Pretty Please...Paper Mama Challenge Vote!!

So I was super excited to see my image was chosen after I checked back and saw that I made the Top 30 out of 305 entries!!! 

So (insert puppy dog eyes or her gorgeous eyes...whatever makes you click ;)...please go here and vote for Toliver Family...

please...

and tell a friend!!!

My Nala and Her Sandals...

lol...

I'm learning to pick my battles, and her flip flops  bother her feet...so we let her wear them to the park anyway...

I think it's partially the shoes...though.  Her feet just slide out of them...

Doesn't she look so happy though??

My mom would never ever approve of this...LOL

Clickinmoms Giveaway Winner

Congrats Kensya!  See you on the forum! 

Bummed that you didn't win???  Go here for another giveaway opportunity from
April Nienhuis | Tulsa Photographer.

Father's Day | Psalms 23

It wasn't until I came here to document that I remembered the circumstances surrounding the below.  I just remembered her words.  In the midst of the tornado watch and sirens a few weeks ago, I heard MacKenzie say the following: 

MacKenzie :  "I'm not scared because daddy is here..."  

She was speaking of her earthly father but I didn't dare correct her.   There is peace in knowing that daddy can and will protect you and has your back.

I heard the following with emphasis on the fourth verse:

Psalms 23:

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. 

If only in the midst of all the storms life brings I could recall in the moment what MacKenzie did.  Wow!  If our earthly fathers are that protective...surely we can intrust Him with so much more, right?

Unknowingly, she (MacKenzie) teaches and amazes me so much!


At church this morning the girls each answered questions All About My Dad!  Nia and Nala's answers are combined...

1) My favorite thing about my Dad is "Daddy"

2) My Dad is good at "playing"

3) My Dad always says "say"

4) My Dad's favorite food is "food"

5) My Dad and I always do this together "together"

6) I love my Dad because "love my Daddy"

7) My dad is "3" years old

LOL...at least I know they actually interviewed them...they do that all the time...(repeat your last few words when you ask them ??s)

MacKenzie answered some of the same ??s

1) My favorite thing about my Dad is "He is very funny, excited, and happy"

2) My Dad is good at "athletics"

3) My Dad always says "doggone"

4) My Dad's favorite food is "I don't know" (note...she asked me and I told her steak...she asked him and he
    said I was right :)


5) My Dad and I always do this together "sing and play Wii"

6) I love my Dad because "He is the best dad in the world"

7) My dad teaches me to "be tough and be on schedule"

8) My dad is special because "He is my "awesometationsful" dad"  - he told her they'd put that in dictionary next to "bootylicious" - yes he's a mess and she pretty much is too.

While I strive to be a Proverbs 31 Woman...I'm glad my girls have a Psalms 23 Daddy.  What very blessed girls!  I may be biased, but I kinda think he's he best...

Happy Fathers Day!

Flashback Friday

These Fridays come to fast! 

This week, I found an old pic from May of 2008 of MacKenzie at the zoo in the same spot as in the pic below of her and Nia taken a few weeks ago that I posted on my Three Sisters blog.

She's grown so much!

...wanna play?? Head over to Jen's blog and link up!

Flashback Friday (on Saturday)

This is a picture from 2008 of me and my two sisters.  We (loosely stated...really me) drove to St. Louis to go to an Alicia Keys concert.  It was sooooooooooo much fun!!!!  We went with three other ladies in a van...LOL. 

I would LOVE to do something like this with my sisters again sometime soon.  We need to make it a priority.  Getting my oldest sister to agree to a getaway is like pulling teeth...

And Alicia Keys...wow!!  That girl is BEAUTIFUL and can REALLY REALLY SING!! 

...wanna play?? Head over to Jen's blog and link up!

Clickinmoms Giveaway

So...I had to look...I joined Clickinmoms about a year ago.

ClickinMoms is an online community filled with so many great people and it’s a wealth of information. I can honestly say that to this point, it has been one of the best investments I've made in my photography journey.  I'm pretty sure without CM, I'd still be shooting in full auto mode with my "big fancy camera".



So...ClickinMoms is giving one of you lucky readers a Lifetime Membership!!! Value here is $195!!!

Lifetime members enjoy extra benefits including the following:
~Advanced notice to sign up for special CM workshops.
~"Lifetime Member” badge beneath your name in the forums.
~Special contests available only to lifetimers.
~Discounted CMpro member (subject to application and approval).


If you love photography this is a great opportunity.   I love that the community is filled with professionals and momtogs like myself.  With a community of 10,000 you are bound to find someone at a similar place in their journey as you. 

So, the important stuff...what do you have to do to win...here are a few options.   Do one or do them all...leave a separate comment for each.

