Young Love...

I can't believe it's almost been a month ago (June 5th) that my cousin, Audrey, had her wedding. Just wanted to share a few of my favorite images from her big day. Audrey graduated from Wichita State University, School of Nursing in May. On July 1st she takes her big test, so she can be a nurse in the state of Nebraska, where they just bought a house. Lots of big events happening in her life all at once. Reminds me of when I got married...graduated college, got married, bought a house, got a real job.

She was absolutely beautiful, and her cowboy groom, very handsome. Ahh...Young Love!

Since starting to experiment with photography, I've had a lot of fun with newborns, children and families. I get super nervous before a photo shoot, AND can't imagine ever doing a wedding. There is so much pressure, since you only have one chance to catch that once in a lifetime moment. eek!! Well, the other day one of my 'photography buddies' emailed me about helping her shoot a wedding in October. I warned her that I'd never professionally shot a wedding, and that I had a LOT to learn...but I'd love to help her out and learn from her! It will be a great opportunity to get experience without all the pressure.

For Audy's wedding, it was fun to just be in the background snapping creative shots.

The programs...made by elephant juice designs, of course

Funny I caught a reflection of myself and my Aunt Clara.
{The wannabe photographers}

I was wearing shoes from my awesome friend Christie's closet...
Loved them!

The Father of the Groom

Riding off into the sunset on their horse and carriage

The Reception Hall was beautiful...
We'd started decorating it two days earlier!

Rewind::Here we are two days earlier, decorating with heavy machinery

The Bride

The Wedding March

Love this idea my Aunt Deb saw in a magazine...
wrapping the liquor in fabric.

The 'dollar dance'
If this is only what she stared with, I think she did pretty good!!

Barrett paid for our dance with Audy

Wedding favors: honey from the groom's family farm

Practicing the Wedding March after the rehearsal dinner

Barrett had his first Twizzler during the decorating. He liked!

We tested out the horse and carriage after the rehearsal dinner.
Barrett got to sit in the carriage with Hannah Jean.

There you go...a {mish mosh} of my favorites!
If you're interested in seeing more, you can view the full slideshow HERE on my website.

Barrett will be embarrassed later...but he was so tired after we left the wedding reception. We were trying to change his diaper and he just rolled over conked out. He looked like a little frog with his hands under his legs.

We put his jammies on and he was still conked.

Love you, Dada!

Dear Dada,

I hope that your 2nd Father's Day weekend was a great one! Sorry I'm a little late posting this. I've been busy with playgroup and other important stuff...and I was waiting for Aunt Kim to email me this picture of me, you and Mommy. {THANKS, Aunt Kim} My hair was hilarious! 'Ol Uncle Emily styled it for me after we played on the slip-n-slide.


I was so happy to get to celebrate Father's Day with you. On Saturday you got to go fishing with Grandpa Rusty, while Mommy and I stayed home to take a nap. Then we got up and put together a little Father's Day scavenger hunt just for you. Mommy let me help wrap your present, sign the card and hide one some of the "treasures" and clues. When you got home from fishing, you opened your card and went on the hunt for your gifts.

helping Mommy hide the box outside...she let me pick the spot

Your favorite clue was this one that I helped Mommy write:
Barrett likes to hide his toys and sippy cup in these and when he puts the sippy cup in upside down, it makes you say "ah jeez"

It made you laugh, and you knew right away that it was your cowboy boots I sometimes like to hide things in. At the end of the hunt, Mommy went to get you some ice cream for a treat.

On Sunday morning, we got up early to get breakfast and go watch Kylie play softball. Then Mommy went to church for VBS Sunday, and you stayed home with me, since I was napping. For lunch, we had steaks and grilled veggies out at Gigi and Papa's. After lunch, Mommy and Gigi swam in the pool, you and Papa watched golf {and took a nap on the couch}, and I took a nap too.

That evening we went out to Grandma and Grandpa's for a Mexican dinner and rides on the 4-wheeler. After dinner I played on the slip-n-slide with Kylie and Emily, and then we played softball out in the front yard. I had lots of fun with you, Daddy!

riding the 4-wheeler with Grandpa

my first time on the slip-n-slide

Look at those toes!! Mommy loves these pictures :)see...Emily styled my hair!

I was cold, so Grandma snuggled me

My daddy loves me very much...
He loves to play ball with me, tickle me, and make me laugh.
He is hard-working and strong.
He reads me books and sings to me.
He gives me baths and tucks me in at night.
He gives me lots and lots of hugs and kisses.
He loves my mommy very much.
I want to be just like my daddy when I grow up.

I love you Daddy,
Barrett Russell

Here's what we did for Father's Day last year...
Look how little I was!!!

Summer Activities

Our Summer activities are in full swing. The past two weeks have been busy, busy...with one thing after another. You went to "Sing & Sign" three days a week, and playgroup on Tuesdays.

Here are some pictures Gigi took of your last day at music class....

Here we are with Aunt Megan and Norah Kate, and Aunt Audra and Lydia


Here we are last summer

Here's my post with pictures from last summer's "Sing & Sign"

Look how much they've changed!

Next week we'll get to tryout storytime at the library, and have a special playdate with our friends, Lydia and Norah Kate.

The last two weeks, I have been teaching some classes at the Art Center (where I was the executive director until last August). My favorite part about the job was always the summer classes, so I knew I wanted to help with a couple this year too. Here are some of the things I did with the kids last summer. Megan and I joined up to teach "Detective in Training" and "Winfield Idol." We've been doing these two classes for several summers. They are so much fun, and the kids really seem to enjoy them. Here are some pictures from the last day of Detective, when we had our big treasure hunt.

One of our detectives using her decoder watch to decipher a clue.

Barrett hung out with Aunt Kim during the hunt.
It was great to have her help over the past two weeks.
She would play outside with Barrett, since I had both Kylie and Emily in class.

The kids found ice cream cones at the end of their hunt.
Barrett got to enjoy one too!

AND some pictures from our final performances at Winfield Idol today. We had some great singers this year. As always, Megan's husband was Ryan Seacrest, and some of the other Summer teachers were our judges: Randy, Paula and Cara.


I've also been helping with Vacation Bible School this week. I volunteered to be the Arts & Crafts leader this year, and it was so much fun...a lot of work, but fun. I love that four churches in our community joined together to have VBS in the park. It met every evening this week, from 6-8pm. Our theme was Camp E.D.G.E. {experience + discover God everywhere}, and the "campers" got to participate in crafts, music, storytime, discovery zone, recreation and snacks. I have great memories of Summer VBS from my younger days, and I always remember my mom being there helping too. It's fun to get to know all the kids, and I look forward to helping again in the future, especially when Barrett Russell is a VBS camper!

Now, off to get some rest! The past two weeks have drained me! I'm looking forward to more low-key days next week.