couldn't resist.

This is Lyndon on the naughty stool. I couldn't resist.

I've mentioned several times how Maddie is a hoarder. (is that a word) She packs up random bags, purses or boxes with her treasures and carries it with her while she plays. She's the ultimate 3 year old bag lady. The other day as she loaded her arms with her "treasures", she looked up at Jonathon and said nonchalantly,

"Hi Dad, I'm just carrying around my junk."

Maddie, Lyndon and I were racing (on foot if you must know). I would say, "on your mark, get set, GO!" Just as I was about to say it again to start our third race Maddie announced,

"Let me do the honors."

she's just so official.

Lately Maddie's been saying "See, I told you" a lot. She was beginning to sound pretty darn bossy so to nip this in the bud Jonathon gave her an alternative phrase. He said instead of saying, "see, I told you" just say "See what I mean". It worked like a charm. We had to remind her once or twice but she caught on fast and would always use her new term. Then one night as she was getting ready for bed Jonathon was explaining something to Maddie and he said, "See, I told you." To which Maddie quickly replied, "Uh, uh, dad, it's see what I mean!"

Maddie was at Toy-R-Us... (quick story: About a year ago we drove past a Best Buy and out of no where Maddie yelled, "Look, it's Daddy's Toy-R-Us!" We have no idea where she came up with that but we thought it was very clever. Every since she's always referred to Best Buy as "Daddy's Toy-R-Us". So the day that Jonathon asked Maddie if she wanted to go with him to Toys-R-Us she said, "Yours or mine?")... with Jonathon and picked out some airheads for her and Lyndon to share. remember airheads? They were out on the back porch eating them today so I snapped a few pictures.

Lyndon is giving Maddie and kiss. sweet.

a self portrait in the reflection of her glasses. :)

Crazy Summer Deal!

Hey everyone! I'm running a great summer photography special...
Check it out on my photography site.

go ahead...you know you want to... :)

couple of things.

On Mother's Day Jonathon gave me these beautiful daisies and Maddie gave me this card. Both of them also made me breakfast in bed. Lyndon, however, didn't get the memo that is was Mother's day because #1, he didn't as much as SAY happy Mother's Day and #2, he was a little pill for me during the entire Sacrament meeting. The little darling would unbutton the last button on my knee length dress and then dart for the isle. I couldn't just run after him because I had to quickly button up my dress as not to let the whole ward get a show. To my dismay he not only accomplished this little trick once but twice. I'm beginning to question my own intelligence. (Jonathon stayed home with Maddie who wasn't feeling good. At this point I was thinking I chose the short end of the stick.)

Maddie picked out the card all by herself. I was told that Jonathon was the scribe but Maddie provided all the heart felt answers by herself...

Who am I to say that a

peanut butter, strawberry and whip cream sandwich

isn't tasty?

(obviously Lyndon enjoys it.)

He will keep stickers on his hand like this until I'm the one to take them off. Little things like this fascinates me about this kid.

Maddie and Lyndon are enjoying their new little sandwich concoction when Maddie took it one step too far...

She wanted to add Turkey.

I wasn't too surprised because this was coming from a girl who wanted me to pour maple syrup on her macaroni and cheese. (I did. she like it.)

she liked the turkey too.

Let me tell you a little story about a boy and his blanket...

There was this boy. He was charming.

There was this blanket. It was silky.

One day the charming boy met the silky blanket.

Their lives will forever be intertwined.

This is Lyndon's "na na" as he so affectionately calls it. I'm pretty sure he loves this things more than me occasionally.


This last picture I found today. It's Maddie and Lyndon playing at, our friend, Gina's house. I like how it shows them just quietly getting a long and playing together. Ahh, sure love those two kiddos.

My Mom

My Mom

I want to write a little tribute to my Mom on Mothers Day…just one day late.

After my older sister had her fist little boy she framed and gave this quote to my Mom. I read it and always like it but I never quite felt the full impact until now. This is what it said:

“Mothers become closer to daughters

when daughters become mothers.”

I knew my Mom loved me like no other but I didn’t realize just how deep her love ran until I had Maddie and Lyndon. The love of a mother for her child is indescribable. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for them, right? The old saying, “this will hurt me more than it will hurt you” is so true.

