thankful: november 11

i talked to my kids this morning about veteran's day and what it means.  i can't even get thru a conversation like that without tears because "thank you" just doesn't feel like enough to express how indebted i feel to our soldiers and all their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives and children for giving up so much, for all of the rest of us... for our country.

 

today, i am thankful to be in a warm house on this cold, snowy day.  to be able to provide activities that will entertain my children.  there are so many less fortunate.  this is a blessing which i do not take for granted.

 

every day... starting today, i am going to think of one thing that i am grateful for.  i'm going to engage mckenzie in this activity.  these would make a nice bound collection as a mini book to remember current gratitudes.  i don't think it's going to be hard.  not at all. 

 

 

McKenzie.

i picked up mckenzie after school today... bought some carnival tickets for bellview's annual halloween carnival this saturday. mckenzie is so excited... she wanted to make sure i got plenty so she could play lots of games and eat dinner their. afterwards, we drove down to the pumpkin patch where i thought i was going to meet my grandfather, who was also bringing callie. turned out she didn't want to go and so grandpa just stayed home with her. i was hoping i would be able to get some photos of him along with the girls but will have to wait. i fell in love with this picture as soon as it popped up on my screen.

right now, mckenzie is in her room doing her homework and reading the 4th book in the harry potter series. i am so very proud of her.

Hello fall.

 lots going on this weekend.  i'm taking a vacation day tomorrow so i can take the girls and one of mckenzie's friends to 7 oaks farm in central point.  i love that place.  lots of animals to see and pet and just a whole lot of photo opportunities. 

this photo was taken at dad's pumpkin patch.  i just love the way it turned out. 

This Morning.

spent the first part of the day at school helping the kids slice up fruit for a morning snack. i was a little apprehensive with the kids using knives but they all did great. even mckenzie, who has never used a knife or held one. ok... it's really time for me to let go a little and let mckenzie start doing some of these things on her own now. even matt said "don't you think mckenzie should start taking showers by herself now?" i said "OK... but sometimes i want to step in the shower and help condition her hair sometimes." i told matt i need to take baby steps with this child... not one giant leap yet. just to hard to let go and realize she is growing up and way to fast.

on another note, i have always wanted to photograph my children on one of these train cabins. callie was with me and mckenzie was still at school, so i attempted to give it a try... only callie wanted nothing to do with the train. she was so afraid the train was going to start to move with her on it. silly little girl. this shot was the best i could get for now but it won't stop me from trying again.

Hanging Out.

right now callie ane i are hanging out and goofing around with my blackberry phone.  she loves using the camera on it.  right now she is watching cartoons and i'm attempting to finish piles and piles of laundry.  maybe i'll even tackle washing the car.  right  now i can smell the mango chicken with potatos cooking in my crock pot and it's making me so hungry for dinner.  matt is picking up mckenzie from school.  agenda will be for her to finish her homework and read a little in her harry potter book number 2 in the series.  she is so loving the harry potter books and i'm so proud of her for reading them.  she said to me, she wants to read all the books before the end of the school year.  wow!!  after dinner, it will be off to our first PTO meeting of the new school year. 

School.

 

school started for mckenzie yesterday.  i was all over getting some very posed, very planned "back to school" shots.  some friends of mine had this bus parked in their yard and i new this would be the perfect location for my photo shoot. 

Hello September.

i never thought it would happen, but i'm very much looking forward to fall. isn't it strange how we adjust like that? last spring i thought i would never make it through another winter. and yet, on the brink, i am totally excited. it's like magic, or just adaptation. i doubt it will get seriously cold around here for a while but september feels like the beginning of fall. i can smell it in the air.

hello fall!... good bye summer!