this week at I Heart Faces, the challenge is dramatic photographs in black and white. here is my entry:
dear sweet big sister spending some time with her youngest brother, will david. i love the interaction between ella and the baby!
you may go to the I Heart Faces blog to see many, MANY more entries!
I haven't done this in awhile- submit an entry at I Heart Faces. But, this week, I thought of several photos I could use, especially this one of my new little niece!!! this one week old baby girl has a face of an angel...and you can see it by peering into this cozy basket of hers...
there are plenty of gorgeous entries to see on the I Heart Faces blog, so go check them out!
i just can't believe this little face is 16 months now!
yum! he's still eating things, toys, paper, crayons....
and this BEAUTIFUL gorgeous gal is even more beautiful and gorgeous...that's my Ella!
and not pictured today (but maybe next time!) is Buddy, who was the lover and teaser as usual...the two go hand in hand!
blessings....
for the past, oh, let's see.....four days, there's been a little tent pitched in the center of our living room. and, tonight, finally yes TONIGHT, the kids get to camp out in it! so far so good..except that there's a little complaining over the other getting on "their" side. s'mores and a ghost story had set the stage, and now the real campout begins...rich really "set" up the whole evening and made them wait to do this over night thing, which i think was really funny of him to do..make them wait. anyways, the waiting is making this extra special i think. here's hoping they sleep well without a peep!
ella and philip had a couple little surprises at their grandparents' house last night. rich's dad had bought one of those baking powder powered submarines that you fill with the powder and then put in water, or in his case, an aquarium. that thing is giving philip HOURS of enjoyment. and for ella, rich's dad had bought her a kaleidoscope kit, which he actually did help her put together last night. i can't tell you how special that all meant to ella and philip...and i bet, for rich's dad as well. as always, whenever we go over to visit with rich's parents' i get to talk with his mom about the things we love and share in common- vintage things, thrifting, antiquing, crafting, creating, and ETSY! i love how God has provided a kindred spirit in her to share those things. i have to say she has indeed been a key part in moving me along with what i do on Etsy, and other things. she is really encouraging...and that encouraging is something that i need for creating, and continuing to create.
last night i also got to see this very interesting plaque that rich's grandfather had receive in 1999. now, to set the stage, his grandfather was somewhat stubborn, and independent, too. he passed away JUST a little over a week ago, and something my sister in law, Valerie, posted on facebook struck me. she had written, "heaven never had strawberries so sweet, until now." see, their grandfather had a strawberry patch. and they're yummy. he passed that strawberry patching and other gardening loves down to rich's dad, thankfully. and a great work ethic that has passed down to rich. anyways, the plaque is not about strawberries but about the World Championship Horseshoe Pitcher of the year 1999. The Senior Division. And guess who won that award that year? Rich's grandfather. At age 83. I really thought that he was pulling my leg somehow, but now, it's true. And then Rich tells me this OTHER story that REALLY made me think he was pulling my leg. he said that his grandfather won against a guy, with his own eyes closed...he had that good of a talent and skill. Now, what do you think of that? do you believe him? i have to admit, i do now, after seeing that plaque.
here's some skills my children are working on....
ella: multiplication. she amazes me with the multiplication. she's actually really good and getting these facts FAST!
philip: reading- he read me a book last week
wd: he can use crayons and pencils to draw and mark his papers and he also has begun to use a spoon and fork somewhat. AND he is starting to share that side of all of us that gets mad when we don't get what we want.
here's some homeschooling things i am debating:
this style of homeschooling intriques me. now, for some, the cover makes this look so univiting, but it actually is laid out nicely. this would be for ella next year.
this is another option for E next year. i really like this one, too!
this style i think i may go for with philip. it would make it an easier transition to cursive. he's working with handwriting now, almost every day, but next year, this kind of book would really benefit him.
also, intriguing. this copy book teaches.
another handwriting option i looked at...
here's a fun book, more for will david though, so he feels included. ;0
this is an art primer that i would love to get soon, for this year, even.
oh sorry for the small image, but this Lyrical Science cd and book is really great! i've listened to samples, and the music is played by someone that does a lot of Ken Burns films. very fitting for this family that hears a lot of banjo and mandolin daily! this is mainly a program that assists soley in memorizing science facts.
this is classical music as backdrop for memorizing math facts. i'm looking into something like this for next year. to help both kids.
geography songs cd (do you see a theme going on? LOL)
and this is a definite, even sooner than later. i also have several other cd's i'm looking into to help with learning and understanding Scripture.
and finally (for i could go on, and on, and on with things i find interesting....) a book that looked neat.
here's something i made recently for Will David. it's a book that you read to him, and i made sure the pages were not too terribly busy. ella read it to him. so did i. and to myself a few times. lol.
will david enjoys it....yay!
a few i never got around to posting, from that last big snow we had.
time to get rested for a day of non stop activites, again!
blessings!
i feel so pulled apart these days. as a mom, as a friend, as a Christian. i "seem" to have all these decisions to make and i don't know how to make them. or, i make a decision, and it seems right for a time, and then i have to change that decision. or, i make a decision and it is the wrong choice. or, i make a choice, and it's just "okay."
decisions don't just affect me, they affect others. it's inevitable. and i don't want my choices to hurt others. never.
but, the ones that really matter most to me, well, those are the decisions that tie directly into my family.
what to use for teaching.
what to do each day as far as chores, dinner, and uplifting, kind words.
