Firsts

The first day of first grade was fairly uneventful. Mack had already explored her classroom from top to bottom at back to school night. Mack was up and ready to go and we walked to school where I waved as she joined a gaggle of girls and quickly forgot that I was there.  And so it goes, a new routine has developed. Mason is drowning in the windfall of attention that comes with being the only child at home during the day. Mack has missed her kindergarten teacher. First grade is very different. There is less singing and playing. While the teachers are all very nice, the children are treated like school-agers and , while there is plenty of friendliness , the warm-fuzzy feeling is a little muted. With that, though, comes more recess time and freedoms not afforded to young kids. Time will help her adjust to the difference. I hope it helps me miss her less . I love having more time to devote my attention to Mason but I do feel Mack's absence so much. This growing up is hard!

Last day of kinder, first day of first grade

Mr. Mason is having fun "painting"

Trickle down days

We are in the trickle down days of summer. School starts in three days which kind of thrusts me into " fall" thinking, even with me dragging my mental feet. So the back pack is stuffed, lunch box materials are at the ready, new shoes laces are ready to go in shoes that somehow still fit from last year. Eye doctor and dentist appointments have been made. The pool is down for the summer, my mind has switched to " next year in my garden" mode and I'm looking forward to putting the lawn mower away for the season.

My mind was pretty turbulent all summer long whenever my thoughts drifted to school and the impending decision about where to place Mackenzie this school year. I figured that surely something would assure me of a decision, one way or the other but it never did. My heart felt unsettled with every choice so my head kicked in, telling me that sometimes the best choice is no choice and so we have decided just to stay at Twombly until we have a definitive reason to look else where. Meeting Mackenzie's teacher, Ms. Martinez, and seeing that her classroom will be filled with sweet , familiar faces of several girls Mack has gotten along with before has helped to calm my fears. Ready or not, first grade is upon us. 

My friend Kristi wanted to find out where the sunflower
fields were . I couldn't resit more photos. You know, while I was there.

Mason ...Oh my goodness. I wish everyone person could experience his intoxicating ways of making people laugh. Despite his very " two" nature some days, he is really coming into his own person. His sense of humor blooms under the laughter he brings. One small giggle he causes only makes him try harder again to make someone laugh. Mason has been using the potty at his own will for a few months now. Some days he uses it a lot and others not at all . He has also learned to undress himself and these two components ( undressing and the peeing) have made for more interrupted naps that I care to have had. Finding a naked toddler in his crib , soaking wet, when I was thinking he was peacefully snoozing was not my idea of fun though the smile on his face and twinkle in his eye ( before his first naked time out) was hard to resist. Once things settle into a nice school time routine, we will tip toe towards potty training to see how he does. His most recent trip to the dentist office for a check up makes me glad that we get a six month break before the next once. Thank goodness for great office staff and a very helpful sister . We all narrowly survived.

Mike is really enjoying being on a day time routine. The change in his demeanor and energy levels are just amazing. We all enjoy his set schedule even though this means that he will miss every Michigan football game this season. He's been working to get his paramedic license back, too, as  way to bring in a little extra cash on weeks that he only works three days. He has decided to start small batch brewing , producing just a gallon of beer at a time. His first attempt wasn't a smooth one but with needing to buy less ingredients, hopefully he will be able to improve and brew more frequently.

I am busy as ever. My house is messier than it ever has been but the trade off is that I get to pursue my love of photography and rediscover " Missy" and not just " Babe " Mom" . I love being a wife and a mother but it's also nice to have a bit of time to do things that are just for me. I have steady business and new friendships thanks to my photography business and the good friends who support me by booking shoots. The extra income has been nice, too, though most of it goes right into savings . Of course, as it goes, things come up and large chunks are gobbled up before we can do anything fun . This is life and I'm happy to make things a little less tight all while doing what I enjoy and still being home with my kids.

This picture makes me grin because it captures Mason's energetic run . He has a definite "skip in his step" and his arms are always going. Maybe that's why he's so fast!

Still, we are counting down to an exciting visit from Grammy in just a few weeks and a surprise visit from Nikki just before that !  The next few weeks will likely crawl by, heavy with anticipation!

A photo shoot last week took me past this wonderful barn. I'd actually been eying it for a long time but I could never make it over to take the photos during the evening hours . This barn and the land it's on is for sale . My long time friend and fellow landscape photography enthusiast and I thought it would make a great photo studio/entertainment hall.

Almost a pro

I showed Mack how to take a picture . She is certain she's " almost a professional " . It may be true but I did feel an internal wince as she ran off into the field to take more pictures . This photo may be my favorite ever of her .

I've been taking lots of pictures of this smile ( not always mustached ) because , at her dentist appointment, Dr. Rachel said Mack's teeth first baby should be falling out any time now. I want to remember that baby smile forever.

Busy business

 Mx4 Lifestyle Photography has been delightfully busy. Since I first " opened my doors" in June, I have done 7 photos shoots. My August weekend slots are all booked up and fall family photo session season is lurking around the corner.

Though my goal is to increase our family savings but also sock away the money I make to invest back into the business ( my wish list of " essentials" is well over $5000 ) , I am finding that I enjoy having something that is mine. I love photography and I love the gift that it is. And , though I would not ever change a single second, being a stay at home mom has allowed me to become a bit of a hermit except for those whom I consider my closer friends. Those friendships tend to revolve around our kids. So now , I am rekindling and starting friendships that are apart from that and it's been very nice.

