My Boy

Almost every night, a little visitor, about 3 (ish) feet tall and 37 pounds, creeps into our bed.  He sleeps sideways, relegating us to about 4 inches of mattress on either side of the bed. We suffer through kidney punches and side jabs as this little visitor actively dreams whatever his subconscious conjures up.

And every morning I say never again! I am SO tired of getting kicked all night... tonight is the night he stays in his bed ALL NIGHT. 

But then I look at this sweet face and big blue eyes... my only boy...and know I will never be able to tell him he can't sleep with us if he feels he needs to.

I know I will miss it when he no longer comes around. 

I had these pictures in my head for a long time. Feels good to get them out.

Love these.

I ordered three big float wraps for his room... I'll try to post pictures later. Poor kid- his room is such an afterthought... the price he pays for being the fourth I guess :-). There is still a little girl's chandelier hanging from the ceiling that we have been meaning to move for YEARS, and the bedding and walls leave much to be desired. But I am going to fix that! Soon!

Thank you Michele

... for making me unbelievably happy with these family pictures. We traveled to Austin one weekend where I ran in the Austin half marathon with one of my besties. That afternoon, we had a family session with the oh-so-brilliant Michele Anderson ... and she gave us the perfect blend of portrait and lifestyle photography with just the right amount of quirkiness and "perfect imperfection" I was looking for.  


This is what I mean by "perfect imperfection." There is a rubberband around my wrist in the pictures. Totally didn't realize it at the time but I'm a mom and that's what we do. We fix our kid's hair and leave the rubberbands around our wrist. I did it without even thinking or realizing it was still around my wrist and now it's in our pictures for all of eternity. But I think its hilarious and LOVE IT.

You see photographers need family pictures too. Maybe more so than others- after all, we live and breath imagery... photographs are our lives!  There are lots... LOT,  of big beautiful canvases, prints, standouts etc. of the kids all over the house.  But there were very few family pictures that showed US. 

But not anymore.

I feel like a lovesick teenager when I look through this gallery. I study the images and can SEE how much this family means to me. Maybe I am being melodramatic, but ...

...they make me smile from ear to ear. 

Remember this picture I took?  Well, Presley remembered it and begged me to allow them to smash ice cream in my face. As you can see, I obliged- the last picture of our session :-)

I hope my clients feel the same way I do when they look at the pictures I take of their family. Makes me feel really truly deep-down-in-my-gut-blessed that I get to make people as HAPPY as she has made me for a living.

Michele- I already cannot WAIT for our next family session! A million, billion, zillion thanks to you!

I bought all of the digital files and this is a large wall display I created from them.  When Michele posted a picture of this display on facebook- my dad called me fifteen minutes later absolutely flabbergasted I would frame a picture of our feet. But it's one of my favorites :)

I get asked often for clothing advice... especially for larger families (like mine!).  This is how I approached the issue and how I suggest my clients approach it. My house is pretty earthy (lots of wood, the walls are kind of a light khaki green), so I knew I wanted a lot of color in the pictures. Jesse is more of a neutral kind of guy and I absolutely crave a LOT of color, so we have to balance out both our tastes. Anywho, there is this lampshade I have in my living room from Anthro that I LOVE. Like I love it so much if my house were on fire, I would probably run back in the house to try to save it.  I used that lamp as my color inspiration for our clothing. I knew I wanted a large wall display, I knew I wanted color, and I wanted everything to coordinate (but not match... big, HUGE, difference).  I learned the color inspiration trick from David Bromstad of Color Splash... he has his clients pick out a favorite piece (whether its a painting, a piece of fabric, etc.), and designs room around the palette in that piece. A nifty little trick if you ask me!  I also tried to mix in different patterns- I did not want everything to be solid. Don't be scared of graphic patterns- they look awesome in photographs!

Been feeling the need to do something urban for a while now...

...so I grabbed Kaylee and took her into Houston. And although these didn't turn out exactly like the image I had in my head (some of them are better!), it just means I get to try again to get THAT shot I am imagining. 

Love these. Love my sweet, silly little girl.  I didn't notice the pencil she had stuck in her boot till I was editing these. I wonder what else she puts in there on a daily basis? Candy? Her toothbrush? MY toothbrush?

No wonder one of my friends said if she ever gets reincarnated, she wants to come back as Kaylee.

These shots are totally worth the $65 parking ticket I got... you agree?

Happy FIFTH Birthday Presley

Presley, my sweet, sweet Presley.

