yesterday was picture day at school.
she chose her outfit.
she asked me to curl her hair.
what??? this has happened only twice since her birth. she is adamant about how she wants her hair done. day after day, she will dictate to me exactly what i am to do. usually this is what i hear, "side pony tail, mom. and NO curls!"
i never argue. sometimes i will suggest we try something different. but normally it doesn't fly.
but yesterday…yesterday she asked for curls.
and i happily obliged.
Eight is the newest number in our home today.
I could gush on and on about being the mom of this amazing little man.
But that would make his face turn a deep shade of red. (reminds me so much of me. to a T.)
And then he'd smile with his toothless grin and I know deep down he'd love it.
Happy Birthday, D!
OxoXx, mom
Christmas? Fall? Summer? Who knows when it's still a delightful 108 outside? 🙂
But if you are starting to have visions of sugar plums dancing in your head or even if you are not, it might be time to start planning for family photos.
This year I'm doing something different–mini sessions. I have a limited number of dates this year and I do expect to fill up quickly. Check out the details below and if you would like to get all your sugar plums in a row, give me a jingle!
today i realized it's been far too long since i've photographed my baby. affectionately known as
the baby bubba
chrishy crosh
sunshine
schmooky
and occasionally, stinky cheeks.
the lighting in my bedroom always makes his hair look redder. i like it. his middle name is kenneth, after my dad…also known as "red" back in the day. it's only fitting that he has a little bit of grandpa in him.
from the picturesque town of Antigua, Guatemala.
to see this much color every day for the rest of my life would be a dream.
This month's photo happened quickly as the sun was fading after dinner. Threw a blanket out, set the camera on the ground and everyone jumped on.
Every night at the dinner table we play a game of "sweet and sour." We each take turns telling our sweet thing that happened during the day as well as a sour. Sometimes there are lots of sweets, sometimes mostly sours. And that's okay. I love this little time we have to share and connect with each other. It has become a favorite part of my day.
So I figured I'd attempt to document our life in August the same way. Here goes…
Sweets: visiting family in Utah, 2 special baptisms, playing alligators and monkeys with Grandpa, swimming with cousins, good talks with sisters, an entire day of Lagoon, soaking in my family, rain storms, 3-year-old birthdays, father's blessings, school starting, potty training, long naps, quiet afternoons, balloons, Primary children singing, spiritual changes, getting up earlier (or at least trying to), making breakfasts, packing lunches, reading books, after school chats, a happy kindergartener, preschool, carpools, lost teeth, Guatemala photos, dinner time.
Sours: missing family, late night driving, A/C going out in van, school starting, potty training, thyroid issues, hurt feelings, temper tantrums, tired and hungry people, work stress, broken backpack, homework woes, broken lens, sweeping crumbs, car seat battles, misunderstandings, time outs, summer heat.
Looks like the sweets won this month. 🙂
gearing up for the season of family photos! looking forward to it.
stay tuned for more info.
question: what should you do when you are asked to help decorate for a luncheon?
answer: call your amazingly creative sister-in-law and have her tell you what to do.
result: do exactly what she says and everything will turn out fabulous!
amy gave me the great idea to make lollies for centerpieces (along with a bunch of her decor) and rhonna provided the instructions. the actual luncheon was at the church, but i decided to recreate a little backyard party to get the full effect i was dreaming of. wonderful!
So after all of these posts about our travels in Guatemala. Here is the nitty gritty…the main attraction…the essence of why we went. Jeff's dad has a gift. You only have to be around him for a short time before you feel captivated by his knowledge and his ability to share it and teach it with such enthusiasm and love. I was aware of this gift long before I met Jeff. Lucky for me, it is still very much a part of my life.
For years Jeff's parents have taken people to visit Guatemala to share their knowledge, feelings, and insights about some proposed areas where the Book of Mormon might have taken place. When they decided to take another tour, we jumped at the chance. Not only to spend time with family, but also to take a peek at some of the amazing archeological sites in this part of the world. It was nothing short of stunning to behold.
As Jeff's dad, the master teacher that he is, taught us and shared experiences all along the way, we came away with a feeling. Not that this was absolutely positively the place that the events in the Book of Mormon took place, but with a feeling of love and connection for those people and prophets and testimonies that are contained in that book. We felt a renewed excitement to study and to search for inspiration and guidance, and to be better parents, and better missionaries, and better followers of Christ. We are better people for having experienced it all.
So here is a large slew of photos of once again…the nitty gritty.
Our visit to Izapa…we walked along a long dirt road, braving the humidity, heat, sweat, and bugs to visit a truly amazing place. Along the road were small homes, clothes drying in the sun, cocoa trees, animals, and babies.Yes, babies! As I peeked through the trees, I saw a sweet little girl in her crib. What an unusual sight to see! I couldn't wait to show this photo to my own children to help them see life in a different world than theirs.
When we finally made it to the end of the long road, we had the opportunity to see the Tree of Life stone or Stella 5. I've heard about this stone for years. It has always intrigued me and still does.
More stones with stories to tell.
And an area that perhaps could have told one of the greatest stories ever–an appearance of the Savior to the new world…at a temple where believers had gathered. Who knows if it happened here? But in any case, I know it happened. And I can add my testimony to those believers who prayed and waited and hoped that he would come as the prophets had said. I can only imagine the indescribable peace they felt when their faith became a sure knowledge. I think I felt a glimpse of that peace here.
Then there was Tikal. You know the adventure of the plane ride already. It was worth it (I can say that now) to see the remnants of a great civilization. Greater I'm sure than my mind can comprehend. We walked through a dense jungle (complete with monkeys swinging overhead, and "watch for jaguar" signs) for almost a mile until we saw a large clearing. I looked up and immediately these towering edifices took my breath away. I wonder what life might have been like here at the height of it's day. I also wonder what it could have been like at the fall of such a civilization as grand as this one.
This one's called the Temple of the Masks. Pretty cool name.
Climbing, hiking, discovering, admiring, listening, learning, and running for cover as the skies turned a dark grey and released enough water to sail the ark. A tropical rainstorm is nothing to trifle with. It was quite the day!
each one of these little sweeties has some serious cuteness. i met them all on my visit to minnesota. something about the innocence and happiness of children that draws me in from behind the camera. love it. oh and i just might want that yellow chair. awesome isn't it?!
