Category Archives: photography
i love this family. they are full of personality and so funny. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> friday! friday! friday!
we had some pretty HOT nights with the AC broken upstairs. finally we had to sleep in the living room. it was on the summer list but i wanted to make it a fun night not forced and saying “EVERYONE GO TO SLEEP!!!!” so we will try again with a little more planning.
we may celebrate later.
they were SO YUMMY. of course in our family they were gone in a couple of hours.
i spent my morning with sweet baby tanner.
i want one so bad.
………………………………………… happy wednesday!
Such a stunner! Your kids are simply wonderful, especially Annie who reminds me of my niece who just lost her tooth the other day. It’s nice to see how kids love their tooth fairy so much because of their tooth fairy’s generosity in giving rewards! And the baby pic, ooh! Love it sweetie! Everything in here is so stunning! <3 Hello! Love the baby picture. I would just ask. If I can save it on my computer. I’ll made it my wallpaper. 😀 Your photos are spectacular. I am always inspired when I visit. Glad to know I’m not the only one who chokes up at those little things (mine happens to be from “The Incredibles” when she shouts “There are children aboard!…”- gets me every time- ha!). Blessings to you! Love that newborn pic and I’d love one of those brownies! First time visiting your site. Love it. I am dying over that photo of the baby on the chairs. Sooooo adorable. I wish so much I had a cool photo of my kids when they were babies. Why or why wasn’t the internet invented then??? “what would i do if giant dinosaurs were after my kids?” this is one of the many reasons i read your blog. lol. Meg, that baby shot is amazing! wow,did you make that picture?? That was beautiful. Oh. My. Gosh. That baby portrait is beyond fantastic! I wish I lived there, I would so bring Jane over. Except she would probably yell during the shoot. But still, I have no doubt you could make even an angry baby look good. 🙂 ugh….sorry Meg! We had the same thing last year and ended up going to grandmas house down the street for a few night! WAY too hot upstairs! Meg, It was so hot here the last few days i would probably make B take us to a hotel for the ac. Meg, I’m in total agreement about the newborns. Fresh from Heaven, there is nothing in this world more wonderful. I think it’s because we sense where they have just been — in His presense — gives me goosebumps! Thanks for reminding me how awesome they are! I will be blessed (with a new niece) in August & I plan to soak up her newborn preciousness at every opportunity! Happy birthday dear Waffle — you are so stinkin’ cute! YAY to the tooth fairy showing up on day #1 (love Annie’s note!) YAY to you Meg — your children are blessed that you are their mom (I just know it!:) I love your blog my friend — thank you for sharing! Meg, I’m in total agreement about the newborns. Fresh from Heaven, there is nothing in this world more wonderful. I think it’s because we sense where they have just been — in His presense — gives me goosebumps! Thanks for reminding me how awesome they are! I will be blessed (with a new niece) in August & I plan to soak up her newborn preciousness at every opportunity! Happy birthday dear Waffle — you are so stinkin’ cute! YAY to the tooth fairy showing up on day #1 (love Annie’s note!) YAY to you Meg — your children are blessed that you are their mom (I just know it!:) I love your blog my friend — thank you for sharing! Love that baby photo and I can’t wait to try those brownie bites. Love those chairs, love the backdrop… but don’t tempt me. I just got my fourth (and last!!??!) past the one-year-old mile marker – TODAY! 🙂 Happy birthday (yesterday) to Waffle, too. Happy Birthday Waffle man!:) Love the picture of those chairs. Yes, the baby is precious. But the chairs….Im drooling:) Just being honest. Happy Birthday Waffle! I’m now going to check out that recipe…looks soooo good! Oooh would so love another baby. Hm, not sure I could manage 5 kids in our small house, 4 seems to fill it up. Best baby photo I have seen you take. So cute and love all the colors. I don’t want a baby..so I will just keep on looking at the photo:-) my bad, didn’t just have a baby sorry! super cute pic of Tanner. by the time i got to this photo i was completely blown away by the previous events and didn’t even read the caption. okay serious, not sure where to begin. the tooth fairy came, you made a fab dessert (looks divine, i want the recipe) oh, the powers out AND you just a baby A N D managed to capture all of this on camera AANNDD you blogged about it… you rock mama 🙂 LOVE the baby picture! Just think in about 9 weeks there will be a little one 3 houses down – you can babysit anytime – and get that baby fix 🙂 I have noticed that you’ve been really original with your post titles Meg – we have a 3 week old new baby boy and I remember you posting about one of your photo shoots and saying that the newborn smelled “delicious” or something to that effect. I can’t agree more and I’m trying to cherish every day of that newborn smell. I wish I could bottle it up and save it for when he’s older. Just wanted you to know your words are ringing true in my mind every day. Soak up the deliciousness… before you wake up and he’s a teenager! LOVE the newborn photo. OH THE SWEETNESS! That baby picture is spectacular. And I’m not even a baby person. Hate me. I can’t wait to try those oreo bites! My son would so love to see Jurassic Park and we have had many conversations about the premise of the movie but he is only 4. Good things come to those who wait. Glad your family enjoyed it! I just wanted you to know that you inspire me to be a fun mom. I think I will make a treat with my girls tomorrow. I also LOVE that you too struggle with getting the tooth fairy there on time- I’m running out of excuses for that darn fairy! 🙂 And I hear ya on the baby thing. I have four kids and knew with all my heart that we were done. But lately . . . when I hear a baby crying in Target or church . . . my heart sinks a bit. Totally agree … newborns ROCK! now i’m all teary eyed. i want another baby too and my baby is just 10 months old. i don’t want her to be my last! i love, love, love the newborn stage. i despise advanced maternal age and money and 1200 sq feet of living space. Happy Wednesday back atcha. Yep, you are right about the newborns, but I don’t want one. Love the sleep in the living room sleep over. haha, Go To Sleep NOW!!. haha. Thanks for this. I know how you feel with your a/c out. We don’t have a second floor and been without a/c for 4 days and finally was able to find a window unit on craigslist, and getting two more tommorrow. So we have all been sleeping in the living room too. I’m so ready to get things back to normal soon, and I hope you do the same. Stay cool! Cute newborn photo. Wish I lived closer…I just had my baby girl last Tuesday. 🙂 Annie could start her own blog…she’s too funny! Those Oreo brownie bites look yummy and the newborn picture is beautiful! I love it and the colorful chairs. Have a great day! I so so so am with you with the newborn baby fever! I just want another one…but my husband says I would always just want another one!!! Here’s my question for you…or your readers…how do you get over that baby lust??? I wish I could find a hospital that would allow baby rocker volunteers 🙂 Oh my….can I say baby fever struck with one look at that little guy!!! aaaah ! love the way Annie spells ‘disgusting’ – so precious mommy. oreo cupcakes on our summer list too now 🙂 That photograph is gorgeous, my sister is due in 3 weeks, cant wait to play around with her on camera. have an awesome-dawson day, I wanted to tell you that I made your YUMMY cool whip frosting. It was the best frosting I’ve ever had. Thank you!! =) I am going to use it for my daughter’s rainbow cake(also from you)for her Birthday Party on Saturday!! Annie’s note gave me the biggest laugh! Your kids are so adorable! Must confess…don’t think I’ve ever seen Jurassic Park all the way through. What?! I know, I know…will add to my summer ‘to do’ list! 🙂 The baby shot?! AMAZING!!! Love the colors and the chenille blanket! Oh, and the precious baby, too! My baby is almost 6 and my big girl is going to high school….no more babies here…boo! Those oreo bites look beast! I am going to make that heart attack creation on your side bar this weekend! …but they don’t stay newborn. Alas. LOL at your comment about Giant Dinosaurs attacking 🙂 Did you take that picture? It rocks! Babies….where did mine go? Love them to and want one but I am for sure waaaaaaaaaay too old 🙂 that pic of the baby – ahhhhh! my youngest will be 2 next month! how in the world did that happen!?? i wanna have another! hello people. i have been taking pictures again.
it's going to be a FUN season! “Would love to know where to find out about how to pose people and how to get those lovely natural smiles. any help? these are good, u should come to PA. i think i ask u that every week. i think u should give photography tips, look how happy those kids are! These are lovely! So happy for your good and busy photography season. What a blessing to get to do something you love and to help provide for your family! Great work! Ha! I grew up with Craig! Fun to catch a glimpse of his family. Great pictures and happy looking faces! Love Brody’s pic…can’t wait to see them all! Beautiful! Oh how I wish we lived closer. My family needs to be captured like THAT. Great job, Meg. 🙂 3 options: Just checking in to see if you guys are in an area affected by the tornadoes. Hope you all are well…. beautiful pictures!! you are such a grand inspiration! 🙂 yay.. that means SUMMER is on its way 🙂 Beautiful pics Meg xx yeah for picture time!!! i love seeing your work… and it is so fun seeing how much you have learned and grown as a photographer… inspiration left and right. 🙂 I love that the baby girl only has one sandal on Meg: I think that your pictures are wonderful and I’m glad that you are enjoying the process so much! Isn’t it a great feeling to be able to do something that brings so much joy to your life? lovely! You know the Stutzman’s! I live in Georgia and have been following your blog for a while now. I really had no idea where you were from. Imagine my surprise when I see my college roommate in one of your pictures! It really is a small world! Love these photos. Oh, how I wish you would come to Las Vegas and take photos of my family. Gorgeous pics. My hubby bought me a new camera, but still not an slr. 🙁 So, I’m trying to learn how to rock the automatic. Love it! I wish I had your mad photog skills. But alas, I do not. LOVE them and you can tell that you have fun doing it! I wish you lived closer or I lived closer… You do beautifu work. What beautiful families and pictures! Beautiful…especially the one of the little fella staring up at you with those beautiful blue eyes and that cute spiked hair! Oh my goodness…so precious. 🙂 very nice! Beautiful! I love the bricks! my favorites. please enjoy a bazillion giant pictures of my peonies…..with some ruby slipper and white daisies mixed in.
my grandmother loves to garden. so i cut my peonies and put them in the vase she gave me. my dad goes to visit my grandma every morning and has been reading my blog to her. hi grandma! when i was a little girl i remember picking strawberries in her yard…near the door of the fence. don't you love to go back in your memories to times that are warm and fuzzy? i have more flowers to plant….gotta go. 🙂
oh yeah….baby #2 is here. these are robins….in case you didn't know.
i guess i should also clean the porch today.
