Picture This

I really like taking photographs but I don't think I'm THAT good at it still, mostly because I don't know a lot of the "technical" stuff.  I recently bought a lens that isn't fully compatible with the model camera I own.  Does it work, yes.  Does it work to it's full potential?  Perhaps not.

Tim bought Lightroom for me over the weekend and I have NOTHING but good things to say about it so far.  It's gonna take some learning but I've already figured out how to put a watermark on my photos so that's a start.

I think I need to take a photography class either IRL or on-line to get better at photography because I know I said months ago that I wanted to.  Sometimes it's just hard with all the other things I have to do (you know, like run a household and other stuff like that).

BUT (and yes, it's a BIG BUT).

I need to make it a priority if I REALLY want to do what I said.  I really hope I can. Eventually.

(a pic of K from last August that I practiced on.  yes, she's still using a "paci" and yes, she's still this beautiful, but with longer hair...)

Linking up with Wordful Wednesday.

Missing Things

You know that old saying that you don't miss something until it's gone? Well, my oldest is currently hanging out with his Mother Bear (what the kids call Tim's Mom) this week and guess what?  I miss him.

It's been less than 24 hours since I gave him a hug goodbye.  Then he eagerly jumped in the car with his Dad to be dropped off at her house, his backpack full of his favorite things and his heart full of anticipation, I'm sure.

This is the first time we've let him go like this.

our kids with their "cousins" a.k.a our good friends' children and our God children.  You can probably tell they are not REALLY related... ;-P

Letting go is hard sometimes.

But I know it's good.

For all of us.

On the trip back from Texas the two little kids had more space in the car and then here back at home, they played together gleefully.

Little G had his OWN ideas (he usually follows brother's ideas on things to do, etc.) about which DVD to put on during the trip and he even worked the player himself! :)

And, he had us blow up the sleeping bag bed so he could sleep there, like he was having a sleep-over too. So cute.

The kids with Mother Bear

And besides The B Man will be back at the end of the week, so it's not like it's THAT long.  And he's in SUCH good hands.  His Mother Bear loves him to bits.

p.s. Is it Friday yet?

p.p.s I miss Texas again.

She Was Wrong

This was absolutely the last time I was going to sit in this chair in this oh so familiar position. One arm automatically supporting his little back while feeling the soft cotton of his onesie. The other hand, caressing his silky blond hair.

His legs were now too long and his little feet kicked the arm of the chair and rubbed the chenille fabric as he drew out the milk.

I didn’t KNOW it was the last time.

My heart didn’t know.

My head didn’t know.

I thought maybe.

But I didn’t KNOW.

He didn’t know it either.

Of course not.

For the rest of that day I went about my usual routine, emptying the dishwasher, vacuuming the carpet, watching some television. I heard the familiar sound of the air conditioner clicking on and off, over and over, all the while my two boys running about the house making their little boy noises. Later, playing with their blocks and trucks and puzzles.

The three of us eventually escaped out the back door to blow bubbles. Laughing and squealing ensued as the sparkly spheres disappeared into the warm air, their small hands reaching for something that was no longer there. I smiled, marveling at the bright sun highlighting their lovely locks, wishing I had an internal recorder for their sweet voices.

Everyone went to bed that night peacefully. Bellies full.

The next day he never wanted it. I never offered.

The day after that, the same.

The following morning I stood at the kitchen sink looking out the window, the scent of freshly baked blueberry muffins wafting in the air and I realized it - we were done.

Now he would rather have a muffin to devour from the seat of his high chair. Today I would give him a cup
of milk to accompany it.

He’d moved on and now it was my turn. Part of me was SO ready but other parts were not. My heart part mostly.

That weekend we went out with friends and I shared with them that my baby was done nursing.

I explained how it just kind of happened and how I was still getting used to it.

I nudged my husband and gave a half smile as he spoke these most truthful words,

“She thought she wouldn’t miss it. She was wrong.”

Write a short piece - 600 words max - that begins with the words, "This was absolutely the last time" and ends with "She was wrong."

Oh So Pretty

I think the concept of "pretty" is something that is overrated. And blown up in our minds. Do you know what I mean?  We have this idea of "pretty" in our head as humans, for humans, and it just isn't cut and dry.

I see pretty things EVERY day in my life.  They are everywhere.  These just happen to be a few that I recognized this week.

I consider myself blessed to have SO much "pretty" in my life.

Oh The Bangs - #SeniorHottie

I'm joining in on the totally rad, out of this world  #SeniorHottie carnival at a belle a bean and a chicago dog .

