go check out...

...this cutie newborn.

Happy Monday!!

5 random things i like

Okay, this blog has just been too boring lately, so I decided to post 5 random things that I like and are inspiring me. Enjoy!




1. This DIY Ruffle tea towel. So cute and easy, and what a simple way to add some color and fun to your kitchen. I'll be making some of these for my new kitchen for sure!




2. As soon as I have an address, I'll be subscribing to this magazine. It looks fabulous and oh, so inspiring!




3. How stinkin' cute are these pom pom lights? For a wedding, a baby shower, a bedroom...oh, the possibilities!




4. Have you checked out the Salt & Prep blog? It's lots of fun if you're looking for fashion and photography inspiration. So cool!




5. And last but not least, I'm loving this etsy shop. If my husband would let buy an ipad (hint, hint) I would be getting one of these adorable little cases to go with it. So cute!





So there ya go. 5 random things that are making me happy on this rainy July day!



Be back soon!
Tal:)

(P.S. I have a sweet newborn up on my photography blog. Getting caught up on all of my June photoshoots!)

it's been too long!

(taken with the self-timer on my point and shoot)

I always have a hard time blogging when I've left it for too long! So I don't even know where to begin with the "catch-up" other than we've moved, we're staying here at my mom and dad's till our new house is ready, and it's over for now! Heehee!

This picture is of our little family in our empty family room that we spent the most of our time in. I admit, I got a little teary-eyed as we were saying goodbye to our house and watching the girls run around in their empty rooms, but it's all good. We are excited for our new house and for all that's to come...and I always say that change is good.

Summer is already in full swing. School is finally over (YAY!!!) and I've already been on a camping trip and back (yes, ME camping!) and we're off to spend the week with Graham's family. I just know that this summer is going to go by too fast, so I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts! We're nice and settled at my mom's, the girls are having fun being at Nana's, and I'm looking forward to some photoshoots and a bunch of editing that I need to do from last month. So, we are busy but happy!

I'll try to post again soon with some more exciting stuff, but that's all for now!

Happy July!!!

T:)

and just a few more...

...because I can't handle their cuteness. And because getting dressed up in your costume and dancing on stage is like, a really big deal.



Oh, and because my blog has been so boring lately. (wink)










I am so lucky to have these two! They are so much fun and are the best big sisters to Kherington. And they have been sooooo patient with me these last few weeks as I've been packing up the house and having constant photoshoots. They are awesome. Actually, sidenote...just this morning as I was working on some pictures Payton asked me, "Mommy, are you still going to be a photographer in the new house?" Haha! I dunno why, I just thought that was so funny!



I am on the homeward stretch to getting this house all packed up. I've been throwing things away, packing things up and organizing like crazy. It is alot of work, but I love the feeling that everything that we're taking to the new house is stuff we actually want and need. No more junk! Feels good. I don't care what anyone says, moving really is the only way to get rid of everything that you don't need. I would never have the energy to clean out every nook and cranny otherwise! So, Tuesday is the big day, and then we'll be staying with my parents until our new house is ready...hopefully sometime in August. Luckily it's summer and we don't have to worry about schedules, we'll just be playin'. So we are all excited.



Wish me luck and let's get summer goin'!



Tal:)

splish splash!

And let's not forget about little Miss Gabby in her costume as well! She was soooo cute and was so awesome on stage this weekend. A natural, I tell ya! It was funny, 'cause she's still at the age where they're still supposed to follow their teacher, but you never really know what's going to happen...but she did great and even whipped out a few crazy spins. Loved it!

(and I love her round little tummy, too.)

Tal :)

walking on sunshine

Just playing around on a Sunday morning...the only time when I don't feel like I should be doing a million other things!

Just a few pictures of Payton in her "Walking on Sunshine" costume. Isn't she sweet? And these photos are very fitting as we're finally getting a little sun around here. I love summer!

I decided to do my own photos of the girls in their costumes this year instead of the lame ones they get taken at the dance studio...love how they turned out, lots more to come! Gabby looks pretty cute in her costume, too. (wink) The girls had their dance recital on Friday night and they were awesome. It always amazes me how these little kids get up on stage with no fear and just go out there and don their thing. It was fun and Graham and I were so very proud of them. (and Kherington, too...she sat in the audience and clapped and shook her little booty the whole time! Haha!!)

Happy Sunday!

