Well Hello There!

I have, ahem, been missing in action... I wish I had a valid excuse, but the only thing I can come up with is I have been living life instead of blogging about it. I have really enjoyed my time away and doubt that I will continue to blog as much as I used to, but do want to document all that goes on in our lives as this is for Miss Paige. I have missed popping in on my favorite bloggers and plan to pay you all a visit SOON!

I'm going to let the pictures do the talking (there are A LOT, so if you don't enjoy pics, you might want to check back later with updates :) ).

You see this little girl? Well, she has been having a BIG year! Probably the most eventful of her life. Again...I'll let the pics do the talking! This is a shot that was taken for her new gig as a model. I have been asked to be a photographer part time for her agency. Big stuff for the both of us and LOTS of fun!


This was her first "gig" this year in the fall. She was asked to dance in a christian music video. The video will be out this month and we are beyond ecstatic! She got a nice little start to her college savings fund and I am proud to say I let her choose if she wanted to take some out to "play" with and she proudly said, "NO, I want this to go towards college!".


She has always been a social butterfly, but this year has taken the cake. She experienced her first Haunted House...


...Her first "love" and "heartbreak"...


...a new "love" and I am certain will be the "heartbreaker" this time :/ TOO YOUNG FOR THIS MESS!!!


Played with her besties in an indoor soccer tournament where they took home third place out of 15 teams!!


Socialized with her friends at every.single.opportunity.known.to.man...


Started a new tradition of "dirty santa"


Dirty Santa will NEVER be the same...


Was honored for at the middle school athletic awards for being a part of the State Champion Cross Country team...


Still gets picked up daily, because she is everyone's "baby"...she really does not enjoy being so short!


Was recently inducted into the National Junior Honor's Society... I AM SO PROUD!!!!!


Got a new Principal this year, Mr. F., whom she ADORES!


Has had the TIME of her life with her girlfriends...




Has learned how to laugh at herself and be proud of WHO she is :)


Has perfected the God Awful DUCK FACE!


Has been loved on by many...


Thinks it's hilarious to be "matchy matchy" ...


Has gone to dances and represented her class as the Secretary...


....again, perfected the duck face :/


Kept old friendships...


And prefers LOVE over HATE!!!

I'm proud of this girl of mine! Much more going on in her little life, but that will have to wait for another time. Lots going on in mine, as well, but again will have to wait!

Hope you are all well! We are LOVING life!

Thankful Heart

How does time escape me so quickly? I have been busy and have meant to blog more often. Oh well, I can't beat myself up over it. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I would like to list the things that I am thankful for this year.

• Thankful that my family is healthy and happy.


• Thankful for my little fur babies, one of whom is snuggled up next to me right now and is looking at me with such admiration!


• Thankful that I have been soooo busy with my photography business this year. It has forced me to change things up for 2012 and I am super excited about my new venture.


• Thankful for some of the sweetest, most devoted friends a girl could ever have. Truly, I adore the friends I have had my entire life and those made along the way. WOW, I am so undeserving.


• Thankful that Paige is loving life right now. She is thriving in school, dance, church, friendships, and in her first real relationship. Her BF is as cute, precious, and sweet as they come. I hope that hearts aren't broken too badly and that they can keep it light and fun.


• Thankful for friendships made through this blog.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours and I promise to update with some pics soon!

Country Girl

I have been a bad blogger. First of all, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for the comments, emails, FB messages about my last post. I appreciate the friendships I have made through this blog. I was in a funk. I can't say that I am completely out of the funk, but I am working my way through it. Actually, I have a plan that will hopefully make my future a little brighter and I can live the life that I have dreamed about for so long.

I could write a novel about things that are going on with me, however, I would rather document some fun things that Miss Paige has been up to. She lives the most fun life ever. She is a mover and a shaker and has her hand in something all.of.the.time!!! I love it :)

The high school that we are zoned for is a great one. It's exactly where I would want her to go even if we weren't zoned there. They have a two time national winning dance team and are seven time state winners. They are amazing at technique and pom, but they ROCK at hip hop which just happens to be where Paige shines.

They had a dance clinic and then they performed at the half of the football game. The theme was "Country Girls Shake it with the Golden Girls". They danced to a song, "Country Girl". Paige did AMAZING! She will be trying out for this very team in a little over a year. She has a lot to still master, but many of the Golden Girls told her that she would make the squad even if she tried out now. Talk about an ego booster for Paige. I hope she continues to work hard, because nothing is ever promised us.

Here are some pics of her fun night. Oh, how I love watching my girl! <3


Before the game. Sassy "thang" :)


Paige and Holly, one of her hip hop teachers at the studio. Holly was a former Golden Girl.


Paige, Avery, and Jessica. Dance studio buddies.


Channing, Paige, and Bethany. Friends from school and hopeful GG's.


Samone, Paige, and EG. Samone is a "little" at the studio and she LOVES Paige and the feeling is mutual. EG is a Freshman GG and a great friend and mentor to Paige.


All of the kiddos from our studio who participated in the clinic, with Mrs. Jamie, the GG coach. She is the winningest (sp?) coach in the state of Tennessee!


Emily, Paige, and EG. Emily is a Junior and is a wonderful mentor to Paige (she will be graduated when Paige gets to high school. Sniff! She is a great role model!)


