Before and After

On a random day in March, I took Gavin to get his first hair cut. He had cute curls in the back and I was very tempted to keep them. However, he started to have that 'mullet' look, and I couldn't stand it any longer. He still has his curls on top and looks quite cute I must say!

Gavin turns 2 years on April 21st! I can't believe he's nearly two already! We've been talking about and had a few tries with the 'big potty', and he likes the idea of getting a "deedee" (the way he says candy) if he is successful at it (bribery works very well in this case)! I'll be so happy once we're through with diapers! :)

HO HO HO!

Gavin likes this guy, but not upclose-this is classic!

Four Little Monkies Jumping on the Bed.....

I decided to post our Christmas letter and some current pictures to most of our family (and some friends that may check back to this blog every now and then). If you're really wanting a picture to put on the fridge, then I'll mail you one :) I know all my parents have requested one, and honestly I've been trying since August to get all my boys to be in a picture together without one of them making a funny face or moving-I tried again the other night and kinda got one, not frame worthy, but at least they're all in it!

What a long, strange year it’s been…

January—we started this year excited to see the realization of a 3-year pursuit come true. Jody started recruit training for the Bellevue Fire Department. After all the classes, volunteering, and constant testing, it appeared to have all paid off. He lasted all of 7 weeks before being sent packing along with one other recruit. Unbelievably disappointing to say the least.

February—this month has fewer days than the others.

March—Stacie turned 33. To celebrate this (and all the unexpected free time Jody had) she decides to jumpstart a long overdue dream of becoming a photographer. Evidently not only does life take Visa but so do the folks that sell really expensive cameras and lenses and flashes and memory cards and website templates and can you tell how supportive her husband is when he doesn’t have a job?!

April—question: what do you do if you lose your job, don’t work for a month, and decide to start a new business? Go to Maui, of course! We took Gavin (almost 1 at the time) to Maui for 8 days. We hadn’t been back since we left in February of 1999. We stayed at a decent place and caught up with old friends. Jody read “Atlas Shrugged.” It has over 1200 pages. He read them all. Stacie took pictures of Gavin eating sand.

May—Jody ran the inaugural Tacoma marathon. This was not a good idea. Luca breaks his arm jumping off the trampoline in the backyard. There’s a play by play account of the whole event at http://wilkinscreative.com/ if you’re interested.

June—the 3rd of June is one of the most popular dates mentioned in popular music songs. I bet you’re already humming “Desiree” in your head before you finish this sentence.

July—Stacie gets referrals (Thanks Troy and Jana!) to do 2 weddings. She buys Jody a camera of his own and asks him to come. This cheers him up a great deal. His pictures are blurry and their “styles are totally different” she says.

August—Jody turns 36, Caleb turns 8. With Luca (6 on July 12), they throw a 3-way combo birthday party at the Super Jump Party Zone. They each invite 3 friends and the friends’ families.

September—morn, we danced until the night became a brand new day. Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play. September mornings still can make me feel this way.

October—for Halloween, Caleb was Obi Wan, Luca was a SWAT team member, Atticus was Venom, and Gavin was a frog.

November— this is crazy: the really nice neighbor that sold us the trampoline a couple years ago offered us his house. No lie. He’s a cabinet maker and he remodeled this house at the end of our street. Stacie went and looked and came back smiling

December—we are preoccupied with the idea of moving. We look forward to a new year in a new house with a growing new business. Merry Christmas- The Wilkins

Happy Thanksgiving--2007

For My Family

Luca on his first day of first gradeAtti-close up and sideways :)
Home with mommy means the camera may come out! The day of shots, he got four plus the prick on his finger...
Finding and then soaking up the sun, anywhere you can find it here in WA during these months.
The best husband and daddy in the world! He's our rock!

For My Family

Luca and Gavin, snuggled in watching a movie one night.
Ok, you can't see it, but Luca lost his first tooth, I'll have to find the picture that shows the hole! :)
Big brothers attack Gavin with kisses! Look at that pucker of Luca's!
Atticus on his first day of pre-K this September.

Caleb on his first day of third grade.

Gavin's Storyboard

It worked! I tried making a story board and it worked, now I can have fun with more! I haven't posted in a long time, for it is good news that I have been editing and trying to figure out photoshop. I am done with editing our busy August events (5 total) and am looking forward to the three portrait sessions I have this month!