It's no lie that I love a good look back...









I loved high school.  Well except for Freshman year.  It quite sucked actually (socially anyway, I always did well in my studies). It was THE only year I had to ride a bus to school and I remember crying at the homecoming dance that year because I didn't have a date.  And my best friend did.  But of course.

I was in the choir all four years and that was my saving grace.  By the time I was a senior I was in the Show Choir (yes, I do love GLEE, thankyouverymuch) and quite popular, within the choir anyway.  And in all honesty I'm quite fond of my senior photo.

However.

High school is a journey and it took some time to find myself.

Like four years or so...

This photo was taken at the start of high school.

See any resemblance to the photo for the carnival??  HELLO EYE GLASSES THAT TAKE UP HALF MY FACE.

And those bangs took time people. TIME.

And so MUCH hairspray.  Memories of my curling iron coated in Vidal Sassoon Mega Hold.  So many memories... And they had to be JUST right or I would go into "OH MY GAH MY BANGS LOOK HORRIBLE TODAY" tizzy.  Obviously I had WAY too much time on my hands back then.

Thankfully bangs sorta went out of style by the time I graduated. And I traded the glasses (sophomore year) for contacts. Phew.

I kinda think I WAS a senior hottie.  I mean I had THREE guys ask me to the homecoming dance that year.  I must've done something right...

Let's hear it for Class of '93!! :D


Please join us and share your senior hotness, I know Liz and all of us would LOVE to see it!

Another Vlog??

Last week I vlogged about NOT vlogging.  And this week I'm vlogging again.  So, either I'm a hypocrite or I have a very short term memory.  You decide.

(are any of you actually reading this anyway or are you just skipping to the VLOG???)

(also, is it pronounced VEE LOG or VUHLOG? Someone needs to clear this up for me.... pretty please)

Anywaysies, the three lovely ladies that created Vlog Talk posted three topics again this week and I chose to tell you about my favorite magazines.





I pretty much love magazines.  I have since I started with YM (short for Young Miss) back in the '80's!  And I actually have a written draft about magazines that I have yet to post.  Anyway, here are three of my current favorites.

Note before you watch:  The sound is WAY off from my mouth.  I hope you'll still listen/watch, whichever.  I have no techy skills whatsoever and do NOT know how to fix the problem.  It was fine until I uploaded it to YouTube...Geez. 




And of course now I wanna know, what are your favorite magazines?

i heart faces - yellow

The B Man picked this flower for me on Mother's Day.  

Isn't he sweet? 

See other yellow entires at i heart faces

Meeting Bloggers is so Much Fun!

This afternoon I traveled across the swollen Mississippi to meet up with my friend Katy as well as a few new blogging friends in Baton Rouge.  We met at a local restaurant and had a great time chatting and getting to know each other better.  And I was so happy to see Katy again before she has her babies (yes, babieS) and is super busy with lots of diaper changes. ;)

Because I am such a social person I really do enjoy getting together with other bloggers and I ALWAYS learn something too!  Deb and Susan and I had fun talking about photography and their images are stunning.  I hope to take pictures like they do some day.

Plus, we had a couple of guys join us that blog about food and well, I LOVE food so I was ALL about that.  Really nice guys too.

All in all it was a great meet-up and of course I hope to see them all again sometime soon.

photo credit: our waitress Tiffany

from left to right: Susan, Deb, Jeremy, Jay, me, Katy

photo credit Deb - way to rock that natural light, huh? 

Also, if you're a blogger in Louisiana, check out the Louisiana Bloggers Network on Facebook 

On to 2nd

I went to The B Man's 1st grade, end-of-year program this morning.

And cried while we all said The Pledge. It always gets me.

Memories of my own time in elementary school plus all those little voices saying those words while placing their small hands over their hearts....

Yeah, you try not to cry. ;)

Anyway, he was recognized for having Perfect Attendance (him and only 4 other children in the entire 1st grade!) and stood in the front row singing all the songs they prepared.

Then I went to his class to see his memory book and thank his AWESOME teacher and she bragged on him like crazy.  And I almost cried again.

Anyway, he's soaring onto 2nd grade, only 3 days of school left.  I'm so proud of my big boy and his reading and math skills.  My "biggest" is a shining star and I'm so very proud of him, especially today...

Singing at the program 

 In class with his best pal Jaden

 Ben and his teacher

An excerpt from Ben's primary journal for this year

And now, go check me out at Momma Made It Look Easy!  My roomie for BlogHer '11 is featuring me today!! Thanks Jennifer!

