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happy 60th birthday MOM!!

August 12, 2009

this is what we did on saturday night…

weeks of planning…lots of secrets…phone calls…sneakiness…

a birthday SURPRISE party!!!

we took my mom and dad out to eat and when we got back

her driveway was full of friends!

she was so surprised.

she hugged everyone and was so shocked.

we went inside…yes…the party was at her own house….we had to be very clean during this visit.

and her house is always very clean so we thought it was the perfect place!

we kept saying "let's clean up for grandma's birthday gift"

my sister had these posters made from old pictures of mom

and Ann hung them up all over the house…hysterical!

this one greets you at the door…

a toga party in 1980?

they were so much fun.

friends that were there were from way-back-when all the way to her newest friends.

and it was such a great mix.

talby and annie made the banner for grandma.

she has such a wonderful group of friends…

we brought rainbow cake!

lorel made black russian cake because mom loves it.

there was bunches of yummy food brought by her friends.

she had so much help with her presents…

my other kids and husband were here too but i forgot to include them in pictures…oops.

it was a great party.

mom…i am so glad you were surprised.

it was obvious how happy you were and loved you felt.

and you are.

happy 60th birthday!

thank you to all her friends who came and helped with food, drinks, prep and everything.

it was a success.

thanks!

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lauren - love your blog…have been meaning to comment forever.
the toga party in ’80 was probably due to the success of a movie called, ‘animal house’ (i’m a little older than you!)
also wanted to tell you how i do christmas with my kids. i remember a while back you wondered how to make their gift exchange more meaningful. i only have 3 and they’re a little older than yours…19, 16 and 12 now…but they were much younger when we started this.
as christmas approached, i gave them special jobs to do to earn the money for their gifts for eachother. they each had 2 jobs which earned them $5 a piece. that money bought each of their two siblings a gift. we increased the size of job and the money they earned as they got older. last year it was $10. they put a lot of thought into what to get. it’s been cute to watch them progress from lego sets to american eagle gift cards…and to see one of my older boys go to claire’s to get a gift card for his little sister.
makes them work a little, which is good, and think about eachother…which is rare and good.
happy new school year!

jennifer - I love the 60 shirt and the banner! So fun!

Heidi Jo the Artist - Looks like an awesome time! Thanks for sharing!
Heidi Jo the Artist
My Etsy Shops!
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Penny - Great party. You and your sister did a wonderful job. I love how you took pictures of the guests (even Waffle has his own). That is nice. I like how you did some in B & W and the rest color. You always have great ideas!

Kelly - What a great party! Those posters were a great idea! And of course the cake! I knew it was your rainbow cake as soon as I saw the cake plate. 🙂 I made it for a friend a couple weeks ago and it got rave reviews & even a few requests from other friends. 🙂

Jamie Sampson - love it, what a fabulous 60th b-day. 🙂

Kristy - wonderful. and your rainbow cake, perfect :O)

Christina - Family togetherness and happiness-SO FUN!

Kathy - Happy 60th Meg’s Mom!! Woo Hoo! What a fun surprise…you look alot like your Mom. Loved the rainbow cake.

elizabeth - What wonderful photos! You are three beautiful women — thanks for sharing good times with us!

emily :] - so much fun 🙂 mom told me all about it. fun fun fun pictures.

tabitha - *love*…the moments of pure happiness perfectly captured in motion.

Hannah - Awesome! It looks like she had a fabulous birthday! Great pictures, she has so many caring people in her life!
Happy birthday to her!

sara - happy birthday to your mom! that looks like such a great family & such fun!

se7en - That looks like the happiest party. I especially love the photos of the cake – that just looks so like life: We have the same sort of plates and my little guys would be eager to help with that cake too!!!

Staci - WHAT a GREAT daughter you are!!!!!!!!!!!! I know she felt so loved and celebrated for that special day!! WAY TO GO!!!!! I really need to tackle that rainbow cake sometime 🙂

pve - 60….wow, please tell her that she looks like an amazing lady!
pve

sandy toe - What fun! I love her shirt! That is just great!
sandy toe

misty - i LoVe her shirt!!!!!! & the Happy Birthday banner! and the cake! =) what a wonderful surprise for your mom!

adrienneK - happy birthday to your mom!!!!

Laura - Rainbow cake- I guess you never grow out of that- thanks for sharing family time! How blessed you are, what a great pict of you, your sis & mom!

alice - what wonderful children your mom was blessed with! and she does look thrilled for sure :O). what an awesome thing you did for your mom here – she will always remember this party and her wonderful kids and friends that made it happen!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Happy Birthday Mom! Great pics Meg:)

Dana M. - Looks like great fun Megan!! It was nice to see many Hillsboro friends there to celebrate!

mom - It was absolutely fantastic! I had a super time and everyone did such a great job. It’s such a blessing to know so many wonderful people. THANK YOU THANK YOU everyone that helped in the Big Surprise! And Megan and Lorel, you are the BEST DAUGHTERS!

traci - Well Happy Birthday Mom. looks like a great time was had by all. love the old photos!!

purejoy - what a great idea!! i love the tshirt!! (did you make that? it’s adorable!!)
how fun to be surrounded and celebrated by your friends. what a great gift!

