wold I do that. She for sure is going back to school in the morning, FREEDOM ! I'm going to try to do everything tomorrow.

We spent alot of time together and I wished she had felt better, it might have been more fun for us both.

How Old is Jesus ?

2011-02-07T22:11:00.000-06:00

This is what Tyler asked me today. I was kind of at a loss because really I don't know how old Jesus is. I mean I told him around 2000 years old. This is the conversation :
Tyler : Mom how old is Jesus?
Mom: Well I think he's about 2000 years old.
Tyler : No mom not the Jesus in heaven, the one at church.
Mom : Oh what Jesus at church?
Tyler : You know the one year old at church.

WHAAAT ! Firstly he was talking about the baby they used in the Christmas Pagent who was close to a year old. Secondly if you know the "baby Jesus" at church is a year old then why are you asking me? Then I dialed Rob's number and gave Tyler the phone so his dad could explain the situation. It made for an interesting conversation as well, but I won't go into that one.

Instead we can talk about Rob's sense of humor. He has one and it comes out occasionally. We were at a lighting store looking for one of those things that you put on your chandelier cord. Needless to say they didn't have what we were looking for but they did have this great light fixture. I ha to drag Rob out screaming cause we just don't have a place for it. Sorry sweetie ;)

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-02-01T12:06:00.002-06:00

Scavenger Hunt Sunday again. I am late with this one but it felt really important to me to accomplish this. I tried to be creative with a few of them seeing as we rarely have fog here.

1.Texture

2.Fog and Fog

I never thought we would ever have fog around here so I asked the kids to help, Dylan obliged me. Thanks girly girl !!!

and then we got fog the very next morning. It was fun playing around with the kids and the chalkboard anyway.

3. Beverage

Enough said.

4.Button

5. Seventies

This is what I could come up with. I am was born in the seventies so there I am.

Great Day Clowning around

2011-01-26T07:53:00.000-06:00

We had a great day of impromptu clowning around. It all started with an innocent game of Twister, their first I might add, and deteriorated into a circus.

This clown family was really having a great time unitl this guy got his nose caught in the door. There was hysterical laughter and squeals of pain all at the same time.

Such a great afternoon with the kids. They are so much fun and so creative. Valentines are in production and they are so very cute. The kids love to glue and cut especially with all those fun scissors and stuff.

Crazy Saturday

2011-01-22T22:41:00.000-06:00

Saturdays just now are filled with soccer and football and today Tyler's birthday party. Crazy day but so much fun. Nothing like making 30 party favors only to end up 4 short, it was alot of kids. I think I love to have that many people over, it feels so out of control but so comfortable at the same time, now if everyone just knew where everything was and felt comfortable enough to help themselves things would be grand. This photo is for The Daily Shoot. The theme today was "some sort of stripes".

We had a bouncy castle in our backyard for the first time ever. The kids loved it !!! All of them loved it. There were minimal cracked noodles, for the most part it was great fun. Of course Rob and I got in after everyone left and I decided that it really wasn't my thing, I prefer a trampoline, enough said...

Gee dad you looked a little strange today, I really couldn't put my finger on it all day but I swear there was something amiss. Maybe your color was just a little off, maybe you got new glasses and forgot to tell me? Hmmm it will come to me soon I'm sure.

I had not seen these 2 cuties in a long while, they sure do grow fast. There seemed to be something a little off with him today too but oh well, maybe it's just me.

Beautiful Belly

2011-01-21T08:59:00.000-06:00

This momma has the most beautiful belly ever. This go round it was a big strapping boy, he weighed in at 9lbs 6oz !!! That's a lot for this tiny mom.

Thanks for spending some time with me Heather I love getting to see you !!!

Oh did I mention this is baby #4 !!!

Team Up Thursday- Black & White

2011-01-20T07:04:00.000-06:00

Team Up Thursday - Black & White
Sandra and I are still going strong in the "how different can you be" category.
Mine is on the left, it's the new fabric on my new very old chair !!! I'm in love with even though I don't know quite what to do with it.
The beautiful B&W flower on the right is from Sandra and I don't know the full story but maybe her husband gave it to her with a big kiss and sweet pat on the butt? Sounds like how I'd want my flower delivered !!!

Anyway have a great day !

Who They Are

2011-01-18T19:43:00.000-06:00

Really I'm not sure why I titled this Who They Are, maybe it should have been "Who I Am" but anyways. I was talking to a wise and new friend of mine the other day, we were talking of our children, and I was telling her how I can get very frustrated with them, one in particular. The frustration has happened off and on throughout the life of the offspring and has recently reared its ugly head, luckily only briefly. So this new friend of mine was telling me that she too has some of the same issues. She then went on to tell me she thinks she has these issue because this child is so much like her. LIGHTBULB MOMENT. Bingo !!! That's why I have such a hard time with my child, they are similar to me in ways that I don't necessarily like.

