tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17676730467214694602024-03-18T21:24:53.301-07:00Go Team Stephens!Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.comBlogger377125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-26941383969180219562015-01-14T22:42:00.000-08:002015-01-14T22:42:51.700-08:00Fear Can't Control<span style="font-size: x-large;">I used to always say that I never really struggled with fear until I became a mom. It is a never-ending process of learning to completely place your children in God's hands and trust that He will care for them... because you can't do it all.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I remember the night that we brought Sean (my oldest) home from the hospital, I did not want to go to sleep because I was afraid he would die of SIDS. If everyone slept, who would watch him and make sure he was still breathing? Very quickly God showed me that it was necessary to learn to let go of control and place my hope in Him.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">As the years have gone by, and more children have joined our family, the mom fears have changed. Just when you get control of one, the kids grow up and start a new phase and you have to do it all again. If you aren't careful, you can be in a perpetual state of worry.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Then lets throw in social media. It's a wonderful tool for connecting with family and friends, to promote businesses, to stay up to date on the news, and to educate yourself. It can also dig you into a very deep worry pit. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Friend A</b> posts a link to a blog about the dangers in vaccinating your children. <i>Oh my word!</i> You think. <i>I really need to read up on this more! I am such a terrible mother because I have already vaccinated all my kids! Did I do the right thing? </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Friend B</b> shares photos of her son's 6th birthday party. There's a table with the most adorable themed food, all perfectly labeled with themed fonts & paper. There's the cake that looks like it came off the cover of a food magazine. The decorations will put Martha Stewart to shame. The games and activities planned were just as fun as an amusement park visit. <i>Seriously?</i> You think. <i>I stacked up donuts and stuck candles in them for my kid's birthday... at the pizza place... where they played ski-ball and ate junk food & I didn't have to do a thing.</i> (no really, I've done that on more than one occasion). <i>Maybe I'm not investing in the memories and celebration of my children's lives enough. Are they wishing I do more?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Friend C</b> can't stop sharing links about ISIS and North Korea and EBOLA and... well... anything else terrifying going on in the world. <i>Where is this world headed?</i> You think. <i>Is there going to be another terrorist attack on American soil? Will Christians undergo persecution? Did that person who just coughed sitting next to me at the dentist travel to West Africa in the last 21 days?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Friend D</b> knows everything there is to know about health food and nutrition, because they have watched every documentary that Netflix has to offer about it. They make sure to let you know that your store bought food & water will kill you. Don't eat sugar. Don't eat meat. Don't eat gluten. Don't eat carbs. Don't eat anything that isn't organic free range nitrate free and grown in your own backyard. <i>What the heck am I doing to my family?</i> You worry. <i>I try to feed them as healthy as I can, with the budget that I have, but maybe that's not enough. Maybe I am slowly making all of us sick. </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Do you see where I'm heading here? We are constantly filling our heads with fear justifications. And there are plenty of them. We don't have to look far, and we don't have to try hard. It doesn't take long before fear begins to control you. I'm not talking about the being afraid to leave your house kind of fear. I'm talking about subtle fears that can turn into major life choices. Like, for example, the only reason you send your kids to private school is because they will lose their salvation in public school hanging out with all the heathens. That's a fear choice. Or maybe you won't let your children go to McDonald's with their friends because if they eat 4 chicken nuggets from there they will get cancer and die. That's a fear choice. Throwing the most extravagant birthday party for your kid because you feel like you will be a bad mom & others will judge you if you don't. That's a fear choice. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't get me wrong, private school and not eating fast food and amazing birthday parties are not bad things. At all. We are all responsible to raise our children in the best way we know how to, with the convictions that the Lord gives to each of us, which is all different. But<i> </i>I am talking about the heart behind the choices. Why are you making the choices you make? Is it because you researched, thought it through, prayed about it, and have peace? Or is it because of fear?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">To continue on in my journey of doing brave things, I am constantly doing a self-check in the decisions that I make. If I am making that decision out of fear or worry, then I will either make myself do the opposite, or spend some more time in prayer about it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control." 2 Tim 1:7</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Fear is not of God, so if we are making decisions out of fear then we are not making them with God. Instead of fear He gives us power, love, and self-control (some versions say "a sound mind"). Those are what we should be using to make decisions. Ultimately... peace. We need to let peace guide our hearts, minds, and choices. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="versetext" id="joh14-27" style="display: inline;"> <span class="WordsOfChrist">"I
am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I
give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or
afraid." John 14:27</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="versetext" id="joh14-27" style="display: inline;"><span class="WordsOfChrist"><span class="versetext" id="ro8-6" style="display: inline;">
"If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the
Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace."</span> Romans 8:6 </span></span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">So that is what I'm doing. I'm choosing to not let fear control my choices, even in the "little" things. I'm choosing to take off worry and put on peace. I'm choosing to walk in confidence knowing that there is nothing to fear (even when, ultimately, there are many things to fear). Will you join me?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="versetext" id="php4-7" style="display: inline;">"Before you
know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for
good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when
Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Philippians 4:7</span> (The Message) </span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">*Side note: I feel like I need to add that in talking about fear, this is different then the anxiety I wrote about in my <a href="http://teamstephenswins.blogspot.com/2015/01/do-brave-things.html" target="_blank"><b>last blog</b></a>. The anxiety in that post was caused by a physical imbalance, the worry/fears talked about in this post are caused by human nature. </span></i>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-30121441226050618402015-01-06T20:48:00.000-08:002015-01-06T20:48:06.817-08:00Do Brave Things<span style="font-size: x-large;">Who stole my sunshine?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This last year was hands down the most difficult and darkest year of my life. Don't get me wrong, there were wonderful things that happened, and good things that were able to sneak in, but lets just be honest here... last year sucked. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">In July of 2013 we were in a car accident. A lady going around 55-60mph blew a red light and t-boned the drivers side of our car, totaling it. We were all 5 in the car, and I was 11 weeks 2 days pregnant with baby #4. I have never in my life felt fear the way I did when we were in that car accident. To hear my children scream, to feel pain, to not know what was going to happen... and to not be able to control any of it... was terrifying. God was so good to us that we all walked out of the car. Sean, Dathan, & I were all checked out in the ER (it was actually our first ultrasound of Ayla!) and released. Physically we were fine. But looking back, that's when the worry started.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I was nervous to drive. My heart would skip a beat going through intersections. At random times the accident would just start replaying through my mind. Every time I could hear the kids screaming in the back of the car. Every time I would cry. Everyone said that was normal, and eventually my nervousness in driving stopped. But then I started to worry about Ayla & my pregnancy. Every pain, lack of movement, or other random physical signs would send me into a worry frenzy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ayla was born. In a fast and very stressful way (the doctor didn't make it in the room in time and Dathan caught her). The night she was born I couldn't sleep because every time I closed my eyes her birth would replay over and over. Ayla immediately brought joy and light into our home. We were thrilled for our sweet girl to finally be a part of our family. Life was finally going to get back to normal, and we could learn what life was like with 4 kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Four weeks after Ayla was born, she was hospitalized with <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/rsv/" target="_blank"><b>RSV</b></a>. I spent over 3 days in the hospital with her, and maybe slept 10 hours total the entire time I was there. Although we knew Ayla would get better, and that her being in the hospital wasn't a permanent thing, it was still a very difficult time for us! It's hard having a newborn in the hospital, mommy having to stay with her, and daddy trying to hold down the fort at home while wanting to be at the hospital.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">What happened next really is no surprise, looking back. But at the time I had no idea it was coming. I had been dealing with some <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/basics/definition/con-20029130" target="_blank"><b>postpartum depression</b></a>, and my doctor had recommended having a night to catch up on sleep. So Dathan took Ayla for the night (with some bottles of pumped milk) and let me have the night off. I had a wonderfully relaxing night painting my nails, watching a show, writing some encouragement cards to friends, and then going to sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">About 3:00am I woke up out of deep, wonderful sleep in a complete panic. My heart was racing, my chest hurt, my left arm was in pain, I couldn't catch my breath, and it felt like there was a 100lb weight sitting on my chest. I was completely terrified and thought I was about to die. I have never felt anything like it in my life. I woke Dathan up and we prayed, I paced, we prayed some more... a bit of time went by and there was no change. Finally we call my dad to come over and stay with the kids, and Dathan drives me to the ER.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">They take me back and do an EKG and some other tests on me. Perfect. Everything comes back perfect. After more exams they tell me it was an <a href="http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-anxiety-disorders" target="_blank"><b>anxiety attack</b></a>. What? How is that possible? They can wake you up from a deep sleep? Yes. They feel like a heart attack? Yes. They make you lose all sense of reason and think that you are going to die? Yes. I was stunned. Having never struggled with anxiety or depression, and just recently having some PPD after Ayla, I could not believe that it would just come out of the blue like that. Because it hadn't happened before, and because of thinking I had PPD, the doctors believed it would be a 1 time thing. They didn't want to give me any medication because I was nursing, and sent me home to rest.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The doctors were wrong. Very wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">That was the beginning of what I now refer to as "the dark nights." A few days passed, and another anxiety attack hit. They started once a week. Then twice a week. Then three times. Then five to six times a week. They would happen almost every time I slept. There was no relief. I prayed more during those months then I have in my entire life. I memorized and spoke scriptures against fear over myself. I fasted. Others fasted. Others prayed. I could not figure out what I was doing wrong. Unless you have experienced an anxiety attack, you really have no idea how terrifying they are... at least I didn't. To be afraid to fall asleep because you think you are going to die... or to be woken up out of your sleep unable to breathe and feel like you are about to die... it's a horrific way to live. I'm not exaggerating when I say there were probably 6 months of my life where I didn't sleep. It would take me hours to fall asleep... then Ayla would wake up and need to eat... then I'd have to try to fall back asleep... then I'd have to get the kids up for school. It was a never ending cycle of torture.