Meyers' Boys

Meyers {family session}

2010-09-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

And I'll leave you with a sneak peek of my cute little nephews..............(more) cute Meyers boys :)

Polanic {senior session}

2010-09-13T09:21:00.001-07:00

Recently I had the opportunity to meet up with this *very* photogenic senior. We enjoyed some wonderful lighting that evening. She is a natural in front of the camera and so laid back. I am going to have a hard time narrowing down her proofs. Seniors are so much fun to work with! Thanks for your patience as I compose your gallery.

Lecours {sibling session}

2010-08-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

Three posts in one day.....shocking, I know!!! Trying to get caught back up with my sneak peeks after a busy summer of just plain, well, enjoying the summer (and a few vacations.....that's a whole other post). This is a *new* family that came to me last week as well. They are *new* in the sense that they've not been in front of my lens before, but I see their mom when we visit the pediatrician's office. It was great to meet her kiddos. Baby brother was quite the sport, considering he just got shots! Big brother was quite the ham as well once he got his turn in front of my camera. Enjoy a few from their recent session:

Oslund {6 week session}

2010-08-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

I'm honored to photograph a lot of new clients lately. This little guy was one of them. He is such a little man! He also was a sleep fighter............though, he eventually gave in :) It was super convenient to catch some of those sleepy moments as he lives across the street! Here are just a few from his first time in front of my lens:

Winkle {newborn session}

2010-08-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

I met with this lovely family last week to capture the newest member of their family. She tried her hardest to keep her eyes open, but finally gave in and we got some *sweet* images! I've photographed her siblings before and was honored to capture some of her newborn moments. Can you believe this little sprout is 3 weeks old??? What a peanut! Here are a few of my favorites from our session:

{another lovely family session}

2010-06-03T20:25:00.001-07:00

{family session sneak peek}

2010-06-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

for a special grandma on her birthday

2010-05-17T22:40:00.000-07:00

dimple

2010-05-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

If you give a mom a muffin

2010-05-07T09:10:00.000-07:00

I got this from Lucas's 1st grade teacher and just had to share with all you moms. I guarantee you can relate no matter what the age of your child(ren). Happy Mothers's Day to all you moms out there!

~spring * sewing~

2010-04-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

NO...

2010-04-09T21:28:00.001-07:00

...i did not quit shooting people and things (with my camera)

...i did not set up an etsy site

YES...

...i have rediscovered my LOVE for sewing and all things crafty :)

...i am taking custom orders for anything you see handmade on my blog/facebook

If you would like to custom order anything handmade on my blog or facebook, just shoot me an email with your request. AND, if you are interested in me capturing some memories for your family, send me that request as well!

sample of the more mod fabric choices (also have a handful of kid prints)

camera strap cover

key fob

belt

monogram tote

america's "high five" applique boy's tee

monogram initial tee

balancing act

2010-03-20T21:46:00.001-07:00

~paint~

2010-03-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

I (finally) caught the boys on film (er, compact flashcard) putting the new easel to use. I've left this beast out in the living room lately in an attempt to spark the kids' inner artists :) Here's what we did:

1. bought a pack of sponges at meijer ($0.99 on sale)

2. cut up said sponges into several random shapes of varying sizes

3. poured washable tempera paint onto cheap jelly roll pans with sponges

4. let the artists create!

5. clean-up was super easy :) we will definitely be doing this project again!

{therapy}

2010-03-17T21:34:00.001-07:00

Sewing has (as of late) become my 'therapy'. Here are a few projects I've completed the past couple days for a friend and myself.

custom monogram t-shirt

custom monogram tote

custom camera strap cover

2010-03-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

Determined to get this family their sneak peek up, I've published two posts in less than 24 hours! I know mom thought these two didn't cooperate as well as planned, but I thought we got some really GREAT images :) Little Mr L caved to a nap mid-session while his brother Mr C had other plans of grinning at the camera - what a FUN experience to capture twins with my lens!!! Thanks again for being such great friends - God has truly blessed you!

Miss A {2 year session}

2010-03-02T18:34:00.000-08:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to hang out with these two princesses this past weekend. We've gotten to know them a bit more while camping the past couple years. Little Miss A was here to document her 2nd birthday. Big sis K tagged along and was ready to strike a pose anytime her little sis needed a break from the camera......and let me tell ya, she was a natural! They both have the most amazing blue eyes (a photographer's dream subject :) Enjoy your sneak peek mom and dad!

Mr C {12month old session}

2010-03-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

I was excited to finally have the opportunity to photograph this little cutie this past weekend! His mom and I met in Bible study a couple years ago. I look forward to capturing some more memories for this family :) Enjoy your sneak peek!

happy sunday

2010-02-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

I can't take credit for creating this image. I found it on one of my favorite blogs today for readers to enjoy......how fitting that I read this verse while doing my Bible study today. Maybe you'll enjoy it too :)

Miss O {2 year old session}

2010-02-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

This is the last of three girly sessions that have been waiting for blog previews. Thanks so much for your patience in getting your galleries up! This little cutie had me earning every smile I got......and I enjoyed every minute of it! You'd never guess she tolerated the rest of her shoot on a rainy 40 degree (at the warmest) morning - what a trooper!!! Love having such fun friends having babies to shoot :)

Baby Q {6 month session)

2010-02-07T21:16:00.000-08:00

WOW! I can't believe how quickly this little babe is growing into such a sweet little girl - so glad I have her mom as my BFF to spend some quality time with (though she is over 150 miles away). Her mommy never imagined how rewarding mommyhood would be - I'm so glad to get the chance to capture my (adoptive) niece again :) Thanks for your patience in getting your gallery up. Stay tuned...

Miss M {2 year old session}

2010-02-06T19:56:00.000-08:00

This little cutie did such a wonderful job for being under the weather. Thanks so much for your patience in getting your blog preview up!

Miss E {2 year old session}

2010-01-20T11:38:00.000-08:00

Losing It!

2010-01-12T20:00:00.000-08:00

Another milestone has been accomplished in our household...........drumroll.........that's right, our oldest has lost his first tooth! And...........his mom is (only) a month late in posting it to the blog. This tooth has been loose since the beginning of school. It seemed as though the thing was not going to come out on its own. By the time it was finally hanging (literally) by a string mom was able to convince him to pull the thing out. This happened to be while dad was out of town right before Christmas. What was a tooth fairy to do without any special coins/cash........that's right I headed to the stash of Christmas presents and withdrew a Lego watch. He seemed to fall for it, but might just be playing along.........he has mentioned to me that I am the tooth fairy.......we'll have to see about that. The permanent tooth is already nicely filling in the gap (and then some). My guess is he'll be just like his mom in needing permanent teeth pulled in the future to accomodate his compact mouth. He already has a second loose tooth next door that will be coming out fairly soon I suspect!

