purchased the tickets

We are officially going to Savannah, GA in September. The plane tickets are purchased and I think we have arrangements made for Schuyler and McKenzie, who will be staying here. We are taking the little man with us! I'm excited and nervous all at once. I have never been the one "leaving". We left Schuyler when she was 11 months with my parents to go to AZ for one of my best friend's weddings and it was all great until Sunday, when all the festivities were done with and we didn't leave until Monday. I remember coming home that Monday night. Dad was at our house and she had just woke up. She was in yellow pajamas (imagine that) and she was so happy to see us! I've never left Mackie. She's spent the night at my parents or down in Missouri with her cousins. I'll just not worry about it until the time comes.

On the other hand, I'm excited to see some beautiful historic areas and stay on the beach. I think we'll be staying in a beach house. Tybee island is very close. I've stepped foot on a beach on our honeymoon but it was cold, rainy and night time. I'm hoping this experience will include laying under an umbrella on the beach!!

This week has been rather calm. I had no shoots last weekend and no activities during the week. It was a nice break before this busy weekend. I have a home portrait party. My first ever. We'll see how it goes. Mark is in a gold tournament on Sunday. Next week swim lessons will begin for the kids.

Eli is a rollie pollie man!! He figured out the tummy to back roll a couple of weeks ago and since then there is no stopping him. He's trying to get his feet going to. So much so, that the other day when I picked him up from daycare, he had rubbed part of his big toe raw from trying to push off of it. I need to get him some new shoes!!!

Remember that fun family I got to shoot. Here they are!!

not teeth...

It just goes to show, even a third time round mommy doesn't always know everything! I was fooled. I ended up taking E into the Dr. on Friday b/c he had continued fussiness and restlessness and also developed a fever. The PA said it wasn't an infection, but wasn't normal either. We started antiobiotics and he is back to his normal happy self! This is a first for us as our kids have been very fortunate and not had an ear infection before. See, boys are different = )

Friday was the end of year celebration for the Montessori and the girls enjoyed the company of their friends with pizza, music and a slide show at Antelope Park. Afterwards, it was mayhem as all the kids played outside.

I had the most fantastic family shoot this weekend. M & M, if you read this, thank you so much for inviting me into your home. I hope I was able to capture all the love, fun, and silliness!! Preview to come later.

Here's something a little different. Trying to step out of my comfort zone. Schuyler loved her roses we gave her for the dance recital. I think her words were something like "Daddy, my favorite color and your favorite color". Then a big grin crossed her face. They are yellow on the outside and red on the inside. She is so sad they are dying so I'm trying to dry them out for her. The other is from a bouquet my sis-in-law brought over for the baptism. I LOVE gerber daisies!

a teething babe...

I think our little E is getting some teeth, or at the very least they are moving. He's a little more high maintenance, not his content self. He sleeps restlessly and he's not taking his bottle very well. He's very drooly and is sticking everything and anything into his mouth. My poor little man = (

The weekend was great! Schuyler was a beautiful balerina and did excellent on the stage. We were so proud of her!! We also knew a few other girls and it was neat to watch them too! Mackie enjoyed her bday party with her best friend, Shainie. And, Eli, as expected was a little sweat pea for his baptism. Though, I'm very interested in watching the DVD. Mackie was intrigued by the candles behind us on the stage. I kept having to grab her from them b/c she was so close I was afraid she would singe her hair on them and then we would be using the water to baptize her again!!

I'm experimenting with a new look for my blog. Something a little more creative that reflects my style. So, you may see a few face lifts before I get it just so!

Pictures as always. A few of the flower girls from the wedding. I could have shot these 2 beauties all day long. And, I meant to post this handsome man in my previous blog entry. This is Alex, the "other" twin. Or, put differently, brother to Reagan.

Have a great long weekend. I have just one photo shoot otherwise I'm catching up and kicking back!

Recommended Reading

For anyone out there that loves a great book, I highly recommend My Sister's Keeper (click title for details). I have found reading while I'm pumping at work to be very relaxing. I had come across this book a while back but never had time to read. I just finished during my lunch break today and all I can say is WOW. In summary, it's about a girl who was genetically conceived to be a "match" for her older sister who has some rare form of cancer. The idea was the cord blood would be used to save the older sister. Well, as time progresses, the sister's health deterioarates and various procedures are needed, requiring the younger sister to be the doner. So, where do you draw the line?

We are gearing up for another big weekend. Mackie has her first bday party that only she was invited to, not her big sis as well. This will give her something special since so many times it's the reverse. And, it's for her best friend Shainey. Schuyler has her dance recital on Sunday. Can't wait to see her all dolled up. Eli will be baptized on Sunday. Every child has something special this weekend.

I'm hoping tonight I will get my mother's day present. I wanted Mark to take some pics of me and the kids. Just playing and goofing off like we normally do. Cross your fingers that time permits this as well as happy kids!


Here are some pics of some handsome 'lil men. The one is obviously mine and the other is one of my best friend's boys. He was so delightful to work with. Thank you Miss A for letting me capture him. Hope you are enjoying them!

Our BIG baby boy!

Eli had his 4 month Dr. appt on Tuesday. He is a BIG baby boy. Eli weighed in at 17lbs 5 oz and is 27 1/4 in long. This is 90 -95 % for weight and 97% for height. They measured his length twice b/c they couldn't believe it. He is one healthy little boy and also doing well developmentally. If he continues on this curve, he would be 6'4'' or 6'5'' when he is an adult. We'll see if he continues. He is the size of an average 7 month old. This would explain why he is in 6 - 12 mo clothing!

