Just Because

Just because I need to say "Thank You" to those that voted for my pic in the Papermama Challenge.  I can't believe I won 2nd place.  I really am so incredibly honored...I mean really did you see those shots???

I am pretty darn thrilled with the fantastic prizes too, especially a new JoTotes Camera Bag.

Just because I'm also excited to have just gotton an email that another shot from that mock shoot was selected as the cover winning shot for the Bloom Forum July Newsletter.

I think it's funny that I'd put it as a cover shot here on this blog a few weeks ago too. 

And

Just because...she's so stinkin cute  (I won't worry about the motion blur) .... my Nala... gosh she looks like a big girl!! 



k....the shirt is pretty darn adorable too, isn't it??

Baby Gap...I don't even remember when I purchased it.  I found them and the cute wide leg jeans in a bag in my room last week...embarassing!  Here is Nia in it as well.  They wore their squeaky Pickle Shoes with them.  I'm sure everyone in the library loved us for that.

and speaking of those Pickle Shoes...

Just because I forgot to mention how awesome their customer service.  I called or emailed...don't remember... to tell them that I needed to replace one of the bows that we lost...they sent me one free.  I call that rockin customer service!  Plus, the shoes are really really great quality...I'm a fan and will be looking to add another color to the girls shoe collection soon...

Have a great week!  And thank you thank you thank you again!

Seeing Double

A few months ago I reconnected with one of my childhood bestfriends.  April and I had EVERYTHING in common growing up...well not everything, but a lot.  I was born and partially raised in Lousiana, she'd lived in Louisiana, we both only had sisters (two for me - four for her), we both found faith early in baptist churches, loved math, had dad's with engineering careers, played clarinet and were the top two "chairs", etc etc.  April and I met in sixth grade at Byrd Middle School here in Tulsa.  We were truly inseperable.  On the weekends we were generally either at my house or hers and my sister Charmaine and I joined her family at their church on Wednesday nights. 

When I made the decision to choose our local magnet program highschool, it was easier because I knew April (and my other besties Regina and Sia) would be there too.  We were family.  Her mom was a second mom to me - Mama Bev.  One of the coolest moms ever - to this day I think so!  She was so good to all of us.  When April's parents separated and later divorced in highschool, my heart hurt.  It was a tough time for everyone and as strong a person as April is and was, for her that was life changing as anyone can imagine. 

When the time came to make a decision for college, I thought April would be heading to OU with me.  She didn't. And for the first time after seven years together we were headed in separate directions.  Over the course of my college-career I only saw April once.  It seemed and still seems unreal to me.  I hate the way time and distance gets in the way of life long bonds...

Late last year I received an email from April.  As it turns out, we live just a few miles apart and once again as things have turned out we still have a great deal in common.  April has three kiddos as well.  She's a fellow MOST (Mom of Single and Twins) except she has three beautiful...or I guess I should say "handsome" boys.  When we got together for the first time, it was truly like old times.  Laughing, giggling, and the occasional stab at old school mates (lol).  We have gotten to hang out together a few times now and have committed to together get involved with our local Mothers of Multiples Club.  I'm excited about that because I'd been wanting to for a while. 

Today, I met them all at the park and snapped a few pics.  I'm so glad to have my sister friend back and I truly hope that we can do right this time and commit to keeping in touch. 

52 Fridays

As you can probably tell, I have a thing for taking pics.  I'm not a photographer, but I'm loving learning about photography.  It's a great creative outlet and in the process, it will be a future gift for the girls.  This year, I transformed my 365 blog  into a 52 Week Blog for my three.  I feel like I can actually get this done this year.  The 365 was just a bit too overwhelming and I ultimatey failed...

but now...All For Mommy...Something New.  A new project that I'm pretty excited about. And a promise to not create one more blog...geez!

aspire photo challenge - black & white / secret keeper girl

Hannah has a new photo challenge posted.  The theme is Black and White. 

