Spring 2.0

Spring is finally here and we are excited about it. Today we planted some flowers and played in the mud we (Oliver) created while planting flowers.

Today I am participating in an amazing blog circle. There will be a link right under the picture down there. Click the link and head on to the next amazing photographer (Nicole) to see what spring is to her.

Don't forget to continue on this great circle of amazing photographers.

Up next is my super awesome and amazingly talented friend Nicole from High Heel Photography, a Photographer in Bloomington Minnesota. Click here for her take on spring.

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Teddy Bear Park

The Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater is the meaning of summer to my kids.This park is built just for toddlers. Older rowdy kids are way out of place and honestly not that welcome here. Which is perfect for young kids. I know my kids some time get scared with those 13 year old boys running around acting crazy. This park is perfect from birth to probably about 7 years old. I know I read once some where that land for this park was donated and then also paid for by some really wealthy couple. The park is only 5 or so years old and before it was a park it was a yucky junk yard. The really great thing about this park is its clean. The cops really patrol the park and every night the gates to the park are locked shut.The trash is always cleaned up the bathrooms always cleaned and stocked. Another great thing is the playing surface is all padded and spongy. Oh and the grass you see ya that's fake, which is perfect it prevents grass for being to long and kids from digging in the dirt instead of the sand. Anyways is the all around perfect park for little ones. What makes it even better is that its about 6 miles away from our house.

(not my picture)

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Carter's 5th Birthday.

OMG my baby is 5 how did this happen? I swear he was born only a couple months ago. Today we are having his big birthday party, his first year inviting school friends oh my. For today Ill leave you with pictures from his actual birthday. We celebrated it at grandma's house. The bike was his present from mom and dad. Thankfully it was actually warm enough that day to actually test it out.

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Snow Snow and more freaking snow.

This picture isn't from recently actually its from back in Febuarary but this is what we are still getting in almost the middle of April. Its like never ending I just want and need it to stop. One day it will be nice sunny 40 degrees out and the next its 20 and snowing.

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Project Insipred~ Blog Circle

So along with a great amazing group of women in the photography world I have decided to join a blog circle. Different topics will be chose and we will post pictures about that topic. Anyways at the end of this post will be a link to the next photographer on the list and on the bottom of her post will be a link to another and so on. I urge you to follow the circle around to see some amazing picture.

This weeks theme was about you, so I decided to to a day in the life post. These pictures were all taken from sun up to sun down yesterday. This is our life its a totally normal typical day in our house.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this quick post. Please continue on by visiting Elizabeth 

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Starting 365 yet again.

I think I have started a 365 4 or 5 times only to fail miserably in week 2 or so. Might as well try again.

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Couple random things.

1. T-mobile throdeled my internet speed becasuse I went over 5G this month. Ugh its worse then dial up. Well at least I don't have to pay our corupt phone company here in town. Seriouisly they are the worst.

2. I have a super cute picture of all 3 of the kids in it but I can't share it quite yet. Its damn cute though trust me.

3. Little Reese is doing amazing for just having gone through brain surgery. Yesterday she got out of bed in to a therapy chair and then later sat up in bed all on her own. Today she cuddled with her mom for the first time in 7 days. She is even getting her sass back with is totally her. My friends have raised an amazing $17,000 for her in less then a week they are so cool peeps I tell ya.

4. I had to order some prints for a client and it gave me a chance to order some much needed prints for my self. Seriously you would think because I am a photographer I would have pictures all over my house. That is totally not the case. I have 4 tiny 8x10's up and a couple 5x7's. I finally got around to ordering that really big print I have wanted. We had our family pictures taken by the awesome Cathrine Jeteter Photography back in March and I just haven't gotten around to printing any of them off except for a lousy 8x10. Anyways go big or go home. Here is what I ordered today the big one and the pink one are from Cathrine the others I took. The big one is 20x30!

