School Picture Day

Today was picture day at Day Care, and this was Livia's very first School Photo! I was so excited... This is after spending days pondering what cute little outfit I'd put her in, and after talking with her over and over about how we smile for the photographer. I was so excited that it almost felt like it was my first picture day!

So this morning I dressed her in the cutest little polka-dot outfit, french braided her hair (and BEGGED her not to take it out),  and reminded her once again to smile nicely for the camera. By the time we had to leave, I had no time for morning pictures. I just had to hope against all odds that Liv would do well for her 1st School Picture.

Perry picked Livie up very early this afternoon; he had a very early morning meeting, and he was missing her like crazy! He took her to the park, and then to McDonalds -- gee, I wonder why Daddy always seems to be the favorite?!?

So by the time I finally got home, I thought there was no way Livia would be in any condition for pictures... I was pleasantly surprised that Liv still looked very nice! Her hair was still braided, her outfit wasn't even dirty, and she was still excited about the pictures today. So even though it was getting dark outside, I just couldn't resist:

She's chattering away in this photo, but I still love it!

 

Is it bad that she looked just as cute from the back?!

 

And one on our front steps just before we went back inside.

I cannot wait to see how the school pics turned out! Perry said that her teachers all told him that without a doubt she would have one of the cutest pictures.

On a side note, our office is absolutely insane with its temperature! In the middle of summer it feels like 60º, whereas now (when it really is 60º or less out there) it feels like 85º! Sooo, I guess I need to put on a summer shirt under my sweaters for the rest of the winter. What a hoot!

Almost Wordless Wednesday - Splash Park Fun!

Last Friday, I took my daughter and Sebastian (my friend's little boy) to a Splash Park in Boonville - the area also had several playgrounds, a lake, picnic areas, gazebos, and more! They both had so much fun there, and I just wanted to share a few of the awesome pics I took of them...

Liv running though the mist - and a rainbow!

Close-up of my pretty girl

Sebastian & Livia by the lake

(Don't they look like they could be brother & sister?!)

A good one of Sebastian

And 'Bastian being a goofball!

(Which yielded a very good shot!)

As I said - just a little preview, as I have about 25 more from this day that I've edited as well!

Happy Wordless Wednesday to you all - have a great day and God Bless!

Flashback Friday ~ Liv One Year Ago

Just over a year ago, Livia was right at 3 months old... A very happy baby in the daytime, but colic-y at night. Lots of little baby noises & sounds, fascinated with her hands & feet, and usually full of smiles.

You sure wouldn't believe the smiling part from this photo session though!

(Imagine about 30 other shots much like this one, without so much as a hint of a grin)

Maybe she just wasn't having a great day... At any rate, I gave up on getting a happy picture from Livia this time and decided to focus on her sweet little hands and feet...

Held in my own hand, they still seemed so very small!

A few days later, I tried again to get some grins out of Liv. This day was obviously a different story!

That's the happy baby I know and love!

So contented & grinning for the whole picture session.

This was my husband's favorite shot by far.

We sent copies to many of our family and friends, and the photo seemed to be a really big hit.

So I guess the morel of the story is that even as a little bitty person, you have good days & bad.

The only difference is that she couldn't really object back then... Now when Liv doesn't want something or isn't getting her way, she'll say "No!" Luckily it doesn't happen often, and I'm trying to ignore this awful word in hopes that it doesn't yet stick into her vocabulary! I suppose every age has its benefits and drawbacks...

Anyway, that's Livie from a whole year ago! My how she's grown :o) ~ Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday! Love to you all and God Bless!!!

More of Liv in the Wheat Fields

Early, early this morning, I did a Wordless Wednesday with Liv in a sea of wheat... And I just couldn't resist putting up some more this afternoon!

At first she was pretty content playing with a piece of wheat.

But it's impossible to expect a toddler to stay in one place for very long - especially this one! About the only way we were able to get her to sit still was by going...

Oh my goodness!

(Which obviously made her put her hands on her head, and also made her sit!)

Or we'd find something fun for her to play with...

Maybe her Uncles will let her drive a tractor for real someday. Probably not if she ends up driving anything like her Mamma does, though!

And our last trick was to just strip her down & let her play in her diaper & bloomers.

Liv says: "I feel just a little bit goofy..."

"So I'm outa here!!!"

I have more, but these are some of the best - of what I've had time to sit and really go though anyway!

They were all taken about a month or so ago, and yes I'm just now getting around to editing them... I'm awful! My photo-flaws are endless, but a big one is that I just take too darned many pictures! And I constantly look for even more opportunities.

Am I nuts? Oh, wait. I think I established yesterday that I most certainly am!! Haha! Much love to you all and God Bless!!

[Almost] Wordless Wednesday - Country Trafic Jams

So, has anyone out there ever wondered what could cause a traffic jam out in the country? Wait - that's not even possible, is it?

Well, I didn't even think a country traffic jam was possible... Until THIS happened:

MOOve!