Hope all our friends/family are having a happy/healthy new year! Wish I MADE the time to update the blog more frequently. Seems these kiddos are just keeping us busier by the week :) It does feel nice to have Christmas behind us and a few 'slower' months ahead of us. I've been less busy with photography sessions which has given me more time to get a few minor projects/organizational tasks/crafts done around the house. I would also like to make the time to take up running again..........such a love/hate relationship with that hobby :)

Stay tuned..........or follow me on facebook......until next time!

[all * girl]

2009-12-13T22:34:00.000-08:00

Just had to take a minute to post this cutie from a recent session.......too contagious :) I've been getting a little bit of use out of this simple/funky/fun tutu I created this fall. With a house full of all boys, I have to rely on OPC (other people's children) to deck out in frills, lace, headbands, and flowers! Take time to enjoy the SIMPLE things like baby smiles this busy season - God bless!

***NEW this year!

2009-11-29T12:41:00.000-08:00

For anyone interested in ordering Christmas cards this year, I have more info to pass along.

***NEW this year I am offering increments of 5 cards at $7 a set. The minimum card order amount is 25 cards/$35.

You may choose any template from either the 'christmas cards 2008' collection or the 'christmas cards 2009' collection on my smugmug page www.whitneyjillphotography.smugmug.com More details can be found in the 'christmas cards 2008' collection.

Simply choose your favorite image(s) from a recent session. I can customize any of the templates with your name, year, greeting, etc.

Please let me know SOON if you are interested in cards this year!

Hope you had a wondeful Thanksgiving!

Baby Q {3 mth session}

2009-11-15T11:17:00.001-08:00

Remember this little lady http://meyersboys.blogspot.com/2009/08/baby-q-newborn-session.html? She's starting to fill out and get a little personality! I have to say her momma and daddy should have more as cute as she is :) I'm feeling blessed to have friends with such cuties to keep me busy!

ChRiStMaS CaRdS!

2009-11-01T18:46:00.000-08:00

I apologize in the amount of neglect this blog has seen lately......I blame it on Facebook.

Just wanted to let you know that I am offering Christmas Cards again this year for anyone interested. Good news: 2009 cards can be ordered at the same rate as 2008 cards when ordered by DECEMBER 1! Orders received after December 1st will incur a $5 rush order fee. Please check out more info on these cards at:
http://whitneyjillphotography.smugmug.com/Holidays/Christmas-Cards-2008/6051963_YWKvp#382533569_SZ4fx
***I will be adding more templates if there is enough interest in cards this year! Please check back as I may add some more examples! Please feel free to contact me with any questions - I check email/facebook regularly.

2009-10-26T12:52:00.001-07:00

Great Fall Finds

2009-10-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this kid!

2009-09-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

These would be the unscripted poses I got for his first day of preschool yesterday :)

[evidence]

2009-08-24T21:51:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't been one for posting to the blog lately, but just had to share this capture from a couple storms ago. Just enjoy the beauty of our Maker at work - WOW!!! This was the first double rainbow I've ever seen. Just another reminder of the power of our God!

Baby Q {newborn session}

2009-08-04T20:29:00.000-07:00

So I'm a few sessions behind, but I just HAD to post this little 10 day old Qt!!! My BFF just had her first daughter a couple weeks ago and I just got back from doing newborn pix across the state. I had so much fun capturing all her little expressions (and holding her for hours on end) :) She was so cooperative in sleeping through almost every picture. Her mom and I grew up together, roomed in college together, etc. I was so honored to capture these first few weeks. There will be MANY to proof and post I PROMISE (as soon as I get caught up on my other clients who have been waiting so patiently - thank YOU - you know who you are :) I'll leave you with these...

Recent work

2009-07-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few from some recent sessions. I've been getting my fix of girls :) Did I mention how well they seem to just "work" the camera?!!

Feeling sew sew

2009-07-22T21:05:00.001-07:00

Though it may seem I've hung up the lens for a few days (er...months) and taken up my other hobby of sewing I can promise you my camera gets plenty of use :) It seems these days it's been even more difficult than ever to keep up with the blogging world (keeping up in the sense of actually posting to it). I keep up with several other ppl's blogs including my newest favorite, www.mycharmingkids.net. This particular blog I found through a friend of a friend (thanks Trisha:) and love MckMama's style of writing and her love of phototgraphy and being "green." I recently discovered that she happens to live minutes from my relatives in Minnesota (small world, right?). Anyway, enough about her blog and onto mine!

We've been busy with life with 3 boys. We celebrated Jackson's second birthday right before school got out and then Lucas's sixth less than 3 weeks later. They (the oldest two) enjoyed VBS at our church a couple weeks after school was out. We then headed to Hungy Horse Campground for several nights to camp with a group of friends. That particular trip I kept the lens packed up! We enjoyed life in a pop-up instead of a tent this year!

After returning home, we celebrated Reece's fourth birthday and then headed down to Champaign, Illinois to visit my relatives from Seattle, Washington that were visiting their relatives. This trip lasted less than 48 hours, but it was fabulous to see relatives I hadn't seen in over 5 years!

We were home long enough to unpack, do laundry, and clean out the camper before heading out on our next adventure. Our final stop was Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. We camped in my aunt/uncle's driveway for several days and enjoyed life on the lake. Fireworks were held on a barge in the middle of the bay on Independence Day. That is such a fun experience. Have I mentioned that I could live out there? Really, it's just lovlely out there :)

Back to reality.........

........gymnastics for Lucas twice a week for 3 hours (he is practicing with the level 4 boys this year - we have yet to decide if he'll compete this fall)
........beginning to book more sessions (including some fun newborn sessions!!!!!) make sure to contact me if you're interested in setting something up!
.........spending time at the splashpad/beach of Millenium Park
.........checking out books at the library - while working on the summer reading program with the oldest children
..........trying to be green by growing our own garden, hanging clothes on the line, making strawberry jam, and doing away with paper/plastic grocery bags (i think i could do a whole post on how much i LOVE those reusable cloth bags!!!)
..........going on bike rides
..........just trying to spend as much time in the moment enjoying my boys growing up before my eyes.....GOD IS GOOD!!!!!
***WHAT GOOD IS A POST WITHOUT PIX????***

I'll leave you with these FEW images.......

This was my first attempt at a self-portrait. Please overlook the fact that I probably hadn't showered in that picture and have a nice gaudy band-aid on my finger.

These matching hoodies were a gift to my boys this spring and I decided to embellish them with a few appliques I cut out of one of Michael Miller's mod prints. The boys each chose the guitar color for the front and I used the remaining colors on the back.

I made Jackson a set of these carseat strap covers a while back and liked them so much I made new ones for all three of my guys.

This is the reverse print of the 2 designs on the left (see above image).

This valance has a coordinating crib skirt that I custom designed for a childhood friend of mine who is OVERdue with her first child whom I cannot wait much longer to meet!

just because...

2009-06-30T20:27:00.001-07:00

FYI

2009-06-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

The below mentioned photo DID appear in Sunday's GR Press in section B4.

