Project Life Weeks 29 and 30

Week 30 : July 4-10


Here is my blue living room! You can't see the streakiness in the pictures but the painter had to redo it. It was pretty funny because the day before we were up there to help and he would not leave Tony alone as he tried to paint the ceiling. Every stroke he took he got nagged about uneveness and runs. Well we left and the painter guy did the living room himself . When we came back I couldn't believe it! Had it just been friends fine but the pro very picky painter had runs and streaks everywhere. It looks great now though. I love the blue I picked with the wood work. The floors will be hardwood in that room as well.

My friend in AZ decided to start making children's clothes and asked me to do the photography of her pieces for her website. I LOVE them. Tenderfeet Stitches. click the link to check out her great clothes. This is the Apron Knot dress. I love it, like all her other pieces. The close up shot on the bottom is after Ella was climbing the bails and managed to find a hole to follow all the way down through and disappeared into the hay. It was too funny, she just disappeared!

The cows are never this close. They see us and head way out in the pasture.
I dont' know why because we never even get close to the fence. This day I parked by the barn
and they all stayed there. I guess they didn't expect me to get out.

I had to retake some of Laci in this tunic from the previous shoot. I think she looks so cute here.

Another day of photos for Tenderfeet Stitches. She was a little better at this time around.

For the fourth we were lucky enough to have Tony home for the day. We started with a patriotic lunch after church at a local Chinese buffet lol. After we all napped we headed up to a small lake and let the girls play for awhile. Ella shocked me with how brave she was for it being her first time there this year. She hopped in that Strawberry Shortcake floatie and just took off in the water. She kept going under because she was trying to do a little too much. We had to stay on top of her!
Then we headed up for fireworks. If you look at the upper right hand corner you'll see that is Ella covered up in a pink blanket. As soon as they started she put it over her head. I took her in the car and we watched them from there. The picture of her w/the fireworks was actually taken inside the car. I always hated the loud sounds too as a kid so I feel for her.

Week 29: June 27 - July 3

This was Laci's first shoot for Tenderfeet Stitches. I love the tunic she's wearing. I even wear it on Ella as a dress lol. Laci looks too grown up in some of these though!

My friend in AZ decided to start making children's clothes and asked me to do the photography of her pieces for her website. I LOVE them. The blue and green dress Ella is wearing is now the favorite dress I have for her. The little tank and bloomers outfit is adorable too. She loves it and calls it her Little Bo Peep outfit. She wants to wear it daily. This was our first day of many shoots for Tenderfeet Stitches. Click on the name to see her collection and get some for your princesses! They're timeless adorable outfits you just can't find anywhere nowadays.

We love the Pittsburgh Zoo. This was Ella's first trip though not her first zoo trip altogether. We had a great day and it wasn't too hot so the animals were out and about more than we're used to seeing. We even saw a peacock wandering around the zoo paths with us out of his habitat! Not sure if he was supposed to do that or not but he managed to get back where he was meant to be on his own. I got some shots of the girls with him.

My kids are normally so clean I can send them out in regular clothes to play. We've never really had "play" clothes- but we'll have to start. I don't know how well you can tell since its in collage form, but these girls are covered from head to toe in dirt after playing while Daddy worked up at the new house. Yes, Laci wore all white...

She was "napping" with Laci's eye mask. She's a big ham.

I finally cleaned out and put up their little splash pool. They had a lot of fun- till they found a bees nest under the slide...

Ella is big into dress up now. She went up for pajamas and came down in this...

Project Life week 26

This was another one of those weeks where I didn't necessarily take a picture every day but we had many days where there was more than one picture from the day that I'd want to use. I'd much rather use another cute picture from the same day than have mundane pictures just to fill it because I didn't take a shot Wednesday or Friday...

Tony giving the girls yet another "tour" of the house.

Ella at the top of the staircase. We're keeping the original because its so pretty. We're stripping
it though- mahogany underneath and just doing a natural stain.
Wanted to keep some original
things since the house
has been in the family- some history.

The view outside of Ella's window this day. They started
doing hay and had the hay wagon out. I
still find it funny I'm going to live on a farm.

These are the vents that allowed heat to flow through the house.
We're talking OLD farmhouse.
We're refinishing the original floors
and were going to take these out
but the floor guy thinks the patch
job won't look super so we're leaving them in.
We're going to sand them down and shine them up.
The contractor loves the house and is very happy
we're keeping an original detail like these.
At first I was not thrilled but I think they're
pretty cool now. More history.

Thursday we went to Idlewild Park and Storybook Forest with
Tony's family in visiting from Colorado.
Ashlyn and Old King Cole.
Wish I could have kept her here.
Ella really took to her, sometimes she was the only
one who could calm her.

Ella as one of the seven dwarves. Her little short
nose and petite features are quite
dwarf like lol.

Ella and Snow White. Look how happy.
Can't wait to take her to Disney next year!

Little pig Little pig Let me in!

Ella with the Old Woman who lived in a shoe. She didn't
like her. Had to have grandma sit with her.
The Old Woman was insistent Ella
come see her. Guess
she wanted another child to
stuff in the shoe.

Ella with the Old Woman's shoe. She kept
singing
"Stinky old shoe stinky old shoe"
as she ran through it.

Laci going on to the Goodship Lollipop.

Laci and Abby in front of
Humpty Dumpty.
I could be wrong but I think when I was
a kid he swayed back and forth.
He's kind of old now and just sits there.

In a big tractor.

She insisted on her outfit and it was so funny.
A swimsuit and pajama pants.
At least it matched.
She loves farm machinery.
Her motto is
"I like to wear fancy dresses and dig in the dirt"

Laci looks like a little farm girl with her hair and freckles.
Good luck getting her to do any work of any kind though.

