What's Taking So Long?

I know what you're thinking the first and the last look the same. Well, they're not, you've gotta trust me. Every once in a while I get a bit overwhelmed. I start feeling the pressure to get my edits back to my customers. Normally, I blame those I love most for my delays. Running around kids or messing with someone else's business, or general wifely duties. However, occasionally, I notice me slowing myself down. When I've edited a photo img_9996E, that's a good indicator that I may have edited this photo too much and I should really move on. The most obnoxious part is that I sit and wonder which one is my favorite?

Note to self, this is not professional and completely obnoxious. Move along, just keep swimming.

My Little Devil

Don't let the puppy dog eyes fool you. Apparently, the bunny ears never get old.

My favorite site, both of them walking to Beth's house :)

Seriously, this front tooth is so loose, it looks like it's already gone.

Sweet Lily
For weeks now Abbey has insisted on being a devil for Halloween. She has three separate devil costumes circled in the well worn Party City magazine. I'm not sure why she can't just wear her everyday devil suit, denim shorts, T-shirt and flip flops. I could do a whole three minute bit on the perfect irony of that child wanting to be a devil for Halloween.

Any who, yesterday I got an eye full when I answered the feverish doorbell ring. I knew it was the girls because I could hear them giggling and plotting outside the door. After pretending to not be home for several minutes (hey, you can hope can't you?) I answered the door. My first glance went to the red sequin halter top that my sweet devil was wearing. She had one arm raised on the door frame exposing more mid section that I ever care to see. Honestly, I'm not sure how my little devil did not get picked up walking down the street? After the initial shock, I did what any mother would do after seeing her daughter in a prostitute devil costume......I grabbed the camera. These two girls are so stinkin' cute, I had to. I'm sure in a couple of days we will have two prostitute devil costumes. How can I resist?

I Might Even Be A Rock Star

Before the concert, and yes, very aware of the bunny ears. Seriously, who let's their kid go this long with a tooth that loose?!

One picture waiting inside for the concert, and the big picture is in the car before we walk in. Yes, she is screaming.

In case you ever wanted to know what it looks like to watch a concert from the last row in the building.

Thank God for nifty zooms and arm rest tripods. If you were to ever grab my ipod, you might notice my full collection of Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus songs. I might also tell you that they are in there just for Ab's. That, however, would not be the complete truth. She kinda rocks and she's fun to dance to. We are, after all, HUGE dance in the living room with music blaring fans. We even have a huge mirror downstairs that we can check ourselves out while dancing a fool. Again, off on at tangent.

Back in June, I surprised Abbey with news about the concert. She was excited, but not real sure what a concert involved. It was pretty obvious when she had mentioned how cool it would be to talk to Miley and get her "sign-a-ture". After explaining that our seats were closer to roof than Miley, she was a little confused. As the day grew closer our excitement did too. What to wear, how to do our hair, trying to pull that dang tooth out, where to eat......lots to do and talk about.

It's hard to put into words how she reacted. Sometimes, she would just hop around or scream because there were no words for her either. After seeing Miley on stage for the first time she kept repeating "Oh my gosh, that's Hannah Montana!" Her face lit the room. In fact, I spent most of the concert just watching her. We've all been to the concert and seen the many different concert approaches. Some just sit and watch, some sit, clap and sing a long, some sleep but the fun ones really know how to dance it up. Abbey is a dancer!! She swung her arms around the WHOLE time. Toward the end of the concert, she had lots of room to move around so she made full use of that space putting on her own show. One perk of sitting on the last row is the small table behind us. I was able to put my camera down and film some of her moves. I have several bits, but I'll just post one. I'm so excited I could experience her very first concert. She has her fair share of pain in the butt moments, but this makes up for it. Even more, I finally have a good concert buddy that I can take with me and really have a good time!

Rock Those Socks

Quick photo before school. This morning goofing off is also why we are on tardy #3

No real reason for this picture other than a pretty standard progression to all of our photo attempts. I could line a album with these things. Just yesterday I was out shopping and found a shirt that screamed "Abbey". It was blue, her favorite color, and had the message I love my puppy. I carried it around for a minute, but I ultimately put it down. The reason? Simple. I did not want to see that t-shirt every 3rd day for the next 12 months. If I've learned nothing else (and it is quite possible that I have not) I've learned to buy clothes that I don't mind seeing on a regular basis. If I don't want to see it, I don't but it. Great Rule.