Dana D @BoysMyJoys - Oh, what fun! And there was rainbow cake! Woohoo!
You and your girls look so much like the younger pictures of your mom!

Julia - I can’t figure out who that other girl is next to your mom (ha ha – as they say in the south…ya’ll favor each other).
Great party…your rainbow cake is fab.

Angela - Awww…that is so wonderful!! My mom turns 60 next April. Actually, her 60th bday is my due date for this baby, but I’ll have a C-section about a week earlier. LOL
Great pics, and yummmmmmm…..I want some rainbow cake!!! 🙂

Sandy Coppertone - Fun times and fun pictures. When I looked at the picture of you, and you Mom, sister, and Dad standing under the banner I noticed that your sister looks very much like Talby. None of my daughters look much like me but my sisters daughter does. How does that happen?!!

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sunday

August 11, 2009

this is not what we did next…you will have to wait till tomorrow.

on sunday craig took the boys and my dad to the Royals game.

i almost went but it was just so hot i couldn't do it.

we took the girls to the mall instead.

they had a crayola store!

this makes me happy. crayons are HAPPY.

there was also a lego exhibit…

sean would've loved it.

then we went for ice cream at Fritz's train station.

you get hats…

you order on a phone…

and your food comes on a train.

(makes me miss The Choo Choo in chicago)

we got milkshakes.

then we went outside to the fountain.

i love free stuff…and water…and fun…so it was perfect.

and these kids were so cute i couldn't resist taking their picture.

i was a total weirdo and took pics of other people's kids!

but i just thought they were adorable…

i loved the fountain.

and i totally want to back and explore KC some more….my kids do too.

girls day….woo-hoo!

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Tammie - Oh wow this looked like soo much fun! We have these lil water parks by us too in Suwanee Ga and Lawrenceville at Mall of Ga. My kids love going to them!

Heather Anuta - I’m so glad you mentioned The Choo Choo in Chicago! I love that place and thought of it as soon as I saw your pictures. I was just thinking of it the other day. Great pics!

Elisa - Oh that Crayola store!!!
We just got a Lego store, which is pretty cool too.

Beth - A CRAYOLA store?? Oh my gosh. I would totally love that. Have you seen the video on youtube “Crayola doesn’t make a color for your eyes”? You have to check it out. Here’s the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EELEjeYzfjM I love it so much I used my daughter’s itunes money to buy the song for myself 🙂

cassie o - surely annie is the most adorable child alive

danyele - love the crayon pics! and the kids in the fountain…awesome!

Kelly - I love baseball. I grew up going to Tigers games with my dad all the time. But your day looks like way more fun than a baseball game! Great pictures too!

Rebekah - A Crayola store!?!?!? I had no idea such a thing even exixted, but I have a sudden pressing need to go there.

stodd - Cracks me up… we were just at the fountains last week… why do kids feel like they have to sit on the fountain? All of mine had diarhea that night… cleaned them out I guess! lol!
We do Fritz’s tomorrow…our first day of school tradition!

Tracy - LOVE LOVE LOVE them all, Meg – great job as usual and don’t worry, I too am a weirdo and take picts of other people’s adorable kids! HA! They all looked like they were having a ball and you just can’t beat an all “girls” day out! Hugs, Trac~ :o)

Betsy - What a wonderful day with the girls! I love your pics, and you’ve reminded me that even though I think there is “nothing to do in Kansas City” … there is always things to see & do. I’ve lived here my whole life, so it’s nice to see KC through someone else’s eyes.
Would love to go to the Crayola store. So much fun! Those pics reminded me of the video that used to play on Mr. Rogers of a day in a crayon factory. Anyone else remember that? It looked just like your pictures 🙂

Stacy Kearney - We drove past the fountain on our way to Grinders to see The English Beat and saw all the kiddos playing in the water. I was very jealous.

elizabeth - What fantastic photos — I’m ready to move to Kansas if you keep this up!

tabitha - crayons coloured my world when i was little, to this day…i can see the name of a certain crayon and find a memory attached, some that never come to the surface until i smell a new box of crayola colour. crayons were my first creative outlet and my biggest thrill was a brand new colouring book 🙂

Julia - that orange lego man is scary.

