Finally!!!!....

Although my parents "or Santa" brought me Photoshop Elements more than a few years ago at Christmas, I have been scared of trying it very much for editing my photos. This summer, while taking a little time off of sewing, I have ventured into learning more and more about it. Although I have a TON more things to learn, I am so excited to finally be making some adjustments for the better to my photos. I decided today to try my hand at some of the free actions offered online from various websites. I combined a couple of actions together below and was very pleased with the results. Now, for all my true photographer friends, please do not look too closey. But for us here at the England home, these are definitely going to find their way upon our walls somewhere soon. Just felt like sharing...

These are all before and after shots. I think it should be obvisious which is which, I hope...

June Memories 2010

June has been a month full of fun times and great memories! It seems like we have been celebrating something the whole way through. This first shot gives a glimpse of what life is like in a house full of girls gone wild for summer!

Cheerleading camp this week has been such fun for you girls and today was "crazy" day. Ailee you loved it, of course. You would dress this way everyday if we let you and, Anna Grace, you had to make sure your outfit still all matched even if it was a little funky.

And, today was Mommy's birthday...thanks for the wonderful dinner you all cooked for me last night and the sweet gifts you gave all day today. The handmade ones were definitely my favorite! Mommy was so surprised when we showed up for American Idol night at the club pool. My sweet friends had a little surprise party for me! It was complete with my favorite dessert, a banner, balloons and special friends. The best was the beautiful version of Happy Birthday sang by all the little princesses during karoke. Thanks, ladies, for such a memorable and loving surprise!

Then, there was Father's Day last weekend too. You all made Daddy some super sweet "trees" from the branches that have blown all over the yard during the nightly storms. Anna Grace, you came up with the idea to tie notes all over them that explained all the things you love about your daddy. I think by far his favorite comment was..."My daddy does a great job taking care of me!" So sweet!

We all look forward to our escape to Uncle Matt Matt's and Aunt Beth's each summer for your cousin's birthdays. Campbell and Cybil both had a joint party this year and it was a blast.

Sorry, Anna Grace, but I had to put this picture up. (Not just because it is the only shot of Campbell I got all day...she is in the background chatting with a friend) But because I love the way the camera captured you throwing this ball. It is not a secret that you have very much of your Mommy's athletic ability. Gracefulness is definitely more our thing than throwing balls and shooting hoops. However, you may have looked a whole lot like a "girl" throwing this ball, but I think you surprised the boys when you hit the target on the first try almost everytime you got up to the dunken booth. I know I glanced at Uncle Matt Matt a few times when his eyes were big along with his grin! You are a very determined little lady. I cannot wait to see what you accomplish once you set your mind to it!

Prayers, Potties and Precious Pictures I adore...

I cannot even believe how fast life has changed for Sweet Baby A in the past couple of weeks. Adelynn, you all of a sudden seem like just "one of the girls." You participate in the family prayer times now and I adore your precious little hands placed so perfectly in the praying position. You even started going to the potty right when you turned 20 months old. I will never forget the cheering squad you had in your little bathroom the first night you actually went before bathtime. You usually asked to sit on the big potty before bath because you see your sisters do it but you never have success. This time you did it! We were all thrilled and Mommy was a little sad too. Since then, you have progressed quite well, even though Mommy has not really been encouraging it much. You still seem so small and I want my baby a little longer! However, you have had terrible luck with diapers lately so no better time than now to settle this all for good. You have always had sensitive skin but when I switched to the new Pampers DryMax, things began to worsen rather quickly. Unfortunately, I hate to admit that I did not catch on right away that it was the diapers. We actually had an allergy panel and everything done to try to see what could be irritating you bottom so terrible. Then, because of a news special a friend told me about, I realized the new drymax technology that Pampers was using was literally burning the skin off of your bottom. I kept telling your Daddy that layers of your skin were peeling off and I hate the thought of even making you wear anything at all. It was sad to read all the claims filed online concerning other babies with the same identical chemical burns on their bottoms. Now, thanks to your early start on potty training and a dear friend loaning us some Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers, you are on the way to recovery and we are hoping there are no scars from the horrible episode.