Flipside

2009-06-06T17:58:00.000-07:00

So I know this blog has been quite neglected (due to my Facebook addiction), but I thought I'd take the time to at least post one photo here. AND, it's not even my own work - I had a chance to be on the other side of the lens. This was taken by Jon Brouwer of The Grand Rapids Press today while we were enjoying Festival of the Arts downtown today. We did not forget one child - he was sleeping in the stroller behind us (while we enjoyed ice cream) and therefore did not get mentioned.
http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/06/weather_is_fair_business_is_ex.html

Fell off the face of this earth

2009-04-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, so not really, but the blog has been seriously suffering (sorry to those who actually follow this thing). I've been meaning to update it, but it just never happens. So, here goes with what's been happening with Team Meyers. The first photo sums up how Reece feels about thunderstorms (or really loud noises for that matter). We told him he could hide in his bed so he would feel safe.........well, not so much a bed, but a definite place to sleep. Yes, he did curl up UNDER the kitchen rug and fall asleep AND remain asleep for about an hour! In other news, Reece will be going in tomorrow (Monday) for an x-ray and ultrasound for his (assumed to be benign Baker's cyst behind the knee). This has not bothered him, but the pediatrician would like a second opinion just to be precautious. Please pray these procedures do not find anything out of the ordinary. Jackson is doing well since his tubes were inserted a month ago. His ears have remained infection-free, but he is already back on an antibiotic for a sinus infection. It seems my youngest two are prone to those things. He is also talking more and is hilarious to watch as he tries to keep up with his older brothers. Lucas is playing soccer and t-ball this spring and taking gymnastics. He scored his first game-goal last weekend. T-ball games start this week (I have yet to see him participate in this as Tim brings him to those practices). He seems to do really well in gymnastics. We attended the gym in Allendale and just recently switched to the one in Hudsonville that I practiced at (Gymnastiks Unlimited). Although there are no familiar faces there, I am happy with our decision to switch. He seems to enjoy this the most. Right now it's just an "exposure" time for him as we determine his talents. Reece will be able to play soccer next year and is looking forward to that!

We've also been blessed with some wonderful SPRING weather. The days of sunshine have been cherished around here. We spent Friday garage-saleing and then picnicking at a local park with a very fun playground (think it's the highest enclosed slide my boys have been on). They absolutely loved it! I'm so glad to see those garage sale signs out again!

The beginning of spring also marks the blooming of the butterflies at FM Gardens in GR. We have a family membership and definitely get our use out of it. I know I've stated in previous blog posts that this is a wonderful investment.............I still agree!!!! We saw a few new (to us at least) kinds of butterflies this year.

One even landed on Jackson's back while grandma was holding him long enough I was able to capture it (with my camera that is).

One even landed on grandma's bangs.........and stayed long enough for me to capture that one as well! Grandma was less than thrilled to pose with this winged creature for me :)

Hope everyone is enjoying this spring season!!!

bowl-o-baby

2009-03-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

Quick update

2009-03-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

I forget, not everyone has a facebook acct like me (and I update that thing on a daily basis) :) I just wanted to update that Jackson's surgery went very well today. For those that don't know, we've had a bout of ear infections since he was an infant and finally visited the ENT last Thursday. He recommended tubes in both ears and got us right in the schedule for surgery today! I got a taste of getting up early (what's probably normal for the rest of the world) as we had to be to the facility at 6:45am! It was a very short procedure and he woke up very pleasantly (apparently many children don't wake up as well as the anesthesia is very disorienting) and we were home before 9:30. I'm hoping he doesn't have too much pain and sleeps peacefully tonight :) God is good!

Less than minimum-wage

2009-02-28T20:01:00.000-08:00

Boys can always be a challenge to photograph, especially those that have a mommy with a camera tethered to their neck! My kids have never been the type to ask for me to photograph them. A typical "session" at our house involves many bribes, usually involving sweets. Today I took a different approach.............and if you haven't guessed, it's MONEY! Lucas is saving up for new lego set so I told him I would help him out if he was a willing subject for me to practice with :) Thank goodness he didn't break the bank - he was content with $1 - that's it! I thought it was well worth it as I got several great shots - here are just a few to share.........

Just a few to share...

2009-02-03T13:49:00.000-08:00

New Year, New Pricelist, New Sale!!!

2009-01-07T19:18:00.000-08:00

Happy (belated) New Year to you all! I've been so blessed to pursue my "hobby" as a (side) job, though I can't really consider it a job - more like playing with other people's kids :) Thank you to all my family, friends, and friends of friends who've encouraged me along the way. I hope to implement a few changes to whitney jill photography, but first is the pricelist. I've been long overdue for updating this to reflect my time and talent in creating unique memories. With this new pricelist comes a SALE!!! Who doesn't like a sale?! For the months of January and February I will be offering HALF off prints (8x10 and smaller). A full paid sit fee is due at the time of your session as usual. The minimum $50 print order (after taking half off) is still in effect.

Investment

Prints
* 4x6 $8
* 5x7 $10
* 8x10 $15
* sheet of (8) wallets $10

Mounted Prints
* 10x13 $25
* 11x14 $40
*16x20 $55

Sit Fee
* Individual/small group session (5 ppl or less) $45
* Group session $60

***If you've already booked a session with me (or are waiting for your proofs to view/order) you are still locked in at the 2008 prices.

Thanks so much for considering me to capture some memories.
God Bless!

Outta here!

2008-12-28T21:18:00.000-08:00

Well, the tree HAD to go! I don't think I could get it out quickly enough! The day after Christmas was spent taking the trimming (and needles) off the tree. I now have the Charlie Brown Christmas theme song in my head as I stare at this pathetic tree. The pictures really do not do it justice. We literally had more than 95% of the needles on our floor. Can you believe it? I can still say I would do it again for the mere $13 it cost to get the beast - she was a beaute while she was shining :) Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and have a happy and healthy New Year! Here's a short recap in pix of Christmas Day...........

Jackson was about this excited the entire day.........poor buddy was NOT feeling well......thank goodness for some recup time lately.

Do you see Reece in the background in tears b/c he did NOT get a WMU sweatshirt like the two of us? Crazy how I never had a Broncos hoodie until Steve and Barry's goes out of business and we can afford the el cheapo matching ones...........gotta love this economy :)

So........we stuck the hoodie on the pouter and he cheered right up (note to self: next Christmas, buy enough matching apparel for the whole family)

Tim was pretty excited for his baby shopping cart cover (I mean disguised Nintendo DS).

Grandma Holden and all the grandkiddies!

Seen better days...

