Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Valentine's Cuties!

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, of course the girls are wearing red and pink :) I love dressing them up in Holiday Themed Clothes!!! They look so cute!!

I am amazed when I look at pictures (Even though I see them everyday) how much they have grown.... Look how tall Kayelyn is!

Briley is such a little lady....

And check out how LONG her legs are!! We are in big trouble!! she is going to be a super model!


I can't believe in 2.5 weeks I will be able to spend A LOT more time with these two adorable faces.... I am really looking forward to it!! I enrolled Kayelyn in her Pre-K class today, it's hard to believe BOTH my girls will be in school next year!!! Time sure does fly!

PLEEASE Mommy....

Briley begged me to stay downstairs and work on her craft while I gave KK a bath last night...... This is how it all turned out...






Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Big Changes


Since Nathan and I have been married I have always worked full time. I have taken several different career paths and done many different things. My path has always led me back to what I love and what I do best.... Photography and being a mommy. As you know, I own my own photography business: Snapped With Love Photography. AND, up until Sunday, I was an employee of Our 365/Memorial Hermann Hospital System. I do the infant portraits there. WELL, the big CHANGE is that I put in my notice to no longer work there anymore and my last day is February 26th, 2010. After much thought, family talks, prayer and support from my husband I am shifting my focus to my children and my photography. I plan to be at home A LOT more with my kids, AND do work more on my photography (both booking weekday sessions & editing). I am thrilled. I am my own boss and I make my own hours. I also get SO much more time with the girls and that is precious in itself.... Also, in working SO many jobs sleep has been at the bottom of my priority list. I can't let that happen anymore either... I am exhausted running on 2-3 hours of sleep every night, work 3 jobs, raise 2 kids and be at the gym everyday. I am managing, but it's not super fun.

I will remain at Tiny Treasures Preschool, teaching 3 year olds... I love it and BOTH of my girls will be there next year and I can't wait to watch them grow in school together!

Please keep us in your prayers while we undergo this transition. It's going to be a big adjustment for me but I know I made the right choice... I am so excited for the things to come!
If you know anyone needing weekday photos, I am available Monday, Wednesday and Friday all day and on weekends.... Starting in the summer, I will be available 7 days a week! :)

Sunday, January 31, 2010

The Grocery Game


I am back to playing the Grocery Game.... I love it and LOVE saving money!!!
The proof is in the pudding :)


We saved $78.75 in one shopping trip. YAY!

Weekend Fun



A very close, long time friend of ours from college came to visit this weekend! We had a blast!!! It was her Birthday, so we went to NIKO NIKO and had Greek food and a Birthday Baklava!! :) Thank you Erin for coming to visit!! We loved having you!


Kayelyn has a new trick.... she LOVES to climb. On EVERYTHING!!! She is out little spider monkey!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Pump it Up....


Daddy flew in tonight for a quick workout. He said the Gym in his hotel just wasn't cutting it so he needed to pump some real iron.

The girls were happy to oblige :)

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Sunday, January 24, 2010

More Chitter Chatter



Kayelyn started talking REALLY well last week!!! It is the cutest thing ever!!

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CrAzY HaT NiGHt

It was Crazy Hat night at Awanas tonight. Briley had a lot of fun hats to choose from but she insisted that she wanted to be JUST like daddy. He got her that hat about a year ago. He works construction and she always wants to be just like him so he got her a pink hard hat. She LOVES it and everyone LOVED her hat tonight :)


Baby Madi's 1st Birthday!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADISON AVERY!

Baby Madi turned one last week and her party was this weekend!!!! I was at a photoshoot but my dear apprentice hubby (whom has had a crash course in photography and been shadowing me at my large events) took some great pictures of our Sweet Baby Madi!







Just because they're SO stinkin CUTE!





Thursday, January 21, 2010

-22lbs and counting

This is what 20 lbs of fat looks like. I have lost 22 so far. I am counting points like crazy and walking/jogging 4-5 miles per day 5 times a week.... So far I am thrilled with my progress :)

Anyone want to jump on the train with me??

