BIG DEAL!!

All existing fans on facebook and new fans that book a photo session prior to 11/15 will receive 20% off their Christmas Card order! I am back from maternity leave and just opened a new studio on 84th St in Byron Center. Tons of Christmas Card options to choose from. Spots are filling up fast, so contact soon to reserve a time! Pass on to your friends! Email me to get the password to view my Christmas Cards!

Dylan's soccer

I am sorry that I haven't updated my blog in a very long time. But because of all the grief that I was given by a certain somebody...rob!...I will try my hardest to keep up to date, even if that means that my family doesn't get to eat that day, at least my blog will be updated! :)

Dylan played soccer for BC AYSO this fall and he took it very seriously. This picture shows it best, the kids on the team goofing around while Dylan is in the ready position waiting for the game to start.  
He was on the ground a lot, sometimes it was caused by others and sometimes he would just trip over the ball. Not sure what happened here but it doesn't look like there was anyone near him so it was probably the ball.
Here he is scoring one of his 4 goals that day. He improved SO much from the first week to the last, all the hard work and soccer drills we made him do every night paid off. :) 

Amaya's hospital stay.

This past weekend was spent in the hospital with Amaya. On Thursday night I noticed that a very fussy Amaya was kinda warm. I took her temp and at first it said 95.5, so I thought that she was fine. A little later she was grunting every breathe she took and then I really got nervous. I took her temp a second time and it was 101.5. Then I flipped out, called my sister in law, a nurse and she told me to take her in. I was really upset because of all the terrible stories that I have heard in the past when babies get fevers. So we took her in to the ER and when I was at the triage desk I explained the situation and the lady behind the counter very calmly picked up the phone and said, "Yea, we are going to have to put that person who just came by ambulance in the hall, we have a 4 weeker that needs the room. " As if I wasnt nervous already, they put us before someone that came in by ambulance!

So as they were walking us back into the room, we were thinking we would be there for a while before a doctor would be with us, thats how it normally goes. Much to our surprise there were 4-5 different drs and nurses that followed us in the room. At this point we were thinking that this was more serious than we thought at the beginning. They started explaining all the tests they would have to run and all the things they were going to be doing like a spinal tap, blood test, chest x-ray, and put in an IV. To add to that, they said that she would have to be admitted for at least 48 hours. SO for the following 3 days we were in the hospital watching Amaya get poked and bothered by everyone! All the tests came out negative, that meant what she had was NOT anything bacterial but some sort of virus that just had to run its course. Her fever stop on Saturday and Sunday morning we were able to take her home. It was one of the hardest things we have been through, and I still think about all the things that could have been. But now she is doing better and they only thing that is still lingering is a stuffy nose. She also has blisters all over her little buns, that was from the antibiotics that she was given at the hospital. The poor little thing! We thankful for all the prayers, phone calls and emails from people, we really appreciated knowing that there were so many people thinking of/praying for us and Amaya.

Here are some pics from in the hospital... 

Amaya Elizabeth

Ok, its taken me a while to actually get some pictures on my computer. Its been a little busy but here are a few of the newest member of our family, Amaya Elizabeth. She was born Aug 12 at 2:30 in the morning. I went into the hospital at about 7:00 that night and I thought she was for sure coming before midnight, but she didn't. It was a great surprise since I was CONVINCED that I was having a boy! I even had boy clothes all ready to go in the dresser. Then there was little Amaya, 6 lbs 10 oz, only 18.5 inches long, she is a peanut. She has been a great baby so far, doesnt cry much, which is completely different than her older sister. Dylan and Natters can not get enough of her, they are always kissing her and trying to help out. They both are adjusting in their own way, as good as can be expected. :)  A few minutes after she was born getting cleaned up.
the kids visiting us in the hospital and seeing Amaya for the first time.
Big brother kissing her. Every night before bed he says, "I love you Amaya" and kisses her on the head. How precious?!
Tim got his arm "stamped" with her foot prints. I love how it turned out in pictures. The nurse said that some people actually get that done and then go get a tatoo of them. Tim decided to pass on the tatoos.

This was our first attempt at pictures. She was not happy for most of them and for the rest her eyes were closed. But this one turned out, I'll try again tomorrow.

need some input

I need some opinions... which version of this picture do you like better? Its Natalie riding Maizey with her grandma walking along side of her. I love the color because you can see the different colors of the light coming in, but I like the sephia because it looks old fashion. Opinions? please share.

Wig time!

These pictures don't need much of an explanation. My grandma gave me this wig because one of her friends didn't want it anymore. Tim thought it was ridiculous that I took it, but I couldn't pass it up! So the kids love to put it on and make each other (and us) laugh and laugh. Here they are posing for the camera with the wig on. 

kid pics

I recently took some pictures of the kids in our new backyard! I love the fact that there is an open field right behind our house, it makes it much easier to do both indoor and outdoor pictures in one place. 

I love this picture, she is totally posing for the picture but is acting like she's not.
Dylan threw about 3 fits during the photo shoot, this is him pouting.

How cute is that?!
I love the way that Natalie is resting her head on his arm. She always poses like they are an engaged couple.