Birthday Love for Janelle!

Happy birthday to my ever fabulous, super fun, totally captivating and incredibly wonderful friend of...19 years? Wow, can we really be THAT old?

I seriously LOVE this girl! We met in 7th grade when I was starting a new school and didn't know ANYONE! She was such a good friend and helped me along in my nervous state of loneliness. We've been amazing friends ever since! I have so many fun memories with this girl and often miss our careless days of being roommates in Apartment 1073 and was it 2029? Man were those the days! Janelle can light up ANY room with her cute smile and fabulous eyes!

She's also the best to have around when you crash the YSA dances or want to do some fun Karaoke! She dances like crazy and makes us all laugh hysterically! She's one of my group of 10 friends I have known for so long and I am so thankful to have her...and all of them, in my life! It is truly a unique friendship we have for sure. Janelle is frequently known for her crazy hairstyles! Here's a shot when we hiked the grand canyon where she let it get a little out of control! =)

No really, here's a shot I stole from her blog of a crazy hair day, she can seriously pull off the crazy hair though, this is a quote from her blog that tells me why...

"It isn't my favorite, but it's different, so that makes it fun....and let's be honest, it'll grow. So I'm just embracing it and acting confident...that's always what makes it cute anyway!"

This is precisely what I love most about Janelle. She is super outgoing and confident and radiates love to all those around her. She's always making people laugh and lifting the spirits of others. She's such an inspiration as she just finished her Master's Degree and is now a Nurse Practitioner!

Janelle, thanks for the memories we continue to create! Here's to more smacking tree branches full force and landing flat on my back, giggly nights with no sleep to be had, movie making, song singing, carwashing in the rain, frog catching, scorpion discoveries, gotcha playing, late night fast food, music and dancing over and over and over, more surprises than either of us can count, fashion helps, tears of happiness, tears of sadness, laughing til we cry and nearly pee...oh wait this is YOU I am talking about! Hoping for many, many more years of these memories, I LOVE YOU GIRL, wish I could be there to celebrate! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

"Being 6 is SO MUCH better than being 5!"

"Dad, when I wake up, does that mean I am 6?"

Well, not technically, you'll actually turn 6 at 11:11am.

"Ok, I can't wait to be 6"

Happy birthday to my super cute, charasmatic, smarty pants, sporty little redhead! 6 years ago today, on a very special Memorial Day, he entered our lives and changed our world as we new it, FOREVER! Wow, what a boring life we'd have if it weren't for our kids. Brennan gets us more compliments in random public outings than anyone! People can't get over that red hair of his and most people that know him just ADORE his cute personality! He is such a sport nut and can out run and out throw his mommy, even if I am in denial. He's gone from pretty a determined little fit thrower to a people pleasing, respected little man. I just love him and am so grateful for him in our family. I seriously couldn't narrow down the many cute photos that show who he is, so you'll jsut have to deal with a LOT of pictures...I know nothing new, stop complaining! Here's a good sampling of his last 6 years!!

Wow, he really did start out THIS small, 6lbs, 12 oz! I can't believe I have taken him from baby to 6!

One week old.

4 months old

6 months and super smiley all the time!

A big one year old!

18 months, some of the fun and definitely HARDER days!

TWO! More fun and definitely more difficult. Boy did he have some fire in him, and NOT just his red hair!

I love this photo in the truck, he loved his "papa trucks."

More with TWO. Love this "slam dunk," not bad for a two year old!

Also the Santa picture, that is shows who Brennan was, incredibly nervous and apprehensive about ANYTHING. This included characters, rides and especially ANY loud noise. I am so surprised he isn't like this anymore, Disneyland at age 3 was his WORST NIGHTMARE, he was terrified of EVERYTHING! Thankfully he has outgrown most of this.

