Bragging Rights

School is officially OUT of session for the summer break.  We have begun the lazy days of summertime.  But, wait!!  There’s no time to be lazy - yet.  We have one week until the start of Busy Bees Summer Camp for Girls.  I have planning to do, supplies to purchase, lessons to create.  The girls are super excited, and so am I!  We have a truly amazing group of girls that we’ll be welcoming this summer.  I do believe that they’ll be teaching me quite a lot as I attempt to teach them a little.   

I am also in the midst of designing a new photography website and blog.  So, I haven’t decided yet what I’ll do with this blog (should I keep it or not?).  If I can find some quiet time this week, I hope to add the finishing touches and then announce the new site.  Here’s hoping!  

Speaking of quiet time, I found a few moments to go through my images from this past week with the girls.  I couldn’t resist the opportunity to show these precious ones off to you, friends!  Kurt and I are utterly amazed and super proud of all they accomplished this school year!  They both have changed and grown so stinkin’ much, my heart squeezes and melts, at the same time.  "Emmy" is now at a 2nd grade reading level (right where she should be), and can solve math problems like she doesn’t even have to think through the equation.  (Me - scratching head - because I have no clue where this trait came from!).  Neither my husband nor I are math whizzes!  Thankfully, someone in the family is!  She’s going to continue with gymnastics and begin dance in the fall - oh wow, she’s going to have a ball with that!  She is excited for 2nd grade coming up in August.  

Alanna will be riding a different bus next school year as she’s ready to head off to the Middle School and 5th grade!  Gah!  Can I cry now?!  Breathe.  Just breathe.  We couldn’t be prouder of her and all the hard work she put forth this year.  She’s a writer, just like her older sister, but has a different style.  She’s a full-fledged bookworm.  She’s working on the 7th Harry Potter currently, after picking up the series just about 3 weeks ago.  My Alanna has a sensitive, peace-making spirit and is fortunate to have a great group of friends.  The whole “Friends” thing can be tricky at this age, but she truly has some of the best.  She played the alto-Saxophone this year in the band, and even though she wasn’t completely thrilled with it, she finished out the year.  Next year she wants to give the violin a “go” (just like her Aunt Laura!).  I could go on and on (and on…) about my girls, just like every proud momma I know.  Instead, I’ll let you take a peek at a few shots I managed to get with them on the last day of school as we waited for the bus to arrive.  Also, there’s images of the girls with their incredibly talented teachers (and a couple of awards for Alanna - Kurt and I are hugely proud, I tell you!).

First day of 1st and 4th grades... and the last.

And with that, I wish you all prideful moments of your own children as they finish off the school year, and all the bragging rights you can bestow!!  These are the days to cherish with our bright, shining Stars!  ... And let's all have a happy Summer!    

Rod Stewart - Forever Young - on YouTube

All content unless otherwise cited (c) My 3 Girls Photography 2010 - 2016

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Chocolate Chip Pancakes, and other News

Spring must be around the bend for us in the northeast.  That's a must!  My usual winter - er, annual - blahs are setting in.  When this happens, I shake them up!  My family knows this all so well (thank goodness they love and understand me).  I got the urge to rearrange furniture, and in the process, clean and recycle some "stuff."  I moved my office to the sunny side of the house on the porch (like I did last year, too) and I moved the girls' art room/supplies to my office.  I really don't mind the closet-sized space - it's cozy, quiet and pretty.  However, there's not much of a view.  So, the porch is the ideal location for plenty of views!  I love having creative options for when inspiration strikes!    

So much has been happening lately.  I'm super busy at the preschool where I teach thirteen little sweet hearts.  I love, love their hugs and the doses of "I love you, Mrs. Liszcz!" that I receive from them.  It gives me so much joy to spend my days with them.  

As for my young girls, though, we've had some rather unfortunate turns of health and well-being ( or maybe that should be fortunate turns ).  After a visit to the pediatrician's office and finding out that our Alanna has not been growing sufficiently over the past year, this momma dug in - and dug in deep!  The doctor mentioned "celiac" and that's all it took for me to put on my detective hat and get to work.  After a little research online, I found that the culprit is gluten.  Turns out such an innocent sounding word is anything but!!  Alanna had stomach pains and IBS, anxiety and leg cramps, iron-deficiency and anemia -- all tell-tale signs of celiac disease and/or gluten intolerance.  She's had 2 rounds of blood work done, and although the celiac test came back negative, you wouldn't believe the difference we have seen in Alanna's mood, stomach problems, etc. since she's been gluten-free!  She gained a pound within a two-week time frame; she's laughing and telling jokes again; she's regaining her appetite and her energy, too!  My dear friends, if you have a child with similar, picky-eater (stomach hurts) symptoms please do not wait to get your child seen by a pediatrician.  This is terribly serious and I cannot stress enough about how awful gluten can be on the body (even for adults!).  My family is now gluten-free in support of a healthier lifestyle.  What an amazing difference it has made!  If you would like more resources, I would recommend picking up gluten-free cookbooks - they will give you lots of great culinary/baking ideas and information about how gluten intolerance shows up in the body.  Also, you will find tons of resources and advice at DBC Natural Holistic Health Center (their YouTube videos are chock full of knowledge).  If you have advice, tips to gluten-free living and cooking, I am open to your wisdom.  

I broke out the camera this morning since we had the day off due to stormy, snowy weather.  Alanna gave me the sleepy-head hugs this morning and then requested (in her sweetest manner possible) chocolate chip pancakes!  Well, what would you do?  Of course, I obliged!  Happy kids, happy momma!!  

