Happy Birthday To Me!

"The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age." Lucille Ball I celebrated the best birthday ever! I woke to my children (8) and (5) serving me a cream cheese cupcake donned with sprinkles... and coffee. You know it's going to be a good day! We lounged all morning on the porch swing in the beautiful weather. The weather man fore casted a wet rainy day much like the day before. Libbie and I dropped Hoot off with Dad and we headed to a dear friends birthday party. Libbie is still very much a daddy's girl... I knew a meltdown was coming when I dropped Hoot and she didn't get to stay too. To my surprise... she held it together and seemed to enjoy our car ride into the city. We were headed to a party at a gymnastics club. I wasn't sure how she would react knowing that she could not do what the other girls could do. Again to my surprise she was a true to Libbie form! She never slowed down and participated in everything with the other girls. She even tried the zip line into the foam pit. I stood in amazement and teared up a few times. After the party we went to the birthday girl's house to help open gifts. Libbie told me Kate was her very best friend ever. My heart was happy. I got to play ping pong with two wonderful guys! I haven't played in years and it was soooo much fun. Since the rain held off I got to do a sibling session with 5 amazing people who are going to surprise their mother with pictures for mothers day! We had plans to go back into Houston for a birthday dinner, but on a whim I decided I'd rather head to the beach. I've wanted to take beach pics of my kids since we didn't take them last week with our group session. This can be a stressful situation for this mama... I can be a little OCD... when it comes to my kids pics and their cooperation. Luckily when things didn't go the way I had envisioned I decided to roll with it and just have a good time. The Doll cooperated and I think even enjoyed wearing the tutu (temporarily). They could not wait to get in the water so we didn't get any great shots, but we had the best time ever! We had dinner at our favorite haunt and then drove home with two sleepy babes. Thank you to all my friends and family for making my day so sweet. Here we go with the pics... notice the affectionate hand hold... and here is where we lose it. I come to grips that we are not going to have a sweet photo session she is not sure if she should laugh or stay serious... you never know how mom will react... you can see the nervous reaction in her eyes... this could be bad... Owen They dance who could not be happy!! My sweet Hoot! Wedges and pearls.... For Lambert (who says I never post pics of myself... not photogenic at all) But still flexible He had to show me up!!! A blessed day indeed!

South Pacific

Starring... Hoot as Jerome Warming up their voices So they were a little orange.... Lambert made a few cameo appearances and sang "Bloody Mary" and "Nothing Like A Dame" And the Doll showed up to support her brother in all her cuteness. I'm so glad her "Alana" dress from B4Bubs arrived in time for the opening performance! She was adorable in the little sailor number!

Growing

“I am my own biggest critic. Before anyone else has criticized me, I have already criticized myself. But for the rest of my life, I am going to be with me and I don't want to spend my life with someone who is always critical. So I am going to stop being my own critic. It's high time that I accept all the great things about me - C. Joy Bell I finally composed this pic and I'm not going to be critical of it.

Playing With Dolls

'We mothers are learning to mark our mothering success by our daughters' lengthening flight" ~ Letty Cottin I thought she would never play with her girly toys. We have a room full of dolls and dress up for Libbie. Thus far she would rather play with Legos, Star Wars, and ANY Action Figure Hoot fancies. I know this comes with having an older brother she idolizes... (he likes her to play with him too even when he doesn't admit it). Last night she asked me to come in HER room and play dolls... She wanted me to be the mom and she would be the daddy. And she called me "Darling" and asked me to dance... We must be doing a good job parenting... however Lambert has never called me "Darling"... So we played dolls for a LONG time... she didn't want to stop and when her daddy came in to the room.... she asked him to leave!!! Girls only DAD!! (Her words). I cherished EVERY moment of play time... Girls only!! Maybe there is hope. So this morning I found her in her room... playing dolls AGAIN!!! Dixie is ALWAYS nearby... "Protecting" She loves Libbie Libbie has always been the organizer... Everything is in it's place in her room... She even did this in China... She would line things up very orderly. I had to go check on the laundry and when I came back into her room.... I found this!!! At least she's playing with dolls!!!

Hazy Day on the Dock

Libbie has become quite the cooperative subject these days. She loves to be photographed. I'm taking full advantage of it while it lasts. I'm certain this will be a short season. She enjoys looking at herself and I often find her in her room looking in the mirror and talking. I remember when Hoot did this. Hoot was selected to be in his shcool play, South Pacific, so he is busy in the afternoons with rehersal. I've had a few opportunities to take Libbie out for sessions. I'm still in awe of her deep dark eyes. She is such a beauty and a silly silly little girl all the same. “For finding your mother, there's one certain test. You must look for the creature who loves you the best.” —David Kirk, and just to demonstrate the silly....

Over Achiever

It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.- Anonymous Look at me go!!! Two days in a row... Don't get used to this;) I can't post about one without posting the other. These two are the loves of my life. It was such a beautiful day and we don't get many beautiful skies like we had today in Houston... the clouds were amazing. Hoot wanted to play on the tire swing so I took full advantage of the day. We had a great time capturing the moment and he didn't seem to mind the camera! "You have to love your children unselfishly. That is hard. But it is the only way." Barbara Bush

Time

Where does it go and how does it slip by so quickly? Time, indeed, passes quickly and if were not careful we just miss it. I have missed the blog world, but I had to make some choices... with all the editing I'm doing after the kids are in bed there is no time to post or stalk in the blog world. I'd rather spend time with my kiddos when they get home from school than stalk/post... (most of the time). I'm loving every minute God gives me with my beautiful children and husband and realize that I can't do it all... so I've taken a step back, taken a deep breath and only doing what I can do... and trying to do it to the best of my ability. I'm not going to obsess any more over how long it's been since my last post... even when Lambert asks me why I'm such a slacker... I took these pics of Libbie waking up from her nap and wanted to share. She is so happy when she gets in a good nap. She wakes up refreshed and ready to hit the floor running. It's the rare (very brief) time that she lets me cuddle with her and just be still together. Once the feet hit the floor she is wide open until it's time for bed. I love these moments in her room. Now Hoot will cuddle with me at the drop of the hat. He has no shame... when he catches me at school he snuggles right up to me, even with an audience.. not sure how much longer that will last, but I will take it all day long. Libbie has those deep eyes and I often wonder what's going on inside that little mind of hers. I loved these moments she allowed me to capture. (if it's not on her terms... it's not happening)