“Time Travelers”

As y’all know I am done with my photography business.

Sometimes it makes me sad, but then when I sit down just to unload the pictures on my camera; I remember why.

I remember that I got so caught up on taking pictures of others, that I didn’t have many of my own children.

This year, the girls took dance at a really fun company.

However, they scheduled the girls dance pictures for a Saturday.

It happened to be a Saturday that we were out of town. 

I knew I wouldn’t buy the pictures anyways, when I can take them myself.

I was excited to make time to do a photo-shoot with my girls.

I normally would have just taken them on recital day when they were all dressed and ready.

Recital happened to be just 7 days after I had my neck surgery, and the recital was all I could manage.

I  have hardly any pictures of the girls on recital day, and the ones of have were taken with my phone.

So… a couple of weekends ago, I got the girls dressed back up.

We curled hair.

We put make-up on.

All for some photos in those cute costumes.

It was a hot day, but they put up with me and let me snap away.

I put up with little miss making this dance face for all the pictures.

It is never easy to get your kids all dressed up.

Then listen to them ask, “are we done yet?”

It’s not easy to sweat it out in the heat, for a few great pictures.

Then, when you come home and unload them; you realize this is the reward.

I have never gone back and looked through photos, and wished I didn’t have them.

I have only smiled, and thought of the memory that went along with it.

Recently, a woman that I follow through social media lost her son.  She is a big scrapbooker and photo taker.

She said, “Please take photos of your loves!!! Please print them, and save them.  I will forever be thankful for these.”  It was also written in one of the feeds, that she called photos the “time travelers.”

I believe this to be true.  Photos help us travel back through time.  We remember when we see the memory in print.

You all know how I feel about pictures, but I encourage you to take MORE.

Take them, and print them, and save them.

Sweat it out in the heat.

Make them curl their hair, and get dressed up.

Watch them in the little things, and capture the everyday moments.

Life is too short.

Capture your memories.

Allow yourself the beauty of “Time Travel.”

I know I will be grateful for these precious photos of my two little dancers.

P.S.  I am so proud of Stella and Tessa. Both of the girls tried out and made a competitive dance team with their company this year.  Way to go girls!!

Don’t grow up.

October 22nd was a beautiful day in our home; but for me it was bittersweet.  I spent a good part of the day holding back the tears.  I must say that the tears were happy and sad.

It nearly broke my heart to think that my baby was another year older.  Yet I was so happy to spend the day with such a beautiful, happy, lovely little four year old.

We had a great day, and a beautiful person to celebrate.

We started the day with our breakfast in bed ritual.

She didn’t eat any breakfast.

Do you love how my kids just wear the most random things to bed?  We don’t believe in traditional pj’s around here I guess.

She opened a few gifts in the morning.

She was thrilled to get this darling little baby. 

She loves baby dolls; and has carried baby Bria around since.

Then we spent the morning counting down the minutes until Isaac went to school.

Little miss could not wait to go get her ears pierced.

We went to lunch first at her favorite little spot: chick-fil-a.  We met her cousins there so it was a fun little lunch date for her.

After our yummy chicken, we went to the mall and she sat her little bottom in the chair with her brave face on.

She was ready to get those ears pierced.

I was nervous that she was going to freak out.

She just jumped a little and never made a peep or shed a tear. You can see in the picture below that the earring just went through.  Her eyes have tensed up a little.

She picked out some adorable little hello kitty earrings.

We also left the store with some fake fingernails that she just had to have.

My favorite memories of the day include all the hugs and kisses she gave me, and the thanks she offered for all that she got to do that day.

At one point, after seeing the house decorated for her big day she said, “mom this looks so beautiful down here.”

She also never quit smiling after she got her ears pierced.  It was something she really wanted to do.

Tessa Mae is the sweetest little girl.

We ended the night with pizza for dinner because she loves it; and it’s what we had time for.

The important part wasn’t the meal; it was the time we spent together.

