the littles...

it's been too long since a blog post or any photos of these two adorable littles....& all i have are excuses, so i'm not even gonna give 'em! it's been a crazy month full of birthdays, travel, visiting loved ones, ear infections {blech}, swimming, family time, building metal building in the back patch...all kinds of crazy business! for now, though, a photo of my sweetest boy sleeping soundly in his crib...yes that's my pink holly hobby blanket he's sleeping on...and several other blankets in bed with him...what can i say, the boy loves blankeys!

check out those thunder thighs! love 'em!
missy ava jumping herself into the pool! don't let the floaties fool you...she is a swimming fool! look out michael phels!

my chamion back floater {being lazy with the floaties on!...but that's okay, it was a lazy kind of day!}

hope you all have a beautiful weekend...it is going to be crazy hot here...i see more swimming in our future!

xo,

a

Read more...

your time is limited...

your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. and most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. they somehow already know what you truly want to become.? – steve jobs

{little headband i put together for ava...love making her pretty things to wear!}

to see more of this gorgeous senior session, check my photo blog! {i'll be adding pics soon!} My niece...isn't she drop.dead.gorgeous?!?

getting ready for some fun! sorry it's been quiet around here, we've been super busy...& sick...but that's a whole other blog post!

xo,

a

Read more...

beautiful birthday girl...

well, i turned 30 yesterday and one thing that makes it even easier is not doing it alone! my very best friend turns 30 today, yes, we were almost birthday twins...but alas, i am one day OLDER {& she never lets me forget it!}. as many of you already know, jen and i have been besties since the first day of first grade, that means we have been together since we were 6, so 24 years. ours is a friendship that will last a lifetime and i am so thankful to have a friend like jen in my life. she is more than my friend, she is like my sister & we have been with each other through so many lifetime events, even if it has been just in each other's hearts. i always feel like she is with me even if we are 532 1/2 miles apart....

Here she is pictured on her lovely cruiser from her daddy...the perfect birthday present for her! just wish i was there to take a birthday cruise with her!

happy birthday beautiful friend. i love you so much and as always, wish i was there to celebrate with you!

"What is a friend? A single soul in two bodies."
- Aristotle

happy birthday lovely girl!
xo,
a

Read more...

29...

so this is it...i must admit it's a bit painful saying goodbye to my 20's, they've been so good to me. i taught children, got married to the man of my dreams, traveled the world, laid on the beach and did absolutely nothing but breathe, give birth to two pretty amazing little people, learned what true love really is & following your heart is way more important than following your head, to move on from the past...it's back there for a reason, some things really are beyond our control, true friends truely are hard to come by, the most important things in life really are free and usually you already have them, to love my body, it's the only one i'm ever going to have, and to not take a single moment for granted, life can be changed in an instant...nothing is guaranteed.

i feel so lucky to love my life so much right at this very second...i think it makes turning 30 that much easier...
xo,
a

Read more...

three years of lovely...

so it's been three years of lovely since this precious girl was born. so much in life has changed since she came into the world and i wouldn't change.one.single.thing. i look at this child and am amazed that such a beautiful being can be created from love. she is love personified. she brightens our days and makes life so very interesting. she loves deeply and i swear people fall for her the instant they lay their eyes on that sweet face.

{here she is feeling the raindrops fall on her face...swoon}i am blessed to be ava's mommy...it seems like she was born, i held her in my arms, breathed in heaven, blinked my eyes....and here we are three years later. the infant now a child ready to take on the world.
may you build a ladder to the stars
and climb on every rung.
and may you stay,
forever young.
happy birthday darling girl, mama loves you...

xoxoxo

Read more...

photog giveaway...

so by now ya'll know i'm a huge fan of a great giveaway and a lover of all things photography...so, put them together and seriously, i get all squealy and valley-girlesque! i have been a huge fan of skye hardwick for a while now and a few months ago purchased her workshop workbook...amazing! she is having a fabulous giveaway on her blog right now...workshop workbook, florabella actions & textures {wowza, so gorgeous!}, and even a 30 minute phone consult with skye herself, what i would give to pick her brain {if i could get over the shock of amazingness on the other end of the line!}...seriously...it's my birthday week, is this not perfect?!? so, cross your fingers for me and go enter! you can double your chances by entering over at florabella as well...double your pleasure, double your fun! amazing giveaway....
seriously...would be an amazing giveaway to win!

xo,

a

Read more...

this girl

brings so much light to my life. i am blessed to be her mother.

this was her chosen attire for her friend jacob's swim party. {i made her leave the stick horse and cowboy hat at home!} we had such a fun evening just her and i, some much needed mommy/daughter time. she is such a fearless & joyful little girl. i lub her.

xo,

mommy

Read more...