Full Circle

Lately I have been feeling things come full circle.

For example.

Back in the day, I used to load my photos to iPhoto and then to my blog. That was that. Simple and easy.

Then I got all complicated with things and started using Lightroom. Then the last few months I have ditched Lightroom and only use CS5, which made it even harder.

Well, today I decided that maybe it is ok to throw pics on my blog that are straight out of my camera.

I’m not a professional photographer. I am not trying to sell my services to anyone. This blog is for me, my family, those that love my family, and anyone else that likes to see what a crazy life with 4 kiddos can be.

So you know what? I loaded the beach photos onto iPhoto and even though iPhoto offers (limited) editing, I am not touching them. Why? Because it is summer, and I am busy enjoying my life and family. But mostly because I am about to head outta town with my wonderful husband who is letting me tag along on a biz trip with him to California sans kiddos. Yay for awesome grandparents coming up to hold down the fort.

Speaking of awesome grandparents, at the pool the other day one of my friends told me about her friend that has parents in town that take the kids every thursday night (even during the school year, they get them up and take them to school on Friday) so that she and her husband have one night a week to do whatever, see a movie, grocery shop, just whatever. Can you even imagine?? Whoa.

But anyway, my awesome parents are coming up for 4 whole days so I can spend a few days in California with Andy.

But back to the photos.

Sometimes I shoot RAW. Not that often. Because it’s a big fat pain in my butt.

But my images are soooo much better when I do.

But that’s ok. Because when I shoot jpeg I can do my iPhoto throw up. (well not throw up- you know what I mean). And sometimes it’s more important just to get the memories down.

When we were at the beach my mother-in-law gave each of us a stack of pics that she put together from cleaning out her drawers and such. After I got through the pics of Andy and his old girlfriend (which I don’t really think I need but not sure what to do with???) I found a bunch of pics of the first two boys as toddlers. Nothing brings me to tears (and happiness) faster than to see those sweet sweet boys as little ones. Seriously. Time has flown. I get that. But wow what a nice reminder of how great things were, how happy we were, how time marches on, people change, get bigger, and it’s all good.

I studied those pics. Of me and my early motherhood.

I have, probably all of those pics. But since they are not easily accessible, this was a treat.

What I realized looking at them was, my boys liked each other. And that is coming full circle. They are starting to realize it is cool to have each other. And I LOVE that. Makes me wish Cole had a buddy brother, and Eva a buddy sister. (relax Andy, I know we are done).

What those first two had/have was special. It was the hardest time of my life, having a newborn and boy that was just about to turn two. I can’t imagine doing that again. But it was so great.

And I needed the reminder.

The pics progressed into our time spent in Dallas. I miss making jewelry. I miss our time there.

It was also a hard time- trying for a third, two miscarriages in a row.

But we move on. And here we are.

And here are my beach pics. Unedited and straight up on the blog.

This was the day the kids (and some grown-ups) made bird houses.

the evil twins

I love that Cole got my old dog plates from when we lived in Dallas

man I love that kid. That sweet sweet crazy boy that came along after those two miscarriages.

and I love that one too.

I love that I got one of Emma while she wasn’t looking

And Max, with his awesome hair

More beach pics to come- iPhoto unedited style!!