2008-12-23T20:03:00.000-08:00

So those of you who have followed me on facebook are well aware of the tree saga........we were so impressed to get an 8+ foot REAL tree for $13......of course we had to hunt it down and haul it out of the forest ourselves. Tim's (good) gloves suffered a little sap which I was able to get COMPLETELY out with Goo gone. Just when I was ready to boast about this newfound stain remover I noticed one of my larger compact flash cards had made it through the washer - nice! After a week of airing out a bit I was able to retrieve all the images.........though I do not trust the longevity of this memory card. So this made our tree a little bit more pricey. Reece also added to the cost of the tree by knocking the entire (decorated) thing onto the floor. Thank goodness he was left unharmed and only a few ornaments broke........add a few more bucks to the price of this tree. Now it is losing needles if I even but think about it! I managed to get a few shots of it before it turned into the "Charlie Brown" tree it's become (not really, but I literally vacuum needles off the branches each day - my OCD nature). So, that's my Christmas tree story of 2008! Hope you all enjoyed it :) It has all been worth having the fresh-cut tree smell in our house and being blessed to be able to have a home to enjoy it in. May you all remember the true meaning of Christmas as you celebrate this season! God Bless!

You can find me...

2008-11-24T21:51:00.000-08:00

I know I've neglected the blog lately - partly because I've been busy with holiday ordering/editing and partly due to the fact that I now have a Facebook account. You can find some of our recent happenings on the Wall now :) And does this little man look sick to you??? Why can I get a nice expression on his face when he's SICK?!!! I guess some things will never make sense :)

Just had to!

2008-11-05T21:08:00.000-08:00

I'm in the middle of editing this session and I keep coming back to this shot - she's such a little cutie patootie that I just had to post this one!

Post-it notes from a 5 year old

2008-11-05T20:38:00.000-08:00

Just had to post this sketch and note my oldest left me tonight at the computer desk (aka: my throne lately). Not sure exactly what his plans are but it must involve glue and this monkey he drew. Love it!!!

Is this all the love I get?!!!

2008-11-05T12:24:00.000-08:00

I know, I shouldn't complain (at least I have three healthy little rugrats), but my boys just don't want to cooperate (the way I ideally envision them cooperating). Tim was so kind to head out to our newest photo backdrop to try some more shots with our boys. I've been quite busy capturing moments for other moms that I haven't taken advantage of the beautiful fall days we've had with my own boys. I still have to decide which image will make the Christmas card, but this was about the best one of all three of them last night. Boys will be boys I guess :)

Wrinkle in the road

2008-11-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

Where do I begin??? Well, let's start with me sitting down going through my inbox last night after enjoying a meal out with my family. I noticed one with the subject, "YOUR CELL PHONE" and thought maybe it deserved attention. I read it and was extremely puzzled - it was from a woman that I did a family photo shoot for earlier in the day - she said that someone had my cell phone and was trying to find out who it belonged to. Honestly, I've lost my phone to toddlers and the furniture several times, but did I really lose my phone THIS time?? Tim and I could not find it after calling it a few times, so decided it must have really disappeared - but where/how? It's not like we live somewhere that I need to lock my doors to my vehicle in the driveway for fear of theft. The last time I used it was on the way home from the photo session calling Tim. I just thought I left it in the van and it must have somehow fallen out along the way from our house to the restaurant - but where and how??? Then I was talking to a friend (thanks Heather T.) on facebook who was helping me piece the puzzle together. She asked if I had left it on top of the van. Seriously????? who does something that dumb??? Try someone who is so obsessed with "capturing the moment" with her camera that the moment she pulls into the driveway she has to bust out the camera to capture another moment that she doesn't MAKE time to put the phone in a SAFE place. After reading Heather's comment, the hair on my arms stuck straight up - I seriuosly believe God was using her to speak to me - slow down!!! I then realized the phone must have sat on my hood near the windshield until we turned a corner fast enough (on the way out of our sub near my sister in law's church). So, a woman that works at my sister in law's church (who I need to find and thank) found my phone on the street and brought it on Sunday. After thumbing through my contact list, she assumed it belonged to someone in my sister in law's family. Tim made one final call this am after getting home from church from his phone to mine in hopes that the person with my phone would answer and my brother in law answered!!! Less than a minute from getting off the phone with him, my phone was safe in my hands :) God had a few lessons in mind for me:

1. Do not COVET - I was just saying how cool it w/b to have a phone like the iPhone that you can store tons of info, pix, music, etc. in - I could have been out more than a list of phone numbers.

2. HIS timing is PERFECT - my phone was lost on a weekend when I get free minutes and also placed into the hands of a kind woman (who has no idea how indebted i am to her). I also lost my phone while on a monthy contract - not in the middle of a year contract like I could have been a few months ago and to think of having to break a contract!!!

3. Put God first - I need to find a good balance of first serving my God and then find a good balance between family, friends, volunteering, hobbies, etc.

The funny thing is usually I would feel extremely helpless in a situation like this - I realized I could hand over this situation to the Lord and seek His will - maybe I would get my phone back unharmed or maybe it would have been damaged with several expensive calls racked up on it, or maybe I would have to go w/out a phone until we could cancel the service and get a new subscriber. Just as I was about to give up all hope after calling it several times last night and this am - my brother in law answers my phone!!! I realize this is kind of a trivial example and not really high on the priority list, such as parents with sick children or who have lost children or any other desparate/desolate situation, but.........do you think that's how our Savior feels with us sometimes? Just as He's about ready to lose all hope in what He's created, we serve/praise/worship/call on Him??? God never gives up on what He has created - that's an awesome thought for the day!

"W" Family

2008-10-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

Thank you to the "W" family for letting me capture some memories :) Your girls are so adorable and fun to work with. Thanks to Dad for coming along too :) Here's your sneak peek!

Check out those baby blues :)

This little cutie was so good at posing for me - love it!

What fall days were made for - family time!

Haircut

2008-10-22T18:08:00.000-07:00

"I cut my hair." Those were the words from Reece's mouth about an hour ago as he was upstairs giving his self a little makeover (aren't girls the only ones that are supposed to pull this stunt?!). I was just mentioning to a friend the other day that none of my boys had ever tried that but if I had to place a bet on who would be first, my guess was Reece. We'll be contacting a few friends that cut hair tomorrow to see who can squeeze us into their schedule to even things out. Thank goodness he did NOT cut his flesh or much off the bangs :) Here's a peek at the new do.........and bear with me as the lighting/white balance stinks on these - I was more concerned with capturing the moment than composing the picture.

Check out the chunk to the right of the shears!

and another chunk...........

and the evidence (with a few crumbs from dinner in the pile :)

Turning a new leaf?

2008-10-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

It's very RARE in our house full of boys to have a willing subject to photograph.........seriously. It's like they have some sort of allergic reaction to the camera or something. I always find it so easy to photograph girls - they give you genuine smiles and can come up with the cutest poses - just the nature of the beast - I mean beauty :) A week ago at the Fish Ladder downtown GR, however, Lucas proved me wrong. He actually let me capture 3 (I know, don't fall over in shock) pictures!!! And, I'll be sharing just one with you all - take a look at my handsome young man!

