It's been a while...

So the last time I posted {almost 12 weeks ago}, Payton was starting Second Grade.  I think this is the longest I've EVER gone without posting anything.  I remember when I longed to sit and blog in the evenings, but these days my longing is more for a pillow and some veg time in front of the television.  We've been busy....darn busy!
Second grade has way more homework and study hours then I ever imagined.  5 minutes after Payton comes in through the door, she's sitting down to do homework.  She's learned the longer she puts it off, the less play time she has in the evening.  We're conditioning each other for a longer/harder road into the third grade.  She's doing fabulously by the way!  All A's and One B this past 6 weeks.  Uber proud of my princess!

This is my busiest time of year naturally with school starting and holidays all wrapped into one.  My little part time gig has a piece of me, along with the TCK family sessions, and mommyhood.  Complaining, I am not!  I love this hustle and bustle because it's all balanced and I feel extremely blessed!  The only thing suffering is my blog....which I can deal with because I can always catch up.  If you're my friend on FB, you've already seen my daily life.  It's much easier to post on FB than it is to blog these days, but blogging I will not stop!  This "journaling" if you will, is for my husband and my princesses.   One day, this will be published into a nice little hardcover book for them.

So to catch you up on what we've done these past few months....let me begin with these little stinkers:

We attempted to have all three cousins take a picture together.  My mom tells me:  "I want one with all three faces, just their faces, BIG...on canvas".  No big deal, right?

The warm up:






Then, Payton runs off to pick flowers or look at rocks or something like that and it's just Mischa and C-Man. {Still not what my mom wants}





Then, re-group because Payton is back and what do they do? Cut up, giggle, whine, laugh hysterically....



Nope...still not what my mom wants.

Then I try to get Caleb to show me his little brother/sister {it's a puppy he says}: Doesn't want to show me, could careless about it, and would rather just go play with his cousins.



Do you see what they put me through? NONE of these were a go! None were worthy of  hanging on my mom's wall. She has a specific picture in mind. She's the HARDEST client to please!

So try #2 doesn't yield a much better result either because C-Man decides...nope, not smiling! Every. single. one. of his pictures has a frown! I'm close, but you know what that gets me!



So you see...I can take pictures of my clients and make them happy, but my own family I cannot please! 

Patience:  A minor form of despair disguised as a virtue. 

~Ambrose Bierce

Product Review- Kashi Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars

Legal Disclaimer:

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet Program, May Media Group LLC, who received this product from the MFR.  As a Moms Meet Blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog.  My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the MFR of this product. 

Kashi quickly became one of my families favorite products. It wasn't until last year that I had heard of this company [they've been around for 25 years!!!].  They manufacture naturally nutritious foods that are minimally processed and free of highly refined sugars and other additives...SCORE!!.  I started buying Kashi cereal because I was able to snag some great deals on them through couponing [yes, there are coupons for natural and good-for-you products].  Little did I know that they made an array of different foods [breakfast, sausages, veggie patties, and even snacks]. 
When Moms Meet had an opening for the Granola Bar testing, I had to jump at the chance to try them.

I love trying new things but I have to say that I wasn't too impressed with the Dark Chocolatty part of it myself.  However, it seems to have been a hit with my kids, my husband, and one in particular little boy that tried it at a gymnastics practice.  So I think this is just me.    Each Kashi Dark Chocolate Granola bar has 7 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein...Awesome right?!

They retail for $3.89 and you can find them at most major grocery stores nationwide.



Here are a few pics of our friends and family enjoying these great new granola bars!

First Day of Second Grade

It's a new school year, new teacher, new friends, and new homework.  After a rockin summer...Let me tell you, it's HaRd to get back into the  swing of things.  All of us have felt this first week, not just Payton.  I think this is the first summer where I didn't have a schedule for them, I let them enjoy being kids, I enjoyed being a kid with them, and we just plain relaxed.  I've been at this Stay-At-Home-Mommy mode for a while now and I felt comfortable "letting go" for a change.  The beginning of a new school year surfaced a schedule none of us were ready for all over again.  Early mornings, deadlines, remembering things, new personalities...the list is endless it seems.   Daniel and I have not siezed praying for Payton as we see how things will slowly change with her and for her this year.  She's understanding how this world works and how unpredictable people and circumstances can be.  One thing is for certain, we are taking small teachable moments to show her that finding comfort in our Savior is where true happiness resides.  Relying on Him and trusting Him at every step.  We praise Him through our storms, we praise Him in our victories.  This is going to be a pivotal year for my sweet girl, but I know God has her wrapped up in His loving arms.  I felt that this week.

