The Weekend...

I have three boys.  Compared to some families, I suppose that may be a lot.  But I know SEVERAL families who have more than that.  I am the oldest of five, myself, so I'm not unfamiliar with the concept.  And, yet, there are always those moments when I'm reminded that some would consider us a "large" family...

...like when I go to the grocery store.  Every time I go, there has to be SOME comment made about how full my cart gets.  I always answer with the same reply, "I have three growing boys."  Then, the expression changes on the face who made the comment, as if suddenly, they understand completely...

Well, they should try PACKING, for even a short weekend trip, with those same three boys.  I thought it might get better as they got older.  We've graduated from strollers, pack 'n plays, bottles, and baby food.  But now, everyone has to have "their own bag..." complete with "their" things... 3 sets of toilettries, 3 sets of "entertainment"... 3 sets of snacks... let alone the two dogs.  We just won't go there.

What's my point to all of this?  Well, here it is, Monday... after a short, little weekend visit with my husband's family... and I "should" be unpacking the rest of everyone's things (probably an all day chore).  Yet, here I sit, at the computer... working on pictures.  Scheduling sessions.  Updating the calendar for the week's events.  There's a load of laundry in the washer.  Does that count?

Not to say it's not worth it, of course... the boys had a great time.  We visited with family.  I got to hug and kiss on my nieces and nephew.  We celebrated the birthdays of my younger two.  I have a happy mother-in-law, and we've got lots of great pics to treasure the memories forever and ever.  :)

Every fall, we do a new session of my husband's brother and his adorable family.  I love doing pics at their house.  They live in this great, country house, out where their closest neighbors are barely visible from yard to yard.  It's just a GREAT place for kids to run and play and enjoy life.  That's exactly how the pictures turn out... natural, easy, and fun.  :)

I'm amazed how much children change within a year.  You don't notice it as obviously until you look at a picture, side by side.  Wow.  They just grow SO fast!  Here are a few from that Saturday evening:

Just for fun.

Life is busy for my little family right now. 

Fall break is underway. 

First quarter of school has wrapped up.  Two of three conferences have been completed.  Kiddos are doing great... YAY!

I still haven't finished the season change-out of my boys' clothes!  That is a chore that never ceases to take me FOREVER to complete. 

Hubby is running a couple of half marathons this season (one down, one to go). 

Busy time for sessions... which is ALWAYS welcome!  Yay!  :)  Keep 'em comin', my friends!

We have 3 birthdays in my immediate family in the fall... several more in the extended...

not to mention the arrival of Halloween and Thanksgiving... which also means school events and parties and constumes... planning how/when/where to visit each side of the family how/when/where... and such. 

Before we know it, CHRISTMAS morning will be right around the corner.

...and, BREATHE....

Take a moment to do something that doesn't "need" to be done.  :)  ...like, decide to create a new profile pic for your FB photography page.  :)

I remember a poster my sister and I had in our bedroom when I was teenager.  It was a drawing of just a woman's face.  The whole canvas was white except the outline of her features.  The only colors added were to her eyes and lips, which were exaggerated and bold.  That's kind of what I thought of as I edited this fun, little image.... although I toned down the color a bit, because KS1 said it creeped him out.  Haha!  :)

Enjoy my silliness.  :)

Weekend Sessions.

Met this lovely family of five at their home for a Saturday morning session, and I had a great time, following their girls around!  I always enjoy watching a family with all girls.  It's so interestingly different than the life I lead with three boys!  :)  So fun.  And, oh my goodness, were they ever adorable?!!!  Their mommy carefully picked out their wardrobes... everything matching from hairbows to buttoned shoes!  Just too adorable for words!  Being one of three girls in my own family, I KNOW my mom will enjoy these outfits!  :)

Next up, a senior session.  :)  I was so excited when they asked me!  I haven't seen them in a while, so it was fun to catch up.  :)  We met in Forest Park, which was also a great time because I don't go that way very often for sessions.  Oh, I loved it.  Perfect time of year.  Perfect time of day.  Perfect setting.  Perfect model!  :)

My baby brother... 21 years old?!!!

