Bonquisha!!

Every year we get Paige's hair braided in Mexico. Mostly for me, because she had too much hair and it is always a fight to comb it. This is what she looks like after I take the braids out. I always wonder if it was worth it when I am fighting her to take them out, but the after fact is hilarious. She has soooooo much hair!

Just want to share..

I love to see a picture and feel the emotion along with it. I took this picture at the orphanage in Mexico and I knew it represented so much. I always have a hard time putting what I feel in words, so I called upon my partner Jody Robb to help explain and analyze this photo. This is what she said:

"The emotion behind this shot is the incongruity of a recognizable plaything alone in an setting that is murky, unstable, and maybe even a bit distructive. It is out of its element. But the nature of the object is not destroyed by that less than optimum environment. It still has the potential to be a toy, something that will bring joy, competition, interaction, laughter, stress…all the things that are brought out in the game of life. It needs human interaction to reach its full potential. It looks like it is just waiting there, hoping to become what it really is." Isn't she amazing?

Beauty and the BEAST!

When Paige was a little girl she went through a stage I will never forget. There is a children's book about a bear named Bruce that was not always nice. Well, anway whenever she was not being nice we would call her Bruce. This became her second personality for about a year. She even had a look for it. My family will always remember Bruce. Every now and then he comes out and this is what he looks like. I am telling you...she is beautiful, but don't let that fool you.

I usually am only interested in taking pictures of people, but I got a wild hair and starting shooting different things on our trip. I really like these two pictures!

Our day at the nude beach!!

Can I say...Baby got Back!! Yes, my daughter has junk in her trunk. Nothing in the world is as cute as naked babies. I love how comfortable they are with their beautiful figures. If only we could never worry about what we look like to everyone else. I did not take her swimsuit to the beach because it was freezing, but she insisted on playing in the water...and the sand!

A Child's Hope Foundation

Our family had the opportunity to go to Mexico and help at an orphanage. What an amazing experience! I am not sure that words can even express how fullfilling this was for our family. I was nervous that I would not be able to handle the situation, because I have a very soft spot in my heart for children or families in need. It is easy to send money, or talk about how sad it is, but to actually make the sacrifice to go and work and see first hand is an entirely different feeling. The first day, I was standing in the playground and from across the playground a young girl came up and wrapped her arms around me. I had to hold back my tears...it was not just a little hug, but instead a hug I would get from my own child. Another day, I decided to spend in the nursery with the infants and toddlers. I left there crying as well. Not because they were not taking care of them, but because of how excited they were just to be held. Paige and Jesse spent hours with the orphans...Jesse actually was confused for one of them more than once. I took quite a few photos, but this certain once captured my heart. This is what it was all about to me...unity!

Life's Tough Lessons

About one year ago my computer had a falling out, so we paid the computer guy Jeff :) to fix it. At that time he told me that I needed to start backing up all my files. Fast forward...to this last weekend. I now have hundreds of family pictures, my entire business portfolio, and my Quickbooks. Well, I HAD this, until my freakin computer crashed again and I lost everything :( I seriously cried all day Sunday, and have been trying to figure the life lesson that coincides with this incident (besides backing up). I just know that there must be something that I need to learn from this. Maybe it is that I need to know that the most important things in life are not on my computer. I know this sounds funny, but I have neglected my family trying to keep everyone else happy. I truly am thankful for Ben and the kids, and I often take for granted the fact that I get to stay at home with them. This all reminds me of the following quote, "the most important work you will ever do, will be within the walls of your own home." I want to put this quote in vinyl lettering above my computer desk to keep me on task. I would love to post a picture, but I don't have any!!!!