And, now onto Vacation Bible School...I was not at all prepared for your little toddler class to have so much participation during the week. Normally, the children under 2 are more or less just babysitted during the 3 hours each morning. Not this year, you and your little friends are traveling around the church to crafts, music and bible story time. Could you really be old enough to hold onto that little rope and follow the leader? I have to sneak a few peeks at you each day and seeing you working away in crafts is priceless to me. You seem to have this clueless look on your face but very much an eagerness to "figure it all out" shines through, as well. Even though you are the youngest little tot in your class, you seem to be getting by just fine! I love picking you up each day and hearing your sassy little "uh huh's" to all my questions about your day. When something is good or you like it, you just smile so adorably and nod "uh huh."
We enjoyed a little "playtime" to ourselves last night while Daddy worked late. I played with my camera as you all hurried around the yard finding all sorts of new adventures to get into. Not real sure how three little sisters could all look SO different but each of you are so incredibly beautiful to us...especially deep inside those big blue, brown and green eyes!

Toes in the Sand...Beach 2010

Not so sure about the "toes in the sand" idea, at first...

This year we were lucky enough to take an amazing vacation with some very special friends. We surprised Anna Grace and picked her up from school early on the last day with the car loaded to the max with beach towels and sand buckets. We were headed south and all of us girls were thrilled. We were going to stay with the Stewarts whose little girl and Anna Grace have been friends since before they can even remember. It was sure to be lots of fun and the reality did not disappoint. We had such a sweet time together and made lots of great memories!

Since ruffles are one of our favorite things right now, Mimi surprised us with some wonderful dresses to get sister shots in. The lighting was getting low so not the best outcome of photos but the memories make them precious to me!





Oh, how I would love to be small again and feel the wind on my neck and sand in my toes while taking it all in with my hands tightly clasped to my most favorite friends. I guess in a way that is exactly what a family vacation is for me these days. Nothing is better than visiting one of God's most beautiful locations with the four most special people in this world to me!

Thanks so much for Mr. Robby, Ms. Deena and Whitley for asking us to join you this wonderful getaway!
Adelynn, you definitely adjusted well to the sand and it did not take long until you were digging away and on the hunt for all the little birds. Those might be the cutest set of chunky thighs on the beach!

You older girls were non-stop and once Whitley joined us you were beyond thrilled. You all looked so stinkin adorable in those hot pink hats!

Seashell hunting was a favorite, as always. Anna Grace, you would spend hours a day hunting in we let you. I know you missed Granddaddy and your morning strolls in pjs looking for the best shells each day.

Anna Grace, you and Whitley are two of the sweetest, most well-mannered girls I know. You are both very different in so many ways but have always made friendship look so easy. I can learn so much from watching the two of you love one another even through differences! You are all ruffles, bows and frills while Whitley is more trendy, funky and stylish!

Your goofy daddy decided to try some yoga on the beach...or whatever you might call this move below. You can only imagine that bald head once it got out of being stuck in the sand. A new meaning, I guess, to "head in the sand."

One of your most favorite places to go at the beach is the Village of Baytowne. We stayed there the first night, just us five!

Mr. Robby introduced you all to a new hobby of crabbing at night. You all got new flashlights and headed out only to return with a trash can full of crabs and tons of giggles. I am not sure who was more afraid of getting pinched...the daddies or the girls. We all know it was not Ailee since Daddy said she stuck her finger in every hole they saw!

Also, we must not forget to thank Mr. Robby for your new friends...the hermit crabs in bright green cages that sleep by your beds each night. What fun you have had taking care of them so far. I hope Mommy can remember to feed all eight of us now, including Riley and the two new crabs under our roof.

Hopefully, these memories will last you a lifetime...Summer 2010.