my so called life...

do you remember this show? it aired in the 90's...i think i was 15ish. after watching the emmy's the other night and seeing claire danes receive an emmy for a recent performance, i HAD to go to youtube and find these videos. i stayed up late...i mean, really, really late {or early} watching episode after episode. i remember watching this show, waiting for it every week, sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. i remember how it seemed so real, so much like my reality. even after all this time, after all this growing up, it remains the same to me. an incredible show that should have aired so many more seasons....love it.

xo,

a

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tea for two

we finally got to have our tea party to celebrate the "original superprincess"...you can read about her here. it was a cloudy afternooon, but we went for it anyway, busting out our family quilt, teacups, apple juice and pink marshmallows! oh yeah, and don't forget bunny! {hollis' bunny} ava loved it and i'm so glad we stopped and took the time to have a special tea party with each other. it started raining at the end, and ava just laid on the quilt and felt the rain. she is my sweetheart.

tragedy always seems to wake you up, your world becomes crystal clear. your priorities slap you in the face and you remember why you are living and who you are living for.

superprincess, you are not gone from this earth. your memory, your smile, your spirit live on in all the lives you have touched.

i learned ava's story a few years back. i was up late blog surfing and randomly googled "ava". my ava was a few months old. i stumbled upon sheye's blog. i was immediately struck by her beautiful photos and ava's story. she is and will probobly always be my favorite photographer/blogger. you feel her soul in her words and photography. sheye was my first mentor. i took her very first round of photography workshops {little did i know how much this workshop would impact my life, gaining knowledge as well as a group of girlfriends i have grown so close to over the past few years, but never met in "real life".} this blogosphere is a truly amazing thing. you watch children grow up, feel close to those you have never met. cry with their heartbreaks and celebrate their miracles. i have been so thankful for this space the past few years and the people i have met through it.

xo

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my boy

yes, hollis did turn one & he did have a little family party. & yes...i am still in denial that this event actually took place. it is so amazing to watch him grow up, but so hard for me at the same time. he is my last. this is the last first birthday, the last first steps. as much as i know to my very core we are done having children...oh, how i love them! and if we had a million dollars, i would have so.many.more....i think...here is hollis on his new CAT! he loves riding around on it & pushing all the fun buttons! this boy is so, so loved. we had all the family come out and help celebrate hollis' special day with cake and swimming. his auntie christina even made him an amazing little submarine smash cake! it really makes my heart full when i look around and see so much love for my children. we are so blessed.

i have tried several times to write this post with several photos, but we have been experiencing some technical difficulty over here. so, two photos will have to work for now! it was a great evening celebrating a super special baby boy.

xo,

a

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do fun stuff

a kids record for parents!

i am such a music lover! i grew up in a singing family...nope, that doesn't mean, we were good, it just means we loved to sing. alot. i loved singing with my kinder. kids for years, and now i love singing with my own children {even though ava is loving the spotlight these days and isn't up for many duets!} but yeah, we are singing all the time! i am always on the look out for fun kids music {you know, songs that don't make you want to kill yourself after hearing them a few times...and by few, i mean 1,000ish...

sooooo, you have to check out this new album, do fun stuff, a compilation of fun & entertaining songs by various artists for kids and parents! the mastermind behind this amazing charity album is one of my favorite bloggers. his blog is inspirational, beautiful, and real. he wanted to create this album to benefit SMS, which his son has been diagnosed with. so inspirational.

100% of the proceeds from the sale of this album goes to a grant fund established with PRISMS. The money will be made available to grad students who wish to make SMS their field of choice, the benefit of this is more hard research being done, which leads to more case studies, which leads to more answers for parents and researchers. if you are moved to make a donation donation rather than simply buying the album, you can click on the little "share" at the bottom of mr. do fun stuff at the top of this post

so go check it out, get your kids some awesome new tunes, and do some fun stuff, ya'll!

xo,

a

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{untitled}

Normal day,
let me be aware of the treasure you are.
Let me learn from you,
love you,
bless you before you depart.
Let me not pass you by
in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.
Let me hold you while I may,
for it may not always be so.
One day I shall dig my nails into the earth,
or bury my face in the pillow,
or stretch myself taut,
or raise my hands to the sky and want,
more than all the world, your return.
~Mary Jean Iron

be thankful for normal days and celebrate this superprincess with us.

we didn't get around to our tea party today...long story...but i held my babies extra tight and we will tea party tomorrow.

xo,

a

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ava the fish...

my girl loves to swim and just finished her swim lesson session today! she did so well and loves the water! thought i'd share some video of her swimming her little heart out! {please ignore my silly voice...and yes, that's hollis squealing in that second one!}

she has learned so much the past few months and i am so proud of our little swimmer! look out michael phelps! ha!

xo,

a

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winning...

as you all know i write for an awesome giveaway blog, enter tons of giveaways online, have actually won some pretty cool things, & yeah, am addicted to giveaways! last week i actually won TWO!!!! in one week! who knew hollis' birthday would bring me such luck! both winning will benefit ava, though...weird how that worked on hollis' birthday week...the universe must have known that she needed something special to come in the mail just for her, too! this arrived today and is so darn cute! ava wore it out to dinner tonight and got so many compliments...it really is quite eye catching ;)

it's from a totally darling etsy shop called Laken & Lila! the owner is just as sweet as her creations! i am hoping to do a few photographs for her fall line come october! fingers crossed on that possibility! i love collaborating with people!

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my baby turns ONE...

oh how i remember a year ago today...my first memories of you will never fade away sweet boy. your sweet little cry, your precious baby smell, those skinny little legs...the first moment you looked at me and i know you knew i was your mama. i have treasured every moment this past year and it has passed way to quickly. you have changed so much in the blink of an eye.

i look at you and i feel like i have known you my whole life, that you have never not been present. i think you have an old soul. you are the sweetest, happiest baby i have ever known and i am so thankful for that. you are my snuggle bug baby, the lovey, cuddly baby i always hoped for. i love you with my whole heart and am so glad you completed this family of ours. you were the perfect missing piece.i adore you.

happy birthday baby boy.

xo,

mama

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wing love...

i stumbled accross these fabulous boots the other night while playing on-line! aren't they amazing! i have an insane amount of "wing love"...and these just make me drool!!! if it weren't for the price tag that comes along with them, they would be in some UPS truck right now making their way to me! ...why do i have to have such great taste?! ha! so for now, they go on the wish list...

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