My new favorite

Over at The Idea Room, they are doing a little photo challenge. The challenge was to post a picture of yourself. I think alot of mom's don't like to be in front of the camera and yet we will want our kids to have those memories, so we're just going to have to. Now you will have to go over there and see the really cute creative pictures they have - like the one that is a Got Milk ad. I'm feeling a fun photoshoot coming on with my girls. Isabella would get a kick out of that one since I don't drink milk and she is always sure to point that out to me.... and everyone-- guess I could use almond milk for me. :)

Currently, this is my new favorite picture of me and my love. There are so many reasons for me to NOT like this picture. First, the day we took this (and the family picture in the header) I had just wanted to go out and take pictures of my girlies. Then Isabella wanted to take pictures of Daddy and Mommy and then I said "Why not? And then lets take a couple family pics" (The wall was an added bonus since Kenny's leg is in a cast) To be quite honest, I hadn't showered that morning.... or the morning before. Yeah, I was 'stanky' with dirty hair. The only reason I even threw a headband and a necklace on was because I knew we told the girls we would grab them breakfast out. I didn't want to go into the restaurant stinking with dirty hair and not at least LOOK like I was trying.

Secondly, who really enjoys a picture of themself scrunching their nose up - I mean really, no one says "Ok, now scrunch your face all up, yeah, that's it, ....beautiful."

But I love this, its my profile picture on Facebook -- it might be forever. I love that my six year old wanted to take pictures of mommy and daddy (and did a pretty good job), I love that I LET my six year old use my D300 :), I love that she kept saying "now hug, now kiss....", I love that this was totally unplanned, and that Kenny knows that ticklish spot, and I love that after Isabella took this we were all laughing. As much as I avoid getting in front of the camera, I'm glad my girls will have this picture memory of their mommy and daddy loving each other. And boy don't I love this man!!

It has been so long that.....

.... I forgot my own password for this blog. :) One, of you many people, who I'm sure has been checking daily for 5 months, just recently asked me if I was done with my sabbatical. The answer is yes, I think, maybe, ok, definitely yes. I think I just needed a break from the whole blogging world for a little while. Blogging has changed immensely since I started this blog over 4 years ago. I mainly started this blog so that family out of state could catch up with us, funny thing is none of them ever comment so I'm not sure they even read it. Then it was fun reading other blogs about families - some were, in particular, adoption blogs. Then I started finding blogs about photography, crafting, cooking, organizing, adoption/orphan care,.... Then blogging took on this whole competitive nature, and it starts becoming a matter of "are my pics that good?; I wish I was that organized;their house looks like what?; they're so spiritual, they have it all together, she has HOW many readers; " not that those blogs are bad, I enjoy getting inspiration, encouragement, etc. But some of what was going on inside of me well, I didn't like it too much and I had to step back and rethink my reasons for blogging. Mostly, I just want to do it to make a little record, journaling if you will, about my family. I already love looking back at previous posts and reading the silly things my girls said or did. They are truly growing up too fast. It is also good way to keep in touch with people and I've quite honestly met some great people through blogging - many of which might have forgotten I have a blog but are at least friends with me on facebook. :) And every now and then its a good way to get myself motivated or organized (like those menu plan mondays.) And who knows I might even share a little inspiration like THIS adorable blog that shares so many pretty creative ideas. So my blogging might not be earth shattering, it most definitely will not be everyday, it might even just be a picture like this:

Because looking at these two faces always brightens up my day..... unless they are standing next to me eating cherries and just ruined their shirt and my picture mousepad with cherry juice..... (yeah, that just happened)