Sandy - Surely Lauren thinks I’m creepy, but I just had to say that she is beautiful. The one on the roller coaster…very beautiful. She (and her teenage attitude) remind me of myself but I was never that pretty. 🙂
Love you. Love your family. Love your pictures.

charlane - a girls day is always a fun time – great shots

Dana M. - Allie LOVED the lego art. Still think that she and Sean should get together and create.

Ruth - oh wow… that has to be the coolest mall ever! a huge crayola shop – heaven!! love those happy fountain pictures too!

se7en - Oh why do I live on the far side of the world!!! I would live and die to go to a crayola store – Oh that must be heaven on earth just the smell of all those crayons… whoooo heaven!!!

Cathy - On your next girl’s trip, plan a shopping afternoon at Country Club Plaza. And Gates BBQ is fantastic – especially the burnt ends sandwich! (Tastes better than it sounds!)

Christina - Such neat stuff! I’ve seen that Lego guy’s stuff online, and on some late night show or something-he’s amazing.
That fountain made me laugh; is it right in the middle of town? It looks like everyone’s in their swimsuits smack dab in the center of a little city!
As always you have taken some amazing photos!!

Erin - Oh we love KC too! And that Crayola Store is amazing! These pictures make me want to go back with the kids in the summer – love the fountains! A baseball game sounds great but this looks WAY more fun!

Chrissa - Gah, homesick for KC now! must find excuse to fly 1400 miles and stat!

Angela - Mmmm….now I really want a milkshake!
Great pics!
Good call on not going to the game. LOL

Stephanie - I totally love that photo of Annie with the hat on – too cute!

pve - I hope those kids see these photos, they are a hoot.
Happy Days!
pve

Anna Marie - I LOVE Crown Center!!!!! I agree with a previous poster…you have to take your kids to Kaleidoscope! Also, not sure if you saw Union Station right down the street but Science City is there and your kids would like that a lot too…although, it is NOT free 🙁 We went there a couple weeks ago. Union Station is beautiful inside! Looks like you all had fun!

Starnes Fam - KC has so much fun stuff to do…..since moving here in May…..we’ve been delighted with it all. As previous commenters suggested, check out Kaleidoscope for sure and also Union Station.
I’m trying to figure out if the Kansas City Star does tours…..wouldn’t that be cool? As my husband said, you better go see it now….b/f newspapers are a thing of the past!

Lori - Crown Plaza is so fun! We have been to the Crayola store and eaten there, too! And the train restaurant is also a blast! We have eaten there, too! Such a fun day and a great way to beat the heat!;) Lori

alyssa - okay, that is crazy. we were there this weekend too! we had a mini family trip to crown center. we did fritz on saturday…hope your milkshakes were better than our food! not exactly a place you go to for the food!
next time you need to check out kaliedescope. it’s free too! my kids loved it.

Sara - This is hilarious, I just blogged about the exact same thing yesterday! I love Kansas City!

jennifer - We were there a couple summers ago when we were visiting my sister and my kids STILL ask if we can go back!

Christy - Looks like so much fun! What a way to spend the last week before school. I havenot been to KC is YEARS! Looks like I am missing out on a lot of fun stuff. Love the legos, I just took my son to Legoland last month. The ice cream shop looks awesome too! What fun.
PS. Your uncle’s shoe store is awesome! Wow!

Candy - We live in Topeka, which is about an hour west of KC. There is so much to do in KC, next time you are there, you have to check out Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, it is awesome, and FREE! Great pics at the fountain!

emily :] - i LOVE the crayola store 🙂 & that fountain. & we went to fritz’s every year with choir, it is soo much fun! its awesome to see pictures of my stomping grounds.

Sharla - I used to work in the office building right by those fountains – loved to watch everyone out the window . . . .

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boys…

August 11, 2009

ok…i just saw scott walk by with football pads on and two pillows stuffed into his shirt….

it can't be good but i really don't want to know what he is going to do.

so i am ignoring it.

___________________________________

this morning sean randomly asked me "would you marry brett farve mom?"

me – "no…i am married to your dad. i couldn't even kiss brett favre!"

sean – "well what if you weren't?"

me – "brett favre doesn't know i exist."

sean – "what if he did…would you marry him?"

me "YES!!!!!"

just kidding craig.

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Heidi Jo the Artist - We are going to have to take a vacation to Kansas one of these days, it looks like so much fun stuff to do and see down there! Great photos as usual! I take photos of people I don’t know too…usually if I think I can do it without them noticing. 🙂
Heidi Jo the Artist
My Etsy Shops!
http://swirlsofcreativity.etsy.com
http://SoCbuttons.etsy.com

Kelly - Ha ha ha!
Your husbands comment is hysterical too!

Rebekah - Ha ha ha!

Shannan - I have to explain to Calvin on a daily basis why he can’t marry Ruby, myself, or his Daddy… 🙂

donna - Brett Farve – well I would settle for him however, my real true love is Steve Yzerman
http://www.ioffer.com/img/item/525/820/66/2URiTxWjOJLXs8n.jpg
I am a hockey kinda gal…lol.

