Presenting...SMILEABUNCH PHOTOGRAPHY

All that talk of photography and practice sessions and big giant projects that have been

consuming my life are finally ready to "reveal"

(just in case you didn't already figure out what I was up to).

So, it's official...

smileabunch photography

is open for business!

YAY!

Check out the new website and the smileabunch photography blog and tell me what you think!

And to celebrate the opening of shop, I am offering a special holiday mini-session deal!

Click on the image for more details!

Also, the launch of this site will change the way you access our picture galleries.
From the smileabunchphotos.com webiste, you can click on the "family and friends" link at the bottom and it will take you to a page where you can enter the password (which has been updated so email me or comment if you would like it). The galleries may say "password protected" but since you already entered the password you shouldn't have to enter it again. You can also click the link to "Check out more pictures" on the top righthand side of this page  and it will take you to the same view you used to see, and you will enter the password in the first gallery you open instead.
Please let me know if you have any trouble with this. 

And a bit of random love...

I am sitting here next to my little baby boy and wondering who gave him permission to grow up.

He is reading...really reading. h-a-d...haaaddd...had.

All by himself. It is so wonderful!

He started "reading" a long time ago...you know the kind of reading where you recite a book from memory because you have read it so many times.

And then he started sounding out words about a year ago...

but he needed help to actually squish the sounds together into a word.

But in the last week he figured it out and now he can read lots of short words all by himself.

A minute ago he was coloring pictures for me...

pictures of my face next to Seth's face

with the words "mom" and "dad" and hearts all over the place.

Then he brought me a picture of our family:

me and Seth with his hand traced around us like a frame

and Brynn (with a B next to her) and Chloe (with a CLE next to her)

and hearts all around.

He said, "The hearts are to show that I love you."

I don't mean to bore you with random facts or brag about how super-de-duper my kids are,

but I have been trying to look for the good in this little boy

(to try and balance out this mischevious stage he is in),

and I found it! And it is wonderful! And so is he!

***

On a different note, I am pretty lucky to have really wonderful brothers,

and my Mom has always been more like a best friend than a mom,

but I never had a sister.

I always thought it would have been fun to have a sister with whom to share clothes,

and talk about boys, and go shopping and watch chick flicks,

but I never really knew what I was missing until I had 2 girls.

Two little girls with great big hearts who share something special.

They are sisters forever and ever.

And while they bicker and steal each others toys and get overly dramatic because

"she is touching me"

they love each other like crazy!

Today in the car, I saw in the rearview mirror, Chloe reach over to pat Brynn's head and smile at her and I got teary thinking what lucky girls they are to be sisters
and what a lucky girl I am to be their mommy!

I'm nicer on Mondays

It probably seems a little strange to say this, but I think I am nicer on Mondays.

I think it probably has something to do with Sundays.

Maybe it is because Sundays (even though they are busy) remind me what is really important.

Maybe it is because I almost always shed a few tears during church on Sundays.

Maybe it is because we spend time with extended family on Sundays.

Maybe it is because Sunday is Seth's only day off all week.

Maybe it is because that means I get to sit next to him for 2 full hours and hold his hand.

Maybe it is because I like to make treats on Sunday.

Or, maybe it is because I update the picture blog on Sundays forcing me to go through my pictures from the week and enjoy the memories.

But whatever the reason, I am glad it is Monday, because I feel nicer today!

How did she figure this out?

I know I shouldn't be doing this...

...and I really know I shouldn't be doing this...

...but I did it and mom just took my picture
...it's a proud day!

She sure has turned into another Little Miss Mischevious, but we love her anyway!

Renewed

For anyone who endured my downer posts and still reads this blog...

I am feeling renewed, refreshed and ready to take on the world!

My floor is swept, Chloe and I are flipping through princess coloring books and

oo-ing and ahhh-ing at some pretty pictures of flowers on Flickr.

Morgan said our family prayer this morning and prayed that he would have fun at school

and Seth would have a good test at school (good luck babe!).

