Thankful for Dirty Dishes...?

We tease that we lead a "charmed" life...

I mean, if you compare our life to those in 3rd world countries or even those living in the inner city here in the states...OR if I really keep my heart right...the fact that I have a relationship with the Creator of the world...HELLO, I'm RICH!!...

I know, I know...my parents told me that you can always find someone who is better off than you and worse off than you...sometimes it's a matter of perspective...

And yet, how often do I focus on waht I don't have or what I wish I could do...a new camera, ummm fashion sense, a maid, more "stuff" for my kids...the list could go on if I let my mind wander in that wilderness of "want" and "discontent"...

This year I want to choose to be thankful for what I DO have..and not JUST the important things like my God, my parents, my husband, my children, our health...etc..

But for seemingly insignificant things...things that sometimes irritate me to no end...but again, it's that "perspective thing" again...

I'm thankful for dirty dishes in the sink, reminding me that we have plenty of food to eat.

I'm thankful for the laundry strewn all over my couch, it means that we have more than enough clothes to wear and keep us warm.

I'm thankful for polly pockets, calico critters and crafty stuff scattered everywhere...we still have little ones who still enjoy make believe, for this time is short.

I'm thankful for toothpaste stuck in the sink bowl & splashed on the mirror, it means my girls are learning healthy habits & we have the means to keep them growing strong.

I'm thankful for my spotted & matted carpet.... a daily reminder that we are blessed with many friends & family that have come through our doors & children who have wrestled on those floors.

I'm thankful for sippy cups found in hiding places, it means I still have a "baby" who has made this house her home.

And I AM thankful for those big things too...for a husband who takes the time to communicate with me, and tries to "figure me out", even when I must drive him nuts!...for a best friend who never gives up on me...

Thankful for 3 beautiful daughters who each have their own personalities...for Sweetpea, even though we tend to "collide" at times because we are so similar, I am thankful for "I'm sorrys" and sincere "I forgive yous"...for her compassionate heart and her attention to details...

For Peanut who reminds me often to just enjoy LIFE...for her carefree take on things and the way that she just gives her whole heart...

For Lil' Munchkin who keeps me on my toes and reminds me of my daily momemt by moment need to ask for guidance from my heavenly Father:)  For her cute face and way she makes me laugh!

For our parents and their health...for trustworthy and dependable friends who have never left our sides...for a home and the means to give to others...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and "getting ready for Christmas" holiday:)

Apparantly I've been rather "stern" lately...

How do I know? 

Little Munchkin came up to me today and said, "Mommy, I don't like it when you look at me like this..."

I replied, "Do I look like that when I talk to you?"

She said, "Yes, Mommy and I don't like it...you need to make your eyes go like this when you talk to me...and be sweet!"

An Understatement...

to say that I've been busy would be an understatement...

to say that we had "fun" last weekend would be an understatement...

to say that I'm looking forward to the holidays would be an understatement...

I'm apparantly into understatements this evening...it's more because I don't think I can adequately verbalize all the "stuff" going on...both in the real world and in my head:) 

Let me start by saying that I feel utterly privileged and blessed to have the whole photography business-thing.  (I know that is such a professional way to put it, but this is my "family" blog and I don't necessarily speak the Pro-language here...just keepin' it real people)

Anyway, I've been busy this fall...it's been a good busy, but, I'll be honest that it's been a "guilty-mommy" busy too...I'll be frank and say that I don't HAVE to be "working"...I didn't start this photography thing for money, per say...more so because I recognize that there IS life outside of being "mom" and since I enjoyed it so very much (not to mention that I DO like all those nice, expensive lenses AND it's an opportunity to give & have my kiddos involved in it) it became a wonderful outlet for me...it's been a challenging, learning and growing experience...it's given me opportunities that I wouldn't otherwise have had...I've been able to dabble into teaching again and let my girls watch a "mom-entrepreneur" in action...all good things...

edit:  I just want to interject that I'm not writing this to brag or boast or anything about the financial status of our family life...I think it would be better stated, that I'm doing this photography stuff because I knew that God put it in my lap at the time and I just take one step at a time with the whole "venture"

However, on the flip side, I did not expect to be THIS busy...having full schedules on the weekends and editing into the wee hours of the night consistently...well, it's just been "something"...This is the first year that I've had to 'turn people away' and I absolutely HATED to do it...I so love meeting people and new challenges...I'm not trying to complain by any means, I'm just putting it out there why I've been so lax in my "family blog" here of late. 