One of the cows somehow escaped from the fences, and she decided that standing in the road was exactly where she wanted to be. So how much of a hassle did she cause?

Not much to be perfectly honest. It just involved me, my parents, & my Uncle Von (aka Marlboro Man over at The Farmhouse Kids blog) My parents car is the one in the picture, I was right behind them, then my Uncle Von parked behind me (so he could round up that cow!)

I know this picture was taken several months ago, but I laughed so hard when I came across it that I thought it's worth posting. Hope you all get a kick out of it too! Much love & God Bless.

The Best

Over at Digital Photography School blog, they have a recent post that asked "What is [my] best shot ever?" I wrote even more about it over in my Photo Edit Magic blog.

It got me thinking, though - is the picture I think is the best really the best?

My inquiring mind would like to know... Which of these pictures is THE BEST in your opinion? (each title is listed below its respective photograph)

Looking Over Lake of the Woods

Through a Child's Eyes

May I Have this Dance Forever?

Fireman's Class-A Portrait

With This Ring...

Striking Beauty

As you all can see, I have a little poll-thingy over on the right hand column. I'd LOVE it if you'd cast your vote! Don't vote for the one you think I like the best - I want to know your true opinion. And it won't hurt my feelings if you think none of these (or any of my pics) are the best. I really would love to know what you all think :o)

Thanks a bunch in advance, and feel free to leave a comment here if there's a specific picture you like even more than the ones I selected. Much love to you all and God Bless!

Day of fun with a Superhero & Polka-Dot Tot

This past Wednesday, Livia & I got to spend the day with a Superhero - her cousin Nolan (Thanks so much for loaning him to us for the day, Kendra!)

We decided that it would be perfect day to go to the Children's Museum of Evansville (CMOE)

For THE first time in my life, we actually got there early!!! It opens at 10:00am, and we were there at ten til. I must say that I was quite proud of myself!

Livia was ready to go in - or at least try to get those neat things she saw in the window.

As soon as we got in, Nolan guided us to a fun & play stage area. He's been to CMOE several times, so it was wonderful that he knew right where all the fun stuff was!
Liv & Nolan played and danced on that stage for a good 10 - 15 minutes. I knew that Livia loves to dance, and I soon found out that her cousin does too!

Then it was off to the construction room...
I don't think Livie realized that she was being weighed in this picture... and I think she wasn't really on there long enough for it to register her entire weight. It took about 10 seconds to figure out Nolan's weight - and that's about 8 seconds more than Livia had to offer!

Then Nolan showed Liv the house you can "build" - or just climb!

They dug for dinosaur bones & fossils...

And then painted their faces!Nolan was the Incredible Hulk (hence the green)

And Liv was a little Polka Dot Tot

I just loved seeing my little girl have so much fun with her cousin! He watched over her, played with her...

And even took her down a little slide!

Livia really liked that room!

Then it was off to more adventures!

Nolan climbed into this huge nose, and I couldn't help but laugh - the Incredible Hulk kinda looked like an incredibly big booger!

Just kidding!

Nolan showed Livia how to hold the handles of this contraption... it actually beat a drum to the beat of your heart.

Then it was off to the funnest part of the museum - the water room!

Livie had SO much fun getting into the water

Even though it was really kinda cold, she didn't care at all

Nolan was working on trying to get a balloon to fly as high as he could while I chased Livia. In the water room - she was quite excited in there!

Finally, it was getting to be lunch-time, so we decided to leave.

It came as so surprise to me that after we left CMOE, Livia fell asleep even before we could get to our lunch destination! Nolan, meanwhile, happily played his Nintendo DS

After lunch, we went back to our house. Livia fell back asleep in no time, and Nolan went back to his video game. The Superhero quickly succumbed to sleepiness as well, and took a nap too. I couldn't be left out, so I took a little power nap as well!

Later that afternoon when both the Angels awoke, we decided to take a trip over to their Grandparents'.

I think the kids love all the toys their Grandma keeps over there for them - Nolan even has his own room over there!

Nolan got out the Lego's, and began building a fort...

Livia had other plans for the Lego's...!

I laughed so hard that I was lucky to get those shots!

Their Grandma then gave the kids some snackies & lemonade... And I tried to get a pic of all 3 of them.
The most successful picture I was able to get of the kiddos with their Grandma Trilby

Oh well. Hopefully I'll get a really good one next time.

Then it was outside to play!

Bill offered to take the kids in a ride around their place in this little wagon hitched up to the lawnmower. It was the first time I'd seen such a thing, and definitely got a kick out of it!
Nolan held Livia as they began their ride...

And thankfully, Livia had no desire to get up - she liked it!

It was so wonderful to have Nolan along to help with Livia. And she loved having a playmate all day!

All good things must come to an end, though. Shortly after the kids' fun ride, I took Nolan back to his home, and Livia back to ours. I couldn't believe it when I looked at the clock & I was getting back after 7:30 that evening!

Time does fly when you're having fun. And I just hope for more days that go by as fast & fun as this one!

Much love to you all & God Bless!