Outtake #223 ~ Best Shot Monday

I have a secret. As much as I protest, (and do not fear, you will hear much protesting and complaining in the next few weeks!) I really love to create the yearly Christmas cards and calendars. It makes me stop, spend a few moments, and peruse the photos from the past twelve months.

I am constantly amazed at how much stuff we managed to squeeze into the year. I marvel at how much the girls have changed, really how much our entire life has changed in just one short year. And I gain a little bit of closure on the old year and can prepare for a new one.

It allows me to be a little bit creative as well. I don’t always get to be the “fun” creative in my real job, so it is nice to have a little creative break. I have had an idea for this year’s Christmas cards for awhile now. I suspect that J. thought it was completely crazy when I first told him of my idea. But, like a good husband, he willingly tried to corral the monkeys and help me get the shots I’ve been dreaming of.

I’m working on making at least a few of the photos work, but I think the outtakes – the ones we shot after we were “done” –  might be even more fun.

Here is one of my favorites from the day.

Outtake #223

I just know next year when I’m working on the calendar I’m going to look at this shot and not believe how much they have both grown and changed. One thing that I hope doesn’t change – that they will remain cooperative in my crazy schemes and willing subjects for the Christmas photos!

For more changing shots, pop over to Tracey’s.

Swing Choreography

Em has become quite the master of the swing. Whenever we make it to the park she wants to try to swing as high as she can and “touch the sky.”

Unfortunately, Addie wants to do whatever her big sister is doing. But Mama doesn’t feel good about pushing her “higher.” Yesterday my resistance led to this…

Swing meltdown
She was not happy. Although, yesterday was one of those rough days – it didn’t really matter what the little thing was, it was going to set her off.

Em, trying to be a good big sister was concerned…

Watchful eye
And took it upon herself to try to “teach” Ad how to get herself higher by pumping her legs.

“You bend your legs back…”

Back and...
And then push them forward…

...forth
You got it!

You got it!
(Not really.) But it was a very sweet effort, Em. Better than Mommy, who just stood by taking photos.

On the plus side, Meltdown Sally ended up in bed at 6:30pm and slept through til 7am this morning. Me thinks she may have been a wee bit tired. And today proved to be a MUCH better day.

Crafty Tuesday (Weekend!)

Thanks to our Crafty Weekend, I finally have stuff to show you today!

So, I met up with Kim and a friend in Chicago and we loaded up headed for Lake Geneva. Here’s a peek at our supplies for the weekend…

car

Yep. Filled up the entire cargo section of the van.

And this was the scene for most of the weekend…

crafters

Hard at work.

The bulk of my work was finishing a Christmas present, a scrapbook for somebody. And I know she reads this, so I don’t want to show the actual project. But here is a peek – proof if you will – that I did 20+ layouts and just about finished the book up on Saturday…

album

And I also scrapped my favorite recent photos of the girls so that I could fill these shadowboxes for their rooms. (That I have had for many of months.)

This one is Gracie’s…

Gracie_new page

And it now lives on top of her bookshelf…

Gracie_on the bookshelf

And the layout for Addikins….

Addie_totally cute

Which now lives above her little reading chair in her room…

New frame

So I felt it was a very successful weekend. Plus, on the plane ride I was able to get two books read, my calendars started, and a little bit of work done. Nice big chunks of time to focus up. It was really nice.

And J. did marvelously as a single Daddy. I got a call on the way to the airport on Thursday from the sitter that Emma had contracted the stomach flu courtesy of Addie, no doubt. And Addie still wasn’t feeling quite herself, so J. had two sick little girlies to contend with for part of the weekend. But they also managed to fit in a movie, bagel Saturday, Em’s last soccer game, a couple of trips to the toy store to make Christmas lists, and plenty ‘o spoiling. Yeah, I think they all had a good time.

How about you? Did you get some time this past week to indulge in a little bit of craftiness? Do share.

Recharge ~ Best Shot Monday

Slowly getting back into the swing of things here. Had a lovely “Mommy Recharge” weekend, and now I’m back and ready to go.

Everyone in California thought I was a bit crazy heading to Chicago/Wisconsin in November for a fun weekend, but it turned out to be just what I needed…
Grand Geneva LakeA pretty setting, some good friends, a sleep-in, and time to be me – not Mommy. (It didn’t hurt that we got a ton of crafting done, either!)

And then that amazingly good feeling as I walked back in the door. Home. Refreshed, recharged and ready to tackle my sweet little family. It was a great trip.

Visit Tracey for some other weekend highlights today.

