Monday Confessions....

1. My hubby got an ipad yesterday, which was a combination Father's day gift but mostly a "job well done" gift from his Father (who also happens to be one of his bosses). No, I am not jealous because he's great at sharing :) Anyone have ipad apps they love or hate? Tell us what to get! Any really cool kids books or games we should know about?

2. If you don't already know this, my husband and I have completely opposite musical tastes which used to be considered cool on both our parts but now it pretty much drives us nuts around the house, in the car, etc. Do others of you struggle with this? Do you compromise or just not listen to anything in each other's presence? We do have a little overlap but you can only listen to so much Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville on XM :)

3. As we were taking an after dinner walk in our 'hood - a sweet neighbor commented "my how your gang is growing" and I repiled "we look like a stinking parade!" I laughed at myself but we really did! Matt walking Dozer on the leash while pulling the twins in the wagon (they were eating the firecracker popsicles dripping red, white & blue all over one another). I was on the other side pushing Max in the snap n go. My how life has changed in the last 5 years...our poor dog :)

4. My husband is dancing right now with our 3 week old to try to get rid of his hiccups..it's hilarious and endearing! Lets just say hubby isn't known for his rhythm!

5. Wanna' know what I got Matt for Father's Day? These Toms Shoes! If you aren't familiar with Toms, it's a really neat company who gives a pair of shoes away to a child in need in for every pair of shoes purchased. So Matt got a pair and a kid some where in the world got a new pair too!

6. Ladies, this is no joke if you ever need a fast & cheap pedicure check these out...SERIOUSLY don't be freaked out...they really work and look like perfection! Ask me how I know next time I have a perfectly french manicured foot!

7. I confess...I have the Bachelorette on right now. Every season after constantly rolling my eyes at all the shenanigans I swear the show off...but summer Mondays are dead otherwise on the tube so I return...only to eye roll some more! I mean Bentley...REALLY?! I give Ames two thumbs up right now & hope the rest of those turkeys run! **The fact that they are literally fighting on this episode has even drawn my husbands attention**

8. Summer to me is warm days, windows down, lemonade and good country music with some splashes of classic rock thrown in (Matt would completely disagree on the country part of that statement).

I came to the realization today that maybe the reason I can relate is that my life is a combination of country song's at the moment..so indulge me and check out the similarities!

Lets start with Phil Vassar's "Just Another Day in Paradise"

The kids screaming, phone ringing
Dog barking at the mailman bringing
That stack of bills - overdue
Good morning baby, how are you?
Got a half hour, quick shower
Take a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour
My funny face makes you laugh
Twist the top on and I put it back
There goes the washing machine
Baby, don't kick it.
I promise I'll fix it
Long about a million other things

Well, it's ok. It's so nice
It's just another day in paradise
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise

Which leads into "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins

'Cause You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Which leads into "Alright" by Darius Rucker

Cause I've got a roof over my head,
the (man) I love laying in my bed
And it's alright, alright
I've got shoes under my feet
Forever in (his) eyes staring back at me
And it's alright, alright
And I've got all I need

Which can all be summed up by "Blessed" by Martina McBride

At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones
That love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

Be blessed friends! Hope your Monday was a good one!

Dear Matt,

Dear Matt,

 Seriously how do I thank you for almost 5 years of marriage and 3 wonderful children?!! You are a great, fun-loving dad who tries to make memories with our kids every day.. which I love. Even if you're running in between jobs (which speaks volumes about you already) - you make time for a tickle fight. I love when I hear the kids laughing because you are in the room.

When we first became parents I always noticed that you weren't doing something the same way I would..but I slowly learned that you were doing it your own way & that it was just as good :) Yes, it might mean that our kids think that poundcake is a breakfast food or that it's ok to watch a movie at the dinner table or that popcorn is totally a good snack for 9am on a Saturday! I love that you see our 3 little people and want them to love life. That was something about my dad's character that I treasured and I see it in you. Even just yesterday you let Dean fly a kite for the first time because a couple weeks ago you just wanted "to do something fun for the twins" & ordered them a beautiful kite! These are things that they will not soon forget either.

Here's to you on Father's Day Matt! You are my favorite teammate, partner, and friend!

Love you!

Em

Monday Confessions

I really don't want to have to confess because what I have learned about myself today is that I am not really a nice person so I will keep it short.

1. I am running on little sleep which translates into very little patience...recipe for disaster when combined with a newborn and two toddlers. I have already raised my voice and cried today...it's only lunchtime! 

2. I drove through McDonalds for a $1 sweet tea which equals small sips of bliss for Mommy even while people are fussing.

3. I keep having dreams of me running - not sure what that means for me metaphorically but I know that I can't wait to exercise again and attempt to get back in shape. Not looking forward to those first runs though, they are so difficult especially when you feel the extra baby weight flapping along as you run. The first time I ran after the twins I swore I was wearing someone else's butt...no joke.

4. I need to stop eating junk food or I really will be wearing someone else's butt...

5. My 2yr old son is apparently cutting his molars..explanation for lots of testy behavior and some other issues he was having. Sorry Deano...

