I’ve been looking for a picture on the internet for quite sometime. I just feel like if I could find it it would sum up my life right now so perfectly.

So I’m going to describe it and you can imagine. Close your eyes.–wait. close your eyes in your mind.–Have you ever seen Horton Hears a Who? When Horton first hears those who’s on that speck, he thinks maybe there’s a person, or person’s holding onto that speck. In the movie, they cut to a cartoon scene of who’s holding onto the speck and they’re holding on for dear life screaming. Tiny screams.

I feel like that who. And the tiny speck is the next three weeks of our life. And all the other who’s holding on? those are my littles.–But if you’re a good imagine-er you probably already knew that.

We’re on the road again. And I’m hanging on for dear life.

I’ll keep you posted!

In all the hulabaloo–yes, that’s a word. I swear it–of traveling more to states then weeks this little one has been alive, I don’t think I’ve made you privy to this smile.

GAH! my littles are GROWING. My word.

someone, please. Tell. Them. To. Stop. or least warn me. or how about just grow a little slower?

no?

okay. fine.

also, bumbo’s are awesome. If that’s how you spell it.Who made that word anyway? I’m borrowing one from a friend, and as much as I love wearing my littles, it’s just as grand to do dishes or cook with my little right there talking to me.

so great. bumbo.

fun word. bumbo. bumbo.

way better then MOLD!

We were on a date with daddy. I wrote her name in the sand. She liked that.

–Join the fun at iheartfaces!

She did it.

She turned 5.

I told her I thought she seemed older. So much more mature. And indeed ever changing. No longer a little princess.

{Well, she’ll take the princess roll, IF the princess can wield a lightsaber.–distressed damsel she is not.}

and now, onto the next birthday!

whose personality is, slightly different…

The first year of Hosanna’s life she didn’t leave my side. Though I didn’t mind, it wasn’t my choice. Not even Josh could hold her with out her screaming for–literally, not figuratively–hours.  It was mamma, and only mamma who could calm her little tears.

and now when she wakes up she’ll be 5.

That’s a whole hand.–I only know this because I’ve been told a number of times in the last few weeks

She doesn’t cry as much these days.

I don’t know what it’s like to have a 5 year old. But I’m about to.

I’m about to embark on the age that leaves the toddler and joins the big kid ranks.–as though she hasn’t already–and I admit, I’m a little surprised I’m already here. I have a five year old. A strong willed, bike riding, sensitive, shy, outgoing, delightful, sassy, five year old.

And if you’ll allow me a second, I’ll tell you this. I’ve struggled with Hosanna.  I haven’t taken the time as a mamma to understand where she’s coming from lately. And it’s resulted in a lot of tears. I’ve forgotten her beautiful sensitive side that cried when she was so little and only wanted mamma. I’ve been lost in my own busy-ness and MOLD! that I’ve only got frustrated with her demands for attention.

In a fit of tears the other night, I made the turn. I recognized the need, and began to fill it. I sat with a tearful Hosanna telling her that I understood she wasn’t having a hard time with all the change, all the MOLD! and I was upset about it too. And then I laid with her until she fell sound asleep, just like we used to when she was the only one around. And I remembered how fortunate I am to be given charge of such a beautiful, sensitive, fantastic being.

She’s still my buddy. She still holds onto me and doesn’t want to leave my side. She still is soaking in life a million miles a minute.

And  when she wakes up she’ll be five.

Hi. How are you? I’ve been up to my eyeballs in photo editing.

Probably because this is my first time around and I feel both obligated and want to make sure every single photo is as perfect as possible.

And I took over 1500 at just the wedding. Then another 500 at a senior shoot two days later. I think I’ll come out of the fog soon.  It’s a fog I love. and maybe that’s my problem. I love editing the photos.

Or maybe it’s an escape from the Scary MOLD!

I’m going to dub MOLD! a cuss word.

What the MOLD! ?

Go to MOLD!

you know that sort of thing. Because it’s still taking over my life. And  I for one, don’t have the time to deal with it. We leave again in one week. No I’m not MOLD!-ing with you. I’m serious.

Okay, back to editing. And baking a cake for my oldest littles birthday tomorrow.

MOLD!

Don’t I seem all fancy and stuff with that title? I could be a hip, jazzy, & relevant if I really tried. I bet I could.

stop laughing.

I have serious business here. We’re remodeling the bus to make it more like home and less like a bus for the next big adventure. And by we I most definitely mean them. And by them I mean one of the Tribe’s parents who came into town for his birthday. Papa Garcia is an expert carpenter and I couldn’t be more grateful for him.