Megan (Senior Captain) and Paige. All of the Golden Girls say that Paige and Megan are two peas in a pod. Both are major goofballs, love to laugh, don't care what others think of them, are good dancers, and try to keep things light. I'll take those characteristics anyday. Proud of my girl and so happy she has had positive role models who have taken an interest in her.

My next post is an exciting one for Paige. She had an amazing opportunity a month or so ago and you will be able to see her on TV in the next couple of months. Pics and a post coming soon.

On a side note, I have been SOOO busy with Fall Photo Shoots. Are the trees as gorgeous where you live as they are here in Tennessee?? It's GORGEOUS here! Happy Fall Y'all!!!

Jealous

I am, I know it's not the godly way to feel, but it's the truth.

This school year has been hard. No, it's been pure hell. I wish I could take a year off and stay home.

My students are precious. I still have the same old wonderful friends. My Principal is on my side. I can't describe why I feel this way. Perhaps it is that everytime I turn around my girlfriends are "doing lunch" and decorating their homes, shopping, and running carpool. That is the life I want.

It's Friday night. The two biggest schools in our town are battling it out on the football field on this glorious fall evening. I am crying in my beer. literally.

She was RUN NiiNG

In my best Forrest Gump voice, I am constantly saying, "Run, Paige, RUN!"

My little dancer extraordinaire has shown this year what an incredible athlete she is. I am not surprised that she is doing so well at Cross Country, because when we first brought her home from China, we used to tease that her feet never touched the floor...they skimmed on top of the carpet as she ran from room to room. She has always ran everywhere she was going. It is quite comical to think back on her first few years home.

Paige chose to try out for Cross Country this year on top of her full dance load. I knew she was a fairly decent little runner, but she has far surpassed what I thought. There were so many kids who tried out for the team this year (67 to be exact) that they had to cut the teams into an A team (Competitive team) and B team (run at home meets). Paige was chosen for the A team!

She has had about six meets and she is shaving off time at each meet! At her last meet, she came in 12th out of 113 girls!!!

The only caveat is that I spent time with some of her dance teachers this weekend and they said while her strength will serve her well with her fourettes and jetes this year, it is hurting her flexibility. She is becoming more muscular and tight. So, we are going to have to make sure she stretches really well after she runs. No matter what, she loves running and I am THRILLED that it is something that can keep her little heart healthy!

Here are some favorite pics of my girl! RUN, FORREST, RUN! :)








Fixing her hair before the run! Always some "girl time" :)

Look out now, she's 13!!!

My sweet baby girl, is, ahem...NOT a baby anymore :(

Paigeee poo turned 13 in August. I just cannot believe we have a teenager in our midst. She is still as silly as ever and enjoys snuggling on occassion. I am so proud of the young lady she has become. She is kind, compassionate, independent, funny.as.all.get.out, smart, athletic, determined, coy, mischevious, dry, adorable, irresistable, loving, and so many other adjectives that I just don't have time to mention.

At 13, she is:

SOCIAL, RUNNER, ACADEMIC, DANCER, FRIEND, SISTER EXTRAORDINAIRE, STILL NOT WEARING MAKE UP, LOVER OF PHITEN, PREFERS BASKETBALL SHORTS OVER JEANS, WEARS A PONYTAIL WITH A RIBBON DAILY, SLEEPS WITH HER BLANKET CHECKY, AFRAID OF CARNIVAL RIDES, GOD FEARING, NON GOSSIPER, LOVER OF CATS.

She let me take her for my a fun photo shoot. She allowed me full reign on this one...Did I mention I LOVE this kid??!?

We had a little shotty carnival at our local mall. One day I had the idea to dress her up like Betty Boop and take her for a fun shoot. Here are some of my favs!


LOVE THIS PIC!!!













And a black and white...


Happy Birthday Paigee Poo!!! I lobster you to the moon and back! (I texted her one day and my phone automatically put in "lobster" instead of "love", hence our new term of endearment!)

Check out other fun photos at Lisa's Black and White Wednesday!

Seventh Grade

Sigh! Wasn't it just yesterday that I was holding her little hand walking her into Kindergarten? Paige is growing so fast! I know everyone says that all of the time, but sometimes it is scary how quickly time slips by.

Paige has been in school for two weeks now, so I am awfully late on first day pics. I've been busy with school starting up as well.

Per tradition, Paige attended the annual Ellis Cougar Breakfast for her friends. She has so many girls that she calls friend. She is blessed, but I think they are pretty blessed to have her.

Here are a few of my fav pics from that morning...


Paige and JM...these two are best of friends and have a stare down contest everytime they get together...goofy girls :)


6:30 a.m. I don't know about you, but I sure didn't look that cute when I was a 7th grader!


So sassy...




Pretty typical of this crew.



After school that day, we all took the kids to lunch so that they could unwind and of course for the cute photo ops :)







This has been a great year for her already. She got the team that she wanted (blue) with lots of great teachers, she is being challenged academically, she has lots of friends in her classes.

She was so excited to be a seventh grader, because they can play sports. She is a great runner (she runs a 7 min. mile!). She tried out, along with 60 others, for the Cross Country team. Because so many tried out this year, they had to make an A team and a B team. The A team is the competitive team. Paige made it!!! She is sooo excited. She has her first meet next Saturday.

I think this is going to be an amazing year for her!