Cate "gardening"

I've been meaning to put this photo up for a while, but I haven't gotten around to it until now. :-) About a month ago the big girls & I started getting our garden ready for summer. We were busy pulling weeds, trimming bushes, edging, etc.. Bronwen & Ava then asked if they could water their seeds. I said okay. Within a few minutes I heard this:

"Cate! No!"

I turned around & saw Cate literally jumping up & down in the muddy water hole! To top it off, she bent down & started to drink the water like a puppy!!! It was hilarious!

Flowers have yet to grow in the "garden" LOL!

Teamwork

Ava had a lose front tooth. She wiggled it for days & days, but it wouldn't come out. That's when Bronwen took matters into her own hands (literally).

I was in the kitchen when I looked over & saw Ava laying on the couch, with Bronwen hovering over her.

Bronwen: Does this hurt?

Ava: Nope!

Bronwen: Does it hurt now?

Ava: No! Just get it, Bronwen! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!

Bronwen: I got it!

Ava: What?! Mom, Bronwen got my tooth!

I swear, Ava's little toothy smile kills me. It is the cutest thing! Boy, life with little kids is wonderful!

Bronwen's Birthday

Bronwen had three birthday parties this year! For her party with her classmates she wanted to ice-skate. I was laughing at the beginning of the party because the "ice-skating" included everyone walking around the rink, holding onto the wall. By the end though, everyone had the hang of it & the kids were definitely having a blast. Bronwen told me that when she was skating in the middle of the rink she felt like Barbie in one of her movies, ice-skating on the pond.

On her actual birthday, we celebrated at home with cake & ice-cream. She was very happy & surprised when she got a cute stuffed puppy & Eugene from Tangled.

Last, but not least, I had a photo shoot in Portland, so I thought it'd be fun to have a party for her there with my family & some of my high school friends. Everyone was so generous to her & she was on cloud nine for the whole week!

A Day at the Beach!

A few weeks ago I did some family portraits at Discovery Park in Seattle. The views of the sound & Cascades are breath-taking & there is even a lighthouse! I loved it so much that I wanted to take Conrad & the girls. We packed up sack lunches & were off. Ava said her favorite part was riding the school bus shuttle to & from the visitor's center to the beach. Bronwen's favorite part was when they were digging tidal pools. Cate's was eating & drinking out of the tidal pools!

Opportunities Gained & Lost

I'd like to start out by saying this post is pretty personal, but what happened to me was so great & important that I wanted to share.

A few nights ago I got an email from my friend. She said a photographer was going to post professional photos of she & her husband in Facebook. She explained that the photographer was one of her clients & was trying to build her portfolio. The photos were free & that under any other circumstances, I was her gal. I told her the only thing I would think is that it was awesome I'd get to see beautiful photos of them. Furthermore, I couldn't wait to see them because maybe there would be good ideas for me for an upcoming couple's portrait session. It touched my heart in an indescribable way that my friend took the time to write me a note because she didn't want to hurt my feelings. This little email exchange reminded me of an "Aha" moment I had a few months ago.

At the beginning of the year I had hoped to photograph an event for somebody & was absolutely devastated when I found out I was not chosen to be the photographer. I went from anger (The injustice!), to devastation (The rejection!), to worry (Why am I not good enough?), then to sadness. Then one day when I was sitting outside, I thought of something.

God wanted me to know that it simply wasn't my turn. For whatever reason, it was the other photographer's turn. I began thinking. Maybe she needed the extra money for a child, maybe for her bills, maybe... you get the idea. From that point on, my perspective completely changed on the situation & I didn't feel angry anymore. I realized that yes, God has a plan for me, but he also has a plan for EVERYBODY. Sometimes it'll be my turn, & of course I always pray for that outcome (LOL), but I'm not going to fret when it's not. Furthermore, this revelation made me feel so free!

I feel like I am more confident to pursue opportunities because I understand that sometimes I'll get them & sometimes I won't. The important thing is I realize it's not because of ME per se, but it's because that's the way God wants it. Though I still practice like crazy with my camera almost everyday to help my prayers along so people will want me to photograph them, I am more at peace.

I know this is pretty out there, but I truly am happier feeling this way.

So, go out there & live your dreams!!!! Don't be afraid of failing or being told, "No." In a book Bronwen has, there's a little paragraph where it describes God answering your prayers is like a stop light. Sometimes the answer is yes (green light), sometimes it's a no (red light) & sometimes it's maybe (yellow light).

My Birthday

Conrad was saying that instead of just getting a special day, I was getting a birthday weekend! Of course we didn't plan on it starting with Cate throwing up all over me, herself & our bathroom tile & with Bronwen getting a fever. The flu reared its ugly head for the third time this year on Saturday!

Not to be deterred, we dosed the girls with tylenol & headed out to the mall on Sunday. Conrad bought me a gorgeous purse & wallet & the girls got stuffed animals at Build-a-Bear. On Monday (my actual birthday), our vacuum broke, so we headed off to Target to exchange it for a new one (it was only 2.5 months old). As soon as we got home, Conrad started to BAKE. He made this ~

This is the best cake I've ever had in my life. I. Love. My. Husband.

Getting Older

For the last two weeks I'd been very aware of my upcoming birthday. I was reminded each time I hopped on the treadmill & was prompted to type in my age. "Only 2 more weeks to type in 31." "Only 1 more week to type in 31." "My birthday is tomorrow, I my as well type in 32. Scratch that, I'm still 31..." You know what though, I was ready. I have been the happiest in my 30's & am content with getting older. I look at my three girls, my husband of almost 10 years, the calm in my life...it is nice to move forward with a foundation behind me. It seems like people get so freaked out about getting older, focusing on the physical changes, worrying about the goals or milestones they haven't reached, that they forget about the blessing it is to be alive.

Before the weekend, one of Conrad's coworkers, who had just finished aggressive treatment for Stage 4 thyroid cancer, went in for her check-up & found out everything is back. Her last day was on Friday & she is going to move back to Hawaii to spend the rest of her time there with her family [Upon learning of her situation T-mobile has allowed her to stay on the books so she may still receive her salary & benefits.] She is only 47. It is a blessing to get older.