Our life and stuff

FF.26

5 years ago we were Celebrating

I like to over-extend help out when it's time to throw a party.  I take on projects, like baking the cake  (which is such a deceptive description because it involves decorating, masterfully transporting and then displaying said cake, etc).

I also made this mobile thing...

{The pictures are of 'the parents' when they were cute and little.  We hung them around the party to dress things up.} 

My littlest sister was having a baby - a baby girl

The day she came home we were there to visit... 

(This is Luke and Jacob - unknowingly practicing to be the most-loving and protective big brothers for their own little sisters someday.)

 

I don't know what it was about her - she freed me. 

I was whole-heartedly and un-selfishly in love with her...    

She's all BIG now, turning F-I-V-E this week-end... as in- not the 28th and not the 1st, but somewhere in between. 

We teased her last year about turning 1, she didn't think it was funny. 

I think it's pretty special. 

 

Congratulations Lux on being the 'whole hand many', as Sydney would say. 

~ Flashback (February-ish/March-ish)  Leap Day 2004 ~

      

Risky Business

For most, being risky involves bungee jumps and safety cords. 

I'm a risk-taker, I am the mother of a toddler you know...

So I'm in the shower ALONE.  I hear lots of running, doors slamming.  I'm lathering and rinsing at lightening speed.  She bursts in "Momma, the phone was ringing and I talked and it was Daddy and I told him you are in the shower and that's all".

 

Great... she has obviously ignored my rule of answering the phone and jumping off the furniture since I can make out the repeated sound of her thumped landing.  

(I suppose I'll skip shaving my legs and wear jeans today) 

A minute later I'm out, partially dried and surveying the damage.  Bit of aluminum foil are balled up and thrown about, hmmm weird.  And her room - oh her room, it's a disaster.

She stomps around the corner... 

She's still here, in one piece, nothing burned down or was cut up.  Also, my makeup was spared and for that, I'm forever grateful. 

I don't need shark dives and parachutes to get my adrenaline in a frenzy.  I live on the edge with my occassion solo HOT shower.

Batter Up

In more ways that 1... let me explain.

Last weekend we had the Little League pancake breakfast and Luke's first pre-season game on Saturday.  It was an EARLY morning that turned in to an even LONGER day.

The One & Only *Daddy Cakes* so graciously supplied the batter for the breakfast.  Local restaurants and families pulled together to fill in everything else and it went pretty smooth...   

  

After taking our team pictures and the dreaded clean-up from the breakfast, we headed over to the AAA field. 

Ready or not, (heavy emphasis on the not) it was time.  The newly formed and barely practiced Yankees vs. the Phillies were scheduled for a 12pm game:

{ I love the team looking-on in the background } 

{{ And Yes.  I do feed him.  He actually eats non-stop }} 

He pitched 2 innings which scared me to death.  The whole time my heart is pounding as I tell myself... it's just a game, it's just a game. 

This is usually when I take a walk to the snack bar or chase Sydney but I was keeping score and had to sit and mark each pain-staking pitch and play.  

I freaked out for nothing.  He did a great job.  In fact his second inning - he got all 3 outs.  The first batter got on base.  The second batter he struck out.  Then the third he caught the pop-fly and tagged third to turn a double play.   

 

Best of all, he had a great attitude.  At the end of the day that's all we ask and he delivered BIG TIME.  I don't even care if this all sounds braggy.  It's my blog and I'll brag if I want to...

i just love this kid

 

better brag books

 

 

have you heard of BLURB?

I mentioned them earlier.  This was my first purchase.  I read the FAQ and a few message boards trying to decide between Shutterfly - MyCanvas - SmugMug ...

The negatives with BLURB : Little to no customer service + Not 'professional'.

I went ahead with them. 

I'm not a professional, remember, so it was ok there.  Also, customer service is a 'personal opinion' that I couldn't form until I tried.

My review : LOVE IT

 

• The templetes are easy to work with and the final product uploaded in no time. 

• I was promised shipping to be within 5-6 business days.  However... I ordered on a Sunday and it shipped on Tuesday (way FAST). 

• I upgraded for 2-day air and it arrived on Thursday - as promised.  

I ordered:  a 20-page 7x7 hard-cover bound book with an upgrade to premium paper and dustcover jacket.  (In the future I would do the image wrap on the book, no cover.)

The total cost including tax, 2-day air and all the extras =  $44 bucks 

who can complain about that?    

I couldn't buy frames for less...

 

NOW, more than ever, I'm excited to finish up my 1-yr blog book.  

The best part is once it is made you can order as many as you'd like... one for your office, one for Grandma etc. 

Just wanted to  SHARE THE LOVE 

     

In no Mood

My little munchkin is under the weather.

 

Today she lazed on the couch.

In and out of sleepiness.

Leaving me 100% sad.

 

 

She gives me .02 second warning before she 'frows up'

apparently in no mood for pictures.

 

 

I asked if she needed anything- water, toast ?

'Nothing... I just pretty much want you to hold me'

 

All over the place

Lately - nothing and everything seems out of the ordinary.  So many things to juggle, prepare, organize.  True to life, this post shall too be... all over the place- proceed

First- we had another SUPER weekend. 

We went from one weekend of SuperBowl to SuperCross the next:

*    *    *    *    *

The weather - Seriously - Weird

The other day it rained, socked in. Then it would clear up and be all sunny.  15 minutes later it is black as night - then pouring.  The day continued with downpours, SUN showers and rainbows...

