Favorite Photos

As most of you know, a few weekends ago we had family photos taken for the first time.

The kids were great and I was thrilled with the pictures.
Today I am linking up with Top Ten Tuesday to share my favorites and some helpful tips!

This is the first time we have had professional family photos taken. 

Here are a few tips for other first timers:

Before you pick out outfits think about where in your house you are going to put these pictures.

Pick a place you love with natural scenery and buildings.

When picking a photographer think about their style and your style.  We used Kate Pauling Photography.  She has several kids so she was great with Carys and Broderick.

When asking about pricing ask if you order your own prints or is they do.  A lot of times now, you will get a disc.  Ask how many photos will be on your disc.  Chances are, your photographer will take a lot, but you won't get them all.

WeekEND News

 We had a crammed pack weekend.  It was fun, but busy! 

Friday night Carys had dress rehearsal for her recital that was Sunday.  Do you have kids that dance?  If not, let me tell you...it is an all day event!  Friday wasn't too bad, after she practiced we could leave, but Sunday we had to stay for the entire thing!  This year, since Carys was in a "big girl" class she had to stay backstage the entire time.  Since she is only 5 there is no way she was staying back there by herself, so I naturally got elected as "Dance Mom"!  Name tag and all.
 

 (Me and my sweet girl.  See the name tag?)

If you are wondering what it looks like back stage of a dance recital...here is a glimpse.

 Even though I had the Mary Poppins bag packed with everything imaginable the girls got antsy.  I had to think on the fly of some games to entertain.

Carys and most of the girls in her class only dance one routine, but some of them had 2-5!  So they were in and out changing and such.  It was madness!  MADNESS!  Thankfully I had two other moms from our class helping me!  I could not have kept track of those girls without them!

(Carys and all the girls in her class.)

Speaking of the moms...I met some wonderful ladies this year!  I will miss seeing them each week and talking to them.  Carys has danced with one little girl for two years now.  We are hoping that the two of them along with two other girls from her class and two other girls can form a competition team next year!  (OK...maybe I am going to be a dance mom!)  I am so thankful Carys gets to experience dance.  She loves it!

We didn't do recital stuff all weekend.  Broderick had a soccer game Saturday.  He played his best game.  I was very proud of him.  Funny story...after each game we have him tell his coach thank you.  The coach told us that last week after Broderick told him thank you, the coach asked, "for what?"  Broderick said, "Because my dad told me to."  So of course we had a conversation of why we want him to say thank you!  So funny!

We also got to celebrate Nate's birthday.  (Nate is Carrie's son.)  It is so hard to believe he turned 6 and that Carys is right behind him.  We had a great time.  Obviously I love hanging out with Carrie, but her family is so fun too!  They are great people to be around, so we always have fun with them!

We are now entering the last full week of school!  I am so glad!  After this week we have two, 4 day weeks and then....SUMMER!!!

Have a great week friends!

Thankful Thursday

Ok...so it is Thursday...AGAIN!  I feel like these weeks are just flying by.  Which is fine with me until summer gets here.  Once the kids are out of school it needs to sllllooooow down!  I am hopeful it will.  I won't be working, they won't have their activities and we can just relax!  So, so, so excited.  All that to say that I had a post ready for Tuesday and Wednesday, but clearly I didn't get to them.  Sorry folks, other things take priority over blogging. 

Again, there is so much to be thankful for...

-that Broderick got home safe Monday.  (That was Tuesday's post...I will try again next Tuesday.)
-making jelly with my Grandma.  (That was Wednesday's post...will try again next Wednesday.)
-a friend watching the kids last night so Rob and I could have date night.
-that there are only 14 more days of school!!!!!!
-our new "group" we started on Friday nights.  We are going through a marriage book with 5 other couples.  The first night was great and I can't wait for the rest.
-one more day until the weekend!

What are you thankful for today?  I love hearing!

WeekEND News

I first want to start off by saying I am sorry I didn't post last week.  I was having some Internet troubles so I couldn't get on and update.  My apologies.  I had plenty to post about.  (Like how thankful I am for my hubby who took a day off to do yard work!  He laid mulch, plant flowers, and working his butt off.  He is a good man!)  Hopefully I won't have problems this week because I have lots to post about! 

So back to the weekend...

Friday I had the privilege of going to a retirement party for two fabulous teachers from the preschool.  You may remember reading about them last year...you can do here and here to refresh your memory.  Mrs. Merrill and Mrs. Zembower are retiring at the end of this year!  They both have been teaching at the preschool for over 20 years and are super special ladies.  So much so, that at their party, they gave all of the other teachers gifts!  They wrote a poem about each individual teacher and then gave them a gift.  It was so sweet and fun!

Saturday we had a soccer game and then headed to the amusement park for the afternoon!  It was the first time this season I had been.  We had a good time.  Mostly thanks to the people watching.  Oh goodness...there is some good people watching!

