365/59 - baloony

I love how he gives random objects names... meet baloony!

365/58 - Then & Now - Cincinnati Family Photographer

today



five years ago



six years ago



and one more from today

365/57 - 6 - Cincinnati Children Photographer

My Baby is 6!

He woke up this morning with a room filled with balloons, came downstairs to cupcakes (yep for breakfast), presents and lots of hugs and kisses.

Later we picked up his best friend and took the boys to Perfect North. A small ski area (with fake snow) close by. We rented snow tubes for a few hours and the boys had a blast.

In the afternoon we had the family over including Jake's Godmommy and her kids.

Perfect Day for a perfect boy.

Here are a few pictures.











Just a few from today. But I promise I have lots to post about Jake this week!!!

365/56 - Last Day - Cincinnati Family Photographer

Dear Jake

today was your last day of being 5.

I wish this day was better for you but it was a bad day for you.

First you got in trouble with me because you got undressed (again!) 2 minutes before your school bus came.

Then on the bus, you were rough housing with some other kids and got hurt... in your privates, but you used a more accurate name when telling the principal :)

Later this evening you watched a Disney Channel movie and you were freaked out because the bunny got eaten by hawks. You went crying to bed.

I am sorry and I promise you, tomorrow will be a better day. We have so many fun things planned and people who love you madly will come and celebrate your big day with us.

Wasn't it just yesterday that you called yourself 123Jakey? Now you want to be called Jake not even Jakey anymore.

We have a family motto "McGills never quit". A few days ago you came running to me in tears, something was too hard... I reminded you that we are McGills, when you interrupted me and said "but I am also a Bennett and I quit!" haha this made me laugh.

I love that you know my phone number by heart and when I am out you will call me about random things. Like the time I was driving up to Canada, you called me to say "Baby Finny has really bad baby breath. He smells like rotten strawberries".

Not sure if I can explain it but since having Finn, I love you a million times more... if that is even possible. You have an unbelievable amount of patience for your little brother that I wish I had. He will pull your hair, scratch your face, hit you and (most of the time) it doesn't even phase you.

You share with him so much, more than expected from you. Today I bought you a candy bar at the grocery store. Your favorite. And on the way home you were eating it when Finn cried and cried to have a piece. I asked you to "please give him just one piece" at the end you gave him another and another until he was satisfied. Thank you

We are so proud of what you have accomplished in school. I admit I was nervous sending you and the first few weeks were really tough. But I knew you needed this challenge and that with time you will succeed. Boy was I right. You are a beginner reader and have been doing math for the past few weeks like crazy. All day now I hear something like this "Daddy has 3 toy soldiers, if I take 2 he only has one left, is that right Mommy?"

I just got an email from your teacher today "I LOVE being his teacher"!

Dear Jake and I LOVE LOVE LOVE being your Mommy!

Happy 6th Birthday my Love!!!



Your new favorite pose for pictures


and this is the goofy smile I have been getting lately for pictures


and then you crack yourself up!!!

365/55 - little goodies - Cincinnati Family Photographer

Jake's class is not allowed to bring in any kind of treats such as cupcakes, lollipops etc for birthdays.

Boo hoo... I love decorating cupcakes!

Jake's teacher makes sure it is a special day for the kids in school (or paradise as she calls it). They get a special hat, a special chair, get picked first, etc...

Kids then can bring in goodie bags to give to the kids... kinda like after a party.

Buying goodie bags for 26 kids adds up!

I saw this idea for Valentine's Day and made it my own.

I think the total for 26 of these was around $8. Not bad if you ask me!



Jake is turning 6 on Saturday!!! More on that tomorrow!

(sorry for the crappy pictures... I was trying to take these with Finn in my arm before he could grab them)

365/54 - lazy - Cincinnati Children Photographer

Too lazy to pick up my camera today. This phone picture will do.

As you can see, Finn is still taped up and it is a miracle that he doesn't even try to take the tape off. He is such a trooper.

365/53 - we knew this day was coming - Cincinnati Family Photographer

We knew this day was coming.

To say Finn is wild is in understatement. This kid is like the Energizer Bunny on crack. Sorry, but true.

I put him to bed at his usual bedtime. He screamed and screamed for an hour. Scot decided to bring him back down so I can get some work done.

Of course Finn can't just sit and snuggle with Scot he does what Finn does best. Mayhem. Climbing on the table, off the table, climbing on the coffee table, off the coffee table, running, running and running...