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Pants On the Ground


If you watch American Idol.... This video requires no Explanation :)

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Briley is the coolest kid ever.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

No Resolutions....

Every year I make this giant list of things I plan to change throughout the new year.... Stop biting my nails, fold the laundry RIGHT when the dryer turns off, get in shape, save more money.... the list goes onnnn and onnnnn and onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. This year I am not making RESOLUTIONS. I have decided that I am changing my LIFE. I am not going to set myself up for failure to combat a list of things daily that will never happen. I am just decided to let myself evolve into the person I know I am capable of being..... I am getting rid of the toxic things in my life and making myself free and happy.

That being said let me tell you where I stand.

I started weight watchers 6 weeks ago. I have lost 16 lbs so far and I will continue to stay on that track. There is not choice or option, by the end of the year I am going to be the hottest mama you know. Period. :)

I joined the gym. On my quest to be the hottest mama you know, I signed up and have been going 3-4 days a week. Jogging, elliptical and weights.... I am so sore I can barely move but I know these are the signs of progress.

I am done nursing friendships that are one-sided and require massive amounts of maintenance. First and foremost, I am a mom, I am a wife and a business owner and a teacher to my own children and 13 adorable preschoolers. I am a photographer, and I am a maid and a cook and a media person for my family. I am also a friend. I am a good friend and I love and care deeply for those who do the same for me. You know who you are and you know I love you. we don't have to call everyday or even see each other. I know your busy and you know I am.

Thank you for sharing this bumpy life journey with me and I am glad I have you to lean on.

Out with the old and in with the new. If your out or it's out-- Goodbye, fairwell. C'est La Vie. Don't expect me to care or come begging. Take your issues and go. I don't need or want your negative bologna.
GOODBYE TOXIC ridiculous , annoying, etc....

I am a quest to be more in tune with God and my spiritual self. I have started a 365 day reading program and I am on track to finish reading the entire Bible by December 31st 2010. I cannot tell you so far, how cool it is to be doing this and gain an entire new understanding and knowledge base of the Bible. truly amazing.

I am working on keeping it simple and decluttering my life. Less is more in most cases and my home is beginning to reflect that. It's much easier to be OCD and clean and dust around the house when you don't have a lot to clean around :)

I am growing as a business owner and photographer. I am always open to new ideas and suggestions. I will be holding many contests this year to drum up new business and make things interesting. If you want to follow me check out Snapped With Love.com

Just as a side note, I would like to take this moment to freely admit that I am 100% obsessed with The Twilight Series, and basically anything Vampire. I am pretty sure I am not the only 30 something mother who is in love with a fictional, 107 year-old 17 year old. I pray daily that Stephanie Meyer would finish book 5 and 6, and 7 and 8 and 9 and .....ok. I know I'll stop.

Thank you to My mother in law and sister in law for getting me hooked. Jen got me the True Blood Series for Christmas. I JUST started them.... Hopefully it will help me get through until the next books in the series are out.

This year is going to be a year of many changes for myself and my family..... It's going to be positive and I am thrilled at the prospect. I don't plan on keeping up a blog stating how successful I am. I may ramble here and there but I feel I may burn myself out if I do. Rather I am not making RESOLUTIONS, more like a revolution of life :) Give me 12 months and I will be in a totally new form. I guarantee it :)

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Chitter Chatter

It seems like we have waited FOREVER for Kayelyn to start talking....

The day she was born, and she was so sick. I prayed for the day I would hear her sweet sweet little voice. And FINALLY, she is starting to chat :) It is the cutest thing in the world :)

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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

A Princess Birthday Tea Party

Briley & Kayelyn's little friend Emma turned four and had the cutest Birthday party EVER!!! It was a Princess Themed dress up tea party. They girls looked ADORABLE and had so much fun!