happy mother's day
Yikes…
It’s been a long time since I have BLOGGED…
There has been so much going on the last week… blogging was not an option. What did I accomplish? I don’t really know. Seems like I was in a lot of meetings… had a lot of decisions to make and well- quincy turned 5. That resulted in last minute (but very cute) invitations and planning… It’s amazing that the girl is already five. Stunning really. Her life has gone by so quickly! Contemplating all this: 5 years old, losing teeth, kindergarten, etc. etc… on top of MOTHER’s Day… and being pregnant. I was a basket case in church on Sunday! And I had to teach!
Quincy’s birthday focused on cute toes… (those of you that have had the ‘she’ class know how I love little toes!) we started the party off with pedicures, pink toes, topped with little jewels (gasp, heidi swapp jewels no less)… and I couldn’t resist these glittery flip flops I found at target and knew that the photo was worth whatever I was saving by not going to one of those party places!!! Wink… lunch consisted of heart shaped pb&j’s and mini-goldfish and watermelon! And then just fun in the pool! Such a cute group of girls. Jodi made her rendition of the famous Magnolia cupcakes, and they were almost too beautiful to eat! (almost)…
Here are some pics… scrapbook page to follow. I can’t wait!
Saturday I decided I would like a family photo. the weather is so nice, the desert is in bloom (achoo!!) and there is some new building starting behind my house where I usually do my photography, so I wanted to get a few pictures taken before the homes and road goes in (yuck!)… I have a friend who is just dabbling in photography (justifying equipment!) and he was willing to come over and put up with my ‘control freak’ mentality when it’s about family photos. We got some great shots…I chose simple white and khaki.. it had been awhile and seemed summery and beautiful. ( alright, alright, I needed the photos for my CREATIVE ESCAPE PROJECT wink… turning out SO cute) but, I think that the emotional button was this shot of eric and i. 
me looking- well- pleasantly pregnant… the night before mother’s day… with my sweet husband… and after 11+ years… 3 kids already… he is so excited for this new addition… so happy- for us. It’s funny, cause I feel kinda like an old lady having a baby after all this time. and I am tired, and a little (chuckle) cranky, and not getting near enough done in a day… and then I look at this photo. and it’s all OK. I think that Saturday night… after these photos were downloaded… it was late – and I started to think about mother’s day a little differently. I guess turning the tables, and realizing that I should really be thanking my little ones, for allowing me to be their mother. And for a day… celebrating THEM. I just loved the little school projects…tiny notes and pictures I rec’d. and realizing…the TIME is so short. The moments are so fleeting.
And then they sing to you at church…and they keep asking me “what’s wrong mom!? Why are you crying?”… I remember thinking that when I was little.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you! Do YOU have a recent family photo? you need one. To put in a new frame in your entry way. Or by your kitchen sink. I am off to buy new frames today. I am going to re-arrange my entry table.
inle
15 May, 2006 at 11:05 amheidi,
this is the woman that I really like to ‘see’ when reading your blog… you’re true authentic self…
let ‘her’ shine more… it’s refreshing! blessing to all the mom’s….past, present and the future….
brianna
15 May, 2006 at 11:06 amYour family is so adorable, Heidi!
Lara Cousins
15 May, 2006 at 11:10 amGorgeous pics Heidi. Can’t wait to see your CE project;)
Lara in SA
heidi larsen
15 May, 2006 at 11:16 amawesome pictures! what a cute idea for a b-day party! my youngest just turned 5 too! you look so cute pregnant! i am also expecting a baby, mine is due in september. you will have to let me know how the age gap is. any advice that you have…
Natalie
15 May, 2006 at 11:23 amGreat entry. The birthday party idea is really cute! My daughter turns five in June and we’ve been back and forth on theme ideas. One minute she loves an idea and the next, she hates it! Such a girl. Love the backdrop to your family pictures…beautiful desert scenery…
Alyson
15 May, 2006 at 11:24 amYou guys look gorgeous. What a beautiful backdrop. Great little family!!!!HOpe you had a wonderful Mothers Day!!
Amy
15 May, 2006 at 11:40 amI don’t know how you do it all!! It sounds like such a fun party & your family is beautiful! Just wondering–is Jodi willing to share her cupcake recipe? They look delicious! :), Amy
Mom2Nick
15 May, 2006 at 11:42 amAbsolutely beautiful pictures. You look so beautiful (glowing) Heidi.
Happy Mother’s Day!
rc
15 May, 2006 at 12:13 pmYOur entry made me cry! I had those same thougth when I opened up the little handprint cards! I am so grateful to be a mom, sometimes I just need to be reminded!
