Five on Friday

1.  This sweet girl is rocking her first grade year!  And, what's better, she loves it!  She can't wait to read every night.  She comes home asking us math problems.  And she wants to get online to login to spelling city so she can practice her words for the week.

2.  Oh my heart!  This crazy little one continues to add excitement to the mundane.  She can't sit still.  She never stops talking.  Whether she's excited or disappointed, her emotions are always over the top.  This week, she managed to spill her breakfast plate two mornings, her dinner plate three times, and her milk once.  See, even dinner isn't dull with her around!  I'm usually cleaning up the spills instead of eating...but you know what the old adage says...there's no use crying over spilled milk. 



3.  We celebrated Aaron's 35th birthday.  There were hats, and gifts, and chocolate cake, and yes...spilled plates (twice in one dinner that night)! :)  Fun was had by all.

4.  We enjoyed a long weekend away at the lake for labor day.  It was wonderful.  I read two books.  The girls and Aaron swam, fished, and we all tubed.  And then there was the cart wheel competition.  It was lots of fun too! ;)

5.  This was our song of the weekend.  I think the girls like it.  They even managed to entertain everyone at the grocery store singing it!  I have to admit, it does have a catchy tune!

Extra Extra...

Read all about it!  Well...I may have jumped the gun a little.  You can't read about it quite yet.  But you will be able to early this fall!!! 

The Keegan crew was lucky enough to score an advanced copy of Scott's book, Best When Broken.  I'm still in awe that it's really here.  That it's actually complete and in print.  The girls have wanted to "thumb" through it all week but I haven't allowed them to.  Huh-uh...no way is anything going to happen to the signed copy!  I even got after Aaron when he put it down, mid way through, with it open and face down!  **gasp** 

The book, in its entirety, is breathtakingly beautiful!!  I have to admit, after reading the rough draft about 8 months ago, I didn't think it could get much better.  But it did!  And...it's perfect!  There isn't a word wasted.  I literally can't wait for the world (a copy will be headed to Japan to my brother as soon as I can get it in the mail) to see it...I want to shout it from the rooftops!

I said it was perfect above and I'm not exaggerating (I know, I know it's hard to believe).  I look at the book and am reminded of how God allowed each piece of the book to come together.  I think back to the brainstorming that went on before we shot the cover.  We imagined Scott would be "in his element."  We even thought we might take the picture by the water to bring the reader back to where it all started.  The ideas all sounded great.  But, none of those were "it."  When I look at the book, see Scott's huge smile beaming at me, and the cabin behind him, I am content in it's completeness.

Not only is the cabin a life long dream, but it brings Scott and Linda to the quiet, serene, beautiful outdoors...where they can get away from the world for a little while and focus on what really matters.  The cabin is the perfect background for such an intimate book.

Words can't express how thankful I am to call Scott and Linda friends.  Scott has shared his heart in his book so you all can know a piece of him as well.  Best When Broken will bless you...take some time to read it.  You won't regret it! 

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” --Winston Churchill 

The girls "shocked" we got an autographed copy! ;)

Okay...our real emotions...happy to finally have it in our hands!!!

Extended Family

The Keegan crew invaded Memphis came to Memphis for a week long visit.  It really was a wonderful week.  The cousins had more fun running wild upstairs "wah-wah'ing" like Indian's (I know that's not politically correct but you all know exactly what they were doing.  It was just the easiest way to explain it!) than anything we had planned!  We managed to go to Graceland, Aaron threw me a surprise birthday party, the kids swam, we went to the zoo, and half of the crew spent one day in Mississippi (hunting and fishing) while the other half spent the day shopping.  Betcha can guess which half I was with! ;) 

One evening we decided to head downtown for dinner and for a few photos.  It was quite a feat to get Ainsley and Frankie looking at the camera AND looking nicely.  But, I think we managed to get a few!  Love you guys!!

The Rest of the Story

Many of you read of my sweet little 3-year-old's potty mouth on FB but I thought I'd give you the whole story.  It's really quite amusing and sums up my girl to a "T"! :)

Last weekend I chased Ainsley around tickling her.  We did it for so long she laughed so hard she got the hiccups.  She hates having the hiccups.  So, she sat down in her chair, rested her arm on the back of it, looked at me, and said: "Damn Monster."

I was shocked.  I looked at Aaron with wide eyes, tried to hide my laughter, and said, "What did you just say?"  

She then very seriously responded, "Damn, tickle monster."  Like I needed an explanation of what monster she was referring to. 

I quickly responded that it wasn't a nice word and she shouldn't say it.  To which she replied, "Like Oh-My-God?"

Again, I tried not to laugh hysterically..."Yes, exactly like that, Ainsley."

She looked at me, got up out of her chair, motioned to Callie, and said, "Okay.  Come on, ya damn dog."

Really!?!  Did she not hear anything I had just said?!  