It's been that I've had a photo shoot a week and that is pretty manageable . It has, however, been tough on the kids and Mase has said on several occasions " Mommy, don't work." They've only ever known me being home so it is hard for all of us. When I get home from a shoot and have finished editing my photos, Mason says over and over " Mommy is home. " I'm sure that will get easier as time goes on.

On top of sessions , one of my photos was showcased on Etsy's website for the theme " Sun-drenched" and that was pretty exciting. I donated a session to a fundraiser for a couple who is adopting two kids from Ethiopia . My session was the highest grossing item and resulted in a bit of a bidding war.

I'm continually updating my website ( although I haven't added samples from my latest sessions ). I hope you'll swing by and check it out. All is well on the photography front! Here is a sweet tidbit of feed back from one of my clients;

" You have captured true smiles from O, not the fake ones I always seem to get. Just....amazing, my dear! You have a true gift for this Missy, not just a great eye for what to photograph and how to place it, but really for putting the kids at ease, which is really most of the battle. So many small sweet moments you caught, things from our life you picked up on that are wonderful treats to see captured. "

And in no particular order....

 Like, really. There's no order here. I'm so behind and I feel like I could get these photos up, I could get back to regularly scheduled blogging. So , here's a mess of pictures.

Photo shooting has been going well! I even earned enough money to buy one of the cheapest lenses on my wish list. $400 later, I ticked something of my photography needs.

At the start of summer, the kids and I set out to do a summer park tour. We wanted to visit as many parks as we could, choose our favorite and then have a big picnic at our favorite at the end of summer vacation. This is Macky playing in the splash park at " Neverland Park" .

Mason had fun at Neverland park, too!

Oh yeah, babies! Chow down. 

Mack waited so patiently and this was the day she and Mike were heading out to fish .

They didn't catch anything, but they sure are cute!

Mike and the kids with Sam ( Cass and Samantha's dad- his nick name is " Pops" ) awaiting fireworks.

Make wishes in Keenesburg before fireworks

These two....trouble. That's all there is to say.

I was a little concerned that Mack might not have gotten enough sunscreen on.

Celebrating independence day in Keenesburg with the Reynolds clan has become a favorite tradition.

Bouquets abound!

A "Super big" wish!

Fort Lupton city fireworks

A sweet, sleepy face

Mike and Mack fished at one of our favorite parks while Mase and I played.

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Mase wasn't the most welcomed guest when the three older kids wanted to play a board game. You can imagine how this all played out....

How Mack plays with her Barbie accessories. This little grub wasn't impressed.

Mason can frequently be heard saying " I'm DADDY!" and here he is, wearing Mike's CPAP gear.

Hover park, take two! We visited this park last year and came back for some crawfish catching.

Mack and Mike collected enough crawfish to have them for dinner that night. And they survived to tell the story. The stomach upset that occurred the next day left us wondering...

Mason discovers Legos

Mack spent three hours playing Legos this day.

My garden is quite happy these days!

Back at Neverland Park to meet up with a visiting March mama. It was a  down pour when we all arrived. Tammi and I let our kids play in the drain water which quickly drained away. Sarah and Meg watched from afar with their kiddos.

Look who's brave enough for the sprinklers now!

We spent hours playing at this park with the fellow March 08 babies and their siblings. Everyone was pretty tired that night!

This little swimmer is quite the fish! She just wrapped up level 2 with Mrs. Sheryl who was very impressed by how dedicated Mack is to the sport and also, how quickly she learns. One of the coaches from the competitive swim club had been watching Mack swim and asked her to join the swim team! While Mack definitely wants to, we are going to finish level 3 and then consider it for spring.

Science projects with Mike and Mack.

Mommy donut date

Brooklyn is quite the help with Mase and has even earned a few bucks here and there as a mother's helper when I've needed some time to finish up projects around the house.

I can't believe this girl just celebrated her 11th birthday.

Another science project. I wonder what our neighbors think....

Mack and Mrs Sheryl before class.

Yard bouquet

Mase and I had to think of interesting ways to keep busy during Mack's swim classes. One way that was tried by Mase was " does it float" wherein he darted to the poolside, tossed in the contents of his hand and watched mommy scramble to get it out. Thankfully that game lost it's luster after a second attempt .

The kids and I got stranded near the bathroom at the park as it poured heavy rain for a half hour. This was Mason's reaction to earth shaking thunder.

These Marchies are up to something...

Denver Metro March Mama meet up '14

Library fun!

Sunday Pancake day

Can you believe how quickly she's grown? She's requested to wear hoop earrings because that's what older girls wear. *Sigh* Oh, ok.

Well here's something exciting. Do you see that tornado above our house?

And this one down the street from us? This was one scary afternoon , spent in the basement.

Summer evening spent with  my mom

For the record , the words " rub a dub dub " are not good where toddlers are concerned.

A teddy bear sunflower from our yard. We have several varieties of sunflower in bloom right now.

Someone better get this boy some cake! Mase at Brook's birthday party.

My handsome

It rained nonstop for two days. The kids were restless so out we all went.

With all the rain, my yard is a mushroom habitat. See the heart in this one?

Finally! I  found a field of wild rudbekia that was not on private property!

So. There's a huge helping of overdue photos. That feels better!  Now back to normal...right? Ohhh wait...school starts in 9 days!