creative evening

Thursday night Adam was out of town which usually encourages me to stay up in my studio all night. For some reason I was in a scrapbooking mood so after dinner and asking my girls to get their jammies on and clean up the basement, I got started. After about a half hour it occurred to me I hadn't seen or heard from my girls in quite a while, usually I get both, so I went seeking them out. I found them at the other end of the house, Bella was like this


busy writing in the living room. I didn't know it at the time, but later found out she was busy writing a book called, Meet McKenzie Suzy. Before she fell asleep she read us the first 2 chapters and I was quite impressed. So impressed I actually questioned whether or not it was her words. She is a good little writer and I hope she continues with the story until it gets finished. Actually whenever she had a spare moment this past weekend she would work on it.

Then I found Megan and Tess like this

laughing in the Library busy drawing and painting. What I didn't know at the time, and I was grateful for this lack of knowledge, was the laughing came from the mess they were making with the paints. If you look closely you can see it all over Megan's clothes. Apparently they were making butterflies.

It was fun for me to sneak in on them and see them having a good time creating. I think I would have enjoyed it even better had we all been doing it together. I'm hoping these moments will happen more often than not, but I sense more than ever how busy life becomes the older my girls get. It's definitely a goal of mine to make family time at home a priority and hope being home is something they will always enjoy and appreciate the older they get.

After all was said and done ( clean up, showers, brush teeth, prayers) we all snuggled into bed together and one by one fell fast asleep. Of course before it got to far into the night I carried each of them to their rooms and gently placed them in their bed...it was just too much girl for one bed.


Here is what I got done (finished some on Saturday)...


This has actually been siting on my desk for months and finally finished it.

[lifted Ali Edwards]


[lifted Jamie Waters]

taken from this post

Happy Birthday Lolo!!

auction winners

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the auction and made it a success.

Congratulations to:
#1 Kelly $10
#2 Jennifer Bowman $16
#3 & #5 Andrea $55
#4 & #6 Lucy $35

Thank you all for your generous donations to the recovery fund of The Nielson family. Please make your donations here

When complete email me (afmphotography@gmail.com) the receipt from the donation plus your home address and I will ship the photos out this week.

If you still would like a chance to donate, Design Mom has a list of auctions that are still LIVE.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Nie Nie auction - Photographs

Ever since I heard about the accident of Stephanie Nielson (Nie Nie) and her husband Christian I can't seem to get their sweet family off my mind. I can't even imagine what they must be going through and feel this pressing urge to do what I can to help.

When I realized from my friend Crystalyn that auctions were taking place on Design Mom in order to help the family with the cost of recovery, I thought for days about what I could contribute and have decided (thanks for the idea Rebecca) on a few of my favorite macro photographs. Each photo you are bidding on is an 8x10, printed on quality matte photo paper.

click on any photo for a larger view

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2.


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4.


5.


6.


auction details
-I will end the bidding Sunday, September 7th at midnight.
-To bid please leave a comment, indicating which photo you are bidding on by the number, and your email address so I can contact you.
-bidding for each photo starts at $10.
-bid in $1 increments
-Winning bidders will purchase the photo via Stephanie and Christian's paypal account.
-Once your payment is made please email me (afmphotography@gmail.com) the receipt along with your address and I will send the photo to you.

Make sure to check Design Mom for more auctions taking place daily.

Thank You!

September 4th and the decision has already been made

Meg: "Daddy, what's that girls name I'm going to be for Halloween?"

Dad: "What girl?"

Meg: "You know, the one with the beautiful sparkly red shoes."

Dad: "Do you mean Dorothy?"

Meg: "Yep, that one."

Dad: "Do you even know who Dorothy is?"

Meg: said with utter confidence, "Ya, she's the one with the red sparkly shoes."

Does she really need to know anything more? She found these shoes yesterday and hasn't taken them off since. I'm afraid by the time Halloween comes along all the red sparkles will have fallen off. Oh well, at least she would have enjoyed them. I got to be honest though, I don't know how I'm going to make it until Halloween listening to her talk about Dorothy...it's been non stop since yesterday.

backyard campin'

An unexpected family activity came Friday night in Adam's parents backyard as we gathered together,


set up tents, made dinner in dutch ovens,


roasted marshmallows in their fire pit




and talked the night away by a cozy wood burning fire.

