My Peep

My husband had my cell phone charger today and thus my phone was DEAD!

Yes, we are still with the stone age and still have a land line, but mostly, because my whole family is on verizon...people use the cell phone...

Our neighbors use the land line...but that's just because we're out here in the boonies and it just seems more cozy:)

Anyhoo...back to the cell phone...

So, I didn't have it today...and I was sad.

Not really, but I wanted to put more emphasis on the fact that it was unusable and I couldn't communicate with the outside world of my cell phone "peeps"

When my Italian Stallion got home, I was able to plug in the phone and BOOM...I had a voicemail AND a text...He looked surprised at first and I laughed, "What's the problem honey, it's just my "Peeps"...they're checking to see how I am."

To which he laughed (a little too loudly I might add)..."You mean it's your PEEP...you have one person who you talk to everyday besides me...you have a PEEP, not PeepS"

And, really...he's right...I have a Peep...

I LOVE people and I love crowds and I even (gasp) love being the center of attention at times...but, when it comes right down to it...I get MORE energized and giddy about investing into the lives of individuals...I like to KNOW and  BE KNOWN by just a few...

That's where loyalty and relationships come in...where being real and shedding appearances comes into play...and that's where I love to live...

And therefore, I just have a Peep...sure I get a few other calls every once in awhile...but most of my talk time is either with my Italian Stallion or Anne:)  And I'm so grateful for her! 

Shout out to Anne...You're my Peep, Girl!

I have another friend coming to visit tomorrow (or rather today considering it's after midnight) and I haven't seen her since Little Munchkin was inside my uterus...pleasant visual I'm sure!

I can't wait to spend the day with her...who knows, maybe I'll even be able to add her to my Peeps list in the future:) 

Have a great day!

I'm in Heaven...

not LITERALLY...

but oh my...

Let me explain...

I believe the last time we purchased a new computer was around the 2002 mark...this was before I got heavily into digital photography, this was 3 photoshop programs, 2 external harddrives, 4-5 mice, 4 cameras, and an ipod touch AGO...

Let's just say that my computer and my box monitor had seen better days...and quite frankly, sitting at my computer waiting for about 15 minutes for ONE picture to upload was literally doing me in...all of my time and energies were being zapped as I sat bug eyed in front of my mega slow computer into the wee hours of the morning. 

And soooo, the saving began...it began last May after I purchased my camera...I knew that if I could just stick it out, we'd have enough to purchase a computer that actually stayed online without kicking you off every time you tried to upload an image...if I could just hang in there with my teeny box monitor and enlarge everything so that I could possibly get things edited correctly..

Well..it paid off...My new computer arrived today and I'm in heaven...

BAM...internet
BAM...photoshop
BAM...side by side

Oh my it's heavenly and I"m finished sooo incredibly quickly!  It's just wonderful... and for those that are wondering...NOPE...I did not go with a Mac...not because I don't think they're great...but for the same reason I'm with Nikon and not Canon...it's what I know and where I can work the most comfortably...and I'm happy...

I feel so blessed this evening...I'm in the process of trying to get organized here at home...I really do hope to get back to a regularly blogging schedule...hang in there with me...

have a great week!

I am known by another name....

I just got back from seeing the movie Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

I'm not ashamed to tell you that I literally cried like a baby at the end of the film...I know those around may have thought me silly...I mean, after all, it's JUST a movie...JUST a tale...

right?

The thing is, if you know the analogy...if you know how the author meant to portray the characters...it's MUCH more than just a tale...

There is so much that I could write, that I could pour my heart out concerning the promises, the lessons, the TRUTH of this series...but, I fear that I just wouldn't do it justice. 

For those that haven't read C.S. Lewis's series of Narnia, I encourage you to do so...read them to your children and grandchildren...and then, once the truth reveals itself in the pages, explain it to them...

There were two themes that stuck out for me in this movie...now granted, they didn't follow the books' story line completely...and yes there were some allowances made...but, for these two, I am so grateful...

One, is that of Lucy...being a mom of daughters...being one who struggled with confidence and feeling beautiful...I connected with the battle within Lucy...the battle of comparison, of not seeing yourself for the value that you possess...but that value that comes from being knit together by a Being who loves you more than life itself...the value that comes from having a purpose greater than that of outward appearances, at yet effects that appearance in ways that are only seen by the heart...

It was empowering to see her realize that without WHO she was, and without her fulfilling her purpose...it changed everything...not just her, but everyone around her...

The second thing and the one that started the flood of tears...was of course at the end...Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the 3rd book in the series as they are chronologically written...not exactly as they are chronologically told/lived.  However, it is the book in which Edmund and Lucy cease coming back to Narnia, as their siblings have already. 

She recognizes this, but so desperately is connected to Aslan that she begs an answer from him, "Will you be in my world?"  and He replies, "I am known by another name in your world...here you know me well, there you must know me better" 

What a perfect TRUTH...if you haven't figured out the analogy...Aslan is known as Jesus in our world:) 

Yes, Narnia is a tale...yes, it was just a movie...Lucy doesn't really exist...

But, the TRUTH of it all does...and for that, I owe my life. 

And to those that think I'm completely going overboard and sound quite silly in dedicating an entire blog post to a description of a movie...well, you just have to excuse me for that...words, pictures, stories...they all have a way of getting into me...it's how I'm wired...it's sometimes how God choses to teach me...and though He may not teach YOU the same way, He gets through somehow...so, I appreciate your understanding:)

Dear Ma'am

I know that I shouldn't have been out shopping today...Today of all days...

I was trying to finish up the last minute gifts, without having to drag the "chillins" out into the cold.  I had an idea that it would be bad, but I guess I have been sheltered, for I did not expect to see what I saw.

There were absolutely NO parking spots available at the mall...NONE...zippo...nada...

And so, there we all were...all of us that needed to park...we just wandered around...driving up and down the aisles hoping and praying that someone would finish their shopping early and start up their car to leave.  After a half hour of white knuckling as I entered each lane hoping that the angry drivers wouldn't hit me in their impatience and grumpiness...low and behold a spot became available...right in front of me...

