Christmas Re-Cap

Christmas was, as it typically is for us, abundant, lavish and simple at the same time. I tend to buy educational gifts for my son since I know Toys 'r' Us has delivered the entire contents of their store at my parents house.

This year we got him...

a globe...


a rock collection (seriously, he asked for "special rocks") with a nice magnifying glass...


a few educational games...


Santa pulled through with Bionicles, which Lawyer has been asking for the ENTIRE year. This face says it all, he opened the package a bit, and then looked up at me with this face in utter surprise...


Santa also brought REAL working tools in a toolbox and even left a bunch of wood with a note for Lawyer and Jason to build a workbench. They just finished it up last night so I'll have to get some pics soon.

All in all, we had a wonderful day spent with family! Another memorable Christmas for sure!

Halloween and Christmas, all in one!

I totally forgot to post Halloween pics! Guess who Jason and I went as?

And I was so PROUD that Lawyer opted for a homemade mummy costume over a store-bought one! He was so cute and everyone commented on his costume!

And where does Christmas fit in? We got our tree put up last night! I love it!

Bliss

I hope you are enjoying your weekend as much as my little guy enjoyed playing in the leaves on this beautiful fall day!

All just a blur...

Do you find that you have periods of time throughout your year that all just seem like one big blur? I feel like that has been my life the past month or two...nothing that is bad, just memories, experiences, moments all globbed together in my head.



Some days I forget to enjoy those moments, no matter how big or small, and just live. Don't think, don't plan, don't stress...just soak up the moment. I felt this way the other day when I was outside with Lawyer. I looked up at the light in the trees and just saw how beautiful the glow of the light was in the gently swaying leaves. I looked to my left and felt content seeing Lawyer playing and singing happily while he dug tunnels and built mountains in his sand box. I saw an amber-hued leaf gracefully floating down from our large oak, to it's new place on the still-green grass. I knew at that moment that there was no other place I was to be at that moment and no other place that I would rather be.



My goal as we head into the holiday season is to stop and soak in each day. It's like I blinked and I went from having a tiny newborn to now a grown 5 year old boy and I just can't remember very much between those times. Don't think I'm being solemn or regretful, more like pensive and at peace.



I hope you are all enjoying your autumnal days and remember to squeeze your loved ones and tell them you love them. Enjoy!

5 Years in the Making

Last week, Jason and I celebrated 5 years of marriage. We've been together for 7 years and there hasn't been one day of regret on either side. In celebration of 5 years, I thought it would be fun to post some pictures from the beginning of us dating up until just a few weeks ago! Enjoy the walk through our history and please feel free to laugh at my hair in each and every one of them!



















Thank you Jason for being the love of my life, for always supporting me, for lifting me up and for loving me even when I haven't brushed my teeth or washed my pits in two days! Here is too many more years together! I love you!

So much to share but not enough time to share it all!

Sorry for being MIA lately! There have been a ton of things that have been going on that I'm excited to talk about but am just not ready to yet (and no I am not pregnant!). Soon, very soon, I'll be ready to start moving forward with posting regularly but for now, this super-serious picture of Lawyer will have to suffice!

T-Ball has begun!

The Birthday Party

We opted for a very small birthday party for Lawyer...just my family. Lawyer talked and talked about his friends coming to his birthday party and where he would have it at but the school he goes to is not one where it's the kids in the neighborhood. Nothing wrong with that but it just means that you never get to know the parents since everyone is from all over the area (some several towns away).

I have to say that Lawyer is an extremely thoughtful present-opener. He really takes his time to look at and investigate each and every one of his presents instead of tearing into one package and immediately moving on. It makes present-opening that much special to watch.

Thank you to everyone that called him on his birthday. He enjoyed it every time I said "Lawyer, you have a phone call," and then I loved watching his face light up as the person(s) on the other end would sing "Happy Birthday"....it was truly priceless to watch. So thank you!

This child is truly a blessed child to have so many people think of him and love him. I could not be more proud to call him my son and the last 5 years have been filled with nothing but joy and blessings with having him in my life. Even at five years old, he is a magnet to others with his smile, humor and personality. It will be interesting to watch him as he grows up because I know that he is a natural-born leader.