I thought it was going to be a lot of work for one night, but it was so enjoyable and such a perfect night to just hang outside by the fire. I hope this can become a family tradition as my girls are already talking about when we get to do it again...they loved it. Thanks Kathy for putting it together.

This camp out really made me wish Adam and I were campers (ok campers is a strong word, but I certainly wish we did it more than we do now, which is never). There are so many beautiful places around and we both enjoy the outdoors I just can't believe we don't do it. Hopefully this overnighter will help encourage us to appreciate and experience the world right outside our doors.

here we go again

I'm not sure I'm ready. I should be ready as I've known about this for a while now, but I'm just not quite prepared to take the plunge and become a Suzuki parent for the second time. Why you ask? Because the violin is so involved on the parents part I don't know if I'm ready to start from scratch right now. Well, I better hurry because I only have a few hours to contemplate my unreadiness.



On the other hand Megan is more than ready. She sure was cute this afternoon when we went to get her a violin. I can't believe how small it is (I've forgotten), and how adorable she looks holding it. She is very excited and won't stop asking me if she can hold it and now she has resolved to say, "I'm just going to look at it, ok?" It cracks me up the way this girl always talks in the affirmative as if the answer will undoubtedly be yes...it's certainly hard to say no to. I guess it's a good thing she wants to play so badly, but I think she may just drive me crazy until she does. Thank goodness it's all in good time. She still has several weeks using a fake violin before she can move onto the real thing.

Wish us luck. I know I'm going to need it.

back to school

We've successfully made it through our first day of school. Bella and Tess started today and as far as my girls were concerned it was five days too late. Since back to school night, last Wednesday, they have been chopping at the bit to get back to school so needless to say I think Sunday night was a sleepless night for the two of them.



For someone who claims to like taking pictures I sure do a lousy job at remembering my camera. It wasn't until we were on the school grounds and I saw other mom's taking pictures that it occurred to me I should have brought my camera. I guess I was just trying to get everyone out of the house and it slipped my mind. Thank goodness I had my phone on me and was able to capture the event after all.

I don't usually go into the school with them so it was a treat for me this year to send them off this way. Once I was there I realized how much I've missed these last 2 years having them go with our carpool instead of taking them myself. It was fun to see my girls meet up with their friends (some they hadn't seen the entire summer) giggling and laughing as they waited for the bell to ring, all of them excited to get into their classrooms and start the day. One thing I hadn't anticipated, but was thrilled to see was how much Bella and Tess loved going to school together. They couldn't wait to look for each other during the day and meet up after school to talk about their day.

I'm glad I decided to see them off at the door because it felt like such a significant event. Two kids gone all day seems so unbelievable to me. I remember thinking about this years ago, wondering what it would feel like. Strangely enough it feels natural, like it was meant to happen this way. I am more excited for the adventures they will have this year than sad at missing them. It is a part of life and childhood to have them gone and it will definitely make the times we are together after school and in the evenings that much more meaningful. Plus let's not forget I will have Megan here with me to keep me company. I think in two years when they are all gone I may feel differently, but then again you never know, it may feel as natural as it does today.

Do you feel sad when your kids go back to school?
or Do you look forward to the day?

love em like my own

an attempt to get a shot of the kiddos for my mom.

details from my sister's visit

It's crazy when you don't really think about something how quickly time passes. I had no idea the last time I had updated my blog was on Tuesday. Man, this week just flew by.

I had a date with Bella this afternoon that lasted shorter than expected because we got a flat tire. Luckily I had Adam to rescue me and am hoping if it ever happens again I will be able to do it on my own. It's not that I don't know how to change a tire, but I've never actually done it in my current car and there was definitely a learning curve. He was generous enough to run around this afternoon and get a new tire so I am finding myself at home earlier than expected with time on my hands. Fabulous, just enough time to finally look through the photos I took while my sister was in town.

Once a bit of time has past I find it so enjoyable to look through and proof my photos. It's a chance for me to really savor the fond memories of those two weeks and remember little details from each one.

Like this one of Megan and my niece Estee.


In years past they have been, for lack of a better term, rivals and this time they played together fabulously...for the most part. Apparently they are growing up.


This photo cracks me up because it a) reminds me of when I was a kid. I always wanted to raise my hands to prove I was brave enough and that I could do it and b) it shows Bella winking. A new skill to her that she often does around the house to remind us of her coolness...also love that thumbs up.


