From albums to books

For a long time now I've wanted to scan and save my family film pictures to DVDs.  I have quite a few photo albums starting with Emma's birth in 2001 until Abby was about fifteen and a half months in November of 2003. After Christmas 2010, I had decided to make photo books as presents for my mom and Brady's mom for Christmas 2011.  Optimistically wanted to include years, 2001 through 2003. 

 As the Christmas season rolled around and I got super busy with my photography business, it got harder and harder to start any of my own photo projects. Needless to say, I only had enough time to scan Emma's first year pictures and upload them to make the books.  I make photo books for several of my clients, so I knew exactly what I wanted to order from my photo lab.  I wanted 8 x 10 books in black art cloth with linen pages.  I wanted simple, but classy.  When I am finished with this monstrosity of a project, I will have many, many of these to line my bookcases!  And so will my mother and Joy.  I finished my books only three days before Christmas Eve, but my spectacular photo lab was able to print them and ship them just in time.  I ordered three copies of the two books I finished for Christmas, one each for me, my mom, and Joy.

Here's the first two volumes of my photo book project.  The first book includes pics from the time Emma was born (also a few from baby showers) until she was three months old.  The second book includes pictures from approximately four months old until she turns one year old.   

beginning of first volume

end of first volume

beginning of second volume

end of second volume

I've started the scanning process for my third volume.  My mom just asked me yesterday if I had another book ready.  I wish!  Scanning takes time people!  HA!

When I scan the pictures I save them to my computer, to a DVD, and to an external hard drive.  Once I get all of the film pictures scanned, I plan to save them along with all of the digital pictures I've taken since 2003 to DVDs.  I want to give mom and Joy each a copy for safe keeping at their houses. 

Hooray for digital!!!!

Christmas with great friends!! (last of the Christmas posts...........I think)

Time spent with friends is priceless. 

 I hope we can continue this tradition for many, many more years to come!

Doesn't everyone in the south hang a raccoon tail on their tree??

or just my son??

love, love, love getting Christmas cards!!!

Merry Christmas Ms. Post Woman and Ms. FedEx!!

Monkeys, a lion, and loads of fun on Christmas Day at Nanny and Papa's House

A little taste of the Christmas excitement at Nanny and Papa's

She was more than a dog

Wednesday morning was a normal morning.  We were rushing around getting the kids ready for school and trying to get them loaded into the car.  I was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher.  The door that opens into the garage was open, and I had a clear view of the kids.  Our garage door was open as well.  I heard Emma scream.  I saw Abby and John Brady run to the end of the garage where Emma was standing looking toward the road.  Brady took off running.  Emma shouted Lucky's name and I just knew Lucky had been hit on Martin Road.  The kids had seen the truck go by and then heard Lucky yelp.  I ran outside.  Poor Lucky had been struck by a truck right in front of our house.  I will NEVER get the image of her lying on the road out of my mind.  Emma was hysterical, Abby was crying, and John Brady was in silent shock.  I grabbed the kids and brought them inside.  Brady was already at the man's truck.  I knew the news wasn't going to be good, but was still holding out hope.  It wasn't until I saw the black garbage bag that I realized our Lucky girl was gone.  Oh, how I wished the kids hadn't been home.  If it had happened only 5 minutes later, the kids would have been spared the horrible vision that I know lingers in their mind.

I was so thankful Brady was home and could take care of everything.  I honestly don't know what I would have done.  Brady and I spent some time just holding the kids and letting them cry.  We really didn't know what to do about sending them to school, but decided going to school would get their minds off Lucky.  Brady asked the kids if they wanted to help bury Lucky.  They did not.  Brady hosed the blood off the road so the kids wouldn't see it.  Then Brady took them to school.  John Brady said he felt nauseous so Brady walked him to his room at school and talked with his teacher.  We weren't sure if the kids would make it at school the rest of the day, especially John Brady.  I sent emails to Emma and Abby's teachers explaining what had happened.  Brady came back home to check on me and to bury Lucky.  We buried Lucky in the back corner of our yard.  I wanted her close by.