Lawyer, I could not imagine you not being in my life. You have given me so much these past five years and I've grown in so many ways by having you in my life.

Each day is a present and a party with you, Lawyer.

Thank you for being such a respectful and polite little boy.

Thank you that you will do ANYTHING for a laugh, bringing laughter to others is one of your many gifts.

I hope you had a wonderful birthday, one that will be a memory of yours for years to come.

And I pray that you always keep your spunk and individuality because you are truly one of a kind.

I love you, sweet boy!

Know Why He's Doing the Happy Dance?

Happy Birthday Lawyer! Today he turned 5 years old!!!!!



I took Lawyer out last night to get some 5 year old portraits done...there are more on my photo blog.

Fall Ball

The new season started two weekends ago and we managed to get rained out the first weekend and then re-scheduled the second weekend only to find out the re-schedule had been re-scheduled and we couldn't make it since we had plans. NOTE TO THOSE IN CHARGE: Don't expect people to check their email a few hours before the scheduled T-ball time, especially on a Sunday!


Anyhow, he was already dressed up for his game so I took a few pics. So cute!

Would you believe it???

I'm actually going to have multiple posts this week! I've got A LOT going on right now. I've got several shoots coming up (yeah!) for my practice sessions, T-Ball started back up again for Lawyer, Lawyer turns FIVE on Wednesday, we're going to Six Flags on Friday and then we are going to have a birthday party for Lawyer over the weekend, along with more T-ball!

Here are a few pics from this weekend...both were for assignments for my photography class. You can see more of Miss "S" on my photo blog.

Finding our Rhythm...

First off - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!! The lucky duck is off in some exotic locale getting her tan on and drinking plenty of adult beverages, I'm sure! Hope you have a great birthday with sand between your toes!



Whew! What a week it has been! I haven't been this exhausted since Lawyer was a new baby. Our summer schedule was VERY lax (who am I kidding, I wouldn't know a schedule if it punched me in the face!) and since I was determined to get a routine down before Lawyer started school this week, I am paying the price for it!

I usually get up by 7:30 which is late for a lot of people but since school has started, I've been getting up by 6:30 to be able to have my prayer/bible time before Lawyer gets up at 7:00 and it has been HARD getting up that one extra hour earlier!

But, we have survived the week! Amen! And we have been early to school every day!

I love that Lawyer likes to spend time "chalking" before he goes to school. He's quite the artistic one in our house.

Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Labor Day weekend! I'm meeting up with some fellow DFW photographers on Saturday and then we are going to chill the rest of the weekend!

First Day of School

School is now "old hat" to Lawyer. He has been attending a Montessori school for 2 years now and just began his 3rd and final year there. This is his last year of Pre-K and then he'll be headed to elementary school next year (sniff, sniff).


I love that Lawyer was actually excited to go back to school yesterday. It made our morning routine go a lot smoother! Seeing his excitement bubble over when I picked him up from school made me feel so proud at how far he has come socially. He told me about how he has LOTS of friends in his class, some old and some new. It truly was a blessing to start a new school year out like that.

Here's to a wonderful school year!

Always Halloween...

Ever since I can remember, Lawyer has LOVED to be in costume. I never considered that boys like to dress up, since I only thought of princesses and fairies but Lawyer has literally enjoyed his many costumes he owns. I first realized how awesome it would be to stock up on after-Halloween costume sales since I thought I would get something for "next year". It became an instant hit with Lawyer being able to be Bob the Builder or dressed in a NASCAR jumpsuit at the age of 2.



Now at almost 5 years old, this kid literally is in some sort of costume at some point in his day. He found a dragon costume at The Children's Place yesterday (thanks Auntie, we finally used his gift card!) and he.would.not.leave.without.it. Period.



It is the cutest costume and seeing how he is really into dinosaurs, crocodiles and knights...he can pretend until his hearts content.

Oh and he did not take this costume off from lunch-time until bed-time. I think tomorrow I might dress up like Glenda the Good Witch!