Friday, December 31, 2010

What's the New Year going to bring?

Bring on 2011!!  We have decided to spend New Year's with our boys at home. We have stayed at home the past couple of years and it was nice. We play games and watched movies and just spent time together and ring in the New Year together. Both of the boys can hold up all night, which they try to keep going until the wee hours of the morning.

For the New Year I hope for my family and friends to be happy and healthy. I want some things to change for myself and have decided to make those changes , not only because its a new year, just because I feel like a new year is a fresh start. I want to be a better mother, wife, cousin,granddaughter, sister, friend, and a better person all around. I have been blessed with everything He has given me. i plan to be more faithful to Him for he is the reason my life has worked out as well as it has.



From our family to yours' HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

It's Over??

Well Christmas was a HUGE success. As I look back on these last few days, I remember the joy, laughter, and love of being with family and friends. We laughed and cried this past week. My vacation week- sad things happened as well a lot of happy things. Trevor got his 4-wheeler and that was worth the wait. The look on his face was priceless. Now every time we ask him to take out the trash on Christmas morning, I hope he doesn't expect a huge gift waiting for him. I don't think we can keep that one going.

We had such a great time being with family. Now it's come to an end and its bittersweet. I'm a little sad for Christmas to be over and a little happy to see what the New Year's going to bring. We have a lot planned for the Spring and Summer and I can't wait. Baseball, our second career, is right around the corner. Trevor is ready for that. We miss our baseball family.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I know we did.

PS.. I got my Silver jeans I've wanted forever!!!!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Ready for Christmas!!

We only have a few days left before the guy in red suit arrives.  We are almost ready. I only have a few more gifts to buy.I'll probably be one of the crazies  people shopping on Christmas Eve. Trevor and Trace are ready. Ready to be with family and open all of their gifts. To be honest, I can't wait either. My favorite is watching the looks on their faces while opening all the presents.

Christmas at our house is very traditional. Growing up we did it a lot differently that Troy's family. When i was a kid, we opened our gifts a few days before Christmas, so I never really got to experience the "Christmas morning." All of Troy's family gather on Christmas Eve to eat, open gifts, and just be together. It;s so much fun and its one of the things that I look forward to every year. We did that long ago with my whole family until my parents divorced and then my aunts and uncles went their separate ways. I'm not really sure why it happened, but it did and it made me sad.I missed all of them at Christmastime.

I want my kids to know the real reason of Christmas and they do. Christmas morning we always sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and they understand its the season for giving. We always choose a family to give to and I try to teach them the importance of giving to less unfortunate. Trevor has it down... Trace, not so much.

I want everyone to have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Enjoy the time you spend with your family and friends. Don't take the moments for granted and enjoy the presence of family and love for your family. Jesus is the reason we all celebrate Christmas and that should NEVER be forgotten.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.. We are jumping for joy at our house!!


Saturday, December 4, 2010

Decisions Decisions

i am a 30 year old { i shutter at that number} mother of two.... and why can't I make decisions??? Troy is usually good at pulling me out on this. If I can't make a decision then he makes it. Thanks, honey. But I'm getting so frustrated with myself. I just want to be able to say yes or no and mean it. I go back and forth.  Maybe I think too much??? yes, that's it I'm a thinker, that's good, right?

Tonight we had made plans with some friends, and I changed them twice within a couple hours!! You see, both Troy and I had to work today, so I thought it would be best that we just stay at home with our boys. but then, we both wanted to go, and then we didn't and then we did, and then he didn't know what time he would get off from work and now he can make it. You liked that run on sentence, didn't you?  So now, we are going and I still feel a little guilty about it. I haven't been with my boys all day and won't be with them all night. Parents need their time alone sans kids. Some might not agree and that's fine and there are some that don't have their kids at all on the weekends... they need to be put in check... that's another post though.  I love my husband and we have a good time together, so we need our nights out every once in a blue moon. If you know us, then you know that our lives revolve around our boys. So its nice to be able to have a night out with my hubby and our friends. I can't wait! Now I hope I don't change my mind before we get there.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

McElyea Clan

Meet the McElyeas { my awesome uncle, aunt, and cousins} We met today to get some family photos that were looong over due. We all are guilty of that, right?  We had such a good time. We laughed so hard.  They are an awesome family and I'm so proud that I'm part of it.

* Thank you so much for letting me do this. I had a blast.
I'm only going to put a couple up... Don't want to spoil the Christmas card pic.
 
This one above is one of my very favorites. Its a family sharing true laughter. They didn't know I was shooting this one. I love to see families that can laugh togther, it makes it all so much better.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Kilee +Chandler+Grayson

What started out to be what I thought was going to be a cold rainy day.. turned out to be a perfect day for pictures. I met up Talisha and Myka { my cousins} on Saturday. We didn't start the day out as planned. When I got there Myka had locked her 4 month old in the car..... LOL. She was fine of course. She was asleep. Anyway Murfreesboro's finest came out and unlocked it..she was unharmed :).

Grayson was my first subject. With that baby doll face and those beautiful eyes... he takes after the McElyea side with all of those beautiful features. His Papa would have been proud. He wasn't fully awake yet and couldn't get him to smile for anything.