Thanks
Jen Smith
15 May, 2006 at 12:20 pmWhat a beautiful family you have…and yes we need a new family picture. Thanks for the push.
kate
15 May, 2006 at 12:31 pmYour blog got me teary — just had my fourth baby in April and my oldest is five and starting school in August. I’m a weepy but happy mess as well. Where does the time go?
AshleyS
15 May, 2006 at 12:36 pmlove the peace sign your son is giving! beautiful family!
Rorie
15 May, 2006 at 12:48 pmHeidi, your family pictures look great. What a touching blog entry. I am looking forward to when my son is old enough to sing to me and make fun crafts for me and all that wonderful stuff. 🙂
Ksea
15 May, 2006 at 1:02 pmSuch beautiful photos, Heidi! They turned out so wonderful!!
Sara
15 May, 2006 at 1:04 pmI am a huge fan of your work. I enjoyed reading your blog today. Helped remind me to try to think that way a little more often, not just Mother’s Day.
Mary
15 May, 2006 at 1:09 pmWhat a beautiful family! Thank you for your realness and sincerity in your blog.
I just celebrated my first mother’s day (my baby boy is 3 months old!) and I couldn’t stop thanking my son and husband b/c if it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be a mommy! 🙂
Looking forward to seeing your scrapbk pages from the party….
amy
15 May, 2006 at 2:05 pmSuch beautiful family pics! Cant wait to see baby pics!
kim
15 May, 2006 at 2:12 pmYour pictures are so cute! And the birthday party looked like a lot of fun. Hope you had a great mother’s day!
Talia
15 May, 2006 at 2:30 pmSuch beautiful pictures, Heidi! You look so cute pregnant…I feel like my face is just fat along with everything else…you’re lucky! Hehe!!
em
15 May, 2006 at 3:18 pmso beautiful. love these photos and glad to hear you’re doing well!
vicki
15 May, 2006 at 3:19 pmthe photos are beautiful. i can’t wait to attend the event in sept. i have family that lives there. some in phoenix and some in sun city west. The party pictures are so cute. love the shoes and especially the pb&j’s. yummy!
Vee
15 May, 2006 at 3:46 pmbeautiful pics and loving the cute pink toes!!
wonderful post about being a mother.
🙂
Sarah W.
15 May, 2006 at 3:53 pmOh goodness, those photos are just GORGEOUS! the one of you and your husband is simply delightful, no one could honestly not look at that picture and not be excited for your pregnancy (and your marriage) your happiness and contentment just radiates off both of you. quincy’s birthday party looks like it was a blast! what a fun way to remember 5. and all of your comments about motherhood only make me pray that more feverishly for the opportunity for me to be a mom. 🙂
Cyndi ( disneyscrapper )
15 May, 2006 at 5:09 pmOh my . My big girl ( almost 21 would have loved the pink birthday party-as a matter of fact may have to use it for her 21st birthday ). And the family picture is awesome.
margie
15 May, 2006 at 5:11 pmDarling, Love love love your belly!
kiss kiss
m
alanna
15 May, 2006 at 5:13 pmOh what a awesome idea for a birthday party!! Love the pics, your family is beautiful! You look so great pregnant!
Take care
Alanna/Aussie Gal
gretchen
15 May, 2006 at 5:32 pmOK i am crying here and i don’t even have kids!! beautiful pics Heidi!
ScrapScene
15 May, 2006 at 6:05 pmBeautiful photos and beautiful family. I love the khaki and white theme you chose.
deb munn
15 May, 2006 at 6:21 pmAbsolutely love your family photo Heidi… and the sentiment behind it! Just beautiful 🙂
Glad you had a happy mothers day 🙂
~deb~
courtney
15 May, 2006 at 6:51 pmwow. i love what you wrote here. just really love it. made me smile that ‘awww… i know exactly what you’re saying’ smile…at least three times! 🙂
and those toes are adorable!! i should’ve done that for DD’s 5th in march… ah well, next year! 🙂
you look beautiful, by the way!
