Edit Me weekly challenge: Week 15

Original photo:

Edited photo: 

I'm a sucker for little girl flats and striped socks, so I wanted to focus my edit on just those 2 things. For the edit, I used Lightroom to do the following:

Cropped, obviously

used brilliant blue skies preset (for added color punch in the purple and pinks)

used wow glow 6 preset (for the glow effect on the skin and rocks)

used edge effects rounded corners

This was my first time entering this contest, and it was super fun! Enjoy other entries or submit your own over at Branson's site. Thank you, Jamie for guest judging this week and submitting an adorable photo for us to work with. :-)

FROYO

{summer}Time is running out, which means I have to pack in as many late night, past bedtime, frozen yogurt trips with the family as possible. MUST.HAVE.FROYO.

Avalon's choice is wild and crazy, just like her: 

fruit punch yogurt, capn' crunch cereal and butterfly gummy bears. 

Loudoun wants you to think his froyo choice is normal, but just like his sister's - it isn't, 

because he is a 7 year old boy and he likes to experiment: 

fruit punch yogurt, reece's pieces and marshmallow sauce. 

Daddy's WAS normal, because you know, us adults have good taste. 

But he wants you to think he's crazy like the kids: 

Oreo cookie yogurt, caramel sauce and heath bar topping. 

And I made mine the largest because duh, 

it was my dinner replacement, and I splurged: 

red velvet cake yogurt, hot fudge sauce and chocolate sprinkles. 

AND, I really pushed the envelope and did NOT work out tonight. 

Ahhhh....last days of summer. 

Oh, and the best part? I got my froyo card punched 8 times and earned a free one next time. 

Looks like we will make it out at least 1 more time before September 6th. 

TIRED

This is what 4 young kids over a weekend do to a normally excited puppy.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

This is my first attempt at Scavenger Hunt Sunday, and I have to say, I had a blast! I reminded myself when I walked out the door not to try and plan what I was going to shoot for each scavenger item, and rather keep my eyes open for inspiration. Here's what I came up with (with the extra help of my husband...he had fun looking, too).

1. Geometry

2. Brushstrokes

3. Hanging by a thread

4. Collage

5. On the dotted line

1.8

new camera lens.
same precious subjects.
upcoming weekend to practice, with lots of house guests.

it's summer, and we're playing...

...'round the clock.

We swim, we have playdates, we ride our bikes and walk the dog. we draw on the sidewalk and bbq out back and squirt each other with water guns. But we also have the "play" mentality indoors, later at night, pushing bedtimes back by {at least} an extra hour. Indulging in root beer floats, 4 nights in a row.

We've convinced Avalon to eat more, by telling her the sooner she gains at least 

15 pounds she can move up to a booster seat in the car. 

So now, every time she eats a bite, she comes over and says, 

Do you want to feel my muscles? I'm getting biiiiiiiiger.

And this face comes along with it. It takes everything in our power not to giggle. 

play time...Rick and Loudoun on the 1s and 2s, Avalon rockin' it out. 

Why yes, that is my float in the back on the left. I made 'em, mom's choice. 

Mmmmm, more calories. Booster, here I come!

Can't.Put.The.Mic.Down

Looks like Barkley likes the fort Avalon made for him. He has chilled out sooo much, we now let him loose in the house with us. He's turning into quite the family dog. 

He's got talent, yo. 

And if you're wondering how I could start this post with 'round the clock, Grandma watched the kiddos on Saturday night while Rick and I went to Hollywood Bowl, and not only did she let them have FOUR root beer floats for dessert {each!}, she also let them stay up until midnight when we got home. Grandmas are the coolest. 

Bigger Picture Moment: butterfly earrings

Loudoun walked into the room and asked if I could login to his online chore chart, as an administrator. There really isn't any advantage to being an administrator besides assigning new chores (YAY!) and adding new wishlist items for your parents to buy from Amazon once you have earned enough points from doing said chores, day after day, week after week.