6. I am now addicted to watching Paula Deen on the Food Network - love that woman mostly because as if Mac n cheese isn't good enough alone - she wrapped in bacon and DEEP FRIED it in an episode I watched last week! Amazing! But about all that healthy stuff...

 I think I will keep all the rest of my personal uglies to myself today but just putting it out there that we all have good and bad days. It's naptime right now so I will attempt a little rest myself and hopefully be a nicer mommy to all later today :) Happy Monday friends!

Better late than never..Max Week 2

Hey blog reading friends! I am a little late to post Max's week two photo but better late than never right?! I have 3 good little excuses...Macy, Dean and Max! Max's hair is looking a little red in this photo but it's not so red in person as far as I can tell... he was mesmerized by the ceiling fan at this point in the photo! I don't have to much to say on this fine Sunday eve so just enjoy the quick pic of my little man and his quasi-mohawk :)

And another quick pick of Macy holding Max yesterday morning...

Monday Confessions

1. I just ordered stuff for my twins SECOND birthday! Is that even possible?! Two Years old already...I guess by the steady stream of "no" and defiance at our house I should realize this...but Macy & Dean started out even smaller than Max, which is even hard for me to remember. And who knew that in just two short years of the twins birth God would've added another sweet boy to our family?!

2. Yes, I allowed the hospital photographer to take pictures of Max (I didn't with the twins, I was too crazy and still delusional about what I could accomplish while caring for infant twins) and YES I am even purchasing a print of one image. What does this prove? There are great photographers everywhere - never be too proud to allow someone else to help capture your life moments! In fact, plan to invest at least annually on a photo shoot for your family!

3. Max is being such a good baby - part of it is that he's a laid back go-with-the flow kind of kid & the other part is that I have half a clue of how to care for a newborn. Lets hope this is really his personality for the long haul!

4. Enchiladas for dinner made for a long night last night for both Max & I, sort of forgot that what I eat he eats :) TMI? my apologies! you want me to confess these things right?!..Got him down this morning just in time for M & D to be in their cribs saying "dada, mama"

5. I am actually really looking forward to a trip to Target today! It's funny that routine errands become a fun outting when you are home nursing a newborn & your life revolves on a feeding schedule.

6. My hubby is off today and I am sad that he goes back to work again tomorrow. We love having him around more & he's been a major help rangling the twins. He's been making days fun for them because Mommy still can't even pick them up.

7. We forgot about our dog yesterday and left him outside for like 4 hours before one of us rememebered. He doesn't tolerate heat well so he usually isn't out for that long at a time. Luckily it was a beautiful day! Sorry Doz!

8. Macy just walked over to me wearing my nursing cape that I wear when nursing in front of others..had to laugh. Sorry for any male readers and the abundance of nursing references...my bad...

9. I have really been missing my Dad. Of course you always miss a family member when they are gone, but it's especially hard when there's something so big to celebrate like a new baby. I am mostly sad that Max will only know my dad through my memories and he won't get taught things by him personally. My dad was a great teacher of all sorts of things....everything from math times tables to how to properly handle and care for a firearm. I will attempt to do him proud and teach these kids everything he taught me.

10. Today is my mother in laws birthday (& she is one of my consistent blog readers :) - so I want to say Happy Birthday Christi/Grandma! I know that there are a world of "mother in law jokes" out there but I have to say that I am truly blessed by my "MIL". We are so grateful to have her as a second Mom to me and a Grandma to my kids. Christi especially is always hospitable, generous to a fault, and very patient with most things - especially my kids! She has loved me from day one and for that I am so thankful. Christi, I hope you have a wonderful day! Can't imagine our lives without you!

Max, One week old!

Ok so this is sort of a "fad idea" right now but I think it's a super one - take a picture of your baby every week of his or her first year! I am going to attempt it and even if I do miss a week here or there, Max will still have a decent record of his first year of life. I am already feeling a little worried about the "third child" issues that people joke about so I am trying my best to give Max his own little traditions. I am sure that it will be especially hard to be the third kid after a set of twins...anyway, I digress.

This idea is robbed from a design and style blog I like - Young House Love.

So here is to Max's first week of life! I keep calling him the "dream baby" and he pretty much is. Thank the Lord, who knew I needed a sweet little easy-going bundle of love :) And yes, Max is really giving Donald Trump a run for his money in the goofy hair category...

A few family photos...

Our last pic as a family of four on our recent vacation...

And here are some of the last couple days at the hospital with baby Maxwell!

T3 is Max!

Hey blog friends! In case you didn't hear the news via facebook, twitter, or my proud husband, we welcomed a healthy baby boy into the world on Friday morning at 10:01am. He weighed in at 8lbs 2 ozs (the first scale said 7lbs 14 ozs but that was debated and later retracted) and he was 19.25 inches long.