One car happened to turn into the aisle, but saw that my blinker was on and gave me a sweet wave...she had a mini-van too...she was tired, I could tell...but she was kind.  We waited for the truck to pull out of his spot and I maneuvered my car so that I could get it into the spot without having to cause the other lady much wait time while I tried to fit into the area. 

As the truck backed up, I motioned that he had enough room to get out completely and that I wasn't going to hurry him...

What happened next is what I can only explain as a scene from the movie Cars and Mater was driving! Mater, however, was disguised as a disgruntled lady in a tiny red car.

The lady was at the end of the aisle and must have looked in her rear-view mirror to see that a spot was opening up...with no thought to my blinker, the other car in the oncoming lane or to anyone else that happened to be around...she pressed the pedal to the medal IN REVERSE and came screeching in front of my car, cutting off the other mini-van, as well as myself and slipped into the spot just as the truck switched from reverse to drive. 

I sat there in shock...as did the lady in the mini-van facing me...we both sort of shrugged, laughed and were just dumbfounded actually. 

I didn't sound my horn...I didn't scream or yell...I didn't even roll down my window as the lady got out of her car and stalked off down the aisle towards the entrance to the mall with her chin in the air.  However, I did get to thinking...and I thought the whole time I was inside shopping (I did finally find a spot about 10 minutes later)

You see, I had carried a notebook with me and though everything in me really wanted to go bash out her lights and let all the air out of her tires...I tried to think of her story and what must make some people think to be that incredibly rude and insensitive.

And so, I left the following note on her windshield...I'm sure there is more that I could have said and really WANTED to say..but I kept it short and sweet...I'll never know what she thought or if she even cared...but, that's okay...

Dear Ma'am,

I observed how you obtained your parking spot earlier today.  Because of this, I thought perhaps you were in need of some encouragement.  I know with the waiting in lines, the hustle and bustle during this season, we can often forget that everyone has a story...or even remember what we are celebrating in the first place.

I hope that you were able to accomplish all that you set forth to complete today. 
Have a Merry Christmas.

Love, a fellow traveler on life's journey

I know it's hard to wait and I'll be the first to admit that I lack in the mercy department as well as the patience!  But, during this season, especially when others are hurting, the least we can do is try to offer a sincere smile and keep things in perspective.  Yes, I had been out for hours b/c of the lines and wait time...and yes that took me away from my husband and my girls...and I COULD get REALLY upset about it and just blame everyone else for making things take so much time...and I suppose that could be justified...but, it's not really worth the heartache or the stress...

and besides...it makes for a great blog post!!!

Have a great weekend!

Let's Back up just a bit...

First of all, I'll answer just a few questions...because, as you know, comments ARE my love language and I DO want to keep those people happy:) 

#1) What did my older girls get at the AG store?  Sweetpea chose a travel outfit and a Felicity tea dress...seeing as Felicity is "going into the chamber" at the end of 2010, she wanted to be sure that she got anything for her historical doll that she'd "never" be able to get again...and here is where I'd LIKE to give an entire dissertation about the money making hoohah that irritates the bejeezies out of me and why the heck do they have to do this to little girls...but, then I'd have to jump on the bandwagon of bashing Disney for doing it as well...and I'm just not going to pick a fight with the late Mr. Disney this season...

Peanut chose Kit's scooter and an ice skating outfit for her doll.  Each them were told by their Nana that they could choose one more item from her...but, I won't tell you what that is right now because we're trying to "forget" about it so that we'll be "surprised" at Christmas!

#2) Where did I get that header?  I just made it...that's it...the fall header wasn't showing up on my laptop any longer because it was getting blocked or something...probably because I was using another source...so I just made up my own and uploaded it...simple as that!

Okay...now that that is finished...let us back up some more to give you the scoop on the Italian household traditions leading up to Christmas. 

Last year, I believe I did post upon post about our traditions...and if you missed it...well, I'm sure it's somewhere in the archives of December...OR you can go to my facebook page and look through my albums...I made a whole book of it for the girls...

One thing that we always do though, is cut down the ole Christmas tree...

It starts a'fresh each year with the banter of who is going to find the PERFECT tree...

This year we decided to let the girls cut it down...

We think it's important to give small children very sharp objects and give them very little direction in how one is to utilize the tool...

We figure they'll eventually figure it out...

That, or Mommy has a heart attack just watching them, grabs the saw and waves it wildly at Daddy saying, "They are going to cut off their fingers for heavens sakes...YOU do it!"

In the end, we get the "perfect" tree...come home to Sweetpea reminiscing about each ornament...Peanut snagging the Santa hats and blasting the Chrismtas music...and Little Munchkin putting the star on top...

I'll leave you with the following video because it is something that Little Munchkin LOVES to reenact nearly every day since we first introduced the girls to Buddy the Elf...

I like to say that we are teaching our girls the proper ladylike etiquette daily in our home...

And in case that's not enough funny enough for you today...please hop over to BigMama blog and read her entry...it's just real and funny and the ending is the best!

Because I have this extra time

Yes, I do have a bit more wedding editing to complete...and I KNOW I have some more Christmas shopping to do...my laundry is starting to back up...the upstairs toilet is clogged again...I can't remember the last time I vacuumed the stairs...

HOWEVER...I do NOT have to be sitting in front of the computer for hours on end into the wee moments of the morning...and therefore, I am completely and utterly wasting time doing things that have no real meaning or benefit to my existence...

For example, I watch movies...even ones that I've seen a gazillion times...but, I sit in my pajamas and watch them anyway..

I have planted garlic...yep...right smack in the middle of December...I was supposed to do it in October and November...but, I never did get around to it...so I planted some cloves today...just marched out there with my winter coat and hat on and started hackin' up the dirt...we'll see if it actually works come the summer time...