The peonies are beautiful and I am in awe of the baby bird photos! Thank you for sharing and Go God! I love peonies and am anxiously awaiting mine blooming. So jealous yours already are! Don’t the mama and papa birds dive at you when you walk under the nest? Years ago I looked into a robin’s nest and then every I went by they were diving at me and really after me. You are so lucky. I am loving your baby robin pictures. They are amazing. You could sell them! 🙂 Simply spectacular 🙂 Love em 🙂 And congrats on baby bird #2!!!!! I’m planting strawberries today….I’ll think of your grandma….and I’ll think of my poppa’s HUGE garden I used to “help” him with 🙂 sigh….. love your flowers …. wow it looks beautiful and warm and sunny where you are …. the snow has finally melted up here in Fernie BC although its on 7degrees Celsius here at the moment and there’s a frost on the ground. we hope summer is coming soon 🙂 Lovliness…pure and simple. your blog totally cracks me up – absolutely love it! peonies make me so happy…. I drove by your house this week and your flowers looked so pretty. My peonies just started blooming and I LOVE them too. Definitely my favorite. Oh, and the bird pictures are awesome. 🙂 God is at work right in your yard and on your porch. Absolutely beautiful pictures. Thank you for brightening my day! Gorgeous … I also love the back-lit, light pink peony photo … about took my breath away, sooo beautiful! These photos seriously made me wish I had a yardful of peonies! The baby birds are amazing, thank you for sharing your peeks of the peeps with us! 🙂 love the bird picture!! What a beautiful collection of Peony’s you have. Mine are a week or 2 away from blooming. Unfortunately they always seem to bloom around Memorial Day when we are away and when I get back rain and wind tend to make them disappear way too fast. I saw on Martha Stewart last year that you can actually freeze the buds just before they bloom and take them out of the freezer as needed. I thought that was such a great idea that we ordered about 8 more plants last year so we can give it a try. I’m not sure of the specifics but if you search Martha and Peony’s I’m sure you can find the info if you are interested! You’ll have to let me know how you keep your peonies bug free. Mine get covered with ants! UG! Thank you for taking me back to my house I grew up in and remembering the beautiful peonies that lined our driveway each Springtime. I LOVED those bushes and my mom had many of them alongside our drive. It was SO pretty! I really should plant some of those myself, they are gorgeous! Loved the baby birds pic too…awesome especially since I unfortunately saw a dead baby bird (a robin) on my neighbor’s driveway this evening…sniff, sniff. Happy Spring to you…hopefully it shows up in Michigan one of these days…sheesh! Oh, and I’m SO envious of your beautiful porch…sigh! Thank you for taking me back to my house I grew up in and remembering the beautiful peonies that lined our driveway each Springtime. I LOVED those bushes and my mom had many of them alongside our drive. It was SO pretty! I really should plant some of those myself, they are gorgeous! Loved the baby birds pic too…awesome especially since I unfortunately saw a dead baby bird (a robin) on my neighbor’s driveway this evening…sniff, sniff. Happy Spring to you…hopefully it shows up in Michigan one of these days…sheesh! Oh, and I’m SO envious of your beautiful porch…sigh! Your peonies pics are so pretty. I made one my screensaver. thank you. and you need to send those baby birdie pics to national geographics or something. they are amazing. I think I need to go buy some peonies and plant them right this minute. Yours are absolutely gorgeous! Great photos of beautful flowers. I especially love the 7th photo – sunlight filtering through the green leaves of the light Beautiful flowers!!! Ooh, I can’t wait until my peonies bloom! crazy. i just posted a pic of the peonies i purchased today!!! i cant grow them bc my husband is alregic to bees. love THEM though Your pictures are awesome. Peonies, or pinies, as my mother and grandmother used to call them are one of my favorites. They bring back many childhood memories. I’m not very lucky in raising them so will enjoy your photos instead! Thanks for sharing. Your peonies (or panties as I used to call them as a child…) make me smile! They are gorgeous, so so beautiful. They are never that good in Atlanta, so I enjoy your pictures. wish your pictures were scratch and sniff… peonies are my favorite! what lovely photos. happy day. Your poenies are beautiful! I wish I could grow them down here in South Texas but it is too hot. And I am glad I to see I am not the only one that has a messy porch sometimes. haha…By the way loved all the colorful images from the other day. Make you feel happy. Oh my goodness!!! If anyone ever asks me “Julia, what are you missing out on by not living in Kansas?” I’m going to say “Seeing Miss Meg’s garden in person.” they’re gorgeous. nothing smells better than a peony. yum. I really loved the pictures of your peonies! My grandma loved peonies and grew them all around her yard. After she passed away last February, I dug up some of her plants and transplanted them to my yard. I am so happy that they survived, and two of them even I love peonies!! I wish I would have planted them years ago. Our small town restaurant had a vase of them on their counter yesterday. I about died with the beauty of it. Not really, but could have. 😉 I am SOOOO Jealous!!! I love peonies, but I don’t think they can grow in Texas. As I sat down after lunch… I said in my head… ‘ok, meg, make me smile.’ And LOOK! You did it! hugs to you! my sister and I just had a discussion yesterday on how to pronounce them, so which is it? peoooohhhhnies or peuuuhhnies?? I grew up saying the first, but now everyone corrects me with the second! Love, love, love the Peonies!! I so wish we could grow them in the south! Enjoy your beautiful flowers and sweet little porch visitors. 🙂 i have been anticipating your peonies post. my friend has scads in her yard and always gives me some. Your flowers are beautiful. They are really nice flowers…perfect for a wedding! ahhhhhh! I love my peonies too! How do you get all the ants off yours to bring them in the house? My grandma had peonies and I brought some to this house. They split really easily and well. You are so lucky that your grandma is still alive. Mine has been with the Lord almost 20 years and I still miss her very much! (I am tearing up just thinking of missing her.) The flower pics are gorgeous. What lens did you use when you took them? So sad I can’t grow Peonies in SoCal…they are seriously the most gorgeous flower ever. Yours are so pretty and I love your memories of your Grandma…grandmas are special. There are no ants in those peonies! Your weather must have been great lately. I love them. My little girl memory of peonies was dropping their flower petals in weddings I was in when I was small – 4 or 5. We would always practice with peony petals and have pretend weddings from that point on. I’ve tried growing them in zone 14 in the Bay Area of California. The bush will grow but never flower. After a few seasons of that – the bush got pulled out. No flowers – no stay. 🙂 Thanks for a blast of spring! Peonies mean birthdays (mine) and mother’s day to me. They are tied up in all my May/June memories — along with LILACS! Flowers = Pure Happiness! Kansas has some of the prettiest peonies I’ve ever seen (brother used to live in kc). Wish I could grow them here! they’re some of my very favorite flowers. What do you do to get rid of the ants, or do you just live with them? #1… my fave thing about that picture is that your porch looks like a normal person’s porch… thank you! Those baby birds look a little like miniature aliens. 🙂 But the whole thing is quite amazing isn’t it? I live in Southern California. That means no peonies. I *dream* of a day when I can grow peonies, but I don’t think we’re moving any time soon. I can almost smell them!! Thanks for sharing! gorgeous – love the peonies! I have 2 that bloom and bought 2 more this year…I just hate that the blooms don’t seem to last long. I keep thinking I need to look for a tree peony but have yet to find one. Your pictures are BEAUTIFUL!!! I love the intense color and can almost SMELL them! I love peonies! and your are gorgeous!! My husband and I just dug a bunch out of a flower bed at my parents farm that had become over run with weeds! I could not let them go:) Megan – your blog is my happy place. Thanks for sharing your flower pictures today! LOVE the pictures! Please make some into HUGE prints and put them in your etsy shop. Or just send them to my house. 🙂 We have several of my great-grandmother’s peonies but they’re not quite ready to bloom yet. By the way – Betsy Kate’s pictures are super sweet. Thanks! i.love.peonies. why don’t we have them here in zone 8/9??? i would so steal your peonies too! And i love that your porch looks like that. 🙂 Wow!! Your pictures and garden are amazing!! I absolutely love peonies! They are my all time favourite flower. I love them in the bud stage, so tightly wrapped up, carefully concealing the beauty beneath. Then when they burst open – they’re so huge! It’s yet another part of God’s beautiful creation that makes me smile. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos. All your photos are lovely, but the one of the back-lit, light pink peony in the sunshine stopped me in my tracks- GORGEOUS! Be careful the kids don’t scare the Mommy bird away from the nest and make her reject her young – v important that they don’t touch or freak out the mother. Oh, I’m enjoying! And cursing myself for only having 1 peony plant when I LOVE them. Thanks for sharing! I love peonies and they are the main flower in my upcoming wedding 🙂 I got married 2 weeks ago and carried peonies…they are my favorite too! I hope to plant a yard full of them one day! WOW!!! I have serious Peopny envy!! SO gorgeous!!! And those little baby birds, my goodness! So sweet! Love the mohawk on the one bird! Your birdie pictures are awesome. Love that Grandma is reading your blog. Just makes my heart melt. gorgeous photos. the memories of time spent with my grands are the best. i heard that peonies require ants to help them open. is that true? ask your grandma, i bet she knows. 🙂 Great post. Peonies are my all time favorite. And the pictures of the birds hatching are priceless. Thanks for sharing with the class. Cheers, girlie. xoxo You do know how lucky you are, right? We just set a record overnight low here in Seattle…and might see our first day about 70 later this week. My grandma was a gardener, too – I have plants from cuttings in her yard which I treasure. Those peonies are amazing! do people ever steal your flowers? i would if we lived closer. I’m loving your pictures of the birds! Make sure to place something on your porch because the poop gets outta control! 🙂 We just place a cardboard box top and some newspaper and then it’s easier to clean up and change out. Because the birdies don’t want to poop in their nest so that means it just falls onto your porch! 😀 sigh… love peonies. Oh, how I wish we could grow peonies around here. I have too much sun and too much heat for them. Thanks for sharing. And the babies are beautiful. I LOVE peonies. It’s so sad that they’re only around for such a short time. So beautiful. And, your pictures, gorgeous. Thanks for posting. I can smell the peonies right through the screen, I swear! Love ’em! And now 2 birds? Get out!!! These pictures are just so amazing!!! I adore your front porch, even if you think it needs cleaned. Looks like a great spot to read a book or have a morning chai. Be blessed. Aaah Meg! The colours are to die for! Did you put those flowers up because its my Birthday? 🙂 haha! Also, Welcome Baby #2 x i adore peonies. i almost adore those baby birds more. kind of like sad, pathetic and helpless meets the cutest thing i ever did see. so precious. I needed that burst of color this morning! So beautiful! Lovely pictures as always. Your blog makes me so happy! Oh, thanks for sharing 🙂 I love photos of your home. My peonies are no where near ready to open…June is peony month for us. I also have baby birds, I’m jealous you can use your camera to take pics, our nest is on my truck tire(!), I have to use my cell to take photos! Your porch is gorgeous with or without cleaning it up. Love the birdie picture, especially yesterday’s…something hopeful about those two waiting eggs. I think you should submit that one somewhere. Hi, Im back to bug you about selling those as prints…now I think I love the 2 baby birds even more! That beautiful blue egg is so lovely…Gods handiwork is everywhere for us to enjoy. Amazing. So when will those pictures be in the shop?? 🙂 Im glad to hear your Grandma is able to enjoy your blog…she will love this post. I love these pictures so much! I feel so upliftd seeing such beautiful flowers this morning! Thank you so much for that. I love your garden, and hope to have one like yours one day! 🙂 The picture of those birdies is incredible. We had some mourning dove babies on our porch a couple of weeks ago. It was always so fun to go check on them. those babies flew the nest though… so now i am a 20 something single empty nester. ha! Gorgeousness all around. Can you A. adopt me or B. turn your house into a bed and breakfast so I can come stay with you? Every post of your home makes me wanna move to Kansas and move into the Museum next door. All of those pictures are incredible, but I really like the bird ones – WOW!!! Thanks for all the pictures of your peonies!! We lived on the my husband’s family farm for years and we inherited all of Grandma’s plants. Peonies were one of those treasured plants! When we moved to McPherson…I moved them with me and gave some to her daughters. When we moved to Hutch last year (in the coldest part of winter) I moved them again and transplanted as soon as I could. Sadly…they didn’t make it. Peonies are in my backyard plan somewhere…but it’s not the same as having Grandma’s Peonies. They always make me think of her! Loved every pic!! Back to quilting and then finishing some flower planting for me too! Amazing bird pics! Gorgeous peonies….I’ll bet your grandma is going to love this! don’t be surprised if you spot me crawling in your garden with a pair of scissors… that didn't make it into SUMMER magazine. i couldn't stand to see them go to waste……
happy happy happy.
and it hasn't been that clean in here since i took those……in february. HA.