The girls and I (and Italian Stallion) are all trying to decide on the child we can support and the other World Vision/Compassion opportunities that CTPhotoMemories provides:)  And so, it is with great anticipation that I look forward to my last edit...my last CD burn...and the time when we can go cut down our Christmas tree and not worry about Mommy having to rush back home to drive to another shoot:) 

IN THE MEANTIME...with all this going on, my hubby has been good with making sure I don't completely go insane...and I'm glad he and my sister in law think alike...because she & my brother invited us down to Tennessee with them last weekend for a "brother/sister...cousin" get away...and it was AWESOME....

Thought I'd share a bit...The accomodations were incredible...the kids played like siblings, but even better:)  We did pottery, we carried children on our back through mud and slippery slopes climbed mountains and we swam at the waterpark...it was a good time had by all:)  I'll be posting more pictures over on my facebook page if you want to hop over there too:)

We did water slides, wave pool and Mommy's favorite:  the hot tub:)

The Snake Pool was another favorite...fun times when they decided to open up the doors to the outside...made the water feel like a hot tub at that point...I don't think the daddies or the kiddos cared much at all though:)

Thanks to my brother and sister in law for such an awesome time...we need to do it again...SOON:)

DOUBLE DIGITS TODAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETPEA!!!

I remember the moment she was born...after 17 hours of labor and being deathly scared of needles...after hours of her daddy trying to help me get through crazy contractions...they put all 7 lbs. 5 ounces of miracle onto my chest...

Never have I known such emotion...so much love for this little miracle...so much love for her daddy and for the life that we would all live together...

My firstborn...the one that first changed our lives in such a beautiful way...

Happy Birthday Love...

I love your compassion, the way you put yourself in other people's shoes...the way you love others.. your dramatic flare, your belief in "happily ever afters" and your hope for bright tomorrows...

You are a dream come true...we love you so much!!!

October Frenzy Fun

We've finally come to the end of October...

The month has been full...Mamarazzi has had LOTS of photo sessions this month, and although I wouldn't trade it for the world, it has had it's moments...

However, I was much more aware and organized in my time this year and was able to schedule and make time for things that were most important...FAMILY!

We managed to get to multiple pumpkin farms and hayrides, etc...we made our own costumes and played in the leaves...and Mommy, of course, documented everything with gazillions of pictures:)

The last week of October probably brings the most "frenzy"...as we approach classroom parties, trunk or treating with AWANA, Trailer Treating with our "hick ville" peeps, painting pumpkins and much more...

The week started by finishing up the sewing and scrounging around for the rest of the costumes...Sweetpea went as Mary Poppins, Peanut went as a sweet kitty cat and Little Munchkin wanted to be...of course, a PUPPY!

We then got ready for the classroom parties...now, because I have daughters who, unlike their mother, are able to remember things...they beg me to do the SAME things that I did the year before...unlucky for me, this requires for me to stand in the kitchen for 2 hours gutting oranges to make a special "healthy" snack for one of the girls' classrooms...Also, thanks to the new PINTEREST, I was also "encouraged" by my middle child to make something special for her too...thus, the spider webs...

Once we made it through the classroom parties, we were able to participate in "our neighborhood's version of trick or treating"...we have affectionately renamed it "Trailer Treating"...

Let's face it, we live out where there aren't any sidewalks and the idea of walking 5 miles just to get to 4 houses, well, it just ain't cuttin' it anymore...it was sweet when the girls were little...we'd travel around to our neighbors, get a big ole candybar for Sweetpea, some hot cocoa for Mommy and a beer for Daddy...it was just how it was done:)  Fast forward a few years, and the kids are old enough to realize that 2-3 candybars isn't "enough" to constitute trick or treating...however, we can't just let the kids run up and down these winding back roads with no street lights and such...Therefore, someone came up with the idea that all the homeowners would come to the end of their driveways...and all the kiddos would line up in john deeres, tractor trailers and wagons and we'd form a sort of "parade" up and down the street for 2 hours...

And thus began our Sunday afternoon...the decorating of the trailer...

Once it was all decorated, we got dressed up and headed out...you'd never know (because I didn't bother to take a picture) but, I actually dressed up this year...my friend Amy lent me a pumpkin costume...and so I got decked out with the kiddos and hopped in the back of the trailer and off we went...

It's a great time...Daddy rode in the truck that pulled us...we danced to the music...This was our view from the back...

 here's the scene down the street...

I love how everyone just comes up and dumps candy into bags:)  the kids just sit and are "waited" upon...

I"m so thankful for where we live...for the comradery and neighborhood family...My girls have it good I tell ya!

Anyway, we've painted our pumpkins and daddy carved ONE...We made it easy on him this year with NO teeth:

Happy Halloween!!!

Not goin' for eloquent:(

I'm going to shoot this straight...mostly because I want to remember the date and need a venue with which to express some thoughts.

