Zumbatomic!

Zumba - Ditch the workout, join the party!  Mr. Jacob just completed his exciting 6 week Zumbatomic class with Mz Leah.  He LOVED the time he spent in that class shaking his stuff.  What little "stuff" he has!  The class is designed for 4 to 12 year olds but the oldest child in there was probably 8.  There were a couple of other 4 year olds in there, but Jacob was by far the smallest kid.  On the last day of class the kids put on a little show for us parents.  Jacob looked pretty cute if I do say so myself!

random photos from one of their routines

Jacob and Mz Leah

Mz Leah will not be teaching the Zumbatomic class during the month of July, however, we are looking forward to her resuming classes in August!

Shoot Me!: 18

Another great meme brought to us by Carin at Forever In Blue Jeans. Every Thursday post a picture of you with a child, spouse, friend or even by yourself. If you are thinking this challenge is too hard, then this is exactly the challenge you need. Do you have thousands of pictures and you are in none of them? How is that good to your children or loved ones? It’s time you got in the picture, you’ll be glad you did!


These boys make my heart sing...what would the world be without nephews and sons...boring!  I love you Trace, Trevin, and Jacob!

Shoot Me!: 17

Another great meme brought to us by Carin at Forever In Blue Jeans. Every Thursday post a picture of you with a child, spouse, friend or even by yourself. If you are thinking this challenge is too hard, then this is exactly the challenge you need. Do you have thousands of pictures and you are in none of them? How is that good to your children or loved ones? It’s time you got in the picture, you’ll be glad you did!

Can you stand another beach photo??  This is not necessarily the greatest photo of all times technically speaking, but there is something about it that speaks to me.  We were not posed, not trying to look just so, and not aware that someone was shooting a picture of us right then.  (Full disclosure - yes, we were aware that there were many cameras around us - we were just in our own little world at the time.)  When I look at this photo it just makes me happy.  I hope we get to spend many, many more years walking this winding path of life together - arm in arm.

Shoes!

Lia - what can I say about this girl?  I've been calling her my sweet & spicy since she was just a few weeks old. 

I have ONLY 1,800 photos to go through from our trip to Florida a couple of weeks ago, my retina's are about to explode and I'm still only sorting the photos according to family.  Haven't even started eliminating or editing yet!  Guess that's what I get for asking for the photos from every one's cameras!  As I was sorting through the photos tonight these just popped out at me.  How could I not share. ;)  You see, Lia has an infatuation with shoes.  The very first thing she says to me as I open her door in the mornings to get her up is "SHOES!" followed by much squealing.  (And much weeping and gnashing of teeth if I have the audacity to change her diaper before letting her paw through her shoe bin and pick out THE pair of the minute.)  She also likes to try on everyone else's shoes.  It matters not who they belong to.  No shoes are safe around her.  If there are no feet planted in them she WILL try to put them on.  One evening as everyone was relaxing after a day at the beach, in walks Mizz Lia with cousin Lydia's red high heels.  She thought she was something else!

They really complete the outfit don't ya think!

True story...one evening Jacob and Lia were having fun opening and closing the door into cousin Lydia's room.  L would shut, J would open, much laughing would ensue, the routine would start over no fewer than 100 times.  After a while things got too quiet and Jacob shows up in the living room sans Lia.  We traipse down the hall to check on her.  Door is locked, Lia is in the room, all is quiet.  I try not to worry to much - how much trouble can she be in, really?  Lock is picked, door is opened, Lia is found - surrounded by all of Lydia's shoes and eating crackers.  All's well that ends well!

Shoe Queen Lydia

Shoe Princess Lia

Shoot Me!: 16

Another great meme brought to us by Carin at Forever In Blue Jeans. Every Thursday post a picture of you with a child, spouse, friend or even by yourself. If you are thinking this challenge is too hard, then this is exactly the challenge you need. Do you have thousands of pictures and you are in none of them? How is that good to your children or loved ones? It’s time you got in the picture, you’ll be glad you did!

