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Author Archives: Abbie
Mommy and Ceili Rain!
My first ever maternity pictures! Am I thrilled at how they turned out??? Oh yeah. Everybody sing, “I feel pretty, oh so pretty!”
It was great having pictures of what my pregnant belly looks like. I really wanted Mark in the picture but he just wanted pictures of me. If there is a next time, maybe I can coax him to get in the pics! Again, these are Portrait Innovations. I’m just saying…if you want professional pictures without all the “professional” expense, this is the place to go!
The Football Story (or why there is a football in all of Liam’s pictures)
Yeah, I know that’s a long title but the story is kinda funny.
When the photographer started taking pictures, Liam decided it wasn’t what he wanted to do so he threw himself down and started frowning. Mark grabbed a stuffed animal and tried to get him to smile. Our photographer didn’t seem to confident in her entertaining and picture taking skills so she got another photographer to come in and try to get him to smile. He put a feather boa on his head and Liam looked at him like he needed to see a shrink. I kept looking and searching all the props, etc. I tried a puppet…all hope seemed lost.
Then I spotted it. It was brown…hmmm, could it work??? I began to wonder. It was worth a shot though. I grabbed the big brown “pigskin” and showed it to Liam.
“What’s this Liam?”
“Football” and a grin spread across his face from ear to ear. Thus, the football got the kids group shot and then we went on to individuals, etc…I didn’t dream of taking the football away!
When she got to the boys’ shot she asked us if we wanted the football in the picture.
“Why not?” we replied…it’s part of our family!
Family Pictures
We get family pictures done every year. I would love to be one of those mom’s who does the pictures like every six months, etc…but we just can’t afford it. I have a friend who told us about Portrait Innovations a few years ago and we willingly make a trek to one each year as the pictures turn out awesome and they are very reasonably priced. Recently one opened up where my parents live, however, we could not get schedules to coincide with going there so we had to travel to another one! They take a ton of pictures and Mark and I were really brave in letting the photographer know what we wanted this year. Without further ado…the pictures.
I just pulled these from our cd, so I didn’t get a chance to crop any…sorry!
This year, we picked out pictures to keep that really went with each child’s personality. However, there was some other really good ones I wanted to share. I’ll point out the ones we actually bought, though as wall pictures (since they’ll go up on the wall for a year!).
Zoe’s picture to go on the wall!
I’ve always wanted a picture of her twirling since that’s what she loves doing!
Contemplative…we didn’t choose this one because she was playing with her wiggly front tooth…I still like it though.
Ace’s flirtatious wall picture!
We just had to get this one. I think I’m going to put it up in the boys’ room.
Does this say All-American or what???
My football lover!
Liam’s wall picture…gotta have that mischievous grin.
The, “What did I do now???” look
Full force loveable boy (and our wall picture)
Yeah, he was a challenge to sit still…but he liked this rocking chair so we threw it in.
Aren’t they beautiful!?! I love my kids and all the great photographers at Portrait Innovations.
Stay tuned for the football story and maternity pictures!
All I Want for Christmas
is my two front teeth!
Zoe lost her other upper front tooth tonight. I noticed, much to my disgust, that it was hanging a little off to the side.
After supper tonight, Mark started to pull it and I heard the screams and intervened.
So, when I laid down after baking, Mark got the boys’ and Zoe ready for bed and apparently he pulled it then. It must have not been too bad because she didn’t wake me up (of course, I don’t think a freight train could’ve gotten me awake!).
I’ll try and get a picture soon, but honestly, I think we’ll have one at some point since Christmas is so close!
Happy Birthday Zoe!
Zoe celebrated her sixth birthday on Saturday with an Art Party. It was her choice and (when things slow down) soon I’ll post her invitations that she designed/created. She seemed to have a good time.
The girls (she didn’t want to invite any boys) made ornaments, however, they were glass ornaments and involved paint, so we didn’t get any of that on camera…too much for the adults to take pictures and help at the same time. They also did a scratch art activity to make window sun catchers. A big thanks to Tracy, Hillary, and Ge for helping and having fun creating your crafts and helping the girls!
They also created their own cupcake masterpieces (with different color icing and sprinkles) and their own tacos!
Scratch Art…using a wooden stylus you scratch off around a stencil and the paper is a colored see through thingy…very cool and pretty!
Gift time! She “racked up” and enjoyed opening presents with friends!
Hmmm???
Getting ready to decorate ornaments. Glass ornament balls squirted with paint and then swished around.
Yee Haw!
While visiting with family this past weekend, we also got to visit with my side of the family. My niece has been riding horses since she was in the first grade. She’s in fourth now. I can not begin to express how proud we are of her. She’s so good at it and my girly girl niece can muck a stall with the best of them! She’s an animal lover and horses seem to be a passion of hers. They’ve also been a great therapy tool as she continues to miss her best friend who passed away a year and a half ago. All that to say, J we are seriously proud of how well you ride and how much you know about horses!
J took the kids on a walk around with the horse in turns. Ace wanted to ride by himself. He had a look of discontent the whole time and we asked him several times if he wanted to get off, but he kept saying no. When it ended, he told us he didn’t like it…his reason: it was too bumpy.
A House Full…
This past weekend we were able to descend upon Papa & Grandmere, Mark’s parents, and spend time visiting with them and with Mark’s brother and family. So, again, for those who didn’t pay attention when invaded in September, here’s the run down stats:
Ages: 8, 6 (turned 6 while we were there), 5 (but will be six in two more days…so I’m reminded), 4, 4, 2, 2, 1, 6 mths, 6 mths
Gender: 3 girls, 7 boys
That’s six on B&B’s side and four on our side.
No, we’re not Catholic (not that there’s anything wrong, etc…I’m just saying, I know people wonder)
On to the pictures shall we! I will say that Ace was as sweet as he could be with the twins. Probably his favorite time, hands down. I think he really enjoyed that they played on the floor and he could entertain them. Zoe loved having someone her age to giggle and laugh and play with. The boys loved jumping on their big cousin. It was a wonderful time for us all.
Freddie lives!
NEWS FLASH!!!
UPDATE: Freddie is alive!
The fish still lives, although he is VERY lethargic. We consulted the authority on beta fish care and troubleshooting (Google) and maybe he just needs clean, warmer water…so that is the current situation. I’m sure my sweet wife will keep you updated.
The Dad
UPDATE: Freddie is alive!
The fish still lives, although he is VERY lethargic. We consulted the authority on beta fish care and troubleshooting (Google) and maybe he just needs clean, warmer water…so that is the current situation. I’m sure my sweet wife will keep you updated.
The Dad
Alas, Poor Freddie
It seems our sweet beta fish has bit the dust…or is swimming with the fishes…okay, he’s dead as a doornail (to quote Dickens). Mark discovered he had “met his Maker” this evening when he got home and Liam went to feed him. Oddly, he’s laying on the bottom of the fish bowl not floating toward the top.
He made it a long eleven months and my sporadic feeding and Mark’s sporadic bowl cleaning has left him gone.
We’ve sorta kinda told the kids and I’m sure I’ll have the pleasure of explaining it tomorrow…and this, dear brother-in-law is why we don’t need to get chickens right now 🙂 Maybe later, when we can keep a beta fish alive for more than a year, we’ll see! Although, we do see an advantage in having our own eggs…I digress…this is supposed to be a eulogy for poor Freddie the Fish.
Farewell Freddie Fish (love the alliteration)…we loved casually glancing at you when we remembered you were there.
(Hey, at least I haven’t killed the cats, dog, or kids…course they remind you when they need to be fed)