Landon is 18 months old!!!

I can hardly believe that my baby boy is 18 months old! It seems surreal. He is already almost as tall as Caelynn and very rambuncious (sp?).

He loves to throw balls, eat cheetos and yogurt, and love on his Daddy.

Updates

Sorry.....Sorry.....Sorry

I have been very busy lately and I have just not had the time or motivation to update the blog.

The kids are starting school on the 24th...Parker AND Caelynn!

I am so excited!

Parker has now lost 2 teeth, Landon had 8 all come in at the same time (ouch)

My mission trip to Haiti was amazing!! I can't even describe it.

My mom is officially retired! She is really enjoying it ;)

I am having carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand the end of August.

BIG NEWS!!! I now have a photography studio! Yay! I also have a new photography blog...check it out!

http://www.tarynlewisphotography.squarespace.com

Sorry about such a short post...but I have another bust day today. I will try to post some more later.

Oh summer!

Well...summer is officially here and that means all kids, all the time. It has actually been fun so far. The kids have been playing ( and fighting) with each other and our new neighbors. We got some great new neighbors just in time for summer!


They have 2 kids and one on the way. Our kids just love them (and so do we.)

SUBJECT CHANGE

The countdown to Haiti has begun :) I am leaving on the 26th of this month to go on a mission trip to Haiti. Mike will be home alone with the kids for a week. Pray for him.

I am excited about going, but I am nervous about not having contact with my family. There are not phones ( or clean water, or air conditioning) there, so I won't be able to check on them or hear their voices.

So pray for me also. Please

SUBJECT CHANGE

We went to the beach on Monday. It was a blast. The weather was perfect and the kids had a great time. No fighting or arguing. Everyone just played nicely and swam.

Here are some random pictures from the last week or two.



Landon trying out my studio lights

Caelynn modeling

Our friend Tom....hahaha

Wow!

okay....sorry about being MIA on the blog, but we have had so much going on here!

I have officially made the decision to make photography my career. It was a huge decision for me. No one else seemed to realize why I struggled with this. So let me try to paint this picture for you.

I switched majors 3 times in college and I still am 2 classes away from obtaining a degree.

I have many hobbies and passions that I love and do not want to lose.

I am having to give up sewing children's clothing since I won't have time to do both. I have worked very hard to make my name in the boutique world and now that mom and I are well known , I am leaving. I am sorry Mom :(

Photography equipment is expensive- buying what i need will be a financial strain for us during a time of financial strain.

What if I'm not good? What if my family and friend just tell me Im good to make me happy? Can I really get clients and make them happy? What if I can't?

Is this God's plan for me?

For these reasons and many more, I struggled.

But, after a lot of praying and talking it out with Mike and my mom, I made the leap. It's official....I am now the sole photographer, boss, accountant, marketing executive, and CEO of Taryn Lewis Photography!!!!

Here is my website!!!!





And of course, after I make it official, this is what happens.

We go camping for four days and I can't answer emails or set up the website.( But it was FUN)

Landon gets a respiratory infection and double ear infections. Goes through 3 courses of antibiotics and STILL has them!

AND

In an attempt to exercise with my family, I went on a bike ride ( with Landon on the back) and fell into a ditch on the side of the road. I reached back to try to soften his fall and broke my hand.

yep....broke my hand!!!

Hmm....let's reflect...what do I do? Sew....hold a camera......yep....not really one handed jobs.

So... I have a spiral fracture of the 5th metacarpal and I convinced the doc not to cast me, but I have to go back in 2 weeks to reassess the need for a cast or possible surgery. NICE!!!

Is God trying to tell me something? or is this just Murphy throwing in his two cents?

Happiness :)

I finally got my kids out in the flower field. I haven't had time to edit them all yet, but here are a couple. I love these little people!!!

Cruisin for Christ

Our church had the annual Cruisin' for Christ car show yesterday. There was a great turn out and some awesome cars! There was good music, good friends, and lots of prizes ;)
Everyone had a great time!!!

Little Miss P

What a doll! Miss P was sweet enough to let me take lots of pics of her today! She is just the sweetest! Can't wait for my other sessions in this gorgeous field!

Silly Girl

My mom taught Caelynn to cross her eyes. She was soooo funny trying to do it! She twisted her face all around!

She has a red jellybean in her mouth :)

More of Sophia

Well I had another opportunity to take some pics of my precious new niece yesterday. She is just so sweet! I love her little lips!

Introducing....

My new niece!!!



This is the beautiful Sophia Ann Lewis. She was born via c-section 11 days ago. She is so precious!!
I can't wait until I get to see her again!

I was only able to capture a few pics in the short time I had with her, but I am hoping to get to take some more soon (hint..hint) ;)

I couldn't decide if I liked the color or the b/w so here is a little of both :)

Future All-star

Parker is playing T-ball again. He is doing great! At his last game, he hit 2 doubles and a triple. He plays pitcher, and is doing great at getting the ball where it needs to be.

He has games almost every Thursday and Sat. Thursdays at 6:00 and Sat at 10:00. If you want to come down and cheer him on, just call me to make sure the game is still on.

Such a big boy....

Landon is such a big boy now. He is talking more, and is walking So good now! He just loves this new independence.

I have conflicting emotions about this. I am happy that he is becoming more independent. Happy that soon he will be much easier to handle and happy that before long, my life will be diaper and bottle free.

I think 6 years of changing diapers is enough!!!!

But I am also very sad. It breaks my heart that he is growing up. I hate that this will be the last time I see this stage in one of my kids. I am so sad that before long this precious sweet boy that I adore will be gone and replaced by a bigger, different boy that I will adore.

Throughout my life when I would look at pictures from when I was little, my mom would always say " I miss her! I miss THAT Taryn!" And I couldn't help but be a little offended. "What?" am I so bad NOW?
But now I totally understand what she means. It has nothing to do with the love you feel for them. I love all my kids more than I can say. I have always and will always love them that way. But kids change. They change their looks, personalities, quirks, voice, hair, skin, everything!!

Even though at each stage there are things that drive me CRAZY!! There are also things that I am so in love with. And I hate that before long, those things will be gone. I am so afraid that I will forget all these little things. in the chaos of life and school and activities, I want to make sure to try to remember them as they are now.

Writing this bring a song to mind. Have you ever heard the country song "You're gonna miss this?" i can't remember who sings it, but when it first come out I thought it was kinda hokey. But recently it came on and I really listened to the words. It had me crying before the second chorus. And if you know me...I don't cry easily. It is a great reminder for me at this time in my life. When I am ready to go crazy and duct tape my kids to the wall just so I can get some peace, I have to remember, that eventually I will miss these times. Hard to believe, but I know it is true. Because as crazy as I thought it was a few years ago, I miss it.

Well, when i started writing this post I didn't plan to write you a book, but it is what it is.

Here are a couple quick pics of Landon walking in the yard. I promise to try to better about blogging. I am so busy right now!
Just for Ol'Times sake.....here are some pics of my babies that I "miss." *sniff*sniff*








I love this hair!!