THREE! More strong willed fits this year! This day I came in to a very quiet (and naked) Brennan to see he had found lotion and sunscreen and had it ALL OVER himself, the counter and the mirror, I am glad I opted to take a picture instead of get really mad. Another great 3 story...he threw the biggest fit one day and after 45 minutes of him slamming doors and kicking walls and being horrible, I was in tears and left him with a sitter to get a break! I came home and talked calmly to him and told him I had to take ALL of his toys away until he could behave. This didn't go over well, but Daddy got home and we put all the toys outside in my studio and locked it up. Well at 1am our house alarm went off, I woke up in paralyzed fear to it and laid there waiting for the intruder to enter my room. Brennan terrified of the alarm had jumped in my bed and his heart was pounding against me also very scared. The alarm people called and we started to look around, turns out their was no intruder, Brennan woke up and since we were asleep he went out front on his own to get to the studio and take back the toys we took away! Yeah, he was pretty determined!

Ok, borderline inappropriate for this blog, but how could I not post what has become a signature photo of Brennan's?? This is on his 3rd birthday, he was running around naked with this mask on and Aunt Sally told him to turn and pose for this! Classic and definitely great for blackmail someday =)

FOUR! Things are looking up for us now, behavior is better, sensitivity and fear of everything lessened, I think I can really enjoy this kid!

This photo is decieving, I didn't put him on a huge cliff where he could fall into the ocean below...he wasn't THAT bad his first 3 years of life!

Five. Now very charasmatic and loving. Much more mild tempered and incredibly active, smart and fun to be around. He's also our little cuddler and would give anything to sleep wtih and cuddle Dawson every night! Dawson on the other hand has no interest AT ALL!

Last, here's a photo of him today getting his breakfast request of Funny Face Mickey Pancakes, on the SPECIAL PLATE...look out IHOP! Happy birthday buddy, I love you!

Austen Newborn Photos

Tony and Carey were wedding clients of mine about 6 years ago. It's been great to keep in touch wtih them through the years; with the birth of their first baby Chloe and now their second baby Austen. We recently did Austen's newborn photos. He was a month old and was such a sweet baby.

I am a sucker for black and whites like these with the black backdrop.

I think Tony and Austen already have a pretty good connection since Austen decided to come on his own terms 17 days early while they were still at HOME! So, Tony did his part and actually delivered his baby boy with the help of the 911 operator! I still can't believe their incredible birth story, what a wonderful story for Austen to tell someday.

Congratulations guys, thanks for letting me be a part of this special time in your life again!

Pearson Family

Meet the Pearson Family. Dad Adrian bought a gift certificate for his wife's birthday a few months ago (what a great guy...he needs to share that secret with more men for sure) we were finally able to get out and take their photos a couple of weeks ago. I just fell in love with their cute, well mannered kids! All of their kids were so well behaved they just made our job much easier! Here's a peak at some of their photos...

Love this shot, these two are so dang cute!

Thanks Adrian and Lynn!

#81 CHECK

Learn to make hairbows for Emery

Another goal checked off my list! This one was quite fun and surprisingly simple if I do say so myself. Me and all of these girlfriends went out to Ribbons & Lace in Mesa to learn how to make cute hairbows!

I am not a crafty person really, but having a little girl has changed that for sure cuz there is just oodles of cuteness for girls out there! So, I made it a goal to learn to make bows so I didn't always have to buy them because I knew I could definitely do some damage buying bows for many years! I came across this store awhile ago and was overwhelmed with their selection!! Here's a photo of just ONE of their isles of ribbon...you have never seen a selection so big!!

As you can see my bows aren't perfect, but I did have fun and it will be fun to match different bows to cute outfits and then have the perfect pair for photos =)

If you don't live here or just have no desire to learn to make bows, here's a link to lots of really cute bows from a friend of mine. I bought some of her adjustable newborn headbands...they are perfect so you don't waste the headband when she gets a little bigger. Click here for Katie's site selling bows and headbands. Next I am going to take a stab at making one of these kinds of bows, my sister made this for Emery and I LOVE when she wears it cuz she just looks like the perfect little present!

What did you have at school today?

What do you think, did they serve sno cones today? This is how I got him after school a few weeks ago!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Here's my 3 beautiful reasons for getting to celebrate today!

My celebration started with a wonderful, much needed date last night! It's our first time out alone since Emery was born. First I got this long stem red rose...

