justification process

So this new found love of taking pictures was very unexpected and out of character for me since i've never been known to be artistic. Ever since Lily was one year old, I've done my girls pictures. I hated going to JC Penney, half the time to go home because the baby wouldn't stop crying, and then when i did get pictures, only getting to pick one or two poses for way too much money. Doing it my self, I could do whatever I wanted with the pictures for almost nothing. I really want a digital SLR camera but they can cost up to $1000 for what I'm looking at, not to mention classes just to learn how to use one. Sam is so supportive and really wants me to have a hobby, but i really need to be sure before I dedicate that much money towards a "hobby". So, I just wanted to share some of the pictures T let me take of her beautiful kids. Seeing if I could really enjoy doing this is part of the justification process, so I am so glad she let me give this a try. I just used my old camera and photo shopped them like crazy. I ended up having a blast doing it. I've only ever done pictures for my own kids and the one infant ones i tried doing for my cousin. Anyway, I usually end up screaming at my kids before it is over. I figured I probably just wouldn't enjoy doing kid portraits, but I had a blast doing it for someone else's kids and they did such a good job. Thank you so much T for letting me give this a try. It got me one step closer to me justifying getting a new camera. If there is anyone else out there who would let me do an amatuer photo shoot for free and just to give me experience, please let me know!

New Shoes!!

Sam brought home our christmas gifts from his brother and kind of his sister. Nate had us for Christmas but Camillia wanted to pick out the gifts, especially for the girls. The shoes were a major hit. Lily just kept asking if she could were her new shoes everyday. I love my frames as well. No offense Nate, but I'm glad Camillia took over the picking out part. Guess Sam would've faired better if Nate picked the gifts, but if Sam's 3 girls are happy then he is happy. Thanks guys for the throughtful gifts!

Untitled from Roxy Long on Vimeo.

Just to further explain how much they loved their gifts. The next morning I found Marah in her crib in nothing but her diaper trying to put her boots on which Lily had given to her. She wouldn't come out of the crib until I put them on her.

This is how Lily came out of the bedroom. Both pairs of shoes were in the bedroom from the night before because they just had to have them close by while they were sleeping. Lily did pretty good getting herself dressed. The first thing she asked was if it was time to go to school yet cuz she was just way excited to show off her new shoes to her friends.


ballerina from Roxy Long on Vimeo.

I just loved these pictures of them playing dress up that same morning. It's a ballerina with big black boots!

cameras, cakes, blessings ....

Marah loves her $3 camera she got for being good on our last trip. This is her taking a picture of me taking her picture.

Last week we had YW at my house and made birthday cakes for the 2 girls leaving us. Lily was way serious about decorating her cake. She just loves to create things. Maybe she'll add some artist(ness) to our family. She did a great job!

Marah proved to me that she can not do without a nap. I've never seen her just fall asleep anywhere like that. There is just something about it when a kid falls asleep like that. Such a peaceful feeling or something?

Her hair is getting insanely long again. I mentioned cutting it while we were up north. Later that day in the bathroom she said emphatically that princess' have long hair mom! I love her long hair but it is pretty difficult to do. Guess we'll just trim it again. Maybe give a little of it to Marah.

Here are some pics of the baby blessing Lily and I missed for little max. Lily got really sick right before we were leaving, so Sam decided he'd still go and take Marah with him. Do I have an amazing husband or what! I don't think there are too many guys who would offer to take a crazy 2 year old like marah on a 3 day road trip. We were also hoping that Marah could stay away from the sickness that way. I'm surprised Sam was able to leave because as he was saying good-bye and lily was sitting on his lap she said the most heartbreaking thing. Her eyes were feverish, her voice was all but gone and it was all she could do to tell her dad: "it's better for us to be together as a family." How much sadder can you get. She was pretty upset about staying behind, but she got to do anything and everything that she wanted that weekend and so did I actually. Lily couldn't talk and Marah was gone, so it was a very relaxing weekend for me. Sam and Marah had a good time hanging out and I'm glad they had some good one on one time. Bad news is that Marah ended up getting the same sickness by Sunday. I really want to thank her aunts, grandma and great-grandma for being there for her when I couldn't. It broke my heart when I found out she was sick and she didn't have her mom but Sam told me how wonderful her 'other' mom's were at the blessing, so thank you all!