J-Dawg's Birthday--October 2007

Lost.

And found. It's been a LONG time since I have had time to edit my photos. Check these out way back in October. I love the way they feed off of one another. So typical.

OH MY!

I forgot how IN LOVE I was with these. This last one just chokes me up. Everything about it, them. Oh I love them. This is them perfectly. My big boy and my little parrot.

Note to self:

when taking self portrait...look at camera.

Found

Photo Love

Christmas Eve 2007 THE Batman watch.


The infamous cookie babies. My kids have carried these EVERYWHERE! (Thanks Mom.)

This look, this photo...I just love him oh so much.

Going to be posting some personal photos that I never got a chance to edit. I have been going through so many today, it has been so great to look back and to laugh. I love my life, enjoy...

Seven Years Ago...

We knelt across the altar, and two became one. Through the years this union became four.
When I see you, I see the best partner, friend, father, husband, lover, and eternal companion, I could have ever asked for. More than I ever imagined being given. More than I deserve at times.
You complete me in ways that I only begin to understand more fully as the years pass. I know there was a hand guiding me to you, and even though I am not the best at showing it in all ways and each day can be different from the next, you are never far from my heart.

I'm so thankful to be on this journey with you!

Happy Anniversary Hubbs.

Observations:

Kim: "Hubbs, I just bought this sweater, what do you think?"

Hubbs: Silence

Kim: "Does it look like a maternity sweater? I think it is a little big is the problem."

Hubbs: "Yes, it does."

Kim: "Nice."

Be it known that I am giving this new sweater to a very pregnant friend of mine.

And a post would not be complete without some holiday cheer and some photos: Totally caught eating the fruits of the labor...(both of them!)


Gingy did not survive.

Till next time.

It is now 1:40 a.m...

Both of my children have wandered downstairs to my office as I work. This bus-ay day must come to an end. It was insane...if you want to know why check out the photography blog. Going to enjoy a nice day at home tomorrow, oh wait, that is a joke...a big, huge funny joke! Happy Holidays!

Hustle and Bustle

This is me...feeling strained a bit the past week, (sadly this week hasn't been too kind either...) I love this photo, I overexposed my face on purpose, I love the way it gets rid (almost) of all of my supposed imperfections. I was so thankful for a talk in church on Sunday about women needing to have a higher self-esteem. I remember learning about self-esteem and self-confidence when I was in Kindergarten, wondering where all that knowledge went to. That will be a life long struggle I fear. But, it was nice to have something to think on and work on once again.

So, anyway, back to the hustle and bustle. It seems if you put on your bloggie blog that you are no longer taking sessions until January 2, that everyone wants a session. This is wonderful, and the nice person in me that has a hard time turning people away...well she said yes. To. All. Of. Them. I have been rushing and rushing from session to session, ordering like mad, and I still have THREE sessions left this week. I hate to sound negative about it, but I just wasn't expecting this. I guess I will have to plan my life a little better next year.

On top of this my Saturday was PACKED full of all things Activities Committee. It was our ward Christmas party, I thought I had planned well enough, but when the day came, I was so behind. I spent the entire day putting finishing touches on my decorations, and helping at the building. We were there for an eternity it seemed. 6 hours. I can't complain though, we don't have to fulfill these activities very often. The party was a hit. It was just me and the kids this year because Hubbs is swamped too since his trip to Brasil...the kids were angels though (for the most part...they were in it 6 hours too...) and even went on stage to sing, and they SAT with ME the entire meal so that I COULD EAT! I have THE best kids on Earth. I do not exaggerate. THE BEST.

Well, it is late/early/an insane hour in the morning so I am heading off to bed, just wanted to drop in and see how your hustle and bustle are going? I am off to the store EARLY tomorrow to finish my shopping...YAY!

Ah, life.

*If you are a dude, be it known you were warned*

I finally made it to "THE" doctor's appointment I have been putting off for almost a year. I am not certain why I didn't want to go. Okay, so, yes I do, it is all these extra pounds I have kept after having Memm that I did nothing with (that was part of it) and believe me, I saw the scale yesterday. It wasn't pretty. The good thing? I have the best OBGYN ever. Most people probably say that, and that is great, but after the experience I had with my previous GYN wilst in the throws of finding an answer to all of my problems years ago, this guy is a bit of stardust.