5. Kind of goes with #4. I love my printing place for many reasons but there shipping time and cost is outstanding. I ordered the prints at 6 am this morning by 8am they where done in production and ready to be shipped. If I wasn't lazy and it didn't cost me money I could have drove the hour it takes to get to the place and picked them up. Instead I will wait for them to get here tomorrow. Yes I said that right the very next day. Also shipping is free and they also give you a sucker with your order. I don't think Walmart can beat there prices. (I just looked and Walmarts 8x10's and 5x7's cost more.) I am cheap but prints are just not something I want to look crappy. Walmarts pictures suck bad. Seriously do not go to walmart or walgreens or target or any other place like that. If you are looking for a great consumer lab go to Mpix.com. Its not who I use because I use a pro lab but I have used them in the past and they were great!

6. I am loving that the election is over. Thank god for no more add on TV, my mail box, radio, and every where I go. I called it I knew Obama would win. I am not sure how to feel about it but I am in no means ready to jump off a bridge like many of my friends on Facebook were on Wednesday morning.

7. My grandma. Ugh where do I start with her. She is my world dude this lady is awesome probably the coolest grandma's around. Her health is failing her and it sucks I just hate to see it. This week she went to stay with one of my aunts because she didn't feel good. A couple weeks ago she lost her eye sight in one eye. She now takes something like 15 drops in her bad eye every day. Problem is she can't see anything to put the drops in. She basically needs care during all waking hours. I think she is starting to realize her time living at home is done. Where she goes from here I don't know.

8. Cora had speech today and did awesome! She was actually making noises and stuff. No she wasn't saying words but hell she was trying and that awesome to me.

9. Parent teacher conferences are next week. I am scared for what Carter's teacher is going to say. Carter is a shit head at home. I have asked her many times since school started and she always says he is doing great. He has had a lot of issues on the bus but his teacher keeps telling me he is not like that at school. Its seriously a ticking time bomb I know one day he will be a shit head at school too. Oliver I am not worried about he is a cute little 3 year old who can do no wrong in most people's eyes. Not mine but most people.

10. This is the worst one of all. We are putting on of our dogs to sleep tomorrow. I can't write much more because the tears will start flowing for the millionth time today. Its hard it sucks and I hate it. Our dogs were our babies long before we had kids. Gabby is only 7 and because of shitty breading her health is bad and well I don't want her to suffer. We have explain what is going to happen to Carter and he totally understands and honestly doesn't care. He actually asked to put another one of our dogs to sleep with Gabby because he thinks she is getting to old too. Tonight at dinner he asked if we can get a new dog next week. Um ya no buddy sorry we still have 2 other dogs. I know he wants a dog he can play with and well old pugs are just no fun to play with but we wont be getting another dog for many years.

11. Jim's birthday is next week and I know what I am getting him and I am excited about it. Its something he needs kind of and he would never spend the money on it him self.

And with that I leave you with this. Can some one please tell me when my baby all of a sudden became a teenager?

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Halloween at the Bighley House

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Picture Dump.

I will never be a world famous blogger because of the fact I forget about it to easily! No time for words but here are some pictures of the kids from this last week.

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Ready or Not.....

The paper work is done. Clothes bought washed and ready. Backpacks are filled. The boys are ready. Me I am not so sure. I thought I was ready. Crap I have been excited for this day for months now. Finally a couple hours for me and my girl to spend together alone. This mommy is a bit freaking out right now. I am sending my boys to the big world out there. Oliver's just to little for this he isn't even 3 yet! How is anyone going to understand him? Are they going to know he is saying potty when he needs to go. Is he going to miss me. Will he make friends. Will he learn to actually play with kids? Ugh I am so worried about my little baby boy. He isn't suppose to be starting preschool for a whole another year yet. But here we are starting school today. Sending them off to the unknown.

Then there is Carter. There isn't a single kid in his class he really knows. There is one kid he kind of knows a little bit but hasn't even played with that kid in over a year. We see them here and there and say hi but that's about it. Though they are really alike so I could see them becoming friends. I wonder what Carter is going to do when he sees Oliver in the hallway. There class rooms are right across from each other.  I hope Oliver doesn't cry for him or something. Knowing my boys they will see each other and act like they don't know each other lol. I am so proud of Carter and who he has become. He is suck a great big kid. He was the perfect baby. Didn't cry unless he was hungry. Never met a stranger in his life. Just an all around happy perfect baby. The toddler years he was a terror. Seriously some of the worst days of my life were spent pregnant with Oliver and chasing Carter around. No at 4 the only thing I can complain about is his attitude. Other then that he is a great big brother to Cora, a great helper, a great learner. He is just so full of wonder and ready to tackle this world head on.

