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I am going to have to just start out by saying that i'm not a giant fan of living in Springfield, MO. I don't try and hide it.. it just is what it is. Something about the midwest... not a fan (I don't want to offend any wonderful midwesterners so I will spare the details)  I will say HOWEVER, that there are a lot of things about living in Springfield that I DO like and I want to share about those things today.

I have met some WONDERFUL friends while living here. Everyone is so down to earth. They don't expect you to act, dress or live a certain way. People accept you for who you are. Also, There seem to be a lot of amazing stay at home mom friends and I absolutely love that. I seriously have the best stay at home mom friends. I attribute a lot of that to  my MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group. I've been attending this group since Annalise was 3 months old and I am SO GLAD I did. Raising kids isn't easy and MOPS is specifically designed as a support group of sorts for stay at home moms who need community and frequent breaks. I LOVE MOPS! I want all of my stay at home mom/part time working mom friends to join this wonderful organization. It's a lifesaver. 

Anyhoo.. This past Friday Annalise and I went to a local Amusement Park, Silver Dollar City, with one of those amazing mom friends and her daughters. We love these ladies and are so blessed to have them in our life. It's amazing to find mom friends that you can relate to on so so many levels and the sweet bonus that is that your daughters are little besties too. We had such a lovely day with our friends.

 

There aren't many better things than seeing pure delight on the face of your child. That's one of the many reasons I love taking her here. This was the first time she had gone on this ride. She was a little moody on this day, but we made it through. She was just being 3. A strong willed 3. Always keeping me on my toes!

 And then I love this one too. My sweet friend Anna and her baby Natalie. It was Natalie's first ride. Sweet baby. She loved watching the big girls on their rides too. She just laughed and bounced.. So precious!

By the end of the say I ended up with Pee and Coke on my new jeans, but It was all worth it. We even had to leave a little early because it started pouring. Thankfully we were in line for the shuttle when the rain really started coming. I love adventures and I love going on them with our sweet friends. It's my mission to make Annalise's childhood a meaningful, memorable and happy one. I think we are well on our way! My mom did the same for us and I am so grateful for that.. Speaking of my mom.. We've made fun Silver Dollar city memories with them too...

 The balloons are one of Annalise's favorites at this age. =)

 She loves the swings too.. just like I did as a child.

 this is RARE

 And this is common.. Jason loves the food at SDC. It's a big part of his experience. He and dad are chowing on the yummy homemade peanut brittle from the coolest candy shop.

 Couldn't resist the obligatory Pumpkin pic.

I love this place on a whole new level with a child involved. But.. equally as amazing when you are on your honeymoon and haven't been there since you were 8. =) 

 my new husband ladies and gentlemen!

Jason doing his thing.. eating... always has to have his beloved turkey leg.. And then there are the holidays... 

 This past Christmas Jason found a new fav. and shared it with a friend....

Christmas time is MAGICAL at SDC. It's my fav. LIghts everywhere! And the shows.. "It's a Wonderful Life" makes me cry. Annalise and her friends were giggling and squealing with delight at this little holiday parade. It was my favorite Christmas at SDC memory to date. MAGICAL I tell ya. 

This was us our first year of marriage. 

So.. with all that said.. This place really makes Springfield living pretty wonderful. Not many places are as fun for the whole family and wholesome. I was just telling Anna the other day that It's just a comforting place.. a happy memory. I will definately be sad to move away from here.. we just won't get to enjoy it as often. We usually get season passes (including guest passes). And finally.. for my most favorite SDC pic of all time, from our Honeymoon... 

This picture is actually on our fridge and has been there for years. haha! Jason just couldn't take it and I loved it. This ride actually still kicks our booties.. I think we have finally sworn it off. 

I have the feeling Annalise will be a little daredevil (unlike her mommy) and be riding coasters before the age of 13, which is when I started. At 3 she's already ridden some pretty big ones. We shall see.. 

Until next time friends. I hope you have something that you and your family can do together. Because a family that plays together.. stays together. Laughter is good for the soul. 

Love, 

Christa 

Six months of Adorable

So I've realized in looking back on what I've written the past several years that I have not posted many pictures at all of our adorable baby girl. She's too cute not to share. I actually documented her whole first year of life with monthly photo shoots. This really helped me get going in my then new hobby of photography and helped me realize how much I truly love it. So i'm thinking today, in an attempt to catch up on the past couple of years, I will share those photos. It seems like ages ago. I really was proud of myself for making this happen each month as a new mom. She was just so photogenic and fun so it made my job quite easy.

