Summer Vacation

Sorry that I've been slacking on the posts lately but we're having so much fun on vacation that there just isn't time! :) Here's a quick shot of sweet Rowan having a blast at Key Lime Cove.

I Know I'm Crazy

I am always looking for ways to make life simpler and more organized. I saw this fabulous idea on an organization blog I was reading. Its simple really, just a little basket by the garage door but here's how its going to make life simpler:

When we leave the house its usually quite the production. I don't really carry a diaper bag anymore. I have some wipes and a couple small snacks in my purse. The car is stocked with diapers, small toys and a change of clothes for each kid should we need them. Oftentimes though, I'm carrying a million little things. Besides my purse, I'm usually carrying a couple letters to be mailed, a movie to return, Cruz's shoes (because they're velcro and he takes them off in the car anyway so I don't usually put them on him until we're getting out), maybe a sippy cup, my sunglasses, coupons and some other random things. This basket idea suggests keeping a small basket near the door and tossing things you'll need in there. Instead of running around like crazy in the morning gathering up the letters to be mailed, I'll just toss them in the basket the night before along with any movies to return. As I fill up sippy cups in the morning I can put them into the basket so they're ready to go. The car keys have a permanent place to go, you get the idea. As I walk out of the house I grab the basket and keep it with us in the car. After errands I will toss any trash from the car, plus the mail which I usually pick up on my way home. into the basket, bring it back into the house and sort it at my convenience. Such a simple idea but I think it is going help me not feel so crazy and disorganized as we rush out of the house! :)

Father's Day

-Breakfast was cinnamon rolls and bacon

-The boys painted Daddy a candy jar to take to work and then we filled it with Daddy's favorite candy

-Rowan wrote "dad" on Roger's card

-Rowan picked Daddy a green shirt and helped me wrap it.

-We went shopping at the outlet mall

-Ate Rosati's pizza

-Played cars

-Fantastic Father's Day celebrating the most fantastic father.

Brothers 25/52

Happy Father's Day!!!!

When we grow up, we want to big big and strong just like you, Daddy!!!

Lots of love,

Rowan & Cruz

B is 3

Tomorrow, Rowan's best friend will officially be 3 years old. You know what that means, right? Yep, it means that Rowan himself will follow in just 6 short weeks. Where did our babies go???

Memory Thursday

This verse is extremely applicable to Rowan right now.... and to his mama too! :)

Blast from the Past...

... not even too far in the past but look at how little and chunky sweet Cruz was!!!!

Brothers 24/52

I.Am.Done.

Well folks, after 37 weeks and 269 days, I am stopping my Thankful Thursday posts. My goal was an entire year but these posts have become a stressor for me lately. I wanted to stop about a month ago but my competitive drive kept me going. I finally realize that I am losing track of what it truly means to be thankful each day by the way this challenge has made me drag. As I'm typing this post I feel relieved so I know this is the right thing for me to do even though I hate leaving it unfinished. I am pretty proud though of my 269 days of thanking God and counting my blessings. :)

Here's one of our gorgeous family photos taken by Lisa Holloway, just in case you need to see our faces today. :)

ClickinMoms....

I know I've talked about this amazing online photography community before but I'm going to do it again. I have learned so much in this supportive community of other moms who also love photography. Clickin Moms is wonderful in that there are so many different levels of talent from just starting out to AMAZING and everyone is so willing to help everyone else to learn and grow. I didn't know anything about my camera before I joined. Some of my favorite things I've learned so far are:

-shooting in Manual mode

-the exposure triangle

-making the most of ISO 3200

-reading histograms

-cleaning up photos in photoshop

and I'm know there's so much more I want to learn. Anyway, if we blog about Clickin Moms or post on Facebook we can win a seat in an amazing workshop but after I started to write this post, I realized that it wasn't just because I want to win (which I do :) ). Its because I really am thankful for all I've learned and I'm thankful for the relaxation and enjoyment that photography gives me in my busy life as a mom. :)

Rowan's Big Decision

Rowan finally decided that he was ready to give up his night time pacifier. It was definitely time for that! We started talking about it with him last week and each night we would ask if he was ready to give them up and each night he said no. Finally, on Sunday night he said he was ready but wanted one on his nightstand in case he needed it. Monday morning came and he decided he wanted to give his pacifier stash to baby Camden and trade in baby pacifiers for a new big boy toy. Rowan chose Cranky the Crane to go with his train sets and hasn't once look back. 

Baby C

I had so much fun taking these photos of little baby C. His mom is one of my best friends and her older son is one of Rowan's.  C was so good and let me fold him around like a Thanksgiving turkey (as his mama Megan said. :) ). I've never really photographed a newborn other than Cruz but this was a really fun learning experience for me. I just wanted to share Rowan's best friend's baby brother. 

Sometimes...

...there are just no words.

Brothers 23/52

Rowan was being so sweet to Cruz and all Cruz is thinking about is stealing that ball right out of Rowan's lap. :)

14 Months

 Cruz is 14 months old today! I can't believe how quickly time is flying by. Cruz has learned to communicate so much this past month. He now says 6 decipherable words, nods his head yes and no and points to things he wants. 

Cruz is walking so much faster,  loves chasing balls, and loves eating with a spoon or fork. He still has 6 teeth and is working on two more on the bottom.

Happy 14 months, Cruz Emerson!

Thankful Thursday!!!!

 Here's a little background on Day 257: The reason Rowan isn't looking at the camera is because he's found the strap on the back of Cruz's life jacket and just as I finished taking the photo he pulled on it causing Cruz to topple over backwards. Luckily, the pillow thing on the back cushioned his fall. :)

Summer Reading Program

Rowan got signed up for his very first summer reading program at our library today. He got a "map" with train cars on it and he gets to put a sticker on the map for every new book he reads. There are prizes and stuff too but Rowan is definitely a kid who reads for the fun of it. 

Rowan really loves books. Right now he is a big fan of anything Dr. Suess (which I personally dislike), any books about cars, trains or bikes especially books by Donald Crews, and nursery rhyme books especially The Three Little Kittens.

He also helped to write his name on the top of the map. He did the O and the A all by himself! :) I remember loving the library reading program as a kid (I know, I'm a super dork) and I'm so excited to share that with Rowan this year.

Thank You

Cruz has been saying "thank you" for some time but Roger has never heard it. Each time we'd ask him to do it for Daddy he'd sit there with his lips tightly shut. I'm pretty sure Roger thought I was making it up despite 3 different girl friends hearing it. :) Anyway, now a dirty messy almost 14 month old Cruz is forever captured eating Wendy's chicken nuggets and saying "thank you."