Awards! Awards! Awards!

Queen V surely worked so hard on so much this last school year. There were some nights of lots of tears but she learned so much how to balance her time, she struggled through what she didn't know and learned so very much!!

She was awarded a medal for JuniorVase, an award for her Art class, an award for being in Young Entrepreneur Academy and an at-a-girl award from her teachers called the Colt Award.  This last word  is not just for grades but for showing pride in their school, themselves and others.  I love that my girl stepped out and tried so many new things.  

Queen V takes it on a run!

First day of school was the "best ever" said my Queen V! She had a great time and couldn't wait to tell me all about it. Even though she is not in class with all of her friends (living in her perfect world! ha!) She said it was all good since they all get to sit together at lunch and chat!!
We went for an afternoon swim and then followed it by dinner and a run!
I am so glad that I figured out how to make quick little stills with my phone for a fast post.

At any rate, she ended her first day with a run to one of her favorite songs... love it!

Queen V goes Country

A few pictures of Queen V and a video of the day...
BES Stockyard Fieldtrip

 Queen V took a class field trip to the Stockyards.  Did you know Fort Worth is the only city with its own brand? Bit of cool history I didn't even know while I was teaching Texas History. It looks like the horns on the cattle in the above photo.

 A quick shot with one of the cowboys who taught the kids that morning. Queen V was very excited... would have been better had she been on a horse. LOL

A few times a day they recreate a "cattle drive" for the tourists moving the cattle from one end of the stockyards to the other. It's pretty cool for sure.

Not sure where my girl will end up when she is all grown up... either on the water with a surfboard or in the mountains with horses all around her.  She loves both... just like her mama.

Girls on the Run Practice Race

Girls on the RUN! My girls have once again been training for a 5K and they are ready to rock it! I'm so proud of my girls for taking charge of their lives in this way!

after getting bibs on they were ready to stretch with teammates and get ready to run their hearts out.

All the different running shoes really showed how unique each of the girls were. 

They both ran their hearts out for the practice and are really ready to set their "personal best" on race day!! I am so excited to see how much they have grown to handle situations that arise as they become young ladies.

Sweet V

my kids love that I love to learn. They get excited to see me excited about learning new things, failing, picking myself back up, dusting off and trying again.
I have a lot to learn and from them mostly. yep. they are the greatest teachers that teach me not to give up and continue trying- even after taking a breather and trying to find my direction or path that God is pointing me to at that time.
Well, I follow a great photographer from down under, Sue Bryce- she really knows how to teach and inspire!  I found her via Creative Live where I have learned so much about photography and myself. I am grateful for the moments I have gotten to spend a quite moment just for myself- although while learning I am always thinking of how it can apply to a friend and her or his business.

chin.shoulder.eyes.
each person is beautiful in their own way.
I think Queen V is beautiful and have since I saw her for the first time.
She takes my breath away.

love in the midst of a shoot

messy summer hair
comfy clothes
warm sunshine
unconditional love
yep, that just about sums up this moment in time lovely, isn't it??
Princess A has no clue I am there watching and loves with all of her heart while Queen V sees me and pastes on a quick smile.... they played for hours together this hot summer day under this pecan tree
I still have the buckets, cars and shovels under the tree to remind me of this moment while I ran around getting pictures for a client and her moving cards. All in the midst of my trying to get a little work done there is love of my children that pulls at my heart. I think I will leave the buckets only for the girls to have a moment under our pecan tree again when the weather gets a little cooler.

Colorful Queen V

Queen V in a moment in time this summer... I love how I found her just looking so pretty.
It's like a vision of what is to come in the future...
confidence
colorful
standing out among the rest
love my Queen V

Field Day for Queen V

My favorite part about field day this year was being with Sadie. She is very, very funny. She makes me laugh.
Tug-of-war was my favorite sport. We won second place!!!
I got ribbons for tug-of-war, hippity hop, and golf ball search!
-Queen V.

Eight is GREAT!

With Rosebud tucked in her arm our beautiful Queen V turned 8 this year. We are so blessed to have you in our lives!!

