may was busy

Here's the low down on the month of May....

I had the privilege of taking some maternity photos.  This one was my favorite.  I'm sure there are other photographers out there that have done the same shot, but I have never seen them.  So I was happy when the idea in my head came to life and actually worked! 

That same week as the maternity photo shoot,  I got to take some of a mother and daughter.  I called this photo my Tara Whitney moment.  I don't know what it is about it; maybe it's the colors.  I don't know, but I love it.

 

Also that week, I was invited to a pirate party for a little 3 year old girl.  The party was ridiculously cute and so was the sweet little girl, and her outfit.  It was an honor to take photos that day.  I'm not sure my photos did the cute decor justice, but it was fun trying. :)

Then it was on to taking photos of these two sweet families.  The blonde boy and the little baby are heading to Haiti in a few days.   The Grandma wanted to capture some moments of all of them together before they left.  Even the baby looks like she may be smiling...she's actually screaming. :) 

Then it was off to Puyallup for some FUNKY JUNK with my girls!!  Erin flew in from Indiana to meet up with us Washington girls.  I love my friends.  I've never met more amazing women.  Jorden, who just had a baby, let us all pile in at her house, which was just minutes away from the sale.  She's amazing.  I'm pretty sure I was comatose weeks after having my kids!  Thanks, Jord, it was SO fun!

I didn't take any photos inside, except for this one.  I'm kicking myself because the cuteness and shabbiness was enough to make your head spin.  Bri , the cute one on the end with the apron, was the one who I first heard about the Funky Junk sale from.  She had a booth of her own, with a couple other ladies, and it was adorable.  We all walked away with something...some walked away with more than others! ;)

While at Jorden's, I had the opportunity to take a few photos of their sweet, new, baby boy, Trenton.  He was the BEST baby, so laid back and yummy.  I don't think I really heard him cry the whole time I was there.  He was so sweet.  Jen bought this awesome blue chair at the sale and let us use it for a prop for baby Trent.  He liked it and looked so very cute on it.

In case you were wondering what I bought at the Funky Junk sale...oh man, you should have seen my car!!

A cute pink cabinet that still needs to be hung in the upstairs bathroom.  I'm thinking about painting the bathroom first, so it might be awhile before it gets hung.

A lovely ladder back chair.  I LOVE old chairs.  One day my dining table will be surrounded by them.

This little baby needs some love.  I hope to give it love soon.  I'm thinking either the same white as my dining chairs or maybe even a nice yellow.  

This is one of the things I bought from Bri's booth.  It's a cute little fabric banner (?).  Its home will be in Stella's room, hanging above her bed.

I almost didn't buy this little bedside table.  I'm so glad I did.  I love it.  I get happy when I crawl into bed because it's so cute.  

This little number is going to be hung in my bathroom.  I have plans of hanging my jewelry on it. 

I love funky junk, but I loved spending time with my friends more!!   I can't wait to go to the next one!

Lastly, I got older this month.  I think I turned 29 again. ;)  I've lost track.

I like May.

3 gifts

Being a mother is probably the greatest gift there is, and at the same time, the hardest job I think I'll ever have.  Stella wants to know why there isn't a daughter's day.  I told her when you're a mom you get special things like eyes on the back of your head. :)  I love being a mom.  Sure there are days when I think being a mom is for the birds, but I think the sweet moments, when my heart feels like it's going to burst because of the love I have for them, are the days I'll always remember.  I wish they could stay little.  I love the things they say... "her is..." "so dose (gross) "bubbers"...  and just their sweet innocence.  I'm going to miss that when they're older, but I do look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for these three.  Stella, Jonah and Ava, I'm so thankful for you and I am so blessed to have you call me mom.

Happy Mother's Day

dear blog

I miss you.  I feel like I haven't visited you in weeks.  Is anyone still reading you?  Hello?  Anyone there??  I wish I had an extra 10 hours in the day.  I have so much to share.  Until then...

p.s. ava's cute headband is from, none other than, little lesiw :)

it takes my breath away

It's 8:15am, we're almost to the spot of drop off.  I hear the first bell ring.  A quick hug, and "I love you" and "have a great day, Bub, I'll see you after school" and she's out the door.  I sit in the car and watch her; just for second because there is a line of cars behind me.  I see her pink backpack bouncing.  She's got a little skip in her walk.  I start to drive away slowly because I know it's coming; that one last wave and smile.  "Jonah and Ava, wave to Stella"  She glances over one last time and gives us a big wave and smile.  And then it happens, I feel like I can't breathe and my eyes well up in tears.  It doesn't happen every morning, but when it does I just want to run in after her and give her one last hug and tell her "Stella, stop growing up! You are just right the way you are." 

She's growing up so fast.  It takes my breath away.

cute girl. cute headband.

The girl isn't for sale, but the possibility of a cute headband and many other CUTE hair accessories are.  

