My Challenge

I have decided to stop watching T.V. It takes up WAY too much of my time and there are talents that I would like to spend more time developing like sewing, scrap booking, exercising, piano, guitar, singing, cooking, and much more reading. I think if I spend more time developing these things, I will find more contentment.

Goals...

...for this week while Hubby is gone; Clean entire house, organize sewing/guest/craft/storage room, paint bathrooms, touch up paint on stains and scuffs, donate lots of clutter to charity, buy a new shirt, dress/ skirt, and makeup, and last but not least, read my scriptures more.

The girls at eating fruit ay grandma's house a couple of weeks ago.

Here we go again.

Cory left again. But this time on a business trip. And he left me with my beautiful little lice infested Hali. That's right, LICE. So fun I tell you! I ran to the grocery store after I discovered it at church! I bought Nix. Don't EVER buy Nix. It totally does not work. And it burns. And it sucks. Then I did my homework and I found that essential, concentrated, organic oils does the trick! Tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and citronella oil. Heavenly Father knew what He was doing when He made this earth! Boy, do I love natural remedies. So we have taken care of it and all is right with the world. Except I am missing my husband. But he will be back in a jig and THEN all will be right with the world. So for the next little bit, I get to spend some lovely alone time with my beautiful daughters. And then when Cory gets back, I get to spend some LOVELY alone time with myself.
p.s. I will post some pictures on my next entry.

Play Date!

Today we had Denae, Sophie, and Carly over with their children to have a play date. It was so fun having little ones run all around. Makes the soul shine. I think Emery really enjoyed it and it was a nice distraction from Hali not being around constantly. We can't wait for Daddy and Hali to come home! It has been nice to get to know my Emery better. :)

Just my Emmy girl

Cory and Hali left today to head up to Washington state for a family reunion. It will be just Emery and myself for a whole week. I hope she adjusts well and has fun with me. I know I am looking forward to getting a lot of one on one time with her. Just to talk, play, read, or even better, shop, organize and clean!! It will be great to just have 1 baby for a week. Let's see how much I can get done!

Pictures unrelated.
This is the girls eating ice cream at a hotel in San Antonio after 3 hours of swimming. They had a blast

My little monkey

Emery sure is a climber! Well we might have to thank Hali for teaching her. :) I caught her climbing up on to the counter and she said, "Mommy! Help me! I'm in trouble!" It was so funny! She gets herself stuck or trapped high on things and thinks it's a funny game to pretend she needs help. The ironic thing is she really does! Haha! My silly girl!

Resolve

I am going (to try) to make at least 4 posts a week. Even if it doesn't have a great, long story or a picture. I want to remember all of the cute funny everyday things our family does.

Recent Happenings

Man Have I been busy! It started in May with my Maymester and from there I went to California to my friend Stephanie's wedding. She is my twinkie's best friend. It was a beautiful ceremony and they are a gorgeous, Christ-centered couple. They are going to have the best life together. I got to take some pictures of the wedding and I am so grateful. Then I came back and have been working a lot. Not so much at the pizza joint, but a lot of photography jobs. I love it so much. The next item on the list is to get Cory to 'invest' in me. Let's see how that works out... Then we went to the beach with Cory's parents and his sister Shalisa and her boyfriend Adam. It was so fun. The girls had a blast! I love the beach. It so relaxing and fun at the same time. Fun times.



Stephanie and Steven

We also did a girl photoshoot. Reminds me of when we were young and would pretend we were models. Silly fun rocks!

Hailey and Justin with their oldest, Mason

This is lovely Leah.

Mim took this one of me.
I MUST INFORM MY READERS THAT IT WAS, IN FACT, HAILEY WHO TOOK THIS PICTURE. SHE IS A VERY TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHER AS WELL. :)

Man, I have a pretty sister. :)

I also got to see my bestest friend Jessa and her sweet boy RJ. Love them!

The beach was sweet! The girls really didn't want to leave!

Gma & Gpa Metcalf

Shalisa & Adam! He is so fun. I like him a lot!

Summer of fun!

I'm done... for now...