All three kids + me were dressed with hair done and shoes on ready for the day early enough that we weren't rushing to get out the door and we got Morgan to school on time.

Nobody has a runny nose that needs to be wiped every 30 seconds

or a croupy cough or a sick tummy.

Sink is shiny, dishes are clean, laundry is caught up.

Plus there is a giant heaping plate of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies on my kitchen table

and my fridge is stocked with cold Dr. Pepper and Sobe's.

We are starting this week off on a good foot!

Hope you are having a happy Monday too!

P.S. We are good sharers...if you need a cookie to make your day a little better, come on over!

A New To Do

• PLAY individually with each of my children every day

even if...

 you can't remember how long it has been since the kitchen floor was mopped,

you are 2 loads of laundry behind,

you haven't gotten dinner ready and will have to feed the family leftovers...again,

you are still in the middle of making Chloe's pettiskirt and all the materials are still sitting on the couch after more than a week,

Chloe's birthday invites need to be mailed and haven't been designed yet,

a giant project needs your attention,

photos need to be edited, tagged, or backed up

...because chances are, the even if's will still be there when those

three precious bebies

are fast asleep,

busy with school,

would rather hang out with their friends,

don't want to kiss you goodbye,

or are all grown up with families of their own.

I don't need to do it all, I just need to play with my babies

...every day...

because that is what is important right now!

HELP!

Is it ok if I take a minute to vent here?

(what am I saying, of course it is ok, it is my blog...that was more of a warning for your sake)

My wonderful, sweet and caring little boy has turned into a full blown monster child.

There was the window saga from a few weeks ago,

another opening of the window saga this week,

a general tone of disrespect and brattiness

(hiding from mom and dad, talking back, disobedience, even hitting mom),

taking     f......o...r......e.....v....e...r    to get ready for school lately,

mealtimes have become a battle...some days because he doesn't want to eat...

and some days because he has this unquenchable hunger and won't stop eating,

I have even noticed that he is being a bit of a stinker in preschool,

and today...

well, today the kid found the scissors

(that were hidden in a place I didn't think he could find - ha, that doesn't exist)

and cut the duvet cover I had made for Chloe to shreds during his quiet time! To shreds!!!

In the spirit of full disclosure,

all the kids have had croup this past week,

I have been exhausted from being up all night listening to the kids having croup,

Seth has been going non-stop between school and work,

I am in the middle of a GIANT project that is taking every spare second of my time,

and so I have definitely been slacking a bit in the motherly-duties arena.

I think I need some mothering inspiration...

and so I am petitioning you amazing moms out there for help!

I need your best coping tips, inspiration, book recommendations,

stuff that's worked for you, and yes, even sympathy at this point.

I'm hoping that it is just a phase,

but I have one tip for myself right off the bat

...get more sleep!

P.S. Why is it that I could get work full time, date (more than full time),

hang out with friends, go to school full time,

and be super nice and bubbly for all of it with   

5 hours of sleep or less per night in college,

but now I feel like I need at least 8 hours

to be a reasonably decent human being?

this girl is hilarious!

The other day she was in the middle of a full-blown sobbing meltdown while I was opening the mail, so I tried to distract her...

"What do you think of these new shoes that came in the mail for me, Chloe?"

(still sobbing, throughout)

"They're darling!"

(continued sobbing)

P.S. These are my new shoes for gardening...please do not comment on my lack of style or my veiny feet.

The next day, I gave her some (gruyere) cheese fondue and crackers

"This is the best cheese dip ever!"

Last Friday, Morgan was singing the 4th Article of Faith song to Seth's family...

"...third, baptism by immersion, for the..." Morgan sang

"remission of sins!" Chloe added throwing her hands in the air in a V.

Diva much?

And Saturday night, as I put her to bed,

"I love you Chloe," I said.

"No, Mommy, say 'I love you Cinderella!'"

la la la la love you, babygirl!

Thanks for the kisses and squeezes and laughs!