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">There were very few people who truly knew what was going on. There's this stigma in the Christian world that mental illnesses are caused by lack of faith. There's a shame in things like anxiety or depression. You must not be doing something right, you're lacking in your walk with God... something spiritually must be changed in order to fix it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I was at a <a href="http://www.womenoffaith.com/" target="_blank"><b>Women of Faith</b></a> conference in Anaheim, and <a href="http://www.christinecaine.com/" target="_blank"><b>Christine Caine</b></a> was speaking. She went off on a tangent and said something that spoke to my soul. It had nothing to do with what she was speaking on, and I fully believe she said it because I needed to hear it. She said something along the lines of "We, as the church, don't look at someone who wears glasses and ask them 'where's your faith?' So why do we do that to someone battling a mental illness?" That gave me the courage to talk to my doctor about options that were available to help my anxiety.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Because I was nursing my doctor put me on a children's dose of some meds. She told me it would probably take a couple of weeks to get into my system and start working. Three days. Three. That's all it took for the darkness to begin to lift. I couldn't believe it, thought maybe it was in my head because it started working so quickly. But my doctor assured me that it was not in my head, some people have systems that are so depleted that the medicine can work almost immediately on them. That was the case with me. I started having some strange headaches which were side effects of the medicine, so I started taking half a pill every day. That was it. The perfect combination. Half of a child's dose of medicine daily was all my body needed to get back in working order. Since the middle of September I have maybe had 3 anxiety attacks total, and all of them were mild in comparison to what they use to be. 3 attacks in 4 months as opposed to 5-6 attacks in 1 week? You can't tell me that the medicine doesn't play a part in that. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The darkness has finally lifted. The sun is shining again. I'm getting sleep. I feel like myself. The days that I feel the enemy stole from me are getting redeemed. God is doing a great work in me, and He wants to do a great work through me. So, because fear played such a huge role in my life last year, God showed me that this year I am going to do the opposite... be brave. Make brave choices. Do brave things. Fear will not consume me, and fear will not control my choices.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">My first brave step is sharing my story here, for all the world to see. I want to use what I went through as something that can bring freedom to others. First, I want others who may be walking through the same thing I was walking through to read my story and know there's hope. Second, I want to help break the stereotype of mental illnesses, especially in the church world. I want people to see that sometimes the state of your mental health has nothing to do with your relationship with God and everything to do with your body not working the way it's supposed to, and that sometimes you need help to get your body to work correctly again. And that's ok. Just as if someone with cancer or migraines or eyeglasses or a broken ankle seek medical assistance to help their bodies get better, a mental sickness is no different. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is my time to be brave. And this is the time for someone else to know they aren't alone. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It's time we stop judging and start loving. I admit that even I have been judgmental in the past of those who were dealing with things like depression or anxiety. Until I walked in those shoes myself I had no idea how terrifying, how debilitating, and how much of your life it can steal from you. Until I walked in those shoes I had no idea how incredibly wrong my preconceived ideas were. Lets be brave together. Lets love others going through things we don't understand. Lets look past the way we think people should be and see them at their best... lets look at their hearts. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6kohc5akfYmOKLgAdZqBBuh9hsRZ8hzJ3Cr1dFuIW88mEBT3ZXaHUYlUA_TAUtUlZ88KCZoPTcFQvx_coaYXRg5EYRfR8bWoN3ZquZKb1hS9pY2E2hpXb8IbX8uAUrVMaHtwaTUzQFI/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6kohc5akfYmOKLgAdZqBBuh9hsRZ8hzJ3Cr1dFuIW88mEBT3ZXaHUYlUA_TAUtUlZ88KCZoPTcFQvx_coaYXRg5EYRfR8bWoN3ZquZKb1hS9pY2E2hpXb8IbX8uAUrVMaHtwaTUzQFI/s1600/image1.JPG" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-88311013656617647742015-01-06T00:17:00.002-08:002015-01-06T00:17:22.672-08:00Look who's back!<span style="font-size: large;">It's been awhile since I've blogged. And by awhile I mean over 2 years. A lot has happened in those two years. We found out I was pregnant (surprise!), were in a car accident where our car was totaled (we were/are all fine physically), found a new church home, bought a van, found a new house, had a baby GIRL, and many other things! I'm hoping to update more often on here, but for now I will leave you with our Christmas card (which, obviously, is the same picture in the header... and by the way, I don't know why my header looks a little soft/blurry when I upload it?). Anyways, here we are!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsU1lMo2JDylipCxWg5U9ovtTNCL4THEzSQyOUCqEinga6MxppQXGk2w6-uOQ4IzAHr3Xz53xKQA68lhRYR89i5DnfJQD1J4h8QZ0G2NOOo5BhD8vOpllXW4gDc6NHZaEtbdqpXcByBUM/s1600/christmas+card+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsU1lMo2JDylipCxWg5U9ovtTNCL4THEzSQyOUCqEinga6MxppQXGk2w6-uOQ4IzAHr3Xz53xKQA68lhRYR89i5DnfJQD1J4h8QZ0G2NOOo5BhD8vOpllXW4gDc6NHZaEtbdqpXcByBUM/s1600/christmas+card+01.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-86482301657491519522012-12-19T02:18:00.000-08:002012-12-19T02:18:38.496-08:00lets LIVE<span style="font-size: large;">Last Friday looked a little different than most school days in our house. Sean, my oldest, had been sick the day before, and due to a "fever free for 24 hour" rule, he was home again, although he was acting fine. We slept in a little, and hung around in our PJs. My 3 little guys were cuddled on the couch watching a Christmas movie, and I hopped on the computer to browse through FB for a bit before we started our day.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">At first there was only one post, and I almost skimmed right past it. A picture of a street crowded with cars and emergency vehicles. But then I stopped to read the caption. A shooting had happened at an elementary school in CT. What the crap? Who shoots an elementary school? I started clicking links and searching so I could find out more. A couple people injured. No, 18 people have been killed. No, wait again... 18 CHILDREN have been killed. Then the final count- 20 children and 6 adults. Like the rest of the nation, I sat in disbelief. Tears streamed down my face. I was sick to my stomach. I looked up to see my 3 boys laughing and enjoying their movie, with no earthly idea of the evil that was happening at that very moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I told them I was going to take a quick shower. I didn't want them to see me break down. I hopped in the shower and lost it. I mean LOST IT. Deep, heavy, sobs came from some place within me that I had never known was there. The pain was so intense, so real, so... PAINFUL that it was almost as if I had lost one of my children. The initial reports said an entire kindergarten class was missing. Kindergarten?!?! I cried and cried and kept thinking "those babies!" In my sobs, and somewhere amongst my prayers, I heard the Lord speak- so quietly yet so vibrantly in my heart- "I sent my son to die for him, too." I knew who He was speaking to me about. The man who pulled the trigger. God was reminding me that His son did not just die for those sweet children and innocent staff members... but He died for that murderer too.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My heart became heavier. What a lost, sick, hurting, dark soul he must have been to do such a horrific act. No person in their right mind could commit such an unspeakable crime. And now he was gone too- the eternal punishment he is facing is far worse than any punishment here on earth. My heart aches. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Soon more reports start coming out. Names. Birthdays. Ages. 15 out of 20 children born in 2006. Sean was born in 2006. 16 out of 20 of them were 6 years old. Sean is 6 years old. All of them in 1st grade. Sean is in 1st grade. And in a way I think only moms can understand, I grieve. Because you see, those children are all somebody's Sean. And the thought of losing him (or any of my children) is almost more than I can bear. Yet those parents... those families... they are living through it. It happened to them. It could have been me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Newtown, CT is not considered a dangerous town. People felt safe. But something exists in Newtown that exists in every city around the world- hurting people. You may not know it by just looking at them, but there are people everywhere who suffer from mental illness, inner pain, and who are just plain lost without Christ. It's not about gun control or school safety. It's about matters of the heart. It's about taking care of those who are mentally unstable. It's about sharing the love of Christ with those who need it most. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I certainly don't have all the answers. And I certainly don't know what any of that is supposed to look like. But I do know that I can choose on a daily basis to love others, & teach my children to do the same. I can share the love of Christ by words and actions. I can choose peace, and not to live in fear.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> By the time Monday came around, my heart was prepared to drop Sean off at school. So many parents were fearful. Some didn't even take their children to school. But I decided I was not going to live in fear. Crazy to think that the normal task of dropping your child off at school was changed in an instant to a brave action, accompanied by tears for many. I stood on the promises of God:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"The Lord is my light & my salvation- so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?" Ps 27:1</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I took a picture of Sean as he got out of the car, and I posted it to my FB & Instagram. Not because of the picture (although he sure is cute), but because of what I felt the Lord stirring in my spirit. Underneath the picture I wrote this:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"For me, being a parent means placing your children in God's hands from day 1, and continuing to do so each & every day. It's not always easy, but there is no other way that I would want to raise my kids. We can't live our lives in fear... we need to just LIVE." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So lets do it... lets LIVE. Lets laugh and make memories and have fun and shed tears and feel pain. Lets pray for others and grieve with others. Lets rejoice with others and encourage one another. Lets love with every fiber of our being. And lets share the love of God with those around us. Because we never know who is hurting & who is fighting an inner battle that none of us could understand or comprehend. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Lets LIVE.</span>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-8018907658632803502012-07-27T23:23:00.000-07:002012-07-27T23:23:01.781-07:00insta-friday #2<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm going about insta-Friday a little differently this week, to see if it's less frustrating than last week (UGH!). HAHA So here we go:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhiGoCDFQXgLesK2jqBpP4JCYZmaovJupD4wgtauzjaaRGK5_LEeWcV2YJ28MsE23KkrdLrcUqjv6HIcIZOZILXeiBQqh6m8WQoJKd0p8Ed60FN3y6RxuytVhe8Eq1imsMDjspu_RPAE/s1600/072112_7333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhiGoCDFQXgLesK2jqBpP4JCYZmaovJupD4wgtauzjaaRGK5_LEeWcV2YJ28MsE23KkrdLrcUqjv6HIcIZOZILXeiBQqh6m8WQoJKd0p8Ed60FN3y6RxuytVhe8Eq1imsMDjspu_RPAE/s320/072112_7333.