We did go to the schools open house last week and that went good. Carters teacher had a little treasure hunt where he had to find different things in his class room. He found the bathroom and drinking fountain, the book nook, his mail box,  his cubby, and spot at his table.  His teacher seemed really nice and I did like her. She seemed young but she is a Mrs. so she is old enough to be married I guess. Oliver's teacher seemed ok just a bit clueless. Carter's teacher was all dressed up nice for the open house which honestly you should when you are meeting all these new parents and such. Oliver's teacher had on frumpy jeans and a old tee shirt. I should give her the benefit of the doubt though she was just hired 9 days before. Oliver's teacher is even younger fresh out of college. We will see how it goes with her. I did mention that I wanted daily correspondence with her in the form of a note book and she totally agreed so that is good. She said she planed on doing it for all of the 6 kids in his class. She did say I could call or email at any time too. There is an aid in his class and she seemed really cool and she was dressed up all cute.

Its just crazy 5 years ago I thought I would never be able to get pregnant and today I am sending 2 our of my 3 off to school. To many first in one day for this nervous mommy. First day of school, first bus ride, first friends, first teachers.

I just want to rewind time and cuddle them again, smell the newborn goodness, and never let go.
Carter 1 week old.

Oliver just hours old.





















Thankfully I have many years (3) until I have to send Cora off to school. Gosh I want to bottle up her baby cuteness right now.

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19 Days.

I think I may be a bit more excited then the boys are. In 19 days both boys will start school. Carter is starting the normal 4K program and Oliver is going in to the Early Childhood education. Oliver's speech has come a long long way in the last 6 months we have been with birth to 3, but its still not quit up to par yet. Actually in the last month he has had a huge huge huge growth in speech. 6 Months ago at 2 1/2 years old Oliver had around 8 words, now Oliver is telling us I don't want to and its not nap time yet 2 more minutes. Its crazy how far he has came. We are guessing some where around 300ish words. Its amazing how far he has come. 6 months ago all he did was whine whine whine. Now he is starting conversations with us.

Oliver is still not caught up with kids is age although he is almost there. The day you turn 3 you age out birth to 3. The day you turn 3 you age in to the school district. Oliver doesn't turn 3 until October but I got the call yesterday that they are letting him start at the beginning of the year. Oliver will go to school 4 days a week Monday- Thursday and afternoons so 2 1/2 hours a day. He will also get picked up by a bus. This is huge and honestly quit scary to me. I just see him as such a baby and maybe its just me but I don't know if I am ready to start school.

I talked to Amber our speech therapist today, she was the speech therapist for the school last year so she knows a little bit of the ins and outs about how it works. She told me there usually is little communication between the parents, teacher, and speech therapist there. This worry's me a little bit I mean its not like he can talk that great how am I suppose to know whats going on at school. I have decided to get a notebook and have the teacher write each day or maybe even once a week what they are doing and working on.

Carter is starting 4K. School isn't anything new or exciting to him. Maybe he will be more excited when its gets closer but right now he isn't acting excited about it at all. Carter did Preschool last year at a private place so this year and this school is new to him. Also new to him is he is going 5 days a week this year. Last year it was only 2 days a week. Another new thing is he is riding the bus. I think this is going to be hard on him. Oliver and Carter are both going to school at the same place and same time but they have to ride different buses. From what I am being told Oliver's bus is only for the Early Childhood kids so only 3 year olds will be on Oliver's bus. Carter has to ride the bus with all of the kids ranging from 4 years old to 18 years old. I think this might be a little bit scary to him. If it was me I would be a little bit scared to. It will be interesting come the first day of school when he has to get on that bus. I could drive them to school every day its only a half of mile away but I would much rather not. It will be so nice come the middle of winter not have to get the van cleaned off and bundled up to bring them to school. I think the bus aspect is one of the things I am most excited about so I hope they do good on it.