Ali
15 May, 2006 at 6:55 pmMan, I really loved this post girl. Just loved it. Happy Mama day to you.
April
15 May, 2006 at 7:10 pmWow Heidi. What great pictures! You look awesome!!! You have such a beautiful family and they are so cute! I hope you are doing good and feeling great. Love ya!!
chanel
15 May, 2006 at 8:00 pmreally cute, love the pedicure idea … might have to steal that one for one of my girl’s birthdays in the future! Great photos – i can see why you are so happy! You look radiant! I went surfing for my mother’s day – (am learning) and was so much fun! the kids love the beach too! I have decided I really really enjoy to surf, great to learn something new!
Angelique
15 May, 2006 at 8:42 pmYou have a very cute family and you look so darling being pregnant!
I love the birthday photos- I just did a very similar party with my little girl! We did manicures (&one pedicure) and a picnic at the park. Our menu was flower shaped turkey sandwiches- watermelon and chips. I love the pink sandals- sheesh- just darling! You are too cute!
I will have to keep your jewels in mind next time we do our fingers and toes- no more of those really expensive tiny ones that I buy at the beauty supply. I will just Heidi Swapp it from now on! :O)
Have a great week! Thanks for the fun post!
Amber
15 May, 2006 at 8:50 pmYou have a beautiful family.
Bek ~ Aussie Chick
15 May, 2006 at 11:12 pmThis blog entry was so lovely to read. Beautiful.
Just so special.
The REAL stuff.
Thanks.
Bek
Renee A.
15 May, 2006 at 11:19 pmGorgeous photos Heidi! Off to CKU tomorrow and really bummed I didn’t get into your crop but it was full. Hope to chat with you soon on our web site. Still chatting with Jodi about times that work for you. Hope to see you at CKU!
Breanne
16 May, 2006 at 3:56 amthose pictures are absolutely beautiful, Heidi! The feet one looks SO fun to scrap!
patty
16 May, 2006 at 5:51 amheidi…i missed you (your blogging that is).
but this entry was so worth the wait.
all the photos are amazing!
sounds like your mother’s day was as perfect as it gets.
-p
Rhona
16 May, 2006 at 7:42 amI love the family photos and the birthday shots. I know what you mean about feeling old to be pregnant (I had 6 years between my 2nd & 3rd) but once that baby’s here you’re just another new mum and loving it! Enjoy the time before the birth and take time out when you need it!
Dawn
16 May, 2006 at 8:00 amHeidi,
What great photos. Love the pic of all those cute pink toes in the adorable sandals and your family photos turned out just beautiful. You have a very darling family!
laura t.
16 May, 2006 at 8:42 amlove the toe party…
i got my josie those exact flippies…
pink with jewels…how could you go wrong??
the fam pics are beautiful
and i *heart* that you want to thank your
children for being their mom…
christineai
16 May, 2006 at 8:43 amOh, Heidi…you so deserve the most special Mother’s Day….you are the best!!! I will be meeting you this Friday night…I’m so excited!!!! BTW…just wondering if your mom got [her] Mother’s Day present See you in a few days 🙂
LenaS
16 May, 2006 at 9:10 amFantastic pics. Great cupcakes Jodi–recipe, instructions? H, you sooo do NOT look like an old lady. My oldest son is 20 now…that makes me old! If I could do it all over again I’d be pregnant right with you. I loved your sentiments about Mother’s Day. Thanks for sharing. Hey, when are the local gals gonna get in on that “she” stuff? I can’t do anymore CKUs or traveling right now. Can’t wait for CEscape. It’s about time we had something like a CKU here. Is there a Yahoo group yet? Happy Moms Day
LenaS
16 May, 2006 at 9:15 amHappy Birthday to Quincy!! Wishes for many more happy days for you in the future.
Hebe
16 May, 2006 at 11:08 amMy daughter turned five this week too but has more boys at her parties than girls so pedicures and pinkness are just not going to work for us. Maybe when she hits her teens!
stephanie
16 May, 2006 at 5:08 pmman, i would love to take a pic with a backdrop like that. i like the khaki and white add to the effect tremendously. TFS!!
Evana
16 May, 2006 at 7:39 pmI had to chuckle at the ‘old woman having a baby comment’….I too am the same. Together with my hubby for about the same time. 3 kids and preggers with number 4 due May so that old woman….SHE IS ME! Loving this pregnancy though and your pictures are gorgeous. Rest and enjoy.
Hugs
e
patty
16 May, 2006 at 7:53 pmp.s.
heidi dear…where did you get that adorable PINK cowgirl hat?
