Family Photos!! {insert all the praise hands}

Happy Birthday to me. 

Finally got my birthday gift from last year. Family photos.

Last weekend I had my sister come over to take our photos. She and I are in the process of trying to launch our own photography and design business. I love the editing and creating side of things and she loves film and photography. We are a perfect pair. 

We planned on Saturday morning and praise Jesus it was overcast which helps with lighting issues, but it was a tad brisk and momma was in short sleeves. Brrr. Hello Fall--again. Anyway, after I spent an hour scouting out locations in a nearby town on Friday, we stumble upon this area that ended up being perfect. 

I got several photo poses off pinterest to re-create. Those photos had these perfect angel children in them...I knew my kids wouldn't quite pull off that look, but I wouldn't want them too.

Photos should reflect your family dynamics and personalities. Photos tell stories. That is why I love them so much and spend countless hours scrapbooking and documenting. I want our family to shine through. And I think we do a great job of capturing just that.

Micah is a stinker and very hard to photograph. He can't sit still, or be normal and all the photos that the rest of us looked top notch in he has in some way "messed" it up. However, I just started looking at the photos as who we were and that is Micah. This is the stage he is in then fine--go with it. Honestly, when I am old and gray I will look back and laugh at his little personality and just miss it.

This photo captures my kids brilliantly and it is the first time I can see that they actually swam in the same gene pool. HA! They love each other fiercely. Sometimes a bit too fiercely, but at the end of the day they are still BFFs.

Oh this photo. I have re-created going on 4 years now, and I plan on doing one until they are 18! {or longer if they will let me...} Just something about watching them grow. While this one has always been my absolutely favorite 

MW 14m Lo 3

this one just may bump it from the top spot...

These two have such a special bond. It is the epitome of a father/ daughter relationship that most strive toward. I pray it is always that way.

I love this photo. It turned out better than I expected. I want to make a canvas print of it and hang it in our entry way. As a beautiful reminder of what our purpose is on Earth. That we would strive to go deeper than we would on our own.

Gosh I think she is so cute.

This girl. She loves me, but not the way she loves her daddy. She teaches me so much and I love the way she thinks and her creativity. We have that in common. Really we are the same person which is probably why she and I don't blend as well together and why she is so drawn to her daddy; and him to her--he is her calm in her chaos; it is why I love daddy.

And then there is these two crazies. Two clowns trapped in the same pod. They both just think they are hilarious and always up to something.

My boy. He is just my little buddy and we do everything together. He brings laughter into my world when I can't seem to find anything to laugh about. He loves me so much. I never wanted a boy, but man I am so glad I have one. My world would be a little less bright without him.

Trying so hard to smile "normal" bless his heart he is Chandler Bing. {Friends reference}

Now to print and hang...a task for another day. Thank you for stopping by and checking out our photos. 

The Story of Us {10 Years}

Today at about this time {130p} Chad and I said our "I dos" 10 years ago.
TEN YEARS.
Wow.

Honestly, I can't believe we have been together that long. As Chad says "time flies when you are having fun."

I wanted to write something profound, meaningful, and sweet about our marriage. But I just can't get it right. We have been through 10 years of ups and downs. "In good times and in bad--sickness and in health--richer and poorer." And here we are. There were times when I wasn't sure we would make it and times when I know we will grow old together. Marriage, it isn't a walk in the park. It is a choice. A choice we choose daily to love one another and to support each other and ultimately put up with one another's quirks. Of course, mine are slightly less annoying. ;)

Do you ever wonder why my blog is called The Story of Us?
Because I love that movie. And because the greatest scene is when they pick their kids up from camp.



This sums it up to me. We have a history together. A life, a story. We made two beautiful kids together. There were no people there before and there were people. Amazing. We can read each other and sense one another; that's a dance that takes time to learn and perfect. We may drive each other nuts with some of our quirks, but at the end of the day we compliment each other. His strengths for my weaknesses. We are a team.

That is why this is the Story of Us. There is no one else I want to write this story with--just you.

I love you Chad and I love our family.
Here's to the next 10 and beyond.