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sweet brothers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAofiI0y-tn6aDZXgBAFwbqow9Y9Vj6-ACzx61P7DmX-d57cp4bfLBFjmTtbX4muzBI3R_CQLCULf_WifeDL4asb4aGRthvYoB4b7yBOczhhIJMen4MVCgA4reL0vjmuhQJ1atf2IX7FU/s1600/072212_7321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAofiI0y-tn6aDZXgBAFwbqow9Y9Vj6-ACzx61P7DmX-d57cp4bfLBFjmTtbX4muzBI3R_CQLCULf_WifeDL4asb4aGRthvYoB4b7yBOczhhIJMen4MVCgA4reL0vjmuhQJ1atf2IX7FU/s320/072212_7321.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"how great is our God" came on pandora and i looked over to see this. heart = melted</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtAznz2OMxpkjRGljWvgGaWXtsD5kyD9a_NSHu4lnlXGCXOmNLylkDJ2JsSAZcGIw203arHOiYy-mOcgSv2QjAwidH9acCXQwz8MvTJA9WgZvf5n18y9XWSpP3-kf4EwZDSyPs-issjc/s1600/072312_7309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtAznz2OMxpkjRGljWvgGaWXtsD5kyD9a_NSHu4lnlXGCXOmNLylkDJ2JsSAZcGIw203arHOiYy-mOcgSv2QjAwidH9acCXQwz8MvTJA9WgZvf5n18y9XWSpP3-kf4EwZDSyPs-issjc/s320/072312_7309.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my 3 boys + my brother's son + my cousins 2 sons = fun day with 6 boys under the age of 6!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm4HCspJVvysyLMBgyrSsejERNkCAyXmS3rlHqFu_x2knmxeC7BGHULdyS1isHwjuZH9Z602qi4PVb_gBGdYLEpahS8oShbNknqX8wfq5uNbRsb-tqLw801jjPAYpiQ7hKaSn8-ZvLkA/s1600/072312_7314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm4HCspJVvysyLMBgyrSsejERNkCAyXmS3rlHqFu_x2knmxeC7BGHULdyS1isHwjuZH9Z602qi4PVb_gBGdYLEpahS8oShbNknqX8wfq5uNbRsb-tqLw801jjPAYpiQ7hKaSn8-ZvLkA/s320/072312_7314.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">orange county sunset. just another day in cali</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD73_rkB8I0scEu62vbDQ7fKhoFWPWpykWCZD-MTVmf3b5zEd33lTtAQV2XFpCbdFvKBaIMj9Qo0EYxaX6IilDOXTKEs_U2nlplnclrm6iWpklvb6gl1UI322gXu4LADdI90GgNLJCQUY/s1600/072412_7287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD73_rkB8I0scEu62vbDQ7fKhoFWPWpykWCZD-MTVmf3b5zEd33lTtAQV2XFpCbdFvKBaIMj9Qo0EYxaX6IilDOXTKEs_U2nlplnclrm6iWpklvb6gl1UI322gXu4LADdI90GgNLJCQUY/s320/072412_7287.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">courtney, my younger bro's girlfriend, entertaining the 4 boys. adorable.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2NHf3j1WD_ealhjrbsWMMNGo89hdyVce2GJSxjU0cbYECcvHlcuCN5P6klXfHd-KoMn6TJhGYT8d8QMCxgbAN-7rTorb3Cyoy7ExRYrhnZqAS0rYh4nOkEyv1xMJZSIeL2QDV5xlTgQ/s1600/072412_7302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2NHf3j1WD_ealhjrbsWMMNGo89hdyVce2GJSxjU0cbYECcvHlcuCN5P6klXfHd-KoMn6TJhGYT8d8QMCxgbAN-7rTorb3Cyoy7ExRYrhnZqAS0rYh4nOkEyv1xMJZSIeL2QDV5xlTgQ/s320/072412_7302.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">goofing off with my 2 biggest boys. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYu0P9kJkqx8ELA_WdT-wngJ8eOOOeC9a2FU8oqKm3ClJTu48b5mRwuskzy6sQJFPGesF74PCP9b7zt3FVGIgU8HjID2hPyKW8mimu3ilYcAN0xmoWdrtrlio88LVwQWuSoeMrjw3dZuI/s1600/072512_7281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYu0P9kJkqx8ELA_WdT-wngJ8eOOOeC9a2FU8oqKm3ClJTu48b5mRwuskzy6sQJFPGesF74PCP9b7zt3FVGIgU8HjID2hPyKW8mimu3ilYcAN0xmoWdrtrlio88LVwQWuSoeMrjw3dZuI/s320/072512_7281.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sitting on knees and eating a gogo squeez... oh man too cute for words!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqgvIEq1GwRm78j3iCMZEALLnsgalPEfc9oJb9GGe-blfbIFphvKggzifbt3BloHuFKSWPHDpIszdqCpGzQdf_QmAlh9yr8rM7FmFyJvnJhcphoRxht_jqeSlSfY7WTmrkvJdGFYsmo8/s1600/072612_7257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqgvIEq1GwRm78j3iCMZEALLnsgalPEfc9oJb9GGe-blfbIFphvKggzifbt3BloHuFKSWPHDpIszdqCpGzQdf_QmAlh9yr8rM7FmFyJvnJhcphoRxht_jqeSlSfY7WTmrkvJdGFYsmo8/s320/072612_7257.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PAXimus prime, NOLimus prime, and SEANimus prime</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUUGRhbf88uG5NxR-JKcA-9pB3otLx91fBzeCBY5l9-LNKUeYBWfCS2fDDJlR_HfOR9_cfkWTb8aTx2pGbrwEqEsoNRxLLc9BkO9oCVAgwg8b4yb0JEM5vgW0y-KeUetRiGZERhLlqkc/s1600/072612_7261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUUGRhbf88uG5NxR-JKcA-9pB3otLx91fBzeCBY5l9-LNKUeYBWfCS2fDDJlR_HfOR9_cfkWTb8aTx2pGbrwEqEsoNRxLLc9BkO9oCVAgwg8b4yb0JEM5vgW0y-KeUetRiGZERhLlqkc/s320/072612_7261.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">boys are weird.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCoG8SW6ovhtCq7Y2xyJyxTxZdD_KQUl1AEg1MsFP5fZJccThALR_Uy6DZbFR99KF4y4jTlXE7nm-MgcOdC24soNSf8tI-FnGGXi9F6oS4nJPA9ggv4YR4o5352rhNPZtVTAjc0cgzp8/s1600/072612_7266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCoG8SW6ovhtCq7Y2xyJyxTxZdD_KQUl1AEg1MsFP5fZJccThALR_Uy6DZbFR99KF4y4jTlXE7nm-MgcOdC24soNSf8tI-FnGGXi9F6oS4nJPA9ggv4YR4o5352rhNPZtVTAjc0cgzp8/s320/072612_7266.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">once again, boys are weird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqayryrX4NfhUlSt86TLHKox9Y-lTYRl_xwo6Nl_F4dcV8svBntHfIBmld-Dw0QrvqrpGrUpkbMg4GuryZO9AZY1Ir9pkQK35UXAk_uyoCuKSGNVBREZGoz0k2ovshY25ptZ82vYsdTLU/s1600/072712_7240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqayryrX4NfhUlSt86TLHKox9Y-lTYRl_xwo6Nl_F4dcV8svBntHfIBmld-Dw0QrvqrpGrUpkbMg4GuryZO9AZY1Ir9pkQK35UXAk_uyoCuKSGNVBREZGoz0k2ovshY25ptZ82vYsdTLU/s320/072712_7240.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th haircut in 6 months</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhripp3DpfG6YpxX_7K-KQ65OO4HDd5GeJnjiAvJFtVXVAwYnDEyNQ16NaVloRPy8C073LEFznz-RSBH4u34nLhacbZ-OEtD_jIhtU864GX3UEK6yd6wHazLksROSlicIoA7UP2j4uh15Y/s1600/072712_7241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhripp3DpfG6YpxX_7K-KQ65OO4HDd5GeJnjiAvJFtVXVAwYnDEyNQ16NaVloRPy8C073LEFznz-RSBH4u34nLhacbZ-OEtD_jIhtU864GX3UEK6yd6wHazLksROSlicIoA7UP2j4uh15Y/s320/072712_7241.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">super mario brothers with a friend after haircuts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiJKf4T2-ZyZmV1Ui9K_YA6fuakFPksoopLNzqHoRsjmfYdBFiIn1Dm67iGxEM2Xuh0bJ2MB5Dmv96y42Bxjv910wo4VUsiLzTRzwc4VUaoAwWmA7xM6tC0_J0WsuY4BFU-Gk34FYtmk/s1600/072712_7256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiJKf4T2-ZyZmV1Ui9K_YA6fuakFPksoopLNzqHoRsjmfYdBFiIn1Dm67iGxEM2Xuh0bJ2MB5Dmv96y42Bxjv910wo4VUsiLzTRzwc4VUaoAwWmA7xM6tC0_J0WsuY4BFU-Gk34FYtmk/s320/072712_7256.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trial run through the sprinklers in our new backyard!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">follow me on instagram: @ericajstephens</span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-86605564023818553882012-07-20T11:34:00.001-07:002012-07-20T11:34:32.374-07:00Insta-FridayOk so I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm trying to post from my phone for the first time. Every time I pick pictures to include, it puts them out of order and I can't figure out how to move them around. I also can't write captions by each picture. Not sure if I'm a fan of posting from the iPhone. So I now present to you my first ever (frustrated) insta-Friday! Ha! <br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOORkxP7zg6N0eel96MqJtY6rjZ8dE_r4d8pMZgHtifVRTAyekBkvFvNI0ZtO9fU5vttRk4Q0_EI-BAWfb6ST85b8ziKmJOJcgl6XQ8SYTDpVvIm5Yp5FWxkuzNPqgEUM6fYUnjXZibZQ/s640/blogger-image-244082092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOORkxP7zg6N0eel96MqJtY6rjZ8dE_r4d8pMZgHtifVRTAyekBkvFvNI0ZtO9fU5vttRk4Q0_EI-BAWfb6ST85b8ziKmJOJcgl6XQ8SYTDpVvIm5Yp5FWxkuzNPqgEUM6fYUnjXZibZQ/s640/blogger-image-244082092.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO9q74N-mMIwZKFFFWZiEkRS-gC0OcqgBGTq8vUSLuyDMVnSz6ePRynUgMWK3oJ8XzuZ7hAFKBce_hxMfzkZK5MIFEC1SVj2TEFk97eoWEjrq8zheiGNDe8aQeSGh1MtkW1z9uenKQBs/s640/blogger-image--1499770677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO9q74N-mMIwZKFFFWZiEkRS-gC0OcqgBGTq8vUSLuyDMVnSz6ePRynUgMWK3oJ8XzuZ7hAFKBce_hxMfzkZK5MIFEC1SVj2TEFk97eoWEjrq8zheiGNDe8aQeSGh1MtkW1z9uenKQBs/s640/blogger-image--1499770677.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNekGO_sKAjbsQC6iNriVLZIsn8F4g8JO_1mkLvb6n_BQnkGKGkMDptHvVbKkrMa3C-2yqwp9Bdy6yiak-90pBlIDBnSdxaIS6qhmgxKXhA1-M4xkR4o3f8x6zboYoCev-68ZP8skeVlo/s640/blogger-image-2096481118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNekGO_sKAjbsQC6iNriVLZIsn8F4g8JO_1mkLvb6n_BQnkGKGkMDptHvVbKkrMa3C-2yqwp9Bdy6yiak-90pBlIDBnSdxaIS6qhmgxKXhA1-M4xkR4o3f8x6zboYoCev-68ZP8skeVlo/s640/blogger-image-2096481118.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKmH2h1JOKko3b83ZN2DCm6t4NHVqbhQX1a4LD3S5guxh8Zvksth-bzo6jmR6UTzwAmw_bmPx_uoRFQab52G9MGUdBksVozIlFhzP9_JHvK3U7FqK6JhjPEp8mH0rEYQQ1gr12dCqmiU/s640/blogger-image-1627726410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKmH2h1JOKko3b83ZN2DCm6t4NHVqbhQX1a4LD3S5guxh8Zvksth-bzo6jmR6UTzwAmw_bmPx_uoRFQab52G9MGUdBksVozIlFhzP9_JHvK3U7FqK6JhjPEp8mH0rEYQQ1gr12dCqmiU/s640/blogger-image-1627726410.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IzhRLVNMshreHs-HRKj-eu3B0wfvJI2YL8mJFBTcY-M0rcwbXCRCqoGT0Aal1Bl8ZTfUC1wCPssHtaPUTy7AZ4jQJ3zS60II23K1iJMx40a49tWmx4hKBfotWz1cZT2uZsHL37UpJl4/s640/blogger-image--306802614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IzhRLVNMshreHs-HRKj-eu3B0wfvJI2YL8mJFBTcY-M0rcwbXCRCqoGT0Aal1Bl8ZTfUC1wCPssHtaPUTy7AZ4jQJ3zS60II23K1iJMx40a49tWmx4hKBfotWz1cZT2uZsHL37UpJl4/s640/blogger-image--306802614.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3-BlEu1TIOYKj1hN9gP0cOWGe03xpBp0S5ZqS4L-q9nrBt4hGAbxBFlHc5pb7p-_wc23vGlO6ooSSTWvXNjxvh7eO1UVBFCTpF0V2cV8Df9e-NMS3uS8EpheoOesePLBFJ5q0uIvmlI/s640/blogger-image--1027008733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3-BlEu1TIOYKj1hN9gP0cOWGe03xpBp0S5ZqS4L-q9nrBt4hGAbxBFlHc5pb7p-_wc23vGlO6ooSSTWvXNjxvh7eO1UVBFCTpF0V2cV8Df9e-NMS3uS8EpheoOesePLBFJ5q0uIvmlI/s640/blogger-image--1027008733.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEDTJEnQNESjD54n9MLVV2yAF537AL35kweT7JCW5l9QMHrzSTip_H1MWDcxPxpqgAEN_9Z-KB8DBxbT6hDvkvK3EYPEdm3JGp8Iax7VkQqw2BQXC1iIpmffWVeUsirwIsyWuFdpk-v4/s640/blogger-image--236071858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEDTJEnQNESjD54n9MLVV2yAF537AL35kweT7JCW5l9QMHrzSTip_H1MWDcxPxpqgAEN_9Z-KB8DBxbT6hDvkvK3EYPEdm3JGp8Iax7VkQqw2BQXC1iIpmffWVeUsirwIsyWuFdpk-v4/s640/blogger-image--236071858.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgFiDVJxYZjJk-IwuxnT7rQeRuCaduIVctYkL7cdtZTghBNmnkIYtLUaWFtkbJKNtE2KC_XdAA0o9hLaCUhOZZ6pYM2wUCC4A62JWSAEiH_Uo3d4N4ZSt6u8CmvBj8Dnr8dspdscycoo/s640/blogger-image-972840468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgFiDVJxYZjJk-IwuxnT7rQeRuCaduIVctYkL7cdtZTghBNmnkIYtLUaWFtkbJKNtE2KC_XdAA0o9hLaCUhOZZ6pYM2wUCC4A62JWSAEiH_Uo3d4N4ZSt6u8CmvBj8Dnr8dspdscycoo/s640/blogger-image-972840468.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVH1BMlH7a1gapFgwtfCVblE-QPbpw3kyC3itQRcAZ2brPD8OBbsJCGv1iytM0fUpRkQknt-qfyCNURPAiZm9VvFmgFLHGYJLoLyvTFneZ1yMlEytDDedDQxN47RfEkUOnIpEektdm5pk/s640/blogger-image-147010056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVH1BMlH7a1gapFgwtfCVblE-QPbpw3kyC3itQRcAZ2brPD8OBbsJCGv1iytM0fUpRkQknt-qfyCNURPAiZm9VvFmgFLHGYJLoLyvTFneZ1yMlEytDDedDQxN47RfEkUOnIpEektdm5pk/s640/blogger-image-147010056.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8t46yJGdfd5D37ovgtVNalg32bIFdJGI21hA6KqE_VAH2PFS96DEST2fDfm6c3ACLPvCt4ZQGTWbONazhYfV0eexs6YxZgM_h4AhYsda0R8E53QtaXHl0ICY1-ojAhrMyuTOj6FfufLY/s640/blogger-image-419301691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8t46yJGdfd5D37ovgtVNalg32bIFdJGI21hA6KqE_VAH2PFS96DEST2fDfm6c3ACLPvCt4ZQGTWbONazhYfV0eexs6YxZgM_h4AhYsda0R8E53QtaXHl0ICY1-ojAhrMyuTOj6FfufLY/s640/blogger-image-419301691.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXron5K6HAxXtV0eynShpqfTa8CEpbBcrCH6pmfds94N-WBz8_qGXqV9PvXeVytn1PVQXu1WWCc7EPv0Wmqbx8uWtb1EUWG8BpnIH0IDeT6TB9xAgb7sB8REOpm6cqGb4-bF-_OKlrWI/s640/blogger-image-159431225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXron5K6HAxXtV0eynShpqfTa8CEpbBcrCH6pmfds94N-WBz8_qGXqV9PvXeVytn1PVQXu1WWCc7EPv0Wmqbx8uWtb1EUWG8BpnIH0IDeT6TB9xAgb7sB8REOpm6cqGb4-bF-_OKlrWI/s640/blogger-image-159431225.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhne2uvwGz8jmEOgUKfuEyFiMSs947j9DESf6lMCbN0vE1CHVyhHFGKAU-drRJPeGO8S1Q9oc5sILlLs2-6lqKkAzTlQe9Arezt_vmsaDSO9JpZOprhbubcIIbURhBtphUowiijSc7L-Q/s640/blogger-image--1344601528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhne2uvwGz8jmEOgUKfuEyFiMSs947j9DESf6lMCbN0vE1CHVyhHFGKAU-drRJPeGO8S1Q9oc5sILlLs2-6lqKkAzTlQe9Arezt_vmsaDSO9JpZOprhbubcIIbURhBtphUowiijSc7L-Q/s640/blogger-image--1344601528.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_XLcOGkDjkr-yWFnfIYNPXUAP5NgRvlLJZA1McFgz98M2YvrJQm_UJlM_vWsHzDf0XsUTjmcuYFHjkoAzmUzF69n0qNkrUMD79HwwgMPJubP1EgN7DsxjxUf2mT57habQCnXSwTrI5E/s640/blogger-image-940742137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_XLcOGkDjkr-yWFnfIYNPXUAP5NgRvlLJZA1McFgz98M2YvrJQm_UJlM_vWsHzDf0XsUTjmcuYFHjkoAzmUzF69n0qNkrUMD79HwwgMPJubP1EgN7DsxjxUf2mT57habQCnXSwTrI5E/s640/blogger-image-940742137.jpg" /></a></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-59413640161711506932012-07-15T01:19:00.000-07:002012-07-15T01:19:18.919-07:00slackerOk everyone- I am SO aware that I have been a major slacker in the blogging world. I can't help it. There are a million and a half other things I'm doing...<br />
<br />
I still want to blog. In my mind, it's one of those things that I'd like to do. I love to look back and have these accounts of fun things our family has done. But in reality, it takes up a lot of my time, and until I get better at managing time (maybe when school starts again?) this will have to take a back burner.<br />
<br />
Because lets face it, life is more fun when spent <i>away</i> from the computer!<br />
<br />
