Michigan

oh how I love Michigan in the summer.  I could swim in Lake Michigan all summer long, I soak up litterally every second we get to spend at the beach while we in Michigan. Growing up there gave me a love for the beach and the water, I can't get enough of it!  I love watching my kiddos enjoying it now and playing in the sand.  I love jumping in the waves with the kiddos and running out into the waves myself.  This year we were able to share with Colorado freinds!  So fun to see the excitement in all the kids as we swam.   Love going to private beaches and having it all to ourselves, Love the beach on a rainy day when know one is around. 

Jayna's got brand new blog.............okay so now brand new.

I am going to start blogging on my photography blog because this one no long wants to allow me to post pics, so if you like reading my blog, you can start following me on.  jaynasphotography.blogspot.com.

Focus up

Lately, I have been trying to keep my crazy mind from spinning out of control and wondering why there is so much to think about.  Well I think my focus has been a little off lately, okay maybe for a while,and maybe way off.  It occured to me why I might be getting a little overwhelmed with life...........I need to focus up.

Probably mostly from my own racing brain, and probably some from just life.  I am constantly thinking about if I am being a good enough mom and wife and if my kids are dressed good enough, and that I should do Olivia's hair and what I should wear to certain events and how much I should be playing with my kids, and what I should be teaching them.  Does this stress anyone else out............and what my house should be decorated like and what events my kids should be signed up for. 

Who is my audience and who should my audience be.  I know God does not focus on trivial stuff and I should have my focus be UP.  All this to say, I need to put my focus where it should be and maybe then I will not have so many worries, about not being able to always have my kiddos dressed to a t.  Not having the perfect everything! 

So today, I took pictures or my imperfect kids, because I know they are not perfect.  I took pics of Liv playing with her playdough, with her messy hair, and food on her face, and her clothes that are far from perfect.  Yes I want to dress my kids cute and would love to have money to do so and I do think it's important to have her look presentable, but this should not be my main focus and it should not consume me like it is!

My best friends Wedding.......I mean shower

This past weekend, I had the privledge of taking Jilliann and Scott's engagement pics!!!!!!!  Boy did we have fun!  We went to Telluride and Ridgway, to capture some fun pics!  What a fun couple to capture pics of!  They did great!  They were able to act oh natural and get some fantastic pics!  It does help to be a super cute couple and be photogenic as well.  We had a blast this weekend meeting Jilliann's finance, Scott, what a super guy!  We are so happy for her. them!  We also were able  to celebrate with them at their couple's shower!  Vicki did great decorating, and fabulous with the food as well.  Here are some pics from the weekend of fun festivites.  ummm oh ya need to delet some old pics, I have no more room!

Things that haunt me...

apparently I have exceeded my picture limit after four years of blogging.  So I guess I delete some old stuff until then, you can read about my crazy thoughts. 

Things that Haunt me.....
-blank Canvas
-my kids blank baby books
-The unfinished scarf I started
-the messy house
-the abondond excersise video
-my daily devotional that goes unread
-unread magazines
-unedited pictues
-and the grand Finale BLANK WALLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the list could go on and on, but I really need to do somthing productive today!  And hey here is a good idea, how about I take care of some of these things that haunt me.....................I am off to clean the house.

I am woman here me roar.......I mean cry.

Why is being a woman sooooooooooo emotional?  I think my husband thinks I am nuts half the time. Just sitting here thinking about............how hard it is to be a woman..........

Montrose=home?

I can't believe I have been living in Montrose for almost 8 years!  Wow!  To be honest when I first moved here, I wanted to run away, run far away! 

So to accomplish this I was searching jobs, in other places in Colorado.  I decided I loved Colorado, but get me the heck out of Montrose.  I only ended up getting two interviews and did not get either job!  I cried and cried, when I found out I did not get either job.  I wanted out of Montrose, in a bad way! 

So I started the next school year, mad and sad because I thought I would never meet my husband living in Montrose Colorado and I HATED IT HERE!  Besides I had dated the five single men living in Montrose.  But thats a whole different story.

