A little bit of this...

Pictures, pictures. I know. Just humor me. The first shot is of my deranged cat, Miriam. I found her high above my rooftop yesterday morning. She was stuck in this tree, and we were both helpless. She couldn't get down on her own (I'm shocked her big butt even got up there in the first place), and I didn't have a ladder large enough to get to her. I had to call the hubster to bring one home from work. When he arrived Miri was at her wits end. She'd been stuck for hours. Mike climbed up to try and free her, but she climbed out on a branch. I climbed up and she came straight to me. The whole time we were struggling up and down the ladder our neighbor was in the yard laughing and talking about how he thought "stuff like this only happened on T.V." He was a lot of help. Anyway, she's safe and sound now.

The next few shots are a few of today's Christmas shoot with Lois, Randy and baby Rhett. They are so much fun to be around and make taking pictures a breeze! I just love them! I had a little trouble with the sun today. I just couldn't seem to position them correctly. There was either too much backlight or the shot was just way too bright. the best shots were taken in the shade, but even there I never felt like things were working out perfectly as far as the light goes. They turned out well over all though.

I was asked to shoot my first wedding today. I'm anxious and excited, but a little nervous too. Her bridal portraits will be in January and the wedding is early February. I'm looking forward to it.

That's all for now. It's not even 10:00, but I'm just exhausted. My throat is sort of hoarse. I might have a cold or something. Who knows.

Oh, one more thing, I'm venturing out to do some Christmas shopping in the morning. I think I'm finally starting to feel a little Christmasy. I think I might have my picture taken with Santa. Kidding.

God bless!

This sort of thing...

It's this sort of thing that makes me want to have more kids. These innocent images that make me smile and tear up at the same time. watching my children play reminds me of my own childhood. It's their laughter that takes me back to a simpler time. Day to day life isn't always easy with two little ones, but it's worth it to see them smile, and to relive a little of my own childhood at the same time.

Staying sane - but only by a thread...

My kids are fighting non-stop. I'm constantly separating them. I've had it. They are boys, they're 2 years apart and they're both strong-willed. I feel like I'm doing something wrong. I'm exhausted - especially with Stephen. He's always been a tough kid, but lately he just really seems to be trying me. Someone who has been there please tell me that my kids are going to grow up to be good boys. I'm a good parent, but these guys are really giving me a run for my money!!

Random Thanksgiving Shots

This is just a mirror image of mom's garage where Mike fried the turkey. You can see Christian in a blue shirt near the bottom.


Here are a couple of mom's dog, Spike.

My Brother, Trey, and Princess Ryleigh.

Stephen met a friend on the other side of the fence.

Mike the turkey man!

Granny, Christian and Mom

Trey playing with the kiddos

They do this a lot lately...

My niece, Princess Ryleigh - the beautiful.

I was getting bored.

The day was good. Dad got called into work, and that started a cycle of events that were pretty yucky, but over all it was a nice day. We really missed Daddy, but hopefully he'll be quiting this stupid job soon.

Anyone with a death wish go shopping today?? Not I!

Happy Thanksgiving and stuff

Last night Christian had fun playing in the leaves in the back yard while Stephen and I took pictures. I love these kids.

I've got a couple of pecan pies in the oven...

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pecan-Pie-I/Detail.aspx (cut and paste)

It's my first attempt at pecan pie. The hubster will be pleased if they turn out well.

I was going to make a list of things I'm thankful for, but when I do that I never feel that the list is ever complete. I always just have to find a stopping point, and I hate to leave anything out. So let's just say I'm thankful for it all!!

Have a blessed day, Ya'll.

I'm off to my mom's as soon as the pies come out of the oven.

