5 People 12 Times: January

No plans were made. No reservations were set. We just packed our bags and loaded up in the Expedition for a weekend family getaway to Savannah, GA.

Tuesday we thought about just maybe taking a trip to the good old city of Savannah. A place where we have been wanting to visit. And the place where we said we would move once I finish school (in a bout 2 years). When Friday rolled around, we got up and got ready, packed out bags, and headed northeast.

When we got there we had to find a hotel with vacancies--and we did downtown. Justin paid the extra few bucks for valet parking--which was well worth it! Will definitely always stay where they offer valet! This was soo convenient not having to worry about finding a parking space, and having the car brought to the front if we wanted to drive somewhere. It was weird that they had to carry our bags to our room for us though! Not something we are used to. We are people that do things on our own. And I felt so strange having someone do something for me that I am perfectly capable of doing myself.

Our first night was difficult. Trent cried for a long while about wanting to go home. The next morning the kids were all up well before 7am! And ready to go. I was super exhausted (especially from driving 4.5 hours the day before).

We had such an amazing trip. And while it would have been a ton easier if the kids wouldn't have gone, we would have missed them terribly! And I don't think I could be that far away from them and for that long. Maybe when they are a little older.

Justin says he definitely wants to move to Savannah now. I would like to visit a few more times first. I did love it! But I want to make sure that it's somewhere that I would love to live and not just visit often.

Sunday morning we took out first 5 people 12 times photo. It's not perfect, but I love it. Trent's sleepy eyes with blanky in hand, Emily is actually smiling, and Brenna always ready for a picture. This is our little family. We are truly blessed!

Week 4/52

This week while working on schoolwork the kids were all playing as usual. I started watching them. And Emily was wearing high heel. Trent was wearing Brenna's old Georgia boots with fake spurs. And Brenna was wearing tap shoes.

The high heels are my younger sisters. She left them behind when she moved north. So I borrowed them for the girls to play with.

The Georgia boots were Brenna's. But she has outgrown them. Trent LOVES them! He wears them almost everyday. They are too big, but he doesn't care. And for Christmas he got a sheriff playset, that include some plastic spurs. So cute!!

The tap shoes are from a friend's daughter. Brenna has never been in tap or ballet. She wears these tap shoes everyday. She loves the clanking sound they make on the floors. (I remember loving that about high heels when I was little--but now I hate the sound. haha.)

These are things I want to remember. I want to remember the laughter and the pretend play. The little things they thought were cool.

Week 3/52

I know this is LATE! But atleast I got it up. Since I hate taking pictures of myself and I hate looking at pictures of myself--doing a self-portrait for my group 52 challenge was difficult. Not to mention I had to pull out the old kodak easyshare. We bought that camera 6 years ago. When Brenna was a baby. We spent about $350 on that 4 megapixel camera. YES, PEOPLE!! That was not a typo. How far we have come with technology!

I took a lot of photos in our bathroom by the window. And then just before we were leaving I snapped one in front of the window in the dining room. And that was my keeper for the group project 52. but among all the rejects there was one of me with no glasses and my eyes closed. A me I never see (well because of the obvious-haha). I liked it. I am dreaming. I am escaping. Calming.




I can't wait to show you what I have planned for my 4th week!! :)

Overwhelmed

I have this awful anxious feeling constantly. And I knwo I have a lot to take care of, but my goodness! I made a list lastnight thinking that would help ease off this weird feeling of anxiety, but it didn't. I am going to try to accomplish everything on the list today in hopes of not feeling so overwhelmed. Wwe will see...

I don't know if it is that I am being pulled in so many different directions and my mind can't focus? I just know that I can't do all of this alone. Justin working out of town is really starting to take its toll on me. I need him here, we are partners in this life we are creating, and I need his support.

Trying to start a business if no easy task. And while I still love it, I have other things waiting to be taken care of. Like school. Unfortunately, school starts to take a back sseat to everything else in my life. And I need to start setting aside a slice of each day just for school.

It's just hard when the kids are constantly needing and wanting something. And the house is screaming to be cleaned. And on and on....

I better get off to school now, I don't want to be late.

1/52: Self Portrait

I am doing a project 52 with a group of photographers from The Bloom Forum. Each week we will have a different theme. I am so excited about this project (along with the other 2 I am doing). This is our first week and the theme was Self Portrait.

I had a few things in my mind for how I wanted to approach this week's project. BUT Justin took the camera with him to Tallahassee. He was supposed to be back today, but now isn't coming home until Tuesday. SOO I had to improvise. I charged the battery on our 6 year old Kodak Easyshare. And then snapped away. The last image was the one I liked best. I took it in front our dining room window. Great afternoon window light.



I will be posting some of these here. But all of them will be posted over at the Hill Art & Photography blog.That is our temporary blog for now. We will be working with Breeze from Trust the Air on a custom blogsite in a week or two. SOOO excited about that!

Sleeping Beauties

I could watch my kids sleep for hours on end. I want to hold them and kiss their little faces. These are the moments that are held so dear. They are sweet and calm. And will let you stare into their beautiful faces for more than a few seconds.

I often ask Emily to please just let me look at her. To let me hold her on my lap and memorize her face as it is at that moment. She has allowed me to do this once. And it was for maybe about 30 seconds. I'm sure I am not the only parent that enjoys filling her mind with her children's beauty.

We are always running and busy. And our kids never stop to breath. They are constantly in movement. I think sometimes we forget to see eachother. To really look into ones soul. For now I will enjoy these little sleeping beauties.

It scares me to think that this will all be gone soon. That they will all be grown with families of their own before I even realize it. So I will cherish all these moments. And document all I can. For these moments are fleeting.

Week 2/52

This is a little late.
These were taken one morning this week. Emily was standing by the window and Trent ran over to stare with her. They are getting along a lot better these days. Of course there are still days with lots of fighting and yelling. And I will be soo happy when that comes to a halt. Which I think will be when Trent starts Pre-k. So that's a little bittersweet.

Keeping Me Company

This is our first week in our new home, and Justin is working out of town. It sucks! Having him gone is no fun. And on top of that I am a big baby about staying by myself. I have actually done really well though. If I allow mylsef-I can come up with about a hundred reasons why I should be scared. But I have been keeping my mind off of thinking about "bad things".

I do miss Justin terribly. I didn't realize I would miss him this much. But I do! And I can't wait until he gets back home with us Thursday. It is going to be great when he finds work around here.

Lastnight Trent kept me company. Tonight Emily has been by my side. (Trent fell asleep early.)I am trying to enjoy these moments with them. I know that soon they will be far and few.