Seven

I know I must say this every year on her birthday, but she's just so much older this year.

From this morning:





And from her party this past weekend:













After throwing countless kids in the air, Joe was beat. :)

The trifecta is complete

As my neighbor said when little Miss E arrived last Saturday on her due date, with 58 minutes to spare. Three new babes in my cul-de-sac, all born within one month of each other. Really, I cannot wait to watch all of them grow up together. :)

She was perfectly squishy--just as I love them--and perfectly beautiful, too.

Because I can't stop listening to this...

Those iTunes commercials are killing me since I can't buy this until June 17th.

Coldplay – Viva La Vida

Can you believe...

That these two refused to let me come along on vacation with them this weekend?

Preschool graduation...

It's amazing how happy and proud you can be while simultaneously being so sad that his preschool/toddler/baby years have now officially ended...





Thank goodness he's got an October birthday and won't be headed off to preschool until he's nearly 4...

Who needs big smiles to be cute?

He asks, raising his eyes in that inquisitive (and adorable) way he looked at me all morning.

Mail order seedlings...

Those of you who work with me this summer might be lucky enough to get some homegrown (and organic!) peppers and tomatoes as part of your session. But, as much as I'm an optimist, don't completely count on it as my gardening record is not so, um, green.

Actually, other than hiring a gardener, I think I've actually got a Jen-proof method down. I purchased Earthboxes, which are these really cool containers that claim they cannot be over- or under-watered and self-feed themselves (the best part of all about that was that I didn't have to dig up my yard anywhere for a garden--and when we actually buid a deck, if this is a success, I plan to have a spot on the deck just for my Earthbox garden); and an automatic watering system. See, Jen-proof. As long as I don't need to water it and can't overwater it, I think I'm set.

These are the last seedlings to go in, which I had shipped to me from an organic seedling company in California. I've gone completely nuts--trust me, for someone with as poor of a record of gardening as I have, I don't know what I'm thinking, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Here's what been and being planted: strawberries (haven't killed them yet--I've got green ones!); beans; peas; tomatoes (roma paste, a few heirlooms, cherry); peppers (red, green, purple!); squash (butternut, acorn, butterstick, zucchini); cucumbers; eggplant; melons; and herbs.

Pictures of my success (or lack thereof) to come; and any gardening/growing tips/good luck appreciated. :)

Brown-eyed girl

Oh my goodness.

When I first showed up this morning and met little Miss E, I was immediately blown away by her eyes. They're just so full of soul and honesty. She was such an amazing little girl to photograph. I love them at two: They're just them.









The color today was amazing thanks to all of the rain we've been having, but I know her mom wants some B&Ws, so I can't resist but share this one with those beautiful eyes...

Honestly...

Have you ever seen a cuter alert newborn? I was thrilled to get such great eye contact.





But I couldn't resist lulling him to sleep, either.



He was as sweet as he looks. :)

Is that the smell of coffee and burnt pancakes?

Which must mean it's Mother's Day morning.



The one day a year Joe uses his chemistry degree, somewhat unsuccessfully, but with my sincere and heartfelt appreciation.

Happy Mother's Day. :)