Do you doubt? Try living with a number of young adults with a young family. Then you’ll know how important personal space really is.

or how about try bringing littles on the road with a team. That will also do it.

NOT whining. Just excited to have a home again.

Because we don’t right now. No. Not even here in Iron River. It’s probably another story for another time. But I have to say we are not home home here. Our home home. Our beautiful basement behind coffee shop dwelling place isn’t home right now. It’s currently housing mold. Lots of it. Nothing is quite as thrilling as coming home to a home full of mold.

Good thing we just spent the last six weeks learning about all the things we don’t need.

That’s only a half joke. I really am happy about that.

And I’m happy that my family and littles have learned to be flexible.

If you’re wondering we’ve been holed up behind our stage in the coffee shop. We’ve made a home covered in piles of laundry as we wash down every thing in our mold room. It’s not so bad.

And soon our bus home will be done. And then we’ll move in.

Just in time to leave in a week and a half.

yeah I said leaving again in a week and half.–you can go ahead and insert that dramatic frazzled look you can imagine I have. because you’re right. sometimes this is not easy. blessed. but not easy. Our bus home. Can’t wait to have that place again.

It’s true. The whole lot of ‘em. We shot them good.–I apologize. I can’t get away from the humor of using the word “shot” in photography.

First wedding. It was awesome.  I definitely love shooting weddings. So high energy. So much going on! Such a challenge! I love it. love it. love it.

We’ve known Tina for quite some time and she and her now husband Nate have been a part of the school and ministry for the last year. Tina’s a hard worker, with amazing artistic ability, and a voice that just makes you smile and love life.

Nate likes boxing.

He does. And there’s more to Nate that I appreciate but I find it my civil duty to harass him to no end. It’s just the way it is.

Josh and I got the privilege of helping them along through marriage counseling, putting together their rehearsal brunch, giving the message during the ceremony, playing music, enjoying our oldest littles as flower girls, AND shoot the wedding.  Making the day very special for us as well. –and to think we almost missed it when they moved the date up, and we moved our summer trip further a week! So glad we came home!

For Nate and Tina their wedding was also goodbye. As they’ve decided to start their new life together in Wyoming where Nate is from. As sad as it is to see them go, I’m so happy to see what the Lord has for them. And with our home on wheels, I don’t doubt that we’ll see them again.

On the photography side of things–I need more lens’. And an external flash. I’d also like some silk umbrellas. You know, for the next wedding. That would make things really easy. Thanks now. ^_^

PS. If you’ll notice under the photo’s you have OPTIONS! Feel free to utilize the feature and send any photograph you want as an e-card or even order a print! ^_^

www.EllenBarnes.com

Not going to lie, in my mind that Kelly Clarkston song is going through my head. You know the one. Since you’ve been gone.

It’s all because of that above title.

Just wanted you to know.

I’m thinking of blasting you with another bullet post just to let you know about life since we’ve been back home. I’m trying my hardest to save you of that. So we’ll continue on here. If it all ends in a pop tune flame, I apologize.

I warned you that life back home would be busy. Many meetings on future plans that excite me. Plans that include a very soon coming three week tour/festival/thingy. I just hope we’re praying for and doing the right thing. So much to get ready for. And I’m tired.

Okay, maybe I’m tried because it’s 10. Does that sound lame? What if I play the “three kids” card. Does that help?

I sure hope so. now you know why I’m singing pop tunes.

Tomorrow marks our first wedding to shoot. I’m ridiculously excited about this. Ridiculously in the sense that I was up late last night getting new ideas and reading up on how to properly shoot this wedding. because I’m nerdy like that. And maybe over the top on somethings. Buuuuttt, I like it. so there.

My oldest two are the flower girls in the wedding and Josh is the officiant. So it’s a family affair. Which can be either exciting or really terrifying. We quite possibly, may not survive. –see tired and pop tunes above

Also, I made cinnamon rolls today, and a fancy watermelon fruit platter.

And then we built hula hoops–that’s hoops in a cool world I’m afraid of being sucked into.–but more on that another time. I’ll just tell you it’s not my fault. My littles made me do it.

now if you’ll excuse me, Kelly Clarkston wants her song back.

Badlands, South Dakota

I just felt like you needed to know that the badlands are awesome. That’s a SOOC shot–that’s straight out of camera–and I’m impressed. I swear they could have filmed various sci-fi movies here. They probably did.

They must have.

I know I would.

End of that thought.

bus in the badlands=radical. because radical is hip thing to say.

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