priceless

I ran across this image last night while I was editing some pics. It was taken back in August of last year. It may not seem that precious to the average person, but to me it's priceless. I can just hear his little voice making flying noises and saying "to infinity and beyond!" Definitely my favorite kind of photos.

continuing education

I've been learning to make calendars in one of my online classes. Here's a little sneak peak at my first attempt for January. PS. Photoshop is an amazing program. If you have it, but don't know much about it, I recommend taking a class or two to help you unlock one of its zillion (yes, zillion is a word) awesome features. I can't tell you how much I've learned about that amazing program, and I've barely scratched the surface. 

snow day

It snowed the other day and this little boy was beside himself with joy. He ran around in the freezing cold for what seemed like hours, while his Grammie sat nearby, with camera in hand, shivering. Oh, to go back to the days when the sight of snow on the ground was all you needed to bring joy to your heart. I can't even think of when that love for snow disappeared for me. I remember loving it as a child, but I'm quite sure that by the time I reached my teens, the thrill of it withered away. I think it had something to do with having to walk to school in snow, and being soaking wet by the time I entered the front doors. Then came the scary years of driving in the white stuff. Not fun. 

Today, I decided to revert back to my childhood and rediscover my love for the white stuff. Who knows, tomorrow I just might venture out and make a snow angel.  

my new favorite age

Tate's three now. My favorite age. Last year, two was my favorite age. The year before that, it was 1. But now, it's definitely three. He is jabbering so much that I can't even keep up. I try, but his brain is working three times as fast as mine. And when his imagination crash lands, and exhaustion sets in, I snap a photo like this... just to help me remember my favorite age is three. (Unless we are talking about Luke, then it is definitely 2 months...)

what i miss most about summer

pumpkin patch

I took a little trip to the pumpkin patch with Tate this past week and decided to make a little video to document the event. He mostly wanted to play with his Francesco Bernoulli car, but we did manage to get a little pumpkin pickin' and loading in here and there. The tractor was definitely the hit of the day. 

single shot saturday

his other side

He doesn't show it very often. He's mostly a rough-and-tumble little 3 year old who is always playing in the dirt and throwing rocks. He loves all things boy and can RAWR!! like nobody's business. He loves camping and riding on grandpa's 4-wheelers and snowmobiles. He usually has at least one scrape or bruise somewhere on his body from playing rough with the big boys. But, despite all of that, he has another side to him that comes out every once in awhile. It's a soft, tender side. It shows up most often when he's with his Mommy or Grammie. He gets a little quieter and gentler for just a moment, and then snuggles up to you, kisses you on the cheek or gives you fresh-picks flowers from a field. It melts my heart every time. He's going to be quite a little lady's man, I predict. After all, who can resist a boy in camo shorts holding a bouquet of sunflowers, right?
Yeah, me neither....

mr incredible turns 3

Meet Mr. Incredible. Well.... maybe 'Little Mr. Incredible' would be more appropriate. This little boy turned 3 last week and had a birthday party to end all birthday parties. It was complete with masks, incredible cupcakes and super foods. He ran all over grandpa's warehouse with his little friends. His cape was just-a-flappin' behind him. There were balloons and streamers a plenty and a piñata to top it off. My favorite thing about the whole event?? The fact that he didn't put down his red tootsie pop the entire night. A boy after my own heart.... and growing up WAY too fast!  

the day my world changed

Today marks the three year anniversary of the day my world changed. It was July 17, 2010, when my first grandchild entered this world.  Back then, I was filled with excitement, sprinkled with a little trepidation and some fear. I didn't know how to be a grandma. And, to be honest, I wasn't convinced that I was cut out for it. I loved my husband and kids to death, but I wasn't sure there was room for more love inside of me. And then.... he came into the world and all of my doubts and fears melted, along with my heart. I haven't been the same since. The closest I can come to describing it, is that it's like love squared. Being "Grammie" rocks!! My life is forever changed. These days, I can't even think about him without smiling. Today he's turning three and his wonderful mommy is throwing him an 'Incredibles' birthday party. I guarantee it will be awesome! Happy Birthday to my sweet little nugget. Grammie loves you 'bigger than the sky'!! 

