M Baby Girl...

Isn't she adorable? I just did this newborn shoot and loved it! S was so good and even slept through some of it. I am going to miss M so much when we leave. I will just have to live up the month we have left. Thanks for letting me capture a piece of S beautiful features and to feel her amazing spirit. More on my photography blog (sarahlovephotography.blogspot.com).

Chalk anyone?

I was taking pictures of Abby and Madison came right in front of me, looked up and smiled. She is a poser sometimes:-)

Today I was crying just because it was a hard day and Madison came up to me and said, "What's the matter?" I told her I didn't know and she said, "You can put a band-aid on it." I told her I wished a band-aid could fix this and she said, "You can put NEOSPORIN and a band-aid on it." I love how that fixes things for Madison. To be a kid again right?


"Wanna Piece of Me?" -That's for you Melissa:-)

Madison has been bringing "her girls" everywhere with us. They consist of her baby and her dolly. She always asks me if I love my girls to which I reply "yes." Then she says she loves her girls too. This is her dolly watching her draw with chalk. I love how she was even propped up. Her baby's have likes and dislikes, eat, sleep, cry, get put in time out, and hide when they can't be found:-) I love her imagination.

Greetings from Mt. Cardigan

We decided to take Madison and Abby to hike Mt. Cardigan. It's 1.5 miles up and 1.5 miles back. Madison hiked all the way up by herself. I carried her for a few feet, but other than that she was a trooper. She wanted to go in the back pack on he way down, but when we passed a little boy walking up by himself we commented on it and she wanted to walk on her own. She did great! Abby loved it and kept saying sky and tree the whole way down. Brian and Dan did this hike when Dan came out to visit our first year and they made a video like this, but instead said "Sarah and Clare:-)".

Dress-ups galore!

Madison has finally started to wear the dress I gave her. It's a bit too big, but she likes it and that's all that matters. Here's a video clip of both girls in dress up dancing while Brian plays the piano. They are so cute!

Happy Father's Day

Madison and Abby painted on canvas for Brian for Father's Day. Abby had a blast. I think she is going to be a painter:-) Madison did hers earlier and I didn't get any pictures. She had a good time and was excited to give it to her daddy.

7 Peaks in NH

Madison and Abby were playing at G houses in the pool. Abby loved it. They even had a tent they set up for the kids to play in. Madison is going to miss her friends a lot!

Due in July

There are some hard things about leaving a place you have lived for four years. It's the people. We have made great friends while living here. They have become family to us in all senses of the word. It's worse to leave friends than family because you will always see family no matter how far apart you are, but friends are different. You just have to wait until your paths cross to see each other. We will truly miss our friends here. It's been a tough decision, but we know this is where the Lord wants us to be and He has provided Brian with an amazing research opportunity working with great people and researching a project that is very important. It's because we have relied on our Heavenly Father in making this decision that we know where he wants us and we can just go where he wants us to go. It's been a roller coaster ride and this is the first place I have lived where my heart has become entrenched in those who have lifted me up when I was down, served me when I needed it, lent a listening ear when I needed to be heard, and provided a shoulder when I needed to cry. We truly have been blessed living here and have not gone wanting:-) It's going to be an adventure I hope I am up for. I would follow Brian anywhere! He is working so hard and trying to what will be best for his family, career, wife, and anyone or anything else that plays into the picture:-) So, these are one of our friends. She is due with her first baby boy after two beautiful girls. We will be here to see him! She is so beautiful and I am grateful to know her and take her picture.

More Furry Logic

*There are three ways to get things done:
-Do it yourself,
-hire someone to do it,
-or FORBID your kids to do it.

*"ow" The first word spoken by children with older siblings.

*According to the child, instant gratification takes too long.

*Signs of Advanced Parenthood:

-You count the sprinkles on each kid's cupcake to make sure they're equal.
-You hide in the bathroom just to get some alone-time.
-You start offering to cut up other people's food.

*The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention...is to sit down and look comfortable.

*If you want your children to listen...try talking softly--to someone else.

*Your children are growing up when they stop asking where they came from...and refuse to tell you where they're going.

