Must post!

Did I let November blow by without a single post? I've been exhausted, working, and trying to keep up with homeschooling and Christmas prep.  I neglected to get Christmas cards out this year.  This is the first time since I was married that I didn't send out cards.  It makes me sad, and part of me wants to still send out cards, but I just don't see it happening. 

I'm trying to think if anything exciting happened in November. My family had Thanksgiving dinner with a good friend, my parents, and grandfather, and that was very nice.  My mother smoked the turkey, and it was delicious!  Oh and on Black Friday, my husband and I got to see the BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA!!!!  Yes!!  It was AMAZING! The BEST concert ever!!  I have been a fan of Brian Setzer since his Stray Cat days, so getting to see him in concert was such a thrill.  He did a bunch of his Christmas music, and did a set where he had most of the orchestra take a break, so all that was left was Brian, the drummer, and a bass, just like back in the Stray Cat days, and he did a bunch of Stray Cat hits.  Oh!!!  I was over the moon happy, and my husband had a great time too.  Plus, it was a night out without the kids, which doesn't happen very often. 

December brought the thrill of Advent and Christmas.  We took the girls to visit Santa.  Our youngest, being only 19 months, didn't want to be near Santa, but the older two were happy to see Santa again. We've been going to the same Santa for the past 2 years, and he's so wonderful. He makes sure the girls know the real reason to be excited about Christmas is because of Christ's birth, and he asks the girls for prayers.  Popper asked Santa for new pajamas.  As she said, "I like toys too, but I really would like some new pajamas."  When I asked her if there was a particular type she wanted she said, "No, whatever Santa brings me, I'll like."  She is honestly the sweetest little girl!  Peanut, now 5, asked for a bike for her doll.  Good thing Santa reminded the girls that he doesn't always bring what they ask for.  Sometimes he brings something else he knows they would really enjoy.  My parents actually bought Peanut a bike for her doll, but Santa brought her a magnadoodle, which she was quite happy with.  Santa also brought them both pajamas and sketch books, and the pajamas had matching jammies for their dolls.  Our little one got a brand new baby doll from Santa, and she loves it.  She loves all babies.

We got to go see Christmas lights at the nearby botanical gardens this year. I wanted to go last year, but little one was so young and it was so cold out that we decided against it.  All my girls loves the lights, and seeing these lights made little one super excited whenever she saw other Christmas lights. The lights at the garden were particularly nice because we got to walk through the light display rather than drive through it, which is what a close light display has you do. 

I hope all of you had a very merry Christmas and receiving the blessings of the Christ child into your hearts. 

Night Pictures

Just a quick post to say, I forgot how much I love night photography.  I haven't done night pictures in a while, and it was really fun.  It would have been a bit easier if I didn't have children to chase and had brought my tripod, but it was still fun. 





And this one is my favorite of the night:

It wants to Eat Us!

Okay, not really.  After lifting Peanut's bike to put it away, I found a praying mantis underneath.  It completely freaked me out at first, and I had oogie feelings every time I looked at it (darn those bugs, they look too intelligent.  I swear they are plotting something evil when I see them), but I had to grab my camera and snap a picture.  My husband quickly called the girls back outside so they could see it, and we couldn't help but crack up at the poor bug.  Anytime one of us moved, it turned toward the mover and spread its "praying hands" to try to intimidate it.  I think it was contemplating using the finishing move from the original Karate Kid on us. 

Special Guest Picture

I had to post this because I love it so much. No, it's not a photograph, and no, it's not even my own art.  My six year old daughter drew this picture, and every time I look at it, it warms my heart.  I love the baby in the arms of one of the ladies, and  the looks of the people who are singing at church, and the rosy cheeks on two people, and the one person who isn't quite asleep in bed.  I love that she drew hymnals.  Yes, go ahead and call this the "Mommy goggles" or  "Proud Mommy" post. 

Farewell Summer

What?  It's fall?  I love fall, but it just seems so soon.  Now I'm back to homeschooling, which means our days are no longer spent either outside all day or lounging in our pjs until after lunch.  Summer was fun. We visited a wild animal park, hiked, went to a winery, had family visit, went to a funeral (not that the funeral was "fun," but it was nice to see family and the military ceremony was beautiful), attended a puppet show, and my oldest learned to ride her bike without training wheels.  It's been a lively summer, and I can't wait to see what fall brings us.







Here are the older two on their first day of school.  Popper is starting first grade and Peanut is starting some kindergarten work, but I'm not pushing since she is not yet 5.

The weather has been amazingly mild this month, so my family and I have been taking advantage of it as much as we can.  Recently we went to the wild animal park, and we had more fun than we imagined we would.  We pet so many fun animals, fed animals, one of my daughters got to pet a fish that was living in the pond, we played on a pirate ship, jumped in a cow shaped moon bounce, and had a picnic.  It was probably our best day this summer.  My oldest girl looked so natural walking amongst the wild animals and feeding them.  All of my girls seem to have my love of animals, but my oldest one seems the most natural around them.  I wish we lived on a farm, and one of the reasons is because Popper just looks like she would take on the role of a farm girl so easily.  My youngest, who is the only one so far who has ever been afraid of animals, finally warmed up to them while at the animal park.  It warmed my heart to see her petting animals. 

