just for you

I have given up for a bit on my weekly portraits,

times are a bit crazy and I am scrounging up

my little bits of sanity and using them on my family.

BUT,

because it's friday,

and I have a bit before my weekend fills up,

I am posting a few favorites to share with you! 

I can't get over the transformation in Pip since January!

 NG :: her signature hair hold.
Cord :: in her own little wonderland
Pip :: her jokes are the funniest

I hope you all have a great weekend! I hope you are refreshed, loved, and comforted!
More on our changes later, and why life has seemed so crazy over here to come!

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+a portrait of each of my girls every week for 2014+

While outside taking easter photos for the grandparents, I caught some candid shots of my girls that I absolutely love!
NoraGirl: She thought the clouds looked like the biggest fluffiest blanket and wanted to sleep with it.
Cord: She told me she just wanted to watch the birds.
Pip: That was her original dress my mom picked out, the sweetest blush and cutest cut, however moments before we were to leave for church, she dumped orange juice all down the front of it so we changed dresses.

Happy Monday!

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+a portrait of each of my children every week for 2014+

NoraGirl: make believe in the backyard

Cord: picnic by the pond

Pip: back in her element

We LOVE the nice weather and are anxious about more outside fun to come!

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This week is quite a bit different from my usual portrait posts.

This is my life.

This is when I pull our cozy, sage chair to the rays of warm afternoon sun, streaming through the window, grab my Bible, "Give Thanks" journal, and think,

a few minutes is all I need.

But then, Nora Girl gets her feelings hurt, 

because sometimes having younger sisters is frustrating.

Come here, sweet girl.

Soon after, the Cord yells, scratch that, screams, 

"Pen-nay, NOOOOOO!" at her baby sister's attempts to make her laugh

 by knocking over her toys.

Come here, Cordie girl.

Then, Pip realizes her sisters have gone to do something else,

without her, (the nerve!) and runs into where they are,

whining because despite how it appears,

 she really just wants to be with them.

Come here, Penny Lee.

This is Nora girl smiling sweetly and trying to make her baby sister smile by tickling (feels quite a bit more like scratching) her sister's neck.

This is the Cord, laughing because she is trying to tickle me, and I told her I was going to take her down if she didn't stop.

This is Pip yelling for Nora to stop digging her nails into her little neck, 

and  for Cordie to give her more room on Mama's lap.

This is me, my legs hurt from the weight of a full lap,

but my heart is filling with joy at the three, for the most part healthy (grr allergies!!!),

funny, kind, vibrant girls who love being with me.

These three gifts the Lord gave to us,

to laugh with, to snuggle, to teach, to grow, to send, to love,

and I am so thankful to be their mama.

And the minutes that surrounded this photo, full of tears, laughing, chatting,

and smooches were exactly the few minutes I needed.

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+a portrait of each of my girls every week for 2014+

NG: sweetness
Cord: I love her chipmunk smile
Pip: my littlest explorer

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Hooray, double the portraits this week! 

These are a mix of iPhone 5c and Canon t1i. 

We just got back from our spring break, 

so much catching up to do!

week 11 portraits ::

NG: wild woman
Cord: always, a l w a y s hiding.
Pip: unsure of her new loopdy-loop hair do, it is my favorite though.

week 12 portraits :: 

NG: first soccer game, her favorite part was the high fives at the end.
Cord: very sick little girl,  she is our brave little girl.
Pip: loved exploring Gram and Pops' backyard this past week.

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Sonora: prepping her friends for their adventure. She told me not to worry because she brought her bow and arrow.
Cord: this girls loves books
Pip: if someone leaves their chair out, she will climb onto the table.

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NoraGirl: loves to play Candyland, but watch out, this little stinker has already mastered the "double spin while mom is distracted" cheat. 

Cord: our daredevil.

Pip: always trying to find me behind the camera.

This icy weather kept us inside all weekend, but it was so nice to be together, relaxing and pretty much doing nothing. We have had some low key weekends lately and I am thankful. Thankful for the time spent just watching the girls grow and play in our home, enjoying every stage of these little ones.

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+a portrait of each of my children every week for 2014+


Nora-girl: she calls it "kiting" and I don't want to correct her.  We spent a few hours at our local park on Saturday and she spent majority of the time flying her kite and wanting to make friends with fellow kite-flyers.

Cord: She is such a fan of swinging, the entire time she yells "Higher!" and giggles. I snapped this with my iPhone, and IGed it, because i can't get enough of her joyful smile!