What inspiration! Love all the bright and cherry colors…like the way you combine things that compliment each other!! & cute rustic touch, too! I just fell on love. Big puffy heart love. ABSOLUTELY! Your kitchen’s actually my favorite. I love it because it’s pretty, and it’s not like the usual kitchens I see on other blogs or magazines. So what are your plans for this spring and summer? I LOVE your house! What fun wonderfully inviting textures & colors. Where did you get the large chalkboard where you have written, “Be nice. Tell the truth….”??? I ABSOLUTELY LOVE your house!!! It is so my style! The combination of clean surfaces and lines with “older” or antique furniture!!! It is beautiful!! On the bulleton boards you have the coolest photo collages hanging. What are they of ( high lights of each month or season? or favorite things of each family memeber?)and where did you make them. I love them. I want your house. The end. We have those same polka dot glasses at my parents’ house! Very fun! I scored a globe at a garage sale on Saturday for $1 (I tried not to smile too big when they told me how much they wanted.) and thought of you. I have three big ones now, a small ornament one from Crate and Barrel and a tiny pencil sharpener one. Sounds like enough for a grouping somewhere in my new house that we hopefully get to close on tomorrow! Here I come house, so long apartments! Yippee! Still anxiously awaiting my copy of Summer. Kelly wow! it’s amazing how far i have to scroll to leave a comment! 🙂 you are a loved woman. love these pictures! i too want to move in! and your profile craft post… so cute and good memories for them of what they love right now. i did something like that with my oldest many years ago and we were just looking at it the other day and laughing about all that has changed. Just gorgeous. Can we trade houses?! Looking at pictures of your house makes me so happy! I can only dream about having that kind of color in my home but I will try! Beautiful pictures!! I WANT YOUR HOUSE. BUT UNTIL YOU KICK AND AND WRITE ME INTO YOUR WILL, CHOOSING ME OVER YOUR KIDS, I WILL JUST KEEP TRYING TO COPY EVERY AMAZING THING YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING COLOR BACK INTO MY LIFE. and maybe now i’ll turn off caps lock. oops! Love the pictures. I wish someone could take magazine quality pictures of my clean house! You do kids-friendly so well. You should do tutorials! Got Matthew Mead Summer (and the last Xmas) at your suggestion. Love it. Cheers, girlie. xoxo BEAUTIFUL pictures! I love your outfit in the one you are using the blender, too. Very inspiring, all of it. The colour just makes your heart SING! Oh Meg, I just fall in love all over again every time I see pictures of your home. I love your style and I so wish I was the type of person who visualized like that. Unfortunately, everytime I try something different I get scared and go back to my traditional decor…any advice? Ok I REALLY think you should do a magazine with nothing but pictures, no words not that I wouldn’t want to hear anything you have to say cause I love hearing you words…vlog! Now that is one magazine I would buy and buy for a few friends…Something like the old Ideas book that was in my grandmothers homes when I was a little girl. They were the best color pictures and I loved seeing them…had pretty poems in them. I don’t even think they make it anymore…now that would be awesome to see a modern day mother make one of thses… These pictures make me so happy. So bright and colorful and my house is not this pretty! I aspire to have your clean house. The mess I can make very well on my own 😛 LOVE all of your throw pillows. makes me want to get to sewing! where do you get most of your fabric – especially the HAPPY HAPPY polka dots?! i want some big polka dots!!!! I could look at your happy home all day long!! Love it. Hands down, my dream home. Seriously, I adore your style Meg. Love every single thing! Thank you for the bright and cheerful inspiration!!! happy… happy… happy!! Thanks for making my Monday morning with these bright cheery photos! Go Meg!!! what inspiration. . . I love all the photos… your house is beautiful. I love your style! I saw your Singer and need some advice! My Grandma is offering to by me my first own sewing machine as a wedding gift, she just told me to pick one out.. Do you like your singer? what would you reccommend getting?! any advice on sewing machines would be AMAZING : ) ok i love all the pictures. it makes me sad that i don’t have one of your pillows. was an hour too late to your etsy shop that day. boo that. but it also makes me happy to see the picture of your READ room. that is how i first came across your blog you know? from that picture…. and from there…. it’s all history ….or destiny ….or something like that 🙂 have a great day sweet friend! love you! You seriously have the cutest house ever. I could sit there and drink a strawberry smoothie and chit chat with you all afternoon. I love your style Meg! Your home is so peaceful and cheery. I can’t wait to get the Summer magazine. It should be here in a few days. Wa-hoo! Also, your pillows are gorgeous!! When do you open your shop back up? I am a new reader. 🙂 Your smoothie and cupcake pic are WAY better than the cookies!!!! :)) Love, love, love the colour in your photo’s, in your home, in your life. you could make money on home tours. can i move in, please? umm love the pictures – the rock collection = rad can i please come vacation in your house? i nannied for 4 kids for 10 years so i can handle the chaos of mutitple kiddos, love to clean, love to play… who am i kidding, want to adopt a 32 yr. old? i love your kitchen! I am so in love with your home!!!! Can I move in?? I’ll clean your toilets and bake for you, sound good?!?! Beautiful!!!! eye candy! So much color—so much happiness. Your pictures are beautiful! You have a beautiful, happy home, and I just want to thank you so much for sharing it with us! You and your family are just amazing! You make me smile!:) I love a colorful home. I think kids do too! I love your crisp clean photos! So SPRING-y and vibrant! I especially love daisies and your flowers are stunning! Good job! Your pictures made me happy! I love your blog! so pretty and cheery… i love the kids’ rooms… 🙂 polka dots, reading inspiration…so neat… 🙂 and i love the little messages you have on the chalk boards… 🙂 These photos are beautiful! I love how every single one of your pictures are so full of vibrant colour! I love these. Thank you so much for sharing them. I haven’t been able to convince myself to spend so much for SUMMER–have too many other things on my wish list. Your house is so awesome, colorful, and looks like people live there! Shasta daisies are my FAVORITE summer flower. LOVE them. Yeah, loved the clean house, too. I’m so jealous. Ahh… my Pinterest is now an even happier looking place! 🙂 A couple of questions (sorry if you’ve answered them previously)… Did you make the bedding for the girls’ room and the “read” room? Do you like your sewing machine? I really want to get one, but I haven’t sewn anything since 9th grade home ec. So, I need one that is super user-friendly. Thanks for sharing!! Your house is so white yet colorful…I love it! love the photos!! Your home looks like a happy family home full of love (and color)!!! I am still waiting for my magazine too! I know it will be great! Have a super duper Sunday! Beautiful, feel good pictures! Thanks for sharing. Beautiful Meg – every single picture made me Smile 🙂 Love the girls rooms, we have the same heart duvet covers – need to get the rest of the girls room looking that good! xx Your house is a nice little ray of sunshine on my rainy Sunday…thanks for sharing! love it! You have the happiest home on earth!!!!!!!! Your photos are beautiful. I love the heart rocks.(I have a collection, too.) I love the books in the basket. I love the photo of your daughter the most. She is beautiful Great photos. I love the one with the heart shaped rocks, it would make a great print. Your house is SO dreamy!! Sigh! You have a gift! What a blessing for your children to grow up in such a happy home. They will always have such warm memories of all the color, the art work proudly displayed, the messages on the chalkboard door! Thanks so much for sharing! Ok so I am going to pin sooo many of these on pinterest that I think I might need a Meg album! Love Love Love!! I’m sure you’ve been told this before but I just want to move in. I love all the color and brightness in your home! Love all the color! Brighten my morning since I am stuck with clouds here 😉 Seeing your pictures of your globes reminded me that I bought a globe at a tag sale last week! I saw it WAY back in a corner and thought “Hey! I love Meg’s globe pictures, I should buy one for myself!” Ha! If you ever feel like coming and decorating my home, please feel free! however i am Husker fan, hope that doesn’t cause any conflicts! ha jk! beautiful pictures! A lot of comments went through my head as I looked at your amazing photos…mostly…just… So fun to see more of your home! I think I’ve said it before but your home is my absolute favorite in blogland! So pretty, so me, and so many great ideas to be had just by looking at these pictures! And the photographs by the way are stunning – not just the subject matter! gorgeous photos! i love all the awesome color. i waver back and forth about really colorful or all white. i can never decide. they are all so beautiful. super happy home filled with love…. Love them all. All those colorful pix were the perfect pick-me-up on this gloomy rainy day we are having here. Happy Sunday! Meg, this is such a beautiful collection of photos from your wonderfully colourful home. I love how you have added your creative touch to everything in your home – it looks like an inspiring environment for you & your family. Thanks for sharing : ) I always love seeing pics of your house! If I wasn’t married to a man who is in love with beige, Mine would be much more colorful too! Loved the pic of Talby, she is GORGEOUS! She will be quite the hearrbreaker. Tell Craig to go get the shotgun ready for her teenage years! He’s got some boyfriend scaring to do! Happy happy eye candy! I love the little girl books and sparkly nail polish together. The picture of Talby is so striking…gorgeous eyes! Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos. I love the way you’ve punched up your home with so much colour. I struggle with colour! Thanks for the inspiration. Yay…thanks for sharing the rest of the photos..gorgeous! I think that Talby looks so much like you in that picture. Girl–how in the world do you keep your furniture White with 5 kids (cough…2 Boys?!?). My 3 boys make our dark couch look dirty! I was gonna ask if your house was always that sparkling clean. If so, I would have to hate you! LOL j/k j/k (as my teenage daughter used to say to me all the time – it’s probably not a cool thing to say anymore, since I said it). Beautiful pics. lovely, as always – thank you for the eye candy this morning! love your style! i am so crazy about your kitchen! I always love to see pics of your home. It makes me happy 🙂 You are wearing 2 of my favorite MJ pieces…..sigh One day I will own them…I hope! All the colors make me happy! Thanks for sharing those! All the colors make me happy! Thanks for sharing those! I have a dream that I will have a HAPPY COLORFUL house just like yours one day. I’m really working toward that… one room at a time. Gorgeous pictures. Love your house and the photography is wonderful. Thank you for sharing it all with us! I did a major splurge and ordered the magazine weeks ago. I cant wait to get mine! LOVE it all. Seriously, I think you could make a magazine of JUST your house. Its fabulous Meg! And Talby looks so grown up and beautiful in that photo. Wow! ahhhhhh…. i’m stil waiting on my copy of MM… can’t wait! Truly gorgeous pictures, Meg! Saturated color, so cheery. And to think that these are the ones that didn’t make it in the magazine?! If I had a spare $25 to use for the Summer magazine, I would. Just wish they made it more affordable. I am sure it is a fabulous bookazine, though! As always, pictures of your home make me so happy. You have a great way with vintage pieces and color. Your home always seems perfect for both kids and adults! Love it! Thanks for sharing! Love the kids rooms so very much! I pinned them for sure!!! Gorgeous!! I love your shabby style mixed with such bright, happy colors!! Love, love, love it! Great pictures – especially the heart rocks. And I seriously want your kitchen. Where is the bicycle fabric from… or what is it called… because I think I neeeeed it! Oh my, I’m pinning several of these to my idea scrapboard – we’re moving to Kansas next month, and I love some of these ideas for our house! I love the chalkboard and picture clothesline especially. Beautiful photos as always…I love your outfit in that picture–must be matilda jane! I couldnt help but notice those photography books and just curious…do you recommend any of those?? I just want the basics of how to work my camera (I know a little but not a LOT) and use of light to get the best pictures of my kids that I can. Your house is beautiful! It is so HAPPY. I wish you come over and decorate my house for me! Each photo has a theme of colors. Love that.! I’m wondering about the photo’s that made in into the SUMMER magazine, because thése photo’s are a-ma-zing! I love the mix of coulours and vintage. I’m wondering about the photo’s that made in into the SUMMER magazine, because thése photo’s are a-ma-zing! I love the mix of coulours and vintage. I love your home! So very happy:) I spied a few of your things that I own as well! I think we have very similar tastes and styles. Thanks for sharing the extra pics! oh wow, Meg. So much colorful eye candy!! And that Talby is stunning. 🙂 What beautiful pictures! I especially love the one with all of your heart rocks – so fun! 🙂 Still waiting on my Summer magazine 🙁 These pics sure make me happy while I wait! Love your taste! Really loved the globes on your happy links! BTW…my hubba asked me what else I needed to complete my craft room. (He & my son bought me a tv for it tonight.) Kidding, Preston said…how about a fridge…I told them Meg has a pink one…I think they both rolled their eyes! I laughed! Happy Sunday! Oh, thank you for sharing those! Talby is so beautiful! Love all the photos! I get tons of inspiration just looking at your photos and decorated home. I love your spread in the Summer magazine too! Love all these pictures… they really are just happy! 🙂 hey…..remember way back when…..
like this! remember that????
