Maternity Pictures 35 Weeks - Rachael & Jay

10 years ago as a sophomore in college, I went through rush, didn't know a soul that I was rushing with and pledged a sorority that Spring.  Little did I know that 2 months later I would be planning a beach trip with the same people that I hardly knew, and that 10 years later we would still be dear friends! 

Rachael and I met that Spring.  I never imagined that we would go on a few beach trips together, take a school trip to London, share so many laughs, tears, see each other walk down the aisle, and start our own families.  But here we are! I had the awesome opportunity to snap a few pictures of Rachael this weekend as she awaits the arrival of her first baby.  

She is truly a beautiful woman inside and out, and I know she will be an awesome mama!  These pictures capture the joy and love that she already possesses for her little boy.  It was so much fun to work with Rachael and Jay, they made taking pictures so easy - and eased my nerves for sure!  If we are friends on facebook, then maybe you've already seen these, but if not, then enjoy!

When play turns to cray

Sometimes my kids play

they just occupy themselves with toys

(i love this little round belly poking out to the side)

 they play "guess which hand it is"

they pretend they are indoor baseball superstars

 they love each other

 they smile when I ask for a smile

and make kissy faces when I ask them to make kissy faces.  

 and then they give each other some more love.  It's like all is well, there's love and peace abounding in our home and everyone has a smile on their face.  

then - without a moments notice, all that play turns a little cray!  Who knows what happens, maybe they have just had to much love and too much fun for that 20 minutes and someone MUST have a little drama.  As Walker and I like to say, "it's gettin' kinda cray-cray"  

I know your kids don't do this, it's all crafting, cooking, learning and love in your home, right?  Let's be honest I know we ALL must have these days!  At least no one is taking photos of me when I'm having a little cray-cray moment!  

And I'm thankful to have these pics to look back on and remember that they are sweet kids, they do love each other and there is love and joy amidst the craziness!

Flowers, Flowers everywhere!

Do you ever buy fresh flowers?  I actually don't.  First because they don't typically sell them at Aldi and second because I just usually don't think about it.  However, I do LOVE fresh flowers.  My aunt Leslie almost always has some sort of arrangement in her kitchen and they are always so inviting and refreshing!

My friend Brooke invited me to a Fresh Flower Arrangement class this week at JL Designs in Monroe and it was so great!  I always thought that you just bought the bouquet, found a vase that wouldn't tip over from the weight of the flowers then stick the flowers in the top.  Well, was I ever wrong!  Jeff taught us to create 2 different arrangements from the ground up.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the flower shop, old brick walls, galvanized tables and flowers galore!  Most of all it was so fun to spend time with one of my dearest friends just laughing, making fun of our own arrangements and sharing some much needed junk food after class was over!

These are our starter flowers for the first arrangement.  I seriously like these tables!

 Brooke didn't tell me that she was a pro at this!

 

all done with the first!  I like how we made the rose the "focal" point of this arrangement.

The next one is my favorite.  It's so clean and simple.  Plus who doesn't like hydrangeas?

 All done!  So pretty and elegant!  Who knew that these stick things could make this arrangement

  
What a great experience!  Thankful that Brooke invited me, now I've got to find a way to get my hands on some more fresh flowers!

I left my phone in the car

I'll be the first to admit, I use my phone a lot.  Probably too much, but - I guess that's just something I need to work on.  We ventured out to the park this weekend.  Walker calls it the walking park because typically he has to sit in the stroller while I walk (haven't done that in a while - making one more thing that I need to work on!)  So...as we were all unloading out of the car, I grabbed my phone, then decided  to just stash it in the console instead.  Tough decision right?  I mean what would I do for an hour without instagram, facebook, google, email, imessage, and who knows what else that I might need to access from my phone (a call maybe)??  I had read this post from a mom in the MOPS group that I used to be a part of and after seeing the picture she posted of her family with all the technology photo bombers in the background, I can't help but think of how much I don't want that to be me.  It really got me thinking.

I grabbed my real camera instead and I will just say that it was like an hour of freedom.  No distractions from seeing my family play, laugh, run, and just enjoy each other.  I got to take pictures, interact and engage with my kids, run, throw the ball and frisbee, witness an old fashioned stick fight just take in something special.  It seriously was so freeing.  It really challenged me to do that more often because I realized what I am missing by always having my phone to lean on.  And who would want to miss a few little adventures with this bunch:)

Here are a few of our fun moments.

 This stick fight was for real - can't you see the fear on Aaron's face?

 

 Me and the kids - I like to hide as much of me behind them as I can.

 Walker creating his own walk/dance.  Could be a youtube sensation one day - ya never know:)

 Crack kills buddy.  I just couldn't resist!

 I feel like singing "in the ghetto" when I see this.  Somehow her pant leg ends up like this a lot...in the ghetto!

So here's to more fun and less phone.   Maybe it will last, and maybe it will just help me to enjoy more of the day to day with my people and not be so engrossed with everyone else's online lives...including my own!