But, I <i>do</i> have a new iphone... and with my new iphone I now have an instagram account. What an easy way to keep people updated! I always have my phone on me, so I can always take pictures. Yay! So if you want, you can follow me:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #741b47;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>ericajstephens</b></span></div>
<br />
Happy Summer ya'll!!! <br />
<br />
PS don't lose all hope in me.... I'll be back!! :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVM5VyjxAmDj47i7qVb9jcTtyeFWbFt5vf56Chhlhxpdf7Oact3iJJP5Hk79qTyXx_o7UjVFVkYY5l3PIgYG5XYN0PYsxUNbm5xiS2XP_49ceqOUesvBHmXQHnEdf5XBMkqfIPDUn_fnw/s1600/062412_6827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVM5VyjxAmDj47i7qVb9jcTtyeFWbFt5vf56Chhlhxpdf7Oact3iJJP5Hk79qTyXx_o7UjVFVkYY5l3PIgYG5XYN0PYsxUNbm5xiS2XP_49ceqOUesvBHmXQHnEdf5XBMkqfIPDUn_fnw/s640/062412_6827.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijltF2a1NiiK5TMZwRXVwR521RFPMzrpMg9KpPRdXkWuR4kg5svg1J7DndZCYfCm3nsNJznaIgxL5xNF38DEGDYDzqTmmClrm4wdxiB0rux4DuDhDnxzAJ4JKYSiiuj_W95EbVMUd3OKs/s1600/070412_6841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijltF2a1NiiK5TMZwRXVwR521RFPMzrpMg9KpPRdXkWuR4kg5svg1J7DndZCYfCm3nsNJznaIgxL5xNF38DEGDYDzqTmmClrm4wdxiB0rux4DuDhDnxzAJ4JKYSiiuj_W95EbVMUd3OKs/s640/070412_6841.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-71225754669542876882012-07-08T05:40:00.000-07:002012-07-08T05:40:00.092-07:00that time we pretended that it was right after Easter and not the 4th of July....<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7097790367/" title="040412_3458 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="040412_3458" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5272/7097790367_40f1640204_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">i said "boys, take off your shirts so you won't get egg dye one them." this is what i got when i turned around. next time i will be more specific as to who needs to take their shirt off ;)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6951720624/" title="040412_3460 copy by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="040412_3460 copy" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5039/6951720624_48f16f46bd_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7097793401/" title="040412_3474 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="040412_3474" height="476" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7134/7097793401_1a457c196d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6951723366/" title="040612_3570 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="040612_3570" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7079/6951723366_b2e1669f9a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6951724896/" title="040612_3573 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="040612_3573" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7088/6951724896_8160d514bb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Easter egg hunt at the church! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7097801027/" title="040712_3588 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="040712_3588" height="476" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5449/7097801027_26e48a9914_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6951727712/" title="040712_3557 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="040712_3557" height="476" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/6951727712_66ea84a8bd_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> actual Easter!</span><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7098017875/" title="040812_3869 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="040812_3869" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5079/7098017875_6bdfd5babc_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7098018335/" title="040812_3871 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="040812_3871" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7138/7098018335_801910d615_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6951949676/" title="040812_3881 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="040812_3881" height="319" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7240/6951949676_0ed8530237_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7098021643/" title="040812_3898 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="040812_3898" height="319" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7043/7098021643_80f712b43f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-16756882961868118032012-07-06T01:25:00.002-07:002012-07-06T01:39:19.309-07:00october "photo dump"<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">yes, october... as in 9 months ago. don't hate me because i suck at blogging, ok?? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">there will be very few words/descriptions, only pictures, basically for my own memory. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">if any of you are still out there you are welcomed to comment and let me know you are still around! hahahahaha :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699987107/" title="101511_01 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101511_01" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6699987107_608da7058e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699988767/" title="101511_02 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101511_02" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6699988767_0dba6199e8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699990643/" title="101511_04 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101511_04" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6699990643_0383963992_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699992833/" title="101511_05 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101511_05" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7028/6699992833_7bf6a167b0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699994987/" title="101511_06 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101511_06" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6699994987_894a2072ef_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699996865/" title="101511_07 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101511_07" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6699996865_6eb41bf905_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699998713/" title="101511_08 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101511_08" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6699998713_18eab76a29_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699999893/" title="101511_09 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101511_09" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6699999893_b0619a768f_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700002767/" title="101511_15 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101511_15" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6700002767_c0e62e02c2_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700001847/" title="101511_14 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101511_14" height="476" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6700001847_72d4af1a18_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700004005/" title="101511_17 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101511_17" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6700004005_c1cbda8f93_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">fall family fun festival</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700005975/" title="102811_03 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="102811_03" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6700005975_9af90d7873_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700007635/" title="102811_04 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="102811_04" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6700007635_787310506e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700008691/" title="102811_05 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="102811_05" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6700008691_bd3838e685_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700009805/" title="102811_06 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="102811_06" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6700009805_50c194d6ac_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700011077/" title="102811_07 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="102811_07" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6700011077_abb755099c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700012297/" title="102811_08 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="102811_08" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6700012297_3c0c7773b6_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700013741/" title="102811_10 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="102811_10" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6700013741_3b25daff3a_z.jpg" width="426" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">makin festive cookies & cupcakes</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700014739/" title="102911_02 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="102911_02" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6700014739_09ec4ac10b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700015951/" title="102911_03 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="102911_03" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6700015951_a27bb85b36_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700017129/" title="103011_02 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="103011_02" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6700017129_bd776de98b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700018515/" title="103011_03 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="103011_03" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6700018515_61e37d9263_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">the actual day of oct 31 </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700020089/" title="103111_02 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="103111_02" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6700020089_589c032585_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6700021917/" title="103111_05 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="103111_05" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6700021917_3e2ae1129b_z.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-58367910626107439522012-05-13T22:51:00.000-07:002012-05-13T22:51:18.833-07:006 years of Mother's Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7194150178/" title="mothers day by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="mothers day" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/7194150178_51c9b11f4c_c.jpg" width="530" /></a></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-54557178596745489072012-05-05T05:00:00.000-07:002012-05-05T05:00:09.436-07:00project 359 2012- January<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Um... Erica... there are 366 days in 2012."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Oh, and Erica... January was 4 months ago...."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know what you're thinking, it's ok! I've just got a little explaining to do :) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't need to explain that I have had a hard time keeping up with my blog, those of you who follow me know that I have been <strike>a little</strike> very inconsistent with my blogging. But the "Project 359" thing, that I can give you a good reason!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know if you remember me saying how I was very sick at the end of December and almost all of January? Well, in being sick, there were days where it took everything in me just to get out of bed, let alone take a picture. So there were 7 days where I didn't take a single picture. Because I still wanted to keep up with my photo a day project, I just changed the name and subtracted those 7 days :) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So there you have it- I'll have you all caught up in no time! But for now, I will share with you my January photos</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7227/6992163440_150153d50c_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7227/6992163440_150153d50c_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/6992166066_5a86c873e7_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/6992166066_5a86c873e7_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh! And happy 24th birthday to my little bro Timmy! And happy Cinco de Mayo to you all. Hope you eat lots of tacos today! I'm not a big fan of Mexican food, but we are heading out to THREE different birthday parties and two of them are having taco bars. I hear carne asada will make an appearance at one of them, and that is one dish of Mexican food that I do love! </span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-58139610857756351672012-05-03T04:30:00.000-07:002012-05-03T04:30:03.195-07:00happy 3rd birthday, nolan!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nolan turned 3 back in February, and we just had the BEST time celebrating him!! Birthdays are SO special to me, I just love rejoicing in the blessing that our children are to us.