Merry Christmas! {December 24, 2013}

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Change is coming! {November 2, 2013}

Hi. 
Have you ever thought you were busy, and then look at what's to come and wonder if you'll survive?  That's where I am right now.  I feel like I have so many pots on the stove, and to think we are about to be MOVING a family of 4, painting and putting a studio together on top of the schedule already.  Sheesh.  I am super thankful that we were able to find a home, and will be closing in a couple weeks, November 15th.  We have about a weeks worth of painting (cabinets too) and are going to hold off on any other remodeling until the studio gets up and running.  When we first got the contract, I had about 3 days of beyond excited thoughts, until... the end of the 4th day.  It was an obnoxiously long day, and the house looked like a tornado came through.  I put the kids to bed and walked out into the house and my chest tightened.  'I have to move ALL of THIS?!?!'  Oh crap.  I know I should be packing, something, but I just can't seem to start.  Instead I'm sitting here writing this, and ignoring the weddings and orders waiting patiently for their turn so I can have a 30 minute blog break.  I'm so thankful for my clients and friends that have supported my business, and can't WAIT to grow more with the new studio.  How will I juggle? NO idea, but I'm looking forward to the challenge : )  My problem is learning to pass the torch, and ask for help.  Megan H and I were talking the other day about balancing homeschooling and life, and the first thing I will hire help for is cleaning.  Oh I can't wait to have someone come a few days a week and help out, since I'm not willing to share my other two jobs, teaching the girls and photography. : )
I'm looking forward to turning our lives upside down (kinda) and making all new routines in the new house.  Hopefully we'll be settled by Thanksgiving! 
Now, back to work!



*This was taken out at my mom's house~ The flowers only bloom for a few days out of the year, usually the first week in October.  The last couple years I've missed it, so I was thrilled to get the girls up on the rock to catch them this year : )

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Scarlett turns one! {September 14, 2013}

Our sweet little baby girl is a year old now! She's standing on her own, and took her first steps a few days ago.  She's been saying mama and dada for a while and gives the best hugs (leans her head on you) and open mouth kisses : )  The most loving little girl, and her expressions just melt me!    Our little Scarlett has become quite the accessory girl.  Any necklace she finds MUST be worn~ along with hats, sunglasses, socks and shoes.  I have broken a crying spell with eyewear more than once, and we shop in the grocery store regularly wearing her favorite neon yellow goggles.  The looks we get are hysterical.  : )  I haven't come across anything this little lady won't eat.  We call her the little piranha because as long as she is in the kitchen, she begs for food!  You just can't eat without sharing~    The last few weeks she has been stuck like glue to her mommy and loves to be carried.  I try not to tire of the hip ornament she has become though~ I know I will soon miss having her there when she's big like her sister : )   Such a sweet baby~           For her cake smash session, I got a little crafty (which usually only happens in my head these days) and tried to make everything : )  I got the fabric for her pants at HobbyLobby (sorry I have no pattern to share : / I had to wing it by looking at another pair she has) and covered a paper party hat with extra fabric and hot glued on some feathers.  We also cut banners from craft paper and hot glued the ribbon across the top.  Reagan and I of course made the cake and icing which she was so proud of~ my little baking queen!  All very worth it and so much fun : )        

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Waiting for change {August 14, 2013}

Wow. I haven't posted in a month!  I keep thinking I'm too busy to post, every time I sit at the computer there is something else I should be doing, but I decided to give it a little tonight : ) 

Our little family is looking forward to some big changes soon.  Scarlett is 11 months today so we will be planning her 1st birthday party (I can't believe it!) and shortly after Reagan will be five.  Crazy how time flies. 

Reagan is starting ballet and tap this week, gymnastics next week, and our homeschool group starts in two weeks.  So exciting!  Aside from our daily schedule changing completely, we are also turning our lives upside down and planning to move, and set up a studio all at the same time.  It has been a dream for sooo long to finally have my own space to shoot and meet with clients, and I am beyond excited.  As far as our family moving, we have been house hunting for what feels like years and we have GOT to be getting close... it's exhausting.  We are checking the market several times a day, and checking out at least a handful of houses a week.  Still no luck.  The house I mentioned before... THE ONE with the perfect yard... is gone. We came so close by being the back up offer, and I have been holding my breath for the last 6 weeks hoping they would back out, until they closed a few days ago.  Boo : (   I'm probably one of few who actually married their high school sweet heart, and have never been dumped, but MAN.  I can truly say I know how it feels to have a broken heart now.  That was a horrible experience, and I really don't think any house will compare.  We put in another offer today that's a little less house, and will be a great rental when we upgrade some day.  But tonight, we may have found something even better over near my dad's house which would be hawesome (I'm making that a word), we'll see first thing in the morning. 

Our sweet girls go all these houses with us, and most days Reagan's excited to pick out which room would be hers and tell me for the thousandth time that everything has to be pink.  Others she just wants to stay home and play.  I feel bad dragging them around sometimes, but Reagan's a patient girl~ excited to finally have a yard, trampoline, playground, and a bunk bed.  : )

Hopefully we'll have a home soon!

 

Now on for some pictures! 

These were taken a couple months ago, on a spur of the moment when I realized Scarlett had just hit 9 months.  I didn't even brush Reagan's hair, just clamped up the quilt in the bedroom and grabbed the camera.  Sometimes the best images come then, (minus the race track pieces) but when 2 minutes earlier we had no idea there was about to be a photo shoot ; ) Well okay... maybe my kids do expect that at any moment with me for a mother.  Haha!
Some of my favorites are just playing on the bed, and it's so fun to do!  I charge all of you with kids (who still read this abandoned blog), to go throw your babies under the sheets and see what fun pictures you come up with-
You're guaranteed to get the best smiles! 
Promise!

     

Oh wow!  I just realized these were taken before Scarlett had any teeth!  Shortly after this, she sprouted her two front bottom pearls and one on the top left (not one of the front two).  She looks so funny with her little snaggle tooth up top, and the one on the opposite side is about to cut through too.  So basically she will be sporting a jack-o-lantern smile.  They'll fit together like puzzle pieces. ; ) 

We love the Psoot~

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Picnics {April 2013}

Oh how I miss the beautiful weather! These were taken earlier this spring, right before the rain hit.  Downtown Riverwalk has flooded, tons of sinkholes, I think about 33 inches of rain in the last month.  Crazy!  I can't wait til things get back to normal to take my little ladies for picnics like this...  Reagan lives for them ; )  



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