KSU {A Walk Down Memory Lane}

After a long work week we decided to end spring break with a quick trip back to where it all started, the Story of Us that is; Manhappenin'. We met up with some of our "old" college friends who have recently moved back to KS!! Thus, making the trip down memory lane all the better.

We got there a bit early and just drove around taking in the town that is not even remotely the same college town we "grew up" in. So much has changed in 7 years. After that we meet up with the Lambs at Varneys were the kids terrorized the store, ok maybe that was only my kids, since theirs' can't walk yet...plus, it was the only place around with a changing table! I mean seriously are there no kids in Manhattan?! HA! After a lunch stop at the yummy Coco Bolos, we toured campus.

The customary sign picture:

I see future caps and gowns on them some day, standing in this very spot.

Evidently, this sculpture is called "the womb," according to Jon you have to curl up like a baby to fit...

Here is Lo with a little stick...when we went into Hale Library we told her it needed to stay outside. When we emerged from Hale she threw the stick overboard and said "daddy say I can get new stick..."

Here is her "new" stick! HAHAHA!

We are cool and have a nuclear reactor on campus...oh and I am pretty sure it is in full commission, if need be.

The Strong Complex. It was like living in a castle, compared to the other dorms on campus. They may or may not have been coveted rooms...either way this is where I met Chad, he lived in Putnam and I lived in Boyd. It is also were I met Jon and April who both lived in Putnam. Great memories made here. Maybe one day I will be dropping Lo off here...

Daddy in front of his hall with his girl.

This is pretty much sums up MW for the trip. Chillin' like a villain in his ride. He loves to be pushed.

Views of Campus: 1. The stadium 2. The Quad 3. The Old Stadium {where Chad abandon, my roommate Ginger and I after the homecoming pep rally...:) } 4. Hale Library {where I literally spent my entire junior year. I slept, ate, and study there hours upon hours that year.}

After our walk down memory lane, we headed over to a local coffee shop Radina's and grabed a cup of joe before hitting the road home.  Micah and CG {the Lamb's darling little girl} are both red heads! CG's momma is a red head, so it obvious where she gets it, our son not so much. I thought the looked like twins and people probably thought he belonged to them. :)

Micah is under the impression that sippy is a paci...it never left his mouth. Sigh...

Chad and I drove around town on the way home to see our old apartments. This was our FIRST married apartment. It was tiny and I have no idea how we lived there! HA!

The following year we moved across the street to here. Coincidentally, or not it was the same apartment April lived in before she graduated and moved back home. It was my favorite.

Then in December 2005 we said good bye and moved home ourselves. I really loved K-State. It is such a small quaint campus. It is where I came into my own and learned a lot about life. It is where I "grew up" and met almost all of my life long friends and of course where I met my hubby. Thus beginning our first chapter in the Story of Us.

Great trip, and a perfect end to a wet spring break! Thanks Lambs for coming up with the idea and re-living our "glory" days. HA!

8 Years of Wedded Bliss

HA! 8 years ago today I was in a little room getting all dolled up for my wedding day. 8 years. In some ways it feels like 20 and in other ways there is no way we have been together at decade and married for 8.

{It's official!}

{Leaving for our Honeymoon Cruise!}
oh how I want to get on another one right now!!


I can't imagine my life any different and so glad to be married to my best friend! I love you Chad, thanks for marrying me and giving me two great kids!

Happy...

Birthday to my "firstborn" Tucker James.


Today you are 5. You were our first baby and while you annoy the dickens out of me with your obsessive behavior we still love you! Bless your heart you have survived 3 new additions to our family in those short 5 years. You were the poodle that helped me move on after losing my poodle Buddy. And for that I will always love you and keep you around, even if sometimes I pretend I don't. :)



Valentine's Day to all!

Here are my two little Valentines.
Leighton who missed being born on Valentine's Day by one measly day! Tomorrow you turn two!


And Micah who avoided the day by arriving 4 weeks early. My silly kids, didn't they know how badly I wanted a Valentine's Day baby?! ;) I guess Tuck you are it!


And the love of my life who gave me my two precious Valentines! I love you, thanks for being you and bringing love and laughter to our home.