Mother's Day Photos

With my mom:

 With my kids:

 Ethan was very excited for these photos as you can tell!

It was such a lovely day.  I got a new white leather purse that I may or may not have picked out, a wood block with a hand print on it, and flowers to plant in the front yard!

Happy Mother's Day

I have the best Mom and the best MIL that the world has ever known!  Happy Mother's Day!!

I love you both so much!

Wanting Waves of Ruffles

Dear Waves of Ruffles Shower Curtain:

If I had $98 to spend on a shower curtain, I would pick you.  Your cousin is not half bad either.

I just might have to attempt to make a copy.  Because you are so pretty.

the end.

Ethan's Book

He came around the corner with a smile on his face as he announced, "I finished my book!"  I asked him which one he had done this time and his eyes twinkled, "I didn't do someone else's book.  I wrote my own."  And he did.  He didn't copy any ideas or text from any of his dinosaur books.  He came up with the whole thing himself.  And he kept the whole thing a secret until he had finished the whole thing!

It's pretty impressive.  And so, when he asked me if I could video him reading it and put it on my blog so that, "everyone in the world can see it", how could I say no?!  It's pretty long, about 3 minutes, and you can't see his pictures too well in the video, but Mamas can't resist.

Enjoy!

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Our Garden's Beginning

This is the first year that Todd and I have been able to plant a garden.  And while it's still too cold to plant most things, we do have peas and lettuce growing!

 Why is it that these little plants can make me feel so happy?

 Madeline helped me plant, and as I watch them come up in not quite even rows, it makes me even more happy.

I can't wait until we can plant the rest! 

Photo Shoot

A few days ago, I was able to do a photo shoot for my friend of her two darling children:

 This kid was so fun to work with.  Lots of smiles and lots of pictures that turned out really cute!

 His one year old sister was a little harder to capture, but equally as darling!

I realized while taking these, that I haven't had a lot of opportunities to use all my nifty equipment.  No one in my family wants me to practice on them.  And I need practice.  And I LOVE it.  Sooo . . . . if there is anyone out there reading this (sorry, but I have to actually know you . . .) that would like a free photo shoot done by me I'd love the chance to practice and work with my equipment.  I've got all sorts of cool lights and reflectors and off-camera flashes and things.  And it's hard to figure out how they work without a model! 

I can't guarantee amazing photos, but I usually take enough to get a few great ones.  AND, I'll give you the CD of all the pictures too.  

April's Ten Things

With May already here, I'd like to take a minute and join Emmy Mom to think about ten things in April that made me smile! 

1.  Spring Flowers!

 2.  We enjoyed General Conference with Cherry Turnovers and Cinnamon Rolls

3.  We bought a van!

4.  I captured this photo:

 5.  I made the most amazing ginger cookies EVER!!

 6.  Easter!

7.  I became addicted to a most delightful frozen yogurt shop called Menchies!  Highly recommended!

8.  Madeline made some major potty training progress . . . yes, we are still battling this one . . .

9.  Ethan wrote me THAT SONG!  (see post below)

10.  I FINALLY got a grip on my eating and don't pig out anymore on the above mentioned cherry turnovers, cinnamon rolls, and ginger cookies.  Though Menchies . . . yes, they have nonfat!  But I'm happy to report that I gave all my Easter candy away and didn't even cry.  :)