My machine gun...

I think that is what I may call my new toy.

Why?  Because it is heavy and sounds like one... not that I've ever held one or been near one.

I got a new camera yesterday!!!  I'm going to love it, but like everything new you have to kinda step back and learn some things again.  I'm very excited to start taking pictures!  On willing clients ;)

Luckily, this morning G was very willing.  I've got sooo much to learn!  But am looking forward to jumping in with both feet!

Me and my machine gun ;)

Sweet Ava~

Because my children don't enjoy me "practicing" on them anymore...

I get to "practice" on sweet Ava!

Today she didn't really care though.

She chewed on a stick once ;)

Don't worry Lori, I got it all out of her mouth :)

She just refuses to smile for me!

I guess maybe she doesn't enjoy me taking pictures of her either...

SFA cross country meet

Alli is running cross country (xc).  She's been very dedicated this past month training.  And now has run in 3 races.  And each race she improves every time!

This race was at SFA.

Waiting for time to run! And getting encouraging words from her daddy!

Running her little heart out!

And all finished!  YAY!!!

I REALLY love the group of kids and parents that are involved in xc.  Very, very encouraging and positive people!  She had another race yesterday.  The second we drove up and I saw the finish line at the top of a steep hill...I thought, Oh no!  We are in trouble!  But this race Alli ran her hardest and fastest!  I was soooooo very proud of her!  And the best thing of all, she took time and enjoyed the view.  Her comment when the race was over, "It was really pretty back there!"

SO VERY PROUD OF ALLI!!!

Fast and Furious

Why does the time have to fly?  

I've been looking at old pictures lately.

And I'm sad that I don't have a baby face around anymore.

Don't get me wrong...I'm loving my children being older.

I just wished those baby years went by a tad slower.

And honestly...I'm guessing when you are right in the middle of those baby years time feels like it is standing still...

Pardon me...

while I play with Lightroom!

I've had so much fun since learning the Lightroom basics going back and re-editing a few of my favorites!

I'm hoping to get one of the group pics put on a 16X20 canvas!

Which group do you like? 1, 2, 3 or 4

Our Griffin-ator!

This little boy...bless him...get's hauled all over the place!

Right now we are either encouraging his sweet sister to RUN, RUN, RUN...

Or his big brother "Everybody hit...Everybody score!"

Bless him ;)

Lightroom and lessons and first dances

This past friday I spent the day in Dallas with a friend taking a photography class!  

Jessi and I spent the entire day with Jennifer Mckinney, aka Mckmama.

The morning we focused on our cameras and then in the afternoon we focused on editing!

I must say....I love mckmama!  And I love lightroom!

So yesterday I had my camera everywhere I went!  And it just happened to be Alli's first junior high dance so I forced her to pose for me.

I say forced because that is exactly how it went down ;)

I'm excited to be able to start practicing what I was taught on Friday!  

Good news

Just a little update!  Carrie had her lumpectomy today.  She woke up without tubes!!!  And the doctor checked 2 lymph nodes and both looked to be cancer free!!!  We are so excited!  And I can't wait to see her this evening and hug her!  Thanks for your prayers!

Heavy Heart

Last Thursday I sat with a precious friend of mine who was having a biopsy done on a lump she found in her breast last weekend.  I sat thinking she would have it tested.  She would get a call that said everything came back fine.  Well, on Friday morning she got a call.  A call she was not expecting.  She has breast cancer.  I cried all day friday.  Sooooo heart broken for her and her sweet family.  I felt helpless.  I still can't believe one of my good friends is fighting breast cancer.  She goes this Thursday for a lumpectomy.  And then in a few weeks she will start chemo/radiation.  Will you please pray that the surgery is quick, easy and that she wakes up without tubes.  I've heard if she wakes up with tubes that means the cancer wasn't contained and that it was in her lymphnodes.  Pray for her sweet hubby.  Her precious children.  We cried all thru church sunday.  Her sweet daughter who is very good friends with Alli too is not taking it well.  Alli said she and Lorie hugged and cried at school yesterday when they saw each other. I pray that God will lead me to know exactly what I can do to help her.  But right now she needs prayers.  And that is why I am putting it here.  Will you please pray for Carrie?

Kid pitch

I still can't believe Walker is old enough to be in kid pitch baseball.  And I had been worned their games would be LONG and boring.  But I have to say, after watching his games on Saturday, I think they are fun.  Now, maybe they are just fun because we were winning.  I know when we play a team that stomps us it won't be fun anymore.  But it was exciting watching him pitch and be able to steal the bases! 

Here he is pitching his first time!

And then scoring!

The first...

The first day of Junior High...

How can that be?

I remember like it was yesterday that I was crying my eyes out because you started to Kindergarten!

I remember Uncle Will calling me and I was sobbing because of a silly song on the tv.  And to be honest, yesterday after you left for school I got a little misty eyed.  Yep, you are all growing up way to fast!

Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Proverbs 14:7

This is my prayer for my children.  Praying you make wise choices.  And that you'll be "doers of the word and not hears only" James 1:22

My Walker is in 3rd grade!  How can this be too?  You have an awesome teacher this year.  And I have already heard such kind words about you from your first day of school.  It makes me so proud that you are a strong leader with a gentle heart! 

We are all looking forward to a great new year!  Full of lots of new experiences!  And full of fun!  Make memories!  Be kind!  Show everyone love!

I let Walker pick out his clothes.  This was his 3rd or 4th choice.  It's ok to veto them right?

This morning I picked out his clothes.  He wore a collared shirt and kahki's.  He didn't complain :)

Sweet Griff was excited for his siblings!  What did we do all day with out our big friends?

Well, we loved on this blue eyed beauty!

We all had a great day, but when the kids got home there was much squealing from a certain little boy!  He was so excited to see his brother and sister!  LOVE IT!

all good things must come to an end

Summer is over.  SIGH...I've enjoyed our summer!  We spent alot of time at the ballpark.  Lots of time swimming.

And just alot of time hanging out.  The kids went to camps.  Had an awesome summer vacation to Yellowstone and The Tetons!  And ended our summer with a trip to the lake in our new to us camper.  It was fun.  Praising Jesus for the "cool" front that blew thru the weekend we camped :)  If not for that cool front we would have DIED from the heat ;)  We are looking forward to our next camping trip.  We are going in November to Arkansas to hike!  Can't wait!  Hope you all had a wonderful summer too!

Up, Up and Away!

On our way to Mississippi last weekend we came across a crop duster.  We stopped and took pictures and watched them take off.  The boys loved it!

Dave "Boo" Ferriss

While in Cleveland, Mississippi we got to meet a former Boston Red Sox pitcher who also coach for the team later.
It was an amazing experience.
A very nice man!!!


Apparently he is 90 years old!

Anybody that knows us knows that this family LOVES the Boston Red Sox!!!

So this was a huge treat for us!

Walker enjoyed it more than Griff ;)

Daddy and Walker hanging out in the dugout at The Delta State University.

Running the bases!

What an awesome experience!
If you gohere you can read about him!  He was a neat man and everyone from around Cleveland had nothing but amazing things to say about it!