Lean In

Birthday pictures..

So, Thursday, my sweet Mother in Law busted in with some carrot cake cupcakes for me..she always comes through with the cake..Bailey had been hounding me all day about wanting us to bake a cake for MY birthday (because THAT is what you do on a birthday or at a party..you have cake)..I kept trying to explain to her that I was NOT baking my own cake..and then MImi swooped in and saved the day..we celebrated after dinner..Brad was gone to the thing at church, so I handed my camera off to Chaz and to the self timer..

 

Chaz even caught a few candids..lol

 

 

 
That's it for now..no pictures from at our work party last night..everyone was tired and NOT in the party mood by the time we got there, plus I had been taking pictures for three hours at church, so my camera never came out of the bag..I was too busy drinking a glass of wine and eating spinach dip..

Our Dicken's production at church had a bit of a damper put on it tonight due to the cold rain..but the production went on..hope it clears up for tomorrow night because so much of it takes place outside..

Now, I'm going to edit a few pictures for my December album..

Would this be considered "child brainwashing"?

That Santa is bringing Bailey this camera? She is always going crazy wanting to use my camera, especially when I let Chaz use it (under supervision)..so, Santa thinks she needs one..and we just won't tell her that there is a pink one too..this one was like $20 cheaper than the pink one for some reason? Weird..anyways, these things get mixed reviews as far as the quality of the pictures, but what can you expect from a $40 child's camera.. maybe this will plant a seed and get her started early..hee hee..  

I'll be back later to share something I found on ebay for Chaz..so funny..and appropriate..

 

37...Seriously?

Well, today is the day the Lord graced the planet with my being..lol..I was telling one of my friends (who is 22 by the way) that really, I feel like I am still about 30 in my head..my body? Well, it definitely feels 37..gotta work on that at some point..

This morning I woke up to this and a sweet card from my wonderful man..

No big plans for my birthday..I shared that really I just wanted to go out and do some shopping and scrapbook..well, so far, a little girl that lives here that will remain nameless has put a damper on at least one of those plans..For some reason, every time I try to take her shopping with me she starts this whining about "being tired" and wanting to go home..like at the FIRST place we go..grrrrr..so I could only tolerate THAT for two places and we came home..scrapbooking? Nope, not yet..but hoping, hoping..however, the other part of the diad is about to get picked up from school, so we shall see..

It's funny though..somehow SHE has gotten her creative thing on today..She has been begging me to finish up this pot she made at school and was absent the day they painted them..so I finally stopped being the Grinch and gave in..

Yes, that is red paint on her face..

December 9th at our house...

Like I mentioned before..trying to document our everyday life for the 25 days of Christmas..this is what today looked like..

Me:

Smile Tile factory in full swing..making them and getting orders filled..I have out of state orders that I'm trying to get out first for Christmas...this is what November and this part of December has looked like for me..I need a picture of my booty in front of the computer editing pics, don't I?

 

 

Bailey:

When she got home from school, she was STOKED to see that the Nativity Scene had come out..people, if you don't have one of these by Playmobil, GET ONE..she's obsessed! (Alert though..VERY small pieces, in fact, I put some up last year and don't know where I put them)...

 

Chaz:

I LOVE when he comes out to get in the car from school with some kind of art project  (sidenote: my son is not the most creative child..poor thing, so whenever he brings something home REALLY good, I have to get a picture!)...

 

and he wanted to pose by the Christmas tree! Who was I to deny him? Love this..

OK, Brad is starting his five day stent at Dicken's at our church (our huge Christmas thing we put on), so it's me and the kids tonight and tomorrow night on our own..then I head into it myself to do photography Fri, Sat, and Sun nights...BUSY week! However, my work party is Friday night..and Brad and I are going after Dicken's..can't wait for that..there may be some CRAZY pictures from that..just sayin'...I work with some CRAZY women...

And I've decided tomorrow, since it's my birthday, Bailey and I are going out to do some shopping and then I am SCRAPBOOKING...yep, somebody JUST try to stop me! 

Christmas dinner for the "ladies"...

Our church had a women's dinner Monday night and Julie and I went..each table was set and decorated with a different ladies' china/decorations...we had this a few years ago and I did a table..it was a lot of work..lol..We had a nice time and had the craziest ornament exchange..one of the ladies read the story of Christ's birth and each time she said "left" or "right" in the story, you had to pass your ornament that way around the table..it was a hoot! I only took a few pictures (shocker, I know)..but I'm trying to take pictures each day for my 25 Days of Christmas album that one day I will put together like Ali Edwards...

 

Last night, I was browsing blogs and came across this post on Ali's blog..you have to read through the comments..my kid's haven't asked for much for Christmas, so we've been at a loss of things to get them..after reading through those comments, I got to brainstorming a list and came up with all kinds of cute ideas of things to get them that they will love..especially love the idea of the coupon book for each of them with things like "You get to choose what we have for dinner tonight", or "family game night with your choice of game", and "a trip to Barnes and Noble and pick out one book"..things like that..I'm going to make little books for each kid and put it in their stockings..they will be all OVER that..and the good thing is, you get to put stuff you are willing to do..lol..also loved the idea of a clip on book light for Chaz..he's always wanting the light on in the back of the van to look at his snake and spider books and you know how hard it is to drive with that dang light on, so this will be perfect for him to keep in the van..! Little things like that..check it out, you may get some ideas too!
 