Dana M. - Allie LOVES the lego creations! Still think that she and Sean should get together and build.

Christina - Oh my goodness, you’re husband’s comment is hilarious!

Craig - That’s alright, honey. I might even marry Brett Favre.

Erin - Ah, Brett Favre…my favorite EVER! Before the “retiring” of course as well. My sister and I have matching jerseys that I will still wear on Packer game days 🙂

purejoy - if i wasn’t married, i’d totally go for brett favre. the brett favre before the retirings. the number four with the green and gold shirt.
yep. in a heartbeat!

Anna Marie - Uh oh, Craig…competition. 😉

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the last summer weekend.

August 10, 2009

we spent it at my parents' house.

on friday we went to Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun.

i didn't bring my camera but craig grabbed a few with his phone….

it was really hot.

this is at the top of the Mamba…a big roller coaster.

(annie calls it the big mama.)

craig took the kids to roller coaster side and i stayed on the water side with annie and my mom.

i just don't go for roller coasters anymore.

maybe when they are all older i will ride again….maybe.

i just think too much when i am on them

"what if we die on this? who willl cook dinner for my family if i die on this roller coaster?"

on saturday we did some shopping (school supplies again – yuck).

then we went to my uncle mick's shoe store. i felt you all need to see it too…it is awesome!

all the walls are covered in murals…

dinosaurs in one room…

kansas landscapes in another room….

he had the shoe displays built into the wall….and a chair in the corner.

blurry….i know.

everybody's favorite part of the store is the bathroom.

it is UNREAL.

it's ALL handmade tile into a mural of a barn.

the mirror is in the horse's mouth.

look at the detail…it is amazing!

it is a masterpiece bathroom.

we looked at shoes…

i was really eyeing these.

and these boots…

that's my uncle…and my mom.

when i was little…my uncle lived upstairs from the store.

i thought that was SO cool.

he had a pool table and you could watch tv from the kitchen bar!

i remember my cousin and i watched "a fish called wanda"

so if you are in lawrence…go see his shop in person…it's worth it.

and the shoes are good too. :)

we hit the toy store again.

talby loves the sunglasses there.

we thought these were perfectly appropriate for me….

the whining kicked in so we had to cut the shopping short.

i can't wait to tell you about what we did next!

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tabitha - that store? ah-mazing!

Jaime - My in laws just moved away from Lawrence to Oklahoma. I wish I would have known about your Uncle’s shop sooner. It looks awesome. And all the years of visiting there we never went over to KC to the Crayon store. My MIL told me all about it, now I wished we would have fit it in one of our trips. Your photos are amazing so at least I can live vicariously! 🙂

Trish - OMG!! Your girls are adorable!! But those boots… oh those boots… LOVE them!!

sassy girl - looks like you guys had a great time!

Kat - That shoe store is the coolest!

Stephanie - Lauren is beautiful. She looks just like Natalie Portman in that photo on the roller coaster.

Amy - LOVE your blog! I am a Mizzou Tigers fan, but I would love to go to your uncle’s store – it would be worth coming to an away game in Lawrence! We have friends that just moved to St. Louis from Lawrence – i bet they know about Footprints. I love my Keens! I have 3 pairs now and I’m sure I’ll add more. 🙂

traci - i love rollercoasters. they are about the only ride i can do anymore without feeling sick afterwards. your uncle’s store is awesome. what a great place. what brand were the boots you had on, adorable!!! i think they are worth a splurge.

sandy toe - What a fun store and glasses!!!
sandy toe

Rach - Seriously?? Is summer really almost over? Did you get your list completed? Are you so looking forward to a quiet house again?

se7en - I totally love your toy store pics… Hmmm wondering if I want to their and gather clutter or avoid it and be restrained… When we were in London a few years ago we told our kids that Hamley’s (huge toy store there) was a museum… They fell for it!!! And fiddled and fiddled and played – there is so much stuff out to play with… and then we went home empty handed, after a glorious day!!! Luckily because shopping in pounds is no joke!!!

carissa... brown eyed fox - those boooooooots! the ones on the shelf AND your foot!
i would have had a hard time resisting! no… i would have bought! 🙂 very fun!
sure looks like a NEAT place!
can’t believe summer is coming to a close! my stars… it flew by!

Christina - That was too funny! The pig with the toilet paper…
And the sunglasses-all of them; how adorable!

Jenn - Wow summer vacation is over already? Seems so early though! love LOVE the bathroom mirror and TP holder!

Sally - I couldn’t really get past the “i didn’t bring my camera….” it concerns me. LOL

elizabeth - That’s just awesome. Another reason to visit Kansas!

