the harmon squad

another one.

2012-01-16T14:59:00.001-05:00

Yup, that's right. Another Harmon baby is on the way. Due August 16th.

And, of course, this has been the hardest pregnancy so far. So I will still not be around much for the next few weeks as I pretty much feel like death 24/7.

what i wore to the ball: volume two

2011-12-21T13:04:00.002-05:00

Rob had another ball last week, this time a Saint Barbara's Day ball (she's the patron saint of artillery). Thankfully I had more notice than the last time so I made my dress. I'm really happy with how it turned out; El Paso doesn't exactly have the greatest selection of fabric stores (just Hobby Lobby and a really crappy JoAnn's... and when I say crappy I mean it in a "the bolts are covered in dust bunnies and other crud" kind of crappy) but I managed to find the the perfect fabric (I needed something that would drape effortlessly, most evening wear fabrics are pretty stiff). Of course they didn't have as much as I needed in the store but I was able to order the rest from the website. I was also really proud of myself because I started making it about a month (maybe more?) before the ball (I usually procrastinate these things), but before I was done I realized it would have to go on the back burner so I could get Christmas presents done and shipped. So I ended up staying up until 3am a couple days before the ball finishing it (so much for being on top of things for once...). And now I have a real ball gown in my closet for all these balls I will have to attend through the years!

Now, here it is. I had planned on snapping a few pictures before we left, but we were running really late (and the sun had already gone down). So here's what I snapped in the mirror (these show the neckline better):

And here's what Rob took when we got home, about 6 hours later (it was a long night so please excuse m very tired eyes and wrinkled dress) (and I deeply apologize for the blurriness and horrible lighting, etc. I love him but he is not a photographer):

front

back

I did my hair this time and was excited it actually turned out (and stayed in all night). It's this hairstyle, with my own twist on the bangs.

i can't make this stuff up.

2011-12-08T18:01:00.003-05:00

Well, sorry for the absence. Things were already a little sparse around here due to me frantically trying to stay on top of Christmas this year (unlike last year... but hey, we had just moved so I had a good excuse). One of the tough things about living far away from family at Christmas time (besides the obvious we won't see said family) is we have to ship everyone's presents... and shipping takes time. We're usually down-to-the-last-minute people but that doesn't work anymore if we want everyone to actually open their gifts on Christmas. So I've had to begin my Christmas preparations before December (unheard of for me!). Add into that some unanticipated events and you get a very quiet blog. Anyway, so last week I finally had the package together to send to my sister in Brazil so me and the boys headed out to the post office to send it off.

And this is when it gets good...

We get to our post office, which is located in an area of town that is notorious for car break-ins. Like, a lady in our ward had her car broken into THREE times in this area. So when I pull into an open spot there is a sketchy looking car with people just sitting there next to me. Normally not a big deal because I don't leave anything worth anything in my car ever. But Rob had updated my navigation system a couple days before and left the DVD and manuals and stuff on the passenger seat. I didn't feel comfortable leaving that stuff in plain view (and potentially making my nice car a target) so I decided to put it away before going inside. The manuals are easy to put away, they just go in the glove box. But the DVD goes in a drawer on the backside of the center console. I can reach it from the front, but it's a little awkward since I have to bend my arm back behind me. So I go to put it away, I'm looking over my shoulder where it needs to go and my right arm has the case and is swinging back to stick it in the drawer when all of a sudden things don't go the way they should. The corner of the DVD case gets stuck on the edge of the passenger seat, but before my brain can really register what's happening it swings free, but not in the direction of the drawer. Instead it whips directly into my left eyeball.

I almost blacked out.

Instead I was seeing stars. And had no idea what to do. I mean, if I was gushing blood I know exactly what to do for that. Or if I had smashed something. But an eye injury? My eyeball was still in my head and there wasn't anything stuck in it. I had just basically poked it really really hard. I tried calling Rob to see what I should do but he didn't answer his phone. I couldn't really see at this point, the pain was making it difficult to open either eye. So I just sat there and waiting for the pain to subside and figured, like when you poke an eye, I'd be able to see after a little bit. And sure enough, after about 45 minutes I could open my eye and see. It was a little blurry but didn't hurt so much anymore. So me, being the stubborn person I am, decided I was going to finish my errand before heading home.