I started running and doing about 10 minutes of my former P90X videos that used to take me around an hour to complete, back when I didn't have that muffin top, back fat and jigglies goin' on...but, I figure it's got to be good for my heart or at least it allows me to justify the chocolate covered pretzels, soda and pumpkin pie that I consume...

Lastly, I have gone back through and read former blog posts...and I say this because I want to thank you...thank you for overlooking my incredible lack of proof reading and poor grammar...thank you for figuring out what I was trying to say when I, apparantly, was incabable of expressing it adequately....thank you for coming back and leaving comments...(btw, I got FIVE whole comments yesterday and I've got to tell you...I was all giddy inside!!!)

So that's it for now...I've been leaving my camera behind lately...just trying to enjoy life a bit...but, I do want to tell you about our "journey to Bethlehem" last Friday and some other fun stuff...I'll see you on Monday!

Whew...the day got away from me

My day is nearly over and I"m JUST now sitting down to the computer to post this blog post about our trip to Chicago...I could just give you the play by play run-down of our day, but then I would have to put myself in the same category as Little Munchkin who seems to have the need to keep a running commentary of every moment of our lives...I honestly don't know WHERE in the world she gets the desire to hear herself talk and talk and talk...hmmmm...perhaps I'll discuss this with myself in the mirror tomorrow morning...ahem

So...Chicago...

Let me begin the tale of our adventure as it commenced in the dining area of Buca De Peppo the Saturday night prior to departure.  I had received a gift card to this restaurant and as gift cards manage to burn holes in the pocket of my Italian Stallion, we had this card all of about 2 weeks...but that was because I didn't tell him about it until 2 days before we went...so in reality, it burned a hole pretty quickly. 

After a delicious start of garlic toast and salad...we (and by WE I mean Italian Stallion who also finds it difficult, at times, to keep secrets for very long) decided to tell the girls the SURPRISE for the weekend.  The SURPRISE being a trip to Chicago...they were ecstatic to say the least...I think their favorite part was, "You mean we get to skip school???" 

Turns out it was a good thing that we told them b/c the amount of packing required for a family of 5, along with each of their dolls and their dolls suitcases, apparantly takes more than the average time requirement...I also completely forgot that dolls NEED a different pair of shoes, pjs, outfits, coats, accessories and play materials for each day that they travel...this of course IS a necessity and can NOT be taken lightly...and so an extra suitcase was called upon...I think at this point, you could just refer to me as the lady in waiting...waiting...waiting...on 3 girls and 5 dolls...

After falling into bed by 11pm that evening, we were up at O dark Stinkin' Early in the morning to get a jump on the road...we left by 8am and made a stop at Meijer for much needed donuts and couple of bananas...cuz, really, who can go on a road trip without bananas? 

We arrived in Chicago by 2pm their time and bundled up straight away to head to the American Girl store to "scout" out the premises...Daddy surprised us all with a large sum gift card that he had won at the office!  KUDOS to Cranel, Inc!  The store was wall to wall people, and so we did what any parent would do in this case...we gave the girls the camera and told them "Just go take pictures of things that interest you...we'll hang out here and hold the coats!"  They had lots of fun and after exhaustion and whining began, we thought that would be the perfect opportunity to make them sit still in a restaurant!!! 

And so we headed to Giordanos pizza for some Chicago style pizza...Some favorite memories will be playing with mozzerella sticks and eating the leftover pizza for 2 days.  It was delicious and broke up our mile walk back to the hotel. 

It was blustery cold outside, but the girls were absolute troopers...even Little Munch who wanted to walk by herself...big 3 year old that she is...They hoofed it far in that cold and we were proud of them. 

Thinking that all that cold, and walking and full bellies would make for a leisurely morning, Italian Stallion were surprised figured that we'd be up at the crack of dawn again and were ready for a morning of swimming on the 27th floor of our hotel, overlooking the city.  Due to Italian Stallion's crazy travel schedule of late, he has racked up the points and therefore a few free hotel nights were available!!! There was even a free hot breakfast each morning...which was heavenly, I might add...and the girls kept saying, "Hey, Mom it's now 9:05...everyone else is listening to announcements and I'm sitting in a hottub on the 27th floor!!!"  My girls have their priorities straight I tell you!

We went to the Museum of Science and Industry Monday morning, which was free admission, and were able to see the Christmas tree displays from around the world...I went to the Scotland tree cuz I'm 1/164758694056837 Scottish and it just seemed IDEAL that I get my picture taken in front of a tree from my heritage.

After making our way back to the hotel to bundle up, we headed towards Michigan Ave...our destination was the AG Store, but we were planning some stops along the way...one being Lego Land, where we actually purchased our very first lego set...being that we have only girls, this was a new concept to us...but we are just those types of parents, that want those well-rounded features in our kids...that, and I think Daddy could only handle so many Hello Kitty shops and princess dresses...

Disney store, the Apple store and a pit stop at Ghiradelli's for some ICE CREAM...it just hit the spot on that below freezing day...yummmm nothing like ice cream to warm your insides...:) 

Finally making it to the AG store we let the girls make their choices and Little Munchkin was able to get her first doll...to which, after searching doll and after doll...when Daddy pulled the last one off the shelf she said, "OHHH THAT's my Emily!"  She hasn't let go of the doll yet...she sleeps, eats, and even poops with little Emily...

We used hand warmers to keep us warm as we trudged back to the hotel, played a bit with the purchases and then headed out again to cross the river to the old Macy's to see the Christmas displays in the windows...It was a late night when we arrived back to the hotel and Daddy saved the day with a run to the hotel lobby for mac and cheese and more bananas...God bless bananas!

Our last day Chicago saw us swimming again and then heading to the Field Museum (another free admission day) to see SUE the dinosaur and just enough historical stuff to be able to qualify for a "educational" field trip for an excused absence from school!!!  And then we headed home.

I know I sounded a bit lacking in the enthusiasm and heavier on the sarcasm, but really, that was just for "effect"...as if I had some literary sense in the first place...but REALLY, it was an AWESOME trip...the girls were amazing, the time we spent together playing on the elevators, giggling, snuggling in the king side bed, talking and just being together was soooooooooo worth it!  I am sooo grateful for these opportunities with our kiddos...and the fact that we had a free gift card to even make purchases was just icing on the cake...

