Tidbits

Last Sunday, I visited a brand new Wal-Mart and enjoyed it. I only ran in briefly for a gift, but the aisles & aisles of Christmas décor beckoned me to stay longer. I have told multiple people how nice this Wal-Mart was, and honestly, I can’t stop thinking about going back. When did Wal-Mart make it on to my “nice” spectrum?? Wow, it’s amazing how much my perspective has changed!

My windshield got chipped/cracked for the 4th!! time in about 2 months last Friday. I’m fairly sure the people at SafeLite know me when I call now. This happens on my commute to/from work. I’m starting to wonder if there’s such a thing as a faulty windshield.

Claire throws such huge fits that she throws up. This occurs at least once a week. I was literally laughing so hard my stomach hurt on Monday night at her fit. She was kicking her door, throwing books & yelling. When I finally gave up at consoling her & put her in her bed, she threw everything out of it. She cried for a good 45 minutes & when I heard her asking for her water I went in her room to discover the puke. She is so afraid that Grant is getting something she’s not by staying up a little later. How do I put both to bed at the same time when they both only want me????

I want to decorate for Christmas. I’m ready for a tree and all the decorations. Never before have I felt this way, but it’s so much work to get everything out that I think I’d like to enjoy it a little longer!

Last night Grant fell asleep in his bed without me. He then woke up at 3:30 am screaming and crying because he didn’t get to listen to the CD he’d wanted to listen to when he was going to bed. It was in the van & I was not disabling the alarm & going to get it at that time. He WOULD NOT stop crying! I was so wide-awake after it happened, that I probably only got 30 more minutes of sleep. I had to be at work early this morning and now I am EXHAUSTED!

I really need to start planning Claire’s birthday party. It’s only 2 months away & I swore I would not wait until the December this year. I can’t decide where to have it. Since our house is small, I really don’t want to have it there, but a 2 year old’s party is a difficult one to move elsewhere in the winter…suggestions?? I feel like she’s too little for all of the ideas that keep popping into my head.

PLEASE VOTE FOR CLAIRE!!!

In the off chance that your not on my email list, I thought I'd post this here too. I entered Claire in the Little Spooks contest over at Courtney's blog. She did her newborn pictures (gasp) almost 2 years ago!! The winner of this contest gets a free session and a 16 x 20 portrait. We would love to win!!!! Anyone that knows me knows I'm obsessed with photography, especially of my children. This would be the best thing to win! So, click on the link below & vote for letter "i" the cutesy chick...pretty please :-)!!! One vote per person & please do it before Friday, Nov. 6! Tell your friends/family/co-workers to vote for her too! I'm a little competitive & I NEED to win this!

http://courtneymarler.com/blog/



She is the cutest, ya know?! More halloween pics to come later, but VOTE now!!

Happy Halloween!

Hope you get more treats than tricks!! Happy Halloween!

A Week Later...

When I posted last week, I really meant that I'd upload pictures by the end of last week....not the end of this one! Oh well! Did I mention how busy I feel all of the time?!!! I know all moms have this constant sense of busyness, whether it's actual activity or just your mind going constantly about what you need to get done next. I'm the first to admit that my seemingly endless list of things to do/get done are getting me down and making me tired / crazy! On top of all that we do already, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I added a photography course to the mix back in September. There are only 2 more to go & I've learned so much. Whether my actual techniques have improved is subject to opinion, but at least I know how camera works now. The assignments have added another item to my list of things to do because I'm constantly thinking of what I can photograph for it. I even left my house extra early yesterday hoping to catch the sunrise at the lake...but there was no sunrise to be seen due to all the clouds! I also have a new obsession with lusting over lenses and other gear - it is not healthy! So.....in the past few weeks I've literally taken over 1,000 pictures, most of which stink, but sorting through them is the time consuming part. Thankfully, we're not allowed to edit for the class, otherwise I'd be spending even more time doing that! I just thought I'd post a few of them for ya...these are by no means the "best" or even my favorites...just some I liked out of the many many I've taken.

Pumpkins at the Farmer's Market



Have I mentioned that I love fall?? I love it even more now that I've been focusing on taking pictures of it. Everywhere I go I see God's little touches just waiting to be seen & enjoyed. Of course, it's like that all times of the year, but fall is especially beautiful.




How cool is this sky during sunset?!





Several weeks ago, we went to Disney on Ice. Claire is still talking about "Mickey Mouse Dancin'!" I practiced a little using my zoom in low light. I thought this picture of Mickey touching Minnie's shoulder was just precious.



Where my heathens would stay if I let them! Claire has to have EVERYTHING that Grant has! Did I mention she's turned into a drama queen since I posted how adorable this age was?! Crying till she pukes is not uncommon at our house these days!



