Day 243. Doggie Haircut.

I took my little dog to get groomed.  I'm trying a new place.  I've tried several.  It frustrates me that it costs more to get my dog's hair cut than it costs to have my own cut.  But I've also learned that you get what you pay for.  I'm a pro at bathing my dogs.  I keep them cleaner than most dogs will have EVER experienced in a lifetime.  I bathe them every week, to keep the dog hair (and mainly, the dander) down to a minimum.  HOWEVER, actually CUTTING my little bichon/shitzu's hair was NOT a good idea.  Let's just say we've waited awhile for it to grow out, hoping a professional will be able to rescue her from looking like a monkey!

Well, they called me back before I finished this entry, so here are a few "after" shots of our Mandy-Girl!  Isn't she a cutie?  :)

Aw, doesn't she look so happy?!!!  :)

Day 242. More from the weekend.

You'll have to forgive me for posting so many of my hubby's family, but I've been working on them and keep finding new favorites!  Hope you're enjoying them, too.

Day 241. Fall is Coming!!!

This week has brought some cooler temperatures.  Oh, it is SO to my delight!  I have a lot of things on my heart these days, but I wouldn't know where to begin on sharing them.  I feel like my thoughts are very scattered, let alone trying to write them all out.  When I remember to simplify, it helps me.  I am encouraged when I'm reminded to take joy in things like a beautiful fall day.  I take a deep breath, thank God for the many undeserved blessings He has bestowed upon me, and a few steps forward I go.

With the arrival of fall, comes a different menu in our home.  I love to make a big pot of chili, roast a chicken in the oven, or roll out some dough for chicken 'n dumplings!  I COULD make those things in warmer weather, but I don't think they would have the same appeal, and they would only heat up my kitchen unbearably!  Yuck.  My sister-in-law introduced another comfort food that I made tonight, and it was a big hit!  It's not a complicated dish, just one I'd never thought to make!  Homemade ENCHILADAS!  She made them for us while we visited last week, and my kids just loved them (as did I).  So, I took a chance at trying it myself this evening, and it was successful.  Happy boys.  Happy hubby.  Happy me.  :)  THANKS, AUNT SAM!  :)

I took this picture of her when we had our little family session last week.  She needed something for her business website, and this was her favorite.  :)  She is selling Lia Sophia jewelry, so if you're interested, take a look at her site, and get in touch with her!  Just click HERE.

Day 240. Brothers.

Those are the Ketteman boys... and their respective wives.  :)  I often wonder what it will be like, when my boys grow up and have wives and families of their own... and I have to SHARE them.... and be a GRANDMA.  Oh my.  Then again, let's not rush anything!

Day 239. Leaf Bug?

Have you all ever seen such a thing???  My mother in law found this little guy IN THE HOUSE the other night.  Ick!  She, of course, caught it to show the boys.  Here it is, resting on her shoulder.  I have seriously never seen the like of it.  So interesting!

P.S.  For those of you who care, I missed a couple of days before we went out of town.  Days 233 and 234 are now posted, in consecutive order, if you'd like to scroll down and see them.  :)

Day 238. Family Visits.

We just got home, after visiting my husband's family for a few days.  He grew up in a little, rural town in Southern Illinois, and we go back there to visit as often as time allows us.  My mother in law has always teased me, that a city girl like myself, would have a lot to learn about raising three boys.  Well, she's certainly right, in more ways than one!  But I've learned to very much enjoy the rough-n-tumble life of three little boys, and I most definitely enjoy watching them have fun...  even if it involves dirt and/or bugs... which it does... often.  (FYI, we have those things in the city, too, in case "y'all" didn't know! :)

This is one of my favorite things to do with them when we go down there... visit the lake, and skip rocks.  I remember my dad talking about doing the same thing when he was a kid.  I think I get a pretty good idea of what that may have looked like, as I watch the youngest of my three, clomping around in sand and throwing things into the water.

Here's their daddy, teaching them how it's done.  :)  Oh dear, I love him!

It was a gorgeous day, to sit in the warm sunshine and feel the cool, fall breeze, and watch my family just relax and enjoy life... in its simplicity and wonder. 

Another favorite is visiting their uncle (my hubby's sweet brother) and aunt and cousins!  This pic was taken in their back yard, and I liked it a lot.  He was helping his brother carry sticks over to the bonfire they had built, and he had a handful behind his back when I grabbed him to snap this picture.  He was cracking up, because their huge Great Dane (Coco) was trying to play with the sticks in his hand, behind his back!  I love his smile.  :)

We had a lot of fun that night, roasting marshmallows, sitting around a bonfire, and watching the kids AND dogs play in the back yard.  I love making memories like these with my family!

Day 237. Church Gym.

Another fun pastime when visiting Grandma's... going to run around in the church gym.  They LOVE to do this... gets out a lot of energy, so Mommy loves for them to this, too!!!

Day 236. Glow Sticks.

We went to visit my brother/sister in-laws' house last night.  The kids hung out with their grandpa as well as played with their cousins.  They had a great time.  This was one of the highlights of their evening... Aunt Sam found some glowsticks that she tossed over to them to take outside to enjoy.  Who knew they'd provide such entertainment?  My kiddos enjoyed them well into the night.  So fun!

Day 235. My Baby Bro.