Little Munchkin was asking in the car today when we could all go back again...

Someday baby...it was definitely worth the trip!

p.s. little side note...I did NOT bring my camera, my baby, my "connected at the hip" piece of equipment and therefore I was feeling a little helpless as I tried to figure out the small point and shoot...so please bear with my lack of photo taking abilities with regards to this post...I wanted our trip to be about the experience rather than Mommy DOCUMENTING the experience while she missed half of what was going on trying to get the best "angle"...

We're Back from Chicago

We’re back from Chicago!!!

Back? We didn’t even know that you WENT to Chicago…wait, have you been there this WHOLE time?


Ummm..no…we went on a:

“Daddy’s been traveling so stinkin’ much that we all were missing seeing him and Mommy is going crazy cooped in the house editing picture until her eyes bug out at 2 in the morning, so we’re taking off for a 6 hour drive to a hotel with a pool and shopping stores galore in order to spend some much needed time together” vacation.

We’re back now and I’ll elaborate on our “chirstmas fun” in a bit..

But first, I need to say.... “WOOHOO…the crazy photography season is coming to a close…

This, in literal terms means, that my family will now have clothes to wear that don’t stand up on their own in the corner of their rooms…we will eat things other than mac and cheese, frozen pizzas and other such “meals’ that come pre-packaged and ready to go…the office will resume it’s more “organized’ look as envelopes, receipts and packaging tape are efficeiently tucked away until next year…Mommy’s library bag will come back out and be filled with novels for her to enjoy over the winter months…and finally, snuggling will again resume late at night as Mommy will actually be able to come to bed at a decent hour! (I’m sorry if that was TMI on that last note, but it makes me happy)

After unpacking, multilple loads of laundry, cleaning out the fridge, changing what I can only explain as Mt. St. Helens erupting in Little Munchkin’s diaper (this is what traveling does to people)…I am happy to announce that our house is on it’s way back to the “nice” version of HOME!

Another added benefit is the fact that I may actually be able to get back to updating our family blog. Granted, I do have a wedding edit to finish up and a few loose ends, but nothing like the past 3 months…

And so…I leave you today with this…in the hopes that I”ll be back tomorrow to give you the scoop on our Family Adventure in Chicago…

I hate shoe shopping and praise for single-moms

I've been to 3 Payless shoe stores, Sears, 2 Targets, and 3 Kohls attempting to locate shoes for my eldest daughter so that she can "put to rest" the hot pink croc from the summer that she's been wearing daily to school.

To NO avail...

Too big, too tight, a picky spot, they slip off, I can't run in them...the list of excuses is long and we are still without shoes...I'm sure I'll be getting a call one wintry day with tears b/c snow has squished through the croc holes.  What must the school staff think of me?

All this has been happening amidst my husband's travel schedule---which in my humble opinion---has been grueling!

And this my praise for single moms...

At 11, 1, 2:15, 3:30, 4, 5:30 and 6:40 IN THE MORNING

As I scurried down the hallway to attend to my screaming 3 year old due to:
~" I Neeeeeeeeeeeeeed my daddy"
~"My bummy itches"
~"My toe hurts..put some cweam on it"
~"I"m not sleepy anymore"
~"I close my eyes and it is scary"

As my sweet Peanut sobbed down the hallway at 2am complaining that her ankle was in "terrible pain"...

As my brain was trying to compute all that was occuring in the wee hours of the morning trying to process and make a plan:  Do I schedule an x-ray?  Do I scrap my plan to continue to shoe shop the following day? Can I just sit on my bed and eat chocolate until my Italian Stallion comes home?

I became painfully aware of just a sliver of what single-moms must deal with on a daily basis...

At a parent/teacher conference recently my husband was stopped mid-sentence as he politely & apologetically explained that he has been traveling much as of late...

The teacher explained that she was accutely aware of when he left and when he returned based on Peanut's demeanor.  Apparantly she is rather subdued & sad in class when her daddy is away...

This "season" has been rough...I don't htink I realized the impact it has had until we're now nearly at the end...

The holiday times will actually be a respit from the hectic schedule.  I think we've all been in survival mode & using any defense mechanism in order to push forward...

I know in my heart that compared to others, my troubles seem miniscule & in light of God's bigger purpose & plan, this IS just a season...

I suppose I'm more frustrated with my responses and reactions...

How much more I am aware now of my NEED for Christ and to have the peace in the storm and to guide my girls to that peace as well...

although, I can't help but wonder if just ONE pair of shoes wouldn't just help the situation a weeee bit...hmmmm???

What I've been up to

To clarify, especially to my darling friend Marla, the "surprise" mentioned at the end of this post does NOT indicate anything with regards to a pregnancy!!!  Think more in the arena of "trip" or "excursion" for our family rather than adding to the NUMBERS of our family...just wanting to set the record straight!

It's been awhile.

Let's see if I can recap up to this point...

My eldest turned 9.
I edited a family photo shoot on the computer.
Sweetpea had a Science test and did super.
I photographed 2 families at a park.
Peanut figured out how to get herself all the way across the monkeybars.
I edited the two family photo shoots and shot another wedding.
We broke out the Wii and it turns out Little Munchkin is an AWESOME bowler and frisbee thrower.
I edited some more in front of the computer.
Sweetpea had a sleepover birthday party and we "camped" out in the living room in our HUGe tent.
I had some more photo shoots.
We had some friends over for dinner and I ate some good white chicken chilli.
I posted the shoots on facebook and my website/blog.
We cleaned the house and the girls whined about putting away their clothes.
I may or may not have cursed at the computer.
I sat down and sped read a book...and am now currently watching Harry Potter.

I do hope to get back to a regular routine after Thanksgiving...and I'm looking forward to a surprise coming in up December...details TBA later:) 

Have a great week!

Happy Birthday SweetPea

Happy Birthday my sweet girl!

