7...

Photo by Chris Harder Photography

Today Tom and I have been married 7 years...is this the year of the itch? Isn't that what they say? The itch for something new...hmmm I can't imagine wanting anything different, I love our life. We compliment each other perfectly. The road here has had it's challenges, but as we sat and talked over dinner this past weekend, I was reminded of how much God loves us, and how much he rewards commitment to him and to each other in a marriage. We sing a song in church that says, "My Saviour,
He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.",
and a few weeks ago I was struck by the memory of something I had percieved as an unscaleable mountain early in our marriage, and I believe God has moved it, and we are past it. I was overwhelmed with gratitude, and God's mercy, our relationship could have been ruined, but we sought after God, and He healed it.

So Tom on this our 7th anniversary here are 7 things I love about you and our relationship:

1. You are a man I trust wholeheartedly
2. I love you more each day we have together.
3. I love to watch you be a daddy to our children.
4. You make me feel safe in our relationship. I don't have to worry that you are not committed, I know you are.
5. We think the same way quite a bit, and when we don't we are both able to have a conversation about it and sometimes even agree to disagree.
6. You seek God daily...and we both desire to have Him the center of our family
7. You allow me to be as "artsy" as I need to be:-) And you tolerate the mess that sometimes/always makes:-)

I love you...I look forward to many more years:-)

Finished Projects - a thank you

I was asked this year to help with the thank you gifts for our children's ministry helpers. I talked with Liz our director, and we came up with this cute cookie idea for feet...One of our classrooms is trying to look for different ways to "walk out our faith" so we though this was somewhat apropos...

Now mind you I have NEVER done this...but I watch Martha...she always is doing these fun little cookies for showers, and parties...I mean if she can do it I can right? just kidding...really I had been wanting to experiment with royal icing and cookies for a while so I thought why not?

It wasn't too difficult although the icing does take some experimenting...and after seeing the ingredient list for meringue powder, I am interested in searching out a more natural alternative, I don't think you can get past the powdered sugar ingredient:-) Although I did use organic powdered sugar so that's worth something right?

I tried one recipe with lemon juice...it was a dud!

Anyways I love how these turned out, and they tasted pretty good too...

32...

Today I turned 32...this was my cake:-) Something about being pregnant makes cupcakes irresistible to me! Last pregnancy these were banned due to diabetes...this year I can partake and not feel guilty...YUM!

This has been an awesome year...I get to play with this little guy everyday...we moved into a new to us house...and I am experiencing a much anticipated and appreciated pregnancy...We really are so blessed...I look forward to what God has planned in the coming year...

Proof...

That it is possible to wear your near 3 year old while 8+ months pregnant! Of course it helps that he is still under 30 lbs:-) I have him in my peanut shell...

Holden is SO like his folks...this is during VBS, during the large group portion...a little much for the little guy! He had fun in the classroom part, but this he could do without...a little like his wallflower mama:-)

Father's Day

Father's Day was at our house this year...The local grand's and Beth, Josh and MJ came over...they had all just been vacationing in Washington, so I figured I could provide the place and the food:-) Besides we have the pool now...

I planned an easy menu, grilled meat and veggies, with bread and for dessert a YUMMY coffee Ice cream cake...I have made it before and it was a hit...The cake had chocolate whipped cream, Holden got to lick the whisk for the first time:-) I don't like to let him do it when there are raw eggs involved...I think he liked it!

So Happy Father's day! Tom is the greatest dad to Holden I could have imagined for him...We are so blessed to have him in our lives...I can't wait for the new babe to meet his/her daddy!

Camping with Daddy...

So this Father's Day weekend Tom gave me a gift...well and Holden:-) He took Holden camping all by himself...it was probably really nice for Tom as well...They had a lot of fun, and even though it was cold...I think Holden will remember it for a long time...There is a plan to do it again once the baby is here to give him some more special daddy-son time...it was so cute watching him get ready yot go and then hearing about it afterward...I wasn't there so Tom took the pictures...and I don't have much more commentary...

I can tell you this is a walk in campsite...about .6 of a mile in...and Holden walked the whole way...with a SMALL backpack packed with his clothes:-) I was quite proud of him, because Tom's pack was pretty full, with all the gear...I was afraid he might have to carry Holden part of the way too!

I guess it was a bit cold there too...which was nice because they could have a campfire...but sad because they couldn't swim...although I guess Holden tried...

He also told me he caught pretend fish, a whale, and a dolphin...

