School's Out

With the winter weather we have been having around here, that title could be referring to the lack of school the children of the East Coast had been getting the last few weeks. I am sure they are enjoying it, but their parents maybe not so much. It doesn't really affect us, since our kids are not in school yet. And since we plan on homeschooling, they're maybe out of luck with snow days, too. ;) (We never got snow days growing up because of being home schooled...I haven't decided yet if I'm going to continue that torture another generation.)

"School's out" is referring to my husband, Billy, finally finishing his master's degree! I say finally like it has taken him a long time. It really has only felt like a long time. He is only 23 years old, and has already finished his masters. Show off. ;)
I'm the type of person who dragged myself dutifully through college, and once they handed me my diploma I said sayonara. Actually, I tried to say it before they handed it to me, since they mailed me my diploma. So my mom had to make me walk during the graduation ceremony. She said they had payed too much money for my education for me to not have the memory of graduation. I survived the hours of sitting...which is not my strong point. Thankfully my maiden name fell somewhere in the middle of the alphabet. On the way back to my seat my sisters kidnapped me and we went to dinner. I think once mom snapped the picture she was done sitting too. ;)

So this week Billy got his diploma in the mail. (The degree he just finished was a master of arts and religion.) I am so proud of him. He works so hard to support this family in every way, and completed his first master's degree on top of it all. I say first, because he wants to eventually get his master of divinity. He's such a nerd. And yes, I definitely mean that as a compliment. :)

I know he's glad to have a bit of a break, at least until the next round of classes. But don't worry, he's not getting lazy. It's not like we don't make sure to keep him busy on his "vacations". :)

Use What You Got

It's towards the end of the day now...close to the time when the kids are finally quiet and in the bed. I love their loud noises, and them, so much, but I also need my quiet time to myself like any mom, or probably any human, can understand.Sometimes I tell Billy I feel like I don't have any room in my own head, for all the understandable noise going on when you have 2 young kids. I can't think without a thought being very effectively interrupted by a squeal or a "mommy!". *I've lost count of how many times I've stopped/started writing this post in the last 30 minutes.* I love that these too-cute-for-their-own-good hooligans are here to interrupt me, but also looove having some time to think and just let my thoughts run.I kind of start to get crazy without some wind down time. I'm thankful that my husband gets it, maybe for self-preservation reasons ;), and is always making sure I get some of that time at the end of one of our usually chaotic and busy days.I'm beginning to notice that, even though sometimes I still feel guilty about it, it's important to take care of me...so I can take care of my family. Not to the point of being lazy, or neglecting them, or being rude, but just making sure that I don't let myself believe the lie that I have to do it all...all the time. The toys don't have to be picked up, and Merrick won't shrivel up if he eats string cheese and a corn dog for dinner instead of something from scratch.

I can't give to them, if I don't have anything to give. If I haven't spend the time I need being quiet and still before God and apart from this world I won't have anything from which to draw what they will definitely ask of me. I'm their mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, whatever...and they need me. So I need to take care of the resource God will use to serve them: myself. Like I said, not selfishly, but wisely. In a sense...I guess I gotta do a little more looking out for "number 1" because they deserve to get the best I've got. ;)

This week at You Capture the theme was *Shapes*...and while mine may be a little hard to find in these pictures they are there somewhere. ;) Check out You Capture for more great photos and blogs!

Depending...

Even on the crazy, busy, why is there a waffle under the bed and cheese in the toy box days...

You will keep in perfect peace

the mind that is dependent on You. / Isaiah 26:3

Birthday Boy Man

This past weekend we celebrated our resident old man's birthday. He turned 24. Yes, I have been called a cradle robber...but since he started all this, by relentlessly calling me despite my mom's attempts to run him off, back when he was 15 (and I was 18) I don't feel so bad about it.

I had hinted around in a past post about how we were going to surprise Billy for his birthday, which is something I'm not good at. I can't keep secrets about stuff like that, because I get so stinkin excited.But I managed to keep my mouth shut for long enough for his gift to get here. Shh...don't tell my mom that I gave it to him 3 days before his birthday. She gets so mad about our habit of not waiting till the actual day of birth, our birthdays or Jesus's, to give presents. But Merrick, Tirzah and I kept a good secret this time. Ok, they really can't talk so well...so I am taking credit. :)

We got Billy a watch that he'd been wanting really bad, which is surprisingly hot pink. Yes, our resident manly man is wearing a hot pink watch at this very moment. I guess he decided since many a manly man before him, at least in this current season in fashion trends, is wearing pink...he might as well do it too. :)

Merrick helped us give the present to Billy, even decorating the wrapping paper himself with some good old fashioned scribbles. He tried to help Billy unwrap the present, before Billy was even home and knew he had a present, but I made him wait on that.

Happy birthday, babe. We are all so proud of you, and glad you are ours!

