Moments.

Take II.

In August, I participated in a I ♥ Faces challenge. I shared this photo which I just love:



Only to discover, that I actually used the wrong photo! Whoops! Jags is 'Jewel of the Week' tomorrow, so today I'm browsing images that I can print for her. That's how I discovered my error. I prefer, & meant to use, the photo below because the clarity is better. But she's beautiful in both. ♥



I've only participated in the one I ♥ Faces challenge, but I think I'll try to participate more often since I love both photography & a good challenge. :) I've heard from Canon & my camera should be ready in about a week. I'm so excited to get it back! Ü

Live out loud.

We bought socks! Ü

I don't have that heartwarming story of how when I was was growing up, I had that strong desire to be a mother. I never really desired to have more than one or two children. I never even considered being a mom, really - I guess I assumed when the time was right, I'd make the decision to become a mom (like that happened). As a matter of fact, years ago I distinctly remember talking to my employees & making the comment "I'll love my children, but they'll be in daycare as soon as I'm able to return to work!" Oh yes I did! Ha! :)

I did know I always wanted a girl. I didn't/don't have that gushy-gushy relationship with my mom & I guess down deep, I always hoped to have a girl so I could do things differently. I got my girl. I got two girls! And who woulda thunk I'd have girls who adore bright colors & desire to wear funky mismatches? Right up my alley. And I've learned to so appreciate their innocence, so appreciate that they don't care what others think & how they like to dress to make themselves happy. Isn't that the way it should be?

So funky socks it is. Funky anything it is. I don't desire to tell them no, I don't desire to take their individuality & I don't desire to change them & make them something they are not. They are perfect! And so are their socks. Aren't these fab? No, this isn't all of them, the others are in the wash. Ü



And can I just add that I am tickled pink that Jaguar never wears a matching pair? I don't even pair her socks up anymore because she'll just separate them. She is (unfortunately), however, becoming more aware of her appearance & she's now putting pinks with pinks, etc. Except for today - she wore pink shorts with a red shirt. And totally unrelated socks. I couldn't have been more proud.

So what do I think? Live out loud! Wear those funky socks. Be true to yourself. Who cares what others think! One thing's for certain, I'm going to learn a lot from my girls. And I can't wait. ♥

Moments.

I was so unhappy with the other photo of her I previously posted. Not that she wasn't just as gorgeous, but her daddy did her hair that day & it was a little on the dry side. I don't like her hair dry. So I took her outside quickly this morning & reshot. Her eyes are just amazing. ♥

Moments.

For Mel.

Jaguar. C3. Loose spirals, but very tight, perfect corkscrew baby hair. Thick.




Mercedes (C4). Tighter (but loose) spirals, same tight, perfect corkscrew baby hair. Much thinner & starting to really loosen/wave at the top.





I am thinking BB3 for both?!

My 1st grader!

She made it! Woot! It was touch & go there for a while, but by george, she kicked it into high gear the last few weeks & she's movin' on up! Ü

She also pulled her own (top) tooth this morning! Not sure how it happened, but I've been assigned the 'designated tooth puller' here in our home. It certainly doesn't thrill me - but nonetheless, I grab those suckers & yank & then almost pass out when it comes out in my hand. Ew. But today, she just yanked that sucker out herself & didn't even come & wake me up. Baha! Doesn't surprise me. This is the same girl that received 4 shots in her legs (simultaneously) when she was younger & never flinched or made a peep. She's tough! :)

Moments.

With makeup on. ♥

Speaking of Jaguar.

The girl is crazy. I'm telling you - she's from another planet. And I love it. It's what makes her, her. Just like her big hair. Ü


Jags has one mode - SLOW. It's enough to just about send the remaining 5 of us over the edge. She gets in no hurry & she doesn't care. That's who she is & what she is & all she knows - slow.

In the mornings, well, they aren't much fun. She comes downstairs slow. She moseys up to the table slow. She eats slow. And God forbid she has to use the bathroom - that's another story. The boys have begun picking up her lunch box & water bottle just to help get the girl out the door. She's oh so frustrating, but so hilarious all at the same time.

The bathroom. Dear oh dear. When she goes in the bathroom, you can bank on not seeing her again for quite some time. And she's six. Such a joke in our family when we watch her trot off to the bathroom. We all just kind of watch her head that direction, shrug our shoulders, & then we forget about her. After about 20 minutes or so, one of us will say "so, you think she flushed herself? Taking a bath in the sink? Fingerpainting the pedestal again?" (She did that one time. She painted the pedestal (sink) with red frosting. I have no clue how long it had been there, but I discovered it a few weeks ago.) Sooner or later she'll come moseying out, not a care in the world, sit back down & finish her meal like nothing had ever happened. Cracks us up. She's a riot.

