I am designing a wedding renewal invite for a photographer friend. I love designing, but it does take me a while to make something from scratch (like a blank piece of white paper in Photoshop). I was going for contemporary and fun. I did not take the photos; they were provided.

Front:

Back:

Sorry, I didn’t outline the invite; the white blends into my white background on my blog. I think you can get the idea of what this will look like, though! It will be a 5 X 7 front-to-back press printed card. I made it in Photoshop CS3.

It feels like I have spent so much time with Reilly lately, which I love! She is such a sweet little girl! I just love being with her! There is so, so much I want to teach her in this lifetime!

One thing I look forward to every night is teaching her how to read. She was ready to learn how to read at age 4 after a year in a wonderful preschool program, but I waited until age 5 for a couple of reasons. One, I was still pregnant and sick all of the time while she was 4. My life/health was too unpredictable to commit to an everyday reading program. Also, I do not feel the need to rush my kids when it comes to reading.

Some parents are obsessed. I am all about education, but I also do not worry too much about what they are learning as far as a formal education goes until they are 4 years old.

After 13 years as an educator, and after observing what goes on in both good and not-so-good school systems, I totally believe that parenting is much more important than the school the child attends. The value parents place on education wins in the end. We definitely value education.

My kids will be successful. I know that. Dave and I believe in providing our children with a well rounded education. I have spent hours researching home schooling, reading, and supplementary materials. I am supplementing Reilly’s education. I know she is more than ready to read.

She is not learning how to read in kindergarten. In a public school system, there are so many kids who do not enter school with the necessary basic skills. Thus, it seems like too much time needs to be devoted to covering the basics. What about the students who are far above all of that?

I know Reilly has benefited greatly from kindergarten. She has a wonderful, caring, teacher whom she loves. Much of the material, though, is a review for her (reading and writing). I anticipated this happening after witnessing all she had learned in preschool the previous year. I knew I would need to supplement.

Reilly is a smart kid. She is self-motivated. She is creative. She is a thinker and a doer. She is an adventurous little girl who is willing to take a chance in life. I love that about her!

The main book we have used is called Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. We are almost 3/4 of the way through this book. It is so easy to use, and Reilly has been very successful learning how to read by completing the reading and writing lessons in this book. She is a great reader!

Tonight, she read the following story out loud: “Hunting for a Deer” (and she read it pretty quickly–no pauses!) – I will have to record her reading very soon!

An old man got his gun. He said, “I will go hunting for deer.”

The girl said, “You can not see. So you can not hunt for deer.”

He said, “I will hunt for deer.”

Then a deer came to the man and said, “Are you hunting for deer?”

The old man said, “Have you seen a deer?

The deer said, “I am a deer.”

The old man said, “I can not see you. So I will not take a shot at you. We will go for a walk.” So the old man and the deer went to the old man’s home.

The end.

We are also supplementing with the following book: What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know – We are still focusing on literacy…we are currently reading lots of nursery rhymes, fables, and stories. We will be starting on geography and social studies in February. Then we will move on to science, visual arts, and math as the year progresses. This has been a great resource book to add into the mix. I also ordered What Your First Grader Needs to Know–just to be prepared for next year! These books also provide lists of great supplementary materials, and we have been seeking these materials at our local library.

Today the most recent books I ordered for Reilly arrived: Playful Pals Level 1 Readers! Books Reilly can read all on her own! 10 to a pack! They are so little and cute! They also come with stickers, which kids love! Reilly read the first one tonight all by herself (out loud to me), and she earned her choice of one sticker! She was pretty excited! Reilly is a very motivated kid when it comes to learning!

We spend approximately 20 minutes every night on her reading. That’s all. We also read additional books for enjoyment. I am all about reading. I believe it is the basis for everything. As an educator and a parent, I realize how crucial it is for kids to be strong readers. We read every day in our lives.

Another fun activity Reilly and I have enjoyed together lately is playing ball! She is in Saturday morning basketball, and we have been playing ball non-stop at home! Reilly loves it! Below is a photo from this past Sunday of the big ball Reilly loves to play with every day!

