Website

I have been so busy over the weekend with my new photography website! Stay tuned. It's so much more than what I had before. I'm really excited, and the kids made a few appearances, so they were happy too!

Not much else is new on the homefront, except for the fact that boys will be boys, and Drew is learning to throw quite a punch. He has suddenly become very physical, and likes to hit when he doesn't get his way, and he can hit hard. Can I blame him though? Not really, he is the youngest of 3 boys, so he has learned to be tough. He's just trying to fend for himself in a house full of boys!

A lesson in anatomy

Davis "mommy, can I look at my photo album of my baby pictures?"
Mommy "sure Davis"
Davis "Mommy, I remember this part, when I was in your tummy and then we were at the hospital, and then I came out"
Mommy "really, how did you come out"
Davis "from your tummy of course"
Mommy "out my belly button?"
Davis "well actually, maybe just out of your mouth" (ahhhhh!)...."actually mommy, maybe you're right ( a phrase I don't hear often enough!!!) , maybe I came from your belly button."

Sometimes, I think that those C-section scares are easier to explain...I'm glad this conversation ended with my belly button!! That's our quiet morning, just me and Davis up early today, ending in giggles and questions! I love that boy!

Pearla Beads

Whoever invented Pearla Beads SURELY is not a mom, and surely does not have children! If you don't know what these are, they are tiny little plastic beads that you can place onto a pegboard into any design, then you place a piece of wax paper over them, iron them, and they melt together. The problem is that they come in a bucket, and there are THOUSANDS of them in the bucket, and if you are lucky enough to be a mom of a 2 year old, those THOUSANDS of beads usually end up being thrown all over the floor!!! WHAT A MESS! Drew thought he was so cute...I did not!

Brought to you by Degree...

Jackson is beginning to get a funny sense of humor, and definately a funny BOY sense of humor. Oh yes, we are here, we have already made it to the age where bodily functions make him laugh and giggle, and he can even mimmick quite a few! I am sure we'll be in this stage of silly gross humor for, oh, maybe the next 20 years or so!

Well, he also likes to do things that he thinks are funny. The other day, Ashley was in the kitchen, and Jackson walked up to him and said "brought to you by Degree" while holding his arms out as if he were showcasing an expensive bottle of deoderant! So funny because it was right out of no where! Maybe he has a future in tv commercials?

What if...

It is incredibly late, and my children are still up...I have been so busy taking pictures lately, and the boys have gotten lots of daddy time! Tonight, as I am working on the computer, I am listening to the boys surf the internet for trucks with trailers and boats (do they come any other way??) and ask their daddy "what if" about everything. "What if a truck cost $1.00?" "What if a truck weighed infinity pounds?" and now Davis just came up to me and gave me a big hug and the sweetest kiss! I love these boys! So inquisitive, so sweet! I just like listening to them have these conversations with thier daddy!

Birthday Party

Today, Jackson had his 7th birthday party. All he wanted was to play golf, so we arranged for a few boys to go out to a local course and have a mini golf clinic. He was so excited, and we were so worried! Ten little boys swinging golf clubs....AHHH!

Everything went great, and we all survived, and no one even got a skinned knee! We had one moment of drama when one child was hanging out in the golf cart with Drew and released the brake from the cart. The cart, with the 2 children in it, started rolling quickly downhill. I noticed and ran after it, trying to stop it (not an easy task on a hill!!) and hit the brake with one foot, while trying not to fall with the other. Lucky for me, a teenage boy saw everything and came to assist! The pro and AJ didn't even see it happen! I'm just glad no one was hurt, and the cart didn't crash!!

Sore FEET!

All this training is starting to get to me! It is way to early in this commitment for my feet to hurt like this!!! I walked 4 miles Sat, 6 miles Sun, and 3 miles today...to stay on course with my training, Saturday calls for 10 miles...TEN MILES!! WOW! I am going to have to start WAY early, and will miss Beth, who I have been training with. (she is at the beach relaxing this week!) Her conversation helps to keep my mind off of the time and distance we are walking. It is nice to have a friend to train with! I'll let you know how far I get. It's funny now, I do enjoy walking around town, and I am noticing things that I haven't noticed before. As long as it's early, and not too hot out yet, it is a beautiful thing to walk outside!

Na Na Na Na Boo Boo...

Drew's new saying..." Na, Na, Na, Na, Boo, Boo!!!" He thinks he's so funny!! Where do you think he learned this from? Not sure, but probably #2. I have to refer to my children by number sometimes. Is that weird? Especially, when I am talking about them in front of them. At least they don't always pick up on things. It's hard now that Jackson is reading and spelling so well. No more spelling out words! Just last week, my sister in law was spelling out "i-c-e-c-r-e-a-m" and guess who yelled "ice cream?!?!?" JACKSON...We will have to resort to Pig Latin! Oodg Uckl ithw hatt! I'm not sure I can think that fast anymore!!!! It sure is getting harder to out-smart my kids!

Walking...