Four years and 364 days ago, Daddy and I went out for sushi with friends. It was one week before you were due on January, Friday the 13th, 2006.  I remember I was wearing a black wool turtleneck sweater that covered my humongous pregnant belly, low rise dark blue jeans (not maternity jeans I might add... don't hate), and black high heeled boots. The friends so happened to be Chad and Katie, who you know now know as Annemarie's mommy and daddy. We all went back to the townhouse Daddy and I had at the time to hang out a bit more. I was laying on the couch, trying desperately to pretend I was not falling asleep, when I felt a very weird popping sensation. My heart started pounding and I shot up and ran to the bathroom, but after an uneventful minute or so, I figured I must have imagined it. I walked into the kitchen, and there, in front of everyone,  a huge gush of "water," more water than I ever could have imagined was being held in my belly, was all over the kitchen floor.

The contractions started immediately, and at about 2-3 minutes apart.  You were coming much, much quicker than I thought possible for my first birth. I had only partially packed my hospital bag, and Katie ran upstairs to help me finish. I remember her laughing because I was trying to find my straightening iron in the midst of the contractions (girls with hair like me go nowhere, and I mean, NO WHERE, without their CHI).

I won't go into the details of the L&D with you just yet, but I will tell you this. I was TERRIFIED of the process. My entire life, it was something I dreaded having to do. Had I known what I know now, that terror would have never esisted.  Bringing you into this world was the best, most amazing, meaningful, and profound thing I had ever experienced.  The physical pain and mental endurance it took was unimportant and forgotten the split second I became a mom for the very first time.

I just feel like you should know this story of your birth... I don't want you growing up in fear of something that is in fact... incredibly beautiful.  I want you to look forward to that moment when you become a mom and your heart grows a thousand times bigger.

Love you my dear.

This is who you are at five years old:

1) Affectionate. Soooooooo sweet and affectionate. I hear "I love you Mommy" or "I love you all the way to God and Jesus and back," at least twice a day from you. It is almost always the first thing that comes of your mouth in the morning. Of course, sometimes, in the thrust of a meltdown-over-nothing-because-that's-what-kids-do, I hear "I don't love you!" which is sometimes followed by "and you are NOT coming to my birthday party!! or "I'm going to live with Nanni!!" (I thought I had those outbursts to look forward to when you were a teenager?) But I know you don't mean it. Which leads me to your next quality.

2) Despite being so sweet, you sometimes have quite the temper. Daddy and I call it the "doe-ee-bird rage" (you DO know this business is  the nickname we have for you right?). Luckily, that rage does not rear its ugly head too often... but when it does- whoaaaaaaaaa- watch out world!

3) Generous- the very act of giving is more important to you than any material possession. Yesterday, I allowed you to pick out a ceramic piggy bank as your birthday present. You and your siblings have wanted new ceramic piggy banks for a very long time... at our house, there seems to be a trail of previously owned and quickly broken swine, and I refused to buy new ones. But since you so earnestly asked for one for this very important fifth birthday, I allowed you to pick one out. As soon as we brought it home to show Kaylee, you noticed the look of yearning in her eyes and the catch in her voice as she admired it. Without a second thought or any hesitation at all, you gave it to her.

4) Funny. Really stinkin funny. You crack me up on a daily basis.  You told me just this week, in your sweet little four year old voice that still pronounces "r"s like "w"s- "Mommy, for my sixth buwfday, I want to have a pawty in the dawk, where ev-we-one is naked. OK?"

5) Shy. You are more like I was as a kid than your dad (who was likely born crazy and outgoing). You take a while to warm up to new people and situations and they usually have to earn your trust.  But once they have it, WOW- you are just as sweet and affectionate as ever. Bringing presents and cards to your teachers that you love is a weekly occurrence.

And oh, you are SO camera shy. Out of all my kids, you like getting your picture taken the least. I have to catch you in the right mood, at the right time, or else its a no go.  Totally unlike Emily, Kaylee, and Jude, who usually love it!

6) Opinionated. Especially about clothing. I gave up trying to dress you a very long time ago.  When you find something you like to wear, it is not surprising to see it six out of seven days a week. You were this way with your pink Beatles Tshirt (a mighty fine shirt I must admit), and various other outfits.  And you HATE when I tell you that you are "cute." Sorry I say it so often... but you really are.

I hope you have a wonderful fifth birthday today and that your party tomorrow is everything you have been wishing for.  I love you all the way to God and Jesus and back.

Love, Mommy

Hi.