And then I see them doing something that makes me so proud and I think "was I like that" ? Was I that caring and gentle and nurturing? Where did that come from? They are like me, I'm sure they are like me with some of my faults and some of my really great attributes. And I love that about them and me. I will try to embrace those trying times and turn them into learning times instead. I love my kids so much and just want them to be happy and free and go lucky and loving and loved and nurturing and funny and serious and smart and silly and loud(did i really say that) like they should be.

The Interviews

2011-01-15T22:45:00.000-06:00

I found these questions on my friend Katie's blog, which she got from one of her friends blogs and so on. I thought they were good questions and it sounded like something fun to do with the kids, at first anyway.
So here are the questions and the answers from each kids, enjoy( I know I didi) along with my 365 habit forming picture that I feel compelled to include. This one is from the Daily Shoot and the topic was Make a photograph of two complementary objects arranged to show their relationship to each other."

So here is the Q&A session :

1. What does Mom always say to you?

Tyler - I Love You

Dylan - I Love You

Ryan - Lots of times you say NO and CRAP !!!

2. What makes mom happy?

Tyler- That I love you and that I'm sweet.

Dylan - When we listen to you

Ryan - When I do what you tell me to.

3. What makes mom sad?

Tyler- When I say I don't love you and I don't like you.

Dylan- When we disobey you

Ryan- When I say something mean to you.

4. Hoes does mom make you laugh?

Ty- When you make funny things.

Dylan- When you do funny things

Ryan - tickle me.

5. What was mom like as a child?

Tyler- Hairy guy

Dylan- You were cute

Ryan- You were a very happy girl going to school, dating my dad and playing with your brothers.

6. How old is mom?

Tyler-80

Dylan- 38

Ryan- about to turn 39

7. How tall is mom?

Tyler- 80

Dylan- 60 feet

Ryan- I don't know that one, 3'3"

8. What is moms favorite thing to do?

Tyler- computer things

Dylan- go to the mall & eat lunch with me.

Ryan- spend time with your kids.

9. What does mom do when your not around?

Tyler- works

Dylan- work

Ryan- run errands

10. If mom becomes famous what will it be for?

Tyler- me

Dylan- because your a good mom

Ryan- photography

11.What is mom good at?

Tyler- computer work

Dylan- First would be spanking us, also you are really good at driving.

Ryan- photography

12. What is mom not good at?

Tyler- Basketball

Dylan- bad at hearing us

Ryan- running

13. What does mom do for her job?

Tyler- computer

Dylan- photos

Ryan- photography

14. When are you proud of mom?

Tyler- When you save me.

Dylan- When you take us to Wonderwild and me to lunch.

Ryan- When you have accomplished something you have never done before.

15. What is moms favorite food?

Tyler- salad

Dylan- ice cream

Ryan- Steak and ice cream

16. If mom was a cartoon character which one would she be?

Tyler- I don't know

Dylan- tweety bird

Ryan- The Pink Panther

17.What do you and mom do together?

Tyler- hang out

Dylan- Sunday Lunch

Ryan- When I'm not at school some days we run errands together.

18. How are you and mom the same?

Tyler- that we are 80

Dylan-??

Ryan- great minds think alike.

19. How are you and mom different?

Ryan- Your a girl and I'm a boy

20. How do you know that mom loves you?

Tyler- you kiss me and hug me

Dylan- because you always say you love me

Ryan- because your my mom.

Team Up Thursday "In a row"

2011-01-13T00:59:00.002-06:00

Wow I'm not sure that we could have gotten any more different ends of the spectrum that Sandra and I. Sandra's is the lights on top and mine is the glitter on the bottom. I love the solidness of each photo, they both seem so confident in such different ways. Check out the other Team Up Thursdays in Flickr or over at Mental Inventory. Can't wait to see what comes out of next Thursday !!!

I've Been Thinking

2011-01-11T21:50:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking about alot of stuff lately, some not so happy and some really great.

My New Years resolutions, I never make them except last year with the 365 day project. Maybe I do have the staying power to make a resolution and keep it, hmmm. This year I think I'm going for alot of things. Here are a few :

Get healthy.

Be more patient with my kids, live in the moment with them and get pleasure out of ALL the things the do.

Love my husband more, show him I love him with no expectations in return.

Spend more time in Gods word, getting to know him.

Make new friends.

Grow in my photography skills and grow my business.

Find joy thru my faith.

Collect less stuff and get rid of more stuff.

BE AFRAID, VERY VERY AFRAID !!!

OK well maybe just a little afraid, I mean really how can you be afraid of that face?

Well ok this one I'm truly afraid of, I mean really, are you sleeping soundly at night because I think I'm not anymore !!!

