Category Archives: My Family

Self Portraits with my Girls

Back in October I shared some pics of Nick and I.

At the same time I took some pics with my girls but could not share them.

I had not intended to take pics with them that day, they just saw the tripod and asked.

So of course I said yes.

ausdsc_3931 ausdsc_3933 ausdsc_3961 ausdsc_3965 ausdsc_4038 ausdsc_4043 ausdsc_4045 ausdsc_4046 ausdsc_4047 ausdsc_4048 ausdsc_4049 ausdsc_4055 ausdsc_4071 ausdsc_4073 ausdsc_4091 ausdsc_4092 ausdsc_4093 ausdsc_4099 ausdsc_4111 ausdsc_4115

I struggle to focus on these happy moments.

I have had very little hardship in my life so having children from hard places is a struggle.

I am used to choosing the easy way.

There is no easy way.

Nick is so good at making choices based on what is in his circle of influence and not stressing about the stuff outside of it.

I want to stress about the outside stuff.

Ha!

This is a journey is a marathon, not a sprint.

Pictures help me focus on something beautiful and happy.

Looking at them helps me feel like there is hope.

What gives you hope?

Favorites from July 2015 ~Adoption

This is the month we got our twins.

One at the beginning of the month and the other at the end.

amonthdsc_3482

These are from the day we got the oldest twin.

amonthdsc_3484

I can’t even imagine how hard it is to go live with people you barely know.

You are just told you are moving and then you go.

amonthdsc_3496

We knew that we wanted what was best for her but she didn’t know that.

amonthdsc_3501 amonthdsc_3509 amonthdsc_3516 amonthdsc_3523 amonthdsc_3529 amonthdsc_3555 amonthdsc_3557agirlsdsc_4213 alakedsc_4396 alakedsc_4410 alakedsc_4491 alakedsc_4502 alakedsc_4509 alakedsc_4513 araydsc_4271 azoodsc_4386agirlsdsc_3614 agirlsdsc_3636 agirlsdsc_3646 agirlsdsc_3656 agirlsdsc_3662 agirlsdsc_3680 agirlsdsc_3716 agirlsdsc_3725 agirlsdsc_3740 agirlsdsc_3818 agirlsdsc_3853 agirlsdsc_3874bw agirlsdsc_3924 agirlsdsc_3981 agirlsdsc_4080

Waiting for the younger twin to live with us was hard.

She wanted to live with us and did not like that she was last to come.

agirlsdsc_4104 agirlsdsc_4146

Oy, this face.

So glad we are not in this waiting game still.

Talimena Scenic Drive

All I wanted for my birthday was mountains(or as close as you can get to them in Oklahoma) and a fall family picture.

My husband drove me all of the way to Ouachita Mountains and back in one day.

Long drive but I was happy to be there.

I would move there in a heartbeat.

adrivedsc_8589 adrivedsc_8588 adrivedsc_8601 adrivedsc_8611 adrivedsc_8620 adrivedsc_8625 adrivedsc_8632 adrivedsc_8637 adrivedsc_8649adrivedsc_8661 adrivedsc_8681

It is always a good idea to make sure you don’t forget the tripod if one of your goals on a trip is a family pic.

I ended up balancing my camera on my camera bag and even on the hood of our vehicle.

Oops.

adrivedsc_8685 adrivedsc_8692 adrive8670bw adrivedsc_8696 adrivedsc_8699 adrivedsc_8700 adrivedsc_8721 adrivedsc_8729 adrivedsc_8732 adrivedsc_8780 adrivedsc_8781 adrivedsc_8786 adrivedsc_8791 adrive8785 adrive8778bw adrivedsc_8795 adrivedsc_8809 adrivedsc_8815 adrivedsc_8822We went on lots of short hikes which is a little bit different than what we used to do but such is life with a toddler.

Maybe next time we can stay the night and get some more hiking in.

And yes, I did think it was odd that I wanted to stay in a vehicle with 5 kids all day for my birthday.

HA!