So I dragged both boys out of the car and we headed into the post office. BIG mistake. You see, this particular day we had 30 MPH+ winds in El Paso. Since there is no foliage in El Paso, when we have strong winds we have dust storms. We had to walk into the wind to get to the entrance. I'm sure you know where this is going...

Yeah, I got dust in my eye. And it hurt. A lot. We managed to make it inside, but I was pretty much blind. I immediately walked to a corner and waited a few minutes to see if I could open my eyes again (later Rob asked me why I couldn't just leave one eye open but that was impossible... close one eye then look around with the open one. I don't know if you can tell without a bunch of crud in your eye, but both eyeballs move together. So if I kept one eye open the hurt eyeball was getting dragged across dust particles that like sharp thorns). I couldn't, and just wanted to cry at this point, so I had Max lead us back outside to the car with me peeking every few feet to make sure we were good safety-wise. Once we were in the car I let the boys run free in it while I laid down in the trunk and tried to call Rob again. And again. And again. Oh, and I forgot, the impact gave me a migraine. It had receded after that first 45 minutes, but with the introduction of irritants came back in full force.

At this point let me re-iterate that this was supposed to be a quick trip to the post office. I had no diaper bag, no medicine, no sunglasses, nothing. Nothing to feed or distract the boys with. No useful trash items in the car. It wasn't a big deal at first, but as time went on and I couldn't get a hold of Rob nor open my eye for more than a split second this became a big issue. Especially since Max needed to use the bathroom. As you know, there aren't public restrooms in post offices. And driving was out of the question. Our post office is on a busy road (and there are no trees) and we were parked away from the building so there was no discreet corner nearby he could do his business. And peeing in the middle of a parking lot where everyone can see you wasn't an option either. And I had no bottles he could pee in. Or a spare diaper. All I had was a coke can. And a roll of paper towels. So I made a huge nest of paper towels to catch any spillage and the can to make and told him that was his only option. To which he cried and freaked out saying, "THAT ISN'T A BATHROOM!" So he held it some more.

At some point I realized that this wasn't getting better on it's own and there wasn't anything I could do to make it better since I didn't have any water to flush my eye out with. And Rob STILL wasn't answering the phone so I used several of my split-second windows where I could crack my eye open to find a friends number. And luckily for me she came to our rescue!

Not only did she come to get us (since we were stranded) she also called our other friend who works in the ophthalmology clinic on post. They took us straight to her clinic (one of the doctors stayed late to check my eye out), as well as fed the boys and changed Nick's diaper and took Max to the bathroom and basically saved the day. They also alerted anyone and everyone who works with Rob that I was injured and was headed to the hospital (that's where the clinic is) and he was needed. When Rob finally got to his phone, he had about 30 missed calls. And what really cracked us up was that with every person who called him my condition got progressively worse. Apparently I had been admitted to the hospital and the boys were in child care and needed to be picked up:)

Anyway, so once I got in the doctor's office he gave me a numbing drop so he could check it out and that relief was amazing. With that drop the pain stopped and I was able to open my eyes and keep them open. He diagnosed my injury as a corneal abrasion and gave me some eye drops and some goop to keep my eye from getting infected. Rob met us there at the hospital and took us home, where I was finally able to take something for the headache. And as soon as the headache was gone I felt great! The doctor had told me once the numbing drop wore off I would be in some pain again and that it would take about 72 hours to heal. But as soon as the headache was gone I felt great, eye included!

I went back in the next morning to get my eye checked out again and found out I am a mutant healer. Apparently this was the WORST corneal abrasion they had ever seen, it was so bad it was bordering on a laceration. And less than 24 hours later it was almost completely healed. It was described to me like this: Just a few hours after it happened (I didn't make it to the hospital until about 4 hours after it happened) the surface of my eye looked the way a rug does if it's shoved out of the way... almost like someone had taken their thumb and shoved the top layer of my eye to the side. But the next day everything was back down in place, no more bunching. And it continued to feel great the whole day.