You changed my life!

You made a dream come true!

I found a part of me in you!

I thank God for entrusting you to me for these years on earth. 

I watch you grow and learn and succeed and fail.

I watch you cry and want to take away the hurt.

But, I want you to be strong and so instead of taking it away, I just cry with you and remind you that not only do Mommy and Daddy love you...but, Jesus loves you more than we could ever imagine.

I cheer for you!

I probably drive you INSANE with my craziness!

I'm pretty positive that I embarrass you at times...and then I see you smile...so at least I know you don't think I'm completely crazy!

You are compassionate, thoughtful, and friendly.

You are demanding of yourself and give grace to others.

You are dramatic and sometimes overreact (and I have NO idea where you get that at all!)

But, I love the emotion sweet one!

You are loved beyond what you could even imagine!

Happy Birthday!

Rapunzel

My older girls were in the play, Rapunzel, last week.

Oh, and welcome back Ms. BlahGGER who doesn't show up for days on end...

Ahem...yes well...I'm sorry for that...the snot that has built up in my nose has apparantly brought in luggage and set up residence in my entire sinus areas...which now allows me for yet another excuse for my absence of late....

And so...where was I?
Yes...LAST week, my girls were in a play...Let me begin by saying that it OVERJOYED...no...it THRILLED my soul that my daughters wanted to PERFORM!  I know, I know...it's pathetic, selfish, "all glory to me-ish"...but, I just sooo wanted to "Show the world" (or at least the handful of parents and grandparents that crammed their bodies into the teeeeeny, tiny room) the fact that my girls DO enjoy applause and can be in the spotlight...

well...they kinda like the spotlight...

If the spotlight is center stage and they are down the hallway, in another room, in a group of other kids doing something completely different than acting in a play...

So

Where does that leave us with regards to the play itself and PERFORMANCE night?

They thoroughly enjoyed each and every practice...they read their lines at home and practiced in the car...they're looking forward to the new Disney movie, Tangled...all the "stars" were in our favor...

This was Peanut on the night of the performance...up on stage...

What?  Can't you see the PURE JOY that exudes from her very soul?

Yeah, she was doing everything in her power to hold it together and not lose it to tears...bless her heart!

They DID have fun though...and I DO have pictures to prove it...I'm thankful that the play was "low key"...and there weren't more than about 30 people in the room to watch...just their crazy mother hopping all over the place taking flash pictures and blinding everyone for miles made them resort to rolling of the eyes and stern looks!

I am happy though...so proud of them for trying something out of their comfort zone...for making new friends...for challenging themselves...

And although Italian Stallion deemed the watching of the HOUR AND A HALF performance a tad, "painful"...I, for one, was thoroughly pleased and bursting with love for my girlies...and then we went home and had pizza and ice cream...

The End.

Randomness

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:" ~Ecc.3:1

I'm not sure if photography and christmas cards fall under the complexity and context of this verse, but I'm going to hope so...perhaps it catagorizes itself under vs. 6 where there are times to search and give up, keep and throw away? 

Although I have thoroughly enjoyed the outlet that photography affords me...and although it is with great pleasure that I help create memories for families...and it is often with giggles and Ah-Ha moments that I design cards...Well, I have to admit that it takes time...and apparantly, a lot of it...

Italian Stallion reminds me that it is a season...the FALL season to be exact...the time when everyone wants those family photos so they have them for those long winter months when everyone is holed up in the house dreaming of spring...it just takes a lot of my time and therefore other things have to go...

The blogging being one of those things...I knew coming into this time that it'd be hectic, but I had high hopes...what I didn't figure into the equation were the mounds of laundry, multiple scooter rides and late night games of rummikub with the girlies...and therefore...I've been a bit lax when it comes to blah-ing to all of you...(or at least the handful of people that happen to stop by here every once in awhile)

I want to interject here as I write b/c my husband has just pointed out specific dynamics of our children...Let me set the stage:  Sweetpea is in the top bunk in her room yelling for us...why?  Well, because Peanut has gone over to lay down with Little Munchkin in the purple room b/c Little Munch apparantly needed some cuddle time with her sister...Sweetpea is yelling to tattle on Peanut.  Peanut however has fallen asleep...SOUND asleep in Little Munchkin's bed...Little Munchkin, upon hearing Sweetpea's weak yells for Mom and Dad, decides it is HER duty to overpower those pathetic cries and scream at the top of her lungs that Sweetpea NEEDS us...all the while, Peanut, the reason for all the noise in the first place, remains utterly and soundly asleep, oblivious to all that is going on around her...

Just wanted to throw that in there...this is a nightly occurance...fun times!

And so, that's just my little explanation as to why I may be incredibly sporadic in the coming month(s) with regards to the blog...I want to return once the sessions have settled down...I'll come back and let you know the Italian household happenings as I am able...

IN the meantime...here are a couple of things I've enjoyed lately and would LOVE to expound on them in the future:

You've GOT to see: How to Train a Dragon  (awesome movie)
Read: Sarah's Keys (oh, my...heart breaking, but incredibly vivid and well developed literature)
Play:  outside in the sun when you can...jump in leaves, scooter down the street, have a bonfire and eat smores...

See you soon!

What I've been up to

I know I complain verbalize some discomfort when I feel rather swamped with "stuff".

I've had some "stuff" lately.

My Italian Stallion has had a lot more travel this month (and will continue to do so until month's end) which is not only out of the norm for him, but tends to send me into a landslide of  "woe is me" and cries of "will it ever end"???

Amidst the 'drama', we have had some fun moments and I thought I'd share...

first off:  Apple Pie

I'd like to say that we picked the apples ourselves as we jovially went to the orchard and picked our bushels...

but that would be lying...

Meijer's produce department was the closest we got to the orchards this year...so I cheated and then made a pie...

it was good and we ate it...

and so did some fruit flies who decided to permanently move into my kitchen.

Next:  Family Pictures

I have that love/hate relationship with our family pictures...