Smells like someone's having a campfire

2008-10-19T21:27:00.001-07:00

This is the result of Tim grilling dinner last night..........the food was excellent, the deck was quite "overdone" to say the least! About mid-dinner, Tim realized that he hadn't shut off the grill (which is quite frequent as we let the remains burn off the grate). So, he proceeded outside and noticed a small grease fire - no big deal - he threw on a glass of water and mentioned to us all that it, "smells like someone's having a campfire." We absolutely love that smell around here, especially since it's going to be getting too cold for those this season. This afternoon, Tim discovered that, in reality, we were the ones hosting the campfire with expensive wood, mind you! Being that I love capturing the moment, I just had to post the end result of our deck - nice............who knows how much of the deck would have burned if he hadn't noticed the small grill fire...............I'm so thankful, however, that this did NOT start a much larger fire.........our house could have been toast if he hadn't tossed some water on that minor grease fire.

"O" baby!

2008-10-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I got the joy of capturing some 9mth portraits for one of my good college friends. She actually lives on the other side of the state and called me last minute as she was in town for a 5k Saturday am. Of course I squeezed her in! These are just a few of my favorites of baby "O"....

Couldn't decide which processing I like best on this pose....

Another "B" Family

2008-10-13T19:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the "B" family for being my guinea pigs in trying out a new backdrop. We had a BEAUTIFUL day for taking pictures. It was nice to meet you all - what a lovely family :) Enjoy your sneak peek! I still can't believe this young man is only 8!

#7

2008-10-12T22:16:00.000-07:00

So this post is a bit OVERDUE!!! I'm officially a soccer mom (as of a month ago). I even drive the mini-van to go with the status :) And I love EVERY minute of it! Lucas is trying out soccer this fall for the AYSO division of Allendale. He plays half the season in the fall and the the other half in the spring. He's a little hesitant as he's not my "contact" sports kid, but he has improved a TON from his first day of practice. We've also noticed he has quite a bit of speed, though he is almost the shortest peanut out there :) He seems to enjoy it and his younger brother is ready to play (he has to wait until he's five unfortunately). It's so much fun to watch this age group play an organized sport - such innocence!

The "H" Boys

2008-10-12T20:27:00.001-07:00

Good thing I have 3 boys to prepare me for sessions w/boys! They are so busy, but so much fun :) I love the challenge of trying to capture them in the split second they choose to stop (well, pause) for the camera - so much fun! Thanks guys!

For Missy

2008-10-07T22:48:00.000-07:00

New Backdrop!

2008-10-03T22:28:00.000-07:00

My "niece" modelled my new backdrop for me today :) Thanks McKenna!

Strong-willed child + Miralex = Potty training success

2008-10-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

If you're a follower of this blog you know that Reece happens to be my strong-willed child (with such a sweet heart might i add). So, when it came to potty training, he didn't live that expectation down one bit! I feel like we've been almost forcing him to become trained. Tim was finally able to "cheat" him into going in the toilet almost 2 weeks ago. This was a huge celebration (see the "winning the lotto post") with sweet treats and toys. But, he began holding it and not going, so we tried the Miralex (as suggested by a friend - thanks Michelle!). Apparently today it began working! I think he went like 5 times!!! We're so proud of you Reece Allen!!! Keep up the good work - you're saving us a LOT of money in diapers! To explain the picture, I came into the bathroom today while perusing my camera of today's newborn session and Reece thought it would be great to take a picture of his "evidence." Needless to say, I'll spare you the photo (that was never taken :). Reece settled for a picture of himself on the toilet instead. Consider yourself LUCKY!!

Brothers

2008-10-01T20:16:00.001-07:00

I had the joy of photographing these two cuties the other night! Here's a very small sneak peek at what I captured. They were very active little guys with such sweet personalities and their mom was so laid back! Made my job literally a day in the park (Riverside, that is....). Enjoy!

#8

2008-09-30T20:38:00.001-07:00

Today marks our 8th anniversary. I can hardly believe it's been that long! It's even more amazing to think how much our family has grown since - God is good!!! I praise Him everyday for the abundant blessings he's so graciously bestowed upon us. We celebrated with an evening out to dinner sans kiddos (thanks mom for taking them for the evening!) and then headed to the mall to run to a couple stores. It wasn't too eventful, but definitely needed - just Tim and I. It was a good reminder that while we love spending time with the kids we need time to ourselves to focus on our marriage - love takes work!

Debut

2008-09-28T20:38:00.000-07:00

My holiday cards have been unveiled! You may check them out on my smugmug site @ http://www.whitneyjillphotography.smugmug.com/ under the Christmas Cards 2008 gallery.

We won the LOTTO!!!

2008-09-25T18:31:00.001-07:00

Okay, well, not quite........................but it sure feels like it this past week because Reece finally pooped in the toilet!!! We've been struggling with the PT (potty training) thing for a while with him. He was quite confident in keeping his pull-ups dry, but was petrified of pooping in the toilet. We were even able to get him to tell us when he had to poop and he would head to the bathroom and sometimes even squat next to the toilet. So, in my opinion, he had it all figured out - it was simply a will-power/control issue with us - nice! Now you're probably wondering how it worked, right?!! Okay, those of you with weak stomachs or who just get grossed out easily proceed with caution...............but I'm sure if you're a follower of this blog you're aware I'm a mom of three boys and that's part of life! So, Tim got him to sit on the toilet with a diaper on (but only secured with the help of Tim's hands) so when Reece went to the bathroom, Tim quickly whisked the diaper away and PRESTO! We had poop IN THE TOILET!!! Okay, enough bragging.......it's happened twice since then so we've started a habit (I hope). Stay tuned.....

Couldn't resist!

2008-09-20T21:20:00.001-07:00

I'm just about ready to head to bed, but came across this proof while editing my nephew's newborn shoot. That's EXACTLY how I feel - good night!

One MAD MOM at the Frederik Meijer Gardens

2008-09-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

This blog post title can be a little misleading.........I'm not referring to myself :) I'm referring to this spectacular sculpture by Tom Otterness. This past Tuesday Tim and I decided (spur of the moment) to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and our FM Gardens membership. I've taken the boys a handful of times this year, but we hadn't been as a family, so we took advantage of their Tuesday extended hours. Of course we were viewing a few sculptures by dusk (and the boys required warm hats) but the place was quite empty. The boys enjoyed just running and exploring! This facility is fabulous and always very interesting (as well as educational). It's great for literally ALL ages (no, I don't get a membership discount for throwing in that sales pitch). Without further ado, here's the Mad Mom herself:

Reece made the comment, as we were leaving, that this sculpture was me - nice.....and that comment was NOT prompted by his father

Marvelling at Jaume Plensa's "letter people" (well, that's not the official name of the sculpture, but it is representative :)

Lucas found part of his name

And if you look close enough you can actually spell his name around his body! That was not a posed picture (well, not besides me telling Lucas to look through the *U*).

Lucas in awe of the beautiful sculpture in the Lena Children's Garden (a beautifully designed outdoor area for children).

Hand carved pumpkins

Treasuring up the last bits of evidence of summer

At the Farm area................I think this is one of my favorite pictures of my boys.......why?.......because this isn't posed (though I really tried, but my assistant wasn't into it :).........it's my babies in the moment!

