Project Life {Weeks 5-8}

Hello.
I promise to post more than just my project life pages, such as Lo 7.0, Easter, MWs first soccer "game" and just general catch-up things. However, my focus is trying to catch-up on my scrapbooking. I have said this 100x but this is just one of my main priorities to stay on top of, so a lot of other things get put on the back burner, while I am on project scrapbook catch-up.

So without further ado PL2016



First gymnastics meet.











Someone turned 7 this week.


I have always wanted to make videos on how I scrapbook and how I get it accomplished quickly, stay on task etc...hopefully I can get that going sometime soon. I know I find myself watching lots of different youtube videos learning tons of great ideas from organization to just daily living.

I am really loving my process this year and after nearly 7 years of digital scrapbooking I feel like I finally found the perfect system and flow. Insert praise hands.

Coming soon scrapbooking videos.

MW 5 Year Old Photos

Once upon a time I got this ingenious idea {from pintrest I am sure} to take my little boy's photo in a tie. I wish I would have gotten the idea when he was a newborn, but gasp---Pintrest was just a little tiny beta dream back then. Shocking...I know. 

However, I decided then that I would do my best to re-create said photo at ages 1, 5, 8th grade and senior graduation. 

My friend and photographer did his ONE year photo for me. This is my favorite.

I put the tie away knowing it would be YEARS until he was five...guess what it wasn't. It was like minutes. I don't know how we got here so quickly, but we did. My teeny tiny 4.5 week early preemie baby boy is five. He's my last, so it is a big deal. He is my little buddy. He shops with me, and snuggles me. He talks my ear off and makes me laugh. I am going to be all alone when he heads off to kindy next August. I may hyperventilate. It's no secret this mama didn't want a stinky boy...but oh my word how wrong I was. He is just one of the best things God has ever blessed me with. And well, now he is five.

And it was time to take the 5 yo tie photos...

MW was trying so hard to smile and be natural and Thatcher he's like look mom this is how you do it. HA

I call this a boy and his dog. 

 This face {next 2 photos}...well it sums him up. 

 And one with the beloved Blankers. I think he looks a little Toddler GQ cover model here.

And then of course a collage of the photos.

Happy 5th Birthday Micah!!!

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Of course sissy was on laugh and smile duty during the photo shoot and then had to jump into the lime light herself. 

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. 

It's That Time of Year {for Christmas Photos}

So today marked the 6th annual bribe the children to sit still and take some bloody photos for the Christmas calendar day.
This year I had the secret weapon...the toy car. 

I mean I always love our photos, but this year I think they turned out especially well and couldn't wait to share them.
Blah blah checking the lighting...of course why wouldn't this be a good one?! Thank goodness for editing so to somewhat "save" the photo.

GQ called.
MW they want you.

Nevermind you goofball, keep working on that portfolio... :)

Seriously, this kid is incapable of smiling like a normal human being. We call it the Chandler Bing smile, he gets it from his FATHER.

Lo: Seriously, Micah I am sick of you messing around. Just do what I say already. HA! {just a touch bossy.}

This pose was all Lo's idea and it turned out to be the best photos...mostly. I still love that stinky little boy face!

Then my genius kicked in. And I decided since I wasn't able to give them this car on Christmas morning we would have a fun photo shoot with it on this beautiful day. And I love these! So much.

My beautiful baby girl.

Is it ok I am jealous of how pretty she is?!

Love these two so much. The joy is nearly palpable.

 Driving off into the sunset?! Look out crazy driver on the road.