A Day in My Life

It's morning.
Sun comes in through the kitchen windows
Right in my eyes
Sink full of the dishes I didn't do last night
Make lunches for school
Peanut butter, whole grain bread
No jam.
Absolutely NO jam
Juice box or water
Strawberries or grapes
Goldfish or carrot sticks
Coffee, scrambled eggs, waffles from the freezer
Maple Syrup

To the gym
Run a few miles
OR
playdate
OR
morning errands
OR
meeting
OR
whatever else

Toddler naps
Pre-schooler watches Sid the Science Kid
Looney Tunes
Plays
A lot
Legos, puzzles, coloring, Candyland.
Oh good gravy, Candyland
I fold laundry
Tweet
Put laundry away
Check Facebook
Clean dishes, load dishwasher
Wipe counter
Sweep floor
Read some blogs
Tweet
Sip my now cold coffee
Quick lunch

School pick up time
Everybody shoes
Do you want to walk to get brother
Shoes then
Quickly play Words With Friends while we wait to get out of car
only 15 point play
oh well
walk with littles to get big brother
walk back to car with friends

Afternoon snack
granola bar, raisins, apple slices, milk, water
Boys watch Tom & Jerry
after outside
Riding bikes, trikes, 4-wheeler
sidewalk chalk
blow bubbles
charm the neighbors
Sometimes I capture them with my camera

Dinner
meat, veggies
dessert too
Maybe
Daddy home
kids happy
Mommy too
reading for oldest
Homework too
More playing for littles
Baths
Clean smelling kids are the best
books, prayers
bed

Laptop in lap
tv on
Lights lower
tweet
Check facebook
talk to hubs
work stuff, funny stuff, what kids did today stuff
post on blog
read some blogs
tired
Goodnight

She was busy...

...playing with the "old school" sprinkler system out front.

This girl LOVES water.

She could play in a cup of water with an ice cube in it all afternoon.

Or a sprinkler thingy.  She's fine with that too...

(all pics SOOC)

Linking up for Wordful Wednesday too, yo.

A Vlog about not vlogging

So, I vlogged.

A sweet lady that I already "knew" plus a couple more I "met" today on twitter are hosting a great new meme called "VlogTalk" and I thought I'd join in.  Peer pressure really is an amazing thing.  Even at age 36.

One of the topics, inspired by the fabulous Liz from a belle, a bean and a chicago dog was to vlog about why you don't vlog.  Genius, no?





And now, some notes from me:

(because I like to write too...)

1. I make a lot of faces while I vlog. (duh Elaine, we TOTALLY saw that for ourselves!!)

2. Watching yourself is really strange.

3. I MEAN REALLY STRANGE!!!  Now I know why a lot of actors/actresses say they don't watch themselves a lot.

4. Short vlogs are the best vlogs. ;)

5. Those were WHOLE GRAIN goldfish.  We totally eat healthy all the time around here.  And no, he did not eat so many that he barely ate his dinner.  *cough cough*

6. The baby was fine in her crib while I cooked.  I felt some Mommy guilt about it but when I walked in to get her she was all smiles and was playing with her "babies" and "stuffies."  Kinda wish we could have traded places.

7. I can't STAND Ni Hao Kai Lan. You know, as a show.  For my kids to watch.

8. The turkey meatloaf was really good tonight.  Maybe I should always vlog while preparing it.  Or not.

K, that's all.  Thanks for watching what may be may last vlog.

Oy.

Still Burning

We sat in chairs on the second-story wooden deck talking, a drink in one hand, a cigarette in the other.

We sipped and then took a drag, breathing in the nicotine and exhaling the remnants.

In. Out. In. Out.

The smoke disappeared into the night.

I laughed at a joke he made as I glanced over to see the side of his young, handsome face, illuminated by a distant but bright street light.

Our only view was the hard, brick wall of the next apartment building. No stars, only city lights.

We were just friends.

We put out our cigarettes. It was getting late.

He kissed me on the cheek and I locked the door behind him.

I went to bed alone, after brushing the cigarette taste from my mouth.

In the dead of the night I awoke to a crackling noise.

My nose smelled it right away.

I was suddenly flush with adrenalin as I ran from my comfy bed.

And there, on the other side of the window the bright orange flames danced their dance.

Burning, smoking, scaring.

After the firemen left my whole apartment smelled like smoke, even though the fire barely got in.