Thankful ~ Theme Thursday

This week’s Theme is Thankful. Where to begin?

I am thankful first and foremost for J. – my sweet husband and amazing partner in this crazy life. I’m thankful for my loving and supportive family. I’m thankful for my great circle of friends who make my life so fun.

But most of all, I am thankful that God blessed Jam and I with an angel…

emma_bw.jpg

…and not just one, but two!

addie_bw.jpg

How could I ever want for more? I am just so very thankful.

Randomness of the laziest kind

Warning: this is going to be the most-cobbled-together post you have ever read.

I am basically using this post in lieu of a mass email because I have hundreds of emails that are just not going to get returned, and questions that are just not going to get answered, otherwise. So I’ll attempt to throw it all in here instead.

Maybe you haven’t emailed me or are not expecting an answer to anything? Well then, you can stop right here. And those of you wondering “has she even visited my blog lately?” “Why hasn’t she commented, then?” Oh, believe me, I’m trying – if you would all just stop writing and let me just catch up, I really would appreciate it. M’kay? Thanks!

Addie & the Plague
So…thanks for the inquiries, Addie does seem to be doing ok. We had a day very similar to a few weeks ago when she had a few “incidents” and basically just slept the rest of the day away. She isn’t running a fever, and she is insisting that she isn’t hungry, so I’m not pushing it. I did get half a piece of cinnamon toast down her after her three hour nap this afternoon. For some odd reason both of the girls think that the only thing you can eat when you are sick is cinnamon-sugar toast?

And yes, Stacy, we do have mattress pads on the all of the mattresses, EXCEPT for Em’s little trundle bed. For the past week the girls have been having “sleepovers.” J. and I have been joking that we really only need a two bedroom house since they are so keen to share a room. (Well, only half-jokingly!) It started in Addie’s bed over the weekend. We were all in Ad’s bed reading books –

A: “Mama? Will you sleep with me tonight?”
M: “No honey, Mama is sleeping in her bed. Everyone in their own beds.”
A: (BIG sigh.) “Emma? Won’t you sleep with me tonight?”
E: “Of course I will, Baby sis.”

And it was a success! Nice long 12-hour sleeps from both of them. The last few nights they have migrated to Em’s room. So, of course, Murphy’s Law, the one mattress without a pad, that would be the one Addie was on last night. So, new mattress pad. Have definitely added it to the list of things we must get.

And baking soda! It definitely takes the stink out. I used a combo of soda, OxyClean and the Seventh Generation detergent we have been using. I know! I did switch from my beloved Tide and The 7thGen stuff seems to be working really well, is natural with no phosphates. The rest of the house has also been scoured and disinfected, and hopefully nobody else will become infected. I really do NOT want to miss my weekend, but would feel awful if I knew J. was dealing with an entirely sick house. (I do however remember our weekend, Kimmer. We still managed to have a good time, didn’t we!?)

Sporty Em
Good eyes, PapaStan. Em is indeed playing basketball with a soccer ball. We were at the school on Sunday evening for a bit and someone had left the ball there, so she and J. were using it as a stand-in for a basketball. She did however tell me that she is the only girl to play basketball at recess time.

This Saturday is the WonderGirls last game. Whew. I think the novelty of soccer has worn off and she is ready to try the next something new. The girls have promised me that they were going to win the game in my honor since I won’t be there to see it. (One day, Kim!) We shall see.

The Fires
No, the fires are not affecting us, well not directly, at least. A few highways were closed over the weekend, a few friends have been evacuated, and another friend in Santa Barbara actually lost a good portion of his property and studios. Sunday the air quality was so poor that we were actually only at the school park for a little bit, and I had an aching head and tight chest just from the little bit we were out. On Monday Em said that they were only allowed out for recess for a few minutes and the teachers told them “not to run.”  But the smell and the ashes on the cars are a mere inconvenience compared to what so many Southern Californians are going through right now. I feel so badly for all of them.

I did have a complete panic moment last night. I was closing Em’s window and looked out and saw the unmistakeable glow of what could only be a very large fire. It looked like it was maybe half a dozen streets over and I instantly started making a list of what we should be grabbing. (For the record, my first list was Girls, cats, hard drive with all of our 75,000+ photos on it, my camera, and my laptop.) We turned the news on and discovered that it was an apartment fire, a very large fire, and thankfully it was contained within an hour or so. But, that is one of the worst feelings, let me tell you. I hope I don’t ever have that feeling ever again.

Alright this has gone on long enough. And if you suffered through all of this babbling, you at least earn a photo or two for making it through.

More from the park…

em_park.jpg

ad_park.jpg