5 Years TODAY

We've been blessed to have Lucy in our lives for five years and I can't believe how the time has gone. She is so much fun and is so beautiful. It is tremendous to be her mother. She challenges me daily in so many ways but lately in ways that she doesn't intend. She is curious so she has asked me to define words for her and they have given me much food for thought. Words like; yield, compensate, panic, healthy, ecstatic. Try for a minute to boil down the essence of these words and you will see what I mean. She is challenging and lovely. A personality treat in a small body. This transition from the fourth to the fifth year has been a blessing to me and I can't wait to see all the ways that she changes as she leaves preschool and goes to kindergarten (EEK!) this next year.
If you get a chance, you should spend some time around my daughter. She is the cherry on top of life.

Changes Can Be Good!

Lucy and I started reading the American Girls Collection books this past week and started with the book "Meet Kit" about a little girl growing up in 1934 in the middle of the Great Depression.

Sounds fantastic for a nearly five year old right? 

It actually is because a lot of the character traits that I am trying to instill in Lucy are what are being developed in the lead character Kit.

Kit loves to read books, write her own newspaper, play sports and wants to build her own treehouse. 

She has a great sense of humor but more importantly has a strong sense of character and resolve within herself-especially when it has been revealed to her that she has acted rashly or her actions are selfishly motivated. 

With the setting of the book being in the Great Depression, the family is obviously going to go through hard times and that includes Kit. 

I often wonder what my own children would be like if we were living in another country or time and they were asked to do things like, I don't know-actual chores (like on a farm or village), and it has been fun to explore these topics with both Lucy and Asher through reading. 

It is one of the reasons that I love to read to is explore my own fantasies through someone else's "reality" and to see my own children do that is like a dream come true. 

In the last chapter of the book, Kit's mother says in order to overcome the Depression, "People will have to work hard. Use what they have. Face challenges. Stay hopeful...They'll have to make changes and realize that changes can be good."

This is particularly timely for us in our country as everyone needs to figure out finances, resourcefulness and figure out what is really important to them. 

Now, who wants to help me with Kickstarter account to buy Lucy an American Girl doll?

Have you seen how expensive those suckers are? 

Sheesh. 

Order a Wreath-Send a Kid to Camp!

The Sloan Rangers

Are we Spanish wrestlers or Power Rangers? 

That is the question. 

 Adult Power Ranger costumes were not easy to come by, so we made our costumes this year. 

I actually had the kids make paper mache masks with me. 

Yes, this all looks like a hobby homemaker project--but its only one day a year. 

And no, we saved no money. But it was SUPER fun. 

 The kids had a blast and Matt and I got to walk around in glorified pajamas all night. 

That's not so bad. 

 The masks were ditched immediately. But look at the joy on this boys face. 

CANDY!

This is generally how I feel about Halloween.

Show me the candy!

Sweet Marshall

"I need to know my life,

as its meant to be..."

-Mumford and Sons

Marshall is senior and is reminds me about all that life had to offer.. 

She is ready to grab life by the horns and be the person she was meant to be. 

You already are. 

If you ever want to remember what is you were like in high school; hang out with a high school student.

Any of them. 

The promise of the future, their fresh faces, the hope that is within them. 

It sustains you, enlivens you and you literally want to breathe them in-they have SO MUCH LIFE in them. 

Look over these pictures again! 

Marshall is a girl that anyone would want to spend the afternoon with.

I can't wait to see what is next for her. 

The Spirit of Tour de France Fans

The new Tour de France route was release last week. There is no Alp d'Huez this year. Which gave me a sad face. How could race organizers not want more of this?! Yes, that is Matt and Kyle. The Spirit of Tour de France Fans

Pumpkin Lighting

At our elementary school we have a fundraiser every year called "The Pumpkin Lighting Festival". It is not a joke.

Every grade picks a theme based on literature or pop culture. Then each class mom and teacher select a direction to move in within that theme.

Then you have three weeks to turn this puppy around.

Kindergarten was Smurfs.
First Grade was SkippyJon Jones.
Second Grade did If You Give A Miuse A ....books
Third, Angry Birds
Fourth: Lion King
Fifth: The Whipping Boy

These displays were impressive and I am not kidding when I say it took all my artsy craftsy skillz to pull this o e off. But I think it was accomplished. Take a look at these things!

We are walking out the door to head to the fundraiser now! I can't wait to see ALL the displays!

Fussbudget

I am feeling this way today:

fuss·bud·get

 noun \ˈfəs-ˌbə-jət\

Definition of FUSSBUDGET

: one who fusses or is fussy especially about trifles

— fuss·bud·gety adjective

 See fussbudget defined for English-language learners »

Examples of FUSSBUDGET

1. fussbudget about wanting her food very hot>

First Known Use of FUSSBUDGET

circa 1904

Related to FUSSBUDGET

Synonyms: baby, bellyacher, complainer, crybaby, fusser,fusspot, griper, grumbler, kvetch, kvetcher, sniveler,whiner

Am I always going to be a fussbudget? 
I sure hope not. 
Lord have mercy on those around me. 

Asheville

If you watch/listen/read the news, then you've been hearing about Asheville in the last 24 hours because President Obama has been here talking about his jobs plan.

The creative director from my ad agency and his wife managed to snag tickets to go hear him and because of the nature of the gathering, this was the picture he snapped:

No matter your politics, it is always exciting when the President comes to town.

My kids have been asking lots of questions about the President. But #1, "Is President Obama in charge of the world?"

To which I answer AND I believe, "No. God is in charge of the world. Because He is sovereign. Right now, He has let President Obama help take care of our country."

Can everybody say "sovereign"?

sov·er·eign

   [sov-rin, sov-er-in, suhv-] 

noun

1.

a monarch; a king, queen, or other supreme ruler.

2.

a person who has sovereign power or authority.

3.

a group or body of persons or a state having sovereign authority.

Right Now

Meet Hunter.

Senior in High School.

Playing Football.

Dating the Homecoming Queen.

Life is good.
As it should be in the best years of your life.

I was so excited for this photo shoot.
It was literally the most beautiful weekend of the year. No lie.

I am officially open for business.
:)
Shoot me a message if you would like to schedule a session!