family update!

Yesterday we had parent-teacher conference at Jocelyn’s school.  Of course she is doing well, no news to us.  ;)  She loves school, loves to read, has great manners and messy handwriting.  That’s our girl!  She is still in ballet twice a week practicing to be a Star for her Christmas performance “God With Us.”  She is very excited!

I think we are moving out of the Hannah Montana phase and are almost entirely in the iCarly phase now.  ;)  She’s still singing theme songs to every show on tv, she gets that from her daddy.  She takes piano on Monday’s with grandma.  I’m not sure it’s something she loves to do but she doesn’t complain.  Tony and I both really want her to stick with it so we just try to be encouraging.

McKenna is still in preschool two days a week (they haven’t kicked her out yet!) but and we have parent teacher conference for her on Thursday night.  I think she is doing well, she loves it.  She marches right into the school like a big girl and never cries for us.  It hurts just a little that none of my kids miss me when I’m gone but I’m working through it.

At church every Wednesday night, they put Kenna in time out.  It’s not the teachers, it’s McKenna….trust me.  She is such a stinker but the problem is she is SO CUTE!  I’ve told them they have my permission to be firm with her.  Lord knows I am!

Still potty training.  If she is naked, she goes on the potty.  If she is dressed, she does not.  That’s where we are. Nowhere.

Camden is a crawling fool.  He can get up on his hands and knees now with no problem and cruise the room. Of course he still prefers his belly sometimes too.  He pulls up to standing on anything that will support him.  I’m hoping he’ll start cruising soon!

He’s in need of another haircut as people comment on his “mohawk” way too often.  People think it’s cute, me? not so much.

We’ve entered the winter of snotty nose.  For the next 5 months we’ll be wiping his nose.

Tony is busy with both of his jobs: part time at the church and full time with Higher Ministries.  He is super busy these days!  Higher Ministries is hiring a new staff person to handle women’s ministry.  This is an awesome step for them.  Can’t wait to see where she takes this part of the ministry.

I am going crazy with 7-10 appointments a week.  I said I would not do this to myself again this year but I’m a pushover in the fall.  I admit it. ;)  I love my job but by the time the Fall/Christmas season is over, it has taken a toll on me.

We have vacation coming up!! I protect weeks that Jocelyn is out of school.  No photography!  We’re going to Williamsburg, VA.  Can’t wait!!  Last year we spent fall break in Charleston and it was the best vacaton we’ve ever had.  I’m convinced this one will be even better!

Dodger Baby

Tony has been dying for Camden to get big enough to wear his sports clothes that we’ve had since before he was born. Suddenly, we realized that Camden is growing so fast that if we didn’t get pictures soon, he would outgrow some of his sports clothes before we got the chance! Tony got himself and the baby ready to go and we headed down to the studio for some super cute shots!

(more in the flickr if you want to see)

i’m the mommy

and this kid TOTALLY loves me!

just camden ;)

my little guy is scooting all over the house.  if he has will power, he’ll find a way.  we find him in the closet, in the kitchen, in the playroom.  he’s suddenly all over the place!  the other day while i was in the kitchen packaging photo orders, he tried his hardest to pull up on my chair.  he would have done it except he slipped on some cardboard that was in the floor beside me.  i gave him a litte boost and stole a few pictures. (my mom has been complaining that every picture of him lately, he is buckled in a carseat, stroller, etc.)

Speaking of getting around, here he is with the girls. Jocelyn and Kenna both had friends over (sisters the same age as my girls). Of course they were putting on their tattoos right away. Jocelyn and Whitley both had new tattoos and they shared with each other and included the little girls. Camden would not be left out. He crawled right under the table and started getting Hattie’s toes. She’s not sure if she appreciates his gesture….lol.

This is Camden in his jumperoo…lol. I was telling this story to some friends tonight and remembered I had pictures for proof. Camden loves this jumper! He will jump until he passes out. jump, jump, jump….rest. jump, jump, jump…..rest. jump, jump, jump…..i’m out!

This is the way I have felt every night this week….ready to crash anywhere.

out of touch

sorry……

School is back in.
Jocelyn has Piano after school on Mondays.
She has Ballet after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
We have church on Wednesday nights.
My busy season has begun.
I’ve been working on a new line of photo gifts!
I took on 2 weddings in August (one is my uncles)
a wedding in September (my cousin)
and I still have the one in October to look forward to.

I’ve been sitting in front of my computer for hours on end and still, have not had time to update either of my blogs. I’ll get there, I promise. Our family is doing great! We’re still battling potty training with Kenna. Some days she gets it, some days she doesn’t care. Typical, right? Camden is crawling (I have video) and Jocelyn is as sassy as ever! My new fabulous pics of the kids are in frames waiting for the FIL to come hang them. I’m so excited. Hang in there, I’ll be back soon!

