My First Real Shoot

So, I was asked to do a little photo shoot last Saturday. Um..... okay? I seriously have to say, I can't guarantee that they will turn out. Because I just don't know. Thank God their kids are SO. FREAKING. CUTE!! I had that going for me!

Let me tell you one of the challenges. Dad, he's 6'-7" and mom, I think she's like 5'-4". Ha... So getting dad's head in the picture was funny, for me:) And dad, he didn't really want to be there. Like most men for a sitting:)

Anyway, what do you like better?? Color or B/W? I think Andrea has decided to do B/W for her prints.

You can't tell the height difference that much when they are sitting. He must be all legs!

But can you see it here???

These are just a couple pictures. My problem is that I am always tilting the camera. Is your neck soar from looking at pictures? Haha... I think I must like the severe angle but, I think I'm the only one!! I'm going to work on that!!

If any of you pros out there have any editing advice, BRING IT ON. And honestly, if you'd like to give me any pointers towards achieving a better shot, PLEASE, send them my way. I could definitely use some constructive criticism.

Is it already Wednesday??

Broken TV

Any idea if it's possible to fix a cracked 50" plasma TV after your daughter throws a hairbrush at it? There is no picture, just a black and white solid screen.

Beautiful.

I'm baaaaaaack!

Ok, so the WA trip went well. The house is under contract and everything seems to be going smoothly. Loved the couple that are buying the house, would be super fun neighbors!

Upon my return last night at 11pm, I find my son still awake and playing on the bed with his daddy. Just about the cutest thing ever, minus the 11pm thing. He's tumbling around on the bed and cuddling with daddy. And he's shy of me! WHAT???!??!?! No way, not my boy. I was only gone 5 whole days. Not fair!
But when Naydine woke up this morning, she knew exactly who her mama was:) She got in bed and snuggled with me. Then we got up and I gave her the new shoes I bought her and the jammies that Lisa bought her. She was pretty happy about her new gifts. Then says, "Lets watch a show. I wanna watch TV." Um, daddy..... how much TV did these kids watch while I was gone?? hahaha......

Trading places with Eli for 5 days was a good thing for the both of us. It was good to see what it's like to be in each others shoes. And now we can relate and understand what we're both going through. I wish he could have been in WA with me though!

Now, lets get focused on the new house. We need to touch base with Jason and see when we can start this project! Oh yeah, and shave $22,000 off the house to meet our budget:) Details, details..... :)

Thanks for all the well wishes on my trip!!

Head'n Out

So, it's been a while since I've flown. I'd say about 8 months...... I've made enough trips to the airport but, it's been a while since I've stepped on the plane. The hubs has informed me that I will only be checking 1 bag that will be under 50 pounds so that I am not paying the hefty baggage fees these days. I'm wearing flip flops so that when I have to take my shoes off, I'm not ticked. Oh yeah, and just because I love flip flops:)

I am going to be kid-free for over 5 days. Which is going to be extremely strange to me. I just dropped Naydine off at school and gave her this big hug because I won't see her till next Monday. I felt myself get slightly emotionally but pulled it together because she was looking at me like I was a little bit crazy. Oh well. Wait till Kindergarten, Naydine. You'll KNOW I'm crazy then.
I've only left Naydine over night when I was having Dane. I've never left Dane over night yet. I know they will both be fine, it will all be good. I'm still going to miss them. But it is going to be sweet to have this little break! Yay!!

I'm going to be trying to sell this house, so, keep me in your prayers.
And, the weather is going to be in the 80's. Which, is RARE for WA state in May. So whoot-whoot! I'm sooooooo lucky!!

I'll check in on all my bloggie friends in a few days!!!

Happy Mother's Day

I hope everybody is having a fabulous Mother's Day!!! Kick back and RELAX. Yeah right, huh?:)

Eli got home last night at 1:30am.... Naydine was awake in the middle of the night and came to "snuggle with Daddy". And Dane was up at 6:45 with a nice fever. Grrr... I think I'm gonna take a nap here pretty soon:)

Here are a few Mother's Day cards I made up for this week..... check 'em out.... These are some of Naydine's classmates and their siblings.

