37 and Counting

Click on the photo so you can see it bigger.
I took on the challenge of photographing a million people (okay 37 in all) in my family. We went into the studio because its December and typically there's snow on the ground but thats not true this year. It was pretty warm today...47 degrees. To me that means I don't need to wear a coat and to Kim that means she need to be bundled up in her down coat with gloves and a hat (she's from California...those guys are wimps...he he!)
I love how this turned out. I shot every family separately cuz thats just easier and then merged all the families together.

 

Christmas

Christmas is here and we are so FREAKING excited!!!!!! We get a visit from Santa and the Tooth Fairy how cool is that?
The kids couldn't wait to get to bed, it was the first year in a long time that all the kids slept and STAYED asleep the whole night. I also told them they couldn't come upstairs til 7:30.
I remember how hard it was to wait when I was a kid.
The first present that was open was that big red one and it was birds...4 of them. They LOVED them and never even thought Santa would bring such a cool gift.

It was such a GREAT day. I love watching the kids and there excitement.
This year was extra special for me. I had a small budget and I stuck to it and by doing so I have never felt the spirit so strong to experience the JOY of Christmas.

Lights on Temple Square

Can you see Moroni in the photo below?

What a beautiful night to spend on Temple Square and it was surprisingly warm. I really hate to be cold. Its why I don't do winter sports.
I've really wanted to get some Lights at Temple Square for a fun print to hang at Christmas time. I think I got some I like.
This was so fun for me though I wish that had a few of my lenses, my babies are in the shop. Oh, and I wish tripod's where is easier to use they just get in the way.
And Suzanne thanks for taking me and teaching me some great photo skills. I love that the only tip was if you want the star effect have your fstop at a 22 and your good to go. Its all I needed to run with.

And a Big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Greg. He was so nice to let me go out on his special day.

No Snow.

I'm a bad momma. Its December and Beckam is outside without shoes...EEEK!
He actually escapes when he can but just had to take a shot to remember how warm it has been in December.

FHE

Bryn prepared and taught the leasson today. She did a WONDERFUL job. After she was done I found that she researched her lesson on the computer all by herself. She found all the symbolizms of Christmas. The candy cane, the tree, the light, the star and who should we remember at Christmas time. I am so proud of her she is one awesome girl.

Kindness of Strangers

This holiday season I have come to grips with my budget. At first I was a little upset but then my hard heart was softened.
I have now decided to take on the challenge and figure out how I could possibly make Christmas happen with $100 and 5 kids. I wrote down all that I needed to pull it off and went to the store and found everything that would work to make it GREAT. And then days later I get this with a basket full of goodies. How cool is that now I have more money to get some more gifts for the kids. I tell you what this process was so cleansing to my soul. You actually don't need much for Christmas and what I learned in this whole process was...its the spirit of it all. I can't even begin to explain to you the JOY I have felt this holiday season. I found some birds for FREE and the cage. I thought this would be a fun big gift to give. I also had some trade at a clothing store to get something for the girls.I do have to say that it is harder to find something COOL for the older kids because well, they want more expensive stuff. But Greg and I did come up with refurbishing his old laptops to give to the kids.
Anywho this Christmas Holiday Season was so enjoyable for me. I just want to shout it out to all those around me. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Lack of Perseverance

A little piece of Elyse. 

"Mom, today this kid that sits next to meet has a lack of perseverance, do you know what that means?"
No. I said ( I really did, don't let me fool you)
Elyse - "You don't know!" She explains and then tells me the boy was cheating from her and so he has a lack of perseverance. 

Nose Dive

This little guy had his first nose dive at Greg's soccer game last night. He fell off the bleacher's and didn't put his hands out to catch himself but used his nose to do the work. Poor guy.

Sheesh.

Sheesh its been a long time. Been doing a lot. Photo shoots, photo shoots and more photo shoots all the while the kids still had soccer practice because the weather was so nice...that was something I didn't plan for. Greg has been working a ton with Matt Townsend and few other companies.
Gabe has been going thru a lot with bullies at school, to standing up to them, realizing he is loved and is amazing. I set up a night for him to invite a bunch of friends to come over and play games outside and in. He had a BLAST. Since then he has felt like a million bucks and feels loved again. Since 2nd grade Gabe has told me he gets bullied and at times will cry himself to sleep. I haven't really understood it because he can play a victim role. Kids do say the meanest things and then he takes it to heart. He isn't the toughest kid because he has feelings and that for a boy, in this world is wrong. I hate that. If Gabe can keep his true self thru all these growing years he will be one amazing missionary, friend and husband. I love him to death and hurt for him so much. I hope that the Lord will continue to guide in what to do and say.
I'm not sure how Gabe will feel knowing that I put this on my blog but its my journal. Dang, I should go private. Because the next item of business is that Bryn starting her period. She is 11. 11, are you serious. She is my baby and plays pretend. It was really weird for her not knowing whats going on with her body and all the while I am trying to explain everything to her in a way that she can understand. She stayed home from school...she didn't know how to walk with a pad. It was awkward for her. I just love that girl.
What else has been going on. Ummm, Greg ran over his computer with the Tahoe and surprisingly it was fixable. He just had to replace the screen.
Isaac is doing good in school he can now sing his ABC's that made me a little worried when he couldn't do it but he's totally rocking it.
Elyse has been reading, big books like FableHaven and is now onto Arogan.
Beckam is Beckam he is just always running around. He loves to help with the dishes he gets the pots and pans out and puts them all over the kitchen.
And a little about me. I've been struggling. I don't find joy. I know the prophets talk about it all the time, that we should all find joy in our trials...weird, I know. I wish I could be happy but there is a part in my brain that really focus on the negative. That is the one character flaw that I hate about me. I've also been struggling with going to church. I don't enjoy it. This ward isn't the best ward. I keep to myself because honestly I don't want people to talk to me...I might cry. I don't like doing that. Ha! I'm struggling with my relationship with my Savior. Because while growing up I've not really had a an awesome father figure but in his defense he didn't know how to be a father when he had a crazy mom. Chasing him around the room with a butcher knife. But I'll figure it out.
Today, I was talking with a friend who has been going to therepy and she mentioned that I need to retrain my brain's thought process (duh, I already know that) but there's a chemical in the brain that actually triggers the thoughts and makes it commen for me to think half empty. So the suggestion was anytime a negative thought comes in I need to instantly change it with a positive. Duh!!! I did this about 4 years ago and it was awesome. But now with life's circumstances getting in the way it has messed with my brain again. I feel that I have a long road ahead of me but I know with small steps I can do it. For instance, today I went to the temple, it was actually a struggle to get there but I made it. While there I was feeling anxious and thinking of all the things I have to do and if they could hurry up I will be fine. I took a deep breathe said to myself RELAX you will be fine and I was. Maybe I need medication! Anyways. I'm very self conscious about being the Debie Downer but I've got to be real and then move on. Plus, you've got to share the REAL thoughts once in a while.