Then we went out to Scottsdale for a very nice dinner at Flemings. We both enjoy the nice steakhouse meal a few times a year and had never tried out this place, it was good. They even gave us Chocolate Covered Strawberries in honor of Mother's Day at the end of our meal. This morning Reuben had these beautiful flowers out for me! Unfortunately, we couldn't have breakfast in bed as we had early church, so instead I got a wonderful veggie omelette for lunch! Then tonight we enjoyed a wonderful meal with my mom and sister, complete with the men doing the cooking AND the dishes, I could get used to this! =) So, here's my tribute to most of the wonderful "mom's" in my life, I am sure I didn't get all of them because there are just too many great women to talk about!

First and foremost, MY MOM, Kathy.

She has always worked very hard to provide for her family and is definitely the person I get my strong work ethic from! She has also taught me great perserverance as she's gone her whole life with incredible pain in her feet with numerous painful surgeries that have never given her the luxury of walking without pain, something most of us take for granted! She has come so far in her life through trials and struggles but has always remained strong. She is a selfless person and a great grandma!


My stepmom, Pam.

Here she is with Brennan when he was about 2 yrs old! She has always been my friend and someone I could talk to about anything. She has taught me to be a better mother by watching how she parents my younger brothers. She is always so positive and doesn't allow much of anything to get to her! She is such a great grandma and my boys sure wish she lived closer than California so they could more fully enjoy her!


My mother in law, Sue.

She is such a strong woman and exemplies what it truly means to be a great wife! She takes care of her husband who has suffered many things and does it without complaint. She works hard to provide for her family and has raised 9 kids! She's so strong including being a breast cancer survivor! She LOVES books and is helping my kids to love reading since she's helping us have our own little library =) But most of all, she raised such an amazing, sweet son who I am blessed to have as a husband!

My other mom...Aunt Kim!

She is incredbily loving and super sweet and was always a second mom to me growing up! She has taught me to give as she has given much of herself adopting 5 wonderful children after having two of her own! She is always a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on and boy did I wet that shoulder often growing up! I will always look up to and admire her for dedication and love for others, and especially for her testimony of Jesus Christ!

My Aunt Debbie in Utah.

She is seriously so FUN and has really become such a wonderful friend. She always makes me laugh and is so young at heart...here she is skiing on ONE ski! She's a great mom and grandma and she never seems to let anything bring her down. She works very hard and never seems to just sit and relax (we call her Monica...from friends cuz she is ALWAYS cleaning). She is always giving and doing for others and never wants anything in return! She's one of the best, most fun people to be on vacation with...seriously I laugh dangerously hard since I have had 3 kids...if you know what I mean!

Of course I couldn't possibly list everyone as I have Grandmas, more wonderful Aunts, sister's, sister in laws, cousins and way too many wonderful friends that are such wonderful examples of mother's to me! Some of them aren't even mom's yet, but they are amazing women and they inspire me all the time! I feel so blessed to have so many great examples to follow in my life! But most of all I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father and my husband for allowing me the wonderful and often challenging opportunity to be a MOTHER!

#19 CHECK!
YEAH!! My first goal and probably one of the more important goals DONE! This week I FINALLY took my boys to the dentist! Sadly Brennan is nearly 6 years old and he hasn't ever been...oops! It's sad it took my 101 list to make it happen since it's been a goal of mine for about 2 years, just not one I ever get to! Here's how Dawson felt about the experience... Much to my dismay, the supposed back to back appointments ended up being both boys at the same time in rooms 4 doors apart!! So, I was left going back and forth with Emery in her seat and both boys nervous without me. I wasn't too happy about that. Luckily Brennan was VERY BRAVE and did a good job on his own. Here he is kicking back to the movie on the ceiling.

Unfortunately they called me to Brennan's room to discuss the dreaded CAVITIES and while I was gone they tried to start cleaning Dawson's teeth and having him lay down...needless to say despite being brave for his X-rays he DID NOT let them clean his teeth. I swear if they would have just waited til I was in there I could have got him to cooperate a little longer!

When they are done IF they are good for the Dr. they get a token to pick a treasure! That didn't go over well with Dawson but luckily Brennan ended up with 2 tokens and shared with his brother! And the official report? Um...not public knowledge sorry! YES, it is THAT BAD! Note to self, make dental hygiene appointments more often and be more on top of my kids teeth so I don't have to earn the worst parent award again.