Life at It's Best

Sometimes you have to step back from your hectic schedule and look around you at all the wonderful blessings that God has provided. I am constantly reminded of how wonderful my life truly is. Yes, there are those days that I am more than capable of pulling out my hair along with everyone elses, but God has a way of showing me that he is in control and how every second on this earth should be cherished to it's fullest. My daughters and my husband are a prime example of that. Anna - the oldest - is by far the most stubborn, independent, artistic, and nurturing of our clan. Then there is Sophia. Sophie is our spit-fire. She has more energy and enthusiasm for life than anyone I have ever known in my life. She is life in motion. Julia is fairly laid back but very smart. She takes everything in and absorbs it like a sponge. I can't wait to see her personality blossom as she does. Therefore I say - Anna is the heart of our family - Sophie is the spirit - and Julia is the completion. A combination of the two that came before her - all wrapped into one final package. It was a tough choice to decide that our family was complete but in the end we prayed about it and knew that this was the right path for our family. Three beautiful little girls. Three girls that have such unique and wonderful personalities to contribute to our family unit. Three girls that will give us plenty of gray hairs throughout the year, but I know that I will treasure each and every one of those hairs as they will be a reminder to me of all of the special moments that I share each day with my children. I thank God everyday for his wonderful gift to us - my daughters!

Forever!

I have decided that while Facebook is ok, I truly prefer writing down and documenting the things that take place around me and in my life. I think that one day my girls will appreciate the fact that I write about all the quirky things that they do and say. I know I enjoy going back and reading over them. They are growing too fast. I want them to slow down and just be my babies forever. When I get that hug, or that kiss, or just that, "I love you, Mommy," I melt inside. Julia is now almost 9 months old and that is really disturbing to me. Anna is getting ready to graduate from kindergarten, and Sophie starts pre-school in the fall! Where does the time go? How in the world did I get so old in such a short amount of time? I love my family! I want to share them in a way that I feel is the right way - and this is it! I love to share them with the people that mean so much to me - not a bunch of "fake friends" as my husband calls them! You'll see me around Facebook from time to time, but my priorities lie elsewhere - they lie here with my memories and my words!

Thankful Thursday!

I believe it is Thankful Thursday and I haven't posted that in like - FOREVER - so here it goes ...

I am thankful for my wonderful class this year. They have given me a pleasure in my job that I have not had in a long time.

I am thankful for my mother who is bending over backwards to help me become a better and more organized person. (I'm really trying)

I am thankful for my loving husband who at this very moment is at home with a very sick little Anna.

I am thankful for my beautiful girls. They are my life and my strength and everything I do is for them.

I am thankful for a very forgiving and gracious God. He alone knows all that is burdening my heart and He alone can fix it. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

And I am thankful for all of my wonderful friends. They keep me going when times get tough and I truly thank them for that!!

Pictures from my "Torture" day!

Julia Claire - 4 Months Old!!

Sophia Grace - 4 years old!!

Her party theme is Horses!

Anna Marie - six years old!

Please read the post before this to TRULY understand these beautiful pictures!

Love,

Megan

The Greatest Torture Known to Man!!!!!!!!

Okay - maybe not the entire truth, but it has to run a close bet. My girls are three of the best girls around (not biased at all), but they can tantrum with the best of them. I mean - if there was an award for tantrum throwing - the first place trophy would be long to my own sweet and innocent Anna! Whining goes to Sophie! And just being so darn cute - goes to Julia!

It all started on a peaceful and beautiful Wednesday morning. The birds were singing and the sun was in the sky - heaven on earth! We prepared for our very first pictures as a family - (insert Aw's here). We arrived at JCP to meet Donald and off we went to tackle our goal. It was a lofty goal. I knew going into it that it very might be hell on earth (pardon the expression) but I had high hopes. Too high of hopes it seems. We were not only doing the family pic - oh no, I wouldn't think of just doing that. That would be too simple, too plain. I was tackling Christmas AND birthdays all in one fail swoop! It wouldn't be hard. I mean really - how hard is it to change the outfits of not one - but three little girls - all the while trying to get them to behave and smile pretty for the camera. Well - the family photo was ok. The girl who took the pictures was new (strike 1). Then it was Julia's turn for her 4 month pics. She would not smile for her at all! It was like she thought "who the heck are you lady and why on God's green earth are you waving that rubber duckie in my face? Are you on crack?" (strike 2) Sophie did her thing and was pretty good. No real smiles came out of her beautiful mouth either but she did as she was told. Good girl! Then - drum roll please - it was Anna's turn. Anna - who from birth has LOVED the camera pulled the best one of them all ...
"Where's daddy at?" she asked. "He went back to work." I replied. "I want daddy!" she hollers. Then the hysterical boo-hooing begins. Sob, sob, sob, sob, sob, sob, sob, sob -and so on and so on. In my mind I am popping pills and waiting for the blinding headache to go away. Oh wait - the blinding headache is my oldest daughter - sobbing like my youngest daughter - in the middle of the portrait studio - in front of a mob of people. I make her stand in front of the cameras - threatening her withing and inch of her life (all with a smile on my face of course) and I tell her that she will smile for the camera. Of course the picture show raccoon tear eyes and I don't but any of them. She refuses to leave the store and I am forced to tell her we ARE leaving (all with that lovely smile) and for her to get her butt moving. As we walk out she has the nerve to ask if she can look at the toys. Are you serious???? You just threw the most horrible tantrum and you think I will let you stop and look at the toys???? (strike 3 - you're out!) At this point I am carrying their extra clothes in one hand and Julia's car seat in the other. Sophie is trying to walk with her brand new shoes that keep unbuckling and I am yelling at my six year old daughter to "move it or lose it." Yes - it is official. I have become one of THEM. You know - those parents you see in the stores and think - wow - what's wrong with them? I have officially joined the losing team of parenthood.

The pics were not that bad - but I thank the Lord we won't have to do this again until next year. Hallelujah!!!

Sophie - The Panda Whisperer!

That's my girl! She had so much fun being the center of attention.

The picture of Sophie with her hair spread everywhere is my favorite! It just
screams - SOPHIE!

Okay - so everyone else in the family has had their picture taken recently and I couldn't leave poor Sophie out of the mix! I took her today to JCPenney's to have these taken. Isn't she a riot? Star quality let me tell you!

Kindergarten Photo

Here is Anna's first "official" school photo. Doesn't she look like such a big girl. I can't believe how grown-up she looks! What do you think???