With all that being said, and because I can be a slow learner, we do have those "special" items in the closet that get intentionally overlooked. Up until now, I've grabbed the socks in the morning just because they are the top drawer and I know there are MANY pairs in there that should never see the light of day. In an effort to please me (rare) she dressed and got her own socks. With overwhelming pride she popped around the corner to present herself to me. A very "ta da" moment.

What?! My eyes almost popped out just trying to find a place to look first. Was it the mid-shin length, was it the color, was it the text? Surely it was not the floral print Chucks? Trying to keep her proud of her "achievement", I started with a simple "Wow! Look at you?" "What's up with those socks?" Abbey replies, "They say I love you and I want to wear them to school." I returned with the question that I was pretty sure I knew the answer to. It was pretty obvious to me that she wanted to tell her beloved mom, right? I continued, "Who do you want to tell 'I love you' to?" Abbey grinned and said quickly "Ms. Sowers, I love her soooooo much!".

Seriously, how can you possibly make her take those off? Ms. Sowers, my hat is off to you. We knew you had a tough act to follow with those amazing Kindergarten teachers we had last year. I'm not even sure if you'll notice (although hard to miss) that her socks were sending a message straight to you.

Crop Magic

Every once in a while I get the urge to do something different. OK, not really every once in a while, more like every session. I've been editing this wedding now for over a week and I feel like I do the same old tricks. I went to crop down this picture and forgot that the last obscure crop was this ratio. The results really blew my skirt up, so I thought I'd share.

Rules To Go By....

Statistically, 3 out of 4 kids raised by ninjas become ninjas.

Posing rule #42: If you can't see me, I can't see you.

In case the holiday sweater isn't weird enough, throw in the ever so popular bunny/parrot combo.

Posing Rule #67: Matching holiday sweaters never really works out for the men, regardless of color or pattern.

Large creepy heads of your youngest is just weird.

Not only are they engaged, but they are also in hiding.

Is it me, or are there more heads than bodies?

Just in case the shirts and lays weren't enough.....

Posing Rule#23 Make sure the pose doesn't raise more questions than answers.

Posing Rule #98: Crossbows and little girls don't mix. I'll let the logo T's comment go.

See above pose rule #23

Not only do they all work at Sears, but very supportive of mom's playboy status.

Pose Rule #65: Large banana squash and miniature schnauzers should never be paired.

Wow, that was fun. Maybe I should declare Thursday "What Not To Do Thursday"? I'll let it simmer.

Homework - A Natural Progression

Excited about her first real homework assignment.

One of the cardinal rules of parenting is don't compare your children. However, one of your first instincts as parents is, you guessed it, compare the brood. My Andrew spoiled me, academically speaking. He has always been a "gifted" kid, and never really realized it. This year he's in 4th grade, but starting out doing 5th grade math at his new "gifted" acadamy. He's been out smarting us for years. Of course he has also enjoyed raking me over the coals when it comes to behavior. A real "challenge" that one. Any who, speaking of comparing - Abbey knows that things don't come as easy for her as they did Andrew. She's not big dummy by any means, she's going to have to work for what she learns. She, like 99% of us, has to work at things before she understands a concept. She's more my "socially gifted" child. I could not be more proud.

Today, after school, she was excited to announce that she had homework. "Aren't you so excited mom? My first real homework. Don't you want to take pictures of that?" As soon as we got in the house, she was at the table with a sharp pencil. The first page was a snap, tracing. Easy breezy. Second page, rhyming. Snap, it's done. Third page.....cue the record scratch sound effect. Page three - write three sentences about your picture. "What? That is so stupid! I don't do pictures, and I don't do sentences. I only make rainbows. I'm outta here! Forget this stupid stuff, I'm never doing this again."

Oy Vey.

First Day Goodness

Andrew would only pose for one picture and this was it. Fascinating.

Quick nervous smile while waiting on the light to change.Craziness in the Kindergarten/First Grade wing. Not sure why, I just really dig this shot.
Settling in, late of course.Nothing beats the excitement of the first day of school. New supplies, new teachers and catching up with old friends. For one particular Weems, this is normally the only day where the teacher is completely unaware any "history" he may have had with teachers past. A perfect angel.

Abbey was "totally excited" that her friend Johnny was in her class. I was totally NOT excited about being in a peanut free classroom. It's never a good sign when Mr. Peanut's picture is crossed out and glued to the front door. Up until this year we have dodged the 'ole peanut blackout. I mean seriously, dang the luck on that one.

