Happy Father's Day!!!

I'm back from my fun weekend at camp and though I don't have time for photos, wanted to send out Happy Father's Day wishes to all Dads!! I especially want to mention my awesome hubby who is a super dad!

I remember when we discussed children in our dating years and how we would have two...I agreed two was good only because that's what he wanted - hey, we were courting and like the flowers he used to send me "just because", there are things about courting that you just "gotta" do!! I have to say that living that dream is better than I could ever have imagined. We are so blessed with four great kids! I'm incredibly lucky to have him.

I can't let this day go without mention of my dad. I miss him very much. Last night while sitting around the campfire, my brother was telling a funny story and his mannerisms reminded my mom and I so much of my dad....it was so great to laugh in his memory. Dad never met any of his grandchildren, he passed a few months before the first one was born (he has ten now).....he would have been a fabulous grandfather and the kids would have loved him so. They call him Gump and every time we visit my mom, we drive by the cemetary where he is buried and without fail, my kids all say "Hi Gump, I love you" (on holidays they send their wishes)

Tim Russerts death was shocking and the tributes to him over the past few days have reminded me of what is important to me. My boys watched me get emotional as they showed a clip of Mr. Russert talking about his father and his son. I used my tears and the program to talk to the boys about how important it is to live a respectful life so that people will think kindly of them.....I want them to know that, to me it is important to be a good person. I know for some this will sound strange but its how I get through days when I miss my dad and my heart is heavy....I think to myself.....if God asked me to give my life so that my children could live as blessed and happy as mine is today, I would certainly not hesitate to answer that and I believe my dad would have done the same. I believe that everything happens for a reason. I honor my dad's death by living a good life and doing my best to be a good person.....I do it for me and my children because we are his legacy. He (and my mom of course) gave us a good foundation on how to do those two things.

Found this on a web board that I frequently visit and wanted to share it here:

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, love generously, care deeply and speak kindly.

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass….it’s about learning to dance in the rain.

Happy Father's Day!!!!!

~kel~

Its good to be back!!!

Business first: I had my first beach shoot of the season last night - feels good to be back!!! I have to tell you how great these kids are! They listened so well and got along great and I completely enjoyed my time with them! I think you can tell by the photos!!! I believe mom will be checking here for a sneak preview and I wanted to say Thank You, Karen, for calling me...your children are wonderful people!!

My beautiful, wonderful, simple life: Jean left for work really early this morning and Ms. Marleigh crawled in my bed as she does most mornings. I love this time with her - and sometimes Makenna joins us too and its a big love fest with tons of kisses, hugs and giggles. Yesterday was a busy one for them with Meemie. They played in the pool and being there is so much fun for them they are exahusted when they get home (thanks for wearing them down for me Mom!) Marleigh was feeling a little sluggish this morning....she toted four dolls and her blanket into my bed and once we got them all situated, she cozied into me and held her blanket to her lips. She calls this "smelling" her blanket -Branden and Makenna smelled their blankets too but Cam never did..probably because he was always itching is eczematous skin - poor kid. The girls and I laid there for a bit, just drifting in and out of sleep. At one point I asked Marleigh if she was ready to get up and she softly shook her head no like she was completely content wrapped in my comforter. We had the fan in the window so the air was cool but we were so cozy.....none of us wanted to get up! Only two days left of school and we will be able to stay in bed until we are done being lazy.

Yesterday while driving the girls to my moms, Makenna was singing a "happy" song. I dont remember the words or even what the song sounded like because it was made up, but it was about love and it was cute! She sang sweetly and when she was done I looked back to tell her she did a great job and her smile was so big and her entire face was lit up. I could tell she was proud of that song and I commended her on a job well done. When I turned back around I got emotional because she looked so happy at that moment - I dont want to forget that big smile or how it made me feel to see it. It was a 2 second moment.....a smile just for me. When I think of the emotions I felt after seeing her smile, it reminds me of the first time we took Branden to see Disney on Ice (maybe lame to some but this was our first big adventure as parents). He was my first born, about 3 years old, and when I saw the look of wonder on his face when Mickey Mouse first came out I cried....it was a look you dont get to see all the time...I remember it clearly today and hope I never ever forget it. Simple happiness I guess.

Well, I should go. First a few shout-outs....Cheryl F., thanks for your referral - a free 8x10 at your next session is coming your way.....and Laurie S. who offered me sundresses in 3T - YES! YES! PLEASE!! I LOVE MY BLOG!!!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

~kel~

Can't touch this.....

