Austin has a green thumb!

Austin is our little scientist who always wonders who? what? why? when? where? and how? and often does his own little experiments, to answer those questions. Well at the beginning of summer, he was outside eating sunflower seeds with Alyssa, and he decided he would try to plant some of those seeds in our garden. He had been learning about seeds and the life cycle at the end of his first grade year, so he knew how it all worked, and what the seeds would need to grow. So he put those BBQ flavored sunflower seeds in the ground, where it got lots of sun and water, I just don't think any of us expected to see this monster of a sunflower come out of those seeds! Now Austin and Alyssa are wondering if it will produce BBQ Sunflower Seeds :)
Isn't she a beauty?

It's taller than Austin

My husband is 5'10" and it is just about his size! Kinda crazy!!
There are even some bees living inside of this monster!
If this is what kind of produce Austin grows. Maybe we should put him in charge of our garden next year :)

A PRESCHOOL GRADUATE

She did it!!!

( Alyssa posing with Miss Michelle, on her last day of preschool,

they got to celebrate with a circus party!!)

My baby girl is a 5 year old preschool graduate! Kind of strange to think that, that whole stage of life, is over for our family. We now officially have 2 school aged kids! The year after that will be CRAZY when they are both in school all day, I can't think about that now, because I am SOOOOO not ready for that!!!

Alyssa is incredibly intelligent and loves to learn!

She is reading easy reader books she knows letters, sounds, vowels

adding and subtracting

knows proper names for shapes (ie: Diamond/Rhombus)

knows all of her colors

She is writing short stories, spelling out words on her own, (phonetically)

knows colors, and knows what colors are made when mixing colors (blue + yellow = green)

She can memorize poems, songs, and short passages.

She amazes me everyday, by the things she learns and knows! I love my children more than anything in the world, and I am glad I was blessed to be there mother!!!

I ran a marathon....of a day of pictures!!!

HAHAHA some day I might be able to say I ACTUALLY RAN a marathon....

Yesterday was a great day for pictures!!! Me and my assistant Ashley (my niece, who I love and adore) started my back to back sessions at 10:00AM going every 15 minutes until 5pm, we had a few breaks, but the breaks were just enough to give us time to get back on schedule! This time we were smart and brought a cooler so our water stayed cold, and we brought treats for the kids (I am not against bribery) and brought mentos for us! All of the sessions went great, couldn't have wished for a smoother running day of pictures!! THEN came my last session, it was just a few quick pictures of a couple (this is a story for another time), so we took all the props and equipment to the car, and then as we were walking back to our spot, I slipped and fell HARD down the hill, landed flat on my butt, I heard a snap, from my shin, and my wrists and back hurt instantly, I couldn't stop the laughter and the tears, they were coming before I realized what happened. UNFORTUNATELY, the couple saw me fall!! Luckily I don't embarrass easily, I stood up and besides being swollen and bruised my wrists were fine, they ached a little but I could move them just fine, my shine was swollen but was fine even to the touch (weird! what was the snap sound?) I am glad Ashley was with me, she was laughing, which made me laugh, and then I pictured what it would have looked like to everyone else, which made me laugh harder, good times! I was able to finish their pictures, and felt fine, but then the drive home was excruciating and the tears came again :( my back never hurt so bad, so I went inside, when I dropped off Ashley, took some ibuprofen, laid down on the floor on my back, and did some of the spine massages I have learned in yoga and pilates, which felt good, and then when I tried to get up, something happened and it was the worst pain in all my life, it took my breath away, as this unspeakable pain radiated in my upper back, I rolled around in pain on the floor, and thought this was how the rest of my life would be. My mom has suffered with back pain throughout her life, and has had back surgery, and lives with pain everyday. I said a little prayer, and almost instantly, the pain started to relieve itself, not completely but, definitely not the pass out kind of pain! I went to bed early last night because it still hurt to sit in a chair, and after about 10 1/2 hours of sleep, I just feel like I had a great workout! Sore but, not painful sore, I am so thankful for whatever reason Heavenly Father had to relieve me from that pain, I know that is not always in the plan. AND I am thankful my camera didn't get destroyed in the fall!!!

I can ride my bike with no handle bars, no handle bars, no handle bars. . .

well actually, without training wheels!!! Alyssa wanted nothing to do with learning how to ride last summer without training wheels. So I was incredibly surprised when her cousin Abby, which is a great teacher, taught her how to ride her bike in less than an hour!!! Abby was so cute running along side her, telling her "I am not going to let you fall, trust me!" and giving her encouragement, "you can do this!" "your doing great" "Way to go!" I was bummed I didn't have my camera with me, to get the actual FIRST time, but we recreated this and showed dad, for the first time! She was so proud of herself, and we are all proud of her too!!!








Austin was so excited for her, he said, "Now when we go on our family bike rides, we can explore the world even more, where her training wheels couldn't go before!" I just love my kids!!!

Merry Christmas 2010

WiGgLe..:..:..then WiGgLe some more!!!

Austin lost his first tooth today!!! I remember when he got his first tooth! This is the same tooth that is first to come out! Can't believe how big my baby boy is getting, I just love him to pieces!

He has been wiggling and wiggling and wiggling his tooth, and it was ready to come out. It hurt when he would eat a soft banana or bread and tonight when we were brushing his teeth he said OUCH! When the toothbrush touched it, so I told him I needed to look at his tooth, and I gave it a little tug, and it didn't come out (I think I chickened out) and then I said let me have one more look and he said "I'm just so nervous this is my first time losing a tooth" haha so I gave it one more tug and out it came! He said it scared him a little and it did hurt a little but now it feels fine. We just tucked his tooth under his pillow, and now he is anxiously awaiting morning to arrive so he can see what the tooth-fairy left him!!!