Gheeesssshhhhh, someone needs to kick me for neglecting this blog, and especially for neglecting to post Emily's 8th birthday post!  I thought about it almost every day, really I did, but couldn't find the time to sit down and put it all into words.

So I missed Emily's 8th birthday post... it should have happened the day I got back from Mexico- on her actual birthday-  but here is the belated version :-).

Happy 8th my Emily.

Eight is a strange age to me. Not quite a little girl, but definetly not yet a pre-teen.  

This is who you are at eight years old:

1) Creative- your eyes gleam when you saw the motherboard the appliance repair guy removed from our refrigerator. When he left the old one on the counter, you were the first to grab it and work it into one of your creations. A spare box is NEVER just spare box to you. It's usually ends up part of a robot, a computer, or some new piece of furniture for your room. 

2) Still a performer- you do love a good audience to show off those dance moves. And if I could do the robot like you, I would probably show it off every chance I got as well.

3) Tenacious- you won the Presidential Academic Award at the end of first grade, not for the best academic performance in the first grace, but for the most improved academically. I've got to tell you- that makes me so proud that you overcame some academic obstacles to show such vast improvement.  You still struggle with math, but let me tell you a little secret about life. You will have an "aha" moment one day when those pesky equations click and it all makes sense and you won't even remember how you struggled with them. You may not even realize you have had that moment, but I hope you do. I hope you have many "aha" moments and realize you have had them. To be honest with you, my most profound "aha" moment came in college. After struggling through a statistics class, I had subconsciously decided I would just never "get it" and accepted it as such. But it ended up clicking one day. And I realized it had clicked and that I was so wrong to accept I would never understand....and I've never been the same since. Not because I understand statistics now (although I have likely forgotten 99% of the theories), but because I realized the struggle was there for a reason. Tenacity, my dear, is much more important than "getting it" the first time around. Cherish those "aha" moments.

4) Courageous- you were chosen by your second grade teachers for the "Dynamite Dolphin" award for Courage. Your teachers explained this was because you always have the courage to raise your hand and participate, even when you are not sure you have the right answer.  And because you stand up for people if someone is being unkind to them and tell others "no" if they are asking you to do something you know is wrong. Just typing that out makes me want to cry with joy. Kindness and Courage. What important qualities to possess.

5) Friendly- although not quite as in your face crazy  outgoing as Kaylee (and really, who is?), you make friends easily and get along with everyone. I never have to worry about you in a social setting- I know you will do just fine with anyone you happen to encounter.

I hope you had a good 8th birthday! You certainly seemed to have fun at your first ever birthday sleepover, I busted a room full of giggling girls still wide awake at 1:30 a.m!

Oh and I forgot one thing. A pose-for-the-camera beauty! See photos below.

... although often, I end up with shots more like this...

Happy SIXTH birthday Kaylee!

Kaylee. My crazy, crazy little Kaylee.

Six years old. Kindergartner. Wow.

This is who you are at six years old:

- You have never. And I do mean never. Met a stranger.  To you, everyone is a friend and you are as comfortable with the random person sitting three tables over at the restaurant (that you likely yelled across the restaurant to) as you are with your sisters.  I love this. I love how uninhibited you are around people. You love everyone- you wrote your kindergarten teacher a note telling her you loved her before the first day of school. I get a little lump in my throat thinking about how truly and perfectly innocent and  so very Kaylee that gesture was.

- Loud. So, so, so very loud. Not that we are quiet around here, but wow- your voice reaches decibels higher than any other six year old I know. Once I asked you to quit shouting. You replied "I DONT SHOUT MOMMY, I JUST HAVE A LOUD VOICE."  At least you know who you are.

- So very messy. I think that goes with the uninhibited thing. Sometimes you make me crazy trying to keep up with your messes... you're like a little hurricane! You share a room with Presley, who tries so very hard to be clean and organized. I believe its likely a futile effort.  We would probably both be better off if we just shut the door and pretended the mess wasn't there, wouldn't we?

- A blooming artist (I hope!). I asked you if you wanted to play soccer again in the fall. You replied "I just want to do arts and crafts all day mommy," (or rather "I JUST WANT TO DO ARTS AND CRAFTS ALL DAY MOMMY!").

- Hyper. It's hard for you to focus because you need to keep moving. That is, unless you are hyper-focused on something- in which case you can concentrate like no other (this is usually either an arts and crafts project or the TV...you LOVE watching TV).

