My Productive Yesterday

This is what is going on around my house today....actually, yesterday.  Don't judge my day for how it looks.  It really was very productive.  Quiet and productive.  I rarely have my kids here while I am really trying to bust a move in my business, but yesterday they were home w/ me and played awesomely together, and I got so much done. Love days like these.  Enjoy a peak into my life. 

"Moooommm.  I need help." 

 The Office.  The Messy But Productive Office. 

 Just to prove the point that not EVERYTHING can be PERFECT ALL of the time....Me, in all my laundry-piles-fat-day-paint-splattered-yoga-pants-no-makeup......BUT, whippin' it out glory!!

Have a sparkling Hump Day!

~Becky

| nolan | Family Love

This family session was shot at one of my very favorite locations....Shevlin Park.  I love the woodsey-ness and the organic nature, if you will.  The colors and lighting are always beautiful here, too.  Not to mention this wonderful family.  Here's to the Nolan family!

Thank you so much for allowing me the pleasure of being your photographer!

~Becky

| cloud | newborn photography

Several weeks ago, I was honored with a twin newborn session.  It was also my first experience w/ twins.  I loved it.  Ev.er.y.sin.gle.moment.  Even a couple of diaper changes and a feeding.  How can one ever get over the tiny-ness and the smells and those little bums??  

These two, little, tiny people could not wait to meet all the love, they knew surrounded them and connived together and took it upon themselves to enter the big, bright world quite a few weeks early.  Much love welcomed them, cared for them, and fought with and for them....resulting in a beautiful and grateful family of four! 

Without further ado, I introduce you to.....

Miss M

and....

Mr. B

Such little bundles with such big impact!

~Becky

My Perspective Is Changed. Forever

Today's post is one I had written and posted a while ago.  Today I am feeling this all over again.  Today I can't get past it.  I can't stop thinking about this.  Today I am grieving for what was.  For what is.  I am weary of the pain.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

I see a woman walking to the grocery in her pajamas.
Stringy hair.
Toothless grin.
Overweight.
A cig in one hand.
Mountain Dew in the other.
A worn look in her eye.
She has been places no one knows about.
All alone.
I feel no judgment.
No condemnation.
No criticism.
It could be me.
Compassion overwhelms me.
Not mine.
His.

I see a drunken man walking his bike down the highway.
Shoe laces dragging.
A brown bag in one hand.
A bottle in the other.
Stumbling.
Dirty.
Dark.
Grasping at life.
Hopeless.
I feel no judgment.
No condemnation.
No criticism.
It could be me.
Compassion overwhelms me.
Not mine.
His.

I see a mother in the checkout at the grocery.
Tired.
Stressed.
A little boy begging for gum.
Screaming.
Throwing a tantrum.
She is yanking.
Hitting.
Hissing how dare you? between seethed teeth.
The baby girl in the cart.
Crying.
Hungry.
Sad.
I feel no judgment.
No condemnation.
No criticism.
It could be me.
Compassion overwhelms me.
Not mine.
His.

I see a rich girl at the shopping mall.
A designer purchase on each arm.
Perfect makeup.
Prada sunglasses.
Expensive jacket.
Heels.
Eyes without sparkle.
Used.
Wanting more.
Searching for purpose.
Seeking love.
Empty.
I feel no judgment.
No condemnation.
No criticism.
It could be me.
Compassion overwhelms me.
Not mine.
His.

I see a little girl in the line at the post office.
Stained coat.
Mismatched boots.
Bangs in her eyes.
Lollipop dripping from her chin.
In her own little world.
A whole life ahead of her.
Dancing circles around her mom’s legs.
Ignored.
I feel no judgment.
No condemnation.
No criticism.
It could be me.
Compassion overwhelms me.
Not mine.
His.

I see a mother at the movie theater.
Frazzled.
Searching her purse.
Three sons with her.
Fighting.
It’s her weekend with the boys.
She is treating them.
Popcorn.
Skittles.
M&Ms.
Coke.
A grand total of thirty-five dollars.
She only has twenty-five.
I feel no judgment.
No condemnation.
No criticism.
It could be me.
Compassion overwhelms me.
Not mine.
His.