This little girl adds more life into our family than I could have ever imagined! 

First Grade

It blows my mind to think that my "baby" is in first grade.  It seems like yesterday I found out I was pregnant with her.  I was a little anxious about her first day because she didn't know any of the kiddos in her classroom well.  Once again she proved to be much braver than I...she LOVED it!!  Here's to a wonderful first grade year!! 

Before we headed out we snapped a few pictures to remember the day!

And here she is at her desk.  She couldn't wait to get started.  Not nervous at all!!!

Leighton's first grade teacher, Mrs. Samuelson!

Five on Friday

  1.  I've been really bad about documenting the little things in life (my "Five on Friday" posts).  I started one this summer...the first Friday of the summer and had plans to continue it (notice the tensing in the previous sentence).  Yep, I HAD plans.  It sat in my "drafts" and I finally deleted it.  We had an amazing summer of fun!  Movies, swimming, tubing, boating, and family.  It's been a rough start back to work because our summer was so perfect.

2.  Leighton is rocking at gymnastics.  She is learning and ton and still loves every second.  She was able to successfully do a skill this week that was new to her.  She ran to her coach, jumped in her arms, and gave her a HUGE hug.  It was the sweetest thing.  She and her coach looked up at me in the observation room and were both so excited.  I love to see when others love and take pride in my kids as much as I do.

3.  Ainsley has an appointment Monday at the ENT.  She had a rough summer with non-stop ear infections.  And her ear drum ruptured while she was on antibiotics.  So...off we go.  Her pediatrician was apologetic for having to send us but I assured him, as a speech path, I was relieved we were going and not allowing it to become a problem.  I know if tubes are the answer that I shouldn't be nervous...but this is new territory for me and I know I'll be a wreck!



4.  Our house is officially on the market.  We're ready for some good showings so we can "get the heck outta dodge."  Not really...we love our house but are ready for some more room and really want Leighton to live within Oak's district.

5.  The biggest thing that happened at our house this week...my "baby" started 1st grade!!  More on that later! ;)

Best When Broken

"Portraits are so much more than paper.  They're a feeling, a memory, a fleeting instant...captured.  Tangible.  A moment already passed but in your hands forever."

May was an insanely busy month...the end of school, kindergarten graduation, field day, six and a half (the half will come in to play later) photography sessions (that's a lot when you work a full-time job too), three birthday parties, Memorial Day, out of town company, two doctor appointments, etc., etc.  Years from now, I won't remember the hustle and bustle of the month.  But I'll never forget May of 2012.

My sweet friend Scott asked me to capture a few shots of he and his wife, Linda, at their cabin.  The purpose of the shoot was to get "the" picture.  The picture that would be on the cover of Scott's book that is due to come out this fall.  I was honored.  Totally blown away to be honest.  Let's face it...it isn't every day you get asked to take the picture for a book cover!  Before the shoot, I was feeling the pressure.  But, amidst all of the feelings of nervousness, I also didn't know if my picture would even "make the cut."  So, we seized the day, and enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors. 

Scott and I had our own visions of what the cover might include.  We got some amazing shots!  I just knew one of them was going to be "the" one!  And, I was wrong!  We needed to tweak the picture to include several things.  So, how about a second shoot?  The only flaw with a second shoot was that it was a crazy busy time!  Would we ever find a common time when we could travel to get it done?

We scheduled another date and wouldn't you know it poured down rain all morning.  I stressed.  My stomach was in knots.  We needed this to work.  I called Scott and Linda, and they hemmed and hawed over whether we should go.  There was a tiny spot on the radar that showed no rain so we went for it...and it couldn't have been more perfect.  There was rain all the way there...and all the way back.  But, the 20 minutes (hence...the 1/2 shoot I referenced above) we spent at the re-shoot were picture perfect...literally!  I believe with all my heart that God allowed those 20 minutes to happen...and wouldn't you know the first shot of the afternoon was our cover picture! 

July 3rd 2012...the phone rings...

Me: Hello? 
Scott (in tears):  You near a computer? 
Me: Yes (I knew what was coming so I began to shake).
Scott: Check your email...I just got the picture of the book cover.
Me: Speechless!  Totally blown away.  It was everything I could have ever imagined. 

There are dates forever engrained in my life.  The day I got married.  The day my children were born.  And now July 3, 2012 is added to those dates.  The day my dreams became reality.  

This fall, Best When Broken, will hit bookstores across the country.  My dear friend Scott will see his hard work and dedication in print.  His story will be published for all to see.  It's a testimony of his life and a profession of his faith.  A big piece of me is in that book...in fact it's covered in that book...literally from cover to cover.  The photos tell a story (some stories that can't be repeated) that can never be reproduced.  And although my story is intertwined, it's a story about a man who will forever be etched in my heart and in the heart of many others. 

Thanks Scott (and Linda)...for everything!