The pumpkins really were that BIG!!!

Jackson couldn't even climb on them

Guess what type of tracks these were?

Yup! Three deer right smack in the middle of one of the trails at the gardens. I've never seen deer here before - of course I didn't have my zoom lens on, so this is the best I could do!

Gotta love friends!

2008-09-12T20:24:00.000-07:00

First of all let me say, "thanks," to this family who's been so patient in waiting for their proofs :) The beginning of the school year sure is crazy (and I don't even have my own full time classroom - outside of Sunday school :) This family of four was a lot of fun to work with (not just b/c they are friends of ours). How can you NOT have fun with a little princess like her?!! I just had to take a break from editing to post this . I love this newfound hobby(talent?) God's revealed to me. It also took a little pushing from another friend of mine (you know who you are and i thank you for encouraging me :) to branch out from just photographing family/friends. It is so much fun just playing around with each new family I meet and capturing some memories along the way!

Putting it in perspective (with a little help)

2008-09-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

While jumping from blog to blog (I think the correct term is "blurking") I was encouraged (thanks to Heather) to check out Stephanie Teslaa's (of Miracles Photography) http://miraclesphotography.com/ recent blog post on being overwhelmed with our busy days. She began her post referencing a book she recommends, "Time Out - A quiet-time devotional for busy moms" by Leigh Ann Thomas. Inside she found a chapter on *overwhelmed* which I so needed to be reminded of on a daily basis! I had a rough day with my boys Monday and this just put it all into perspective for me :) Even if you aren't a mom reading this hopefully you can all find some comfort in this passage..................
Psalm 18:32 "It is God who arms me with strength and make my way perfect."
It has happened countless times. I awake with a yawn, a stretch, and a smile. I roll over and hug my pillow, burying my face in its softness. As I relish those last few moments in the covers' warmth, my thoughts turn sleepily to the day ahead. I enjoy several seconds of cheerful anticipation... before it happens.
My brain immediately shifts into overdrive as the weight and burdens of the day's responsibilities settle on me. Resentment seeps in as I think of all the activities competing for my time. Housework beckons. Children demand. Deadlines loom. Promises must be kept. Appointments must be met. Potential joy is shattered as I yield to selfishness. I greet the new day with a grumble in my heart and a discontented frown on my face.
The day then proceeds pretty much as expected. The housework seems endless and the children are unusually demanding. The entire morning seems to be spent taking one step forward and two giant leaps backward. Stubbornly I question, "What in the world went wrong?"
And every time I face the question honestly, I immediately realize that I took the wrong path hours ago. Right after I savor that first morning stretch, my waking thoughts have a choice to make. And the path I too often take is self's. I choose to go my own way - and I end up stumbling around, tripping over worldly thoughts and attitudes. My sense of perspective disappears as I look at life through my eyes.
What's missing is God's way: His thoughts, His eyes. Without fail, when I neglect to give each day's burdens to Him, I inevitably carry them around myself. And the results can be disastrous, including not only the loss of my joy, but the loss of my fellowship with Him and with others.
Of course housework will still beckon and children will still demand, but when the day is given to the Lord, selfish thoughts can be replaced with the joy of servanthood.
"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:19
May we never lose sight of our purpose on this earth! Our God is an awesome God!

Proud!

2008-09-03T20:43:00.001-07:00

Where do I begin? I'm already at a loss of words as I'm writing this post on his second day of school (Thursday, September 4). I purposely began this post on Wednesday so the date would be correct :) September 3 was Lucas' first day of kindergarten at Springview Elementary. Mom is so proud of you Lucas!!! I imagined Tim, the boys, and I would drop Lucas off at the bus stop and shed several tears (mostly mine), but I was wrong. Lucas hopped right on the bus and we met him at school to see him onto the kindergarten playground and then into his classroom. His little makeshift id bracelet from the transportation department was a little security blanket (more for me) that he would safely be escorted to the correct bus/classroom during the day. It's AMAZING how independent he's become in only a couple days. Here's just a few of my observations......
*His trust in a complete stranger to guide/teach/take my place as a mother for 7 hours of the day
*He now spends more time at school than he does with us (awake)
*Riding a bus for the first time
*Staying at school a full day (2-3 times/week)
*Choosing to eat only the sweet part of his lunch (no mom lecturing him to finish his sandwich first before he gets a cookie - okay, he didn't quite think that one through when he showed me his lunchbox with the healthy food still in it :) We've got work to do here!
*Meeting new friends
*Experiencing recess 2 times a day
*Learning Spanish
*He can also hold his pee for over 8 hours!!! Now that's talent (or discomfort) depending on how you look at it :)
It's really bittersweet to see this little boy become an independent student. It's hard to let him be "on his own" though I know smothering him will only damage him. I couldn't be more proud of the *big* boy he's become and am so thrilled to see him enjoy his first real school experience. My only wish is that your father and I do all we can to help you become the person God made you to be! We love you Lucas Elijah Meyers!!!

He's not a fan of "smile and say cheese"

And he's independent!!!

Labor day in the ER (but NOT for labor)

2008-08-31T21:39:00.000-07:00

I'll post more later, but just had to share our 2nd injury-related trip to the ER this evening with Jackson this time. He somehow cracked his forehead open on the fireplace (of course the staff asks if i saw what happened and i have to say, "no, but i saw him right after it happened.") Praise God he didn't hit his eye or knock out teeth or break anything. They decided to just put their glorified super glue to hold the gash together until it begins healing. He slept through them washing it out and all. I think he was mostly upset about the hospital bracelet he had to wear. Though, he bled quite a bit at home........can't say I've seen that much on my kid, since Lucas split his finger open 4 years ago (almost to the day!). I think we've been quite blessed to have avoided the ER as much as we have with three little boys :)

And on a positive side note..........we welcomed baby Levi Merrick Meyers into the world on Thursday! I will post some pictures of him once I meet him. We've been busy, so I owe this blog a post with pictures..........hopefully this will suffice for now :)

WARNING! Lots of pictures to follow..........

2008-08-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

Some of our recent adventures include our annual college roommates get together. This year we headed to a cottage in Canada. We almost didn't make it across as we realized we have yet to acquire a birth certificate for our youngest.........oops! Despite this mishap we enjoyed family/friends time away from home. We also enjoyed this past Saturday at Michigan's Adventure compliments of JCI. We spent a good portion of the day waiting, but the kids enjoyed the rides they were able to ride. We even made it to the water park (despite dad's protesting - and tipping in the lazy river with Reece). Way to take a few for the team, Tim!!! And in most recent adventures............a new Wii game - Boom Blox - absolutely love it!!! Oh, and there was a bit of incentive behind the fun. We told Lucas we would help him buy it (he had some money saved) if he rode without his training wheels. I mentally prepped myself for the bruises/scrapes/blood that would follow..........fortunately none of that occurred. He jumped on and took off on the first try! We're still working on starting and stopping, but he seems to be such a natural at it!!! If only potty training were that easy with Reece........any suggestions?!!!