Morning chuckle: Im sure you've seen this Hallmark commercial. It's the one where the dad imagines he's MC Hammer singing "Can't Touch This". It makes me laugh every time. I'm a geek! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWIAIfRHaU0 (I dont remember how to add the video link and time is not on my side this morning so you get a clickable).

Its Meemie Day!!!

Marleigh is constantly running shoeless because putting them on is too cumbersome for her. So yesterday I bought her some croc style shoes to see if she would wear them - JACKPOT! She hasn't taken them off except to sleep. I was shopping for some sundresses for her yesterday and didn't have much luck. I love well-loved hand-me-downs because I dont have to worry about them but I cannot find any in my boxes and boxes of clothes handed down from Kenna. I did find a few but I'd like to keep them for when we need something nice in a pinch. I did find several for Makenna at Target for $7 each - DEAL! But nothing on the clearance rack for my Marleigh Burgah. If you have a lead for me (size 3T) I'd love to know where to go.

I had an interesting Walmart shopping experience when Marleigh was little. She was sitting in the cart...I was checking out and the guy checking me out noticed I had one of those wrapped spoons that you get in the deli dept for samples. Without saying a word to me, he proceeded to open a packet of vanilla pudding that was also on the counter with my purchases, unwrapped that spoon and handed the pudding and spoon to me with an enthusiastic "Here ya go". I asked what he was doing and he told me that he has kids and figured I was planning to feed Marleigh the pudding. I was completely stunned. I just stood there shocked! What an odd man!!! I always scan the registers now to see if he's is working because I'd rather stand in a LONG line than have an experience that odd again.

Its summertime!!!!!
Im off to get this day started.

Enjoy!

~kel~

Weekend plans....

I'm already talking about the weekend because mine is going to be so fun! Jean and I have a great group of friends that have been part of our lives for most of our 40 years. We decided we'd try to gather together this year and celebrate together. We did it at 30 yrs so it seemed like fun to try to get everyone together for this one. I'm really looking forward to spending time with them all. The gathering spot for the get-together is our camp - my kids are as excited as I am. Marleigh keeps telling people "We habbin a party at camp!"

I had a model session last night. I work with a talent agent (she represents my kids) and I run a little promo for her to update her client head shots. Yesterday I had a brother and sister who needed updates so of course, we had to get one of them together for mom. I am really drawn to the serious faces.....but you know that already!! Look how great these guys did!

Remember these? I remember mom having some when we were kids and we drove her crazy to make them all the time. Yesterday Kenna dug mine out of the back of the cupboard and drove me crazy to make some. I only had orange juice but I personally think OJ makes the best pops! It was cute to watch her slurping on hers in the yard while Marleigh had her nap. A treat for her to appreciate in her quiet time....a memory for her, I hope.

Makenna informed me that she'd like to change her name to MaKenzie. That's what lots of people at the campground call her and its really noticeable this year returning from the winter break. So I guess I failed in naming her - I actually never considered MaKenzie because I really like Makenna. That's my prerogative I guess...I gave her life I have the right to call her whatever I want :) I told her when she's older, she can change it but I needed to call her Kenna because my heart just can't change it now. (yeah, mom psyche trying to win this fight) but she skipped right over to Cameron and told him he needed to call her MaKenzie now. He looked at me, rolled his eyes and went back to what he was doing. It was comical.

I always watch the news in the morning while I blog. I see this morning there's lots of talk about ticks and the prevention of Lyme disease. Usually I get one tick every morning from one of the kids...this morning it was Cameron, yesterday Marleigh. They are the big ones so I usually dont worry too much. But I had to laugh the other day watching Marleigh playing with her dolls....and checking them for ticks too. Its just a way of life around here!

Its time to sign out. I hope you have a great hump day!

~kel~

It's all about Marleigh.....

These days I write so much about Marleigh and I hope its not making people crazy to read. She's just at an age where she does the funniest things. I can't help but love watching her go through her carefree days! Singing at the top of her lungs this morning...I've been up since 3 AM and my ears are still tender to all the sounds of this crazy house as it gets hopping and there's Miss Marleigh...just singing her little heart out.
I actually took this photo last night but as I was looking through them for something to add to the blog, I saw this one of her singing and thought it would go with today's story :)

She just came to me asking where her chicken nuggets are (from last night)....yeah, another nutritious meal provided by Ronnie Mac's. I tell her they are in the trash..."Oh" is her reply...slight pause and then she asks "Ha come"....her most popular question these days....I tell her they are yucky....again she replies "Oh.....ha come". I tell her they dont stay good while she's sleeping and I needed to throw them away because they were just cold and yucky. I guess that was good enough....she replied with another "Oh"....and went away. Every day its something new with her and Im just soaking it in and blogging it for another day.