Well we have 9 days left to get these boys ready for there new adventure. Wish me luck!

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Deer and Cousins

We took the kids to a local deer farm called Fawn Doe Rosa. The kids had a blast. We went along with my cousin Trent and his wife Brittany and their 2 kids Brooke and Brodie. The kids all loved the place except for Oliver who was bit by one of the ponys.

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Preschool Graduation Day

What a bitter sweet day it was. It feels like yesterday when I was sending him off to his first day of preschool and now the year is already over. He is so so excited for next year and to go to his new school. I too am excited for next year. Oliver will be going to the same school. He was accepted in to the early intervention program. Carter and Oliver will go to the same school at the same time 4 days a week. Not only that but they will both ride the bus to school though they will be on different buses. I am so excited about it. I think going to school will really really help Oliver out.

Here are some pictures of graduation day I finally got around to editing and uploading.

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Pool

Yesterday was frustrating to say the least. Its was 90 degresses out with like a million percent humidity uck. First thing we had to go was run to Target. While at Target I had the smart idea to get the kids a pool they all could fit in to because the one they have right now is just big enough for one baby, not 3 toddlers. So I pack up all 3 kids and we go to target. We get what we need and a new pool.

Get home put the kids down for naps and start blowing up the pool. 2 1/2 hours later using a pump the pool is blown up. What do I realized there are freaking holes form blowing it up on the bottom of the pool. I had promised the boys they could go in the new pool. So I pached up the holes with some tape. I wanted to do half cold water and half warm water so that Cora could use it but I couldn't get the hot water attached. I was so frustrated. We waited until Jim got home and he put some hot water in but not enough the pool was way to cold for her. She really didn't seem to mind though. Anyways this morning I wake up and half the pool is empy and the air is out of it. This is not something I did so today we are going back to target to get a new and better pool.

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In the back yard

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The sweetest lady

So today we went to the gym. Its a normal every day occurrence but today was different.

We got there and I went to the back room which is a locked room that only certian people can access. It has a scale in it that I am using to weigh my self now. I get to use it because I am doing the biggest loser challenge. Normal gym people get to use the really crappy walmart's cheapest scale out in the hall way. The scale I use is super accurate and well probably super expensive. Anyways after weighing my self I came out out of there happy. 9 pounds lost in only the first 6 days of the biggest loser challenge. Awesome achievement if you ask me. So I get on the treadmill and start my work out. There was a lady next to me who just kept looking at me and smiling. I was creeped out I mean she was just like staring at me in what I thought was a weird way. I was on the treadmill for only 20 mins when the daycare people came and got me and told me Carter had yet another accident ugh he keeps having pooping accidents and they are really pissing me of so I was mad. Got the kids from the daycare and while we were heading out the door the lady from before ya the creepy lady stops me. She says to me that she wasn't trying to be creepy but she had noticed home much weight I had lost. She then went on to tell me how inspiring I am to her. I was no longer mad I couldn't be. That one lady has put a smile on my face. To me it seems like I haven't lost anything since we started at the gym I have lots a measly 17lbs. To me that's not enough and I totally don't see it but I am glad other people do. So because I don't see it I am making Jim take pictures of me tomorrow. Pictures show everything.

So the biggest loser has officially launched and I got the list of all the challenges. Tomorrow is the mile challenge. I am scared I can't run a mile if my life depended on it. I can run/ walk a mile. I will guarantee you I wont win this challenge. This is the hardest challenge on the list and lucky me they are starting with it and ending with it oh joy.

In other news Oliver has his last assessment with the therapy center. I called them for his speech issues and now he qualifies for speech, cognitive and occupational therapy. I should be getting a call in the next couple days to get together with all the therapist and figure out a schedule for when his therapy's will happen. I feel like all these assessments are a never ending thing. I just want my boy to actually talk that's all.

And with that I will leave you with some pictures of my mini me.

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