And then I remembered these, and I almost lost it laughing. I mean who hasn't felt like that about someone. The Rhino and I had a little laugh about it before I told him to cut it out.

This is the kind of picture that I can get out of my almost 10 year old. Oh saying that makes me tear up I mean he is going to be driving in 6 years and leaving in 8, ok well the driving has me very upset ;)

365/365 Whooo Whoooo Whoooo

2011-01-08T18:58:00.000-06:00

365/365 Whooo Whoooo Whoooo

OK so I finally finished, 8 days late but who cares. It was a personal goal, in which I think there is always room for improvement but man I am excited about my follow thru on this one. I'm a person with a huge fear of long term commitment and until I get "used" to the commitment, I often let it slide away very quietly. This time I stayed focused on trying to get better at photography, I love it so much, and trying to stay motivated and not get burnt out. I'm still working on my techniques, I think I have so much to learn, but I am closer to taking my ideal photos and seeing my visions come to fruition than I was a year ago.

I might set another goal soon but I think the 365 days distracted me from why I started this blog, which was to document our daily life. I think focusing on the photos made the other things I like to do, like hearing myself talk when I'm writing a post, fall by the wayside. So I'm not taking any time off but I'm going to try to get back to a place where I can tell the story about the events of the day and what lessons I get from those events. So then there is the question of what the last photo should be, it needed to be spectacular and amazing and such an example of what I have learned over the last year and I think it really does. It screams "yes she is done and doesn't have to annoy us 99 times a day trying to get a picture to post!!!!". I'm felling the same sentiment except I'm happy I won't have to carry my camera around all the time. Funny thing is I left it at home today when we headed out for our games and stuff only to call Rob and find out that I "forgot"my camera and so he brought it for me !!! Oblivion is bliss sometimes, sweet guy.

363&364 Team Up Thursday

2011-01-07T12:08:00.001-06:00

363&364 Team Up Thursday

I am participating in a new challenge, every Thursday I have teamed up with Sandra to combine our interpretations of a theme. This week the theme was "New". I posted a photo of my new Perfume and she posted a photo of Isabella's "New" toy. I think this is going to be fun. They are just such different interpretations. You can find the results of other teams on Flikr as well as at Mental Inventory, check them out.

Little Man's Birthday cake that he helped make !!!

Really I'm trying to think of anything better than a huge dollop of sprinkles and being 4, not much comes to mind. Although the word dollop brings back memories of The Rhino. We had obviously let him watch to much tv and one day at dinner he comes to me and says "can you put a dollop of daisy on my potato." WHAT !!!

362/365 Happy Birthday Little Man !!!

2011-01-05T09:57:00.000-06:00

362/365 Happy Birthday Little Man !!!

Today Little Man turns 4. It's breaking my heart. It all started 4 years ago today, he was born in the afternoon around 4 after a very short and comfortable labor. The thing I remember most was how much I loved him from the moment he came out. I ended up staying in the hospital for a few days, not sure why, while Rob stayed at home with the other kids. It was a great experience and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

He has added so much joy to our lives. He is funny, that's what happens when you are number 3, your always going for the laugh. he is smart, he gets that from me. He is handsome, he gets that from his father. He is sweet, he gets that from his grandmother. Everyone on both sides has made a contribution to this boy.

I can only hope and pray that he keeps his sense of humor and his loving and kind nature. I really am sad that he will be our last baby, I can't believe he is 4! Wow time flies.

361/365 Yummy

2011-01-04T19:56:00.001-06:00

361/365 Yummy

This is my favorite French Toast EVER !!!

It just so happens it is at my brothers cafe.

I would eat it every day if I could but I'm thinking that's not good for me.....

360/365 Almost There

2011-01-02T21:45:00.000-06:00

360/365 Almost There

I've almost done it, I'm running a week behind in my 365 but only 5 DAYS LEFT !!!

It's like a sale advertisement, ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT !!!

I found this new project through a new friend, Sandra, called The Daily Shoot !

The idea is to push your photography each day.

Todays theme was "find an interesting texture and make a picture" so here it is :

413 Daily Shoot

359/365 Happy New Year !

2011-01-01T22:56:00.000-06:00

359/365 Happy New Year !

This is who I partied with last night, it was exciting let me tell you.

My 8 year old nephew, isn't he cute.

Man these kids like to have a good time. He thought he would disguise himself as an adult !!!

This is his interpretation.

358/365 Today's Favorite

2010-12-31T22:12:00.000-06:00

358/365 Today's Favorite

I love this photo.

It is SOOC and I think the light is just so fabulous. The Rhino wants so desperately to still fit in this costume, it's just not happening.

Look at his sweet belly pooching out. My goodness I love this child.

Now about the nose and glasses. Who knew that a trip by grandpa to the Dollar store would yield the favorite Christmas Presents ever. If I had only known......