So I joked with my principal about hiring a single, and good looking male english teacher to fill the spot that they needed to fill.  Well to my surprise, he did!  Thank you!  A year later I ended marrying this new hot english teacher!  Another long story that will have to wait for another day. 

So after getting married, we both decided that still the grass was greener on the other side of the fence and we would always be searching the CDE website for jobs elsewhere in Colorado.  This lasted for about a year until we started telling people when they asked, that well we are here for now, Unless something better comes along!  So evenutually I stopped seeking jobs elsewhere! 

We met the Palms and many other great freinds through church, which we are still all freinds with now, we got involved in a home group, and had kids, and decided okay this place is not so bad!  Definatly helps to be married with kiddos.  I would never suggest living here SINGLE.

Now that I am not teaching and I have two kiddos, lots of freinds, and quite the little community here that feels like family to us, Montrose has become HOME!  I love my freinds!  I love attending Mops, I love our church!  I love that we are so close to Ouray (one of our favorite places!)  I started to grow my photography buisness!  Olivia has a cousin here. 

So the whole point to this post is this.  Dan comes home from school one day and tells me, I think we are going to have to MOVE!!!!!!!!!!!  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  I finally realize how much I love this place and my husband mentions the word "MOVE" 

Dan is currently seeking a principal position, which would allow me to stay home and be a stay at home mom and we would not have to struggle financially, well not as bad at least.  So the search begins for a principal job. 

Luckily for me the only way we would move is if we A. Got a job offer somewhere else.  and B. we sold the house.  Which I am not attached this house, I will gladly move to a new house in MONTROSE!  So now we pray that a principal job opens in Montrose, or close by, or pray that God puts us where ever we are supposed to be which I am hoping is right here! 

Our big boy

Loving this little boy!  I have never seen a happier baby!  Loving watching him grow, and smile and squeal!  He loves his sister and anyone who will smile at him for that matter!  Takes a lot to make this kid fuss.  He is now sititng up and eating ALOT!  He is a growing boy!  I think Olivia can't wait for him to be big enough to run around with her, but she is still having fun with her little brother.  I never imagined how much I would love having a little boy!

What fills my cup.......

I was just thinking as I just finished reading the parents magazine today, how rejuvinated felt!  It's amazing what a little "me" time can do for a girl!  So I started thinking about what makes me tick and what fills my cup and what just makes me a happier wife/freind/mommy to be around. 

1. Having time to read a magazine, and drink a glass of chai.  (uninterupted of course, the kiddos were both sleeping)

2.  Being able to cook dinner for family.  Having the table set and ready long before dinner is ready to be served.  (expecially when I feel appreciated after dinner is done)

3.  Silly but time to shave my legs.  Uniteruppted time to sit and shave my legs. 

4.  Bath time...........I love bath time. Expecially in the dark with a candle. 

5.  Smiles from my kiddos. and love of any kind from them........expecially when Olivia says sweet things to me.  Like "your the best mom ever".

6.  washing my face at night...........which I am often too exhausted to do.  It's usaully pushing it having the energy to brush my teeth. 

7.  Girl itme.  A night out with the girls, to just have some girl conversation. 

8.  Taking pictures!  I love pictures!  I am so thankful I can creatively capture life!

9.  Although I don't get to do this much anymore, I love to create artwork! 

10.  Lastly is when my husband helps me........with anything, which he is sooooooooo willing to do,  he helps with everything.  Usually without me even asking and usually when I do ask he does so without a second thought or complaint! 

I wanted to put pics to go with all of these things, but not all of them merrit a pic but to be continued.  I will add pics!