I can also tell you what I did :-) I edited photos, and cut out fabric, and missed my boys terribly...I couldn't believe how much I wanted to be there to be camping...partially because I always love watching Holden experience things new and old, but also because I love camping...but I couldn't imagine sleeping on the ground with my big belly!

I got some reading done too, oh and a pedicure:-) I had instructions from Tom to simply RELAX...and I did that for PART of the time...

Hanging with the Boys,,,

I think Holden loved hanging with the boys after the photo shoot on Sat...:-)
Maybe he wants a brother...as it gets closer he goes back and forth about whether the baby is a girl or a boy...we will see:-) Either way I hear everyday, "Mommy is today the day you go to the hospital? I am ready to meet my baby!"

The S Family...

When you are 8 months pregnant, photographing a family can be hard...you just have a harder time getting up from laying on the ground to get your shot:-) That said I feel great so when a friend asked me to shoot her kiddos, I thought nothing of it...We scheduled it and when the time rolled around, I totally forgot Beth my trusted sidekick was going to be out of town! So I enlisted Tom's help with Holden and the shoot, and made a DETAILED list of the shots I wanted...





Um, clearly I had never done a family shoot with 4 kids...That list went out the window within 5 minutes...These kids are awesome and even though they are all related they each have a different personality...so I wanted to capture that...so we played around a bit switching back and forth between groups and individual shots...it was fun!





I love shooting a family, and getting to spend the time with them and seeing them through the lens, which tends to capture things you don't see in the everyday!

These boys are so cute, and their big sister is so beautiful!




Holden is starting preschool in the fall, and I am hoping he will get to go to school with their littlest guy, for him and for me...I would love more chances to hang out with my friend...




Seriously I know my friend was worried about the chaos of shooting 4 kids, but I like the images, and I had fun...and it wasn't too much trust me...Tom and I walked with Holden to a nearby restaurant for lunch that day...so clearly I felt fine:-)

I tried out some fun stuff on a couple of these...per mom's request...I think we both like them:-)



Thanks S fam!

34 Week Professional Photo Shoot...

All photos taken by Chris Harder Photography

When I approach a photo session (as the photographer) my main goal is to make the subject(s) comfortable and to get some shots of them that they look at and say, "yeah that looks like me and I feel good about how I look" I hope that they recieve the photos and are excited to put them in their house, proud to display them...

I guess maybe it's weird, but I usually HATE pictures of myself...probably because most days I don't take the time to do my hair or makeup, and you just get what you get...and probably because I never hire a professional to take my picture:-)

But since we did the "swap" I got to have Chris Harder take my maternity pics...it was exciting...

He gave me these shots straight out of the camera and I did my own editing...it is so easy to "edit" when you receive great shots! When I look at these shots, I can't believe I look like this:-) I feel great when I see these pictures and I want to show them off:-) That sounds terrible doesn't it? I don't mean it in that way...

Thanks Chris and Liz for making me feel beautiful, especially while pregnant!

I almost NEVER get shots with me and Holden in them, so I ADORE these!

My favorite shot of Tom and I is here

He's SO excited about the baby! He loves to touch my belly and kiss the baby...he tells "her" he loves her...

These were such sweet spontaneous captures...my favorites!

Ok enough pictures of me!
I feel great this pregnancy...I have kept up excercising, and even though at this point I have tired and "heavy" days, I still for the most part am roaming around...I don't feel like I have had the time to really focus on this pregnancy, we have been extrememly busy! But this babe is greatly anticipated and everytime I feel him/her move inside me I just smile and know a miracle is occuring inside:-) I can't wait to meet him/her and see what her/his personality is like!

Mother's Day a bit late:-)

Like last year we were set to have a Mother's Day picnic at the river...BUT unfortunately a nasty illness attacked Beth and MJ, and we decided to stay far away from them...Grandmere came down to attend them...there was also a remodel project at the Peterson household underway, so we decided to postpone the picnic until everyone could come and enjoy themselves...

So at the spur of the moment one Sunday morning, we decided to forgo all house projects and spend the afternoon just being...so we called the grands, and the Peterson's and headed up after church...as always it was gorgeous, and the water felt great! Holden was ready to jump right in...kept wanting someone to take him into the "waves" (rapids)

He loves to lay in the water...not sure why, and trying to get a leaf to sink and stay seriously occupied him over and over for much of the afternoon...

"Smile mom, daddy is taking our picture!" His hair had just been dunked face first into the water...on purpose...hence the Eddie Munster look:-)

The kids had a great time, we had a great time, and it was SO nice to get out of the house and not think about projects, unpacking, cleaning or anything...to just be and admire God's creation, especially after awesome worship and message at church!