YAY!
can’t wait to meet you….or see you again. 🙂
Meg, Oh, and one more thing I’ve been meaning to tell you — honestly, the Tourism Board of Kansas – I have to believe they have one, should be connected to your blog or employ you for photos. You make Kansas look like the greatest place on earth and make the weather seem far better than it really is! I grew up in Iowa. I have not seen the Kansas you so wonderfully project. They are seriously missing out! The sunflowers, the antique shops, the water hole place you hike with your family, the dairy farm, KU — so many other days you’ve shared. Wonderful. Thank you. Oh my goodness! YOUR SESSIONS ARE ALL BOOKED – the ENTIRE YEAR — SO FAST! Don’t you just laugh? Wow. . . so good for you! Just like your entire etsy shop sold out – well, nearly – in 10 minutes! You need some clones, I think. seriously. Your blog gives me an immense amount of needed relief, and has turned me onto many other really great resources / blogs. Thanks for all you do! hi. 🙂 i have been to your blog a few times and have always wanted to leave a comment but you always get so many and i always feel like one little comment isn’t gonna make a diff. but i just wanted to say that i really like your blog. and that i’ll meet you at blog sugar and i’m looking forward to it. have a great day! ah i just clicked on there to check it out, and are you kidding that you booked up that fast!? love the new photo! you’re so sassy! If only Australia was on your photo tour schedule. Now wait, that is great idea! How about it Meg?? Let me just say how bummed I am you’re not in the Little Rock area. You’re so talented! I wish that we lived closer. I`d love to get new photos of my darling and I done – our wedding photos left much to be desired. Hope you have a trip planned for Canada in the near future… hahahaha 🙂 Wish I lived in Kansas so you could take our pix! i am seriously considering a little vacation to kansas:) i like your new picture of yourself up there. and your hair. and you 🙂 hmmm…wonder if I can talk dh into a 15 hr road trip… Are you coming to Southern California at all? I live too far away, and I hate pics of myself. I’d love a tip sheet on what you do to get your subjects relaxed, how many shots you take to get a good one, angles to hide chub, etc. Do you ever do this??? yay! Wish I lived closer! *****************************
we had to do it inside.
our packets of colors was strange.
i can breath easier now. and i have lots of hard boiled eggs to eat.
************************************ SUMMER magazine is coming out in a few weeks!
you can purchase your own copy ONLY at the website….they are not sold in stores. click here to order your copy. you should order one today because they will be mailing out SOON. it’s going to be FULL of really pretty pictures i am sure of it. NieNie and Cjane and tricia foley and…….me?…………….gulp.
would you like to win your own copy?? leave me a comment telling me: what is the best part of your summer?
Hi there – not leaving a comment for the book – commenting on your egg decorating! lazy late afternoons at the lake that turn into evening and we still haven’t left for home or eaten dinner and instead we eat goldfish and pretzels and watch the golden light fade before packing up and heading home for showers, baths and bed. My best part of summer is going on vacation to the beach! I’d love to win a copy of this beautiful book. Best part of summer in 3 words: flip-flops, s’mores, sun! the best part of summer is EVERYTHING!!! lighting bugs, lying on a blanket and looking up at the stars, lots of movie nights on the back porch, swimming at anytime, cookouts, bonfires (yes we have them in the summer), playing outside and totally forgetting about dinner until its 8:00, going out on the lake, lying on the porch reading a book, though this year it will be a nook:)…i could keep going on and on:) I just wanted to tell you that you have totally inspired me to start taking my photography more seriously. Your gorgeous pictures take my breath away. I bought an SLR and am still learning but I’m really excited and just wanted to say thanks! 🙂 How exciting. The book looks awesome. My favorite part of summer is having the kids home with me and not having to have any set schedule. Sleeping late, day trips, ahhhh, can’t wait! Best part of summer is no school and we are moving!!! Thanks for the chance… the best part of summer is eating the home grown veggies from the garden, my favourites are tomatoes and basil – yum! I would love to win this magazine cos in Australia we’re heading into winter so it Wouk give me lots of lovelies to look forward to!! most definitely the pool! Stepping into a cold pool on a hot day. Best part of summer, out door movie nights with the neighborhood. I can’t believe that I forgot to say the best part of summer is when my sister that lives in Florida comes to visit us with her family!!!! That is way up on the top of my list! Up there with having the kiddos home!:) family talent shows on the patio Naps outside. Frozen lemonade and sandal tan lines The best part of summer is eating almost all of our meals outdoors and not feeling guilty if supper isn’t served before 8. There’s too much great stuff going on to get to it before then! many things but. . .first on my mind is staying up late and sleeping in without that alarm clock! Aaahhh! The best part of summer……. running outside in bare feet, feeling a cool breeze blow through your light cotton dress, having a cold glass of white wine on a patio on a sultry, hot, humid evening, getting “caught” by a sprinkler on a neighbourhood stroll, watching the sun set on an endless expanse of beach, slurping a popsicle that is melting quicker than you can eat it, al fresco breakfasts in your backyard, lazy no plan days (hopefully lots of them!) and of course, gardening! flowers, vegetables, berries, all there for the taking and enjoying. Oh summer, hurry up and arrive! The best part of my summer is going to hawaii to visit my brother whom is a missionary. He is only in hawaii for a short while every year resting and training before his next big outreach 🙂 this summer i am lucky enough to be seeing him for a whole month! Cross-country road trips to visit family! the best part of summer is the beach. i know you live a really long way from the beach, but i used to live far too. now i live close. i don’t live close to barns and thrift stores, though! The best part of my summer is when the house is a mess, laundry is piled high, beds are unmaid and toys on the floor…the kids and I can forget it all and go outside! Sunshine can fix just about anything. Bring on the sprinkler and freezer pops! Best part is spending time with my kids at the beach, vacation bible school, summer reading program, the beach, and of course fourth of july cookout! LOVE summer! That my husband, the college professor, has a more relaxed schedule. Best part of summer: Lazy Days with my kids, Swimsuits,Late nights playing outside, Visiting my Aunt and Uncles Cabin, Pond swiming, fishing, Fresh veggies from our garden, FLIP-FLOPS!, Slowed down schedule and more time as a family. Thanks for all your inspiration. The best part of summer is that sense of endless possibilities. Instead of, “Is your homework done, did you do your reading, you need WHAT for class tomorrow?” I get to say, “What should we do today?” And then the next day I get to do that again. The best part of summer is definitely having the kids home! No schedules, staying up late and sleeping in, swimming, barbecueing, and taking our 30 pound pug for a walk. I love the flowers and the long days too! We live across from a campground and they have movie night on Saturday nights-so fun! It is definitely my favorite season!:) three girls in the pool non stop for 3 months!! I like taking the majority of my vacation days and being with my kids ALL day. And the swimming pool. And the smell of sunscreen. And the lake with friends. the sunshine! Summer is…going barefoot everyday…sunshine…homemade ice cream…swimming…wildflowers…visiting on the front porch…and napping in a hammock! The prospect of seeing our extended family while on vacation! We live very far away from them, so cherish any opportunity and this summer looks like it will work for all of us. 🙂 Taking the girls to the beach 🙂 SLEEPING IN!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Megan!!!! The best part of summer is having garden fresh tomatoes growing in my backyard! best part about summer? that it needs to be celebrated everyday. because we know it goes too fast. and the beach and cooking outside and lightening bugs and bonfires and flip-flops and vine ripened tomatoes and peaches and grass between your toes and sunshine and no school and (well, that’s probably enough). I love not having anywhere that we “have” to be during the summer! Our school year is jam packed with scheduled activities, so it’s such a relief to “chill” during the summer months. 🙂 Hands down, the best part of summer is having my kids home every minute of the day! The birds sing’in, the sunshine & NO school schedule to keep up with! the endless sunny days without an agenda – just me and my 3 lil ones:) The best part of my summer is the FREEDOM. I get to have my kids with me all day long, and our schedule is (mostly) wide open. We get to decide what we do all day. I love having my kids to myself! the best part of my summer is that i get to be a stay at home mom for 9 weeks. i’m a teacher! wahooo!! The best part of summer for me is NO SCHOOL! I’m a teacher, and my summer break starts next Friday! Woo-Hoo! my favorite part of summer is sleeping with the windows open..listening to the crickets and the cool breeze blowing on my face after a long hot day!! Grilling, kids with me, swimming, porch swinging, bike riding, lazy days! Best part of summer is the beautiful flowers that I like to plant, then I can spend days outside taking pics…may not happen this year! I’m having so much fun in my new craft room, that I may never go outside!! Lazy days with my family cause we’ll be staying home a lot this summer! We’re adopting baby #3 in June! The best part is traveling “home” to Kansas. I’ve lived in Colorado for 20 years, but Kansas is still “home”. This year on my way from my in-laws to my parents home, I will be stopping in Marion at that fabulous antique place you blogged about! Oh, my boys will hate it but I can’t wait…. Love summer evenings! My husband and I sneak ice cream and sit outside after the kids go to bed! Congratulations! How exciting that you work continues to be recoginzed. My husband is a school teacher and I’m a SAHM, so we take the summer off and travel with our two children! Not having to get up early and get the kids off to school, lazy days, going to CA to visit family and friends… the list goes on! Spending time with the family, not so much rushing, no homework, no schedule, the beach and lemonade stands! Spending the entire day with my almost two year old little lady…running, biking, reading, sunning, singing, swimming…I can hardly wait! the best part of the summer is living near my mom (who lives at the beach) after living 1000 miles away for 15 years… my mom rocks! i am flipping out excited for you with this whole summer thing! I live in the Virgin Islands – every day is summer! My least favorite months are actually June through September because of the threat of hurricanes. But the best thing about living in a year long summer? Wearing shorts & flip flops all the time! Best part of summer…cookouts with the family, sitting on the patio late into the night with a glass of wine, leaving the bedroom window open while I sleep and hearing the frogs croaking, going to my niece’s baseball games, working in my garden, being barefoot, eating ice cream, swimming in a cold pool on an exceptionally hot day. where to start….flip flops and bare feet, sunshine and late nights, BBQ and lemonade…I could go on and on and on and on… Hmm, I love pool time, being out in the sun, random trips to the library and evening BBQs with friends! pool, Freddie’s frozen custard, friends, horseshoes…and if I’m lucky lots of the lake The best parts of my summer are bbq’s, ball games, and adult beverages on the patio with good friends. Best part of my summer is spending 5 weeks on a lake in the Adirondacks with my four girls (age 2-10)- with my sister-in-law, our 4 nephews (age 3-11), and my inlaws – and being able to go to Camp of the Woods which is just on the other side of the lake from us. Second best thing is jumping off the dock into the lake after a run! 🙂 The best part of my summer is not being cold. Summer…sticky hands holding drippy popsicles while watching an orange sunset in the cool, green, fresh cut grass. mcdonalds ice cream cones-they are the best fun a dollar can buy-i once thought i’d keep a record of how many i consume in a summer-then i realized i can’t count that high! Summer= pretty much no schedule and lots of lazy days! I do not work in the summer so I get to spend everyday with my son. We read, go to the library and find a lot of free stuff to do! I love bare feet in the summer!!!! my favorite activity of summer is sitting on the porch with my husband watching our three little ones jump around in the sprinkler. it makes the grass and sunscreen covered kitchen floor ever so worth it! The best part of summer….weekly concerts in the park!!! my husband, who is a school teacher, being home for the summer with us! Don’t know if I can only list one . . . oh so many favorites . . . the pool would rank up at the top!!! I love EVERYTHING about summer – especially the yummy summer fruit! letting go Definitely the farmer’s market in our little town! Then coming home and figuring out a yummy dinner with my finds! Since I love summer so much I can’t decide: My favorite part of summer is all my children under one roof (2 are in college)and living at the softball field watching them play!!! I just get all giddy thinking of having my kids home once again and just being together…that is bliss (until the dishes need to be done!) a sno cone on a hot summer day . . . so yummy! Honestly, the best part of summer for me is not working. I’m a teacher and I’m not gonna lie…I love my summer vacation! Last summer I went to Italy and France and was gone for nearly the entire two months. It was awesome. I can’t afford to do that again this summer, plus I have to finish my masters degree. But still…no work. Ahhhh. It would have to be making Art outside with some brand new kiddos! Oh, and eating frozen yogurt!! the best part of summer is sitting on the stoop in a cool summer breeze, sipping lemonade watching the kids play & relaxing. The best part of summer is knowing that I do not have to drop my child off at a babysitter’s house. I get to stay home with her and go to the zoo and take painting classes and play at