Sunday was mother's day which means the day was ALL about me.  We went to church and had a great service.  I was encouraged and inspired to continue to strive and be a more Godly mother.  We had lunch at my choosing and then did a little shopping.  Pizza and movie night followed, again...my choice!  It was a great day hanging out with my family.  I was reminded of what a great support system I have as a mom.  Not every mom has a wonderful husband.  Not every mom has a great mom, mother-in-law, sister and sister-in-laws.  Not every mom has great friends.  Not every mom has healthy, happy, loving kids.  I am truly a blessed momma!

The weekends over and it is back to a busy week.  I told the kids we only have about 18 more days that we have to wake up and get out the door!  I am sooooo excited for summer!  This school thing is draining me.  I am sure the kiddos feel the same way!

Have a great week friends!!!

WeekEND News

Can you believe it!?  It is Monday and I am actually posting!  Shocker, I know.

Maybe it is because I had a really fun weekend.  Maybe it is because I have 10 minutes.  Maybe it is both!

The weekend started off with dropping Carys off at Grandma's.  She spent the weekend at the camper.  Just her and Grandma!  She had a blast!

Broderick, Rob and I went out to dinner Friday night.  Well, let me rephrase that.  We sat down to eat, ordered, then I cancelled my order, then I sat in the car while they ate.  I was feeling really sick.  After they ate, we went and bought Broderick a new bike.  He is so excited because it has a kick stand.  He is also super excited to ride it to school one day.  We even bought a lock for it!  This is a big deal.  Do you remember the first time you rode your bike to school?  I do.  I loved to ride my bike.  I can't even imagine how my mom felt the first time she let me go by myself.  the thought gives me a panic attack.  Broderick will not be riding by himself.  I will be walking with him.

Saturday was a boys day. They went Broderick's soccer game (I have yet to see one.  I am a terrible mother...I know.)  then they headed to the Amusement Park.  And I got to spend the day with Ricki, Maria and Carrie to celebrate Carrie's birthday.  It was a full day of shopping, eating, laughing, a surprise dinner for Carrie and a late movie.  Carrie said she had a great day and I am so glad!

Yesterday, we had family pictures.  You read that right.  We have never had professional family pictures.  It was a great experience.  (Except for picking out the outfits.  That kind of stressed me out a bit.)  At the photo shoot the kids did great!  Here is a sneak peek!  Kate did an amazing job!

So now it is Monday.  I am only working this afternoon so I have plans to get a lot done!


Hope you all have a great week!

Thankful Thursday

I have been working a couple days a week at the preschool lately.  Have I mentioned that I love it?  If not, I do!  I am subbing right now and teaching an afternoon Monday class called "Art, Movement, and Music."  It is so fun!  Those little kiddos are so cute.  And the other teachers...they are wonderful!

Due to this working bit I have fallen behind on a few things.  Blogging is one of them and I hate that because I LOVE blogging.  (I could fall behind on laundry every week and not really care.  Eventually I would because we would run out of things to wear.  There was no WeekEND News post on Monday.  (Or Tuesday for that matter.)  I was all prepared to tell you that we went to the circus and had a blast!  But that never happened.

So here we are and it is Thursday at 8:30.  I really hate to miss a Thankful Thursday post.  It helps me keep perspective.  I could have been all complaining about working lately, or all the things I need to do that I haven't gotten to.  But this weekly post gives me time to think back over the week about what I am thankful for and I hope it does the same for you.  (Leave me a comment because I love to hear what you are thankful for!)

Today I am thankful for...

Carrie.  She turned really old on Tuesday (35) so I got to celebrate her.  I am so thankful for her.  My zumba instructor's BFF is moving to Colorado.  Since I found out my heart has been breaking for them. (Let me remind you, I don't even really know these women.  I have talked to the instructor like never and I have talked to her BFF a handful of times.  They seem like wonderful ladies don't get me wrong.  I just don't ever see them except at Zumba.)   I don't know what I would do if Carrie told me she was moving across the country! 

My sister.  She invited me and the kids over today to play on the water slide and make snow cones.  She is so fun!  She also cut my bangs while I was there.  What an amazing sister I have.

Working moms.  If this working thing has taught me anything it is that working and being a mom is a tough balance.  I am only working at most 10 hours a week, most of the time it is more like 6 hours.  I can't even imagine having a full time job and taking care of all the other stuff.  I really appreciate the moms that do!

My hubby.  While I sit here and type away he is working hard on my new bathroom.  (It is looking so good.  I can't wait to show you!)

The director at the preschool.  She gave me probably one of the nicest compliments I have ever had this week.  When I told Rob what she said it brought tears to my eyes.  Thanks Meredith!

Rest.  I need to do more of this.

So tell me...what are you thankful for this week!  I would LOVE to hear!