THINK

Over the past few weeks, most of us have been watching the debates. I know....this is a hotly contested topic, but I'm diving into it anyway.

 

Here's where my problem lies:

 

So many issues, or at least the ones that cause such emotional reactions across the globe, revolve around religion and what your specific religion TELLS you.  (e.g. abortion)  One religion says this. Another says that. The bible says this. The bible teachings are then open to interpretation 50 million different ways, with people citing all these different verses. And which verse carries the most weight. And which religion carries the most weight. And why this religion is better and has more authority. Which book or bible is better. This one says this and therefore, it is SO.

 

OMG

 

Here's an idea:

 

Put the bible down and THINK.FOR.YOURSELF.

 

Use your brain!  Isn't that easier?  Honestly?  Then you don't have to try to remember what the freakin' bible said. It drives me insane that people let a book, or a church, or their pastor, or neighbor, or prophet, or whoever, lead them around like a lost child. Telling them this is okay, or this is not okay, under any circumstance whatsoever. What you can believe. Who you can marry. Who can do what with their own body.

 

I don't think it's any secret as to what I believe.  I don't.  It's as simple as that.  Life is so much more simple, to me. You live. You die. Poof. That's it for me. And at the end of the day, I don't have to remember any rules, or verses, or admonishments. I am responsible for me, my body, my thoughts, my decisions. My OWN thoughts. My OWN decisions.  It's truly the most liberating feeling.

 

Think for yourself.

The Baby Shower

Last weekend, Dana and Veronica came to town for a super quick visit, which included the baby shower.  Planning the shower was a lot of work - I had a great helper in Veronica's friend, Heather. And also some not-so-great help from another of Veronica's friends....who failed to bring the food she said she would bring, leaving us short for food. And then she laughed about it. Awesome - note: do not rely on that person for anything ever again.  Regardless of that little incident, the shower was a great success and Baby Easton scored big time!

 

I ordered some dipped strawberries from a Living Socials deal - they were incredible!!!  (www.sherrisberries.com)

 

 And my cousin's girlfriend, Lori, made the cake.....the cow jumped over the moon.  So adorable!

 

 We had a very good turn-out (despite very little RSVPs....I swear, those are a thing of the past)

 The games were a hoot!

 Decorating some onesies.

 

 

 

 

 

 Easton got some great gifts!

 And we snuck in a gift from Dana to Veronica - a matching ring/necklace set with Easton's birthstone.  She freaked out for a minute....thinking it was a different sort of ring!

And of course, we had to measure her belly!

 

 

 

After the shower, a big group of us went bowling so we could all share time with Dana and Veronica. We ended up at Emerald Lanes to do cosmic bowling.

 For a seasoned league bowler like my dad, all the lights and music and FUN was quite distracting to his bowling game. ;) 

 Everyone had a great time though - lots of people came out to see Dana and Veronica, we had pizza and beer, and shared lots of laughs.  It was a great, albeit far too short, visit.  Two more months and they get to meet their son and embark on the journey of parenthood.......WOW!

 

 

Linder Farms

This weekend was Carter's buddy, Daysen's birthday. Abby decided to have it out at Linder Farms. Along with the entire valley. I thought it would be dead considering there was a home BSU game. WRONG. Way wrong. There were so many people there.  I took Carter and decided to make it a day, just the two of us. We had a great time at the party! Here are some shots:

Time

It’s a dark time.

Cringe

Anger

Patience

A test

 

How long do you wait?

 

How many chances do you give?

 

Patience, again

Disappointment

Failure

 

What if it could be better, apart?

 

What if you’ve done everything you can?

 

Sometimes it just can’t work.

Divided

Different

Too different

Unwilling

Stubborn

 

Disrespect

Unhappy

 

Who do you live for?

Kids

Yourself

Happiness matters

Decisions

 

Effort

Resistance

Stuck

Bitterness

 

Could there be so much more?

Someone else?

 

Alone

Hope

Freedom

Apart

Family Photos - 2012

My mother-in-law took us out the other day to do our family photos. It was a gorgeous day and Eric's sister, Ashley, came along to help get the kids' attention. Here are three of my faves:

A Lazy Weekend - Wait, What's That?

This weekend is the first in......I truly don't know how long......that I haven't had a shoot.  Business for the year is pretty much over, and I decided to not even advertise a fall special this year because I really just wanted to RELAX.  Anyone who is a photographer knows that you don't get a weekend "off" during the majority of the year. It's either slammed with weddings or other shoots, and sometimes both. And then, when those are over, you have editing. My week nights, after the kids go to bed, are also devoted to editing. It's fun in the beginning, hard work in the middle, and by the time October hits, I just want it to be over. And now it is. I have to finish up the editing on one evening this evening and then I'm DONE. I have been enjoying a very lazy weekend with my kids. I spent some time scrapbooking, we built forts, we took baths until the water was cold....and I think I have spent 79 hours watching baseball. No joke.....it's playoff time!

Screaming at each other.....and if you have ever heard me or my kids scream, you know this was quite a sound!

Building forts

Play time!

 

The Cutest Girl Ever

So we are having family pictures taken this weekend.  As in, I'm stepping out from behind the camera to attempt to wrangle two busy kids and one grumpy husband into one photo where we are mostly looking in the same direction and maybe smiling. As long as no one is crying in the picture {Eric} I will consider it a success.  No really though, my MIL is taking us out and I know she will get some great shots.  But in the meantime, I took Kendall out into the backyard the other day because the lighting was premier and I needed to remind her that a camera WILL be part of her life. Get over it. Accept it. Freaking smile, kid.

 

 

 

 

 

And what got her attention the entire time? A bow. It's that simple. Sometimes I wish I could be 17 months old. ;)