Any fellow Lincolnites here of a van stalled at 48th and O yesterday. That was me! Went to leave work yesterday around 3:30 and the van would not start. Nothing. I was able to get a gentleman from our maintenance dept to jump it for me. Let it run for 4-5 minutes in the parking lot and off I went. Well, I got to 48th and O and it went dead. For those of you not familiar with Lincoln, I work at approx 57th and O, so I didn't make it far. And, these are extremely busy streets. Luckily, I have my cell phone AND it's charged (this is rare for me). A police offer stops to assist. Mark was able to adjust his schedule since I was picking up the girls for Schuyler's dentist appt. Russwood Chrysler has informed us it is the battery only. Yeah!

In spite of all this drama, I was still able to make it to Mother's Night at the Montessori. Both girls had selected work to show me. I was astonished to find out Schuyler can spell!! Pig, pan, and cup! McKenzie can peel and cut a carrot on her own, better known as carrot cutting work! They were so proud to share with their mom. It was a struggle to leave the school.

Schuyler continues to have good teeth. Plenty of spacing and a good bite. I hope she continues to take good care of them.

Does anybody have big mother's day plans? I want to go to TJ Maxx and find a new top and or shirt. Some of my clothes fit and some don't. I know eventually they will all fit again, but until that time, I'm in need of something new.

Here are a few recent snap shots of the kiddos. Mack and Eli hanging out in the backyard and Schuyler in part of her dance costume. Doesn't it look like Eli is pointing at the camera = )

Alot in 1 week!

Seems like I should be updating this blog more often as there is so much that happens in a week’s time. Our kids had “no TV” week last week. This really is not a huge deal to them as they rarely watch any TV anyway. Schuyler does enjoy American Idol but, thanks to modern technology we just DVR’d it for her. Mark is more of a TV person than I am, and I must say he reduced his TV greatly, too!

So, I’ve had many people ask about the wedding and one of my friends has very patiently been awaiting pictures. So, my dear friend H, without further ado, here you go. How gorgeous are they!!!




Check this one out. Beautifully backlit with a little sun flare right between them.

It was a LOT of work but I had my faithful husband be my assistant. He actually had some good posing ideas for the groom and was great at calming my nerves.

Schuyler had a great violin recital Sunday. She played “flower song”. Eli was such a good little man, he sat and listened on daddy’s lap through the whole recital. Afterwards, we celebrated her birthday with the grandparents. You grandparents do spoil our kids = ) Friday, was Schuyler’s actual bday and we met daddy at Red Robin for lunch and a trip to the zoo afterwards. Mark and I got her a new bike and she loves her new “big girl” bike.

Here is the Lightning McQueen cake I cooked for her friends’ bday, which was the week before. Must have been good b/c there was none left!


And, here is a pic of the 5 year old herself!


There is something special about turning 5. She seems older and more independent. I observed her Friday at her school and sitting in the dimly lit room, my eyes filled with tears as I watched her work on a complex problem involving math and beads with her best friend, Alexi. I sat there wondering about her future, what roads it will lead her down. My thoughts didn’t last long as Mackie spied me and I went and hid in the closet while Ms. Ann peeked at her through the blinds. Schuyler eventually spotted me too and I could read her lips saying “Mommy”. After that, it was time for Mommy to leave = )

Schuyler had dance pictures on Tuesday. I went and picked both girls up. If you do one up, you have to do the other up too! So, Mackie through on tights and a leotard and I did her make-up as well. Both of my girls looked just darling!

Tonight is parent-teacher conferences. I hope for positive reports on both girls. Tomorrow is my aunt and uncle’s 30th wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary Aunt E and Uncle S!

Busy Lives

Wow. Life is busy! Here is a weekend recap:

Saturday - Mark over-seeded the lawn. The water heater went out. I had a walk thru for the wedding I'm shooting Saturday. Made cupcakes for dad's bday and enjoyed dinner with him.

Sunday - Bake and decorate a Lightning McQueen. Host a party for 10 kiddos at Pioneer Gymnastics. They had a BLAST! Oh, Eli only slept probably a total of 5 hours off and on. Long night for mommy! Dad let us shower over at his place. It felt great! Mark stayed home Monday and we got a new water heater. Yeah!!!

I'm trying to proof pictures with any spare time I have. I promise, within the next month, for some bday pics. Schuyler was a great hostess. She greeted everybody with a hug. And, she said thank you, in a small, quiet voice after every gift. She is my very well mannered child = ) Such a sweetie. Mackie was right there with the big kids enjoying all the activities. Oh, how sweet is this. Schuyler wanted to sit next to her best friend Alexi and her sister!

I'm taking tomorrow off. Will use the a.m. to proof pics, do housework, and parent observation at the Montessori. I'll pick the girls' up for lunch and Schuyler will get to choose what she would like to do since it's her bday. Most likely zoo or children's museum.

This weekend is the wedding I'm shooting. Send positive vibes my way! Schuyler has a violin recital Sunday at 1:30 and afterwards is cookies with the family!

Oh, one more thing. Eli is already working on sitting. He is really working on physical development skills. Also, trying to hold his bottle and he hangs on to my shirt for dear life when he's nursing.

Here are a few of Reagan from the twins' 6 month pics. How angelic is she!!