Before [& After]

Isn't it crazy how time flies? How much things change in a short amount of time? Where you end up vs how you thought that things would go? I've been thinking about this lately- well kind of since our 7 year wedding anniversary just went by last week.

Seven years ago we were young. We had big dreams and hopes and we were carefree. We didn't exactly know where God would lead us and we were ok with that. We had fun, stayed up late, hung out with friends whenever, and I could eat whatever I wanted and didn't need to worry about excercise.

We were blessed to work with an amazing group of students and leaders for five years. Had some good times, trips, late nights, & memories. I'd get carded for seeing a rated R movie and get asked out by some of the teens that visited youth group.

In 2006 we had Braden. Our lives changed. I could not have imagined loving someone so much. Our focus suddenly shifted. There was so much more to think about. I couldn't imagine life without that little guy.

Then in 2009 we gave Braden the best gift ever, a brother, Carter.

When I was pregnant with Carter I worried (and sometimes cried) that I wouldn't be able to love him as much as I loved Braden. I couldn't imagine what it would be like- to be the mom of two, how I would handle all of the everyday things, whether we would like him as much (it's kind of sad to admit), whether Braden would love him. Much to my relief (and i'm sure now to yours) I loved him immediately. As soon as I saw him I knew that he belonged to us, he was part of our family, he was perfect. I instantly couldn't imagine life without Carter as part of us.

And now in 2010,we're not quite as young, I don't get carded for R rated movies, I don't usually choose to stay up too late because I know my boy will be up by 6am, it's a little harder to be spontaneous, my house is sometimes messy, I usually have laundry to wash or fold or both, I can't always remember the last time I got to pee [or be in the bathroom alone!], we made choices/moves that we couldn't have anticipated, vacation doesn't mean sleeping in/laying out but getting up early and finding crabs and building sandcastles- but I can't imagine life any other way. I am blessed and priviledged to be able to stay home with my boys. Thanks to my hard working husband who works so that I can stay home.

Seven years ago I could never have imagined this life I lead now. A life where I love Rob more than I did then and where we get to love and raise these two boys together- with all of the bumps and bruises that come our way.

Family Photos.

It had been about two years since we last had our family pictures taken. Braden was not quite two years old and I was pregnant with Carter. I think that these photos were way over due!

Our friend Leah decided to take on the Casey's for family photos this past Saturday. It was so fun! But for anyone that has kids you can understand what a challenge family photos can be. Especially when you have two boys- one of which is almost a  year and a half and always on the go. They did pretty well but we had to come up with some pretty creative ways of keeping their attention!

I [kind of] obsessed about what we would all wear...I think it was a combination of it having been so long since we had pictures taken and of my photography hobby that has me looking at photography websites and blogs on a regular basis! I wanted things to be just right and I feel like my hard work paid off! The boys were their super cute selves in their matching purple button downs- gosh I love them.

Thank you Leah Spina, can't wait until next time!

Summer=Popscicles

When I think of our summer days a picture like this comes to mind. Not too many summer days have gone by around here where we haven't had a popscicle to help cool off. This summers quickly ending and these kiddos are getting way too big!

suitcase, stool, & roses

It's been awhile! Just a quick post about some random things. I have been wanting to get a cool, old, hard suitcase that I could use for pics (mostly because I was wanting it for photos of my baby niece that is due in November) and Rob scooped one up for me last week at an estate sale. Then last Saturday I went to a couple of estate sales and found an older stool that I also thought I could use for photos- and the best part is that I got it for $1. I could possibly get addicted to going to sales and finding neat things that I could use for photo ops...hm.

Isn't she cute? You'll have to excuse the laundry basket.

Thought about spray painting it but I kind of like the weird greenish color and all of the dents, gives it some personality.

Monday Rob and I celebrated 7 years of marriage! Time flies.

The Journey.

I am guilty of too often looking ahead and not focusing on what's in front of me. I get so caught up in the details- the what if's, the when's, the what if not's. I worry. I over analyze and over think. I stress. And not only does this mean that I will often overlook the great things that are right in front of me but I am too bound to take any chance or risk.
This has been on my mind alot recently. I should say though that I have come a long way in this past year. Of trying to let go, of trusting, and being ok not being in control [because I guess in the end it's all about the control]. But it creeps back in. And right now I feel like there are certain circumstances that almost validate my worries of the future BUT-It's still wrong.
This past Sunday the message at church was more or less about this. About letting go of the what ifs. About realizing that it's not necessarily about the destination, but more about the journey on the way to the destination. So I am praying that even on this strange/hard/weird/frustrating journey- God would help me to live in it, embrace it, learn from it, and even love it.

Time for something new.

I realize that I haven't been blogging as often as I said I would and definitely not as often as I would like. So i'm going to take the time to update my blog, re-evaluate some things...some things are brewing and happening.. I'm ready for the fresh and the new. I don't even know what it all means or what it's going to look like. Some of it is just happening on it's own, evolving. But it's in the works, it'll be in the works.

The Kings.

I've been friends with David and Alicia since we were kids. Now we are all grown up, are married, and have kids. Our first borns are only 6 months apart and are babies are only 6 days apart (we have two boys and they have two girls).
I had the chance to snap some pics of them before I headed out for vacation, good times! I already told Alicia that i'll have to borrow them again for some more shots and to try some fun, new things.
Here are a couple from our time together.

Love this one.

My hubby came along and assisted with the babes :) I might have to hire him.