I just felt like taking a silhouette, so I had Reilly stand/jump in the doorway of our front door. I hope this weekend to take many, many more photos of my little girls!

Life is so much fun these days!

Life is exhausting! I will try to take more photos of Jolie this weekend. Below are just a couple pictures I took of her yesterday. I have some bath photos and some photos of her first time eating cereal, which, by the way, she hated! Jolie is one intense kid these days! She was the most mellow baby the first 2 months, but these last 2 months…wow! She is a very demanding little girl! Reilly is my only laid back kid!

Here is Jolie in her high chair for the very first time…before we gave her some *yummy* baby cereal…and before she got all messy. Such a big-eyed girl!

Here she is with her pacifier. She is teething already. Reilly got her first 2 teeth right at 4 months old, and Addie got her first two teeth at 5 months old, so I am sure it will be any time with Jolie.

She is a very cranky girl these days!

VERY CRANKY!

But she is just so cute…

Yesterday was a great day! My rule on Saturday is no school, no photography…no anything that is going to make me go nuts! Family, relaxation, a little cleaning, and some simple fun is what Saturdays are all about!

Yesterday morning, I took Reilly to Saturday morning basketball. This is my sport. Of course, I want my kids to play. I think this weekend Reilly got excited to play basketball. She made a basket, which made her very happy. And she told me her favorite part of basketball was saying, “Hawks!” at the end! Ha, ha!

Her dad and Addie came to watch her play the last 1/2 hour after Addie had finished her dance lesson. Jolie went with me. Jolie always goes with me!

At home, Reilly and I played “ball” in the living room with a big ball. I demonstrated some basketball basics to her–how to hold the ball, how to shoot the ball, how to pass the ball…and she loved it! She definitely has great hand/eye coordination. I do not believe that she will ever be fast, though. She reminds me of myself in some ways. I had athletic ability, but I was never fast, either. I worked very hard, though.

We had a blast just throwing a ball back and forth to each other. I cannot WAIT for the warmer weather so we can play ball outside together all of the time! So many times, I think about all the time my dad spent with me playing ball. By the age of 4, I had every type of ball. I was definitely a tomboy. I am afraid that my girls have become too girly by the many influences around them. I love little girl clothing, and I love, love, love dressing them just as cute as can be, but I will work to make them tough, too.

In the afternoon, I took Reilly and Addie to their cousins’ house to see their puppies. They had a great time holding the puppies and playing dress-up with their cousins. At one point, I heard Addie say to Madison, “My Mommy married Daddy.” Then I heard Madison (age 7) say, “I know that.” Ha, ha! I love their totally random conversations!

Later that day, Reilly and I went to Grandville to the mall shopping. We found some cute clothes for Addie and Jolie. I think I am getting back into my “my kids will be the cutest dressed kids ever” mode! now that we are on our way to spring! Little girls are so fun!

Reilly had such fun having one-on-one time with her mom. It was so nice. It reminded me of the days when we had just Reilly…or when Addie was just a baby and I could only take Reilly to fun places. Reilly played at the Tree House for a long time, and it just made her so happy! That is the best thing as a mom…to see my kids so genuinely happy! Reilly kept saying to me, “Mommy! Mommy!” with a big smile on her face as she played! She wanted me to watch everything she did! She also kept running over to me and giving me hugs! It was like she was so thankful I let her play at the Tree House…she just loved it!

Our other activities of the night included an ice cream cone for Reilly, a visit to the health food store, and a trip to the bookstore to buy a good book to read–for me! It was a wonderful, relaxing day!

I couldn’t resist! I love little babies!

And even a little smile…at just 2 weeks old!

This is the second addition (another girl) to one of my client families. The two girls are almost two years apart in age. It is so fun to watch children grow…and meet brand new babies!

Isn’t she sweet? Just two weeks old…

Even though I did not go to bed until 1:00 a.m. on Sunday night (oops!) and got up at 6:00 a.m., the first day back to school went very smoothly for me! It was a very fun day!