You know how we hype ourselves up when we go, tell ourselves it is the worst day of the whole year? Ya, it isn't that bad. For some reason I remember it being worse. So, anyway, back to the whole year thing. It was fear. I am afraid. I am afraid to pursue something if it needs pursuing. I am being vague here, some things I am not ready to vocalize out in blog land. Suffice it to say, I am glad I went, and got the ball rolling again, and hopefully within the next six months we will either be blessed to carry another child, or we will find our birth mother. Or, after the phone call I got yesterday, we will finally be approved for foster care. (Our worker comes on Jan. 3 to do our homestudy...then we'll be finished.) Wahoo! I have to say, when you do "all that you can do" there is a tiny bit of frustration, but with that also comes peace. Peace in knowing that Heavenly Father knows I am doing all I can do. He hears my prayers, and that in his time he will bless us.

Here's hoping you all are having a very special and memorable holiday season...

Merry Christmas to ME!

I have been wanting to do this FOREVER. I kept putting it off, hoping I would lose this extra twenty I have hanging on me...figured life can't wait so...I finally did it.

My Christmas/anniversary/birthday present this year was a session with HIM.

This is his interpretation of us.

I love them!

Thank you a million times Duston. Thank. You.

Rosie

The twin friends demonstrate a mean game of Ring Around:



Just one of the many things I have been working on. I always hate going so long without posting. Luckily Moosh in Indy saw this and got my back.

I know ya'll hate it when I make comments about my crazy busy life, but well, it was none other than that. Crazy, and busy. Finals are over (I only had two...nothing to complain about right?) Well, one of those finals ripped my heart out. Sad. I have this teach...who shall remain nameless, who I wish would be a little kinder and look for a little more good than bad. I can take CC, that is not the issue...it is just his way of "CC" it is more of the second C than the first. Anyway, it took me a few days to get over that. Can't say I am completely over it, but ya...trying.

My boys are back! WAHOO! It is always so stressful during the days they fly. This was their second trip to Brasil without me. The first time I was pregnant with Memm and couldn't go. This time Memm and I didn't have time to get our visas. We missed them terribly and I, more than anything think I missed the photo opportunity. I kept thinking of the wonderful way I could capture my husband, possibly for the last time with is grandmothers. Or my children sitting on their laps while they told them stories about their youth, or loved ones long since past. I really was heartbroken not to have been able to go. It brings tears to my eyes, but was so thankful to have heard the stories from Hubbs about them and hope he takes the time to write them down, things so easily lost in the shuffle. His grandmothers are the most humble women I have ever met. I would like to do a blog about one of them sometime. Remarkable, that is one word to describe her. Hero is another. Humble is probably the most descriptive. I miss her.

I am looking forward to a few weeks off. Today was probably the busiest day of my photography career. Christmas Rush doesn't begin to describe it. I am so thankful for this little side career I have going. It has been a tremendous blessing, that hopefully will pay off next year. I almost have my equipment paid back and school for this year. Now I just need to finish paying for the workshops I want to attend next year. Hawaii in March and possibly Chicago in June.

Well, that is it from Simply Me. Hope you are all enjoying this joyous season!

Kim's mine. mine. mine. MINE!

Hello Kim's gentle readers,

This is Casey from moosh in indy. Maybe you've heard of me. Maybe you've met me. Maybe you're aware that Kim is one of the best things that ever happened to me. Were you also aware that Kim is one of my three favorite people in the state of Utah? Then you should also know that Kim is one of the most hysterical people I know. You knew she was funny right?

No? It may be hard to tell with all her "BOO HOO I miss my husband" stuff and all her pretty pictures taking over her site. But trust me.

Funny.

Still not convinced? Hmm.

Well, let me give you some proof.

Some of you who are kind enough to comment over at my place tell me that I make you laugh. (thank you). Kim makes me laugh. Often at inappropriate times. And quite often when someone has a camera in our face. Or when her camera is in my face.
See?
HAR HAR." src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/2093994806_bd73cb2128.jpg" width=375>
There she is looking all beautiful and sublime while I'm there, well, all contorted.
Let's see another example.

