The Big Picture

A trip away from family gives a gal time to reflect on what's important. It's so easy to get caught up in the daily grind and feel stuck in a rut. It's so easy to take the one's you love for granted and feel overwhelmed by your daily responsibilities. It's so easy to let yourself live in last place without thinking about the ramifications to your well-being. Some time away to recharge and re-energize is critical for everyone and I think I realize that now more than ever (yes, Robbie-this means you can go to Chicago with the boys).


My trip has been a chance to put some much needed focus on myself. While it has been 95% work, it has been work that I enjoy and time spent worrying about myself alone. I feel confident that this time away will make me be a better mommy and wife, but while it's been unbelievably nice to take a short break from being responsible for other people I so look forward to being back with the people that love and need me as much I do them!


Seeing my girl's precious faces in pictures that Mindi sent me tonight, hearing their sweet little voices, and knowing that Robbie has been doing great without me all make me long for home. I look forward to being embraced by six arms on Saturday after one more glorious day in sunny San Diego!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

A few nights ago Mindi came over to see the girls rearranged rooms and hang out. The girls had Kendyl's Ipod on and were dancing around and playing dress up. It was unbelievably cute. They were completely and totally happy--the unbriddled passion that only children can feel. These pictures make me smile from the inside out. It really is true what they say...having children is like having your heart walking around outside of your body.




I love, love, love hanging out with my girls!!!

Family Picture Day

I decided I didn't have enough stress in my life, so why not schedule a family picture for the same time that Kendyl was going to get her 5 year pictures done. The day actually went amazingly well and I'm pretty pleased with how things turned out. I'm not head over heels in love with any of the pictures, but am happy to have some and put this behind us! Hopefully we can hire a photographer to do some outside shots sometime this summer or early fall. Something more creative that shows the personalities of our family. Anyways, here are some of my favs from today's session:

Kendyl's 5 year--gotta have the number block!

and a close up shot

And, while we weren't there for Lauryl-here's a cute one!

Here's one of the girls together that I like

And another...

Last, but not least...The Family Photo for 2009

Whew, glad that this is behind us! Kendyl and Lauryl did great and we got some good shots. I can't ask for much more than that!