- Curious. If there is something to be picked up and examined, no matter how insignificant it seems to the rest of us- you have already picked it up, turned it over (even if it is a plug in of wood-stain-removing-air- freshner that ended up spilling all over my newly refinished hardwood floors... oh the thought of this makes me want to cry), and asked someone what it was, what was it doing there, and how is it used.

-Smiley- you smile (a great-big-light-up-the-room smile) all.the.time.

- Funny. You are just a funny kid. You walked into Nannie's living room the other day after playing a computer game, and declared you had just ordered something to be sent to the house for your birthday. We are still waiting to see if it was your imagination or if a big yellow tattooed circus elephant (or something similarly random) shows up on the FedEx truck.

I joke that I am going to get a call one day when you are a teenager and you will have hitchiked to Mexico on a whim and you will be standing at the top of a bridge ready to bungee jump with a group of European celebrities. You're just crazy and random like that.

You are one of a kind. Don't ever try to conform- no one will ever be quite like Kaylee.

I'm so very priveleged to be your mommy.

Headed Out of Town...

... to San Francisco for my cuz's wedding.  But when I get back and get the kids in school, I have loads and loads to post.

I'm going to miss these little boogers.

A Very Bad Blogger

Whooooaaaa, its been a long time since I blogged. Long for me anyway.  I have a good excuse and its The Floor Refinishing Project From Hell which was followed by the Ongoing Clean Up Job From Hell.  What was supposed to be a 2.5 day refinishing job has turned into 11 days of going back and forth between our house and Grammie's house as the floors are stained, sanded, restained, resanded, re-re-stained, re-re-sanded and on and on and on... and who knew so much dust could stick to your walls?  I think we are finally back in the house for good now, although the couches in the garage, the coffee table in the kitchen and the dining room set in Emily's room will have to remain for a few more days until the floors totally cure.  Morale of the story... if anyone tells you refinishing hardwood floors is a quick and easy job- they probably have not done it before.

BUT... they look BEAUTIFUL now so I will quit the moaning and groaning... Yippeeee!!!!!!

Add that to one husband going back to work after a blissful summer off, four kids NOT in school, and some out of town trips and you have one photographer getting seriously behind!

Stay with me cause I have loads of sessions to post, plus some stuff from an AMAZING workshop I attended from the seriously talented and totally magical Barb Uil of Jinky Art!

Here's my boy. I pried the tie shirt off of him long enough to get some pictures. Actually he is doing well with the whole tie shirt issue... he is down to wearing it only 4-5 times a week and not 7. Yay!

Prices Increases!

I am increasing prices on everything (sitting fees and all products) effective March 15, BUT if you book a 2010 session before then, you will be grandfathered into current prices. I totally realize schedules are subject to change due to weather, baseball tournaments and ear infections, so you just need to get on the books!

And I wanted to share the funniest text message I have ever gotten with you (names have been changed to protect the innocent!, hee hee).  My friends have a four year old boy. And not just an ordinary boy. The things that come out of his mouth are pretty extraordinary.  Here is that text:

Joey woke up, came into our room, and said "Momma and Daddy, I found a poop in my underwear. It's not mine. I think its from the dog. I threw it out. "  John asked where he threw it out. Joey replies "under my closet door."

As of 8 pm last night, the renegade poo had yet to be located...

{discombobulated}

OK, so Mardi Gras was totally awesome. I love everything about that city, EVERYTHING. The parties, the street performers, the beignets, even the trash. Reason I like the trash? Because that city is so used to huge parties, they have the trash clean up down to a science. Every morning at 6 am, the street sweepers come out to restore the city to its historic beauty... and then the parties start again. It's a beautiful cycle.

See me? Bottom with the brown hat and blue scarf. That's me :-)


Pottytraining boys is... interesting. Jude has decided the best way to do this is to stand on top facing backwards and pee all over the lid.

My boy got his first real haircut. After I admitted to my hairdresser I had been cutting his hair with cuticle scissors while he was in the bathtub (what? what's wrong with that?), I decided I was a bit ridiculous and that I would allow someone else to touch his curls. I drilled it into Jesse's head that I would FREAK out if they cut it too short and I sat here nervously waiting to see the result.

Before:

After:

OK, so his hair looks kind of jacked in both pictures... but he had just woken up from a nap both times!! I like his little fat belly in the second picture. Makes my heart smile.

I found a junkyard. It was a tetanus shot waiting to happen. It was also love at first site.

