daddy's getting the boat ready....

one more subtle reminder that summer is getting closer and closer....

maybe i should have passed up on all that dessert?!

it's never too late....it's never too late....

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little things...that make me happy...

can't wait to take ava to see this movie tomorrow! hollis is going to spend some time with his great grandparents so we can have some time together {grams and felix will be going with, too!} i think she's gonna love it!

while jen and jon were here, jon made us the most amazing drinks! lava flows!!!! they were so yummy and i got very spoiled by him...yes, he made them one night on the back porch to keep from waking the kids...such a sweet, sweet man!

bo found this turtle and had to show it to me. it took me back to when i was a kid and totally jelous of the boy, david, down the street that had a pet turtle named "dribble".
i so could have had my own pet turtle, but now all i can think about is sow manilla {sp?}...growing up can totally suck sometimes...

we spent a day hanging at the house and ava had fun playin in jon's shoes...{yes, she is pretty much always topless if we're around the house...i have to make her wear a shirt in public...}

and jen, my best friend for 24 years now and the best friend a girl could ever dream of. not only is she an amazing friend, but she always gives the most rediculously amazing gifts. they are always thoughtful, creative, usually she makes them {which in my opinion makes any gift incredibly special}, and always a treasure. she is amazing.

she made me this super adorable, funky, p.e.r.f.e.c.t. jamaica pillow...she said she found the fabric in a thrift shop and knew she had to make something for me with it. she is without a doubt, the most thoughtful girl ever. it's gonna look amazing in our bedroom after i get done painting our funiture...but that's a whole other post!

don't you love it?! i know i do!

if you're wondering what the significance is of jamaica...it's where bo and i got married almost FIVE years ago! it was the most perfect and beautiful day ever.

and more lava flows...can't get enough of those...

xo,

a

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catching up...

soooo, we have been crazy busy around here the past few weeks...we had company, zoo visits, dinners out, stockyard roaming, granbury visiting, fishing, birthdays, recovering, cleaning, the list could go on and on...nice to get back to life as we know it, but definitly missing my bestie and vacation is always, always lovely!

happy birthday to this guy! my dad turned 61 last friday. we celebrated with an afternoon boat ride and then a small get together with some of dad and maryann's granbury friends. was a gorgeous day and i think my dad had a blast! {that's miss zoe on my dad's lap, all back from the puppy groomer...isn't she cute?!}

ava relaxing on the couch {avatar was on...probobly not the most age appropriate thing we could have had playing, but believe me, this didn't last long, she was up and around after a few minutes of recharging!} i think she was pretty worn out after our week away!

caught her first SUNFISH...not "croppy"!

here she is telling bo she can do it by herself! so cute!

check out jen's blog to see some cool collages of our zoo fun! her blog is darling, i think ya'll will love it!
xo,

a

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i heart "cheese" {not really...}

so, by now you know i love a good challenge...this week at i heart faces the challenge is "smiles"...so here she is, in all her five year old glory...my beautiful niece. i loved spending the day with her and taking some photos of her and her older sis. this one is one of my faves...i love, love, love that five year old smile....not sure if it's the teeth coming in in that window, the sparkle in her baby blues, or just that i know she is full of spunk and that smile says it all! i adore this girl....

xoxo beautiful one,

aunt amanda

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missing...

oh how i adore you both...i can't believe you have already been here and gone. i can not tell you how much it means to me that you came to spend your vacation with us, we loved every single second! i am so thankful you are in my life and i know i say it all the time, but i wish we lived closer...

you two have a beautiful relationship that touches my heart...happy three years you gorgeous couple!

i adore you...

xo,

a

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nakey...

we have had so much going on lately...way too much to post right now, i just want to go to bed! i'll get all caught up soon, but for now...

yes...this is my boy nakey in the wildflowers...yes, he loved every nakey second...yes, i'm aware he will hate me when he is older...yes, i am still keeping an eye out for the PERFECT bluebonnet patch...he may just have to get nakey again :) {i don't think he'll mind!}

thanks mimi for going out with us and helping me keep the little guy safe while he was posing for us! you're the best!

xo,

a

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lovelies....

i spent the afternoon with my nieces...we went out to the old truck my sister in law found a while back to shoot some pics of the girls! we had so much fun, and i must say, i LOVE shooting pics for kids that will cooperate and ham it up in front of the camera {not run away from me, you know, like my child does!}! the girls did sooooo awesome and hung with me for a long time! they were little model troopers! these are some of my favorites so far!

