A Little Catching Up...

Wow, it has apparently been a very long time since I last updated my blog!  I don't even know really where to start so I'll just go with a quick update for now...

The girls are doing great!  We are well into the new school year and so 3rd and 7th grade are going great so far

Rylee is involved in American Heritage Girls for the second year, Art Club, Center Stage Show Choir and she is on the drama team at church.  She continues to be a happy, loving and beautiful child and I am so blessed to be her Mommy!

Hanna continues to love horses and has recently started riding again.  Not only is she learning to ride on many different types of horses, but she is also learning how to work with the horses in preparation for some day running her own training and lesson barn.  Seventh grade is definitely different, but I am proud of her for having the strength to sometimes go against the crowd.  Seventh grade has been a roller coaster of learning for her, and somewhat confusing with the flock of boys that always seem to be following after her.

I am praying for wisdom to know how to help guide her through this time of crazy emotions, rapid brain development, and growth spurts - did I mention that she is now taller than me???  I really was not ready for that one!

Otherwise, things are good and always busy!  I am going to leave this post at just a brief update for now.  I have several posts coming together in my head, and I hope to dedicate some time to putting them down in writing soon.

I will leave you with one last picture:

 

My Beautiful Home

There are many reasons why I love Alabama so much...

 

It truly is beautiful.  In the five plus years we have lived here I have seen more incredibly clear, deep blue skies then I have probably seen in my whole life living in Michigan.  There is endless beauty in the foothills that surround us.  Trees in abundance, flowers that burst with color throughout the seasons and birds that sing us awake all year around.  

But beyond the physical beauty lies the true heart of Alabama, and that is its people.

People that take time out of their day to smile at complete strangers, people that talk to you like they have known you your whole life even though you just met.  People that say hello, just because they have passed by you in the isle of a grocery store or on a sidewalk while you walk the dog. And people that lend a hand, when something devastating strikes close to home.

This is why Alabama will always own a place in my heart.  So while I am brokenhearted about the destruction and loss, I can still see the beauty.

Photo Credit:  Birmingham News Photo / Jeff Roberts

 

 

Photo Credit: The Birmingham News / Michelle Campbell

We know many people that were directly hit by the storms and our thoughts and prayers are with each and every one of you.

Black and White Wednesday {Sisters}

The girls seem to be getting along a little better these days.  By that I mean that they are not focusing on annoying the other one at all times.  I've noticed that they are going longer bits of time where they really seem to be enjoying playing with each other.  I treasure these moments for sure!  Still it was quite a shock to find Hanna doing Rylee's hair and helping to get her ready - and I didn't even ask her to!!

Heh... she makes this same face when I do her hair!

Hanna scores bonus points for the lip gloss!

Now that makes the Mommy's heart sing - my growing (way too fast) beauties!

Click here for more Black and White Wednesday posts.

I Heart Faces | Shadow

I had a couple of favorite photos from this weekend that had shadows in them, so I decided to participate in I Heart Faces photo challenge this week. It was hard to pick one, but here is the photo I finally settled on:

To see more Shadow entries for this week, click here.

Sunday Snapshot {Princess in the Making}

We went to a local festival yesterday and Rylee fell in love with the Tutu dresses.  Big surprise right??  She tried one on and generated so much attention that the women gave us a deal that we just couldn't resist - well that along with the beaming little face looking up at me...

Even though it was over 80 degrees, she wore it all through the festival yesterday, even after her hair was plastered to her from sweating so much (oh how I wish I had taken my camera with me!). She tells me that sometimes it hurts to be beautiful...

Black and White Wednesday "Beach"

I am going with a few more beach pictures (big surprise right?). I took many pictures, but I really wanted to take a lot more. I think I need more little models, don't you?

I love catching them holding hands, getting ready to face the waves together.

Oh how I love the beautiful white pillers and buildings as backdrops for pictures!

 

Sometimes she still looks so little!  I treasure these times because usually I am blown away by how fast she is growing.

 

You can't spend a few days at the beach without enjoying crab legs as you watch the sun set!

 

And I am including these last two because, well... they just make me smile!

Join Black and White Wednesdays at The Long Road to China

Sunday Snapshot {Family Time}

Three years and four months ago, we brought Rylee home from China.  Just after receiving our travel approval, my husband lost his job.  It was a stressful time, but nothing was going to stand in our way of bringing our daughter home.

He took the first job offer...  it was several states away, so we packed up and left for China.  We came home as a new family, to a new home, in a new state - where we knew no one.  It was hard, it was stressful, it was lonely, it was scary... we made it through.

Four months later my husband was offered a job back in the same area we had just moved from.  We went back.  It was another move, more stress and more change for Rylee.  But we made it through.

One year later, my husband lost his job again...  It was hard, it was stressful and it was time to give up on the auto industry.  We did not want to move again.  I started working two jobs and I was fortunate to be able to do both from home.  We also started our own business and one or both of us have worked 6 to 7 days a week for the past two years.  We made it through.

And we have thrived as a family.

These past few days, we have finally made it to the point where we can take our first non-working - the four of us only - family trip!

The place was beautiful...

The weather was perfect!

The sunsets were amazing!

The children were fun and smiling and beautiful!

The beach was breathtaking!

The trip was perfect!

And I am so thankful!

Black and White Wednesday

I thought I would add a few more zoo trip pictures.  I really like how dramatic the animal shots are when they have been converted to black and white.

And since Hanna has agreed that I can post about her on my blog again, I decided to add one of her in a pose that we see all too often these days.  In fact, this is how all the kids at the bus stop look every morning - either texting, playing games on their iPod's or listening to music.  They even text each other, and yet they are all standing there in a group together (I seem to be the only one there that finds humor in this)!

Visit The Long Road to China for more Black and White Wednesday posts!

Sunday Snapshot {Zoo Trip}

Have you ever had one of those days, when things just didn't come together for extraordinary pictures?

The weather was beautiful, the setting was fun and the girls were playful.

Maybe a little too playful to pause long enough for Mom to take pictures.

And finally you just have to "throw in the towel"...

And join in the laughter!

I hope you all had a great weekend!