49 of 52

********************52 Weeks*******************

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

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This past Friday thru Monday, we spent down in Panama City Beach, FL.  The first time for the kids and I to see the ocean.  And naturally, we LOVED it!!

I lost track of how many times we ran into the ocean... jumping over waves...jumped into waves...splashing... swimming...

We spent alot of time just letting the waves wash over us

The kids were like fish.

And we can't wait to go back again!!

Long, Wonderful, Wave-filled Weekend

Thank goodness I've gotten used to spur-of-the-moment plans.  Within an hour, me and the kids were packed up, loaded in the van and ready to go with Daddy.  (He was asked to judge a Talent Show in Panama City, FL over the wk end).  It was the first time the kids and I have ever seen the ocean.  To say we had a blast is a huge understatment.  Within minutes of leaving, the kids were asking to go back again.  And I'm sure we will.  It's only about 8 hours to get to the beach from down here.  (I say only 8 hours because from TN back home is 15ish hours..)

I snapped oodles of pictures (that I'll share when I have more time).  We're not likely to forget this experience, but we'll have plenty of pictures to refresh our memory if we do.  We spent the night right on the beach... just open our patio door and the beach was within steps.  For some odd reason, Mom is exhausted tonight.  But just say the word, and I could be ready to go back to the beach with 4 kids in under an hour! :) 

I'll share my favorite pics from the entire trip. I have a couple shots of this pose, all simliar.  Once I figure out which shot is my favoritest favorite, it'll be hanging on our wall.  (They sat like this for awhile, just letting the waves roll up on them).  {sigh...happy, long, wave filled weekend}

48 of 52

********************52 Weeks*******************

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

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This week has been one-of-those-weeks.   Just a busy, eventful, full, non-stop week.  One of those weeks, if someone were to say: Oh!  You're JUST a stay-at-home Mom..  I may have popped them on the head! :) 

Just a typical scene at our house...when John is napping

hair all over the place, matching t-shirts, table covered with ... who really knows what, don't even look at what's on the floor, Benji goofing around, finger prints all over the mirror....but we just smile and make the most of it :)

You know.. just your average-house-with-four-kids-kinda-day .... 

simple.sunshine.

{These pictures don't even come close to capturing the moment, but you gotta look at 'em anyways!} 

The other evening we had dark clouds roll over.  no thunder.  no lightening.  Just a gentle rain.  For the longest time, the sun was shining between the clouds.  As a gentle rain, almost a mist was coming down.

I sat on the porch swing watching, until I couldn't handle it any more.  I sat the camera down, called the kids outside and we danced played in the rain.

I've been thankful for little burst of sunshines that have brightened up days that were just...grey.  Whether its small or big things.  Something that brings a smile to your face, a skip to your step, gives you the little boost you've been needing....  like a hug from your kids, unexpected compliment from a stranger, or maybe, even perhaps a phone call from your bestest friend!  It's the little, sweet, simple things that make me happy!

47 of 52

********************52 Weeks*******************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

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Mothers Day 2010

Picked with love from the front yard.

Daddy cooked lunch We ate out.

Tea Lemonade Party

Supper on the deck

Blurry pic #2 of 5 Daddy took :)  But I'm not likely to forget this Mother's Day.  It was the 1st time we celebrating the holiday.  Alone.  Down south.  Both of our Mothers were 800+ miles away.

Soaking up the sun ....

and snuggles.

Little Things

Awhile back I saw this post here.  I fell in love with the quote and vowed to focus more on little things around me every day. 

Like sleeping babies toddlers.

Happy Mothers Day...

To me Mothers Day is more than just one special day, set aside for Mom's.  We don't get carried away on Mother's Day.  I'm not treated like a queen, nor do I get the day off.  I'll be lucky if my kids their Father even remembers Mother's Day! :)   In all reality, it's just another Sunday.  I won't lie.  Flowers, chocolate, special treatment, dinner out would be great.  But to me, that isn't what Mothers day is about.  Mothers Day is about every day!  Each little moment.  Or big moment.

It's getting fresh picked flowers in the morning.  Or afternoon.  Or evening.  And being delivered by the cutest kids.

It's about watching moments like this.  Feeling your heart swell up with happiness, proudness.  A smile spread across your face.  These are your children.

It's about spending time out on the porch swing.  Answering a million and one questions about... anything and everything.  It's looking into those faces and just melting into a sweet puddle of gooey sweetness.

It's about him.  Because without him, I wouldn't be a mother to these four chilren.  (and I'd likely have lost my mind a long time ago without his love, support, patiences and so on..)  It's about watching my family, being together ... and realizing how happy, fortnate and blessed I really am.

It's about them taking a love and interest in things that I love and value so much.  It's realizing they do watch and listen much more closely than I realize.

It's all about cuteness.  And having children look like you.  And their Daddy.  All at the same time.

It's about being Super Man Mom.  It's also realizing you don't have to be SUPER MOM, to be a good Mom.  And realizing that being perfect has nothing to do with being a GOOD Mom.

It's about good days and bad days.

It's all about them.

Happy Mothers Day!

46 of 52

********************52 Weeks*******************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

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My family was all the way over by the pond.  I had to cross the tall grass, which I can just imagine has snakes slithering in {shudder}.  maybe I should add.. I tend to wear flip-flops around the house/yard..

Then I got me an idea!!  {insert happy face here}

I'll wear his cowboy boots.  Tall. Tough leather.  Clear up to my knees.  No snake can get me now.  Or at least the bottom half of my legs are safe.

And for those squirming in your chairs (like my mother, m-i-l, my sis-in-laws) we haven't actually seen a snake in the yard or by the pond.  But we have seen a dead one on the road, just in front of the field...that the pond is in.  We know they are down here, so we keep a close eye out.  But I have a feeling, the snakes keep a close eye on those four things we call our children.  Since they infest our yard with loud chaos from dawn until dark! :)

Contentment

I can remember like it was yesterday the moment this picture was taken.  It was during our honeymoon, at Seeley Lake, northwestern Montana.  We were newlyweds, life was... perfect!  The person that mattered most to me was by my side.  Him.  We were madly in love.  (Still are)  And we were surrounded by the greatest place on earth.  Montana.

At this lake, we stopped for a picnic lunch.  I can remember sitting on the beach rocks, watching him skip rocks into the lake, staring at his backside, looking out across the lake to the breathtaking views.  It was here, and other places on our honeymoon that we talked about our life together.  Things we wanted to do together as husband and wife.  Our hopes and dreams.  So much excitment and anticipation as we started our journey together.  I remember feeling content.  Having no clue what may lie ahead for us, but knowing that with him by my side, I would be content, happy and satisfied.

Here we are, nearly 8 years later.  Life has taken us up and down many roads.  We've been thru many experiences.  Yet, I am content, satisfied and happy.  The one I love is still by my side, as our 4 kids, who have brought so much joy and happiness (among other things) into our lives, run about.  I will admit, I never thought I'd be in the place I am today, or doing certain things I am doing.  But I could not imagine life any other way.  Nor do I want it to be any other way.


Contentment is a great feeling.

Another great blog, another giveaway..

There's alot of blogger people that I'd love to meet in real life.  This gal.. is near the top of the list.  She's starting another great blog, that I know will be as fabulous as her last.  To start it off.. she's having a giveaway... go check it out!!