This is what 5 looks like:

5 years ago today, this angel joined our family, completing it, or so we thought! We could not love her more than we do- she is one special little girl and we are forever grateful she blesses us in our family each and every day.
When I put her to bed last night, I said, "goodnight 4 year old"- and she said, "mom, when I wake up, will you be here to say, Happy Birthday my 5 year old?!!" She is so fun! Our family would not be the same without her- she is just sweet, sweet, sweet.
We had a fun birthday party with her and my nephew Julian on Saturday- here are a few snapshots of that fun event:
I got her this little birthday button- she insisted on wearing it Saturday, Sunday and even today on her actual birthday! How big is 5? Well, this is my 5 year old!!

I think we'll keep her.

Happy 5th Birthday, Celeste Avery!

Happy Halloween 2010

Another Halloween down- whew! Thankful for that! I love that my kids love it and I love decorating for it- but I swear it lasts forever around here! We have the church trick or trunk, then trick or treating, then school parties, then Celeste's birthday- yeah, I am over it this year! But how could you not love the holiday when your kiddos are this cute?!Alex thinks he is "too cool" to dress up these days- but he came up with this Alvin costume, nearly all on his own. Then he whined about having to trick or treat, until I told him he didn't get any of his sister's candy unless he begged for his own! That worked! They got tons- and tons, too much, actually. But thankfully, I can eat candy again- a little more than I could before without getting sick, so I have a candy shop right in my own house! Thanks to my kids!!
Here is a montage of them this year:If Celeste isn't the cutest Supergirl you have ever seen, then I feel for you! She totally rocks that costume! She loved wearing it, and it will get tons of use in her dress-up box!
Leah loved being a Hippie in her 70's dance outfit! She rocked it as well! The sad thing about the actual night of trick or treating, is that it was FREEZING and they were nearly totally covered up! Alex was the only one who could get his shirt over his 2 coats! Thankfully Dana took them around while I made hot chocolate and sat inside the house! I am grateful for that!
Now tomorrow we have a small birthday celebration for Celeste and Julian- who also turned 5 this week, and they are going to wear their costumes yet again! I will be sure to post more of the cuties dressed up for that too!

Terrific Tuesday #5 (The Boy)

So I finally got to photograph Alex over the weekend. We have had another gorgeous fall week of weather, and so, I seized the opportunity for a one on one photo shoot with him. Of course, he could not understand why I had to take so many- but I just do- I kept telling him...how could I not- who could resist that dimple and smile of his?!


Yes, he keeps getting taller and taller and more grown-up every day- I hate it. Good thing he is a great kid- I think we will continue to keep him.

Fall Trip

Going to visit my grandparents is top of "favorite things" on my list.... I so love them and wish I could spend more time with them than just a few times a year. The kids and I went for a long weekend in July, and then we just went last weekend for Josh's wedding. Sadly, we only got to spend a short weekend there, and Alex only got a day before we had to come home.

My sweet grandparents are declining...it aches to even write about it...their home is not what it used to be, and it saddens me more than I want to say. I have the very best memories of them as a child, youth, young adult, and now as an adult. They have never ceased to amaze me and I wish my children could have many more years with them in their lives. My grandparents adore my children, and there is a love between them that I cannot describe. I feel the luckiest to have them.

This last trip was the most difficult for me. Being pregnant this time around hasn't been the most fun...I am working hard to not complain about it- but there are days that I could happily forget! Things that have never bothered me before drive me crazy- foods I love I can barely look at- tap water is a near gag experience- as is teeth brushing!- and my allergies are at a height that is nearly unbearable- especially at their house- and so, I sneezed and blew my nose more times than I can count- it was misery. Not to mention that the smells of a cooped up house (they are older and don't open windows!!) - I opened every single one of them! Anyway, that was hard, and then the saying goodbye was hard. I don't know if I will make it up there before the baby- but even when that time comes, I doubt I will be able to stay there- it is sad to think about.

