Growing Up Thompson

Happy Birthday Isla Mae!

2012-02-09T00:13:00.000-06:00

"I know a girl, she puts the color inside of my world."

Sweet Isla Mae,

It doesn't seem possible that you are two years old! You will never know how much joy you have given us. Your smile can light up a room and your laugh is undeniably beautiful and infectious. You are our little go with the flow, always a smile on the face, little party girl! We giggle at the hilarious things that come out of your mouth, the way you shake your booty and the cheesy smile you make.

You are so loved by so many people. The prayers that have been prayed over your little body this past year are too many too count. You are so strong and perfect. Watching you get stronger everyday has been amazing. We are constantly shocked at what you can do and how fast you can go now!

One thing that I never want to forget about you at this age is what it's like being greeted "Good Morning" by you and your gigantic smile every morning when I open your bedroom door. No better way to start the day. You are rarely cranky and are such a little lover. You adore your Daddy and Brother and tell us that you love us 5000 times a day. We feel exactly the same way.

You bring sunshine into our lives and I am eternally grateful to be your Mommy. You are beautiful inside and out sweet girl. Love you forever and ever.

Happy Birthday.

Love, Mommy

Little Readers

2012-02-06T11:01:00.000-06:00

I came across this earlier this morning and realized I never shared. We went down to visit our dear friends over new year's. Oli and Paytie are 6 months apart and good buddies. This was a rare quiet moment with these two chatterboxes. I loved that Paytie was reading to him and he was so intrigued. I hope they are always friends.

Hard to Believe

2012-01-30T23:19:00.002-06:00

This was minutes after I saw my sweet girl for the first time.

I can hardly believe she is turning two in a little over a week.

It kind of make me want to cry.

2012-01-30T22:24:00.001-06:00

Parenting is hard.

Way the heck harder than I ever thought it would be. I imagined all sunshine and daisies and endless trips to the candy store with my perfect, polished babies. Bahahahaha...excuse my while I throw my head back and laugh. Don't get me wrong...some days are glorious and I go to bed feeling like Mom of the Year, but other days....oh my....other days can be downright painful.

Lately, being Momma to a VERY determined and independent 3 year old and a strong-willed almost 2 year old has taken its toll. I more often than not feel like "that mom"....you know...the one that you feel sorry for because she has no control of her kids. That's a really painful and humbling feeling that I don't think is often talked about because no one wants to admit they might not have it all together. I was cutting a clients (who happens to be a new mom) hair recently and she asked me how "I have it all so together...2 businesses, happy babies, happy marriage, and fixed my hair this morning" and all I could do was stare at her in disbelief and literally laugh out loud at her assumption of my life. Then, I nearly cried when I realized she feels like she is drowning too. She can't get her baby to sleep and "do what they are supposed to" and I can't get my 3 year old to hold my hand in the parking lot without a major meltdown. Even though I'm sure neither of us walked away with a "fix all" for our attempts to raise "good and rule minding" children there was a lot of comfort in knowing that I wasn't alone in feeling this way.

It feels like most of the time I have the kid screaming his head off for a new toy in Target, the kid throwing her nuggets on the floor instead of eating them, the kid refusing to poop in the toilet, and the kid slapping my face because she doesn't want to be carried. I wonder why my kids aren't behaving the way they "should" and what I am doing wrong. Will they be good kids? I am messing them up? Do they know how loved they are? Was I kind enough? Did I raise my voice too often today? Am I ever going to have it all together? I see those other kids sitting there at Chick-fil-a eating their nuggets quietly and I have anxiety about even walking in there with my children for the way they will behave.

All this to say, I have been truly struggling with raising "good children" and could have not come across this article at a better time. If you ever feel this way you might want to take a look.

http://lysaterkeurst.com/2012/01/i-dont-want-to-raise-a-good-child/

Hang in there. <----That for me (and you if you need it).

Sarah

Holla!

2012-01-27T17:35:00.002-06:00

Hi Everyone!
Just popping in to share my Senior Special I am running for the spring. If you or anyone you know is graduating feel free to send them my way. :) Thanks!

Sarah

New Year, New Look

2012-01-25T03:08:00.001-06:00

Hi Friends. 

I am trying to make good on my New Years Resolution for January....blog and website updates and makeovers.  So, check it out...our family blog got a makeover and I am hard at work on my photo blog makeover and it will debut in a couple days!  Plus, I have been updating my website with new photos from the fall and winter seasons for the last couple weeks! Who knows...maybe this will be the year to complete all of my resolutions! Here's to 2012. 

Hope you like! 

Sarah

My Little Harry Potter

2012-01-21T20:46:00.001-06:00

Expecto Patronum!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love.

2012-01-08T22:59:00.000-06:00

2012?? Whaaaattt??

2012-01-03T01:05:00.002-06:00

2012.

Really? Am I the only one that feels like there is no way this is possible? I am perpetually behind in all things, so I guess it is natural that I feel this way. I realized today on a drive home from Texas that it was time for the oh so dreaded new years resolutions that seem to never quite pan out. Anyhow, I am still going to give it a go. I decided to do a goal for each month of this year so that these are a little more achievable. So here goes nothing. Let's do this.

JANUARY
Update my photography website and give both of my blogs a makeover.

FEBRUARY
Have all closets organized and finished.

MARCH
Take each of my children on a special one on one date doing something they would each love.

APRIL
Run my second half marathon.

MAY
Go out of my way each day of this particular month to do something extra thoughtful for my dear husband...even when I'm tired and the love has been sucked out of me that day. No excuses.

JUNE
Take a week vacation from work to focus solely on my family.

JULY
Take my kids swimming a lot and quit freaking out about my rear in a swimsuit. Enjoy my babies (even if my butt is big).

AUGUST
Do not compare myself or either of my business' to anyone else. Be proud of where I am no matter how far I still have to go.

SEPTEMBER
Hug at least 10 people that are not in my immediate family (without awkward laughing or comments).

OCTOBER
Have all laundry done and put away everyday of this month.

NOVEMBER
Be at my goal weight and have a noticeably tight butt....just making sure you're still there.

DECEMBER
Be completed with all photography sessions no later than December 10th and spend the rest of the holiday season soaking up time with my family. Oh and plan a KILLER graduation party for my counselor husband.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Conversations with Oliver

2011-12-26T23:13:00.000-06:00

Picking Oliver up from preschool last week

Mommy: Hey buddy...did you have so much fun at your birthday party for Jesus today?

Oliver: (no answer)

Mommy: Oli, did you have so much at your birthday party for Jesus?

Oliver: (really annoyed look on his face) HE DIDN'T EVEN COME!

Mommy: Hahahahahahahahahaha! Baby, I'm sorry Jesus didn't come to his birthday party. Did you really want to see him today.

Oliver: No, I just want to see Minnie Mouse.

Mommy: Oh okay baby.

Christmas Card 2011!

2011-12-25T00:13:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas Everybody!

