Busy Saturday....

I didn't book any sessions this weekend because we had lots going on and I was supposed to play tennis today - but we got rained out. So, here I am - blogging away! :)

These were all from Saturday. We started at the Jonquil Festival at Smyrna Village. It was really nice (at least while we were there - before the pouring rain) and I bought the CUTEST tu-tu that I can use for some of my upcoming sessions - can't wait!!!!

Here's the K-Bear when we arrived.


and watching the puppet show with daddy....


then we went to the MAIN STAGE to watch Kylie's friend Clare in her very first ballet recital. Kylie has some yummy lemon flavored Italian Ice!!!!


This is the lovely Clare before the show - doesn't she look excited?!!!


And Clare's little bro - also watching the show with his Italian Ice. From the look on his face - do you think he likes me??? :)


The show.....


the bow...... uh, I mean curtsy - right? You have to click on this one to see her beaming smile.


Then we went home for a nap - which Kylie would have liked to be longer - but we had a very special Birthday Party waiting for us. One of Kylie's best friends was turning THREE - I'm sure you all recognize her. The party was at the Little Gym of Smyrna and it was so much fun.

This was when we were "wrapping" Ainslee up like a present. She looks a little nervous....


The cake! All the lights were off so I did the best I could with no flash - but I think it's sweet.


And, of course, eating the cake...... YUMMY! Happy Birthday Ainslee!!!


The James Family ended the day with a trip to the Old Spaghetti Factory (MY personal favorite) and I have some funny pictures of Kylie eating Spaghetti - but I'll save those for another time.

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America

I wanted to share a personal post with all of you - my blog friends. We are walking in the CCFA Walk for a Cure on June 1st at Centennial Olympic Park. My husband has Crohn's and has lived with the disease for over 12 years now. We had some very difficult times during our first year of marriage, when I was pregnant and he had to undergo an operation to remove a blockage in his colon. What we thought would only be a few days in the hospital turned into more than two weeks and two operations. Jeff lost more than 40 pounds and struggled with a long and challenging recovery. But - he made it back to his "fighting weight" and with medication has been able to keep the disease stable since then. Unfortunately, there is no cure and we know there will be more challenges in the future - but we're ready! Two years ago, we did the CCFA walk and raised $2,500 and matched it with our own donation of $2,500 for a total of $5,000.

I am so grateful for our lives together and for our daughter. We have been very lucky. The money we raise will go to valuable research, legislation and the amazing "Camp Oasis" that CCFA does every year for children suffering with the disease.

If you would like to find out more about Crohn's or Colitis visit the CCFA website at www.ccfa.org

If you would like to visit our fundraising page or join the walk please click HERE

And since I have to include pictures with my post.....

This is Jeff and I celebrating our first Wedding Anniversary one month after his hospital stay. I was three months pregnant and we were both very tired. But, we were so happy just to be together. (Don't worry - I only had a sip of the champagne.)


And this is a couple weeks ago - oh what a difference a couple years will make..... :)

Two beautiful girls....

Two Blog posts in one day - woo-hoo! :)

This was my second session this weekend. I got to meet these two lovely girls, the oldest almost 4 and the youngest 19 months. The one thing mom wanted most was a picture of the two of them together. Let me tell you, these two girls were masterminds at NOT letting me take pictures of them together. It was really funny actually - each of them knew just when to look away or turn around right when the other one was smiling.

When I look at the images, it takes me back to that day. I can really see their personalities in the images and it makes me smile. I hope mom and dad enjoy them as well.

This is baby sister laying on Daddy's shoulder. I was astounded by how much she was talking at 19 months old. Full, clear sentences and thoughts. WOW!!!


Big hugs!


Are these two so cute or what???? I love the matching haircuts!


Pucker up!!


One of my lollipops was broken - but it worked out great because they like to share......


Actually, I think miss "L" was much happier when her little sister got tired of the lollipop and let her have it all to herself. :) Can't you just hear it...... " MINE "


I love this image - it's one of those timeless moments. A postcard, a canvas on the wall, it speaks volumes.

Neighbors, friends and poker competitor....

Here is a sneak peak from one of my sessions this weekend. They are friends and neighbors of mine and this was the first time I did "official" photographs for them. They are ahead of most of our neighborhood with the second child addition - but everyone else is catching up!

We had a great time and both kids did GREAT!

