Shutterfly

It's been awhile since I've posted, but I've been super busy with my photography business, which--thanks to the grace of God--has been a huge success!! I am so excited because this year, we are making a lot of unique gifts with some of the pictures I've taken of my kiddos. Although I work with a lot of professional photo labs, I understand that not everyone can afford expensive holiday cards and gifts...and that's why I say, head over to Shutterfly if you're on a budget, but still want classy, unique cards and gifts! And since I have a lot of my own design templates, I can even use those and have them printed through Shutterfly...sooooo many options!

Create a personalized mug for the grandparents!
http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/photo-mugs

Make a unique invitation for an upcoming holiday party!
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/invitations

Check out Shutterfly's darling designs for Valentine's cards already!
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/valentines-day-cards-and-stationery

You're gonna miss this...

Any country music lovers out there know that Trace Adkins song, "You're gonna miss this"? I have decided that I need to have this song playing in the background of my life at all times. It talks about how fast time as a parent flies by and how all the annoying/stressful/tiring times will one day be missed.

True, not all moments I experience with my children will be thought of fondly--like today's episode at Pier 1 Imports, in which I ran in to look at desks really fast with two tired children (mistake #1). Within five minutes of being at the store without a sit n stand stroller to corral the both of them (mistake #2), Jack decided he needed to use the facilities, and while I was facing the other way, he opened the back corner door, thinking it was a restroom (mistake #3)--NOT THE BATHROOM, but the EMERGENCY EXIT! So the fire alarm went off (or whatever the alarm was, it was very loud and the whole Pier 1 staff came running). I stood there, holding Jack's forearm in a motherly way and holding Jane on my hip, ready to apologize (and not for the Chick-fil-A fries that Jane was dropping on the floor as she ate while perched on my aching hip).

Luckily, they were understanding and even made a joke about it, but Jack was embarrassed and I was just tired--tired of a long morning spent running errands with 2 whiny kids. While we weaved in and out the tightly-organized displays of martini glasses and paperweights, I longed for the exit while chanting my mantra to Jack, "You break it, you bought it. Don't. touch. anything."

Luckily, we made it out of the store without having to purchase any broken glass vases...

As soon as we got in the car and everyone was buckled and I was back in the driver's seat, I reached around to give everyone a pump of hand sanitizer (our first-thing-we-do-when-we-get-back-in-the-car ritual), and what does Jane do? Puts the glob in her mouth!!!! I have read articles of babies doing this and getting alcohol poisoning because the alcohol content is so high and concentrated...visions of the ER danced in my head and I screamed so loudly, both kids stared at me, not knowing what to do. Surprisingly, no one cried--which is what happens if I snap like that because (I'd like to think) it doesn't happen too often.

She ended up being fine, and as I drove home and we listened to some soothing music, my blood pressure went back down and I started to realize that all of these little things really are funny...just not at the time. And in my fatigued, work-at-home-mom state, it's easy to let the annoying ins and outs of daily life wear on you until you crack at the littlest offense.

A friend just told me on Facebook...the days are long, but the years are short...and I hope that I am able to be aware of this enough to sit back, take it all in, laugh at it and NOT REACT. I am definitely a reactor (at least I have been lately in my sleeplessness in my first year of an at-home business) and would like to be very calm. I don't want my kids remembering their mom as someone who flew off the handle, but rather a calm, refreshing go-to soft place to fall, even in adversity and when THEY are the offenders. After all, isn't that a picture of how Christ would react in a situation?

Slow down. Be present. (I am saying this under my breath). One day, I will long for the chaos of these days, the food-covered faces to wipe and the sibling spats to referee. One day. One day. (Again, saying this under my breath).

I'm baaaaack!

Life has been NUTS. No, MORE than NUTS--but what food would be crazier than a nut? Anyway, whatever that would be, make it a metaphor for my life lately!

The last post, I wrote about my Nana...she is (thank the Lord) doing much better after going on month 3 of Dialysis...she is more like herself and even got the thumbs-up from the doctor to do daytime driving...and she's 92!! Of course, the fact that she's even on dialysis is not a good sign, so we just hope that her body continues to accept it and thrive and that she continues to have the energy she has (not a lot, but definitely more than she had a couple months ago).

This summer has been full of swim lessons!!! And photo sessions--both professionally and unprofessionally (I don't always want to use the fancy skills when taking daily pics of my kids...it takes to much brainpower--and my big honking lens--sometimes...haha). So these are what I consider me just taking pics without thinking too much...haha

For those who have seen Jack in the water in years past, you'd never know Jack if you saw him in the pool THIS year! He has not only overcome his fear of getting water in eyes by wearing goggles, but those "super-power" goggles gave him the confidence to hold his breath and swim with his face in the water, using his kicks and "ice cream scoops" (arm/hand motions) as his coach likes to refer to them. Jane is a natural...she LOVES the water, doesn't freak when immersed quickly and would do everything from kick, ice cream scoops, float on her back (with help) and even jump into her coach's arms with gusto! It was such a nice change for me since the last couple summers were spent in frustration as Jack would literally be forced to get in the pool for swim lessons and would yell at me if I even told him he did a good job, as if it was patronizing or something. This year is a different story and BOTH my kids (hallelujah) couldn't WAIT to go to swim every morning (and often times didn't want to leave!!!) Cue the choir!

My photography business is going really well, but has been very time consuming; but hey, that's the first year of starting a new business and it's to be expected. I'm just thankful to have SUCH a supportive husband and such a fun job that is really just more of a creative outlet. No, I haven't forgotten about getting my children's book published...I think I just needed to step away from it for awhile because of all that was going on in my life after having Jane. If only I could combine writing and photography; just have to figure out my angle there! All in good time.

