Day 28, 29 & 30

Dear Diary,

Here are the final days of Photo A Day June.

Thursday, June 28th: On The Shelf

Books are extremely important in this house. Addalyn could spend her entire day being read to and flipping through the books herself. She has an entire bookcase full of books, and this is the overflow shelf. She loves each and every one of them and every new book bought my as well be gold with how excited she gets.

Friday, June 29th: Soft

I had a hard time with this day. Either that or I was just getting sick of Photo A Day June itself. So "Soft" is represented by Garrett's beard. He has been sporting the beard for some time now and I guess I have gotten so used to it that I don't even realize it's there anymore.

Saturday, June 30th: Friends

We spent the weekend with family. My best friends are my family members so it felt appropriate to take a picture of the crew!

And that is that - 30 Days of June represented by a photo. I have to say I enjoyed it and even though "Photo A Day July" was tempting, I think I'll take a break. Now I'll be back to taking pictures just for the reason of taking pictures, not because I need to capture the theme of the day.Plus, I kind of miss writing regular blog entries.

Sincerely Yours,

Day 25, 26 & 27

Dear Diary,

Photo A Day June for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Monday, June 25th: Something Cute

What is cuter than a baby butt? TWO baby butts!

Tuesday, June 26th: Where You Shop

Other "Photo A Day" participates probably have fun places pictured for this day. Not me. Why? Because I don't shop at fun places. Why not? Because I am always shopping here, my neighborhood Price Chopper. These people see me AT LEAST 4 times a week. Even when I am on my A Game and get my weekly shopping done in one trip, I always foget something or we run out of milk OR it's one of those "have to have icecream" nights.

Wednesday, June 27th: Bathroom

Addalyn brushing her teeth. Since potty training has completed, you never know what you're going to find her doing in there. She goes up to pee and the next thing I know it's been 10 minutes and she has hairties, toothbrushes, and kleenex spread all over the counter and the water continously running. The bathroom has become her sactuary.

Sincerely Yours,

Day 22, 23 & 24

Dear Diary,

The past 3 days of Photo A Day June...

Friday, June 22nd: From A High Angle

Addy and I spent a good portion of our afternoon coloring on Friday while Olivia napped. My little lefty is getting pretty good. And this ol' righty did a good number on that cat in sunglasses if I do say so myself...

Saturday, June 23rd: Movement

Beckett's Birthday Party resulted in lots of bubble blowing. Kids never get sick of popping bubbles!

Sunday, June 24th: On My Mind

Do I want a new hairstyle? I ask myself this far too often and it's always a debate. I try to grow it out longer, I hate it. I make up my mind that I want to cut it shorter, I chicken out. I consider getting some highlights, I decide I don't want to keep up with it. So here I am, in the heat of summer, thinking that cutting it short is the best way to go. I am in love with pixie cuts and if it wasn't for my husband not being crazy about them AND the fact that if I don't like it I will be spending a long time growing it out again, I would have done it a long time ago. I am sure I'll think about it for a few more weeks and then get the usual trim like I always get and wear the same hairstyle I have had for the past 4 years. I. Am. So. Boring

Sincerely Yours,

Day 18, 19, 20 & 21

Dear Diary,

Photo A Day June Continues...

Monday, June 18th: Something You Don't Know About Me

I have started running regularly (3-4 times a week) and I have to admit that I hate it just as much today as I did the first day I started. That being said, every time I add a half mile to my route or improve my pace, I feel fantastic. My health will thank me someday...

Tuesday, June 19th: Imperfect

I take pride in keeping my house as tidy as possible, ESPECIALLY the playroom. You would probably even find it comical at how many times a day I clean it up or get onto the girls for getting too many toys out at once. Half the time I am putting toys away as they're getting them out. But, some days I just can't keep up, making my clean, tidy, PERFECT playroom pretty imperfect.

Wednesday, June 20th: Favorite Photo Taken

I think this was supposed to be my favorite photo I have EVER taken, which seemed silly to me because that is not really a "Photo-A-Day" category. Not to mention it would be near impossible to pick just one out of EVERY photo I have ever taken. So I decided to put my favorite photo taken this week. Not that it's a great photo itself but the story behind it is. For some reason I have never been able to get my girls on the same napping schedule. Sometimes I can get maybe a 30 minute overlap, but most days one is awake while the other is sleeping. Olivia has taken it upon herself to get revenge on her sister every time she catches her napping. It never fails, Addy falls asleep on the couch and minutes later Liva climbs on up, snuggles in, and pokes, hits, pulls hair or just stares at me with an evil grin as she decides her next plan of attack. Thankfully Addy is a heavy sleeper like her Father and I can usually grab her before the torture becomes too much to endure.

Thursday, June 21st: Where I Slept

Pretty cut and dry. I slept in my bed. A bed that gets made every single morning (huge pet peeve).

Sincerely Yours,

Day 14, 15, 16 & 17

Dear Diary,

I took a break yesterday to post about Father's Day, but today I am back on track with my Photo A Day Challenge.