Your 8 favorite things are:
toy: Rosebud
color: green
food: spaghetti followed by chocolate cake with chocolate icing, icecream in a cone with lots and lots of whipping cream
song: Bubbly
vacation spot: Wisconsin
game: solitaire
animal: horses
number: 11 is heaven!

Big Bug's Bad Day

Big Bug had a very, very bad day. Can you imagine having allergies if you were a bug?? How horrible would that life be??

Queen V and her friend were amazing butterflies! Princess Butterflies to be exact. They each came up with their own lines, their own costumes, own props.. it was so much fun to see it all being pulled together.

They had to come up with a problem- as a team- and come up with a solution- as a team. I know some adults that can't come up with solutions to every day problems and this group of kindergarten through 2nd grade did just that!! They were creative in how they did it but knew their purpose of how they wanted to accomplish their task.

How cute is this group?
They had a mad scientist, a baker, Princesses, a stage manager and of course, Scary Gary.. the Big Bug with the Bad Day!

Class at Christmas time

a little down time at school is a good thing.

it builds community.
it lets the kids communicate in a way that is not normally done.

it lets Mom in the door to help. I like that a lot. The kids had to make some ornaments to take home... yea... love that crafty stuff even more!!


I love that the kids use their brains in a different way.. makes me happy that they are happy!

snuggle up and read...

The librarian, Miss Angela came along with some other storytellers to read bed time stories at school. How cool is it that you get to wear your pajamas to school, have milk and cookies and have stories read to you for an hour??

Thanksgiving Play

Daddy took time from work to come see your Thanksgiving play. Usually, Daddy works in jeans and boots but for you and the others he always dresses nice to honor the hard work you have done at school. He is so proud of you and all that you do.

Queen V, you amaze even me. You took extra time to research the Native Americans that lived in what we call New England. You wanted to make something that resembled what they would wear. You made that necklace you are wearing. You took note to see the patterns they put in there work and did the same with yours.


The dress you are wearing Gran made me for my 4th Grade Thanksgiving Play at St. Agnes. She swore that was the last thing she would ever sew for me and I think it was! ha!

The songs you sang were so funny. We laughed and enjoyed the program you and your friends acted out for us. You sang a song called the Turkey Tango. That one made me laugh the most!

Each one of you and your classmates really got into it! After the singing you played Bingo and some other games. Daddy stuck around some more just to have "one of those times."

Skatetown!

Two times a year the school has a skatenight to help earn money for various activities. The girls love to go and always have a good time. They are never sure which friends will show up and hang out but are always seem to find one or two.
Since they have their own skates it makes it all the more fun to skate from the car to the rink!

First Day of School for Queen V

We watched as the bus drove by our house... I am happy that I get to spend that extra few minutes in the morning with my kids... we might say a Hail Mary, ask for special intentions that the kids learn, the teachers are happy and that all goes well for everyone in our school.

A few more in the parking lot... I want to remember this moment..

Great! A friend!!! Miss G is such a sweetie and doesn't mind posing for one more picture for me :) Look how big they both seem.. in a few years they will be hands on hips and telling me how to capture the moment! ha!


As I leave the classroom, I see she is all ready, the teacher has a quick little picture for them to color in... sets the tone for the class and I am happy for this.

Crowning of Mary

As a child I remember crowning Mary at St. Agnes and how it was such an honor for the girl who got to do it. It was no different for my girls being asked to be a part of this ceremony at our church.
Queen V carried the crown with another little girl.
Lady G was asked to crown Mary in the Marion Garden this year. She was so honored to be asked to be a part of this. She brought her Rosary we gave her at her First Holy Communion and held it proudly as she prayed with some of the women of our church.

man, I got a good lookin' family!!!

Well, we didn't get to the pumpkin patch on my birthday or out of town like I wanted..
we waited till the rains subsided.. at least for 30 minutes..
got everyone together
in long sleeves
and grabbed a shot!!
Thanks to the older lady who mesmerized my kids while the timer went off on my camera..
I never use the thing and had to figure out where it was- LOL!
My sweetie met us at the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch and we got a few shots, jumped in bounce houses and played in all the pumpkins!! They were so big!!!
There were no whines or tears that afternoon.. it was a perfect family outing..
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh