Favorite Friday Photo- Date with a little lady

Brianna and I found a couple hours on a Saturday to have a little time just the two of us.  It was her choice what to do so it was all about breakfast out and then a little local shopping.  It is easy to be with Brianna as she loves to talk and keeps me informed of all that is happening. 

She is in third grade and yet almost as tall as me. I know for you that know me that isn't saying a whole lot:)  She wears almost my shoe size and is rather proud of that.  This little lady is full of heart and soul. 

We had a great time and completed it with a little shopping.  I really hope one day my kids remember these moments with just me.

Life has been moving in a very fast pace but we are now on break and that is exciting. A week of thankfulness is upon us and with it family, food, fun! 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! 

Favorite Friday Photo- Hello Miss Katie...

A Friday afternoon just may find some kids like this but none of them can tune out the whole world like this one.  Even as I took these photos she never looked up once and has such a unique ability to escape!

She will disappear often with her "stack" of books.  I would say I am just a little envious. I wonder if I disappeared with my stack if anyone would notice:)

I  have been blessed this last month with customer sessions and am so excited about that.  For this reason Halloween has not appeared on our blog, but it will after all I did age a little for the day!  The new business is so exciting. I too love to hide behind a book but to be a photographer I will have to be less hidden that is for sure!

Sunday Snapshot-National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month. A month that is close to my heart.  After all two of my greatest loves are adopted.  I know what it is to look into eyes that don't match yours and feel a love that is as deep as the ocean.  I know that it is not always easy but I have found families who are traveling our same path and believing in children that are so worthy of love, patience, and hope.

The number of orphans in the world is more than this mind can comprehend.  It is a number that means so many children who have no one to say "I love you" daily to them, tuck them under warm blankets, and teach them the beauty of a being read to.  On a weekly basis there are stories that touch my heart to the soul of the most vulnerable among us and my prayers are always with them in mind. 

As I feed my kids and really look at how blessed we are and the fact we don't know cold or hungry it seems so unfair that we have so much and these little ones have so little. I don't think that fact will ever escape me, and for that reason I will always long for "just one more".

Adoption  also touched my sister's family.  That journey held days of sheer pain and at times the lack of hope.  A journey that started with news that rocked all our worlds. I now see that the news that tore at our hearts had to happen for one day adoption to be a thought for them and a beautiful baby girl to find a home.  It is amazing how all the pieces fit together.

On this Sunday I am praying that the pieces fit together for all those little ones laying in cribs somewhere or the older ones just hoping beyond hope for a family of their own find a way "home". After all isn't that where we all want to be:)

Sunday Snapshot- Grapes and hidden treasures

Grape picking was part of our October activities. My Dad and brother in law are avid wine makers so with it comes some time in the vineyard.  Of course I love to pick but what I really love is to take photos there and look who I found under those wines! 



There were a ton of grapes it seemed!  They were so pretty with all the fall leaves around them. 

Then as I looked around I didn't find these two under any vines they prefer to be on top on the world climbing whatever they find.

Oh October is almost gone. I can't believe it.  I am still loving the colors they are amazing right now...maybe time for just a couple more photo shoots before they say goodbye!

Apples and Pumpkin

The other day the kids, all four of them, asked to make pies. As with everything at our house they all had their opinion about their favorite kinds. It came down to pumpkin and apple.  So we had a  rare afternoon free and pies we did make!

 I let them do it in their own way.  It is hard not to have an opinion or fix this or that but truth be told I was busy running from kid to kid to worry too much about the details.

We ended up with two wonderful pies but mostly I ended up with memories. I really hope when I am old I remember these days. Not the big event days but the little days that make up life. One day I really going to miss these eight little hands in my kitchen helping.


 

Changing seasons

The truth is we don't have a lot of trees in our yard so when our kids see leaves in a yard they can't wait to play.

Katie spent her time collecting leaves "to save".  Andy is all about playing any game that involves a soccer ball or football. He is constantly throwing or kicking a ball it seems. I can hear them hitting the house or bouncing on the roof. 



Fall however may be short lived as we had our first snow this week. That too excited the kids in every way possible. They quickly started thinking of snowmen and hot chocolate. 

As for me oh please let there be more fall. I am not ready for the beauty to leave and the bare branches to come. I am not ready for "where are my gloves" and "these boots don't fit" so maybe fall can hang on a little longer!



Favorite Friday Photo-A quarter over

One quarter into middle school and Riley is loving life.  I spent some time worrying how he would do with this transition.  Those were moments I didn't need to spend worrying. 

He has been playing a couple games a week and even though he is so tired afterwards you can tell he just loves the competition and aggressiveness it brings out. 

He is dreaming of his own room.  I have told him by the end of the month I will have a room ready in the basement. Oh I am hoping I can make that goal...maybe just a little less sleep!

Wishing you all a great weekend!