My heart aches.........

My sweet next door neighbor, Hannah, died unexpectedly yesterday at the age of 4.
All of you that read my blog, please say a prayer for her family. I have no words for this, I am just heartbroken. She was not too much older than Coleton.

Please, EVERYBODY, Hug your loved ones and hold them tight today!!! Tell them "I Love You"......You just never know when God will call them home!

And.....Greatgrandparents pictures from the party...

They are growing up on me........

Xander turned One last Friday, and Coleton turned Three on Monday........So we had a little birthday party on Saturday afternoon. It was so nice outside, almost too hot...what a change up from years past for the 2nd weekend in October.

We had an Elmo pinata, a bounce house, and a few too many pizzas, it was fantastic.

Thanks to everyone who helped out with getting ready....you all are VERY appreciated! The boys had fun, and we had a little fire and roasted some smores in the evening and got to just hang out and relax after the boys were fast asleep.

Coleton was so excited to play with all his presents, and he was so good all the following 2 days while he was playing with his toys. Nick said, Is new toys all it takes to make them be good? Gosh we will go broke, but it would be worth it...lol

With all seriousness, we have never seen Coleton so quiet and entertained. He just played and played. Now some of the newness has worn off, but he is still very much enjoying his presents!

Welcome little Cowboy.........

A sweet little miracle happened on Saturday.......Wade S was born. I had this little dude in my prayers before he was even conceived and I was beyond excited to meet him. Wades Dad, Matt and Nick were roomates in college, and that is how we all met.

Wade was happy except when I opened the window in order to light his room:)
Matt and Nicole are going to be great parents! They are truely naturals...so relaxed and comfortable with him. What a lucky little dude to have such a loving mom and dad.

I cannot wait to give him a real session very soon!

Ok guys....meet Wade

Happy Birthday continued....

Sydnie and Karen had birthdays this week too.....we had some cake and ice cream tonight again. So, there were birthday parties Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this weekend. It was BUSY, and FUN! Coleton thinks that we party every day now...lol
In a way, I guess everyday should be celebrated, so we will go with it:)

Carter's party was good, he was surrounded by people, and he was all about it. He smiled and clapped....it was so cute! He got a cool John Deere ride-on toy and a BEAUTIFUL quilt just to name a few....

Happy Birthday Baby Boys...

Jesse is not so fond of pop a wheelie on his awesome new four wheeler....but he LOVED it on all four wheels!





Last year, my good friends Kelly and Tiffany had babies in the same week...so naturally, back to back birthday parties. It makes for a fun weekend! Here are a few from Jesse's birthday at Sturgeon park last night. It was perfect weather, and such a relaxing fun time! Carter's Birthday is tonight...so more pics to come later:)

It is an HONOR.....

to call them my Grandparents.

I had gotten an e-mail in the middle of the week(a BIG thank you to the Fuller's for that) letting me know that Grandma and Grandpa Barnhart were getting honored by Donnels Creek Church on Sunday. I was glad that we were able to make it! It was great to vist the church I grew up in, even though it has been awhile, it feel like home.

Grandpa and Grandma resigned as Deacon and Deaconess after 43 years of service. They Pastor said that they received a letter of resignation in the Spring from Grandpa that said " I am 90 now, and I think it is time to step down and make room for the younger generation" This amazes me that they have given nearly half their lives to the church, and what a phenomenal example of selflessness they are. I always remember grandma going to visit shut-ins and having Ladies Aid. I guess I know where my being a "people pleaser" must come from. I wonder if Grandma has ever said no to anything in her life?

Grandpa spoke only for a minute, and his voice cracked right away, you could hear the sadness, the emotion in his voice, and it is a moment I will never forget! It was obvious that this was difficult for him....In fact I have tears right now just thinking about it.

So, as the naughty Granddaughter, I carried my camera with me to church and snapped a few while they were praying after being inducted as Deacon/Deaconess Meritis...(I hope that I spelled that right)
I was trying to be stealthy about it...lol This is a powerful picture for me...

Anyone that knows my Grandparents, have nothing but kind and loving words about them, and clearly they have touched COUNTLESS lives. Just last month, a man came up to me while I was shooting a wedding and said "I go by Curly....Your granny used to teach my Sunday school class, she was great" And clearly this was at least 30-40 years ago.....

I think that what really makes them amazing is that, they don't give it a thought, it is just what they do and who they are.

I am the luckiest woman alive.........

Breakfast in bed......WOW, I have never had breakfast in bed that I can recall. Until Sunday that is....

I have been working overtime......ALOT! I have pullled 6 overnighters over the last couple of weeks, and I have been quite busy. I am used to getting up with babies, but it takes some getting used to when you never even get to climb into your bed. Most times I try to sneak in an hour or two before the babies wake up, but sometimes that doesn't always happen. Needless to say....6 hour energy power shots are my friend I had a wedding all day Saturday, and normally I cannot move on Sunday. I put everything I have into capturing wedding days, and I am really feeling it the next day.

But I knew that I had to get up because we important things were going on. First and foremost, mom was getting baptised at church. Or as Coleton called it...Appletized...lol

Then I had another commitment later in the day...

I awoke to some bacon, scrambled eggs, and some fantastic orange juice. This was delivered by Nick...not the kids which was nice. He let me eat alone in PEACE in quiet.(this never happens anymore) He could have been boring and just woke me with a Kiss, but instead he groped my chest with his very cold hands to wake me up...that is just his style, one of the reasons why I love him so much. He makes me laugh. Luckily I wake up pretty friendly, if it was him on the other hand, waking him that way probably wouldn't be as well received.

Anyways, I just wanted to brag a little. Everyone should know how wonderful he is!!!

Helpers.........

It is just the greatest thing when someone offers to babysit at your own house. Their Aunt Joyce came last month and watched one day, and folded my laundry. It was just so nice and so generous. I am a lucky girl that so many people love these boys! And, I have finally realized that it is so much easier to not have to pack up the kids and their stuff and take them to the sitters or somewhere. Uncle Scott and Brooke, and her sister Hannah came over yesterday to play with the boys so that I could work. They had a blast!
Thannks guys!!! I had to get a new camera this week, since my main camera is wearing out.....here is a quick couple of shots of them....