The Wise 5

so lets try this again

and of course we will work in a bit about the Nutcracker!  we survived another year of the ballet.  and truly we had so very much fun! but the day to day work schedule i have had plus the rehearsals and the challenges of three growing kids just pushed blogging way into the background.  but we are going to try it again.  and we may even pull out the old sewing machine this week.  i know.  don't be too shocked!

bubble-ology

That was the after school activity on friday.  Abby learned it in science class last week and it is all the rage over here these days!  dish soap + water + counter space + a bendy straw (bendy not required but way funner) = huuuuuge bubbles!

 

and a clean counter.  that's my favorite part.  that and the kids not arguing for a solid hour!  did i mention that my counters were clean now?  still my favorite part.

100ml of water + 2ml of dish soap

pour 10 ml (ish) on the counter and lather 

swirl straw in remaining water

blow!

  

 

hair guidelines for the 2010 nutcracker

 

 only serious ballerinas need apply.

   yeah just kidding on that one.  i had a house full of ballerinas getting their pictures taken for the new hair guidelines for nutcracker.  you know, so all of the buns and such look the same.  pizza was involved.  insane chocolate cake was involved.  parker playing limbo and nearly knocking himself out on the corner of my desk was involved.  yup.  serious times.  i think we had 3 hours of constant giggling.  the evening ended in this pose.  yup.  those are my girls. 

 
 
 

work is fun

it sure is when you can talk an engaged couple of opera singers into taking their photos in kansas city at the nelson and union station!  selfish...maaaayyyybeee.  totally fun though.  i am so happy these days that i can work from home and take pictures full time.  is it a real job?  really?

that being said there are a few drawbacks. being a mom to the kiddos is still my first and best gig.  ballet practice and school and homework and teenagers...oh my!!  plus the board of directors of ballet midwest and my last few months on the church vestry.  ok...that should keep me busy, right?  but editing till the weeee hours of the morning and again in the sparkling first moments before the kids get out of bed are odd hours at best to get used to.  

i think i may just need more coffee.  oh yeah.  gave up coffee.  i think i may take it back!

 

so its not quite been 3 months

once upon a time i blogged 2..3..even 4 times a week.  that was long long ago in a land...in the other room.  i used to get so very upset with my parent when i was young every time they said "time just goes so fast".  yeah right.  i never thought i would get out of middle school.  this summer has officially flown by.  i want to grab a little bit of it and just put it in my pocket.

we were so very blessed this summer.  miss morgan spent a month in new brunswick with her very best friend walking on the beach and digging for clams.  miss abby spent a month in jackson, mississippi dancing her heart out and learning to show God's glory through her art.  mr parker got to be an only child.  he was equally as happy!  and as dad started a new job with better hours our lives found a strange and fun new rhythm.  i jetted (and by jetted i mean drove 14 hours each way) 3 times to mississippi and had some of the most gratifying work opportunities this summer.  busy...but amazing.

it wouldn't be summer without guacamole (top pic) and a good summer storm.  should be back to blogging now.  i hope.

 

 

little red is 11

okay don't judge me.  she has been 11 for a few weeks.  good golly this time of year is crazy!  not too crazy to celebrate, just too crazy to blog about said celebration!  a fun swimming / spa party was in order.  they really had a good time!  

morgan has always been my sweet soul.  my high maintenance new born and toddler who transformed into this sweet and laid back young lady.  her love for dancing and the arts is amazing.  dancing at the studio, in my living room, in the kitchen, and singing in the shower.  i cannot express how proud i am of how she is growing up.  thanks for being you miss mo. the opposite of your straight laced sister.  the antagonist of your little brother.  the apple of your mama's eye.

 

 

squeezing in my own kids

have you ever heard the old saying, "the cobbler's kids who have no shoes"?  yeah.  that's my kids.  i do all of these neat mini sessions and shoots and can't seem to get my own children in the picture!  not this time.  abby and her friends plus morgan and her best bud tagged along on a photo shoot over the weekend.  i had 30 minutes before another session and snagged my sweet girls.  i seriously, have you seen prettier eyes than these girls have anywhere?  they had a blast.  i had a blast.  and now i have some decent pics of the girls.  now for parker...god help me.

 

put up with it okay!

this time of year and around christmas ya'll are just going to be flooded with ballet pictures okay? okay.  this weekend is the spring liturgical concert.  this could possibly be my favorite thing they do all year.  it really sets the tone for the easter season!  yes they are involved in nutcracker and we enjoy it.  yes the spring ballet (sleeping beauty) next weekend.  recital with all of its hoopla is only a month away.  but this concert speaks to the passion these girls have for Christ.  with all of the other commitments they have, this is one of those rare peaceful times when they come together to dance for the Lord.  hope you have a grand and blessed easter this weekend!

 

introducing panda

we are now officially a family of 7.  about a month ago we wandered into the pet store to buy sadie (our maltese yorkie mix) a new chew toy.  an hour later we left with miss panda.  panda is a one year old jack russell american eskimo mix.  she is as smart as a jack russell and as sweet and calm as an american eskimo.  she fits in just fine around here.  sadie however is still not 100% sure how she feels about this whole thing!

i never would have thought we were dog people.   apparently we are.  the kids have adored having the girls around and actually take pretty good care of them!  and another thing, everyone should get a puppy who is already a year old, potty trained, and kennel trained.  just saying.  

 

palm sunday

so over the past few years we have had a palm sunday in a tent, in the pouring down rain, and through a gauntlet of protesters (fred phelps).  it was looking a bit sketchy this morning with wind a chill, but as we marched down to the first christian church from our own newly built space, the sun peeked out.  then it warmed us full on.  like the warmth of a new day.    

i'm not gonna lie.  this year has blessed us in so many ways.  i love this week.  holy week.  time to be centered.  time to reflect.  time to pray.  i wish for you all the peace that comes with connecting.  try to be grateful for every moment.

  

ps...just wanted to say that i shoveled 7 inches of snow and mowed my lawn this week.  i love kansas.