Date Night

Tonight was a special night... the first date night for Syd and her dad.  Steve has been planning on taking her to a Father-Daughter Dance at our church.  I pulled out a new dress from her closet, borrowed some black shoes from her best friend and neighbor, and then gave her a beauty treatment complete with eye shadow, blush, mascara, and lip gloss.  She was soooo excited to kiss her daddy and leave "red marks" on his cheek.  Fortunately, her lip gloss was not red!  

Steve rang the doorbell and Syd was just as excited as her dad, who placed a corsage on her wrist.  I started to explain to her that it was a special corsage and she interrupted me asking, "Does it glow in the dark?!"  

She was escorted off in dad's mustang, with a huge smile on her face! 

Mel was excited for Syd but felt a little bit excluded.  Thankfully her grandpa took her for an ice cream treat at DQ.

My girls are both on their dates, and I am with my little boy, watching Yo Gabba Gabba.  Hmmmm, I wouldn't trade it for anything else!

Mel's Starting PreSchool!

Tonight Mel is asleep, the night before she is going to start PreSchool.  Her school supplies are packed, her backpack is ready, and she will be wearing her favorite color tomorrow.... green!

Today we celebrated with pictures, of course.  Here is my baby girl... the one who brought me tears of joy when she came into this world; the one whose stubbornness challenges us as parents; and the one who can tenderly crawl into my lap, tell me that she loves me, and bring me to tears of joy, once again.

 

My Big Girls, My Old Camera

I took some head shots of the girls last week... perhaps my last set of photos with my "old" camera.   I am sure I will still use it occasionally, right?  But I am now moving on with my D700!

Pre-K Here We Come!

Yesterday was the BIG day for Syd, and all of us.  I have decided to start the tradition of a fancy breakfast on their first day of school.  Syd enjoyed chocolate milk with a decorated curly straw, her favorite bagel and cream cheese, a little flower, and a card from mom and dad.  Then off to school she went!

 

She came home and reported that she had a great day.  She painted, played, met some new friends, had a snack, and used the bathroom 3 times!  

And then she asked me, "How big is God?"  

This school year is going to be a challenge... for me!

Getting (myself) Ready

My baby is getting ready.  Or should I say, I am getting ready.  Soon she will be walking into pre-K.  Three more days.  That's all I have left.

And I am already crying.

I am not sure how I can take all the pictures of her I want to take on that upcoming day.

I know my tears will get in the way.
And I know my tears will make her cry, too.

I feel a bit relieved that I chose to take some "pre-K" pictures of her this past week, along with her best friend, who is only 1 day older than Syd, and 1 door away.  As I go thru those pictures, I wonder how this child, born 4 years ago, is now such a big girl, ready to enter the world of school, ready to not need me 2 days a week, ready to listen to her teacher, ready to play on a playground without me watching her, ready to learn about her true Creator, and ready to take her red Hello Kitty backpack with her.

I love you, Syd.

Big Sisters

Just a quick post of pictures... of my two girls, who are now big sisters.  These were taken just a couple weeks before their little brother arrived.

New Wheels

Syd & Mel both came home from spending Christmas in Boston to a set of new wheels from Santa. Syd received the "rainbow" bike she wanted, and Mel got a really bad-to-the-bone looking trike. So far, only one small fall for Syd, who kept her eyes on her feet, not on the path!

{Get Tha Boys Out} Child Portraits

I've been busy starting up my photography business lately and doing a few photoshoots that I have neglected getting back to the photos I took back in September at the Get Tha Funk Out Workshop. Mentally, I have not forgotten this picture of this stunning model (in real life!). There is just something that says independence from a beautiful girl sitting on some old rusty trucks.

No More Diapers

Many celebrations the past few weeks... Syd has graduated to big girl panties, her friend Mason had a 3 year birthday party (introducing Syd to Toy Story), and then last weekend Syd had her very own 3 year Birthday Hula Party (pics to come soon).

For Mason's party, Syd wore the most beautifully patterned dress... it was a lucky find. But what she had underneath (big girl panties) is what I remember most from these pics... oh and how many potty-breaks we took at that party to avoid accidents!