chalk + scooters

A concrete playground
to
break out the sidewalk chalk...

 
Hunter wanted me to trace his foot and hand as well as draw a boat and a dog.
And Paige's drawing is so precious - how else would a girl
in the south spell "aunt" if she is learning how to spell from sound? ;)
(Note: she spelled it correctly a few days later, but I missed photos from
the huge canvas of art created by the kiddos.)

These "seen better days" scooters are fun to keep around.
Big people are known to ride them too. :)

 
 

I am going to miss these summer days with long daylight hours.

chloe: newborn shoot

I rarely have the chance to photograph a newborn;

so when Chloe arrived, I had spent some time searching for newborn shoot ideas.

Newborn photography is interesting and it takes a lot of practice - I need a whole lot more.

Here are a few results from practicing with Chloe:

Same shot - I love color photos, but I really love the black and whites.






I forgot to clone the scratches from her face on this photo, but I love the curled up pose.
We encountered a wet blanket due to the "natural" posing, but it could have been worse. ;)



I found this basket from Hobby Lobby on the clearance aisle; it was perfect for a baby.

 



A couple of days after taking the "newborn" shots...here is Chloe at 1 week old.

all 7 kiddos

For the past week, I posted photos of the kiddos.

Several years ago, the habit formed of referring to my nieces and nephews as "the kiddos."

And I am absolutely head-over-heels, kind of obsessed with all 7 of them. =)

Their mamas helped out with my request to take some current photos -

and dressed them up all cute and coordinated.

With the addition of Chloe, I need some new photos to frame.

I have this one frame with six slots, filled with the kiddos' photos,

 that I am going to have to adjust somehow.

Taking photos with several children and a newborn is an adventure - 

some fun, sweet moments.

All six of the older ones wanted a chance to hold Chloe in the photo.

We started with Paige...

then went to Emma...

and to Brooke...

...on to Levi

...and Hunter Luke.

Zac had to wait for his turn...see the fussy baby  (it was time to eat.)

This behind the scenes shot, showing reality, is one of my favorites.

The R kiddos are even now with 2 boys and 2 girls.

All that brown hair - except Emma has some blonde highlights, especially in summer.
 Allison was/(is?) hoping for blonde hair for Chloe.

We will have to see if it changes.

The P kiddos got the blonde genes with blue eyes.

  

I think they need a fourth sibling to add to the photo.

Since I am a fourth child, I think "four" kiddos is a good number. ha!

Back to the photo shoot though -

I think we set up all the different family variations that we could think of.

the boy cousins

the boys in each family

  

the girl cousins

the girls in each family

(yes - that is a baby doll carrier!)

  
These two shots were too cute not to explain.
Sometimes you have to let them do their own pose first.
I'm not sure where "hips and lips" came from, but Paige and Brooke had this covered.
After this, I got my sweet sisters photo.

And while I am talking about sweet...I just have to share this memory.

Levi had to adjust to the idea of another baby sister.
I think he fell in love at first sight though.
Now, he wants to hold her often and he wanted to take his photo with her.
And he specifically requested for me to take his photo while kissing her.

I love this role in life as an aunt!
Thank you A&R, A&D for letting me love on your kiddos!

the baby

Chloe Allyson

3 weeks old and weighing 9 lbs even.

She has gained almost 2 lbs; this baby girl likes to drink!

 

If she is awake, it is hard to take a "still" photo.

She is a squirmy little girl - almost constantly moving.

And watch out if she is hungry - she will let you know!

It is such a special time to fall in love with another new little person!

Everyone loves having you around Chloe. :)

lil cutie

Levi is such a cutie!

  

A smirk, a solemn look, and a slight smile -

sweet and charming, 

but to use the southern phrase - "he's a mess" also. :)

Love this little guy!

(or maybe he is not so little since he is almost my size too.)

little lady

 

Paige is losing the "little girl" look.

Tall and skinny 

with quite advanced reasoning 

and conversational skills -

she is a little lady!

ride out your storm

this weekend

 (8/26-8/27/11)

hurricane irene is the top story for our area

we are feeling some of the effects in SC.

i listened to the sound of wind and rain.

i watched through the blinds and from my front door.

ferns sway hard, fierce winds blow strong.

as i watched the storm this week online, it looked huge.

it is a known storm, yet the outcome is unpredictable.

for a life application -

i feel like i have a personal hurricane to battle.

i read something recently about naming the storms in your life.

i can't think of a good name right now

and because i don't have all the answers or whys -

this is still an unknown storm in a sense.

a trial of my faith - no doubt.

i don't know the outcome.

but i do know who holds tomorrow.

at work friday, the chorus of the song below  

whispered comfort to my heart

Ride out your storm,

God's right there with you

You may not feel Him

but you're not alone

You're hurting now

but your morning is coming

Just hold on to Jesus

and ride out your storm

i couldn't remember the verses until i googled it
and i couldn't find the songwriter's name.
here are the full lyrics though...

Ride Out Your Storm

1.

You've been in the storm, it seems like forever

And your night of confusion, has been oh so long

Your ship has lost anchor, and the storms got you drifting

But the night's almost over, so ride out your storm

Chorus

Ride out your storm, God's right there with you

You may not feel Him, but you're not alone

You're hurting now, but your morning is coming

Just hold on to Jesus and ride out your storm

2.

Remember His promise, "I'll never forsake you"

Though the waters are raging, they'll do you no harm

Don't give up the battle, for the answer is coming

Just hold on to Jesus, and ride out your storm

preteen: for real?

 

It does not seem real that you are 12 years old already.

In just one short year, we will have a "teenager" in the kiddos bunch!?!?!

You are so smart - and ask the hardest questions.

(Like random Biology/Chemistry/Geography questions...

umm, I forgot most of that after the test was over.)

Funny fact - you were online one day when we came over and instead of a game, 

you were looking up meanings for roots, suffixes, and prefixes (I think? and in Latin maybe too?)

You say that one of your next "goals" is to exceed my height;

it looks like you will reach this mark very soon.

In just a couple of inches, I will have to look up.

Your voice is changing/cracking 

and you are headed full blast into this next stage of life.

It is bittersweet to see all these changes - even from last year.

I pray many blessings for this last preteen year.

Happy Birthday Zac!

Love much!

big baby blues

Brooke with her "baby blues" shining!

  

Style and grace wrapped up in a sweet little girl package! :)

As I scroll through these recent photos of the kiddos, 

I look at the smiles in the photos and almost unconsciously I smile back.

This is love...

lil bit of diva

  

miss Emma Claire

with some sweetness and a sassy pose

a tough girly-girl