Maxwell Owen Troutman is his full name and a few have asked how we came up with the name. Maxwell is my mother's maiden name and unfortunately there are so many girls on that side of the family that the last name gets knocked off marriage by marriage :) We love the name and were hoping to keep it alive with our sweet boy (That's for you Poppop!). Owen is my father's middle name and we have always liked it as well. In fact, when we were naming Dean we were back and forth between Mark & Owen for his middle name. I am thankful that now both my boys will now have a peice of my dad in their names.

Max has a full head of dark hair, which is entirely different than Macy & Dean who were born baldies. He has been pretty happy and easy going, which we hope is a good indication of who he will be at home. Max is sweetly sleeping by my side now....

Thanks for all the well wishes, prayers and thoughts coming our way. He truly is a blessing and through all we have been through in recent weeks, he reminds us that God is good. Oh..for those that are curious... Macy instantly loved Max giving him kisses and saying "hi baby." Dean was a lot more unsure of him but he did say "Max" and gave him a kiss before he left! Here's to our family of five!

Dear T3

Dear “T3”-

 I am writing this late on a Wednesday night and you are supposed to be born this Friday morning if all goes according to plan.  “T3” or “Troutman 3” is your nickname you’ve been given while you have been growing in my belly. We have to say that you were a bit of a surprise to us from the beginning, but always a good surprise! We decided to stay with the “surprise” theme and wait until your birthday to find out who you are. Your daddy and I have gone back and forth about all sorts of names…hopefully by the time you can read this you don’t hate us for any name choices :) YOU will most likely laugh and be thankful for the names that have been ruled out!  We really can’t wait to meet you and see what you will bring to our family.

You have a great big brother and sister waiting to meet you. They have been testing out all the baby gear around the house to make sure it’s good for your arrival and they daily point to my belly and say “baby.” I don’t think that they really understand that you will be here to stay but they will get it eventually. Our life is full of lots of fun, family, love, and hard work. I am sure you will fit into it all very well and round out our clan. I admit though, I hope you are a tough cookie - you have twin siblings just two years older than you that will probably do all sorts of things to you when I am not looking!

You are coming into our lives at sort of a crazy time. I (Mommy) just lost her daddy 3 weeks ago and unfortunately you will never get to meet your Grandpa Mark but I promise to tell you many stories of the man he was. Your only cousin so far is Trevor and he is just 7 weeks older than you so he will be great company for you in life I am sure. You are coming into a big family with lots of people to love you and they all can’t wait to meet you!

This very week you were born many things have happened in the United States both history and pop culture related. Unfortunately this week there have been horrific tornadoes all through the Midwest that have been the worst in decades. We have certainly had our own mix of crazy weather here in DE lately too.  Gas & milk are each close to $4 per gallon, which is pricey!  Oprah Winfrey did her last show today after a 25 year run on a talk show. Scotty McCreery won season ten of American Idol (a singing show) tonight and as I write this the Phillies are tied 4-4 with the Reds… all kinds of crazy and fun things going on in the world that you are about to enter. We are really just praying for your safe and healthy arrival at the end of this week. May you know that God has had a plan for you from the beginning “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16…we really can’t wait to meet you! I can't wait to see your sweet face, snuggle you close and of course, take your picture!

Love,

 your mommy

Monday Confessions

MOnday has come again so quickly, the days are passing in blurs of taking care of kids, house, husband and myself. Our days as a family of four are truly numbered and we are not finding ourselves in the easiest of times. We are trying literally to take it one day at a time...so here goes for this week.

1. Kids and I are sick...awesome. At least the kids can get good meds, I can't because I am almost 38 wks prego!

2. I tried a Mc D's strawberry lemonade yesterday, a bit of a let down I must say. Not sure if there's a standard strawberry to lemonade ratio but mine definitely needed some more of the sweet strawberry to round out the tang of the lemon. I will give it a second shot though because I have a coupon for a free one :)

3. We bit the bullet and got a new (to us) stroller yesterday that will work for all 3 kids. We will look like a bus rolling through but if you haven't ever seen a Valco Runabout with the Joey seat..it's pretty cool!

4. I got to see Water for Elephants last week with a few girlfriends. I thought it was a great adaptation of the book, of course there were a few adjustments here and there to make it more "movie" worthy. I have to say, I liked Robert Pattinson as the lead Jacob and Reese Witherspoon as Marlena. They did a great job bringing the story to life!

5. Just for bragging rights, the nine month pregnant woman I am, snuck an entire Friendly's friend-z reeses cup ice cream into the movie theather in my purse. RPatz and reeses ice cream...what else is there?!

6. I had a few great yardsale finds this past weekend - the most exciting was a new desk chair for our home office. I had this cool old chair with "character" that was a curbside find that we have been using for years but it's getting tired. I scored a white Pottery Barn knock off office chair for $5! We put a cushion on it and no one will know the difference!

7. Speaking of curbside finds, I also got a free gently used changing table from a neighbor who was done with it. I absolutely love free! It also happened to match our cradle perfectly and fit into our room where we needed it to.