-p
laura
17 May, 2006 at 6:17 ami had a chuckle when i saw the picture of all the toes, because just this morning, before looking at your blog, i posted a picture of HANDS on my blog, whose composition is quite similar!!!! how funny! darling DARLING family pics, and birthday pics!!! Happy belated mommy’s day!
Laura 🙂
Jennifer
17 May, 2006 at 6:26 amHeidi-
GREAT pictures…i love the khaki and white and beautiful back yard. 🙂
You look radiant and you are NOT old!! Happy Belated Mother’s Day. Rest and take it easy…it will always be there another day.. Soak up the moments as they do slip away so quickly.
Jolene George
17 May, 2006 at 9:55 amWonderful family pictures Heidi! Quincy’s party looks like a girly blast! We took our family pictures but not one turned out. Trying to get 8 people to cooperate at the same time isn’t easy. We are re-doing them very soon! http://jolenegeorge.blogspot.com/
Kathleen
17 May, 2006 at 10:14 amHeidi,
Thanks for giving us yet another peek into your life. You inspire me and many other moms more than you know.
Erica
17 May, 2006 at 10:21 amGorgeous gorgeous pictures. You have a beautiful family 🙂
Karalynn Tyler
17 May, 2006 at 7:04 pmGreat photos, Heidi! You look fantastic pregnant- not like an old lady one bit. Your family is beautiful. I love hearing how involved you are with your family and church in spite of your already busy schedule. It reminds me that when all is said and done what remains for us is our faith and family.
Megan
18 May, 2006 at 12:38 amBeautiful photos Heidi! And just remember, what you usually get done in a day, most of us would be lucky if we got a quarter of it done!! So if you slow down a little bit more, you might finally be at the rest of us’s pace :o)
Megan
Debbie Cook
18 May, 2006 at 11:54 amgorgeous pics, adorable party ideas, fab entry…prompting some profound thoughts about mother’s day and being a mother. thanks, i could use that reminder sometimes! :)debbie
Jana Perenchio
18 May, 2006 at 7:52 pmWhat a beautiful entry, Heidi. I enjoyed looking at your beautiful pics & reading your touching words, you’re just such a NEAT person and you’re glowing. So happy to hear you had a wonderful Mother’s Day 2006.
Sarah Eberle
18 May, 2006 at 8:25 pmHeidi,
Love your Family Photo. I’m originally from AZ and looking at the backdrop made me home sick. Tanks for sharing your mom’s day thoughts! MOM’S ROCK!!
Sarah
Dee
20 May, 2006 at 3:46 amDarn it Heidi, I wish I glowed like you do while pregnant. Love that shot of you and Eric. And its always lovely to update the family photos.
keep well!
Dee
Karlynn
20 May, 2006 at 1:08 pmWhat beautiful photos!! Love it and WONDERFUL inspiration for me!! After reading your blog about mothers day…made me think about it alittle bit different..THANK – YOU SO VERY MUCH FO THE INSPIRATION!!!
Wendy
21 May, 2006 at 11:12 amHeidi, love, love, LOVE the family photos!! We just shot a few of the kids, my sister, and I for Mother’s Day and my 11 year old daughter assured me kahki and white do not match! Thank you for proving me right!!!!!
kristen
22 May, 2006 at 9:11 amstunning
background
heidi!
Sheri L
22 May, 2006 at 7:45 pmI would love to see some of your invitations. You mentioned one made with a cracker Jack box which sounds so cute. Love the pictures.
Carrie
27 May, 2006 at 6:38 pmHey Heidi! Love the family photos. Glad all is going well –
Layle Koncar
28 May, 2006 at 10:24 pmGorgeous family photos, Heidi! You look great!
joy
31 May, 2006 at 5:27 am“It’s funny, cause I feel kinda like an old lady having a baby after all this time.”
Right with you on this one… you look great…it will be awesome 🙂
BayouMaMa2
11 June, 2006 at 9:30 amBeautiful family…beautiful landscape…beautiful mommy!
I’m not a scrapper (it would just become one more of my unfinished projects! lol!)…but I found you thru a friend who is a scrapper. I loved your hair cut (I know…silly) and I was scrolling to see if you had any more pictures. (Bingo!) Hope you don’t mind, but I copied and saved your pix to show my hair dresser.
Maybe after a get a cute do, I will feel pretty enough to take a new (much-needed) family photo. Thanks for the inspiration!
Blessings from the bayou!-BayouMaMa