Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken back in July by the amazing Ginger:). We lucked out with some beautiful weather on the day of pictures. I was getting a little worried, because it had been outrageously hot out and it was actually raining earlier in the day. But, the rain cleared off and cooled the temperatures down, so we had the perfect evening for some pictures. Ginger did an amazing job, and I had a horribly hard time picking a few favorites to put on here. I think she really captured the true "personalities" of us, especially the kiddos. I already got some ordered for our wall in the living room. Can't wait until they get here! Enjoy a little teaser:)

Thank You's....a month and a half later!!

So it came to my attention about a month ago (see how far behind and forgetful I am these days!) that I forgot to send out thank you notes from Eli's birthday party. So I (several days later...forgot until then:)) whipped up some cute little thank you notes in photo shop. I got them finished and ordered some through wal-mart, but then proceeded to forget about them again for about 2 weeks! Pretty bad since I ordered them 1 hour so I could go pick them up that day and get them in the mail. I figured a month after the party wouldn't bee too bad. Well, it's now been about a month and a half since we celebrated Eli's birthday, and I still don't have thank you's for all of you who came to celebrate with us and gave him a present. When I finally remembered about them, I had Brian go to pick them up. But, Walmart messed them up and they weren't printed right. Instead of going through the hassle of getting them re-ordered, and having to remember to pick them up again, I just decided I would say forget it. So, consider this your thank you from Eli:) (just a little late!)

We are so blessed to have such great friends and family in our lives. Thank you all for being a part of Eli's life and helping to shape the little being he is growing into.

If I ever get around to it and can remember, I will put his actual copy of his thank you's on here. They were pretty cute if I do say so myself:)

Swinging

This little lady loves to swing. It brings out the best, crinkly-nose, smiles. Can't wait for more beautiful fall-like weather so we can spend the day in the backyard swinging away.

Everyone is happy as long as big brother doesn't want to swing too.....

My boys

These two sure do have a special special place in my heart. I love my two boys!This picture is proof of Brian's (and most likely Eli's) favorite time of the day. Brian loves to cuddle with Eli in bed in the evening while he watches trains. While I could certainly do without the t.v. time, it does melt my heart to walk into the bedroom and see this seriously cute cuddling:) Plus, I happen to think these two are the most handsome men out there....

Happy Birthday Mom!

Just wanted to tell one of the most amazing women I know; the best mommy out there, and a wonderful nana to my darling kiddos Happy Birthday! So....Happy birthday momma!!!

I am so blessed and thankful to have you as my mom:) I've always loved and admired you, but the older I've gotten the more I appreciate all you have done and still do for me and the kids. You are wonderful and I couldn't ask for a better mom! I wouldn't be the woman and mom I am today if it weren't for you:)

*Thanks for loving our kids unconditionally and spoiling them rotten! (may not always like this, but it's the way it should be with grandparents)

*Thanks for making time for us; I can't imagine trying to balance all the hats you have to wear (mom to 2 teenagers (busy ones at that:)), nana, and career woman:))

*And thanks for always being there for me WHENEVER I needed you

i.e.

*Missing the first day of school for the birth of your grandson:) (Eli....you couldn't have picked a better birthday for a family full of educators!)

*I will never forget when I moved away to college for a semester and was so homesick (i'm such a homebody, what can I say....I missed the "loves to travel" gene of the rest of my family). You made it a point to call in a check on me almost everyday early on. But the one thing I will never forget is when you came to visit me. You drove 2.5 hours on a Monday night, after a board meeting, to come see me for 2 hours....then you drove 2.5 hours home that night. Thanks mom!

Happy Birthday! Love you!!!

This was one of my favorite pictures of my mom and I at our wedding. I'm not so sure it was one of her favorites, but I liked it, so it made the cut:) Sadly, this may be the best, most recent picture I have of me and my mom:(

A little photography help

I have such a wonderful husband:) He's always (well, almost always) willing to be goofy to help me out. Thanks babe!

I'm taking a photography class online to help me learn/understand/take better pictures with my camera. This is week one, and so far I'm really liking it. We have weekly assignments to help us learn a function on the camera better. This week the lesson was all about shutter speed. So, for our assignment we needed to take some pictures with a slow shutter speed (makes the pictures blur) and a fast shutter speed(freezes the picture). We went to the park this morning with the kids to enjoy the beautiful weather. I was trying to get some pictures of Eli, but I wasn't having any luck. So, I asked my wonderful husband to do some fun jumps for me so I could do some experimenting. And he happily did so for me. I told him these pictures wouldn't go on the blog....but then he said he didn't really care, so here I am posting them:)

I'm using a slower shutter speed here so Brian was starting to blur a bit where he was moving. Pretty fun stuff to mess around with:)

Chasing Bubbles

We have been loving the fall-like weather around here recently and have been taking advantage every chance we get. That means lots and lots of time outside, which makes Eli a very happy boy. The other day after naps I decided to bust out the bubbles. Eli is always asking for bubbles, but I'm usually too lazy to get them out. I was a good mommy the other day and gave in:) Eli enjoyed chasing the bubbles around the yard (for all of 10 minutes). I don't think he was ever able to catch any, but he had fun anyways.

Side note: do you notice the fun window cover I have on the top of Kamdyn's window? It definitely didn't turn out the way I was imagining it, but it does what I wanted it to, which is make it darker in there during the afternoon so that it stays cooler.

Kamdyn enjoyed her first experience with bubbles from a blanket. She also enjoyed when daddy got home. She loves when he throws her in the air:)

Go Mavs!

Brian had his first soccer game as head coach last night. I was a bad wife and didn't go. In my defense, it was originally supposed to be an away game (got changed to home last minute), and I went to bible study instead. That's a good reason to miss my hubby's first game...right? Well, there will be plenty more I'm going to try to brave with both the kiddos Kamdyn is still easy to take to games, she's content sitting, but Eli is another story. That busy body is a nightmare! All he wants to do climb up and down the bleachers. Could be an interesting soccer season:)

Anyways, enough rambling. The mavricks won their first game of the season against Ark City. The score was 2 to 1. I know Brian was pleased and hopefully they can get another win on Thursday against Goddard. Soccer season is now officially in full swing.

For those of you that are interested in reading it, Brian was interviewed for his first article on catch it Kansas. My hubs the head coach....I'm proud of you babe!

http://www.catchitkansas.com/schools/cik-boys-soccer-maize-south-preview-keim,0,2240193.story