Twice per year, in the spring and fall, I do my “official” styled/thematic Mini Sessions.  This fall, they are on November 9th and I am so excited about the “back-to-school” set and the retro Christmas set that I’m going to be using.   Mini sessions usually book up super fast and this fall was no different.  Spring session will be here before you know it, though, and I am working on something super special.

Anyhow, here are some pictures from this mornings little mini shoot with Mr. Banyan.  Being 3 years old, his attention span for pictures is pretty short anyways, so a mini session works perfectly to get shots of him.  I took Banyan for a haircut yesterday evening, because his mullet style was getting a little out of control.  Banyan used to HATE HATE HATE haircuts, but my sweet friend Alyson took him last time he needed one and ever since, he has been a total peach….go figure.  Noa, after seeing his little bro’s transformation had this comment to make, “Mommy!  Banyan is so stylin’ now!  He is, like, REALLY handsome.”

Are you sick of seeing this alley way yet?  

He looks so much like his daddy here.  When we found out we were having a boy we decided that his middle name should be Arvin,after his paternal great-grandpa.  As things would go, our middle child got his daddys and great-grandaddys blues eyes <3

To celebrate last night, we just had a little family fiesta at a local Mexican restaurant.  I almost said family/friends fiesta, but left it at family because that is really the only word to describe how we feel about our sweet friends who joined us for dinner.  Being raised in a military family and now being a military spouse myself, I don’t take close friendships for granted.  I don’t think many people do, but I am especially cognizant of the value of a good friend because I have had to say goodbye to so many of them.  Every time we leave one town and move to another, I always see-saw between fearing we won’t make as good of friends as we left behind and knowing that God will, again, provide.

We have been mulling around with future plans as of lately, and thinking and praying about what God’s next step for our family will be.  One of the hardest things about taking new steps and moving forward, whether it be with the military or otherwise, is the pain of leaving friends behind.  While I know from experience that God always brings people into our lives who love on and care for our family, it is still hard to think about leaving such precious gifts behind.

In the last week we have celebrated both Banyan’s and my birthday and I have been reminded of what a treasure a faithful friend is.  As we celebrated my little boy’s special day in the backyard, I looked around and just said a quick prayer of thanks to God for each and every person who was in the backyard.  My children have so many aunties and uncles who treat them like their own children and who support, encourage, and even chastise them with necessary.  Austin and I would not be the couple we are, the parents we are, or the people we are today with out the constant presence of committed friends.

I want to be the kind of friend who is quick to lend a hand, who will remember kids birthdays, who sends a gift just because, and who builds up the people God has graciously placed in my life.  There are so many days that I want to be a more thoughtful and intentional wife, sister, mother, and friend, but I just get overwhelmed and busy with the daily tasks of kids, school, photography work, ect.  I have been praying that God would mold me into a more selfless person in general, but specifically into a more selfless and generous friend.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”  John 15:12-15

Photos taken with iphone 5

My mommy was my first best friend.  She surprised me with a special birthday bouquet.  Thanks, mom!!

I hope that this little lady calls me her best friend one day <3

My hubby is my current BFF <3  He DIYed this amazing gift just for me.  So thankful for a man who isn’t  afraid to dream with me.

Random birthday mail…..feta cheese!!

How blessed we feel to do life with this amazing family and their crew of silly kiddos.  It’s such a sweet gift from God to be able to hang out with people who “get” us and love us “as-is.”  It doesn’t hurt that their kids are just as loony as ours.

Even Lil’ Mamma has her baby bestie at her side.  She can be a bit of a bully to Callie sometimes.  I guess that’s what happens when you have two older brothers.

