Maternity Photos!

Did I tell you how much I love "my" photographer.
I know we are not the only people that she takes pictures of but I do consider her mine. haha!
She has taken our pictures forever, and like I said before, I always love them.

We got together recently to take our maternity photos and once again,
I love them.
I had asked her if she broke Photoshop in fixing them to make us all look so good, she laughed and said she didn't make changes like that to them.
So then she just takes great pictures.

Here's a peek...

I told you she does an amazing job. I love her.
We are getting together again soon to take a few we missed, it happen to be raining the day we did them so we couldn't take any outside.
So I will post more soon.

In the meantime, go take a look at her work. Here's her blog.
Thanks again Jocelyn. You do an amazing job!!
Me and my family love you dearly!!
We know Brooklin and Delaney play well together, no guessing there.
We enjoyed having you in our home and visiting with you.

Til next Time with T!!!

Baby Shower!

I had the most amazing surprise a few weeks ago one morning when I dropped my kids off at school.
My friend Julie, asked me what I was doing on a Saturday soon in the future.
I responded with, "I'll check but it sounds good, why, what's up?"
She said her and the girls wanted to have me over for a breakfast for baby.
I couldn't believe it...I responded with, "Are you kidding me?"
Allow me to explain...

Yes, our kids go to the same school, and yes, some of our kids went to Kinder together 2 years ago, and although I know them in the parking lot or in passing at school over the past couple years, we are all just barely getting to know each other this year...well, let's say me. As in, they all have kept in touch, but somehow, it seems that I have always been so busy.

Wondering where my time had gone. Why, don't I know this great group of women better?, why have I not "had" time...
Sometimes we can be so busy at what we think is important, but then you come to realize that what you were so busy doing really was nothing as important as the people you have around you everyday.

Anyway, these mom's that I had spoken to in passing throughout our children's short but quick, 2 years of school were putting their hands and hearts together to give me a breakfast for me and my baby.

It may sound common to most of you out there but seriously...
this was HUGE to me. It spoke soooo loudly to me.
I caught myself even thinking, why would they do this, for ME?!!
I was completely floored for the next few weeks until the wonderful day arrived, and then I was at a complete loss of words, and so thankful to God for this group of women he had "put" into my life.
Amazing!!!

So the Baby Breakfast came...
here are some shots of the beautiful decor, food, and friends...
So girly....love it!!.....

This was the center piece on the table...gorgeous!!!
I love the tissue flowers...

Close-up of the center piece...it was the favors.
Beautiful jars filled with sugar & spice, covered in everything nice.
So impressive!!

Centerpiece in the next room...I love the diaper cake with the zebra ribbon with the tissue flowers on top. Thanks so much Trina.
I don't want to take it apart.
Fun presents...I love all that color.

This was a banner on the fireplace...it was the invitations.
How clever was that?
Clipped to the fireplace screen was a calendar with my due date highlighted.
I had never seen that before...so cute.
Hopefully, we deliver just a little sooner than that;)

There were so many different varieties of food, savory, sweet, healthy...all types had one thing in common...YUMMO!!!
These goodies on a sticke were for the chocolate fondue...
so fun and wonderful.

Beautiful!!!!
I love all the pedastools/cake stands everywhere.

I loved this idea...everyone received a card that said
"My wish for...."
Then they fill in the blank. It could be a wish for mom or baby.
Then everyone read their own wish, which was very touching to hear those said than to have just read them. Bring on the kleenex!!
Very special!!!

A close-up of the food on the plates...love all the variety and color.
Most of all, I loved filling my mouth with the food.

Me and Julie.
She is the one who started all this.
Her home, coordinating and her heart made all this happen.
You're awesome Julie!!!

Hey, how'd this get in these pics?

Just kidding!! These boys are the reason that we all get to see each other everyday, and given us such great friends to hang out with while they're hanging out.
I can see these boys will all be friends for many years to come.
If the parents have become friends, they won't have a choice.
There are a few missing from the pic, these just happen to be a baseball practice and got back "just" in time to eat up the leftovers.

I know this may be a long post, but I have to say to this great group of ladies once again....
I absolutely thank you from the bottom of my heart for your thoughtfulness and generosity. I really cannot express enough how much this has meant to me and my family.
Such a surprise and a blessing to me, my baby and my heart.
Thank you again for everything!
I had a blast finally getting to hang with you all.
Cheers to many years to come!!


My sister has also posted a thank you to you all on her blog...
check it out!!!

Thanks again!!

Til next Time with T!!

Happy Birthday Kameron!!!

Today is Kameron's 8th birthday!!
Happy Birthday Kameron!!!

I decided to post some of my favorite pictures of him
doing some of his favorite things.
I couldn't ask for a better son.
He's smart, sweet, well-mannered, loves his family,
has a great time anywhere,
has a tough but soft manner about him, and has a caring heart,
Not to mention that crazy hair, that everyone knows him by, and he has had that since I can remember.

So here are some favs....

His first day of school this year..

Playing soccer...

Baseball...

Hanging with the boys...
An after soccer game, dog pile on Kameron..
Kameron's on the bottom.

A close-up..love that face!!!

One of his favorite people...
Kameron loves his dad and most times acts just like him.
Lord, help us!! Two in one world???

He loves his sisters...he would never tell you that in public though.
It's true, actions are louder than words.

Shooting his bow...

More sister love...

