Life

Sometimes I find myself second guessing a large portion of my life choices. I suppose this is pretty common for folks. Especially at this time of year. The year is wrapping up and you start to evaluate where you are in comparison to where you started. If we look at my year in those terms, I suppose it was a good one. I mean, we moved into our new home, I landed the job I had been chasing for a solid year, the boys are healthy and, for the most part, happy.

But do those things really equal out to 2013 being a "good" year? 

I am grateful for my many blessings, but I can't help but wish for something more. Not more in a material sense, but more in a fulfilling sense. 

I had such high hopes for my future when I was younger. College, living on my own, meeting a nice guy, traveling, getting married, having the good career, and having babies. 

Of course, I didn't quite take that path. I, being the stubborn person that I am, took the hard road. Do I regret that decision? Nah. Do I know that it would have been a million times easier had I done things differently? Absolutely. 

I suppose my hard road makes me more inclined to WANT to show my children how to live their lives with passion and purpose. I WANT to be able to live my life in a way that encourages them to follow their dreams.

I suppose I am getting a jump start on goals for 2014. I want so badly to get back to me. I feel so off course and somehow strange to myself now that I can barely recognize myself. I don't want to be a shell. 

And I certainly do not want my boys to grow up into shells of their former selves. 

Recent Happenings and Such!

LOTS of stuff happening!!! Exciting stuff!

We are in the process of buying a home, so boxes and newspaper have slowly taken over our home. (FYI- Packing with small children should be an automatic pass for free service from a moving company. Preferably one of the ones who pack up your stuff for you. And moves it. And sets it all back up. And all of that jazz. Does one of those companies exist? Please GOD tell me yes!)

What else is happening.... Photo sessions! Lots of photo sessions. And editing. And planning Christmas mini sessions. And looking at precious faces like this every evening as I edit while eating oreos and listening to Journey which we all know leads to interpretive dancing and not a lot of editing.... Or is that just me?

Oh goodness. Isn't she adorable????

Back to the point.

I also started a new job, which means a lot less free time then before.

But! As soon as we get moved I fully intend to dive head first back into blogging and more so into the photography! I am so excited! Be on the lookout for new and exciting things, because they are coming!

Samantha

Hello. Is it me you're looking for?

Guess who's back.... It's me!

My little family has LOTS going on right now (including a house FINALLY, a new job, more photography, and more little boy shenanigans), but I am making it a point to get back on the horse.

So hold on to your britches, folks. Samantha's back! 

Weeball has Begun!

Tuesday night we had our very first Weeball practice (Weeball= Teeball for kids who are right under being too young for actual teeball).

To say Brady Parker loves it would be an absolute understatement. The kid was into it BIG TIME.

If the coach said run, the kid ran.

Jump, he jumped.  

And when it came time to bat..... Brady Parker was all business.

He took this practice about as serious as I take my Starbucks. And that, my friends, is serious.

I am so glad that he loves it. I am also glad that he is so willing to participate and be such a good sport. He ran for the ball every single time even if he was nowhere near it and he never once got upset that he didn't get it.

After they ran the bases, Brady lined up on the fence with his pals and told each one of them that they did a great job.

 (insert huge, proud mom grin here)

The kid is one of a kind. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the season holds!

Second practice tonight!

Go Weebles!



Goats, WeeBall, and Ladies In Bubble Baths...

Do you know what I hate.... I hate when the entire weekend is insanely cold ( Mobile- 50 = insanely cold) and then Monday rolls around and it is gorgeously sunny and in the high 60s. What kind of crap is that!

Now... What did we do this weekend. Exciting stuff! That's what!

Thursday I started off the day how every normal human being starts their day. By photographing a chick in a bubble bath.

You read that right. Through a lot of experimenting I have figured out that boudoir sessions are my absolute favorites. Everyone loves to get dressed up and feel good about themselves and I love getting to capture that. Plus they are fun! So, that is how I started off my weekend. Photographing a lady in a bubble bath. Perfection.

The rest of the weekend was pretty uneventful. I ate my weight in strawberries and nutella while editing the bubble bath boudoir session.

My youngest heathen, otherwise known as The Spawn, chunked the remote at our bedroom tv and shattered the interior. Phenomenal.

 It was freezing outside so getting out wasn't really happening and staying in was resulting in broken tvs and breaking up more fights that the production crew on Flavor of Love. (Remember Flavor of Love????? Don't lie! You know you do!) Sunday, finally, it cleared up enough for us to get out a little. The boys raced rolling down a hill at one of our local public gardens while I photographed the happenings and quietly thanked Jesus for allowing me the opportunity to get those kids out of the house before I sold them as slave labor.

Then, oh and then. Then Mr. Brady Parker became the newest member of the Weebles WeeBall team. For those who are unaware, WeeBall is TeeBall for 3 year olds since TeeBall starts at 4.

Number 2 will be taking the field in just a few short weeks!

So, I officially a Ball Mom. Someone give me my minivan and mom jeans! Maybe not the mom jeans, but I will be rocking that Mom of #2 tshirt like it's never been done!