Ear to Ear

I've been so disgustingly chipper lately. What's wrong with me? I think it's actually a combination of things - one being the fact that my internship is over for this semester. In other words, my mornings are free! For the first time since Stephen was born I have three kidless hours a day with nothing to do but what I want to do! Bliss. I made a list of things I want to accomplish before next semester starts and it's back to the old grind. It's a pretty selfish list for the most part. It includes stuff like get a massage, go shopping, take long walks, take lots of pictures and hang out with friends. That's the tip of the proverbial ice burg. My list is rather long really, but that's OK because I made myself a schedule, and it starts with that massage - that's scheduled for Wednesday. Allow me to indulge, people. Call me selfish (don't really, It would hurt my feelings), but I deserve this!

Above are just a couple of shots of the boys painting in the back yard. You know me, a post isn't a post without a picture or two!

A cheap face lift, grossness and other nonsense

My brother - because I love his smile.

My Christian - because I love it when he insists on putting on his own shoes.

My mom's dog, Spike - just because.


This is Miri looking out of our front door. On the outside is the neighbor's cat, Princess. I fed Princess once about 2 months ago, and now she just won't go away. Sweet cat though.

And now onto more important things. First, a series of unfortunate and rather disgusting events...





Did I really marry this man??

And now some before and after shots...





For my 29th birthday my mom and I decided to have some work done. We got some pretty cheap face-lifts at this little place downtown. I'm not sure how I feel about the results. Any thoughts?

So there you have it. Wow.

Oh yea, it's my birthday!

I'm 29! Last night Lori bought my dinner (the girl knows the way to my heart), today my mom and brother will go with me to breakfast (more food) and tonight it's off to my parents house for tacos (more food still). What can I say? I like to eat.

I'll sing to myself now...

Happy Birfday to me
Happy Birfday to me
Happy Birfday dear me
Happy Birfday to me!

OK, so singing isn't my best talent.

Photos of the boys

Lori and I took some photos of the kids today. She took some of me and my boys, and I took some of her and her girls. She did a great job, but I just can't bring myself to posting pictures of myself these days. I feel huge.

Here are some that I took of my monkeys. :)

Miriam

This is the first time I've been able to take pictures of my crazy kitten without her trying to attack my camera. I've given her the nick-name "savage beast" (as well as "Mir-cat" which I think is cute, but "savage beast" is more relevant to this post). I forgot what it was like to have a kitten in the house. Remember, Moses was almost 20 years old when I lost him, and he was not exactly frisky during his last days. Miri, on the other hand, is as wild as they come. You can't walk from one end of the room to the next without a flying fur ball attack. It's madness, and those teeth hurt! Anyway, she'll be 7 months old soon, and I think (knock on wood) that she might be starting to calm down a bit.

Thankful

It's November now, and Thanksgiving is fast approaching. I look around everyday and am thankful for so many things. I've been feeling so well lately - more like myself than I have in a long time. I'm still tired, and the kids still exhaust me, but my outlook has changed. I love it when the realization of God's work in me finally comes to light. It happens every so often, I'm just going about life as usual when it dawns on me that I'm different. Not on the outside, but on the inside. Everything around me is the same, but my response to it all has suddenly become new. Today I can see that I'm new. I've been going through a trying time in my life. Nothing external, but spiritual forces have been waging within, and just when I felt like throwing in the towel the sun came up on my night. It's day again. I look around and can clearly see all that I have to be thankful for. I wonder why the night had to last so long and why the fire had to burn so intensely, but now I can see the light, and I appreciate it so much more than ever. I can see that I've come out of the fire as gold, and I am so thankful. I'm thankful for the night because it's made the day so much more beautiful. And I'm thankful for the fire because It's caused in me a change that only God could have made.

I'm new today. The sun is a beautiful thing.

Fair Fun

Getting ready to go - Silly and Pouty
Pigging out on an elephant ear
Christian by the "dunky"
Cotton Candy!



We had a lot of fun. I hate that the fair only comes once a year, but I guess that's what makes it special.

Trick or Treating

Great carving Heather!

Aidan as the grim reaper, Stephen as the blue power ranger, Christian as the red power ranger, Marky as spider man and sweet pea as herself.
My Boys!


My Dad as the red power geek.

:-)