8. I am missing my dad, keep having the urge to give him a call or send him a text. I find myself reminded all the time lately of just how much he taught me. Even today, I was working on freshening up our "new to us" stroller and had to adjust the tires. The tires are like bike tires with quick releases...dad taught me all about that stuff so I was able to get the tires perfectly lined up and ready to go!

9. My husband revealed to me yesterday that there are two things he really despises - glitter and peeps. Go figure but I will be sure to avoid those around him! He also would never brag on himself but he just finished up a great website design project for an international missions group - New Harvest Missions International. You should not only check out his great design work but check out what Christian churches are up to in West Africa.

10. I am pretty much running on fumes these days...just taking it one thing at a time. Can't believe T3 (the baby) will be here so soon. In the midst of loss and chaos, we still have much to celebrate and be thankful for! Thanks again to all of you who have been supporting us through these trials!

What I said at my Dad's Funeral...

So it has taken me all week to be brave enough to post again about my father's passing. In preparation for sharing at his memorial service I wrote out what I wanted to say so that in case I could not do it on my own - someone else could read it for me. Thankfully between Dad & Jesus, I had the courage to make it through, even speaking off the page at times. I am proud of my brother as well for being able to speak & share so beautifully about my dad!

For those who were not there here is what I said...

I think a lot of times when someone passes away we are encouraged to think about the “big” moments of life and those memories and while I do have many of those that I am thankful for with my dad, the “small” moments are sticking with me now. Lets face it, our lives are full of a lot more “small” moments than big ones. What we do everyday shapes our families and lives. I have been thinking a lot about what it meant to have Mark as my dad. What it meant most of the time was that my brother and I were lucky enough to have a very present father, who was always around and part of our everyday lives. Just as much as I will remember him walking me down the aisle and dancing with me at my wedding – I will remember him walking through his vegetable garden with a cup of coffee in his hand or seeing him after school at the hardware store.  He taught us strong values of work ethic and responsibility. He was even ingenious when teaching us the value of money with our allowance – we got charged for our irresponsibilities like forgetting something we needed or not doing a job right. 

We were joking that as much of a hot-head as dad could be at times, it seemed he had an extra “dad patience” when teaching my brother and I things, like using tools or riding bikes.  He didn’t just want you to learn stuff either, he wanted you to inherit his passion for the subject…whatever it might be.  He was definitely a work hard, play hard type guy.  I was a little bit of a family let down when I informed him that I would be the first Frey not to drive a manual transmission vehicle, I claimed that we needed diversity. He laughed and thought I was lame but honored my wishes. He was very proud later when I started dating Matt because thank goodness he drove a Jeep and it was manual – the mark of a man. Driving and cars were always a big deal with dad. His driving was usually fast but he had two specific driving rules that we were to abide by that I still try to stick to -  1. Don’t scratch your truck and 2.  Aim for Daylight  - these are still good rules to live by :)

  That was something great about him, certainly no one could deny his passion for life. He was definitely always willing to try something at least once. I think of a time after a snowstorm that we were with my uncle & cousins and decided that my uncles little fishing boat would be the perfect “sled” to ride down a hill and into the frozen lake…we coined that adventure “snow boating” – why not?!  I remember him turning an old non-working riding mower into more of a little tractor to pull a trailer and taking all the kids in the neighborhood on a hayride. Or him stashing fireworks on the way home from a business trip in order to give the neighborhood a good show on fourth of July. Or the annual trek to choose the family Christmas tree out on a tree farm somewhere.. I think of him in his fleece lined jean jacket with his cowboy hat and orange saw….cigarette hanging out of his mouth and potentially a swear word or two was heard before the final cut of the tree.

 Many great memories were made when we had mountain land in PA where we would regularly sit around a fire and camp….he taught us there to be entertained by simple things & to always enjoy nature.  That was a place where we learned to mountain bike, canoe, hunt for things and he would even do things like whip up a sweet berry sauce for pancakes if we picked the berries. I have a huge love for the outdoors and “fresh air” as they say and I know it comes from spending so much time with dad – most of my memories of him are outside! Our yard was like an extension of his living room because he was always working on something. If not a wood working or house project or a car or something with my brother…he always had something going.

I don’t know how others spent their 21^st birthday but mine was a snow day – I spent it going to the DMV for that new license then heading to the shooting range to burn up some ammo with Dad – then we got lunch at stanley’s tavern where I had my obligatory alcoholic beverage. Some might find this odd but it stands out to me as a perfect way to celebrate with Dad. He was very proud of the natural shot I was and loved to take me – I even took the target home to my college roommates & hung it on the fridge – they needed to know I had accuracy :)

I also think of a day when I was in college, it was 7am and I was driving to my job at a local gym in Newark. I hit a bumpy patch in the road and then all of a sudden it sounded like I had a flowmaster on my truck…. I got to work & called dad to tell him what happened. His response was “girl,  I raised you, get under that truck and see, your muffler probably just needs reattaching” – he was right - it had split right at the catalytic converter. I walked next door to the gym where there was a dry cleaner, politely asked for  wire hanger – then proceeded to go back outside in the parking lot and magiver my muffler back together with the wire hanger – Dad stayed on the cell with me and I got it temporarily fixed enough to drive around and not sound like an indy car. And yes for the record, I do know what a lot of car terms are because of him.