*It's not easy raiding a teenager. Especially in the morning.

There are few things more satisfying than seeing your children have teenagers of their own.

You're only young once. That is all society can stand.

Stay tuned for some more later...The author of the book is Jane Seabrook and it's called Furry Logic Parenthood:-)

Madison's friend came to visit...

Madison hasn't seen S. in a year and they just hit it off as best friends. It was sad to see them go:-(

Daddy Daughter

I was doing Brian's head shot and Madison wanted to get in the picture with Brian. Aren't these priceless?

Madison at her best!

I was taking Brian's headshot and Madison had to have her picture taken. She chose the poses and we went from there. Isn't she so funny? I love that girl.

Princess Dress-ups...

This is the hat I made for Madison and since Madison wouldn't model it for me I got E. to for me:-)


Madison refused to look at me so I took this shot. She looks so elegant and innocent. It wasn't but 20 minutes later I came out to see them coloring on the table, painting all over, and wiping their hands on the wall. It was a sight to see. Moral of the story, never underestimate your angels.

I love E. boots. They are what made me think to get her to wear the hat. Bright Green is a fun color and E. came over to play today dressed in her snow pants, boots, and a sun hat. She was hitting all seasons.

How to get your child to listen...

"The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention...is to sit down and look comfortable."

Furry Logic Parenting...for a good laugh!

I got this book when I was pregnant with Madison and it was funny then, but now makes more sense and will continue to make more sense as my children get older:-)

"You can't scare me. I have children."

"Those who say they sleep like babies...don't usually have them."

"The moment you have children, you forgive your parents...everything."

"A perfect example of minority rule is...a baby in the house."

"Amnesia: A condition that enable s a woman who has been through labor--to do it again."

"Family Planning: The art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to keep you on the edge of financial disaster."

"Children's Property Laws:

I. If I like it, it's mine.
II. If I take it from you it's mine.
III. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
IV. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way."
V. If it look like mine, it's mine.
VI. If it's your sand I steal it, it's mine.
VII. If I think it's mine, it's mine.
VIII. If it's broken, it's yours.

Hope you enjoyed these as much as I did. I'll post some more later:-)

You know you live in NH when...

Your daughter points out the tall grass on the side of the road and says, "That is tall grass. I can't go in there."
I say, "It's because of the ticks huh?"
Madison, "yah, they are bad and live in tall grass."

This has been my project for the past three days. I wanted to refinish this adorable little rocking chair for Madison and Abby. I got it at a garage sale for $10! I didn't take before pictures, but the whole this was the dark stain color and had patches missing...I loved sanding it by hand. It was a great outlet! I have fallen in love with it!



Playing with chalk has become Madison's favorite past time and she really gets into it as you can see:-) The walkway in front of our house looks pretty colorful:-)

Abby put this on her head and thought she was so funny. She wouldn't turn around to look at me so Madison tried to make her and she lost it.

Friends Forever:-)

I took Madison and a friend to practice photography and got this shot. I just love these two together. They play so well together and have grown up together. Here are some of them a year ago:-)

Madison and her friend are on the bottom, second one from left picture...This was when they were 18 months old:-)

Best Father EVER!

Today for Family Home Evening we went and put up a Donate Blood Banner at the church (which is 25 minutes away) and Madison and Abby were troopers so we decided to take them out to Wendy's afterwards. It was 8:00 pm by the time we got to Wendy's, Abby was ready for bed (tears...lots of them), and it was already Madison's bedtime by this time. As we are driving away from the drive through window Madison says, "I have an idea, lets eat out on the grass" (pointing to the grass right next to the busy road). I comment that it's a great idea, but it's Abby's bedtime and we need to feed her and get home to put her in bed. Brian, the great dad he is, chimes in and says, "we can eat on the grass at home." So, they do. I wish I could have taken a picture of Madison dressed up in her princess skirt, leotard, high heel shoes, and her baby doll wearing a child's size princess dress eating a Wendy's hamburger on the grass with her daddy. It's dark and cold outside, but Brian still did it! What a great Dad!