These are the days of my life....

Just before I laid back in bed, it was nearly midnight, I sat there looking around at the figures in my dimly lit room.  The whispiring had stopped and I chose to seize that moment.  Makenna had a friend sleep over, they watched a documentary that scared them and they couldn't sleep alone in Kenna's room on the second floor.   I had already been drifting off to sleep at the time but felt a welcomed tap on my back and my big girl whispered how they were having a hard time sleeping.  I gathered the girls and we set up make-shift beds for them on the floor in my room.  Its cooler there anyway, the nights have been so hot!  Marleigh is already a permanent fixture on our bedroom floor, asking each night if she can sleep in our room.   It used to be she'd wake very early in the morning and crawl into bed with us.....I didn't mind the cuddle time but it was disrupting our sleep on a regular basis.  We gave her the option to come into our room and sleep on the floor (we call it her pod) or we would have to lock the door if she continued waking us in the middle of the night.  She agreed the floor was perfect and I secretly like knowing she's there in the morning.  

Summer is hard for this momma!   I want to spend each moment entertaining them as a stay-at-home mom should...but my situation is different, I have a business to run too.   My work is increasing and my deadlines seem to come faster than ever.  I find my self struggling to stay with a routine that keeps me on task...I want so badly to share the warm sunny days and long evenings with my family but I truly love my job..its ROUGH, I know!! 

Last night I worked until 11:00. As I was closing my office down (here in the basement), I walked past the play area where Marleigh had been earlier.  

I knew enough to turn and grab my camera...she will be 7 next month.   These are the kinds of messes I like them to leave!

It's morning now though, girls are up and asking for breakfast.   I'm going to finish up some work and find something to do with these kids today!   Its hot, muggy and pretty uncomfortable outside so we may have to hit the pool at Meem's house!

Enjoy!
~kel

I'm coming back!!!!!

My website is down....Im in the process of upgrading the website and integrating my blog to the website....its gonna be so fun!!!!!

My teenage son is taking on the task of uploading my photos and blog posts to allow me to "duplicate" myself a bit. I will write and instruct the photos that go with the blog and my awesome son (yah, he told me to say that) will take on the upload process!! It really is going to be so fun!!!

I'm sorry for those who have missed out on my ramblings....I too have missed the way blogging made me pay more attention to the little things in each day. The kids are growing way too fast and my business is growing too.

So off to figure out the details of this change.....

See ya soon!!!!

Enjoy!
~kel~

My Love contest.....

In an effort to spice up the cold days of February and give some folks who might not have had an opportunity to own a large print from me a chance at one, I had a contest. It was a love contest. People submitted their photos showing love to me, I posted them on facebook in a gallery on my professional page and they invited friends and family to vote for their photos. There was such a huge response, I was not prepared for so many newcomers to my facebook page!! Thrilled....I am!!

I was so thrilled that I took it from THREE prizes to THIRTY prizes as I felt the folks who entered deserved something for sharing me with friends and family. I gave first place price to the top three ladies who entered, they each invited over 200 people to vote. Kudos ladies and many thanks!! First place went to Candace Laliberte. She submitted this photo of her nephews.......Richie and Luke

I sent out the congratulatory emails notifying everyone of their prizes. I received many thanks but Candace sent me the most amazing email. I knew nothing about her story before this and found that her first place prize was most deserving....the outpouring of love from family and friends was amazing!

Kelly,

You just made my day. I can't tell you how excited my little Richie will be.

Now I can tell you a little bit about our year.... it's been a hard one. My husband plays hockey overseas. I leave work to come with him, we've been married for about two years. We were born and raised in Saco, Maine, have lots of family and friends there; which makes it a little hard to leave. About four months ago my little brother passed away, he had just turned 21. He had a snowmobile accident about ten years ago now, he was 12. He survived but suffered a traumatic brain injury. My second nephew Richie was born the day before the day the anniversary of Michael's accident... February 14th.

My brother had his first grand mal seizure as a result of his brain injury on October 14th; which happened to be the day before my first nephew was born. He died as a result of a seizure six years later, this past October 14th at 11:45 pm.

I saw your contest and felt compelled to enter. Richie was Michaels god-son and my brother Michael loved him so so much.

The kids have had such a hard time with his passing and talk about him all the time. To be honest, most of the questions they ask I have no idea how to answer. "We miss mononcle, will we ever see him again, when will we see him again, etc."

I made my family a two hour slideshow of our entire lives after Michael passed. I worked for it on weeks on end, even though it hurt to relive the memories of our life so soon, I needed to make a start to finish of all the photos I had of him so that we could never forget our memories. My nephews were obsessed with the dvd I gave my sister even though she couldn't get herself to watch it, (she was not ready). When I asked Richie what he wanted for his fourth birthday, he said "pictures of me and my lukey like you made of mononcle".

This photo shoot kelly, this is for them, for them to make their memories together. I pray that they fill your day with joy and love and laughter, and that it's a day that they will have to remember together forever.

Thank you for this opportunity, I am so grateful. I wish that you gain many more clients, you certainly have me as a future client.

Sending you love this Valentines Day and Gratitude.

Sincerely,
Candace Laliberte

Please send the gift certificate to my sister.

It's amazing the people I've met through my work! I treasure each relationship! They starting an epilepsy and traumatic brain injury foundation in Michael's name and I wanted to show my support by posting her story here.