I think the character traits that stand out is an honesty and loyalty – he was about as unpretentious as a man can get. He was always willing to help, was extremely loyal and sometimes brutally honest but you never had to question where he stood on a subject -  Even if it was just through his bumper stickers :)

 My brother and I were recently talking with Dad about a picture of him sitting on a donkey from when he was a kid …he then remarked “yeah, I have been dealing with Jackasses ever since”…he never lost his sense of humor even though life had gotten increasingly tough on him struggling with illness. Even just the other day at his house I saw & was reminded – he had an orange tag that looked like a hunting license that was made out to be an “official osama bin laden” hunting license. I am glad he was here long enough to see Osama gone!

Even in the more recent tough times, he still made efforts to be with family.  He couldn’t get up and run with the grandkids but he would put them on his lap when he could and definitely would slip them things from his oreo stash (Dean knew where it was :)  The last time I really got to spend with dad was a couple weeks ago celebrating his birthday – he was at the head of the table at Grandma’s house – I knew it took him such strength to even get there but I saw him giggling at the kids when Dean would fake burp and other such fine things we are teaching them. I am thankful to have had him for a father and thankful that he breathed his last few breaths with all of us by his side.

Here are some things that come when thinking about my dad… pretty quintessential american:

• ·      Levis – dark straight wash
• ·      Cowboy boots
• ·      Ray ban aviators
• ·      A big bowl of ice cream
• ·      A brown bronco – bought the same one twice
• ·      Guns, smith & wesson
• ·      Family
• ·      Tools & hardware
• ·      all things Ford
• ·      sweet smell of sawdust
• ·      classic rock, usually loud
• ·      working hard, sweat on the brow
• ·      old western movies and shows
• ·      good cooking (tex mex & chili)
• ·      gardener – master tomato grower
• ·      black coffee
• ·      Becks Beer in green bottle
• ·      Camel Cigarettes
• ·      BF Goodrich All Terrains
• ·      Long hair for most of my life
• ·      Eric Clapton
• ·      Riding bikes
• ·      Him teaching me stuff like how to check the oil or shoot a gun
• ·      Dallas Cowboys
• ·      Fanny pack – no its not cool, but when you’re packing heat no one questions it
• ·      Nascar Races
• ·      Flannel & western shirts
• ·      deep gravely voice
• ·      handwriting in all caps, kinda’ matched his voice
• ·      ability to fix everything!
• ·      I remember when he hated cell phones, he came a long way to even learning to text with me
• ·      Good socks, a life essential & annual Christmas joke
• ·      Driving go-karts
• ·      Long stride, hard to keep up with as a kid
• ·      Good sense of humor
• ·      Importance of self-sufficiency
• ·      Love America, question authority (government)
• ·     All his little sayings that I will forever hear in the back of my head
•        "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!"
• ·      “not on my shift”
• ·      “gas is on the right”
• ·      “don’t’ sweat the small stuff”

This picture is from the summer of 2007 when Dad was still well & very much himself, great memory!

Monday Reflections

Well today is a day that is hard to wrap my brain around. I am going to attempt to speak tonight at my father's funeral. It mostly still seems surreal and I am a bit on auto-pilot, but I am determined to honor the man that has been such a big part of my life. It's been probably like a lot of greif, such a mixed bag of emotions. And it's also strange because there's so many moments I just want to go hide in a corner and be upset alone...but life as a mommy and wife doesn't work that way. I have found my daily duties in life a good distraction but am also trying to find time just to greive. It's an interesting process of letting go and celebrating a life all at the same time. If you are the praying sort...feel free to pray for me this evening around 7pm Eastern time, I will be speaking around then. I will attempt a tribute to my dad another day this week on the blog after I collect my thoughts!

And I cannot say enough how THANKFUL I am for every single one of you who has already helped us in some way or is offering to do so! We have felt so loved, supported, and encouraged. Those of you that have been praying, we feel it. Baby number 3 seems to be staying put for now, which we are greatful for...although at 37 weeks...I am ready to meet this child!  From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all for everything!

Monday Vacation Confessions

We all know the feeling when you pull into your driveway after a long drive home from vacation...it's a nice mixture of it's good to be home and an awful dread of "back to reality". Even the best vacations always come to an end!

1. Driving over 9 hours 9 months pregnant wasn't great but it was worth the destination! We loved where we got to stay in Emerald Isle, NC.

2. The house we stayed in was actually for sale, only $2.8 million - anyone want to spot me a loan? You can visit of course :) It was beach front, 6 bed/6bath, with a pool on a deck overlooking the ocean.

3. I only used my hairdryer once on vacation..I embrace my natural hair texture in that kind of humidity :)

4.My kids were up every day at 6:30am ready to start the fun! It definitely is a different kind of vacation with toddlers.