Can't miss a swimming photo. It was a huge hit this year and the first year I would ever dare say we have swimmers at our house. Bella and Tess seemed to really grow this year in their swim classes. They have a long way to go, but it's miles from where they were last year. The afternoons at the pool aren't quite so stressful.


And how could I ever pass up a chance to post of photo of these two best friends. They were together as much as ever.


My Adam taking Megan for the ride of her life (many times I saw her with her hands over her ears, but afterwards she was all smiles). He really is just a kid at heart.


With the Olympics going on it wasn't long before the kids were trying to emulate their favorite athletes, aka Shawn Johnson and Michael Phelps. I loved that it was something we could all enjoy together and that the kids actually got way into cheering them on.


And not to forget the down time where the kids were off playing made up games, discovering new games on the computer, or giggling in the other room. I think that's my most favorite thing of all. To hear and see them, all of them getting along so well loving each and every minute.

I could go on and on, but will spare you and leave it at this. It was a great visit and a fabulous way to end the summer. Well, almost end...the summer is not over yet.

have a great weekend.

getting ready

Since my sister's departure it's been non stop or at least that's how it feels. I keep thinking I will at some point update my blog and share all that we did, but I don't think that's going to happen for a while, which means I probably won't look at my photos for some time. I'm beginning to realize how blogging keeps me photo efficient.

So among trying to catch up with all the house stuff I missed while I was on my 2 week in town vacation, I have a lot of last minute business to get to before school starts...i.e filling out forms for school/activities, back to school night, dentist appointments, getting school supplies etc. Despite all that needs to get done and watching my two nieces this week my list is getting smaller. It feels good to be on top of it and crossing things off.

One thing that we did cross off the list last week was the back to school hair cuts. Bella has been asking me for a very very long time to cut her hair. I've been reluctant, for reasons unknown, but finally decided to just let her do what she wanted. So last Thursday she cut it all off.



I'm not sure how many inches came off, but it was a ton and quite a drastic change. It has taken me some time to get use to. It's not that I didn't initially like it, I think she looks so cute this way, but I didn't love the way the girl cut it. There is I believe a few mistakes (can't be seen in photo) I'm hoping in a few months can be fixed or maybe we'll be lucky enough it won't be as noticeable in a few weeks. I guess all I really care about is if she likes it and she does, she loves it. I for one find it so much easier to do and think it makes her look older, it's like she's grown up over night.

Tess also got her hair cut, but in a different style. With her thin hair I just had the girl cut it in a boob (she did add a layer at the bottom) and leave it long enough so I could still pull it back in a pony tail. I think it looks adorable on her.



Besides her cute cut she has also lost 2 more teeth in the last 2 weeks. It's too bad her silly posing ways (I could get her to cooperate and I haven't tried taking a picture since...haven't pick up my camera since my sister left) left me unable to capture that new smile. I must say I'm a bit worried, in her little mouth I see no room for two more teeth. Yikes!

So a bit of an update I guess. We've had some changes and they've been good. Around here everyone's looking forward to the new school year, although, I think I am a bit sad to see the summer fade away. It's been a good one.

sixteen

It's a strange feeling to wake up and realize I've known my older brother, who died sixteen years ago, as long as I haven't. It's a day I have anticipated for a long time...the sixteenth anniversary of his death. I guess it just seemed significant in some way and I'm not sure why other than it shows how much time has passed and how much life I have lived during that time.



It was nice this day has come after a two week break spent with my family while my sister and her family were in town (if you're wondering where I've been...there you have it). It's comforting to be able to share stories and to know we are together, learning to fill in the gaps he left for us that feel very apparent to me.



Despite what this day means to me, it has been a most beautiful day. I must admit I had anticipated it being somewhat of a mess, considering Sundays are not usually my best day of the week (don't know why), but it has been a very peaceful reflective day where I've focused more on what I have instead of what I don't have and embraced the healing that has taken place these last few years. How grateful I am for my knowledge of Christ's gospel that I know I will one day see him again.