As most of you know, we were in FL to visit David's family last week. Pretty nice place for the In-Laws to live! Makes for great traveling! We all stayed in a condo on St. Augustine Beach. St. Augustine is where we lived after we got married and where we brought home our first baby. So many precious memories there! But...this is about people in our lives, not places we've lived so I'll save the rest of that for later. ;) Meet Abuelo y Abuela. David's maternal grandparents. I love these two like they are my own grandparents. They immigrated to the United States from Cuba when they were in their 30's - LEGALLY I might add. What a story they share. Abuela took care of David while his parents worked when he was a baby/young boy. She didn't speak English at the time so Spanish was the only language spoken in their home then. David became her interpreter at age 2! ;) I guess you could say English and Spanish both are David’s first language. Those two still have a very special relationship. I'm so thankful to Abuela y Abuelo for their important part in David's life. We love you two more than you know!

still here...

just trying to adjust to "real life" again!  We're back from spending a week in FL...needless to say I have just a thing or two to do around here!  Soon I'll be back to leaving some love on your blogs and updating my blog.  I sure have missed y'all!  

Shoot Me!: 15

Another great meme brought to us by Carin at Forever In Blue Jeans. Every Thursday post a picture of you with a child, spouse, friend or even by yourself. If you are thinking this challenge is too hard, then this is exactly the challenge you need. Do you have thousands of pictures and you are in none of them? How is that good to your children or loved ones? It’s time you got in the picture, you’ll be glad you did!

Meet my friend Shelly. Shelly and I became friends when we moved back to TX three years ago. Shelly is one of those rare people you know you can trust with anything and she'll always be there for you no matter what. She is a rock. Even though a three year friendship is a relatively short one, it's just as deep and real as the friendships I've had all my life.  She is also my Zumba buddy - and it takes a REAL friend NOT to laugh at you 'cause you can't exactly move and shake like the instructor. ;)  Love ya Shelly!

Happy Monday!

She...

makes me laugh like no other.

Shoot Me!: 14

Another great meme brought to us by Carin at Forever In Blue Jeans. Every Thursday post a picture of you with a child, spouse, friend or even by yourself. If you are thinking this challenge is too hard, then this is exactly the challenge you need. Do you have thousands of pictures and you are in none of them? How is that good to your children or loved ones? It’s time you got in the picture, you’ll be glad you did!

I"m going to TRY to start following my Aunt Susan's lead - posting pictures of myself with random people I interact with on a regular basis.  You've all seen plenty of pictures of me with my kids and my parents.  It's time some other important people in my life get featured also.  There's no time like the present to start!

Pam has been a part of my life since before I was born.  Her family has been friends with my family for about umpteen dozen years or so.  ;)  She has 5 kids - the oldest is my age, next oldest is my brothers age, then 3 more younger ones.  Growing up our families lived 2 hours apart, but we managed to get together a few times a year.  An annual trip to Six Flags over Texas was taken for several years.  Those were some great years.  All of us kids have grown up and moved away now - and wouldn't you know it, her oldest & his family, me & my family, and Pam & her husband all now live in the same town.  We see each other at least once a week.  Here's to you Pam - thanks for being you!  You are one cool Mama!

Birthday celebration - for ME!

Some of you may recall I recently had a birthday - and a friend of mine had a little shin-dig for me.  Yes, yes, I was late for my own party, but they didn't start with out me.  How nice of them!  A few photos from the event...my Mom and Dad even came over to help celebrate.  Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Jacob and Justin - having a blast!

My best girl and me.

Various and sundry guests...

TL - Kristen A; TR - Pam B & Mom

BL - John B; BR - Crystal C

My Dad - he had as much fun as the kids with those things!

The hostess with the mostes - Teresa C.  She's a real serious sort you can tell! ;)

Thank you Teresa for hosting this for me - and thanks everyone else for coming.  Y'all made this birthday girl very, very happy!

