Announcement for the Barlow Family

    Hello there, I've been a little MIA lately... but I think I have a pretty good excuse! We have an announcement and a fun surprise coming our way...   Check out the details here on this wonderful video my sweet friend Bobbi Jo Thompson helped us make. If you are local, you will want to check out her amazing work.    

 

Click here for Barlow Family announcement video Photo Credit Molly Landon Photography Video: Bobbi Jo Thompson with My Journey Photo  

Stay little

I love you in the morning

I love you in the night

I love you when we laugh and play

and when we have a fight

 

I love you when you're holding worms or tracking dirt inside

I love you when you scrape your knee

and run to me to cry

 

I love you when you have a cough

or need your milk warmed up

I love you during story time

and when you spill your cup

 

I love you when you say my name one-hundred times a day

I love it so because I know

 that soon

 these things will go away

 

 

Lately I have been trying really hard to be more patient during the times I am surrounded by messes (which is all of the time!) and when I start to feel like I am not everything I should be as a mother. I have no idea how mothers out there accomplish anything with more than two children! I am so busy as it is, I have mad respect for you.

 

When I think about these busy times being temporary, it makes me really appreciate the simple joys of motherhood, the funny moments, the tender things that they do. When you celebrate small victories and open your eyes to joy and goodness, it will be easy to find.

 

As Dr Seuss says... "There are so many things you can learn about. But... you'll miss the BEST THINGS if you keep your eyes shut"

 

Best to look out for the goods stuff!

 

HAPPY LIFE- Free printable

  Isn't this quote such a wonderful reminder of choosing the glass half full? You make the choice to be happy or unhappy. We all have to learn patience, perseverance, lessons in trials and consequences for choosing wrong. We can live our life waiting for things to turn out great for us, or we can open our eyes and see the simple joys that make for such a happy life. There is good all around. Simple blessings can be so easily overlooked and taken for granted. What kind of life are you making for yourself?    

This morning my Mom called and wanted to take the babies for the afternoon.

I snatched my Man and we went for an adventure.

We ran off to the forest to explore and enjoy the wonder of God's creations.

A simple day, but beauty filled. I just love being out in nature, it is soul food for me!

 

 

Oh Darling, lets be adventurers

I love adventuring with my family. While my husband was in school, we would find fun and inexpensive activities to take our children to do so that we didn't suffer from the "we're on a student budget and can't go anywhere" blues. I am so thankful for those times... because of them, little things are big things to us and our kids. They get so excited when we load up in the car and take them to explore in nature, on a hike or to a new place.

This weekend we were able to explore a new and stunning place we have never been.

Bloomington Lake!  I could hardly take in the beauty!

If you are looking for a fun and family friendly adventure with your crew, I highly recommend visiting here. Bring life jackets and swing off the rope swing into the lake, or pack a picnic and enjoy the scenery from the edges of the lake.

 It is heavenly.

Color on a rainy day

Today was rainy, and thundery and gray. It was quiet, and for several hours we didn't have power.

For some reason, I love storms. To me, they bring a comfort and a feeling of coziness. I took today's storm as an opportunity to get creative with my little ones. No TV, no electronics whatsoever. We had no choice but to bust out the puzzles, stamps and paints, books and rain boots. We played monster, ran through puddles, worm hunted and re connected. It was a wonderful and colorful day-

because we made it be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Rainy days are for pjs, big blankets, rubber boots, legos, worm hunts, yesterday's hair, lots and lots of books, paints, crayons and adventures.   Today was sweet, and I learned to let creative happen.  We depend much too much on unimportant things to entertain us.   Need something to help you feel creative? Make some moon sand! It's super fast and easy. Just mix 8 cups all purpose flour, and 1 cup baby oil. Mix with hands and play! I like to put it on a cookie sheet or 9x13 pan and give the kids cookie cutters and cups. Then they make moon sand castles.    

LET THEM BE LITTLE: Tricks to taking better pictures of your children

Over the last few years I have been learning more and more about photography. I started really loving photography after food blogging and learning how to stage pretty pictures and work with natural light. The more I used those tricks on my food, the more they spilled over into my other "everyday life" photography. The pictures of my kids started looking better. I wanted to share these tricks with you, so that you can better document the life around you that you never want to forget!  

Dinosaur Birthday Party {On a dime}

 

  My (not so) little Benson turned 5! We had a wonderful birthday, all in Dinosaur theme of course. I wanted to share my ideas with you, in case you have a dinosaur lover at your house!   The invitation: Designed in pic monkey with free clip art from google.  

I am Mother.

  In my home, I am baker. I am thrifter. I am saver. I am learner. I am teacher. I am lover. I am reader. I am Doctor. I am washer. I am folder. I am listener. I am worrier. I am organizer. I am table setter. I am crafter. I am dreamer. I am answerer. I am caretaker. I am comforter. I am friend. I am groomer. I am dragon(in more ways than one). I am writer. I am Mother.  I am Emily.   A few months ago I asked a friend to take pictures of me at work. Someday when my bear cubs grow up they will ask "Mom, what is your job?" I figure since a picture says a thousand words, why not show them.