1) Tell me why you want to win a lifetime membership in the comments below.


2) Do you follow this blog and my crazy ramblings?  Comment and let me know.


3) Tell me who your favorite photographer is.  I love finding new inspiration...Comment and let me know


4) Share a photo that best represents where you are in your journey and upload it to your blog or photo sharing site. Then, come back here and leave the link in the comments below with the URL.

The deadline to get your entries in is June 21st 12 a.m. cst and the winner will be announced by June 25th.

NOTE:
Only NEW MEMBERS are eligible for this giveaway. Membership fees will be refunded for the winner if you sign up this month. Existing members are not eligible.


If you want to sign up to check it all out just click below. Have at it!!!  In fact, I might suggest it.  Right now, summer pay it forwards have just kicked off!  These are opportunities to give and get! 

So what are you waiting for...Click below to get started on CM!



Good Luck!

Toliver Ten on Tuesday

1.  My mom accompanied me and the girls to see my niece perform at her first ballet recital on Friday night.  it was so nice.  Here is a pic of Cydney and her mom, my sister.  Yes, they are both gorgeous!!  I posted more pics on my 52 week blog.

2 Linsey is another lady that I met at the Bloom Workshop.   She LOVES color and rocks it...but I'm in love with the idea of this that she's been doing for a while now.

3 The third installment in the Dork Diaries series was released today.  Thanks to Amazon...we preordered it and MacKenzie had it yesterday.  She was so excited and negotiated with me to put off finishing Lily on the Brink of Cool so that she could start right away.  She LOVED the first two.

4 More Cake! We celebrated my oldest sister's birthday this weekend.  The cake was yummy!!!

5 The girls definitely have a "love / hate" relationship.  This week, for the first time ever (to my knowledge), Nala saida "lub u EEa" (translation, Love You Nia!), without being prompted.  It was so super sweet!  In more Nala talk, she has been saying "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy!" when things don't go her way...she's a mess!

6 Yesterday morning, Nia and I had a battle of the wills.  I had to remind her that mine was stronger than hers...geez...how did I get blessed with 3 girls with 3 very strong wills??

7 These are gears (Playskool Busy Gears), but on Sunday, Nia thought they would be great for building.  She was so proud and was willing to fight Nala when Nala teased her with an attempt to knock them over...siblings!  I love how contemplative she was in this moment.

8 I got an email from Clickinmoms that they are allowing current Lifetime Members to host a giveaway on their blogs for a free lifetime membership.  If anyone is interested that reads this blog, let me know and I'll be glad to host...otherwise, I probably won't. Just Email me or comment below!  I'm guessing I'd just do it by random generator.  Value is $195 - only available for new memberships...I know a ton of momtogs are already on CM though...I've been a member since last year and genuinely feel like the forum is full of valuable information to improve your photography. 

9 Is this child abuse??  I got these shoes for the girls and apparently...Nala is no longer a size 6...oops!  She insisted on keeping them on though...look at her!  Hot mess.

Speaking of sizes... I bought MacKenzie some Miss Me jean shorts.  She didn't have enough room to justify the price...for grins (or so I thought) I had her to try on a pair of my Miss Me jeans...ummm...they fit...and they fit good.  Crazy business.  She's taller than me now, has bigger feet, and can officially share my jeans...

please nevermind the noise in this image...high iso and underexposed!  oh and her silly face!  never mind that too...

10 Ummm yes...of course this makes me happy!  I upgraded my DSLR a little bit ago to one that was a bit faster (helpful with busy toddlers and a gymnast) with slightly better low light capabilities (still not my dream camera...but definitely suffice for a momtog!)...I planned to sell my original one...but I think this is a better idea...more to come...

have a great rest of the week!!!

the paper mama's "your best shot!" photo challenge

(from paper mama's blog) So... what's up with this competition? Just enter your favorite photo YOU have taken of a child! Or, pet.

Entries are due by June 24th, 2011!
here's mine... it's another one from this "session".  I was so pleased with how they turned out, but this is one of my faves.  It has a commercial shot feel to me...
wanna play??   visit there and find some other fave shots!!


eta:  she's not mine.  she's my friend's daughter.  i wish i could claim her as she is so super darling!

Flashback Friday (on Saturday)

These pics were taken exactly a week ago this weekend.  Look how much the girlies hair has grown.  I was brave and took them to Cheesecake Factory that day.  We were planning to go today for my big sis's birthday, but are opting instead to have a pizza party...

the joy. stamp was related to willette's finding the joy class that i enrolled and failed in.  i  literally participated 1 week...

...wanna play?? Head over to Jen's blog and link up!