...before i took any pics, just a fun one for maddy...getting the sillies out! {yep, only maddy can rock duckface & a peace sign & still look totally cute!}

gorgeous girl

it's freakin' amazing watching these girls grow up into such amazing young ladies...they are two of the coolest chicks i know!

lovely....

so fun! can't wait to edit the rest...so many to get through!

so, i have to say it was a totally awesome weekend for me, full of photography, friends, animals, kiddos, and, of course, sunshine!

xo,

a

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a zoo kind of morning...

i met up with my photography meet up group this morning at the zoo for our "photo safari"... we got to get in early and watch some of the animals being fed, it was pretty exciting and super fun. met some new people and had fun chatting and shooting! some of my favorites so far...i love those big cats, so gorgeous!

and this guy...in all of my trips to the zoo, i have never seen him out of the water before, so i had to capture him in all his armored glory!

so many more to come...stay tuned!

xo,

a

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fun...

had some fun today taking pics of the kids. my sister in law pointed me in the direction of this old truck near her house, so i had to go check it out {taking pics of her girls there sunday!} they live a few miles away...ummmm i absolutely love it!

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oh.so.cute.

how CUTE is this little number from the shabby apple?! ummmmmm, totally cute, right?!

ava just might need this to be a part of her summer wardrobe....

ssshhhhhhhhh....

~a

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springedy spring

if i were a season, i would want to be spring. love spring. warmth is creeping in, everything is blooming, beautiful, & new. it's like a fresh start each year. the texas bluebonnets are my favorite sign of spring. i love driving down the highways and seeing patches of blue & green sprinkled along the way, like happy little reminders that spring is here!
i took the littles out to check out my favorite local bluebonnet fields and see how things are blooming. i am taking some pics for friends and family this year, so wanted to make sure things looked good before i drug everyone out there! my favorite field looked so gorgeous in the evening light, so despite the wind, we decided to head out and try and get some bluebonnet shots. it was cRAzY windy out, so hollis ended up in the stroller most of the time and ava's hair was a hot mess...we're gonna try again another night. she had so much fun dancing in the flowers. i had so much fun watching her. we needed tonight. a night giggling among the blue and green dancing in the wind and the setting sun.

these were some of my favorites {even with crazy hair and wind!}.

jon and jen are going to have the most gorgeous drive down next week! {yes, that's right, i said NEXT WEEK!!!!!} i CAN'T wait to see them!!!!!!!! counting the days!

xo,

a

oh, and friends, if you want me to take some bluebonnet shots for you, let me know! i'd love to meet up with you.

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parkin' it

we spent sunday morning at my mom's coloring easter eggs, hunting easter eggs and watching toy story! then headed out to my dad's for an easter lunch with friends and some relaxing at the lake! such an awesome day! we decided after lunch to take the kids to the park a few blocks from my dad's place {and leave daddy behind to catch some zzzzzz's! workin nights can be rough!} needless to say, ava had an absolute blast, so many new and cool park toys to play on, and best of all poppy and mimi's full attention! she was in heaven! mimi got some great shots of our afternoon at the park with her new little camera! so glad she had it along!

hollis slept most of the time we were there, but did wake up for some smiles and chit chat with mimi!
diggin' in the dirt...her FAVORITE!

a tire swing...what is this all about?!

i think i just might like it!

and back to the reguular swing.

climbing

xo,

a

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patience...

i iread this quote on another blog i love to read...it spoke to me, wanted to share.

Being an artist means: not numbering and counting, but ripening like a tree, which doesn’t force its sap, and stands confidently in the storms of spring, not afraid that afterward summer may not come. It does come. But it comes only to those who are patient, who are there as if eternity lay before them, so unconcernedly silent and vast. I learn it every day of my life, learn it with pain i am grateful for: patience is everything!
Rainer Maria Rilke
Letters To A Young Poet

my photography is my journey, my passion. i have learned so much over the past two years and have barely scratched the surface of all their is to know. i have to remind myself to be patient, to keep shooting and learning and every once in a while i get a shot of one of my children that melts my heart, makes me smile, laugh out loud, or even get a little emotional.
i am excited to go on a little excursion with my photography meet up group saturday morning. i love getting together with this group of people, learning from them, sharing with them, and all for the love of photography. it's gonna be good getting out and doing something for just me, it's been too long.

xo,

a

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easter eggstravaganza!

this easter weekend was full of family gatherings, fun, love, gratitude, & much to ava's excitement...no naps...too busy for that! the busyness of the holiday started for us on saturday morning at bo's mom's house and then off to is dad's! it was a gorgeous day, we spent most of it outside, enjoying the sunshine and breeze {and as any parent out there knows, if you have a toddler that hasn't taken a nap...you want them outside!} so here are a few shots from our saturday! {all at bo's mom's}

hollis and maddy, she is growing up SO much, turning into such a gorgeous young lady!

sydney! {cheesin' for the camera}
yummy {& oh so cute!}

maddy and sydney

donna, kristi and hollis

+ ava making a gorgeous face!

uncle ricky...thinks hollis seems like an a&m kind of guy! :)

even though holidays are so nuts for us, lots of driving, visiting, non stop action, i wouldn't have it any other way. so many amazing people in our lives & we are blessed beyond belief.

more pics to come...i have tons and tons from the weekend!

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