NEW BLOG!!

I have a new blog! check it out and mark it instead of this one.....I will no longer be posting here, so truck on over to the new one! www.amandamcneelyblog.com

enjoy!

Busy Busy Busy!

Sweet Crosby!

Luke and Brock on the tube

catch me uncle Luke!

3 Amigos!

Grandpa & Grandma Brown

60 years!

Gage fishing

Daddy and Gage

I just love this!

at the sand dunes..

June was a crazy busy month! We took a looooong road trip to Michigan (26hours one way!!) with my whole family for my grandpa and grandmas 60th anniversary. We drove during the night and for the most part all went well.....as well as it could with a 2 and 4year old! We stopped in St. Louis on the way there and visited the arch and went to the zoo. While in Michigan we took the kids to the sand dunes and to see Lake Michigan.

Only a few days after getting home we left for PK. Chad's family has a reunion there every year. It has always been fun, but I enjoy it even more now that we all have kiddos! They all get along so good and have a blast playing together....(ahem...especially Brock..ha!)

This past weekend was spent in Ft. Worh celebrating Chad's grandparents birthdays. Pictures to come ina few days....

I WON!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited!!! So several weeks ago, I looked into going to a photography workshop hosted by Lubbock's Lauren Clark and 3 other excellent photographers.......however, the $3000 it cost (not including air fair) was no where near possible for me. They did offer a scholarship to one individual. You had to do a series of silly things like add them on facebook, send a tweeter, post a blog about Love Affair, ect....you get the point. For every thing you did, your name was entered in the drawing once. It was possible to have your name entered 42 times, I did enough to have my entered 15......which I thought was a hopeless cause!! So today posted live on their blog.......IS MY NAME!!!!! I WON!!! So in July I will head out to Atlanta!

The great part about this story is that over the past several weeks, I have become a bit discouraged. Things are picking up with my photography business, but it is hard getting your name out there. I really started seeking God's help. Photography is consuming a lot of my time (and money), so I want to make sure that it is what the Lord wants me doing! No sense in wasting all my time if it is not in His will....right? I have been asking Him to confirm that this is indeed the direction I should be going, and today when I read my name on that website, I was reminded that He really is listening everytime we whisper His name! He is so good to us all of the time!

So greatful today!

Memorial Day Weekend

We spent the weekend in Midland with Pops, Mimi, Uncle Shane, Uncle Luke, Aunt Kylie, Brock & Crosby! Lots of fun!
The boys had a camp out in the backyard.....

lots of time spent riding bicycles.....

lots of hugs given.....

playtime in the pool (even for Shane)....

lots of smiles from sweet Crosby (which Shane only got from a distance).....

unlike the other nieces and nephews,Crosby is not a fan....

yet!

enjoyed some watermelon....

and the kids spent lots of time playing with Uncle Shane!

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Fun in the Sun!

Today the kids and I spent most of the day outside in the water. They had so much fun playing in their little pool, and running in the yard! We filled up tons of water balloons and put them in the pool. I sat and laughed at the funny conversations they had with each other. At one point Gage was splashing MacKenna and she said, "No....Gage, me gorgeous!" She is so stubborn!

running for the sprinkler!

Get him Mac!

Look Momma!

MOMMY!

This is what I did on Mother's Day

~went to church and had a dinner that the men prepared for all the mom's. (They did all the cooking themselves......and during the clean up decided that next year they will have it catered in!)

~relaxed and enjoyed a pedicure (Chad gave me a gift certificate)

~spent the afternoon taking some pictures

It was a great day!

Cali, Megan, & Mac

This last week I had a few photo shoots and thought I would post my favorites! Cali is my good friend Janet's little girl....she's so cute! However, I am partial to red heads....ha!

I had a blast with Megan! She is from Shallowater and is graduating from SPC this May. This girl had the cutest outfits, and of course no outfit is complete with out the perfect accessories.....which she nailed!

and of course let's not for get Mac....

We're in Business....

www.amandamcneelyphoto.com

Conversations....

Yesterday we were in the car coming home from Walmart, where we had bought the stuff to color eggs, and I decided to ask Gage if he knew what Easter was all about. He said, "eggs".......that is exactly what I thought he might say. So, in the car on the way home I told him about Jesus dying on the cross for the things we do that hurt Him and how he loved us so much to do that. I told Gage how they drove nails into His hands and feet. Last, I told him how on the 3rd day our Savior rose again to live in heaven with His father until He returns to take us with Him. It was a memory I will forever have of Gage. We tell Him about Jesus all the time and how much He loves us and how He wants to live in our hearts, but this was a special conversation that I hope planted a seed in his little heart that He will never forget!

So on that note, I hope everyone had a great Easter and never takes for granted the moments you have to teach your children about our Lord and His goodness!

Proverbs 22:6 says Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

diggin' for eggs?? sorry.....I couldn't resist!

Long time no blog....

It has been a while since I have posted and don't really have a good excuse other than laziness. I am guilty of getting on and checking on a few blogs that I stalk.....ahem...I mean follow and not updating ours. Since the last post Gage has had his first T-ball game....which was greatness! Gage hit the ball and ran straight to second base as fast as his little legs would carry him! Totally skipped 1st base! He ran right past the other teams pitcher and was safe on 2nd! Way to go kid!



the tulips down the road bloomed (and then died after if froze last week) so pretty!



and I have become quite addicted to photography....I can't seem to get enough! I don't claim to be a pro...but I really enjoy it. I figure if I can at least avoid having to pay someone to take the kids pictures...it's worth it.

Chad is in the process of giving our backyard a make-over! I am pretty excited about this (no offense honey!) He is building a deck, pouring some concrete, making a walk way, and planting grass. Maybe I should take a picture so you can compare when he is done.

We have lots of upcoming summer plans that I can't wait for! We have a few trips planned to see family.....my whole family is going to make a way overdue trip to see my dad's family in Michigan in June.

And finally, Chad and I have decided to hit the gym! Seems like we have tried every fad diet known to man and obviously they haven't worked.....so back to the old fashioned way! The Lord is so good, and has reminded me that it is ok to ask for His help in things that may not seem super "religious".....if that makes sense? I cannot do this in my own strength and I have a really long way to go, but thank goodness that in Him the weak become strong! So I will keep ya posted on that status.....I weigh tomorrow......not that I would dare spill my weight on the blog, but I will give the amount lost (crossing fingers that this hard work has payed off).

Ok really now....it is 1:39am! I need to get in bed! Goodnight!

MacKenna's true colors...

Mac's 1st haircut!

Today I let Aunt Dana give MacKenna her first haircut! Mac was so good, she just sat there with her sucker and watched herself in the mirror. Here are some pictues I took.....