Shoot Me!: 13

Another great meme brought to us by Carin at Forever In Blue Jeans. Every Thursday post a picture of you with a child, spouse, friend or even by yourself. If you are thinking this challenge is too hard, then this is exactly the challenge you need. Do you have thousands of pictures and you are in none of them? How is that good to your children or loved ones? It’s time you got in the picture, you’ll be glad you did!

Last Thursday was my birthday so I figured it would be appropriate to post a photo taken of me with the one who birthed my tail...and my Dad too.  He may have had something to do with the whole situation. ;)  I'm a lucky, lucky girl to have these two as my parents!  I love you Mom and Dad!

"Hard Worms"

My conversation with Jacob this afternoon.
J: in reference to some leftovers "Momma, you can give that food to Murphy.  He likes dog food, but sometimes he needs people food.  He has hard worms."
Me: "oh, really, how do you know?"
J:  "Cause that's what Daddy said.  But Momma, you and Weeah have soft worms."

So - there you have it.  The dog has "hard worms" and the Mom and sister have "soft worms".

Photography Blog

I am FINALLY getting my photography blog up.  I'm not any where near finished getting it set up yet, but I've gotten it started.  I decided if I publicly announced it's coming then I just may be more inclined to  get it up to date.  For the time being you will only see photos of my kids, however, as I get permission I'll add my other clients.  These are photos you've already seen - I'm starting with my January of 2010 shoots.    Feel free to become a follower - on my photography blog and this one.  Note I did add the follower button back to this one.  Thanks to all of you who have supported me in my photography endeavour thus far.  I look forward to taking my business to greater heights.  I've got a senior session and a wedding booked for later this summer - I'm excited about stepping up the pace!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, yes, today is my birthday!!  I'm like a kid turning 10 again, I STILL get excited over my birthday!  Except I'm 34 now.  Thirty-four is like a non-age age to me.  There's nothing significant about the number, it's just there.  But...I'm SO thankful that I get the privilege to turn that non-age age.  That means I'm still here, living, breathing, being loved by so many people.  And loving so many people.  David took me out to brunch today - can't take me out tonight.  That's ok though, there's a party tonight at a freind of mine's house.  ;)  I mean, a girl only turns 34 once, right?  So...I'll leave with a couple pictures from our time at "The Egg & I" - as I scramble around getting kids ready and out the door - I'm late, I'm late, for my own party!!  eeek!

Birthday Parties

Nope, not a type-o.  Jacob got to have 3 birthday parties this year.  To clarify - they didn't all include presents - but they did all include candles and song - so they all count!!  And when you're 4 years old it's quite all right to have three parties.  When you're 34 years old it's OK to have three parties too.  (Just less likely to happen.) 

The first party with our cousins D & C and their son A.  A and Jacob have become quite good friends - neither have a "real" brother, so they just kind of  fill that place for each other.  Unfortunately, we don't live close to them so we don't get to see them as often as we would like.  But we enjoy every minute with them when we do get together.

Aren't these 2 boys cuties!!

Tuesday night Jacob got to have his friend Justin spend the night with him.  His first time to have a friend stay overnight with him.  The boys had a ball!  They decided they wanted their faces painted and I was elected "official painter".  When it comes to painting/drawing I'm not much better than the 4 year olds.  But they didn't care - they just thought they were some kind of cool with paint on their faces!

Jacob's actual birthday was on Wednesday so we had cake and ice cream after our Bible study.  THE Kristen (that would NOT be me) made a special tiger cake for Jacob.  She's cool like that.  She made his beach ball cake last year.  She's cool like that.  She's moving later this month.  She's NOT cool like that!

Third party - with Papa, Nana, Trace, Trevin, Scooter, & Aunt Lesha

What's a birthday without grandparents/cousins??  According to Papa (my Dad) his grand kids haven't REALLY had a birthday until they've had cake with him.  The grand kids don't argue.

More pictures coming later from the weekend.  (Aren't you just sooo glad!)

Only time will tell, what does four have in store? 

(yes, I made that up myself; yes, you can roll your eyes if you wish but I thought it was pretty clever)