2011-12-19T01:23:00.001-06:00

This picture makes me giggle every time I look at it. This was right after the Christmas program at the kids school. Oliver wanted a picture with his pal Drew, but was so jacked on cookies and adrenaline from the performance he literally couldn't hold still. Look at sweet Drew taking pictures like a champ! I can't wait to tease them with these photos when they are older!

Fave

2011-12-16T02:34:00.002-06:00

This dress is my fave. That camera is my fave. Those glasses are my fave. Cardigans are my fave. Pearls are my fave. Bows are my fave. Tights are my fave.

I have a problem with too many faves.

Sunshine Girl

2011-12-09T00:28:00.001-06:00

Isla Mae on Thanksgiving afternoon 2011. So in love with this perfect little girl. Tuesday we have a big checkup to find out what her sweet little muscles are up to and when those braces might come off (fingers crossed)!

Oh Dear

2011-12-06T21:13:00.001-06:00

Girl...We have got to do something about that hair! Ha.

These Gals

2011-12-05T01:13:00.001-06:00

I photographed some of my best friends a few weeks back and I totally forgot that we snapped these pictures between locations until I came across them earlier tonight. This is Stacy and Aubree (I'm sure you've seen them on here before) ...and Clementine...they are two of the loveliest ladies you will ever meet. Crafty, happy, pretty, and fun. You should be jealous they are my friends. They are pretty fantastic.

POPS!

2011-12-03T10:23:00.001-06:00

We have been enjoying some quality family time lately! Corby scheduled has mildly slowed down for about six weeks so we are soaking up every extra minute of Daddy/Hubby time we can! The day after Thanksgiving we took a trip out to Arcadia to visit POPS! They have some really delicious food and the biggest assortment of yummy bottled drinks. Oliver loves picking out his soda...he always picks the bottle with pirate on it. It's his favorite! Cheers!

Oldie but Goodie

2011-11-21T01:06:00.001-06:00

Holla! I am a little behind in blog world, but instead of trying to catch up everything, I am going to really mess you up and just jump around every now and then. This was a couple months back when we were celebrating Stacy's birthday. Aubree made us a yummy dinner and I slaved over a store bought cheesecake (that crumbled to teeny tiny pieces that we still ate) and we celebrated our fantastic friend. Clementine even joined in on the party. Speaking of party...that yummy looking pitcher was a so good it was like a party for your taste buds every time you took a sip. Happy Late Birthday Stace-Rap!

29!

2011-11-15T08:53:00.001-06:00

It's official! I'm old. Not really.  Actually I still feel like I'm a kid most of time...even though I am responsible for the well being of two human beings. Anyway, it was a seriously fantastic day.  Hubby took off from work and we had a day of yummy food, breakfast, and fantastic presents. Hubby hooked me up with my new camera earlier in the weekend and I may have squealed for an hour or two straight! I am currently working on naming her because she is part of the fam now. 

My parents had the family over for a mexican birthday feast because I really love me some tex-mex.  Can't go wrong with enchiladas. Sister made a yummy chocolate cake covered with my favorite...SPRINKLES. It was a hit.  My awesome family then doubled my entire milk glass collection in a matter of minutes. They got me so many amazing pieces that I can hardly wrap my head around it.  My fantastic mother-in-law also got in on the milk glass action and gifted me some really beautiful pieces.  I may just have to do a post dedicated to all the gorgeous pieces that were given to me! 

So, overall 29 isn't looking too bad.  Good husband, good kids, good family, good friends, good health, & two jobs that I love.  I went to bed feeling overwhelmingly blessed last night. Here's to 29! 

OMG! EEK! We love Elsie!

2011-11-13T14:48:00.001-06:00

My girlfriends and I are on our FAVORITE bloggers site today! Go check it out!

http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/11/warm-fuzzies-at-red-velvets-local-shop.html

Ouch

2011-11-03T00:23:00.003-05:00

Sometimes my heart hurts a lot when I come across old pictures and realize how fast time is flying. I wish you could just make it stop even for a little while.

Last Minute Opening!

2011-10-31T21:47:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone!

I had a last minute opening tomorrow afternoon for a portrait session!  It is supposed to be sunny and beautiful tomorrow so I hate to pass up a great day for a shoot!  This a great chance for Christmas card pictures!

If anyone is interested in booking this spot email me ASAP at sarah@sarahlibbyphotography.com

Thanks!

He Makes My Heart Stop

2011-10-31T01:23:00.001-05:00

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-30T22:38:00.000-05:00

Love,

Peter Pan & Tinkerbell

Right Now

2011-10-28T01:09:00.003-05:00

Isla Mae...This is what you are up to right now:

You are literally running in your sweet little braces. You. Are. Speed.
You dance on command and immediately drop it when you hear our girl "B"
You ask to wear pigtails or a bow EVERY single day
You usually have a baggie of cheerios in your hand
You wake up happy all the time...even when I cut you nap short
You are obsessed with your babies...there are usually 7 with you throughout the day
You can count to twenty
You can sing the ABC's
Oliver is your favorite person on the planet
You need 67 kisses before we can close your door for bedtime
Brusing your teeth is one of the best moments of your day
You pee pee on the potty nearly everyday now
You inform everyone if they just burped or tooted
You would drink a gallon of milk in one sitting if I let you
You are perfect in every way

Love you sweet girl!

Party Girl

2011-10-27T03:45:00.002-05:00

She didn't take this hat off for two days. I'm not even kidding. Once it finally came off it was replaced with her trusty Mickey Mouse ears gifted by J & Just. She is full of spunk this one.

Christmas Mini Sessions

2011-10-27T03:31:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone! I posted this on my photography blog yesterday and totally forgot to put it on here! I still have 3 spots available so shoot me an email at sarah@sarahlibbyphotography.com if you would like to reserve a spot! Thanks so much!

Cheerios & Mickey

2011-10-27T03:18:00.002-05:00

Not much makes this little people in my house happier than a bowl of honey nut cheerios to snack on and DVRed Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Sweet little babies go into the zone with this combo. Aren't they sweetest little best friends. I die over how much Isla adores her big brother and how much he dotes on her (when he isn't tackling her). Ugh. I love them.

Ride 'em Cowboy!

2011-10-25T01:40:00.001-05:00

Such a big boy! I was hooting and hollering like a crazy person. He was so excited to be on his first pony ride!

Just in Case...

2011-10-24T00:50:00.000-05:00

you didn't know. I photographed a really pretty little lady earlier this weekend. More photos on my new photography blog! If you are really my friend you will humor me and go look. Okay enough begging...have a good day friends!

That Smile

2011-10-23T11:18:00.003-05:00

Oliver has an infectious spirit and an amazing smile. I think he is going to dazzle the ladies someday. Luckily, he has a Momma that will protect him from the crazy girls!

Dang Bookshelf

2011-10-21T00:47:00.000-05:00

BEFORE: The Dreaded Bookshelf...holder of ugly books and catcher of all things that need to be kept away from my kids.

AFTER: A little leftover gray bedroom paint, some of my favorite nicknacks, and I actually don't lay other crap on it now.

It's Up and Running!!

