it was the best of times.  it was the worst of times.

I am so lucky to have gotten to spend some time with this family.  They have six boys and lots of energy, compassion, personality, and a bit of craziness (who doesn't have craziness, right?).

In every family there are milestones and some of those milestones are all joy and some of them bring with them a bit of the bittersweet.  I'm talking about the first day of kindergarten, the first lost tooth, when your 16 year old gets their permit, when your child goes off to college or on a mission for 2 years.

It's because these particular steps mean something.  Things are really changing.  There's no denying it.  You may have been living in a little dream thinking your kids would never grow up.  And then one day they do.  And these moments have a way of making you look back and look forward at the same time. 

You know that it's time for growing up and at the same time as his life plays out in front of your eyes you wonder how the years could have gone so quickly.  You remember the sweet moments when playing with toys on the carpet was the only world he ever knew and now your world is about to change.  And it feels like the best and worst of times.  You want change and it makes you happy.  The change also means there's the letting go that makes you sad and wistful for the memories that you have tucked away in your heart. 

You wonder why you didn't hold that book on his head so he couldn't have that growth spurt...so he could just stay your small little boy. 

Except you look at the man that he's becoming and you couldn't be more proud of the life that he's creating and the path that he's walking.

So this post is for Pam.  I haven't been where you're at.  I can only imagine.

And it's also for Ethan.  Have a wonderful mission in Salta, Chile.

it's a wonderful. LIFE.

on the go snacking.

Michelle is an amazing mom and a fantastic personal trainer.  She has excellent ideas and I thought she would be the perfect addition to Move it Monday.  She knows about being busy, being a mom, AND staying in shape (that last bit seems to be the really tricky part for most of us).  She has quick and easy ways to get moving everyday as well as on the go ideas for eating more healthy. Periodically she'll be popping into Move it Monday with ways to naturally fit exercise into your day as well as healthy eating tips. So glad she's here!

Michelle:

"Snacking! Admit it, we have so much to do and so many places to be often we realize that it has been hours since we have had anything to eat and we are starving! This causes a situtation to grab food that is often not nutritious and not good for us. Over the next few weeks she's going to give us some ideas on how to create snack boxes.
 
A little preplanning and a quick trip to the grocery store allows for healthy snacks that are not hard to put together! It will provide us the fuel to accomplish all that needs to be done and allow our metabolism to keep running high! Kids love(and need) snacks. So lets put together some great  ideas, take  away the excuses, and lets get snacking the right way!

The more the kids have a role in preparation the more they are willing to try (sometimes)


apples and 1 TBSP of peanut butter

pistachios(around 20)

cut veggies and 2 TBSPs of low calorie ranch dressing

1 piece of string cheese

Move it this monday and make a trip to the grocery store!

Happy healthy snacking!"

Michelle is a certified personal trainer with over 15 years of experience. She helps individuals successfully optimize thier fitness potential through personalized programs that combine the latest exercise techniques, nutrition, diet analysis and coaching. Michelle comes to you with all of the equipment needed for your workouts, so making time for yourself around a busy schedule is easy.
email: mleonhardt@carolina.rr.com  phone: 704.277.3713

 
 snack. LIFE.

it's time to color.

I was so looking forward to getting to the session with this little family months ago.  The day of our photo shoot turned into a very raining and dark day so we ended up just hanging out at home. Which, I think was the perfect place to be.

I love so many of the images from this shoot because of how fun it was to interact with each of the kids and they way they just opened up their hearts to me.  My really favorite images, though, are the ones of Lisa adoring, comforting, and just being with her kids.

She's a beautiful and soulful mom. 

soul-filled. LIFE.

apple picking.

We worked hard to make this shoot happen and we were so glad that we did; especially when we arrived at the apple orchard to find out that it would be the last day fof apple picking for the season.

Looking for apples from top to bottom and picking up plenty of apples that were long past their prime was fun.  We added in some book reading and bubbles for good measure...more to come later.

happy. LIFE.

the sweet road.

David and Danielle walked a road that included pretty amazing lives before they even met.  They both had blossoming careers.  Their lives separately were giving to the world in beautiful ways.

Together though...

it's a whole new story.

The lives that these two lead to help children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic in Africa, the sweetness they put into their own children and raising a family that looks to the heavens for guidance, and the honesty and integrity that they live by are a gift to so many people.

Over the years I've known David since before he met Danielle.  Before the filmed proposal. Before two kids.  Before becoming a dad.  He's always been amazing...accomplishing more than most people do in a lifetime.

When I'm with him and Danielle and their little family I know that for them, the good stuff is really just beginning.

beginning. LOVE.