the beach in the sand and blow bubbles and whatever we want. The best part of my summer is roasting marshmallows over the fire pit in the backyard at night..twinkle lights on and the atmosphere just perfect and lounging on the hammock soaking up the warm rays of sunshine while my kids play in the backyard! My favorite part of summer is going to the beach, whether it be nearby or while on vacation. Love it! This year will be bittersweet as it is the last summer before my daughter starts school, so we will certainly make the best of the last few months before big school start lazy mornings with the kids…NO MAKING SCHOOL LUNCHES…coming and going as we please (for the most part:))… savoring a slower pace of life with my family…heaven grilling out and spending time with my family!! our camping trip to glacier national park in montana! the kids talk about it all winter long 🙂 right now i want summer so badly that i must say sunshine, all my babies in the nest together, ice cream, outdoor fires, grilled dinners, carefree time, margaritas and camps for the kids! finially going to the beach! we didn’t get to go at all last year because of the oil spill. Can’t wait to stick my toes in the sand and relax while the kids splash and play. Being off work all summer!! Spending time with my girls, reading on the deck, cooking out, sitting around the fire pit roasting marshmallows. Oh so many things I just can’t pick one favorite! the most wonderful part of summer is the long days. Little Jude and stay outside late and watch the sun go down while we play out on the deck with chalk and his water table. The cottage. Slipping into the lake for the first time every summer is golden. When I wake up early and head down to the dock in time to catch the sun coming over the trees and the mist rising off the water I know we are not alone. The best part of summer…….beach, beach, beach. Love the salty smell, kids and their sand castles, and sounds of the waves crashing over and over! Oh and a margarita in there somewhere! My son just saw this and said, “You should say the best part of your summer is when your kids don’t fight!” Pretty good answer! Sitting in my swing hung from a hundred year old oak tree with a good book; roasting marshmallows in the fire pit and making smores with exotic candy bars and homemade cookies; fishing at the lake all day and then cooking a fish feast for dinner with coleslaw, hushpuppies and cheese grits; chasing fireflies with my one and only child makes me most happy. Smiling just thinking about it! cookouts, lighting bugs and sidewalk chalk with my kids!!! The best part of summer is when my family comes to visit! Our family vacation in the Outerbanks! I am so looking forward to lounging around at the pool and the beach, playing with my littles and studying photography/taking lots of pictures! Going to the beach with my kids, barbecues and eating outside. Making s’mores outside by the fire. And SUN, glorious SUN!!! We don’t get a whole lot of it in WA. I LOVE lazy mornings! Not working, going to the lake as much as possible, and pretty much everything else. Summer is the BEST. The past two summers I have been VERY pregnant and delivered babies (June 2009 and August 2010) so usually it’s having my new, beautiful bundle of joy here with me.. but this year my best part of summer will be spending time with them, showing them new, fun things.. can’t wait to take them swimming!! 🙂 Best part of summer: sitting on the dock, for hours and hours, with nothing more important to do. I love that I don’t have to rush around at night with my kids. They can stay up later if they want to. Dinner is not a rush to finish so baths can be taken. Summer time is much more laid back for us. I also LOVE to take my kids camping. The best part about summer is having my kids home and working and playing together! Being outside all day, no structure, kids running around the yard, sprinklers, pools, splashing, bubbles, margarita evenings, sand boxes, kids who smell like sunblock, the beach, frozen pops (any kind), music on the patio, cold food, sundresses, friends…friends…and more friends, water guns, swingsets, sticky kid fingers, art projects outside, bikes, gardens…we live in South Carolina where it become sticky hot and humid…so, I cannot leave out the amazing feeling of coming inside and showering and hanging out with my hubby after an amazing fun filled super hot day. Bring on the Summer! Best part of summer. . .days at the pool with the kids!!! And BBQs. best part of summer is having no schedule and going to the beach, flip flops and eating outside!!! Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes and basil picked from my garden. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic–best lunch ever! Fun Fridays! As a reward for good behavior and cooperation all week, we have a swimming/play date with friends. We meet after lunch at a friends house (who has a pool), the boys swim and play and have snacks and moms have frozen margaritas or lemonades with vodka. Good for the kids, GREAT for the mamas! Best part of summer: flip-flops, skirts, NO coats! Oh we are headed into winter over here and we have had three days of rain after months of not a drop and I tell you first hand the BEST thing about summer is so much less laundry!!! T-shirt and shorts all round compared to jeans, shirts, sweaters, jackets, hats, socks… I could go on about the laundry but I am trying to embrace the cold – failing dismally!!! I love summer and wish it was always summer!!! Sleeping in and stuffing as much fun as possible into those too short 8 weeks! We homeschool and ar always together and can technically MAKE time for things. BUT there is something about warm Summer evenings and bright sunny days that just feel like you have been given time. The pressures melt away and fun extra things get done without guilt. The best part of summer is the lazy, fun days with BOTH of my kids at home! Love it! I’m in NP school, so the BEST is the 3 weeks in August that we have off before the fall semester! Lots more time with family & friends instead of the books! 🙂 No schedules…going with the flow….sandy toes at the beach….ice cold beer on a hot night….summer storms….so much! LOVE summer! My birthday!!!! Usually a trip to the nail salon, a sip of sweet red wine, a relaxing walk on the beach and/or a stress-free visit to the local bookstore, topped off by a hearty meal with my fam! BRING IT!!! The kids being home from school. . . and if I had to be honest, I would add that my second favorite part is when the kids go back when summer winds down!! Is that bad? The best thing about summer – where to start?! Man you must have a lot of followers…look at all those comments! My fav part of summer is the pool and the color my skin soaks in from the sun. I miss the sun. Someday… I love to spend time with my family outside….going to the pool, grilling outside, going fishing, going to the park, riding bike, the zoo, and playing golf….love it all! Of course I’d love to win my own copy! Going to the beach on Lake Michigan! Swimming in ponds, swimming in lakes, swimming in rivers, swimming in streams! I live in New England so the summer months are the only time I get to swim outside and it is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!! the warmth of the sun on my face and the endless hours outside:) I mean…under the stars! Every summer since before we had kids (oldest is 9) my husband has run a scout camp in the summer. It can be fun but even when we all live there with him Daddy-time is precious, hard to come by and impossible to have his full attention. This year, he doesn’t have a camp assigment and we are all so excited we can hardly stand it! 😀 We’re gonna have some actual FAMILY time instead of just mommmy-kid time! the best part of summer for me…not having to pack school lunches…Just kidding…campfires with my family in the yard until the stars! ♥ This summer will be special because I’m having a baby!!!!!!! I grew up in Kansas, but I moved away just before I turned 16 in 1986 – and I’ve never been back. For me summer is the blue open sky in Kansas, a yellow sunflower taller than yourself, the taste of a limeaide, the smell of chlorine in my hair, and the feel of a swimsuit dry the minute you step out of a pool. I now have a family of my own and live in Europe – but I sometimes miss the feeling of those long summers in Kansas, and wish my kids could someday feel it too. I’ve already pre-ordered my copy (thanks for original heads-up) but I’d love to win a copy for my friend, Amanda! The best part of THIS coming summer, in particular, is that my husband is taking off the semester from his Master’s program so that he can play with us! I am GIDDY! Best part of summer……wearing flip flops everyday, and having some time off work to spend with my favorite people….my family 🙂 The best part of summer is our annual family reunion week – and this year will be even better ’cause my cousin and I will have our firstborns with us. There hasn’t been a baby in the family in 26 years! Best part of my summer is be with my family. Relax at home or by the sea in Italy 🙂 time spent on, in, or by the water….pool, lake, ocean…i’ll take all three! Last year we were without our own home, we lived in MANY different places. This summer will be a treat. No moving, no suitcases, our own home/space/stuff… That time really reminded me how little you truly need and how good it feels to just have your own little place in the world. 🙂 I can’t wait to get it. When I first started my job 4 years ago, Tricia Foley was still working here. She would not know me, but she is very creative and has tons of great ideas and takes great pictures, just like you Meg. Congrats!!!! The beach and warm sunshine!!! Best part of summer (you mean those 3 or 4 weeks we get here in Seattle?) would be waking up, taking an early walk and then watering my flowers after I get back. Yep, happens about 1/2 dozen times every summer….and, why, yes, I am bitter about where I live lately…. sunshine and swimming in the pool with kids…. oh i really want to win!! the best part of summer is having a cookout with friends and sitting outside for hours talking and laughing while the kids play. can’t wait! best part of summer…it’s NOT winter or spring (not very nice here)!!!!! and i’m a teacher…so days to stay at home with MY kids and enjoy the sun…what’s not to love? The best part of my summer this year is going to be having my second baby! The best part of summer for me is the beach! Even though we live in the Pacific NW, where the water is chilly, and the beaches are mostly rocky, my kids LOVE playing in the water and I LOVE hanging on the beach. Looking forward to it! 🙂 Yeah for Melissa…better yet YEAH for SERGEY!!!! Best part of Summer for me is that I’m a homeschool/stay at home Mom, so I just get to BE with my kids. For years as a working Mom I battled feeling guilty only getting a week off, now I get them the whole summer! Love it! the best part of my summer is the twinkly lights on in the backyard and me and my laptop on the porch just listening to the crickets Summer is just more relaxed. This summer my favorite part will be vacationing all over Florida with my kids. It is a stay-cation for us, but we will be starting Key West, moving on to Marco Island and then up to the Destin panhandle! Can’t wait! blueberries eaten straight off of the tree! Our summers consist of a lot of family outdoor fun activities: bike riding, sidewalk chalk, bike riding, swimming, bike riding, fishing, yes we do a lot of bike riding. Most of all, just the relaxing moments Summer brings. The kids can stay up later (not going to bed with the sun up), evening walks, fishing for a whole day! I love summer! Sitting on the deck reading a book while listening to the wind rustle the leaves of the cottonwood trees – 25 of them! Walking along the shore of a Great Lake. Enjoying the flowers of summer. Best part of summer….the relaxed schedule and atmosphere – we get together with friends more often, even on a weeknight when we have to go to work the next day. And all that fresh produce! Love summer… Not having to force my daughter out of bed in the morning, that’s the best part. We all love to sleep in during the summer, and drink lots and lots of iced tea! Summer clothes! So much more fun than winter – sandals, tanks, sun dresses…yea! Having no schedule to stick to so I can spend extra time with the kiddos!! =) Love my summers! One of the reasons I became a teacher was so that I could still enjoy my WI summers to the fullest, now with my own kids. Simple things like going to the wading pool, zoo and concerts in the park. This summer is especially exciting as we are expecting our third baby in just a few weeks! The best part of summer is fresh, homemade ice-cream!! Something sweet to beat the heat! Days full of nothing but being at home together. Being at home. The best part of summer is the warm nights so we can “camp” in the backyard. We bbq, roast marshmellows, play board games, run around with flash lights and leave ALL electronic devices (cell phones, etc.) in the house. My very FAVORITE – early mornings alone with my coffee and the hose, soaking the hydrangeas, followed by breakfast topped with ripe strawberries, and then turning on the sprinkler and watching the children turn their swing set/fort into a water land while I sit across the yard and sip iced tea with my camera and a good magazine in hand. Does it get any better? Abundant sunshine, sprinklers, tomatoes, peas, blueberries!!! Ahhh, can’t wait. I just love having my kids home and we can decide each day what we WANT to do, not what HAS to be done! I love the relaxed pace and time together! The part when we can all get away to the beach as a family. Sit in my beach chair, toes in the water and a good book in my hand with kids playing in the surf. Absolute favorite. The best part of summer is the relaxed and carefree feeling. best part of the summer is our July vacation by the beach with my family, especially dinner for the whole 15 of us at Aunt Carrie’s Restaurant (Narragansett RI) Checking off things from our summer fun list…esp. craft friday which was inspired by you! 🙂 This summer will be a little different because I am joining team “Stay Home Mom” so this year I am really looking forward to the whole Summer with my two kiddos!! the best part of summer is being home with my two girls! i absolutely love it! i count down to summer every year like a kid i am a teacher, so really it’s not that different!:) The pool! And the lake! 