2011-10-21T00:09:00.002-05:00

sarahlibbyphotography.com

is up! I am so excited I might have peed my pants. Not really, but almost.

Family Pictures 2011

2011-10-19T11:21:00.001-05:00

My good friend Neely took our family pictures earlier this week and I got them back today! Family picture day is better than Christmas Morning (except for the Jesus part of course...hehe) in my opinion! Dressing my family up, bribing them to cooperate, and seeing my hubby smile like a champ this one day out of the year...it doesn't get much better than that. I just love family pictures...besides my family & my puppy these are what I would grab if I could only keep one tangible item. Hope you love them as much as I do!

Thanks Neely!

It's Official!

2011-10-18T22:39:00.001-05:00

This hair is OUT of control and there is an INSANE amount of personality in our little firecracker.

Just thought you might want to know.

Have a "Happy Happy Day" as Isla Mae would say!

Happiest Girl

2011-10-13T16:45:00.002-05:00

I wish I could stop time and keep her at this age forever. Twenty months, absolutely hilarious, happy 99.9% of the time, gives kisses on command and a little chunky monkey. Ugh. I love her so much.

Pretty Pretty Wedding

2011-10-13T01:08:00.000-05:00

Hi All! Thanks for the love on the new blog! It's appreciated more than you know. Just wanted to pop in to share this lovely wedding that I posted on my other blog today. My lovely friend Neely asked me to be her second shooter for sweet Katy's wedding. It was a beautiful day! Head over to Sarah Libby Photography Blog to see more!

Sarah Libby Photography (Oklahoma City Photographer)

2011-10-12T00:51:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends! I have been busy, busy lately working on something new. I am officially (since it has been fairly unofficial for quite some time) in the photography business. My website is set to launch in (fingers crossed) one week or less. In the meantime, my photography blog is ready to go. I am so excited (& terrified) that this is finally happening! Eeek! I am currently booking family, children, lifestyle, engagement sessions, & wedding packages. I would love to take your picture!

If you are interested in booking a session email me for pricing & info @ sarahlibbyphotography@gmail.com

Fall family sessions are booking up fast, so if you want to get those Christmas cards out in time you better get with it! Also, look for details in the next couple days for a last minute Fall Photo Mini Session!

So, please add sarahlibbyphotography.blogspot.com to your reader and rss feeds! Thanks so much for all of your support and love!

Sarah

Becca & Kyle (Oklahoma City Engagement Photography)

2011-10-11T15:52:00.000-05:00

This is Becca & Kyle. They are awesome. They are some of my sis & bro-in-law's best friends and they are hilarious. Plus, they are really pretty & easy to take photograph. I am SO looking forward to their wedding next summer! It is going to be fantastic! Enjoy!

If you are interested in booking a photo session email me @ sarah.libby.thompson@gmail.com for more info.

Get That Stinkin' Lens Outta My Face Momma!!

2011-10-07T01:26:00.001-05:00

Mother of the Year...he said "NO PICTURES" and I just kept on clicking.

Sorry I'm Not Sorry.

Sister Bride!

2011-09-29T00:03:00.001-05:00

Not THAT kind of sister bride silly! This kind of Sister Bride! I am a dingbat and forgot to put the only flippin' picture I have us at this point together! I'm hoping that her photographer got some good ones because I sure didn't pull out my camera after this! Isn't she pretty? Everyone together now...AWWW!

Jenna's Rehearsal!

2011-09-26T17:15:00.003-05:00

I only took a few pics at my sister's rehearsal and dinner, but it was a fun night and my kids were only slightly insane during the dinner. It was a no nap day for Oliver so he was as good as can be expected in that situation. Ha. Anyway, we had a fantastic time and ate some really yummy Mexican food. It was a fun day celebrating Jenna & Justin!

Isla Mae carried her babies down the aisle at rehearsal. She was a champ!

The Bride and Groom! Rehearsal Time!

Dancing down the aisle with Rylan!

Not the best picture...but I just needed you to see how obsessed Oliver is with his Cousin Ry!

My sister the Bride!

Bridesmaids & Jenna

The Groomsmen & Justin

Sistuh Ginuh!

Sister's Bridals!

2011-09-26T00:22:00.003-05:00

This is my little sister Jenna! She got married yesterday in one of the prettiest candlelit weddings ever. We had the best time taking bridals and I have been dying to post these so you can see her pretty dress. Get ready for a picture overload!

Enjoy!

SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED!

2011-09-24T04:07:00.000-05:00

Welp. Today is THE day! My baby sister is getting married tonight! Jenna & I are five years a part and had a love/kinda like sometimes relationship most of our lives. I got mad at her for touching my belongings and she was a whiz at getting me in trouble. Even after all these years its hard to believe she is old enough to be getting married. I will probably forever think of her as my Baby Sister, even when we are gray, senile, and saying whatever we want because we are old and can get away with it!

Sister...
I hope your wedding day is as special and unique as you. You are a wonderful sister and a even better best friend. Prepare yourself to be hugged today and maybe even possibly see me shed some tears! I am very proud of you and could not be more thrilled that you and Justin are finally tying the knot! I am a little jealous you are going to Disney World & Harry Potter Theme Park without me, but as long as you hook me up with a wand or some mouse ears we can call it good! Love you Sister!

Happy Wedding Day!

Sarah

Photobooth Fun

2011-09-20T00:29:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday OliBear!

2011-09-18T23:36:00.000-05:00

Today our sweet OliBear turned 3! It hardly seems possible that three years have passed...but on the other hand can barely remember life without him around.

OliBear,
Happy 3rd Birthday sweet boy! You bring so much joy and sunshine into our life. Your energy and excitement never cease to amaze us. Your Mommy & Daddy love you more than we can put into words. There is no one else in the whole world like you. We still can't believe you are ours forever! We are the luckiest and proudest parents in the world! We hope your day was magical. Love you so much little buddy.

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Just Thought You Might Want to See...

2011-09-09T18:16:00.001-05:00

Our perfect little Isla Mae standing big and strong on her perfect little legs!

She is so strong and so fast and we are anticipating fantastic news and hopefully a release from the neurologist in just a little over a week. I will give a detailed update later! Just needed to brag on our girl.

MEOW! Sister is Almost Married!

2011-09-08T01:21:00.001-05:00

MEOW! If you know my sister at all then you know she is a weirdo just like me. You also would know that she really likes cats. She also like to meow like a cat. No really. Like literally "meow." So, it is only fitting that her lingerie/bachelorette party was cat themed. Or actually "sex kitten" themed but since this is a family place we will call it "cat themed" but you know what I am actually talking about.

Anyhow...Sister is getting married in a couple weeks and we have been hard at work on wedding DIY's (if you don't believe me then you should come take a look at my kitchen table that looks like my sewing machine threw up all over it), but we took a break to party it up and shower her with panties, panties, and more panties (doesn't the word panties make you uncomfortable?), as well as consume drinks that may cause intoxication. PANTIES. Sorry. It's late and I am delirious. It was a fantastic time with lots of girlies, lots of sugar, and lots of cats. Cat cookies, cat masks, paw prints, cat sandwiches, dip that accidentally looked like cat food, cat tails, and I'm sure other cat things that are inappropriate to talk about on my family blog.