Yep, there she is thinking not much in the world is funny and there's me having to hold onto a pole to keep myself upright.

Moving on. Oh yes.

When she takes my picture.

At least my mom is with me on this one. My sister's hard to crack.

Then there's this one.

Oh, yep, there's my tonsils. Uh huh. Right there. Any doctors in the house? Are they looking healthly? Because they've given me trouble in the past, I really think they should have been removed a long time ago but my mom said that...oh...what? This is about Kim?

Right.

Sorry.

My point.

Finally my mom was able to get us.

Equal.

No Kim showing me up with her smiling eyes and sparkling personality.

No tonsils.

Just us.

BFFs 4ever 2cute2B4gotten" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/2093996130_92b42fa2ea.jpg" width=500>

Wow, right? We should sell lip gloss, or mascara, or hair product, or skin care or even Visene.

I heart you Kim. You Sears shopping husband misser. (By the way, are you over that yet? Because I still have TWO WEEKS UNTIL I SEE MINE. And what? Oh, right. IT'S ALREADY BEEN WHAT? THREE WEEKS. humph.)

love you!

Busy!

Been so busy the past week, it is incredible. Tomorrow will be nothing less. Sorry if I have been too, "mooshy" about my husband lately. I miss him a lot. I know it will only be a week and a half, but after the summer I had, I need to appreciate him more, and love him more, and tell him more how I feel about him. Sadly it took him going away for me to realize how much I utterly need him and love him and care for him. So that is that.

Have my final Final tomorrow! Wish me luck...

Him

Been thinking about him today...heard this song. It is his favorite. Oooo how I miss him.

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,

Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,

Till released from flesh and sin,

Yet from what I do inherit,Here Thy praises I’ll begin;

Here I raise my Ebenezer;

Here by Thy great help I’ve come;

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,

Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

Wandering from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger,

Interposed His precious blood;

How His kindness yet pursues me

Mortal tongue can never tell,

Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me

I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart,

O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,

I shall see Thy lovely face;

Clothed then in blood washed linen

How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;

Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,

Take my ransomed soul away;

Send thine angels now to carry

Me to realms of endless day.

Words:
bio("Ro­bert Ro­bin­son","r/o/b/robinson_r")
Ro­bert Ro­bin­son, 1758; ap­peared in his A Col­lect­ion of Hymns Used by the Church of Christ in Angel Al­ley, Bi­shop­gate, 1759.
Music: Net­tle­ton, Wyeth’s Re­po­si­to­ry of Sac­red Mu­sic, Part Se­cond, by
John Wyeth, 1813

I remember a night, shortly after we met, this song came across the television, he told me it was his favorite song. I had never heard it before, ever. We watched the performance in awe, we both cried. Wow. As I sat tonight thinking about the words, my heart was touched. My love for him grew even more, I had a further glimpse into part of him I don't know very well, one I plan on getting to know.

"Olhe!...Po'tock...yeeee'haaaaw!"

This photo brings tears to my eyes. It says so much to me. My heart is so full of love for not only her, but for my sweet Hubbs and J too.

This girl is CRAZY...KRAZY...KrAzY...cRaZy...about anything horse. She sees a horse, it is "Olhe!...Po'tock...yeeeee'haaaaww!" Now, let me explain: Olhe means "Look!" in Portuguese, "po'tock" is really just a noise that Flavio makes in a processional, something like, "po'tock-eee, po'tock-eee, po'tockeee..." etc...if you say it really fast, it sounds very much like the stomping of a horses running hooves. Make sense? And "yee'haw" need I say more...? Hehehehe. So, ya, EVERY TIME she sees a horse that is what she says, "Olhe! Po'tock....yeeee'haaaaaaw!" I love it so much I point out horses to her. Love her. Why does this bring me SO much joy? Joy I tell you. Because my heart is so full of love for her, because SHE loves something so much. I cannot honestly remember when I was a child loving something that much, having so much passion about something, seeking it, living for it, loving it. My in-laws got her this little horse (Erin, it is from Costco...) and she is in love. I was going to get her a rocking horse for her Christmas present, (now I can't and I am a little sad, only because I thought it was the perfect gift, and found the perfect one...feeling a little selfish...) but love how much she loves this horse. Recognizing the love her grandparents had for her, in seeing the passion she has for all things horse. Can a two year old have a passion? I think so.