Hannah - It looks like you had tons of fun! I love the shoe store (who doesn’t love shoes, though?!)
I went to Worlds and Oceans of Fun for my birthday last month! SO MUCH FUN! I hope y’all had a great time! The Mamba is my fave, even though it’s super scary.
Great pictures! I can’t wait to see what you did next!

purejoy - the pig made my day. (which has been super crappy!) your whatever, is a bright little whatever in my day. thanks for being a faithful poster.

Dina - Ok, so you just made me want to go to Lawrence for a day trip….even though I bleed purple through and through:-), Birks are my fav and I MUST experience his shop:-)

robyn Beckley Vining - ooooooooooooh. i want the red dansko boots 🙂

Meredith - What a magical day for you all. Loving those Willy Wonka glasses on Talby. Your Uncle Mike is straight from a fairy tale – a storybook shoestore? – awesome. I’m right there with you on the whole rollercoaster decision too. Apart from the whole terrifying-death-whilst-family-looks-on scenario – after six children, my pelvic floor just can’t take that sort of pressure! Hope your back to school preparations aren’t too overwhelming. Meredith xo.

Joy Cronauer...Joy at Home - Meg, what do you carry your cannon rebel in when out and about…do you stash it in a large purse or do you commit to carrying the extra camera bag? It may sound like a dumb question but I was wondering if you found a system that works so that you have it on hand; yet it’s still safe.

Shannan - That uncle of yours looks like one groovy dude!

Anna Marie - The last time I went on the Mamba I rode in the very front spot with my friend. Our lips were jiggling in the wind and I slobbered all over myself {pretty picture I know}…notice I said that was the LAST time…I just can’t handle them any more.

kasey - love the glasses.
xo

Angela - How much do I love this part of your post:
he had a pool table and you could watch tv from the kitchen bar! i remember my cousin and i watched “a fish called wanda”
————-
It’s stuff like that (aside from your AMAZING photos) that keep me coming back. 🙂

Starnes Fam - I will definitely visit his store the next time we’re in Lawrence. He sells our brand (Keens).
Looks like super fun, too.

jenn - That bathroom is TOO much! Absolutely hilarious! Thanks for sharing.

Lisa - That is the coolest looking shoe store ever! I MUST make it there someday.
Oh, but the farmer in the window is scary, like the escaped crazy guy trying to kill Joan Collins in that original episode of Tales From the Crypt.

juliann brenner - WOW – Lawrence, KS?? One of my best friends is from there. What is the name of your uncle’s store…I bet she’s been there!
juliann

Teresa - Another KU girl here. Thanks for glimpse of Lawrence!!!

Melissa - I have been lurking for some time now, I just love your blog, it is such a fun place to visit. I look forward to it every day. The picture of those frogs just cracked me up! My husband brought one back from Portland for my oldest son. He named it Bob. Bob the frog. It’s one of his “fav” toys. You know, the kind the kids sleep with. Anyhow, I’ll have to show him the picture and let him know that Bob has a lot of family out East of us. All the best to you and yours, Mel

Erin - I bought my first Birks there!

Heather @ Cookie Mondays - No more roller coasters for me either. Fun weekend! Can you believe it’s back to school?!

Dana D @BoysMyJoys - Looks like so much fun!
And WOW, Lauren has gotten even more gorgeous!

Tonya - OMG!!! I’m so jealous that your Uncle owns Footprints…it’s my fave place to buy shoes! I have many pairs of Birks and just got my first pair of Keens to wear on rugged photo shoots a few years ago. And my kids love the store too! Mass St is about the funest place to go ever!

Lanny Stanard - I must say I love all the pictures but you in the pink wig! beats the glasses HEE HEE !
Lanny

Lori - Oh Meg…reading your blog is such a bright spot in my day. I don’t like rollercoasters anymore for the same reason. I feel I owe it to my kids to not do risky things until they are bigger (well, they are teenagers, but they still need me!). Not that rollercoasters are major-risky, but they FEEL very risky! 🙂
That shoe store is uh-ma-zing! What fun!
Enjoy some quiet time with the kids in school. Mine don’t go back until September.

Trasie - Love love love the shoe store and can’t wait to hear what you did next.

charlane - what a fantastic place – I would love to shop there. 🙂

deb - I was just in Lawrence for my brother’s wedding. (He was married at the very charming Danforth Chapel on campus. Know it? Our hotel was on the river front and we walked downtown all the time. I meant to go into that store and now it is on my list the next time I am am in town. Love your blog. Love that you are a Kansas girl…me too! Living in VA now.
Blessings!
Deb

jennifer - Oooh! You SO need those boots! Looks like a shoe store I’d have a whole lot of fun in.
Can’t wait to see what you did next. I mean, what can be better than shoes?!