After knowing the magnitude of my Mom’s love for me it makes me see all the loving and caring things that she did for me in a new light. Like when she worked with me when I was in the 4th grade creating a miniature size room in a shoebox for a book report that was due the next day. We worked well past my bedtime so I was getting tired. I wanted it to be the perfect model that I had envisioned and I wasn’t going to stop until it was complete. My mom finally told me to go to bed and she would finish it before I woke the next morning. I was eager to wake up and see the final product. I ran into the kitchen and there it was…sitting on the table like some kind of master piece. It was perfect. I couldn’t believe my eyes. She made a tiny blanket and pillows…just like I wanted, a tiny table and chairs out of matchsticks…just like I wanted. I was so proud to bring my project to school that day. I kept that little shoebox room for years. I don’t think I ever told her how much I appreciated her for that.

That certainly wasn’t the only time she stayed up into the wee hours of the morning for me. For my 6th grade track meet I needed some royal blue shorts. Being the prepared daughter that I was, I told her about it as I was getting into bed the night before the track meet. Because she cared so much and knew how much it meant to me I woke up to find a new pair of royal blue running shorts that she stayed up late to make for me. I don’t think I ever told her how much I appreciated her for that.

My Mom has always been a good friend to me. Even during those awkward, independent teenage years I knew I could always talk to and confide in my mom. I remember coming home from a night out with my friends. We always had the best times just being stupid and silly. I could always share my excitement with my Mom (and dad). They have always supported and trusted me. I don’t think I ever told her how much I appreciated her for that.

My mom is truly one of my best friends. She has been a shining example of goodness throughout my entire life. I was talking about my mom with a woman who knows my mom quite well. As I was leaving she said reverently, "Your Mom is an angel, you know." I just nodded and replied, "I know."

I hope she knows how much I love and appreciate her for that.

Bring on the A/C.

As I got in our 500 degree car this afternoon I came up with this analogy:

Texas summers are like having a baby,

you forget how uncomfortable and crappy it is during the "off season" and then *BAM* you finally remember how unbearable it is when it's too late to turn back.

Luckily we have little dreams called Air Conditioning and Epidurals.


So I have been busy lately editing all these photo shoots... Here's a few of my favorites and I've also posted some on my photography blog.

I loved this dog! She (Abby) just lazed around the whole time I was there but every once in a while I would catch her peeking up at Natalie and the baby and give them a longing gaze. It's okay, Abby, they still love you.

Beautiful Ariel.

Gorgeous Anna.

Let's hear it for the girl.

My cute little Mallory who was only a Mia Maid when I met her just turned 18!! I can't believe it. Let me just share with the world (well, with all of those who are reading my blog...) why I love this girl... (these are in no particular order :) )

• She is a true friend to me. I love to hang out with her.


• She doesn't care that my house is occasionally a disaster when she comes over.


• She truly loves my kids.


• She listens to my stories, even if they're long and boring.


• Her favorite food is potatoes. (I'm from Idaho, get it? ...this friendship was meant to be.)


• She loves NKOTB as much, if not more than me.


• She stands up for what is right, even if it's not the popular thing to do.


• She has an awesome Mom!


• She preformed the "Routine" with me and was amazing.

I was lucky enough to take Mallory's senior pictures. Here's a little sneak peek...

Mallory--I'm REALLY going to miss you when you go off the college, but at least you'll be in my home state. I love you and am so grateful for the things you have taught me.

(I got to take Anna and Ariel's senior pictures as well! Check them out on my photography blog.)

Picky, Picky.

Lyndon loves yogurt. But he's very particular. Not about the flavor or the texture but about this:

I want you to look closely and compare these 2 pictures. The top one... UNACCEPTABLE, the bottom one...satisfactory. The top one...he WILL NOT EAT. The bottom one...yum, yum Lyndon likey. See if you can see what the culprit is...

Yes, you guessed it...a tinsy winsy, itty bitty little piece of green foil. How dare I leave it on there. What am I, an animal?

He eats old macaroni and cheese off the floor. How was I to know that he doesn't accept food that has a piece of tin foil on it's container. Sheesh.

Note to self:

Close our bathroom door EVERY TIME I leave. Every time.

Our little mascara boy.

And yes, that is also my lipstick that he is so kindly handing back to me. What a little darling.