Fear of tight spaces...?

I think not. Actually, Gavin seems to rather enjoy tight spaces. I can't keep him out of them...





Especially when there's food to be found in those tight spaces...



I don't think he quite gets that he's in trouble. He seems rather pleased with himself...



Too cute to get too upset at, right?!?

Vacation continued...Philadelphia

As promised, here are some more photos from our summer road trip. These are from our day in Philadelphia. The kids were troopers. Yes, they had their moments as overtired kids do, but overall it was a great day in Philly!

That city has so much history. So amazing to think that we stood in various places where our forefathers stood. Where they pledged to lead our nation under God. So sad to see how far our country has strayed from that original Godly vision of government. But I digress.

On to the photos...

The Liberty Bell


The clock tower from the Franklin Institute Museum. Our kids recognized it from the movie 'National Treasure,' so they were excited!


Jason and the kids running up the famous Rocky steps. The kids had no idea why they were doing this as they of course haven't seen Rocky, but they were happy to humor us anyway...




hmmm...what can I say about this photo? Yes, that is a man with his shirt off. Yes, the other man is in fact bouncing a basketball in the fountain...


Chloe having one of those 'moments' I was talking about...




The city of brotherly love...






Which original Philadelphia cheese steak joint is the best? Geno's Steaks...


Or Pat's Steaks...


The two establishments are a mere block apart and both claim the title of 'best' cheese steak restaurant. Jason's verdit...


They're both pretty tasty...


I think it was a tie!

And here's us saying goodbye to Philadelphia through the smog. Hope to see you again someday!

B&W Wednesday: Cooper Rocks!

I recently posted about a commercial shoot on the business blog for a new clothing line exclusively for boys titled, 'Boys Rock.' I just had to share a couple of images of my Cooper modeling the clothes because he's just too cute not to share. For more from this shoot, check out my photography business blog by clicking here. Thanks for visiting! Check out the other black & white entries over at The Long Road to China!

More from our summer vacation...

Well, when I posted about our summer family vacation two weeks ago and mentioned I'd have more photos of our vacation later in the week, I guess I didn't follow through with that intention too well. Now it's two weeks later and I have yet another vacation to post about: our ten-year anniversary trip to the Caribbean, sans kids! But before I post about that trip, I should post some more about our earlier adventure.

We had so much fun on our summer road trip. We went to the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania, to Philadelphia, and then on to Washington D.C. What a trip!

I'm short on time today....so much to do...so I'll be short on words too and get to the photos.

Here's a few from the Poconos leg of our vacation, where we did a lot of hiking.



Gabe's idea to pose by the sign...'which way'...


Gavin loved the hiking backpack. We've gotten a lot of use out of it with our four kiddos...


Our family, taken with the timer. Can you believe we're all looking?!? A miracle!


Brothers & friends...


Chloe Faith...


There was some absolutely beautiful scenery to enjoy on our hikes. I think that's why we love hiking so much. It gives us a chance to get away from it all and just enjoy each other in the precence of God's handiwork. "The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of His hands." Psalm 19:1.




I love the sun peering through the tree in this shot...




As much as Gavin enjoyed his ride in the hiking backpack, he's also always eager to get out and explore...


Which can make getting a photo of Gavin and the other three kids a bit tricky. Getting all their attention at once is tricky...


As is keeping busy Gavin in the shot...


Which sometimes requires a little help from big brother...


And Dad, who hops into the shot to help keep the kids attention. And apparently, to be IN the shot himself. I'm thinking of framing this one, because I can't look at it without laughing. Awww, the memories...


Finally, after many takes, we get the one!


More photos to come soon....!

Black & White Wednesday: 2010 Summer Family Vacation

Remember me my fellow black & white Wednesday participants? What? You don't? Well, that could have something to do with the fact that I haven't participated in black & white Wednesday over at Lisa's blog for months and months. And you know what? I've missed it!