Throughout the day my thoughts kept coming back to my word for the year, LIVE, and reminding me of something my brother said years ago that I will never forget, (2 weeks before his death he went on a road trip with his good friend Jeff, who unfortunately died with my brother in the car accident, and they took a video of their trip. While video taping he said these words) "and if we happen to die, know that we love you and always have a good one." As I reflect on his words today "always have a good one" I remind myself to live each day to the fullest with no regrets as I know he did. Though his life was only 18+ years long he certainly lived everyday and held nothing back. I want that...to know I have given it my all and can leave this life better than when I came. Definitely easier said than done. I have a lot of work to do.

be you

"I've always liked the time before dawn because there's no one around to remind me who I'm supposed to be, so it's easier to remember who I am." - story people

This little Tess of mine is just about to enter the world of elementary school where she will be surrounded by her peers and faced with some tough choices. As I've watched her grow up and interact with others I've seen this need of hers to be accepted (I know we all do one way or another) and have watched her change her mind based on what someone else is doing or trying to be like them. If I could give her anything it would be to always be true to herself. I know she is young and knowing who you are takes time and experience, but I would hate to see her fall into the trap that she needs to be like everybody else or there is only one way to be. I just want her to be who she is and never doubt where she came from.

It's something I wish I could just hand to her, the confidence to be who she is, but know it will be something she will have to find on her own and want. With the world's voice shouting in your ear it can be difficult to remember to just be who you are, but I know if you want it, you can get it. I still need to remind myself the same things. Perhaps our unfavorable predispositions we come here with are the things that take us a lifetime to conquer, but are worth all the fight. Indeed I think it's that fight that makes us who we are. Life really is a cycle.

So Tess keep being the fun, silly, yet sensitive little girl we have always loved...and never ever stop laughing.

fading summer

"It's designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything is new again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains comes, it stops, and leaves you to face the fall alone." ~Bartlett Giamatti

Today I had this sense of the fading summer. Don't get me wrong I love the coming of the fall, but have also so enjoyed this season and the time devoted to a lack of schedule, mornings and evenings on the porch, and the remaining sun (not the heat...the light). In 29 days I think I will mourn a bit the end of the lazy summer day, the time we were together just letting what will happen, happen.

weekly tidbits

It's crazy how a week can go by and not much will happen and then another week will go by and you feel like it was so full you could hardly breath. Well, I sort of feel like my was full, but not with scheduled things I had to do, besides swim lessons, it felt full because of all the stuff I wanted to do.

Saturday I attended Amy's book binding class, which I just loved, and have been dreaming of making books ever since. My minds flooded with ideas. It's funny I got home and showed Adam what I made and he wants me to teach him how. Had I known he could have come to the class with me. Perhaps next time we can do it together.



I woke up one night or I should say early one morning (2am) and made this felt book.



Amy, Hannah, Jenn, and Michelle all have one and I couldn't wait to have a cute little book to hold all my needles. Thanks ladies for the inspiration, and Amy thanks again for a fabulous afternoon.

We went Miniature Golfing as a family on Monday night for Megan's bday.







It's what she really wanted to do, but had to wait because Adam and the girls were camping on her birthday Friday night. The kids raced through the course as I knew they would, the heat was unfortunately still beating down on us at 7pm, but we had a lot of fun or at least I know Megan did.

I've had this hankering to scrapbook again. I always want to, but it seems I never really do find the time. The other night I was up late working on these (one still in the works).


[inspiration came from makingmemories blog in their design album, it didn't specify the artist.]


[8x8 layout - song lyrics]
It's interesting as I was thinking about scrapbooking so was Bella. She was asking me tons of questions the other day about it and wants to start doing it with me. I was actually really excited about the two of us playing together in my studio. Perhaps scrapbooking will be her way into the creative world...it was mine.



Thursday night we went to a bbq with our neighbors. It was a low key night where basically the kids played and we talked for hours. Once it got dark we did a few fireworks with the kids and I brought glow in the dark sticks for everyone to play with (hence the photo) that went over huge. I'm at a really great stage where the kids can easily be entertained and I don't have to watch them 24/7. It's so relaxing.

have a great weekend.

between us

There are many things about us that i love, but one that I seem to not get enough of is just being with him and talking.



It is not something I could've said during the earlier years in our marriage, I was more reserved, but now I believe that it has become such a enjoyable part of our relationship. I so look forward to long drives where the kids are asleep (it's hard to talk now with them listening and understanding) or evenings lying in bed talking our way to sleep. I am grateful we have come to a point where no subject is off limits (the easy and the hard), where I know I can come to him about anything and he'll be there listening every time.

