Last night we went to Sea World with some friends - Did you know that Sea World is even BETTER at night? We go a lot during the day and it is SO hot and the kids get tired, hungry & whiny really fast - not at night. :) It's cooled down a LOT (at about 75-80 degrees), the sun goes down, lights come on - and the music starts. LOUDLY. Micah and Ella weren't sure exactly what to think of the noise - but BOY did their mama enjoy it! :) Fortunately, they're not old enough to be embarassed by my lame attempts at dancing. (UNfortunately, my friends ARE!)

ANYways - here's some pics of the kids enjoying the evening - I might have some more in the next few days . . .

Memorial Day

We've had a busy week - Matthew has been out of town for a week and it's so nice to have him home! Memorial Day weekend is always quiet for us and he got back just in time to relax with the familiy. He spent most of the weekend working around the house (lucky Matthew, huh?) but then Monday we had a little gathering . . . we enjoyed watching the kids slip & slide and then we all piled into the pool for some more fun . . . Ella asked for ice cream every, oh, 3 minutes or so. (Even when she said, "Pleeeeeeeze Granma Peggy??" - she STILL had to wait until after supper!) :)

Chris cooked a MOST DELICIOUS shrimp boil for all of us - he maintains that it was SUPER easy - but it doesn't matter - the shrimp was SOO good and the veggies were great . . . and of course Granny made her famous baked beans. (Sure, they aren't WORLD famous but they sure should be!) The kids drove the little car in the street, Ella wandered around getting into stuff . . . the boys played the Wii . . . all in all, a very relaxing BEAUTIFUL day and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Anyways, here are some pictures from the day, nothing fancy or special, just moments for me to remember. :)

Alex in her new sunglasses ("They're HANNAH MONTANA ones!")

Ella-bella, on a mission (see the determined scowl on her face?? the jaw clamped tight??) Oh and then her sweet little 2 year old back . . . can you see the fuzz? OH so sweet....

The two slip-n-sliders - Alex wasn't interested in trying it out. She was patiently waiting for them to get into the pool instead. :)

Alex's pretty smile ("only ONE and then no more pictures," she informed me)

The kids and the neighbor's dog . . . poor thing was so happy to go and "do her business" when the kids FINALLY backed of! :)

Alex and Micah driving the car - check out their skills! :D

Weddings - To shoot or not to shoot?

That is the question. :) Ok seriously, anyone who's talked to me in the last year KNOWS that I really REALLY want to do weddings. I'm a rediculous romantic at heart and I have YET to attend a wedding (even of those I didn't know!) where I didn't ball my eyes out!

When I was a little girl ALL I WANTED was to get married. No, not to have a husband, not to do "it" . . . I wanted to put on that big poofy white dress, walk down the aisle, say some romantic ho-hum yada yada, KISS a seriously hot guy, eat cake (yum!), maybe dance in my dress, and then ride off into the night. Still in my dress.

Later on in life, I changed my priorities from getting married to having kids. At that point, all I wanted was a pile of kids . . . and I was only 15. :) Fortunately for my husband, my horrifying confession that I wanted PILES of kids has all but faded into memory - two is enough for the moment!! He's also lucky because we decided on a last minute wedding (2 weeks!!) and I was forced to make split second decisions and dump a lot of my big hoop-lah ideas. (Turns out I had a BEAUTIFUL wedding, the perfect one for us - but it wasn't the one I'd fantasized about as a child.)

Fast forward to today - There is nothing more EXCITING than being allowed to be a part of a bride and groom's AMAZING day. I love to see the bride all dolled up, the groom clumsily trying to tie his tie and then turning to his best man (who in turn, hands him over to the father of the groom . . .) - The bride is asking questions like, "Is he here? Is everything beautiful? Does this dress make me look fat?" OK that last one was a joke - EVERYBODY knows that NO bride EVER looks anything but drop dead gorgeous in that white gown. That's the miracle and magic of a wedding dress - it makes you the star of the show, belle of the ball - and it transforms you into a beautiful creature that has the power to make grown men and women cry at the sight of you entering a room!

OK enough romantic mush - did you get it yet? I love weddings. I've wrestled with the thought of photographing them - they are a HUGE responsibility, it's a LOT (a LOT LOT LOT) of work, they're exhausting, I miss an entire day with my family . . . but MAN - they are F-U-N!!!

