WELCOME!

I am a God-lovin', husband-huggin', kid-growin', bubble-blowin', picture-takin', diaper-changin', house-cleanin', Bible-readin', kid-watchin', clothes-washin', craft-makin', cookie-bakin', grocery-shoppin', blog-stalkin', wall-paintin', decoratin', SAHMin', WAHMin', mother of three...and loving every bit of it!

Blessings!

We had such a great weekend! Scott passed his test Saturday morning! Then Dave and Nancy came and watched the kiddos while Scott and I actually went on a date! We saw Spider-Man 3 at the IMAX. As Scott said, "It not only had great action, but a good story line too." That's what we like.

Just some snapshots from the weekend.

Live with Regis and Kelly

Check out Mandisa on Live! today:
http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/regisandkelly/special/liveperformances/mandisa.html
You can also download "True Beauty" for free. This is another incredible song with inspiring lyrics and a good beat! Way to go, Mandisa!

Daddy's Hands


This is the same picture below, just retouched. It's one of those pictures you know is special when the camera clicks.

Feeling Bubbly


Feeling Bubbly
Originally uploaded by paulastiller.

Christmas In July!

Merry Christmas! I got together with a good friend this morning and am feeling rather jolly today so I would like to have some fun!

Anybody who calls or e-mails me today to book their Christmas Pictures gets $25 off their session fee. That's $100 for a session plus cd of all pictures!

Also, since I love Christmas and what it means, I will be giving away a free mini session (1/2 hour) with cd. Just e-mail me(stillhere821@msn.com) someone in Maricopa you think deserves it and why. You cannot nominate yourself and it cannot be anyone who had a session this year.

Spread the word!

Wishin' and Fishin'

If there were no other reasons (though we know there are as many as the stars), this alone would be the value of children: the way they remind you of the comfort of simplicity. Their compelling common sense. Their accessibility and their honesty. Their lack of pretense. ~Elizabeth Berg

only the world by Mandisa

Been a hard oneBeen a bad oneBeen a tough oneBeen a sad oneIt's been just one of those daysThat keeps chipping away at my heartNothin' new hereIt's what I do hereIt's a stereotypical day in the lifeI'm surrounded by all of the pain and the strifeBut I know it's alright

'Cause it's only the world I'm living inIt's only today I've been given There ain't no way I'm giving in'Cause it's only the worldI know the best is still yet to come'Cause even when my days in the world are doneThere's gonna be so much more than only the world for me

Anybody, do you hear me?Do you feel me?I mean do you feel me?I know I'm not the only one wearing the weight of this worldWe got problems, said it's alrightJust remember, yeah it's alrightTake a good look aroundWe're just stuck on the ground for a little whileDon't it make you smile

Heaven is a placeWhere the tears on every face will be wiped awayOh and I can't wait to goBut for now, it's enough to knowThis is only temporary

~sometimes i just need a reminder~PS

the monsoon is here!

It sounds pretty terrifying but so far it just means we actually get a little rain every night. I did have to cancel an appointment Saturday morning but it stopped raining in time for me to have some fun with this beautiful family. Thank you, K & S!


Twinkling of an Eye Moments

As I sit here editing some pictures, I am quickly realizing it is not the pictures with the best quality or angle that I am drawn to like. I like the pictures that show the briefest, but deepest, interaction between two. "Miss J" was only a month old in this picture and she would follow her mommy's voice all around the room. I am so glad I captured this moment.

I think it reminds me of my mom. When I called her crying on Monday saying I am not being a good mommy and how hard things were (wah wah wah), she told me, in not these exact words(my mom would never say the first part), to suck it up and that I was the best mommy in world. After I got off the phone, I felt 100% better and just went on with my day. I also received an e-mail later from her to remind me that she is praying for me. That always helps. Thanks Mom!

House Update: The house is painted and the roof is on. We can only see the back of it over a fence as they have our neighborhood blocked off. They also moved our move-in date back a couple weeks, which I don't think is terribly unusual.

At the end of the day...

it's all worth it.

