Gigi's Blog bio picture
  • Welcome to the Gigi Blog!

    Mother to six Little Women and Two Little Men. Married to a Happy Mortician. Caretaker to goats, chickens and many, MANY bunnies. Photographer. Homeschooler.Β Lover of Jesus, coffee & tea and all things pink & vintage.

Magic…

We are back from a week long trip to the magical, splendid realm of Disney World ….! My goodness – what fun times we had! AMAZING …. we travelled with another super fun family (they have three girls & one sweet baby boy) … so let me tell you, traveling with eight kids age 7 and under was quite the spectacle. I can’t tell you how many times people pointed at us, asked to take pictures and smiled when our little pink cloud would walk by. (Seven girls is a LOT of pink …) Besides visiting nearly 99% of the Disney bathrooms available (potty breaks x6 = a LOT of bathroom breaks during the day!), we were able to see all the parks, meet all the princesses, eat in almost all the {kid-friendly} restaurants, watch all the amazing parades, swim in the pool, visit with the fairies and take in the Winnie the Pooh ride & It’s a Small World twice! We even managed to ride one adult roller coaster. Imagine that?!

[Thank God for coffee & our slings. Our babies were held 24/7 this entire trip.]

We were stopped many times … people would ask if they were all ours …

if we were related …

if we were trying for a boy (!) …

told we were crazy.

told we were brave.

told we were blessed.

told we were in the best part of raising our children…

And in between the spilled milk, early mornings, late nights, 15 bathroom trips during the buffet dinners, backpacks full of snacks and strollers full of diapers, I truly believe them.

We WERE crazy to go to Disney with so many kids.

We WERE brave (never lost one kid once – the husbands? That’s another story).

We WERE busy … but it was SO. MUCH. FUN.

{waiting for the boat for Magic Kingdom}

{watching amazing parades}

{meeting my girls’ favorite princess}

{thanking God for the amazing weather}

{dancing in the parade with daddy}

{Big sister/middle sister – definitely showing off their personalities here …}

{finding the fun in the parade streamers …}

{… and dragging it along behind her as we walked through the park once the parade had finished … her own little parade of sorts}

{giggling on the way to meet the princesses – unfortunately, one of our little princesses was *not* feeling well that day. Can you tell which one?}

She actually had a fever & slept through the entire dinner with Ariel, Aurora, Belle & Snow White. [sigh] Don’t worry. We lined up to see the princesses another day for her so she didn’t miss too much. πŸ™‚

{ celebrating someone’s birthday for an extra week … which included so many “Happy birthday, Lacey!” greetings, cupcakes & cards sighed by a ton of different Disney characters!}

{waiting for so many bus rides with all the kids …. yeah, I know … there’s a lot of them, right?!}

{cooling off in the pool}

{hello, baldy!}

7 days of amazing excitement …

magic …

and fabulous memories.

Can’t wait to do it again. But maybe with less bathroom stops this time.

February 8, 2011 - 8:42 pm

Lisa Post I have been WAITING and WAITING to see these pics!! I love your blogs and I always look forward to a new one πŸ™‚ I love the pics with the parade streamers!! So cute!!! I can’t wait to be able to take my family there….one day πŸ™‚ Thanks again for sharing!

February 8, 2011 - 5:09 pm

Monique I want to go!!!

February 8, 2011 - 12:39 pm

p macintosh just beautiful!

February 8, 2011 - 11:55 am

Rachel P.S. I was dying to see these photos!! πŸ™‚

February 8, 2011 - 11:54 am

Rachel Gillian, your boundless energy astounds me. You create such an amazing life for yourself and your family and I’m so grateful you share your blessings through your blog and photos. You make me want to be a better parent to my stepdaughters…and you make me smile. Congratulations on your hard work and your beautiful family. πŸ™‚

February 8, 2011 - 10:58 am

Sara H Awesome shots, Gillian! Glad you had such a great time, your family is so beautiful!

February 8, 2011 - 10:46 am

Grandma Gerr Great pics, I almost feel like I was there too! xxxxxx

February 8, 2011 - 10:40 am

Sarah Lough What a magical time! My best girlfriend and I (and our amazing husbands) took 6 kids under 5y of age to WDW two years ago. We heard many of the same comments. πŸ™‚ Looking back, it was one of my most favorite moments as a mom; we have such amazing memories. Thanks for sharing your pictures – it really brightened my day!

February 8, 2011 - 10:24 am

Miranda I think your whole life looks magical….. but these pics are amazing!!! SO glad you had such a great time on such a big adventure:)

February 8, 2011 - 10:17 am

Tiffany Gillian your pictures are amazing! Looks like everyone had a great vacation!