Tonight at home was a good time, too! The 2 older girls were very well behaved and just plain fun! Today (and tonight) was very productive, too! Tonight Reilly and I did a Bible study and her reading lesson. We also read some fables. Through the month of January, we are focusing on literacy. I will devote a whole blog entry soon to Reilly’s progress with her reading program at home. She is doing an awesome job!

I will share all of the books/materials we are using. The main book we have chosen to teach Reilly how to read has worked out so well for us! I am very proud of my little girl!

I promise to share lots of photos soon. It has just been so darn busy around here…just taking care of all 3 girls…and dealing with winter sicknesses. We all seem to be on the mend now. I still have not looked at any of the photos I took during Christmas break. We did not make it outside to play since we were all sick at one time or another, but I am sure we will still have many winter days to come in MI!

I did try to take some recent 3 month photos of Jolie, too, but all she did was scream! I will try again this weekend. We need some updated photos of her! She is smiling all of the time! Jolie and I were inseparable over break. I did not like leaving her this morning! I will post some new photos of her very soon! She is getting so big! I will work hard to capture her cuteness!

One of my online friends from a photography forum, Nancy, created this special artwork for me shortly after Jolie was born and sent me the file. She is one of the kindest and most giving people I know! She is so talented! I just ordered it as an 8 X 12 from my pro. lab and had it mounted on 3/16 inch ultrafoam. I plan to display it on a shelf in her bedroom–as soon as she gets her own room!

She is still in my room! Our plan in the next few months is to move Reilly and Addie to my office and make their new room *so girly*! The best little girl room ever! We’ll also see how creative I am (can be) when it comes to decorating… It will be a challenge!

Then Jolie will move into Reilly and Addie’s old room. The new bedroom will be our big (ongoing) project around here in 2010. I have lots of plans for it…I’ll share later as I start to make some progress!

This artwork will match perfectly in Jolie’s room…with all of the purple, pink, green, and yellow in there! I can’t wait to work on the girls’ rooms in 2010–just one step at a time!

1. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Last year, I had so many goals and hopes for the New Year, but in 2009, we found ourselves facing some unexpected challenges along the way–right up until the end. Some health issues got in the way of some of the goals/plans for the year. This year, I still have some goals, but 2009 has taught me to simplify my life more and to not expect the best all of the time. I don’t make resolutions. Maybe because everybody else does. I am constantly setting goals–daily, weekly, monthly, yearly… 2009 was just not the time to achieve everything I would have liked to have achieved. This year we might make more progress with all of that–if the timing is right.
2. What was the single best thing that happened this past year? The birth of Jolie!

3. What was the single most challenging thing that happened? Surviving the pregnancy. I do not have normal pregnancies. I do not know why.

4. What was an unexpected joy this past year? Meeting some AWESOME moms this year through Addie’s gymnastics class each week! I really like them all a lot! We have so much in common! I hope we become great friends in 2010! I look forward to many more play dates!

5. What was an unexpected obstacle? My recent health diagnosis (still undergoing that whole process to be 100% positive it is an accurate diagnosis).

6. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Endured and survived Postpartum Depression

7. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? A vacation!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Growing as a person and letting go of so many things… It was the most significant year I’ve had for personal growth in many years, which was awesome!

9. What was your biggest failure? Not always having patience…

10. Did anyone close to you give birth? Cammi had Colt, Julie had Ava, and our niece Jamie found out she was going to have twins in 2010! No other friends had babies. Either they were already all done, or actually, Dave and I have many friends who have never had kids.

11. Did anyone close to you die? No, but…several people I know lost loved ones in 2009. Very sad! I hate cancer!

12. What states/countries did you visit? Does Indiana count? Outlet malls in MI City while I was 9 months pregnant! Not a good idea!

13. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? September 18–birth of Jolie. And I don’t have the exact dates, but…Jolie smiled at 8 weeks, rolled 1/2 way over at 1.5 months old, laughed/giggled for the first time at around 3 months old, and rolled all the way over at 3.5 months old!

14. How did you spend Christmas? Christmas Day with Dave’s huge family! The day after Christmas with my small family!

15. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Nothing. I was pregnant and sick for most of 2009. We’ll make up for it this year! I am 30-something!