Gear up for copious amounts of ballpark photos, baby. Cause they're coming!

Who's ready for Spring! Because I am definitely feeling it this morning!

Blah.

This morning, while riding down the road in the pouring rain, I listened to my 3 year old speaking "T-Rax" in the backseat. T-Rax, if you didn't know, is apparently a series of grunts and growls used to communicate with a T-Rex. I, of course, needed him to translate. Which, unfortunately, is how I feel about a lot of talking going on around me lately.

I feel like a zombie. I get up, get everyone dressed, take everyone where they need to be, work, pick everyone up, take everyone home, and then get everyone through the evening and ready for bed.

It's automatic.

It's a schedule.

Every. Single. Day.

I feel like I am about to hit a wall. A very large, glitter free wall.

I feel like the sparkle is gone. How do you have sparkle when every single day is planned out? I feel like my sparkle is gone. Our small living space has completely zapped me of any creative juices. The chilly, rainy weather has zapped me of any adventure.

I feel like a shell.

I need change. I need creative outlet. I need warmth. I need space!

Is it spring yet?

Weekends Are For... Mardi Gras!

Let me just paint a picture for you...

It's 2007 and Mason Luke is barely over 1 year old when I decide to brave the crowds and take him to the Crewe of Columbus parade. It would be just him and I, but my dad would be meeting us down there and his family would all be there to cheer on my uncles as they ride so I can handle it.

The parade itself goes off without a hitch. He seems to enjoy it about as much as any 1 year old would enjoy anything, so I chalk it up as a good decision. And then it was time to leave...

I load him up in the car, buckle him in, and start on my way through a maze of bumper to bumper traffic and a whole lot of sitting and waiting. Then it happens. He starts puking. And puking. And puking some more.

Ten minutes later my backseat looks like the bathroom of a frat house on a Sunday morning and I am stripped of my overshirt attempting to clean up a naked, cranky toddler as best as I can behind a Church's Chicken while herds of people scream at the parade still rolling.

An hour and lots of backroads later, I arrive home with puke in my hair and all over my car with a sleeping, naked toddler on my shoulder. Which is how I had to drive home. The ENTIRE way.

Mardi Gras- 1      Mom and Mason Luke- 0

After that super pleasant with child Mardi Gras, I haven't been in a hurry to attempt it again. Mason is 7 now and has not been to a parade since.

Until this past weekend.

And I must say, this time it was a much better experience.

 The kid was a natural! This can be proven by the large sack full of stuffed animals we went home with. Stuffed animals who are slowly but surely running away to the Goodwill...



Happy Mardi Gras, Y'all!

Weekends Are For...

I believe that Mondays will officially be "Weekend's Are For" days. Little recaps of our weekend and what it had to offer. I know you can't wait. The excitement is radiating out of the computer screen. Who doesn't wan to see pictures of me in a hat and yoga pants because I was too lazy to get dressed. I know... No one. You eat that stuff up!

But I digress, plus that last statement was a little misleading because I managed to get dressed both Saturday AND Sunday. Boring. Because clean hair and decent clothes are boring.... HA!

As for the weekend.... It was for-

First time frog encounters...

First time touching a frog experiences... (that face is priceless)

Horseback rides at the expense of your brother...

Dirty Faces.... (dirty serious faces)

Bird Watching...

Tree Climbing...

Sunset Exploring...

Blue Eyes....

Dirty fingers bringing you dead flowers and the words "Happy Anniversary, baaaaaaby" coming from your 3 year old.... (I have no clue where he gets this stuff)

Stopping to smell the.... Camellias...

Brotherly Love.... 

Man I love those little hellions...

Happy Monday, All!



When I grow up...

Most people have that 'thing" that they have always known they wanted to do. Or at least everyone comes to a point of figuring out what that thing is.

Me.... Not so much.

Here I am, 26, and I still don't know what that is. Honestly, even when I really think about it there is nothing that comes to mind. Sure there is a whole lot of "well I enjoy this and that," but none of it is anything I want to do in a way of having demands put on it. Case in point- I LOVE photography. Love Love Love it. But when I start thinking about doing it professionally and having to put stipulations on it, it starts to ruin it for me.

I love to plan parties. LOVE to plan parties. But do I want to do it for a living and have people putting rules and limits on what I do and how I do it for the sake of being paid? Not at all.

Bottom line... There isn't really anything I feel like I want to do. I feel like I have no career drive.

Honestly, do you know what I want to do for a living?

Play.

Play. And decorate. And craft. And take beautiful photos. And shop. And have lunch. And bake. And garden.

Is there a paying job like that out there?

You know what else I would really like to have.... A little store. Kind of like a new age general store. Sell a little bit of everything along with baked goods and coffee. A place where people can hang out and relax and buy beautiful things.

Now, who wants to fund this project????? HA!

It's MONDAY!

Guess who has a crafty project or two in the works.... THIS GIRL! Whaaaa???/

That's right, folks. This gal has got her crafty britches on and she is wearing them well.

