How I see you....

Hey sweet Natalia! You are five now. Even though you've been saying "I'm FIVE", for about eleven months because your friend was five. We took these pictures in the middle of a fairy ring the day before your birthday. You were being silly and I loved being with you. I asked you to make a birthday wish, and you closed your eyes and with a deep breath you said, "I wish for the Jasmine costume without the empty belly."

We walked home holding hands.

You are courageous. You are sweet. You are beautiful.

You are kind. You are extremely thoughtful. You are sunshine.

You are the silliest girl I know.

You are always observant. You have an amazing memory.

You bring so much joy to our home. You bring so much noise to our home.

I feel so blessed to have you as a part of my life. I hope you had a happy birthday baby.

Things I keep around my desk....

photographs.

I love photographs...even technically bad photographs.

Especially when they are taken by a four year (Yes, she is five now...I need to blog about that.) old on one of the sweetest of summer days.

lovely.

(Busy day.
Fun session with some repeat clients-
HUGE rain storm-
Halloween carnival-
proofing until the wee hours of the morning.

I thought I would share this lovely picture of Talia.
Summer, I miss you...
Fall, you are okay.

Back to work.)

amazing.

Ballet class was amazing.

I was not amazing, but I loved it just the same.

I am sore today, but not as bad as I thought I would be! =)

I am going shopping today on discount dance supply.com for leotards, tights, and new ballet shoes.

Happy day.

Oh, the funniest thing happened. On the way to class I was listening to the radio and the theme song from Flashdance came on. I am NOT KIDDING! I had to call Lincoln and laugh about it with him. I turned it up loud.

Here are the lyrics...they are so perfect. (Yes, I cried a little too.)


First, when there's nothing but a slow glowing dream
That your fear seems to hide deep inside your mind
All alone I have cried silent tears full of pride
In a world made of steel, made of stone

Well I hear the music, close my eyes, feel the rhythm
Wrap around, take a hold of my heart

[Chorus:]
What a feeling, bein's believin'
I can't have it all, now I'm dancin' for my life
Take your passion, and make it happen
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life


Now I hear the music, close my eyes, I am rhythm
In a flash it takes hold of my heart

What a feeling

dancing around

I am so excited!

In less than 30 minutes I get to go to a ballet class.

I cried in the van when I found out that I would be able to go today.

I haven't been to class (for me) since Wyatt was about 6 months old. Now he is 7.

I can't find any leotards. They must be in a box buried deep under the stairs.

I found a cute black ballet skirt though....so I'll wear leggings with that.

I am so excited!

The clock is going much too slow!

Where are my ballet shoes?

Someday I'll blog again.....

I had a wonderful week. My parents came to visit, and I just loved having them here. We had to endure a little rain the first few days, and then my Father and Simone both got sick. We accomplished a lot around here though. It was so good to see them. My kids love spending time with them, so I am glad they found a few days to come see us.

I am really really behind on blogging. I have tons of wonderful pictures from the summer, so I am going to catch up eventually. Be prepared for random posts! I hope I can do it soon, because I am getting ready for the busy season. I am booked solid for photo sessions for the rest of 2009, but somehow keep squeezing in clients! =) I love my photography job, and I wish I had more time in the day. I keep telling myself that this isn't my number one job. I am a mother and wife first. It is hard to balance all that is on my plate right now.

(A few bloggy notes for me.)
Simone is talking a lot lately. Not really. She says about six words. She said "ice" and "grandpa" yesterday though. She weighs a whopping 19 pounds 14 ounces. She sleeps better now, and will take one super short nap during the day. That short nap drives me nuts, I can't get anything done. Wyatt used to take a 3 hour nap at this age.

Natalia is still silly. Wyatt asked her why she liked gum so much. "Because Jesus made me that way," was her reply.

Wyatt is working hard at school. Handwriting is his biggest struggle. We are trying to practice at home, but how many hours should this boy have a pencil in his hand in one day? I love having him around and he is the best big brother to Simone. Yep, just Simone. =) Talia and Wyatt absolutely love to be around each other. We picked up Wyatt early from school today, and they saw each other down the hall, and RAN and hugged! It was cute. If my sister was there she would have said "Kodak moment!" Anyway...they love to fight. Wrestle. Swords. Whatever. They get along as much as they fight, but it is a regular smack down at my house sometimes. I hate it. I need to buy more paint. They are always willing to paint, and it is a nice distraction from the rough stuff.

Dewey!

My brother Steve illustrated a children's book called Dewey (There's a Cat in the Library!). It is number FOUR on the New York Times Best Sellers list today!

The best part, for me anyway, is that my children (and some of our friends) were used a models for some of the characters.

I found this little clip on you tube....take a look, you'll see some of the illustrations and Talia at the end!

Congrats Steve! I think it turned out wonderfully!

Last day and a half of Myrtle beach....

Here are just a few ;) pictures of our time at Myrtle beach. We loved it, and we can't wait to go back!

Baby toes in the water.

(I put my goggles on ALL by myself!!!)

Wyatt found a few little crabs.

Sweet conversation in the waves. I think they are saying, "We should live here!"

All of us took an afternoon nap!

This kids were having too much fun in the pool. I desperatly wanted to go get some pictures of the beach at sunset. I went with Simone. We spent a few lovely minutes together on the sand.

Simone wasn't feeling too great. She threw up on me as we were walking on the beach the day before! I just walked into the waves to clean up. She was NOT happy about that. This happened when we had our suits on....my brand new suit I should mention. She didn't feel great the rest of the trip, so she wouldn't let me put her down. If I did she wouldn't let go of my hand. I didn't mind.

Possibly one of my favorite photos from the trip. I love those little smiling lips, and her chin on her sun-kissed shoulder. She was watching two little birds that were running from a wave.

We came back up to the big kids and Lincoln by the pool. Dinner was waiting and it was fabulous! Tasty spring rolls, and fantastic rockfish...Lincoln had something else, but my rockfish was so good so I don't remember what Lincoln had. The kids shared a big hamburger. Then a surprise was delivered! TWO huge banana splits. It was so fun to eat them with my most favorite people. Yum. I wish I had one right now.



That's it! Our Florida/Myrtle beach trip. I took so many pictures, and I am so glad I have a little point and shoot. I wore it almost the entire time (as you can tell)!