So, I logged in for him and he took my laptop into the other room. Ten minutes later he returned and handed me the computer, like nothing had happened. It was my birthday, so I didn't want to pry too much, and ruin anything he might be doing. Seven year olds need their privacy.

Two minutes later my phone alerted me that I had a new email, which was from Amazon....stating Loudoun wanted to redeem one of his wishlist items. When I opened the email, I saw the most gorgeous pair of purple, butterfly amethyst earrings. He had added them all on his own, no help from Daddy, and spent some of his hard earned chore points to get them for my birthday.

You see, he has been saving up his points for months now, his points goal 5,000 points, for a Nintendo 3DS. He's more than 1/2 way there, and he is so dedicated to wait it out and work for it.

For him to spend some of his points on his mama's birthday present, without even a second thought, just melts my heart.

Talk about a bigger picture moment I want to remember forever. 

Check out the other bigger picture moments today 

over at Alita Jewel's space. Happy Thursday!

Kreative Keep-out Kontraptions

Loudoun's attempt to KEEP everyone out. 

And Avalon's Kontribution. 

KREATIVE.

the day I ate banana cream pie

My birthday started out (EARLY in the morning!) with a planned trip to the lake with friends, but after arriving minutes behind the last accepted jetski on an "at capacity" lake, we turned around (I'm sensing a pattern from last weekend) and came home. But it's summer, and it was my birthday! So we made do with the backyard pool and BBQ...it was rough, let me tell ya. I don't know how we survived. ;-) 

After I had about as much sun as I could take without falling asleep, Rick let me sneak away and almost pass out in a pedicure spa chair and then in a shampoo chair and haircut chair at a different salon. Summer goal accomplished...hair, chopped. 

I came home right before dinnertime to a fellow August 6th birthday visitor (and his adorable kiddo), so we made a take-out dinner out of it. 

Feeling groovy and giggly. 

Of course our visitor was my favorite guest of all time, because he brought a FourN20 Bakery Banana Cream Pie. Yummmmm.

"Happy birthday to US, happy birthday to US, 

happy birthday to Mom and Big Dawg*, happy birthday to US."

*None of us know Big Dawg's real name. Seriously, when someone says his real name, we all look around and say, "who is that?" Everyone loves the Big Dawg. 

one year older

"Mama, how old are you going to be on your birthday?"
36.

"When you're 36, will you still lay in bed with me at bedtime?"

Oh, how I wish I could do it forever, baby girl. 

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Isaiah 46:4 
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. 

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Bible verses about birth are wonderful, but something about turning 36 doesn't scream out new life quite so much. I have to say old age and gray hairs is more appropriate. :-) I don't feel old. I feel wise...er, but the grays hairs still seem to be popping up. Kids, house, career, etc. all seem to keep life moving at a fast pace. 


But that seems to matter less and less to me these days, for I feel Him carrying me. 


Lately I've been pondering that before time even began, I was meant to be. 36 years ago on this day, He said it's time for her to join this world. He knew I was coming. He knew what I would do with all of my days. He knew what gifts I would bring, what weaknesses I would face and how I would try and spread His joy. How amazing is that? I wasn't just a creation between two loving people sharing their excitement to start a family, I was His creation. We all are.

I feel Him lifting me up when I need Him. He puts the beauty of life in front of me to witness all through my days. The sparkle in my kids' eyes, the vivid colors in the flowers, the smile of my husband, the note from a friend, giggles, new life, warm sunshine, motherhood, vast oceans, it's all so amazing to witness. 

I can't wait to see what He teaches me in the year to come. 

Father, thank you for speaking me into motion. Thank you for making me part of Your creation, and thank you for saving me. You have wrapped your arms around me, protected me and loved me perfectly, and I will do my best to glorify you all of my days. In this great, big created world I might be small and insignificant, but you make me feel special in Your eyes. Oh, how that touches my heart and makes me want to do everything for You.