Monthly Archive for July, 2011

Photo Challenge Days 16- 25

Published on July 26, 2011 in general. 0 Comments

THe Challenge continues. I have to admit a few of these stretched my skills as a “photographer.” A few may have even won out over me for now. But I’m learning. And that is what challenges are all about.

Day 16- Long Exposure (THis one didn’t happen) so I’ve changed it to From Far Away

Days 17-Technology

a picture of meadow in the ipad camera

Day 18 Your Shoes

I really wanted to put on a cute pair of shoes for this, but let’s be honest, I wear these old rainbows 99% of the time.

Day 19- Something Orangeish-Red

watch out Hollywood!!

Day 20- Bokeh-

this was hard, after a few internet tutorials, this was the best I got.

Day 21- Faceless Self-Portrait

Day 22 – Hands

Day 23- Sunflare

it’s probably cheating to get a sunflare by photographing the sun, but I tried, and this was as good as it got

Day 24- Animal-

A day at the races, One of our favorite summer traditions.

Days 25- Something Pink

classic

Sisters

Published on July 22, 2011 in general. 0 Comments

I am probably in the minority here, but the moment I found out we were having twins, I was elated. (In all honesty, Mike and I referred to our first born as “our twins” from very early in our marriage, although I believe at that time they were boys.)

I couldn’t help but think of the joy we’d have watching them bond and interact with each other. Think of how great it would be to grow up with a best friend, always having a playmate and confidant. For the most part this has been true over the last four years. These girls are best friends. They play together all day only to then talk about the day they spent together, all night.

Mom, is that you? 20080823-DSC_2665

It has been a gift to watch them interact and develop their relationship with each other. I’ve learned so much about each of them by seeing how they respond to me and to one another.

I was very excited to find out we would be welcoming another little person into the world. As soon as I saw these two pink lines, I hoped it represented two little girls again (crazy, I know.) So when we learned it was a single girl, I was mostly relieved but also little disappointed. Not that I would miss the workload of double babies and double toddlers. But I was sad this little sister, wouldn’t get to have the same experience of having a best friend from birth, like Ainsley and Emmie will always have.

How exciting is become to realize that, even though Meadow does not have a twin, she has two awesome big sisters. I never gave much thought to the sibling relationship that she was already coming into. I am amazed by the bonds and relationship these three have developed already. The big girls adore their little sister. It melts my heart, the way they look for her each morning and that Meadow saves her biggest smiles for when they walk into the room; How Emmie is convinced she has the smartest baby because “Meadow tells her “Hi” each morning, and she’s only a little baby.” And how Ainsley is so proud to be Meadows helper and bring her toys and diapers.

So although Meadow will never have a sibling who has shared all her same experiences, she has two great protectors who would do anything to see one of those great big smiles.

It doesn’t hurt that she’s a very willing participant in all their dress-up games.

30 day photo challenge Days 6-15

Published on July 16, 2011 in general. 3 Comments

I’m back to continue the 30 Day Photo Challenge.

Don’t forget to check out Amy’s great set too!

Day 6 – Low Angle

Meadow on the couch- taken from the floor

Day 7 – Fruit

Morning’s fruit salad

Day 8- A bad habit

Chocolate chips…. i pretty much consider these a fifth food group

Day 9- Someone you love

Okay, so these are a lot of someone’s I love. But really it’s Mike doing something I love. Every Night he takes the girls and they read their bible story and chapter book. Sometimes he even throws in a mad lib. It’s the highlight of my night to hear them talk and learn about God. Often laughing together ask they disscuss all they’ve read/learned.

Day 10 – Childhood Memory

My Little Ponies- I even had the barn

Day 11- Something Blue

I love this blue wall in my house- it makes me happy

Day 12- Sunset

the “sunset” escaped me. I asked my four-year-old to draw me one. This is what she brought back with no instruction or help. I was pretty impressed with her choice of colors!

Day 13- Yourself with 13 things

these 13+ things surround me often

Day 14- Eyes

wondering what color they will be

Day 15- Silhouette

the Silhouette of best friends

i’ll be back in five with the next set

10 on 10 July

Published on July 11, 2011 in general. 15 Comments

I finally had the chance to particioate in my first Ten on Ten hosted by the very talented Rebekah.

TWo MOnths old…. Meadow

Published on July 7, 2011 in general. 0 Comments

Meadow Lilianne,

It is soo hard to believe that you are two months old today! It’s been so fun to see glimpses of your personality beginning to emerge.

You love to watch your sisters and smile when they talk to you in their high pitch baby talk. You are totally content to kick your arms and legs while lying on the floor. You love to be held and hardly ever fuss. You sleep like a champ. You are pretty much the perfect baby, except one thing…

You despise the carseat! No matter how tired you are, you will scream the entire duration of our trip. You cried the entire way home from the airport, you cry going to the park and you cry going to the store. Multiple times I’ve feared you’ve stopped breathing, you are crying so hard.

Lucky for you, I hate to drive and would much rather walk. Lucky for me, you like the stroller.

We love you Meadow and can’t wait to see the wonderful child, God’s will continue to mold you into being. I just have one request; can you please make it go by more slowly?

It’s already gone by way too fast….

Then……….. by Stacy

IMG_5829-1297742898-O

and Now at Two Months Old

Fourth Of July Two-Thousand Eleven

Published on July 7, 2011 in general. 1 Comment

We had a wonderful Fourth of July this year. I snuck in an early 7.5 mile run. The longest I’ve been out in a while and it felt great. Mike said the first thing the girls asked upon waking up, was if they could go watch fireworks. He told them if they took a nap, then we could go. (They have not napped in over a year)

After a lazy morning of dress-up, art projects and chores, the girls asked to go to the BBQ with friends. We reminded them that they were going to nap. They quickly and quietly marched into their room and we didn’t hear a peep for two hours! I never thought they would nap, but they proved me wrong, and totally earned a trip to the fireworks.

We had a beautiful day swimming, pot lucking and even enjoyed our first Sparkler experience. As darkness, we headed to a nearby golf-course and watched the Del Mar Fireworks show. We did miss about a third of the show due to trees in our view. Because they were so well behaved all day and soo looking forward to a great show, we allowed them to come home and watch the Macy’s New York Display on T.V. It was so cute to see them dance to the music as the lights flashed on the screen. I wish I would have gotten a few pictures of the end of the evening, but by then both the baby and I were pretty much done.