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nolan's birthday was on a Sunday, so I made him a birthday boy crown out of orange (his favorite color!) paper & we got him donut holes to share with his class at church.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089761273/" title="022612_2797 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="022612_2797" height="476" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7089761273_1d33cf3baf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of Nolan's favorite things to do is art. So on the evening of his birthday we did a family art project! We went to Michael's and got 4 small square canvases, then everyone got to pick out 3 paint colors (because he turned 3, of course!) and we had to see what we could come up with using only our 3 colors. Before we headed home to paint we stopped at BerryStar and got some frozen yogurt, & sang happy birthday to Nolan (very loudly). Nolan picked Day of the Diesels to watch while we painted, and we just had the funnest time! So fun, this is really the only picture I have of us painting (and I don't have any after pictures... Dathan just hung them on the wall so maybe soon!).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089762127/" title="022612_2802 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="022612_2802" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7188/7089762127_a6e711dd41_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The next weekend we threw Nolan a little party. I mean literally threw it together- like sent a text on Thursday night asking our friends if they were free Saturday morning for a party. Total mommy fail. What can I say? It totally came up way faster than I realized haha! My mom had the amazing idea to have his party at the park. I don't know why that never crossed my mind (maybe because it was February?) but the weather was GORGEOUS and it was the BEST idea ever. Nothing to clean up before or after, and no games/activities to plan for a bunch of preschool kids because the playground was enough. We had cupcakes, bottles of water, & juice boxes- so simple! And would you believe- we had SO many people show up! Apparently, if you want a large turn out for your kid's party you just need to go ahead and plan it 2 days beforehand. I DID make his cupcakes from scratch... he wanted red ones, so I made red velvet. They were good, but I realized I am just not a fan of cream cheese frosting!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(In the top 2 pictures Nolan was trying to show me on his fingers that he was 3... hahahaha)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943692944/" title="030312_2877 copy by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="030312_2877 copy" height="213" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/6943692944_523d99b631_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089763551/" title="030312_2881 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="030312_2881" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/7089763551_77d673358b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089764101/" title="020112_2395 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="020112_2395" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7089764101_27d52d57b8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943694650/" title="030312_2892 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="030312_2892" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/6943694650_62bba787fb_z.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then... if that wasn't enough celebrating... we had one more thing in mind. We had decided that, starting this year, instead of getting the kids presents for their birthdays we were going to give them a gift of quality time- doing something they love with just momma & daddy. The kids will get enough toys from their grandparents & friends, and we certainly don't <i>need</i> anymore in our house. But the special, focused time with just mom & dad is priceless. Since Nolan loves art, Dathan & I wanted to take him to paint a dream. God is so cool- right around the time we were wanting to go, I receive an email from them saying that the first 30 customers on a particular day would get 50% off their ENTIRE purchase! So we dropped Sean & Pax off with my parents and went. What a blessing to do something we wanted to do already for HALF OFF! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089765815/" title="031112_2952 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="031112_2952" height="213" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5196/7089765815_a10e30bd5e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943696714/" title="031112_2955 copy by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="031112_2955 copy" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5321/6943696714_39c5364ef1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course Nolan picked a train to paint ;)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After we painted we took him out to lunch. We ate at Panda Express, or "Polar Express" as he calls it... his choice. Ahhh- he brings us so much joy! :) </span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-11126987235871309112012-05-01T05:00:00.000-07:002012-05-01T05:00:04.298-07:0010 on Tuesday<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you've been following my last 2 weeks of 10 on Tues, then you will not be surprised to see that this week is about Sean! I title this:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">10 {poses} of Sean. Because... well... he poses for me all the time now! Stinkin cutie!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089719921/" title="sean 10a by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="sean 10a" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7269/7089719921_555e33748e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943650612/" title="sean 10b by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="sean 10b" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5335/6943650612_d3f5fc00ba_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943651136/" title="sean 10c by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="sean 10c" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5335/6943651136_54cfe69c3d_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089721631/" title="sean 10d by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="sean 10d" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7105/7089721631_7fb7a28763_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089722057/" title="sean 10e by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="sean 10e" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5035/7089722057_e710381f07_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089722645/" title="sean 10f by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="sean 10f" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5455/7089722645_f1f9db9b88_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943652944/" title="sean 10g by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="sean 10g" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7038/6943652944_8f1d785128_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943653324/" title="sean 10h by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="sean 10h" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/6943653324_0b4edcc3ba_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943653696/" title="sean 10i by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="sean 10i" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5198/6943653696_d241bf4b70_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089724083/" title="sean 10j by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="sean 10j" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5444/7089724083_596319b2b9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">notice the hands on the hips in several of these? love it!</span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-2071429978246866792012-04-28T05:00:00.000-07:002012-04-28T05:00:10.911-07:00Happy birthday to me!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So my birthday may or may not have been back in February.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And I may or may not have gotten around to blogging about it right now ;)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This year wasn't a big milestone of a birthday for me- 29! Wow! Sounds so grown up to me, & so weird to think this is my last year of my 20's... gotta live it up, right?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Since my birthday was on a Monday, we met up with my parents on Sunday for my birthday dinner at Red Robin. RR is in our mall, and the boys were so excited about the fountain out front that we had to take our family picture in front of it (can you tell we never go to the mall? ha!) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089757955/" title="020512_2419 copy by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="020512_2419 copy" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7065/7089757955_f00a25e9db_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On the morning of my actual birthday, my best friend Erin "surprised" me with a visit (she lives a couple hours away). I say "surprised" because I totally knew she was coming- she kept texting me "So... what are you doing today?" "What time do you take Sean to school?" etc. Love her! We had a great lunch together before she had to head back home so she could make it to class on time. You know you have an amazing BFF when she drives 2 hours one way just to take you out to lunch!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089757277/" title="020612_2411 copy by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="020612_2411 copy" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/7089757277_4b18d6c109_z.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> The weekend after my birthday Dathan took me out for a getaway overnighter! It was a wonderful surprise gift from him & his family! He lined up the sitters & everything... he didn't tell me what we were doing, just gave me a list of what types of clothes to pack.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We drove to a town about 45 mins away, checked into our hotel, and went in our really awesome room. We dressed up and Dathan took me to a delicious steak dinner. We clean up pretty well, don't you think? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089758359/" title="021012_2477 copy by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="021012_2477 copy" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7250/7089758359_6b83b616a5_z.jpg" width="426" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Saturday we slept in, ate breakfast at the hotel, and since check out wasn't until noon we went in the hot tub then took our time getting ready. It was SO nice! I even got to curl my hair (which never happens)!!! I had Dathan take this picture with my phone as proof. Ha!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/406473_10150680081697265_674422264_11132984_1259710611_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/406473_10150680081697265_674422264_11132984_1259710611_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> After we got ready Dathan surprised me and took me to the <a href="http://www.getty.edu/"><b style="color: purple;">Getty Center</b></a>! I have never been and had mentioned about a month before that I'd love to go there. He took mental note and brought me for my birthday. So thoughtful!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Getty has the most incredible views of Los Angeles! I am in love with this picture: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943688816/" title="021112_2434 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="021112_2434" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7248/6943688816_5c4492bb92_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Love.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089759415/" title="021112_2441 copy by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="021112_2441 copy" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5159/7089759415_a914bd62fc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Honestly we spent more time walking around outside and enjoying the views, architecture, and gardens at the Getty then we did looking at the actual art inside. It was a gorgeous day and we get easily distracted ;)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943689902/" title="021112_2451 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="021112_2451" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/6943689902_b3677131e4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Looking to the west was SO bright because the sky was clear and the sun was shining. It's hard to see because it almost blends into the sky, but we could see all the way to the ocean from the Getty. In the left of this picture is Los Angeles, and then if you look right about where Dathan's bracelet is on his left hand, that is the ocean. Amazing!