{josie preview}

Check out this cutie that looks like she should be on the cover of American baby.
Click here!

{throwing rocks at great grandma & grandpa's}

Any parent knows that for kids, rocks + water = fun! My kids could play with water and rocks all day! I was over at my grandparents the other night for a photo shoot and my kids had so much fun! It reminded me of growing up and how much fun I had playing in their yard. They have so many cute little ponds, flower gardens, a bridge, trails to walk on, nice patios, and more! It is where Russell and I had our wedding reception as well as my parents and many of my siblings and cousins. It is just a beautiful and fun place. I am so glad my kids are able to make memories there as well.




















Skinny Mylie's losing her skirt while bending over!
































Love, love, love this photo! Priceless!








This is when we finally told Mylie we had to leave to go home...She was a little upset!


I had such a wonderful time taking photos of my grandma and grandpa in their gorgeous yard. You can check them out here.

{18 months}

My Mylie girl is 18 months! But she is not yet 18 pounds! I took her in for her check up today and she was up to a whopping 17 1bs 8 oz! Maybe we will be able to turn her carseat around when she is two! (Hopefully) Well, she may be small, but she definitely makes up for it in spunk! She is the funniest and cutest little girl. She sings all day and even makes up songs. She is too smart for her own good! She speaks full sentences and amazes me every day with the things she just knows how to say. One of the things I love (and hate) about her is her hair when she wakes up. Love because it makes me laugh, but hate because it means I have to comb it again! We have so many pictures of her when she has woken up because it is just so funny. Here are a few from the other day. I call it her tornado hair. And yes, it is pretty much like this every time she wakes up.




(There was an elastic and a bow in her hair when she went down, but as you can see they are long gone!)


Oh, here's another one I just found, too:

Photobook {the field}

I've been wanting to design my own photobook for a long time so that I would have a place for all of my fun pictures. Last Thursday night I finally got started, then ended up staying up till after 4 in the morning to finish it! I've just begun learning the power of photoshop elements and doing this project really helped me (forced me) to learn a lot! I'm sure there was probably an easier way for most of the things I did, but I am pretty pleased with my final product. I can't wait to put in my order to see how it turns out!

{a couple of mine}

Man, I love these kids!

{another cute session}

Another cute session! Click here.

{blue-eyed brothers}

I had a fun session with four adorable boys. Click here!

Our National Anthem

I was asked to sing the National Anthem for Harrisville Days this morning. I've never gotten the opportunity to sing the anthem as a solo for anything before. It was a great experience and was fun to be able to sing for something again. It's been a long time! Sometimes it feels like talents get pushed aside as we get going in life, so it's nice to have little opportunities like this to give a little nudge to keep those talents going! Russ insisted on taking the camera along to make me that much more embarrassed. He was like a proud little parent! Speaking of parents, mine came as well, and I really appreciated their support! I guess they like to steal those few opportunities to hear me sing...since it pretty much never happens anymore!



My natural reaction to Russell and the camera...


Loved this guy. He and the others who raised the flag told me I'd know if I'd done a good job or not. (They were standing behind me ready to fire their guns at the end of the song. They said it might be my last one.) I must have done a good enough job, because I am still here...

Me and my dorky faces.


Relief when I was done singing. Another dorky face.

I think the greatest think about this experience was actually learning the words to the anthem. By this I don't mean I had to memorize the lyrics. We've all heard the song a million times and know the words by rote. But I think this is the first time in my life that I have actually taken the time to think about the words and the message and story behind them. When I sing, I love to think about what I am saying and how the music can emphasize the tale behind the song. I love the anthem! It is so beautifully written and so inspired. It gives such an appreciation for our beautiful flag and what it stands for.

Can you imagine being there? The celebration of seeing the flag still standing amidst the rockets and bombs of war? And isn't it nice to know the answer to the question at the end of the song is YES! The flag still waves in our country representing freedom and bravery. It gets me a little teary eyed, and I am ashamed to admit, I don't know if it ever has before! I am so grateful that I now have a new and revived appreciation for this beautiful anthem. Thank you, Harrisville City, for giving me this opportunity!

........................

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?