oh, on a side note, and this is a biggie for my Philip- what to wear. don't get me wrong, it's note THAT huge but it's a battle i don't fight often. it's something that is really important to him for some reason. and to a four year old, the important stuff matters no matter what it means to US. the girl usually just wants me to pick for her. how nice is that? and what about the baby's clothes? well, he'd rather not have any on. in fact, if i don't dress him in a sleeper, expect it ALL to come off sooner or later (and several times over) throughout the day. anywhoo, along with my original thoughts....
more decisions, concerning my children-
establishing their relationships with friends and family. and the outside world.
and one that is always a conundrum for myself- how to handle other people in my life. i usually have high expectations. i usually tie myself very emotionally with other people (whether they know that or not). i shouldn't but i do. i'm modifying that and concentrating on what is best for my family. maybe i just have high hopes for everyone instead of high expectations. maybe it's just expecting their best and not the best of them FOR me. but for THEM. anyways, after discussing things like this with close friends and family it's a tried and true issue that just seems to never end with most people. friendship shouldn't be a tug-of-war, either, and it sure feels like it sometimes. i think often of heaven and how it will be. no silly issues with family or friends. no holding back with love with friends and family. no reservations on how to serve and praise the Lord. how AWESOME that will be. i really can't wait!
it seems that Rich and I are having a hard time deciding on where to attend church. although, he said the other day, it really is okay. we both want what is best for our family. we both are willing to sacrifice for our family and the Lord. sometimes it feels like maybe we are missing the mark. or, perhaps, we just need to wait a bit more. or, keep moving. i think it's the latter, of keep moving. it's interesting the path that God leads you on. we want what is right. and following the Lord with this decision is our ultimate goal.
as far as homeschooling, the whole deciding on curriculum is difficult. there are so much that is intriguing to me. i'm now looking at classical homeschooling versus charlotte mason versus literature based. of course, cost is a big factor, but i love being eclectic and creative with the kids' studies and books that i think at the end of it all, those choices i make will be just fine and perfect for us. but, meanwhile, i get "plagued" by this and that curriculum, by this and that style, by this and that opinion. it's sometimes. just. too. much. **i posted this without mentioning a reason or two why this is such an important thing for me......this is all preparing my children for whatever else is to come in their lives. it's a big responsibility, even when they are little NOW. i feel pressed upon my heart to let them discover more about God's love for others and to figure out how to do this for the summer and next school year has been honestly, a little trying. i feel led to give them studies on other children of the world and missionary stories to learn about. i don't want us to be self centered...i think their age is a perfect time to show them how to care about others and also to learn more Bible truths!**
it's sometimes just too much of a give and take with things, i just want to hide for an hour. or two. well, definitely for just a minute. i think my three children can handle that!
i want to grow as a Christian, as a mom, as a friend, as a homeschooling mom. As a wife....oh, is that the most important besides my relationship with God. it sure is.
but growing means taking things as they come, and understanding that wearing the hats that i do requires these types of choices. i just pray for the strength and wisdom day by day. i pray for love and gentleness. i pray for obedience on my part and my children. i pray for kindness, of being kind and showing kindness. i pray for courage to go through each day. i also pray for discernment for when to change, move, quit, begin, keep at it, look back, look forward, and look up.
but, i know that i will do so with the grace He gives me and i will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS be looking to the sky.
blessings.
ps. before i go tonight, i just love this photo and it just gives me the smiles. ;)
almost one-week-birthday-photos for my new niece, Elianna. here are some of my favs. the rest are in the album here on my blog.
i am so thankful for my sister in law, Lisa, to allow me to do what i wanted as far as photographing her little one. REALLY appreciated it. also, thankfully, the shoot went very smooth. i am honored to be able to do this. this little one was just adorable to look at through the camera yesterday. i enjoyed watching her big sister, Abigail, love on her too.
i will officially say that newborns are my favorite to photograph more than any other age!
now, this boy has taken a fancy to mommy's picture taking hobby, but with a vintage camera of mine. that doesn't work. so it's okay, that he plays with it. it makes for a sweet pic!
will david LOVES bananas. he could eat a dozen. don't belive me? come and stay for a day! LOL!
this was wd's first box of animal crackers. i just had to document it. i'm working on a scrapbook page, too.
i love the sweetness of this photograph. i also love the imagination of a little girl!
i am working on a few projects and on my niece's baby photos that i just took today. so, more sweetness soon!
blessings!
several weeks ago
we had a birthday party
for a special girl
named Felicity
she's special
because
she's Ella's doll
from American Girl
and because
she loves horses
just
like
Ella.
so Ella wanted
to plan a party for her...
and my mom jumped at the chance
to help this happen
so, after i had some supplies
we had a Valentine's Day party
(yes, actually on Valentine's Day!)
for Felicity.
all who attended loved the cupcakes
and the presents she received.
here are the photographs to show
how wonderful
Felicity's birth
day was!
She turned 7, just like Ella will turn 7 in April.
they are best of friends....
oh, and notice the special guest
Grandpa and Grandma's big bear.
that HAD to show up!
HEHEE!
the newest addition to the Snyder household- Elianna Grace! my brother and his wife have a delightful new 'bebe" and big sister Abigail I was told, had the pleasure of holding her and loving her today, on Elianna's first day of life outside of the womb. and let me tell you- this baby girl is beautiful! i got to hold her, feed her, burp her....i honestly would've changed her too....it's just precious moments to do all that stuff. how much of a blessing God gives!
tomorrow, i shall share some pics of a banana eating Will David and doggie loving Ella and Philip in the snow...
blessings!
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