It's Never to Late and A Bunch of Pictures

It's never to late for a good idea.
Especially one that is easy.
I know Christmas is almost here but you probably even have everything you'd need for this idea.
My friend Marshalene, from Oklahoma posted this idea on her blog.
I love it.
We'll be doing it on Christmas Eve.

The idea is called prayer bulbs.

You take the top off of a bulb ornament and on a small piece of paper you write down one prayer request you have and then put the paper in the ornament.
On another sheet you write down a praise item or thing you are thankful for that happened in the year.
Put the lid back on and hang it on your tree.

Save the bulbs till next year and when you get your ornaments out next year you reopen the prayer bulb and read what each person wrote.

Isn't that the neatest idea?
I think it will be neat to see what things kids are thankful for and what things their little minds want to pray for.

Now for a bunch of random pictures.
I've been doing a little "hands on" research on a dslr camera.
My sweet friend let me play with her Nikon for a couple days.
Nikon or Canon that's my question?
I had so much fun with it.
Here's some random shots I took from our couple of days.

We wrapped up the semester with some school parties and events and now we've been enjoying our days off of school.
Some may or may not have still been in pjs in the middle of the afternoon while frosting these cookies; others might be in their 5th or 6th outfit of the day.
The weather has taken our white snow and left us with the cold mud mix but they don't care.
For the most part we've spent our days inside.
My to do list still sits at my desk but I'm trying not to care either - everything that has to be done really is done.
We spent tonight eating around the Christmas tree and reading Christmas books - it's one of my favorite traditions.
I hope you are all enjoying some traditions - new or old - enjoy your hours leading up to Christmas.

Twins

These series of pics really got me weepy.
These two.
Their bond.
Their orneriness.
They just are who they are.
It was near the end of the photo session and they were ready to be done frankly.
Shoes were off.
They never wanted to wear those shoes anyways.
I had asked Meg to get a shot of them together because it was close to their birthday and I always get a pic of them together each year.
They were being silly and she just let them while she snapped a couple shots.
It's so them.
Silly together.
In one another's space.
It's all they've known.
I looked at these pics and every photo shoot since day 10 of their lives (that was their first photo shoot) flashed through my mind.
The photo shoot where we literally were sweating when it was over from trying to keep two crawling speedsters in the frame. (Remember that one Vicky? You were my extra hands that day.)
The photo shoot where they dug into their first birthday cakes at the studio.
The ones where the lady drew a "I love mom" heart tattoo on them.
These two have given me so many memories with photo shoots.
It's a special year for them and these are special pics to me.

While we're talking about these two I'll show you my favorite picture from the first day of school.
It's not a great picture but it's full of meaning for me.
Here it is.

Probably only a few of you see anything close to what I see.
I see two boys who spent their first school day ever apart the majority of the day.
This is the first year for them to have different teachers.
While in the middle of eating at the table and in mid sentence Carter got up and went around the table and stood on Coleson's chair.
They stayed like that for awhile while they continued to talk about their day and eat.
It was so touching.
Nothing was said about it.
They just did it.
It was like a proximity thing.
They just needed to be near each other.
They couldn't have even told you that's what was happening.
But I sat there in awe.

Two brothers who fight like brothers and who love like brothers but have a bond beyond what we can even comprehend.

Boys I will teach you to be individuals and to remind you that you get to make choices for YOU but I will also always remind you what a gift you were given to have an identical twin and we will celebrate that bond always.

(Fyi: They are doing great in different classes and really enjoying it. It's probably one of the biggest decisions twin parents process in the early years - when and if to have different classes. One year at a time!!)

Normal day needs a goal !

My January was insane.
Insanely good but insane.
I'm one for goals.
So in Feb. I'm setting some goals.
The goals involve these things . . .
. . . loving . . . my camera . . . organizing. . . sweating . . . feeling creative . . .  
I'm starting today.
It's not a real exciting day.
Just a day with to much to do really but I will pick up my camera and try to think creatively.
Check back and I will post FIVE pics I have taken today.
Why five?
It's Friday's Five of course!
This will make me do it.
Pressure's on!
Happy Friday!
Come back now ya hear?
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It's almost 6:30.
Here's the five pics from my day!

Friday's Five: Five Pics from Friday

 Pink boots and a sparkly purse . . . I love my shopping buddy! We were on a mission for a cute gift for that cute baby boy from yesterday's post.  We scored and found it!

 A little Self Portrait at the start of my day.

Power Snack

This is a place I've come to love and hate in life.  It makes the other people that are usually with me happy so I guess it makes me happy. Hmmm.

When we walked in today Tatum said, "Oh they put some beautiful things up for Valentines."

Made me laugh.

The girl asked for my name. 

I said Nicole.

She repeated "Nicole" and wrote it like I've never seen before - the letters were all there - just out of order.

Made me smile - that'll work - though I have no idea how to pronounce this.

HA!

Happy Friday!

Miss Avery

Over the holidays I got to take pics of my 3 year old sweet niece.
It was C O L D.
She was a trooper.
This little girl will charm you with her precious words and wit.
I love you little Miss Avery.

Turned Four - Photo Shoot

She turned 4 in October.
We had the best Fall weather for outdoor shots but it didn't happen.
I finally took them last week.
Hours before the real winter cold set in - just in the knick of time.
Contended with the wind.
Couldn't find the hair clip I had planned.
(We found it as soon as we got home.)
Between wind and a tight schedule I opted not to do my planned wardrobe change half way through either.
Needed to pull the dress down on some of the shots too but all in all I thought I got some cute amateur fun shots.

Can you believe she's F-O-U-R?
In the short 2 months she's been four she has turned into a little preschooler.  
The questions, the thought process, the developmental skills . . . . . Jas and I are watching the changes take place before our very eyes.
We are constantly looking at each other with a "did you see that?" or "did you hear that?" or "look at what she's doing" look.
I am out of the toddler mom stage.
Sniff. Sniff.
I may have to borrow someones toddler for a day. 
(A day ladies. Just a day.)

Isn't it a sweet truck?
I've had my eye on it for awhile for a photo shoot.
I'd love to get that thing out on a lonely dirt road for some shots.