Quiet {Life + Lens}

{Life + Lens} August
   Quiet

    This months {Life + Lens} topic was a hard one for me.  During the summer there isn't much quiet in our lives.  We are on the go constantly, we all sleep really late, and with a 9 year old and a 3 year old, quiet just doesn't exist anymore.  I did manage to finally grab these.  The first set I shot early one morning.  I have no idea why I was up before everyone else, but I was.  They are really grainy because that early we just don't have much light in the house yet.  

This next set I took at the mall this past Sunday.  Kennedy had been asking us to take her back to the Disney store.  This was one of those times that I was so happy I carry my camera with me all the time.  She was happily strolling thru the mall with her bag of loot from Disney, she looked so grown up, I had to snap a few shots.

I hope you will continue on with the blog circle and check out Nicole's {Life + Lens} blog post.

Life + Lens {Summer}

Wow!  It's been a while since I've blogged...I know I need to work on that.  I am really trying to work on my shooting daily and blogging more often and with that comes this blog circle Life + Lens.  So here goes....

Summer for me means lazy days with my kids, baseball (although not as much this year as last year), road trips, and lots and lots of swimming and playing in the water (hello!  It's Texas!  It's too hot for most everything else.)  The beginning of my summer, the month of June, my son is with his dad, so this is what the beginning of the summer has looked like for me....

We spent the first week of Summer potty training

She loves the water table

LOL love the little crack

Nap time at Gigi's (she has great light in her living room, i'm so jealous!)

A little swim time and bubble time at Grandma's 

Swim time!

One of our lazy days

Yay!  Bubba is home!  And a fun very hot day at the Ranger's game!  The kids and dad are checking out the Astro's bullpen.


And now you can check out the next blog in the blog circle, Nicole Israel's Life + Lens blog post..  

Letters to my children...

Letters to my children is back!  I missed last month, but not this month.  I decided this month I'm going to do a letter to both my children instead of just one, it won't be a long letter, but it's what I want y'all to never forget.  .

Dear Marshall and Kennedy,

    You two are my whole world.  I am so lucky to be your mom.  The Lord has blessed me so much!    I hope you two never have a question about my love for you.  Y'all are my everything.  I have learned so much about myself from you two.  It's because of you two that I strive to be a better person and a better mom.  I hope you two also know that I will always support you and I will always have your back. You can always talk to me, we might not always agree, but I'm here to listen.

   Just know no matter what, I will always love you monkeys!

    Love you always and forever!
                       Mom

Now that you've read my blog, and thank you for reading it, you should continue on in the blog circle and go check out Danielle's blog!

    

    

Letters to my children...Kennedy's letter

It's that time of the month again...it's time for the Letter's to our Children blog circle.  Last month, there were so many fabulous letters.  I cried so many tears reading the letters.  I can't wait to read them all again this month.  So...here is mine...to my Kennedy Grace....

To my dearest Kennedy, my sweet girl monkey, my diva, my little smart mouthed hot headed (oh Lord we are going to be in trouble) baby girl.  I definitely lucked out when you were born.  I swear your brother kept me on my toes as a baby, it was always something with him.  Not with you.  You were easy going, the best sleeper, you would just hang out and I could do whatever it was I needed to do...you were a breath of fresh air.  Then you turned 2.  Holy cow batman!  Things haven't been the same since.   But that's just part of your charm I suppose.

Being the mom to a little girl, excuse me diva, is not what I expected at all.  You and Marshall are so much different.  He's always been ok with playing and not always being right under me...NOT YOU!  You need an audience.  You don't just play, you sing.  You sing every song you've learned at school.  You don't just sing, you stand in front of the mirror and dance and prance and pose.  You also love to be Mrs. Mitzi (that's her teacher.)  You call out names from the kids in your class and tell them where to sit, and what to do (she does a fabulous impression of you Mitzi.)  You also love to take pictures.  Whether it's on the old camera or one of your phones.

I LOVE that you LOVE guacomole as much as your daddy and I do.  I love that you love to have your nails painted.  I love that you love to wear dresses.  I love that you love shoes.  Mostly I just love you!  I can't wait to see what the next years have in store for you.

I am so glad I'm your mom!

Love you!
      Mom
To continue in the blog circle, please check out Ashley's blog.

STRENGTH

Most everyone that knows me, knows my mom is a breast cancer survivor.  This June it will be 10 years.  1-0-Y-E-A-R-S!  I'm not sure if it has seemed longer or shorter.  What I do know is breast cancer changed all of us.  Never in my whole life did I expect to hear breast cancer from a doctor who my family had not only known for many years, but trusted and loved as well...

I think about the days my mom battled cancer often...from the discovery, to the mastectomy, to the chemo and it's residual effects.  I think about it all.  One word always comes to my mind when I think about everything she has gone thru and everything she will still have to endure because of cancer and the chemo...STRENGTH.  She, while she might not think she was strong then or now she was and is...  I wish I had just a portion of the strength she had/has.  

Today as I read thru the dozen or so blogs I follow, I came across my favorite.  This photographer (who I have talked about before on my Facebook page) is a breast cancer survivor as well.  She takes the most beautiful photographs and is always so encouraging.  Her whole philosophy on life is awesome.  Today  as I read her blog I bawled.  Her words, which aren't always correct (English isn't her first language), are always so moving.  Today she posted about her journey.  She posted very personal pictures.  Pictures that some might find dirty, but to someone who knows the toll breast cancer can take on a person and family, I found them beautiful and inspiring.  Her blog post is HERE.  I hope you take the time to read it.  

Letters to my kids...Marshall

Starting this month, I am participating in a Letters to my children blog circle.  I'm really excited!  After you read my letter you can click on the link at the bottom and go to the next talented Clickin' Mom's page.  So here we go....

Dear Marshall,

      9 years ago last Sunday you came into my life.  You taught me what true love was and you made me happier than I had ever been before.  I am so proud to be your Mom.  The last 9 years have been so much fun....watching you play baseball and basketball, seeing you in the Christmas plays at church, going on field trips, and watching your school programs.  I wouldn't trade anything for those days.  I am so lucky I am able to do those things with you, I can't imagine my life any other way.  

   I LOVE so much that you have such a passion for baseball.  I see you pour your heart and soul into every pitch, every at bat, every turn of the base, every catch you make, and every throw you make.  I hope you always have a passion for something.  Nothing makes me happier than watching you do your thing and be who you are...and who you are right now is MY baseball player.  I will always be your biggest fan and cheerleader.  

  Thank you for being you and I can't wait to see what the next 9 years have in store for you!  

Love you always and forever!
                                        Mom

And for you to continue in our blog circle, please go check out Dana's blog.