🙂 That looks like a whole lot of egg salad {I didn’t even do the whole dye-ing egg thing this year…not my fave thing to do}. My favorite part of summer is the sunshine and the WARMTH. After a roller coaster spring, that is what I am ready for! Slowing down..no running to dance, gymnastics, chior..just enjoying each other at night instead of homework? bedtime? ALL of summer is awesome. Sun dresses, flip flops, swimsuits, warm lakes, longer days, running thru sprinklers, SWIMMING, picnics, kid-filled front & back yards, star gazing, SWIMMING, water skiing, warm sand between the toes, cute little chubby bodies w/ tan lines…… And having my oldest home from school w/ us. (1st grade, & his first year to be in all day. *sigh*) just chilling with my three lovelies at the beach~ living so close to lake michigan has advantages. we do a summer beach tour to hit our favs. st. joe, south haven, and warren dunes…just to name a few~~oh i wish it was summer now! Best part of summer? Lots of days with no schedules and lots of activities to pick from! Lots of evenings around a fire pit with the kids running around outside playing with friends. And after 9 straight days of clouds and rain – SUNSHINE!!! camping in our backyard…our 5 yr old daughter getting all excited about doing car wash with her daddy…playdates with friends at church…both of our kids birthday are in the summer…vacation, vacation!!! eating watermelon and playing outside…and candle-lit outdoor dinners with the hubs. love. Hmmmm, there are so many things to love about summer…..sunshine, warm weather, swimming, sleeping in, being outside, hanging with my girls……I love it all 🙂 Fun days with my kids with lots of sunshine and blue skies. The SUN!!!! Dusk..I love running around outside w kiddos, catching fire flies & watching sun set w our fire pit goin’ w smores!! So fun. I love EVERYTHING about summer. The weather, the fruit, the flowers, gardening, kids home from school, traveling, open windows, bug noises, frog noises, lawnmower noises, everything. A more relaxed schedule and all the time I spend watching the kids play softball/baseball. Really, the entertainment value of little kids playing ball is amazing!! I love everything about summer … but right now the thing I’m most looking forward to is no school, no homework, no helping the kids study for tests, no projects, no papers, and no book bags strewn all over the place! Just being honest :o) Being outside with my 2 little boys!! They are so tired of being indoors, and I’m so tired of playing in MUD PUDDLES 😉 We’re all ready for sunshine and bathing suits and lightning bugs and bellies stained from popsicles! Best part of summer in Kansas…. hmmmmmm…. not the heat…. not having to shovel snow comes to mind.. LOL!! Seriously, love just hanging out, being lazy, being light at 8:30pm, grilling, wearing my Toms, drinking margaritas on the deck… what’s not to like? 🙂 easy… floating on the lake with a cold beer in my hand! Eating outside. At home or a restaurant on a sidewalk or better yet a deck overlooking the ocean! The best part of summer for me is more FREEDOM!!! No more practices, No more games, no more 1.5 hour commute each way (for school drop offs and then to work), no more homework battles, no more packing of lunches and the laundry is a LOT lighter! WOOT WOOT!! And most IMPORTANTLY more chances to be bask in the SUNSHINE with friends and family!! I LOVE SUMMERTIME!!! Being home with my kids and eating lunch on the back patio! Living at the pool!! (hope you and your fam will join me there!) No carpool, bare feet(and painting little toenails funky colors) and family meals outside! Best part of summer? Visiting my parents cottage on a small lake about an hour away.They’ve had it for 35 years and its nothing fancy but its RELAXING to be there and wake up to hear the water outside your bedroom window. best part of summer. . is less tight of a schedule. . do not have to get up at certain time, do not have to get in car and drop kids off and pick kids up. . .thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of the magazine. . . I’ve asked for this for my birthday! I would love to win! My summer favorite? Reading outside in a hammock while the kids are playing. best part of summer is not having to be anywhere and just enjoying the lazy days! Best part about summer…hmm…only one??? How about lots of time spent outdoors with awesome neighbors, family and friends!! EVERYTHING! But for this summer it will have to be being pregnant with our new little life 🙂 Due in September! It has been a ball so far and I know the TX heat will be very unforgiving but I cant wait to be outside and with family toting a little baby in my belly! The best part of summer…not setting the alarm! The best part of summer for me is when all the children I teach every Sunday and Wednesday night at church get of school for summer! This means, movie parties, bible study outside, vacation bible school, swim parties and my all time favorite thing to do with them is to have a kick off to summer lock in at church!! So much fun!!! My husband is a teacher with a very busy schedule, so summertime with him is the best! Flip flops, sunkissed skin, highlighted hair, swimming, I could go on…. Come on Summer!! Every year (or at least almost) we head back to my home town, right on the beaches of Lake Michigan. We play in the sand and the surf and watch the sun go down. We ride rollercoasters. We eat ice cream from the ice cream stand I used to visit as a kid. We go for dune rides. We have bonfires. We drink beer and listen to my uncle play banjo. It’s always a great week. I’m gonna be honest here: to name just one is impossible…fresh cut grass, watermelon dripping off your elbows, fireflies, candle light suppers on the back porch…I love summer! Aw, fun in the sun, picnics & homegrown tomatoes….yum! The BEST part of summer for me? Putting on my bathing suit and wearing it in public! I LOVE that! Where I live it’s always summer more or less. But during the hottest months (110+) my favorite thing is mangoes. They are in season, they are CHEAP, they are delicious!!! They’re almost good enough to make me forget that it’s so HOT! Thanks for the chance to win 🙂 No set schedule and my mom’s pool. Love it. There are so many things that I love about summer! Swim lessons, softball games, vacation Bible school, trips to the mountains, it staying lighter outside so there is more play time, BBQs, picnics, flip flops, going to the pool. I should probably stop here, but there are so many more to list. 🙂 time outside, time at the pool and big family vacations…those are the best! Best part of summer . . . not as many “have to’s”. 😀 The very best part of my summer… swimming with the kids. So fun. The best part of summer is long days off with the kids, and late nights up with the Mr.! Best: kids home. Long days. tanned legs and faces. The best part for me is the warmth & the sunshine! EVERYTHING!!! The sun, the breeze, the long days, catching fireflies, bbq’s, s’mores, gardening, my kids, fresh cut grass, flowers, not having to wear shoes…. the list never ends! Summer night bbqs and Dodger games with friends! Oh, and late night walks with my husband and my beagle. I love s’mores in the backyard and laying on the lawnchairs looking at the stars and counting lightning bugs. The best bit is going for late night dog walks and watching the sun set 🙂 I totally love that your house is referred to as “The Fun House” lol 🙂 How awesome is that? Dinners on the pontoon boat with my husband and son are most definitely the best part of my summer. I can’t wait! It is still cold and rainy here in Michigan. The best part of summer is the flowers, all the flowers. flip flops 🙂 My favorite parts are eating fresh veggies from my garden, yard sales, late night thunderstorms, watching my girls set up their own lemonade/fresh veggies stand.:) Lori The best part about summer is that almost everything finally slows down. Hands down being with my kids!!!! After eing sooo inspired by your blog….we are going to start a craft Thursday. I have three boys 15, 14 and almost 10. We just bought the supplies to make the raindow plates with the streamers :} Before I blink my kids will be grown so I am cherishing every moment!Annnd I am holding onto my hat cause my 15 year old is driving. Thanks for being so inspiring :}}}} We moved into a new-to-us house before Christmas. this summer I get to plant flowers in the front yard and the kids will be home to help me put up a picket fence. I’ve never had one before! being home with my kids…baby 2 is due in june! Best part of summer: Driving to my parents house with the kids for weekends. They have property where we can fish, ride ATV’s, and swim. Plus my dad makes a big breakfast every morning and my mom does our laundry. Heavenly! Best part of summer?…..The long summer nights. BBQs, eating outside, late night walks. Maybe that’s more than one. Oh well, hope it’s me 🙂 The best part of summer is spending time at the lake! Eating grilled food outside & hours at the pool! The best part for me is not having a schedule – we can go to the pool, stay home, or go on a trip whenever! sleeping in, lazy days, swimming. i love summer! The best part is getting to spend time with my 3 year old son. This summer will be even better as we welcome boy/girl twins into our home! The best part of summer for me is having my hubby home since he is a teacher. We go camping with our girls and it is such a fun and relaxing time!!!! 🙂 Gardening! Sleeping late every day. I already ordered my copy and can’t wait! I would love to win one for my mom though…. Relaxing and having the kids around. Taking family trips. Going to the pool. We live in a big city in Brazil which empties out during the summer because Brazilians get a month off and usually spend it at the beach. So living in a somewhat less crowded city during the summer is really nice. the best part of summer is…nothing! doing Nothing at all, sitting by/on a lake…watching parades in camp chairs…..laying out, looking at the stars…..I’m ready for it to be here Now! garden bursting with veggies and blooms! Sleeping in, late dinners outside by the pool, visiting family, enjoying the outdoors, going to the beach….. so many things to look forward to. 🙂 My garden, the smell of fresh cut grass, the sound of the sprinklers going, the pool, corn on the cob, snow cones and yummy fruit! Those are weird colors for easter eggs! We still haven’t done ours. 🙂 We will…eventually. No homework! my favorite part of summer? going to the Rogue River, rafting, otterpops by the dozens, our cabin, campingi could go on…i’ve never won a darn thing-PLEASE:) The best part of summer for me is, this may sound crazy, but it’s not having to worry about homework, don’t have to make lunch, don’t have to get my daughter to school – I always feel such a relief – like a vacation. Of course, love love love going to the beach too!!!! The best part of summer is getting to just “be” with my kids. Not having to do school or anything that we really do not want to. The best part of this summer will be meeting our fourth baby girl. The kids being off school & the warm weather warm sunshine, flower bed and pots full, easier days. Oh, so many things…strawberries, farm stands, trips to the farmers market, impromptu wine parties on the porch w/neighbors, the easy attitude and spirit of summer. All of it is just blissful! The best part of my summer..is taking off the nail polish from the summer before..off my toenails and putting on a new color!!!! How bad is that?????? The best part of my summer is usually making roadtrips to visit family, especially to Oregon. But this year, the best part will be moving back home from a year abroad in Germany…I’m so excited to see my family and friends!!! The best part of my summer is wearing flip flops and painting my toes bright, happy colours 🙂 honestly, (this sounds horrible) but the best part of summer is no homework for the kids! Do you ever get tired of dealing with the homework battles? The best part of my summer is having my two girls (9 & 6) with me, all day long, every day! It doesn’t matter if we are going somewhere fun or staying home in pjs all day. I love and cherish every moment I spend with them! Thanks for the chance to win! selphishgirl@aol.com best part of summer: parks and picnics, relaxed days, being together as a family! eating all of our meals outside on the patio, staying up late, and movies played outside on the side of the house. summer is heaven around here! eating all of our meals outside on the patio, staying up late, and movies played outside on the side of the house. summer is heaven around here! The best part of summer is the road trips. I LOVE road trips and we usually take at least one big or small road trip. Getting to sleep in is a close second though and this year the best part will probably be the pool we are planning to get. Okay…are you ready…this is earth shattering stuff. The best part of summer is when my hot mocha….becomes an iced mocha. That’s right. It isn’t the fresh veggies from the garden, or the kids playing in the sprinkler, warm nights sleeping with the windows open. Nope. It’s all about the COFFEE! The best part of summer is vacation with family, late summer nights grilling and eating smores, and no rushing around trying to get here and there by a certain time! What is there NOT to like about summer? I love having my kids home (but so ready for them to go back to school by the end). I love being outside at the river and watching my kids run and play. I love camping. I love being tan. I love having no set schedule. I love swimming. I love having outside BBQ’s. Oh I could go on and on! 🙂 No school for the kids, eating on the patio, water balloons, ice cream, strawberry shortcake, flip flops, shorts, cooking on the grill, etc. I LOVE SUMMER, it’s my favorite season! The best part(s) sleeping in, enjoying the sunshine, watching my garden grow and more time with my son. The part of summer we most look forward to is heading out to WA State for a few weeks to spend time with my husband’s family. They live on the sound with views of Mt. Rainier…we are on the beach constantly and catch up on a years worth of happenings…wonderful memories that seem like a fairy tale to this midwestern girl! Lazy days filled with tan skin, bare feet, sno cones, good books, Sonic drinks, watermelon, and riding around in the mom van with the windows down and the music blaring! my favorite part of summer is longer days. luv them. luv the sunlight and how it makes me happier. No homework!! I love summer…love being in the sunshine, love gardening, and love backyard bbqs! 