Summer Fun!

Wow it's been a while hasn't it? I'm sorry we have been so busy this summer! There has been photo sessions, sword fights (KB toys has these great foam swords, Teo and Daddy vs. Mommy and Ava), summer programs, pool time,birthday parties,family in town, 4th of July, trips to the aquarium and so much more.
Steve and I had date night on Friday and went to see the new batman movie. Oh my what a great movie, one of my new favorites and probably the best I have seen in theaters this year!
Gianna seems to have grown so much the last few weeks. She has absolutely no fear, and at a birthday party the other day was climbing everywhere thinking she was one of the older kids, it was so funny to watch!

At the aquarium a couple weeks ago we were standing at the big window looking at the fish and I pointed to a sting ray.

Me: Look Mateo that stingray is the same size as you!
Mateo: Yeah, is he three?

Gosh I love that boy!

Ava loves art especially painting everyday she asks to paint, I finally went and bought some nice paper and acrylic paint for her masterpieces. She is in heaven painting all the time now!



I'm sorry for neglecting the blog lately, I'm gonna try and update a lot more! I'm also working on a separate thread for my photography!

Here are some pictures I snapped today (Gia was napping).

Makes Me Melt!

He walks over as I'm editing pictures and asks me "Mom, can I snuggle with you?"
My heart immediately melts. How much longer will he want to cuddle? I treasure every second of it because I know this stage will go by way to fast. He is so sweet in so many ways. He is a mama's boy completely but all boy. He loves to make noises that I never even knew existed. He constantly throws out "I love you mommy"'s. Sometimes after a hard fall he tries to act tough but that lower lip gives his hurt away. He is such a blessing!

My Happily Ever After!

Steve and I have been having lots of fun lately. We are going over the book "The Five Love Languages" in our life group and it has been fun. Each week we have to practice one of the languages, and it has been lots of fun. During quality time week Steve and I were hanging out and had fun taking some pictures (from which the one above was taken) while I set my camera on a trash can and set the timer. We celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary last month and I can't believe it has been six years.
He makes me so happy. We are always laughing, and even though life can get crazy with three kids we still make it a point to spend time together! I look forward to the time we spend together after the kids get tucked in for the night whether it's watching our favorite T.V. show or staying up later than we should talking about anything and everything. We have been making a point to go on at least two dates a month. Sometimes it seems like after we have kids, we concentrate on them so much that we forget what it was like to have time together alone with each other. It's important though to keep the sparks flying and to remember why you fell in love and got married.
Steve and I met the first day we moved into the dorms to start college life. We were in the same dorm and they were going over the rules. I sat next to him while he made smart remarks about some of the rules. We exchanged numbers and mentioned we might see each other later that night at a concert they were having outside but I never saw him again until the next semester, he was in my spanish class.
It's funny to me to think back to those moments and how I had no clue that Steve would later become the man I would marry and have children with.
Six years later I can say that I am more in love than I have ever been with him, and I can't imagine my life any other way! I can't wait to see what the next six years have in store for us. It has most definitely been happily ever after!

Maria Hays Photography!

Well it's off the ground and I'm already having a summer special!! I have a few more pictures to add but please let me know what you think!! I would love any and all comments!!

Here it is: http://www.MariaHaysPhotography.com

Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and your support to help me get this off the ground. Thank you Cheryl Muhr for the motivation and the tools needed to actually go ahead and do it!!

Most of all thank you Steve for the constant encouragement and the praise when I was beating myself to a pulp over a bad session!

Gianna's First Pigtails

I can do Pigtails now in Miss Gia's little curls. I think she looks super cute in them but you be the judge!

My Tough Little Man!

My sweet boy, is definitely all boy. He is constantly with a scratch of some sort on his face. Well this past week he got a little more than he bargained for during a game of hide and seek. He either tripped or was pushed (we are not sure because the people who were supposed to be watching him were not!) and landed on the corner of a table leaving him with a bloody nose, fat lip, and a trip to an emergency dentist. His tooth got pushed back and an x-ray showed it was horizontally fractured. Well the dentist said to watch it see if it might go back in place. Unfortunately that didn't happen and yesterday he had to have it pulled out. He was so brave through all of it.
The only problem now is that the root is still in there, we are praying that it comes down on its own and remains to look okay and not get infected or else they will have to put him in the hospital under anesthesia to get it out. I'm really praying that will not happen.
Anyways here are some pictures of him today, his smile still makes my heart melt even with a missing tooth, maybe even more now!

I'm Back!

Sorry the past couple of weeks have been so busy and I feel like I've been running around like a crazy woman (although I guess I sort of am)!
I just got back from Phoenix this past weekend. I went to a photography workshop called "The Secret Workshop" and let me tell you it has changed my life. I'm so very excited to get my business off the ground. My website should be popping up within the next week or two and I will be having a grand opening sale!
I'm really so excited that I can hardly type without squealing. Cheryl Muhr lead the workshop, and let me tell you this woman is amazing! She is inspiring in so many ways, genuine and a wonderful mom. It was truly wonderful getting to know her and learning from her!

Anyways, I also had the privilege of taking newborn pictures for my dear friend Kari. Oh sweet Cole is so precious in every way. He was just so gorgeous that I could eat him. So I thought I would share a few pictures of both Cole and some from the workshop.












From the Workshop