I sat on the sofa by myself and bawled, thinking of how much worse it could have been.

I was tired from the 3 a.m. wake up. I wanted to go back to bed but there was no way.

I don’t know whose cigarette wasn’t put out all the way. Could have been his. Could have been mine.

I wanted my Mommy but she was 200 miles away and there was nothing she could do. But scold me.

I sat there for hours watching t.v., finally the sun coming in through the now shattered window.

I stopped smoking.

For a while anyway…




This was written in response to the memoir prompt at The Red Dress Club in which the inspiration was a photo of an ashtray with burning cigarettes. I do not currently smoke. I smoked casually at this time in my life and usually just “bummed” them off of my friends. They fixed the deck of my apartment and I never smoked there again. If you are my mother and you are reading this, it’s okay Mom. ;) You can breathe again.

Dino-FOUR!

It was really hot and humid here on Friday.  But then, on Saturday morning as Tim and I chatted up the folks setting up the party bounce house, I realized how nice it was out.  The Outdoor Party Gods (meaning the big man Himself) smiled down on us and granted us THE. PERFECT. weather for a mid-May shin-dig.  Or dino-dig.  Whichever.  

There was a last minute homemade birthday banner for the back porch. (these ideas come to me LATE at night or EARLY in the morning. It's the only time I have to think!)

As well as the aforementioned bounce house.

And yes, a dino-dig.... or in this case a "grab out of the sand".  Hey, the kids were happy so it was all good.

And there was made from scratch, no substitutions 6 sticks of butter total Dinosaur cake.  Yeah, it was GOOOOOOD.  (I could have totally used more Os in that "Good.")

Oh and Tim made some rockin' barbeque ribs and chicken.  No pics.  We ate it too fast. ;)

G was most exited about the cake and blew out his candle like a champ but in the end, all he wanted was his ice cream cup.  Go fig. 

And thanks to everyone for the awesome pressies - he had to play with every single one before he went to bed Saturday night and...

...wear this wonderfully cute shirt that one of my sweet friends made for him, all day today, on his actual birthday.

Today we took the birthday boy our for lunch and then an ice cream cone.  I'd say he had a pretty good weekend of celebrating.  As it should be.


Here's to hoping four is a great year for our Little G! (who's not so little anymore...)

Linking up to Mommy and Me Monday at Krystyn's place. 

Happy (early) Birthday to my Little G (it's on Sunday)!!!

When Little G was born we bonded pretty quickly.  He nursed like a champ before we left the hospital and because I did not return to work after his birth, we were always together.  I still feel a certain bond to him that is somewhat indescribable.

At four years old he is a fierce snuggler (including climbing into bed with us - on my side - many early mornings) and is never short on opinions on things that a 4-year old would have opinions about. You know, like what shirt to wear that day or which dessert he wants.

just had to post this pic of him at 6 months old because, OMG - the HAIR!!! :D

Sometimes he passes on dinner but there are mornings he enjoys 3 or 4 breakfasts so he makes up for it, trust me. He also hates to have his hair washed.  Still.

He LOVES to play with his older brother and they are completely adorable when they play well together.  He's pretty much interested in playing with whatever The B Man is currently into.  Right now it's Dinosaurs (his party theme) and Legos.

I am by no means a teacher so I've been a little worried about him learning the basics, like his ABC's, etc.  But he does go to pre-school three days a week.  Just last week his teacher reassured me that although he does not usually participate in "circle time", I have nothing to fear in that department. He has taken more of an interest in books lately and really likes the connect-the-dots book I got him recently so I'm pretty sure he's doing better than I thought.

He adores his friends and lights up when I tell him that any of them are coming over to play.

I'll be honest, sometimes he really tests my patience but I think I prefer it that way.  I know it will serve him well later on in life.  At least that is what I like to tell myself. ;)

He has THE most adorable smile (of any 4-year old I know anyway) and I could listen to his sweet little boy voice all day. Except when he's constantly saying "poop" and "butt".  Yes he does and yes, I'm trying to curb it but I also figure it's just a phase.  Also like to tell myself that as well.

I love to kiss his sweet, still kinda baby-ish face, especially that cute little nose of his.

Here's a slew of pics from the last year...

I love you my sweet Little G.  You are a funny little guy and you have my heart always.  You may be a "middle" child but you are absolutely outstanding to me no matter what and I love you so, SO much!

Happy 4th Birthday!!!!

Hugs and Kisses Always and Forever,

Mommy