🙂 that’s easy…flip flops and watermelon! I can’t wait for summer to be here! Fun with the kids, exploring a city still new to us, walks, bike rides, parks, a trip to the cottage, chickens….yep! I think we’re getting a couple of chickens in our very tiny backyard….oh and letting the kids decorate their tree house that really isn’t in a tree… the pool, the pool, the pool!! I have a large family like you, and there is nothing better than spending the day at the pool having fun, then coming home to a light yummy dinner (no baths cause goodness you got clean in the pool, right?), everyone’s sunkissed and happily tired. It’s the pool, definitely. I can’t wait! The best part of this coming summer is trying to make baby #2 😉 And this is my last summer break as a college student! I’ll have my degree in Art Education by the end of the year! Woo! The best part about summer is getting up early on a Saturday morning, making a cup of coffee and going to the farmers market to buy local, fresh produce and flowers. The best part of summer for me is hands down having my kids home and with me every day. I cherish the endless days of time with them and start really longing for that about this time every year! The BEACH! We get to go for at least 2 separate weeks! I have to add: farmers market tomatoes, peaches and corn; picking blueberries right off of my bush for breakfast, sunkissed noses on my husband and kids, lemonade stands, smores over the firepit, lots of friends over for dinner, the smell after rain on a hot summer’s day…. it is my FAVORITE season! being off work for a good chunk of time, planning our “to do” list with the kids and sleeping in, even if it’s not on the list…..can’t wait to see the magazine home grown tomatoes Got my “Summer” coming…can’t wait to see it, either. Our girls dyed the eggs at the table inside. Blue got knocked over a couple times. But we are done for a year, too. 🙂 We had Easter ham/hard boiled egg salad…yum! BEING TAN! Cook outs, being outside & I get to take high schoolers away to hear all about their Creator! Nothing better. I LOVE SUMMER! the best part of summer are lazy saturdays, hanging out by the pool, talking w/ my daughter about her week, about what’s to come, and now more than ever, her future. :o) The best part of summer are the entire days spent at the beach. Oh, and all that delicious summer food! Summer rocks! I love being able to throw my child outside, turn on the sprinklers, sip fresh lemonade, camping in the backyard(!!!), BBQ’s… man if only I could tan. I love summer! I love sitting on my patio and soaking up the sun! The best part of summer is the trips to the beach with my kids…I cant wait!!! I love taking my kids to the beach. They have such a blast and it creates great summer memories. 🙂 Warm breezes, slower schedules, soaking in all the warm sunshine, fresh vegetables from the garden and our first big family road trip….to Wisconsin. Limeades during Sonic’s happy hour. I’m miles upon miles from a Sonic though so I’m going to have to figure something else out for this year. my hubby is a teacher so the best part is having him home to help w/ our 3 kids! love afternoons by the pool w/ my family to cool off from the hot houston summer. sno cones. and homemade ice cream. and swimming until the sun goes down. most of all, doing all of those things w/ the ones you love! 🙂 popsicles on the front porch in the evenings……yum. Is SUNSHINE!!! We have been so beaten with rain and storms, that sunshine is all I can think about! And lots of fun times outside with friends and family! 🙂 Afternoons sitting by the pool while my boys swim,family walks in the evening and fresh garden produce. Being able to sleep in. The part of my summer are my teo little ladies birthdays! Ya, planning some big stuff for them already 🙂 lazy mornings, coffee on the porch, my babies sleeping in, scary movie night-EVERY NIGHT YAH!, all the doors open and kids playing ball in the street, laughter wafting in from outside and millions of water balloons popped all over the drive-way and yard. Oh yeah, and sticky popsicles….I can’t wait to have my kids home again ( of course by July, I will be counting the days until school starts ; ) This summer, it will be spending the longer days with my little girl. She will be 1 yr. old in June. She is AHHHH-mazing!! I love being in the yard and weeding- anything. I love all of it really!! Lots of family/pool/beach/ice cream time! Shut the front door!!!!! I won?!?!?! Woo-hoo!!!!! I’m super excited!!!!! The best part of summer is melons, pineapple, blueberries, strawberrys, particularly watermelons. giving me shivers now though, here is aus we’re heading back to winter 🙁 Sitting on our porch. Watching kids play. Cookouts. VBS. Way too many things to pick just one. : ) Best part of summer…kids are more relaxed, no homework! The very best part of summer is how free we can be! WE have been known to go swimming way past bedtime, or jump in the car for an unexpected vacation, friends dropping by and being able to stay to the wee hours of the night because no one has to go to school in the morning! OR maybe just sleeping in and waking up to a sun kissed house! 🙂 Lazy days and garage sales 🙂 warm sunshine! xo not having to wake up to an alarm clock! and mint lemonade Best part of summer is having so much daylight still left when I finally leave work in the evenings. 🙂 I live at a camp and I love it all! Camping, canoeing, crafts…. 🙂 As a teacher I used to love the freedom of no schedules that summer brought. Now as a stay at home mama I am looking forward to this summer of moving into our first house and watching my baby boy learn to walk and explore and be able to play in our yard and grilling out in the evenings and enjoying our new sunroom (& I’m hoping to get a hammock!) Kelly Lazy hot days where the kids are in and out of the pool all day. I have a book to read and dinner is made at the grill w/ paper everything.Ending w/toasted marshmellows and a hunt for lightning bugs. It doesn’t happen like this all the time but when it does it so good. the best part of this summer will be a visit from my daughter and 2 grandsons from Tennessee. They didn’t get to come last year. We will spend fun times at the beach, etc. And, I get to see both of my children together. a rare occurence for us. The best part of summer is a warm, lazy evening catching fireflies in a mason jar… and then promptly releasing them all at once so the air is filled with sparkly lights. I <3 summer! Best part of summer – NO SCHOOL. I work at a college and there are NO STUDENTS around to use the gym equipment, pool, live in the dorm rooms over my office, take my parking spot illegally. I LOVE SUMMER!! I love having my son home from school. Lazy summer days, homemade ice cream, fire works, grilling, sorry but I could go on and on. This summer we will be adding to our family so that will be very exciting. Our little girl is due in August. No schedules, zinnias and flip-flops! Meg- There is a recipe I LOVE that calls for hard boiled eggs (only 2 but hey, it’s a start!) it’s Paula Dean’s chicken pot pie recipe Everything! My husband and I are both home all summer with our four kids and we are schedule free! The best part of summer is spending time with my sweet babies and just taking it easy and no rushing:) I just love staying home and enjoying life with the littles:) Today, as I am home with a sick kid, I am longing for warmer days to throw all the windows open and let the fresh summer breeze blow all the stinky germs away. Unless, of course, the wind is blowing just right….err, wrong….and the stank of the pig farm down the road fills my home. Then, I would have to say burying my head in my vintage floral sheets freshly dried in the sunshine. Mmmmmm! this year the best part of my summer will be when we go to the coast with my husband’s family. his parents rented a beach house for the week in south padre. can’t wait to play in the water, relax on the beach and collect sea shells! enjoying schedule free days! with 4 kids, those are hard to come by during the year! The best part of summer is the fact that me kids are home everyday! We’re free from the bondage of the school schedule!!! No schedule! Lazy days or adventurous days depending only on our morning mood. I live in northeast Ohio where we have on average 52 sunny days a year, so the best thing about summer for me is SUNSHINE! And I love summer clothes and gardening! The best part of summer is sleeping in and not having a schedule. Love it! Best part of summer? Sangria : ) Since I am a teacher, it is definitely the “NO SCHOOL” factor! The best part of my summer? Lazy summer days when all my stresses and worries can just blow away in the warm breeze. It’s been a long winter in Wisconsin. My favorite part of the summer is flip flops. No more coats, snow pants, boots, hats and mittens. I didn’t realize until after a very long winter what my favorite part of summer is. i absolutely LOVE when everything outside around me is green! Green trees mean cookouts, pool time, fireflies, and happy people 🙂 Getting to spend 3 months with my girls. No work, all play! flowers, grilling, being outside, fruit salad, flip flops! best part of summer is being outside, naps in the shade, riding my bright orange vespa, and fun trips!! Grilling out, going to the park with the kids, and taking walks after dinner! I am a teacher, so the best part of summer for me is that I am home and on vacation with my kids all summer! I am genuinely as excited as they are to be home and have them home! No schedules, no stress just relaxed family time:) A break from teaching! 🙂 Oh wow, the pictures look amazing. My favorite part of summer is heading to the pool with the family when I get off of work! The best part of summer is having my husband home with the boys and I. Two whole months of FAMILY! Long days are the best part of my summer. More time to spend outside playing with my dirty, sweaty kids! 🙂 The best part of summer is spending all day in a canoe with my very “tan-able” husband while I slather on the whole bottle of sunblock to keep from looking like a lobster!! 🙂 I love the lazy summer days with my kids! Just the possibility to do something or nothing…..and eating breakfast on the back patio before the kids wake up, just me and the sounds of the neighborhood. The Swarms of Dragonfly fluttering above our pool, the fire pit making smores with the kids both young and old,old time amusement park at the boardwalk, and free summer movies outside at the lake. Water balloon fights, surfing, sleeping in, staying up late, drive in movies, Britt’s Doughnuts and letting my girls enjoy having a true childhood. Holy Cow!!! That’s awesome Meg — you’re a decorating rock star and I always make my hubby look at cute pictures of your house (on your blog, don’t worry, we’re not stalking you….yet!) The best part of my summer is always getting outside, whether I’m hiking, gardening, or just lying around. I love the hot weather, especially now that I’ve moved to Colorado and it’s hot and dry. um, that’s hard. i don’t like summer. (y’all can stop throwing your flip flops and beach towels at me) the mosquitoes are brutal, the humidity and 100+ heat is a killer, the worry of copperheads where we live intensifies. we do year round schools so my kids are in school during the summer. so i guess the best part of summer is knowing fall is around the corner. 🙂 but i still really would love to win the magazine! I love spending more time as a family…going to the pool with my kids, more time in the evening to do family things, vacation….. After all the rain we’ve had…it will be spending many hours just enjoying the SUN! Sunshine, lazy weekends and a general feeling of being relaxed. Oh- and my favorite- swimming! (Plus my wedding is this summer, so even more to be excited about!) No homework, and family time outside in the evening almost every night. grilling out and playing with the kids outside! The best part about summer is spending all day outside with my 2 year old – blowing bubbles, swimming, taking naps in the hammock Grilling out and eating on our back porch, half naked toddler running through the sprinkler, teaching our daughter how to swim in the river, Big Splash (water park), laying on a blanket in our back yard just hanging out. The best part for me is being able to relax on the back porch reading a book, walking barefoot in the grass, and my husband grilling! Homemade salsa! (Just one of the many things I love about my favorite season) Aww..that’s a hard one…I love summer…would have to say the no-schedule-ness and the warmth of the SUN! and flowers! And flip flops…corn on the cob! my patio! camping! Being outside in the beautiful sunshine! Staying up late! Oh…would love a copy. I actually love my boys baseball games…sitting on the sidelines with my little girls…having drinks and snacks…and then bringing them all home dirty and tired and getting them smelling good before reading books and going to bed 🙂 The best part is LESS rain and MORE sunshine here in the PNW. We’re so tired of rain! Sleeping in and the taking naps by the pool and then everyone falling asleep early after swimming….notice the theme…I think I need to catch up on my rest Back porch grilling, front porch snoozing, fresh veggies straight from the garden, and going to the beach. This year will be the first year our adopted son and our first biological son will go to the beach. I absolutely CANNOT wait! So many things! But most of all being outside with the kids, wearing flip flops, and hanging out on the sandbar by the river:)) Long, warm, sunny days giving you extra energy for summer holiday fun: picnics, berry-picking, paddling in rivers, chalk pictures on the ground. And I wouldn’t say no to a glass of chilled Rosé at the end of it, either… Getting to spend time with my daughter outside in the sun! But this year the best is going to be our new baby girl joining us at the beginning of June. Yay!!! Lazy evenings on the back porch….ahhhh, summer…. The best part of our summer? Hands down the beach, camping, and no structure!! Would love to see your spread! Best part of my summer is going to my parents house with the kids. We love getting to be on the lake? The best part of summer is finding a place to curl up outside, with toes in the sun and a breeze to keep you cool. Cloud shapes, lightning bugs, and long days are the best. Sooooo many great things I love about summer. I’ll go with spending time outdoors because many of the things I love to do are done outdoors! Thanks for the chance to win! 🙂 Grilling out in the backyard garden while the kids play in the water. It has taken over this year. But, perhaps the 44 heirloom tomato plants will provide some shade! Haha! best part of summer… are the lazy days, and the warm breeze off of the lake. spending time with my kids…….camping, visiting zoo’s, laying in the green grass, blowing bubbles, trips to the library, bike rides, sidewalk chalk art and the warm summer breeze 🙂 |
|
Lisa - I read your guest post and so appreciated the part about saying “no” to your kids. My oldest is 10 and is definitely becoming a teenager quicker than I’d like. I am also learning to say “no” even when its hard and they get mad at me for it. Thanks for reminding me of that important part of my role as a mom!