Grant was playing hide & seek at the park with some other boys & batman(or a kid dressed like him :-). This little seat is underneath the slide. The sun was setting and he looks so sweet!






Every now and then they're sweet to one another ;-)



I know this picture is a little out of focus because Claire was literally running, but I love it. I love the sun flare and the fact that she's actually looking at me. Every picture I take of her is of the back or side of her head!!

and, here's my little model with a black eye strinking a pose.





That's it for today. I'm lucky to even have words typed with these pictures! If anyone wants to let me practice on your kids/family, let me know. I can't promise anything, but I'd love to try!

A Girly Girl

Claire has officially become a girly girl. At 6 am this morning, I heard her yelling over the monitor. When the fog cleared enough for me to actually understand her, I realized she was yelling, "Hairbow, I need my hairbow." over and over and over again. It's definitely her must have accessory!!

Over the weekend, she discovered princesses at a friend's home. Since then, she has been asking for princess movies or other princess things. We don't have any, so I guess Santa will have to help a girl out pretty soon.

My mom gave Claire a sweet little pearl bracelet with her initials on a charm for her 1st Valentine's Day last year. I put it on her a few weeks ago before church & when I came back into her room I found it broken in the floor. She really wants to wear it and asks daily to put her "bracelet on." Yesterday afternoon, I remembered all of the colored bead bracelets that I had in college & pulled a few out for her to wear around the house. She was proud of them, but then she'd stop and say, "I broke it." She didn't break any of them, but I guess she was just remembering her earlier mishap.

I have so much to blog about that it's overwhelming! We've been to Disney on Ice, Walden Farm, Searcy, AR along with so many other places. I wanted this to be a place to document all of that, but time is just not on my side these days!! We also put a For Sale by Owner sign in our yard this past Friday! Anyone want to buy our house???! I'm going to try to at least upload some new pictures before the end of the week.

Lots of Pictures!!!

Does this get you ready for fall or what???!



I am in the middle of a photography class (so I can learn how to better use my new DSLR), so I have been taking lots more photos lately. The assignments are pushing me to attempt nature photography, which is sooooo not my thing. Just so I don't totally feel like I'm wasting my time, I'm posting a few that I've taken this week.

This was the 2nd deer I saw this week. This morning I saw 2 more, and they were bucks! Tis the season, I guess. This one was not at all bothered my picture taking. If I hadn't been on a trail, I think she would've let me pet her. She was in difficult light though, so her ears are casting shadows on her face.






Now, onto my favorite subjects - the kiddos!

Sweet Claire is just at the best age right now. I wish I could bottle her up. She is saying EVERYTHING, and giving hugs/kisses, and just so joyful. She sleeps wonderfully, which is more than I can say for her brother. She's at a fabulous stage, and I'm trying to enjoy it before the 2's set in :-)!



Even though our vols aren't the best this year, she's pretty cute decked out in orange.


He looks pretty sweet doesn't he?! Don't let those big brown eyes fool you!


I love this close up of her. Look at how wet her head is from sweat. This is pretty much instant when we go outside. She sweats like a man. It wasn't even very hot this afternoon..maybe in the upper 70's, yet her hair was drenched. But let's dwell on the lashes, not the sweat!



Somebody got a big girl haircut last week! Her hair was growing out all different lengths, and it was starting to drive me crazy. Since Mrs. Heather is going to be out for a bit with her precious new baby boy, I told her to just cut it all off. There is, obviously, one hair out of place in this picture - just try to ignore it!




This is much more representative of the true Grant!



Grant started back to MDO a few weeks ago. I cannot believe (sniff sniff) that this is his last year before "real" school!! Where did it go?!


And check out these feet! Seriously, he's going to be wearing his daddy's shoes by 3rd grade!


Thanks for hanging with me! I know this was a loooong one!

Roses and a Stinker!

Ring around the rosie

A pocket full of posies

Ashes, Ashes

We all

Fall Down!


Most of the time Grant is too busy trying to irritate his little sister to play with her, so when there's a brief moment of happiness, I do my best to catch it and remember it!!

Is anyone with me on 4 being the most difficult age??? Every conversation is about what he wants, where he wants to go, to eat, etc., etc.... I am worn out. Not only all of that, but hittting is an issue. I am at an impass on how to deal with it. Time outs do not seem to be effective for him, and is spanking really a good way to teach "no hitting?" I need some discipline advice. He only seems to act this way around us. His teachers at church and school say he's great. He can be as sweet as can be, and then he's a little devil. I feel like I'm just banging my head against the wall with everything we've been doing...help..please!