Fall Break!!! Day 1 "Fabulous Fall Break FUN!!!" Wheeler Farm

Today is the first day of Fall Break for Austin's school and I am bound and determined to spend as much time with my kiddos as possible. Because this time of year is so busy for me with my photography business I feel like I am always on a shoot, or in front of the computer editing, I wanted to give them one on one time with mom, and not only that some fun Halloween and Fall activities and play time too!!!

So for Day 1 of our "Fabulous Fall Break FUN!!!" We went to Wheeler Farm. The kids and I love it there! I bought them some cute Halloween attire just for the occasion. My brother in law and sister in law are moving this weekend, so I brought my little 2 year old nephew, Preston, along, so they could get some packing done. My kids adore their cousins so it was perfect!!!

They got to feed the ducks (mostly geese). They are so used to people that you can get right up close and personal to them. Austin was walking around and honking like the geese and his little buddy Preston who like to copy his every move was doing just as he did. Preston liked roaring at the geese because it really got them honking.

We got to look at the animals...the kids favorite was the pigs! Because every time we have come the pigs have always been in their little house, and this time they were out and active!

Then we went on a Tractor pull ride, and got to see a scary graveyard and some more of the farm!! They got to climb on some of the old tractors and play in the old tree house, they were having so much fun!!!

Then we went into the hay/corn maze where Austin was the leader in finding our way out. Along the way they got to see some scary spiders and the corn that was left behind...they found that fascinating! They were very excited when the maze lead to the pumpkin patch where they could pick out there very own pumpkin! I told them, they could pick ANY pumpkin they wanted, the only rule was they had to be able to carry it by themselves, they were so excited and they each picked the perfect size pumpkin!

They had a blast!! And went right to bed when asked because they are excited for Day #2 of our "Fabulous Fall Break FUN!!!"

Alyssa's first day of pre school

She started school this morning,

And she seemed so very small.

As I walked there beside her

In the pre school hall.

And as she took her place beside

the others in the class,

I realized how all too soon

Those first few years can pass.

Remembering, I saw her as

She first learned how to walk.

The words that we alone made out

When she began to talk.

This little girl so much absorbed

In learning how to write.

It seems as though she must have grown

To girlhood overnight.

My eyes were blurred by hastily

I brushed the tears away

Lest by some word or sign of mine

I mar her first big day.

Oh how I longed to stay with her

And keep her by the hand

To lead her through the places

That she couldn’t understand.

And something closely kin to fear

Was mingled with my pride.

I knew she would no longer be

A baby by my side.

But she must have her chance to live,

To work her problems out,

The privilege to grow and learn

What life is all about.

And I must share my little girl

With friends and work and play;

She’s not a baby anymore –

She’s in pre school today.

Alyssa started pre school today! She was so excited!! Time couldn't pass fast enough she wanted school to start NOW!! So to pass the time we had a little photo shoot on the front porch!

When I dropped her off, she gave me a hug and kiss and said "bye mom!" and out the door she went! She was so big!! I am so happy she loves school and had a great day!! She asked me when I picked her up, when she would be able to be big enough to go to Austin's school, I told her it would be next year, and my heart started to race...one step at a time...one step at a time :)

Birthday Weekend :)

Chad and his dad and brother are hunting this weekend. I was bummed it was over my birthday, so I decided I would do something fun! So I decided me and the kids would go to relaxing lava hot springs, my mom thought it sounded like a good idea so I asked her to come along! Then my brother Matt, and my nieces Ashley and Grace decided to come along too!!! :) Funny thing though the motel didn't have any more rooms with more than 1 bed! So here we all are in a King Bed jacuzzi suite, hahahaha! I walked into the room and the jacuzzi is in the room, so I can't even enjoy soaking in it, unless I want to scar my family for life!!!

Day 1:

We got into town at about 6pm, checked in, and went and had a yummy dinner at Fat Jacks, it was so good, either because I was really hungry or because I am on vacation, either way very good! Then we went and walked up to the sunken gardens, which was really fun for the kids to explore, and it is so pretty! Last time I was here was 11 years ago, in March when it was all snowy and grey, so seeing all the greenery and flowers was fun! Then we took the kids to play at the park and they had a blast, they have one of those merry-go-rounds that all parks used to have...those are the best! Then we came back to our room, I am laughing at the comedy that is my life all 7 of us in a 1 king size bed room!!! We gave the 3 little kids a bath in the jacuzzi tub, they had a blast! Ashley is now taking a "bath" in the jacuzzi with her swimsuit on, and the kids are all on the floor watching Harry Potter...oh my life. Crazy, but it's the best!

Here's some pics from the lap top of our room:

need some inspiration???

The O.G.

Austin's 1st day of First Grade was a SUCCESS!!!
We celebrated by going out to dinner at the Olive Garden (or the O.G. as Chad calls it, he is big on initials) at the request of Austin. He has been begging to go to the olive garden so several weeks now, so we finally caved! I think he found his new favorite soup..MINESTRONE! mine too!!
Alyssa was so tired from trying to get used to the new early morning routine, she was in a little trance at dinner, I thought she would conk right out when we got home, but she caught a second wind, and was jumping on the trampoline and giggling right along side Austin.

The best part of an early morning schedule...kids not fighting you when you say "BED TIME!" they gladly brushed their teeth, said their prayers and climbed into bed! (sigh) Now time for me to crawl into bed!