My kids came in to my room dressed like this….

Yesterday my dear friend Stephanie came by with her new little girl, Madi.  They came for a playdate, and while Madi didn’t really “play” too much, I think Emma & Brooke loved her!  Thanks for coming over Madi girl!  We can’t wait til you can chase us around!

*PS – hasn’t Madi grown in 7 short weeks!?!?!

Emma fell in love with these little things when her uncle Bert introduced her to them over the weekend.  Initially she was scared of their loud noise, but Bert gradually brought her over to the dark side of fireworks fun & she was chucking them like nobody’s business soon after.  I found another pack at Target yesterday & after showing my ID, brought it home.

Each year Josh serves the youth in our church by running the sound, video, skits, music, etc at a camp called Victory Jam.  It’s held at Harvey Cedars Bible Conference in Harvey Cedars, New Jersey.  This is Josh’s 11th year, and my 6th.  I am amazed every year at what he can accomplish.  To give you a hint, here are the must have items on Josh’s packing list:  case of water, 12 t-shirts (2 per day), 2 video cameras, 2 iMac computers, iPhone, sound board, projector, 4 speakers, 20 DVD cases & blank DVDs, Skittles, and a constant flow of 5-hour energy drinks.  He works like a mad man & I love him for it.  And he graciously takes the girls & I along even though I’m no longer able to help.

Here are just a few photos of our week there.  I’ll be posting more on my Facebook page later.

My daughter Emma is probably one of my biggest fans.  She is always asking me about what I do with my clients, where I take them, and looking over my shoulder as I cull through & edit their images.  It’s just her personality.  She is always interested in what interests others.

When she turned 5, I was away in Ethiopia so I didn’t have the chance to take her out for her 5-year photos like I do every year.  Things got busy when I returned and it just slipped my mind.  So, tonight I had the opportunity to spend some Mommy-Emma time with her in Downtown Annapolis & just play “model.”  I treated her just like one of my clients, let her choose where she wanted to have her picture taken, asked her opinion on what she thought looked good, and so on.  She loved it!  My girl is getting so big!  I can’t believe she is already five & will be in kindergarten in the fall.

I love you Emma Rose!  Thanks for being Mommy’s first (& best) model!