These are The Days of Michelle's Life: Happy Day 66. Tennis

Monday, July 5, 2010

Happy Day 66. Tennis

We have made it a goal to have more fun outdoors this summer. Take advantage of the warmth and be active. We have also made it a goal to have family night every Monday night. Spencer LOVES tennis. I think it's because he doesn't play competitively (yet) because he is quite a poor loser. Hopefully he will grow out of that. (I have no one to blame but myself. I am a poor loser. I like to win. I am competitive and I won't deny it).

But will someone please tell me when my son turned into a young boy and not a kid anymore?

Seems to me there are a few phases of childhood. This is what I have figured.

1.Infant(0-6 months)
2.Baby(6 Months-1 Year(ish))
3.Toddler(1 Year-2 Years)
4.Terror(2 years-3 Years and again from 13-16)
5.Kid (3 Years-(some people never grow out of this stage))
6.Big Boy/Girl (4-6 Years)
7.Post Pre-Teen(6-8)
8. Pre Teen (9-12)
9. Teen (13-19)
10. Adult (20-???)
11.I, am currently in the what I like to call 'Babdult' stage. It's the baby-adult stage when you realize you still need your mom (23-infinity).

Anyways. . . . To say it in a non bragging mom kind of way, Spencer Rocks at Tennis. I mean, I have no other four year old to compare him to, but to me he is A.Mazing. Oh, and K-Lady, well she's still trouble and I love her to pieces because of it. I got her this new suit at Old Navy for $5 while shopping with Taryn & Kelli (after lunch at of course Cafe Rio with Cheryl). Love you Ladies. She loves it and so do I.

Have I mentioned how much fun I am having documenting an entire year? What a phenomenal task that I am so thrilled to find the positive in every day living.
Today, was a Good Day. Very Very Good. Thank Heavens.
Loves.
Michelle
PS. It's okay to be jealous of my children. I know they are cute:) Oh, and can you believe I got a picture of Spence man smiling without his scrunched up serious nose face?
Kisseys
Mwah

2 comments:

EmilyJuly 6, 2010 at 12:34 PM
At our house, "Terror" definitely lasts until half-way through Kindergarten. And for Macy, she just skipped from "Terror" to "Pre-Teen". :-)

Your kids are adorable, and I'm so happy that you had a very, very good day!
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Kristin MiliusJuly 7, 2010 at 7:04 AM
Such cute kids!!...
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Join with me the opportunity to start living your life rather than merely existing. Find reasons to smile and rejoice with me. Find smiles in sorrow, hope in despair, good in tragedy. Help me find the way. I am not saying I will be perfect, but I will be trying. With each other we will find joy in every day living. When James died, I lost myself. Today, I am starting my journey of getting to love who I am and become what God intended me to be. A star Shining Brightly.
****
I am like a star shining brightly. Shining for the whole world to see. I can do and say happy things each day, for I know Heavenly Father loves me.

*Song from the LDS Children's hymn book

Why Photography is My Passion

People ask me often during our sessions,
"How did you get into photography."
"That's a good question" I always reply.
Where to begin with that question, there is a realm beyond this earth why I do it. But, I think in my head, I can't start there.
So, I reply, "I have always had a passion for photography. I asked for my first camera the Christmas I was 6. My mom wouldn't give me one because, 'it was expensive to develop the film'". So, I bought myself one, a hot pink one that took 35mm film, for my 7th birthday the following year. She was right, it was expensive to buy & develop the film, but I didn't care, I loved how it made me feel creating something that I could say, I created. I paid for all of my film & developing, and, it was worth it. I dabbled with it in High School and decided to major in it in College. Plans changed half way through college and I got married and had a baby. I had a beautiful boy. His name is James. He, to my knowledge, or my biased opinion, was.the.cutest.child.in.the.world. I was very diligent in getting his milestone pictures from JC Penny. Every 3 months. It sufficed. Kind of. He was an easy baby to take pictures of. Happy always, smiling freely. I had another son when James was just 15 months old. We agreed upon the name of Spencer. When Spencer was 6 months old, I felt a void in my life. I needed something to do for myself. I needed an outlet from being a mom. I needed a break from the insanity. So, I bought myself a camera, and a website template and started creating my photography business. Not even a day later, after I decided to dive myself head first into a huge passion of mine, my oldest, my most.beautiful.boy flew home to Heaven due to a tragic accident. Coincedence? No. There is not a chance that photography came to me, at my darkest time. It truly, became what I was hoping it would be, my outlet, but not an outlet from my kids, an outlet for my grief. I prior to April 20th, 2006, was quite a happy individual. Easily appeased. Easily smiling, much like my oldest son. From that day, I found one of the only things that made me smile and remember what life was like prior to that day, was you, my clients, you lovely people who invite me to share your memories with you. Photography was a gift given to me, to get me through losing him. Photography, is James' gift to you, I can share it, and I Share him. I give to you, what I wish I could go back and give to myself. The mischevious looks, the innocent looks, the smiling, the running, the dancing, the hugging, the loving, the real.down.to.earth true love a family shares. We have pictures of our precious James, for them I am grateful. But to say that I wish I had more, would be an understatement. To say that I wish I had hundreds of his true personality rather than just a smiling kid at the camera is a desire in my heart, I will never be able to fulfill. While, most people don't lose their child to death like I did, EVERYONE will lose their child to time. Everyone. These images, these pictures, are far more valuable than you will ever dream, until you stare at them 20 years down the road. These, are one thing in life that will never depreciate with time. They only become more valuable the older they become. Invest in your memories, you never know how valuable they will become. This is why I love my job, this is why I do it. I give to you, what I wish I could give to myself.
Love,
SG

When You Love Someone Grieving

This is a list I will add to as I think of things that you can do for someone you love to be a support and friend through their grief. I know a lot of people just "don't know what to say/do" so they don't do anything. Not doing anything is the wrong answer. Hopefully this list can help you help the ones you love in their journey of Grief.

1. First and foremost TALK about the loved one who's passed. Even if it uncomfortable at first, it will become easier.

2. If you didn't know the person at all or very well, ask to hear about them and learn of them through stories.

3. Don't ever put a time line on someone's grief.

4. Saying things like, "They are in a better place." Really isn't comforting. It makes the bereaved feel like the place they had with them wasn't good.

5. If you don't know what to say, just say, "I'm So sorry you have to go through this."

6. If the person needs to analyze the circumstances surrounding the death, let them just talk and rehash anything as many times as they need to.

7. Don't assume they are ever "better." It never gets better and will be a part of them for the rest of their lives.

8. Don't underestimate how frazzled, abscent minded & spacey grief can make you.

9. Pamper them if you have means. Retail Therapy worked great for me! So did pedicures and getting my hair done, I felt awful on the inside, at least I could try to feel good about me on the outside.

10. Love notes. Emails. Thinking of You cards. Thinking of the bereaved person cards.

11. Do not, I stress Do not get offended if your loved one doesn't answer his/her phone or return your calls. Don't assume that they don't appreciate your effort. It's just that someone bereaved doesn't want to put on a "happy voice." and burden everyone with their grief.

12. Most bereaved people will not offer information on how they are doing unless they truly feel like you want to know.

13. Validate.Validate.Validate. Please whatever you do, don't compare your loved ones loss to someone elses' "harder loss". Every loss is hard. Comparing makes the person feel like they shouldn't struggle because it could be worse.

14. The comment "but aren't you grateful you know you see them again" isn't comforting. It is not a fix all. It is comforting, but it doesn't take the pain out of not having them now.

15. Just make sure they know you love them. Be a shoulder to cry on.

This is just the beginning. I have to run but will add more later.