But there was a slight hiccup in the healing process. I got something in my eye Friday night and didn't get it out until Saturday night, so I had some major light sensitivity and mild pain for that 24 hour period. But we managed to flush it out Saturday night and it's been all good since then! As a precaution I didn't leave the house for a few more days to avoid getting any more El Paso dust in it. There has also been some lingering blurriness so I went back in today to see what was causing it, but it's just some scarring. And that should fade in the next 3-6 months. (And don't worry, I can see fine, my vision is back to 20/20, it's just stuff in the distance isn't quite all the way in focus yet)

Ultimately, I am so so so grateful I am not blind and there is no permanent damage. Eye injuries are no joke. And I never thought about just now not blind-friendly things are these days. For example, trying to call someone was the worst. It wouldn't have been a big deal if I had my old phone with a keypad. But these fancy new touch phones require sight in order to make calls; there is no feeling for the right buttons. Other seemingly simple things, like taking a picture, were hard too since I managed to hurt my dominant eye. I've been having to reteach myself how to close one eye because my right eye has always been then one to close, not my left.

I was so lucky, and still am. I can resume normal activity again, and so soon after too. (Just a week!) Makes me so grateful for my health, and hurt for those who aren't so lucky. So people, take care of your eyes! You need them!!

And hopefully things will go back to just being sparse instead of completely silent around here:)

this. is. awesome.

2011-11-30T17:14:00.001-05:00

How Bad Do You Want It from Greyskale Multimedia LLC on Vimeo.

One of my photographer friends shared this awhile back, and I saved the link so I could watch it whenever I need to. It never gets old.

sunday best.

2011-11-28T15:07:00.003-05:00

For some reason I think I look like a kid in today's photo. Am I the only one? And I love the brown tones of both Max and I; totally not planned. As in, Rob picked out Max's outfit and got him dressed before even seeing what I was going to wear.

dress: Target
sweater: Old Navy
leggings: Target
shoes: Minnetonka moccasins (SO comfy)

(and please excuse my slip hanging out in this photo, Max and I did some jumping photos prior to this one and it got jostled out of place...)

oh, Ikea.

2011-11-23T19:14:00.003-05:00

Why are you so far away?

I thought that visiting once a year would be enough, but it's not.

I miss your meatballs.

And french fries.

I miss your holiday decorations. Oh, those gorgeous decorations!

And wrapping paper.

I miss wandering your aisles for hours on end.

I miss your fabric.

And not being able to just go buy this:

since we're getting serious about this home school stuff.

I miss your fun toys.

And dropping off my child so I can shop in peace.

I miss sleek, streamlined furniture in abundance.

And all your crazy Swedish names.

I miss your food market where I can buy hazelnut chocolate and lingonberries.

I miss all your kitchen gadgets.

I miss everything about you, you wonderful, magical place.

Someday we will live close together, hopefully even neighbors.

But until then I will dream of you and make lists for that happy day when we are reunited.

Love from,
an obsessed IKEA fanatic

the house I grew up in.

2011-11-22T13:33:00.002-05:00

Well, no Sunday best this week, sick kids kept us from church. Hopefully by this weekend they'll be over this stupid cold.

Anyway, when we talked to my parents this week they let me know our old house in Fredericksburg is up for sale. Here is the listing if you want to see where I lived for 15 years of my life. It's different from when we lived there: the kitchen was remodeled (it used to be red... and in my opinion it would look amazing if it was still red) and the walls have all been painted blah. And the current furniture is HUGE (an American trend I will never understand. Big furniture means your house looks teeny). But the only thing that bothers me is my old room is PINK. Really?

But it's an awesome house, I have so many happy memories there. Not to mention it's still the location of most of my dreams. I only wish my parents still lived there...

weekly interrogation: Shannon Mocabee!

