the sisters I hope they are.

I truly hope with my whole heart that I give these girls a relationship as sisters that will be timeless and cherished forever. If anything and in everything that I could possibly teach them - I truly pray for this one relationship to be the strongest in their lives. 

I have hope for the strongest future for them because they have each other.

And I get to watch it happen.

"My question was the attention I gave to them,

and their response was their beauty."

roller coasters and all

I know, I know. It's been forever.

I've been busy. I guess? Kind of busy. Not too busy, not too sitting still. Just the right kind of busy.

Right this minute I have one child on top of me eating Pirate's Booty and the other child is taking pictures of my nostrils with my iPhone.

'tis the life.

My heart has been going through a roller coaster of emotions. We have close friends that just lost their sweet baby girl after three hours of her life. We have celebrated birthdays, we have seen Michael's niece win the state championship at St. Mary's high school, we have watched Lia in her very first dance class, we have had friends losing and getting jobs, we have celebrated births and joys with families and friends.

We have danced, we have cried, we have laughed, we have struggled, we have begged for the grace to make it. We somehow make it when it seems impossible.

It's a constant - the consistency of inconsistency. I'm grateful for incredible family and community that I can call and say "you've experienced this before, right?? I'll make it, right??"

I am beyond blessed. I've been given support beyond measure. I've been given a family that unconditionally listens to my complaints and gripes and tells me it's all good, it'll be okay, we will not only survive, we will be stronger for having the hard times, and the good times are oh so much sweeter.

I'm rambling. But life is sweet. I'm so filled with joy that far surpasses my look of happiness. I know His joy is in my soul, and that truth is the most golden truth I could have.

But I got to pick up my camera today and shoot some photos of my fun and amazing girls. Lia was cracking up out there. And her joy is beyond beautiful.

"I was here. I lived, I loved."

party time!

I've been going a little crazy thinking about Lia's third birthday party. Three!! Crazy, crazy. Beyond crazy.

My little baby girl is about to be THREE.

So, for the first time EVER, I'm actually motivated to have a cute and awesome birthday party. Before, I was more go-with-the-flow, and didn't really care to party plan. But I'm motivated! And I have money - for like the first time ever! (The job, remember?)

So, since her birthday is in December, and most parts of the country are having colder weather, I figured I'd bring some cold-air-feelings into our home!

My pinboard on Pinterest for her birthday is bonkers cute, so I'm hoping that her party will be even an ounce of that cuteness.

So I'm thinking snowflakes and balloons. Do those even go together?! Who knows, but I'm going to try to make it work!

This picture is what I'm really wanting to do with some red (and teal?) balloons with the snowflakes falling from the ceiling:

Source: ohhappyday.com via Jenna on Pinterest

I'm also incredibly inspired by these adorable mason jars with cute signage! I'm trying to think of something else besides "cheers" to possibly put there.

Source: etsy.com via Jenna on Pinterest

So, I've needed some creative juice to come into my system (those are extremely hard to find in case you don't know me that well). I tried to make some prints to put on the display table or as centerpieces... I need to find some more cute quotes for parties/snowflakes/or balloons.

I need to keep searching! Although sometimes I get so caught up in inspiration, I forget to turn my thoughts into action... Jeez the thoughts never end ;)

"partypartypartypartypartypartyparty" ~my brain

gazing out the window.

These two together make everything perfect. I can't begin to explain how grateful I am that they get to have each other through this beautiful and messy thing called life. 

I know they won't remember these moments, but I always will.

photo by lia

I love that on the days when I'm not reaching for my camera, and I'm seemingly filling my schedule with busy-ness, Lia forces me to sit and be still with my eyes totally focused on her because she's holding my huge camera and trying to snap photos. It's the cutest thing ever. And it's in those moments that I'm paying the most attention to her, completely and utterly zoned in to her every move.

I edited a few of the photos she snapped, and I kind of love how they turned out. I hope she turns into one hell of a photographer one day - if for nothing else, to capture the love of the world around her.

"we do not remember days. we remember moments."

life according to Siena

Sometimes life is like climbing in between some chairs. You have a destination in mind, and no matter how many people tell you that there is another (easier) way, you say to hell with them! and go your own way...

You plan your course of action...

You set about your way...

You get stuck and all confused...

Then some friends come over to assist you, encourage you, and love you.

You get lost in thought...

and thought...

and thought.

Until you've cleared the hardest hurdles...

Only to find your damn foot is stuck.

But alas, you survive, and you make it through, and life is always better with a good glass of cold milk.

Oh, and life is also always better with Lia around...

I love these girls.

rain rain don't go away

It was raining and your eyes lit up.

We ran outside cautiously... you stayed close behind.

Once we stuck our hands out to touch the water falling from the sky, you fell in love.

"Threw out my old raincoat, set sail without a boat... for places somewhere far beyond my dreams."

a masterpiece

I always wanted to be good at something. No, correction, I always wanted to be great at something. I struggled with being "good" at lots of things, and not so "great" at much.


I played lots of sports growing up, and knew how to be a good athlete, just not a "great" volleyball player or "great" softball player or "great" basketball player. But a good athlete, I had that in the bag.


I loved playing sports, I loved being in dance, I loved being active, and I definitely want to pass those attributes onto the girls. 


I also want them to have a creative side, and a side where they can express themselves in a different way than with physical activity. I would love for them to be artistic - whether it be writing, photography, art, theater, singing, music, etc. Never mind being great, I ALWAYS wanted to be at least good at these things, and I never was. I want them to explore these things in ways that I never did, to fully devote themselves to something they feel passionate about and give all of themselves for the glory of God.


What a joy that will be, to see what it is that they fall in love with - whether it be opera or lacrosse or sculpting - I can't wait to cheer for them on the sidelines and help them fulfill their dreams.

“Not all are called to be artists in the specific sense of the term. Yet, as Genesis has it, all men and women are entrusted with the task of crafting their own life: in a certain sense, they are to make of it a work of art, a masterpiece.” ~JPII