One looked like this.

I have two baby girls who have birthdays coming up so I'm reminiscing. We went to Disney World last October. Isn't this onesie cute? Our friend Rachelle sent it to me when Maggie was born and somehow the box was misplaced in the garage for almost a year. Thankfully she was a little bitty girl and we were still able to wear everything in the box! The onesie says "Mommy makes me smile". I guess this isn't true when mommy is walking away.
I love her. I love her. I love her.

I live in Fletcher Place.

Stephen and I moved into a little neighborhood downtown last year. The house is nice enough. It met our needs and some of our wants, but we bought this specific house because it was the best option in Fletcher Place at the time. We did this in Texas, too. We found a neighborhood we wanted to be in, and found the best house we could afford. This new to us house is old. How stupid were we for buying this. Was it going to cave in on us? At least, It has helped to remind me of what God has done for us. Does he sometimes think that we are not worth it...to enjoy and fix up this big mess. That's my great spiritual metaphor.
Fletcher Place is named for a man named Calvin Fletcher. We have some paperwork that shows that the land our house was built on was originally owned by him. It shows how they parceled it off and who they sold our little lot to. This neighborhood has been here since the 1860's, but many who drive into downtown are unaware of it's presence. I have lived in the Indianapolis area most of my life, and hadn't heard of this little corner of downtown until our realtor heard what we were looking for and suggested it.
It fits us perfectly. Our church, Stephen's work, and D'arcy and Julian's school are all within a mile (aka walking or biking distance). Maybe it was shady at one time or another, but today, Fletcher Place is full of professionals and families with kids.
We also have our fair share of weeds, broken fences, and abandoned houses. It's amazing that accross the street from us in one direction their is a huge warehouse that has been converted into $250,000 lofts, and across the street in the other direction there is a little house that sits empty with a sign on the front stating that the neighborhood suspects this house to be inhabited by raccoons. Someone owns that little yellow house and they come every now and again to clean it up a bit. I wish they would sell it because I know that someone would love to own and love on it.
So our neighborhood is this big mess of both beautiful and ugly, well loved and abandoned. If you have the ability to zone in on the beautiful and dismiss the ugly, you will be rewarded. Sometimes the ugly can transform into something beautiful, too. A big, beautiful mess. I featured some of the beautiful, winter scenes in our neighborhood here   This little corner was calling my name as I drove past it the other day. It said photograph me. That is photography, task driven speak for enjoy me. I'm doing both. The ivy crawling up these electric lines and this beautiful building (that is also now condos) that welcomes you into Fletcher Place beyond. That blue sky doesn't hurt. .

This might be my favorite one from tonight.

Here is a little preview for Katie & Taylor!

I got my feet wet for this one.

I want to tell more real life stories.  I want to be a photojournalist.  Sometimes, even when a client asks for candid shots, I have a hard time believing that's what they really, really want.  In the midst of so many props and stylized shoots, does anyone want shots that show them in their natural state?  Thanks Sarah Cain for asking me to get in a creek.  

My husband was looking at these and said, "Are these all her boys?" Yes.  Then he asked, "And she is the hair bow lady?"  Yes.  She is multi-faceted.  and awesome.  and her boys are sweet.  Thanks for serving me, Sarah.  Everybody check out her businees, blessedmama designs and her other business TreFibre Wedding Designs. 

Schroeder's new favorite game is called "Chris".

Well, that's what he calls it anyway. I call it Risk. Someone bought this game for us for our wedding. It had never been played until Schroeder started getting it out six months ago. He knows just what to do with those canons. He knows just what sounds to make. I make him play it up on my desk. He tried to dump the yellow pieces into his back pack today. I guess he had visions of carrying them around and having them handy to play with. Can you imagine little canons and army men everywhere you turn...under every couch cushion and lurking in the corner of every room begging to be picked up out of the dust and dirt when you sweep the floor? I feel myself going mad just thinking about it. Nope, keep your Chris on the table, dude.

School started today.

Julian started kindergarten this morning. A couple of people have asked if I cried. I may have gotten a bit teary eyed when we went to meet his teacher last week, but I didn't cry this morning. Truthfully, it's about time. That boy is turning six in under two months. He's ready, and I'm ready for him to spend his days learning. I'm enjoying watching him grow, and I'm excited for him. I always really liked school, and I hope he will, too.
Both of them woke up when their alarm went off at seven. I should have been proud, but I told them to go back to bed for thirty minutes so I could get a few more minutes of sleep. HA! I had made their lunches last night, and their clothes and backpacks were layed out. I had earned a few more minutes in bed.
Julian came into my bathroom and said, "Mom, that looks like a really nice lunch."
We worked on tucking in his shirt and buckling and unbuckling his belt. These are new skills for him, but are part of the uniform requirements.
D'arcy was cool, calm, collected, and ready. She looked so stinking cute in her little oxford shoes and purple socks. It's harder for me to send her to third grade then to send Julian to kindergarten. THIRD GRADE!
We stopped by Dunkin Donuts for some sprinkle donuts. Maggie even told the cashier that she wanted a "Sprinkle Donut!" She has decided she is no longer a baby and proves it by speaking English.
We dropped the kids off at school. In the future, they'll ride the bus. I wanted to get a picture of them, though. Julian did not cry, but he sure didn't smile. I had visions of him looking so cute in his little uniform, but between his scowl and that LONG hair, I'm not sure what I got. I guess a little bit of the real Julian.
He warmed up a bit when he got in the classroom, and he proudly colored his name. Now I'm home with just my babies who seem so easy to handle. I have dreams of getting so much accomplished....