She's OFFICIAL!!!

Having already gone through this lovely passage of parenthood, I was completely prepared for the second teenager to begin driving. We learned from our mistakes with the oldest, and determined to not make them again. We signed her up to take a drivers training class (through the school) with classroom work (ya, tried the on-line classes....bogus. Well I shouldn't say total bogus, the info was good, just the particular teenager was the problem...not wanting to DO the bookwork!)

We even made sure she had LOTS of driving time. (Yes, it was SCARY sometimes!) Yes, I still love her....but had you asked me right after, my answer might have been different! (well maybe I would still LOVE her, but I was having a hard time "liking" her at that moment!)

She passed her class, and we scheduled the road test with the DMV after all her drives were complete.

When we arrived, We pulled up to the test area. I got out, walked over to the door to knock. The tester guy opened the door, and then I hear the window go down behind me, and I hear her say (in a panicked voice), "mom, I can't get the key out!!!". And I calmy reply, "Honey, you need to put the car in "park"!" "Ohhhhh", was her reply. And the kind gentleman that was going to have the enourmous priveledge of administering her road test, just said, "Oh, boy....gonna be a fun one!" Then he just giggled (as did I) and we finished up the paperwork and then they were off. (crossing my fingers...NO really....that she doesn't have another "blonde moment"!



When they returned, he told me that she indeed kept the "blond moments" to a minimum and recognized her mistakes before he even pointed them out. So she did GREAT!



And even though she was only marked down 7 points (you can miss up to 30 points....however I don't think I want THAT driver anywhere near me!!) I would still stay off the sidewalks for a bit, and if you see a cute blonde in the car that looks like she's having a "moment"....give her LOTS of room!

New Toy = New Joy

The hubby gave me the go-ahead to order a new camera, and I didn't hesitate for one second, and had it within the week! I anxiously awaited for my FAVORITE brown truck and driver. I even met him on the porch. Brought a smile to his face!



Once I opened the box, and took a little look at this beauty, I knew I'd have a bit of reading to do before I would know what all the buttons did!


But I didn't wait long. Carissa and I went on a little adventure in the field by our house. We discovered grasshoppers. (I refused to get close enough to get a shot, cause those are right up there on my "favorites" list with spiders and snakes!) We also discovered that the weeds are "scratchy" and we should have worn pants! She even showed me her pile of rocks that she's been "working" on for a couple of weeks now!

My {Graduate}

This was something that I knew was coming. I knew somehow I would have to admit that my “baby” was old enough to graduate from high school. Getting him to that point took a lot of prodding and several LONG talks about turning in work. And doing things in pure D-man fashion….he pushed it right up to the deadline. Putting off taking a test he needed to pass in order to “test out” of a class, right up to 3 days before the end of school. Didn’t help that he also got suspended for the last 2 days of school, (for leaving school without checking out and taking another student with him) so getting those last assignments turned in and finals taken was a BIT more challenging! But thankfully the administration was willing to work with him, and really helped to get his classes finished up. Talk about bending over backwards!

When he was finally able to pick up his cap and gown, I knew that it was finally going to happen, and I was going to have to deal with all the emotions going through me! There is something SO surreal at looking at your child in a cap and gown, and still wondering what their life will hold for them. Especially, since it’s now out of my control. And that is not a feeling that I handle very well at all!



It’s so hard to imagine that 18 years have gone by. So much of it is a complete blur. Not even sure how it happened. But here we are now, and he has so many possibilities in front of him. The doors are wide open and I still hope that he is able to find his way. I’m so proud of his accomplishments and the young man that he has become! I couldn’t have asked for a better son!


This was the principal at the school, Mr. Jones. He was one of D's favorites at the school. When he approached the stage to shake his hand and receive his diploma, Mr. Jones attempted to "hide" the diploma in his jacket! They both just busted out in this huge grin! So many of the teachers were biting their fingernails, (as was I), so naturally, they had to give him a BIT of a hard time!

Introducing Baby {T}

At last I can introduce this little cutie-patootie, who was a mere 6 days old here. Who was born only 10 days after her mamma's belly shoot! She was a perfect angel! I seriously could have played with her all day! Thanks Tiff!

Beautiful Pregnant Mama Sneak Peek

This beautiful gal I've known for almost 6 years now. She is my younger sister that I never had! Once my husband even sat down next to her at church thinking it was me!! I was honored to take some maternity shots of her for this pregnancy. She works as a sonographer, so I wanted to incorporate some ultrasound pictures she took.






You'll get meet her gorgeous little angel very soon!

My Princess goes to the Ball!

As my daughter was approaching her 16th birthday, she was SO excited that she would have her birthday about a month before the big formal dance this year. But as the deadline to buy tickets got closer and closer, she still hadn't been asked (even though several guys had told her they would ask her as soon as she turned 16!). So the DAY of the deadline, (which was ONLY 3 days before the big dance!!) she finally got asked!! So I went into a frenzy trying to find something for her to wear in just 3 days! We searched everywhere at the stores. (even had a gal open her shop later one night so we could look at her selection) I posted on facebook to see if anyone had anything we could borrow, cause we were failing epically at the stores. (Either immodest or out of the price range). So she got on the phone and called a friend. Her sister dropped the dress off just to see if it "might" work. Turns out if fit PERFECTLY! No alteration necessary. I couldn't believe what a miracle that turned out to be! Thanks so much Rachelle and Sarah! You really saved her!

So here is her date presenting her with her corsage! (He made sure he did it all right, even with the short notice!!)




Carissa wanted to be involved too, so she picked some "pretty yellow flowers" and handed them to them, and absolutely would NOT leave them alone until I took the picture of the "pretty flowers"!!


Here's a close up of the pretty corsage!!


She had a blast at the dance! I can't believe my little girl is all grown up and going to the ball! When did this happen?? I promise you, it was just yesterday that I braided her hair in 2 braids and put her on the Kindergarten bus!

A Tea Party for {H}

When I was asked to take this adorable 3 year old's pictures, I KNEW I wanted to do a tea party with beautiful flowering trees and lucious green grass. The biggest obstacle we ran into was it kept SNOWING! So about a month after her birthday, we finally managed to make it out on a beautiful day, with a tree in full bloom and let the magic happen!

Here's your sneak peak! I promise, we can do a tea party for you someday too!






You'd never know it, but this adorable mamma is 8 months pregnant and still wearing her regular jeans! (More belly shots to come!)