Preparations for WA

I'm normally lacking for blog material. Which, if I'd just think about it for longer than 2 seconds, I could probably come up with some decent stuff but..... I don't think.


So, I've been getting ready for my WA trip coming up on Wednesday. It's still debatable if I'm bringing the kids or not. Jesus, help me if I am! It's a LONG day getting there and back. The fastest itinerary going against the jet stream is 8 hours. Can y'all imagine a 1 year old doing an 8 hour travel day, not including drive time and arriving at the airport early?? Which, if you add those hours up, will be a 12 hour travel day. There isn't enough Benadryl in the world, so I'm not going to use any. I'm only supposed to be bringing Dane but, we'll see what really happens. Plus, he's been sick. Well, fever and moaning/groaning. I think I need to bring him in Monday to check for an ear infection. He's never had one, so, this could be the first.

I used those homeopathic ear drops tonight, and I think they do help for pain. We've used them before and they seem to help with pain control while the body fights the infection. So he's never had ammoxicillon. And yeah... that is NOT spelled right:)


When we get to WA, I'll be staying with my good friend Lisa. It's going to be fun!! One of the girls that is interested in my house sells Taste of Home Entertaining. Anybody heard of that? Well, we are going to do a party with her on Thursday night. That way, I can invite a bunch of people that I haven't seen in a long time! There is just no way that I will be able to see even 1/2 the people that I'd like to see. Plus, getting the house show-ready and doing appointments is first priority. So.... the party is going to be a Senoritas and Margaritas theme. Or Flip Flop Fiesta. Either one, I'M COOL WITH! And have you seen a catalogue? I love this stuff!! And I'm pretty sure my checkbook doesn't:)!


Eli is flying in late tonight after being gone um, 21 days. Yeah... the kids are ready to be with their other parent. They are SICK of me, literally. So, hopefully they get some good daddy time in tomorrow while I run away. Haha... kidding. They were good kids this time around!! You didn't see any posts on me needing parenting advice for whining, right??:)


I hope all you ladies out there are enjoying your big weekend! Most of you are moms, some aren't but..... have a good one either way!! I'll leave you with some pics from the park today. You can tell in Dane's eyes that he's just not feeling up to par... And then you can tell by Naydine's eyes that she is up to no good! Grrr...

Twinkle Star

Last night, Naydine and I were just finishing up a Dora bedtime story where it asks, "And what do YOU wish for?". Naydine says, "My daddy....". Aaaaahhh, tear at my heat a little more why don't ya! Eli's only been gone 2 weeks. I can't imagine if he were still in the Army!


It was pretty stinking cute. She's been saying such funny/cute things lately:

• I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
• "Good job, mommy! I'm so proud of you!", after a visit to the chiropractor.
• "My heart is sad."
• "My daddy's in heaven, working." Um, if you call the desert in California: heaven????
• "I ate a turd sandwich." After she wakes up from a nap and has some raunchy breath.
• "My papa's in Minn-a-soda."
• "Change him, mama! Change him!" After Dane does a big job in his diaper.
• "Faster, mama! Faster!" While driving in the car.

There's more, I just can't think of them at this exact moment.

She's also been extremely helpful! SWEET! She's in the stage where, if she can help me, she's all about it. Which is great, even though it's more work to let her help me:) But if she's willing, I'm taking that opportunity to teach her more stuff!! I wouldn't say that she's the smartest kid in her class, but, I think she's doing really well with her manners and being a good kid.

This isn't a milestone post, but, I have to say a few more things about her.

Naydine will be 3 in August, so, she's still 2 to me:) But she can help me make her bed, clean up her room, ask me to wash some of her laundry, water my plants and flowers, help her brother off the slide, feed Boo bites of yogurt, wipe up a mess on the floor, ride on the outside of the shopping cart, throw away poopy diapers in the appropriate trash can, help me bring trash to the dumpster, and sleep in a full size bed upstairs all by herself (which she's been doing for a year, but, she's really good at it now. hehe...)

She amazes me everyday. I think back to what she was like at Dane's age now. I can't believe how big she is! Ugh..... grrr.... DON'T GET ANY BIGGER!

At Dane's age now - Just a few days ago