357/365 The Real Deal

2010-12-29T20:57:00.000-06:00

357/365 The Real Deal

I thought this photo was so serious, really she was just waiting for me to get things ready.

Loads of patience this one for sure.

Then the reality of what she is really likes appears.

I love her so much.

The other reality is that she has 2 brothers and that's where this comes from.

Heavens knows I turned out ok and I have 2 brothers.

Good Luck Little Mama.

356/365 High High Heels

2010-12-26T21:24:00.000-06:00

356/365 High High Heels

Well really they are about an inch high but for her they were like jumping over the moon. I mean it has been like floating on a cloud after she got these, I wonder what kind of high it will be when she gets her first real pair of high heels. One drawback she noted immediately was that they don't click when she walks, but she says she can live with that.

They are magical and sparkly and I never want to forget how much she loves them and how much I loved my first pair of heels !!!

On a more serious note, in this season of such abundance and over indulgence we had the opportunity to spend the morning this morning with some who aren't in the same fortunate spot that we are. I was thrilled when our church sent out an email about an opportunity that would include the kids. Instead of having services this sunday they decided that we would worship with a place called The Open Door Mission and the kids would be included. It's a place on the east side of town that helps men recover when they find themselves down and out for any number of reasons. We ended up eating a meal with Jeff, Wade and a smooth dresser in a gold suit who's name I didn't get. These men have all been in the program for over a year and are currently looking for work, some have relapsed and others can't find work because they have criminal records or no transportation. At one point Wade says to us he has a story to tell us, it was interesting to say the least. One of the many things that struck me was that these men who at first I thought we so tough, they have been through so much and survived, really looked like delicate old men. Some how they have survived things that any regular person wouldn't have and here they are in a Christ based program believing there is a reason they should be here. I pray that belief, that God loves them and has a plan for them, will help them to get their lives back. It was a blessed day for me and my family !!!

355/365 Biggest Countdown Ever !!!

2010-12-25T10:46:00.000-06:00

355/365 Biggest Countdown Ever !!!

I can't believe I'm 10 away from a whole year of photos. I plan on taking a break, I'm not sure how long but am very excited. Recently, since I haven't been blogging constantly, I feel the old blog life coming back. Very exciting.

Little Mama got to open her first Christmas present tonight, it was these story cubes.

I think this could be such a great thing in our house and I'm so looking forward to using them on a regular basis. The story from this roll is below :

Once upon a time there were 2 beetles in a tree. They found an apple. The apple was on fire so they called 911. 911 didn't answer. The questions was what to do. They looked at the time, it was 12 noon. It was story time. When they finished the book they wanted to go out to lunch but they didn't know which way to go so they pulled out heir iphones and looked up the directions.

353 & 354 Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T22:42:00.000-06:00

353 & 354 Merry Christmas

The time has flown by this year. I can't believe Santa is coming tonight.

Better get to bed after a few photos, the best of tonight's isn't mine, thanks Oma.

This is Regan aka "Dammit Dog" . That's what my Mother In Law told me.

She is a lovely Catahoula I think.

Very sweet girl.

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw this picture taken by my MIL was poor Santa does he have a clue what he has gotten himself into. My next thought was is this something that you put in the naughty column ? My final thought was thank heavens I wasn't there when this happened !

Merry Christmas !!!

352/365 Sad Day

2010-12-22T21:34:00.000-06:00

352/365 Sad Day

Not to be a downer but it has been kind of a sad day.

349&350/365 The Nutcracker

2010-12-21T22:22:00.000-06:00

349&350/365 The Nutcracker

I took Little Mama to see The Nutcracker. It was really sweet for us to get to do this together.

I hadn't taken her for a couple of years because I always consider it my most expensive nap EVER !

I slept through the 1st half this year but was actually really interested in the 2nd half.

I do wonder if it is the same every year. I mean do they change the scene backdrops? I think these were the same sets as last time I took the kids.

We did get a chance to meet the mouse and one of the little nutcrackers.

I think she really didn't want to have her picture taken with these guys, but I made her anyway.

The Nutcracker was so friendly, it was very interesting.

350

The most beautiful Poinsettia ever !!!

A photo with my macro lens.

Merry Christmas !!!

348/365 Christmas Pagent

2010-12-19T22:39:00.000-06:00

348/365 Christmas Pagent

Our church had the Christmas pagent today.

We were the lucky parents of King Harod:

To me he kind of looks like the Prince in the old version of Robin Hood.

I think it's almost uncanny !!!

We also had a sheep.

Next year he will be a cow.

This year he did really well and behaved beautifully.

Sorry but by far the cutest sheep ever.

And then there is the star bearer.

Where would we be without this part of the equation?

She eats this up, I'm getting her into drama asap!

We had such a great time at this pagent. The music is great and the kids are amazing.

There are people who work so hard to make this happen and I am so grateful for them.

Merry Christmas !!