Click on the button here to see others.  Lots of great images!  I'd love to see your play :) 
Black and white photography is especially great for story-telling and for images that reflect emotion.

Here I have captured MacKenzie. I think she looks stunning. In this image, I see her innermost natural beauty. Not perfection by the world's standards, but true God given beauty - the only standard that truly matters.

MacKenzie and I enjoyed a Mother-Daughter night out on Saturday and attended the Secret Keeper Girl Pajama Party Tour which made a stop in Tulsa. It was all about modesty, fashion, and beauty and was a just a perfect event for moms and tweens in today's culture. At one point during the show, they asked the girls to reflect on any physical insecurities that they had so that they could take those insecurities to God  and we could pray over them.  MacKenzie said that she couldn't think of anything so she prayed about her "big feet".  She said that was all that she could come up with.  My first thoughts were "oh no!" I've made her feel bad about her feet, and while I will genuinely be more conscious of this regarding any comments I make about her feet, I feel so blessed that she actually struggled with something to come up with.  It's because I know that for her, it's not because she's vain or full of herself, in fact it is the opposite. Her outward appearance is not where her focus is.   I love this innocence and hope it never goes away for her.  Love the raw purity of being 100% content with how you are wonderfully made.  From her, I could learn a lesson...

I'm so blessed to have a little secret keeper girl - a true masterpiece created by God's hand.

A Secret Keeper Girl values modesty, she surrounds herself with wise friends and she embraces Godly beauty. She also knows that she can share all of her heart secrets with her mom at any time. The coolest thing for you to know is that a Secret Keeper Girl is a masterpiece created by God.

Laughter we picture {this} - a little drama too

September's theme: LAUGHTER.  

 
Camera:  Canon Rebel XSI
Lens:       50 mm 1.4
Exposure: 1/200 @ f/2.8 ISO 400
Mode:  Manual

I took this picture of Nia last month.  MacKenzie got behind me and made Nia laugh.  I love it!  In the same breath she gave me this dramatic pose...

Camera: Canon Rebel XSI

Lens: 50 mm 1.4
Exposure: 1/125 @ f/2.8 ISO 400
Mode: Manual

Combined these two pictures capture the essense of Nia...in one little package she is silly and intense all at once!

Check out more laughter posts by clicking on the we picture this button.

Just Plain Gorgeous

Today we celebrated my niece Cydney's 4th  birthday in Oklahoma City.  She celebrated costumed as Princess Tiana.  Her mom, my sister, asked me to take her outside quickly for some pics before I left.  Here is one of my favs!  Simply put, she is just plain gorgeous!

and another of her smiling this time ;)

and with the notebook that I had customized for her bday

She

1) is my sister
2) is one of my bestfriends
3) is absolutely stunning
4) let me practice shooting in manual
5) always has my back
6) is amazingly smart
7) is super skinny
8) is an awesome mother to Robin II & Cydney
9) is an excellent wife to Robin
10) has always been fiesty
11) loves God first and her family second
12) loves fashion and getting "dolled up"
13) is a true middle child
14) reminds me of my mother
15) is one of the strongest people I know
16) is very proud of her roots
17) is never afraid to speak her mind
18) chooses her friends wisely
19) never passes up a free meal
20) is affectionally called Maine

Tuesday Beauty of the Day - A Week Late

MacKenzie had a photo session with Beth Jansen out of Oklahoma City.  Beth Jansen defines COLOR.  Her images are breath taking.  Last week she featured MacK on her blog.  Check out the images, and while you are there just check out all of her work.  She is AWESOME.  LOVE LOVE LOVE her photography style.

MacKenzie - by Beth Jansen

Beth Jansen Photography Blog

Finding the Joy - Week 1

This week's assignment - on  Sunday  to capture the budding relationships between my three girls...three sisters.  Here are a few of the pictures.  Click here to see a sampling of the full set posted on Flickr.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Screenshot of the fullset