This is our cutie, Gavin at the pumpkin patch the other day. He's now 17 months old! I love this age, so cute imitading our family gestures, and repeating words.



Gotta get back to lovin and bathin my little guy now...

Luca turns 6 years old!

I'll start with dessert!
Happy birthday sweet boy. I hope all your wishes come true! I love you!

I can't believe our second son is already 6 years! We like to spend the day alone with the birthday boy, and this year Luca wanted to go see the Troll under Hyw 99 in Wallingford, go out to lunch with my sister, his tata Kellie, and go see a few friends that live in the city before going back to celebrate with cupcakes. Whew, what a fun day! A refreshing strawberry lemonade at Cheesecake Factory!
Two peas in a pod....Luca and Kellie

The TROLL and.......... luca. Deep in thought
Luca and daddy.

4th of JULY

We spent our fourth of July at our Grannie's house in Astoria, OR. Going to Gran's seems to put us at ease. We visited our favorite spots, the beach of course, the indoor swimming pool, local fish n chips and plenty of walks along the water front early in the morning (with a cup of Starbucks for mom and dad of course). Here are a few pics of our stay. Gavin at 14 1/2 months
Luca (two weeks away from 6 yrs old) and Caleb 7 (8 yrs in August). Caleb giving me the look for wanting a picture. I tried to get one of all four boys so I could update Gran's fridge but it didn't work out.
Gavin, oh what a cutie! I love him! :)
Jody and Gavin, my other cutie.
Atticus, he turned 4 years in April. Boy, he dodged the camera all weekend, so this was the best shot Jody got of him! He's a stinker-those third borns, like father like son! :)

Our "Nieces"

Chloe
Lili and Chloe to meet up with big sister, Sasha.
Close up of Sasha
Lili
Chloe

I had these three beauties for a week. They are technically Jody's second cousins. Their parents went on a cruise, so I volunteered to watch them while they were celebrating their anniversary. We had 7 kiddos in this house, and it was fun to have some girls running around with our four boys.

I'm sure I'll put up more pictures as I have time. I'm hoping to mess around with a few of them on photoshop to print them out for their mama and papa!

Family Rules and Mission statement

I found this from a photographer's blog, and wanted to post it. As a mommy, I am always thinking of ways I can cut down on repeating myself about certain household expectations. I think most parents can relate to this, right?! :) I don't WANT to be repeating myself for fearing I sound like a nag, plus, I get tired of hearing MYSELF say the same things, AND I think 3 out of the 4 boys are old enough to remember most of our "house rules". I resist the word "rules" though, so I wanted to come up with a list of desires and teachings that my husband and I want our boys to be raised with knowing. I also wanted to create a family mission statement. I am working on both of these things. So, when I came across this list of things to remember as husband and wife, I thought that these things too can be applied to the whole family.



Here's the blog I found it on, www.http://cameroningalls.blogspot.com/2007/06/love-is-communication.html


tCommunication Guidelines (stolen from some premarital book that I don’t know the name of)

1. Be a ready listener, and do not answer until the other person has finished talking (Proverbs 18:13; James 1:19).

2. Be slow to speak. Think first. Don’t be hasty in your words. Speak in such a way that the other person can understand and accept what you say (Proverbs 15:23; Proverbs 18:2; Proverbs 29:20).

3. Don’t go to bed angry! Each day, clear the offenses of that day. Speak the truth, but do it in love. Do not exaggerate (Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 4: 25-26).

4. Do not use silence to frustrate the other person. Explain why you are hesitant to talk at this time (Proverbs 15:28; 16:23).

5. Do not become involved in heated disputes. It is possible to disagree without attacking (Proverbs 14:29; 15:1; 25:15; 29:11).

6. Do not respond in uncontrolled anger. Use a kind response and a soft tone voice (Proverbs 14:29; 15:1; 25:15; 29:11).

7. When you are wrong, admit it, ask for forgiveness and then ask how you can change (Proverbs 12:15; 16:2; 21:2; Matthew 5:23-25).

8. When someone confesses a wrong to you, tell that person you forgive him/her. Be sure it is forgiven and not brought up again to that person, to others or to yourself (Luke 17:3-4; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).

9. Avoid nagging (Proverbs 10:19; 21:19; 27:15).

10. Do not blame or criticize the other person. Instead, restore, encourage and edify (Romans 14:13; Galatians 6:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:11).