2011-11-18T01:00:00.002-05:00

Here with us today is the gorgeous Shannon Mocabee! We met by both attending the Film Is Not Dead workshop in San Francisco in 2009... and I love her:) She is a phenomenal photographer and amazing person (FIND wouldn't have been the same without her. Or her sense of humor). And, she also created the cutest baby alive! (I mean, just look at him)

name: Shannon Mocabee
website: shannonrenee.com , shannonrenee.com/blog

1.What do you “do”?
Photographer

2. Why do you do what you do?
OH wow… good question. Sometimes I think you have to be a little crazy to be a wedding photographer, and yet here I am. I love light, love, and art. Photography allows me to capture all of those every day.

3.Where are you from?
Sunny Southern California

4. Favorite color?
Aqua

5. Favorite food?
In N Out Cheeseburgers

6. Favorite shoes?
TOMS… absolutely… I have 5 pairs and counting. They’ve replaced all other shoes.

7. Favorite place in the whole wide world?
I would have to say Oregon… or the bathtub.

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment?
The swings… almost like flying.

9. Your funniest story?
my life in and of itself is a barrel full of hilarious twists and turns that often finds me laughing to point of ridiculousness… I’m my funniest story.

10. Mac or PC?
Mac… of course ;)

11. Manual or automatic?
Auto focus, manual exposure, auto auto-mobile, auto-pilot baby.

12. What do you consider your best asset?
I was going to say my manly arms, but my husband likes my eyes… that’s a cop out right? everyone says that one.

13. Guiltiest pleasure?
The TV show Bones… I could literally watch that show non-stop for weeks on end. Oh… it’s also pretty embarrassing that I love the Twilight series. Yup that one’s definitely more embarrassing.

14. Biggest pet peeve?
I really… REALLY hate bullies. So any condescending personalities really just make my blood curdle. I don’t like being pushed… but I hate even more seeing someone else being pushed around.

15. What do you consider priceless?
Wow there’s so much there… my son is a complete wealth of pricelessness. Every smile, every cuddle, every cute little squeak. Personal photos are also incredibly priceless to me… I want to remember every moment of all this.

16. If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be?
Nikola Tesla, Derren Brown, Dana White, or Tony Robbins… in that order.

17. What would you choose as your last meal?
cereal… the mini frosted mini-wheats.

18. What era in time do you connect with the most?
I really love the 30's although I wouldn’t do well as a woman back then.

19. Your motto for life?
As long as I’m learning… as long as I’m growing… I’m alive.

20. Best advice you can give?
Study the masters… they got to where they are now for a reason.

Some of her work:

I love her point of view:
http://shannonrenee.com/blog/?p=1264

precious:
http://shannonrenee.com/blog/?p=1319

I love some good architectural elements:
http://shannonrenee.com/blog/?p=1402

street photography is awesome. And so is shooting with a baby strapped to you:
http://shannonrenee.com/blog/?p=1569

these are so dreamy:
http://shannonrenee.com/blog/?p=1601

I love the colors in these (gotta love film!):
http://shannonrenee.com/blog/?p=1698

again, cutest baby ever:
http://shannonrenee.com/blog/?p=1901

Awesome, huh?

If you'd like to participate, just click on the 'weekly interrogation' tab at the top and follow the instructions there. Hope to see you here!

sunday best!

2011-11-15T17:18:00.002-05:00

I really, really love this outfit. It made me feel cute even when I was exhausted and crabby 'cause I slept through my alarm and had to get ready at lightning speed.

shirt: Bitten by SJP
sweater: Target (on clearance for $6!)
skirt: Forever 21
hose: probably Target
boots: DSW (they're Chinese Laundry)

weekly interrogation: Wendy Laurel!

2011-11-11T01:00:00.001-05:00

May I introduce Wendy Laurel! She is a fabulous photographer in Hawaii (jealous? I know I am!), along with a slew of other things... Wendy is also co-creator of Let the Kids Dress Themselves (I wrote about it here), a breath of fresh air in the photo world:) It is plainly evident through her work and interactions with her that she is a fun, colorful, delightful person and I'm so excited to share her with you today!

