Reagan's SIX {6} year old pictures and Room Reveal!

Some of you have been asking me to post pictures of Reagan's new
"Big girl room". I am just now finding the time to post. Between work, kids, hubs, photography among a gazillion other things..it is almost impossible to squeeze in I dare say a whole 15 minutes. Oh and that is stretching it! Her is room is by no means just perfect but she is just so very proud of it and I love it as well. These photographs do it absolutely no justice. I can not wait to see her things in her new room in the new house. She also celebrated her 6th birthday recently in March so I wanted to document her at 6. It is so ironic to me how I am a photographer and always stress to my clients the importance of photos whether I was shooting them or they had to just snap them with a trusty ol' point and shoot.."document your life!!" is what I always say.... I should definately be practiving what I preach. I rarely take my childrens photos. Well, Kullen refuses majority of the time. (I wonder why??) LOL 

So here are a few of my favorites.

Five bottles, Five paci's, FIVE BABIES, oh my!

I had originally had something else I was going to blog about next, but something has been weighing on my heart pretty heavy,and so, my plans changed.

About a week ago, I read the Texarkana Gazette article here regarding Steven, Michelle & Brady who recently found out they were not only expanding their family, but expanding it by FIVE more. You guys guessed it! She is carrying FIVE tiny babies!!!!  My Husband & I went to school with these two and they are pretty awesome people!  Michelle actually taught our son. We had known about the pregnancy for a while, but this article just weighed on my heart. As a mother of two myself (and NOT twins), I experienced the up's & down's of a normal single pregnancy, and the financial burden of caring for them after they arrived. I cannot even fathom what Michelle is going through, physically, emotionally...nor what her family might be feeling! Through all of these bumps and turns, It is an absolute complete blessing from God, and I have no doubt that God laid this so thick on my heart because we all know it takes a village to raise a child, and for FIVE (well six, including sweet Brady) it must take the whole State of Texas and at least South Arkansas, correct? :) 

Our little community is pretty much the best ever, and always comes together in times like this. This sweet family already has so much much love and support from their families & friends. My husband and I still wanted to help, so I kept asking myself  “What Can we do to Help?" the answer we got from ourselves “Spread the Word,” So I contacted Michelle and got her permission, and now I am reaching out to you all (my dear friends and readers) in hopes that you will help me spread the word of this deserving family through your blog, social media, word of mouth, prayer list's....That is what I ask for this family the most..PRAYERS. Continuing ones. For the uncomfortable bedrest, for the time in the hospital, for the times they are away from Brady, for Michelle's safety &health, the babies safety &health, Steven's Strength, the whole family, the hospital staff, the delivery, the sleepless nights...the happy moments, the memories! ETC! SO many things to pray for.

If you could please take a moment to visit Michelle's blog page here you’ll see pictures of little Brady, Michelle & Steven and can read Michelle's updates on her health as well as the new babies. You’ll see why their story deserves to be shared.  

Michelle's co-workers have set up an account for her & Steven. If anyone would like to donate this is the information.

Red river credit union donation account #756326
For Steven and Michelle Seals.

With 1 here and 5 on the way, they will need all the help they can get, ya'll! :)

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY & Thank you for your support!

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If you have a moment today, please say a word of prayer for these little babies and their parents. Also, if you'd like to share this story on your own blogs or even link to this post from your Twitter or Facebook posts, that would be amazing. 

Thanks for reading, y'all.

Confession Session

Even though its Thursday....It's my Friday, ya'll! I am off on Friday's and I'll just have you know I am tickled pink about it. I decided to jump on the Confession Session bandwagon. 

I confess:

that I am so glad to sleep in to the whooping 6:30 in the morning. This 4am business is kicking my tail and under my eyes. I need my beauty sleep. ha 

that there will be some sleeping in going on this Saturday. Serious business.

that I have no photo sessions scheduled this weekend and I am thrilled. It is nice to have a break ever so often. Its good for the soul..and I am hoping it will provide me with a little creativity boost. Ever feel like you get in a rut?

that I am in love with all things, gold. Seriously, it is my latest obsession. Like this pretty gem.

