of a crazy couple of months. we have had 4 weddings and 2 engagement shoots in the last 4 weeks. i've had a child turn 14, run for class office and have a sleepover. i've had baseball playoffs which turned to championships, where my son's team came in at 2nd place. here are some pics just from the weekend. sleepover and championships. 
can't believe i don't have a solo shot of kira at her party! we were running around like crazy as cam's championship game ran 1.5 hours late, we were scrambling to get everything out before people showed up. 
i couldn't be prouder of cam! he was one of five 10 year olds who moved up from nationals to major league this season. the overprotective mother in me wasn't sure moving up was the best thing but dad convinced me it was. he amazed his coaches and team with his maturity and good attitude. i loved watching every single game of his. 
i think she's waited all season to get on that field! 
and the two patient ones 🙂 it was a long season! 
i've physically and emotionally had so much on my plate, i just crave some quiet. i'm tired. in 2 weeks we are off to australia. i can't even begin to think of the packing and planning involved with that! i want to get all our shoots done so i can go to australia without thinking of them sitting here waiting for us! i need to get all my scrapbook stuff done through june and july as i won't be scrapbooking there! we have father's day next weekend. we have our wedding anniversary the weekend after that, and actually are attending a wedding, like as guests! we are so excited. 🙂 this week we have 2 graduations. i went to the store this morning, thinking… this is my last school lunch shopping trip until september. i've packed 3 lunches every school day since september. 🙂 that's a lot of sandwiches. 🙂
this post is all rambly. i apologize. i will be back with graduation pics. that is, if i can manage taking them through my weeping! 🙂
fourteen
I have been a parent for 14 years now. (crazy!) and if anyone were to ask me which years were the most significant in milestone jumps, I'd answer: a} kindergarten…all of my kids entered without knowing how to read and left 9 months later, reading. I think that's pretty significant (it's also the year that starts the entire school career, which I also think is huge.) and answer b} 13-14. which is where kira was last year. slowly, she has been changing from a child, to a preteen.. even the jump to 13 was not as huge as the jump to 14. in my opinion. she is now a little taller than me. her feet are bigger than mine. she has an opinion and she voices it frequently. she knows how to manage her time and is responsible beyond belief. i can hardly believe how much she's changed this year. it's sometimes hard to look at her as my baby, when she's becoming such a young lady. you think about that all the time as your baby girl grows up, but then she actually becomes that and you wonder how that was possible.
In two weeks, she will graduate from middle school and enter high school in the fall. this week, she will run for freshman class president (they vote this year so that they will work on planning all summer). she is confident, happy, has got major school spirit, she's friendly and has spunk. she is a team player. she knows that the next 4 years are going to make a huge impact on her life. if you knew me in high school, and you know kira now.. you'd know that we are COMPLETELY opposite. she is the kind of girl i was not in high school. she is super social. she is not the kind of girl i would have hung out with but yes, we would have been acquaintances. it's so interesting to think of our lives like that. that my daughter will be where i was not so long ago– but with a whole other perspective. 
she is the kind of girl i want to be with now. she is smart and sarcastic. she sings and dances and plays sports. she likes chick flicks and pedicures. she is strong. she likes to ride bikes. she questions us. she cares about herself and her future. she has been such an amazing gift from God. i am thankful for her presence in my life daily. i am extremely honored to witness the last 14 years of growth. i just wish i could pause these next 4 years every now and then… ( and fast forward the bits with the attitude 🙂 ) before she moves on again. i know they will go by so quickly.
hi
thanks for the sweet comments on my last post. 🙂 the kids and i took a walk yesterday. the weather has been lovely, a little chilly in the morning but warming up nicely in the afternoon. hoping it doesn't get too much hotter! it's nice when elsie requests a stroller walk, and actually stays in the stroller! it's always hard to have to maneuver the stroller while carrying her!
the boys have had major bike fever lately! 
not real big on the action bike shots over here, but i did get one with my iphone once i put the big camera back in the house 🙂 gives me the goosebumps watching them ride like this! those who have asked about my iphone pics– no apps were used.. just brought into photoshop and lightened if needed- here's proof that my phone does take sucky pics as well :) 
school is out in 2 weeks. kira turns 14 in a few days. slumber party will take place. not much slumber will be happening as they will be talking about the end of year dance and graduation. i cannot believe she will be graduating! another sappy post about her coming up in a few days probably 🙂
aaaaaaaaah!
i've got nothing!!!!!! but this one measly layout! 
when we are busy with jac– i tend to forget to take photos for myself. boo! 😦 we've had 3 weddings in the last 2 weeks. this weekend we have NOTHING on our plates, no sports, no shoots… i have nothing on my plate but to sleep in! it's been so hard for me to get up in the mornings! i've already got summer-itis. 🙂 we've got 2 children graduating this year. cam from 5th grade and kira from 8th grade. i'm gonna be a wreck! 😦 we've got the girls outfits picked out, now to spiffy up my boys! i totally want to put cam in a sweater vest but i highly doubt he will have anything to do with it 🙂
can you believe we haven't watched the season finale of grey's yet?! if we watch it then that means it's over. officially nothing exciting to watch for a few months. 😦 we may just have to start friday night lights over again!