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943690278/" title="021112_2468 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="021112_2468" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5342/6943690278_d59d4b797b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was SO nice to get away, have some important quality time with Dathan and get a FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP! Ahhh!! :) </span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-20163484101708591192012-04-26T05:00:00.000-07:002012-04-27T00:23:32.129-07:00that hair!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So lets just pretend for a couple minutes that it is the middle of January & Pax is one week shy of being 4 months old (instead of just a few days older than 7 months old!). Ok... are we all on the same page now? Good, now we can move on.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Pax's hair is amazing. It has been since the second he was born. It's thick & dark & long & does it's own thing. Everyone comments on it everywhere we go. It suits him. But it was getting long. Too long. Use this picture as an example- it is almost down to his chin!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089724555/" title="011712_04 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="011712_04" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7248/7089724555_52f62dd3e0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, at under 4 months old, Pax got his first haircut. My friend Breanne is amazing & does all of our hair (except Dathan, because all he uses are clippers!) so of course she is who I asked to do the honor of cutting Pax's hair for the first time. She's a pro, even though she said Pax was officially her youngest customer she's ever had!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089725091/" title="011812_2038 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="011812_2038" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7227/7089725091_1d051e9c4d_z.jpg" width="426" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Pax sat very still in his bumbo. He did SO good! It didn't seem to bother him one bit that someone was tugging on his hair.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089725555/" title="011812_2041 copyA by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="011812_2041 copyA" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7275/7089725555_7bc7f6e150_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At the very end he got slightly fussy. And honestly I think it was just because we kept having to turn his head in the same direction for her to cut part of it straight. But this sweet little face? That's the worst of it. Best haircut client ever!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089726045/" title="011812_2045 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="011812_2045" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5443/7089726045_3c13c918fe_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I forgot to take an "after" picture the day of the haircut, but this one was taken a few days later. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089726295/" title="012712_2305 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="012712_2305" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/7089726295_193838f72d_z.jpg" width="457" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone was freaking out about us cutting his hair. I'm
not sure what they were thinking we'd do to it, but all we wanted was
the same style he already had, just shorter. :)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now lets fast-forward to last week... when Pax needed a haircut again already! So we decided this time to go a bit shorter, because it grows so fast & it was starting to warm up outside. He now looks like an older, completely different baby!! But still SO cute!!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXo-H0bUvs00lSal0RTelNtVRE89afEt1qtcpSPiM6WJRMj0oFxdsFSC3KjYeSfpJWdZ48TqXiY8Kq4rtgYJzBq-Wr0AUU9fjQyYRVa22tTS4-XsP3TTZ8V-MMp7PFHdMocBOEggLaM8/s1600/Untitled-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXo-H0bUvs00lSal0RTelNtVRE89afEt1qtcpSPiM6WJRMj0oFxdsFSC3KjYeSfpJWdZ48TqXiY8Kq4rtgYJzBq-Wr0AUU9fjQyYRVa22tTS4-XsP3TTZ8V-MMp7PFHdMocBOEggLaM8/s640/Untitled-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Oh, and you know how I said he sat so still for Breanne the first time around? Yeah... definitely not this time! Ha! He was squirming SO much and trying to grab the scissors and the comb. At one point I had to put my cheek next to his so that he would stop looking around. He's a busy boy!! :)</span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-8219202212210567192012-04-24T05:00:00.000-07:002012-04-24T05:00:18.277-07:0010 on tuesday<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, since last Tuesday I did 10 {fussy} faces of Paxton, I thought this week I would do 10 {ever changing} faces of Nolan. He's a crack up!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943649386/" title="nolan 10j by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="nolan 10j" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/6943649386_75e273555d_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089718925/" title="nolan 10i by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="nolan 10i" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7249/7089718925_9cda9ef8b9_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943648518/" title="nolan 10h by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="nolan 10h" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7135/6943648518_529d3d2810_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089717731/" title="nolan 10g by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="nolan 10g" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5151/7089717731_2315f2407c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089717017/" title="nolan 10f by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="nolan 10f" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/7089717017_87109a68eb_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089716561/" title="nolan 10e by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="nolan 10e" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5075/7089716561_f13550a4a9_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089715795/" title="nolan 10d by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="nolan 10d" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5350/7089715795_d316503850_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7089715251/" title="nolan 10b by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="nolan 10b" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7089715251_7c36c48ffa_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6943644696/" title="nolan 10a by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="nolan 10a" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/6943644696_3d376f1647_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8ceeTUtT-sAFXdj-mZjm45ygUtY3ardS-3ri6RFY2bW70iqqteNLHzWZ4-HK_xxpmz2mVaKIayN8HSJ-3JJJW8xehXPHXlzLOlhdimqDirLiMdZnUQlrFS6iSZGqFgyoQLPHx1o-j7s/s1600/040912_3865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8ceeTUtT-sAFXdj-mZjm45ygUtY3ardS-3ri6RFY2bW70iqqteNLHzWZ4-HK_xxpmz2mVaKIayN8HSJ-3JJJW8xehXPHXlzLOlhdimqDirLiMdZnUQlrFS6iSZGqFgyoQLPHx1o-j7s/s640/040912_3865.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-46172989329302163562012-04-21T05:00:00.001-07:002012-04-21T05:00:26.543-07:00my handsomes<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For years Sean would run from my camera. The eldest son of a photographer and at 2 years old he had his fill of getting his picture taken. But, being the loving mom & stalking photographer that I am I kept prying. And now at 5 (and a half!) he poses for every picture! Sometimes I have to ask him NOT to pose if I'm trying to get an action shot. He is SOOO cute!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6940401232/" title="041312_02 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="041312_02" height="319" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7138/6940401232_fc11b415ff_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And the reason Sean isn't running from my camera anymore is because I believe he has passed the baton off to Nolan. On any typical day it takes great amount of bribery to get him to stand still long enough to look at me, let alone smile.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7086472111/" title="041312_01 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="041312_01" height="319" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5463/7086472111_555ddf784d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But as you can see, this day was different. The boys humored me enough to get some adorable shots of both of them. A little bit silly and a whole lot of cute, and it only cost me two little packets of Smarties. I wouldn't trade them for the world! </span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-17363587394288028082012-04-19T05:00:00.000-07:002012-04-19T05:00:15.003-07:00making memories<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I find my days busy. Getting dinner ready. Doing laundry. Picking up. Getting Sean ready for school. Getting Nolan & Paxton ready. Taking Sean to school. Running errands. Picking up some more. Meetings. Photo shoots. Editing pictures. Placing orders. More picking up. More laundry. Not to mention trying to have a quiet time to fill my spirit back up again, getting myself ready, and attempting to squeeze in exercise. I get overwhelmed sometimes. Feel like I can't do it all. I find myself saying to my boys "in a minute" when they ask me if I will play with them. Or saying "hold on a second" when they want to tell me something. But, then, doesn't that defeat the purpose of me staying home with them? Am I a stay at home mom so my house can be spotless and my husband can come home to a gourmet dinner every night? Of course that would be nice, but that is not the reason. The purpose to is to be here, to be IN my childrens' lives as much as I possibly can. To play choo-choos & color. To <strike>transform Transformers</strike> watch Sean transform Transformers & sit on the couch & cuddle with Pax. To be an ear to listen, a heart open to all that they have to say, and a mind that is 100% focused on them- not the house. I want my kids to grow up and remember fun things that I did with them, the love & wisdom & Truth that I invested into their lives, not how clean my house is. So the other day when it was pouring rain & the perfect day to get "caught up" on housework, I totally ditched that idea, grabbed some play clothes for the big boys, and had them change. They had no idea why, until I opened the front door & showed them. Our little patio (we live in a townhouse) floods every time it rains. It's not level & all the water pools in one corner, up to a few inches sometimes. I grabbed my camera, pointed to the water, & said "go! make me the biggest splashes that you can!" And they did. They jumped & ran & splashed & played with HUGE smiles on their faces. Their laughter filled my heart with joy & I let them play out there as long as they could stand before their little noses turned red & I was afraid they'd get sick. They laughed about it for hours afterwards. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So instead of getting my laundry done, in essence I actually made more for myself. But I would do it again & again for the precious memories that we made that day. Because in the end, that is what matters!