At some point during this mayhem we heard a piercing scream, Finn on the floor next to a table holding his eye, blood everywhere.

Not sure what happened but he has a big cut on his eye lid.



Luckily we have a friend who is a pediatric nurse who came over right away, looked at the wound, cleaned it and taped it up for us. Thank you Thank you Thank you, H!

Scary thing is, he cried for 2 minutes max and was 5 minutes later back on the table dancing.

Just a wild guess here, but I don't think he learned his lesson!!!

365/50 - Milk - Cincinnati Family Photographer

Finn had this rash on his face (now also belly) for about the past two weeks. First I thought it was from teething, but it comes and goes and I don't think he would have that rash on his belly. It just didn't seem like the right solution.
Then I thought it was the "Calm Child" herbal supplement I have been giving him. I stopped that almost a week ago and he still has the rash.
Today a light bulb went on... it must be his milk. He loves his milk, and drinks lots of it. It is the only thing that he constantly drinks... and his kid eats like a bird.
For his nap today we opted for water with a tiny bit of juice and he woke up with his face much better looking.



Scot went out and bought soy milk this afternoon. Actually he then went out again and exchanged the soy milk for soy formula, since I don't think Finn would drink soy milk but definatley could use the extra nutrients in the formula.

On one hand I hope it is the milk, so we can help him and clear up this aweful rash but on the other hand... ugh it will take some getting use to no milk around here!

Let's see what happens over the next few days.

365/49 - Pioneer Woman - Cincinnati Family Photographer

I met up with my friend Denise from my Enrich Photography Forum and went to a book signing of Ree Drummond.

If you don't know who Ree Drummond is then please, PLEASE go check out her website at www.thepioneerwoman.com

It was great meeting her but it was even better catching up with my friend Denise!

Le Creuset

Scot and I are drooling over the Le Creuset Cookware.

Sadly it is not something we can just go out and buy.

We have decided that for the next few years we will be giving each other Le Creuset cookware for anniversaries, birthdays, Christmas, etc.

Mother's & Father's Day are coming up and we will be going Le Creuset shopping together.

And I know which site we will be checking out first.

CSN Stores has everything from toys to colorful Le Creuset cookware — all at great prices!



For Valentin's Day I surprised Scot with this Le Creuset Salt Crock (or sometimes people call it Salt Pig). He was so excited and so proud of our first piece together.

That way I was able to pick the color I liked (wink wink)

365/48 - Another Hair Cut - Cincinnati Family Photographer

His hair is growing so fast that we decided he needed a real hair cut this time, not just a trim.

It is amazing how much he looks like a big boy now with his short do.

I would show you after pictures but at that point he had enough and threw a major tantrum!

365/47 - play - Cincinnati Children Photographer

Two days ago I received my new baby in the mail.

My 35mm 2.4 lens. A prime.

New glass and I am one happy girl.

Today was the first day I got to play with it. I love it.



And i love this boy!

365/46 - Canada - Cincinnati Family Photographer

No picture today. I am bummed. Especially since a brand spanking new lens arrived in the mail yesterday.

But after photographing the birth of little A, I got in the car and drove to Canada.

Today I sat all day in the car to come back... this time Oma with me. I am pooped!

This picture from last year in Canada will have to do.

365/45 - V-day - Cincinnati Birth Photographer

Best Valentine's Day ever!

I witnessed two parents welcome their little girl into this world.

Such a true miracle and what better way then to spend Valentine's Day?

A blog post with more pictures about the birth is coming shortly!

365/44 - Mt. Laundry - Cincinnati Family Photographer

Today I climbed Mt. Laundry... and next week again, and again, and again.

Why is it that is is so hard for me to put laundry away. The washing and drying part... EASY! But putting it where it belongs (not a basket) just seems to be impossible.

Anyone else feel that way?

365/43 - Cincinnati Children Photographer

without words

and...







crying! because I was outside!

365/42 - a boy and his truck - Cincinnati Children Photographer

Finn has discovered Jake's old matchbox cars and trucks. Jake really was never that much into them but oh boy Finn sure is...

He knows where Jake keeps his old ones and sneaks in his room, grabs one or two and comes running back out because he knows he is not suppose to be in there.

He carries them around everywhere.

I step on them, I find them in my shower, dishwasher, dryer... haha they are taking over the house!

365/41 - I wish I had this on video - Cincinnati Family Photographer

Finn received a belated (very belated) birthday present.

