It's SPRING! :)

It's so gorgeous outside here today and we're enjoying it completely. The boys and I have been working in the yard and trying to make it presentable after a long winter. I think I love everything about spring...especially moments like these! ;) Hope you're having a wonderful day!

Finally!

Most of you will so relate when I say that I'm the constant photographer in our family. I never have my picture taken and it's 1/2 way my fault - either I can't stand to relinquish the camera or I'm not dressed right or I forget to ask. But yesterday I asked! I was dressed for meeting a girlfriend for lunch and when I got back , Carson was just getting in from preschool, so we took advantage! Hoyte took these photos and I was pretty amazed! I just love them - so much so I had to create a layout immediate! (What can I say? ;))

I've also been holding in some other amazing news that I just can't keep secret any longer.
Now that there's been a couple of doctor visits and a heartbeat heard, I can finally say WE'RE PREGNANT!!!!
Ok, don't anyone have a heart attack! I don't mean ME literally, but my best friend, my college roommate, my Ann Marie. She's as close to me as a sister could ever be and this baby has been a LONNNNNGGGG time coming. After years of fertility testing, procedures and everything else under the sun, it's finally happening. This wee one will be my niece/nephew and I tease her by saying as much MY baby as hers...ESPECIALLY if it's a girl! ;) (And it doesn't hurt that she's due right on my birthday! How amazing is that??!)
So please, pray for this little one and a healthy pregnancy for my sweet friend who's waited a lifetime for this. XO-Kelly

Just because

he's so darn cute, dirty face and all.

The View from my RearVIEW

My children are rarely sweeter than when they're sleeping and that was especially true after a horrendous day running errands. Being good just proved to be too much for them and they finally gave out on the way home. But seeing this site in my rearview reminded me yet again how truly blessed I am!

As an aside...I had a funny happen today (about the ONLY funny thing that happened today!). I was walking in the mall trying to reign in the above mentioned children when a woman walks by. "Self", I said to me. "That woman looks familiar. That woman looks like Shannon's sister, Paige. I don't know her from Adam, have only seen her in pictures and through stories, but I wonder if I say her name softly if she'll turn around and I could maybe always pretend I was trying to talk to some else if she looks at me strange." (How's that for a run-on sentence. I'm sounding like Kayla Aimee now I think ;)) So I call out "Paige!" and indeed she turns around. So I rush over like some crazed woman and introduce myself. Of course I did. That's just what I do. And graciously she talked to me...even though she probably thought I was some crazed stalker chick! What a sweetie of a sister you have, Shan!

Happy Sunday, everyone! :) ~k

Postcards from Africa

I fell in LOVE in Africa....

Hi all!! Boy is it good to be back! I have to say quickly (full re-cap shortly) that South Africa - both the land and the people - are absolutely beautiful. I had one of the best times of my life and....I have a confession. I fell in love there. Meet the object of my affections ;).

This was this little man's first day on public display at a Lion Park outside of Johannesburg. So I can safely say, I saw him first and he's mine all mine! Too bad he wouldn't fit in my suitcase!

Bye for a Week :)

I'm off bright and early in the morning for my imstillpinchingmyself trip to South Africa! I can't wait to meet the delegates there and see firsthand the amazing scrapbooking talent South Africa has! I'm completely psyched! I'll be back on St. Patty's Day - so until then, when I'm sure I'll have oodles of gorgeous pics to share, I'll leave you with a layout done about our recent Aquarium trip.

Have an amazing week - and to Sus and Lisa...HUGE congrats on those baby BOYS! And to Suz...I'll be looking for an HOF post from you when I return!

XOXO,
k.

Pinewood Derby

Boy was this past weekend crazy! Not only am I trying to finish up things before I head out of town, but Ethan had his 1st Boy Scout Pinewood Derby. He and Daddy worked on his car and he did SUPER well - got mostly 2nd places in his 6 races, but unfortunately it knocked him out of trophy contention. He was very disappointed (such a sad thing for a 7-year-old), but I love that he took it so seriously and was so competitive! ;) Daddy took these pics for me as I had to stay home with the littles...