Lucas ready to take flight

Dad and Lucas out for a ride in the speed boats (they weren't too speedy)

Ain't she a beaute?!!

Reece is concentrating hard on driving that beast

So the Lazy River is not just a term.......Jackson was OUT!

Ladies reunite

Can you guess which one is NOT a mom? (Hint: she's laughing at the madness)

Check out that Wii form

Because it took so long to get through the border I had time to snap these.......

This was my latest home improvement.........yup, decorating the nursery, and yes, for our last baby (well, he's not so much a baby at 14months) - I LOVE Target!!! I found these decals on clearance to add to the circles (they easily reapply as necessary).

Guinea Pigs

2008-08-18T22:03:00.000-07:00

I just love having friends with photogenic kids!!! I know I've bragged about this cute trio, but seriously, it doesn't get more fun than this (except when your own kids cooperate in a photo shoot)! I love the fact that mom just lets me experiment with these little guinea pigs in discovering new photo opps. Not all moms would let me take their kids and set them in a field of weeds just to capture some moments :) And little Miss "R" was quite a champ - unfortunately she HAS allergies to weeds - but she toughed it out so I could get a few good shots. Thanks for being such an adventurous bunch!

Neglected.......not forgotten

2008-08-15T14:02:00.001-07:00

I know what you're thinking........it's August and you've just gotten around to doing your kids' birthday pictures?!! Well, I did take them in July, so they were really only about a month overdue :) I just sat down this past week to edit them. I think I need a little lesson in time management. I've been so fortunate to be able to take other children's pictures that I hadn't made the time to edit my own. You can view more at my smugmug site (link to it at the top of the blog). Enjoy!!!

Random

2008-08-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

So I've mentioned before that I can easily become sucked into the web by checking out blogs. Well, this is yet another occurrence..........found this on Tina's blog (who stumbled upon it while she was surfing the web).......completely random useless information, but very fun play on words! If you click on the Wordle it will link you to it's "home" where it's a bit larger.

Could these two be models?

2008-08-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

And their brother is quite a handsome little dude :)

Thanks to this family for letting me capture some memories..........I am diligently editing their proofs.........thanks for your patience Jennifer :)

Blogaholic!

2008-08-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

WOW!!! This never happens...............two postings in one day - each equipped w/pics! I'm sure you all have heard me boasting about SavingsAngel lateley. In fact, I sent a few of you a link and referral code to sign up under my name if interested. Heather and I have decided to split the cost and share this membership (probably not really legal, but we're Dutch - me by marriage :) I did a little research this evening and printed a load of coupons, clipped a bunch from the Sunday ads, and headed to Meijer. All in all I spent a total of $117.63 and saved $99.64!!! I saved $18.65 in coupons alone! On top of that I got a free $10 giftcard to Meijer and one product is free by rebate (spent $2.50 less the $2 off coupon = $.50, but I get the purchase price back in rebate, so I really GOT PAID $1.50!!!!). Granted I don't normally buy that type of shampoo, but for getting paid for it, how can you go wrong?!!! I think my favorite find was the Meijer pasta sauce on sale for 10/$10 w/ the 11th free and I had a $.50 off coupon for each of the 10 sauces! You can print these off of the Meijer site w/out being a member of SavingsAngel at

http://www3.meijer.com/mealbox/mealbox.html simply by clicking on the SPECIALS tab toward the right of the screen in the middle. You can print as many as your heart desires! I should mention I got 3 PACKS of children's Hanes socks for a total of $.45 due to a HUGE promotion they had this week :) Tim says I'm a huge dork, but man it feels good to save this much!

The goods

The savings

Pickin'

2008-08-04T12:24:00.001-07:00

Last week my mom joined me and the boys picking blueberries out in Coopersville. I was a little hesitant to bringing them all, but figured between the two adults we could handle them. Plus, if they had a meltdown we would be in the middle of a blueberry field........who would care?!! They did amazingly well considering it was 80+ degrees and prime naptime (we left around 12:30 and didn't arrive home until about 4:30!). Jackson was thrilled to find FOOD at his level........he just kept picking and putting in his mouth (I'm sure he got quite a few tart blueberries). Tim was fortunate to change the inaugural blueberry diaper (those of you that have kids know what I mean). Reece enjoyed filling his bucket up a bit and then dumping his labor onto the ground. Lucas finally announced to us that he couldn't handle it anymore (in those exact words). The only casualty we experienced was a pair of Jackson's shorts..............he sat in Reece's bucket and then continued mashing blueberries in the wagon.........huge mess!!! We managed to pick about 13lbs amongst the 5 of us (14 if you include the ones ingested and dropped).

Plentiful blueberries

Jackson first discovers FOOD!

Pick.............

.................and enjoy!!!

REPEAT (infinitely)

Clearly NOT adding to our prize :)

Reece giving brother some love :) Glad I captured that moment......they are few and far between!

Eating......AGAIN!!!

Grandma and the grandkids

Aha!!! It's easier to take from the bucket than off the branch :)

Look how many blueberries Lucas picked!!!

Allergies

2008-08-03T19:55:00.000-07:00

We recently discovered Reece must have inherited my "allergy gene." We're treating him with an OTC antihistamine to see if his symptoms respond. In the meantime, Lucas proclaimed his allergy symptoms to us this evening. It went a bit like this, "Mom, I turned on all the lights upstairs so I wouldn't be scared of the dark............I think I'm allergic to the dark." Seriously dude, allergic to the dark? What will he come up with next?!! Straight out of the mouth of babes :)

Slacker Blogger

2008-07-28T13:57:00.000-07:00

In an effort to bring you up to date on the most recent happenings of the Meyers' clan, I'm posting a bunch of pictures - admit it, you would rather look at pix than read a novel of what we've been up to (okay, I will throw in a few captions to humor you all :) This pretty much sums up our July (minus Independence Day - in which I took way too many pix to edit/post). Oh, and if you check out the Talsma Trio blog, you can read about our adventure to Shipshewana, Indiana last week with ALL 6 kids! We sure got a lot of looks and comments about being so brave. Without further delay.................

My little charmer

Proof that Tim and I DO get out SANS CHILDREN :) We enjoyed a Tigers game with the Hamberg's and Talsma's a couple weeks ago - too bad they lost

I FINALLY caught a monarch on my black-eyed susans

You like Harley's faux-hawk?

Lucas and Reece lined up at the starting line (you like that bike helmet that lost it's cool outer shell?)

Sweet galloshes dude!

Enjoying an afternoon shower

What's up with this face?!!

One of the many victims for the bug box (kudos to dad!!!)

Touchdown!!!

Lucas is freezing after only a few minutes in the Splashpad at Millenium Park - his lips matched the color of his shirt!