I am so thankful I get to watch her grow. I get to see her seek new passions. This photo tells me I am doing something right. She is basking in an innocence I can't remember having. A joy that I don't remember experiencing. I can't explain what that feeling would have done for me in my life, but I hope that when she is older, she can look back and feel that comfort and peace that comes with being able to connect to something. I am not even sure if this is making sense...but anything horse to her...is like my children are to me. They are my joy. They are my heart. They are my passion. Hubbs, I love you. Thank you for completing my life in a way I never knew possible. For allowing me the joy of being a mother. For being there when I have hard days (like today) even though you are thousands of miles away, you still felt with me. I miss you. I appreciate you. I am thankful for you. Your endless support of me is astonishing. The things you sacrifice for my happiness amaze me. I owe you the same and so much more and I know that at times I lack the ability to tell you, or to show you, but it is always there, and I am learning. Thanks for being my best friend...for being my, "Po'tock yeee'haaaaw" if you will! Forever grateful to you for showing me what passion is. What Joy is. May we be blessed with more in our life, and always look forward to more and more one day!

Yep, this photo says a lot. So grateful for it.

Feeling a little bit sad.

Dad and brother are gone for a few days. Hubbs' grandma is very sick, so they went to see her. Missing them terribly. Not sure who is missing them more, me or Memm. (I am pretty sure it is me.) *Tried* to talk to J the last few days...he wants nothing to do with me, just a waste of his time. Seriously, that is how he acted. It is okay though. I know he loves me. Talked to Hubbs, he said that when J doesn't want to do something he cries for me. Hmm, sounds a lot like Memm when she gets told not to do something, the first thing out of her mouth is, "Papai!!!" Hilarious.
Took these before he left. Love that face. Oooo so in love.
This looks like a hug, it is, in fact, a push! Oh well, at least he tries.
Ya feeling a little teary.

Tagged, I'm it.

Thanks Amanda!

What was I doing 10 years ago? Hmm, ten years ago I was...wha? Almost sixteen, probably wishing I could date. But seriously was a sophomore in high school, making some of the best friends of my life!

What was I doing 5 years ago? Five years ago I was also celebratiting our second wedding anniversary by going to Brasil! Oh man, it was such a great time. I was a pretty stressful time of my life. I wish I could go back and relive that trip with a much better attitude.

What was I doing 1 year ago? One year ago we were celebrating our first Christmas with Memm. I can't believe how much joy she has brought into our lives and how much J LOVES her. Ya seriously they love eachother. Cool, I know.

What was I doing yesterday? I was SICK! I mean I. WAS. SICK. I had THE worst headache I have had in. a. long. time. And a low grade fever. I was on the couch the whole day with the exception of diaper changing, and meals. Other than that it was thank goodness for PBS and Signing Time.

5 Snacks I enjoy - This would be easier to say five things I do not enjoy. Hmm, I like Ice Breakers antioxidant gum. I chew it as a snack I swear, six pieces at once. I love to snack on Special K Chocolate Delight or whatever it is. Bugles. Loaded Potato Bites from Arbys, and I love a good Hagan Daaz double chocolate ice cream bar...but really have to be in the mood.

5 things I would do if I had a million dollars - Pay Tithing, also pay off my house, and my cars, buy a new camera, and save the rest.

5 Places I would run away to - Brasil (two weeks is my limit though...sadly), Hawaii baybee, the mall, the camera store, and California.

5 T.V. Shows I Like - House, ER, Little House on the Prairie, The Brady Bunch, hmmm, this is hard, but love Law and Order.

5 Things I Hate Doing - I am so with Amanda on a few of these: laundry, dentist, ironing, housework (of all varieties) and cooking. Um, yes, you are right this says I am a horrendous housewife. It is okay, I make up for it once a week when I deep clean everything, and by my sweet nature! Love you Hubbs...thanks for putting up with me!

5 biggest joys of the moment - Hubbs, J-Man, Memms, my life, the gospel.

I am now tagging - Moosh in Indy, Lace, and Sarah.