That depressing stuff being said...we managed to have a wonderful trip while we were there- the girls played in the leaves on the farm, and with the horses in the pasture. The weather was near perfection and the sun was radiant. We sat out on the deck on Sunday and I didn't want to leave.
On a side-note: Leah found these 2 caterpillars that she lovingly put in a jar and took care of the whole time we were there. Sadly, a couple days after we got home- they died...Leah was devastated- she had high hopes for them- and when they curled up and didn't uncurl, we knew it was not good. She released them into a tree in our yard- from which they didn't move...nice try, Leah- your love should've been enough to save them- you are so sweet to try.
In this picture, there are a ton of bees- they were scrounging for the last bit of nectar- they didn't bother the people, but they were very busy bees.
The trees were so alive before the leaves fall- and oh how blue that sky!

Terrific Tuesday #4 (Leah, my blue eyed girl)

I have yet to have a personal photo shoot with Leah, but I took these few shots last weekend when we were heading to Josh's wedding on the farm, and by the lake- I love when she wears blue!!


I bought a few new frames for fall- and I chose this one for her personal frame. I am excited to put them out. Look for more as I learn how to photograph a little more and better too!

I love Weddings!

We had a great time at Josh and Angela's wedding- I just love when they are filled with people having fun and when I get to spend time with family that I don't normally. Everyone was dressed up and the kids had a wonderful time jammin' to the music and running around. Here are a few more shots:

My perfect parents having a good time

Sean, Dana and Matt, thinking they are still studs...

Stephanie and I - looking amazing and stylish, as usual- ha ha!!

The 6 grandkids

The Dowell family

Celeste dances with the beautiful bride, Angela

The girls showing off their dollars for the dollar dance...this pic is so funny!

Mom and Celeste groovin'

My fabulous grandparents whom I adore

My grandma and her only living sibling, my great- aunt Vi.

My dad had a good time....

Weren't the flowers just lovely?!

Minnie Mouse- aka Adriana!

Leah loved the flowers too.

Alex enjoys the cake!

Overall, a great night of pictures and fun. We didn't want it to end- we finally left at nearly 11pm!! Late night- but so worth it! Who's wedding is next?!

Terrific Tuesday #3 (A Wedding in October)

We were privileged to attend the wedding of my cousin, Josh and his beautiful bride, Angela this past Saturday up on the lake. It was a gorgeous day- seasonably warm and the leaves were breathtakingly bright. I could photograph all day long. I will blog more pics later- but for today, just a couple:
Totally love that Josh is hiding my 13 week, growing ever so quickly tummy!
The best pic out of the 5 we took of us at the wedding- Dana was supposed to wear his new light brown suit- that would've been 100 times better, but this is what we got! It's not that bad...

Pumpkin Patch

It was our annual Pumpkin Patch outing last Friday! We love this outing and so look forward to it each year! This year, it was dry and not muddy- so nice! The weather was perfect, and so were the pumpkins. The deal is: pick as many pumpkins as you like-carry them to the front of the patch-sort out which ones you really want-load up one person (Sean) with as many as he can possibly hold-watch him wobble and hold tight as he walks 40 yards to the finish line! This year he carried 11- yes, 11!! 6 big ones and 5 small- awesome score- all for the grand price of $20!
Then, we hit Bob's for dinner- a personal family favorite! Once again, a wonderful, fall fun night!








I took more pictures, but somehow they got lost- bummer- because they were really good too! We love having our pumpkins on our new porch- it looks quite festive- I love this season!

Terrific Tuesday #2 (Celeste's Personal Photo Shoot)

I know what this looks like: I only love this child...
If she weren't so dang cute!!
It is true, she get to be the subject of many photos recently, but it is because the other children, that I do love dearly, are at school, and this one is only gone a couple hours a day- the rest are with me and me only- this I do love...
On Friday, the weather was near perfect, only a slight cool breeze, and so with 10 minutes left before pre-school, we took these- again, near our house- but still such a good backdrop. I took over 60, but these are my favorites. Enjoy!