Andrew was late being dropped off at his school, but we made it there just in time to cause a scene and snap a couple embarrassing photos. Nothing like your obnoxious mom standing at the door with a ginormous camera snapping away at the door while everyone is already working. I mean really, who would do that to their kid? If I knew someone, their photos would look a bit like the ones posted above. Not saying that I would do that, but I may know someone who does.

Bump to Baby

I've been in wedding world for a while now, but it was nice to go back to my baby roots. Every time I go out to meet a new couple I use the same stuff, but I always get very different results. Baby Danny was such a good boy and full of expression! Loads of fun.

Flowers left from unknown person.






In 1975 the doors to Charlton Methodist hospital of Dallas opened. For 34 years this hospital has seen many prestigious doctors, nurses and support staff come and go from it's doors. My dad was one of them. In 2003 they offered my dad a great position heading the Central Service department. His department was responsible for sterilizing surgical equipment and having it to the correct room for surgery. My dad had several employees under him, but he treated them all as friends. He organized to have cookies and punch brought in every Wednesday to boost moral. He picked up employees on snow days and even drove to their home just to start their lawn mower (that he gave them) on more than one occasion. He found a way to get a much needed baby bed and supplies to an employee that had no way to afford such luxuries. The kicker was that he never said a word about doing such things. We only found this stuff out after he had gone. People wrote us letters and came to visit with these stories. The week he passed away, we got word from the hospital that they wanted to plant a tree in his honor in the front main entrance. Wow. Looking back on all the big fancy doctors that must have saved so many lives, they wanted to honor my dad. What a legacy. What a statement.

One year to the day of my dad's passing, we went to his tree. I had not seen it since his memorial last year. I was particularly touched to see that someone other than family had remembered him on that day and left flowers. There it was in all it's glory in the middle of a nice grassy area at the main entrance to the hospital. Andrew went right to the plaque that we had not seen. For whatever reason he sat, stared and touched the stone. He rubbed his hands over dad's name and teared up. We all did. My baby has been a completely different boy ever since my dad left. They were best friends as any best friends could be. He is truly missing my dad more that I will ever fully know.

As we left I thought about how I want to leave my legacy. Will people plant a tree in my honor for being the best average Joe I can be? Will I make such a mark by doing good anonymously? Can I do so much stuff for so many people and never tell a soul that they will one day honor me with a plaque without the prompting of my family? So far, no. So far, not if I lived to be 600 years old. So today and everyday I will make it my mission to do everything well and the best I can do it. I will strive for excellence in all that I do. I will try to be as Christ-like in my every action known and unknown so that when I die (probably in the shower) my children will be honored to be mine.

This is a link to a song that makes me smile and cry all at the same time. I can't wait to run and hug my daddy's neck again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnTu0i9cj-I

Home, Home on the Range

In case you ever wondered what happens when you take two 9 year old boys to Ulta.

The gazebo has always been a run around. One stiff wind and this thing is a goner.

Out at her breakfast picnic with Mema. I could not love that face more.

Catching a spider is always first on the to do list when visiting Mema.

The best smiles from these two are always sneak attacks.


When I think vacation I think one thing, beach. If I had two things it would be beach and sand. If I had three maybe beach, sand and ice cream. However, this year our vacation turned into a trip "home". When you move thousands of miles from home and take the grand kids with you, you must go "home" when you get a chance. And after all, Texas has some of the greatest ice cream ever so it's kinda a twofer.

This year I decided to be a Texas tourist. I know it's totally crazy, but I feel so weird taking my camera to my "everyday" activities. OK, now that I really think about this it's not that weird. I really do take my camera everywhere, I'm a photographer. Every event, party or performance done Weem's style, there it is. Wow. What a revelation. Wait, was I going somewhere with that? Not sure, any who, lots 'o pictures this time.

Hanging out at Mema's means several things.....Co-sleeping with my child, waking up early and pretending that I'm still sleeping just because co-sleeping child finally left the room and I just need an hour to myself so I can function for the remainder of the day, bugs and swarms of them, humidity, bar-b-Que, Mexican food but the best part is picking up where you left off with friends and family.

Last Hurrah for Kindergarten

Every parent/teacher conference this year we heard about our little social butterfly. At the beginning of the year we worried a bit about how well she would "adapt" to life in kindergarten. As it turns out, we had nothing to worry about. She went to school everyday as if she had been invited to an exclusive party of 23 of her best friends. She had super fun teachers, and only minor issues with office staff. As the end of the year approached, it was great to see how far she had come. Way to go baby girl, the world belongs to you.