Love because, duh, I love pictures

Hate, because I think by the time the picture taking is complete both myself and the rest of my family want to wring each other's necks...ahhh the love

Child Labor is next on the list...we like to grow 'em strong and resiliant...

We find that the best way to do this is to put them to work...

Visits from long lost uncles who move away to California and then come back and complain about the midwest weather in the middle of a soccer game when he's only really been gone one month and there's NO WAY his body has gotten used to his "glorified" Cali-weather...just because it happens to be a "bit" cold and blustery and rainy...

but, we love him anyway!

More child labor...cuz sometimes you just need a break!

That's what's goin' in my neck of the woods...

How about you?

Seriously?

We got our pictures taken yesterday...

When I say WE, I do infact mean my entire family...even my husband who puts up with my endless "ideas" for poses even into the setting sun...

And so with prodding and pleading, I got everyone over to the farm where AM met up with us to snap a few shots so that I could get my christmas card finished (for heavens sake!!!)

I wish I could adequately verbalize the type of friendship/relationship that Anne and I have...there are times that we could be identical twins and then there are times that we are as different as night and day...

the one thing that we do share...VERY strongly I might add...is our love for a good picture...infact it is very difficult when one of us has a camera and the other doesn't...

Therefore, these family photo sessions, though relatively painless, do cause me some nervous reactions at times...this is why she and I work so well together at weddings...we're bouncing all over the place, each one of us "seeing" different views...

So, it shouldn't surprise me that once our "family" shots were done, I went back and grabbed my camera as if I had lost my right arm and started shooting "other" things...

What I didn't realize, is that I had now become the "view" for her...

She sent me these today:

I suppose I have a bit of fun while shooting...no?

Thanks Anne for the reminder!!!  Love ya!

I prayed for a barrette

Remember the pile of leaves?

Little Munchkin not only enjoys leaves, but she has a fascination for anything in her hair...barrettes being one of those such things.

She had them on in these pictures b/c we had just purchased them that morning...

She needed something to keep it out of her eyes so that she could run full blast down any aisle of any store as fast as her legs could carry her...

And so, I didn't really think much of it while playing in the leaves...she could see, she could jump...I figured they were doing their job and all was right with our world...

What I failed to recognize is that when pieces of sticks and leaf stems get caught in your hair, you often have the uncontrollable desire to just start pulling and yanking things out...including barrettes.

Now...she LOVES those things, so even though she had yanked them out of her hair single-handedly, she wasn't about to surrender them over to Mama...nope!  "I hold 'em Mama...I got 'em"

Alrighty then...and so I diligently continued the raking...and she continued the jumping...

UNTIL...

her sad little cry..."Oh no Mama...I dwopped them...in the leaves!"

And there sank our dear hot pink barrettes...

Daddy, sisters, Mommy raked and looked for 2 days in the grass, and soaked leaves after the rain...to no avail...

Today, she awoke from her nap (knowing we were going to try getting some family photos done) and asked if I could please find her barrettes...

What's a mom to do after spoiling her child with hot cocoa from Starbucks and a chick fil a milkshake in one day?  What's a mom to do for a little girl who awakens and her only care is her hot pink barrette?

Well...I headed outside for the umpteenth time to try to locate the things in the trampled bazillion leaf pieces in our back yard...and in doing so I prayed...

"Lord, you know that I have a hard time with prayer...I don't ask for a lot of things b/c I don't like being disappointed...normally, I'd just ask for wisdom in how to parent this little 3 year old who is waiting inside for me who is really sad about her barrettes...and I'm not thinking that you're some magic genie who's going to give me anything I wish for...but, we've been looking for these things for 2 days and even if I could just locate ONE of them, I'd surely be thankful..."

Not more than 5 seconds later, I looked down and there was one barrette.

I was floored...

Now, call it what you will...maybe you think it's just a coincidence...maybe I raked harder and looked with a set of eagle eyes this time around...but, I have a feeling that He was just giggling up there..."Watch this everyone...I want to surprise her...she's going to love this!!"

Well...I didn't stop there...although I told Him I was perfectly content with just one, but I said, "I've heard that if you don't ask Big, you're not gonna receive big...and this is about as "big" as I'm capable of asking at this point...I'll keep looking for just a tad longer, and if you have that other one show up...well, I can guarantee I'm going to have a blog post at the least!"

And there appeared the 2nd one...

Maybe He's teaching me something...He knows how to best teach me...and it does take me awhile to learn...and I'm a tad cautious along the way...

And then again, maybe He just wanted to see me smile!

Either way...I had a tiny blessing today...and it was sweet!

Things That Make Me Happy...

1. A clean house...or at least a semi-, almost, pretend-esque clean so that when someone pops in, it looks like I've actually DONE something and not been sitting at my computer eating cookies and drinking Pepsi while surfing through all my favorite blogs.

2. Painted toenails in a really pretty color that are not chipped or peeling away because of an awful hangnail that you just can't quite fix b/c doggone it if it doesn't hurt like the dickens...throw in a toe ring to finish off the "ensemble"!

3. My camera ('nuf said)

4. Crunchy leaves that make a really loud noise when Little Munchkin jumps into them and then rolls around so they get all caught up in her hair, but because they are crunchy they'll just slowly dissenigrate and you don't have to worry too much about them...unless someone asks if you've checked her head for lice and then you freak out until you realize, oh yeah, it's leaves and then you can give her a bath and it's all better anyway...

5.  A Starbucks coffee ('nuf said)

6. Apple pie a'la mode

7. the smell of a spice/cinnamon candle burning all evening on a brisk fall day...especially when my husband has turned on the heat at least being able to keep the house in the 60s so that I can actually breathe without nose hair-cicles.

8. talking on the phone uninterrupted for at least 15 minutes...doesn't even matter who it is...to just be able to carry on a conversation without having to stop at least 30-gazillion times.

9. reading silly books to my girls in which they laugh and I laugh and then we start snortin' b/c we're laughing so hard...yeah, it makes me happy!

