birthday snapshots...

just a few pics from peyton's little playgroup party. more to come later i am sure:)

happy birthday peyton mae!!!

thank you, kelle for taking all of these great pictures.

you are so talented.

http://www.kellehamptonphotography.com/

pumpkins, apples & cowboy boots

once a year treat- fresh donuts and hot mulled cider for me and cold for everyone else! yummo!

need some help with the lighting, but soooo cute!

beckhams boots!!!

my big boy bringing me a pumpkin. he was so proud.

you could see it on his face, but i missed the shot.

LOVE this pic. peyton looks is so happy she is giddy.

on a wagon ride! yes, a wagon ride. haunted too! so fun for the kids.

well, becks was a bit nervous.

yes, beckham picked that apple off a tree. no, we didn't pay for it bc i thought they were free.

i mean, come on, it's an apple. when jeff pointed out to me that i had let the kids pick 50 bucks in apples (not really), i told him that God made the apples and he wanted our kids to have and enjoy them. with a stern look from jeff and my mom and dad...i dropped the apples:(

love this one!

today makes me think of this over and over again...

4 years ago today at 3:22 pm...i met the most beautiful and exquisite little baby, Peyton Mae!!!

love at first sight.

took my breath away.

most magical and surreal moment in my entire life and i will never forget how it felt to hold HER in my arms for the first time or what it felt like to hear, "...it's a, it's a BABY GIRL!!!! ten fingers, ten toes, she is perfect!"

tears, tears,tears...so many happy tears.

i have felt so nostalgic the last week, trying to prepare for the moment she would be 4. not 2 or 3, but 4!!! must say i am a little sad, as i realize now that my baby is no longer a baby. she is a little girl with her own little personality, likes, dislikes, and charms all her own. i no longer see that little baby in her face, but a young girl growing up so fast and full of life.

the day of her birth, the day most special between any mother and child, i am reminded to savor every single little and big moment of her young life. knowing that we have so much more to celebrate still and feeling so lucky that i am her mommy. yes, i am still clinging to that little baby ,however, excited to see what else she has in store for us to enjoy. so much more to come!

ps. last night peyton woke up a few times, started crying, wanted me, wouldn't go back to sleep. annoyed, i asked her what was wrong...she said, "i don't want to be 4, i don't want to get big." she repeated this a couple more times to me and to her daddy with full on tears. where was this coming from? can she sense my sadness? did i say something? finally, i rubbed her forehead until i could see her eyes start to grow heavy like i used to do when she was first born. all the while thinking to myself...i don't want you to get big either. emotional start to an emotional day, but a good one.

we love you peyton. happy birthday sweetheart!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

fall fun

loving being here in michigan.

kids are having a ball!

i love watching them enjoy the season so much. they simply never want to be inside.

why would they? the weather is perfect, the leaves are crunchy, the air sweet with just a pinch of cold to redden their noses.

feeling lucky.

next batch...apple orchard, pumpkin patch, spiced cider, and warm donuts!!!!! OH MY!!!!

(an hour later...)

okay, adding pics i didn't i wasn't going to bc i didn't like what peyton was wearing...she HAD to wear bright purple with an unmatching Dora, yes Dora jacket. you all know how i feel about character clothes. however, i looked back at these and they show how MUCH FUN they were having, so i have to include. besides which, peyton LOVED what she was wearing even if i thought it looked like she went through a bag of unmatching clothes to dress herself...:)

here it is...

look at that face.

circa 1970's print add for velour sweat suits in the hottest hues for fall. lol.

i didn't take this pic and i am still trying to figure out where in the yard it was taken. it looks like the kids are running through a brightly colored forest. weird.

scrappy chick

i know it has been a while since my last posting. with the new season, we seem to busier than ever. just happier knowing that soon the climate will change, making it impossible not to want to make a pot of chili, carve a pumpkin, toast the seeds, light some candles, melt some tarts, and listen to some good music...kids playing. yes, i love the fall and how it makes me feel inside.

...and soon after that, we all get to prepare for Christmas-MY FAVORITE time of year for obvious reasons, but i'll stop there not wanting to get ahead of myself.

i want to fully enjoy all that autumn has to offer first. we are heading to michigan for a few days!!!! i can not wait to watch peyton and beckham play in the leaves, eat donuts, drink warm cider...AND i will snap away with my camera which has been away for weeks for repair and cleaning. It's back and I can't wait to put it to good Michigan-fall use!!!!

no pics...just this scrapbook page i made last month that i forgot to post!!!???

both of these babies melt my heart... both mine-okay one is not technically mine, but she still kinda is anyway! xoxoxo

peyton-ism with a lesson...

one day last week, i dumped a huge pile of clean laundry on my bed, turned the TV on to Oprah and mechanically started folding and listening to what was being said on the TV. i was completely engrossed on what was on the Oprah show (heartbreaking story about a two year old and i could not stop watching). Peyton was in the kitchen playing with play-doh.

me: (to peyton who walked into the room) "Hi, baby girl!"

peyton: "Mommy, what are you doing? Folding clothes?"

me: "yes, sweetheart." i was talking to her, but not looking:(

peyton: "can i help?"

me: "sure, here are some wash cloths. you are so good at folding those. thank you for helping me."

peyton: "look mommy! i did it!!"

me: "yes, baby. you did such a good job. i love how helpful you are."

talking to peyton, but wishing i could listen to the story on Oprah first. therefore not fully engaged with peyton. i realized this and felt guilty, but justified it to myself that we did many fun activities earlier and now it is quiet time...at least until 5 when Oprah would be over and becks would be up from his nap.

peyton: "mommy? (pause, looks at me) LITTLE HANDS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!!!!"

me: (almost falling off the bed) "what did you just say???"

peyton: (smiling now) "little hands make a big difference!!"

me: (smiling, TURNING OFF Oprah, and grabbing my baby girl for the biggest hug ever) "you are so right peyton mae, little hands DO make a big difference, especially yours!!! Do you want to go have a tea party?"

peyton: "YAY!!!!"

thanking peyton for once again teaching me how to be a better listener and mommy. being present, and more engaged, even when i think i need a break. she needed me at that moment and i am glad that i was there for her.

i love you baby girl! i am the luckiest mommy in the whole world to have you as my little girl. xoxoxoxo

Can you find...

at least 9 things in this picture that made me feel peaceful, content, efficient, and happy on a rainy night?

...dinner cooking on stove.

...peyton completely engrossed in her project.

...beckham sitting in a big chair like a big boy (sigh)working on his picture.

...my smal l glass of the-day-is-almost-over-go-ahead-and-indulge-yourself.

...autumn wreath tart melting away whilst (love using the word whilst...heard posh spice say it once and fell in love with the word...don't know why;0) making my kitchen smell like a michigan fall.

...squeaky clean kitchen floors (for the moment).

...rainy night.

...what you can't hear...a little holly cole on the ipod.

...fresh flowers.