Favorite Photo Friday ~ photoshoots

First of all I have to publicly thank Cindy for her 'just what I needed to hear' wisdom from my blog post yesterday.  She's become a good friend to me and somehow knows my heart in all of this.  It's possible to feel the guilt of needing some space; a break and still so sad that school is less than a week away.

This is new ground I'm walking into and I'm edgy, nervous, excited, and sad all at the same time.  I think that this week leading up to Abigail, my baby, going into full day Kindergarten is harder than the actual first day of school for me.  I have much anxiety about being home without messes, noise, and constant needs.  Perhaps I'm afraid that I'll actually have to tackle my 8 year long to-do lists.  I'd really rather not organize mounds of out-grown clothes, clean parts of my house that have been neglected for so long, etc.  I'd rather be overwhelmed with playdoh messes and hungry, thirsty kids.  I'd rather read books over and over to them on the couch than clean under those cushions for sure.  Soooo I'm so edgy but trusting the One who knows what my future days will hold.  I woke up in the middle of the night last week with all of this swirling in my mind and wishing that on the first day of school I had a baby on my hip and this scripture popped into my head. 

 ^"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jer 29:11  

I felt instant peace. 

One thing I know for sure is that marriage and motherhood is my career.  I'm grateful to have been a teacher for all of those years.  But looking back now I feel like it was a 'holding place' for me until my babies came.  One day, perhaps, I'll open a classroom door again; but for now I want to be with my girls when they get home from school.  It's as simple as that.

Forgive my ramblings.  I'll be better by next Thursday when I'm IN my new normal. 

For now... a few pictures from this week that are my favorites.  Meet Leah and Maddie... sisters who live a few towns away.  I met them at their school for a little back to school photo shoot. It was a fun night.  The mosquitoes had a blast too!  :)

Favorite Photo Friday ~ Little Surfer Girl

Taken with my "little camera" and in the point and shoot mode... I had fun looking through these when we got home from Maine.



Her Grandpa bought her a boogie board (at least that's what we called them when I was 7 and lived in Hawaii) and she loved loved loved it!





Love this one!



She was in the water for hours, and her bravery surprised Scott and I for sure! She's a beach girl... just like her Grandma!



And from the best teacher and sweet friend Lisa

16 Years

This blog is all about the girls... Anna Jiang Qian and Abigail Mei. But real the story begins (as all of ours does) with us.



Last weekend Scott and I celebrated our 16th Wedding Anniversary.



We met in grade school.



Dated in High School.



Missed each other in college (until he transferred) :)



Dreamed of the dream we're living right now. (girls ducking into our little anniversary photo shoot)



She's still the boy I fell in love with.



And so much more today.



We still dream... and each day are so grateful for our dreams that did come true.



But we are even more grateful, so much more grateful to our God who changed the dream along the way.

He closed doors, and opened new ones.



I love Scott with all my heart. And can't wait for the next 16 years with him.

Favorite Photo Friday ~ Anna

Sometimes when I look at Anna a certain way or listen to something she's telling me I notice how much she's changed.



Like all Mom's I can say that it's going by way too fast.



Thank goodness she's still my little girl with her interests in fairies, little sister games, little kid shows, and playmobil. I know and am the happiest Mom that she's far, far away from any interest in preteen stuff.



But when I look at her I can see such change and often when I'm behind the camera I can see a glimpse of that beauty she will hold one day as a teenager.



I love having all of this extra time with her in the summer. I am so grateful for it.




She is such a gift in my life. I have learned more from being Anna's Mom then I think I've learned in my entire life.




I love you Anna Jing Qian.

Favorite Photo Friday ~ Ahh the Rose Garden

Every June the roses bloom at a beautiful park near our home.



Usually we go more than once to take in the beauty but this year we were only able to make it there one evening. Actually, I took all of these pictures in about a half hour.



I had fun playing around with textures but overall I feel like I over processed these. I love learning though!



The girls love to walk around and collect petals that have fallen on the ground.



When we get home they fill little teacups and put them on their dressers.













Happy, sweet, girl memories with my daughters.



Take a peek at some wonderful photos on my friend Lisa's blog...

Favortie Photo Friday ~ Teeny Tiny Field Day

Teeny Tiny for sure but great big fun! Yesterday was Abigail's Preschool Field Day/Family Picnic!

Boy was she ever excited. She must have said 1,000 times "mommy, it's not about winning and it's not about loosing; it's about having FUN!"

I picked up Anna for the event. (the more events that are about "family" that we can take her to the better for her... still trying to cement in her that we are a family forever)

There was the jumpy ball. She had that thing going!





Then there was the 'walk on stilts' and the egg drop. She was slow as molasses on these; the teachers kept telling her to take bigger steps. She did NOT want to drop that plastic egg!





Adorable during the crab walk



Love her expression on the right. Really getting into it!



And her ponytail was flying during the sack race



but my favorite photo was this one... muscles (finally in size 4t as a new 5 year old) pulling that rope during tug of war. She was mighty and strong; and oh so cute!



Just a few more from the tug of war



Receiving her medal with her other "jumping green frogs" team



So proud



But her favorite part of all was having her whole family there to see her!



Mrs. Giddings announced to the parents at the end that her favorite part of field day was "watching Anna, Abigail's big sister, cheer and clap for her." Love that!

And then a picnic. A fun morning for sure, and another memory to tuck away and save. I have oh so many that will bring a smile to my face for years and years to come.



For more photos by my favorite teacher and friends visit