A new school year deserves a new smile!

Kayla has been anxiously waiting this entire summer for Dr. Parker to tell her she can get her braces off. Well, the day came... I took one look at her without them on and BEGGED Dr. Parker to put them back on! She was beautiful before, but now look at her!

Oh NO... I'm in deep trouble!!!
Before & After

Dr. Parker gets the celebration started with balloons & a bottle of sparkling cider. He then cranked up the music to one of Kayla's favorite songs on the sound system...

"Get this party started"... it was the perfect song choice!

She doesn't look too happy does she!? ;)

School Daze...

Everyone is officially back to school! YAY!!!
This is a big year for the Garcia girls... this is Kayla's last year of junior high & Cammy's last year of elementary school. There's quite a lot going on this year.... so hold on!
My babygirls are growing up way too fast!!!



K, if anyone finds out who is sitting on the fast forward button will you kindly ask them to GET OFF!!!

My Favorites... the candid moments...

I have this thing for photographs. I love surrounding myself with pictures... it reminds me how lucky I am, and how great life really is.
You know you need a bigger house when there is no wall space left to hang photos!

Well, as you know, we had some family photos taken about a month ago (the infamous water balloon fight). I have been pouring over the pictures trying to decide which are my favorites. It's hard when they all turn out so great. I love looking at these photographs because they make me smile. It's a reminder of our summer, the great relationships I am so lucky to have with my daughters, and how much they really do like each other! I really am one lucky mom!!!

I have way too many "favorites" from the photo~shoot, so I thought I'd post a few that most of you haven't seen yet. Most of these are candid shots... I love the emotion involved in a candid shot. Enjoy...

The calm before the storm...

I'm really relaxed... maybe TOO relaxed!!!
Hangin out at the pool everyday, sleeping in, having time to braid Krystian's hair...
In all reality I know it's too good to be true... school starts for everyone in about 2 weeks and then I'm sure I'll be pulling my hair out! I thought I'd take some time to memorialize this moment...

okay... it's over... mommyhood is calling (um, actually screaming) my name...

Blessed...

I'm not sure where the summer has gone, but it's... well, almost over! I can't believe it! I got an extended summer break this year when I became ill last April and missed the last 5 weeks of work. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I am really ready to go back to work! I miss my cute students and my co-workers. Having spent some extra time at home this summer, I spent a lot of time thinking about my life and how blessed I truly am.
Not only am I blessed to have my 3 wonderful daughters, I'm also blessed to have many close and amazing friendships! People ask me all the time how I do it... raise 3 girls, work, go to school... Well, I don't do it alone... I have incredible friends and a sister~in~law and step~mom that help me keep it all under control! I am so grateful!!!
Blessings have definitely come in other ways too. I have been the only active church member in my family since I was about 14, so when my darling sister~in~law, Liz came back to church a few months ago, I was ecstatic!!! I am so amazed by her strength in bringing her family back into the gospel. Her oldest son, Nickolas was just baptized this past Sunday, and it was such an exciting day! I have high hopes that my brother, Jason will soon follow. :)
I think the pictures from Nick's baptism say it all...