Simply Fifteen

It's much too late to start typing up a post tonight, but I went for a late run and I'm too wired to sleep. Jon has an early morning meeting and went to bed earlier than usual, so I'm going to take advantage of the quiet and catch up a bit here once again. I should say it's mostly quiet because Michael is up getting a late night snack. He's always hungry and the refrigerator is mostly empty again... it looks like he'll be satisfied with a chunk of cheese. 

I came home from my run and realized that my suspicion is likely right. It smells like death in the boys' room, and it's not because of sweaty clothes or something rotten in someone's pocket or a plastic container of some sort of critter. A house we once lived in used to smell just like this every few months when a rabbit would get trapped under the house and die. Then the repulsive stench would rise up through the floor vents. Well, it's the same kind of stench. The boys have all the windows open and they are sleeping in layers of clothes because the night is cool. Jon went down into the crawl space but couldn't find anything. I wonder which of the boys will go down in the morning to investigate some more. I'd give a prize to anyone who finds and discards that rotting corpse, but if I know my boys well, finding the carcass will be the prize itself.

We are in the home stretch for the school year, and tomorrow will be the last flag football games before playoffs begin. Summer will be here soon. We are on the cusp of something new once again, so I am praying about how we should use our summer months. I'm also praying about new opportunities (which translate to making decisions) for the coming school year. Change. It's ironic that change is a constant, predictable part of life.

>>:<<

I've been super late posting pictures of Olivia. In fact, I was really late in taking her pictures this year. We like to schedule a little time during the month of her birthday to take some pictures each year, and this year was no exception. We had some fun ideas, but busyness and then the flu prevented me from following through as we had hoped. Her birthday past and our little annual photo shoot still hadn't happened. Eventually, we concluded we had no choice but to keep things super simple and close to home. We had the idea of twisting flowers into a crown (so many pretty examples online!), and gave ourselves about an hour one evening in between making dinner and racing to the airport to pick up Jon.

I like simple. I should never underestimate the power of simplicity. The simplicity of our photo plans was quite fitting because, after all, Olivia has an elegance about her that is simple and refreshing for her age.

In the morning I picked up a small bouquet at Trader Joe's while I grocery shopped, and some floral wire and tape at Michael's. I supplemented with some flowers from our yard and made the crown early in the afternoon, then placed it in the fridge on a plate between layers of damp paper towel. Later, Michael loaded the bike into the back of Jon's truck, and we took off in time for the golden hour. Our first two stops were just a few doors down the street from our house, then we went down to the train tracks nearby. 

This is my Olivia at 15...

We liked the tropical look of this background, and the dappled light

The train was coming, and she doesn't like loud noises. Never has.

I think resourcefulness is a quality every woman should strive for, no matter what her means. Resourcefulness is closely related to creativity and I have found it to open up many unexpected possibilities in life. I try hard to be resourceful, and this was an example. We chose this spot because it was close by, not because it is pretty at first glance. We knew there was some pretty grass along a path that runs by the tracks, and that the evening light would be shimmery. The problem is that the overall area is not great, and the background is cluttered (fence, RV's and cars, buildings, etc.). It wasn't ideal, so I had to be very selective about how I framed up the images.

I love the smiley pictures of Olivia. Her aqua braces and her prettiness combined is perfect for 15.

For those who are interested in these sorts of things (and to prove that expense is not necessary)~

Dress: Marshall's for $20 (We love it because it has a good lining, it has pockets, it is a good length in comparison to similar styles, and the zipper on the back is a fun contrast to the girlie-ness of the white)

Flowers: $10

Floral wire and tape: approx. $7 (only used a small portion of the rolls)

Bracelet: Inherited from Olivia's great-great aunt

Props: I think one of the tires on the bike has a hole now because there were goat heads everywhere. Michael will patch it for me if it does. Not sure what a patch costs, but we likely have what's needed in the garage.

Location and Pictures: Free


Tomorrow is here. Good night.
~Katherine