Gina, Sydnie, and I planned the shower together and then I bossed them around. No really, I bossed them. Apparently I can be bossy. It was a magical day celebrating Sister Dearest and her impending nuptials. We had an extra good time with the photo booth that we had to walk through dog poo to get to and the "sex advice" board. Even Sharon Kay, my mom, participated in all events. After the lingerie shower we headed downtown for a fun-filled evening that is not blog or family friendly. It may or may not have involved some very large and in charge women swinging around (fully clothed PTL) poles in the middle of a club that looked like something straight off the Jersey Shore and smoked filled VIP section that felt anything but VIP. I might have even busted out some of the best moves of my life that night, but unless you were there you will never know the truth. Oh and barefoot in Bricktown might have happened too. Eww. Anyway...enjoy the shower pictures! If you stare long enough its almost like you were there.

Me, Gina, Sydnie, and Sister

Yummy food and new fringe decor that I am obsessed with.

Sister's friend Chelsea MADE this. For real.

Oh hey.

I put the clean version so you don't blush.

I am officially doing this to every cup that I drink out of for the rest of my life. It's like a party in your hands.

Gina made these banners. Obsessed.

The poo filled journey to the photo booth.

Cat Lady

See. We had fun. Should been there.

Meow.

Say Cheese

2011-09-07T01:17:00.002-05:00

This Oliver and his friend Drew after the first day of preschool a couple weeks ago. Drew belongs to my friend Neely. The sun was really bright that day if you couldn't tell.

Good Morning

2011-09-07T01:10:00.002-05:00

If it is 8am in our house...this is where you can find the man.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Bowl of Honeynut Cheerios (no milk please)

Cars cup of milk

Diaper only

& occasionally Daddy's hat

Right Now...

2011-09-01T21:50:00.001-05:00

Right now this is who Oliver is. A bundle of energy and the life of the party. He never tires and never slows down. He is usually up to something, but can hug and cuddle his way out of trouble. He is as ornery as they come and too smart for his own good. He is always one step ahead of us and we do our best to keep up and keep him entertained. I think I see a Student Council Presidency in his future.

Right now this is who Isla Mae is. Sweet and loving. A natural Mommy to all of her babies. She never stops smiling and giggles at everything. She peek-a-boos with her babies and says "Hiiiiiiiiii" to everyone we pass until they acknowledge her presence. She listens well and surprises us on a daily basis with the words that come out of her mouth. Sing her the Itsy Bitsy Spider and she is puddy in your hands.

"Oliver! Show Me How Old You Are!"

2011-08-30T21:17:00.001-05:00

He's four.

He's ten.

He's six.

He's four again.

He's six or seven depending on how you look at it.

This one keeps me on my toes.

Pretty Much...

2011-08-30T00:22:00.000-05:00

...sums up my entire wonderful weekend.

Meet Andrew & Lindsey!

2011-08-29T21:12:00.000-05:00

These are my new friends Lindsey & Andrew! Lindsey is a co-worker of my hubby and is just so sweet. She and Andrew are getting married later this fall. We had a great time taking pictures a couple weeks back. We took some in Norman since they are both OU alumni. I have never shot there before so it was fun learning a new location. They were troopers and met me at 6:30 for a sunrise shoot so that we could avoid the wonderful 105 degree weather here in Oklahoma! It was even chilly enough that I got to wear a cardigan that morning! I'm so looking forward to spending time with Andrew & Lindsey shooting their wedding festivities!

Enjoy!

If you are interested in booking a session email me at sarah.libby.thompson@gmail.com

Big Day!

2011-08-25T20:58:00.000-05:00

This little guy had his first day of Preschool today.

Tears were shed.

By more than one person.

Big Boy.

Blurry...but Lovely

2011-08-15T00:05:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks back I was messing around with my camera settings trying to take a picture in a very dimly lit room (enter the very blurry pictures) and walked away with these little gems by happy accident. I do wish they were crisp and clear because this is one of my favorite moments captured so far of my kiddos, but oh well.

Oli & Isla are quite the pair these days. They are pretty much inseparable, fight like crazy, hug each other a lot, play together, have slap fights, run over each other with push toys and tricycles, and laugh at each other all day long. Oh and occasionally they bite. They keep me on my toes and keep my blood pressure up from time to time. I just love that they are the best of friends.

This last one kills me. Love it.

18 Months!

2011-08-09T15:52:00.000-05:00

Sunshine Girl...
I can hardly believe you are eighteen months old. You are the most beautiful little girl I have ever laid eyes on. You are so incredibly smart and strong. These last few months have been very long and at times heartbreaking. You have been so tough and worked so hard in your therapy. I can't even describe the thrill that Mommy felt when we saw you stand up all by yourself and take those beautiful first steps. I know that you are perfect just the way you are and am so incredibly thankful to know you and what is in that perfect little head of yours. Whether or not your muscles are perfect makes no difference to Daddy and me. You have taught me to appreciate so many things that I have taken for granted for far to long. Sweet girl, you are loved immeasurably. Mommy & Daddy are so proud of you and nothing makes us happier than seeing your beautiful smile that lights up the room.

Love you forever,
Mommy

Lazy Sunday

2011-08-08T23:28:00.000-05:00

This was just another lazy Sunday morning. We usually do pancakes, eggs, and morning cartoons as a family. It is the highlight of my week. It is the only day of the week that we are all in one place together longer than a couple hours (with the exception of sleepy time) so we tend to soak it all in. The kids even dragged out Isla's chairs from her room and sat there for nearly an hour. I love seeing my kids become best friends. Isla just looks at her big brother with the most adoring expression. It kills me.

The Everyday

2011-08-07T11:00:00.000-05:00

I take a lot of pictures of my kids and everyday life. A lot of time with my DSLR, but most of the with my iphone. I feel like its the most accurate depiction of everyday life around these parts. So, here is a little of what we have been up to lately.

This lady continues to be the happiest little girl around.

She sleeps exactly like her Mommy.

Big boy is a champ at bringing home awesome refrigerator art.

Hubby & I had a much needed weekend away with no kiddos and nothing but time.

We may have killed it at the casino.

Yes, he is just that cool all the time.

Isla Mae played mommy to Lila Jae.

I wore my hair up on our weekend out. This is a very rare occasion.

This guy painted an awesome shirt, but did not want me to take pictures of it.

Some of my oldest and closest friends.

Hannah Rae & Ilsa Mae just gabbing.

This guy was pooped after seeing Cars 2.

This little lady is walking ALL over the house.

Celebrated Harry Potter 7 Part 2

Realized this guy is no longer a baby.

Voldemort and his Deatheaters were in my neighborhood.

Giggled at this girl a lot.

Enjoyed alone time with this guy.

Attempted a sibling shot.

This biggest Daddy's girl in the world.

This is proof that they really do love each other.


My shopping buddies all the time.