Meanwhile, meet my sexy, second shooter!
(with his hand blocking the flash that he doesn’t need from that far away….shhhh, don’t tell him.  he got some great wedding shots!)

an act of God

I decided on a whim to dress the kids up this morning and try for a few good shots. As bad as I wanted the pictures, I admit, my expectations were low. God had mercy on me this morning. Allow me to show off some BEAUTIFUL children! (i’m posting them in color, the BW versions are on flickr)

this is all i got of jocelyn alone. i was focused on kenna’s 2 year pics and camden’s 6 mos.

school is in session

Jocelyn started 1st grade last Thursday. She went half a day on Thursday and then started a regular schedule on Friday. We sat through a teacher meeting Thursday morning. It lasted about an hour (snore) and although Jocelyn’s teacher seems very nice and very experienced, she seemed a bit traditional for my taste. Of course I didn’t say anything to Jocelyn and when she came home on the first day, she told me her teacher is “SO funny” lol, ok then.

Here she is on her first day of school. McKenna had no clue what was going on. She was wandering around wearing Jocelyn’s pajama top, a typical morning for her. I had Jocelyn stop for a picture and, of course, this is when McKenna decides she wants to be in pictures. She stood by her big sister giving me a sideways, “cheeeeeeese!”

in other news

We’re potty training. Today is day 2, more on that as we see how it progresses!

McKenna had her 2 year old check up today. Camden’s 6 month check up was last week.

Camden: 17lbs
McKenna: 21lbs

Anyone else see the issue here?

Happy 2nd Birthday McKenna!

On Sunday, we celebrated Kenna-Roo’s 2nd birthday. It was so funny! She had no idea why we were all so excited for her. We would say, “Yay! Kenna!” and she would say, “Yay! Joci!”

We had a simple gathering of family for some hot dogs, tater salad and cole slaw. YUM! Because I’m so bad a documenting our daily lives I have not even mentioned our new playground. We (Tony and I, grandma and baboo, and nana and pa) bought the kids an enormous playset LAST FALL for the kids. It was last year’s Christmas present! Well, guess what? We got it finished just in time for McKenna’s birthday!! I had to do a little nagging but I really wanted the kids to be able to play on it at the party. It took a lot of hard work, sweat and probably some tears but it was well worth it if you ask me.

As you can see, we have a lot more work to do in the backyard but so much has been done already. We hired someone to come dig out our yard to make it level and then Tony and John built the retainer wall. It still needs a little work, but we’re getting there! I’ll try to keep you posted!

And now for the party!

This has to be the cutest assortment of cupcakes EVER! Thank you Sams Club.

Kenna and Nana

mmmmm…cake!

every time she eats one of these, everything in her path becomes red.

I still think the ribbons take the fun out of pinata’s

of course kenna picked the “right” ribbon on the first try and we had to fake it so we could at least have some fun. she didn’t have a clue

(note the Mars bars instead of typical candy….these parents know who will be eating candy for the next month)

snacking on some fingers with Baboo

hanging with pa pa…who constantly has to be reminded that Kenna is too small for gum.

woohoo! an elmo laptop so she can work like mommy!

Libby Lu Do

Jocelyn and Whitley had a special date this week at Libby Lu’s! The girls were so excited! It was Jocelyn’s first experience at Libby Lu’s for a makeover but trust me, she had been wanting it forEVER!

The before shot

First they got to dress up in shiny clothes

then nails

sometimes, i wonder where this child came from..lol

blue eye shadow of course

for Jocelyn, the whole makeover was about these sparkle stickers on her face. I don’t think she cared what else they did as long as she got sparkle stickers! (she also has glittery pink lip gloss and there is glitter sprinkled in her wet nail polish….we are so shiny)

Whitley decided on the Sharpay wig. Could also pass for a disney princess too, don’t you think?

so cute, i love it!

Jocelyn chose prom hair because she already has a blonde wig.

she was so serious about the whole thing. she will be the death of me on her wedding day.

top it off with some glitter hair spray and a tiara….of course

the best part for me is all the teeth that she is missing. she has lost 7 so far!

Jocelyn (thinks she) is a total rock star with her air guitar and Whitley is not quite as familiar with Hannah Montana’s music. After the makeover, they got to choose items for their goodie back pack and then do a dance with shiny microphones. Jocelyn chose the Hannah Montana song and dance.

“mix it all together and you know you’ve got the best of both worlds.”

she is so shy, just like her daddy

Katie, you’re awesome for inviting us to join you! We had an amazing time!