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6940402792/" title="041312_blog 01 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="041312_blog 01" height="476" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7087/6940402792_5cec712fc7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6940404194/" title="041312_blog 02 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="041312_blog 02" height="476" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/6940404194_52908920af_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7086478471/" title="041312_blog 03 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="041312_blog 03" height="476" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7086478471_7b1828729e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6940407438/" title="041312_blog 04 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="041312_blog 04" height="476" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5464/6940407438_fc7b8a6dcf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and my favorite photo of the day:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7086480629/" title="041312_blog 06 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="041312_blog 06" height="800" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5446/7086480629_63d7f7e6c4_c.jpg" width="533" /></a></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-88122783663881348822012-04-17T05:00:00.000-07:002012-04-17T05:00:10.887-07:0010 on Tuesday<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No, he doesn't cry all the time, but when he does he still is cute! Here are 10 faces of fussy Pax:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7086463505/" title="april blog 01 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="april blog 01" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5276/7086463505_03959a09c6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7086464559/" title="april blog 02 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="april blog 02" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7086464559_eef80f183b_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7086465565/" title="april blog 03 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="april blog 03" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5040/7086465565_faaf587ea0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7086466095/" title="april blog 04 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="april blog 04" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5469/7086466095_80188ccdb7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6940394124/" title="april blog 05 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="april blog 05" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6940394124_e6070666cf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6940394744/" title="april blog 06 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="april blog 06" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/6940394744_4df83e06d2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6940395548/" title="april blog 07 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="april blog 07" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7191/6940395548_abb15b0c76_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6940396554/" title="april blog 08 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="april blog 08" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7094/6940396554_540fb86b93_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6940397272/" title="april blog 09 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="april blog 09" height="426" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5039/6940397272_854beb5f1f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7086470643/" title="april blog 10 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="april blog 10" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7086470643_0ee0493380_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
</div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-90010518649662982042012-04-13T11:51:00.000-07:002012-04-13T11:51:03.298-07:00me & my boys<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, I haven't blogged in forever but I thought I'd pop in & do a quick post so I can link up with Kelly's "mom to all boys" day today!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I think there is a certain pride in having all boys. At least I feel that way. When I was pregnant with my oldest, God spoke to me and said "I need more men who follow after Me in the world. With every son I give you, I am doing so because I trust that you can raise a man of God." Little did I know that he'd give me 3!!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6928281846/" title="blog 1 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="blog 1" height="512" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5452/6928281846_b704aca117_c.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Sean is my oldest, he's 5.5 and in Kindergarten. He is sweet, compassionate, a little bit silly, very loving, very smart, and gets frustrated when he can't do things perfectly the first time. He is the most perfect oldest child I could have picked for our family- he loves to teach his younger brothers & help take care of them. He's ALL boy (ok... all my boys are)- he loves anything superhero, Transformers, or Star Wars.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6928285622/" title="blog 4 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="blog 4" height="475" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6928285622_21c6291e04_c.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nolan is my middle boy, he just turned 3. He is messy, silly, sweet, and thoughtful. He loves to spend time with you, do any sort of art project, and he LOVES trains. He has an incredible vocabulary for a 3 year old. He's a little bit stubborn and a whole lot of cute. These 2 pictures perfectly depict his personality!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7074365545/" title="blog 3 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="blog 3" height="475" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5341/7074365545_cd62f12fd3_c.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Paxton is our newest addition- he is almost 7 months old! He has crazy hair & big eyes & is just the cutest, sweetest baby I know. He army crawls everywhere, drools a lot, sleeps very little, and just said "mama" for the first time the other day. He melts my heart and makes me smile.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/7074369257/" title="blog 5 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="blog 5" height="212" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7074369257_45e0ddb35a_c.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I do have to ask everyone else if the number one question you hear from people is: "are you going to try for a girl??" hahaha! My answer is always "We want 4 kids. Whether or not God gives us a girl for our 4th is up to Him." But for now, I love being the only girl in a house full of boys!!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6928283006/" title="blog 2 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="blog 2" height="512" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/6928283006_a7a9334864_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-65810104630476762102012-03-10T23:38:00.000-08:002012-03-10T23:38:03.865-08:00kony 2012?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Alright, here it is. My two cents. I cannot keep it to myself anymore.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Many of you may have recently heard about <a href="http://www.invisiblechildren.com/"><b>Invisible Children </b></a>and all of their efforts to try to stop a war criminal, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kony"><b>Joseph Kony</b></a>. If you haven't heard of them before this week, surely you do now. With a new documentary (watch it <a href="http://www.kony2012.com/"><b>here</b></a>) going viral (as of right now, over 68 million views on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc"><b>Youtube</b></a> and 16 million on <a href="http://vimeo.com/37119711"><b>Vimeo</b></a>) and everyone blowing up their FB newsfeed and <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/Stop____Kony"><b>Twitter</b></a> (#kony2012, #wewillnotstop) it seems like it is everywhere.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Basically IC wants to put a stop to the horrific war crimes that Kony is facilitating. He & his army kidnap children, force the girls to be sex slaves & the boys to be soldiers and ultimately- killers. There are awful things that Kony & the Lords Resistance Army have done in Uganda and other regions in Africa, enough to make him #1 on the list of most wanted war criminals. IC wants to make his name known so that America (and other countries) will help put a stop to it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Such a wonderful movement to be a part of, right? Well, no surprise here, not everyone thought so. Articles against them started popping up everywhere (you can read a couple <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/invisible-children-founders-posing-with-guns-an-interview-with-the-photographer/2012/03/08/gIQASX68yR_blog.html"><b>here</b></a> and <a href="http://wilwheaton.tumblr.com/post/18920717928/thedailywhat-on-kony-2012-i-honestly-wanted-to"><b>here</b></a>), calling them out on their finances, exact details that were left out in the 29 minute film, amongst other things. IC responds to each of those issues <a href="http://www.invisiblechildren.com/critiques.html"><b>here</b></a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here's the thing. Yes, knowing where your money will go if you donate is important. Yes, knowing how you standing up against Kony can make a difference is important. And yes, knowing the details of the LRA and what they are doing is very important. I actually endorse people doing research and finding truth out for themselves. BUT, what does it hurt those who don't agree with the movement if thousands of teens & young adults choose to be a part of it. Is calling them stupid or slackers really necessary?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've noticed that "young people" these days can be labeled lazy, unmotivated, and greedy. Here is an organization who is taking those "lazy kids" and getting them excited about something & wanting to help bring change. They are learning about global issues & political stand points that they may not have ever made an effort to be educated about otherwise. I say, good for them! Find something that sparks a fire in your heart and do something outside of yourself to bring change to our world! When the nay sayers put their heads on their pillows at night, does it really matter if people all over the world are joining IC's efforts to bring an end to Kony? No. So I say to all of them- stop being negative and use your voice to bring a positive change to the world. Does it have to be supporting Kony2012? Of course not. But we are all destined to make a difference in this world, and we can bring change.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Am I going to "cover the night" with IC and plaster Kony2012 propaganda all over my social media sites? Probably not. Am I against it? Absolutely not. Do I support what they do? 110% yes! I just do not feel led in that way. My heart is pulled towards children in America, the ones who are abused & neglected, who do not have a mother or father to love them. I want to see child abuse confronted and the cycle broken. That's what my heart beats for. And I am doing what I can now to stop that. Part of it is being a part of an organization that offers summer camps to abused children. They receive a week of love and hope, and when shown those things they have a greater chance of breaking the abusive cycle in their own lives. Do we accept donations for this too? You bet! Every cause requires funds to pull it off. We are all the body of Christ and He calls us to different areas for a reason.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What it boils down to is that there is evil in the world, and we can help stop it. Whether it's a child getting beaten by their parent next door to where you live or a child being forced to be a killer in a country across the globe, there are issues that need to be tackled. We should find what our hearts beat for and then DO something.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So I ask you, when all is said and done... what does <i>your</i> heart beat for and what are <i>you</i> doing to bring change??</span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-25387553976687250752012-01-25T17:29:00.000-08:002012-01-25T17:29:59.054-08:00what you said?<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My boys are constantly cracking me up! If you are my FB friend you know I am always posting updates of the conversations my kids have. We had 3 funny ones today. I just need to remember them all. I keep saying I'm going to write a book :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: purple;">Me:</span> Nolan, I'm going to take a quick shower. What do you do if someone knocks on the door?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Nolan:</span> Open it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">Me:</span> No! You never ever open the door without mommy or daddy. If someone knocks on the door you come tell me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Nolan:</span> Ok</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">Me:</span> What do you do if Pax starts crying while I'm in the shower?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Nolan:</span> Open it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6763053569/" title="112511_1200 copyblog by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="112511_1200 copyblog" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6763053569_3b6aa31600_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">Me:</span> Sean, what was your favorite part of the day at school today?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Sean:</span> Finishing my name paper.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">Me:</span> What was your least favorite part of school today?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Sean:</span> Ummm... I don't have one!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">Me:</span> Nolan, what was your favorite part of today?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Nolan:</span> Going to Knotts Berry Farm.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">Me:</span> Oh. What was your least favorite part of the day?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Nolan:</span> The big storm with the monster in the sky.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(we surely haven't been to Knotts since December and the sun was shining all day).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6763055047/" title="120411_17blog by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="120411_17blog" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6763055047_ef9a9d9709_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Nolan:</span> Momma, why you said we have to take a nap?</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Sean:</span> <i>(after a big sigh)</i> Because that's what mommies say.</span><br />
