A Day at Mount Laurel

So I have so many sessions before Christmas and Mount Laurel is my favorite place to go for them. Today all of my sessions were there. It was awesome. It was such a pretty day to be outside, especially if you are armed with a camera. Stay tuned to http://www.monicaannephotography.com/ for blog updates there.

The boys and Brandon came with me today. They had a blast. They went to one of the parks there and they also went to one of the areas and played football, baseball, and I think soccer. They also found the basketball courts and cannot wait to go back to play there too. They were doing their lighting tonight and we thought about staying, but it is like a neighborhood block party and we were afraid that we would be intruding. We decided to come on home and just head back out there soon to see everything lit up.

I have to admit I was glad to come on home, as much as I would have loved to have seen it I am so tired and have so much work to do that I knew the best thing would be to come home. The boys have had their baths and showers. Everyone is about to eat dinner. I am editing now and plan to keep it up until I head off to bed, which I plan to be sooner than later tonight.

Know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers! I hope that everyone's weekend has been as blessed as ours. I have learned that if you count all of your blessings you will never stop!

Spread Thin

I love Saturdays, but they also mean that there is a lot to do and with Brandon at Homestead Hollow there really is just one of me.
I am very thankful that he is working because we desperately need the extra money, so I am not complaining. There is so much to cover and not so much to cover it with each month and with Christmas approaching way too quickly I do not think that this will change much anytime soon. Hopefully they will stay busy and he will make some decent money. They should put out a tip jar and split it between all of the workers....Hmmm? Maybe in November they can try that.
We had two birthday parties, but they were at the same time so we could only make it to one. Connor is 6, which is hard for me to believe. It means John Michael will be 6 all too soon. Connor's party was great it was at Fox's Pizza in Argo. The boys had a blast. Danny was really glad that Chandler got to come with him. They all had so much fun.
By the way the boys passed out at 2:00 this morning, and were up at 6:30. I cannot believe it. I worked all day on channeling their energy, but never got it.
Well, the Auburn game started off great, but the end left a lot to be desired. Win or Lose I love the boys in orange and blue, but I did hate to lose tonight. Another W would have been great on the esteem of these new boys. I know that they will improve though. No matter what I love to watch them and I hope that we can manage to get to Auburn for at least one game.
Well, I am off, 4 hours of sleep is nowhere near enough for me!

Fireworks on the Lake

So I am behind....big surprise I know, but I am catching up. This would be for Sunday, July 3rd.

We had some friends to the lake today to swim, eat, and watch fireworks. Our neighbors up there put on a show like no other, at least in my opinion. It lasts longer than the big City ones and it is a little more enjoyable since you are with friends and family instead of friends, family, and 10,000 others. While I love people, a lot leaving the same place at one time tend to make me a little nervous. Especially now that I have kids.

We had a great time with everyone. Our kids all play so well together and with a lake to wear themselves out in it was great. They swam until the sun was starting its descend too!

Brandon grilled some very good hamburgers and hotdogs. I made the oreo/chocolate chip pie thing. And of course there was beer, wine, and best of all was Nick's margaritta's! Those are always the best! Thanks again for making them!

Well, it was a great fireworks show. The kids had a blast watching them, and playin with sparklers. Even our neighbor's kids came to play with the sparklers. I am all about the more the merrier so it was great. I was glad to meet the neighbors. They are really great. Hopefully we will see them up there more, as again Brandon and I are determined to get up there more this year and make the most out of every weekend. Of course it will be like 2 at least before we go again, but it is all for good reasons! Weddings and Football!!!

Before the night was over there was an incident. I will not go into details for the person's privacy, but I do ask that you all say a prayer for a dear friend of mine. She suffers from disautonomia (sp?) and just needs some prayers. Thanks guys, you are great!

Basketball...Haircuts...GREAT WEATHER!!!!

Well, today was quite a day! We had a lot to do and a lot going on, but it was a great one!

First, I want to sing praises for the amazing weather. I could not have drawn a better January Saturday! If only it would stay, there is a lot more winter. Hopefully not a lot more winter weather though! I was able to get the van cleaned, inside and out and that alone made me feel wonderful! I have been trying to get it done and today I just did it, with the help of the family!

Danny had another basketball game. This one was against the other OLS team and the SFX Saints won again. The final score was 23-2. These boys play so well together and have a great time. Danny played well especially considering that his finger was jammed after throwing the football around Friday night with Brandon. Brandon felt horrible, but it is doing better. Still sore and black and blue, but it is better. I felt horrible because I forgot my camera. They only have a few more games so I cannot do it again. The thing was we were running late, and when I remembered it was afraid if we turned around we would be even later, it worked out that we were 10 minutes early. Go figure. Oh well, there are reasons for everything.

Tomorrow morning the children's choir is singing at Mass so it should be great! I will remember my camera. Maybe I will put it in the van tonight.

We came home tonight and Brandon wanted to cut his hair, Danny wanted him to cut his, and then my rock star John Michael wanted his cut too! Well, they all have matching haircuts now! It is so sweet and I do like it, but he looks so much older now. They grow up so fast! Prior to matching haircuts, they got matching head lights today and were super excited!!! Check out the before and after pics for John Michael!!!

Well, still not before 9 but it will happen! SOON! Before I head to bed as always I will be praying for all of my family and friends. I love you all. I hope that you have all been able to enjoy this weekend and that it continues to be great for all of us and all of you!