I heart faces Photo Contest: Best Face Photo from May

This weeks I heart faces contest is "Best Face Photo from May | People's Choice." This gorgeous girl is my sister.  She needed some head shots done and I was so blessed to be able to go visit her in May and be the one to take them. We had so much fun together. I miss her and lover her to pieces. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. 

The Silent Laugh That Went Awry

We sit together with our hands intertwined like a newlywed couple. We are kidless. As long as their nursery number doesn't show up on the screen. Comfortable. Happy. We take a deep breath as we relax and listen.

I soon begin to realize my attention span is not as mature as I thought. In fact it's closely resembling that of my four year old. I shift my weight a few times. I uncross and then cross my legs again. I flip through the scriptures in a student-of-the-Bible type fashion. 

I then did something I knew in my heart I shouldn't have done. I failed to heed the red flags that were being raised in my heart. I didn't listen. I looked to my left. 

I looked into the eyes of the handsome man sitting next to me whose hand I was holding. He had that look in his eye. The look that told me that he to was feeling the need to do a few jumping jacks. It was a very ornery look. I knew this look well. Trying to be a good girl I quickly looked away. Continuing down this path was a dangerous one.

I sat still and avoided the urge to look again at that mischievous face wanting to cause trouble and provoke me. I fought it for a few minutes, but the temptation was to strong and I looked again.  This time he spoke. I can't remember exactly what he said, but apparently it was funny. So funny, that it caused me to demonstrate my over-exaggerated silent laugh. 

I felt a big sense of accomplishment that I had overcome my juvenile impulse in a very quiet adult-like manner. I took what he had to dish out and reacted with minimal damage. 

I refocused myself back to the message. I forced myself to only look straight ahead or down at my Bible. 

I was confident that our little moment of childish banter had passed. I only glanced over to confirm that this was the case.

I was way off. This time he did what he knew would, with-out a doubt,  send me over the edge. 

He mocked me. 

It was there all along. Hiding. The giddiness had never really left, it had just been smoldering. He patiently waited for the perfect opportunity.

I didn't even know what I had done was worthy of mocking. But he did. And it was. 



He whispered in my ear, "this is what you look like when you do your silent laugh." I watched him close his eyes, throw his head back so that it touched the back of the pew, open his mouth as wide as it would go as if he were catching flies, and not make a sound.

That was it. He nailed it. He accomplished his mission. He knew the exact string to pull. 

For some reason, in a setting where you are told to be composed, quiet and focused, a very simple poke at ones character becomes a gut-busting witticism. 

Oh yes, it happened. An uncontrollable, spit spraying, snot-out-the-nose kind-of laugh, came spewing out of my mouth. I tried desperately to hold it in, but it only made it that much worse as it was coming out. 

I quickly began to think of bad things. Terrible things. Things that would make me cry. Anything that would suppress the desire to continue to make a fool out of myself either by continuing to laugh uncontrollably, or by running out of the sanctuary like wild hyena. 

Either way, he was in trouble. 

I wouldn't be surprised if we loose our privilege to sit next to each other.  I wouldn't be surprised if one day we are asked to separate. During church.

Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to remedy anything.  ~Kurt Vonnegut

I heart faces Photo Contest | Yellow

This weeks challenge is yellow. This is the first image that came to mind. This little doll baby was so much fun at her session. Decked out in yellow and a head-turner for sure! Her little shoes totally completed her outfit. But, I think those lashes are what stole my heart!

Ocean Beauty and The Rubber Seashell

When the idea of moving to Colorado became an option, one of the first things I thought was, "but there's no ocean." We have always lived near the coast. The thought of living somewhere that was completely landlocked was a weird concept for me. Actually, sort of oddly scary. Not really sure how to explain that. Maybe you fellow coastal dwellers can relate and shed some light on the issue?

Not that we even went to the beach all that much. But, if we wanted to, we could.

Again, I'm not saying it makes any sense at all to be fearful of not being near something that itself is actually quite terrifying. A massive, powerful, salty body of water containing living things that can harm you. I don't know?

One, is that it is amazingly beautiful. You can't help but notice God's divine creation when watching the waves crash against the sandy shore. It's magical. And two, it holds a lot of precious childhood memories for me.