Peace.

Comfort.

Love.

Laughter.

May you have a wonderful 2nd Grade year my love!

"It's not what you don't have, it's what you *do* have"

Humility at it's finest!

“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common — this is my symphony.” -William Henry Channing

Three Princesses. A Bride. A Wedding.

Christy [my sister in law, but really more like my sister] is married.  Yup...for over 2 months now she's been a Mrs.  She was a Classic Beauty on that special day! One of the things I love about Christy is that she loves her family very much.  She's a proud Aunt.  She holds her nieces near and dear to her heart.  Alex her new hubby loves them too and let me tell you, as a result of their love for them, these three princess felt just as beautiful and just as important as the Bride herself.

I snagged these pics from Christy's FB [I hope you don't mind Christy]...









We're working on Mischa's "natural" smile.



...and then the party started.  This is the part Payton was looking forward to the most.  Why? you ask.  Because this child never leaves the dance floor.  It started like this....




...and continued like this







...and I think I heard them call last song and Payton was still doing this....



Congratulations Christy & Alex!  We love you guys!

Quick Pics SA Part III

Part II. click HERE [and just so you know that I know that I screwed up on the numbering system.  This is what happens when you blog late at night!  I *think* that I got it straight on this post. 

9. Has anyone seen Mischa?  We had a bit of a Stay-cation after SA due to our garage door busting right before we left.  So here we are enjoying an evening out at La Centerra eating the most delicious Yogurt outside.

10.  Dear Payton, the bright pink and black polka dot dress does not give you away at all.

11.  No swim shoes gets you band-aids galore in Bandera, TX

12.  Bunk Bed that Payton and Mischa slept in at The Williams Ranch House. Accessories [optional].

Quick Pics SA Part II

Part 1-Click Here

3. Blue Bell Ice Cream we ate while walking the streets of SA!  Ice Cream--->evil stuff!  No Lie.  

4.  Random Wall in Downtown SA, I have a thing for color and walls.  My kids know I'm weird!

5.  Landry's Lunch on the River walk in SA.  A year ago this time...Mischa couldn't sit still in a restaurant.

BIG Strides here!

6.  Side street vendors selling all things girly!  Girls played more with the toys than caring about the fru-fru stuff.   

To be cont...

My Little Americans [ a little late, but better than nuthin]

You may or may not know this, but I am "newbie" American!  Yep, I became an official United States Citizen in 2009. Crazy huh?!  Especially since everyone thinks I'm a native cajun girl!  HA!  Sometimes it's even harder for people to believe that I know Spanish.  I've caught some sneaky people sayin' some stuff out here in Texas [evil grin].

Soooo....to be able to photograph my girls wearing a flag was pretty special for me.  Kinda solidified the American-ness about the whole thing.  I AM proud to be an American and the girls are learning how lucky they are too!






Mischa even took it upon herself to Model for me...[surprise surprise]

Quick pics from SA

1.  At the Alamo sweating our bums off

2.  Maze of Mirrors [where Mischa took a short walk down a long hallway---see video]

3.  Found this random GREEN car wide-open, parked in the middle of downtown SA...so ya know...we act like tourists and stand next to it.

4.  About 100 levels of  awesomeness- feeding the Dolphins @ Sea World [We're sheltered like that]

2011 Arcement Vacay

This video is bits and pieces of The Mirror Maze we did in San Antonio this year.  We got an all day pass and I swear Payton had us go through it 20 times [not exaggerating].  She had this thing finally figured out by the end of the day.  She had the same explosive reaction when she reached the end of the maze.  Kids amaze me.

It is crazy how confusing this maze can be and how freakish it is to almost run into yourself or go to grab your kid and it's the mirror, not your kid.  At about the 1:24 mark on the video, you will see that Mischa needed to find Payton and *I* assured her I was watching her.  Hysterically and horribly enough she ran into a mirror...hello...BAD MOMMY AWARD!
I can't tell you how hard it was to hold it in.  Go ahead...see for yourself.  FUN FUN Maze!