Quite possibly like she is being featured on a Martha Stewart segment.

That reminds me.... Does anyone else talk their way through a project even though there is no one to talk to?

Nope. Me neither.

Happy Monday!

Happy 2013!

Happy New Year!

I love the New Year deal. Who doesn't love feeling like you have a new beginning? Throw away last year's calendar marked with events and appointments and rip open a new one fresh with possibilities. Now, if you read my post from last year you will see that there were pretty much no changes. What can I say... I inherited my mother's tendency to proclaim each new year the best one yet. Even if it doesn't turn out to be.

But this year.... This year it will be.

Why? Well, because we started out the year on the beach. And NO new year started with sand between your toes can possibly be a bad one.

So, to kick off this wonderful new year full of possibilities, I give you my.....

 List O' Goals (The 2013 Edition)

1. Take more trips to the beach.

Considering the way we started off our new year, this one seemed fitting.

2. Drink more wine.

Why not! Heart health is a very important thing. This should basically say, "Make your heart healthier." And who doesn't want that?

3. Get Healthy!

This one goes hand in hand with number 2. Except this one is more geared towards the rest of my body. Especially if I am going to keep resolution number one. I mean, who gives a list of goals for a new year without this one? It's pretty standard. To attempt to stick with this resolution, I have (sadly) decided to trade in my morning Target adventure (the daily one I take for that free hour I have after dropping the last child off and before I have to be at work) for an hour of jogging at the park in between my office and Mason's school. Not only will this one act assist with getting healthy, but it will also help with goal number 4.

4. Save Money.

By not going to Target just about every morning of the week I will not only save my $5 worth of Starbucks, but also the random crap I always end up with while I am there. I make no promises that I will not raid the dollar section randomly. That is no where in the fine print of these goals, but being in there almost daily definitely doesn't help the wallet. If you've been to Target, you know what I mean. They've got such good stuff! It's hard!

(Sorry for the quality, this was a phone picture, obviously, since Mason was busy being the photographer)

5. Photography

Simply photography, because there are so many things associated with this word that are on my list for the year. I want to grow my photography business. I want to encourage Mason's love of photography. The kid has an eye for it and LOVES to get behind the camera. Future photographer, I think so. I also want to learn more about my camera and better my photography in general.

6. RELAX

I am a worrier, so this one will be tough for me. I want to relax and enjoy life more. Stop over analyzing everything and go with the flow! Life is too short to spend it worried about things beyond your control. Time to kick that idea into high gear and enjoy it! My babies will only be this age once, and time spent worrying is time not spent soaking in the time I have.

So there you have it. My goals for the year as of now. I am sure I will think of/come up with more, but for now this is it. I may even be extra dedicated and drink wine on the beach some this year. How's that for resolution follow through!

Happy New Year, All! I hope it is the best one yet!

And I Shall Social Media Every Pretty Little Thing I see!

From Pinterest...

(You can follow my Pinterest Boards at  http://pinterest.com/smvickers1/)

To Instagram....

(You can follow my Instagram at Samantha_Vickers)

To Facebook post...

Equals one KICK ASS birthday gift!

I celebrated my 26th birthday Sunday. Having a birthday right after Christmas is usually not the best thing in the world. Folks are drained (emotionally and financially) from Christmas and the "Christmas is Over" blues are setting in as folks take down their decorations. I usually feel glum on my birthday for these reasons on top of that feeling of another year being over and being one year older. My husband surprised me with a trip to the Micheal Kors outlet to pick out my new watch! What a way to brighten a day! Same one on my accounts (all three of them) and cheaper than the one online! Not to mention the one online says that it won't ship until Feb 8th. FEBRUARY 8TH! Who do these people think we are! We can't wait an entire MONTH!

Take that website! This lady has it NOW!

Happy Birthday to me!

Holiday Reflections

Well hello there, strangers!

Since I have neglected this little space of mine during our celebrating the Christmas season, I suppose my first post of the new year will reflect on the holidays.

Other than a few tornadoes and a stab wound Christmas day, our holiday activities went along without issue. Yes there were a few tornadoes in our area Christmas day, no they did not affect us (thank God), and yes my husband stabbed himself with a pocket knife Christmas day while trying to open toys. We're talking knife to the bone stab wound. Did he go to the hospital? No. Apparently a knife touching your bone and blood gushing out of your hand isn't an emergency. Who knew?

Now, instead of overwhelming you with a million holiday photos, I will only subject you to a few.

1st. My little family at our annual Christmas Eve Brunch.

2nd. Probably the most accurate portrayal of what Christmas does to our souls.

The picture speaks for itself. My kids are becoming just as obsessed with Christmas as I am and the fact that they do not hide the flying of their Holiday Freak Flag made it that much sweeter. (You may not be able to see it, but he is wearing reindeer antlers and has a painted red nose in this picture... That flag is flying high, friends. HIGH)

And now, a condensed look into our Christmas! I do hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy New Years Eve!

Be on the lookout here in the next few days for more posts! This gal is kicking it into high gear!