Saturday Morning Soccer

yes, the signs of the season are upon us. all throughout my life there are little reminders that fall is here, like the uniforms and socks in my laundry room, the dirty cleats by the back door, the goals in the back-yard and the balls rolling around in the van. YES, soccer season has officially started, and i am yet again transformed into the epitome of the woman i swore i never would be, i am Soccer Mom.
over the course of the summer we have played numerous games of soccer in the backyard and the boys have worked on their dribbling skills and talked so much about what their teams would be like this year. they were so excited! caleb has been playing for a while, but he was so excited to have a "real" jersey this year, not a t-shirt. for lukie, this was his first year playing on a team and to top it off his dad was the coach. we all thought lukie would do/be great. he has a fun playful spirit and has loved playing soccer with his dad and brother for years. so it came as a huge SHOCK when all of the excitement came crashing to a complete halt on the field. lukie wouldn't go on the field, he wouldn't sit with his team and suddenly digressed into a baby with a bunch of whining and crying about how he wouldn't go on the field. it took us all by such surprise, literally moments earlier in the van he was talking about how excited he was. this last saturday morning was his 2nd game and this picture is of him sitting all by himself - not playing. notice his team-mates in the background. i wonder what is going on his mind and what it is about his personality that won't let him go out on the field and play. i know he loves to play and practice with his team - what is it? well, whatever it is - i love the kid!

Your Smile

every once in a while it seems i am able to capture the essence of my kids in a photograph. more often then not, my most favorite pics are those that were never planned. now, my dad would say that a photograph is made not taken. but, his perspective is that of a professional - which is NOT me. i understand that in order to get the perfect photo many things must be in order like, lighting, positioning, good behavior, blah, blah, blah, however, so often i find i become more concerned with the making of the picture than the true beauty of it and the photograph is never what i thought it would be.

this is a picture i took this last may while we were vacationing in florida. we were waiting at the dinner table for our food and just goofing around - nothing planned about this photo! the moment i saw it i knew it would serve me well. ohhhh, that sounds horrible (i've already used the photo for 2 package inserts). the beauty in it for me isn't that my lilly jane is goregeous (which she is!) it's that it captures her true smile. i like to call it her "inside out" smile because it seems at times that it will over take her face - now that wouldn't typically be a good thing i suppose. oh well.

i framed the photo with our 8x8 chipper frame and used ranger distress ink to add the splashes of color.

i am so thankful for moments that remind me to sit back, relax and enjoy!

first day of school 2006

welcome to the diller family "first day of school" photo. it seems like just yesterday it was me and my three brothers standing for my mom on our front steps for our first day of school. where oh where does the time go.

caleb is all excited about getting to go to school for a full day and eating lunch at school - he is heading into first grade. lukie will be starting kindergarten - he is anxiously eager. lilly jane will be my only one home. crazy.

Dear Jesus, watch over my babies. remind them you are with them and will always protect and keep them. may they see you and feel your love. in Jesus name - amen