So, we started our day like this:and ended the day like this. 

Well, not quite.

I am, however, putting a more concentrated effort into expanding my photography business in Aiken.  It's so much fun and I'm so in love I only wish there were more hours in the day.  It seems like yesterday I got my Canon Rebel and couldn't take a focused picture to save my life.  Of course, countless hours with that baby in my hand led to not only focused images, but every now and then one that I was amazed I had taken.  Well, as that started happening more, my expectations grew.  With several workshops behind me, hundreds of tutorials and thousands and thousands of practice shots I felt like I had outgrown that camera; which led me to the Canon 5d Mark II.  Or Livi Grace II as I refer to her.  My new love.  Don't get me wrong, I still love Livi Grace, in fact, I still carry her everywhere with me too, only now as a back up.  I love that I can look back on some of my previous images and cringe while ten "flaws" jump out at me.  It's a nice reminder I'm making progress.

Speaking of progress, I'm so happy with the progress I've made in Aiken already and all the new people I've gotten to meet through this art.  I can't wait to see what the future holds.  I'd love to do this more full time, ya know, in about 29 months when the boys start kindergarten.  but who's counting?  For right now, I'm loving being a mommy all the time and a part time photographer by appointment!  Life is good.

Now my shameless plug:

So, if you stumble across this in the Aiken, SC area go to www.jlloydphotography.com and give me a call!! ;)

These pictures are from about a month ago, but it was so much fun I wanted to be sure to post it.  The boys like helping me in the kitchen and with this meal they knew what was inside and ate it better than they would have otherwise.

I used to make these as a kid on this same snackster machine I think!

Here's Carter:  He demanded he be first.  I think just so he could see what was going on and then direct his brothers on what do to.  He's such a bossy little thing!

Taylor:  He and Brayden couldn't wait to cook it before eating some.

Parents of multiples often get asked if their multiples have special ways of communicating together, or a special language only they know.  I can't speak for all multiples, but here's my thoughts on my boys.

At two and a half years old they have the vocabulary to pretty much convey to me anything they want.  Their birth order is Carter first, Brayden second, and Tucker third.  In that same order their dictation and pronunciation of words goes from best to worst.  I can understand MOST of what Carter is saying, if not, I can ask him questions until I figure out the mystery word.  I can understand MOST of what Brayden is saying, if not, I ask him questions until he takes me and shows me or until Carter clears up the misunderstanding by saying it clearer or in a different way.  I can understand A LOT of what Tucker says.  However, if I don't understand him he gets frustrated and can't or won't try to work with me in answering questions he just starts saying the mystery word over and over and sometimes whining or crying or throwing something etc.  Tuck's very laid back and sweet, but boy does he ever have a temper.  That's where his brothers come in.  Should the notion strike them and they decide to help ole momma bear out, they'll tell sometimes successfully get me to understand what he's saying.  A secret code language?  They understand each other, but I don't...  But I don't know.  I think maybe it's less of their own language and just a baby dialect variation that they are lucky enough to have 2 others around at all times that know their broken English dialect well enough to carry on conversations with one another with ease.  Whatever it is, it is definitely special.

As they laugh and play together it seems they can predict the others thoughts and movements and feelings before they're apparent to others.  There is no doubt they are close brothers and close friends.  They look after each other and always know where their counterparts are at.  When one's in time out, the others anxiously await and often ask for the jailed party to come out.  They love one another and there is a special bond between them all, including their older brother who likes to mimic the pronunciation short falls they sometimes have. 

Today, Aiken, SC has officially closed down.  The schools, daycares, municipal offices, pediatric clinics, you name it, closed!  We woke up this morning to a wonderful winter storm and the boys were SO excited!  It snowed the day after Christmas, but it was a wet, short lived snow that the little boys didn't even play in because it was so mushy and wet.  Not this snow!  It snowed for a few hours then came the freezing rain which encapsulated the snow with a hard candy like shell.  The boys had a blast!  Here are a few pics of  their snowy winter fun!

I feel the need to add the disclosure, I didn't take Livi Grace (my camera) out to play in the snow.  There was way too much snow and ice flying in my direction to take her out, so these are all with my cybershot point and shoot.