Happy Valentines Day!

This year I borrowed from Pinterest for the girls' Valentines cards. I'm going to thread an actual lolly pop in place of the "BE MINE" heart on the picture and VOILA instant Valentines Day Card. The taking of these pictures was last minute and somewhat painful. They happened to be wearing their cute Vintage Baby outfits and so we tried to catch a quick shot at the lake nearby. Unfortunately it was crazy bright and very windy - which made for mostly blown out shots and grumpy children. I got a couple decent ones which became the below:

Kendall's favorite thing to do these days is play tea party. She drags an old gift bag full of plastic plates, cups, saucers, and spoons all over the house 'just in case' she realizes a moment that requires tea. Not just the cups though - she has blankets that must be placed over the kitchen table, coffee table, or pretty much any other flat surface that we have our tea on.

I don't know if I would say Leah's "latest" thing are bunny rabbits...I think this has been growing over time, but it is going full steam now. And, just like bunnies, these things are reproducing like crazy. We went from one 'build a bear' bunny that Ma and Pa got her for her birthday to at least 10. I'm not even sure where they all came from! She has to have at least one bunny with her at all times and there are two very specific ones she goes to bed with.

All for now,

KB

Free Weekends - What Shall I Do?!?!?

This is the first weekend since 10/01/11 that I have not had pictures scheduled. I'm not even sure what I will do - clean the house? Organize the kids clothes, toys, etc etc etc?

This past weekend we celebrated a wonderful yet busy Christmas. Kendall got everything on her wish list - Dora kitchen and "Dora wings" (aka the Dora doll that has fairy wings). Leah didn't really ask for anything specifically but her favorites have been the "Go Fishing" game and her cat piano.

We've had so many things to be thankful for - the first that comes to mind are my dad's scans, which were clean this time (first clean scan since early 2011). The previous two scans found cancer in the kidney and a spot on the brain. We are VERY thankful for nothing to show up this time!

We had a wonderful visit with my cousin from Taiwan. We only get to see them every couple years so it was great having them in town the past week. I also had the opporunity to photograph them, which I'll post a couple pictures later (maybe during this luxurious weekend off perhaps?).

We are also very thankful to have both families within driving distance - so we get to see most of the family at some point over the holidays.

Let's see...Leah has become quite a talker. Trenton calls them "Pete and Repeat"...Leah would be "Repeat". She has really picked up the potty training over the past few weeks. At home she is mostly in panties unless she is napping. Kendall loves playing tea party and making food from her Dora kitchen. She also loves to draw and places her artwork all over the house (thanks to Mimi for providing the stickers that she uses to adhere them throughout).

A great part of the holidays was getting people's Christmas cards - and it was nice seeing the number of cards hanging from our display that I had personally taken and/or designed :)

I'm taking January off from photography, which generally ends up being a slower month anyway between the colder temps and most people just having wrapped up their Christmas pictures. Praying for a fun and successful 2012!

Spotlight on Kendall

Peanut Festival

This morning we spent a couple hours at the Aubrey Peanut Festival...for those that may not know, my husband grew up in this smaller rural town north of Denton and his much of his family attends this annual event. We enjoyed getting to see extended cousins and old high school friends...and of course the yummy corn dogs and spiral cut/deep fried potatoes.

Kendall wasn't super friendly or happy for most of the outing, as she has been for the past few days. Maybe she's have an early hormonal moment...Leah just seemed to take it all in - I don't know that she remembers this event from last year.

I got to snap a few shots and had a few moments of severe dog envy. I'm still grieving the loss of my 12 year old schnauzer Jolie from late Spring...and there were soooo many cute puppies to pine over!

Leah snuggling with my husband's Aunt Janice

Kendall in a rare moment of cooperative posing...loved this building!

Kendall - all grins for this one

PS Addiction

I have an addiction.

To Photoshop.

Oh, it took us a while to get here. At first, I wanted to pitch you across the room in frustration because you are NOT user friendly. But we got past that. And now I LOVE you. I still love to take pictures, but I must admit that now my first thought is what I can do with those pictures...in beloved Photoshop.

It began innocently enough with a wedding invitation...then it spun off to a test Christmas card...now I've sworn off ever buying another online card, collage, etc ever again and have begun fanatically creating these collages...

And yes, I titled this blog entry "PS Addiction"...well, because I'm beyond full name with my little addiction...we're blossomed into "abbreviation" status :)

One of the first ones created...just feeding the frenzy that would later develop...

Just one of the recent pictures I've created for photo sessions...

Fortunately my addiction has coincided perfectly with one of my sister's new business adventures "Sparkle More Decor"...now I get to make these for her and feel a little functional...isn't this an awesome wreath? She makes them completely personalized to YOU. Email her at maili_ramirez@yahoo.com for details!

My Little Emotional Roller Coaster

Earlier this evening, Leah had just awoken from a very late nap and was a little fussy. As I took her across the house to rock her, Kendall became very upset that I didn't wait for her. Running into the room where I was rocking Leah, Kendall started to hit and kick at me - not completely unusual for our little passionately emotional child.

Once Kendall calmed down, I asked her "why did you kick and hit at Mommy like that?"

"Because I don't like you Mommy," she replied, leaning in and giving me a kiss on the nose.

I pulled my face away from her and started laughing, to which she replied, "What? I like you now."

The teenage years are going to be an awesome ride!

Happy 2nd Birthday Leah!

Two years ago today, our precious angel Leah Claire was born just shortly after 4pm. I have to try very hard to remember anything but what she is today - a little girl with dimples that can melt your heart - that is into EVERYTHING. She is strong enough to open the fridge, which has caused all kinds of fun, but that is another story for another day.

What are Leah's loves? Dora, Caillou, Max and Ruby...plastic dolphin bath toys (doll-feen!) that she treats like baby dolls. You can usually find a few 'tucked in' under rugs throughout the house...string cheese, vanilla wafers, whipped cream (imagine that)...her big sister (sissy!)...her "mommydaddy" since we are apparently one entity...balloons...bubble baths...

What are Leah's dislikes? Shoes...potty training...car rides without the DVD on (tv on, mommy!)...sand...her big sister (SISSY!...followed by crying)...showers...riding in a shopping cart...long car rides (just found this one out on our last road trip)...drop-off time at daycare and church...

We'll always see you as our little angel...you arrived at a darker time when Grandpa was very sick, but you helped us all heal I think.

Love you Bean Bean!