We're okay~

Maybe not great, definitely not perfect... But we are Okay~
This is the thing I keep reminding myself daily as I struggle to remember that I am still me even if I can't do the things that I used to be able to do. Even if I never am able to do them.. I am still going to be okay~  

It only takes a moment...

In a moment you turn around and life has changed. I used to be a girl who wished she was married and had babies..I was that girl for a long time~ then in a blink of an eye that changed.

Then I was a girl with a new husband and a baby on the way.

Then I was a mommy who worked and a wife who was always disheveled.

Then I was a mommy who was sick and so pregnant with a husband who was about to loose his job.

Then I was a mommy with a husband who was working 85 hours a week. I had a husband who worked so much and was under so much stress that he lost to much weight that myself and others were worried for him.

Then I was a mommy who had two little ones and was pregnant and had a husband who was working at a good but boring job.

Then I was a wife who's husband was lied about. My two little ones a baby and hubby all needed a strong person to rely on. I needed a moment to scream in my pillow.

Then I became a teachers wife, and mommy to more than my own.. Our friend Emmett came to us. We worked that way for a long time..

Now I am the Mom to three school children and the wife/girlfriend to my Hubby AND,  he and I are the entertainment for our friend Em..

It only takes a moment for your life to turn around and you become a different person, one that you never knew you could or would be.. I hope that I am ready for whatever moment comes next.

Once upon a time..

Once upon a time we took Family Photos..
We would head over to the Mall and pay the Picture People some money and they would produce fantastic pictures that we LOVED and we hung them on our wall and felt so much pride!



Then one day...THEY MOVED!!

It has been 5 long years since we had professional photos! All because the Picture People moved & because we had a bad experience with the others guys (JC Penny's, Sears, Walmart)

We have tried and tried to take a nice picture. We would set the timer on the Camera and Rune would run really fast to try and get in the picture and smile nice.


Every now and then we did okay..

BUT, More times than that, they were not great.

Like THIS one~!

One thing is sure, we never looked the way I wanted us to.

Then, a couple of years ago a great gal moved in our ward at church who was SO creative! SHE was a great photographer and lots of people started having their pictures taken by her and I grew more and more frustrated at our lack of a family picture. I would lay in bed wishing that I would call her and she would do our pictures too! EASY you might think but, not for me!!

Since I am always a truthful with you here I will be so again! Here it is..
I HATE to have my picture taken!
I have never been the kind of girl who felt at ease in-front of a camera.. It has gotten worse as I have gotten older. (and less youthful..lol ) I would think, as soon as I have lost a few pounds I will cal or, when I get a hair cut that makes me feel better I will call or, when we have more money for really cute April Cornell dresses for the girls. I thought of a lot of other reasons not to call all because I feel so un-photogenic. The funny thing about it is that I take hundreds of pictures of everyone else.. We have documented (as you may know) everything our little ones have ever done.

Finally I called her!

We went and had pictures taken last Friday!! How very grateful I am that Kristen Moss was okay with doing it on a short notice and that she was willing to go to the spot (far away) that I wanted to go. This is what she did for us! What a wonderful friend!
THANK YOU Kristen Moss Photography for making us smile!

Valentines Day

Our kids gave out these fun V-day gifts to their classmates.



This guy was asked at School if I dressed him ??
Nope this is all him! ;) The best Helper ever~


Her are the kids with their Valentines from Dad
(and Mom) the girls received beautiful necklaces
and Sam had a new Box Car W/ track cleaner!
(That is big stuff for a train guy)
Mom (me) had Dad pick up candy for them.


One more crazy shot ;)

Here I am ready to go into have an MRI. Not as restful as I had prayed for.
Next time I will ask for better medication! lol

Photography Days 6, 7 & 8

Day 5 Who else they love.


Generations..
Family History Work


His gift of love and promise to me.

Day 5.. Love to Hate

Day 5 of my Photography Course~
Love to Hate.
I absolutely Hate:
trying to get Lilly to take any kind of Medication~
I absolutely Love:
the thought that she can get better, if she takes them~

Then and Now ~ Katelynn Riley (day 3)

It is amazing how fast it all changes, and how much it stays the same. I have loved those eyes of your from the first moment I saw them..
Also, from the moment you were born I knew you were your own gal ;) I am just so glad that for right now you are still my little gal~

How he looks

When I hear people foolishly say things about my husband I always feel really bad for them.
You see, there never has been a man who gave so much and received so little.
He gave up everything.. For only a hope that his dreams would come true.
When I hear people say things about him I always think to myself.. "This poor fool has lost out on a Loyal Friend."
This is how he looks to some people,

A man who falls asleep in Church..
A man who is always looking for a baby to hold..
A man who make comments that sometimes seem off the wall..
A man who doesn't mind looking silly..
A man who hugs, sometimes to much..

Want to know why??
He is busy serving.. SERVING people who need help, THEY might not realize that they are in need, but he does~
I am more fortunate than anyone knows, because..
I am married to a giant of a man~

The most fun husband ever!

Our life might not be the kind that some people want.. BUT, It is in every way the kind I want.

I was getting ready for a new Photo Assignment (Fairy Tales) and was SO stumped.
Our girls have had a lot of pictures taken of them for these and it is not always easy..
This time I had inspiration from my Dear Hubby..
You see, for the past 5 years he has worn the same suit to church every Sunday.
This means it has baby spit up on it from our 5 year old.. We have no baby.. But he still "Wears it with Pride".
Well for his Birthday a few weeks ago we bought him 2 brand new suits!
Back to the photo shoot.. I thought he would be so silly and fun to take pictures of. the Story of The Emperor's New Cloths was one I thought he would have fun with. He Had more fun and stayed in Character very well!



Katie was a Fantastic Court Jester for us!


(yes he had a swim suit on)
PS..
Not every one always loves what we do..lol
But then again we do not always love what everyone else does either..
That's why I am glad that we are us~

Dinner

Yummy Salad (inspired by my pal Chelsea's great salad.)

Homemade Tarter Sauce. SO GOOD!

Sam thinks he is so funny! I love almost 10 year old boys.

In our family when you turn 5 you get butter knife privileges!
She is so proud~

Could this be more funny?