3…2…1…

BLAST OFF!

We shot a rocket today…what did you do?

The following video was shot during the rocket’s maiden voyage.  Please note my panic and instant camera-drop in the moments following lift-off when I was 95% certain that the rocket was going to come crashing down on my daughter’s head.  Moments later, however, the parachute dislodged and the rocket drifted gracefully, and harmlessly, to the ground.  My triumphant “WHOA!” is when I realized we were in the clear.

Nerdy.

Micah + Sam

If you think that Micah and Sam appear to be a perfectly adorable couple…

…then you are 100% correct.

She’s the mac to his cheese. He’s the pb to her j.

And they’re getting MARRIED!

The future Mr. and Mrs. Jones.

A match made in….any guesses?

So THAT’S what warm and fuzzy looks like.

Micah and Sam, you crazy kids are just plain awesome together.

Micah is a brilliant artist and such a gentle, caring soul. She has this knack for making people feel at ease…she’s good company. Sam is a bit of a prodigy in the music department. He passionately serves as the Contemporary Music Director at Cypress Creek Christian Church and there are undoubtedly big things to come from this guy.

I have so much respect for people who truly GET each other…no frills necessary. You two are setting yourselves up for such a wonderful future together. I can’t wait to be a part of the beautiful celebration on April 9th!

xoxo

Keri

What’s cookin’, good lookin’?

Oh wait, I know!  It’s my NIECE, Karli!!

Sweet Keri, motherhood looks goooood on you.

I cannot wait to meet this baby.  And I’m not the only one.

Aunt Janica.

I like it.

I can’t believe that in a few short months my baby brother Brandon will be a Daddy.  (and a GOOD one, too!)  Keri’s baby shower was last weekend and she drove allllll the way down from Lubbock.  After the pink wrapping paper was all shredded, the last sip of sherbet punch was slurped, and the final group of chattering ladies made their way out of the door, we were able to grab a few quick shots of her perfectly adorable belly bump.  Next time I see my dear sister-in-law, baby Karli will be hanging out in Keri’s ARMS!  I am giddy with anticipation.  Keri, Brandon, and little Karli, I love you to infinity and back!

P.S.  Will you just get a load of this cake from the shower??  My friend Angie is an absolute cake-making dynamo.  If you need a cake, and want it to be fabulous, send her an email: angielindquist@yahoo.com

Home is where the _______ is.

So it’s decision time.

I’ve been trying to push all of this to the back of my mind, telling myself that we still have MONTHS before we have to really deal with the concept of Matt moving to Los Angeles.  But the truth is, it’s now.

Matt is moving to L.A. in less than a month.  Matt is MOVING to LOS ANGELES in less than a MONTH!  This is no out-of-town trial that lasts a couple weeks.  This is no pack a carry-on and a toothbrush kind of trip.  This is no GAH I need a break from my kids thank goodness Matt will be home in a few days type of situation.  The man is moving out.  For a year.

The king bed will swallow me.  I will have to get my own glass of water before bed.  The kids will have to settle for Mom as a wrestling partner.  I will have to take out the trash.  No, wait.  Scratch that one.  I already do that anyway.

Point is, our home sweet home in Spring, Texas will be Matt-less for 12 months.  That fact was starting to make me very, very sad – until I realized that maybe our home wasn’t in Spring, Texas after all.  Certainly, we have our lovely house here, but how can it really be home if 1/4 of our family unit is 1,556 miles away?  (thank you, GoogleMaps)  Home, as you’ve heard, is where the heart is.  For Team Boles, the direct translation would be home is where the MATT is.

And so we’re going.

This summer, Parker, Bailey and I will give our cozy house in Spring, Texas a see you later high-five, and head into the waiting arms of our sweet Daddy Matt and a 2-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles, California.  I don’t know exactly how long we’ll stay.  At this point, there’s just no way to know what this adventure will be like.  I never dreamed that Parker would start kindergarten on the west coast!  There are so many questions left to answer and details to freak out over, but I am beginning to feel the sheer excitement of the situation creeeeep up inside of me.   I know one thing for sure…

We’re going to Disneyland!!

Busted

If you’re a parent, you know the sound.  It is unfailingly prefaced by an unexpected crash and the anxious moment of silence that follows.  You instinctually cringe and mutter to yourself, “they’re OK, they’re OK, they’re OK…” but then it happens.  The stomach-twisting wail of legitimate pain – made infinitely unbearable because it is in the frantic voice of your own child.

I was emptying the dishwasher last night, admittedly grateful for the peaceful moment of solitude while Matt took the kids upstairs to get ready for baths.  There was the familiar thunder of playful steps above me…but then came the thud.  The silence.   And then THAT sound.  I flew upstairs to find Bailey huddled in Matt’s arms, her muffled sobs causing her little body to quake.  Matt quickly explained that she tripped in the bathroom and hit the wooden step stool.  My slight relief was quickly stripped away when she pulled her head from Matt’s chest and turned to reach for me.  Oh, the BLOOD.  It was more than a little bit gruesome and I’m pretty sure I saw Matt’s eyes bug out of their sockets, Large-Marge style, for the briefest of moments.  Miraculously, my inner stomach-of-steel Super Mom emerged from deep within, and I did my best to assess the situation and bark out an order or two.

