Spring is in the HAIR

Miss Carlee Kaye has been begging me to get her hair cut short ever since her best friend at school, Bailee, got her new short hair-do.

NO was my first response. 

Ok ok...it was my only response for a few weeks. 

Can you blame me, she had perfect hair...literally perfect hair.

Obviously, she was crushed.

All she wanted was to be twins with her BFF.

I caved...

I decided I couldn't control her for the rest of her life. With a quick text to Tootsie she was scheduled for her big hair cut a few days later. I still wasn't to happy about the idea, but I knew she would look fabulous!!! 

Carlee bounced into Tootsie's shop, Deja Du Salon and Boutique, ready for her big transformation. After a few snips here and there she was a completely new little big girl! Seeing her excitement was the best thing a mommy could ever ask for!!! She looks absolutely beautiful and ROCKS her short hair-do! 

look at that sweet face!!!

seeing your hair cut for the first time up close...PRICELESS!!

Jaeden Michael Akins is here!!!

I am officially Aunt Jacky!!! I have always considered my friends children my nieces and nephews, but there is just something about your baby sister having a baby that really makes the "aunt" feeling come alive. Jaeden Michael Akins was born on March 4, 2013 at 4:58am in Huntsville, Alabama. My sister, Amber, went into labor when she was only 35 weeks, but with lots of prayers, baby Jaeden was perfectly healthy when he was born. Weighing in at 6 pounds 6 ounces, he gave us all nothing to worry about with his health. We are so blessed to have him as a new addition to our predominate girl family!!!

 I love you Jaeden!!

Bailee was not to happy I was holding a baby...

...obviously

perfection

Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day. 

It is a day to feel special.

It is a day to feel cherished. 

It is a day to feel love.

For my family, it is a day to feel sadness.

It is a day for tears. 

It is a day for prayers. 

As many of you know, my father-in-law lost his battle to cancer on Valentine's Day 2012. We know he is smiling down on us from Heaven, especially keeping his little grandchildren safe.

Let's move on - tears are coming.

My newest obsession is making shirts for my girls!! Who knew I could make shirts...right?!?! I don't actually sew the shirts, I just get plain shirts and add a personalized touch to them! My graphic design skills are really coming in handy here lately...thank you Mr. Morris!! I got so many compliments on them at Carlee's Valentine's day party at school...I feel an itch coming on for me to sell these bad boys!!

Kisses from Carlee 25 cents

Kisses from Bailee 25 cents

striking a pose as normal 

Aren't these kiddos the cutest things you have ever seen? They each made some money that day to...they gotta earn their keep these days right? {Luckily, all the kisses were from mommy and daddy and no stinky boys...yet} Carlee has a crush on a lucky boy in her class...but that's a story for another day!

Father/Daughter Dance

I can not believe how big my little princess has grown! She will be 6 in just a few very short days. {I feel a slight breakdown on my part coming on quickly} Everyone always told me who has time flies by when you have children, well that is 100% true!

Our experience this year in kindergarten has been outstanding! Allen Elementary is a wonderful school, and she has an even better teacher!! Last Friday was the father/daughter dance {I told you her school is awesome}!! Helping my Carlee get ready was a real delight! It was absolutely amazing helping her feel like a real princess that night. She really was a true beauty!

After many tears of joy came pouring down my cheeks, daddy escorted his beautiful date to the dance. They danced their hearts out all night of course! These special memories will be fresh in my heart forever and ever.

I love you Carlee!

Sneak Peek: The Pippin's {not so sneaky though}

Thank goodness I have WONDERFUL neighbors! I literally don't know what I would do without them!! {Especially when I making pancakes or brownies and I have no eggs :) } We have become such wonderful friends so fast, I truly am blessed to have people like them in my life.

I did Daniel and Olivia's pictures this fall, and I have been DYING to show them to everyone! I had to show a little restraint though since one of the pictures was going to be their Christmas card this year...I mean I couldn't be the one who ruined the surprise for everyone! So here they finally are {can you hear me giggling as I upload them} I love you guys!!!

I love this beautiful girl

Of course, I saved the best for last!

Perfection

Sneak Peek: The Durfee's

I got to spend one of the last warm December days photographing one of my best friends in the world, Justina, and her beautiful family!! Her precious little girls are like my own children, so we obviously had a blast during our shoot!! I'm not gonna lie, it was SO hard getting 3 little smiles at the same time, but I managed to pull it off!! I love these kids so much {and you too Justina!}