1 Month- Annalise was born 2 weeks early and weighed 6lbs 9oz. She was really small this first month. She started early being an oral baby. She loved her tongue and her paci already. She was a little colicky so I really had to be careful with what I ate. She was a fussy girl and over stimulated very easily. WE were in love, a little stressed, but in love.

 REALITY~ Bless!

 2 Months- Getting fuller and more smiley. Still a challenge.. Looking back. I think her mind was ahead of her body and she wanted to do things she just couldn't do. She also really was easily stimulated. Oh how I love that round face and those beautiful blue eyes. See the tongue?!

3 months- the adorableness continues... still a tongue girl... my little baby doll to dress up. This mama was in heaven with our beautiful growing baby girl. 

4 months- Oh the smiles came out! I loved getting out her cute haloween attire. Leggings were big and i was all about anything cute at the time to dress up my live baby doll. I did it all. She loved her Sophie too.. the camera loved this baby. I can start to see the little person that I know her to be now in some of these pics. Our little firecracker.

This one! She still smiles this way- Maybe a little mischief.


5 months- I was most proud of this session. Not only was i starting to learn more about lighting, but Annalise looks simply ADORABLE. When you are photographing babies It's those in between fussles shots that turn out the best. I do remember Annalise was uncharacteristically happy and we had so much fun. THOSE EYES. I can't get over them...and have I mentioned her round face... SWOON.

 SEE THE ROLLS?!

Ok.. Baby fever is now kicked into high gear (more on that later)

The leggings an adorable headbands come back for her 6 month photo shoot. ITS CHRISTMAS TIME. What better time of the year to have an adorable chubby 6 month angel?! I could hardly contain my excitement (and my credit card) gearing up for my favorite time of the year with a new baby girl to dress and spoil.

 MORE CHUB! And her arm is relatively straight. =)

So if you need to snuggle a baby and are ready for  Christmas ... I wouldn't   be surprised. I think I am.  Ahh..And I am totally envious of my past house being so CLEAN! I didn't have a three year old tornado running around! Those were the days...

In order to prevent a cuteness overload, I will spare you the next six months and save the adorableness until next time. ( I may be biased). I can hardly believe my baby will be 4 in a couple of months. I don't know if I can take it. We are definitely ready for more. God, did you hear that?! ;)

Until next time....

Christa

Back to it

After an unexpected convo with one of my very best friends today, I decided it was time to get to blogging again. I just really feel that I need to do more with myself. More of what I love. I really feel that blogging covers that. I love writing, I love photography, and I love sharing. I am praying that God leads me into creating posts that will be interesting, a way to document our life and keep readers entertained. Annalise is 3 going on 13 and she is constantly saying and doing thing that I just have to document. She is growing so so fast. We are also in a crazy transition right now. We've taken a step of faith and are just holding our breath to see what's next. I want to remember this season and I want to document it in a beautiful way. I"ve always been a journaler, I've always been a photograper. I love it all. I love the artistic side of this too. So why not?! I have the time.. I just have to carve out a little space and prioritize. 

I think the last I wrote I was a new mom. Wow! That seems like ages ago. So.. how do I catch up?! I will just start with a few photos. They always say a lot. I'm excited to get going again. I just need to stick with it this time- Long term projects aren't a strength of mine. But I have the feeling this needs to be one. So... here we go again! 

The other day we had a family day at a place that means a lot to Jason and I, Dogwood Canyon. We went on our honeymoon there and our 1 year anniversary and fell in love with the place. We love it still (even though the price had gone up astronomically). 

It's this amazing area near a tiny little town near Branson (i'm talking the neighborhood is a little sketchy) with a legit treehouse and a seriously cool walking path waterfalls and caves... even a little wedding chapel. The weather was perfect (it always could be just a little cooler for my nordic self) and we took a picnic and made lots of sweet memories. It was our first time to bring Annalise there and that was pretty special. She got the sweet deal and rode in her wagon with 3 of her chosen stuffed animals of course (this girl takes her animals everywhere.. even in her school backpack). We needed a little getaway after a stressful week and it ended up being the perfect escape (we even skipped church.. shhh don't tell!) 

Time for a throwback.. our HONEYMOON at dogwood. 

 Yes, and when you are on your honeymoon you spend extra to rent bikes.. when kids come.. you walk!

 One of our favorite spots.. still is!

The traditional silly face on the wagon. 

And then there's year 4.... a little chunkier... but I still LOVE that hat. =) ❤

 Our favorite spot again.

I think this may be my favorite Dogwood Pic of all time.. It's just so us! 

I'm loving this tradition.. it may be a while before we go back, but I sure am glad we could share it as a new and improved little family. 

I"m so glad it's spring! 

Love, 

Christa