This picture was taken right before she locked me out of my car and proceeded to pretend to drive. And yeah, I had left the engine running because Presley was sleeping. Oops.

And last, my sweet little Presley, who hates having her picture taken, but sat for one, just one for me.

And here is one of Emily...

Sneak Peek

So I had a rockin session today with my own kiddos and was going to sit here all night editing (despite the fact that my friends are going out for a birthday celebration), since it's been nearly a week since I have blogged... and I do have LOTS to share... but then I decided that would be SUPER LAME, because even though I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job, that would mean I was WORKING instead of going out with my friends, and we can't have that can we?  We don't often get girl's nights out!

So here is one of those images of my sweet little Jude- who got a little haircut yesterday... and who dosen't look like my BABY anymore :-(.

I was on the phone...

and heard giggling under the table and 

"SHH!! Mommy's coming."

and this is what I found.

{discombobulated}

OOOOh Tracy, is that some new fantastic, abstract, brightly colored rug behind Kaylee?!?!?  It's so cool!

No. That would be my hardwood floor covered in toys. A normal site around these parts.

Today, for the very first time, Jude told me he had to use the potty prior to him going. I was so excited! The bad news is that I am inexperienced potty-training boys and the sounds of his laugher milli-seconds after a stream of pee hit my face will be remembered for a very. long. time.

Howdy

Well hello there!

OK, this is going to be quick because I hear the kids downstairs making lots of noise and I know they are getting into something (at what age can you quit worrying about that and will they not require constant supervision anymore?).

{UPDATE: In the time it took me to write this blog post, Emily had spilled sprinkles all over the floor and Kaylee and Presley were proceeding to lick them up}

- I am building a new website, so if you have a gallery from 2009 still active on the old website, get that order in soon please!

- I have a fun contest coming up for my favorite pics from 2009. Stay tuned... if I took your pictures (or your kid's picture) in 2009, there is a chance you could win something good!

And a post without a picture is no bueno, here here is an old one I haven't blogged yet!

And on a more serious note- one of my clients/friends has a tiny baby that is on the heart transplant list. She is not even four months old yet and has been fighting for her life since New Years. Please PRAY for this family!!

{discombobulated}

I am going to start a new series on this blog of random and discombobulated thoughts and happenings around the Robinson household that are totally unrelated to my photography business. Or maybe the posts will be related to the business. See? I'm random and discombobulated that way.

- I went to read the book "Wierd Parents" to Emily's class last month. Before I began, I asked the group of first graders if any of them had wierd parents? Emily blurted out with "I do! I do! My dad holds my head down and toots on it!" As I turned red and tried to hush her up, I saw the teacher duck her head to hide her smile and pretend she didn't hear that particular outburst. Keep in mind the dad Emily speaks of is an administrator for the district. (We'll see how long this thought stays up before Jesse makes me take it down :))

- I've somehow convinced myself that it is OK to wear ugly fake furry Crocs in public. With yoga pants. I am thinking that if I wear gym clothes and look really gross in public, people will think I have been working out for hours and will be impressed by my committment to fitness. If you see someone pushing a shopping cart with four loud kids, wet hair pulled into a bun, no makeup, and brown furry Crocs with gray yoga pants, it's probably yours truly.

- Random announcement by Kaylee "Mommy, I AM pottytrained. I just sometimes don't wipe my butt."

- School lunches are appalling. Why in the world would they offer children cookies and ice cream every day if they want them to actually behave? I think I am going to start a facebook group - Conroe ISD parents for healthier school lunches. Who is in it with me?

- I think we are going to cut Emily's hair off to her chin (her request) and donate it to Locks of Love. That makes my heart smile.

Speaking a smiling heart- check out my boy. {love him}

Presley, my sweet sweet little Presley. Today you are four years old. I can't believe that four years ago, this amazing woman delivered you in the wee hours of the morning. That experience is as fresh as if it were yesterday.  I remember holding you as a tiny infant, almost feeling panicked because you were so perfect and I was so scared it could not possibly get any better. But it HAS gotten better. Every day.

This is you at four years old.

A bit of an insomniac.  You inherited that gene from my side of the family, because it definetly does not exist on the Robinson side.  Sorry about that. Your midnight visits have become common, no matter how hard we fight them. But allow me to let you in on a little secret. I don't battle them as much as I could. Just this week, I heard you quietly creeping into our room with your crazy messy hair clutching your froggie blanket and pink puppies and when I called your name, you answered with a whisper "I love you." So I continue to let you in our bed. And continue to get sub standard sleep because of it. You are not a still sleeper and getting kicked in my back is common. Your visits are not good for my spine. But they are good for my soul. And I'll take that.