Staci - I get to comment first!!!!!! YAY!!!! WHY is that such a treat to me??? LOVE the shop!! TOOOOO cool! Next time we are in Kansas (maybe for the KU-OU game this Fall) I’ll have to stop in 🙂 I don’t do roller coasters either—never reeeally liked them….but I have two boys…good thing My Hubby likes ’em 🙂

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lisa’s family

August 9, 2009

yes…that is another sweet tiny baby i got to photograph…and he's smiling.

his big sister and 2 brothers were gentle and loving to him…so nice to watch.

he never woke up the whole time i was there.

i loved this picture of the oldest helping his sister with her hair.

and this one of the baby with his brother…LOVE!

the lip and chin all puckered up.

he's ready for a kiss i think.

i have a feeling with those 3 kids he gets a lot of kisses.

thanks lisa for a fun time with your kids.

i loved how they really wanted you in their picture…and held the baby so soft.

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traci - so sweet!!!

Jaime @ Charming by Design - Very precious, Meg!

adrienneK - oh that wee little baby makes my heart melt!!!

Jennifer - How precious! You take some great photos.

Vera - What sweet siblings!! Aaaaw!

Julie K. - How is it that you always are surrounded by all these newborns!? You are truely a baby magnet. 🙂

Kae - I just love how you photograph babies in a basket!

Staci - Oh man oh man…how I love the lip and chin pucker =)

Dana D @BoysMyJoys - All of the pictures are beautiful, but the kissy-face last one is to die for! I could eat him up!

angela - I love the picnic basket and the baby and the big boys and of course, the sister. Wow! You got some great ones. Wish you lived near me!

sandy toe - what a sweet family.
sandy toe

Angela - Oh boy oh boy.
You know, after I looked at your last blog with all the pictures of the baby girl, I started thinking that maybe, just maybe God might give me a girl this time. I have two boys already, and it just seems impossible. LOL
But now this one makes me think maybe boy!
Either way, babies are just so sweet and precious, and I wish we lived closer so that you could photograph my three little ones come next spring. Except they probably wouldn’t be quite so sweet. There might be hair *pulling* and a little less caressing and a little more shoving.
They are boys, you know.

Kathy - That baby is so kissable! Cute family!

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jenny’s kids

August 7, 2009

i am in bible study with jenny.

we have childcare so i really didn't know her kids.

but grace knew annie…they hugged each other tight.

drew's missing teeth…good sign of a first grader.

does someone recognize this pillow?

i sold it in my etsy shop right after we took these.

that pillow was cute even before the sleeping baby was laid on it!

those curls are so sweet and strawberry blonde.

i wanted to run my finger through them really badly.

she was a very giggly girl.

i think she was awake about 10 minutes of the hour and a half.

sleeping babies….does life get better than that

thank you jenny for bringing your kids over!

brooke looks perfect in my garden.

like a pretty pink flower.

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jody - so sweet!!! and there’s my PILLOW!:)
I also need to be sure it’s ok that I add you to my blogroll/”friends & inspiration”….

carissa... brown eyed fox - BOTH of those families… SO pretty! amazing shots!
you are so dipping good at taking pics!
knack my friend… knack!

Sharla - Love the last shots with the flowers.

tabitha - all the images of these kiddos are fantastic, the curls and the semi-toothless grins…but the baby sleeping in the chair…priceless!

alice - great photos – my favorites are the last ones with the chair behind the flowers – really cool! you are sooooo good :O)

emily - Love the last few shots posted of the baby! So Sweet!

Alicia - whoops- I just realized I included the wrong link- here is the correct one!
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/#/group.php?gid=119291765881&ref=nf

Alicia - love these pictures! I wish we lived closer…
We have started a fan page for you on facebook- the link is
http://megduerksen.typepad.com/whatever
Your blog is amazing- we love your colors, pictures and creative energy- you rock!

pam - oh man. you have such a gift of taking beautiful children (go jenny!) and making a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e. photos. wow.

Chloe - Love your work: writing, photography… wish I could capture the heart like you. adding you to my blogroll… mind if I use some of your sunflower pics on my blog? I will definitely direct people to you.
Chloe

Kathy - Gorgeous!!

andrea - i love how you continue to see all the moments us mommy do and capture it on film, you are doing a great job

Jennifer - Those curls are just too much! Beautiful kids and pictures

Lisa K in FL - I love, love, love your style, Meg! I wish we lived near you so we could have pictures like this.

pve - you really go straight to the heart with your camera.
that baby, I want to smell and feel that soft skin.
precious….