5. I pretty much ate a dilly bar from Dairy Queen every day at 3pm....and sometimes repeated at 9pm! I think the dilly bars by the pool had an extra yumminess to them!

6. I read two books, Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer and Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. (Yes you can read a couple books during naptime hours sitting by the pool). They were definitely both good beach/summer reads. Beachcombers was set in Nantucket and had some great poignant family dynamics. Safe Haven was much more of an intense -don't-want-to-put-down book with some twists and turns. As many of Nicholas Sparks books are, it was set in his native state of North Carolina. I always feel like I need to read one of his books when I am visiting an NC beach, just feels right!

7. I decided it was time to see what all the fuss was about Glee, so I borrowed season one from the library and asked my sis Ashley to get into watching it with me. Needless to say, we were sucked in right away and need to get our hands on season two! Lets hope the library has that one too...

8. We got to NC on the night before Easter, knowing we wouldn't be joining our church families to celebrate Easter we decided to do it a little differently this year. We watched the Passion of the Christ which I must say is extremely powerful. I haven't been able to bring myself to watch it since I saw it in the theater years ago. I think it was the perfect way to remind me of Christ's sacrifice and truly contemplate Easter.

9. My kids absolutely loved every minute of being at the beach with the whole family. Our week was full of precious memories togeteher. I did take a good amount of pics and will post some soon. There were many moments when I found myself just watching and getting a little emotional because I know these memories are already fleeting. M & D are growing so fast. Sometimes when I take a snapshot I know that years down the road I will look at it with longing for these sweet days. (I remind myself of that when the terrible twos rear it's ugly head!). It was also precious to see them experiencing such great love from family - they have great relationships with their grandparents and aunts and uncles. It's wonderful to grow up in such a web of love and support!

10. Last but not least..I am having a baby in 26 days (if all goes according to plan)! holy cow! Coming home to that reality is even more of a wake up call than most post-vacation depressions. It's more like a post-vacation freak out to get ready for number three :) Just taking it one day at a time!

Dean LOVED the ocean, no fear at all (which of course made Mommy nervous!). Daddy loved having a mini-playmate at the beach. Matt even has a small surfboard he is saving to teach the kids on when they're ready :)

Macy loved walking on the sand but it took her some getting used to. I couldn't get enough of her cuteness and pretty much think she was the Coppertone baby come to life :)

For those who have wanted to see some belly pics, Matt offered to take a few our last night at the beach. 
It's funny, I love to take maternity photos but sort of shudder at the idea of getting them taken! Thanks Matt for making me feel pretty despite the triple chin :) 

How the heck to choose a Wedding Photographer?!

    Other than a spouse and rings, the photos last the longest from your wedding day! I joke with friends that your wedding day and honeymoon is really the best you will ever look! You will certainly not get any younger and most likely not any thinner… at least that’s the case for most of us!

    It is important how you go about choosing your wedding photographer. Unless you are one of the fortunate girls with an unlimited budget, I think a lot of brides start out thinking “What can I get for the least amount of money?” with almost every aspect of the wedding. I have to say, that’s probably the worst way to approach most things, especially photography.

    I personally went through this experience planning my own wedding, I got down to two photographers that I had met with and had personal references for. First guy was a gentleman who I knew would do “fine” and was inexpensive. As for number two his work was way more my style, current in wedding photography, and I could imagine treasuring the images he would create. He did cost 3 times the amount of the first guy but I have learned that “you always get what you pay for.” I didn’t want to walk away from my wedding with images I felt “blah” about….I wanted pictures to capture my day specifically to my own style and aesthetic. I also considered who I could imagine being my literal shadow on my wedding day and photographer number two fit the bill much better than number one.  Do not underestimate the importance of getting along with all of your vendors you choose for your big day, after all they are creating your wedding experience. With all that said, we chose to invest into the more expensive photographer and are so glad we did!

Here are some important things to consider when choosing –

1. Style is a great place to start. Start looking at photographers in your area and get a feeling for what types of images you are drawn to. What type of end result do you want when all is said and done? You cannot hire a JCPenney Portrait photographer to try to take Annie Leibowitz type images. This is just a research phase, where you learn what you like and don't stress about budget.
2. Reputation and references go hand in hand with researching style. Start asking friends who did their weddings. Ask if they were happy with not only photographer’s final product but their personality? Was he or she an asset to the day?  If you find a photographer that you love but no one you know has used him or her, feel free to ask him or her for a few references you could contact. Any photographer with professional services will be willing to give you a reference. I cannot tell you how many wedding photographer horror stories I have heard & witnessed but I will save those for another blog post!
3. Budget is of course essential to consider as you start to narrow down. You might love a photographer that starts at $10k but have a $2k budget, this is when you can get realistic about who might start to fit the bill. The average wedding photographer cost or package now in the US starts at $3k. There are certainly options under this, as mine even start below this point but please be realistic with your starting point. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Someone offering to do your entire wedding for $399 is definitely suspect...they might be extremely inexperienced and therefore unprepared for what might come on wedding day or they might turn up so-so images.
4. Product options are important once you narrow down who might fit your style, personality, and budget.  If you know you are only interested in buying the digital files, make sure that’s an option for you to purchase. Every photographer will have options, just make sure you can see some samples and you like what they offer. I know that I keep my product line fairly simple so if someone wants something very elaborate, I might not be their best fit.
5. Availability, of course you would need to find out who is available for your date so once you get narrowed down to a few, see who is even available! Due to my baby coming this summer, I had to say no to a lot of people unfortunately asking for weddings around my due date. More popular photographers book quickly as well as prime dates like Saturdays in June fill up quickly!