I just returned from my walk this evening. It's so hot here, I had to wait until 8:00 pm to leave! When I returned, 500 miles by The Proclaimers was playing on my iPod...so fitting, seeing as I'll probably walk close to 500 miles during the course of this training!

I was also excited to get a start on my fundraising. I have to raise $1800...a lot of money! However, I received 2 donations today (thank you Holly, Jeff, and Lisa!!!) so I feel good. I also have spent some time speaking with others who have either fought Breast Cancer or have a relative who has. Their stories are all so inspiring to me. When I hear about their battle, I am motivated to get my butt out there and walk...walk for them!

Ashley's Surgery

When I got home from work this afternoon, Davis greeted me in the garage saying "daddy went to have his nose cut off today." It's funny to realize how kids interpret things! He then told me not to worry, because they give him medicine that will make him sleep so he won't remember...actually, a pretty good description of what happened!

What really happened is that Ashley recently went to his ENT and found out that he has a deviated septum. He's had breathing and sinus problems as well. The doctor did a surgery to repair the septum, and put some stents in to open up his nasal airways. He's a friend of ours, and I'm sure did a great job! I am hoping Ashley feels better soon! He is sleeping now, probably best, because he likes to talk on the phone and make calls, but then he doesn't remember a thing about the conversations...so I had to take his phone away.

Let's hope he feels better soon...for now, I have 4 kids!

Happy Birth Day Addison!!

Yesterday, my newest baby niece was born: Addison Lane Jernigan. Ashley and Jay were kind enough to let me be a part of the experience and be in the OR during the C-Section. What an incredible experience! Ashley's OBGYN allowed me to photograph the entire experience...you all know how great that was for me! That is why I am so passionate about photography. What an incredible chance to capture something, a memory, a miracle, a new life, through the lens and to be able to see the feeling and emotion in the photographs.

It was absolutely amazing to be a part of a delivery where I wasn't the one delivering! I could truly take it all in and experience the miracle of God's glory in his creation of this perfect little being who was grown from love in the perfect environment inside her mom's uterus, being brought into this world by a talented OBGYN, and taking her first breath and cry, even before she was fully delivered. WOW! It was so cool, and one of the best experiences of my life. I will always remember the special day when baby Addison was born, and I was there to see it all. Thanks Jay and Ashley! I'm so proud of you guys and so happy for your family!!

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday to Jackson! I can't believe that he is 7 years old today! He seems so grown up, and I have to remind myself that he is just a kid. He had a great birthday, and got some really cool gifts. He got some golf clubs, a bike, a baseball glove, nerf guns, sports gear and some gift cards. His birthday party will be at a golf course next week, and he can't wait! I'm a little nervous...8 seven year old boys swinging golf clubs....??? I know that the pro has done this before, so he'll have things under control!

Date Night

About 2 weeks ago, Ashley took Jackson golfing, and Drew was sick and in bed very early. Davis and I decided to have a "date night." He was SO excited when he figured out that date night meant "just 1 kid and mommy or daddy? No other kids around?? Just me??" So sweet. We played some board games, read some books, and snuggled on the couch. This is my child who is like a bull in a china shop, but every now and then settles down and just wants to cuddle! He picked the Nature Show on PBS, and we watched and learned all about giant squids! His choice, but it was actually pretty cool to learn about. I am learning to like all those yucky boy things! :) Had to share a picture of him eating his chocolate ice cream bar, in heaven covered in chocolate! I am so blessed to have these boys in my life!

Every now and then, even rarer with an almost 7 year old, I get an incredibly natural happy peaceful photograph of my children. I just was reviewing some of my recent shots and found one. I LOVE this picture of Jack. So cute and natural, no cheezy smile or fake compliant grin, just my sweet almost 7 year old!!! He jumped in during a recent photoshoot, and thought he was being sly...little did he know, I captured the perfect portrait! Oh, and I like that he's wearing the shirt that he found with HIS name on it! Love my Jack!

PINK

Well I am liking the PINK on the blog! I don't have enough pink in my life, and this is in honor of the breast cancer walk that I am doing with Beth, but I must say that I do like it! Get used to it...it will be up until the end of October, when we walk!

I finally have had a few quiet moments to upload pix from the last few weeks. Here are some from July 4th. We had a great time with the kids and my mom and stepdad shooting off fireworks in the cul de sac. The fireworks were from Georgia, so they weren't as "big" as the South Carolina ones, but even though none left the ground, the kids thought that they were in heaven!

Catching Up

It has been an incredibly busy last few weeks for our family. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but very busy! We have both individually traveled to Las Vegas, AJ for fun, me for work, gone on a beach vacation with the Berry clan, I caught a terrible upper respiratory bug, and later a GI bug, and Drew also caught a GI bug...his much worse. There is nothing fun about little children throwing up, and nothing more pittiful than a two year old who knows it's about to happen, and saddly, pleadingly, looks into my eyes and wimpers "my tummy hurt." Throw into that the daily demands of keeping the family going, laundry, cleaning house, taking care of the kids, oh, and not to mention work (because everything that goes on at home really doesn't count as "work", right?) Oh, and did I mention that while AJ was traveling this week, the kids decided to have a "parmasean cheese" fight! It looked like it had snowed in the kitchen, and 3 days later, I am still cleaning it up! They took an entire bottle of grated parm cheese, and poured it out. They then decided it would be fun to rub it into Drew's hair and all over Marley!!! Great idea, right?