Charee - I thought there were only two, and then I saw the baby. I just thought my baby fever was gone again! And then I saw the baby. Adorable kids. I was trying to guess how old the older 2 are, do you know??

purejoy - ohmystars. how precious is she?? are they?? what a sweet shoot!

charlane - sweet sweet pictures and the last one in the garden? perfection

Christina - You take the best baby pictures I have ever seen. They’re so sweet and natural. Just precious.
Cute kiddos!

kasey - just kidding;-0

kasey - did you really leave the baby all by herself on a chair in the middle of the garden?
is that legal?

Angela - Okay, I’m pregnant with my 3rd, and I’m about to cry!! Dang pregnancy hormones!!!!!!! That baby is KILLING ME! LOL

Pineapple Princess - I have to admit I have a mad blog crush on your blog! Love your writing and photography!!!
I’m adding you to my blog roll. Is that OK?

Elma Riedstra - Oh I will tke one of the baby!!! So beautiful in the flower garden:)

lydee - oh my gosh, that baby is precious!

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i am tired.

August 6, 2009

for a few reasons…..

i don't go to bed early enough.

i sleep late.

i eat poorly.

i have five kids.

i stay up too late.

during our waking hours we have been busy.

and i am tired.

here is a little of what we've been doing…trying to finish off the summer list.

i think we are going to get almost everything.

painting in the driveway…

getting a treat from the ice cream truck….

tie dying t-shirts, tank tops and leggings.

and 11 different kids have come over here this week already…seriously.

and i had a photo session everyday…two on wednesday.

i am ready for school to start.

i am the only one i know….but i am ready for a quiet house.

and only working on my own crafts.

soon.

and then i will complain to you about how much i miss sleeping in and hanging out all summer.

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carissa... brown eyed fox - the catch 22… i SO get it!
this business of getting up early is going to be tough… for the kiddos AND me!
cheers to you and getting in a few more late beauty rest mornings before the big day!

Jill - I’m with ya, sister! Summers are way too long in my opinion. But we are bored because I don’t plan fun things like shaving cream messes and tie dyed clothes. So I’m exhausted because of all the “I’m bored”, and “there’s nothing to do”. School will be here soon!

pam - when school starts we will be tired because we stayed up too late…still. curse of the night owl. more fun happens at night anyway, right? 😉
yay for checking off the list!

Julie K. - How in the world did you fit in a photo shoot {or more} each day in a week! I am exausted with two shoots per week and I’m scaleing it down to one a week for the fall! You are like the energizer bunny – I will forever wonder how you do it all. Etsy, photog biz, craft time with your kids. Unbelievable. What’s your secret weapon. You must have one. 🙂
Wish we could go to coffee.
Julie

Elma Riedstra - OH I think my kids are ready for school:) They are starting to get bored . My baby goes to k this year it will be hard for me. I know then my days will be soooo quiet. I think I need a hobby.( all eight in school:( I just blinked and they are growing up waaaaaay to fast.

trishia - my mother just sent me a link to your blog. I am sitting here in shock. You seriously are me. I seriously am you. We are like mirror sisters!
I have five children. I am a photographer. I love crafting and like doing it with my kids, but miss having my own crafty time. I’m ready for summer to close. I don’t get enough sleep. I stay up too late. I don’t eat well. I always have other peoples children at my house. lol
weird! adding you to my reader 🙂 (and in the dead of winter, I’ll stop by and tell you how much I miss sleeping in and having long summer days)

Staci - Me too!!! Me too!!! Me too!!!! (And I only have TWO kids!!!)

Jamie Sampson - I have no idea how you do it all. If I was you I would have been tired a very long time ago. Love the blog as usual. Hope your weekend is happy.

Nicole - I’m with you on the TIRED and staying up late!! Last night I CRASHED at 9:00!! I just couldn’t do it anymore! My body was shutting down! That’s unheard of for me! I didn’t care that the kids were all still up, thankfully Jas just took over! I HATE to see summer end but I will WELCOME the structure that school brings!!

Sarah - Amen, Sister.

Mindy Harris - Lately I’ve been going to bed around 12 or 1. If there wasn’t so much cool stuff on the internet…

Mary Beth - Stay At Home Moms DO get a vacation.
When everyone goes to college!
I’m Serious.
It will happen in three more blinks of an eye.
I now have time to breathe, relax and sleep.
Of course, worrying is still there……………….
Keep on.

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - I stay up too late and then have a hard time falling asleep. So I’m right there with ya.

Ashley - Hey Meg, Our family drove ALL the way through the entire state of Kansas yesterday and I thought about you all day and enjoyed the sights of Kansas… although we were READY to get out of Kansas since our destination was Colorado…
Looks like your having a fun filled summer!

Liz - You are seriously super mom! But that said, I can totally understand why you’re ready for school to start. You deserve a little you-time. 🙂

Chele - No you are definitely not alone in the ready for school to start. I am too! You have one more child than me but I am tired too! 🙂 Hang in there and get some sleep woman! LOL.