Here's where you can find them...

little lesiw etsy shop 

little lesiw blog 

or

little lesiw facebook page 

Go ahead and check them out.  Be a fan.  It's the nice thing to do. :)

a busy blog

Apparently, The Pioneer Woman added the link to my blog on her site.  She asked on facebook, for those who blogged about her Seattle trip, to share their links.  Silly me, I thought it was just so she could see.  Little did I know it would be on her website for the whole world to see!  I found out yesterday morning when I noticed I was getting a new visitor to my blog, literally, every 10 seconds!   All coming from P-dub's site.  Welcome visitors!  Some of you even left a comment.  That's sweet of you.  Everyone loves comments. :)

Anyway...I thought I might as well embrace the plethora of visitors and ask for your prayers for a very dear family.

photos by Niccole W Photography 

Steve, Vikki, Jake, Luke and Tori

I saw this photo on facebook yesterday and I cried.  Friends and family of theirs brought down fresh snow for Luke.  The outpouring of love they are receiving is just a testimony to who these people are.  They are loved deeply.  After seeing this photo, I was compelled to ask for prayer from my friends and family for Luke and his whole family.  I believe, with all my heart, in the power of prayer.  

James 5:16 "...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." 

Luke has beat cancer twice, but it's back and we're praying for a miracle.  I don't know if I've ever met a stronger little boy, or two more courageous parents.  Their faith through all of this has been amazing and unwavering and brings you to your knees.  Right now they are hanging on to the hope they have in Christ.  They know, whatever the outcome, that His will will be done, and they trust that His strength will get them through.  Pray for Luke, that he'll be free from pain, and that he'll continue to feel the Lord's presence and be able to enjoy these precious moments with his family and those who love him.

You can read more of Luke's story here,  on his CaringBridge site.  

Thanks for praying.

P-Dub

Yep, I met her last night.  I really did.  The Pioneer Woman!  I know!!  It was awesome.

Here's Amber and I waiting in line (please excuse my hair, it struggled).  We were in group A and we were very close to the front.  I was nervous and excited, and a little red in the face.  It was hot in there.  I was starting to sweat.  And by the looks of this picture I was getting puffy in the face...oh wait, that could be because I ate a couple of PW's mocha brownies the night before. :)

It was my turn!!  I gave her a card.  In the card I asked her to come visit my blog and "sign" it.  She's a busy lady, I'll understand if she doesn't.  And shoot, seeing that I was the sweaty, puffy, red faced girl, she might not want to look at me again.  But, she did tell me she liked my sweater.  Two times. :)

Here I'm telling her the book is for my mom, because as you remember my sweet friend, Kirra already got me a signed copy of the book.  Which I love and treasure, and  I make lots of yummy things that make my bottom good and big. ;)  She also asked where I was from.  She seriously was so sweet and beautiful and I really wished I could have just sat and talked with her.  Because, I mean, I am her #1 fan. :)

It went by so fast.  I really wanted to go back through the line again after we were done.  There were so many things I forgot to tell her like; how I love her even though her recipes make my face puffy and my bottom big. ;)

It was so fun.  I would do it again in a heartbeat!  

date night

a photoshoot thanks to my darling Stella +  just me and the man I love  +  sunshine  +  Sean eating my dinner because it wasn't my favorite and me eating his dinner because his was tasty  =  a good time

Easter

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen!  Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"  Luke 24:1-8

Ava with her little buddy, Finn

I hope you all had a blessed Easter and remembered, unlike my children, that it's not about candy inside plastic eggs. :)

our week in california

First stop - a junky beautiful hotel in Roseburg, Oregon.

The kids didn't mind the junky-ness or the mildew on the shower curtain.  Stella told me, "mom it's beautiful here, don't you think?"  I told her it'll do for the night, but in my mind I'm thinking - please oh please let there be no bed bugs here.  

3 little monkeys in the "beautiful" bed.

Second stop - Aunt Tricia and Uncle Koby's house!

We stayed with my sister for the first half of the week and soaked up every last second of that sweet baby, Caleb.  Oh man, he was sweet.  I love everything about newborn babies.  He was perfect.  I didn't even hear him cry during the night.  Did he cry, Trish?  I doubt it.  He was too sweet to cry. :)

Caleb with his crazy cousins

Getting all lotion-ed up after his bath.

Caleb loved Ava's kisses, you can just see it in his face.

Stella got her ears pierced on the trip.  We went for a walk along the paseos one morning and ended up at Valencia Town Center.  I asked Stella if she wanted to run in and get her ears pierced and of course she said yes.  It was a late birthday present for her.  She did great and didn't even shed a tear.  I was so proud.  She just keeps growing up.

We saw our shadows!  It's a beautiful thing, that sunshine.  I was thankful it shined every day we were there.  We put on shorts and bared our white legs.  It was awesome.

Sean tried out a rip-stick.  Yep, I like the looks of him.

The kids had fun playing in the pool, the spa and playing with the dog, Duke (or Doot, as Ava called him).

Third stop - Papa and Nana's house!

We played a lot of Wii.  I whooped up on Sean and knocked him out.  I had a sore arm the next day to prove it. 

The Bateman family came to visit!  We love spending time with this special family.  I think they should move to Washington.  I'm just saying. :)  The kids all get along so great and us adults get along pretty good, too.

The kids decided to play a friendly game of freeze tag a.k.a. tunnel tag.  The dads thought they would go and "help" the kids out.  Who do they think they're kidding??  They're the biggest kids out there.

It was a great trip!