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!