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Sheer childhood joy. What a happy day and beautiful weather for a visit to play at the park!



I spy with my little eye...

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Sometimes life paints us a picture perfect reminder of the beauty it beholds. Sometimes after a rough day of work, you pass something so surprising, so breathtaking, so surreal and beautiful, that it's worth pulling over on the side of the road and climbing through knee high grass in a skirt and sandals to get it on camera.

As I pulled into our subdivision this afternoon, my eyes were drawn to a beautiful field of red flowers in full bloom. It was unexpected, and it made my day a little more lovely. I think I will try to take Molly this weekend to get some spring pics of her if the weather is nice. Here's a glimpse of what I saw.

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How neglected the family pet has become since the baby girl has come along. He still sleeps at the foot of the bed every night and cuddles with me for primetime TV on the sofa after Molly's bedtime, but his life has changed so much since her arrival. And, quite honestly, she is pretty rough to him. One day, though, they will be the best of friends and he will trade our bed for hers and our cuddles for hers, and we will stand by and smile at the bond they will have. A dog's life indeed.

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Molly got a beautiful wooden rocking horse from Santa Claus this year for Christmas. It reminds me so much of the one I had when I was a little girl. I love to watch the joy she has when she climbs up and imitates the sounds of a horse galloping. Here's lookin' at you, kid.

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Happy Easter!

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Happy Birthday to me!

One of the things that I remember most about my childhood is the azalea bushes in my mom and dad's garden in the house I grew up in. I remember playing on our little patio and in that garden and always loving the pink blooms that came out every spring.

It brought back memories when I pulled into my parents' new house on my 29th birthday to see bushes of beautiful azaleas in full bloom. Time marches on, but the simple things always linger.

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Spring is in the air! Expect lots of photos of flowers in the next several weeks. I love taking pictures of flowers because, unlike two year olds, they stay still and are always willing to be photographed! They make my work so easy!



If eyes were made for seeing, then beauty is its own excuse for being.

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Spring has sprung...and Molly has grown! How big does she look here? Seriously, she has grown so much. She can sing her ABC's, count to 12, sing songs, she knows her colors, and boy can she talk!



Springtime in Texas is best known for bluebonnet season. We went in search of some this past weekend...there were not too many in abundance, but we got some pretty shots in a field just covered with yellow wildflowers.



Every now and then, we found some bluebonnets. Love how this yellow flower stands out in the crowd.



And, who really cares about flowers anyway when you have a happy baby?



We will try again in a few weeks for more!

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In an attempt to get somewhat caught up, I am totally bucking the system and posting 12 photos. They were all taken fairly recently, I have just been very busy working on finishing up my thesis, which is due for its defense a week from today!

So enjoy the pics, and I will keep trying to keep up!!

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Most places would not allow for a trip to the park on a beautiful sunny day only two days after sleet and snow and freezing temps. We don't live in such places. We live in Texas. As they say, it's like a whole other country. So we went to the park today, two days after the freeze. And it was perfect weather for carefree swinging and sliding and laughing.

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Here in the south, we call anything that even remotely resembles white stuff from the sky snow. Most would call this frozen slush. Many will ask what snow I am even talking about because you cannot really see it in these pictures. But it was there. And we were excited. And who doesn't love a cute kid in a winter hat? I know I do.



And, if this is not the cutest picture ever. Well, there is no if. Cause it is.

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Valentine's Day is truly a day of love for me. Not only is it the day that Bobby and I went on our first date, but it is also the day that we welcomed Molly into the world. This Valentine's Day we got to celebrate her birthday with a ballerina bear themed party with family and friends back home. My friend Amie made the most adorable cupcakes for Molly, so I had to share a photo of them!

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New Orleans weddings are unlike any other. Open bars, line dances, second lining through the reception hall. Not to mention the people. What better idea than to incorporate the NOLA tradition of Mardi Gras into a New Orleans inspired romance? That's just what our friends Mickey and Marie did for their wedding. These were the favors given out, so original!



And of course, I have to include a picture of the happy couple. I just LOVE the way she is looking at him in this picture. I hope that as they begin their new life together, they will always look at one another with that love in their eyes and the excitement of all that they will experience as a couple. Best wishes to you both!

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The weather this year has been nothing short of nontraditional. We are not really used to experiencing snow often, if ever, throughout the winter months. This year, Molly got to see snow fall not only in Houston, but also on her birthday weekend while we were in Baton Rouge, LA. Here are a few pics from our LA Sneaux Day!



I just love the expression of pure innocence and excitement that she has in this picture. I often step back as I watch her experience and learn new things, and this smile always seems to creep up at that moment of discovery. What joy she has in all that our world has to offer!

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You'll love Katy!

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Mirror, mirror.

Take a look at me now.

What you see is what you get.

You get the idea...right?

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Why hello there...if you're still there! Yes, I know that the way this works is supposed to be 1 picture EVERY day for 365 days. My bad. I was going to try and go back and catch up, but since I am now 2 full weeks behind, I will just start again today. Better than giving up completely, right?

I love girly toys. I guess because I have a girl, the hues of pink appeal to me. As I sat at a playdate today, this toy caught my eye and I snapped a quick picture of it. So simply girly, I loved it!



And, since I am trying to redeem myself, how about a 2 for 1? This boy is just the sweetest. My friend Kristie is going to have her hands full when he gets older, because the girls are going to fall hard for those gorgeous blue eyes and killer eyelashes.

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Just playing around with focus and depth of field tonight. I thought this one came out interesting...

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He loves me, he loves me not...he loves me. And he brought me home flowers, too. What a guy, huh?

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One of the things I love most about being a mom is getting to experience so many "firsts" with Molly. Since she loves ducks, we decided today to take her to the park so she could have her first experience feeding the ducks. She loved every minute of it. She kept saying, "More, ducks?" and throwing the bread at them. Check her out in action here...I also love how that one ray of sunshine snuck in behind her.

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Touch of red.

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Scenes from the playground.

Only in the south is it a sunny 70 plus degree day in January. The playground was packed with kids of all ages just loving that weather. Here are some perspectives that are not the norm.

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Animals on parade!

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Funny farm has an all new meaning at the Schroeder household. Molly successfully discovered a new species...that of duck-cow origin. How silly!

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There are certain objects in everyone's home that just characterize the people who live in that home. I grew up in Disney World. I have been there countless times...almost every year of my life for as far back as I can remember. It's also the place where I honeymooned. I have nothing but fond memories of my trips to Disney World and anxiously await the first time I will take Molly.



Some kids wear their hearts on their sleeves. Molly, she's more original than that. She wears hers on her feet!