Take some time out to smell the roses...

Well, I am very late posting as usual. But, the pics that I took of Lauren with her Valentine's rose were just too beautiful not to share! Each valentine's day, Philip gives our Ladybug a single, beautful rose. It is a similar tradition that his father shared with Philip's sister, Julie. Philip thought this tradition was so sweet that he wanted to share it with his own daughter. This year's rose was unusually beautful. So, with my love of photography, I naturally had to take some shots of Lauren with the rose.

I hope that you like them!

If the shoe fits....

Lauren dressed up as Disney's Cinderella this year for Halloween. I had just a "little" to do with that decision because I knew she could get double-duty out of that costume: 1. wearing it to our lunch in Cinderella's castle in WDW, and 2. Halloween.

I am posting some pics from Lauren's photo shot at WDW. I always do a shoot of ladybug dressed in her Halloween costume each year, and I have been having extra fun the past 2 years with her princess costumes. What better location to do this year's photo shoot in none other then WDW at the actual Cinderella castle!

My goal...er, uhhhh....I mean Lauren's goal.......is to dress her up as each princess/and or Disney character and do a specialized, themed photo shoot in each of the Disney costumes. I'm not sure who has more fun....maybe me??? I already have been cooking up ideas for future photo shoots for the following costumes: Aerial, Tinkerbelle, and Alice in Wonderland!

I took awesome pics of her last year in her Sleeping Beauty costume. There is a presbyterian church in our town that has a medievel type archatectural style, and it looks just like a castle! It is perfect for princess photo shoots, but I don't want to use it too many times for her shoots. Each session has to be unique!

Halloween '07

I am dressed as a "witch doctor!" HA!

Lauren adored this candy corn outfit after seeing it at Target and was so proud to wear it!

Our sweet, little princess!

Aunt Becky

Unkey Wayne

Memaw

Pappy

Despite Lauren's Hand injury, my little Cinderella was still able to enjoy a fun-filled evening of trick-or-treating at my families houses and also with our friends Cheryl, Alan, Ian, and Lydia. Cheryl & Alan's neighborhood always goes over and beyond with the great halloween decorations, neighbors wearing creepy costumes, and so forth. We started a tradition of spending Halloween evening with them a few years ago and have an awesome time. (is the word 'awesome' still used anymore by anyone except me or other 80's?)

Although the kids didn't seem to earn as much candy this year due to a huge crowd of trick-or-treaters, they had fun just the same. I was bummed that Lauren only scored one lonely butterfinger this year. I call "dib's" on those heavenly morsals every year but was greatly dissappointed this year to say the least. However, despite the lack of butterfingers, we all had such a fun time. I can't wait for Halloween to be on a Friday or Saturday night! Maybe in 2008?

BBQ's and Pre Wedding Jitters...45 years in the making..

My Mom met little David at the BBQ. Wouldn't she look good with a grandson?

Mommy & Ladybug love to match. Ladybug even wanted a necklace like mine, too!

What a beautiful bride...but lets wait about 45 years! She is even holding my actual silk bridal bouquet!

The Parents of the Bride

Lauren, Lydia, & Ian...ready for the neighborhood Halloween party.

Look what we picked in the pumkin patch!

Ladybug takes a swing at the ghost pinata.

What an angel!

Becky and Wayne (my brother) certainly look cute holding a baby, huh?

Hey, come here often?

The weekend before Halloween, October 26th, 2009, (and before Lauren's injury,) we hosted a BBQ at our home in honor of Julie and our little nephew/cousin David. This was an opportunity for my family and some special friends to meet David for the 1st time. We had a wonderful time talking, laughing, and spending time with everyone. David was passed around more often then anyone could count. Lauren loved holding her cousin, and I have been so impressed with how patient she is with him. Also, there was some questions in our minds of whether or not she would be jealous that Aunt Ju Ju has her own baby now, but Lauren is not jealous in the least bit! She is so proud of him and loves to shower him with kisses!



After the BBQ, we went to a neighborhood Halloween party in our friends Cheryl and Alan's neighborhood. While there, I actually met a distant relative (on my dad's side.) Small world, huh? I instantly knew that we must be "kin" since we both had big, fancy cameras glued to our hands!



At the party, Lauren opted out of dressing in her Cinderella costume and chose to wear her bride's dress (given to her by my cousin Melissa. Thanks, girl!) Lauren was such a beautiful bride that I obviously did a mini photo shoot of her in my backyard before leaving for the party. I am expecially proud of a few shots. I think that it would be just hilarious/precious/embarrasing to ladybug/all of the above if I were to display those pics of her some day at her own wedding.....in 45 years if I have anything to say about it!

Lauren's Hand

One brave little girl

On October 30, 2007, Lauren had a horrible accident. She touched a moving treadmill which resulted in numbness to the skin and 2nd & 3rd degree burns to 3 fingers on her right hand (palm side.)

We immediately took her to the doctor and Children's ER, where they told us that the closest plastic surgeon that could treat her would be at Shriner's in Ohio or in Atlanta, GA. I was flabbergasted that of all the plastic surgeons in our area, none would treat pediatric burn victims! Well, we chose to take her to Georgia where we had to make weekly trips for a period of time. She had a total of 3 surgical procedures, one involving a full-thickness skin graft to replace the damaged skin. I asked if the donor sight might be somewhere that a swim suit would cover or hide, and they chose her right groin area.

Everyone at the hospital absolutely adored Lauren's spirit and remarkable sense of humor. The ER nurses were so sad to see her go after her 3rd opperation. They had nicknamed her the "Chick-a-lay Lady" because Lauren would always wake up mentioning how hungry she was and told them exactly what her Mommy and Daddy would buy her to eat at "Chick-a-lay" as she pronounces it (Chickfila!) You could just imagine how hungry the little thing was since one has to fast before a surgical procedure. I don't think that the nurses are use to seeing such perky/talkative people as she in the recovery area, usually groggy people in pain, etc!

Our dear, sweet Ladybug has been so brave through all of this and is recovering remarkably well! She has been released by the doctor's office to go back to school and dance class. She has to wear a burn garmet all day-every day to basically flatten the skin and make it not so noticable of a scar. Naturally, being as feminine as she is, Lauren choice a pink glove!

It has taken me quite a while to get over the scare and shock of all of this drama. All though I have chosen to keep my feelings quiet, I now feel that I have "recovered" from this experience as well. Lauren's strength has been a true inspiration to me, and I know that her guardian angels have been watching over her during this time.

Thanks to everyone for they prayers and concerns during the past months.