Since it's a wedding post today I'll add some photos from Lindsay & Cory's day-after session. (Heather - http://www.lucidphotoimaging.com/ - and I shot this wedding.) They opted to get all dressed up a couple days AFTER the wedding and have this session rather than see each other before the ceremony. Any way you do it is fine - but these, hands down, are my favorite types of sessions to shoot. Nobody staring at you from the wedding party or the guests . . . in fact, we're pretty much alone . . . which leaves a LOT of room for the romantic nonsense that the brides LOVE and the grooms dread. ;)

A day to celebrate!

This morning I dressed Micah and Ella (myself as well, of course) and then we headed to a place where I'm sure I'll spend a lot of time for the next several years. SCHOOL. Matthew and I took Micah to his kindergarten orientation - the current K class has a little presentation and small gifts for the "upcoming" kids . . . I sat there in the back of the room and watch my little boy sit SO still in the front. (I've never seen him sit so quietly and attentively EVER!) He wore his crown that the kids made for him so proudly. :) He watched as they recited the alphabet, the days of the week, months of the year, the seasons, some Bible verses and songs - then there were some snacks provided. I watched him head to the snack table (which was JUST the right height for him). He picked up a plate and ON HIS OWN decided which snacks he wanted. (a LOT of cheetos, not too many fritos, a handful of potato chips and about 5 animal cookies). Then he headed to his seat. (I WATCHED this from the back - meaning that he did this ALL by himself - which is something I've never really sat back and seen him do!)

He got his drink and carefully got himself situated so that he could enjoy his snack . . . and then I watched him quietly eat it and observe the kids around him. I do realize that it won't take more than a day of him actually being IN kindergarten to open up and be his crazy little self, but it was a side of him that I've never seen. My little baby boy is growing up and it's happening too fast! As much as he LOOKS big and grown (he is SO tall - and I'm not joking!) - he's still just a little boy inside. He LOVES to imagine - that boy has a running commentary all the TIME going on - at any given moment he could be a pirate, a race car driver, a dog, an elephant trainer - who knows! Anyways I just wanted to share his special day - which was a big day for us as parents. This is a whole new phase of his life - and I'm not sure I'm ready!! :D (by the way, Ella could not figure out why SHE wasn't the center of attention at the school . . . normally everybody watches HER but she couldn't get people to pay attention today - REALLY bothered her. I wonder who she's like.......??) ;-)

Another reason to celebrate - it's my grandparent's 54th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary Grandpa and Grandma Meisel! I love you guys to death and am so thankful that you live so close by. Your marriage and love for each other and the Lord is a constant blessing and example to your children and grandchildren - and now to your great-grandchildren. I hope today is a very special day for you!

Watermelon Girls

We had a BBQ last night with some friends and as the sun was setting on us I couldn't help myself - the light was just gorgeous - so we took some pictures. :) The girls were enjoying their watermelon, the dads were flying kites to entertain the kids (and themselves), and we moms were keeping ourselves busy with important conversation making. HA! :) Here are some highlights of the evening . . .

Mother's Day

Today (as hopefully EVERYBODY already knows) is Mother's Day. A day for us to honor our Mothers - and hopefully it's not the ONLY day we show them honor and gratitude - but it is a day set aside especially for that.

My mom is amazing. In fact - all of the "moms" in my life are amazing. I'll start with my mom. I'm the oldest of 4 girls - so she managed to survive raising all of us - and she pretty much did it on her knees. (No, not as in waving the white flag of surrender, but on her knees praying for us.) She is daily an example and encouragement to me as a wife and a mom - and I pray that someday my kids will see in me the same things that I see in my mom. My husband tells me I'm more like my mom every day - and I can't help but think of that as an AWESOME compliment - there is no person in this world that I'd rather be like. She loves the Lord with all her heart and everyone who meets her sees that she is DIFFERENT. I want to be just like her.

My mom's mom is equally as cool. :D Apparently back in her day (before getting married) my Grammie was QUITE a handful - and quite the spit fire! I have a hard time believing this because of who I know her to be today - calm, steady, quiet - but at one time she could raise some SERIOUS you-know-what. :) I would say that Grampie managed to tame her but I THINK she is one who wouldn't have been tamed - she probably decided for HERSELF to allow God to work in her life to make her the amazing woman that she is. If only she lived closer . . .

My dad's mom is such a blessing. I get to see her a lot since she lives close and I honestly think of my grandma as one of my best friends. I say this truthfully - I know of NO ONE else on this planet that has as much of a servant's heart as my Grandma does. Well, not true - she married the OTHER person with as much of a servant's heart - my Grandpa. :) The two of them are incredible examples of servants and it is because they live not for themselves, but to serve God.