I like the angle of this one.

Project Life Week 23

Some pictures I took after Laci's recital on Sunday.

Tony let Laci drive the car around for the first time at the farm lol. It was scary.

Ella hanging out in the upstairs bathroom. First time we saw it framed in.

Laci got to visit Cat Deely and her kittens in the barn for the first time. There are 4. Three gray and one black and white.

The girls making English Muffin pizzas. They had fun making them but didn't eat them Spoiled kids. I thought all kids liked these.

I loved Ella's little feet in these Old Navy gladiator sandals. Just had to take a picture of her little pink toes.

This is my Ella sleeping sweetly. This night inspired the blog below.

I forgot earlier to add the 3d ultrasound of the baby! Here is a profile picture of her. She was head down and kept putting her arms in front of her face so not cooperating for the tech as usual. We went in for a retake of her spine since she didn't give them a good look last time. It was just a normal ultrasound but she switched to the 3d mode at the end just to give us a look which was nice because I've never had one before.
Everything looks good and she was weighing about 2lbs 3 oz which surprised me because that sounds high for 26 weeks but the tech said no its normal...

Precious Time

I need to be in bed now but wanted to capture a moment.
Life is so hectic sometimes that the most important moments slip right through the fingers on our busy hands. Maybe its the pregnancy but the last several days I've become very reflective on how quickly my girls are growing and how much I might be missing of them while distracted with meaningless tasks or diversions.

Tonight was one of those times where if we were in a movie the director would use the effect where the subjects were in focus and nearly still in slow motion and the rest of the scene would whirl in a blur about them.

All it took was for my little baby to come toddling in fresh from my mother in laws toting her much beloved "Melmo" blanket and paci. Before I could see her I could hear her "I want to 'nuggle Mommy" she came over bewildered that I was sitting in the lounger (pregnancy induced sciatica giving me fits after trying to have a productive Friday afternoon and evening) and asked if I'd "sit ova' dere" pointing to the couch where she likes to cozy up and doze off. I told her no that she could squeeze in here and slightly reluctant she hoisted herself and all her sleep gear in between me and the arm of the chair into a space just perfectly sized for her compact sweet body.

She rested her head in the crook of my arm and uncharacteristically closed her eyes immediately and drifter off to sleep. That alone would catch my attention but there was something sweet about the moment, or maybe it was the soothing tones of David Crowder's "All I Can Say" (available on itunes ;D ) playing at the perfect time but all I could do was look down and stare endlessly at her sweet face.

The long dark lashes that rest delicately on her cheek.
The tiniest little nose that has amazed me since I first laid eyes on her by being the smallest and cutest I've ever seen.
The way her hair curls frame her cheeks like a vintage photograph and the new tiny baby curls that have just begun to sprout and encircle her brow in a golden cascade of beauty.

I just wanted to freeze that moment- and for short time it felt like all time had stopped as I stared in awe of this beautiful little baby girl who so often I dread putting to sleep because I see it as a chore that ends with a fight. Tonight she reminded me how blessed I am that I have her to put to sleep-be it with a fight to the end or a sweet snuggle into dreamland.

I looked down at her and saw how long her arms are getting and how strong her legs look. The tiny feet that carry her to one adventure and mess to another now aren't as tiny and soft. I remembered that she's growing far too quickly and even in days like I've had in the past few weeks with newfound tantrum tactics and challenges I can't forget what a blessing she is and that she won't be tiny for long. That the things I sometimes look at now as burdensome, I'll one day soon think back on with a tear in my eye and wonder why I didn't take more time to just pause life and drink it in. To savor the sweetness of each sloppy baby kiss and cry for mommy in the night.

But for now, I look back to her little perfect lips still holding in a paci and her plump precious hand clutching her blankie and realize I still have some time. Some precious time.

Project life Week 22

Week 22- May 31 to June 5

This was a very eventful week! It was Laci's last week of school and also the week of her dance recital.

We spent our time at school functions and field trips and dance rehearsals!

On top of all that activity our cousins who now live in Colorado came in for a visit. It was nice because Ashlyn used to clog and was able to go to Laci's recital.

Ashlyn and Ella at a picnic celebrating Jeff and Shelli's anniversary. They've become great buddies over this week.

I got an unexpected package Monday afternoon. Inside was a little sushi from my
cousin Heidi. She's a Doctor she okayed me eating
little guys like him while pregnant. We
even went out for some a couple weeks ago
when she was in for a visit.

Laci and Allison on a field trip to Slinky's Action Zone.
Its kind of like Chuck E. Cheese. They had a great time!

Ella's first meal (a hot dog) in her new home. HER new home.
She considers that house all hers and the cows as well.
You can also see where she already got ketchup on
our brand new pretty door.
She'll have the new house broken in
in no time!

Laci's last day of school was a field day
put on by Pastor Troy and his wife Barbara.
They're the children's pastors at the church
her school is based out of.
They are also the parents of her good friend Allison.
I'm so glad Laci and Allison have become close over the last
year. She's a very sweet girl and they seem to get along
very well!
Ella does not like the heat and left field day very early.
I only got this one picture of them together.

Show time!
Friday was the first night of recitals for Laci's dance studio.
They put on a beautiful show as usual. Her teacher Beth really
knows how to do things right!
This year they added a Father/daughter dance to the song
King of the World.
I was sobbing long before Laci was twirled onto stage by her daddy.
It was a very nice night!

Night 2 of the dance rectial-
I helped backstage so I got to see what dancers do
while they wait their turn...
Play and make messes!
The feet in the left bottom corner are
my sister LeighAnnes (you can see her in pink
in the opposite corner). They are
clogging shoes but she said
she felt Amish in them.
So I had to take a picture-
without her knowing.