I have warned the males in the home that they haven't seen anything yet. If the girl can stay in the bathroom this long at age six, just wait until she does her own hair & puts on makeup. Holy. Cow. She may have to start the night before if she plans on getting anywhere on time. I have no idea what the future holds, but I'm pretty certain, there's gonna to be lots of "get out of there!!!"s. What a blessing we have 3 bathrooms. God knew we were going to need them all one day. Ü

(Her '100th day of school' poster. It now hangs in her room. :o)

She is so adorable. Thinks life is one big party. (That doesn't exactly mesh well with school work however, I do believe she's going to make it to 1st grade!) Takes absolutely nothing too serious. She just has fun & it's so innocent. I do believe by now, she has invited approximately 75 people to our home, for different occasions. Most of those 75 people are teachers. I've had a lot of explaining to do.

After school started, she invited everyone over to swim in our pool. That was interesting.

Then she invited everyone over to see her newly redecorated room.

Then there was Christmas. They all got invited to Christmas.

Then she invited everyone over for her birthday party. She even made her own invitations & passed them out. My kids don't have birthday parties (that is fixing to change! Life is about celebrating. Thank you, Kelle Hampton!) One teacher felt so bad she couldn't make the party. That led to more explanations from mom. :)

And now, there's Raymond. We have no clue who Raymond is, but he's coming over to spend the night. She's talked about him for the last 3 weeks. She's informed us what they're going to do, what food I need to have in the home for his visit, what jammies she needs, where he's going to sleep, blah, blah, blah. So funny.

The teachers love her. Everyone loves & comments on her hair. She is such a mess, typically any given day they put her in the car, the teacher is giggling (usually I'll look at the teacher, mumble "pray for us" & drive off. Heehee.) Getting her home is like getting her out the door in the mornings. She is so disorganized, sometimes she'll be holding items in her mouth. Hair all amock. Coat hanging 1/2 on 1/2 off. Filthy clothes (not the condition she left in!). Dragging her backpack. Yet again, sometimes her brothers have her lunch box & water bottle. Or, she tossed it in her backpack, open. I cringe when I open her lunch box. God only knows what I'm going to find. And, the dirt. Oh good heavens the dirt. It's like she rolls in the dirt every day. Last week, I discovered she took her school scissors to her blue jeans. And today, her new orange shirt. Anyway, I feel like we need to invest in a power washer just to clean her & her belongings.

But oh she's delightful. So naturally full of life. But can break into tears at any given moment, usually regarding an issue that makes no sense whatsoever. But again, that's just who she is. I absolutely cannot imagine my life without my whacky girl!

And I do believe I could learn a few things from my goofy six year old - not to take things so seriously. Lighten up. Let it go. I have made great strides, but she's a necessary reminder that I still have a ways to go.

Inspiration is everywhere. Even in a precious six year old. Life is short. Live! Ü

New Year's Eve.

They asked if they could stay up late. It was Audi's birthday & Jaguar's birthday the next day. So, I complied. Thought it was so cute when I discovered them checking out Audi's new Nintendo. ♥

Jaguar turned 6!

New Year's Day - 1.1.11. (Love that date!)

I kid you not when I say, I could stare at her all day long. Ü

Daddy helping read her birthday cards. Ü

Zoobles! Ü

Barbie convertible! Mom wants a real one of these. ;o)

Yep, cupcakes for her, too! Ü

This last photo kills me. She was totally freaked out by the flame. LOL Eventually, she did blow it out. Ü

My girl. I'm telling you. She is something else. Doesn't do her work in school, because she "doesn't want to". She is so laid back & just has the 'I don't care' attitude. I love it. She's actually making great strides in school. This girl can turn on the tears in a split second. For example, we're talking about the snow that may come tomorrow. In the middle of all the family excitement, Jaguar will break down hysterically & exclaim "Emma didn't like my pants". LOL She does this sort of thing constantly. I'm actually somewhat afraid to enter the teen years with her. ;o) But most of all? She's hilarious. She beats to her own drum (ahem) & that makes her, her. She is very sensitive, but a lovable, happy, healthy little girl who loves anything funky & mismatched. She is loaded with fun. Witnessing her journey through life is going to be very interesting (& very eventful, I'm sure) & I'm honored to have a front row seat. I better hold on tight. Ü

To my Jags, I adore everything about you. I love you so very much! Happy Birthday! ♥

In all her glory.

♥

Professional model?

Jaguar's room - almost finished!

Now with pink lights & the canvas prints I found at a garage sale for $10! :)

Manual, no flash:

Automatic w/ flash:

What's left to do:

Curtains.

Vanity or desk.

Photos of the completed project! Ü

My littles when they were littler.

Below: Bentley (3 1/2) & Audi (1) - 2.13.05.

Below: Audi (1) - 2.8.05.

Below: Audi (1) - 3.15.05. He still has this very same frown. Love it.

Below: Bentley (3 1/2) - 3.9.05.

Below: Bentley (3 1/2) & Audi (the next day he turned 1) - 12.30.04.

Below: One of my very favorites! Bentley (4) & Jaguar (almost 4 months) - 4.29.05.

We purchased our very first digital camera Christmas of '04. Not knowing Jaguar would arrive the first week of January '05. :) All of these photos are snapshots - we barely knew how to work the camera. Ü