Cassie - I am new to your blog and LOVE it!! My kids and I made a summer list and we’re heading to the craft store tomorrow to pick up the supplies we need to make the painted butterflies on the canvas craft (was that the official name? LOL)…and I am not a fan of doing crafts, but can’t resist that one! I could go on about the ideas of yours I have stolen and the inspiration you have given me! Keep it up, Meg. 🙂
Andrea - I love how the photos capture the happiness of them as a family, the couple photos capture the love of the couple.
Meg, I am so proud of that guest post. Your family is blessed to have you.
Jemm - Wow, what a beautiful family! Man, those are somes genes. Hey Meg–I’m sure I’ve asked you this a million times and so does everyone else, but what kind of camera and lense do you use for most of your pics? Do you use a tripod often? And…is it true that to get a great photo most photographers shoot 40 pics to get that one great one? When you have the time…
Katy - Forgot to mention. I’m ready for another video! 🙂
tara - loved your guest post.
love your header…might be my favorite one yet.
love the way you love your husband and long for time with him…
love the way you are learning to say NO and listen to your heart.
I am working on this, too!!
I don’t want to be the mom that says NO every chance I get but I want to say NO when I know that what they’re wanting to do isn’t in their best interest. my mom bought a $50 video game when we visited them last month…my gut said NO but I ended up letting her do it….we got home, they played it for 3 days and then I took it away from them. They were mad as FIRE but in the end, I think they really get that it wasn’t what they needed to be playing…
as moms, we are always so conflicted aren’t we?????? you’re doing a great job, Meg. And, you are making such a difference in this little land of Blog.
Laura Clauson - great family photos!!!
andrea - Love the new header! Sunflower from Annie’s dress? Do they still have Liberty of London at Target? Have been trying to not buy any NEW clothes (just used) but may break that if they still do.
Also, read your posting at annalea’s. Makes me feel better that other people take the summer “off”. I have not been able to do that so far this summer. Does not help that my in-laws have been here for TWO WEEKS! Sigh. Also does not help that my children have been whining, fighting and complaining almost nonstop everyday.
Mindy Harris - gorgeous family. it makes me want more babies. i can just sense their closeness.
Katy - SUCH a cute family! 🙂 But I might be cursing you for writing “Friday” so much, ha! Reminds me of that song.. Ugh!!!
PS.. Love your new header. A lot lot lot.
Sandy - If those boys don’t look like their dad noone does! Beautiful family. Great photos!
Leslie - Cute pics! I LOVE your new header!!!
Melissa - I found your sunflower fabric!
http://www.fabric.com/CategoryDetail.aspx?CategoryID=a16346f9-3791-46e5-ab90-6c03e5e8c485&page=2
It’s almost at the bottom.
Had you found it yet???
james - You take great pictures. Makes me want to fly you to Michigan to take some of my family haha.
Heather @ Cookie Mondays - i reaaally enjoyed the last part about listening to your heart about being in charge of your family. loved it!!
HH - I have wondered if you watch TV in your home. From your guest post I’m assuming you don’t? Not at all or what are your guidelines? Your kids are always so active, that must be why?! (I have 2 under the age of 3 and another on the way and am not fond of TV, and would love for them to be willing to do art… like yours do at their age!)
Breeana - OH my gosh- my comment seems awful! You’re photos were great before and now even more amazing! Love the inspiration on your site!
Breeana - Your photography has stepped up a few notches this year. They look amazing! Great job. Also, love your post at annalee’s blog. I’m one of those who schedules too much- you inspired me to let go a little more!
Ann Williams - I read your post at annalee’s blog and I do believe we are soul sisters! Yep, I’m a total stranger (but not a crazy one) who only recently discovered your blog, but I love it! I have certainly thought the same things you have said and most assuredly have done (and do) the things you do, too! Especially late nights and late mornings! Thanks for the cheerful honesty!
sarah - LOVE the new header, and these people are beautiful. i’m sure their hearts are just as lovely as their faces!
amy jupin - i remember this family from last year (right?)!
meg, seriously, these are GREAT.
i love that them seem so relaxed and real.
i know i tell you this all the time, but i mean it.
you should be really proud of yourself! 🙂
Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Loved your post at Annalee’s. You rock the photo biz…wish you were closer and could photograph my family. Please let me know when you come to the LA area!
Suzi in Chicago - “A day in the life of Meg” made me cry. Thank you for always being “real” and fun and cute and inspiring. I secretly wish I lived next door to you 😀
julia - wow, it’s so neat to see your photography evolving…love these.
Kat - Love your guest post and another glimpse into the every day.
Such wise words and advice about Motherhood Meg, thanks!
I find your posts very inspiring, uplifting and most of all REAL 🙂
Sarah - Your pictures are awesome! And I just got back from reading your guest post – it was GREAT. Thank you for being real! It’s so refreshing to hear/read about another mom that struggles with the day to day sometimes.
bonnie - i just love your blog…. i enjoyed your guest post so much. makes me wish i was your neighbor. sorry is that weird? 🙂 i am always encouraged as a mom and christian after i read your blog, and i love getting all your creative ideas as well. hope you have a great weekend with your family.
Terrie G - Great guest post! Can’t wait for next Thursday!! Love your new header!!
here is some encouragement for you…last year, my then 19 year old son told me ‘thanks’ for not always saying yes to everything that he wanted to do. gotta love that kid!! Believe it or not…some day they will love you even more for your ‘no’!!
Leslie - Absolutely beautiful family & pictures!! What an amazing job at capturing their personalities – they shine through right away 🙂
sara @ it's good to be queen - 1. love your new header…the best one yet. 🙂
2. that is one BEAUTIFUL family…holy cow.
3. 3 boys and a girl!!! that makes me so happy…i have 3 boys and a girl on the way. 🙂
4. these are really, really great pictures meg.
5. LOVED your guest post.
Sarah - What a happy family…you did great Megan!
Ana M - Wonderful gest post. I am a mother of 4 (from 22 to 7) and I share all of your thoughts on being a mom. The one about saying no, about being present, about being tired, about doubting that we are doing the right thing (the kids always think that we’re not). Being a mother is a difficult task but at the same time it’s a blessing God gave us… and I really, really try (every minute) to do the best job that I can do.
Beth - Beautiful family and gosh the parents look too young!
Hey I wanna to ask if maybe you would consider having a day you would share with your viewers about their children have pen pals. I want to find one near my childs age and I had one when I was a child and would love to have my daughter experience it. So I thought with as many readers as you have you might could send a word out and see if anyone else might be interested in this. I only have a couple of regular readers on my blog so I knew I could not find one on mine..lol
If not interested I totally would understand.
alicia @ la famille - what an adorable family!! so happy it’s friday. i read your guest post and question: what IS a great mom? he**, what’s a good mom? we’re all trying…i hope they’ll thank us later. it’s not easy, that is fo sho!!
Thirty-fiveforty.blogspot.com - Great pictures, Meg! Your photography skills keep getting better and better, and I thought you were awesome before!
karen - hey..i remember this family from last year..right?? Wow..they are really growing up!
Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Meg, these are so great! What a beautiful family and you capture them so beautifully!
Shannon - How adorable is that family! They all look like they are having the best time ever 🙂
Leah - Great guest post! I love your advice about saying no. Just the other day, Sophie wanted to do something/wear something (can’t remember) and I just said no because I knew it was not a good decision. I couldn’t articulate why (and of course she was asking why), but I stuck with my “no” and feel good because of it. She got over it too. Love the new header! Did you use Picnik to create that?
sam - wowzers that looks like one happy family .. so happy .. those kiddies are the spit of their father !! Love your blog and you and your family are also adorable ..
have a great wkend, love the sunflowers .
xxx
Gemma @ Musings of a gem - Yay to Friday!
Enjoyed your guest post…although i’m not a mum I can appreciate how hard it is!
Have a Fabulous weekend!
Gemma x
Debby Graber - Liked your guest post. And I like what you said that moms do have to say “no” and be the mom. But it can get easy to say “no” too much too. I once heard James Dobson or Chuck Swindoll say that too often we get in that “no” mode and get to be grumpy moms who say “no” because we don’t want to be inconvenienced; not because “no” is the right answer at the time. So we also need to be “yes” moms and not critical, negative mommies. Balance. But for sure being moms who aren’t afraid to say “no” when it is necessary.
Holly - great photos! So easy when you have a beautiful family to shoot! Love the new header!
happygirl - You have a knack for getting the cute faces. 🙂
georgia - Wow they don’t look old enough to have kids!!!!
nicole @ deliajude - terrific family photos! that mom does not look old enough to have 4 kidlets!!! my fav shot is the top one.
amy b. - really love your new header!! so happy! you always take awesome family pics!! how do you find such great locations?? hope you have a great weekend!
Katy - um she is BEAUTIFUL.
cute new header.
you take great pics.
Kim - Cutest family ever.
I love the first shot – the dad and his son hugging him look like clones of each other. So adorable.
I read your post on Annalea’s site. Great stuff. You life seems so calm – I mean, as much as possible with five kids. Like controlled chaos. I’m trying to get there. I just have three kids and it’s just chaos. ALL THE TIME. I don’t know how you do it 🙂
TGIF!
meaghan - ummmm could they be any more adorable?!?!? i wanna look like that when my kids are all big! sheeesh.
Jen - I don’t even know these people and I want to be friends with them. And those parents are going to be in trouble in a few years–what good looking kids!