Thursday, June 14th: Time

Thursday was spent at a new park which always seems to be a workout for me - chasing kids, climbing playground equipment, walking for long periods of time in the heat... but it always results in a guaranteed afternoon of napping. And both girls at the same time, which rarely happens, so it is a nice trade off.

Friday, June 15th: Yellow

Cookout at Ryan and Laura's equals catching yellow butt lightning bugs with a yellow shirt Aunt Chelsea! (Super convenient shirt choice on Chelsea's part because my other "Yellow" picture for Friday wasn't nearly as good)

Saturday, June 16th: Out And About

Chicken Philly Sandwich at yummy Pepperjax's Grill, followed by a family park night.

Sunday, June 17th: In Your Bag

The usual: Keys, wallet, the girl's sunglasses, someones headband and wipes... always wipes.

Sincerely Yours,

"Happy Birthday Balentines, Daddy!" - Addy Borsyfe

Dear Diary,

Last year, on Father's Day, I wrote an entry about my Dad. And while he is still the best Dad a girl could ask for, I think I will spend this Father's Day talking about another awesome Dad, my husband.

I have to be honest and admit that when we were pregnant with Addalyn, I wasn't sure what kind of a Father Garrett would be. We dated for 6 years before we got married and waited another year before getting pregnant and in all those years I can hardly remember a time where I saw Garrett interact with children. It wasn't until my nephew was born (3 months before Addy) when I saw his true colors shine through. I was shocked to see him hold a baby. I was touched to see him tickle and tease when he had a chance. And I was completely taken back to witness how much Garrett Forsythe loved little kids.

On September 10th, 2009 I got to see Daddy Forsythe in full action. Everyone talked about how fast I'd fall in love with my new baby when she was born., but nobody told me that I would fall even more in love with my husband that day, and every day to follow as well.

I can't speak for a wife to a Father of boys, because we don't have boys. I imagine the Father/Son relationship to be the kind where you wrestle when they're toddlers, teach them how to throw a baseball when they are 5, remind them how to treat a lady when they are entering their teens, and spending the remainder of their years showing them how to fix things like cars and broken appliances.

I never in my wildest dreams imagined what it would be like to watch Garrett be a Father of girls but it is the absolute greatest thing to witness each and every day. I get to watch him do things like play in a pink and purple playhouse, hide underneath the covers when they are trying to scare Mom, buy a new dress because it was on sale, master the art of a ponytail, say the word "panties" and not laugh about it, give a million baby girl hugs and kisses a day, bring home princess dolls and hair accessories from business trips and use words like beautiful and pretty and cute to describe just about everything under the sun. And I gotta say, I have never found my husband more attractive than in these situations.

I look forward to how Garrett "The Father of Teenagers," acts, or Garrett "The Father of the Bride," or even what Garrett "The Grandpa" will be like. I have no doubt he will knock my socks off at each bridge we cross and I couldn't be more excited to watch it (especially those teenage years, yowza).

If my words didn't do the man justice, then maybe a visual will. Pictures of my guy with my girls will never get old...

God is Good! I Love My Life!

Sincerely Yours,

Day 11, 12 & 13 (Plus Extras)

Dear Diary,

Photo A Day June... and some "Extras"

Monday, June 11th: Door

We headed to the Library on Monday to return our books and pick out new ones. There seemed to be a ghost trend in Addalyn's picks. She insisted on Casper the Friendly Ghost as her movie of choice and we also snagged a book titled, The Hungry Ghost (Which is not a very good book if I do say so myself. What is hard about writing children's books? I could whip one up in no time, AND it would rhyme).

Tuesday, June 12th: From A Low Angle

During nap time on Tuesday afternoon, Addy opted for a game of Memory instead. She is getting pretty good. And yes, we cheer after each and every match made.

Wednesday, June 13th: Art

This photo gallery of family pictures in my living room was one of the first things I put on the wall after moving in 3 1/2 years ago. The photos inside the frames were taken about the same time - Christmas 2008ish. Since the family has had 2 marriages and 4 kids since then, I decided the photos needed to be updated. And with Baby Coomes on the way, I had to use a filler photo until November when he/she makes their arrival. As mentioned before, I am big on using pictures as art and decor in my house. Who wouldn't want to stop and look at these gorgeous faces? =)

Below are a couple of "extra" photos taken this week. They didn't really fit in with June's Photo A Day criteria but I thought I needed to document them nonetheless.

Garrett was gone for an overnight for work so the girls and I had the house to ourselves. Addy woke up in the middle of the night complaining of monsters which woke Olivia up in return. So I threw Olivia in bed with Addy and climbed on in myself (I admit I didn't mind since I was missing my bed buddy). This is what I woke up to the next morning...

And on Tuesday, the girls were asked to participate in a photo shoot for KNOTS - where we always buy headbands for the girls - taken by photographer Kenny Felt. It was a fun morning and all the kiddos looked really cute modeling their headbands and hats. I snapped a quick photo but I also included one of the edited shots from the photographer...

As for today, I am trying to come up with something to do. The only things we've done this week is errand running so I think the girls are due for a fun afternoon. It may just be a park kind of day, but maybe my mind will think up something new to do instead. You never know what is going to happen around here...

Sincerely Yours,