We each went around the table telling Tessa something that we loved about her.

It was unanimous and we all agreed that we love the happiness that she brings in to our home.

She enjoyed popping her balloons and seeing how much money was inside.

And then it was time for cake…

or cupcakes for that matter.

Tess requested pink for her cake so I kept it simple.

She smiled all the way through the Happy Birthday Song…

…and then licked the frosting off her cupcake in typical Tessa Mae fashion.

We also made some cute party hat cookies for her to take to preschool the next day.

We ended the night frosting Halloween sugar cookies.  This has become a birthday tradition.

We love to decorate cookies for Halloween, and Tessa’s birthday seems like some great party entertainment.

This year they decorated the cookies and we decided that they would take the cookies to their teachers. 

It was a fun night that ended with them doing something kind for someone who serves them everyday.

Tess went to sleep with a smile on her face and…

she woke up with that same sweet smile.

What I love about my baby girl:

1.  She has a way of making me feel calm.  Even as a baby she had a way of soothing my heart when it was troubled.  I think she does this with her love.  She has love for everyone.

2.  Tessa Mae loves to laugh. She will laugh about anything.  She is so good about bringing the smile and laughter in to our home.

3.  She is always happy and kind.  The other night she fell asleep in the car.  As I carried her in the house, I worried about waking her and putting her pj’s on.  My other kids would be so grumpy about this.  I did it anyway and put them on.  When I was finished she looked at me with a big smile and said, “thank you.”  Then she rolled over and went to sleep.

4. Tess loves to snuggle.  It is the thing that brings her the most happiness.

5.  She is also learning to be independent.  She likes to do things on her own and I am very proud of her and the little person she is growing up to be.

I also wanted to write down these 2 funny things she has said recently.

1.  She was carrying around one of her babies.  She brought it in to me and said, “I need to feed my baby.”  She sat down and laid the baby on her lap.  She then said, “I am going to feed her like Kristin and Lindsay feed their babies; it is called nursing.”  I couldn’t help but laugh at the next words out of her mouth, “you just lay your baby on your lap and do nothing, that’s how you nurse your baby.”  

Oh Tess I want to eat you up.

2.  “Mom, when I grow up and have babies you will be the Nanny.”  I said, “yes, I will be your babies’ Nanny.”  (Nanny is what my kids call their grandma.) Then Tess said, “ok, so when I am the mom you will have to go live in Nanny’s house because that is where Nanny’s live and then I can live in this house.”  I said, “no, this will be my house and you will get a new one.”  “but… I don’t know how to buy a house.” she said with genuine tears brewing in her eyes.  I said, “I can help you when it’s time to buy your own house.”  Then she said, “no, I think I would rather just live with you forever anyways.”  “ok.  Tess.  You can live with me forever.”

We love you very much baby girl.  I know you are 4 now, but will you promise to always be my baby girl?

oh… and promise me…

You won’t grow up.

Recent proud moments…

Even though our life has been turned upside down as of late; we have had many moments around here that I am so proud of.

Moments that are worth documenting.

1. Coming to the end of this medical school, residency, fellowship, and moving all over the world journey.

2. Realizing how hard it has been, but coming through the other side stronger and better.

3. Watching Jonathan as he accepts his fellowship awards; knowing how hard he has worked.

4. Getting the news that he passed his boards.  Jonathan is board certified.  WOW!!

5.  Watching Jex receive his Arrow of Light. Knowing how hard he worked to receive it.

6.  Seeing my husband stand in that room during Jex’s ceremony as an Eagle Scout.

7. Being there when Isaac graduated from Kindergarten.  My sweet boy is growing up.

8. Celebrating as my kiddos finished another successful school year.

9.  Listening to Jex and Stella play at their final piano recital with their PA teacher.  They did amazing, and she taught them well.

All these beautiful moments that make a mom and wife proud.

Moments to count my many blessings.