Make it a good Monday | Thirty Photos in Thirty Days

Today started out superbly, which is amazing since it is the Monday after the Super Bowl. What made it so superb, you ask? I got up early. You see, I used to be a morning person before I started having children. That extra half hour I received before the kids got up this morning was so sweet.

I brew a pot of tea every morning. I actually have a hot tea maker that sits next to our coffee maker, and the tea maker gets used twice as much. For my morning quiet times, I read the Bible on my iphone. I typically use a Study Bible, but because I am trying to go through the Bible in a year, I like using my iphone because there are no distractions. I can mark certain verses that I would like to dig deeper about and then come back to them at the end of each book. I am almost done with Deuteronomy… and I have to say, I am thankful. Oh, by the way, I started back in the Fall (I’m no speed reader!).

Our little boy has a new trick | Thirty Photos in Thirty Days

I believe I have the most smiley baby in the world and I wanted to share his smiles with you today. And, just so you know, the “thirty in thirty” will probably be a lot of photos of my kids. I’m sure you don’t mind.

P.S. Big sister wanted to join in the fun and show off how she could roll around the floor. Hahahahaha!

First Day of School | The little girl is not so little anymore

When I went to wake up McG for her first day of preschool today, she immediately started grinning ear to ear while her eyes were still closed. As she tried to open her eyes, we had this discussion:

“Good morning!” I greet her.

“Where do you think we are going today,” she said before I can say anything else. (This is what I say when we have something fun to do that day.)

“I don’t know. Do you?” I answered.

“The beach,” she said quizzically.

“Noooo…” I said.

“I was just joking,” she said. “Church”

“Noooo…”

“Class school,” she at first whispered, then her voice got louder and higher in pitch as she did a little dance while her eyes were still closed, she was still laying down and had that same huge smile on her face.

Priceless.

The school hosted a donut breakfast and story time for the official first day of school for all the kids that started on Monday. We went to practice being on time, so technically the above photos are not from her first day of class.

We met up with some of her friends. Is the top middle photo not a foreshadowing for prom photos in about 15 years?

These are from her real first day of class. She picked out a “Keera backpack” (that is our chocolate lab’s name who is McG’s best friend.) She got to bring her favorite stuffed animal to class on the first day. This is her classroom door and her cubby.

She was still hyper when she got home and now is sleeping soundly. I’d say the day was pretty sublime for her.

August Goals | Update on the kiddos

This summer seriously flew by. My Uncle Jeff always told me that time goes faster the older you get. I’ve found that is especially true when you have little children. I am baffled at McG’s conversations (yes, conversations!) lately, and all the things she can do. She is such a little comedian (just like her Grandma Sally). She recently came up with a joke! No one quite understands the punch line, but it always gets a laugh!

Plus, I’m six months pregnant! I feel like it was just yesterday when we found out, and here we are only three months away from welcoming our little guy. I’ve got to get going on my nesting! Each time I’m pregnant I get a sense of urgency to get a million things done before the baby comes. I probably put too much pressure on myself and this goal list is a little daunting. As wedding season winds down, I’m hoping to have the time to accomplish all these.

August 2011 Goals:

• Finish designing my new website!
• Refinish a dresser I snagged to serve as my new office storage/packaging center. (Photos soon!)
• Finish Radical Bible Study (must read for all Christians serious about their faith!)
• Paint our living room (using low voc paint)
• Paint McG’s new room
• Vaca at the beach
• Vaca in the mountains
• Finish Spring Wedding Album designs
• Finish reading Jane Eyre
• Sell our house in New Bern! (Closing Date is set for August 31!!!!!)

Autumn 2011 Goals:

• Design and decorate my office  (my handy husband is finishing the upstairs of our new house, which will contain my new office!)
• Order new sample albums and books
• Paint our bed & bath
• Paint the kitchen
• Decorate the McG’s old room for the baby
• Have a Baby Boy!

 2011 Goals:

• Keep my inbox to 0
• Submit weddings, bridals, and engagement shoots to my fave blogs, including Southern Weddings!
• Be completely organized (I can dream, can’t I?)

Blueberry Pickin’ | More Summer Family Fun in North Carolina

About a year ago, some friends of ours from New Bern introduced us to North Carolina Pick Your Own Blueberries. I’d done strawberries and apples, but never blueberries. And it is by far, my favorite. No bending over required!

My good friend Courtney, my mom and I took three (and a half) kiddos out at the beginning of the season (late June) to Morris Farms in New Bern and picked about 21 lbs. I should really say, ended up with 21 lbs because the kiddos probably ate around 1 or 2 lbs each while we picked. They have such a great time, although about an hour is as long as we all last in the heat.

We plan on going again in Kinston to catch the end of the late season before the end of the month. It takes hard work, but these wonder berries are definitely worth it at $1/lb or less! Compare that to Walmart prices!

McG and I love eating them in our breakfast cereal or yogurt (my favorite is yogurt parfait). I also LOVE blueberry pie and blueberry muffins. So far I’ve made a pie and muffins with this year’s harvest. I use America’s Test Kitchen’s recipe for muffins. Mmmmmm, delish!