Kara and Thuan

Get ready...cause here are some of the bluest eyes you'll ever see! Kara and Thuan were my first wedding of the year...and what a way to start 2008! We were downtown at the Omni the whole time. Apparently everyone else in the Midwest was downtown too! Let's just say Kara was showered with lots of honks and whistles. It was such a wonderful experience to be a part of two cultures coming together! There were so many unique touches that Kara and Thuan thought about. I picked a few of my favorites from the day. I just learned how to make my images bigger...so enjoy those blue eyes up close!



Cara had the happiest colors as part of her day. Yellow and Blue! Her shoes matched perfectly.

See what I mean!

Thuan and all the guys wore converse...even the dads! Love that!





















Okay, these two have a tradition to take a picture of themselves at special occasions. I asked if I could take it for them...but the rule is that they take it by themselves.




The Omni was so beautiful! Each table was named after a special event their lives.




Instead of lighting unity candle, Kara and Thuan did a "sand ceremony". Their moms each brought down a vase full of sand (one blue and one yellow :o) Then the bride and groom poured the sand into one vase.









LOVE this one!










These faces cracked me up!





This one cracked me up just as much so I had to add it too!




This one might just be my fav!




Hands down, best garter ever!




It's even better on your head!




These last two are "accident" pictures. As I edited through all the pics these seemed like a definite NO, but then as I looked at them some more I LOVED them.










Kara and Thuan, thank you so much for allowing us to a part of your special day. We'll see you soon!

Hair Product and Princesses...A day in my life!

I thought I'd document parts of my day and see what it looks like all together. I definitely laughed...I guess if I didn't I might cry! I just used my little point and shoot so it's nothing fancy. So this is the first "event of the day... whenever it gets too quiet my older son is into something! This time it was wax stuff for hair. Instead of putting a wee bit in he had chunks all over! This is what he looked like after I took most of it out.

Then we painted a Valentine for Daddy

I feed Eli...a lot

Ky finds a princess outfit and decides to read (love this one!)

Ky is always singing! I love this one because she is in her zone...hands on tummy, eyes closed. But Xavier is totally rocking it on the mic (he gets this from Daddy and Uncle Jonny). Eli is oblivious to everything and is enjoying his chew toy:o)

By the time the kids are down for a nap I get to clean up and get some laundry put away. Here is the before:

Here is the after

Here is a Ky montage! She's decided to change her own clothes throughout the day...I knew it was bound to happen at some point! She's also decided to put new things on her feet! Note the stacking stars and the oven mits...those cracked me up. I of course had to capture the inner diva in her as well. I must say that my favorite pic is the one of her reading to Eli. Oh how he loves her! What a good big sister she is!

Eli eats...again!




I did get a brief moment with Eli towards the end of the day. I realized I hadn't taken any 6 month pics. Here are a few of my favorites.


These are only the bits I'm willing to share! Even so, they continue to amaze me...

For Nomi...Celtic Cutie

I'm still a bit rusty with my camera video...ie you'll need to lay on your left side to see this comfortably. Josh put this uniform on Xav as pajamas and so I found him like this this morning...still a bit tired. He strutted around in it later like he was Beckham. I had to PRY it off of him before he ate...could you imagine what those white shorts would have looked like after a 1 year old ate breakfast!!! My favorite is the little bum scratch at the end. Many thanks to our Scottish soccer enthusiast Aunt Nomi, who fills our little world with pure joy. We can't wait to see you this year! C'mon the hoops!

Sweet Boys

So my great friend Amie has the two most adorable twin boys! One looks just like Mommy and other just like Daddy. Their entrance into this world came with a bang and now they just turned one...giving Mommy and Daddy a run for their money! Although Amie would tell you I just went to the party for the candy buffet they offered to all the guests...btw, best idea ever...there were many other reasons. I met Amie at DePauw, but it wasn't until we shared our off campus experience in Australia that we became friends. We both loved photography and had a flare for the dramatic...but mostly we loved our "no class Wednesdays". This day consisted of us relaxing on the clear warm beaches and talking walks around Freemantle sipping iced coffees and experiencing life. Amie completely encourages me in any crazy idea that I have. Who doesn't want somebody around who is like that? She pushes me a bit farther every time. Her generousity overwhelmes me, for example, I always get PF Changes after having a baby...and lots of candy! Amie can pretty much do anything in my eyes...run a political campaign, join the air force, put antiques in a brand new home and make it look amazing, put together a business, and write, write, write. She was the first one who made me learn how to write (although I'm not too sure I'm doing it justice just now!). We made a documentary for our senior year thesis "paper" for our degree in Communications. I shot and edited the piece and Amie was the organizer behind everything. The experience was amazing and the documentary even aired on PBS. It has been my pleasure to watch her "become" a Mommy. Michael, her hubby, couldn't be a better fit. We can't get enough of him. He's that guy that makes you feel as if you're the only person in the room when you're talking to him. I'm pretty sure you've been a Daddy since birth dear Michael.

So my friends, here is a small glimpse of your celebration. Thank you for letting us in to your lives and loving us so well.

PS the piece at the bottom is the letter that Amie wrote to her boys for their birthday.


















February 11, 2008

To My Boys on Their First Birthday,

You become a mother. Not the moment your children are conceived. Or the moment of their birth. But over time. Motherhood is a painful and pleasurable process. It is truly an evolution.

Many parts make up the whole of who I am, but every day that I am in this world with you, I become more of a mother. You fill my days and you fill my heart. You, my twins are the very best thing that I will ever create in my life. Your twenty fingers and toes, your collective eight teeth, blond hair and bald head, your smiles and tears, your laughter and charm fill my life.

You both have learned so much this first year. But you have taught me more. I am already so proud of you and I am in awe of the individuals you are becoming. You make me laugh and you make me cry. I am so blessed to be on this journey of motherhood with you guys. Let’s hold hands and stick together and I will teach you and you will teach me.

When you were very little babies, still in the hospital your dad and I would read to you. The book we read the most was Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. Townsend William Droese (Skinny) you are my green eggs and Finnegan Tru Droese (Chopper) you are most certainly my ham. I didn’t know it…how could I, but I like green eggs and ham…I do! I like them, Sam-I-am! And I would take you with me in a boat. And I would like to show you the goat. And I will shelter you from the rain. And comfort you in the dark. And take you on a train. And in a car. And help you climb a tree. You are so good, so good (most days) you see! So I will let you build a fort with a box. And I will take a picture of you with a fox. And I will play with you in our house. And I will tell you to be as quiet as a mouse (though I know you won’t oblige). And I will be with you here and there. Say! I will love you anywhere! I do so love green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am Will and Finn. Happy birthday boys.

Love,
Mom

Delinquent Blogger

Okay, I've been blogging in my head, but I guess that doesn't really count, huh? It's been WAY too long. Let me first say that I have some fun blog posts that will be coming up next week that you won't want to miss. Secondly, let me list my top 3 reasons for NOT blogging:

1. A 3 year old, a 2 year old and a 6 month old...need I say more...okay a 30 year old male
2. I switched 4 rooms around in my house...that's basically like moving to a "whole other" country
3. I've been running constantly to train for the Mini Marathon in May.
4. The above #3 is a total lie. But I have been working on putting my beautiful brides' albums together...see below. (I really can run 45 minutes now without keeling over!)