So, that is life lately. Hope you enjoyed.

What Did You Say?

2011-08-06T22:58:00.000-05:00

Oliver and Isla Mae have been especially entertaining lately. Crazy thing come out of their mouths too many times a day to keep track of...my 2 favorite as of late.

Mommy: What is your new cars name?
Oliver: Therapy.
Mommy: Huh?
Oliver: Cars name is Therapy!

Apparently he has noticed Isla has a lot of appointments.

Mommy: SERIOUSLY Oliver? SERIOUSLY? <----in reference to the black crayon all over his room
Oliver: What Mommy?
Mommy: Seriously?
Isla Mae: Seriously? Seriously? Seriously?
Oliver: Mommy spank Bubba now?

Isla Mae says this about 400 times a day now. Pretty much every time we enter a new room.

Meet the Carrs!

2011-08-04T23:19:00.000-05:00

Guess who finally internet again!! This Girl! Anyhow...meet the Carr family. This sweet group of kiddos had me laughing and sweating (it was 106 degrees) from the minute we started shooting. Oh and please look at the amazing head of hair on sweet baby Leeann! Craziness!

Enjoy!

Celebrating!

2011-07-22T19:20:00.000-05:00

We are celebrating 'round these parts tonight! Isla Mae got FANTASTIC news from her neurologist earlier today...She does NOT have the rare muscle disorder they thought she might! We are over the moon excited after a very long and stressful week. So thankful that my girl will not be facing that fight. I can't even begin to explain the relief I felt when we got the news today. I feel like I can breathe again. The doctors aren't sure what the issue is and we will be following up soon with all of our doctors, but in the meantime are going to continue with lots of physical therapy and Isla's "Magic Shoes" and pray for continued progress on our precious baby girl.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support for our family during this stressful time. We are have appreciated it more than I can express. I will keep you updated.

Meet the Oyler Family!

2011-07-21T21:55:00.000-05:00

This gorgeous family belongs to my friend Emily. We took these a couple weeks ago out at their house. Their yard was a photographers dream! And seriously how adorable are these girls? Both of these girls have killer eyes!

Enjoy!

2011-07-19T20:37:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends.

This is going to be a quick post because I am pretty mentally and emotionally drained at the moment. Isla's appointment with her neurologist was earlier today and while he was very positive about the amazing progress she has made the past two weeks he was concerned with the symptoms she is showing. She was tested today for a rare muscle disorder. This type of disorder has no treatment and varies in severity case by case. We are anxiously awaiting the results that should be here by Friday...Monday at the latest. I'm not sure how much I want to go into detail right now on this blog about her health, but I did want to give you an update.

All of your sweet thoughts and prayers for our girl and us have been felt. We would really appreciate your continued prayer for our precious girl. We are praying for a BIG negative on this testing. I would be lying if I told you I am handling all of this calmly and rationally. So, please when little Isla Mae crosses your mind please say a quick prayer for her.

Thanks,
Sarah

Tomorrow!!

2011-07-18T22:08:00.000-05:00

Hey Friends!

It has been busy, busy around here the past couple weeks between doctors appointments, physical therapy, wedding prep for sister and friends visiting! I am currently exhausted, anxious, happy, nervous, overwhelmed, content, and did I mention exhausted? All at once. Is that even possible? I have 4500 emails to return and about 18 texts to read, but I am blogging. Priorities people. Priorities.

Anyway, there is a point to this post. TOMORROW is the day Corby and I have been anxiously awaiting for several weeks. Isla is going to see the neurologist tomorrow and we are all a bit nervous. We feel very strongly that the treatment we currently doing (braces and PT) is working and we are seeing wonderful progress in our little girl. However, it is still pretty nerve wracking to be taking your 17 month old to for a neuro consult. So, please if you think of it say a prayer for our sweet girl and that the doctor will be able to give us some answers or will tell us to get out of his office because there is nothing wrong at all. I will be sure to give an update as soon as we know something!

Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers!

Sarah

What Day is Today???

2011-07-14T15:21:00.000-05:00

Today is Harry Day!

I am very excited and I am very sad. Tonight is the midnight premiere of the LAST Harry Potter Movie. It is such a fun night with friends and a night to let your inner dork rule. I have been invested in these books and movies since high school and its hard to believe it is finally ending. This is from last year's year midnight premiere. If you need to find me tonight just look for a giant lion's head and pink converse.

HAPPY HARRY DAY!

Meet the Faust & Cobb Family!

2011-07-11T19:56:00.000-05:00

This lovely family belongs to our beautiful friends Dustin & Audra. Audra's whole family was in town for the 4th so we had a fun night of pictures. They were seriously the easiest family in the world to photograph. Oh and that extra adorable baby down there is sweet Scarlett Blake!

Enjoy!

Ladies & Gentlemen

2011-07-08T21:07:00.000-05:00

WE HAVE A WALKER!!!!!!

Sweet Isla Mae can walk! At therapy today she decided to show off and blew us away by taking two steps immediately and then walking throughout the rest of the session! Our PT was so excited for her and even took a video for me to show Corby (& all of you). By the end of the visit Isla Mae had taken TEN, yes ten, steps consecutively several different times! I think I squealed the entire therapy session I was so excited. I just can't get over that our last therapy session a couple days ago she couldn't even stand unassisted and she is walking today.

I cannot even begin to describe the relief I have felt these past two days seeing my baby stand up and move. We are still going to see the neurologist just in case, but we feel so strongly that she is going to be okay! She just needed her wonderful PT and her Magic Shoes (my friend Lisa called them that and I love it).

TODAY...

2011-07-07T23:56:00.000-05:00

TODAY my baby girl got her special braces to make her strong.

TODAY my baby girl stood up completely by herself and beamed with pride.

TODAY my baby girl took TWO perfect first steps without hanging on to anything!!!!

*there may have been tears of joy (& lots of hope) involved*

TODAY has been overwhelmingly beautiful.

Quick Update!

2011-07-06T01:38:00.000-05:00

We are in the middle of intense Physical Therapy these days (that is a post in itself!) and this sweet little lady is building some muscle! She is still not standing unassisted and not able to fully balance, BUT she is super amazing at pushing her little walker around. She can haul some booty!

We are going for a final fitting and hopefully bringing home Isla's braces on Thursday and we are still waiting to see the neurologist in a couple weeks. Sorry I haven't updated lately. We have had a billion appointments and I am dragging a little. You prayers and sweet thoughts for our girl have been felt. We have had an overwhelming peace about Isla's health these past couple weeks. She is getting stronger everyday and we are still praying that this is not a neuro issue and is simply a delay.

I thought you might want to see the precious little legs you have been praying for!

Thanks again!

Double Trouble

2011-07-01T16:19:00.000-05:00

They may look sweet as candy, but don't let them fool you...they are ornery little people. They are officially best friends. I know this because Oliver told me that "Bubba was his Best Friend Ever!" Apparently I have been replaced. Since they solidified this best friendship they have decided that their goal is to tear the house apart in as many ways as possible, all while laughing hysterically and screaming at the top of their lungs. Oliver rides his big wheel 90 miles an hour through the house and Isla hauls some booty chasing him with her push toy. They also think its fun to crash into each other until Mommy has to separate them. My tough boy has turned his dainty little sister into quite the tough cookie. Momma is impressed.