Meet Kilee, she's a free spirit and 100 % girly girl. Such a sweet smile and full of energy.


Then there's Chan Man aka. Chandler. Boy oh boy was he not happy with me and my camera. I tried and tried to get good shots of him, but he wanted no part of it. Finally, I had to play peek-a-boo with him and got some good ones. He's such a sweet boy with that gorgeous smile and those baby blues.



Myka and Talisha~ Thank you so much for letting capture your precious babies' smiles and laughter. I had a great time with you guys. I hope that we can do it again..minus all the kid-locked-up-in-the-car drama. :) I love you guys.




Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Tosha + Ashley





Meet tosha and ashley,,, they are fun girls, they are silly and so much fun to be around, and they are runners and half- marathon doers {is that a word?}. We took a drive to downtown Nashville to do a photo shoot before their big Women's Half Marathon {Tosha's very first one}. It was so much fun- lots of belly aching laughter. Here are a few pictures from that day. Girls- I had so much fun with you two and I hope we can do it again when y'all do a FULL 26.2 mile marathon

Photography

I've had a few requests here lately for some photo sessions. I love photos and taking them. Its so much fun to look back at all the memories. This has become a "side job" for me and I love every minute of it. I love the way the world looks through a lens. So if you are interested in letting me being a part of your memories; please contact me.  Details are as follows :  
  •  2 hour session 75.00
  • includes a CD with all images {editing included}
* Please feel free to make suggestions on locations or we can decide together on a location.
* I only do natural lighting photography, so we'll always be outdoors.
* Bring extra clothing so, we can get a variety of poses and backgrounds. {Just to change it up a bit}
* Large groups are welcomed {and encouraged} price is per family.

Look me up on facebook.



Contact info - april.blansett@hotmail.com

or 615-796-3217

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Christmastime!!

Yesterday I done a little shopping for Christmas decorations! Looking at all the decorations and other stuff made me so excited. I can't wait until it gets here. When it's gets closer I'll be ready for it to be over and ready for summer again, that's how I work. I can't help it. I get all excited and then it starts to get crazy-the crowds, the weather, the confusion in stores, all of it. People just lose their minds when it's the holidays. We always go to my in-laws for Christmas Eve... that.is.crazy. By the end of the night I am happy to see everyone leave and then a few stay back and we sit and chat {that's nice} and then get ready for Santa. When I was little we hard;y ever opened gifts on Christmas morning. We always opened them  a few days before, or sometimes a few weeks before. I'm glad that my married family keeps up with tradition. I like it that way. Every Christmas morning we spend at home and I like that. Santa comes to our house and then makes a stop at Nanny's house. Either way you celebrate, I enjoy the holidays and being with my family. I hope everyone has a joyous holidays season.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Something I love to do... photography


When I was a kid I always had a camera in my hand. I would take pictures of my dolls, pets, family, and anything else I found interesting. I just love it. I haven't stopped taking pictures ever since. I have boxes and boxes full of pictures. When Troy and I started dating he bought me a new camera every year until my taste in cameras became too expensive...  the camera that I currently own suits me just fine. which there is one in particular that I've had my eye on, wink wink. Now that I have two boys I enjoy photography even more. I don't like the OK-look- at-the-camera-be-still-and-say-cheese kind of photos; i like my photos being taken in the person's own element. I like natural smiles and laughter.  { you should see Trevor's fake smile, bless it.} I let my boys just play and I snap away. That's the best pictures ever! These are a few pictures I've taken here recently at Trace's baseball game. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

i had to share this one, too. It's trace's buddy and one of my favorite shots of him... look at those eyes

My Babies.....

Trace is our baby, he's the last child we'll probably have, unless God has other plans for us in mind. When he hits a milestone, it's bittersweet. I'm happy and sad all the same time. When Trevor hit a milestone  we were so happy. With Trace its different. Not that I'm not happy, its just that its a sign that my baby boy,my last born, my Boog is growing up and there will be no more babies. When Trevor started school I was scared   excited for him. When Trace started I cried, but soon got over that. There's just a difference.

 In September, I took the boys to the dentist for their regular cleanings. the dentist was checking Trace's teeth and said " Uh- Oh, we got a lose tooth, Mom."  What? My baby has a lose tooth?!? This can't be, he's just too young. After that i never mentioned it to him again, never tried to think about my baby losing his very first tooth. Last night, he came home and said " MOM! My tooth is loose!!!" I watched him try to yank it out wiggle it loose and seeing the determination in his face; he wanted the tooth fairy to come see him so badly. Trevor tried to give him some " big brother advice" on how to pull a tooth out. I laughed and then I felt tears well up in my eyes as I realized that my babies were growing up. One day they won't need me to wipe away thier tears. They won't need me to kiss thier boo-boos or put a band-aid on to make it all better. They won't need me to rock them  to sleep or tuck them in  bed. I love to hear my boys laugh and play, it's the best sound ever.

 I don't know why Trace's loose tooth set my emotions in action, but I know one thing as long as I'm living they'll always be my babies.


                                                        I love you, Babies