Rachel's past 4 yrs...

My baby girl...is growing up! I have had a digital camera all of her life, so there were so many pics for me to choose from to put on here. Rachel has such a vivid personality. She is very passionate about what she believes in, and will stand her ground to the very end. When she smiles, her whole face lights up, and her eyes sparkle. She brings such spice to our family, and I mean that in a good way. She has the greatest love for animals. She sucks her thumb and sniffs her blanket, just like I did. Noah and Leah don't look a thing alike to me, and she is the missing link, and makes our kids look like they belong together.

This picture....one day I discovered the 3 of them playing with their stuffed animals, sitting on storage tubs in the closet. When I took this picture, I was just like, oh...Rachel looks like she is picking her nose. Then, one day while I was at work, Clay made me a card with this photo of the kids...and this pic had a whole new meaning to me. I looked at that card and thought.....those are my kids....this pic is just like them, and from then on, I have LOVED this pic of them!

This post would not be complete without a pic of her signature look!

Clay's pics...

I wish I could load these bigger on here. Clay took these pics of The Big Dam Bridge tonight, and I think they turned out so COOL!

Now Noah has done it......

So, after things calmed down today, Noah and I sat down together, and with just a little bit of help, he read the book too! I am very proud of him. I know this doesn't come as easily for him as Leah, but I can for sure see how much he has learned since last year. Go Noah! I try very hard not to compare them. When I sat down with him, I just told him there was no pressure, it was o.k if he couldn't read it, but let's just try it. I do think that maybe knowing his sister had already read it gave him a bit of motivation. I think a lot of my frustration with the reading is just that he won't even try so many times, and I don't know how to motivate him. Maybe being Leah's learning will be all the motivation he needs!

Leah read her first book!

On another note aside from all my complaining this morning, Leah read a book! Yesterday, as I was cleaning, I came across one book out of the BOB book series. A book that was misplaced from the rest of the set......that I forgot I even had! And, this one was titled The Sad Cat. I sat down with Noah, to see how well he could do, b/c most of the words were the ones we had been learning. Well, he reacted as usual, flailing his arms, burrying his head, makeing up words that didn't even have the same letters as the ones to read....so I sent him away. Leah came along, and I said, here, see if you can read this book. So, we sat down, and she did! Even words we had not learned, like was, did, and fun...she just sounded them out on her own, and read them. I was super proud momma!! I got the book out again this morning, and she read it faster and with more ease. I was just super duper excited to see that progress from what we have been learning!

10 Reasons I yelled at my kids this morning....

1.) We are doing schoolwork at the dining table that is crammed into the little Breakfast nook along with my bookcase of school stuff in a super nasty messy kitchen. Why is the kitchen nasty? Because I have 3 kids that make a constant mess, and even cleaning the kitchen 3 times a day does not seem to help!

2.) I spent more time searching for the stuff to do school with than the time it takes to do the activity. Why? Not sure considering I just organized it last week, and I have threatened everyone with thier life if they touch it and get stuff lost. Hmmmm

3.) I absolutely despised the constant backtalking and snotty attitude that Noah has developed toward me and everyone in this house.

4.) I am tired and grouchy today b/c I took a tylenol PM last night to try to kill the pain in my back from putting together a bookshelf yesterday, and the pain in my feet that I have everyday that I get up and move. (I seemed to have developed plantar fasciitis, and the ice, soaking, and $400 worth of shoes can't seem to heal them. Losing weight could, possible, if I could MOVE to exercise to lose the weight!)

5.) Leah is sitting beside me grunting and groaning constantly saying, I CAN'T DO IT...over and over and over again.

6.) Noah is doing his work well, but is also looking over his shoulder criticizing everything Rachel is doing. Both kids are telling her she is doing it wrong. She popps Leah with a pencil, Leah pops her back with the crayon everyone is mad at each other, all 3 distracted from the work I am trying to keep them on track to do.

7.) My husband is in the other room working, in the space I wish I had for my schoolroom. (of course I know he is working on something equally frustrating, so for this day, am not mad at him)

8.) I am still worrying over the wedding that was cancelled for October......that was a good chunck of money, and makes me want to throw up when I think about it.

9.) Days like today, I get homesick for the support system I left in Monticello, and miss so bad my job I had at the nursing home. The job I loved and quit b/c I THOUGHT the photography business we were building would allow me more time with my kids.....Uh....NO! I may be here physically, but not mentally, and especially when I am a basket case fretting b/c I have to actually go take pictures!

10.) And last, and this is honestly probably the number 1 reason today..... I/we have an engagement session this afternoon, a bridal session Thursday, a rehersal dinner Friday, and a huge wedding on Saturday...(that I know I will not be able to walk by the time it is over, literally) and have I ever mentioned that now that photography is our business, I despise photography? Running a businesss from our home that you can never get away from. Have I mentioned that all I want to do is be a MOM, b/c tending to 3 children's needs and education all day every day, is quite enough to keep up with. That even though my husband is running the business now, he is constantly talking to me about it, and I still book some weddings, and carry the guilt when I turn people down for portraits. I constantly worry about when we will book the next wedding even though I constantly pray and same I am trusting God, and then feel guilty for worrying b/c I am not relying on God. We would get us an office/studio, but everything here seems to be through the roof on rent, and we can't bare to think of another high payment.


So.....as everyone was bickering I yelled as loudly as I could..... BE QUIET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then I yelled at Noah that I was taking away a $1 of his money everytime he backtalked me again. And told my starving kids that no they could not drink or eat until they finished school. Yes, I did get my point across, yes, they did finally mind me, and yes their spirits were crushed b/c of the way mom yelled at them. Yes I could have had the same effects with a quieter voice, b/c yes, you could see how the yelling affected the in their faces and posture.

Happy Birthday Rachel!

The day has finally arrive, today is my baby girl's 4th Birthday! I have felt so bad seeing her watch her 2 oldest siblings have their birthdays, and her having to wait until hers. I could just see the sadness in her eyes as they got gifts, and got to spend their birthday money. But, maybe that has made this day even more special to her. We let her go ahead and open her gifts earlier in the week, and I just love all these pictures, there is just joy in her eyes! I will have to do a blog later on of her lifetime pics like I have done for the other 2. Right now, we are off to celebrate Rachel's day!

I found a Build A Bear pink flamingo on e-bay, and she just loved it!

A cell phone that looks like mine I got from Dollar Tree.
Noah is looking at Rachel's balloon that is floating on the ceiling.

I love this pic of the girls!
These next 2 crack me up.....Leah just looks so amazed at the baby diapers I got them.

Swimming with Kelly

We went back swimming this week with my friend Kelly, and this time she took video of the kids swimming. I LOVE IT!