Pip: She is letting me do her hair now!! I am in full swing with "fountains" and "piggie-tails". And since starting piggie-tails for her, my older girls want them too!

Happy Monday everyone!! 

Our weekend was filled with house projects, 

family time out and about, and some wonderful meals.

I feel pretty blessed that I get to spend my days 

with these cool girls and their wonderful daddy!

How was your weekend? What are you thankful for today? 

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+A portrait of each of my children every week for 2014+

Sonora: she absolutely loves all things soccer right now, her first practice was last night. It was so fun seeing her run, work hard, make new friends, and cheer on her teammates. What she lacks in aggression she more than makes up for in her enthusiasm. 

Cordelia: "Mama, I so happy because I so warm!" Found out this week, with all the Oklahoma wind, this one loathes having wind blow in her face/ears/hair. She stopped, panicking in the parking lot the other day because the wind was so biting and fierce. 

Penelope: This girl does absolutely anything to see you laugh, and once you start she repeats it over and over again until you stop laughing or ignore her. Lately, she puts things on her head and whips it around searching you for some sign of amusement, then she fat chuckles. It doesn't take too long for me to give in and laugh right along with her.

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+a portrait of each of my kids every week for 2014+

*this week I did a theme of favorite toys/playthings right now

NG: chips her puppy, once was mine, it's so fun to share!
Cord: birthday treasure box, it holds all things little, sparkly, and precious to her.

Pip: this old balloon has provided many minutes of fun for her, and tons of laughs for me.

I hope your Monday is full of joy!

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+a portrait for each of my kids every week for 2014+

NoraGirl: "get well soon" balloon makes all the difference.

Cord: watching her programs.

Pip: I miss my baby, but I am quite fond of my toddler girl.

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+ A portrait of each of my children every week for the year 2014+

Nora : playing in what she calls "Girl World". It's full of princesses, puppies, and ponies.

Cordie : been sick all week, lots of time spent snuggled under blankets and coughing.

Penny : she just runs now, all the time.

Guys, it's been a hard few weeks, and I am feeling rather melancholy. Hopefully I am just blue, I rrrrrrrreeeaallly don't want this sickness to get me too. And on that note, Happy Monday!!! *plop……plop* (dripping with sarcasm…get it?... well it made me smile.)

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+ a portrait of my kids every week for the year 2014+

Nora: being a rascal, she is 5 now.
Cordie: swinging in the big red swing.
Penny: wearing daddy's hat.

I hope your weekend was great and refreshing. We had a low key weekend ending in a wonderful Broncos win and premiere of BBC's Sherlock! As far as some of my other resolutions, I have been practicing out of my Pride and Prejudice piano book to work up my skill again for piano, and trying to find good fabric on Etsy for a project I am going to start soon. I am pretty excited about it! 

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+ a portrait of my kids every week for the year 2014+
Nora-Girl :: This past week I took her to school to sign up for Kindergarten, 
                       upon introducing herself to the secretary she said, 
                     "Wait a minute, I know some ballet!" and followed it 
                      with a most graceful pirouette. I am excited to celebrate her 
                      5th birthday this week!!

Cordie :: She wants to do everrrryything by herself. "No, I do it, Mama!" 
                 She loves her toothbrush, top knots, and dancing. 
                 This weekend, after put her in her bed for nap time,
                 she got out and I couldn't find her! After searching and yelling her name
                 I found her in our closet behind her Dad's shirts, resting. This kid can hide!

Pip :: this girl loves to eat and is the most talkative eater.
           Someday, I might have to teach her to not talk with food in her mouth,
          but for now, I am going to let it ride, because I think its just so cute!

Happy Monday! 

Our week is full of celebrating Nora girl,

teaching piano lessons,

and,

hopefully, lots and lots of playing outside.

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Nora girl :: she wishes she had blue eyes, I tell her she's crazy.
Cord :: enjoying the sun (and some oreos) before the "arctic blast".
Pip :: peek a boo is her favorite.

+ a portrait of my kids every week for the year 2014+

First New Years resolution started. I am having so much fun learning my new camera! 

Our first week of the year has started with the sickies, lots of fun new recipes from my new cookbook, (thanks Bracken and Grace!! I wish I could share some of these brownies with you!)

and a cold snap that has us still in our pajamas, snuggling the entire day!

It's frigid out there, and Oklahoma has it good compared to many!!

Stay warm and safe!