Always with a graham cracker in hand. For some reason this picture of her feels like a glimpse into what she will look like as a teenager. *sigh*

Don't you just want to hug him?

Another day, another destruction. They found Daddy's poker stash and decided to play a little Texas Hold 'em.

Crazy Babies.

Meet the Sanders!

2011-06-30T23:15:00.002-05:00

This is the Sanders Family & Cousins. My boss lady (hehe...she hates being called a boss) asked me to take some cousin pictures while her nieces were here visiting. We also took some of their whole family while we were at it. Seriously...how adorable are these girls? Addie, Ellie, Riley, and Remmy were the best little models. All of them were hilarious and so fun. They were cracking me up the whole time. Even two year old Remmy was a champ and lasted for a whole hour of shooting! I just love all their beautiful faces. Oh and I might have screamed with delight when I downloaded the sunset pic of Mom & Dad on my computer. I have a thing for sunset pictures if you didn't know already.

Enjoy!

Oh and call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure the littlest girl Remmy is Isla Mae's long lost sister. It totally freaked me out how much they resemble one another.

Meet Sweet Barrett!

2011-06-28T20:28:00.000-05:00

This adorable little boy is Barrett. I have known his Mommy (Ashley) & Daddy (Troy) pretty much forever. They grew up with my brother and played ball for my Dad. Now they have sweet little Barrett. We had a good time at the park the other day chasing Barrett around and trying to get him to smile. Isn't he the cutest? His pretty brown eyes are to die for!! Such a beautiful family!

Enjoy!

Untitled...because my brain hurts

2011-06-23T23:20:00.000-05:00

I have had a couple days to process everything going on with my sweet baby now and I don't really feel any better, but I do feel like I can breathe a little bit better. We went to see the pediatrician today and she was very helpful and reassuring. She also told me that I had to be an advocate and very aggressive in getting Isla treatment. So, she has referred Isla for occupational therapy 3x's a week for six weeks in addition to her braces and neurology appointment. I was thrilled when she told me this and immediately called Corby and our parents to tell them the good news. The therapy facility contacted me this afternoon to discuss Isla and figure out our schedule and I was shocked to find out that we have to wait 7 to 8 weeks to even get in. I kind of wanted to scream and get pissed off that they expect me to wait nearly two months, but I took a deep breath and said to please put us on the waiting list. I am very frustrated with how long everything takes in doctor world, but I understand that this is just the way it is. So, we are currently looking for more pediatric occupational therapy options. If anyone has any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.

Oh and here are some pictures of my sweet girl's wild hair and love for graham crackers.

Isla Mae Update

2011-06-21T16:11:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends.

Well. We had Isla's appointment with the Orthopedic specialist today and while he ruled out any issues with her bones (specifically legs and spinal cord) and muscles, he is definitely concerned that there is another issue going on. He spent a long time watching Isla move around, watching us assisting her with walking, and the positioning of her little feet. He has decided to put her in orthotics called SureSteps, which are basically a plastic boot braces that will be worn with supportive shoes and will keep her feet in the correct position. He is hoping that this will give her the support she needs to be able to stand unassisted. We had her fitted today for the braces and she was SO good. She just sat there like a champ and charmed everyone while they measured her little legs and feet every way possible. We will get them in a few weeks and Isla will wear them any time that she would normally wear shoes. They even came in cute little prints ans we picked out the ones with pink flowers and butterflies. We are just praying that this fixes things. So, that is the good news.

The not so great news is that the doctor thinks that something else is going on. He thinks we need to have an MRI and some testing done on Isla. Since she will have to be sedated for this testing he is sending us to another doctor. He has referred us to a neurologist here in the city. We won't know until next week when our appointment is and I am just praying we don't have to wait nearly as long to see the doctor as we did this time. He said that there can be a thousand things causing this or that there is still a chance that it is nothing and the special braces will correct it. We are praying it is just a delay in her development.

I have to be honest that I feel much worse now than I did going into today's appointment. I haven't taken any of this lightly, but I honestly thought that he would laugh at us, tell us we are paranoid, and possibly put her in corrective shoes. I have refused to believe that anything could really be wrong with my baby girl and I feel like we have made a little progress this last month and half, so I was feeling okay going into today. Well, that changed the second he gave us that concerned look and said the word "neurologist." Now I just feel like I might throw up. My Mom always tells me "we have no guarantees in life" and I just always nod and pretend to understand, but now I understand far too well. I can't decide if I am angry, sad, or overwhelmed at the moment. I am so incredibly thankful though for my wonderful husband who does not freak out, my sweet little boy who cheers for his Bubba every time she gets on her feet, and for my precious little girl who is perfectly happy and content with life as it is and doesn't even know anything is wrong.

So, now we just have a lot more questions and still no answers. We would really, really covet your prayers over these next few weeks specifically that...

Isla continues to show improvement and interest in being on her feet.
She receives a timely appointment w/ the neurologist and the MRI goes well.
That her braces will not bother her or cause any discomfort.
That the new doctor will be able to give us some answers, whatever they may be.

Thank you all so much for the prayers and support. We really appreciate it.

Sarah

Pretty Averie

2011-06-21T15:22:00.000-05:00

This beautiful girl is Averie. We took some headshots earlier this week for an upcoming audition for some talent agencies. Averie is one of the sweetest and most hilarious girls I have ever met. It is hard to believe that she is only a 7th grader in these pictures. She is just so pretty.

Enjoy!

Cousins are Here!!

2011-06-20T20:11:00.000-05:00

Oliver and Isla are in cousin heaven! Rylan, Remi, & Romy are here visiting from Arizona and we are having the best time. All Oliver wants to do is "Play with cousins play with cousins!!" It has been really fun this year watching them interact. I have a feeling they are going to get into some mischief together this week!

Keeping up with 5 kids in the pool is quite the task...luckily Corby's mom felt sorry for me and came in to help!

Miss Romy...quite possibly the funniest kid ever!

Rylan hiding in the deep end away from all the little kids.

Valerie gave me a much needed hand!

Miss Remi working on her tan.

Watching Tangled after swimming all afternoon

I want my table to be this full of kiddies all the time!

Isla was very entertained by her cousins. They crack her up.

After swimming braids! I cant wait until Isla lets me braid her hair like this.

Showing off their new do's!

Rylan just being awesome.

Swim time!

Isla got her own pool!

Lots of happy babies.

We are having the best time! We just wish Josh and Lindsey were here too.

I Can't Help It...

2011-06-20T00:09:00.001-05:00

I just want to squeeze her and kiss those little cheeks all day.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T23:06:00.000-05:00

Happy Father's Day to my Hot Hubby. You are a fantastic Daddy and amazing husband. We love spending all of our days with you! Love you!

