When in doubt, double the amount of blueberries from what the recipe calls for.

Plenty of syrup is a requirement!

I have to guess the pancakes were a success because the taste testers were too busy chowing down.

As you can tell they enjoyed them. I had planned on having extras to freeze but that didn’t happen. Oh well.
Make sure to check out the next photographer in the chain – the wonderful Kate Craft and see her story this month about playdates!

My little artist loved this activity, she wouldn’t stop until I finally took the paintbrush away. I see a lot of painting in our future. We’re now taking future orders for any interested parties! These will only increase in value once she’s well known so save your money and order one now!

The next photographer in the circle is my friend Kathleen Weibel so go check out her work next!

My family has started an annual holiday tradition and by tradition it’s definitely unique. It’s called a turkey bowl. Everyone goes bowling the day before Thanksgiving. My family might be a little odd (shh don’t tell them!) but they definitely know how to make memories. Everyone decorates t-shirts and then proceeds to be win the honor of king (or queen!) of the turkey bowl. I would only be queen if bowling was scored like golf, lowest points win. So uhh yeah the important part is making memories together right?

One works up an appetite bowling. Please note the solitary teardrop on his cheek. I had dared to try and feed it to him. Mr Independant only wanted the ice cream if he was feeding it to himself.

Be sure to check out the next amazing photographer – Anelle Richardson Photography in this circle of life stories.

If you are ever around young kids you know how hard it is to entertain them for long. With my kids being so close in age and young I’m always on the hunt for anything that will keep them busy long enough for me to throw some food on the stove or clean up. Anything that keeps them occupied simulateanously for five whole minutes is considered a winner in my book. Well behold the sand table. In a stroke of sheer genius I moved it to our patio while I was cooking dinner and you know what? They both played with it for 15 WHOLE MINUTES. So what do I do with myself when my kids aren’t both clamoring for my attention and I can get something done? Yep I stop to take pictures of them doing said activity. While dinner may not have gotten done any faster I still want to capture my kids just being kids.

At the end of each of our posts will be a link to the next photographer in the chain of Life Stories Series. There are 27 of us participating!!!!

Please go check out Verity Dokter Photography as my friend Vee is the next photographer in the circle doing this project.

Don’t worry I’ll still be doing newborn and family sessions! However, seniors offer a completely different challenge that I love. Many times senior pictures are the last formal pictures one has done before their engagement and wedding day. Capturing young adults as they go through this phase of their life is a pleasure.

I recently had the chance to meet Jonathan and photograph his 2012 high school senior pictures. Congrats Jonathan!!

And to the patient momma your gallery will be up tonight.

From the very start you let everyone knew you weren’t going to be walked all over.

(The above 4 images are courtesy of Aimee Geis Photography) Side note, if you are ever uncertain about having a birth photographer just do it, you’ll thank yourself later.

To this day it takes a lot to get you worked up. Give you food, and a lot of it and you’re typically good.

These above 4 images courtesy of Petra at Bella Vida Photography and yes if you’re keeping track I didn’t have just one but two photographers there on your birthday. No one can argue the value I place on photography.

Your big sister has loved you from the start, sometimes I wished she wouldn’t love on you quite so much all at once. Ofcourse everyone loves you but you’re her baby first and foremost. The first word out of her mouth every morning for weeks after you joined us was ‘baby’.

You’ve never once complained when your sister plays dress up with you. It takes a strong man to wear pink necklaces after all. Always be who you are, those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.

You love everyone you meet, keep it that way. The heart is the strongest muscle in the body. Use it.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s acting in spite of it.

You are all boy, fear is not in your vocabulary and although it makes me hold my breath sometimes – your fearlessness is the very thing that will take you far dear. If you don’t stand for what you believe in you’ll fall for anything.

Remember though, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

You are definitely a momma’s boy, those eyes get me everytime. The sad part is you already know it. Just promise me no flirting with any other girls until you’re at least 2 right?

366 days ago I thought when moms told me how boys were so much fun I figured they were somewhat delusional. How can a baby with no bows or ruffles be that much fun? Guess they were right. Apparently I was the delusional one and didn’t realize how much I was missing out.

You might be classified as a toddler now but you’ll always be my baby. Happy birthday baby boy.

Gabby loves the carousel, she could ride that all day long. I made the horrible decision since we had extra tickets to let her ride something else by herself for a change. Some purple whale that went around in circles, she was fine for about 3 times around until she realized she hated it plus she was by herself and suddenly she became that kid crying horribly on the ride. I included more pics from that ride than I normally would just to show you how quickly things can change when you’re two.

Old Settlers days for us is always a lot of fun. Our church – Life Church – always has a booth giving away balloons, face painting for the kids. On Saturday the whole church will show up and walk in the parade. We give out several thousand bottles of water and candy. It’s known as the orange parade and is a lot of fun. I’m glad that our church participates in a lot of community activities and one reason I love it