Today we went to a friend's house and went on an almost 3 mile hike through the woods.  It was glorious!  We forged our own path!  My girls were excited to find all sorts of animal footprints, and picnicking in the deep woods was dreamy.  We need to go camping soon; we just worry that Thumper isn't quite ready for that yet. 

One butterfly picture was taken at the wild animal park, and the other was taken when we reached a meadow while hiking today.  I hope everyone else is having a dreamy end of summer.

First Communion

A few pictures from a few months ago.  I took these when my niece received her First Communion.







This summer has been moving like the speed of sound. My oldest turned six and lost her two teeth (they were quite loose, but I was completely surprised that she yanked them out herself), and my seventh wedding anniversary is just around the corner.  Where does the time go?  Now I find myself incredibly busy planning out what I'm going to do for homeschooling.  Hopefully there will be some spectacular sale to go along with the tax-free weekend.  My girls are going to be thrilled when I let them pick out their own lunch boxes and backpacks.  I can't wait to see what they choose.

I'm going to go take advantage of nap my youngest is taking.  I hope your summer has been filled with fun!

For Yvonne

My sweet neighbor has mentioned to me that she would like to see a picture of me every once in a while. My dear Yvonne, these are for you. Well, actually, these pictures were taken because I am in hardly any pictures, and I know my daughters are going to want to see pictures of their mother from "back in the day," so on Mother's Day, I insisted I have pictures taken of me with the girls. But, I am posting them here for Yvonne. ;)

Healing

My daughters are amazing. They don't know how much pain my husband and I are in right now, but they seem to know that I need more kisses and hugs. I've been very careful to not cry in front of them, but somehow...they know. I think our guardian angels must be speaking to one another and whispering hints into their ears. I'm so grateful for my girls. They snuggle with me, kiss me, hug me, and point out all the beauty that is around us. Just the other day, one of my girls show the tiniest little butterfly sitting on a small clover blossom. I don't know that I've ever seen such a small butterfly up close, so I had to get a picture.

Dear Lord, thank you for my family. You know what we need, and you always provide.

Trying to find comfort

Oh my Jesus, despite the deep night that is all around me and the dark clouds which hide the horizon, I know that the sun never goes out. O Lord, though I cannot comprehend You or understand Your ways, I nevertheless trust in Your mercy. If it is Your will, Lord, that I live always in such darkness, may You be blessed. I ask you only one thing, Jesus: do not allow me to offend You in any way. O my Jesus, You alone know the longings and sufferings of my heart. I am glad I can suffer for You, however little. When I feel that the suffering is more than I can bear, I take refuge in the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, and I speak to Him in profound silence. -From the diary of St. Faustina

Someone had her first birthday!

My youngest had her first birthday! There are days I can't believe it has been a year since she was born, and there are other days I can't believe it's been only a year. Little Thumper continues to brings us joy and confound us with her stubbornness and dislike of sleep. She loves her sisters, loves to play, but is often quite serious. She's a funny little honey, and our family wouldn't be complete without her. I love her so much! Oh, and she gives THE BEST hugs. Really. She does. They are amazing.

 Here she is on her birthday:
In other exciting news, my SIL had her second baby! I have a new little niece, and I can't wait to meet her in June! Oh, the months can't pass quickly enough.

We had some excitement on Saturday when Peanut saw a snake in our yard.  Thankfully it was a harmless ribbon snake, and thankfully Peanut saw it before she stepped on it.  Am I the only one who thinks it looks silly resting on a dandelion?  That seems so...unsnake-like. 

Also, Peanut, who is four, got her first haircut. She was incredibly excited to go to the "beauty salon," and claims they "cut only three hairs." Oh, my silly munchkins.

Counting Blessings

The world is filled with so much tragedy and ugliness. My heart weeps for those affected by the bombs in Boston, and I'm offering up prayers for everyone. I think now is a good time to focus on the beautiful gifts we are given. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the beautiful spring days that bring bare feet, dresses, and time spent in cherry trees.

A few more from the engagement session

I can't wait to go to their wedding! I hope they let me take some pre-wedding photos of the bridesmaids and the bride getting ready.

Engage!

I get to go to a wedding this summer! I'm so excited for my friends, and I was thrilled that they asked me to take some engagement pictures for them. Here are a few.

She's baaaack!

WOOHOO!!

 I have my computer up and running! Now, if I could somehow add some hours in the day, ones that my children aren't awake and I don't need sleep, I would have more time to work on my photography. I don't have a lot of time because during the day I chase around my three monkeys, ages 5, 4, and 11 months, as well as homeschooling and regular wife/mommy duties. In the evening I have to work at my part-time job, and by the time I finish, I'm too exhausted to do anything but sleep. I'm just glad that I once again have the opportunity to once again do some photography work when I can squeeze it in a few minutes during the day.

 I actually did a photo shoot of a family in my neighborhood. It was great! The family is not only gorgeous, but they were tons of fun to work with. Here are a few of the pictures.