I wrote out my blog on Wednesday but I’m just now getting the chance to post. Below you’ll find the ramblings of a half-dead babysitter! :) My hats off to all of the mothers out there – I don’t know how you do it every day but I am sooo thankful that just about everyone has the opportunity to enter into motherhood with one tiny baby and work their way up! The week went well overall – the kids were pretty good and we made zero trips to the emergency room despite the adventurous nature of the two boys. :) Joe and Tracy – I hope you had a wonderful time in Mexico! Here’s a synopsis of our week…

So this is the week with the Hill kids – Sean’s cousins! I arrived on Monday to take over Brianna and Stephen from their grandmother.

We played…

(Stephen can look remarkably like a Chucky doll can’t he? He can act remarkably like a Chucky doll too! ;P)

We rode bikes…

Cowboy boots were the footwear of the day.

I braved the grocery store with all 3 kids – my first kid-grocery trip ever and let me tell you, it was an experience! We took up whole aisles with a grocery cart for me with a race care attached to the front and a mini-cart (Sean laughs because I call it a buggy) for Kayla. I’m pretty sure we tried a few people’s patience and I was so very ready to get out of there by the time we got to the checkout! Needless to say, I didn’t take any pictures during our trip! Overall is was a low-key day. The girls were up and down a bit that night and after getting everyone off to school and grandma’s the next morning, I drove back home to get some work done. It was at this point I realized that my fear of teenage drivers was completely unfounded. Driving down the road half-conscience it became clear that the real danger on the road are the over-tired mothers with 3 carseats in the back! :)

Here I am in the cattle drive of Mother’s Day Out for Brianna.

Brianna and I went to get pizza for dinner and while we waited, we sat in the car and took pictures of each other.

I didn’t know the skin around my eye could do that!

That night we had pizza and obscene amounts of icecream with outrageous amounts of chocolate syrup (the syrup was Cody – not me Tracy! :P)

(Kayla loves the action shots)

Cody rigged this wench-type thing in the tree and I’m trying to convince him not to break his neck on my watch.

Kayla

The next morning we got Kayla off to school and then headed to Brianna’s dance class. She’s the little ballerina of the family and she loves to pose.

After dance class Brianna, Stephen, I went to the park for lunch. I started to wonder with the caffeine in coke would work for me – all I ever drink is water buty today I made an exception – tomorrow I might make two or three exceptions!

Do you remember these tire swings? This might have been my favorite ride when I was a kid.

They’re cute little rugrats aren’t they? :)

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Tonight’s engagement session was with Janel and Evan. Janel went to high school with Sean and I – she and I even have an old boyfriend in common, though not from the same time! We hadn’t seen each other in years and found each other again only recently on myspace. Yes, I admit it, I am a member of a cheesy online community! Anyway, we started chatting – she’s getting married, we’re wedding photographers – so here we are! It’s so much fun to photograph someone you have history with. We had a blast with you guys tonight! Janel – Evan is such a great guy! We are so excited for the two of you! :)

And now I am off to be a soccer mom for the next week. Sean’s aunt and uncle are going on their first trip away from the kids in 15 years – well deserved I would say! If you need us, shoot Sean an email at sean@ or you can just email me as usual and he’ll be checking up on things for me while I’m away. I’ll try to post pictures of my domestic craziness at some point. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

– Mel

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Last night we drove out into the country for an engagement session with Becky and Chris. They’re getting married next June in this cool old country church set back in the mountains. We can’t wait to see it – it’s going to beautiful! These guys are such a sweet, down to earth couple and we really enjoyed spending the evening with them.

And the coolest photo of the evening award goes to…SEAN! I just love this one!

We hope you guys had a lot of fun and that you enjoy your photos! Talk to you soon…

– Mel

Original post blogged on b2evolution.