I hope that, one day, she will count her brothers amongst her best friends.  That day, obviously, hasn’t arrived.  Poor little lady

You don’t know it yet, but one day you will.  One day you will hold your child’s hand and walk them down a florescent lit hallway, through throngs of 10 and 12 year olds who suddenly seem much older than they did the day before.  One day you will wake up in the morning and start imaging all the things your child will hear and see that he has never seen before and wonder how he will handle it.  You will wonder if the lessons you have taught him in the last 6 years will still stick once he is out of your home.  Will he remember to say “yes, ma’am” or “thank you?”  Will he remember not to always push to the front of a line to be first?  Will he stand up for someone who is being picked on the same way that he rushes to aid his litter sister when she is being bullied by her 2 year old brother?

You will wake up even before that 6 am alarm goes off and start praying silently in your heart as you get dressed and make the first of many school lunches.  You will pray that God will help your little child to seek justice.  You will pray that your child is the one who remembers that every other child in his class is someone’s precious baby and that each child in his class deserves to be cherished, loved, and cared for.  You will pray that your son lends a hand to a classmate in need, that he remembers to tell his teacher how much he appreciates her hard work.

You will pray that your rambunctious and opinionated son remembers to love mercy.  You will pray that he is quick to forgive when a classmate wrongs him.  When he is inevitably left out of an inside joke, you will pray that he keeps loving the jokers who left him out.  You will pray that when he hears other kids teasing, he steps in with compassion.  You will remember all the times that he has instigated arguments or quarrels with his brother and hope that he doesn’t do those things to his classmates.

You will pray that your self-assured, confident, outspoken, miniature version of yourself will walk humbly.  You will pray that he doesn’t act prideful if he is smarter than someone else.  You will pray that he doesn’t blurt out every right answer, just because he knows them first.  You will pray that he uses his knowledge and intellect to help a friend who is struggling.

And, Noa, as you comb your sons hair that morning and as you watch him eat a special cinnamon bun breakfast, you will hold back tears knowing that this is the beginning of a path that will one day end with him leaving the house for good.  You will wonder if you should have home schooled him, if you should keep him under your wings a little bit longer.  Until he’s a little bit older.  Until he’s a little bit more able to discern wisely when tough decisions or temptations befall him.  You will remind yourself that he goes to a great school.  With great friends.  And great teachers.  And that it’s, thankfully, only a 3 minute walk away.

Noa, you will drop your oldest child off at school and watch so proudly as he goes straight to his seat and gives you a hurried kiss before darting across the classroom to check out all the new and exciting displays, books, and art supplies overflowing from the shelves.  You will walk away from the classroom and look at your spouse and smile and know that you did the right thing.  You will thank God for a strong, smart, healthy child and pray that he is a beacon of hope and a face of joy to everyone that he meets.

And, then, Noa, after 7 hours that seem like a year, you will sit on the front porch and watch your son come riding up the driveway on his scooter with a huge smile plastered across his face.  He will give you the best hug you’ve had all day and tell you he had the, “best day of my whole life ever.”  His mouth will run 1000 words per minute telling you about his day and you will hug him tightly and listen with anxious ears.  You will sit on the couch and ask him a million questions about a day that is curiously unfamiliar to you.  And that night, as you tuck your son into bed before another day of learning, you will pray again, but this time with a heart of joy, thanking God for His hand of provision on your son’s life and on your family.  You will sleep peacefully and dream of your child’s future; a future full of hope, opportunity, and adventure.

You will wake up the next morning and make the 2nd of 10,000 school lunches.

I did a post a couple weeks ago about how much our family enjoys sailing together, and someone commented that it looks like i’m a “perfect” mom.  I cringed reading that, and it even grieved me a bit, because it’s so far from the truth and I have tried to be intentional when it comes to internet stuff to not paint a overly rosy picture of our family and our lives.  The truth is, life with 3 young kids is anything but perfect, but I don’t think it was ever meant to be.  Most of our days are messy, noisy, and full of the mundane things that never make it onto the instagram feed or the facebook wall.  The kids argue, the baby cries, the hubby and I have our differences, but at the end of the day when the kids are sleeping and Mr. Bean and I are sitting on the couch enjoying the hour of quiet, it’s all worth it.