I received a call today from my sister who had some news to share with me...It's been a day of surprises already...My good friend Marla had just posted about her husband (of just 34 years) had had a heart attack...and Anne & I were just finishing up working on a funeral program for a mom of a bride that we photographed just this past May.  Needless to say, there's been a sense of shock and emotion in the air...

And then Rachel called...we were in the middle of driving down our "hick town" streets...everyone in john deers or tractor trailors...the kids dressed up and beggin' for candy...

My cousin, Reagh, was killed in a car accident.

I "met" Reagh for the first time when he was just 9 years old.  I traveled up to PEI, Canada to stay with my uncle and Reagh & his sister for a week...because I was Anne of Green Gables crazy after my first year of teaching and I thought, "well, I"m single and I can...so off I go to see the world."

Reagh was my buddy...he helped me not crash his dad's car while I tried to drive that stick shift up and down the red dirt roads...We kept in touch as only a 4th grade boy and his "12 year his senior" cousin can:)

Fast forward some more years and he came back to the states when his dad had an accident...he'd grown up, but there was still much of that little boy in him:)   And we had developed a bond that wasn't broken...

We've kept in touch since...exchanged christmas cards, kept up on facebook...I've given him that big sisterly advice and he's teased me about being uptight:)  And I always told him I loved him and he never failed to ask me why?  I wasn't sure whether it was just a joke or if that kid from long ago was wanting to know too...no matter, I gave it to him straight...he's family...there's nothing that he could do or say to make me love him less or more...it's how Jesus loves...and if I can try to show him love like that, I'm going to.

I know that there are many others than are hurting even deeper than me right now...his 3 year old daughter...his beautiful girlfriend and mommy to that sweet girl...his mom...his 2 sisters...his dad...

I don't know why death still surprises me...still catches me off guard...why am I surprised when bad things happen...this is the world that we live in...I thank God for hope.

That was the day...there were good things that happened today...and I'll share them soon...but, my emotions are spent now..my body is tired...my heart hurts for all the hurt of those in PEI tonight as well...

good night:)

Let me fill you in on what's been going on with me...

...because I know that it is difficult to move on with life with that looming unknown of "what is mamazazzi doing over there???"

So, with all my medical expertise and background, I have diagnosed myself with either a heart condition, a tumor, a floating pustule or a sinus infection gone wrong...

How, you ask, have I been able to so keenly hone in on my symptoms and procure such a spectrum of diagnoses??

Yes, well, that's where my expertise (or lack thereof) comes in...

The thing is...I haven't had a fever... no sniffles, no cough, no nausea, no diarrhea, no earaches...

what the heck is wrong with you then?  you may ask...

Well...once I discovered the snowstorm at the back of the throat, I went in to see the doctor (you already heard all this, but bare with me)  It's not strep...but I went away from my visit still unsure and questioning whether it was REALLY just a cold...because...duh, no symptoms...

And then came the pain...

Now, let us remember that I birthed 3 babies minus epidurals...I can manage pain fairly well...at least pain that has a starting and an ending point...preferably pain that just lingers for about 2 minutes and then subsides...ultimately stopping once a bundle of 8 pound joy is laid on my chest...(but I digress)

As for the pain...it started in my throat...not like a sore throat...more like a ping pong ball that got lodged and when I swallow it just squished everything instead of going down...

And it got worse...

so much so that it wakes me from a deep sleep at night and started messing with my shoulder and into my arm with pain...everytime I swallow...

Frankly, I could use a good dieting plan and could stand to lose a few unwanted pounds, but not being able to swallow was having some adverse affects to my mood...(i.e. Mommy's cranky)

We know how that translates into the household...

Let us couple it with the fact that my darling Italian Stallion, whom I love dearly, came up with a brilliant plan earlier this week...and I will interject here that ANY OTHER time in the whole 365 day year would have been better than NOW for him to disclose this plan... but, it didn't happen that way...

My awesome I.S. decided that we, as a family, needed to get away from the TV for 3 whole days...Now, for someone like me who doesn't watch TV, it wasn't a big deal...and for the bigger girls, it wasn't huge in that they are at school all day...Little Munchkin however was going to miss her Jake and the Neverland Pirates in the morning while I got the girls to the bus stop...

What I.S. failed to recall was that I was going to have to be the one to ENFORCE this plan...I would have to enforce it during my busiest editing season of photography, during the pain and sick that has taken hold of my throat, during the week in which I have to sew costumes and make umpteen gutted orange jacko lanterns for school parties...during a time in which I otherwise would have (collective gasp here) used the TV as a babysitter for 30 minutes or so to just rest!!!

Did I happen to mention that I "may" have been a little cranky this week?

The TV ban has now been lifted, I'm on a Z-pack so the doc can rule out any infection...after that, I don't know...I just want the pain to go away:(

I have some pictures to show you soon...we'll see how efficient I can be with my time:)