(photo by Laura Reaux)

website: www.wendylaurel.com

1.What do you “do”?

I am a mother of four, and a wedding and portrait photographer, a teacher, and once in a while a lawyer. I am also a blogger.... I run LettheKids.com which shows off highly original, creative, and exceptional portrait photography. So more of what I love. What don't I do?

2. Why do you do what you do?

I do what I love. My kids come first with photography coming in a close second. I teach photography so I that is a fun combination -- kids and photography. And I hardly ever work as a lawyer since thats just for the money.

3.Where are you from?
I live in Maui and Ive been in Hawaii since law school which is 17 years. Before that Berkeley, Ca.

4. Favorite color?
Blue.

5. Favorite food?
Cherries.

6. Favorite shoes?
Converse.

7. Favorite place in the whole wide world?

My favorite place is wherever my kids are.

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment?
The swings of course!

9. Your funniest story?

I am terrible at telling jokes or funny stories. It's better just to laugh at me. I don't mind.

10. Mac or PC?
Mac

11. Manual or automatic?

Automatic

12. What do you consider your best asset?
My best asset.... hmmm... probably my ability to get things done. If I say I am going to do something, its usually done by 9 a.m.

13. Guiltiest pleasure?
Guiltiest pleasure? online shopping. Thank goodness. I live on a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific with not a lot of shopping.

14. Biggest pet peeve?

obesity

15. What do you consider priceless?
The moments with my kids.

16.If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be?

17. What would you choose as your last meal?
My last meal? I really love cherries and popsicles. Or spaghetti.

18. What era in time do you connect with the most?
I have never thought about this... but I guess I will say now because its where I am.

19. Your motto for life?
You go where you look.

20. Best advice you can give?
My best advice is do what you love and forget about the rest.

Here is some of her gorgeous work:

Um, what can get better than sunsets in Hawaii??

http://wendylaurel.blogspot.com/2011/11/maui-sunset-maui-family-photography.html

So much goodness here:
http://wendylaurel.blogspot.com/2011/10/stephanie-maui-wedding-photography.html

I LOVE her underwater shots:
http://wendylaurel.blogspot.com/2011/10/swimmingly-maui-family-photography.html

I love everything about this session:
http://wendylaurel.blogspot.com/2011/08/mangurays-maui-family-photography.html

One word: fun!
http://wendylaurel.blogspot.com/2011/09/janes-family-maui-family-photographer.html

I just love this wedding. Especially the shot of the bouquet under the shot of the rings:
http://wendylaurel.blogspot.com/2011/07/lauren-tae-maui-wedding-photography-at.html

Thanks for visiting!

If you'd like to participate, just click on the 'weekly interrogation' tab at the top and follow the instructions there. Hope to see you here!

the chase family | fort bliss portrait photographer

2011-11-10T01:00:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of photographing the gorgeous Chase family on a beautiful Texas morning this past Fourth of July weekend. I can't get over the chub on the little one! Mom and dad managed to shine too; an easy feat for mom since she used to model:) After this session I no longer have any qualms about living in El Paso... I will take that gorgeous light any day!

someone is growing up WAY too fast...

2011-11-09T12:03:00.002-05:00

I'm in denial. Nick is my baby, yet here he is turning into a little boy. And two things have happened recently to really rub that fact in.

First, he started nursery two weeks ago. (it's the children's class for 18 month to 3 year olds). If you're doing the math, yes that is a month early. I'm extremely grateful for understanding primary presidents. I teach the CTR 10 class and since Rob is gone a whole lot this means I get to wrangle a very mischievous toddler all by myself during church while still trying to fulfill my Sunday responsibilities. A few weeks ago I was in the hall with Nick during sharing time (since he was being a huge distraction) and the primary president came up and asked when he was going to nursery. I told her we still had about a month and she said "I think we can make an exception, go ahead and take him to nursery next week and I'll let the nursery leader know to expect him." And that was that. So the next week I took him, not sure if we would have a repeat of Max's experience. Yeah, I had nothing to worry about. He didn't even look back as he ran into the room. I tried to take a picture (like with Max) to commemorate the event, but all I got was this:

a blurry picture of the back of his head.