</div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-91302459673655488282012-01-17T01:19:00.000-08:002012-01-17T08:35:05.511-08:00Don't steal my joy!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When Pax was born, almost 4 months ago, it was such an amazingly easy transition. He was a great baby, slept all night from the beginning, and nursed like a champ. It was like Pax was always here & we always have had 3 kids, because it was so natural. I was in this euphoric state of floating on cloud 9. God's blessings were so apparent to me in my precious little family, and I was just plain joyful.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That lasted for a couple months. Then things started going downhill fast. Could be part of the reason why I haven't been able to keep up with my blog ;) You know that phrase "when it rains it pours"? Well, it's been a hurricane in the Stephens house for the last several months. It has seemed like one thing after another after another. Dathan got injured at work and was off work for 6 weeks. Workman's Comp didn't decide to pay him until the end of those 6 weeks. Pax got a cold and was only able to sleep in the swing. Which is downstairs. So I slept on the couch for weeks. Our car broke down. Like died. Bit the dust. Not sure if we can get it working again. And to make matters worse, we are still paying on it. Yep, have about 2 years left on our loan. When Dathan was finally able to go back to work, he worked for a week and then they didn't have any work for him for a couple weeks. Then Nolan got sick. Of course the one week Dathan did have work and wasn't here to help me. Then Christmas came, then I got sick. So Dathan missed another week of work to take care of me. I was sick from Dec. 26 until last weekend. I'm still not 100%. In being sick I missed out on a lot of things: New Years, several parties, seeing every college student who was home for Christmas, Girl's Night Out, play dates, etc. And had to stop nursing. I feel as if I basically missed out on almost a month of my life. And through all of this we have had ants in our house. This constant battle that we are not winning, even though we've tried practically everything to get rid of them & have had the place sprayed... 3 times. On about day 10 of being sick I had a mental breakdown. Lost it. Sobbing uncontrollably. Everything came out, all my frustrations with money issues and health issues and issues I wasn't even aware that I had ;) I. Was. So. Mad.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was mad at God because I felt like He wasn't answering our prayers. I was mad at satan because he was being a jerk to me and our family. I was mad at myself for not getting better. I was just mad. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And then I got over it. What else do you do? I don't want to stay in a place of anger & sadness, what good does that do? I cried. I poured my heart out to God. And then with His help, I made a choice: </span><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I will NOT let the enemy steal my joy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's a choice. It really is. We can choose to focus on our pain & struggles. It's so easy to do that! But when that is where our focus is, that is where our heart is. And when that is where our heart is, that is where bitterness & anger creep in. But when we look to God & all that He has done in our lives, then that is where our focus goes... and so our heart does too. Sure, many people may have less struggles than we do right now. But many people may also have more. And honestly, we all are dealing with something. Some people you can tell they are going through stuff and some you can't. I think part of it is because of where they choose to put their focus.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When I chose to see the blessings, I was overwhelmed. There were more than I thought. Really all I have to do is look at my precious family and I can see where God is at work. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"But You, O Lord, are a shield around me; You are my glory, the One who holds my head high." (Ps 3:3)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is a verse I clung to during my frustrations. Such encouraging truth is in this! God is my shield! I may not see it, but He is protecting me. He's my glory, & He holds my head high. I don't have to hang my head in shame or sadness or anger. I also don't have to use MY strength to hold my head up. God's here to do that for me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In knowing that I am shielded & my head is being held high, how can I not find joy? Who couldn't use more joy in their lives? And besides....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"...the joy of the Lord is my strength." (Neh. 8:10)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"And these things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So today, I choose joy. And tomorrow I will do the same. Will you? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6713475819/" title="110511_fb by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="110511_fb" height="512" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6713475819_6e43ffff95_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-33034674124605145102012-01-16T17:08:00.000-08:002012-01-16T17:08:04.036-08:00October catch up #1<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I know most of you don't care, but I'm wanting to do these catch up blogs for my own memory. My blog is like my life scrapbook, so even though this was 3 months ago I want to remember! So please bear with me as I try to juggle playing catch up AND keeping up with life now. Ha!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the Monday's in October Sean had no school (I think it was Columbus day?). My mom has Monday's off (and my dad is retired) so we all ventured to a local "pumpkin patch" to spend some time together. This is a cute little place, it's just not a real pumpkin patch. It's an empty lot across the street from Costco that they throw some pumpkins & haybales in, with inflatables, a couple rides, & a petting zoo. The boys really enjoyed themselves. It was HOT this day. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699965517/" title="101011_04 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_04" height="319" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6699965517_5d42a75c4e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699969531/" title="101011_08 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_08" height="319" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6699969531_d7505f8058_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nolan climbed this ladder like a boss. And I love both boy's faces while going down the slide.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699970869/" title="101011_09 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_09" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6699970869_0973d9ca7d_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699971961/" title="101011_10 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_10" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6699971961_2c62ebe8b6_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699973115/" title="101011_11 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_11" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7030/6699973115_88a8b34829_z.jpg" width="426" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Sean was not wanting to go on any rides. He would have gone on the inflatables all day. But they did ride these bathtubs. Ha! <br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699974361/" title="101011_12 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_12" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6699974361_27e0922700_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And Nolan wanted to ride the swings. So cute! (See the main road behind him and Costco across the street? LOL)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699976533/" title="101011_14 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_14" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6699976533_5d6ecacbef_z.jpg" width="426" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Petting zoo time with Memaw!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699977871/" title="101011_15 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_15" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6699977871_a8bceec5cc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699979109/" title="101011_16 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_16" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6699979109_84d6385f95_z.jpg" width="426" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699980499/" title="101011_17 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_17" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6699980499_0b8d63a390_z.jpg" width="426" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Getting some pics with my sweet boys. Pax was like 2 weeks here. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699983197/" title="101011_18 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_18" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6699983197_6fa6133f85_z.jpg" width="427" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699984785/" title="101011_19 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_19" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6699984785_32810c05f4_z.jpg" width="426" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> My parents had just gotten new iPhones and my brother snapped this hilarious picture of them trying to figure out their phones to take a picture of me & the boys.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6699985881/" title="101011_20 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="101011_20" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7030/6699985881_58c7f20e34_z.jpg" width="426" /></a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Stay tuned for more updates from October, November, December, and of course recent ones! Ha! You'll have to forgive me ;)</span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767673046721469460.post-80812453311259586282012-01-12T14:56:00.000-08:002012-01-12T14:56:19.621-08:00project.365.12.11<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, in being super sick I totally forgot to post my project 365 pictures from December. In fact, it's a miracle I finished the project because every picture after Christmas day was taken while I was sick, and some of the days it took everything in me to just take the picture. So here they are! I'm super proud of myself for finishing, but you knew that already ;)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6680890437/" title="12blog 01 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="12blog 01" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6680890437_54c5940986_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6680891245/" title="12blog 02 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="12blog 02" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6680891245_d11d9f8650_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6680892097/" title="12blog 03 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="12blog 03" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6680892097_7532f3b651_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6680892767/" title="12blog 04 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="12blog 04" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6680892767_8f16f339ef_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6680893607/" title="12blog 05 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="12blog 05" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6680893607_312f93d1a9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6680894269/" title="12blog 06 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="12blog 06" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6680894269_1c48bed2d7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6680894949/" title="12blog 07 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="12blog 07" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7014/6680894949_7e3ec200db_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54807431@N05/6680895425/" title="12blog 08 by ericastephensphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="12blog 08" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6680895425_66654735e8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03509997281093058858noreply@blogger.com0