love the one you're with (personal)

(not the normal happy post...beware, but i just can't get it off my mind.) I know that death is among us. I also know that no one will live on this Earth forever. I do believe in eternal life, and the thought of that alone does give me peace. But why is it harder to deal with death when it happens to someone so young? The death of a child is unimaginable, and the death of someone in their 30s is very hard to understand.

One of David's best friends from high school's older brother passed away this week. He was feeling bad. He had his father help him get to the ER because he started feeling so much worse. Hours later, he was told that he had a very large tumor pressing on his heart. Another few hours later, he was told that he had a very far-along stage of Leukemia, and that treatment would need to begin the next morning. Another couple of hours later, he suffered a massive heart attack, and he didn't make it. This 38 year old man is survived by his wife, three little girls, a mom, a dad, a sister, and a little brother.

I know the funeral tomorrow will be so hard. Again, my thoughts lead me to God and how it was time to take him home. But I also just feel a pain and emptiness for that family that will now keep living their lives with him...a husband and a father. So sad for those girls.

Anyhow, I just couldn't get this off my mind for the past few days. It really has changed the mind-set for us and has been the biggest kick in the rear to LOVE the ones we're with! Squeeze those babies, hug those kiddos, and kiss that husband of yours! I hate that it always takes something like this to jump-start the PDA for some people, but I hope that some lives will be changed tomorrow by seeing the sadness that his family feels. Let his loss not be taken for granted.

some apples do fall far from the tree... (personal)

Okay, so a little history about me...I grew up pretty average...I made good grades...I was in Honors classes, until I asked my mom to take me out so I could be in classes with some of my other friends...I went to SWT and did well in school...in high school, I liked lunch period better than any other time of the day because I could chat with my friends...hmmm...you get the picture, right?

Well, my sister (who is MUCH older...hee, hee) started her childhood as "the only girl in kindergarten that was reading"...she was in the Gifted & Talented program all through school...she skipped the 5th grade, so she could get a head-start on Junior High...she went to UT and graduated with super-awesome grades...is the head of her science department at the high school where she teaches...etc.

My younger brother (who has always acted older, but is indeed about 21 months younger than me) was probably even smarter than my sister...he had more scholarships to Southwestern University than I can even remember...he scored a perfect score on the Math section of the SAT...his PSAT score in Junior High was higher than my SAT score...he flew all over the country in high school competing in National Debate Competitions...he gave the speech at his High School graduation...he's currently getting his doctorate in Chicago...etc., etc., etc.

You get the point...I'm the typical middle child who was the "social" kid all growing up, and I had VERY SMART, science-y type of siblings who liked to learn more than socialize...which brings me to this...how did I end up with a child like this?!!!...

Excuse me while I wipe the tears out of my eyes because I'm laughing so hard it's making me cry!!!! That's my little Grady, although it looks more like the guy that was stuffed in the trunk on the movie Sixteen Candles, right? So, not only does this picture make me laugh bc it's so darn funny, but it also melts my heart because of how happy he was at that very moment! He's loving life with his new D.S. that Santa brought him, and he's wearing his new Spy Goggles that Mimi chose for him. I saw him sitting on the couch like this, and all I could think of was, "WOW! The apple does sometimes fall very far from the tree!" Grady is such a different little guy than David or I ever were as children, so we really try to feed on his interests. David is even learning how to play Chess with him! Tonight after we read books, he told me that all he wanted to be when he grew up was a Scientist! I think it's very cool, although I hope he doesn't come to me for help on that subject one day! Yikes! But, I'm thankful though, that I have my sister & brother to guide me along raising him because I'm sure they'll know what to do! ;)

And Grady's twin, Dayton, is usually the one jumping on the trampoline, talking about girls, playing baseball, and riding tractors...much like David growing up. But I caught a little glimpse into his science-side this weekend, too. He came running into the house to tell me about his experiement and that he needed to label it so that if anyone were to come over, they would know what was going on...

It says, "We are making ice." He had a big chunk of ice that had frozen in the backyard, and he put it in that bucket. The cups were filled with water and other stuff to see if it would freeze, too, that night. So funny and creative! Maybe Dayton & Grady will be Scientists together! ;)

I'm beginning to think maybe my sister, the High School science teacher, is secretly calling my kids and giving them ideas or something! ;) Only kidding!