No summer vacations this year, however, we will be taking a short trip up to Showlow soon to visit Grandma Ginger and Bertie and then a quick stop in Payson to spend a night/day with Grandpa Jim and Grandma Leeanne before going back to our crazy lives. And Disneyland is in the near future as well!

That's about it for now...had to update because I was starting to feel like my photography blog was taking precedence over my family blog and I felt bad!

Thanks for reading if anyone still does!!!

I haven't forgotten

If anyone still follows this blog, I have NOT forgotten about you. I've only started a photography business and have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off--wait, no--not just any chicken. An overtired, type-A chicken with one leg in a butt-kicking contest. Or something like that.

And on a serious note, I have to add that my precious Nana--92 years and counting, and one of my very best friends in life--began dialysis this past week and seems to be turning that corner that I have dreaded her turning for my entire life.

I remember lying awake at night as a child, praying that my grandparents would live forever. I was so scared that they would die (that was when they were in their 70s). My grandpa made it to 92 with a sense of humor and a smile, and I am convinced, would've made it longer, had he not had a bad fall earlier that spring. And now, my Nana has made it to 92 and is coming up on the 3-year anniversary of my grandpa's death. She has even told me that she is not afraid to go and even welcomes it, which brings me to a place I knew I would have to go eventually, but kept fervently denying: the point of having to accept the reality that my grandmother's days are numbered. And when someone loses the will to live, it's not long before their body follows suit.

I love my Nana more than words can express and so much of who I am is because of HER.

She's such a tough cookie and has gone through so much in the last months, and even more so in the last week. I just pray that I make the most of the time; instead of dreading the inevitable, I must embrace the present--it's all I have with her.

Nana, I love you so very much.

Organize Me!

Everyday, I tell myself I will get something organized--whether it's the pile of papers on the kitchen counter or an entire system for doing a household task. And then, everyday, I somehow avoid doing anything of the sort, and often make it worse by adding to that pile of junk mail that needs to be shredded or put off until tomorrow what could have been done MONTHS ago! And then I wonder why I feel inefficient and unproductive...

I read every organizing article in REAL SIMPLE magazine, and inevitably get discouraged because I feel like I have to go to The Container Store and spend hundreds of dollars on matching bins and baskets. It should NOT cost a lot of money to be organized, right? Or maybe it does. I don't know.

This seems generalized, and I suppose it is--I have so many "things" that I need to organize; something's gotta improve so I can become more efficient.

Here's an example: digital pictures!!! I am so behind on my albums, yet I continue to take TONS of pictures of my kids. I simply don't know what to do with the thousands of digital pictures on my computer and on disks or how to compile them in a way that preserves the best images without leaving me with a box of random prints strewn about.

Does anyone else feel this way?? Tell me what you feel like you need to organize, and tell me also one thing that you HAVE organized and it's made you more efficient or feel more at ease. I love ideas from REAL people.

And if you've spent tons of money on matching bins, please don't respond.

Linda Blair in training

It's official: I have a girl. No I'm not announcing what you might think--I am talking about Jane. In the last few months, she has really come into her own...something I love, but also hate at the same time. I never thought I'd have a child who would be able to master the knock-down-drag-out tantrums that this little 16-month-old has, but just when one gets a big head and assumes such an idea, it happens.

Today, we went to one of our favorite spots to eat: Mr. Goodcents. It was just me and the kids, so no Matt to help referee (or at least commiserate with me). We always split a footlong and 1 bag of chips to save money. Jane has become quite smart and knows that a trip to Mr. Goodcents=chips. So she wants no part of eating her sandwich and will let us--and the entire restaurant at lunch rush--know this. When I told her she needed to eat her sandwich first before having chips and put the chips out of sight, she began screaming at the top of her lungs, drooling and...ARCHING HER BACK! Jack never did this--at least not that I remember. I waited for her head to start spinning and her eyes to turn red. Luckily they didn't, but meanwhile I was expected to take care of this situation by all the annoyed customers who were trying to enjoy their lunch (and obviously did not have kids of their own because they showed no sympathy). I ended up holding her until she calmed down, gave her one chip (I know, I shouldn't have given in) and then hid the chips and told her they were all gone until she decided she was hungry enough to eat her sandwich. She fell for it.

So I gave into her tantrum (although I DID wait until she stopped before giving her the chip) AND lied to her. SUCH a great example, aren't I? It's funny how before you're a parent you have a list of things you vow NEVER to do to your child. Fast forward a couple years and it's all you can do to avoid those things...I was such a good mom BEFORE I had kids. Oh well, I wanted to enjoy my lunch, let those around me enjoy theirs and get this moment over and done with so I could head to the grocery store for another potential episode.

Jane's First Haircut

To prove she was on her way to a full-fledge mullet which HAD to be stopped...at least so the hair on top could catch up...



Blissfully unaware of what was about to take place...



Short and sweet!



Reminds me of Jack at that age...with the little duck tail to boot!



So Jane had her first haircut. Why would I cut her hair when she has none, you ask? Well, she may not have had much, but she did have enough to form a subtle mullet (or is there such a thing?)

She wasn't too happy about the whole experience, despite being able to watch Elmo, sit in a car and eat a lollipop; however, all you see here are photos of her leading up to this blessed event because I had to hold her the entire time, thus leaving me no free hands for picture-taking. This girl wasn't crying because she was scared; she was crying because she was MAD AS HELL. She straightened her legs and arms, while making fists and bouncing up and down in sheer anger. God bless the poor lady who cut her hair--even though the haircut is so-so, I tipped the lady simply for not stabbing my daughter as she flailed about unpredictably. I honestly think she thought she was going to get a shot or something.