Today is my youngest brother's birthday.  He turned twenty years old today.  I remember the day he was born so very well.  I was fourteen at the time.  I couldn't have been more excited about the new addition to our family.  By the time I was sixteen and had a driver's license, I took the little guy with me everywhere!  I just loved to show him off.  His big brown eyes, wavy, blonde hair, and adorable, little dimples just lit up my entire existence.  :)  I used to teach him songs to sing, and rock him to sleep.  I absolutely adored being his big sister (even though it meant I might often be mistaken for his very young mother!).

At his tender, young age of ten years old, he became an uncle to my first child.  Oh, how my kiddos just love their Uncle Caleb.  :)

I still think he's one of the best things EVER... even though he's all grown up, and doesn't like kisses from old, big sister.  HA!

Happy birthday, Caleb Aaron!  I love you so much, and I always will!

Day 234. For My Little Brothers. :)

Day 233. Boys and their Cars.

I've mentioned before the passion that my dad has for cars, and how he passed that down to my brothers... and how my eldest son has been bitten by the bug as well.  :)  I took the boys to Gateway to watch their uncles race.  KS1 was in absolute heaven.

This was my younger brother's first time down the track.  He had never gone before (although his big bro gave him some pointers from his years of experience before they got started, of course)!

Not too shabby for never having done this before!  Pretty close!!!

And here they are, returning from their first round.  We stayed for a couple more after that.  We were even able to watch a truck lose its tire on the track, axle and all.  Oh, what entertainment!!!  :)

Day 232. Books...

The boys chose books at their school book fair last week.  For those of you who know my children, I wonder if you'll choose which books go with which child.  :)

Day 231. Family Session

Time is a funny thing, isn't it?  Some days, I wake up, and wonder how I got here... 34 years old.  Married for 13 years.  3 children.  All grown up.  Yikes!  I often tell my oldest child to stop rushing it!  Be a kid!  But he'll learn the hard way, just like I did... when there's no turning back.  Sigh.  Now, the years just FLY, and I think I've done better to finally learn to just enjoy the moment.  They are such SWEET moments, and I want to linger in them instead of having to look back and wish I had.

I thought of all of this as I was taking photos during this morning's session.  I met up with a beautiful, young lady with whom I went to highschool.  She was in my sister's class.  And that's probably the last time I saw her... when they graduated from highschool.  I watched her as she managed her family, all four of her beautiful children.  She was all grown up, too!  But I could still remember her and my sister and all of their other friends, bouncing up and down the hallways of elementary school as little girls.  It's just surreal.

Ah, well, enough of my stroll down memory lane.  :) I had a wonderfully pleasant time!  Her family was just precious, and here are a few of today's highlights:

Days 226 - 230. Home School Sneak Peeks!

illThis week has been a little crazy.  I'm making due to catch up on my 365 with my sessions from yesterday.  Don't worry... more to come!  :)

I have a friend who just started homeschooling her oldest son.  She made the suggestion that I do something for the homeschool community, who doesn't have much opportunity for school pics!  I thought it was a GREAT idea!  So, I set aside a day for some mini sessions, and four sweet families took me up on my offer.   :)  Here are a couple of sneak peeks... not really the "traditional" school pic.  I hope they like them!!!  :)

Loved her hair!!!  Just look at these adorable "twisty buns," as her mommy called them.  Their mom also made their bows and headband.  How adorable?!

Day 225. Working Out.

I bought one of Jillian Michaels' dvds this weekend.  I always like to watch through it first, to kind of get a feel for what's expected before attempting to DO the excersizes.  My son wasn't into that at all.  He thought someone needed to be trying this stuff out NOW.  Work it, Buddy!  Work it!  Feel the burn!

Day 224. Mosquito Bites

All week, I've been suffering from mosquito bites.  :(  They must have attacked during our couple of nights by the firepit.  I've been using this product, as well as a Lanacane product.  Any better tips?  Someone suggested I try using hemorrhoid cream.  Wondering if THAT's what I should have bought instead?  Yikes!  :P

Day 223. More S'mores.

Found this delicious treat during my weekly Trader Joe's visit.  Oh dear, they are so yummy!  I just LOVE that store!

Day 222. Cousins.

Are you tired of these Labor Day snapshots yet?  Well, too bad!  Heehee!  :)  Just look at her face.  I'm not sure if she was readyto laugh or cry!  Too funny! 

Day 221. My handsome, little brother. :)

Another favorite from Labor Day.  This one is a bit pixilated, because I didn't have my zoom lens handy, and I cropped it to pieces!  Haha!  But you get the idea.  He was just sitting, watching the kids play.  I love him.  :)

Day 220. My Favorite Guy.

I saved this one for you for today.  Yes, technically, he's giving me another one of his, "please don't take my picture" looks, but oh well.  I liked it anyway. :)

Day 219. Labor Day.

We had my side of the fam come over to our house to celebrate Labor Day.  It was a nice day.  We ate.  We played.  We rested.  We visited.

Some of us had the RIGHT IDEA!

And some of us are full of fun, energy, and mischief!

On a separate note, my adorable sister, holding our adorable niece.  She's the favorite aunt.  It's unanimous.  We just can't seem to outdo her.  She bakes their favorite desserts (and lets them HELP her in the kitchen), brings them treats every time she sees them, makes sure to share LOTS of snuggles, and has an ample supply of gum, candy, and first aid in her purse!!!

And just a quick shot of my happy dog.  Doesn't she just look filled with joy?  HA!  I think she may not like to have her picture taken.  :(