16. Did you suffer illness or injury? Hyperemesis, knee issues (injury-related), and one other health issue I just found out about in the past week.

17. What was the best thing you bought? Well, I thought it was the $500 I spent on birth photography to record Jolie’s birth (and the birth of my final child), but…I am still waiting for the CD of images, despite numerous contacts to the photographer. Jolie is almost 4 months old!

18. Whose behavior merited celebration? My friend Jody. She is the most amazing female I know! No matter what happens, she remains strong and positive!

19. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Hmmm…

20. Where did most of your money go? To fund the pay cut I took for 12 weeks of maternity leave. We made it all up, though.

21. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Having another baby!

22. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? a little bit sadder, but I am working on that!
b) thinner or fatter? definitely fatter, but not a lot fatter! about 8-10 pounds!
c) richer or poorer? the same…

23. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year? Becoming more mellow…

24. In what way(s) did you grow:

• emotionally? yes
• spiritually? yes
• physically? yes! by 40 pounds!

25. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others? Learned to appreciate my husband even more in the past year. There are many reasons for that. One was he had to totally take care of me and the girls all by himself for many, many weeks, which turned into months! He also had to keep doing that as the sickness came and went throughout the pregnancy. He is different from other guys… He also sent me flowers for the first time in 5 years in 2009–for our anniversary! Ha, ha! I’m not much of a flower person! It was a nice surprise, though! What didn’t kill us made us stronger in 2009!

26. With whom were your most valuable relationships? Friendships with other females, not all of them moms. Specifically, I would say Kristin and Kristen at the top of the list. My immediate family, too, of course (at my own house).

27. Did you fall in love in 2009? With my kids and *head-over-heels* with Jolie! She was the best thing that happened to our family!

28. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No, I still feel the same as I did a year ago! Ha, ha! It does not matter, though!

29. Who did you miss? Our cat Colby…and my favorite grandma…even after all of these years…it’s been 11-12 years. She would have loved my kids!

30. Who was the best new person you met? Marie!

31. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home? Hmmm…not much time for home improvement in 2009. I love to clean, though. I loved being at home for 6 months, also.

32. What was your most challenging area of home management? Teaching the kids (and the husband–ha, ha!) to be neater! I think I failed…

33. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year? Internet.

34. What was the best way you used your time this past year? Time with my kids.

35. What do you wish you’d done more of? Picture-taking. Even more time with my kids.

36. What do you wish you’d done less of? Losing my patience at times.

37. What was the best book you read? A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

38. What was your favorite TV program? I did not watch any TV.

39. What was your favorite film of this year? I only watched two movies with the kids this year: Hannah Montana and UP.

40. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Hmmm…I must be getting old! No 30-year-old punks or anything like that! Older IS better!

41. What did you want and get? Baby #3!

42. What did you want and not get? To pursue design… For two years, we have tried HARD to get somebody to watch the girls once a week in the summer so Dave and I can get a little break, spend some quiet time together working on the house, AND so I can pursue my favorite hobby: design!

43. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Being able to quit my *day job*. Stay home with my kids, pursue photography/design (more design) part time, and maybe teach a couple of classes online.

44. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Maternity! Large and comfy! Ha, ha! And now…workout clothes! Definitely casual!

45. What kept you sane? Having 6 months off from work!

46. What political issue stirred you the most? The election. It is hard for me to accept that adults can be so narrow-minded and judgmental of others. You win some, and you lose some. The President of the United States still deserves respect whether you voted for him or not.

47. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. Don’t mess with Texas! Just kidding! To give your all and keep the faith, no matter what.

48. What song will always remind you of 2009? “The Climb”, believe it or not!

49. How did you ring in the New Year? Doing absolutely nothing! I was sick! I wanted to make a special dinner and all of that…like last year…but the rest of the family went to sleep early that night. Dave was awake at the New Year, though. Maybe next year we can live it up a little bit! Okay, who am I kidding?

50. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. “Sometimes my tries–are outside the lines!” I don’t want to do what everybody else is doing. I could never settle for that in life. I want to take some risks and head down a new path in life. I want to make my own path.

Maybe in 2010…