dreaming of a white july

We went up to the cabin this past week for a little rest and relaxation. We spent time doing all of the normal camping activities, i.e., four-wheeling, archery, hiking, making s'mores, etc. Tate enjoyed everything we did, but he had another activity on his list of things-to-do. Snowmobiling seems to have caught Tate's fancy, and even though "grandpa's snow" was all melted, he didn't let that stop him from enjoying an hour or two on grandpa's snowmobile. Complete with sound effects. This little guy was in heaven! If he had his way, there would be snow in July.

little things :: 3

This is how I see my grandson. At least when I'm nonchalantly walking past him while he's playing with his "toota heads". I love to watch him play, but it's the way he sits that I love most. Only little children can sit like that for hours on end. It's precious, and I never want it to change. But I know he will eventually outgrow it. Literally. Those little legs will someday be unable to bend like that for very long. So, until then, I will just smile every time I see him doing it. Precious.  

just a phase

He's been clingy and doesn't want to leave her side.... not even for a moment. "He's just going through a phase," I tell her. Both  of us wonder if he senses the changes that are just around the corner when his new baby brother arrives. Just look at the way he wraps his flip-flops around her leg, just to make sure he is close to her. I smile at the sight. Not so many years ago, it was my little boy doing the same thing. I tell her to soak it in. It won't last forever. There will come a day when he will want to be off on his own adventures. In the blink of an eye his feet will be bigger than hers and he won't need her hugs and kisses anymore. At least he will think he doesn't. Moms know differently....

living proof

There's this little boy who has stolen my heart. I could gobble him up. He's my first grandchild, and everything he says and does makes me smile. So, when I get a funny photo like this, I just have to post it. It means nothing to my readers, but to me it means the world. Little memories, that will be gone all too fast, are locked up in each pixel. There will come a day when I will reminisce with him about when he was two years old. I'll tell him how much he loved cars and tools, and wearing his blue safety goggles. He won't remember, but luckily I will have proof. 

time flies

Is it just me, or is time flying by more quickly than ever? It seems like just yesterday I went to the park with my grandson and pushed him in the little infant swing while he shrieked with laughter. Today, he shows up on a bike. What in the world?? When did this little boy grow up? I'm not ready for him to grow up. I'm not ready for him to be thrust into real life. And yet, I know I can't shelter him from it forever. Sooner or later he will have to face whatever challenges come his way. And so, I leave him with this advice.... Don't forget to wear your helmet!! Literally and figuratively.

a day well spent

Yesterday was one of those days. I had a million important things that I needed to accomplish... but it was cold outside, the roads were covered with ice, making it treacherous to be out, and I really wasn't feeling too motivated. Also, my grandson was over and I was watching him for a couple of hours. As a result, playing was put at the top of the list. Along with making cookies, of course. It had been forever since I had made a batch of oatmeal scotches, and coincidentally I had all of the ingredients on hand (it's like fate stepped in). And to make a great day even better... I was able to snap this fun shot of Tate waiting for the cookies. 

Days like this make you forget all about those "important" things. Or, at least reevaluate what really is important.

consequences

Grandpa teases him all the time. So, what happens when Tate throws a snowball at grandpa?

They both love every minute of it.... and so do I:)

to infinity and beyond.... finally

This is my favorite pic from Christmas.  My kids have been all grown up for awhile now, so it was great to have little ones around this Christmas season. My grandson Tate wanted a "big Buzz". So naturally, Grammie had to make sure he got one. I couldn't wait to give it to him. For months now, he's been admiring Buzz Lightyear every time he's at the store. I knew he would be excited, and sure enough, Buzz was a hit.

52 photos project {illuminate}

We're experimenting with alternate light sources this week over at 52 photos. It's amazing how just a tiny bit of light can help create an interesting image. This shot was taken in a dark car with only a little street light coming in from the side. Just enough to lighten up the side of that precious little face. 

52 photos project {holding}

I think this sweet photo is perfect for this week's prompt over at 52 photos project. Just a little shot I captured during a little "down time" at the Griffin photo shoot. Sometimes the little unplanned shots turn out to be so precious.