February 8, 2011 - 10:08 am

Stacey Janzen AMAZING… Just amazing Gillian !! I am so glad that your family had a blast, hope the little one is feeling better. I am so gonna start planning a trip for us and out 3 kids now. Thank you for sharing with us πŸ™‚ And YALL are blessed …..

February 8, 2011 - 10:04 am

Sherri Smith Very Impressive Gillian. I got tired when just Lloyd and I went to Disneyland in California, and there were NO children involved! This was certainly a trip the girls will remember for a long time. Welcome home to all of you!

February 8, 2011 - 9:46 am

Lori LOVE the pics. Looks some magical memories πŸ™‚

February 8, 2011 - 8:53 am

Melanie OH my gosh Gillian, the girls look like they had a blast! And I believe you need to contact Disney, this would be a great AD for them!

February 8, 2011 - 2:07 am

Photo Blogging Mum I love these! cute cute cute! I love looking at your photos, you all look like you had a great time and yes you are very brave going out with all those kids xx I will have to work towards getting to Disneyland someday .

February 8, 2011 - 2:06 am

Tabitha Wow, Gillian, these pictures are gorgeous! It looks like you all had a blast there. I think the photo of all the girls at the Exit Only sign is my favourite.

Happiness.

I wish I could write more, proof more images and stay up later to finish editing … but we’re leaving for our family trip to Disney World in the morning and the to-do list is still staring me in the eyes …. so this is is a mini sneak peek for Tanya.

I shot this session today for a super, amazing local family ….they have such a beautiful story to tell and such hearts that are full of love for their little girl….

Welcome to the family, B! You are so loved!

What a beautiful family you have, Tanya! You are so blessed! Can’t wait to show you all the images!!

Have a great week, everyone!! We’re off to Disney World!!

January 30, 2011 - 9:55 am

Janice Gardner I LOVE YOUR PICTURES –

January 30, 2011 - 9:07 am

Jamie beautiful images of beautiful Children!!

{Myles}


A sweet new blossom of humanity.
— Author Unknown

[Can I just say I adore this family image? Jillian, you are so blessed!]

Welcome, sweet baby Myles.

January 28, 2011 - 10:05 pm

Chris Awww….Olivia is just busting…you all look beautiful, Jillian. Love it.

January 28, 2011 - 9:14 pm

Rebecca What beautiful pics!! Gillian – amazing as always! Jillian – you guys are very blessed – what beautiful pictures capturing these precious moments.

January 28, 2011 - 9:06 pm

Rachel Beautiful

Stay this Little.

“Don’t you ever grow up … Don’t lose the way you that you dance around in your pjs, getting ready for school …

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood … memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home …
remember the footsteps … remember the words said … remember the favorite songs …

Oh darling, don’t you ever grow up, just stay this little.

Oh darling, don’t you ever grow up, don’t you ever grow up,

it could stay this simple. I won’t let nobody hurt you, won’t let anyone break your heart … just try to never grow up ….”

[Have you heard this song? You need to go listen … beautiful …. ]

Tonight, we put our six year old daughter to bed …. and tomorrow she wakes up as a seven year old. I’m not sure how that is even possible but it is. I am constantly reminded by others (and myself) that each day is precious and that the days seem long but the years are short. I truly believe that. I would completely freeze time if I could. (And yet each new stage is so lovely and wonderful…. I also don’t want to wish away the beautiful future…)

When we got home from swimming lessons today, I had two choices (after homeschooling, washing the floor, vacuuming, cleaning, prepping dinner, starting laundry and unloading the dishwasher) – clean some more (it’s never ending around here) or sit and watch my girls play for a bit. So I sat. And watched. And loved it.

Lovelyn watched her sisters from her bouncy chair. She loves her fist right now. And I mean LOVES …

I’m so thankful that Lacey, even though she’s on the brink of turning seven years old, is still young enough to play make believe. She is still little. I hope that doesn’t change for a long, long, long time.

Sometimes [okay, a lot of the times] I complain about the millions of footprints on my hardwood floors … its nearly impossible to keep them looking presentable all the time … and that irritates me … but let me not wish away these little footprints in exchange for a shiny, perfect clean floor.Β  I would rather have these little feet dancing away than the shiniest, smoothest, footprint-free floors in the entire world.

Changing Lovelyn on the floor. I asked Lacey to take a picture – she did and I love it.Β  [I’m entering her into the local art show for photography this spring. We’re going to have so much fun with this project.]

Since Love was already undressed … a few more photos taken …

[don’t you ever grow up …]

[stay this little … ]


“Oh, darling, don’t you ever grow up, don’t you ever grow up, stay this little …. it could stay this simple. I won’t let anyone hurt you … no one will break your heart … just to never grow up…”

January 28, 2011 - 4:27 pm

Monique Lacey is amazing!! I always think this too!!! Lovely post!