One of my favorite things is that a conversation can start one way and then the natural ebb and flow moves it from one topic to another seamlessly. You never no where you're going to end up...it's like a piece of art. I love it. This morning was no exception, I loved that our State holiday allowed us to lazily enjoy the morning sitting on the porch talking. We could have been out there for hours, in fact, I believe we were.

celebrating four

My Megan is four today. It's so strange for me to look at her, my last, my littlest and see her getting older. I always associate her with being so small, but I remember Bella at this age and she seemed so big to me. Maybe it's because I had two smaller kids at the time.



I'm not sure I'm ready for her to grow up so quickly, but I don't think I have a choice. Megan often tells me, "you're going to be sad when I grow up", and all I can say is "yes, yes I am". I wish I could keep her at this stage for a bit longer, but I am also so looking forward to the young woman she will become because she is one delightful little girl right now.



four Pieces of her

It's a rare moment to find her not talking (she is fondly referred to as our Chatterbox) and while she's jabbering away she very often starts a sentence with the word "actually".



She tells me things like, "I love you up to heaven".

If you are looking for her you'll most likely find her if you follow the bandaid trail. She is terrified of blood so bandaids have become her way of coping. I have even seen her put a bandaid on a red marker stain.



She changes her clothes constantly throughout the day and tells me it's because "she wants to get pretty". Currently as I write this she's running around with 2 swimming suits on.

I know I could go on and on, but will leave my list at four. She has been such an enjoyable little girl and truly adds something very special to our family. Tonight the two of us get to spend the evening together while Adam, Bella, and Tess go on a camp out. I was bummed how the camp out fell on her birthday, but now I'm looking forward to the two of us getting to be together. We'll be going to dinner and then I'm taking her to Build-A-Bear.

Happy Birthday Meg!

teaching = learning

Saturday we had our first lesson on cleaning the toilets/bathrooms. Basically I want them to see how much work it is so they will, on a daily basis, take part in keeping it clean. There was a lot of "that's disgusting" comments, but all and all they didn't mind it. In fact they asked, "when do we get to do it again?". Go figure they actually had fun cleaning the bathroom.

It's certainly a job I would love to relinquish completely, but I know it will be us doing it together for a while. I think that's why I haven't taught them til now, it just makes more work for me and takes a lot longer. I guess in the long run, though, it will serve it's purpose. I definitely want my girls to know how to work and to understand that working isn't a bad thing. Of course at some point don't you always know that cleaning the toilet is a bum job (no pun intended).

alone & together

Gris Grimly is an artist Adam really likes and Saturday while I was looking through a published book of his art (Where Madness Reigns) I saw two watercolor paintings I feel in love with. There was one of a boy standing all alone on a hill looking grim and another one of a boy and a girl separated. There was just something about the way he created the mood that I wanted to try.

Here are my versions.





It was a lot of fun to do, but it certainly made me realize I know nothing about watercolors, loading or dispersing the color. I really really want to take an art class and am hoping once the girls are in school I can make it happen.

Oh and on a good news note, I heard back from the doctor and my growth was just a simple mole. :)

continual process

"Saving up a bag full of peak moments she's going to have someday if she can ever get away from all the same old stuff that's holding her back & you can pretty well guess how it's going." -story people

I found this online last night as I was doing my usual Sunday night internet wander (my sunday nap always seem to kill my sleep) and couldn't help but laugh as I managed to find the one quote that completely sums up how I am feeling at the moment...frustrated at my own lack of ability to conquer and make a change for good. Why must I learn and continue to learn the same lessons over and over again?

Perhaps my "old stuff" is my stuff (challenges that take a lifetime to learn i.e. confidence, selfishness, worrying about what others think etc.) and I just need to remember to allow life to move as I patiently let go of that which is holding me back. Apparently I need a constant reminder that life is the process of creating (creating because it implies doing) happiness, learning to find the good where it does and does not exist. Perhaps then I can begin to take from my pretty green bag my "peak moments".


[ps I just now noticed (7pm) that two of my key words (stuff and move) were erased from the second paragraph as I was trying to change the font and unfortunately I published it that way. I am sorry to those who were trying to read it and couldn't understand it because of that. Sadly I'm sure it came as no surprise.]