You Picked Me

So softly
Rain against the windows
And the strong coffee
Warming up my fingers
In this fisherman's house
You got me
Searched the sand
And climbed the tree
And brought me back down

And all I can say
Is you blow me away

Like an apple on a tree
Hiding out behind the leaves
I was difficult to reach
But you picked me
Like a shell upon a beach
Just another pretty piece
I was difficult to see
But you picked me
Yeah you picked me
/ A Fine Frenzy

Just wanted to give a little love to my husband, and the amazing father of our kids, whose birthday was today. Thanks for picking me.

This week at i ♥ faces the theme is Hands On Fun...check out their blog for more great shots and blogs!

Potty 101

Lately Merrick has been having monster fits. Not because he's not getting his way, or because he wants candy, or because he's tired. It's just because his diaper is getting on his nerves. I told him the feeling is mutual, every time I have to go and buy them his diapers get on my nerves. So expensive.

And I've never been one of those brave women who will go boldly into the realm of cloth diapering. Maybe I'm just a diaper wimp...but I'd rather just throw that stuff away than have to wash it.

So I finally decided that maybe, pretty please I'm begging here, he is ready for potty training. We tried once before, and he left me little presents, smelly ones, on the floor one too many times. I figured he would let me know when he was more ready for this. So we took the diaper-hate and constant talking about the "potty" as a sign that maybe we will get it this time.

So we took a trip to Target, bought some pull-ups and underwear, Superheroes of course, and some little items to use for incentive, like raisinettes. Cuz I figured there's fruit in the middle right? They can't be all bad.

At this point we have been potty training for about 3 hours...2.5 of which he's been napping. But he loves his "big boy" underwear, and keeps sitting on the potty like it's a throne. So maybe, when he gets up from his nap, we'll finally start taking steps toward lessening our dependency on the diaper industry.

Every Day Valentine

This past weekend we celebrated, or hated, Valentine's Day...depending on your relationship status, I suppose. ;) I know people love to hate V-Day, or Single's Awareness Day, as they call it. Even back in my single days I don't think I ever hated Valentine's Day...even if it is a bit heavy on the cheesy-ness sometimes.
Many people may have picked up a heart-shaped box of chocolate or a stuffed animal, or consumed an entire heart-shaped box of chocolate like I did, in honor of the holiday. At least that's what I told myself after the box was empty. ;)
My husband and I had a chance to go out for a lunch date without the hooligans last Friday, since our weekends aren't conducive to celebrating anything but the craziness of a student minister's weekend schedule.

Everyone on Facebook or Twitter was leaving lovey-dovey messages for their you-know-who's, and talking about how much they love their baby or boo, and how thankful they are for however much time they've been together with so-in-so.

I noticed that I went out of my way to surprise my husband, and even our kids, on Valentines Day with gifts and cards and just lots of extra *chocolate-overdose induced* love and affection. I noticed how much better we all got along when I was so focused on being ridiculously sappy and sweet to them.

I think that I would be doing myself, and above all them, a huge favor if I just kind of forgot that Valentine's Day is over. Sure, the tacky, shiny, heart-covered pajama pants are no longer hanging up in Wal-Mart to remind me, but I'd like to make a habit out of treating them like every day is a day set aside to love them like I mean it. They deserve it.

“All we need is love, but sometimes a little chocolate doesn't hurt.” – Lucy VanPelt.

This week at You Capture the theme was *Kisses*...check out the link for more great blogs and kisses!

Surprise...sort of.

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day! We spent ours doing the usual road-warrior thing back and forth for church activities...so we celebrated on Friday. It was kind of nice to beat the rush. We went out for a lunch date, piddled around the mall, and exchanged our gifts Friday while my mom watched the kids for us.

Since Grandma kept the kids, it was nice to go somewhere to eat that wasn't required to have chicken nuggets on the menu. ;) We tried out a Thai restaurant around where we live and really enjoyed it.
I had gotten Billy a t-shirt he had been wanting, and a funny card. Nothing too fancy, but we usually don't go overboard on Valentine's day...especially since his birthday is exactly a week following. He got me the traditional box of chocolates, which we practically demolished before we even left the house for lunch. :) And surprised me with this really pretty coffee mug from Starbucks. I was never much of a coffee drinker until after Tirzah was born, and now I've really gotten to where I love it...so the mug was a sweet idea that I wasn't expecting. I also wasn't expecting this:

It's not here yet, because they're so cute that they're back ordered. But he ordered me this really cute camera back that I've been sneaking peeks at online. One of those things that I really wanted, but kept thinking how many packs of diapers I could get for that kind of money. I would have probably never bought it myself, and not let him buy it either had I known. He knows me well enough to know that, so he just didn't ask. :)

It was fun being surprised...I'm usually bad about weaseling what my gifts are out of him before I get them, and we both are awful about opening Christmas/birthday presents early. We're kind of like kids...so who knows what's going to happen when the real kids around here are old enough to understand presents. We'll be having Christmas in October. He's gonna get paid back with the sneaky-ness on his birthday though. I've been plotting, along with several accomplices. Look out, Billy. ;)

Down on the Farm...

