6 Month/Family Pics

Below are some favorite photos of my little family at the babies' 6 month session taken by our talented photog friend, Abby Coyle. The timing worked out just right for us to use photos from their 6 month session on our 2012 Christmas Card, which just got mailed this past Saturday. I was stuffing, addressing, and stamping at 2:40am on Friday night (Saturday morning) to make it happen. I got in project completion mode and didn't go to bed until the projects on my list were completed. I am a night owl as it is, but then when I get in that mode, I shouldn't even look at the clock as I finally do crawl into bed. It's sometimes better not to know. I digress...

My precious family, my dear husband and my two little miracles, whom I'm holding tighter due to the recent tragedy.

Feelin' Great...

...at Twenty-_____! :)

Happy Birthday...

...to my favorite! I love you! :)

Bittersweet

Mother's Day evokes an array of emotions for many. For me, the emotions are bittersweet.

The sweet...

I count myself extremely blessed to have my mom on this earth walking through life with me. She is my go-to consultant for many things from cooking advice, stain removal, career moves, to how to navigate through life's toughest moments. And when the day comes that I enter into motherhood, I will turn to her for mommy advice. I hope to be even half of the wonderful woman and mother that she is.

The bitter...

This day is an abundantly emphasized day which unfortunately serves as a painful reminder of the deep longing that fills my heart. I thought for sure Mother's Day 2010 would be the last one I would spend as a "Mommy-in-Waiting." But what a sweet sweet day of rejoicing I will have when I get to celebrate my first Mother's Day as a mommy. Thank you Mom, for the shining example you've provided for me when that day comes.

Dog Days of Summer

Man it has been super hot this week! I'm not sure what the thermometer actually read, but I know the heat index was in the 100's. Gross! All I have to say is I am so thankful for A/C.

Three words describe this past summer weekend: fun, busy, & HOT! Our weekend fun technically started on Thursday with our friends Daniel and Lindsay's wedding rehearsal and dinner. We were so excited to celebrate this exciting time with them, and Tom was honored to be able to stand up with Daniel as a groomsman. Their wedding was on Friday night at the Old Trinity of Paseo. (Click the link to read about the history of this building, it was originally from Canada.) Everything was beautiful and charming, and Old Trinity is such a wonderful place to get married.

The happy couple.

Saturday our nephew Michael on my side wanted to come stay with his Aunt Sara and Uncle Tom, so we picked him up and we had all kinds of fun playing on the Wii, eating pizza, watching movies, coloring, going to the park, eating fro yo at Pink Swirl with Grammy and Granddad (my mom and dad), and playing with Ruby. Ruby and Michael are best buds now.

Playing in the park was H-O-T, Hot! After we got back from the park it didn't take Ruby long to figure out how to cool down.

After we got Michael all settled in and ready for bed Saturday night, Ruby hopped up to snuggle with him and they fell asleep together. It was so darn cute!

We all got up Sunday morning and went to church. Michael went to a Pre-K Sunday school class. Then we took him into big church with us because I was helping lead worship, so we thought he would think it was neat to see me sing. Tom said about 3 minutes into the worship service Michael said, "Can I go back into my class now?" Ha! Guess worship with Aunt Sara wasn't as fun as playing in the sandbox.

Celebrate Good Times!

Last night Tom and I went to dinner with Linda and Steve (Tom's parents) and Tiffany and Bryan (Tom's sister and her husband). The month of February is stacked with many things for our family to celebrate: our anniversary (2/25/06), Tiffany and Bryan's anniversary (2/14/00), and Tiffany's birthday (2/2). It's become a generous tradition that Linda and Steve take us all out to a REALLY nice restaurant every February. It's something we look forward to every year! This year we went to The Ranch Steakhouse. It was really yummy! Thank you Linda and Steve!

Everyone had steaks but Bryan and I. Bryan had the Ahi Tuna and I had the Australian lobster tail. I failed to take pix of everyone's main course but I did take pix of all the desserts! We got 3 complimentary desserts and ordered a 4th and shared them family style. But each of us gals were pretty possessive.

Steve with the Banana's Foster

Linda with the Creme Brulee

Tif with the Molten Chocolate Cake

Me with the Dulche de Leche Ice Cream Cake

Tom shoveling in another bite of Banana's Foster as I was trying to steal it

Posing on the cold patio by the warm fire

On our way home I decided to try the ever popular arm-length car pic, which didn't go so well. Every pic that was good of me was not good of Tom, or Tom was making a face. After several tries, I figured - If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!