I am a proud big sister! (weekend surprise)

This picture was taken back in 2005! seems like a lifetime ago! back then i loved my brother because i had to but he was always the one that would have a devilish side to him. I always tell the story of how he would throw these temper tantrums about a video game or one time chased me around the house with a hammer! (no one ever got hurt but we were scared of him!) And yet he was the sweet little boy my mom would just melt over every time he gave her those blue puppy dog eyes of his. he could get away with murder if it was up to her.
Now I love my brother because of the man he has become! He's a great person with a huge heart! I am so proud of the fact that he is so driven to achieve his goals in life.
My baby brother is a solider! more specifically a fire fighter for the US Army! earlier this year he graduated boot camp and we took a trip to see his ceremony. It was so amazing to see how mature he grew up in those 12 weeks. And i saw in his eyes just how much he loves his family. especially his god daughter miss Belle.
Being in this big white tent watching him march with all his boot camp buddies was so moving and made me so proud to be an American. we had been sending him letters every week waiting for this day that we would actually see him. When hid drill Sargent released him for the day to spend with us my mom took off running. I jumped up on a pile of tarp to get a better view. mom was going the wrong way and Gage was headed towards me. It was like a movie! I held my hand to Gage and said stop! then looked at my mom and pointed to Gage. I had never seen my mom run faster than that day. i picked up my camera and snapped! this is one of my all time favorite pictures! it is hanging on my wall and was featured in a local newspaper. but it will never even come close to living that actual moment of watching my mom and my brother finding each other in a room full of soldiers and their proud families.........(tears)

we got to spend the whole day with him we went bowling and had dinner together.

I am so proud of my brother Gage and am so excited because last week he sent me a message that he was coming home on Friday the 7. but wanted me to keep it a secret he wanted to surprise my mom. It has not been easy my mom has had a stressful week and knew this would cheer her up but it wasn't my surprise to tell so i bit my lip. and now my Brother is pulling into the driveway of my moms house! she has no clue shes just sitting in her kitchen drinking her coffee.................ding dong!

Carter and Sarah

Meet Sarah and Carter, they were high school sweet hearts that will be getting married next summer! They let me take some engagement pictures of them this past weekend in Dayton, Ohio. Let me warn you before hand... This is the SWEETEST couple ever!



I absolutely can not wait until the wedding! I just love taking pictures of people that are truly happy!

DIY bag

Now that Miss Belle is eating table food, I notice a lot of space in her diaper bag was not getting used. So I decided it was time for a new smaller diaper bag. *trip to Joanne fabrics!* yeah!*
I bought this pretty blue fabric and my wonderful friend Ashley gave me some pink fabric she used for curtains. now I can get started! I got the pattern from Martha Stewart. I am not a professional sewer! my grandma will point out some things I could have done different. but I have fun making things and when people ask me "where did you get that?" I love to say "I made it!"
add pockets for little things that I seem to always be searching for.
When sewing you want to make sure you do things inside out. the seems always looks better in the end.
I am hard a work........


now I have both sides complete next is to put them together:
INSIDE OUT!
i added buttons to fasten the straps Martha didn't call for them but It's OK to change things.
All done!
Is it perfect? no! there's some holes in the seems I missed.
does it hold Miss Belle's diapers and wipe? yes
Do I love it? Yes!

Circle of Life (from africa to ohio)

One of my favorite movies growing up was the lion king. I had not seen the movie in such a long time when another mission group member pressed play for all the children at the St. Jerome Cove center to watch. I was supposed to be painting and working but I just couldn't bring myself to walk away. The kids loved pointing out all the animals to me and teaching me their names in the native language. it was amazing because most of these kids have never seen a movie before! This is by far one of my favorite pictures it reminds me of The Julia sitting so close to the TV (guess all kids everywhere have the same idea):
I am trying to teach my girls to be grateful for what they are blessed with because we have a lot to be thankful for. I talk about the kids in Africa a lot to my girls. I told them about watching the Lion King and Julia said she had never seen that movie! I about fell out of my chair! This girl owns every Disney movie.......or so I thought. I told Brian to get the movie and instructed Julia to grab every blanket and pillow in the house. We made a semi-comfy bed and popped some popcorn (Cheetos for Belle) and snuggled under the covers and watch the movie together as a family.


They loved it! Julia kept asking me what animals do the kids in Africa see. This warmed my heart because I could pass on the information I was taught by the kids to my daughters.
I think that would be called the CIRCLE OF LIFE :)

chore chart

Since Julia is now in first grade and we feel old enough to have a few chores. I found the perfect opportunity to create a fun chore chart!
first I sanded down the piece of wood:
then sprayed on adhesive: (note DO THIS OUTSIDE! especially if you have babies in the house)
place some scrap book paper
decorate! I used blue duck tape, paper scraps and stickers:
then I made markers using clothes pins:
write out the chores and hang the list in a place where the kids can read.
I like this because Julia can pick her chore for the day. (except free days they are on Friday)