Much the same way that I've been slacking on black & white Wednesday posts, I've also been a slacker in posting anything from our August summer family vacation. So I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and post some black & white photos from our recent trip! A busy girl like me has to find shortcuts anyway I can!

On vacation, my husband and I took our four kiddos to the Poconos, then to Philadelphia, and finally to Washington D.C. It was a great time, too short as many vacations seem to be. But many memories {and photos} were made.

Here's just a few in black and white. I'll try to post a few more from vacation later this week!

I love this photo of my husband with our four kids, taken while on a hike in the Poconos...


And here's Gavin exploring life outside his hiking backpack...


Another one taken while on a hike. We are a hiking family, what can I say! I love vintage-looking B&W's like this one...


And here is a shot from Washington D.C. The kids are sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, looking out onto the Washington Monument...


Chloe in the big city...


And one last shot, of Chloe and me...


Thanks for visiting! To check out more black & white photography, visit The Long Road to China.

Another one bites the dust...

...Another tooth, that is. Gabe came home from school today missing his front tooth. I don't think he's ever looked cuter...





My seven-year-old keeps growing up, whether I like it or not.

Chloe modeling Huggalugs

I have some exciting news and had to share! I just got word that Huggalugs, which makes the cutest leg and arm warmers for little ones, plans to use images of Chloe for their national marketing campaign. For more information on the photo shoot that we recently did for Huggalugs, check out my photo blog: Sanders Photography And Design Blog.

Chloe goes to preschool

After months and months of anticipation {on Chloe's part, not on mine most days} Chloe finally went to her first day of preschool today!

She was actually prepared to go last night.

As I gave her a bath before bedtime, I told Chloe that we needed to get her school stuff ready as a means to coax her out of the tub. She loves bath time, and sometimes needs incentive to call it quits. Well, my coaxing strategy backfired. Although it did work to get Chloe out of that bathtub in seconds flat, it also made her think that she was going to school...right now. After getting her supplies and backpack ready, it was time to get school clothes laid out for the morning. But instead, Chloe wanted to put them on, insisting that school was starting any minute. "My backpack is ready mom, now get me ready. Pleeeaaaassse!" Yes, backfire big time. Smart one mom.

Thankfully, it only took me a little while to settle Chloe down, distract her with two bedtime stories instead of the usual one, and she was soon fast asleep.

Fast forward to this morning. Chloe slept in. Isn't it funny how kids always sleep in on days you don't want them to, and never sleep in on the days you wish they would?

So, we scurried around getting Chloe dressed, hair done, breakfast eaten, and after a few photos, it was time to head to school.

I actually think that Chloe sleeping late this morning was God's blessing to me, because being hurried to get her to school took my mind off of the fact that she's going to preschool. She's not a baby anymore, but instead a big girl. She's a preschooler.

We took all the standard photos. Photos of the big preschooler all dressed and ready for school...


of the backpack, complete with her name...


a photo in front of the {very sunny} school sign...


And by the school building...


photos of Chloe at her locker...


and at her desk...



photos of Chloe learning the morning routine from her teacher...



Needless to say, Chloe was ecstatic to finally be at school, with the big kids.

There was one very teary little boy, crying for his mom and not wanting her to leave. Chloe asked me, "What's wrong with that little boy, mommy?" I explained that some kids actually miss their parents while they're away at school. That this little boy may be a bit scared to be at school. Chloe responded, very matter-of-fact, "But, it's fun mom! School is so very, very fun! And he'll see his mommy later."

And in a way, her impromptu speech about that little boy can be applied to this mom, as I type away at the keyboard, tears welling up in my eyes. School is fun, and I'll see my happy, confident, outgoing, fearless little girl later. And she'll be just fine.

But I will still miss her, and I still feel that she's turned three in the blink of an eye. Time goes by so very fast, and I continue to pray that the Lord will continue to impart on my heart the desire and longing to cherish every moment. For before you know it, your baby isn't a baby anymore. She's a preschooler...