They are somebody’s.
Daddy.
Son.
Mommy.
Daughter.
I feel no judgment.
No condemnation.
No criticism.
It could be me.
Compassion overwhelms me.
Not mine.
His.

~Becky

Easy Avocado Salad

Lately, avocados have been on sale at the grocery store pretty often, and I looove me some avocado action.  Also, the other night my sister and I were discussing the subject of dieting, that always hangs over our heads.  She asked me if I ever ate avocados with sunflower seeds 'cuz it's pretty amazing.  Instantly, I was craving avocados and sunflower seeds....however, it was probably close to midnight or some other late hour and the kids were in bed and sleeping...FINALLY.  The next day was grocery day, and I picked up some of these green babies.  HeeAAvEEn.  From my sisters suggestion, I created this recipe, which has become my favorite lunch or bedtime snack. I rarely ever measure ingredients when I cook, but I will try to give detailed ways of measuring so that you may enjoy this delish dish. :)

Cut up one avocado....I know there is more than one way to skin a cat, therefore I am sure that there is more than one way to dice an avocado...But here is the best way. :)  Cut avocado in half and remove pit.  With a paring knife, score/cut through flesh to skin (or peel) lengthwise and then across, but NOT through skin.  Take a soup spoon and scoop out flesh in nicely diced pieces.  Repeat on other half.  Durrr...is what my kids would say.  Ya.  It's not even cool to say "duh" anymore..."duurrr" is the new "duh".

Sprinkle a bit of chili powder, ground cumin, sea salt, and freshly ground pepper over avocado.  Then sprinkle about a 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds over the top. (I used unsalted, raw sunflower seeds.) You may stop right here, and eat up.

Ooor...you could get frisky and take it to the next level by adding diced Tomy Toes...tomatoes, duuurrr.  This is where you enter the beginning of many options. You could add diced red onion, some black beans, olives, whole corn kernels, etc.  It can be as simple or diverse as your frig and pantry or taste buds afford. 

Enjoy.  Here is what's for dinner....Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps.  I will let you know what we think of them.

~Becky

The Hens Run Wild and Free

A Picture Post from a year ago....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gosh, I canNOT believe how little my girls look in these pictures and how much they have grown this past year!!  I love it....seeing the progress both inside and out.

Now, truth be told....I am going "shoot.  it's 11:38pm on sunday, and i don't have my posts ready for the week. neither am i in the mood to stay up until 2am getting my posts written and scheduled...so...oh ya. let's see what was happening a year ago....suuuweeeeEET. copy. paste."  :) 


Please, enjoy.  And a happy Monday to all of you!

~Becky

It's 2:45pm At Our House

...on Friday.

In our house, there are three bedrooms and three beds.  Today there is a tired, little girl on each bed.  Shhh.  Come with me, and I will show you.

My niece.  So beautiful.

My baby.  Sleeping so hard.  She is fighting a bit of a cold and dry skin.  Her mom ordered extra rest.

And, Sophie-pie.  Not sleeping.  She caaaAAaanN't sleep.  She is noOOot tired.

A note by the door and covering the doorbell for the kids coming home from school any second.  

It works.

The kids home from school and just in the front door where there is about to be a clothes/backpacks/shoes tsumani. 

My nephew, so proud and excited,  showing me that he packed his swim shorts for the sprinkler at my house after school. Alright, Bud, yes....

After-school snack.  It ends up being easier to have something prepared and ready for the kids.  Otherwise, I am dealing with the entire frig being emptied on the counter, plus one or two pantry cupboards, in order for everyone to find what they want.  I learned that the hard way. 

I love little hands in action.

Happy, hungry kids....The next thing to be hit is the sprinkler under the trampoline.

~Becky

P.S. This was a week ago.  Hard to believe that it was that warm with the chills I've been having the past several days.