I was working at home that day so reality settled in very quickly.  Lucky always laid on the floor next to me when I worked.  

After getting the kids from school that day, I showed them Lucky's grave.  They placed fresh picked daffodils on her grave.  John Brady found a nice rock for a headstone.  Emma wrote Lucky's name in the dirt.  I stood back just breathing in the moment.  My precious babies were silently saying their goodbyes to their beloved Lucky, who had been part of our family for almost 4 years.  

Oh, how we already miss her!  We miss hearing her scratch at the door.  I miss her pawing me awake every morning.  The kids miss her sleeping with them.  I miss her waiting at the counter for a stray piece of ham or turkey when I make the kids lunches.  We miss her letting us know if anyone/anything enters our yard.  I miss seeing her in her crate or laying on her dog bed.  We all terribly miss her running to greet us when we arrive home.  It didn't matter if we had been gone for five minutes or five days, Lucky was always excited to see us.  I miss telling the kids to let Lucky inside, which I said at least five or six times a day.  We miss hearing her crunch dog food while watching tv at night.  Brady and I miss hearing her nightly scratching fit.  We miss catching her laying on the couch and seeing the uh-oh-I've-been-caught-look.  I miss looking into her pretty brown eyes and at her sweet puppy face.  

When we got Lucky from the shelter, Brady said we should name her Lucky because she was lucky that we took her in.  I'm pretty sure we were the lucky ones.

Lucky's Last Day

Tuesday was Lucky's last day.  I worked at home most of the day with Lucky at my side.  Later I had to go to the bank so I put her in the van.  I hardly ever let her ride in the seat, but on this day I told her to get in the passenger seat.  Lucky sat in her seat so elegantly gazing toward the road ahead.  She was greeted happily by the teller at the bank drive thru window.  Lucky tried to get into my lap, but quickly sat back down when I told her no.  She always behaved so well.  The teller gave Lucky a doggy treat which she thoroughly enjoyed.  We left the bank and went to Sokol Park for a walk on this beautiful afternoon.  It was perfect weather for a walk with my Lucky girl.  When we got back home, the kids were riding their rip stiks in the driveway, and as always when the kids are outside playing, Lucky couldn't wait to get out there with them.   It was a good day.

A dear and thoughtful friend sent this quote to me.

“How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.”

We lost our precious Lucky this morning

She came into our lives almost 4 years ago.  Remember my Valentine's Day post?  

What love and joy she brought into our lives.
Now our hearts are broken.

Lucky, you were a blessing to us and
will be incredibly missed.
Rest in peace my sweet Lucky.

Santa made it to our house and I finally blogged about it

I heart the anticipation of Christmas morning. I lose myself in memories of my childhood Christmases as I prepare for the big morning. On Christmas Eve, I think nothing is better than tucking my children in their beds, giving hugs and kisses, swapping I-love-yous, and seeing their anxious-for-morning-to-come expressions. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!  Christmas morning at our house is one of my all time favorite mornings of the year!!

Santa must have enjoyed his cookies and milk!

proud daddy moment!

yummy LHOP (Lawson House of Pancakes)
pancakes!

one tired boy

inside this bag was a very nice
 throw Abby made for us!

Party Time!

Although unconventional, John Brady's birthday party was a success! We decided to meet for lunch and go watch a movie. We met at The Pottery Grill for burgers, barbecue, and cake. There was some down time between lunch and the movie so we took the kids to a playground. It worked perfectly to release some of their energy level before the movie. Luckily Brady and I had Dave and Courtney's help at the playground and the movie theater. We all got popcorn and drinks then got seated to watch Alvin and the Chipmunk's Chipwrecked. I think all of them but Lawson had seen the movie before, but you couldn't tell. They all sat perfectly still. All of the kids seem to have a great time! It was a fun day!

Thanks to everyone for helping us wish John Brady a happy 7th birthday!

best buds!

priceless!!

a shirt just like Papa's!

love seeing Lawson's hand on JB3's shoulder

a bear hug from Pops!

a van full!

what a cute bunch of kiddos!