Friends

I had my first trial run photo shoot with our friends just before it got too cold. I was very nervous to say the least, but you have to start somewhere, right? Aren't they a cute little family? My wonderful friend helped me edit the last picture for them.

The playhouse

You might remember a post from several months ago about the child size china cabinet that is special to our family. A few too many projects took over and I did not get to finish this when I wanted, but it is now repainted with new hardware. The doll bed in the corner was my mom's and grandma's. For the playhouse, we have turned the closet under the stairs into a little play space for J. I always dreamed of having a playhouse as a little girl and since I never had my playhouse I have always wanted to build one for my children. I still have that dream, but the closet is perfect for now until J grows too tall. She loves it!

"Who took the cookie from the cookie jar?"

We had J's friends over for a little cookie decorating party and their moms brought fondue for lunch. What a treat!

"Baby A"

There is no end of what you can know in the world of photography and I am so excited to learn new things all the time of how to take better pictures. Truman surprised me on my birthday the year that J was born with my camera so that I could capture the special moments with our baby who was and is such a miracle in our lives. I take pictures of our family moments often, but I only wish that I could have known how to take better pictures when J was born. There is nothing like a newborn baby and oh how the time goes by way too quickly. I was so fortunate to take the above pictures with my sweet friend who has been wonderful to give me some lessons on what she knows with photography and we were able to take our other friend's baby pictures. I have been so excited that I have a couple of friends with new babies so that I can practice taking baby pictures.

More of Apple Hill...

Apple Hill

Last week, J and I went with my sister and her three kids to Apple Hill. It was a perfect day! I just love fall. These are my adorable nieces, Lauren and Haylie. I love the doors that are behind them.

Neighbors

These adorable kids were our neighbors for three short months. When our realtor took me to see our house for the first time, their family was out playing on the front lawn. Although I did not know that this would be the house that we would put an offer on I felt hope to have such great neighbors and thought this better be a good house because the neighbors had me sold. We had some frustrating neighbor problems at our old house and this was one of our big requirements in a new house-to find a good safe neighborhood (and fun neighbors too). They asked me if I was LDS and so we found out that we both go to the same (Mormon) church. We did get the house right next door and you can imagine the comfort that gave me just to know that we had great people so close to us. We had some fun times visiting out front while watching the kids ride their bikes and scooters, etc. They even gave J a Barbie bike that she calls her "Darbie" bike. Then about a month ago, they announced that they would be moving to Chicago. We have been so sad as last Thursday they ventured out on their journey to their new city. So far away. It is so sad to drive by their house and to know that they are not there. Life has some hard lessons and it is so hard to make new friends and have them move away. We have only known them for a short time, but we already feel like they are special friends. I know that we all miss them.