I just love pictures.  I've ALWAYS loved pictures.  Have I mentioned that?  Something about going through old photo albums, just warms my heart!  I can get completely lost in the process.  :)

Today is my baby brother's birthday.  So, a walk down memory lane is in order!  If nothing else, my mom will enjoy it... and she's been missing my blog posts... so aside from celebrating my littel brother, this is for you, too, Mom!  :)

Caleb was a teenage girl's dream come true... At 14 years old, my parents blessed me with my very own, real-live baby doll.  :)  And that's exactly how I saw it.  After all, it was ALL about me at the time, you know.  I was convinced they had him just for me.  :)  Oh my goodness, I was so in love with him.  In the midst of a girl's teenage drama, my baby brother was a constant source of joy.  I just adored everything about him... still do, in fact.  :)

I left home when Caleb was only 5 years old.  He doesn't really remember much of his life back then... He doesn't even remember my living at home.  That fact used to make me sad... but I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter.  I remember it... very well, in fact.  And nothing can take away from the sweetness those memories hold for me.

It's no huge secret, that for most of us, being a teenager is a pretty difficult time in one's life.  It's a constant, emotional roller coaster ride.  Hormones are all over the place.  Things that seem to be SO important, really aren't... and the things that really DO matter, don't get nearly enough attention.  Well, that's how it was for me, anyway.  But there was something about that little boy that would bring me back to reality.  His sweetness.  His innocence.  His smiles.  His snuggles.  His smooches.  :)  None of my drama mattered to him, one way or the other.  I was his big sister... the only one in the house who sang him to sleep... The girl who carted him around for car rides, and treated him to just about anything her part-time job could afford.  He may not remember it... but I do.  Looking back, his mere presence was probably the first impressions upon me that I LONGED to become a mother one day.  There was just nothing more precious than holding that baby boy in my arms and watching him grow.

I wanted to share a few snapshots, of course!  Ichose a few that were taken during my junior year of highschool.  Caleb would have been around two years old, in most of these... which put me around age 16.  (Forgive my big, burgundy thumbnail in most of the pics; it's just easier than waiting on the scanner.  :)



No better toy than an empty appliance box!



I'm pretty sure he was throwing a tantrum of sorts.  Haha!  :)

This was his expression when we would say, "Caleb, show us your pretty eyes!"

He just LOVED to play.  :)  Oh my goodness, the chubby-baby thighs!  LOVE IT!

Oh, the things we did to him!  Haha!

Um... who was supposed to be watching Caleb????

Had to throw this one in... to give you a good perspective of the "day in which we lived."  :)  1992-93ish.  Yes, I was obsessed with the 90210 boys.  :)  Hey, a girl could admire without EVER fearing a broken heart!  I'm pretty sure they liked me, too.  :)

Both little brothers.  Oh my goodness, so handsome!  :)

Oh, I could just kiss his little cheeks forEVER!  :)

Peek-a-boo!!!

Caleb, did you save any Thanksgiving dinner for the rest of us???

Caleb and our dog, Pilgrim.  :)  He called him, Pil-burn.  :)

This would be where my second son gets his kissable dimpled cheeks.  OH MY GOODNESS!

The 3 amigos.  Haha!  Fun times!

My dad, spending time with his boys.  :)

I couldn't leave out some of these treasures.  :)  And my sister wonders why we teased her about her hair?!!!  Oh my!



One of my all-time fave pics of my younger sister.  To this day, she HATES having her picture taken.  The only way I got it, was because I completely caught her by surprise... standing by her locker in between classes, and yelling from down the hallway, "HOLLY!!!"  Haha!  It's blurry and out of focus... but I don't care.  She's beautiful.  :)

Last but not least, lots of smooches.  :)  How could you NOT want to kiss all over his little face?!!!  :)

And here's my studly brother NOW.  :)  I cropped him out of a more recent pic of the five of us.  So handsome... still as sweet as ever... and STILL carrying around those adorable dimples.  :)  Love him to pieces.  Happy birthday, sweet Caleb Aaron!  Your old-lady-sister loves you!!!

September 11th

Back In The Day...

I ran onto this snapshot the other day.  Brings back sweet memories.  :)

Yep, that's me and the hubby... before he was my hubby.  We were still dating at the time.  This would have probably been taken the fall of '96... just a few months before we were married.

Now, here we are... soon to celebrate 15 years.  Time sure flies when you're havin' fun.  :)