I'm so grateful he loves nursery and I don't have to worry about him for two hours of church.

And the second thing is he no longer sleeps here:

but here:

After a week of dealing with Nick waking up constantly in the night I was desperate to FIX this. I don't have any issues waking up all night with a newborn, but once we're no longer nursing I need. my. sleep. You would think the children would learn that waking mom up all night = a very grumpy mom, but no, they don't seem to get that memo. But after thinking about it I realized every time I went in to deal with Nick he was squashed up in a corner of his crib and maybe the problem was he'd outgrown it. So I asked Rob what he thought about moving him to the bottom bunk (which is on the floor so there's no worry about him falling out of bed, he'd just roll onto the floor) and he said let's give it a shot. So we did. And it worked! Nick hasn't woken up in the night since. If you look at the picture above, that is the way Nick sleeps, contorted into some weird position. So I think the bigger bed lets him roll around to his heart's desire without smashing into the sides (thus waking himself up). Although I do feel very sorry for his future wife...

But now we have those two big milestones reached, I'm content to wait a bit for the next one.

ch-ch-ch-changes!

2011-11-08T01:00:00.000-05:00

I'm sure some of you have noticed, but for those of you who do the google reader thing the harmon squad now looks a little different! The changes started a few months ago, but I can officially say the blog is complete! So if you haven't seen it, come take a gander.

Part of these changes is the fact that this space is now the blog for my photo business too. So you'll be seeing recent sessions up here (along with pictures of my boys, as usual) and various business related stuff. Up at the top (under the header) you'll see some pages... click on Jax Harmon Photography + Design and you can read all about the business, including a link to my soon-to-be-finished website and my new pricing! There's some pretty pictures to look at too.

I'm very happy with the changes, it's so nice to simplify things. What do you guys think?

If anything doesn't work or if you have questions feel free to ask!

Oh, and if you were wondering... I'm located in El Paso Texas if you're interested in a session!

sunday best!

2011-11-07T13:56:00.002-05:00

I think fall is my favorite season for clothes.

sweater: Forever 21
jacket: Express (but I got it at a consignment shop for $10)
skirt: Forever 21 (same as here)
stockings: I'm not sure (they're some of my oldest), but I think Target
shoes: Target (you've seen them before...)

I hope this weather continues all winter...

weekly interrogation: Jonathan Canlas!

2011-11-04T01:00:00.005-04:00

Today I'm honored to have Jonathan Canlas! Without a doubt Jon has a personality that is bigger than life. From the moment you meet him you will swept up in his boundless energy and feel like BFFs. He is also one of the kindest, generous people you will ever meet. On top of that his family rocks, and he has the cutest kids EVER! (see below photo for proof) If you aren't aware, he is the genius behind Jonathan Canlas Photography and the Film Is Not Dead workshops and just oozes talent. That combined with the qualities listed above is a winning combination. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself.

name: Jonathan Canlas
website: jonathancanlasphotography.com
canlasphotography.blogspot.com
filmisnotdead.blogspot.com

1.What do you “do”?
photographer i guess :). yeah, photographer. i'm a dad and husband, but i don't get paid for that...

2.  Why do you do what you do?
my family. that is my main motivation. i  don't know that i could hold down a "real" job. i have not been employed  by anyone but myself for over a decade (and got fired from all my  previous jobs). i do what i do because i love it. i'd do it if i was  getting paid or not. just luckily, i do get paid to do what i do :).

3.Where are you from?
born and raised in st louis mo. lived in laie hawaii, tokyo japan, and ut since 1996.

4. Favorite color?
the ones i see, which apparently might not be much as i'm color blind.

5. Favorite food?
ASIAN. yeah, that is a food. ASIAN :). pot roast or pot stickers? pot stickers every time.

6.  Favorite shoes?
asics or saucony's. i have a red/yellow/black pair of  asics that my son calls my mr incredible shoes. appropriately.