Here's another REALLY cool thing about the moms in my family. It's not JUST my family that has such awesome ones - Matthew's mom (my Mother-in-law) is equally as much an encouragement and example to me as my own mom is. From the day we met I knew we'd be best friends, and no matter what I know that she loves me (even though I'm not her "own" daughter) and that she prays for me and our family - what a blessing. Then there's Matthew's Mom's Mom - Granny. :) Granny is so special - she, like my own grandmas, loves the Lord and will be the first to offer help, encouragment, or just her prayers for you. Granny and I can sit and talk for HOURS . . . she's just that cool.

The women in my family are living examples to me (and my 3 sisters) of what a wife, mother, and a follower of Christ should look like. Not just look like on the outside - but on the inside. I pray that my daughter Ella will see this in me as well, and I pray that she will also love the Lord and live her life for Him - and that this legacy will continue on in our family.

Happy Mother's Day Mom, Grandma, Grammie, Peggy & Granny - Thank you for being there for us, for supporting us, loving us, for praying for us, and for the example that you give to us each day with your lives. Love you all so much!

Happy Birthday to ME! :)

I figured that it was my duty to make sure everyone knows why I'm celebrating today . . . it's my 26th birthday! :) In our family, each person is entitled to a week of celebration (mine started last Friday). However, this week has been so busy that I've decided my week of celebration shall take place during the week FOLLOWING my birthday. It's either that or I will be forced to declare a MONTH of celebration - and I don't think my family will put up with that. :)

So I googled "birthday" and here's what wikipedia tells us about it: (I took the liberty of editing the following paragraph to better serve my purpose.)

Birthday is the name given to the day that some people in many cultures celebrate the anniversary they were born. It is often marked by a birthday party and/or friends when gifts are given to the person celebrating the birthday. It is also customary to treat people specially on their birthday, either generally acceding to their wishes, or subjecting them to a rite of transition.
The celebration of birthdays is not universal. Some adults loathe celebrating it as it reminds them that they are getting progressively older.

Yall let me know if you feel some sort of leading in the area of gift giving and/or celebrating - I'm available for both. I also googled "birthday" in the hopes of finding some AWESOME image that I could post here . . . and BOY did I find one!! :) (I know what you're about to ask, and NO - of COURSE I did not do any editing on this - WHY would you suggest that??)

OK so this entire post is all in jest - I truly don't expect ANYONE to bring gifts, cake, money, ice cream, cupcakes, jewelry, shoes, clothes, purses, movie tickets, free babysitters, etc to me today (but if you are so inclined, please know I will not take the joy of giving away from you) - but here's what I DO expect....

....I expect EVERYONE to do something to celebrate. :) - HA! So go eat a small (or large) bowl of ice cream! Take a wander around the mall, go see a movie, EAT SOME CAKE - whatever strikes your fancy. :) Because TODAY is a special day - even Einstein says so!! :)

Carissa & Loren: ANTICIPATE

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Carissa & Loren - you guys, thank you so much for a fun day! I think everyone will agree with me that Carissa is truly glowing and she is one of the most beautiful pregnant women I have seen! I'm excited to share this little sneak peek with them of what's to come - and I'm afraid there is SO much more to come!! :) I hope your last few weeks of pregnancy go quickly and well - and thank you for allowing me to photograph this special time in your lives!

Home again!

I'm back home - yay! The doctors have really found nothing. There's nothing wrong with my gallbladder and no stomach ulcers - praise the Lord! :) They did find some erosion in my stomach/esophagus which is around a flap or something - can you tell I was drugged when they told me what was going on?? Anyways, it can cause pain - but not severe abdominal pain like I experienced. SO---big fat nothing. No matter what, I'm glad to be home - I'll be following up with my family doctor and also the GI doctor I saw - and maybe with some more testing (outside the hospital!) they will find a reason - but as long as it NEVER comes back I'll be happy!! :) Thank you all for praying for me - I really do appreciate it.

if you wouldn't mind, please pray for Micah. :) He's been back and forth between the grandma's and auntie Joanna - and for as much fun as he and Ella have had, he's come down with something. Matthew is taking HIM to the doctor this afternoon to make sure he doesn't need antibiotics - sounds like another ear infection or something - so anyways, please pray that Micah's feeling well soon adn that we ALL (the grandmas included!!) can get some much needed rest tonight! Thanks again!