Seebaum Family Photos

Just wanted to share some images from another family shoot. So CLICK on over to see them. This end of October and going in to November is crazy for me. Between photo shoots, the evolve workshop, a trip to utah (holla, where my girls at?), and lasik eye surgery. I'm actually looking forward to December for a little R&R- minus the cold :( I'll try to keep things interesting here.

If interested in Politics...

Trust me, I am not a very political person, but I care for where our country is headed. I believe that the only way our nation will ever succeed is to be "one nation under God." I am definitely ready for this election to be over. But, until it is, and if you are interested in a good read that I support then click HERE. Nicole has pretty much summed it up on how I feel about this election. Thanks Nicole.

"As I was listening to a news program last night, I watched in horror as Barack Obama made the statement with pride. . .'we are no longer a Christian nation; we are now a nation of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, . . . As with so many other statements I've heard him (and his wife) make, I never thought I'd see the day that I'd hear something like that from a presidential candidate in this nation. To think our forefathers fought and died for the right for our nation to be a Christian nation--and to have this man say with pride that we are no longer that. How far this nation has come from what our founding fathers intended it to be."

-From: Dr. John Tisdale

HONORED

I am Honored.
To be your Mother.
Gentle souls. Graciously given.
My beating heart.
Gleaming. Fulfilled.
It is my Honor.

Seven Random Things

Hey thanks little Abbey Johnson for the tag. I'm going to play this a little different. Here it goes, seven random facts about me (out of the mouth of my husband):

1. I spill all the time.
2. Sometimes I pee when I sneeze.
3. I was the first one to fart in our relationship.
4. I will drop everything I am doing for an opportunity to go to the lake. (including my children)
5. I stand like a stork whenever doing my hair or dishes.
6. I cried the day Brandon told me I could never have a cat.

and last and most importantly:
7. I am currently having an affair with my portable heater.

Thank you Brandon for those wonderful and slightly embarrassing facts about me.

What are Years?

What is our innocence,
what is our guilt? All are
naked, none is safe, And whence
is courage: the unanswered question,
the resolute doubt,-
dumbly calling, deafly listening- that
in misfortune, even death,
encourage others
and in its defeat, stirs

the soul to be strong? He
sees deep and is glad, who
accedes to mortality
and in his imprisonment rises
upon himself as
the sea in a chasm, struggling to be
free and unable to be,
in its surrendering
finds its continuing.

So he who strongly feels,
behaves. The very bird,
grown taller as he sings, steels
his form straight up. Though he is captive,
his mighty singing
says, satisfaction is a lowly
thing, how pure a thing is joy.
This is mortality,
this is eternity.

-Marianne Moore

My sister and her friends have a blog called JNAC Chronicles. Alana one of the writers, shared this poem and I had to share it on mine as well.

I love the part at the end, "So he who strongly feels behaves. The very bird grown taller as he sings...Though he is captive his mighty singing says, satisfaction is a lowly thing, how pure a thing is joy."

Thanks Alana, and if you want some good reads. Check it out.

Finally here!

I have been waiting for this workshop to start for months and paid in advance when Sheye Rosemeyer first posted about the class. This is what I will be doing with my next 6 weeks!! I am so excited. This woman is A.MAZING!!

Design Public

I've been looking for a lamp forever. Either I find one I LOVE and it's way too expensive, or maybe I'm just too picky. I've already taken one back to Target. Stumbled upon these super cute lights from Design Public. Wish they matched my family room.

Oh La La Chalet..

Brandon surprised me with a little somethin' special just because. You're so sweet and thoughtful. Thank you. Love you husband.

Mini session

This was supposed to include Drake, but he was at the moment in his bedroom for a little one on one time with himself. I was going to take them into Brighton and try to get some cute pictures of them together. One tantrum and that plan was OUT the door. So, Ava let me snap a few of her sitting in front of the sliding glass door.








Ava must have been spent. She went straight for the pantry. I guess she thought she deserved some movie theatre butter popcorn and a fruit leather. She did and so did I.

A new found independence...

Just the beginning. She's sweet, but knows what she wants. Feisty girl.

What's up Ladies?