Here is little miss "E" in all her glory. You can click on any of these pictures to see them a little bigger.



Look at those gorgeous EYES! :)


I thought this was so cute - big brother giving me the EYE!


The whole family admiring their sweet baby girl....





A little mother-son time...


And DAD - doesn't he look so handsome and sweet! It's hard for me to believe this is the same guy I sit across the poker table from sometimes. Yes, I play Texas Hold 'Em Poker - I can't help it - it's SOO FUN!


And last, but DEFINITELY not least, MOM! Doesn't she look fabulous?

My Friend

My heart is heavy and I thought it might help to write about it and share some pictures of a beautiful person. One of my oldest and dearest friends from high school just got news yesterday that her husband has a brain tumor. They are parents to four children, she is a school teacher and he works for his father. She asked him to walk with her for our high school graduation and they have been together ever since. The love they share has carried them through all the challenges of life so far - and it will carry them through this challenge that lies ahead. In the coming days we will find out more - and we are hoping and praying for the very best of news.

These are some pictures I took when I was just learning how to use my "fancy" camera. I felt so honored that she would brave a trip across the country with her 4 month old baby and her first daughter. At the time, I couldn't even imagine going to the grocery store alone with my baby - let alone a THREE HOUR car ride followed by a FOUR HOUR plane ride! I was struggling with the whole "baby thing" and she made it all seem so easy.

Here she is, a beautiful person, mother and friend. Whatever you believe in, please send good thoughts, prayers, luck, wishes and everything else her way.

Blog Stalkers....

I do have a few blog stalkers that like to give me a hard time for not posting often enough. AND, I also have some friends that have started blogging - almost EVERY DAY - so they are putting me to shame.

So, I'm up WAY TOO LATE and I just finished two galleries (woo-hoo) and I thought I better post something...... but what???

Are shoes worthy of a blog post??? Well, I think these are. I bought these for Kylie at Target (couldn't resist) and she can barely walk in them. I told her "it's all about the fashion" and she repeats the mantra as she prances around the house in her first pair of heels. Is this how all girls get started on the shoe fetish?? :)



But - just in case the shoes aren't TRULY worthy of their very own blog post - here is such an adorable picture (or two) of Kylie with her Nana. She was off work for a week and came down to visit. You can click on it to see it bigger. So sweet. And, notice the shoes....... :)

GOODNIGHT!!!

M.I.A.

For those of you that check in often - I'm terribly sorry to have gone missing for so long. As you know from my last post, we went to Aruba and it was FANTASTIC!!!! I highly recommend planning a nice "get-away" trip for any parents that have never done so - and not just a weekend! We went with three other couples that also have a child and I think everyone will agree - IT'S WORTH IT!

Then we came back and had a busy week catching up before family arrived. Then I got this weird 48 hour flu bug that had me in bed all day Saturday with fever and chills. THEN, we went out on Monday night for an early birthday celebration (mine) before my husband left town for several days. Now my husband is gone, family is still here and I'm finally taking a moment to post something sentimental and funny.

Here's the sentimental part:

Friends have always been a HUGE part of my life. It was just my mother and I while I was growing up, so my friends were often just like siblings to me (but we didn't fight as much). I spent family vacations with my friends and their families and endless "overnights". There have been friends that have come and gone and many friends who are still, to me, like the siblings I never had. I treasure the friendships that I have had for many, many, many years but have come to realize, there is always space for more friends. And that is what I have found in the past few years. We live in a neighborhood where many people are about the same age, starting families, with so much in common. There are many ladies who have been so much more to me than neighbors - they have been my life-line - when the "stay at home" mom world is just too much to bear or I just need someone to talk to about life in general. So, I want to express my gratitude for all of my dear friends - old and new - for these relationships mean the world to me and I never dreamt I could be so lucky to have them all.

And I will end with funny part.....

I am way too old to be hanging out at bars - but that's exactly what we did on Monday night. We went to "Metalsome Monday" at the Dark Horse Tavern in the Highlands. You get to do Karaoke with a LIVE BAND! One of my nearest (she lives across the street) and dearest friends and her husband came with us - and we had a BLAST! If you want more details you can go to her blog at The Dekel Daily. Needless to say - I drank too much, stayed out too late and slept all day on Tuesday (thanks to my wonderful husband). :)

I mean seriously - I can't even remember the last time I had a stamp on my hand unless it had to do with my child!