blog slacker

I just can’t seem to make myself sit and blog lately. It’s something I need to do. The kids and I love looking through my archives to see what life was like for us two an three years ago. It’s amazing how many little details you forget and how wonderful it is to rediscover them by reading an old post.

This is what we’ve been up to:
We put our house up for sale. We’re not anxious to sell. We just want to see what will happen since the interest rates are super low. Our little town’s home values have not lowered during the recession so – we’ll see what happens. We need to start making plans by having another bedroom since we will be adding another kid- though it’s still probably two years away. (Don’t even ask! I know – it’s taking forever) I love my house being clean all the time BUT I am not loving keeping it clean all the time.

I had three photography jobs this weekend. It felt so good to shoot again. I am so not inspired during the winter. Ugly trees, my kids are pale, brown grass – I always feel more creative when it’s warm and sunny and I can shoot outside. I wish I had a basement where I could set up a little studio.

Let’s see, what else. OH, we’ve been studying ancient Egypt. While I was doing some research online I came across a site that gave directions on how to mummify a chicken. So, we bought a chicken at the grocery store, removed it’s innards, and packed in all down in ziplock bags filled with a mixture of baking soda and salt. This whole process will take at lest 60 to 72 days to complete. As we were scrubbing the chicken down and packing it full of salt, I began to think – WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS I THINKING. I have to change of the dry mixture every 5 days for the first two weeks and then every 10 days toward the end. I am such a germ freak – I keep thinking every thing was contaminated and I was sliding all the stuff in bags and the kids wanted to touch, see, hold and sniff things. It’s a stresser knowing I have to repeat that process so often over the next two months. The kids are really excited about it though and the whole thing gives application to what they have been learning – SO – I will deal with it.

Other than that – nothing much has been going on. The kids are so into each other it’s just so beautiful to me how they love one another. Two days ago my middle child said this to me, “Mommy, it’s sad that you don’t have any brothers and sisters.” I replied, “Why?” She answered, “Because I really love my sister and brother. I love having them to play with.” What a blessing. That is always want I desired for my kids. Since I wasn’t able to have siblings, I wanted my children to be best friends. They are and I am so thankful for that.

I am still weeding through all my photos from this past weekend, but I will post this one. She’s a joy and I loved photographing her!

going – going – GONE

For six months, my man has been growing out his hair. Prior to that he had been sporting a bald head for about two years. I really loved his hairless head and as his hair grew back, I could only think of one word to describe it – POOFY. So, last weekend when he decided to shave it all off again – I was really excited.

I don’t have a picture of the final look, but I had to get some shots as I was buzzing the poofy away.

stubborn

I have a child who is very stubborn (I won’t mention their name) that is choosing to fight me on wearing socks this morning. This person is complaining over and over of being cold as they walk around with bare feet on our cold hardwood and tile floors. I ask them to put on socks and I get a silent head shake, “no.” I ask again and I get a small verbal, “no.” I am thinking – “Seriously! You are going to start off the day disobeying over socks?”

Well the socks are on, the kid is not happy and I am wondering how much stubbornness will be thrown at me today?

hit

Last night all the kids plus our dog and I were heading home from a friends house. We were sitting at a red light when BAM, someone hit me from behind. I wasn’t pushed forward enough to crash into the car in front of me, but I knew the impact was enough to cause some damage. Immediately I call 911, look in my rear view mirror and I see the lady behind me crack her door. I get out and proceed to walk to the back of my car – phone pressed against my face. The lady says sorry. I give a friendly half smile and say, “It’s ok, I am calling the police now. They should be here soon.” Since it was freezing cold we both get back in our cars. As I sit now off the phone waiting, the woman puts it in reverse then pulls beside me and takes a right turn on through a major insection and heads south. Well, I got ticked. I took off after her. I dialed 911 again and as I sped to catch up with her. The operator said, “If you get a chance WRITE down her license plate number.” I said, “I CAN”T! I am speeding to get close enough to read it aloud to YOU!” We zoom down the street (seriously – NO traffic) and she gets in the left turn lane. I read the number to the lady on the phone and then the offender runs the red light and turns up into a neighborhood I dare not try and find her in – if you know what I mean.

SO – finally an officer found us, since I was in a different location from where the accident happened it took forever. The whole thing took like an eternity to write it all up, but the police lady could not have been nicer. All day I kept thinking about it. The kids asked what will happen to the lady if they find her. I had to explain she’d probably go to jail and honestly that made me sad. If you really know me, you know I am NOT the best driver and can EASILY understand how little fender benders happen in an instant – BUT she ran and I need a new bumper. She must have been scared to be approached my the police so maybe it’s good she just gets it over with and come clean if she’s hiding anything. WHO KNOWS. I am just thankful we are all ok!

how old?

My youngest asked me how old I was turning this year on my birthday. Once the question was asked, my brain froze and I totally could not think.

“Maybe 32 this year or 33″

After calculating I realized it’s 34. I so don’t feel 34, not that it’s old, I just still feel like I just graduated from college – Life sure does fly by.

So far, I’ve had an amazing day. My man had flowers and the kids had homemade cards for me when I woke. Then my sweet guy delivered to our door step my favorite doughnuts. The kids and I went to see a play. A close friend took me to lunch. My parents had this AMAZING fruit arrangement delivered. I was so excited I just squealed – so did the kids. It is SO beautiful and I love love LOVE chocolate covered strawberries.

Tonight we are having dinner with friends – one of my closest friends here shares my birthday. We’re eating Japanese. I can’t wait.

You know – this is going to sound so corny – but I can’t help but think it on a day like this. God is so amazing and I am so thankful for the life he has given me and for the amazing plan he let’s me take part in. I truly love my life – meaning MY life is my family, friends and circumstances.

Now – I am off to gorge myself on chocolate covered strawberries!

big purse

I haven’t hardly sat my butt down lately. We’ve been working on some projects and I just haven’t had the time to write or check blogs.

Here’s a quick thought. I am struggling to adjust to life with a big purse. See, two years ago I found this tiny camo purse at Old Navy. It was on clearance (of course! Do I ever look at anything else?) and the price was $5. PERFECT I thought. It will go with everything. So, for two whole years I have been sporting this small purse – which only holds my wallet (barely) cell phone, keys and lip gloss. Whether I am in black pants, sweats or my normal jeans and a T, my purse is with me carrying all I ever really need. Well, at Christmas I saw a bigger purse at Target. It looked just like me. No, it wasn’t black with gray streaks – HA – it was just a bit rugged and black and I loved it instantly. I pointed it out to the kids and clearly stated several times what a perfect Christmas present that would be for me. I even went as far as calling my man and telling him to bring the kids to Target and purchase it. : )

Big surprise Christmas morning – guess what I unwrap. YAY! My big purse. I love how it looks and hangs and it will even fit a large bag of pretzels in it. One problem. Every time I need to get something out, it takes me forever to dig through it and find the item I am looking for. I can’t tell you how many times I have freaked thinking I lost my keys. Well, I lose them – just in my purse. I was thinking of hanging it up and going back to my camo, but I am trying to remember to place things in the same pocket every time – there a ga-gillion pockets. Hopefully if I can train myself to be more organized with it I love it even more.

Happy New Years

I had like the best New Years EVER. Me and my Chris had a girls getaway in Atlanta. It was so much fun to break away from life and spend time with just her.

We did lots of shopping – well I take that back – lots of browsing and trying on.
This is us trying to relive our college days when we got to buy dresses for formal dances.

And we ate a lot of AMAZING food at here, here and HERE!