These five things are just a few suggestions on how to go about who to work with on your wedding day. I am making these suggestions in relationship to photography but they actually work fairly well with all the vendors you will choose for the day! Make sure you will love the people, love their work, and feel like they are worth the investment you are making in them, as well as being trustworthy to deliver!

Sweet Charlie

Sometimes expressions are weird like, "I could just eat you up," but then there are times they just make sense! I met my sweet new friend Charlie for a little spring photo shoot. When he showed up dapper in his little khakis and sailor sweater vest, I could literally...EAT HIM UP! His smiles, his cheeks, and his energy all made my job fun. Having two almost 2 years olds myself certainly helps me when meeting a new toddler, we have lots to talk about like Elmo, going on easter egg hunt,s and airplanes in the sky... you know... the good stuff! I had a lot of fun on a pretty spring day capturing this little boy's spirit. Charlie of course had his pretty mommy along for the adventure too and we of course managed to get some shots with her too!

Charlie and Mommy, she can look at these pictures when he leaves for his senior prom and doesn't even want to hug her in public anymore! :)

Love the tongue, I swear it always helps a person concentrate!

I mean REALLY? He probably gets away with everything because of this cheeky smile!

An airplane flew over head and it was major cause for excitement as we tried to spot it in the sky. 

Charlie decided he could stand to sit for a few more frames with Mommy included. 

He was glad to hear when we were almost done picture time...

Thanks Charlie and Melanie for making me remember why I love my job! 

For those of you who are still interested in booking a spring shoot, my schedule is tight but don't be afraid to inquire! emily@emilytroutmanphoto.com

Kickin' it with Kamee, NYC style

Spring sunshine, the energy of New York, and joining up with other creatives to go on a styled photo shoot...I literally had to pinch myself last Friday. When I originally heard about this workshop, I didn't know what April 15th would hold for me being between 7 & 8 months pregnant so I decided not try to sign up. I got introduced to the work of Kamee June Photography through my friend Rhonda. Well Rhonda heard some spots opened up and invited me along, boy am I glad she did! I knew that I might get tired after walking lots or have to make ridiculous amounts of potty stops but I was game as long as everyone else didn't mind having a prego along. The experience was even better than I imagined... getting to shoot all over the streets of NYC on a beautiful spring day while being inspired by all the creativity around me was such a refreshing change from my daily mommy life!

We were given a little story to go with our shoot... girl meets boy... girl and boy are supposed to be meeting up for special tryst...girl leaves apartment ready and beautiful ready to meet up with her love...heads to the train station...waits, waits, and waits some more....realizes boy isn't coming...heartbreak.

Special thanks to Kamee June for hosting the workshop, Katrina Kirk for styling and Gentry for modeling for us! both Kamee and Katrina have fun blogs you should check out after you look at mine :)

Enjoy the eye candy from the day! 

Gentry works it on the steps of a beautiful brownstone and I loved how this guy walked by at the perfect time with the perfect tie to play off Gentry's pretty blouse. 

Ahh youth and beauty! Only to be a college freshman again! This California girl has been braving the streets of NYC to get her education at NYU and I have to say she was a good sport with the chill in the air!

Loved her boots...

Great Styling by Kat...

The Famous Grand Central...

Loved how the light wrapped around her stiletto to create a perfect silhouette. 

Monday..time to confess

1. Totally just ate a hot dog with coke for lunch at Costco...hit the spot..remember don't judge me :)

2. Got a free $20 gift card today from target just for creating a baby registry!

3. Ants are attacking at our house, is this happening to anyone else?!

4. I had an amazing experience on Friday being a part of a workshop in NYC with Kamee June Photography. We had a model and stylist with us to create a fun atmosphere to photography on the NYC streets. If you haven't ever been to NYC in spring, you really should go! Trees were in bloom and everything was picturesque. Thanks to NYC Freshman, Gentry, for being our model and to Katrina Kirk for styling. It was a great day of shooting and friends! Plan to blog some shots from the shoot later this week for those who haven't already peeked on facebook!

5. I was suprised beyond belief yesterday when some friends threw me a baby shower for number 3! I REALLY was not expecting a thing because I am having 3 kids in two years and people were already SO generous when the twins came! I was SO TOUCHED and everything was beautiful - the theme of the shower was diapers, which was perfect because we will definitely need them with 3 booties in diapers at once! My awesome aunt tallied and we landed somewhere over 2100 diapers for our family! Thanks friends!

