fifty two on friday ~ week 20 (landscape)

Apparently I never take landscape images because I did not have a single one to pull for this week. I used an oldie for the first time. It cracks me up when Jordan pulls out his backpack and light saber to help Drew with the landscaping. Not really the first thing that came to mind when I found out the theme was landscape but the weather was crummy and when it was nice I did not get a chance to take out my camera and find anything camera worthy.

Aren't these three of the most adorable landscapers you have ever seen?

Now head on over and check out the amazing Amanda Jouppi, Chippewa Falls, WI Photographer and see her take on the theme. After that follow the circle until you get back to me.

a new friend

Jordan found a frog yesterday near our front porch. When Leah saw him she was so excited she hopped up and down and exclaimed, "Yeah, Mommy look my new friend!" They both wanted to keep him so much and tried so hard to keep him in the jar but I convinced them that his family would be looking for him. I told them they would be really sad if they did not see him soon. Later that night they named him Hopper.  They were excited when I printed the first picture in this series for both of their rooms so they will always rememeber him. Jordan wants me to print his larger and put his in a frame because he loves it so much.

very handsome

After his bath last night Jordan decided instead of getting jammies on he was going to get dressed up very handsome for me. After he completed his look he told me that he was going to go outside and play. I thought the outfit was worth a few pictures so I let him go outside for a few minutes.

Here is his version of very handsome...

spiky hair, just like his daddy's, that was combed and styled in the mirror all on his own

spiderman sandals with his brand new and beloved black socks

a button up shirt, at least one size two small, of course

and a killer grin to top it all off.

Now that is what I call handsome!

fifty two on friday ~ week 19 (water)

and because my Mom and Nana simply would not be happy if I posted to the blog and they did not see an image of at least one of their grand babies. The "baby" in the bath water shot...

Next up is the super sweet and very talented, San Diego Photographer, Crystal Kieth. Her images are always gorgeous. Don't forget to complete the circle and check out the rest of the ladies water theme, these ladies are amazing and you will be so happy you did!

weeds

We are loving them around here. I love them when my sweeties give them to me as gifts.

the checkup

Our bigger guy had his 4 year check up today. He was a rockstar! He had three shots and he took each one like a champ, not a tear shed. When we were walking out of the office he was walking veeeery slowly and when I asked him why he said because his shots hurt. That made me giggle because they were in his arms not his legs! Drew made sure he was with me for the appointment and afterwards we took the kids to Mcdonald's for lunch. They were both super excited to get shakes. Jordan needs all the shakes he can get. He weighs 34.5 lbs and is 41 inches tall, I have no idea what the means but I know he is super skinny. Doctor said he was perfect! Mama could have told him that without the appointment.

fifty two on friday ~ week 18 (peace)

Peace for me is being at home with my babies and knowing that is exactly where I was always meant to be.

Now head on over and check out the lovely and talented, Tara Carman, Cleveland Akron Photographer and see her take on the peace theme.

fourth birthday celebration

Jordan had an awesome 4th birthday party! Thanks to all our family who helped us celebrate, he could not have been happier with his fireman celebration.

happy day

The sunshine makes us very, very happy! Whenever Leah sees it she claps and makes sure that she points it out to me. Today when Jordan saw the sun shining he told me that he put it in the sky for me today because he knows that it makes me happy!! I am a lucky woman.

night and day

fifty two on friday ~ week 17 (favorite things)

One of my favorite things about Leah is her amazing spirit.

She does what she wants,

when she wants,

how she wants.

She is going to be the life and death of me.

Now follow the link to see how  Megan Wold, North Dakota Photographer  interpreted this weeks favorites theme.

Also, my fellow photographers should be sure check out this giveaway for a  custom designed facebook welcome tab by Go{4}Pro, seems pretty cool!

our big celebration

Grown don't mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown?
What's that suppose to mean? In my heart it don't mean a thing.

~Toni Morrison, Beloved

We had so much fun celebrating Jordan's birthday all day yesterday. He was so excited when he woke up and saw four red balloons tied to his bed and he realised it was finally his big day.

When he went downstairs he found a brightly wrapped box and he quickly ran upstairs to ask if it was for him and if he could open up the gift. We gave him a game that you play through the television by pedaling a bike. He had no idea what it was and he did not know how to use it at first but he is quickly becoming addicted to playing the games.

For lunch we made our traditional birthday trek to The All Aboard Diner which is always so much fun. Then Daddy was off to work and the kids and I played with his new toys.

He was a little disappointed that we did not have his party yesterday and he asked me several times when we were having his friends and cousins over and when we could have his firetruck cake. I felt so bad because I did not even have a cake at the house. Luckily I had some cake mix and sprinkles and I was able to make a cake when he wasn't paying attention so he was super happy when Leah and I sang to him after dinner.

After dinner when he was in the bath he proclaimed, "this was the best birthday ever"! Then he started to count to four on his fingers. He counted his fingers a couple of times and then looked up at me at said, "Mom, four isn't so old is it?" I confirmed for him that no it wasn't. He looked up at me scrunched up his adorable little nose, shook his head no and he said, "no, no it isn't".

four

My sweet, sweet boy is four. I can hardly believe how fast time is flying. It seems like just yesterday when I held him in my arms for the very first time. After so many years of trying and not being able to get pregnant I felt like it was a dream when I  finally held my baby in my arms. Being his mother is truly a joy.

Some things about Jordan at 4:

He is sweet and thoughtful and always willing to give Mom, Dad and Leah hugs and kisses

He adores Leah and he will often reach over and to give her a hug and tell her that he loves her for no reason at all

He is fascinated with everything fire fighter related

His favorite color is red

His favorite number is 8

He loves to read books, especially if they are about firetrucks

He mistakenly uses the word very in place of the word really like..."I don't very want to do that Mommy." or " I don't very like cottage cheese Mommy."

Oh yeah, he does not like cottage cheese

Some of his favorite foods are chicken fingers, fries, pizza, broccoli and salad

He loves to pick out his own clothes out of his closet and is proud that he can get them out of the closet by himself

He thinks it is really funny to put on more than one pair of underwear and will do it just to make us laugh

He is a great helper. He wants to help with everything… dishes, laundry, cooking

His favorite toys to play with are his legos and firetrucks

He loves to play outside, rain or shine.

His favorite things to do outside are run, ride his bike and play with chalk

He sleeps with his best pals Cookie Monster, his scratchy spiderman blanket and a starwars blanket

He is also sleeps surrounded by books because he always falls asleep while reading

Happy Birthday Jordan! I am so incredibly lucky to be your mom. You mean the world to me.