I think God gives 2-year-olds a special insight to adults. They just know how far to push and just when you've had enough, they do something really sweet. Today Simon did just that. He missed his nap so that always makes for an interesting evening. Tonight, after about the tenth time I told him to go back to bed, he asked me to come sleep with him. Being dead tired myself, I decided it wouldn't hurt for a little while. We were laying on the floor, listening to KLOVE (which is always playing on the radio in their room). I was stroking his face trying to get him to relax. Gently, I reached over and kissed him on his forehead. He took my hand in his little hand and kissed it back gently. Then he started stroking my face. It wasn't long before he quietly nodded off to sleep. I had forgotten how unbearable he was earlier and remembered how much I love the little guy.

Out on the Town




Well, yesterday was just "one of those days". It must have been the weather change. We got some rain...yeah! Today we got up early to beat the heat and headed out to the see the train and petting zoo/old water tower, two of our town's main (or rather only) attractions.

Little Miss "J" (again!)





I got to go back and take some more pics of this sweet little one. Her mom wanted some with both the kids and I wanted to practice using my new flash so it worked out well. Thanks again, L!

Thought for the day...

Getting things accomplished isn't nearly as important as taking time for love.
~Janette Oke

RISK


Scott got out RISK for Friday Family Fun Night last week. Go ahead, take a risk, and play RISK with a 2 and 4 year old. Of course they loved it! They now ask every five minutes to play.
House update:

Seven Months


Trinity (who is crawling everywhere and getting her first tooth!) and I finally got out to do a shoot together! This outfit was actually made by Nana Stiller. So cute!

Cheers!


I'm on Blu's Blog! ...well...sort of...Scott's name is actually on there with my cupcake pictures (below). Here is what she e-mailed me tonight and what it said right below her e-mail:

"Thank you so much these are so yummy looking, cupcake photographs, the photography is stellar. Thanks for sending these. Now you know you are over deadline! The deadline was Thursday at midnight.So sad these are my favorite.Kailee On 7/5/07 11:29 PM, "SCOTT STILLER" wrote: "

I think I was on time but OH WELL! My pictures are on Blu's Blog! This is a big deal as she said she got over 900 entries in each category. www.bludomain.com (click on blog, then go down to 7.8.07. Scroll quickly past the pics right above it. I did not enter that contest ;)

Shout Out!

I just wanted to give a shout out to the other vendors at the Expo last weekend!
Thanks for a fun day!
Of course Gina of the Vendor’s Expo
http://www.maricopovendorexpo.com/
Jump Into Fun – Hector
hmariog@yahoo.com
Inflatable Bouncers!
Story Time Felts – Awnya
http://www.time4felt.com/
Awesome felt stories and storyboards!
Ellah E’ Dyaj – Holly
http://www.ellahedyaj.com/
Reusable Swim Diapers and other affordable clothes for kids!
Desert Sun Performing Arts – Ceylan
http://www.desertsunperformingarts.com/
Diaper Delights – Cydney
tcydney@hotmail.com
Amazing Diaper Cakes!
Juice Plus – Lousie
http://www.lifeplus.com/
All-natural kid (and adult) vitamins!
Zermat – Dalia (602)616-2438
Cookie Lee – Victoria
queenofjewelry@prodigy.net
You may see some photo jewelry of hers soon!
Tupperware – Kayla (520)568-0482
Big Yellow Box – Allison
http://www.brightcolors.bigyellowbox.net/
Great kids crafts and kits!
Pampered Chef - ?
Didn’t get the info but am having a party next month if you want to come!

We had a lot of fun getting to know each other! See you next year!

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not


DSC_0433
Originally uploaded by paulastiller.

Independence Day



Firework pictures complimentary of Scott Stiller of Paula Stiller Photography ;) We went to the fireworks display at Pacana Park last night. I think everyone from Maricopa was there!
You can just call me Betty...or Martha...or come help me eat these!

Hope you had a great 4th! We did!

Bellobration!

We went to the circus last week with our friends. It was very cool. Thanks, C, for the tickets! I did think if you add an elephant and white tiger to our house at times, it wouldn't be much different though :)

Quite a show! (I especially appreciated the pooper scoopers at the bottom of the picture. I don't know why I found that so funny. Maybe it goes back to my Middle School days when we would put Pooper Scooper for who we would marry on our MASH games...flashback!)

The elephants actually walked on their hind legs. I've never seen that!

Our friend with his whirly circus lights and then with the Trinster.