Bits + Pieces: Fancy Camera Play

My brother has been loaning us one of his fancy cameras and every so often, I get brave and try to take cool pictures but really only the ones above are close to worthy of sharing.  I really really love the one of Silas on the floorwith his bright blue eyes shining (and scarily - he looks a lot like his Uncle Brandon in this picture!).

1. Jeff and Tyndell before going to the Panthers Game Pre-Season kickoff
2. Tyndell proud of her pom-poms
3.  Brandon took over 150 photos at the game with Tyndell and Jeff and no pictures of anything but Panthers action
4. my love!  Those eyes!
5. Some snacks...
6.  Trying to snuggle...he loves buttons
7. sort of a family shot
8. Grandmom has been here! yay!

Silas' First Haircut!

Well our boy was starting to get a bit of a mullet, so Jeff thought it would be a good idea to run over to the local kids haircuttery and give him an updated look.  Silas did pretty well - he of course wanted to leap out of the chair a few times, but in general, it went pretty well.  I have no idea how anyone would cut a baby's hair with all that movement but it worked out and he is definitely ready to officially celebrate his birthday now. 

Side note:  It breaks my heart that sweet Auntie Lolly didn't get to do the haircut like with Tyndell last year, but oh well....the heart grows fonder....miss you Lauren!

Weekend Bits + Pieces

Happy 11 Months to Silas!

Clemson Girls Weekend 2013...According to Five Girls' iphones

I love LOVE LOOOOOOVE these girls - these are my Clemson girls and we very very rarely ever find time to get together just us to really catchup.  Since I've moved to Charlotte, I definitely get to see them all more often, but never are we all completely together and if we are, kids are usually involved so we have 15 half-conversations and never get to finish.  So this past weekend was a pure treat - we all locked in a weekend a while ago and planned a mountain retreat weekend in Marshall, NC.  Just girls. It was so energizing being with these strong ladies of laughter, faith, and friendship since our Clemson days.  It was so wonderful sitting and talking, soaking in the hot tub, cooking, having lunch in Hot Springs, NC, getting up that crazy driveway, watching Cold Mountain (since we couldn't hike Cold Mountain), tire-swinging, and just enjoying each other and catching up deeply.  Thanks to our support systems, husbands, and friends for helping with all our kids to make this weekend getta-away possible.  We all really needed it.  These pictures from our collective iphones will get me through the next year til we can hopefully all do it again. 

Parenting is...

Just noticing some wonderful realness about these photos from the past month that I found...just shows how parenting is....being so tired that you can't help but smile - being goofy at the thought of a handmade Father's Day necktie - the joy of seeing your kids laugh in the bathtub - the cuteness of enjoying family movie night together.  Parenting is such real life - the ups and downs - the encouragement and discouragement - the extremes of happiness and sadness - all in the same moment.  Tough stuff but I wouldn't change it for anything.  I'm really proud of how "in the trenches" we seem in these pictures.  "L-I-V-I-N"