11. If someone verbally attacks, criticizes or blames you, do not respond in the same manner (Romans 12:17, 21; 1 Peter 2:23; 1 Peter 3:9).

12. Try to understand the other person’s opinions. Make allowances for differences (Ephesians 4:2; 1 Peter 2:23; 1 Peter 3:9).

13. Be concerned about the other person’s interest (Philippians 2:4).

14. Do not gossip (Proverbs 17:9; 18:8; 20:19; 26:22).

Obviously, nobody is perfect, and we're all learning here, right?! I think to learn to communicate effectively is healthy, and a wonderful tool when dealing with the "real world", and all the different people we encounter, or future spouse (in our children's case).

Those Eyes!

Gavin, such a one year old look.

Nap Time

Atticus and Luca about to nap in mama's and daddy's bed!

Well sort of...How are we to sleep if you're taking pictures of us? :)

These will look nice as B/W, but I couldn't resist putting them up!

Catching Up!

ok, so the focus was on Caleb,but the look on Gavin's face is just too sweet. Caleb was kissing on him.

sorry about the picture not being rotated, these are straight out of the camera and I haven't touched the folder yet...

He loved the sand, he was actually eating it! His squinty eyes say it all!
Ok, I am way behind on this blog. I've attempted to make an update, but get side tracked trying to create a different look to it, but then frustrated that what's in my mind and with the limits of this blog, I can't seem to create. Plus, I noticed that when I upload pics using Picasa, it freaks out and doesn't work all the time, so now I will go back and try to fix those pictures again. But before that I'd like to post some of our trip to Maui and of Gavin's first birthday.

Jody and I spent 8 days in Maui (with Gavin) in the beginning of April. We had a great time, arguing, making-up, sleeping in (sort of) lounging and visiting a few old friends we made when we lived there in 1998.

Gavin turned 1 year on April 21st, 2007. He took his first steps in Maui a week before his birthday, but is just now liking to get around on his own. Everyday he takes a bigger challenge getting around by foot, but still crawling is much faster! :)

We also had the first time experience of one of our boys breaking a bone! Luca was running away from Jody during a game of family ball tag, jumped off the trampoline to land on his left elbow. He was such a brave and strong boy through it all. He only has to have the cast on for 4 weeks, which will be up late next week! He has learned to tie his shoes, put on a shirt and button his pants with the use of nearly one hand! :) He said the first thing he wants to do is ride his bike, when the cast comes off.

Jody and I are excited to start our photography business. Sounds so formal saying "business" but I'm thrilled with the whole process. We have been given a gift put right in our laps by our friend from college. She and her husband have had a wonderful and quite successful photography business grow in the last 4 1/2 years. Something of a gift to them as well, that grew unexpectedly, and through some heart aches. Her story is very tender and inspiring.

They have asked us to shadow them through this wedding season, in hopes of becoming one of their associate teams.

As most of my friends and family know, photography has been a long time hobby of mine and a hobby that would one day turn into a full time job. Being a stay at home mommy since 1999, the last few years I have spent thinking of something that would allow me to be creative and produce something that I enjoyed. Photography is that for me and starting the business side of it feels good, like the timing of my motivation and willingness to take a risk are merging at the same time! Jody's up for it too, by the way. Over our 13 years of marriage, he's been the one to suggest, encourage and support whatever it took for me to feel happy and healthy!

So in the next couple of months we hope to have a website up, business cards and our name out there....stacielee photography! Jody suggested me using my maiden name.

And if all goes well, we are working on building a new two car garage that will allow us to have an office above the garage (Jody could then work from home everyday), and a studio unit that will triple as a place to welcome visitors a place to stay, an extra room to entertain, and a photography studio. It will have a small kitchen, bathroom/walk in closet and then the main room, opening up to our backyard.

How are they doing all this you wonder? Me too, believe me.....I've learned that you have to try to find out. We're going one step at a time, deciding if we can do the next step with the creative resources we can come up with. We're selling stuff we don't need, including the truck. We're hoping that things will come along with photography, too. It won't bring in a ton over night, but over the next few years I hope we'll be able to depend on it.

Whew, that was a lot of catching up!

Oh-so much joy to you all! Stacie

Details

Here's our collection of eggs!
And of course Gavin had to get his hands on them...
Messy hands, but loads of fun!