*    *    *    *    *

We did our taxes a few weeks ago.  Federal return was in the bank days later.  The State.... well, all that talk of 'IOU's' is more of a reality.  SUCKS

*    *    *    *    *

 

We noticed it was raining under our kitchen sink the other day.  ALWAYS FUN

My dear husband tried to turn the water off to the sink to check things out and the valve cracked.

  

 

I was so impressed that he hurried off to Home Depot and fixed this all by himself.  The kitchen needs a re-haul in a bad way!  It will be happening sooner than later - lets hope.  I just can't decide on anything but I've got to get over that!

 

*    *    *    *    *

I finished my first Blurb picture book.  I felt a bit rushed (just noticed the lone pg #13??).  It should arrive tomorrow by Fedex (AVA arrives tomorrow too so the timing was perfect).  

Melissa

By Jade

Book Preview

I have been in the process of making a blog book of my posts.  I did one year from Oct '07- Oct '08 to start.  It's over 200 pages and I'm on about pg. 160.  I get faster as I go but then I learn new tricks and I want to go back and tweak the other pages...

I WILL have it done by this month! (Yes, I'm putting it out there)

 

*    *    *    *    *

While watching the Grammy's...

Luke:  Mom, is that Jesse McCartney's Dad?  (Watching Paul's performance)

 

While holding Sydney the other morning...

Syd: Momma I don't wanna get big.  I wanna stay, so I can fit right here (in my arms)

 

*    *    *    *    *    

 

TODAY... just because

 

She wanted them too (of course). 

Afterwards they were her bracelets.  Later they turned into a pink velcro tower.

 

*    *    *    *    *

 

Then tonight she cried becasue she wanted to drive in Daddy's new car.

It's a rental. 

Did I mention how he was rear-ended a few days ago.  MORE FUN

... 'Oh sorry, I was changing my iPod'

awesome

 

  

FF.25

 

oh -  hi there... 

 

 

I'm just getting all pretty with this new stuff my Mom bought.

 

 

Matches my dress, don't you think?

It's really mushy and slippery when it coats my hands.

 

   

 

I got to use the whole brand new thing. 

 

 

She must think I look pretty too...

Because -

 

* She can't stop taking pictures of me *

 

 

                                        { April '06 } 

 

It's Friday and I'm in love

I love how you cuddle-up in between us at 3am

I love how you bring your own pilllow

I love how you don't wear a shirt - so you can be like your brother

I love how you are such a late sleeper on a rainy Friday morning

I love how good you smell and soft your skin is

I love that I can call you...  all mine

I JUST LOVE HER 

   

the little things

When you are three FOUR (I still can't believe she is already 4 whole years old), the simplest things can make your day.

It was raining and all she wanted to do was play outside.  Just wait until Lukie comes home from school. 

She waited and was patient and adorable- thinking she would wear her babe-ing suit out in the water.  Finally I convinced her to wear her boots and raincoat. 

I gave her an umbrella too.  It was useless...  you can't catch raindrops when you are covered by an umbrella.

 

  

They both came in for a HOT bath and it was time for dinner.

p.s. Guess who set the table tonight?

I'm a giver

 

I'm no photographer - I'm not going to pretend to be. 

I know nothing about exposure or ISO stuff.

I am a flash-hater and would rather have blurry, dimly lit photos.  I want a new camera, a big fancy expensive one.  It seems a bit ridiculous given I don't understand half of the settings (but hey- they are there if I ever need them).

I recently got Adobe CS4 and I am at a lose.  The tools, brushes and all that confuse me more than shutter-speed.  I really want to use it though - it's awesome.  It could make my wanna-be professional camera look like it takes pictures in focus with correct color balance and perfectly exposed.  

I need a few dope tutorials and lots of uninterrupted time at the computer.  Or I could just take proper photos - that would make for less editing time I assume. 

HOWEVER - with my outdated equipment and serious lack of proper technique I forge ahead.  I even go so far as to let myself say things like - "I can take some maternity pictures for you..." 

 

What can I say... I'm a poser GIVER:

   

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Mother's sweet little munchkin Andrew - he will be 15 months old on Saturday...  brace yourself Andrew, your world is about to turn upside down.  

He has no idea yet-  but his  little sister Ava  will be out to meet him. 

In just 7 days...

 

 

I sent over lots of proofs this morning!  We hope to order some things today or tomorrow for a book.  It will be a surprise for the Daddy.  She plans on giving it to him at the hospital.  He is away on business this week so it was perfect timing. 

And did I really say... "I'll be back to take pictures of her once she is born".

 

 

* * * * *

 

I suppose it takes practice.  Lots and lots of practice.  Maybe trial-and-error.  I can look back at pictures from years ago and see improvement.  There is hope.  

BUT...

I have no plans of making a career change (wait, do I have a career?)

It is fun though and I like to be a giver.  I really need to give to my family more.  I want pictures of us and I never take them...  why do I do that?   

The pictures we have up on the walls and in frames are YEARS old.  And that book of our vacation that I was making... did I finish it???   Um, no.  

I need to do that - Like soon. 

(You can click on the photos to see them big - especially that first one.  His eyes are really that BLUE.  My fav is probably the one of her holding him outside with his little leg curved around her tummy - OR - the last one of her looking down from above to her pink toes.)

 

1 more ...