Target shooting while on a hunting trip in TN with Dad and Uncle Rick.

And...his favorite person!!!
Well, just no one tell me if that is incorrect.
Let me just believe it, ok??

Kameron loves to be outdoors..biking, scooter riding, hunting, fishing, running, walking...it doesn't matter.
He loves it and goes out as much as he can.

Last but not least of his favorite things to do is...
of course, playing the guitar..Guitar Hero that is!!!
He loves it, when we all get into guitar playing against each other.
He has picked up this guitar playing personality..(see below).

Yes, mom rocks at Pat Benatar...No one has beat me yet.
Especially when I have on my hot red high heels. haha!

If you see Kameron today..
give him a big hug and kiss and tell him
Happy Birthday!!!
His party will not be today, but we are celebrating it, very soon.
More to come on that exciting party. I can't wait.
Our sweet Baby Coco must wait to visit us until after his party.
I refuse to miss it.

To the best son anyone could ever ask for...
Kameron, Happy Birthday!!!
I love you buddy!!
You're my favorite boy in the world.
Hope you have an amazing day!!
xoxoxo

Til next Time with T!!!

Winter Formal 2010

Shine had her Winter Formal this weekend. This was her first High School formal. She is a freshman. Although I had a blast with her the entire day, into the next morning, I realized how big she has grown and how many short years left I have with her at home.
These next four years will go by even faster, so I have heard.
Do we really have to "let" them grow and go?
I'm sure if there was a way to make it all stop, there would have been at least one mom out there that would have made it happen by now.

Let me just say, I love this little girl so very much. She is sooo special to me.
We have been through a lot together, when no one else was there.
She means the world to me and I would do anything for her.
Her nickname says it all..."SHINE". She truely does!!

Ok, enough of the mushy stuff...urgh!!!
Here is our great day we we're so blessed to share.

We started with her nail appointment. A must for a girl getting all dressed up.

By that time, we were getting hungry. So we stopped at our favorite Chinese spot to swallow down a teriyaki bowl with rice/veggies.
The perfect lunch when you're in a hurry and need something good to eat. Not too heavy, but filling.
(Sorry, this pic is dark, I didn't take it)

Then we went to pick up her dress from alterations. The top needed a little extra seam to stay in place while she was dancing.
Then we headed to a friends house to borrow a clutch purse. Thanks B!!
I insisted she carry one complete with her phone, money, ID, ticket, and of course, the lip gloss.

Then we headed home for her to start getting ready.

She was not going with a boy this year, as her and her friends think they boys this year, are not ok...they are waiting for a more mature crowd.
Lets face it, boys or girls at 14 are both still trying to figure themselves out.
I am sooo good with that.

So her and her friends decided to go in a group.
This is a great group of girls..
Their heads are on straight and they come from great families.

We invited the girls and their families to come to our house prior to for pictures and the final touches of getting ready.
Here are the three girls...
Mikayla, Shine, Aleya

I love this laughter they have...so happy!!

Shine and Dad...(mom loves this picture)

The 3 of us...
(I never thought I would be doing the Winter formal pictures for my oldest with a prego belly on).

I love this one too...I am framing it for my house.

Sissy and Shine..

Kameron, Shine, and Brooklin...I love my kids.

The girls messing around...

So off we went to dinner...no I didn't go with them. I was told that was not ok. Although that wasn't by Shine, she said us mom's could go, but a close friend told me "Not ok!!"...thx friend, you were right.

So the girls decided to go to Macaroni Grill. Once they got checked in, they had a pretty good wait so we decided to get some individual shots we had forgotten at the house.
As it turned out, the dusk lighting was perfect for the next shots, especially with the tree behind lit up.
I was having so much fun!!!

Here's my Shine...I was so proud of her. She is beautiful!!
I can say that, I'm mom!!! I own bragging rights!! lol!!

A close up shot...

This was a fun one too...the girls all ended up jumping off the bench together.
This was just the practice shot.

The last one of the night...well until the after party.
Me and Shine...I love this picture.

I went shopping while they ate and they called me when they got the bill, so I could go back and pick them up.

We then went straight to the dance, I dropped them off and headed home until the next call to be picked up at 11..

We got home, they changed and we went to my friend's house for the after party..(Thanks Bernadette, the girls had a blast), the girls went into the hot tub and chatted until 3:15. Then we came home and called it a night.

I was very tired but wouldn't have missed it for nothing. It's true she is growing up into a young lady. I will take all your advice you can pass along.
I know the biggest piece I have heard at this point is spend every second you can with her. Cause it goes superfast now.

Shine, I love you my dear!! You are the greatest teenage daughter I could have asked for. I am soooo very proud of you and have every bit of confidence that you will be a success in whatever you do.
I know you will Shine brighter than any other shining star out there.
I love you!!!

Til next Time with T!!!

"Love" Week

This week's challenge with Scrap Tiffany is "Love".
Perfect timing for the week of Valetine's Day!!

Here is my "Love" layout for this week's challenge.
It's a layout I did of me and Shine.
I took a digi layout class from Little Light Studio with Wilna.
This was our first assignment.

It was a great class and very easy. I am embarking on the digi scrapbooking arena. So far I love it. I definitely love the end result and am learning the how-to's of Photoshop.

Take a look at all the other design team's projects on ScrapTiffany's blog.
Everyone did an amazing job, once again!!!

Hope you all had an amazing love day with your loves!!!

Til next Time with T!!