Tal xo

(Edited these photos using this technique by Rebecca Cooper!)

home sweet home (for a little bit longer)...

Here's a little peek at where we've been living for the past 2 and a half years. In about 2 weeks we're moving out...it's exciting and sad all at the same time!
















I'm a little sad looking at all of these pictures. As of this moment we are living in rooms stacked with boxes and empty walls, we had a garage sale this weekend and got rid of LOTS of stuff...so we are busy. We are all excited for the "new house" but like anything, it will take some time getting used to it and making it HOME. But that's the way it goes, right? We thought we would be in this house for a lot longer, but it came down to the location...something else came up and we decided to go for it, so now we're moving! (It's actually been a year in progress so it didn't happen quickly...but now that we're trying to get all packed up, I wish I had more TIME! Hee hee!)



I'll miss this cute house, but it's my cute family that will make any house my home.







:)

random blogging...

Man, I've been busy. Packing up a house is no easy task. Throw on top of that a 1, 3 and 5 year old...well, you get the idea!

Instead of complaining about how busy I am and how I have no time for anything, I thought I'd just post a few random pretty pictures instead. I took a walk with the girls one rare, sunny morning and snapped these pictures...I hope that spring or summer or whatever season it's supposed to be will come to stay SOON!

We are getting very excited for summer and for our "new house". (You know how when you're in the process of moving you talk about the "new house" constantly...haha!) Gabby's done playschool for the year and dancing will be done in a couple weeks...after that I feel like we're home free! I can't wait to get everything packed up and done so we can enjoy our summer and have some fun with no schedules...it'll be good.

Speaking of the moving, I'll have to post some pictures of my current house soon, too. We thought we would be here for longer, but things just worked out in a different way...so it's all good. My corner jacuzzi tub in my new bathroom will make everything okay. (heehee!)

I'll be back soon (I hope) with a little house tour and some random pictures of what we've been up to...but for now, hop on over to my 365 blog to see some new pics. Happy Monday!!

T:)

catching up...

I am so behind in life right now! We are moving in about a month and I am up to my eyeballs in packing, purging, photo shoots, editing, school parties, dance performances, etc, etc, etc! The list just always goes on!

My blog is feeling a bit neglected so I thought I share a favorite from a recent newborn session. I just love babies! Hope everyone has a great long weekend!!

T :)

giveaway on BECKY'S BLOG!

It's time for another GIVEAWAY!!!

One lucky winner will receive a FREE FAMILY PHOTO SESSION from me! Head on over to Becky's blog, and leave a post here with your name and why your family would love to have a photoshoot with me.

You have until Saturday night to leave a comment. Remember, to enter, you must a leave on comment on Becky's blog!

Good luck everyone!!

Talia:)

my "little-big" girl...

Today I drove Payton to school.

Well, rewind a little bit...Graham is working out of town for the next couple days, so I was on my own this morning. (I know....gasp!! I had to get the kids ready all by myself!) I've truly come to appreciate the help and the routine that we have when daddy is home in the mornings, so when he isn't around, things can get a little hairy at times.

Anyways, I got everyone up, dressed, hair done, fed and out the door just in time to buckle everyone in their seats and zip to the school before the bell would ring. Over the winter Graham was the one dropping Payton off at school 'cause it was just too darn cold for me to get all three kids in the car, then park the car at school, then get everyone out, trek across the field to the doors, take Payton inside, drop her off, go back outside, trek to the car, get the two little girls back in the car and buckled up...only to do to it again a couple hours later when Payton was done. So you catch my drift...the simple "drop off" at school isn't always so simple.

Back to today. We drove up to the school just seconds before the bell was about to ring. I quickly hopped out the car with Payton, the bell rang, and then the stress for a little kindergartener sets in...heaven forbid we are a couple seconds late! I quickly had to evaluate the situation...do I quickly get the other 2 out of the car and drag all 3 inside the school? Do I run Payton in the school by myself and run back to the car as quickly as I can? Or...do I just let Payton go on her own?

I quickly asked Payton as excitedly as I could if she'd like to go all by herself. Yes, I would stand by the car and watch her till she was safe and sound inside the doors...it was just too far for mommy to leave her sisters in the car alone. So I got a quick hug, and off my big girl ran across the field to the "kindergarten doors"...all by herself.