*on a side note...Oliver thought it was Corby's birthday all day and kept wishing him a "Happy Happy Birthday Daddy" because I told him it was Daddy's Special Day. Haha. He makes me laugh.

As of Late...

2011-06-16T16:15:00.000-05:00

I may have actually had two, count 'em, TWO date nights in a row with Hubby! Granted, it was for a wedding but it was a special treat to have two nights of solid alone time. Plus, we got to eat lots of yummy food and drinks!

Oliver has decided he doesn't want to nap anymore much to my dismay. I have fought this for quite some time now, but he has won the battle. He may not sleep anymore, but he is forced to have an hour and half of alone time in his room so that I have a chance to get the house put back together before he destroys it again.

I may have bought six dresses last week for the wedding we attended. I said I was going to take four back, but might have only returned two. I don't really feel bad though because dresses are my favorite thing to wear and they will get plenty of use.

I have fully embraced my bright red lipstick. I always wear lipstick, but this is BRIGHT! I have played around with it for quite a while and have struggled with feeling to fancy and people making comments, but I figure screw it...I like it and who cares if I look too fancy? Maybe the other people aren't fancy enough.

We also just found out that our insurance pays 100% for any gym membership within 10 miles of our house! We could not believe it. I joined at the YMCA a couple weeks ago and am loving it. They have free childcare for members and it so much more convenient to work out now that I don't have to arrange for a sitter anymore! We have Pacificare in case you are wondering what insurance it is.

Hubby is still in full-time work/school mode. He will graduate next December...which still seems like forever away! We enjoy every spare minute we get together as a family because they are pretty few and far between.

And finally, we have Isla Mae's appointment for her precious little legs on Tuesday. We are seeing an orthopedic surgeon at Children's and are praying they can give us some answers. We would really covet your prayers for our sweet baby's legs.

Hope you are all having a good week! Oh and because I truly loathe blog posts with no photos...

Mother's Day earlier this year with my babies and no makeup. Whoops.

Post 600! Read me...I have a Treasure Inside

2011-06-14T22:15:00.000-05:00

Wow! Six Hundred Posts! Apparently I like my kids a lot. Anyway, I have a little gem I would like to share with you today. If you know me I am a fan of dancing and thank goodness my children have inherited the gene. So enjoy...you can thank me later.

Untitled from sarah thompson on Vimeo.

Lazy Picture Recap

2011-06-12T22:46:00.000-05:00

Because I am feeling extra lazy here is a quick review of our past week or so...

Trying out all of our adorable swimsuits

Catching up with friends and catching some zzz's

Taking everything out of the dresser and then sleeping on top of it

Climbing to the top of the chick-fil-a playplace and riding down the slide on our belly

Consuming a lot of grilled cheese

Playing in the Shamu pool

Taking lots of train rides

Wrestle Mania with Maymie

Night out with hubby

Attended a really pretty wedding!

Hope you had a good week too.

Puddles and Pots

2011-06-09T23:55:00.000-05:00

Sweet Isla girl loves puddles so much. She would rather play in puddles than in a pool and would rather rip all of Mommy's flowers out of thier pots (notice how empty they are) than enjoy how pretty they are. Silly girl.

Large Cash Reward If You Can Find It!

2011-06-07T21:57:00.000-05:00

We lose a lot of things around here these days. We lose socks, shoes, toys, clothes, remotes, and basically anything other thing you use on a daily basis. Most of the time it doesn't really bother me, but every now and then it really stresses me out. Why, you ask? Because above all things there are two things that strike fear in my very heart when they are lost in my house....

SIPPY CUPS & DIRTY DIAPERS!!

So, you can imagine my stress level at the moment as a admit to you my friends that both of these are lost somewhere in my house. There is a Lightning McQueen sippy cup stuck in some random corner or drawer half full of milk that will in a couple of days make itself known by the putrid odor it will produce. This has happened once before when my dear Olibear hid a cup in my linen closet and spilled everywhere. I thought I was going crazy smelling sour milk for days.

As far as the dirty diaper goes, this is a first. After Oliver's nap I came into find him in only a tshirt playing with his toys. I searched and searched for that dirty stinky diaper but have yet to find it. Oliver could not recall where it was and offered me a clean diaper instead. So, at this moment I am praying that there was no poo in it and it was just a little wee wee. Otherwise, we are in TROUBLE.

By the way, no one is invited to my house until these items are returned!

Pretty Boy!

2011-06-07T21:47:00.000-05:00

Someone thought it would be fun to steal Bubba's (yup that's what Oli calls Isla) raincoat. I think he looks pretty in green and pink.

Put Me In Coach!

2011-06-04T21:53:00.000-05:00

Anyone that knows me well knows that I not a fan of children in sports attire. HOWEVER, I do think that this pretty little lady put KD to shame with how adorable she looks wearing his number. I also think he could do a lot for his image if he were to embrace wearing sequined sweatbands. Just sayin'.

Sister's Preview!

2011-06-02T10:19:00.000-05:00

Sister is getting married in a few months and we are hard at work on wedding. Getting to help her plan has been really fun. We took a few more pictures the other day for their invitations. I'm still in the midst of editing, but am loving them so far! So, here is Sister's Engagement Preview Part II.

Oliver & the Shades

2011-06-01T23:08:00.000-05:00

Oliver is obsessed with his "shades." I usually keep them in the car but some days I can't wrestle them away and he wears them inside for a while. The only down side to that is that he tends to bump into things more often. But a few bruises are worth how cool he looks in his shades.

Reminds Me of Someone

2011-05-31T20:18:00.000-05:00

Isla Mae looked a lot like her older cousin Remi Rae this day.

She's growing up too fast.

Aren't her little pigtails the cutest?

Thank You & My Sweet Little Man

2011-05-31T01:22:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for all of the sweet comments on my last post. We really appreciate you prayers for our sweet girl and are hoping to have a really good report when we see the doctor in a few more weeks. So thank you all so much!

In other news how funny and cute is my little man?? Oliver was playing outside at Maymie and Papa Johns house the other night and got a little messy so he had to wear an adult tank top for the rest of the evening. My sister thought he looks like Dobby the House Elf (if you don't know who that is then we probably aren't friends). Ha. Look at the sweet little flower he planted all by himself for his Mommy! So proud. He kept saying "you present Mommy, you present!" Then he stole it back for himself when we got home but it was really cute.

He is quite the little ham. He insisted that I take his pictures while he was finishing dinner (hence the food in the teeth). The first was not to his liking so he said "try again"...about 12 more times. He is a silly boy and his faces make me giggle.

Okay, that's all. I just needed you to see how precious he is.

Hello, Hello...Is This Thing On?

2011-05-26T22:50:00.001-05:00

Yes, I am alive. I took an unexpected blogging hiatus due to my inability to face issues. When something doesn't go my way or seems overwhelming I tend to hide. I am emotionally handicapped at times. I am the lady laughing when I should be crying or crying when I should be laughing. It really is a problem that I am going to deal with...maybe. I have written this post 14 times and not posted it because I am a weirdo. I have been struggling and sometimes that is really difficult to tell the world (or all 5 of you that read this)!