6. We are going on vaction Saturday, I have a ton of work to do but have vacation brain! It dawned on me this morning as I was peeling my eyes open that I now have to pack for this wonderful beach vacation. We are heading south with my hubby & his family for a last little getaway before baby arrives!

And on that note I am going to get back to other photography related tasks while the kids nap, I like to leave for a trip with all those loose ends tied up!

Beautiful Rockwood Wedding

Jon-Mikel and Jackie bonded over a love of the outdoors and sports, and the rest as they say, was history! When a bride chooses the end of March for her wedding date, she can hope for a gorgeous spring day but unfortunately there was still quite a winter chill in the air for this wedding day. That didn't stop this great bride and groom from braving the chill to get some outdoor portraits. All the details fell together perfectly for this Rockwood Mansion wedding event. As far as a place with charm and character, this is place defines that.     Jon-Mike and Jackie, thanks again for having me capture your day and congrats again!

(For those of you that follow regularly, forgive my growing pains on how to best display images on my blog. I am keeping it simple but still want to give the best viewing experience for you!)

Jackie made such a beautiful bride!

 Loved these florals but you know I am a sucker for a cala lily! I was also smitten with this gorgeous red antique chair that was perfect for some bridal shots!

I think this is one of my favs of the day!

Jon-Mikel worked it too!

This last shot was from my wingman for the day, Rhonda Bowman, who did a great job as second shooter!

Monday Confessions

Today I will have to keep it "like a midget made out of sugar" - short & sweet!

1. I am swamped in a good way this week, lots of editing and more shoots coming later in the week.

2. Most exciting?! I am going to be a park of workshop in NYC on Friday with the fabulous Kamee, check her out if you haven't! Great west coast photographer heading up a styled wedding shoot in NYC that I get to participate in along with a few friends...REALLY EXCITED! Just imagine me waddling through NYC for this opportunity...praying now for great weather!

3. Still a crazy mom trying to hold it all together. Smack in the middle of reading Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman. It's a good read so far, tying together scripture and discipline. Hope I can learn how to implement it well.

4. Finished Water for Elephants last week, really enjoyed it. There of course was some vulgarity but hey - it's a story about a carnival in the depression..what do you expect?! It had a lot of fun as well as drama...good read and I am ready to watch RPatz & Reese Witherspoon bring it alive on the big screen when it comes out!

5. I broke my own rule today and let my kids play in the sandbox at the park. I usually refer to it as the "litter box" but after trying to chase them in two directions and Dean taking a big spill off a high playground ladder I thought "hey, they might actually stay in the same place for 5 minutes if I let them play in the sand." It worked like a charm and they played for a good 15 to 20 minutes in there!! I was pretty excited about that and had to dump all the sand off them before putting them back in our cleanly vaccuumed swagger wagon :)

Like I said this morning, going to view this week's to-do list as opportunities to do what I love and make a difference...try not to look at everything as an obligation! Happy Monday friends!

Not too late to confess...

You didn't think I forgot did you?! Today was a gorgeous busy Monday so better late than never!

1. I became an aunt today! Trevor Owen-Elder Frey was born today at 11:27am. He was 8lbs and 20 inches long. I got there in time this afternoon to see his first bath and snuggle him a bit. So happy for my big brother & his new family! As much as "Auntie Em" could sound cheesy, I think it has a nice ring to it!

2. Definitely remembered today that it was free iced coffee Monday at Dunkin! French vanilla on the rocks, yum!

3. It was SOOO nice out! The kids and I did lots of outside things like the park, blowing bubbles with our new bubble wands from walmart, taking a walk in the neighborhood...it was super and did I mention that they watched less than 15 minutes of TV all day..this huge since this winter we were stuck in so much!

4. I am busy with editing and all kinds of good business stuff but I took a time-out for some sunshine on my deck while reading Water for Elephants, I am getting close to done!

5. We went to ChickFila kids night tonight on our way home from visiting the new baby. You can't beat free dinner, balloons, a clown and ice cream :) Again..don't mention the nutritional information.

6. I am learning a lot about parenting lately. It can be so joyful and also so stressful a the same time. Having a boy and a girl of the exact same age is interesting, they are so different. I am having to learn how to love, lead, teach, and discipline them. It's a challenge!

7. I am almost 32 weeks with number 3, can't believe in 8 short weeks we will have another little Troutman! really starting to wonder who is in there :)

8. Got to watch the movie Tanlged this weekend, I thought it was cute and my kids enjoyed it. A girl always loves a good fairy tale that ends happy!

9. Kids got to meet the Easter bunny at the mall...Dean loves bunnies and learned a few weeks ago that they "hop.'  As soon as he saw the large bunny at the mall he was screaming and pointing "Hop, Hop, Hop" and couldn't wait to get over there. Of course Easter has a very significant spiritual meaning in our home that really doesn't have to do with a bunny and our children will learn all about that with each passing year. I just enjoyed seeing them smile while encountering this larger than life bunny! Macy liked him a whole lot better when she wasn't on his lap :)

10. Easter Bunny Photo for your enterainment-