Meet me at my house on Halloween night! "Drake the golfer," as he calls himself.

Vent

I hate the post office! Why is it that every time I go, there is a line out the door. I had to stand there for 45 minutes, with a screaming baby girl on my hip, because she wants to get down and a 3 year old child who was NOT listening. Don't blame him or her cause I felt like screaming too. Finally, "I spy" worked wonders. But, that doesn't mean I didn't feel like punching every worker in there. All better.

Edstrom Family

Check out Edstrom's family photos. Click here.

Happy 3 Years.

To a boy who has brought more joy into my life then I could have ever imagined. And even though someday another girl will come and sweep you off your feet, you'll always have my heart, and I know I'll always be your first love. I love you Drake.

Little boys come in all shapes and sizes,
Shy and adventurous, full of surprises,
With misshapen halos and mischievous grins,
Small dirty faces, and sweet, sticky chins.

They'll keep you so busy, and yet all the while
Nothing can brighten the world like their smile.
And no greater treasure has brought home more joy
Than a curious, active, and lovable boy!
-author unknown






A pair of muddy sneakers left lying by the door,
tell the tale of a daring journey or an ancient medieval war.
Perhaps a brave explorer crossed the river to Timbuktu,
or was forced to hide in a swamp while a band of Apaches rode through.
Perhaps the top law man in Texas had to stand ankle-deep in wet sand,
while he watered his gleaming stallion on the banks of the Rio Grande...
More likely my brave little hero played in sprinklers along the way
but he'd never admit that to mother... And I'd have it no other way.
-author uknown

More Photos

To see more of Chloe's first photo shoot, click HERE. There's only a few, but more are soon to come.

Excited for...

this little newborn photo shoot I did this morning. Don't have time to go thru them now, but wanted to post this one.

Life's Masterpiece

When my mom was in town for the summer she came up with this and had me write it down for her. She never told me why or who it was for, but I had a feeling she wrote it for me.

A young girl's heart broke and it became a stroke on the canvas of her life.
Then a hand emerged from the canvas and wiped away her tears,
and took her hand and said, "come with me, there is something I want you to see."
She took his hand and followed quietly.

The path was covered with sharp rocks, dangerous holes, and other kinds of debris.
And when she hesitated, the hand pulled her closer and said, "stay near and follow me."
The path ended at the top of a small grassy knoll.
He bid her sit down to watch the scene played out below.

There was a young father laughing and playing with his older children.
On a blanket behind him, was the young mother with the younger children gathered arounde her knee.

The young girl looked up with a start and said, "is that young mother me?"
The voice whispered, "yes." The hand squeezed hers and silently slipped away.
The young girl stood up and realized the pain in her heart had ceased

And as she looked at her life's canvas, it had become a masterpiece.

-Valerie McClean (july 08)

Random.

I found this picture of my little cousin Hailey from St. George. Just thought it was a cool picture. I had forgotten about it.

Itsy bitsy spider...

Ava's version of itsy bitsy spider. Is this not adorable?

Any advice mommies or daddies :)

Yeah, so I'm totally the parent today at school that has to be told that Drake is having a problem hitting. Which I guess I could have figured since when I ask him what he did at school each time he says, "I hit." Great job, exactly what I like to hear. So, here's the low down:

Problem: Unprovoked hitting by my almost 3 year old. It is definitely a problem at school, with other kids, and younger sister.

Our attempts at fixing the problem: CONSISTENT time outs and being sent to his room. Taking him OUT of the situation. Not necessarily a big fan of spanking. Not that it hasn't been done. I have. But, I feel like I'm saying, "hey don't hit, but if you do, I'm gonna hit you back, and it's ok if I hit."

Why? Seriously where does this come from?? He does NOT watch anything violent. I'm a pretty calm person myself. I don't ever randomly get mad at people, and obviously he's seen Brandon and I argue, but nothing unordinary. This has got to stop. It's been going on for like a year now and I have to do something more about it. Anyway, I kept thinking oh he'll grow out of it, but not happenin' people and I have pretty much had it. So, any advice AT ALL is greatly accepted.

Yum.

Fresh picked berries and home made salsa.