I wish I had his reaction captured on video.

It was priceless.

First he tried to carry this big box over to me, then he ripped it open with such a squeal that I will never forgot.

Then opening box, I was not fast enough for him, he kept throwing himself on the box hugging and kissing his toy.

I couldn't stop laughing it was hysterical.

Then it took me FOR.EVER putting this together, mainly because he would not stop trying to hug the pieces or sit on them.

Like I said I wish I had this on video.

I love this kid!

Thanks so much L Family!!! He obviously LOVED his present!

365/40 - soft - Cincinnati Family Photographer

another one of me cuddling with my babies. This time Finn included.

Jake and I were snuggling on the couch watching a movie.

Finn can not be not part of this and had to squeeze himself between us.

Scot took about 7 pictures... all of them were blurry.

That's okay.

I still love it!

365/39 - us - Cincinnati Family Photographer

Almost forgot to take a picture today.

Jake asked to snuggle in bed with me. On our way up to bed I grabbed my camera real quick. Once Jake was in bed, I balanced my camera on a box of wipes, no focusing, just set it on self timer and wished for the best.

It turned out perfect. For me. For us.

Can I tell you that Jake was asleep no later than 2 minutes after this shot.

I love this kid!

My New Marketing Set

I am so excited to share with you my new marketing set by my talented friend Kim from MadiLu Designs!

My favorite is the appointment card and the thank you card.

Thank you so much Kim!!!

365/38 - My Grumpy Valentine - Cincinnati Family Photographer

I asked Jake to take some pictures for his Valentine's Day cards for school.



This is what I got. Just one shot!

Apparently the speech bubble (made out of cardboard) was too heavy!

I guess the Target bought cards will do this year!

365/37 - Super Bowl - Cincinnati Family Photographer

Low Key Super Bowl... more than half of us are still sick.

I am the only one feeling good... which is convenient because who else wold take care of everything... can you hear my sarcasm?

We stayed in. I made my famous Chili Bean Dip. Finn woke up half way through the game and watched the game with us for a little.

I love his mix matched PJ's here!

Jake had no interest in the game and watched Super Dog on YouTube.

Pretty exciting, huh?

365/36 - I am a Genius - Cincinnati Family Photographer

Doing dishes around Finn is a struggle. I usually pile everything up and do it at night when he is asleep. Last night I wasted my time on the Internet and before I knew it it was time for bed!

This morning I strapped Finn in his high chair, so I could do the dishes without him emptying the dishwasher again. Of course after a few minutes he got bored and LOUD!

I pulled him up to a drawer in the kitchen and let him go through it. He had so much fun... no kidding he sat like this for 35 minutes!!!



See the bowl on the counter? He put every wooden spoon, ladle, knife (just kidding on that one) in it and then when the bowl was full, everything back in the drawer. Surprisingly he only dropped very few.

Do you notice the big crock on the floor? It is placed there to block little boys opening the refrigerator and just grab whatever their little hands can get to.

I know I am a genius! ;)

365/35 - I have a foot problem - Cincinnati Family Photographer

Today Jakey and I practised drawing people. I tried to teach him that people have bodies not sticks.

He came home the other day with a drawing of himself and on his face he had a bunch of spots. I asked him what that was and he said that it was him when he is 100 years old and those spots are freckles.

I like the thought process of that... we had a talk about freckles and what they are and that they don't necessary mean age.

(Ricky, I think we discovered here why he calls you "Grandma" haha)



He did pretty good, didn't he? The black line under my armpits is my belt and there is obviously something wrong with my foot and apparently I need a new haircut (I just got one the other day).

365/34 - Calm Child - Cincinnati Family Photographer

A friend of ours found this magic product for us a few days ago.

"Calm Child"

is this the magic answer I have been looking for the past 15 months?

It is a herbal supplement, so I figured no harm done trying it out.

Watch what happens while trying to photograph "Calm Child" for this blog post.
















hahaha I guess it needs its time to work!


But then a miracle... look how I found him just a few hours later.



Maybe it is the answer!!! haha

365/33 - Missing - Cincinnati Family Photographer

I didn't take any pictures today.

Honestly I don't even know what I did that day.

Probably taking care of sick kids.

Here a picture of Finn... from last summer in canada.



I miss you summer!

365/32 - Cincinnati Family Photographer

my silly little boy. still sick but still trying to make me laugh!

xoxox