Happy to Me!

So . . . I have been just a bit spoiled lately with early birthday and mother's day gifts, not to mention some wonderful quality time with my friends lately!

My bestest friend (since we were 16!), Melinda, decided that I needed some new inspiration to get me back in my crafty groove.  Can I just say Oh.My.Goodness!  I am definitely inspired!  We spent quite a bit of time playing with my new birthday toys!

 My friend Brendian and I took ourselves out for a night without kids!  We went crazy at the thrift store (EcoTrift on Greenback Ln. in Carmichael is a very cool place!).  We decided, that just for curiosities sake we would try on anything that struck our fancy, hence the completely overfilled cart.  We found some great stuff, my favorite was my new Roxy sweatshirt!  We also took ourselves out to dinner at BJ's, and oh, my goodness, it was delicious.

 My mom made me a new necklace for my birthday.  It has the birthstones for Austin and Danny on it.  It is so delicate and beautiful, I love it!

For Mother's Day I treated myself to a new pair of slippers.  They are so soft and comfy and the flowers make them fun to wear.

 My dad took me down to Pardee's Camera store in Sac. to treat me to a new camera bag, to help get my photography business up and running.  I ended up getting a Passport sling and I love it!  It holds everything I need, while still being easy to carry and not get in the way.  I ended up with a very pretty and comfortable new camera strap too.

See, what I mean.  I have been totally spoiled lately!  But what really means the most is the loving thoughts, warm wishes,and listening ears that I have been so blessed with in my life.  There is no way to take a photograph to express and share all that.

Planting in the Garden

We are attempting a garden!  The boys are very excited about it and love helping out.  It is a project that they will actually stick with when it comes to helping.  They chose to plant; 3 kinds of pumpkins, sunflowers, watermelons, zucchini, summer squash, sugar snap peas, garden beans and tomatoes.  They have worked so hard, I really hope things grow!

 

And I love this edit of Austin at the garden gate

Mormon Helping Hands

Austin and I went and helped our ward with the Mormon Helping Hands project last Saturday.  We went to Charles Brown school and helped weed, clear brush, and make a nature trail (my official job was to take pictures but I did double duty and helped out too).  Austin loved his orange gloves and getting to use any sharp tool that he could!

Cub Scout Campfire

Austin got to go to his first cub scout campfire.  His wolf den got to do a skit, in which he was allowed to go crazy such as he loves to do.  And then they got to have s'mores.  I think Danny thinks he is a cub scout too.  He loves to get to participate in all the activities!

The skit went as follows;

Narrator- "This is a test of the emergency broadcast channel."

Kids - "eeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhh" buzz like noise for 10 seconds

Narrator -  "This has been a test of the emergency broadcast channel.  If this was an actual emergency you would have heard . . ."

Kids - running, screaming and general chaos

(Yup Austin was in his element, he loved it)

 Whew, back to resting at the campfire!  Austin got 2 belt loop awards this night too.

 And then the roasting and eating of the s'mores!

 The evening sun really brought out the red in Austin's hair!  It made me wish his hair had stayed red!

A Danny Mish Mash

Just some of the cute stuff Danny has been up to lately . . .

Helping Uncle Mark with the mower

 Grrrrr, even his angry face is too darn cute!

 He piles every blanket he can into the laundry basket, makes himself a little nest, and then falls asleep.

 Building with his railroad set.  This was one of his masterpieces and I was not allowed to see it until he was completely finished building it.

 Making a fort under my computer desk.  He likes to be right, exactly where I am , so this is how I manage to get some work done!

 Letting me practice on him with the nice camera (Canon 5D Mark I) I rented for a week.

 He is constantly getting in to the fridge.  I may have to get a lock for it!

 Singing "Slippery Fish" (for probably the thousandth time) - Humungous whale, humungous whale, spouting in the water . . .

Easter

We celebrated Easter a week early, and I am so glad we did because we got beautiful weather, and the kids were fully able to enjoy being outdoors!

 Cousin Round Up so the Easter egg hunting could begin.  These are some of my most favorite silly pictures ever!

 And the hunt begins!

 Success - Austin finally found the golden egg - Uncle Mark hid it really well!

 Aunt Jan and cousin Katie - Grandma and Mom

 Enjoying the yummy food and the Easter bunny cake!

 Uncle Laith was the hit of the tire swinging party.  I think he spent at least an hour pushing all the kids!  Nessa grabbed my camera and got some really good shots of it all!

 And Nessa also took some pictures of me and my boys too  :)

{Austin, Danny and an Old Trailer}

I love vintage things, nicked up, banged up, rusty, grungy.  I love the colors, the character, the patina of this trailer.  I love to photograph my boys.  Mix them all together and voila . . .