what else. i haven't scrapped in a few weeks and did so today with my good friend brooke. good fun! see that butterfly paper up there? heidi swapp. love it! love that it pops up like that.
i've had such a major sweet tooth lately. especially at night! i need to go to the store and stock up on late night treats, pronto! last night totally sucked because the lack of sweets in the house!
ok, that's it. that's random and my life as of right now. 🙂 have a great weekend people. if you still come to this lonely blog that i hardly update anymore, wow, and im sorry! i need to get better. i was looking at newborn pics of elsie today and it made me sad that i haven't updated much.
santa monica via iphone
pics from a quick morning trip to santa monica with my iphone. 
my favorite from the bunch. 
we have been on the go this week, enjoying our australian family's company. we have a wedding smack in the middle of memorial weekend so we will be relaxing on monday for sure! hope you have a great weekend!
been busy
last week my mother in law and i cleaned my home up like never before. we were busy putting things in bins and cubbies, sweeping, cleaning, scrubbing. in the midst of all that, elsie was told many times– "not now, mom's busy. not now, mom's doing something. not now…." then i left on saturday and sunday for weddings all day long. through it all, she definitely seemed different… she was a bit snappier and sassier with me. i had to put her in time out a few times. besides just being regular 3 year old behavior, i know it was because i wasn't spending my usual quality time with her. this week, we have family in town from australia and i am determined to put things aside and just be with her. i found myself at these weddings over the weekend, just missing her. i'm determined to make up for it with lots of cozies this week!
🙂
mother’s day birthday
this year my birthday landed on mother's day. when i was a kid, that happened a lot. i don't remember having a lot of birthday parties but i do remember the ones that i did have, i would get declines as kids would be spending the day with the mothers— and now as a mother, i see, that's exactly how it should be! 🙂 i got some fun goodies for my birthday, clothes and new flipflops. but it's the handmade i love most 🙂 i love chris' wrapping. good boy. 🙂 
weeks ago, he scoured the artstore and paper source for just the right papers to make this for me. my own little polaroid book to carry around. the cover is made of lovely japanese silk. 
he also purchased this art piece. we shot an engagement shoot at the lab recently and i fell in love with so many peices in the gallery! little did i know, he went back and got it for me. 
me and my girl 🙂
my mom and me — i got my mother in law that necklace for mother's day and chris surprised me with my own for my birthday! yay! we'll be matchy matchy 🙂
mom came up to watch the kids as chris and i went on a birthday date. so grateful for all the time she gives not only chris and i to get away on dates but for all the wedding watching she does. we could not do it without her. (and her workload is about to get crazy busy as we enter a very hectic next couple of wedding weekends!) we are so thankful!
my mom got a little herb garden. planted with love by her granddaughters 🙂 they totally helped and didnt ditch me halfway through 🙂 
my mom loves gardening and cooking so we thought it was most appropriate 🙂 
my mother in law gave me an amazing gift. she gave me her time and energy as she helped me reorganize my kitchen and living room (aka elsie's toys) and i am so grateful. it has been a huge process and i am just amazed at her eagerness to help me. im ever so thankful.
i hope your mother's day was ever so special and sweet.
my 2 littles – and the giveaways go to…
hanging out in the car during one of cam's games
and the giveaway winners, thanks to random.org:
for our reflections people.. if you'd like me to send the slideshow for the mini book or the powerpoint for the photog portion, please email me. 🙂
happy almost friday!
post national scrapbook day
i spent my national scrapbook day in newport beach at reflections. we taught photography/scrapbooking workshops and it was awesome. the ladies were attentive, laughed at chris' jokes, and made pretty things with cute supplies. i got to see my good friends shannon and brooke and even one of our future brides! i still need to go through some of our weekend pictures, but thought i'd share some of my 2p layouts that went up on the first. since it was NSD, the GG's posted layouts by members we are inspired by. gluestick girl: 
and a few others that went up on the first: 
and a weekly challenge should you want to play along :) 
i love this hobby to pieces. i never take for granted all the good things that have come from it, opportunities, so many friendships–many so important to me, gatherings, and some pretty cute pages too! 🙂 in honor of nsd, i'd love to give away some of my favorite new hero arts stamps 🙂 — they are such an awesome company!!! i'll be choosing 4 names. please leave a comment about why you love this hobby so much and if you haven't started scrapbooking, tell me why not! 🙂 i'll be choosing winners by thursday morning 9ish PST. somewhere around there :)
yum
getting ready for our trip to newport beach this weekend for reflections. so excited to meet everyone! i can't believe that it will be may this weekend! it'll be national scrapbooking day- and we will be with a bunch of scrapbookers. fun! :)
watersix 