Birthday Party Fun

So I've finally gotten everything set up so that I can upload pictures onto a computer that actually has internet and works fairly quickly....it's life changing:)  So I'm going to do something crazy.  I'm going to blog about something that happened yesterday.  Crazy fast turn around, I know:)  Hopefully now it will be easier to blog with my pictures on the same computer.  

So, yesterday evening, we celebrated our two sweet boys with August birthdays.  We had their big "friend" party last night.  And it was a blast!  For everyone involved I think.  Eli LOVES to draw and paint.  So, I decided on a "paint party" a while back.  It would give the kids all something to do and it would be fun too!  Now, it's August....so there is no telling what the weather will be like.  Since we usually do our parties outside since there are so many people (mostly so many kids.....21 present last night....7 families:)) I figured we needed something water related as well.  So, I borrowed a big water slide from a friend.  Best.Decision.Ever.  

Onto the party details.  Disclaimer....I tend to go overboard with parties:)  It's just too much fun!  Since it was a paint party, I wanted pictures for the kids to paint and be able to take home.  I thought about letting them just draw their own thing, and then decided I would draw a picture for them and let them paint it.  So I went with something that was easy to draw and I could do by myself.  Owls.  So fun.  I can't take credit for this idea.  I got it from Meg Duerksen.  So you should search it out and do it yourself:) So the kids had painting and coloring and a water slide to keep them entertained.  I made some paint palette cookies, rice krispie treats, and cupcakes for treats.  So yummy!  I guess all that is left now is to enjoy the crazy amount of pictures I am posting.  I apologize for the amount.  But enjoy!

It was such a fun night and I'm so thankful for the friends who love on my babies and who I get to "do life" with!  Can't imagine this parenting journey without any of them:)

Lately

Hello all!  By now everyone knows that I suck at blogging.  And I probably won't get any better anytime soon.  But I thought I'd update this little blog anyways.  And hopefully there can be hope for me, but again, it's probably a lot cause.  So you will just have to enjoy what I post whenever I can get myself to do it.  I'd like to say I'd go back and do a catch up on all that's been going on in our lives the last, oh, 9 months, but that will also probably not happen:)  Just being realistic folks! 

I've really started to do a lot of photography on the side.  I love it, and I love that I can make it work with my schedule and taking care of my kiddos.  I've always loved pictures.  I just love capturing a moment and having it around to look back at.  Because time flies so fast.  And lord knows after 4 kids my brain is often mush.  I tell myself that there is time to remember things in 18 years when the kids are out of the house, but then I will just be old so it's probably all downhill from here:)  Anyways, I've been doing a lot of photography on the side for others.  But my all time favorite subjects to photograph are my own children.  Because gosh they are so stinking cute.  And ornery.  And obnoxious.  And difficult.....I digress.....they are still my favorite because of, and in spite of all of the above.  That also makes them some of the hardest little people to photograph because they are used to me shoving a camera in their face, lol.  Good thing I'm a fan of candid photography.  

A couple of weeks ago Brian had a Saturday full of soccer.  So I decided it was the best time to take all the kiddos out to myself to capture some new pictures of them.  Seriously...I make my life very challenging sometimes.  But I love the results anyways.  And these are some of my new favorite pictures of some of my favorite people.  Don't be surprised if you find them all over the house.  For now, enjoy some pictures of our adorable children!!

 This one....love it.  Mostly because Parker was being a pain in the butt.  I could get everyone else (even his 15 month old brother) to mostly cooperate and stay in one place for 15 seconds, except for Parker.  He beats to the tune of his own drum:)  So I got mad at him and plopped him down.  To which he started the tears coming.  So funny.  Just keeping it real.  It is so.very.hard to photograph these kids!

I hope to be back to blogging again very soon.  But if it's another 6-9 months, I hope this will keep you happy in the meantime:)