January 28, 2011 - 1:47 am

Laura georgous photos! Tell Lacey she’s a natural – you should enter that one (although people may not believe a 7yr old took it! it’s too good) You’ll have to start developing her ‘brand’ next – may I suggest “Wee-Gigi”? πŸ™‚

January 27, 2011 - 11:57 pm

Mich Gillian, Thank you for this post – as you know I have fallen in love with this song as well and how timely of you to write all this when just after Ally got home from school today I turned it on the computer…my girls started to hear her voice, left the Lego they were playing with and we all cuddled on my chair to listen together and I cried. It sealed the deal for me and my decision was instantly made then! So thank you for being my sign:) The pics, as always, are so beautiful – it is the subjects hearts that make them so precious! xo

January 27, 2011 - 11:34 pm

Photo Blogging Mum These are so beautiful! the first photo would make a gorgeous canvas…always look forward to your blog posts x

January 27, 2011 - 11:30 pm

Christine Just beautiful! Thanks for sharing this song – brought a tear to my eye thinking about my little guy growing up. Gorgeous pictures of your girls

January 27, 2011 - 11:27 pm

Margaret LaRocca Gillian, these photos are absolutely beautiful…so precious. It brought tears to my eyes to read the words to the song and your comments. You have a gift…and so does Lacey…stunning photo of you and Lovelyn.

January 27, 2011 - 11:19 pm

Brenda (Gillian’s Mom) Wow! Amazing thoughts!! Yes, we felt the same about you and Angela and Adam!! Why did you grow up???? Love the pics too!!

January 27, 2011 - 11:11 pm

Tabitha ~*sniffle*~ <— happy tears tho!!!! Such a beautiful post β™₯

January 27, 2011 - 11:02 pm

Hilary You have a beautiful soul and it pours out of your photos:)

January 27, 2011 - 11:02 pm

Michelle Ziniuk WOW!! You made me cry!! In a good way of course! Time is precious, we should never take it for granted!! Thanks for reminding me of this tonight!

January 27, 2011 - 10:57 pm

Renee I love this post. I was just thinking today how FAST our childrens childhoods seem to go. I am so full of thankfulness to be home with them, delighting in each crazy moment that will one day be just a memory. So blessed……so very blessed for each small memory

January 27, 2011 - 10:52 pm

monica I love that song by taylor swift….makes me sad!

{Celebrate}

This weekend, we celebrated our oldest daughter’s 7th birthday … I have no idea how we could already be wishing her a Happy 7th! I remember the day she was born so clearly. The day she made Abby and I parents. The day I became a mom. I felt so proud, holding my little, wee pink bundle in the hospital that cold January day. Lacey is a lot like me in some ways and I do feel that at night, when all the other girls are tucked in bed, and Lacey and I stay up and watch Anne of Green Gables together, that we are kindred spirits. And I love that.

This year, we celebrated her birthday with an English Dolly & Me Tea Party theme. It was so. much. fun. πŸ™‚

Her grandparents surprised her with an American Girl doll, dressed as Nan Harper from the Beautiful Girlhood Collection – and we had a matching dress made by a local AMAZING woman (who sewed up the matching dress in a day! She’s amazing!!) ….

Strawberries. Whipped cream. Good friends. Tea (aka. Apple Juice). Dolls. Lace. Scones. And a happy day was had.

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony
known as afternoon tea.”

~Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady

I found this very, girlie pink dress on Etsy for $20 – I knew it would come in handy at some point in my life …. {Who am I kidding? I love dressing up just as much as Lacey!}

Pinkies up!

the sweet, adorable cake made by my BFF, Leanne … (love you, girl!)


Each girl received a teacup cookie (also thank you to Leanne!) with their name on it ….


… and and took home little teapot necklaces …

They also decorated their own little mini cakes with fondant flowers (Lacey, Leanne and our dear friend, Elaine, made all the flowers, shapes and hearts the day before) …

Lacey crawled into bed that night so happy – I could tell she had a fantastic day and felt so loved. So thankful for January – we celebrate a new year and two little birthdays for our girls – God is good!! My heart feels happy and full …



January 27, 2011 - 11:39 pm

Terri-Ann Oh my goodness – there is so much pink and loveliness in your home it makes me yearn for a little girl for myself (I have three young boys). So nice to see how “the other half” lives!

January 24, 2011 - 9:59 am

Lori You sure know how to throw a super girlie party!

January 23, 2011 - 11:41 pm

Charlene I spied an “Ainsley” cookie on that plate!! I have an Ainsley-girl and rarely hear it!

January 23, 2011 - 11:33 pm

Shannon What a great party and such a special day for Lacey!!!

January 23, 2011 - 11:19 pm

Tabitha πŸ˜€ Sooooo beautiful!!!! Looks like so much fun. A great girlie birthday!