Here are some pix from our beach trip...the boys being silly while putting up with ANOTHER photoshoot from mom. I can't help it, I love beach pix. Also, some good blackmail for when Jackson grows up...Jack in a Hannah Montana wig!! One day, this photo might be worth something! :)

Davis has been his usual hysterical self. He just makes me laugh! He talks so emphatically, and uses his hands a lot. I feel he will be a public speaker or a sales person of sorts when he grows up, but no matter what, definately persuasive. He also will suprise us by being very thoughtful every now and then. The other day, Jackson was telling a story about when he was born, and Davis wasn't. Davis said " well fine, but when that happened, I was with God." I responded with "really? when was that?" Davis replied "well, you know, before kids are in their mommy's tummies, they grow in their heart, and God lives in everyone's heart, so I was with God. I liked hanging out with God." So sweet. I guess he was right! I asked him who taught him that, and he said no one, it was just one of those things he knew. I know that there are more silly and sweet things that they have said, but I can't remember now, so more on that later.

Lastly, I have just taken on a big undertaking. A dear friend of mine's mother was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer. It is stage III, and she has already undergone a masectomy. She is taking it like a champ and is in great spirits. I on the other hand have always wanted to participate in the AVON Breast Cancer walk. This walk is a LONG walk! It is a 2 day, 39 mile walk around Charlotte. It will take place in October, so I have some time to train. There are many reasons why I am doing the walk (which commits me to raising $1800 for Breast Cancer treatments and research). My mom participated in the walk a few years ago, when it was 60 miles, and shared what an amazing experience it was. Before I heard about my friend's mom, I had been thinking about registering. Now I realize that I need to do it, it is her mother who is going through chemo and surgery, but it could just as easily be my mother, or sister, or grandmother. I have learned that every 3 minutes, another person is diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I can't do a lot to help her, but I can walk for the cause. It's a long walk, but I will suck it up and walk, because it's for a cause that I believe in, and it's something that may one day impact me or my family directly.

No Bite Update

For those of you who were wondering, it was suprisingly easy for Davis to stop sucking his thumb! We are about 5 weeks out, and he still shows no signs of thumb sucking! YEAH!! Every once in a while, when he gets hurt, he does say " I miss my thumb " but still doesn't go back! That light sabor was worth every penny!!

Back to reality

We are officially back into the swing of things after 3 weeks of sickness, work, and vacations! It seems like forever since I have slept in my own bed! The last 2 nights have been great sleeping with my tempurpedic mattress topper that the kids have named "The Marshmallow Bed." I can definately sink right into my bed and drift off to sleep!

The beach was nice, and the kids had a ball with their cousins. Pictures to come soon, but I am so far behind on email, bills, work, photography clients, that I haven't had time to think about my 0wn photos! I can't wait though. I got a new camera for my birthday, and looking at the LCD screen doesn't do much justice, but I can tell that there are some great ones in there. It will take 8 pix/second. Ashley just doesn't get it, but I love it! So cool!!!

Davis started VBS today, and I took Jackson and Drew to the library this morning. We are trying to keep up with summer reading and not loose track over vacation breaks. It's hard to stay focused!

I am incredibly proud of all of my children, and it was a blessing to have last week to spend with them and share in their joy of life. Kids are amazing, and I love every minute with them, well, not quite every, but most of them!

To the beach

We are off to the beach for a week. A nice time to catch up after all of the traveling we've been doing! AJ was in Vegas for a week with friends, and then I went last week for work. We are happy to relax by the ocean for a week!!! Wish you were here! :)

Downpour

As I am writing this, I am looking out my front window waiting on a boat to float by! It is absolutely pouring right now!!! We have had quite a wet Spring, and I should be very thankful for that, but I am looking forward to some more consistant sunny weather, and the low 70's would be nice!
Ashley left for Vegas today. He is there with some friends that he grew up with and is there for a bachelor party. Meanwhile, I am here with the kids, and puppy (who is very much still a puppy, but more on that later) in the rain! I am sick and have been so exhausted today, so I thought a nice bubble bath for the boys would keep them busy for a while. I was wrong! I raced upstairs to the screaming of "NO NO Marley" to find the dog, covered in bubbles, trying to get into the bathtub. Two kids were out already, covered in bubbles themselves (no need for a towel when you have mom's clean carpet to run and drip on, right?) and headed to the shower (after a run around my room and hallway), and Drew was in the tub, up to his waist in bubbles, throwing them on Marley. The water had drained, there were bubbles everywhere, and in the middle of the bathroom, a chewed up roll of toilet paper (Marley's favorite chew toy!). At least she's not chewing our shoes...yet!!