In the end, it wasn’t much more than a significantly busted lip.  With the help of the “cold thing” (rag-wrapped piece of ice), and a long spell of singing songs in the rocking chair, we were able to pull through.  It was undoubtedly much more difficult for Matt and me than it was for my tough little lady.

It truly gives you pause.   The desperate feeling of helplessness that grips us when our children are experiencing pain or fear.  Knowing that we can only do so much to take the hurt away…  I am unspeakably thankful for the health and happiness of my children.  It is my greatest gift.

.

.

It’s been almost 24 hours.  Don’t be fooled by the mock-sadness.

It takes a lot to keep this girl down.

And it didn’t curb the appetite.  Not one bit.

The Riebel Family

Riebel family, you’re adorable.

Glowing Mom, handsome Dad…but who are we kidding?  We all know who steals the show here -

Miss AUDREY and those amazing blue eyes!

I see you, too.

Rain, rain, go away…and it did!  I thought that this session was doomed.  My windshield was peppered with raindrops and the clouds were dark and heavy.  But then the sweet Riebel family rolled up on the scene, and Aubrey’s sunny disposition must have been contagious.

Audrey is an absolute doll and I had so much fun swapping giggles and grins with her.  And guess what?  She’s going to be a BIG SISTER!  I can’t wait to meet the newest little Riebel.  I am anxiously awaiting the news of her arrival in a few months.  And who knows?  She just might make her own appearance on the blog…

Leyla, Bryan, and sweet Audrey, thanks so much for spending time with me.  Very best wishes for your exciting future!

A Boles Family Portrait

Sigh. I think it’s time we call in a professional.

Spit and Polish

…and we’re back!

I thought that I could stand to do some freshening up here at jbo photo, and so a few days ago, I decided to tackle the blog.  A nip here, a tuck there, and here’s where we ended up!  What do you think?  I’d love to hear your feedback.  I am no longer going to use the jbo photo website, so you can now find session information, photo galleries, and other goodies right here on the blog!

I have a couple of sessions to share coming up soon, so stay tuned.  In the meantime, poke around on the menu above and see what’s new!

And since there aren’t nearly enough photos on this blog (or any blog!) of grown men racing children’s toys:

The Barnes Family

EVERYONE loves the Barnes family.

What’s not to love?

Mom and Dad Barnes, you did good.

First of all, there’s the delightful Megan and her charming Nate.  Megan’s gorgeous face (and perfectly pregnant belly!) have appeared on the blog before…

Stella is a big sister now!

Look who’s outta the belly!  It’s Sam!

And then there’s Seth. From high school and beyond, Seth’s always been “Class Favorite”.  He’s just that kind of guy.  Lucky for him, he ended up finding a favorite of his own – the lovely Michelle.

Annie is all sugar and spice…maybe a little heavy on the spice.  Work it, little miss!

Luke!  With those eyes, and his little streak of mischief, he’s got it made in the shade.

Love=Laughter=Love=Laughter

See what I mean?  Now you love the Barnes family too…don’t you?
(told you so)

American Idol, Revisited

 

We’re American Idol fans in this house. I mean really, who isn’t?

As I sit with my little man Parker and watch the first episodes of American Idol Season 9, I can’t help but bump up this post from last year. Parker’s infatuation with “the singing show” appears to be resurfacing, so please stayed tuned for potential audition tapes from him in the weeks to come.   (It is worth mentioning that these songs were ENTIRELY his spur-of-the-moment creation. Never before, and never since, have I experienced such random musical hilarity from this boy)

Originally posted February 3, 2009

We’re American Idol fans in this house. I mean really, who isn’t?

After last season, Parker talked about “the two Davids” for MONTHS, and I thought he was going to lose it completely when he recognized David Cook on a commercial that aired during AI last week. (”Mom! Mom! But wwwwhy does he wear make up? Is that David a womens?”)

He has now decided that it is incredibly entertaining to act out the audition process. Over. And over. And over. The clips below will introduce you to Jason, Jarett, and Peyton, as well as their original audition songs – instant classics such as, “Rock and Roll my Life”, “Everything is Red”, and “So Much Girls in my Party”.

Matt, dearest, see what you have been missing by working late every night? When you get home, I wonder if he’ll make you be Simon or Paula? (I’m holding down the Randy right now, so back off.)

 

Please note the half-naked baby prissing around. Such cuteness demands to be noted.

“Rock and Roll my Life”

“Everything is Red”

“So Much Girls in my Party”