A Lover- probably the most affectionate of your siblings. Yesterday you told me you were married to Jude and that Kaylee was your girlfriend. You come into my office at least once per day just to tell me you love me and it is often punctuated by the words 'SO bad!" as in "Mommy, I love you SO BAD."

Picky, picky, picky. Presley, you drive me crazy sometimes.  I have given up trying to dress you. I will let you wear whatever you want as long as its weather appropriate. But the morning battles continue as you try to figure out what to wear.  This wasn't supposed to happen until you were a teenager. Can you please just let Mommy dress you every once in a while (maybe once a month?) without a full out battle? The other days- your polka dot/stripes/flowered/layered mismatch of clothing is fine.  And another thing. That Beatles Tshirt I got you IS pretty cool- I admit it. But not 5 out of 7 days per week and not after you have dug it out of the dirty clothes.  Can we limit it to 1-2 times per week and only after it has been washed?

Perhaps a little OCD (take after your dad in this department, not me!).  You want your water with ice and God forbid I get it from the tap or an all out meltdown ensues. Only filtered water from the refrigerator is appropriate for you.

Shy.  Much, much, much more shy than the rest.  You don't take well to new people or new situations.  It was tough sending you to Preschool those first few weeks when you hid and wrapped yourself around our legs and screamed.  Much different than Emily and Kaylee who were all "See ya!" as scampered off into their classrooms.  Thankfully you seem to like it now.

Although you are not my oldest, you were MY first born and the one that originally made me a mother.  And you cannot possibly understand what that means until it happens to you one day.

Happy Fourth Birthday Presley.

These are the Super Double BFFs

...and they want to help their Mommy help people this Christmas season, but in order to do THAT, they need YOUR help. So:

1) re read this post here and this post here

2) QUIT being SHY

3) Get to writing!

It's that easy!

It's SNOWING!

... in Texas, so I feel like celebrating. The next two canvas orders that come in (16x24 or larger) will receive a 25% off discount. Then the next two will receive a 15% off discount!

Gallery wrapped canvases are ready to hang artwork. They come wrapped on a 1.5" stretcher frame and add instant WOW to any room. I LOVE the canvases I have hanging in my house and am trying to figure out where I can build more walls to hang some more {grin}.

And since I know most people are visual, here are some recent pictures I have taken that I think would be amazing on canvas. I really could sit here all day and use this little program I have to turn all my favorite pictures into canvas renderings but alas, its just not possible... there are some snowmen to be built and some snowballs to be thrown.

(more pictures from this rocking session later!)

So if you have been waiting to make that canvas purchase, just do it! Do it now! Email me if you are interested.

(yes, I can add these borders or do this pop art on your images!)

Happy Birthday Emily!

Emily-

At seven years old, this is who you are:

• A creator- Anything we think of as trash, such as a broken keyboard, an old baby gate, or an empty diaper box- you will take it into your room and emerge an hour later with some kind of McGyver contraption that you have built. You recently built a roller coaster out of construction paper and other odds and ends! I promise I will do everything humanely possible to foster that creativity I see in you.
• A carnivore- You are a meat and potatoes kind of girl. You LOVE your carbs and tear into a chicken leg like its nobody's business. I know I force you to eat your veggies, but you'll thank me one day, promise.
• An athlete - This was the first season I have actually seen you play soccer (instead of herd ball) and never thought I could get SO wrapped up in a kids game. That first game where you scored three goals? I think I told every single person I came into contact with that day. Heck- I told everyone for at least another week afterwards!
• A reader-You love to read. Love it. I hope the love of reading continues your entire life.
• A fashionista- Yes, sometimes your outfits are a bit clown-ish, but other times I think "Wow... how did she come up with that combo? Now THAT's fashion!" Your teachers all comment on your outfits and how they love to see what you will be wearing next.
• One sweet little girl. At your parent teacher conference, your teacher commented on just how likeable you are. By everyone. She commented how you don't just stick to one group, but get along with everyone. And that sometimes you just like to do things independently...even when the other kiddos want to do it in groups. Love that.

Happy 7th birthday. We love you so very much.

Love, Mommy

The awesomeness she is wearing (and the dress Kaylee is wearing above) can be found here! I love, love, love this designer. Her website says she "believes every color goes with every color." and her designs are all from recycled Ts.

LOVE THAT.