All in all, I'm glad that we've ended up with two little smarties who truly are at a stage where they LOVE to learn! I'm such a dorky mom that I'm just so proud of them already!!! It's such a fun time with all of the new things that they are coming home with and new interests that they share!!! And I know that in a split second, it could all change, and Grady could come to me and only want to be a wrestler...or Iron Man! So, I'm going to enjoy my little science guy as much as I can while it's lasting! And no matter what they want to be when they grow up, I just want them to be happy and love doing it...don't we all?!!

Now, will our third child also end up a science-loving little boy???...

Only time will tell! ;)

kristi's stand-outs are in!! (personal)

I love when the UPS man rings the doorbell!!! Actually, I was a little upset that he did "ring" the doorbell, because there is a sign that says Please Knock right on the stinkin' thing! Anyhow, I was excited to receive a package nonetheless! And to my surprise, it was Kristi's (the 2009 Winner of Posting the Most Comments on My BLOG Award!) stand-outs that I had just ordered yesterday!!! I didn't splurge and get overnight delivery, but they were already here!!! Gotta LOVE mpix.com!!

Anyhow, here they are! She chose 2 pictures of each of her twin girls from our last shoot in November...

And just because I knew how much she loves this picture (she almost went with this one instead of the 2 separate pics), I had to get it enlarged for her! It's not a stand-out, but it's an 8"x12" print mounted on foam board. I hope she'll enjoy this, too!!!

All together...

So, it can really pay to leave a comment! I hope one of you will be this year's 2010 winner!!

Have a good day!

dr. boecker anyone? (personal)

Hey! God must be really looking out for me and my little business!!! I spoke with Dr. Boecker, who is a well-known pediatrician in New Braunfels, yesterday about putting up photos on the walls in her new office! I'm super-excited about this and have been counting my blessings since I hung up the phone with her!!!

Since I'm going to be using my work in there, I'd LOVE to use some of the images of her actual patients. So, if your child(ren) are currently patients of Dr. Boecker, please leave a comment on here letting me know! I won't get to use ALL of the people that reply, but it will help me get started to select which images I want to display! Can't wait!!!

And I have to leave a picture, so I'll use one of a baby that I'm SURE will grace the walls of this office...her sweet Mommy is one of the Physician's Assistant there! :)...

guy & terrie (all around new braunfels, tx)

This couple was so fun and sweet!!! Their love for each other was pouring out of them!! They were kind to each other, soft to each other, and super-funny to each other! Hope it shows! Enjoy...

Well, I wish them the best...and love always!

introducing brianne (new braunfels, tx)

Meet this tiny, little, precious, baby...Brianne! She was soooo sweet! She stayed up the entire shoot (the sleeping picture was pure luck on catching her on a big blink!), but she was good, good, good! Enjoy...

And is it possible for a 2 week old to look directly at the camera and smile?...

Teensy, tinies...

I didn't have the chance to meet her Daddy yet, but I'm hoping he's a football fan...what a fun picture if he is!...Touchdown!!!...

And this one makes me giggle every time I see it! This looks like we told her to "make a silly face"...

Okay, enough silly ones! I can't help it, though, I just love all the funny things that babies do during a shoot! Everything other than crying, right?!

Here she is with her Mommy...

Oops! And one crying one when we put on the bow!...

Thanks for having me over to take your pictures! It was wonderful working with y'all!

and the winner is... (personal)

WOW!!! How exciting!! I do believe this was the biggest contest yet for my little business! Last night, I typed out 295 names to put into the drawing! Of course, the people that made a comment before Dec. 18th had the advantage because they got 5 entries per comment. All new comments received 2 entries. Here they are all cut-up...

And the winner is...

Joyce is a friend of mine from my old Mothers of Multiples group back in Houston. We did playdates together often and spent most of our time laughing! She's one of the funniest and sweetest mommies that I know!!! Congratulations Joyce!!!!

But I just couldn't let someone go unnoticed! I stopped counting her comments when I realized that she'd end up with half the entries!!! ;) So, I have a special prize for her all by herself! This super-sweet-blog-comment-posting-lady-that-makes-me-smile-with-all-of-her-kind-words is...

Congrats Kristi!!! You have made me smile numerous times throughout the year when I see your sweet comments! Thank you!!!

Kristi will receive a custom "stand out" of her choice in any size up to a 11x14, and it will be ordered through mpix.com!!!

Thanks everyone for leaving comments on the blog! It not only makes my day, but it makes the day of the family IN the pictures!!! So, keep them coming! You never know when another PRIZE will pop-up! ;)