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First of all, let me just say, this is in no way any kind of announcement.  Many times, people will have their kids hold a number and then an extra number is set on a chair to announce a new baby is on the way.  Please note, I have 6 kids and there are six numbers!  No announcement here!I count to six all day long.  In my mind, 1,2,3,4,5,6.  Everyday, many times a day.  Counting heads.  Counting to make sure all are accounted for.  If I don’t get to six then I have to figure out quick where the missing person is.  Even when they are off to their activities I count to six.  I just imagine where they are and keep counting.  I am sure next year when Parker is gone, I will still just picture where he is and keep him in the count.  That is why I wanted to do this shoot.  It had been in my head for awhile.  We decided to do it.  The wood boards were left over from Parker’s Eagle Project.  Each child painted their own numbers. The way they are painted actually tells a lot about the child.  Pipers could don’t have had more sparkles and details on it.  She wanted to keep adding more and more.  Max is the one that cracks me up.  He painted a blue five on it and that was that.  The number was on and he was done.  It was nice that Piper is number six and she actually turns 6 in April.  I get asked parenting advice a lot.  This is flattering but really, I just say, I am just trying to figure it out.  Each day is a new challenge, we just take it one day at a time.What it really comes down to is that each child is so different with different needs.  And those needs change almost daily.  (While we were out adventuring on this field, the kids found a rope and started playing jump rope.)So it is knowing those needs that each child has that is the most difficult part of parenting.  Oh man, sometimes knowing those needs and what to do about them is soooooo hard!  When as parents do we get involved?  When is it best to stand back and let  them figure out life?  Which activities do we get them involved in?  How much is too much for them to be doing?  These are hard questions every parent faces. People ask all the time, what our rules are.  While we have certain rules and guidelines for the basics, what it really comes down to is asking what is best for the individual child.  And so I really only have one answer to anyone asking.

It is simply prayer.

One needs to pray for their children.  Each child.  Pray for them all….by name….out loud…morning and night.

Pray that you will know their needs and you will know how to help.  You do not need to be experienced in prayer to do so.  Find a quiet place and just try it out.  Then just be calm and listen to those thoughts coming to your mind.  Perhaps, no thoughts come to you at first.  That’s ok.  But somehow things will just work out.  Somehow you will get your answers. Just pray. That is my one and only parenting advice I give.  Just pray.  Try it. Can you guess what their fav musical is?  See the photo below.  They have loved Les Mis ever since we saw it on the stage in London and then with the movie, Wow, we listen to a lot of Les Mis around here.  

Meet Kathrine, my new assistant.  The Sandbucket is so lucky to have her.  She is a breathe of fresh air.  She will be helping with shoots, lots of projects behind the scenes of The Sandbucket as well as some fun blog posts.  I look forward to what her creative mind can come up with.  Many thanks to her already for helping out with the cool props for this shoot.  

Valentine’s Day marked twenty years from when Evan and I met. It was a great day.  I came downstairs that morning to be surprised by this sign and a huge arrangement of flowers from Evan.   After the mad morning rush of making heart shaped pancakes and getting kids off to school, Evan and I got away for a breakfast at Ramos House.  Yum!  Later, Evan came home from work to find this….Twenty balloons.  Attached to each one was a notecard for every year.  On each notecard had a list of memories for that year.  Evan loved it and loved reading through them.  I had fun going down memory lane creating the cards.  Later, the kids loved finding the cards of their own year they were born and reading. In the evening, the kids thought that Evan and I really needed to go on a Valentine’s Date.  I told them we had already ordered out.  They decided to take things into their own hands.  They set up the table with candlelight and all.  Piper informed me I needed to get into a dress!  She picked one out, along with shoes and let me wear her fruit loop necklace she had made the day before.  She then informed me that I looked awesome.  It was a fun day.  Here is a picture the kids took of us on our “date.”