 


that I am feeling a craft day on the rise...

that maybe I am to lazy to do said craft day?

that I have not had the energy to cook not one meal this week. I have been under the weather with a little nasty cold and by the time I get home from work, I am zonked. I have zero energy. So we have ordered out. Hey, dont hate, I'm not perfect. :)

speaking of the above, it reminds me, I really need to get my meal planning and freezing back together and in order.

that I really, really, did I mention really like Instagram. I really actually prefer it over Facebook. The content is much more interesting to me. FB is over-run with negative crap that I dont want to look at. Plus, IG is made up pictures and well, you guys know I love those! :) and no, IG didnt compensate me to say this. It is fully my opinion. So follow me. Ill be giving Facebook a little rest... @mandiragland

that I love holidays way more than the average bear person. All this Valentine stuff is super duper cute.

and yes, I sing this to my kids. They think I am looney. Well, if the shoe fits....hahaha!


Oh gee, would you look at that? It is my bedtime. :)

Goodnight you darlings!
Mandi

Christmas 2013

I am always late posting Christmas pictures! It is my favorite holiday though and I want to make sure to document it! Better late than never, right?

Christmas this year came and went way too fast. I seriously soaked up all the time with my little family! Loved every minute of it. I cant wait until next year because we will spend Christmas in Colorado! WAAHOO! 

Happy 2014!

I said good-bye to the wonderful, adventure filled 2013, wearing my favorite comfy jammies, tucked in my large comfy bed, snuggled with my boston terrier, Dino, watching Sex and the City reruns. I spent all day in town grocery shopping with Adam and the kids. I couldn't imagine spending the day any other way. 

I always tend to find myself being a little sappy around this time of the year. Reflecting back on all that year had brought to myself and my family. 

Resolutions-Smesolutions...Resolutions seem a little cliche to me. Especially since most folks including myself go a few weeks or halfway through the year and BAM, you stop. Not completing a dabnabit thing on your list. In being the dreamer that I am though, I find it very positive and rewarding to think of all the things id like to improve or make better about myself or my life. I dont put alot of rules or stipulations on myself. I fail enough in real life situations, why would I want to set myself up for failure on my goals?? However, a situation where you can have a mind set of starting over is very liberating to me. I look into the future and ponder the possibilities and opportunities. 

In 2014 my hope is to focus on what i'm blessed with, figure out the not so great things in life and change what I can and as best as I possibly can I am not letting others negativity sneak into my happy place. I hope there are more times where I turn off the TV and crank up the music, more days of unplugging, more family trips in 2014. I hope there are more handwritten letters to be mailed and long phone calls with dear friends who live far away instead of social media keeping me informed on their lives. I hope to actually send out Christmas cards of my family. I want to focus on my marriage, and keep on dating my husband. I want to continue my daily prayer time. I want to keep my faith even when the world is crumbling around with negative. I want to remind myself every day that I am a good mother and a good wife and while others may do things differently AND PERFECTLY, it doesn’t mean how i mother or love my family is any less right. I want to yell less and resolve conflict with a calm soothing voice. I want to make a difference in someones life. I hope to continue growing and learning Photography, I want to do it when I want to, not because I HAVE to. I want to remember that quality in better that quantity in most situations, especially in seeing my kids. I will remember not to judge others, you just never know what someone is going through. I do hope to be healthier. I dont do diets, I do choices. I hope to focus on improving my confidence. Willpower will no longer be my weakness. I hope to blog instead of Facebooking. I hope to not compare my life to others. Create a budget and stick with it. Make attainable paper list each day, and cross things off of it. 

As you can see, I have high hopes! I could go on and on, but ultimately, if I am just a better version of what I was in 2013, I will deem 2014 a success. It doesnt matter if any of these actually happen, as long as I know my intentions are to be my very best!

Cheers to you guys and may 2014 be all you have dreamed of!