I finished my May-mester in Government with an 'A'! WOOT! My wonderful mother came down from California to be with the girls while I was in school everyday for three weeks. They love being with 'Grandma Deb' (most days) :) I naively wanted to do crafts, sewing projects, organizing, etc. while she was here and wouldn't you know it? I didn't have time. Pooh. The bright side? I get to go back to California with my mom to go to a friends wedding. And I get to see my favorite twin sister! DOUBLE WOOT! I have been taking a lot of pictures and making my portfolio more versatile. But I think I have surpassed my camera. I love Cory for surprising me with it for Christmas but I already want a new one. It's not my fault I fell in love! I LOVE taking pictures. Especially of my beautiful daughters. I want the Canon 5d more than oxygen right now but I think Cory will make me wait until I graduate. I think we both know that's not gonna happen.....

Oh but this is my first want/ need.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411VQPSHDBL._SS500_.jpg

Would any wealthy, lovely friends want to invest in me as a photographer?? Free pictures for life! Really. I'm serious. FREE! FOR LIFE!

Here are some pictures I have done lately.

Daddy (Cory) and Emery

Burgett kids

Garcia's (next door neighbors)

I love it all.

Happy Birthday Emery!

Happy 2nd Birthday to my second born, sweet, gorgeous daughter. I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday, because it feels like just yesterday! You sure were in a hurry to get here. Four hours from my first contraction you came out kicking and screaming. 8lbs. 10 oz. of beauty and spunk. You gave us a scare when you went into the NICU with a heart murmur and low oxygen sats but everything ended up perfect. Hali was so excited to see you! Right after you were born she came in with Daddy and knew you immediately! You were destined to be sisters and best friends. You were the best baby and always patient with Hali. Now that you are a big 2 year old your personality has really come out! You love to sing, talk, and read to yourself when you think no one is looking. And you play all day long with your sister. You talk all the time and you love watching movies and shows. You are also very dramatic, more than Hali was, for sure! Your beautiful blue eyes are wide with wonder and we can't wait to see what life has in store for you! We love you so much sweetheart!!! Happy Birthday!
Love, Mommy, Daddy, and Hali

Kisses

I could kiss my girls cheeks all day long..... and I do. Especially Emery's. Not only because she has the chubby baby cheeks still, but because she is usually the one that lets me. But when Hali does, I take advantage! Like today. I have been kissing and hugging them all morning. Grabbing their little faces and smothering them with love. I can't get enough. Today, I am happy. I am grateful. I am healthy and able to care for my children and live my life. Heavenly Father must have known that I needed an extra boost today. :) He loves me. And He loves you too.

See what I mean? Look at those cheeks! And lips! :)
Love it

Cute Headbands

My cousin Nicole in SLC, Utah is a very cute, crafty, photographer and mom. She makes these adorable vintage-y headbands. Here is the LINK. Check her out!

Summer is here...

Happy Monday, everyone.

Pinkalicious!

The girls and I went to see Pinkalicious. It's a children's book about a little girl who eats too many pink cupcakes and turns pink that they turned into a play. The girls were excited and into it at first but the novelty wore off after a bit of sitting down. The ended up running up and down the isles of the mezzanine. Oh well. I tried. Hali kept asking the whole time if she could go up on stage and have a turn singing and dancing. She is too smart. She knows it's just people acting and not a real story. She is so funny! Afterward they played outside in the puddles and the play area outside of the theater. They then of course conked out in the car after about 5 minutes. We went with Susie Barlow, Jessica Wille, Maria Payne, and Rachel Blum. It was fun girls!
Mommy and the girls


Jessica and her cute girl Eliza

Hali with Pinkalicious!

Hali and Emery outside the theater.

It is their first.....

...visit to the dentist! My girls are so big. We would have taken them earlier but we didn't have dental insurance until a few months ago. Cory and I tried to prepare them by getting them excited to tell the dentist how well they brush their teeth and bribing them with a new toothbrush and toothpaste from the office. We get there and Hali is starting to get a little weary of the office because it probably looks too similar to a pediatricians office. We get to the back and I ask Hali if she wants to go first or if Emery should go first. She chose sissy to go. Emery did so well! She sat in the chair and the sweet dentist looks at her teeth and was very impressed. Emery has all of her teeth including her 2 year molars and she is only 22 months! The only negative was we need to take per binky away at nights because of a forming under-bite. We mustn't have that! She did start to get annoyed/ fussy when the cleaned and applied fluoride but other than that she was great! Hali took a lot longer to convince. I had to brib her, yet again, with smoothies afterward. She eventually got in the chair, only if I was holding her, and whimpered the whole time. No major tears though! All in all, it was a success! They were very excited to call Daddy afterward and tell them what big girls they were! Love them so much!Hali and Emery watching Shrek in the waiting room.