...just a few of my "happy" things...
What makes YOU happy?

Little Munchkin and Fall

A tradition at our house is to rake all the leaves in our yard into a huge pile around this time of year and wait for all the kids to get off the bus and then the whole neighborhood comes and jumps in it...In years past, I've had Sweetpea and Peanut there to help me...

they drag the blanket from one corner of our yard to the next as Mama rakes up dead leaves from our 22 trees...then we drag the blanket to a most appropriate spot on the premises and await the unloading of cooped up school children...

This year however, a couple of things are different...#1 I only have a 3 year with whom to work...and therefore the task of raking up leaves from, said 22 trees, is a workload that only a realistic task force can really tackle.  Not to mention, Mommy is getting older people...Mommy can't hack the sweat and trudging an acre to pile the leaves...in a word (or two) Mommy is a wimp and she's old...plus, when she's ridiculous enough to scarf down the amount of food she did this past weekend, well, it takes some time for her poor ole heart to recooperate!

Therefore, our pile is a tad smaller than in years past...

But it turned out okay...b/c Little Munch and I had a great time 'swimming' and 'sleeping' in the leaves together...I'm learning to savor those moments...not only because living in the midwest does not afford you the luxury of knowing that your leaves will not be plummeted by rainfall within 24 hours and thus all your hard work was for naught...

but it wasn't for naught really, because we had a blast together...and it was worth the sweat dribbling down my back and the wet armpits b/c I have some issues with perspiring that obviously is NOT managed by clinical strenght Degree as the commercial promises!

Happy Fall everyone...it's my favorite time of year!

Whipped into shape

This is happening in so many areas of my life right now...

WHIPPED into shape...

It rather feels like just plain ole WHIPPING, but I'm going to hope for the positive and regard it as merely "training exercises" that will further my ability to grow.

Let me mention that the above stated "whipping" did not occur in the area of nutrition and proper health on Saturday evening as I managed to scarf down a crispy chicken sandwich, a double cheeseburger, fries and then finished it off with an icecream drumstick all in the matter of about 20 minutes.  Glutony, would be another term that might have satisfied the situation...it doesn't matter that I hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch due to soccer games, drop in visits from friends and the ever lovely downpour of rain changing the attire for the family as we headed to the 2nd soccer game of the day...

Nevertheless...who eats that much?  who NEEDS to eat that much? 

Well...I paid for it with nightmares of old boyfriends, tornadoes, and wacky alien people from the Electric Company again...I need to find another program for the kiddos to start watching...it's just plain getting ridiculous...

So, I got WHIPPED all night and got up at Oh Dark Early to run...and run and run...I didn't feel like eating again for awhile...at that point, Italian Stallion raided what is left of the garden and had ourselves a nice, home grown salad. 

Next on the Whipping Post and much more importantly is my heart and mind...

If you remember, I'm simulataneously reading about a gazillion books...funny how they are kinda all fitting together...a little spooky if you ask me...and yet, perfectly logical when it comes to what God can orchestrate. 

So, if Isaiah doesn't speak it loud enough when he prophecies, "woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left..."

Mamarazzi translation, "Man, you are in heaps of trouble people if you focus all your being on having a perfect home, and the latest fad toy for your kid, and only choose to wear name brand clothing whether you trick yourself into thinking you're getting a deal cuz you're getting it on sale or handed down from someone else, etc. etc....you're fillin' your life up with STUFF and there ain't no place left"

back up to Isaiah 1 when he starts shouting, "stop bringing meaningless offerings!" 
Mamarazzi translation, "Just stop it...you all are religious and sweet and say just the right thing and profess a sweet and loving God, who He is, but stop thinking you've got it all together and that you have arrived and have it figured it out and falsely believe that you are basking in his approval"

I promise to stop in a sec...but this is just hitting home...I'm not moving to Africa and selling all my possessions...but I want to know where my heart lies...cuz if I couldn't do anything for HIM, then my heart isn't where it should be...He doesn't love me any less because of it, but He WANTS me to 'get it', get what it means to Love Him...and not just try to fit Him into my box of comfortable with a side of "what's the least I can do so that I can feel like I'm giving to the mission"?

WHEW!  I'm sure there are some of you who may stop by my blog every 5-7 days or so, cuz really...you never really know if I'm gonna post anyway, so I don't blame you...but still, stopping by and reading this crazy, loud, Italian (bymarriage) spoutin' off a bunch of religious stuff...well, it's gotta be a little, "umm, can you just go back to posting pictures of you in goggles and trying to make it appear that you can cook?"

Yeah, I don't blame you for that either...

well, maybe...because seriously...goggles?

But, I get ya...and I won't do it all the time...but, I'm learning some things here...and sometimes it's easier to just get it out...talk my way to the conclusion of the matter...so I hope you'll offer small amounts of grace as I  hash through my "stuff"...and I won't be hashing it out online all the time either...b/c that gets dull after awhile...and personally, I enjoy me some photography and parenting cliche's...

Have a great start to your week...

Book Interjection #1

My plan was never to use this blog as a platform by which to "preach"...

It still isn't.

However, as I'm reading about 4 books simultaneously:  Crazy Love by Francis Chan, Radical by David Platt, the book of Isaiah by...uhhh, GOD, and some historical fiction ABOUT the book of Isaiah by Lynn Austin called Gods and Kings.  I have lots of thoughts going around in my head.  And if you even have an inkling as to my personality by now, you realize that it is nearly impossible for me to keep my mouth shut when trying to come to a conclusion about something in my brain...it's as if "talking" gets me to the finish line...

Therefore, periodically, you may see the little above post title of a "book interjection"...this is my arena by which I can spill what's on my brain...however, if you're not interested or not reading those books or really don't  have an interest in the deep thoughts of crazy, picture-taking Mama who may or may not think Spaghettios is part of the food pyramid...then you can feel free to just by pass the post for that day and come back when I'm writing about more interesting things like how much laundry I was able to accomplish in a single day or how I was miraculously able to get the toothpaste goo off the ceramic tile...

the choice is yours...

and with that I begin:

I missed out on Lifegroup last night because I had "Creative Arts Team" practice...(there's a whole story behind the fact that we do not title it as Worship team, but that's really for another post, another day and at least a few weeks after I've tackled the plethera of remedies to disposing of fruit flies and getting ground oreos out of the carpet...)

where was I?