I wanted to post a few more from the session I did Saturday. A six month old doing what six month olds do.

Have a great day!
~kel~

She's a beauty!

Quick entry...took these yesterday of my beauty queen. Is she a DIVA or what? It was so hot yesterday and Marleigh changed her clothes more times than usual. As you can see the good pieces were getting scarce. She's very into playing dress-up and loves these plastic shoes (yes, they are two different shoes)! Its really cute to listen to her clip clop through the house in them. One good thing about them, they slow her down! :) Gosh, she makes me laugh!!!!!

I sent the boys off in some light-weight clothes this morning. I always feel bad for the kids who have to be in school on these really hot/humid days with no AC. I loaded the boys with water bottles and told them their job was to drink and fill them three times before coming home. I just really want them to stay hydrated.

I think while its too hot to enjoy the outside, I might actually make an attempt to organize my house. That's actually why Im late posting - I started to tackle the boy's room and it put me behind. I was watching Jon & Kate plus 8 on TLC yesterday (it was a marathon day of their show all day) and I fell in love with the organization of their home. I do have to remember that they have help that comes in a few times a week and I dont but I figure when Im focused on getting something done, I rock it! My house needs serious organization - especially the kids stuff - toys and clothes - so that's my goal!! Wish me luck and check my progress because accountability is a motivation for me!

First, Im going to go take Marleigh into the little pool - I look completely silly in that thing (thankfully nobody around with a camera) but she wont go in unless its with me holding her. I really need to get her a little kiddie pool that she can hop in and out of.

Have a great day!

~kel~

Weddings....hhhmmmm

Last night was so fun! Remember, my friend Deb was kind enough to let me tag along with her and take wedding photos for "me". I dont know if doing weddings is for me because of how quickly things move along. I completely enjoyed my time there and I didn't stress one bit because Deb didn't put anything on me...just told me to have fun. Im going to have a look at what I got and put a few up here to see what you think. I took more fun candid photos than the typical wedding shots. Hopefully I got a few Deb can actually show the bride :) Its a hard job and just the changing light outside can be crazy to keep up with. This wasn't my first wedding...so far all have been for friends and though they count, its nothing like when a stranger hires you to do this! If the brides will have me, I think I'll tag along for a few more of Debs weddings...she offered, how can I refuse! :)

Here is where the wedding was....a beautiful golf course!

They went out onto the course to have some bridal party photos done so by twos they loaded onto the golfcarts. Temperature was somewhere around 95 and humidity was almost unbearable (thus the haze in the background of some of the photos).

This is the nice couple that welcomed me along and said that I could use their photos for my portfolio.

The flower girl is Marleigh's age - I found myself drawn to the children at the wedding. I guess that's my passion!

I came home from the camp earlier than I had originally planned. Its going to be so hot and humid that I dont see it being any fun to sit there by myself (Jean is at lacrosse with Branden) so I figured I'd come home, have a look at wedding photos and blog to all my peeps!!!

As I sit here listening to the kids...Marleigh is watching the Disney channel and there is a song on there that Kenna sings all the time.....did they NOT think about how it sounds when 5 year olds sings "Shake, shake, shake your peanuts"?

Oh.....today Oreo bit Kenna on her tummy. Im sure Oreo thought the busy pattern on Kenna's dress was food and I tried to explain to Kenna that she has to keep her on a flat surface because she is just a baby and thinks the lumps and bumps are food for her. I hope it doesn't scare her from holding her because yesterday she walked all over the campground with that cute little guinea pig cradled in her arms.....so cute. The pig is much easier than a dog would be for me and she seems to be the perfect pet for Kenna as she tolerates her handling her so much.

Well, send me your thoughts on the wedding if you get a second! Of course,like I said they are not the posed photos because I wasnt the hired photographer....but this candid stuff is right up my alley - maybe I should just consider selling myself as a second shooter and not the main one!

Well, Im off to clean the mess I brought home from camp. Hope you have a great day!!!!!

~kel~