Welcome back!

I had forgotten that I even had a blog until last night as Stephen and I were going to a wedding and enjoying a much needed visit with each other.  He was talking about his website and renewing the fees on it and said he mainly just blogged on it.  I said remember when I had that blog?  So I got on the iPad today and was able to find it!  So here I am 5 years later posting!  The wedding was at the Marland Mansion in Ponca City. It was nice, but they may have had too ,any friends for that sized venue. Beautiful girl, dress, and wedding. So blessed to have friends that still reach out to us even though we have moved to Edmond. So, here’s to new beginnings.

Happy Easter!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family, friends, fun! 

Easter 2012

 

 

 

If you can't go to Hawaii...

Have your friend bring you back a pineapple FROM Hawaii?  YUMMY!!!

To Write Love on Her Arms...

 

Spring break in San Francisco

Had a great time in San Francisco.  Loved the hotel with the view of Golden Gate Bridge.  And it had a Ben and Jerry's right next door! 

We are STATE CHAMPIONS!!!

Wrestling State Champions!  And 2 individual state champions!!! Good job guys!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Celebrated Valentine's Day with a trip to Red Robin and shopping.  I got a new Nook, and Stephen got some new shirts and ties.  A good day.  Love that man!

Photoshoot!

New hair, new clothes...photoshoot!

Samantha gets a new haircolor!

 

 
She always said her hair had a greenish cast to it.  Well not anymore! Yep we went for the complete cover up. I think she is happy!

Starting the new year right!

I want this year to be healthier.  Plug in the Paperclipping Roundtable podcasts and let's hit the tread!

Buckle up! Sam's got her license!

The day has arrived, the time has come, for this momma to no longer be needed in the transportation of her only child!  I don't know whether to cry or jump up and down.  I think I did both so far.  Today, I escorted her to the drivers examination, and now, she can go places by herself.  Another first prefaced by another last.  That's the way things go.  Just celebrating each first and each last as they come.

Christmas time!

Samantha no longer needs her daddy's help to put the angel on top of the tree!  However I stuck him in just for the picture and for sentimental purposes!

This was my new homemade addition to our decorations this year.  It was so easy and fun!  It did make a big glittery mess, but what's a little sparkle added to the festive season.

Samantha likes to decorate a little tree in her room. And this year she practiced some photography on it!  I love the self portrait in the red ornament!  Good job girl!

This is a mix of some new and some old favorites in our decorating for Christmas. I love the tradition of our ornaments and wall hangings.  I doubt I will ever care if it is trendy or in style.  It is ours, it is things we treasure, it is HOME...Merry Christmas!

Thankful for...Our Church

This is a little out of order chronologically, but since this is November, the thankful month I am including it here.  I am thankful for our church and our church family.  Sam is our youth pastor and Brooke is one of Samantha's best friends.  Our church is an extension of who we are, and we would be lost without them.  These pics were taken on "Roundup" Sunday.  Hence the bandanna around Sam's neck.  I thank God often for the family he has provided for us in Blackwell through our church. 

Growing up...

Our baby girl turned 16 today!
It's a local tradition to go to the Mexican restaurant in town to get whipped creamed for your birthday.  Samantha has always...always said NO! to this tradition until this year.  So we invited some friends and Samantha got creamed! 

Go Pokes!!

Samantha didn't want to take a group picture. So this is as good as I got! 'Nuff Said

Batgirl!!

Samantha participated in the costume day at school today! This was her first time in high school to do that, and I was so proud that she did, and she just looked so cute!!! Love you girl!

And here's another

Digital Scrapbooking

How can I even get started with this when I have a whole scrapbook room of stuff???
I have no clue, but here I am...digitally scrapbooking my pictures. Well at least 2 pages today. Here is one of them!

Overdone and picture perfect.

So, Sunday Samantha decided she looked too good to just change after church, so we went outside and took some pictures.  I am considering these her school pictures since she has decided not to order school pictures anymore I guess.  Since I took them and I am learning my Elements program, I merged the 2 and tried some new techniques to enhance the pics.  A few may be overdone, but that is all the process of discovery, and I like them, so I kept them.  Don't worry, I have an original copy, so nothing is ruined. 

I love this picture, and am still deciding on the text box, or font.  It is still in psd format so I can change anything about it. But also have the original.  Should have posted the before and after.  May do that later. 

This one I layered 2 pics, blurred the bottom pic and cut samantha out of the top pic and kind of sat her back onto the bottom picture.  I love it.  Samantha think it looks fake!

This one I saturated quite a bit to bring out the greens of the trees since they were in shadow, but I left her face pretty untouched, because she is just beautiful in her own right and doesn't need saturated!  That's a mommy talking though!