Thank you, Candace! I look forward to meeting you in person!

Enjoy!
~kel~

Our story of Valentines....

THIS is what I love about Valentines day!!!!!!! Every year I'm thankful to see them still taking the time to sit and write each classmates name with care. Branden's already outgrown it and buying "cool" valentines for an 11-year-old boy is nearly impossible! I didn't take the time to create my own cards for them this year, seems almost a chore to get them in front of the camera sometimes!
I love the excitement in choosing just the right card for each child in her class........

...the concentration it takes to spell each name correctly......

but sometimes there are so many, the concentration fades and eyes get tired.......


at about the 8th card....the exhaustion sets in.......


...to the point you flat out need to rest a minute........

....but, she pulls it together and gets the other five done.....pen capped....job done!!!!!
After all that work, a whipped cream sundae is definately in order!!!!
That's how its done over here!!!!

Makenna did her's in her room this year...there's something more personal about writing out valentines when you're a 2nd grader I guess. I missed it all!

Cameron prepared a box for all his school cards and decorated it like a Rubix cube. It was cute...he was very proud!

Today I couldn't make it up our steep driveway! Ice has overtaken the dirt the boys put down for me yesterday. Brother bailed me out with lots of dirt - I consider all wheel drive on a daily basis now!

I'm off to edit!

Enjoy!
~kel~

Girly update.....

I had to post updated pics of the girls for those who didn't see these on facebook. I am putting all my current work there as it gets more traffic.

We have gotten so much snow here in Maine and the kids school is often cancelled as the district reaches far into more rural areas. The roads are less travelled and as much as I hate to think they will tack those days on in June, I'm glad I don't have to worry about bus accidents.

So here we had the second snow day in a week and I told the girls I wanted to take some photos of them to update my walls. Seems about every six months I'm doing this.....whether they change that much in six months is really not the issue.....I just need change!! I'm already looking at the house and thinking about what I can change - colors, furniture, etc. Right now I'm having fun trying to piece together an office that has my taste splashed all over it. I like pottery barn meets primitive design. I never had much for choices in the little house so I'm really taking it to a new level here. Its so much fun!!

To get this sweet face from Ms. Marleigh, I ask her to say "I love you, Mom" and wait for her mouth to finish the sentence....this works well with all my children :)
I LOVE a serious face........

She was feeling pretty cool.....

I tried a vintage feel to this one.......that's my curtain tie-back around her head and she's wearing a gold shirt of mine!

My kids have that serious face down.....they love when they don't have to smile and I don't get upset when they don't smile right...serious is so much easier!!!!

Okay, occassionally I let Marleigh strike her own pose......

Love my girlies!!! Today we are off to see what we can find to decorate their rooms......tall mirrors and some fun organizational items I hope are what they choose.....they, like me, are ready for change in the house! Winter does that to us!

Enjoy!
~kel~

Remembering Dad......

Today makes 22 years since we lost my dad in the plane crash. This year is a little different....I'm the age he was when he died. Im struggling with the thoughts that come through my head as I think of my mom and how she felt being left alone with four kids - two of us in our teenage years - I remember being obnoxious and self-centered!!!! Its really strange how the anniversary of something big like this can be celebrated with different thoughts and feelings every year based on where you are in your own life. I'll always feel blessed for the lessons I learned those following months.

Just wrote my mom a note and sent it to her email inbox at work:
"Thinking of you today!!! I'll always be glad God chose you to leave with us. I know it hasn't been easy for you....you're amazing!!! xoxoxo, Kel"

As much as I miss my dad......can't imagine the days without my mom!!

RIP Dad.
~kel~

Happy New Year!!

Christmas at our house was "happy"!! The kids got along great, which makes mom happy!!

Here is our fireplace with stocking's all hung with care....

Today I watched my boy play his favorite game!! Its always a thrill to watch your child doing something they love. I got UGG boots from hubs for Christmas, LOVE THEM! As a hockey mom, I can't believe the years I have suffered with cold feet through games without them! I am not the outdoorsy type so never really owned a pair of boots I'd like to wear out often....Im sitting at the pc and wearing my UGG's! I feel a little naughty too....Im sockless in them! Swore I'd never be able to wear boots without socks but they kept sliding down while shopping the day after Christmas sales so I slid my socks off and slipped them into my purse....weeeeee, what a feeling!! My mom has had Uggs a few years and told me I'd eventually give in to the sockless feeling...told her I didn't think I could do it - on Christmas when we arrived at her house, she asked me from across the room...."Kelly, are you WITH or WITHOUT"....if you could have seen the looks I got from the rest of the room...they thought I was announcing another pregnancy!! AHHH, so fun!!

Saturday my girls rocked in the new year in my big tub (it has jets so its a pretty big deal around here). It gets them clean hassle free for me! I invited my niece Kaylee to come along with the girls....they were in past the prune stage and loved every minute of it!

I'm off to work - first day back after my mini vacation. I had to take a break. I felt like I was all work and no play and those last few days before Christmas I was feeling some stress about not having my shopping done. I did finish it, I enjoyed Christmas Eve with my in-laws and have been enjoying every minute of being away from the pc (for work).

I must return to work though. Still have a few things to finish up from 2010 and then Im working on getting myself organized and ready for 2011. I am determined to get my lifestyle into shape!

Enjoy!
~kel~