The snow pics are from last week's snow - I shot them with my iPhone!  Incredible tiny machines that they are!!  I am having fun with my new toy.  Soon, very soon, I'll be sharing more flowers and springtime wonder.  I'm looking forward to those images to come...  32 days until spring!  Who's ready?!  Me too!!!  

All content unless otherwise cited (c) My 3 Girls Photography 2016 

Traditions Honored

Thanksgiving 2015 is in the books and we are moving towards the season of advent.  My friends, I have had a full week of family, food, celebrations, friends, and love.  My big girl, Chelsea and her fiancée, Lindsey are home from California for an all-too-short-visit this holiday.  Plus, my Mom is visiting with us this week from Nashville.  We have a house full and it's been a wonderful holiday!!  While we have the family in town, we decided this would be an optimum time for us to celebrate our Alanna's 10th birthday (double digits, oh my!).  We celebrated her birthday with her classmates at a family fun center, complete with arcade, roller-skating, and an adventure challenge (tubes to climb through and swaying bridges suspended as high as the ceiling)!  It was tons of F U N!!!  The kids were awesome - Alanna has some of the best friends.  I was thoroughly impressed by these 9 and 10 year olds.  Super kids!!  

Before we headed out to have birthday fun, Chelsea had the great idea to commemorate our golden retriever, Bear's 14th birthday by cementing his paw prints.  We've noticed a significant decline in his health over the past 6 months and, well, we're not sure how much longer he will be with us.  I will never forget surprising Chelsea with our brand new puppy for Christmas (2001)!  She had been asking and asking and begging for a puppy for a long while.  She was over the moon with exuberance when we revealed her gift!!!  He's been a steadfast friend and companion to all of us ever since.  Thanks to Chelsea's thoughtful idea, we honored our old "Bear-boy" and now have his paw prints secured, whatever the future holds for him.  For those of you who have loved a dog, for any amount of time, you will understand the importance of treasuring our old, loyal, furry friend, Bear.  

    

I hope you have had a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday, filled to the rim with smiles, traditions, fun, and family.  

The Start of Something Good

There were no tears this time.  There was a sense of eagerness to get started.  There were hugs - lots of hugs.  There were special chocolate chip muffins with fresh strawberries for breakfast.  There wasn't much sleep last night.  There were traditions fulfilled.  There were wildflowers and apples.  There were big bright smiles.  There were new shoes, clothes, backpack and a hair cut, too.   There was a lunch packed with surprises.  And so begins another school year.  Second grade for Alanna.  Starting off with plenty of positive thoughts, goals and plans for a successful year of fun learning and new friends!  

Wishing everyone a very successful, fun, interesting, adventurous year of learning!  Here we go!!  The start of something good… :)

please note:  images are copyrighted by law;  images may not be duplicated without consent, and are the property of Barbara Liszcz of © 2013 My 3 Girls Photography.  thank you.

First Day of First Grade

First grade!  How did this happen so soon?!  Too soon, for me.  My sweet, very artsy/craftsy, singing/dancing, silly, fun, adorable Alanna began a big adventure today with plenty of firsts to experience.  Of course, you knew I was going to take as many photos as possible - I see you shaking your head "yes!" ;)   

We managed well this morning, and I was able to hold back my tears until the bus pulled away.  I surprised even myself.  Although, Emmy wasn't quite able to hold back her tears and pleas of "don't go, Alanna." :( She is missing her big sister, very much.  Emmy will begin preschool in a couple of weeks - so that should help ... some.

I can't help but reflect on my Alanna's school days as I look through these photos and think to myself, "My, how big (tall!) she is getting and growing more beautiful all the time." *Sigh* 

Here's wishing all the kids, teachers, administrators, bus drivers, childcare givers, and parents a wonderfully invigorating school year filled with many safe, fun learning adventures!!  All the best to you… And, hugs, too! :) 

Don't eat the apple, Alanna!!  That's for your teacher!! 

She asked for "pig tails" in her hair today.

On the bus in the front seat and away she goes … (is it 4:15pm yet?!!) *sniff, sniff* 

~*~ 6 Birthdays! ~*~

My 2nd daughter turned 6 today!!!!!! We had a small birthday celebration last weekend for her, which included a couple of her Montessori classmates and "Busy Bee" friends, too! There was much fun to be had by all! 

Here is the birthday gang just before playing Pin the Nose on Rudolph ... 

Hey! No peeking!!

Thank goodness I had my mom-friends helping me with this part of the party!! Sometimes I get visions of grandeur, and foresee the future brightly, in perfect working order. This was one of those times! And just like a vision of grandeur is usually deceiving in some or most aspects, this time was no exception . . . Oh well, the kids didn't seem to notice one bit. Many thanks to my friends and husband for being so gracious and calm about the mess that followed :) 

This was one experience I believe we will all be laughing about for a long time! ;)  

After cleaning up the mounds of sugary confections from the floor, tables and children, it was time to sing and have cake!

Alanna sat with her big sister, Chelsea for the melodious, wish filled occasion . . .

Let's open PRESENTS!!! 

This was a special S.W.A.K card from Alanna's Grandma in Nashville, TN!!

Alanna is returning your kiss, Granma Deb! She blew one back to you! xox!

What a fun birthday for Alanna and her friends! 

Thanks to our friends for making Alanna's celebration extra great!! She will always remember these special times with you. I am grateful to you. 

Happy 6th birthday to Alanna!!!

and many, many more!!!

Love you forever,

your Mommy