catching my breath

So what the hockey is up with me? I've been so slack around FFA lately! November 11th since I wrote something for my babies? Good grief! It's like the 26th now.

Slack. Er.

Not really. Life's been nuts. TONS of photography sessions {PTL!} and Thanksgiving and work at school and just stuff! But it's all good.

Well it was not good when the motor went kerplunk kerplooey in our 6 year old washing machine. Nope. That was no bueno. But God's provision is always so timely and if I'm honest, unexpected. He gave us the funds at the perfect time and well, that's that. That's what He does.

We enjoyed a weeklong break from school. It was lovely. I got the house decorated for Christmas and we spent three days at mom and dad's. I had a session with dad {Santa} and then shot 30 families for a One Less Orphan fundraiser we had last Saturday.

Busy, busy, busy.

But I just haven't had the time to get it all down here. So over the next few days, I'm going to catch up. Yes I am. We've enjoyed some wonderful time together and I want to get it all down.

Beginning with these pics of Joel from his little Thanksgiving play at school. He was a pilgrim! LOVE it! My own little immigrant pilgrim. Quite fitting I would say. The Tornado rocked out his role too! He even sang the song...which is big for him since he usually has a good case of stage fright. It went like this...

"Well Hello Mr. Turkey, how are you? {Clap, clap}

  Hello Mr. Turkey, how are you? {Clap, clap}

  With a gobble, gobble, gobble 

  And a wobble, wobble, wobble

  Hello Mr. Turkey, how are you?" {Clap, clap}

Adorable. That's what it was. And wouldn't you know...I went to school in a frenzy that morning and forgot my Canon. Grrrr. So...iPhone it was.

Our Turkey Day was really good. We ate waaay too much! It was yummy. And we sat around the table and laughed and shared what we were thankful for. It was a sweet time. We also looked at sale papers that day. Especially Gabe. Who snagged the grocery store one...yeah, he's always about the food!

We did a little shopping. Just enough really. Mom and Kevin had caught a bug and Karen has something going on with her foot {maybe broken it!} so we didn't do too much. Nothing like normal but it was all good. I got what I needed to get and I think everybody else did too.

Jase took off on Saturday morning with the boys while Kennedy, Syd and I stayed back for the One Less Orphan fundraiser. They helped so much and during a lull, both snuck in for a quick pic with Pops {aka, the best Santa in the world!}

It was good to be home that night in our own beds. But we had a fantastic holdiday! And believe it or not, Christmas is just around the corner! Eeeek.

Memorial Day :: part I

So we headed out of town to my parents' house after church Sunday. We were excited to have some good eating, corn hole and lovin' on Baby Claire! The girls were especially happy to meet their new cousin who was six weeks old that day.

We had a blast. Dinner was yummy. We laughed a ton. Watched Duck Dyn@sty until we cried. Ate homemade ice cream. And just enjoyed being together. The kids swam over at Kev and Deanna's and though I didn't take my camera over there or have it out during corn hole...Karen did and so I will have to snag some of those shots from her. :)

But here are a few that I was able to snag of the {girl} cousins meeting sweet Baby Claire for the first time! Joel had the blessing of going with me to her newborn shoot when she was a week old...but this was his first experience holding her. Suweet.

And in case you are wondering, that crazy Sydney has a owie on her nose. She managed to scrape it on the concrete bottom of our neighborhood pool! How in the world she was able to do that, I'll never know! It's not her forehead, or the tip of her nose. But the bridge. Only Syd...poor baby. As you can see, it did not deter her at all. She was in her suit, ready to go again when these pics were taken!

Our grandmother, Nan, came over for dinner and got some Claire lovin' too. :) And so we snagged a four generations picture too.

Joel and Uncle Keith slipped away to the kitchen and downed some homemade ice cream together. These two still adore each other. The newness hasn't worn off a bit. I hope it never does.

I snuck over to Keith and Mattie's the next day for some goodbye snugglin'. It was sooo worth it. Love, love my beautiful niece!