blessing

On her 6 month mark, I took Emilia in for some photos.  I haven't done any "professional" photos, because technically that is why I have my camera.  However, I take photos as a hobby and I don't think of myself or the photos as exactly professional.  Then again, after the photo session - I'm wondering if I just put in a few more hours and actually read the manual for my camera if I can't up my game that much more to never set foot in a studio.  Ever again.  For the most part I'm always so disappointed in the results!  I don't visit really expensive photography studios - as much as I love pictures I just can't spend hundreds of dollars on a photo session.  So, we usually end up at something like the Picture People.  Back in the day of Madeleine and Bryson as babies I thought Picture People was the bomb.  Then again, I didn't have a really nice camera.  Still, I would mostly take in my own props, and have a clear vision of the picture(s) I wanted to walk out with.  All in all, that set-up worked for quite some time and a few weeks ago when a Groupon came through for a session at Picture People I decided to give it a try with Emilia....after all, I have wanted to get a nice picture of her in her blessing dress (yes - her blessing was like 3 months ago, but I wanted to wait until she could sit up to get the photo).

So, what did we experience?  Well, I hauled in our own props...of course.  And it wasn't just a flower or a basket - I took in my Grandma Miller's old antique chair that my mother inherited.  I loved the old style and thought it would be beautiful with Emilia's vintage looking dress.  The girl seemed to be getting a lot of smiles out of Emilia, but when we started to go through the pictures I noticed that she was just off a few seconds in getting the "golden" photo.  There were a good handful of pictures that I liked, and I did choose my favorite - but when they were printed off I realized that the girl made a huge mistake....one I should have caught!  She put our antique chair covered in a dark red wine/burgundy color, against a backdrop of the same color!  Granted there were some designs in the backdrop, something like a Fleur De Lis, but it was A  LOT of red, and after quickly glancing at the photos I haven't been able to look at them again.  I'm tempted to take them back and have them do a vintage tint on them - or maybe in a few days I'll take them out and be in love with them.  

With that, I decided afterwards to just try my own skills at the same picture - except outside and getting some natural light.  Here are my results (without any editing, because that is part of the skills I need to learn).  

sure sign of summer

Cutting open that first ripe, red & juicy watermelon, to me always screams 'summer's here!' The boys LOVE watermelon & were so excited when I came home from Sprout's with this red jewel! We're so excited that summer is here!!

Soccer fans

Both boys are playing spring soccer & Emilia & I try to go to a few games to cheer our favorite players! This was a really beautiful day, with their games back to back & the boys each played great!

Forever & Always

It's been another hectic May day. But I was just sitting here rocking Emilia to sleep & considering how blessed we are to be safe in our home, when others in Oklahoma were affected by the tragic tornado yesterday. Throughout the world each day, too many individuals are without home, family, food, love & so many other parts of life that I can so easily forget how blessed I am to have in my life.

While I sit here & hold my sweet baby & gaze at her long lashes & enjoy the sight of a slumbering babe- I'll remember that life is precious. As tragedy always teaches - life can go from "perfect" to nothing in mere seconds to minutes.

"And as the mother held her baby she sang, 'I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be'".

Athough I know my babies will be mine forever - not just while I'm living. Blessings.

never eat alone

This morning the boys were in our bedroom trying to avoid getting ready for school.  I came in while they were having a conversation over by our bookshelf, which on the bottom shelf are many of the books Bryson Sr. has acquired over the years on business matters.  They seemed to be discussing this book:

Bryson Jr.:  "See, I told you that you never want to eat alone." 

Jacob:  Why?  Why don't you want to eat alone?"

Bryson Jr.:  I don't know, it's Dad's book - ask him.  But the title says 'Never Eat Alone' so maybe its so you don't get lonely.  Or if you choke you have someone there.  Or so someone is there to tell you stuff - like to eat slowly, or what to do at the table...like Mom does."

Jacob:  Yeah......but I think that sounds like a weird book. 

that sounds a bit odd...

The boys were getting their soccer uniforms on for their games, and were asking what colors they were - they either wear their black or white jersey each week.

Madeleine was by me when I was looking on the calendar to figure out which color each boy would wear.

Madeleine:  "So, did you not put down what team they are playing on because they both play for Odd-i-das?"

"What?  What do you mean?"  I replied. 

"You know - their team names, did you not put them by their team names because they are both Odd-i-das?" 

"The boys don't have the same team name.  Where did you see that the teams both have the same name? 

"It's on their soccer shirts, up in the corner.  In a little oval it says 'Odd-i-das'" 

Oh, honey!  That says Adidas!  That's the company's name who makes the soccer shirts!  They make a lot of sports gear, so that's not the boy's team name! 

"Oh.  I thought that was a strange name." 

Me {thinking}: which one sounded strange, Adidas or Odd-i-das?  

I love when the mind works to put together sense of things that it doesn't know!  It's so often comical to hear us say what is on our mind...it's not just children, but even as adults we come up with some great lines

happiness is...

This girl.  This smile.

May 5, 2013