I have fallen in love with Colorado. The no ocean thing really isn't that big of a deal. What it comes down to is trading one beautiful thing for another. Colorado is gorgeous in a completely different way.

But, that doesn't mean we won't be visiting. Now that we know we can make the drive, we can visit the beautiful California beaches and get our fix.

The kids had really never seen the ocean before. We went a few times in Virginia, but they were too little to remember. And, no offense to the east coast, but it's not the same.

They were instantly smitten. Like as in them running as fast as they could straight into the gigantic sea. Fast. Fearless.

Thankfully Nana and Aunt B caught up to them in time. I was busy with my camera and honestly I thought they had more common sense then to run straight into an un-know to them, intimidating to some, massive body of water. Well, no harm done. They're safe!

You appreciate it so much more when you don't live there all the time. It's completely mesmerizing.

The kids had a blast and couldn't get enough.

Mom and Britt had a good time too!

You could say we looked a little bit different than the rest of the beach goers that day. Okay, so we completely looked like tourists. Squealing and frolicking like a wild stallions just released from captivity. Yes, we're loud. We're happy and we like to have a good time.

Some find us entertaining and we are happy to provide that. Some, just don't care. And, some find us extremely annoying and intrusive. But, it's a free country and it's the flippin beach for goodness sake. Deal with it.

We are really good at ignoring the gawking onlookers. We have no problem staying in our own little happy place. We just pretend that everyone finds us entertaining and leave it at that. It's a gift!

Sand on her rosy cheeks and suntan lotion in her hair. A true beach babe!

These little guys were everywhere and Jon took to collecting them in his bucket. He was devastated when we told him he couldn't take them home. The gross part was this was the only living one in his massive beetle pile. He didn't care. They were his friends.

Matthew was so funny to watch. He went a little crazy. He even had an episode where he just started punching the sand repeatedly like he was fighting it. No sure? This boy might have some issues!

He was like a machine! It was as if he was finally free to release all his pent-up anger that had built up over his three long years of life. Or maybe he just liked the feel of it.

Ella comes running up the beach screaming, "look, look, mommy, I found a rubber seashell!"

We were laughing so hard. Only Ella and only in California!!!

"Honey, that is not a seashell."

"It has to be. Well, then what is it?"

"Well honey, this is what some people choose to put inside their swimsuits to make their tops look bigger."

"Oh. Well I'm going to add it to my seashell collection anyway."

I can't wait to go back!

A Beautiful Bride

Sorry I left you hanging last week without any explanation to my whereabouts. It was the first time I did not meet my self-inflicted deadline of posting on Wednesdays. I have a very good reason. I was relaxing and taking a vacation in the warm California sun! What better reason is there? None.

Okay, so that's a poor excuse for me not even dropping you a quick note. Well, as you read this post, you will see why. It was sort of a hush-hush situation. I didn't want to give away any details to our devious plan.

Mom and I again decided to have an adventure. In the car. With a lot of kids. For a very long time.

Eighteen hours, countless potty breaks and a whole lot of caffeine. We made it in record time. After our journey from New York to Colorado, this was a piece of cake. California, watch out, here we come!

We had to go.

Why?

My mom's baby sister and my sweet aunt's life was taking on a new form. In more ways than one. She was getting hitched! And, she's having a baby!

Now, this was not just another wedding, this was the most anticipated wedding of our lifetime. You see, my aunt and her prince charming have been together since high school. This was a major event.

We have always looked at them as a couple. It has always been Becky and James. But, how wonderful to make it officially official.

Twenty-one years, the most patient couple on the planet!

You two are going to be amazing parents!

We decided to make it fun and not tell her I was coming. We wanted to see if we could get her to pee her pants. There was a small concern of putting her into preterm labor, but we took the gamble. Her pants stayed dry, but the tears flowed. Baby is fine. Mission accomplished.

We have a secret goal in life to make those we love the most, cry. A happy cry.

They could not be more prefect for each other.

Little man has some pretty favorable genes on his side. One gorgeous baby coming right up! How could you not be handsome with parents like this. He will be beautiful inside and out. No question.

I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out.

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I am so over the moon happy for you guys! Love you!