So, the walk this morning, while beautiful and refreshing was not taken because I live some fairy tale family existence where i buckle up the three kids for nature walks every morning.  Far from it.  We went for a walk because it means Biggest Brother could ride his bike and get some energy out, and because Big Brother and Little Sister were buckled into a stroller meaning no arguing and crying about her taking his new toys.  Sigh!  By the end of the walk, everyone was in a better mood, she was ready for a nap, and the brothers were ready to be amicable again.

About our walk, now.  Let’s see……well, when I was in high school I used to come for walks in the neighborhood we now live in many evenings.  My best girlfriend lived not far from here and I would drive to her house and we’d walk and talk for a couple hours.  When we were living in Hawaii and found out we were going to be getting transferred back to Elizabeth City, I knew that I wanted to find a home in this part of town.  It’s far from the nicest area, and it’s not like we have sidewalks or anything like that that makes it super walkable, but it’s right by the river and it’s one of the older parts of town, which, in my opinion, makes it the perfect place for the Bean Family to dwell.  Most mornings, after breakfast and getting dressed, I like to wrangle up the Tres Frijoles and get a little 30 minute walk in before naps.

I feel compelled to take a picture of them together any time they are all clean and all happy.

This beautiful home is just around the corner from ours.  It’s actually a B&B, “The Pond House Inn.”  My in-laws have stayed there when they visit us and it’s so beautiful.  When the little pond isn’t full of algae, it’s even more lovely.

Mr. Precious and his favorite snack.  So glad that Big Brother taught him to eat it like this.  Much easier than cutting it up every time.  

Loves her stroller, this one

“Mommy, we never take pictures of you and me together.”

My kids love these colorful flowers.  I think they’re called Lantana.

The Pasquotank River.  The water may look blue, but don’t be fooled.  It’s brown.  Dark brown.  Can’t see your knees when you’re waist deep brown.

Noa’s favorite part of the walk is when I let him ride ahead to his little beach.  It’s just a 10 foot stretch of sandy shore behind these weeds, but’s to him it’s an adventure waiting to happen.

So many pretty homes around here.  We are so thankful that we get to live in this part of town.  God blessed us with a great neighborhood, amazing neighbors, and His gorgeous artistry.

Cracks up our kids every time.

Cicada shells.  We used to cover our clothes with these things as kids.  I love that the boys do it now.  It’s the little things.

The biggest mushroom i’ve seen around here.  He couldn’t wait to squash it.

His favorite fishing spot.

Home, sweet Home <3

 Today we spent the evening celebrating a friends 5th birthday.  We met this family about two years ago and they have quickly become the kind of friends who I know we will one day be removing our dentures to eat oatmeal with (at least the guys will).  Their neighborhood has this awesome clubhouse/swimming pool area and they reserved it for their son’s birthday party.  After some delicious food and fun games, the kids had a blast in the pool.  School starts for Noa in about 3 weeks, so I know that our summer fun is slowly making way for schedules and homework, but evenings like this remind me how blessed we are to have a group of friends who we love like family and who nurture and support our kids.

The Birthday Boy!!  This little guy is Noa’s current BFF.  They love playing boats together and doing anything that is either loud, dirty, or messy.

Poor Avenlea…..

I love how kids are like moths to a flame when it’s time to open presents.

The fill the bucket game, in action.  Banyan was so enthusiastic when it came to be his turn.

Now, obviously, I don’t have a favorite kid in theory, but I definitely have a favorite to photograph.  No middle child pictureless syndrome here….the blonde hair and blue eyes are a guarantee of that.

The men, with an ever watchful eye on the pool.  The sky, with an ever more darkening threat on our fun.  The kids, oblivious to it all.

“1, 2, 3, JUMP!!!”

This crew of kids are going to be some serious world changers, for sure!