Visitors

Pretty much our favorite people came and visited us for a few days. Ready for a back story? Caleb Steele is my cousin wasn't really a fav of mine until college when both him and I were in the same Social Work program, we spent WAAAAYY to much time together after that because we studied like mad, I think I cried a few times during our study sessions, luckily Caleb had a pretty awesome wife who would tell him to stop being so hard on me. Steph and I became pretty close during those college years.  After graduation Caleb went on to a Masters program and I got engaged. When the hubs and I moved down here to Southern Utah it happened to be when Caleb was finishing school and looking for a job, I was pretty anxious to get them back by me so I found him an option here and he ended up taking it.  For 4 years we had such a good time together basically living at each others places, trading babysitting,  sharing babysitting and going out weekly. Watching plenty of football and raising our kids to be friends. SOoooo when Caleb decided to join the Navy to be a therapist there I was more than slightly bummed out seeing as I live in a desert where Navy bases don't exist :) Right after Christmas we said goodbye to our friends. My kids have taken it hard missing them lots but so glad we got to see Steph and the kids this past week, though we were sad Caleb couldn't come, and I have been cursing him ever since Steph left. I know it's not forever but this once a year thing kinda sucks. Anyways I got a chance to take the kids photos. I love these kids so much!!!!

Enjoy

Tyler "Tippy" is beyond gorgeous!!

Ava is slightly crazy but we love her quirks!

Gage is so funny, instead of him repeating "cheese" which got us nowhere I had him repeat "I'm gonna punch you in the face"  something Caleb and I say frequently to each other. It got the biggest grins out of Gager dog!

Tip is going to be gorgeous like her mother

I love Ava's eyes and her funny little mouth

Gage wearing his Navy hat and being a tough guy.

see Steph sometimes she obeys :)

Oh that little stink, he's giving me his I've done something naughty look!

She is such a big girl I about cried with how grown up she is.

hahaha

Love you kids see you hopefully sooner than 6 months :(

xoxox

... and pixie dust

Today is kinda a big day for a place where dreams really do come true, a place where movies come to life, and where you can feel magic. 

It's Disneyland's anniversary. When I was young I lived on Disney, now that I'm older I think I watch them just as much, because they are something I don't object to watching with my kids

 (I can't stomach Dora..it's awkward when she asks you questions). My kids are already saving their pennies to visit "the castle" where Addy is sure all the princesses live, and I am just as anxious to get her there to see that yes they really do :) I didn't get to go to Disneyland until I was 14, it was a strange age to go because I was really trying to contain my excitement but was secretly wishing I could be like my 9 year old sister who was running around getting autographs from ever prince and princess in the park, I also was jealous she got her mickey ears where I felt too old to ask for some :) However I have been back since and have embraced my childhood dreams without fear of social retributions.

When Alexz told me she wanted to try to sneak in a short Disney shoot I was game, I knew that Alexz had just had a let down in the dream department, landing a job at Disney that she really wanted, but not having luck in the living arrangements, it wasn't in the cards this time around and Alexz had to let the job pass on hopes that next time around she'll be prepared for it. I felt for her because I hate when good opportunities come by and you feel like it's your one shot but you aren't in the position financially to make it happen. I read a quote from Walt himself saying

I'd say it's been my biggest problem all my life... it's money. It takes a lot of money to make these dreams come true.
Walt Disney

I know how talented Alexz is so I have no doubt she'll work her tail off to get in the position to make her dreams come true, until then I hope these remind her of the ULTIMATE GOAL!

Alexz you amaze me with your creativity and your determination, the whole time I was taking your photos I was thinking, Wow, she knows who she is and what she wants! While we were taking these I had to snap this photo of the tree line because I couldn't help thinking how that one tree was standing out, and that it reminded me of you, you embrace being different and being true to yourself, you don't conform to the expectations of the world.

The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.
Walt Disney

Thanks for letting me get a glimpse of your dream and just remember all you need is a little Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust.

Through the Looking Glass- a wonderland story PART 1

 I met Alexz (who is drop dead gorgeous btw) through the fabulous Amber Fischer who did Alexz and Kevin's engagement shoot (anyone in Minnesota looking for a awesome photographer contact Amber she's AMAZING) anyways Amber put on an online photo challenge and both Alexz and I were participants. I knew her hubby's  family from way back when. I started stalking her other flickr albums and saw that she was this amazing creative artist and have been wanting one of her plush's ever since.

 (See amazingness HERE)

So I've kinda gotten to know her so when I saw this cool tea party pic I passed it along to her telling her she needed to do it. Unfortunately her awesome rad photographer AMBER had moved from the great treasure valley to Minnesota so she wasn't an option so Alexz jokingly asked me when I was coming home next and I quickly pushed her into trading me some plush's for a photo shoot bwhahahaha pretty sure she got the raw end of the deal :)

So with the help of parents, spouses, and a little madness we found ourselves in wonderland...

"‎"You're not the same as you were before," he said. You were much more... muchier... you've lost your muchness". — Mad Hatter” 
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

"Why, sometimes, I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” 
― Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There

“In a Wonderland they lie, Dreaming as the days go by, Dreaming as the summers die:
Ever drifting down the stream- Lingering in the golden gleam- Life, what is it but a dream?” 
― Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

“I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then” 
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

“Curiouser and curiouser.” 
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” 
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

there is oh, so more to come!