Starnes Fam - I’m ready, too, but still have 2 toddlers at home. A bit different for me. Hang in there!

princesslasertron - I hope this doesn’t sound dorky, but I think your kids are blessed to have so many friends and it’s a testament to their awesome upbringing!!

Sandy - I’ve been wondering how your summer list is coming along (btw, I think that’s an AWESOME idea!). We haven’t seen pictures of Lauren lately, how’s she doing? Does she still play volleyball?

Karen - You are SUCH a good mom, giving them so many WONDERFUL memories to think back on when they grow up! You’re the mom I wanted to be, but didn’t have the time or means. Sigh. Maybe I can be that grandma…

seleta - “Mom of four” comment is from Seleta.

Anonymous - Mom of four feeling thankful not to be the only one with these feelings!!! As I sit here and type a comment at 11pm when clearly I should be in my bed sleeping. But it’s so fun to have the quiet time when they are all asleep! It’s intoxicating, actually.

jen R Sanctuary arts at home - AMEN.

amber - I’m right there with you on the school starting thing. At least you’re trying to have fun with your kids. Looks like you’ve got lots of creative ideas!

jennifer - Oooh! Can’t wait to see the tie-dye projects! It looks like you’ve been doing lots of fun stuff this summer. I’m always hopeful that my kids remember the fun stuff we do and not how tired, and ahem, cranky I can be.
Here’s to naps and lattes, whichever is more accessible at the moment!

misty - will you give instructions on the tie-dying?? also, will you post the pics of the finished items? I LOVE TIE DYE~ I have one more question maybe you can help me with…. I am inspired how you have your kids be creative w/their halloween costumes- This will be my daughters 2nd halloween & I have decided that we will not buy costumes- she only wore the last one for a few hours! SO I am hoping to teach her early how to be creative and I need to dye a white onesie black. All of the ritdye that is supposed to be black is really gray~ do you have any suggestions? I hate to cough up the 15 + S&H for a black onesie for a 13 month old to wear once.

andrea - i can never get to bed before ten, impossiable and i get up at four to go to work, sick

pve - Before you take a long nap…could you please fill up your etsy store.
pve

The Tulip Lady - The only thing better than having what you want…is wanting what you have. Or something like that. Here’s to soaking up what we got, when we got it…CHEERS!

Dana M. - Ditto on the tie dye!! 🙂

Lisa - MEG, I JUST GOT DONE COMPLAINING TO MY 19 YR OLDS GIRLFRIEND HOW TIRED I AM OF BEING AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE AND THE MAILMAN!!! I WANT TO GET RID OF MY CELL, EMAIL, AND BLOG. AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
DO STAY AT HOME MOMS GET A VACATION?
HOW DOES IT LOOK IF THEY DO?
WHO DO WE TELL?
DOES ANYONE LISTEN OR DO WE JUST SOUND FOOLISH.
TIRED HUGS FROM MAINE

Molly - Want to see pics of the tie dye end products!!!

Kara Hebert - Oh, Meg. You crack me up. As soon as I read the title of this post I knew it was one I would relate to. I, too, am simply exhausted. A combo of kids killing me and my father’s recent passing. I am pooped. Done. Stick a fork in me. Can’t entertain another kid for one. more. second.
Proverbs 31 – that’s why she’s an IDEAL and not real, right? 🙂 I gotta work on that.
xx
Kara

Renee - I’m tired, too. But it’s Shark Week on Discovery Channel. The excuses never end. xoxo

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Every couple of weeks Cory and I swear that we’ll start going to bed early. It usually lasts one night, then we’re back to midnight or 12:30. What are night owls like us supposed to do?? I just don’t see a good way around it.

Amber - hehehehehhehehe. i am the same way, i always want the next thing and my infamous line is: “I can’t wait till….”
dot dot dot fill in the blank. 🙂

Laura Phelps - tired, too…
but remember to be ready by 6:05PM…I’m comin’ to get you in my van!!! (with a grande latte!)

charlane - 🙂 school starts here next week. the nephews are complaining already – the little vampires. (they love to stay up all night)

MMW - We’ve tried to institute a 10:30 pm curfew for husband & myself. We’re often up too late too. I feel like I need to stay up late in order to catch-up from the whirlwind my kids created during the day.

chris - I feel your pain , I have 6 kids here most days during the summer , what a summer job I tell ya , I get up at 6:20am , OH MY ! I am not a morning person , and yesterday I didn’t get munch until 3:45 pm , today was better I had lunch at 2:00 , I am feeling so tired , and no time for my projects or my work work , I am looking forward to school , but I have 30 more days to go before I will have the peaceful house that I enjoy , don’t feel badly .

Sara - ooooh, will you give instructions for tie-dying w/ kids? 🙂

tammy - would love it if you posted how to tie dye !!!

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