project 52/13.

{just for fun}

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

.

My fifth graders always want to know what my "picture of the week" is.

This week's theme {just for fun} put a sparkle in their eyes and set a plan in motion.

They brought the fun.  I brought the camera.

After all, what could be more fun than colorful fifth grade girls and a jump rope?

Smiling boys on a slide...perhaps?

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and He helps me.

My heart leaps for joy,

and with my song I praise Him.

party to follow.

 The decorating has started,

the cake has been ordered,

the date has been set,

and the birthday boy is ready to par-tay!

But before family and friends gather to celebrate,

we captured some sweet pictures of one-year-old Eli.

I'm going back next week to document the big event...

hopefully he won't escape out the window before then (see below).

Well hi there, blue eyes!

wearing of the green.

 Miss Fallon was all decked out in green for St. Paddy's Day. 

She's standing and moving...and smilin' up a storm!

I offered to keep her for the afternoon...

but her mommy says I'd be too tired at the end of the day.

In honor of the wearing of the green....

An Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.



project 52/12 (indecisive).

{from the jewelry box}



{from the jewelry box} is this week's project 52 theme.

My original vision was to have Elly wear all kinds of colorful jewelry and look adorable.

She can't escape the adorable part,

but she was not so much in a mood to wear jewelry.

We played with jewelry,

bathed with jewelry,

adorned the dolly with jewelry,

picked up jewelry...

but didn't really wear jewerly for more than a few seconds at a time.

So now I have a plethora of cutie pie images

and can't decide which picture best fits

{from the jewelry box}

I'll decide later...

knowing she's the true jewel.

best is yet to come.

Natalie has had a camera lens pointed in her direction her entire life.

I am a recovered scrapbook maniac and have volumes full

of her sweet little baby face,

first days of school,

missing teeth,

recitals,

proms,

graduations,

and everything in between.

"It'll go so quickly," those older and wiser used to tell me.

So I tried to savor...even on long, hard mommy days, trusting their advice.

Now I know the cliche is true.

Indeed, some days seemed long, but the years were short. 

Each stage of the parenting journey seemed better than the one before.

Sometimes I wish I could roll back the calendar to 1987 and do it all again.

But as I look at these images of my brilliant, creative, lovely daughter,

I realize how much I love this stage right now.

I am blessed to be her mom.

I am blessed to be her friend. 

 And I know the best is yet to come.



ah spring.

 While my students and friends head south for Spring Break, I'm staying put.

I actually love hanging out at home at this point in the school year.

We'll probably get away for a couple days, but I love to unwind in familiar surroundings.

It is good for my soul.

Besides, my girl came home for the weekend. 

She has developed a passion for baking, which is good for my tastebuds.

So when she asked if we'd like her to make some biscotti this morning

we weren't about to say no.
Don't you wish you had been at my house for breakfast this morning?
Florida is overrated.

For biscotti recipes and more, check out Nat's blog:  http://natalieuntitled.blogspot.com/

project 52/11.

{darks & lights}

Crystal Candlestick

I don't keep a lot of crystal out in my house, but this one piece never gets tucked away in a cabinet.

I received this family treasure from my mother twelve years ago

when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I suppose I keep it out to remind me that even in the darkest of times,

there are glimmers of radiant light to be found.

"Let light shine out of darkness...."

II Corinthians 4:6

project 52/11 (take one).

{darks & lights}

Laundry Day.

{darks & lights} is this week's theme for the weekly challenge I participate in.

Some time soon I'll try and get outside

to work with light and shadows and silhouettes and deep contrasts.

Today...{darks & lights} means only one thing.

Several loads.

project 52/10.

{childhood toys}

Slinky.

I keep this slinky in a cupboard in my classroom.

When I pulled it out today to inform it of its upcoming photo shoot,

one of my fifth graders exclaimed,

"Oh those are so cool!  Have you ever seen one go down stairs?"

"Yes I have.  I was alive before video games. 

This is what we did for entertainment when I was a kid."

At least he thinks it's cool.



welcome to the family.

This is my niece Kelly and her fiance Jordan.

If you want the family tree...Kelly is my brother's only daughter. 

He and his wife also have four sons.

So Kelly is special.

Not just because she's the only girl, but because she's Kelly.

Unassuming, compassionate, helpful, sweet, talented, beautiful Kelly.

So...we've prayed that whoever she marries understands how special she is.

Jordan does.

If you spend just a few minutes with them, you know he gets it.

Good thing.

Kelly has four brothers.

And lots of other relatives.

Welcome to the family, Jordan!

We are excited for August 21...and many years to come.

Love (and snow) in the air...

welcoming micah.

Twelve days old.

Perfect in every way.

Big brother Jack got to hold Micah for the very first time.

He was so gentle and sweet.

I love all twenty little intermingling toes.

Beautiful family.

Sweet dreams, precious Micah.

You are blessed.

Thanks to my friend and fellow photog, Trisha for helping with this session!

project 52/9.

{express yourself}

Everyone Has a Story to Tell.

It was "Spirit Week" at our school last week...a time for spiritual reflection and renewal.

Sheets of colorful paper have been hung in our back entryway as a "place of expression"

for students to share their thoughts and feelings.

Our walls really do "talk."

And they share a wonderful story.