Yes...so, I missed the first Chapter of Crazy Love Discussion... I thought I"d just share MY thoughts on the chapter here...on my blog...cuz I can:)

There were 3 things that struck me in this chapter...right after the title:  Stop Praying
I want to say that right here, it got me...because you know what?  I struggle BIG TIME with prayer.  It goes back to my perception of God...which if we travel back in time to specific experiences in my life where GOOD things were asked for and denied...well, it just makes for the whole, "why bother asking anymore?" 

So basically, "you had me at...Stop praying"

He had us watch a couple of "awe" videos to get the idea of how big is, etc etc...and although it WAS awe-inspiring...all of His creation...what rocked me was this statement:
"If your high view of God doesn't affect how yout hink of Him, then He's just another word in the sand."

See, I "think" I get how big He is...He's CREATOR, He's almighty, He's all-powerful, He's bigger than I can imagine...you can put a million titles in here...

The problem is, is that though I may "know" it...I stuff it into my little box b/c to be completely, vulnerably honest:  I don't want Him to disappoint me...

There I said it...

and therefore, I don't often LIVE as though God is really that big...sure He's big enough to handle all my problems, my parenting questions, my fear of the children getting hurt or sick, the worries of abillion things...but, then I think, "I can handle this one, I mean He gave me a brain right?  so I'll just use it and not tap into His power for me today..."  And I feel like I'm being strong and brave and courageous...when in reality, I'm just scared...scared of trusting.

Here's where it's even more scary for me:  God is all-powerful right? (umm..yeah, you just said that duh) F.Chan states, "Don't we live instead as though God is created for US, to do OUR bidding, to bless US, and to take care of OUR loved ones? versus Col. 1:16  Can I worship a God who isn't obligated to explain His actions to me?  I'll admit to you that this is difficult...I'm a communication person...I want reasons adn explanations...I like to understand the whys...I ask my girls and my husband all the time, "why did you do it that way?  what makes you think it will work?..."

He doesn't HAVE to answer me and that makes me a little mad...it's scary to give that control to Him and trust that He loves me...does anyone else even have a clue what I'm feeling like?

lastly...I liked this last statement even though it frightens me...I know that once I start to take to HEART who God is more and more, statements like this will be EMPOWERING instead of frightening...

"God cannot be contained in this world, explained by our vocabulary, or grasped by our understanding"

So there you have it...those are my "thoughts" for the moment.  I will be back to discussing raking leaves and flu vaccines in the near future...until then...hope you have a GREAT weekend!

Nose Hairs, cold and chili

It's been a little chilly here lately.

I'm not complaining.  I like me some jeans and sweatshirt weather.  I enjoy the smell of a fire outside and burning an autumn candle on the inside...

It's the frozen nose hairs in the morning as I inhale b/c my Italian Stallion deems it non-economical to put the heat on in September.  It may also be the fact that my children like to put their cold hands up my shirt just to hear me scream...

But, as I said, it's been a little chilly here lately...

Chilly enough for big pots of chili for dinner and hot coffee in the morning.  Chilly enough to start wearing socks with my birks...fashion faux-paux #264 I know...Chilly enough that I needed to purchase another sweater because as I said, our heat isn't on yet:)  So, what better way to put that "economy" to good use?
plus, I had just a bit left over from birthday moneys...yippee!

And so with cold fingers I tap away on this keyboard to bring you earth-shattering news from the Italian household...

*silence*

yeah, there's nothing really earth-shattering goin' on over here...lots of soccer practice, life group started up again, studying the book of Isaiah, helping in the classrooms at school, workin' on a cool soccer slideshow project for the girls, continuing my "office decor"...

just stuff...

stuff I thought I"d share...

cuz, you know...you come over here to read the blog and I gotta be writing something...

Have a great Tuesday...I promise to think up some more intersting things to type about here in the near future...

as soon as my fingers warm up...or maybe I'll just go get some gloves...

Happy Tuesday!

WHAT. IS. MY. WIFE. DOING???

Those would be the words coming out of the mouth of my husband last Wednesday.

Let me set the scene...

It's overcast...tornado sirens are blazing in the city just over...wind is whippin' ore the plain...distant thunder is rumbling...and my firstborn is running up and down the soccer field while her daddy coaches from the opposite side.

The first three quarters, the girls are scrappin'...there are no subs...5 girls didn't show up and one showed up in flip flops.  As fourth quarter progresses, so does the rain...as in, a torrential downpour...

The girls are soaked, cold, and out of breath...it's tied 2:2 and I can see from their eyes that they're about out of steam...

What's a mother to do?

I'll tell you what THIS mother does...she hands over her camera to another saint of a mom who actually thought to bring an umbrella...she dons her royal blue poncho and begins running up and down the sidelines...

SCREAMING MADLY...

"you can do it!
"You are strong"
"dig down deep"
"take a deep breath"
"one kick at a time"
"go after it with all you've got"

and it just goes on and on...the screaming, the running, the wild arm cheering, the fist punching the air...

people stare...

I'm sure many shake their heads in pity...and/or annoying aggrevation...

Obviously, I have issues...

I CANNOT keep my mouth shut at my girls' games...I've tried...I've tried sitting on my hands, eating crackers, talking on the phone...It's not that I coach them...I just like to cheer them on...be that voice that validates their pain, that lets them know they've got someone pulling for them...taking photos is about the only thing that keep my jaw from flapping b/c I have to actually steady myself for the shot...

But this night...with the rain...I didn't have my prop to stop me...and I was all out...full force..

I am now wondering what kind of impact this "wackiness" is going to have on the future mental well-being of my girls...

I have a feeling that they are sooo going to need therapy.