As I watched her run all by herself across the field, a wave of emotions swept over me. Pride that my big girl was brave enough to go all that way, sadness that she doesn't need her mama all the time anymore and the realization that my "big girl" really is still...little. Tears filled my eyes as I watched my tiny little girl run...her backpack so huge it was falling off her shoulders, the big kids all zipping ahead of her in no time at all, her silver shoes sparkling in the morning sun, and the few breaks she had to take from running. It was heartbreaking and endearing all at the same time.

I waited till she made it inside and got back into the car with Gabby and KK. Mommy-guilt rushed over me as I told myself I will never make her go inside by herself again...as frustrating and time consuming as it is, I'll get the other 2 out and take her to classroom. But then...I was happy for her. And I knew that this is one of those times where I have to begin to let go. I have to let her be a "big girl" and do things all on her own...even if I want to be at her side always.

When I picked her up from school she was as happy as could be. She, of course, had probably not given a second thought to the fact that I deserted her earlier that day. In her mind, she is a big girl! And in many ways, yes she is.

But to me...she is still little. She is my baby. And she always will be.

T xoxo

just in time for mother's day...

Stephanie never ceases to amaze me. This video made me cry today.

Please watch.

T xo

busy, busy, busy.

Man, I've been busy.

So much going on.

But I did update my 365 blog. That'll have to do for today.

:)

me & him

We've been together for 9 years. Nine.

Last Tuesday was our anniversary and we promised eachother no gifts. But when Graham got home from work, he came with these.

(And, okay I admit it...I was kind of expecting the flowers. I knew Graham wouldn't let an anniversary come and go without flowers!)

But I was NOT expecting these.

Oh, my hubby knows me so well. Yes, ladies...he went to Anthropologie and picked these out all by himself. How awesome is he?

Actually, it was really cute...we went to Earl's for dinner so I could have my favorite salad (the Santa Fe chicken salad...to die for!) and he left the table to make a "phone call"...and back he came with a cute little box and these pretties inside. I was honestly so surprised! Then I surprised him with him a card (I know, how lame am I...I get flowers and necklaces and he gets a card...but he was happy! I had made a really big deal of how I didn't even get him a card!). Anyways, we laughed and laughed at our little surprises for eachother...our anniversary honestly crept up on us out of nowhere, so it was these simple gestures that just made it so much fun.

Love you love you love you babe. This past (almost) decade has been the best.

T xoxoxo

baby steps

Look what Kherington was up to yesterday! She decided it was time to walk...and now she's taken off!

Payton ran up to me yesterday afternoon and told me (very excitedly) that KK was indeed, walking...so out I ran to catch her in action. It was so exciting and so cute. The girls and I just laughed and cheered her on as she figured out (finally!) how to do this walking thing. I am so proud of my little babe! I'm glad she's so tiny...walking or not, she's still my baby!

It was an exciting day.



(Oh, and doesn't her hair look fabulous?)
:)

just because

Sunday night.

Kids are sleeping.

House is clean.

Air conditioning is on. (yay for warm weather!)

Sharing these photos just because.

Because they make me happy.

Because they look cute.

Because I love them so.

:)

i've been given strict instructions...

...to come up with a grocery list and meal plan for this next week. Blah.

It's been one of those weeks that we've been making do and eating whatever...tonight's menu is hotdogs and french fries. Yes, it's time to go grocery shopping. (and this is just the beginning of a very loooong shopping list!)

Hope I'm not the only one who has weeks like this! Oh, and for anyone who's interested, I got these cute shopping lists from Dollarama.

Happy eating!

:)

all dressed up

Sunday mornings come around and sometimes I feel like that's the only day I can get everyone dressed and ready and looking cute. So you know what that means...pictures!

I totally remember my mom always wanting to take pictures of all of us kids on Sundays and this look on Payton's face in the picture above reminds of how I always felt when she wanted to take yet another photo. Haha! Cracks me up that now I'm the mama that's always harassing my family for yet another photo. One day they'll thank me! (...right?)

Anyways, the girls dresses are from Target, I picked them up while we were in Montana in February. Oh, what will I do when my kids won't let me dress them in matching outfits and put bows in their hair?

That will be a sad day.

But for now, bows and matching dresses it is!

T:)

P.S. Thanks for all the comments on my last post! It seems I'm not the only Sarah Richardson lover...I'll have to post more home decor stuff, that was fun!