My last post I alluded to a health issue in our family. Our sweet Isla Mae (who is 15 1/2 months) is having some issues with her legs. She still cannot stand unassisted (she is able to stand when holding on to something or someone and can even cruise). She is unable to bear weight correctly and her feet are not positioned correctly. They thought she possibly had hip displasia which would have resulted in surgery and a body cast for 12 weeks (in 100 degree summer weather), but after having x-rays done they said that her bones were perfect! This is a huge answer to prayer. Our pediatrician isn't sure what is wrong and is sending us to an Orthopedic Specialist @ Children's in a few weeks. In the meantime, we are working with her daily on her exercises and giving lots of massages for muscle stimulation. We are seeing a little progress and are praying that there is nothing really wrong and that Isla is just taking her precious time.

So, that is where I have been. Hiding and in denial that anything is wrong with my baby. I was also struggling with whether or not to post this because while this is HUGE in my little world, I know there are many, many people dealing with much worse. I have to remind myself each day that Isla Mae is a healthy, happy little girl and that if this is the worst we deal with then we are very lucky. She is not going to remember any of this and is not in any pain.

Thanks for reading my ramblings and I promise I am back to blogging!

Deep Breath

2011-05-09T22:53:00.000-05:00

Sometime life can be so overwhelming and you just get the wind knocked out of you. Today was one of those days. My heart hurts and my stomach hurts from worry. I know everything is going to be okay (and could be much worse), but sometimes it is tough to see the positive. It has just been one of those days.

The Mother of All Mother's Days

2011-05-09T00:47:00.000-05:00

Holla to all the Mom's out there! Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is quickly becoming my favorite day of the year. Sweet Hubby is a champ at killin' it on Mother's Day. This morning I got to sleep until 10:30! What? It was amazing. The really amazing thing though is that Hubby got to sleep until 10:30 too. We had to actually wake the kiddos up this morning. They spent yesterday at the zoo with Corby's family and were pooped. It was fantastic!

Then, we ventured out to Mimi's cafe because I really love Muffins and Quiche Lorraine. It was delightful and I am still full.

Hubby and Babies got me some new running shoes for Mother's Day. I want to wear them everywhere. Maybe they will make me run fast.

AND he got me some tickets to see one of my most favorite people ever! That's right...I get to see Swifty live! Woohoo!

Then the magical day continued and BOTH of my sweet babies took 3 hour naps! It was a Mother's Day Miracle!

Seriously, it was a great day spent with my really fantastic family. I couldn't be more thankful for them or feel more blessed to have such a great Hubby and precious Babies.

Happy Mother's Day!

Great Voice...However

2011-05-05T00:58:00.000-05:00

...all I see is the MadTV magazine guy every single time he sings! It drives me crazy!

Half Marathon Day!

2011-05-05T00:45:00.000-05:00

My 4am wake up call came way too fast, but I woke up excited and pretty well rested surprisingly. My friend Amy (also running the 1/2 and 10 weeks prego) came to pick me up at 5:00 to head downtown. Not long after we got there it started sprinkling and we saw lightning. They moved the start time back to 7am, so we waited on one of the relay buses to stay warm. We headed out to the start and were about halfway back among 25,000 people! It was craziness.

It was raining pretty hard by the time the race started and I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I didn't think about running off to the side and act like I was just a spectator. But, I kept going...and going...and going. Just so you know, 13.1 miles is a really long way. Especially in the rain. Did I mention that I have never rain in the rain? Well, that was my first time. And it was 42 degrees. I know because I ran past a sign that told me so. By mile 3 (I think I was passing the capitol around this time) my socks were wet, my undies we soaked, and my poor hair looked like I just got out of the pool. By this time I had found a couple girls that were about my pace and I trailed them for the next 5 miles. They had a Team in Training coach that was fantastic. He got me through my first 8 miles and didn't even know it. Although they could probably hear me breathing really loud and cussing under my breath. I kid, I kid.

At mile 8, I thought I might possibly die so I decided to walk a mile. It was a good decision because I think I regained some sanity by just taking a quick breather. I started running again at mile 9 and about this time "Mindi" the Lithuanian came flying by (on his mile 20) and I think he was just showing off how fast he can run. Geez. Oh and if you were watching on tv you get a great shot of him leaving me in the dust from the chopper view above. He went on to win the marathon by the way.

The last few miles actually went pretty fast. It was raining ridiculously hard, but my homegirl Ke$ha came through for me. Her raptasitic goodness put a pep in my step and got me moving. Coming around the last corner I had six blocks to go and I think those were the most fun. There were people cheering everywhere and everyone looked so happy to be almost finished. My family (Corby, Oliver, Isla, Mom, Dad, Jenna, Tayla, and Ryan) were all standing there in the rain (soaked head to toe) and were cheering really loud. That was my favorite part of the whole race! Then it was over!

I was so happy I didn't quit and I ended up finishing under 3 hours (which was my goal). Then we went out for a delicious breakfast (lots of pancakes) and I took a glorious nap. Oh, and then I woke up and nearly cried because I have NEVER been that sore in my life! I feel totally back to normal and have even ran once since then. So, all that to say...I Survived My First Half Marathon!

I went with the braid to keep my hair out of my face. This is when it was still pretty and not sopping wet.

My timer tag that looked weird on my pretty shoes.

Waiting for the START!

My sweet prego friend Amy!

After the race with Hubby and my Babies!

Here Goes Nothing...

2011-05-01T04:20:00.000-05:00

It is 4:16am and if you know me that is more likely to be a bedtime than a wake up call. Why you ask? Because it is HALF MARATHON DAY! Woohoo! I had nightmares the night before last about getting lost and having to call Hubby to pick me up, but today I am feeling well rested and excited! I will let you know how it goes!

Oh and guess who's super cute Hubby surprised her with a new shuffle ipod (that clips and is much easier to run with than my giant ipod) completely loaded with all her music and even created running playlists for her! He's a keeper!

AAAAAAhhhhhhhh! HERE I GO....

He is a Professional

2011-04-28T22:39:00.000-05:00

Oliver was quite the Easter egg dying professional last weekend. He wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty and came up with some killer color combos. He is a professional.

Very serious about his artwork.

Taking after his Daddy refusing to look at the camera.

It was tough waiting for the eggs.

Look what the Easter bunny left at our house!

Friend Request Please!!

2011-04-25T20:10:00.001-05:00

I think we could the best of friends and jam together.

Obsessed with that Wild, Wild Hair

2011-04-23T23:31:00.000-05:00

Hoppy Easter!

2011-04-23T22:13:00.000-05:00

We got our Easter pictures after all! We only had to look through 5,000 screaming children pictures to get them! I even had a very surreal conversation about the woes of being the Easter bunny with the actual Easter Bunny. Very weird. Did you know that the Easter Bunny is actually a girl and really likes drinking Orange Julius through her tiny opening in her head? It's true.

Without further ado I give you...

"Screaming baby, confused toddler, & weird oversized animal with terrible eyesight!"

Enjoy!