Long time no blog!

So it's been a while dear blog. I missed you.....I was caught up in too many other things! I'm sorry. I promise to write more. I NEED to write more. It helps my crazy head vent, clear, reflect..whatever the case may be. SO here I am. Super happy, super busy (taking photos for $, working, having a ball with my lil family of 4!) Anyway, we have been so blessed through this horrid economy! God IS GOOD! J got signed to play with BCI Edge (Basket Club International) once again after a 3 year retirement. This team is amazing! They are Goodwill ambassadors and do a ton of charity work in between games and press events. He get's to work out here to stay in shape then fly out to Amsterdam this winter, South America and China this spring. We are hoping to take the kids to Amsterdam..what a trip that would be! TBD for sure on that one..... I am really digging photography these days, my kids love the camera as well. I have a few contacts and friends that are requesting I take their photos which is awesome! My mentor and friend Kathy is helping me along the way. We decided I need a new lens..more then anything. I have CS3, the Canon Rebel, a good photog eye and a passion for it, all I need is that darn lens. So it's a work in progress...I will get it maybe for Christmas or my birthday? Who knows? Anyway, my kids are growing up so fast it's just a blessing to have all these amazing pics of them and FOR them to look at when they grow up. My dad was and is the king of gadgets and electronics. He had a 8mm film camera when I was born and taped me in the hospital getting my first bath and tons of footage of me and my brother running around as kids on the east coast visiting relatives to our home birthday parities. I am so thankful my dad got that camera and captured so much of our childhood. So this is why I plan to keep on with the photography and see where it goes. More then a hobby for sure......here's some new pics of the kids...dang they are precious!! Can you believe Aubrey's curls? She is 1/8 Jewish so I guess it was bound to happen to at least one of the twins!

Best Stage ever!

This phrase I use loosely because I think every stage my kids go through is the best. HOWEVER, this 18-19 month phase is so amazing. They are really turning into individuals with opinions and attitudes. I used to be able to dress them, change their diapers, take them anywhere without a fuss. Now for Aubrey it has to be the "gold" shoes or she won't leave the house and Gavin has to have his "blankie" everywhere we go. I love it, they are truly magical and a blessing I could have never dreamed of! This summer is so far our best because we can go more places without worrying about breastfeeding or changing a million diapers or having to get the kids home for nap # 2 (they only take one now!!) It also melts my heart to see Josh play and love on them. He is the best dad a mom could ask for and I can't believe he's mine!

My first maternity shoot!

I had the honor of shooting my friend Angie this weekend belly, boobs and all! She is due in 4 weeks and looks amazing (not matter what she thinks!) I loved what she did with the nursery and how ready she is for this baby. Like Angie, I am a planner, and I totally get the nesting she is going through. I also have a deep emotional investment with Angie and Keegan and all they went through to get to this point. Infertility sucks, and until you have been there, it's hard to understand. You feel crazy, helpless and jealous. But once you finally get your miracle, it's worth every tear that falls. I cannot wait to meet this Lil Diva called Avery Dawn Smith.....she will be beautiful that's for sure! See the beauty....

Yeah, my kids are cute!

I mean it, they are adoreable, georgeous, amazing, wonderful and the best thing that's ever happened to me and Josh besides eachother! I like saying this in writing more then in person because I don't want to be annoying and go on and on about how good looking and smart my kids are.....

One of the best lessons my Josh has taught me is to be humble in everything you do.....he is the most athleticly and musically talented person I know, but he would never tell you that. He has always been a "silent leader" and man, I really respect and love that about him. Never brags about his accomplishements (Pro Basketball for the Euro League,NAIA National Player of the Year, All American, the list goes on and on...someone has to brag for the guy!)

Point is, as I get older, I realize that humbleness is a virture I really want to strive for....the Bible speaks about this and I would rather people ask then me tell them all the amazing things my kids and my husband do. So, here's a pic of the beauties I took yesterday in the courtyard. They love it outside and I can't get them to come in once they are out......life is getting so much more fun with these two...I wonder what they will be up to next?

OCD

Obsessive? Check. Compulsive? Check. Disorder? Maybe. I just can't help it. I swear it must have started when I was young. I do remember organizing my room and everything having a place. HOWEVER, I can't seem to keep drawers/cabinets organized....what gives? I call it "surface clean". Works for me, drives Josh nuts. I am very lucky to have a clean husband. His closet trumps ANY organization I have ever seen........Anyway, the point is, I have become a bit OCD about my kids cleanliness.....and I so want to blame it on my mom, but thats just a cop out and instead I should break that generational cycle. We were at my parents house a few weeks back and my dad had some old 8mm flim put on to a DVD of our childhood. The first grainy silent shot was of the day I was born. (I had really thick black hair btw, just like Aubrey did) And then my brother holding me. THEN my mom bathing me in the kitchen sink....and she was scrubbing me like there was no tomorrow! So after Josh saw this, he said "You do the same thing!" He was right.. I catch myself wiping faces before they are finished eating and other things I should just let go. I can't pass this down to my kids! I have learned that I have such rituals with the twins. Nap, play, eat, nap, play, eat, BATH, story, brush teeth, nite nite. The bath part is something I get super anal about. I have learned that we don't need to bathe then EVERY day. They really don't get that dirty with the execption of a food fight or poop blow out. But sometimes, like today, we skip 2 days.....and my OCD kicks into overdrive........I must work on this. My children will be ok, a bit stinky on the privates, but ok..........I can't wait till tomorrow, we are def. taking a bath!

Why live elsewhere?

Seriously, I would never want to live anywhere else! Today confirmed this. Summer and I decided that after a 2 year hiatus of no snowboarding, we were due! It was, as we like to say, a day to remember up at the mountain. It snowed the night before and clear blue skies with 0-5 mph winds! Silent and beautiful and warm! We had one season like this about 3 years ago, we went up on our 10 time passes and we had the time of our lives! This day took me back to before I had kids when it was easy to get to the mountain because I didn't need a baby sitter......and I never realized how easy my life was then! LOL! The best part was I missed them the whole time and coming home was so awesome! Josh had a great day playing, feeding and being dad with the twins and I had my perfect day on the mountain with my best girlfriend Summer!!

I LOVE CS3!!!

I got CS3 (Photoshop Creative Suite 3) for Christmas from Josh.....what a great gift. I have always loved photography, but never really put much time or effort into it until I met the great Kathy Carlisle (http://www.heavenseyephotography.com/). She started by just taking pics of me and my kids, but now she is my photog mentor......Anyway, point is, I got my new camera from my pops, and now I have my software! I just need a MAC and my life will be perfect! Kiddin....So I set my camera to RAW and finally took my pics to the next level. It's just going to get better from this point so watch out world, Amy Hall Photography will be a reality someday soon I hope!! Here's a few for fun of my 13 month beauties.....dang I love those lil twinkies!