Pre school Graduation

I am also working on a photo of Zack. Emma was sooo much more helpful then her brother. UGH! Emma will still be in preschool next year. She only did 2 months, but loved it. Zack, is on to Kindergarten next year! Where does the time go! There little performance was toooo cute. I will post their dance with Zack's photos.

Finished Nursing---

This is a totally personal blog. One about me. It is an end of a chapter in this book of life that I am living. When I was a child I knew I wanted children. And, when I was finally blessed to have them, I relished all their “firsts”. Now, as we have had our last babe, I am saddened by some of the lasts. The last time she will wear that adorable pair of shoes, the last time that hat will fit. The last time she will swing in her swing. The last time I will use this or that. This Monday started out with my thought that I was on call. Had I known now what I didn’t know then, I may have taken more time. Isn’t that funny how we say that when we feel we have missed something? Last weekend I could not get Reilly to stop nursing to save my life. Now, she is done. Somewhere in this week, she has gone on “strike” and no matter what we have tried (the lactation consultants (2) google and me) she is determined to stop. Even in her deepest sleep she won’t reach for my breast any longer. To some this is like wahoo freedom, you’re done, 9 months to the day! Wow! To me, my heart is heavy and my eyes are sad. Emma went for 14 months, Zack 10 months. I was not ready for this; I was not ready to stop. I would have truly nursed her for over a year and more if that was what she wanted. I was ready for my last to be the best. Alas, she is the shortest.

My whole life I NEVER had a hicky until I had a baby. Then, I found them in bizarre places on my breast in the mornings. Larry would laugh at my sleeping arrangements, how I could sleep like this or that. Fall asleep with her nursing. I will miss that tug, the suck, the sweet soft burp of a full belly and her smile as she finishes or the way her finger curled around mine as I held her tightly to me as she ate. No, I won’t miss the breast pump or the times of having to stop somewhere to feed her in a crazy busy day. But, I will miss that strong sweet sleepy maternal tug that I had when I nursed her. That bond only she and I had, that I could be the only one to give her what she needed and for that matter what she wanted. *sigh* And, to top it off… she is now crawling! J

Antique photos

I cannot take credit for these. This great photographer came to their school, and yes, I am a sucker. I couldn't resisit. After he told Larry, "I didn't like him daddy, I didn't smile."

LOL I think they came out great. :)

Famous Pendleton Mud Run!!

Ok- this is the famous mud run in Pendleton. It is closed out in literally 1 day. It is very hard to get into, and we decided this year that we were going to do it. Really? Post baby? I have only been averaging 2-3 miles a day. This is 6 miles, of mud, up hill, obstacle course, etc. Really?? Okay- so we did it today.. (yes Motrin is our friend) and FYI.. all these photos are straight out of the camera .. no editing minus cropping.
Pre race.. clean.. start line

What greeted us heading out. It was okay at first, it was overcast.. it got HOT quickly. it was at least 90 on the ridge line. And that was 2 1/2 miles straight up. Anyone who knows me, knows I HATE hills. I will run long distance forever, up hill forget it... This went on and on and on and on straight up.. it like never ended. AND, it was HOT...

Post mud run...

Finish line getting out of the mud... I had mud in places I was like what ?? WOW...

The kids were troopers. Our awesome friend Andrea watched all the kiddos at the park and then rewarded them with ice cream ... they were hot and tired, but they hung in there. Thanks guys! We love you!!

Here are some more

So, I am learning to calibrate my monitor. I thought I had a lot of flair.. not so much. What do you think? Better color? Vibrant? Love the feedback.. :) Emma in the flowers? What do you think? Better pop? I promised Emma-- the toes were painted for all of 4 days.. that's all they lasted! Zack took this with a quick snapshot. It is very grainy, but I see what my kids see.. :0

Reilly in the flowers

Playing in the flowers

So, I begged the kids to let me go practice. All around our house are these amazing wildflowers. And, the grass was so green, and the trees were just perfect. They all agreed, IF I painted Emma's toes when we got home. I did.. and they were pink. They were letting me practice with my new camera lens, and I LOVED/LOVE it! I am doing lots of editing of the goings on, but here is a quick snap shot of what they let me take. Zack would not make a normal face to save his life. Emma did her best.. and well Reilly loves to clap and smile. How do you not take a great shot of her??