Now, that's better...

sigh.....the house is decorated..and I feel so much better! Got it all done (for the most part) this weekend..

The kids are just so excited this year..that makes it fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, and Brad got the wreaths put up too outside..no lights on the house this year, boo hoo, it's just too late and too cold to fool with them this year, according to Brad..NEXT year he has declared that he is doing it mid November...thank goodness cause I like my lights outside..our house has a lot of REALLY high peaks, so it's kind of an ordeal putting lights way up there..so I'll cut him some slack this year..lol

 

Happy Monday! 
  

Vintage Santa Pictures..

From back in the day...

We've been decorating today, as I mentioned, and one of my favorite things to do is pull out old pics and display them around..so, here are a few favorites..just for kicks..

This, my friends, clearly displays my signature "super straight across bangs" that my Mom used to cut for me..it was complete torture and I clearly remember having to stand in the bathtub while she trimmed them with this certain pair of scissors..and the hair would fall in my face and tickle my nose..

 

This was at the Episcopal Church I used to go to with my grandparents (1978)..Wow, he's pretty convincing as Santa, isn't he? with his dark eyebrows...and check out my super cool boots? I'm pretty sure I remember those boots..

 

OK, this HAD to be the 70's..check out that Santa chair..looks like they borrowed it from Graceland..and he looks like he has either had a very long or a very bad day as Santa...just sayin'...

 

At our duplex on Sylvan Road..ummm, LOVE the wallpaper..I remember it had a raised velvet-y texture to it...anyways, my dog Paco, who grew up to HATE little boys and bite at least three, and my cat Mink..who, after she died, I swear to you I used to see her ghost laying up on my parent's chest of drawers when I would come down the hall.. that was her "place" to lay..I distinctly remember this..

Ok, moving on to Brad...

OH BRAD, scared of little ol' Santa? (1967, so he must have been about 1 3/4 years old?) Even with your big sister there with you? Wimpy boy..however, I DO have to admit that Santa is a tad creepy..

  

Ahhhh, THIS Christmas must have ROCKED (1967)..is that a Speed Racer car?

 

Ok, back to decorating..just a little break while Brad continues to fuss with the lights..Our house smells heavenly with that Christmas tree smell..one of the BEST smells in the world!

O Christmas Tree...hunting...

We struck out on Thursday evening to find our tree..now, sometimes this can be a very painful process..Brad takes forever to pick a tree..while the kids run wildly at the wherever we are and I chase them with a camera..thankfully, this time, it didn't take us terribly long to find a good one..yay..

 

We halfway considered this one, but then decided there was no way to get it through the door..haha..kidding..this sucker was HUGE!

 

 

 

Chaz comes in handy for taking pictures sometimes..lol..

 

 

 

 

Ok, now to drag the tree IN the house and let Brad begin his other very long and painful process of getting the lights on..glad he does it because I have no patience for it..AND I'm going to beg him to build a fire in the fireplace..it is FREEZING here..and we had to be at Chaz's Christmas program at 9:30 this am....grrr...really, instead of decorating, I just want to go curl up on the couch all day..but oh well..Have a good Saturday!
 

(OH, and the blurry banner up there at the top? DRIVING me crazy..need to work on that too sometime soon, bear with me.)

My new child...

Meet Child #4 (Chaz, Bailey, my Rebel XT, and now...)

Yep, a little gift to myself...worked a SWEET deal with my friend Patti, who decided she wanted to sell this barely used baby..this is the camera I used for the wedding and fell in love with, so when she called and asked if I would be interested in buying it, it took me about 2.5 seconds to say YES...now, I have my other camera as my "back up" when I do weddings and stuff and won't have to borrow one from anyone anymore..wow, I feel so "official"..lol..going to put this baby to use in a bit to finish up the newborn shoot across the street..hopefully, Baby Brooklyn will be way more sleepy and content today!

Back later with Christmas tree buying pictures... 

 

Check out my photog blog for wedding pictures...

FINALLY got around to editing some of the wedding pictures I took..click on the link on the right and let me know what you think! Lighting was WAY tricky under that pavilion...definitely a challenge!

However, these are two of my favorites, of course!

 

These guys gave me a HARD time about this shot..and only gave me ONE chance to get it..I stood my ground and promised them they would love the end result even though they thought I was crazy..how awesome is it?  Click on it to see it in all of it's glory..and yes, there were some cuties in this group..I'm just sayin'..

 

OK, gotta get going..I have so many pictures to post here to catch up..Thanksgiving, Sea World, Chaz's family birthday party, etc...ugggh..so far behind! BUT I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel getting all of my sessions edited and finished up! 

OH, and my new baby is arriving today..more on that later..

AND, going shopping for our Christmas tree this afternoon..I feel behind on all the decorating stuff too!