I've never been much of a dancer, in public places at least. I really just mostly dance in my car, much to Merrick's horror. I'm kind of not embarrassed to dance in the car with someone whose diapers I change...I guess that kind of makes us even. I'm not awful or anything...it's just not like I have many dancing opportunities. My Grandma is a good old southern Baptist...so at the risk of her passing away during the reception, we didn't even have dancing at our wedding. ;) I still regret that we didn't, but wouldn't want our wedding to be known as Grandma's last wedding.

So this week at i ♥ faces, when I found out the theme was *I wanna dance*, I knew this photo would not be of me. I remember last spring, we had a chance to go to a friend's wedding on her parents' farm. I took this shot of the bride, who I've known since she we were kids, dancing on a hay bale. It was a great time, and a so-sweet wedding...hay bales & tractors included.

Check out i ♥ faces for more great shots and blogs!

Just around the corner...

My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
:: Song of Solomon 2:10-12









The winter may not be over just yet, but I've got plenty to be grateful for just the same...

Workin' Hard

Lately I've been really trying to get down to business, and work toward actually starting my photography business. I am the most unconfident, self-questioning person ever...well, maybe not, but it feels like it when I am staring in the face of putting myself out there. So scary. People might not like what I do. So I have been putting it off.

I think it gets a little easier the older I get. The farther I get from that awkward teenager thing...well, maybe not. ;) But, I am realizing that I've got a hobby that I absolutely love, and one that I can work at and be better at all the time if I'm willing to work at it. That, in itself, is becoming good enough for me.

I had the amazing opportunity to do my first engagement shoot this week, for my sister, as well as a few bridal portraits, also for my sister. I had a great time, and feel like I already learned a little bit and am more excited for the next time around. We did some more traditional shots, also, but didn't want to risk her fiance seeing those before the big day. So I'm keeping those to myself for now. :)
I guess if I had to pick a job to do to help pay the bills around here, doing something that I love is a good way to do it. I'm still far away from this actually being something that brings in money, which is also ok, but at least I feel like I'm making progress in that direction. And it doesn't give me paper cuts like my last job. ;)
Billy, and my family, are always really supportive, and constantly offering my "services" to anyone who might want anything from a bridal portrait to a facebook profile picture. ;) I am always taking every opportunity to practice on my very unwilling subjects, also known as children.

I'm glad for this challenge, and a new opportunity to do something that keeps me on my toes, engaged, and keeping my eyes open to the world around me. I hope that this hobby never becomes work, but at the same time constantly keeps me working.


This week at You Capture the theme was Work. Check out the site for more great photos and blogs!

Hi, my name is Merrick...

...and I'm addicted to chapstick.

Merrick has been addicted, severely so, to chapstick for months now. He can't get enough. *And yes, he has ingested plenty of it in the process of smearing it all over his entire face* He's like an addict...he sneaks it off my desk, he steals it out of my mom's purse, he begs, he pleads...he has no shame. But I'm glad it's only chapstick...I'm sure there are mothers out there who would love for their child to be addicted to chapstick as opposed to other things. So I really con't complain. But it's messy, and ends up all over his whole head...literally. I find myself asking him, why is there chapstick in your ear??? Were your eardrums chapped??? My mother gave our resident chapstick fiend three of his very own chapsticks for Christmas. I will never understand why she did this, at least until I'm a grandmother with grandkids to spoil myself, and then I'm sure it will make perfect sense to me. He has been limited in his chapstick usage up to this point. I keep it up on the desk where he doesn't really see it, and therefore doesn't really seem to realize he desperately needs his chapstick fix to be filled.

While I was getting ready this morning, though, he must have spotted the chapsticks. Billy called me into the bedroom to show me what had become of Merrick's last 2 "chaps" as he calls them. He had twisted them until they'd just fallen out of the tubes. He kept asking me "mommy, chap up down." Which means I'm supposed to fix them. I did, but not without getting it all over me and the desk. But, all is right with the world again, because his chapsticks are back together again and waiting for him. Ya know, for the next time he decided his big toe is chapped or one of his stuffed animals could use a little touch up.

First Time for Everything

This weekend I had the chance to do my first "real" photoshoot. I don't count all the shooting I do around the house of the hooligans, obviously. For one thing, that's more like being the paparazzi, and for another, I guess I consider a shoot to involve willing subjects who actually ask for your services, instead of beg you to get that camera out of their faces.

Aside from being slightly snowed in this past weekend, which did put a very large white/cold/slippery/annoying damper on my original photoshoot visions, we did have a great time hanging out and finding other places for my sister and her fiance's engagement shoot. They were great subjects, and seemed to even forget me and my camera were there because they are just that make-people-jealous in love. So cute. Their wedding is in about 4 weeks...can't wait!

I had a great time, and hope that I get a chance to do many more of these types of photoshoots in the future. By these types, I mean the ones where I'm not chasing my 2 year old who doesn't really want his picture taken, and getting the back of his head for my efforts. ;)

This week at i ♥ faces the theme was *kissing*
Check out their site for more great shots and blogs!