Seattle

I spent the weekend in Seattle at the Click Away conference, and like I say every time I visit the west coast - if it wasn't for my kiddos, I'm pretty sure I would have just stayed.  The weather wasn't the best in Seattle (which I hear is pretty typical), but the conference was phenomenal and the people I met were amazing!

Scenes from the backyard

The feel of fall is finally making it's way to North Carolina and we couldn't be happier.  The grass in our backyard is finally starting to green up again and our plants are slowing blooming. We're hopeful these cooler temps decide to stick around for a while because we're ready for boots, sweaters and everything pumpkin!

These days

These are the days I want to remember.  The slow and steady. The crazy and wild. The in-between.

Having these two home with me over the past few weeks has been what my mama heart needed. I miss them both tremendously while they are at school each day and I still struggle with where I should spend my time or how to fill my days. Being a stay at home mom isn't easy and can often be very lonely, but I love being able to say "yes" to just about any and everything in their lives. So here's to the little, quiet (and not-so-quiet) moments I love to capture.

A Magical Evening at Lux Salon

The Ordinary

"Joy comes to us in ordinary moments. We risk missing out when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary." -Brene Brown

I'm taking a photography class with one of my favorite photographers, Ginger Unzueta over at Bloom, and one of the assignments for this week is to capture 10 photos of our day.  It has been a while since I purposefully documented the "ordinary" of our day, so I didn't hesitate to pick up my camera and start snapping away.

You, Me & the Sea

Weekending

Project 52: Week 33 & 34

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

Week 33

Anna: flying high

Drew: giggles + spit

Makin' Time + A Giveaway

What time is it? It's time for lunch... What time is it? It's time for lunch... 

Anyone else sing the Bubble Guppies song in their head any time someone asks what time it is??  I do...every.single.time. Except I usually sing it as loud as I can and annoy my kids to no end. I love being a mom.

Around Here

Afternoon Delight

You know you've had one too many picnics when your kids request them on the way home from school. With all of these crazy hot days and the feeling that we actually LIVE on the sun, we've been scrounging for things to do inside in the afternoon! Anyone else ready for fall?  

Floor picnics are our favorite. I know what you're thinking! The FLOOR?? That's why we use a blanket, silly. To cover up all that dirt and dog hair and gross stuff I try to clean up every.single.day. Have I ever mentioned I feel like I clean A LOT? And I bet you couldn't guess that while I'm OCD an love to be organized, I actually really abhor cleaning.  Sorry...my emotions got away with me there...

Anyhow...My two love to spread out a blanket, grab a few books or pick out a game to play while I fix them a little snack. I mean, we all eat snacks after school, so it might as well be on a blanket with fun games, right? And don't forget the fun socks!! Happy socks are our go-to for after school picnics (and handstand competitions, floor races/running, finger puppets and more!).

Project 52: Weeks 31 & 32

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

Week 31

Anna: seriously mom. another picture?

Drew: bedtime snuggles

Oregon Part III

If you haven't purchased a ticket to Oregon yet, what are you waiting for? 

We spent the last few days hiking and traveling the Oregon Coast and along the Columbia River to Hood River.  (Here's Part I and Part II incase you missed them.)

Oregon Part II

Let's do this.

For the second part of our trip (you can see Part I here) we ventured north to check out Astoria, Washington and Cannon Beach. I can't even begin to tell you the most spectacular part of this leg because it was all amazing. Our first stop (as pictured above) was the Columbia River where it ran into the Pacific. The Columbia River is something in and of itself to see. You really just can't describe how beautiful it is to see the water with mountains on the other side. Gor-geous.

Oregon Part I

We're just getting back from our Oregon vacation and I'm gonna warn you now that I like to take pictures so I'm hijacking this blog for the week with plenty of Oregon eye candy. 

We had so much darn fun in Oregon! Have you ever been? If not, stop reading this and go book a trip. Seriously. It is breathtakingly amazing. And don't tell California, but it's my new favorite. Scott and I talked through ALL of the reasons why we should pack up our bags and move and let me tell you, the list is long. We loved every single minute of our vacation and if it weren't for those sweet babies at home, we likely would still be there. 

Eye Candy

Apparently glasses are the hottest new accessory in second grade. Anna has been straight up begging for glasses for a good year now, so when the doctor asked her to do the eye exam at her seven year old check up, I saw the twinkle in her eye. She was SO flipping excited to read out those letters and I could have sworn that she was flubbing it just to TRY to get glasses. A full eye exam later (without any tears), and yep, her wish came true. The girl always gets what she wants....sigh...her teenage years are going to be a hot mess.

Project 52: Catch Up II

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

Week 21/52

Anna: Someone can't handle sleepovers

Drew: bubble boy

5 Reasons to Document a Day In Your Life

Need a reason to document a day in your life?? I've got FIVE good ones for you today and I bet you will be charging your cameras and cleaning off your memory cards in about 2 seconds flat if you make it all the way to the end of this post! 

If you've been wanting to record a day in the life, now is the time! Ali Edwards' will be completing her second DITL of 2016 this Saturday and I totally encourage you to check it and play along! I've captured and recorded a single day for the past five years along with Ali (and on my own a few times) and the photos and memories are some of my very favorite. But the pictures....oh.my.gosh. They make me cry the ugly cry every.single.time. As much as I would like to think I remember everything, I just don't. Waaahh. I hate it, but it's true. We just can't remember it all, so thank heavens for cameras and notes and the stuff of life.

Around Here

Around Here