Just living life.

waking up everyday............playing with the kiddos..............feeding the baby.........somtimes trying to survive and not lose my sanity over tantrums and the question "why".  Always wondering what is next: but also trying to live in the moment..............trying to remember to cherish all time, even when it's crazy,  loving having a baby.......praying to see all the blessings of our three year old, (that are sometimes covered with screaming, whining and tantrums.)  Always wondering and thinking too much.......trying to focus on what's important.........and praying again to keep my focus on what I am supposed to be thinking about........always a wandering mind.........evil thoughts trying to creep in...........praying again for positive thoughts..........battlefield of the mind...........Out of controll emotions...........will I ever be normal again....what is normal...........I am just a woman...............  Wondering what God has next................but trying to live for the day..........wondering if I am doing enough...........wondering if I am a good Mom. ..................so thankful...........thankful........that I am a stay at home mom.......always wanting to be better...........thankful for photo jobs...............thankful for my family, faith and children, and thankful for a God that always provides......... I will just end with that. 

Our trip to Arizona

Arizona Cactus.

Visiting Casa Grande, Olivia was loving spending time with her Grand parents.  It was super windy, so this was a really quick trip, but there was not a whole lot to look at there anyways. 

I love the cactus with purple on them!  Had to get a pic!  Unfortunately I could not get more pics becuase the weather was pretty yucky.

one of my favorite pics from vacation!  Liv and Grandpa Berry having a conversation together. 

Elijah sure loved Grandma Berry, it was so sweet how he cuddled with her and smiled at her!  So glad we got to go down for a visit!

Dan and Liv at a really fun park by Grandma and Grandpas, Dan and I had a blast there as well!

Becuase I missed the really cool sunset on the first night we were there I was determined to get a sunset pic, we were on a walk the first night walking away from the sunset, as we turned around and started heading home, we realized, there was a beautiful sunset and we were to far away from the house to get the camera in time.  So these will have to do. 

Because I am never in the pictures we did a hold the camera out and snap,  This is difficult with my camera,  but we got one!

On the way home we pulled over at an abandund gas station to feed Elijah.  So of course a picture was in order!

We stopped a lot to go the bathroom, feed Elijah and go the bathroom, traveling with a three year old that had to use the restroom a lot, a five month old that wanted to eat a lot and of course to fill up the tank!

On a long desert highway...............cool wind in my hair...............

................and finally back in Colorado!

Valentine's Day

Our morning started with Liv and I and acutally Elijah to waking up to make Dan a special Valentines breakfast before he went to work.  We made him hear shaped eggs and bacon and toast.  We also had a fun Valentines party for preeschoolers that Christine, Jess and I put together. It was a really fun time! 

Dan bought me a dozen roses and attached scripture verses about love to each of them.  Super sweet.  He also gave me a super sweet card, which is all I ever ask for is just a card with somthing written it.  Dan and I got to go out and leave both kiddos home!  Thanks to one of our students who was an awesome babysitter!  Olivia just adored her! 

Dan and I want out to dinner and just shopped at Target one of my favorite things to do without kids, is just look at all the CLEARANCE!. I love TARGET!!!!!!!!!  We also went to coffee trader and just chatted!  It was fun having time alone!  Which we loved and need to do more often!  If we had free babysitting we would certainly taken advantage of that a lot more!  What a fun day!

Lastest Happenings

We have been a little busy lately, I guess thats always how life is!  We finally got a chance to enjoy the outdoors and enjoy why we moved out to Colorado!  We drove to the mountains twice this last weekend and enjoyed some sledding on Saturday, boy is it good to just get out of town!  Then on Sunday we went and soaked in the hot springs with the Pollards.

Olivia's Birthday Festivities

Madal and Griff had a Tea Party for Liv so sweet.

 Liv Madal and Griff enjoying Liv's birthday lunch! 

Olivia had two days of birthday fun turning "3" this year.  Her birthday morning, I attempted to make her a three pancake, it was a thee on the pan before it got flipped and then it had to be reasembled on her plate, never the less she loved it when she got to blow out her candle!  After breakfast we headed over to the Freeds where Jess and Christine set up a birthday tea party for Liv!  I love my freinds!  It was super sweet!  After some fun playing we headed to Heidi's Brooklyn Deli for some lunch.  Then of course home for nap time. For birthday dinner we went to Chillis and were joined by Ailee, Jess and Griff, that made Liv's night!
This morning she woke up to her birthday party decor and had her freinds over for a great bday party!  She loved it!  I am so glad all this birthday stuff is over! I am a little bit exhausted!