Nicole and Ethan enjoying a nice warm towel

Sweet little Josiah - kids look so innocent in these hoodie towels :)

Seen a similar photo before? Think winner of the GR Press' summer scrapbook photo contest of 2007 (good idea Randy and Ethan!)

Someone in our family has to sport a PINK D hat :) And the Tigers lost again!!! Are you sensing a trend here?

A twizzler stick pacified the baby :)

A rowdy Tigers' fan!

Fun at Georgetown Elementary with friends

Apparently middle children tend to be our little charmers :)

Reece clearly wasn't as excited about this new photo opp spot we discovered at the school.

Innocence

2008-07-24T21:16:00.000-07:00

Aren't these tootsies so cute lined up? Here's just a couple from the many I'm working on for this family. Enjoy!

Sneak peek for the B family

2008-07-18T21:38:00.001-07:00

This little diva was very conservative with her smiles...........however we did steal a few :)

I love the baby blues in this pic!

A little behind

2008-07-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

These is for the "C" family to enjoy until I'm done editing the rest of their shoot :)

Our Blog turns ONE!

2008-07-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

In celebration I will be *attempting* to print our year's worth of blogging into a hardbound journal via the link (on the blog). Stay tuned for the success of that project (and I didn't say it would be anytime soon :)

Food pyramid

2008-07-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

Some of Tim's co-workers got me hooked on http://www.savingsangel.com and I got all these boxes of pasta FREE from Meijer last week. I have not paid to become a member, yet. I just signed up for the free trial version. I think I will be renewing my membership after the trial runs out as I easily paid for one month's membership fees in only ONE shopping trip! Save on!!!

The Unthinkable

2008-07-10T21:15:00.001-07:00

I think this picture about sums up my first experience taking all three kids to the shores of Lake Michigan SOLO!

Curls!

2008-06-28T21:41:00.001-07:00

Here's a sneak peek for the "G" girls I was priviledged to photograph this past week. Another girl with natural ringlets - love it!!!

Happy 3rd birthday Reece Allen!!!

2008-06-25T20:43:00.001-07:00

Do you not just fall for those eyes?!!! How we love you Reecey!!! We thank God for bringing you into our lives and making the world a happier place to live. Reece is definitely a lovable, huggable ball of energy! He keeps us on our toes and is a daily reminder of how unique God's children are. We love you Reece Allen and are so blessed to celebrate another birthday with you!

Erasing your child's artwork

2008-06-24T09:18:00.001-07:00

Anyone out there wondering how to remove ink pen from your computer monitor..........try rubbing alcohol. It worked on ours without any evidence of destruction (so far). I put a SMALL amount on a cotton ball and tried on the corner of the screen (making sure not to get any in the edges of the screen). Until next time...........

FURtography

2008-06-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

These two characters aren't in the spotlight of the blog (unless they've been misbehaving), so I thought it was time I gave them a spot!

MCS (Middle Child Syndrome)

2008-06-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

Does he look likes he suffers from MCS? I've been anonymously (well, by dad) requested to put some more pictures of the "other kids" on this blog. Apparently I post too many of my "baby" so this is an attempt at levelling out things a bit (seriously, that's just not possible with more than one child - someone's always going to feel like he got the raw end of the deal).

Reece really didn't show any symptoms of MCS until he began feeling threatened by a moving Jackson. Trying to potty train didn't alleviate any of the symptoms either - we're putting that one on hold (though he showed some interest in it today - go figure!).

Other SYMPTOMS of MCS include, knocking your newly walking brother flat on his back, spitting on things, shooting your pretend guns at anything that upsets you, falling limp on the floor in a spastic attack, and throwing things at anyone/anything (to name a few).

The best proven treatment for MCS is lots of UNDIVIDED attention from either parent. We've been trying to make Reece feel special by letting him run errands with just one of us at a time.

Some positive side effects of this treatment include hugs, kisses, and loving comments :) Reece is definitely my "lover" with a heart of gold!

With three children, someone had to be the middle child. Reece holds a special place in my heart! I love you Reecey Allen :)

Happy Father's Day!!!

2008-06-15T20:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day Daddy!!! We love you and will miss you this week!!!

Happy 5th Birthday Lucas Elijah!!!

2008-06-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

Wow!!! It's hard to believe that 5 years ago today we had our first child. So much has changed in only 5 years. It's almost crazy to think we were going to "get established" before bringing children into the world. God had other plans for us that have unfolded so beautifully and miraculously. We love every day of being parents (though some are more trying than others as God is growing us with these challenges to overcome). It was really neat to see how excited Lucas was in anticipation of his special day. He began the day fishing with his dad and Reece. He chose the restaurant, Uccello's (thank you for NOT picking McDonald's!) for dinner. They sang to him (which made Reece literally bury his face in my lap and Jackson burst into tears and only minor embarrassment from Lucas) and he shared a HUGE strawberry shortcake with us all. Thank you God for giving us this child to teach and love - he's been a true blessing to us!

Contagious!

2008-06-08T22:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peak from a recent session.........is her smile not contagious?!!!! And such beautiful ringlets of red hair.........love it! Thanks to the B girls (and their parents) for inviting me to their home - I had a wonderful time capturing some shots of these girls!

Just a thought...

2008-06-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

Maybe the crying in the pictures below (from Jackson's first birthday) are really due to his newly found ear infection!!! Are you kidding me?! What kind of a mom doesn't realize her child has an ear infection and then finds out at not one, not two, but THREE well-baby visits?! That's right folks, this child must tolerate pain well because this was the third well-baby visit we've been to that he's been diagnosed with an ear infection (well, once it was a double!). He really never shows any symptoms other than not sleeping through the night on a regular basis. Other than that, he checked out just fine yesterday! He's slowed down a bit on the growth chart (well his head hasn't :) He's 90-95th percentile for head circumference, 50th percentile for height, and just the 10th percentile for weight (just under 20lbs). He is now forward facing in his carseat which is so much more comfortable for him (and easier to get him in/out. I've also been weaning him and getting ready to start whole milk as soon as our free stock of formula runs dry.

Tradition continues...

2008-06-04T21:35:00.000-07:00

So this is the reaction I get from ALL my children on their first birthday to their cake...........seriously!!!!! What's so bad about cake? Do they not like the texture? Who knows!!! Of course he ate the cake once I was done taking pictures and I fed it to him. The only reason he has frosting on his body is because my assistant photographer (Tim) forced his hand in it - thus causing the sad face. Little does he know his mom is having a harder time with this milestone than he is (holding back tears.......). You can view more from this shoot at www.whitneyjillphotography.smugmug.com

Happy 1st Birthday Jackson Xavier!!!

2008-05-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

More to come.........

2008-05-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

Well spent

2008-05-24T21:07:00.001-07:00

I just had to post my latest and greatest find at the Dollar General in Allendale (besides the $4 faux baby crocs I found for Jackson). I've seen Crocs version of the MaryJane and found these knockoffs for a mere $6 last week! I will be alternating these with the infamous flip-flops this summer. The best part - I can stick them into the washing machine when dirty!