7.  Favorite place in the whole wide world?
a very very close tie to my  home and the north shore of oahu. both are heaven on earth.

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment?
hmm, seesaw? anyone that my kids like to go on is good with me.

9. Your funniest story?
3 stories. 

1.  in little rock arkansas while visiting cousins, we went to some  magician show. and there was a parakeet up front and the magician called  me up and gave me bird seed to give to said parakeet, but i ate it  instead and sat down thinking, ew, that was gross, and realized it was  for the bird, not me.

2. i dated my wife's sister before i dated my wife. end of story

3.

10. Mac or PC?
mac. i have no idea how the world of pc even still exists.

11. Manual or automatic?
manual, 100% of the time.

12. What do you consider your best asset?
my brown skin. i can be a racial chameleon as needed.

13. Guiltiest pleasure?
justin bieber. if he steps foot in 5 of the surrounding states, i'm buying tickets, and the ones that cost a ton so we can be right up front. my kids love that kid and after seeing never say never, i do too :).

14. Biggest pet peeve?
being taken advantage of, even the slightest.

15. What do you consider priceless?
time with my family.

16. If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be?
reggie watts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgsBgwJQGnE

17. What would you choose as your last meal?
combo plate from tita's kitchenette in national city california consisting of half pork adobo, half bbq pork with rice finished off with a fried banana and a small scoop of maiz queso ice cream. actually, if i eat that, i'm positive i'd die on the spot of a stroke so it would be my last meal technically.

18. What era in time do you connect with the most?
wwii

19. Your motto for life?
do what you love and do it often

20. Best advice you can give?
don't give a crap what anyone thinks about you, EVER. do your thing and don't let anyone tell you you can't do something.

Some of my favorites:
(I could keep going all day long.. I had to force myself to stop. Basically, just go to his blog and take a gander)

Oh, and I want to point out that all of the following examples are of his personal work... Jonathan rocks everything he does, but I find myself drawn to the stuff he shoots for himself the most.

http://canlasphotography.blogspot.com/2010/10/fuji-gf670-1st-day-of-school-kodak.html

http://canlasphotography.blogspot.com/2010/10/san-francisco.html

http://canlasphotography.blogspot.com/2011/01/fuji-gf670-pearl-harbor.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzEV9tIjxYg

http://canlasphotography.blogspot.com/2011/01/fuji-gf670-oahu.html

http://canlasphotography.blogspot.com/2011/06/memphis-tn.html

http://canlasphotography.blogspot.com/2011/08/adventure-tuesdays-ogden-ut.html

http://canlasphotography.blogspot.com/2011/08/random.html

http://filmisnotdead.blogspot.com/2009/08/mission-district-san-francisco.html

Jonathan is also the mastermind behind this:

Convinced yet? Thanks for reading!

sunday best.

2011-11-02T15:57:00.003-04:00

Woo Hoo! for some fall weather! FINALLY. This dress is one of my absolute favorites, but despite the short sleeves it feels too heavy to me for use in summer. So I was so excited to finally pull it out of the closet and wear it again. And I just have to say, you know something is cute when your husband asks if you're wearing a new dress:) (Rob didn't ask that this time, but when I first got it. Usually he doesn't notice what I wear) Oh, and this is what happens with my hair when I sleep through my alarm and have to get ready in a hurry... What can I say, I was really tired!

dress: Forever 21
stockings: Target
boots: DSW

And I didn't think it was possible, but this one just keeps getting cuter and cuter.

halloween recap

2011-11-01T19:02:00.002-04:00

Since Rob had to work we headed to a friends house on post to trick or treat this year. And had a blast! We took it easy and only visited a couple of streets, but that was perfect for our little ones.

Here's the pictures:

Max the pirate.

Nick the cheburashka.
(Or monkey, the actual costume. I just love how he does look like cheburashka from the front)

Julian the firefighter.

Julian's mom Kimmie was brilliant and brought a wagon. The boys had a blast in it.

Ready to go!

Isabelle the ladybug.

Max remembered trick or treating from last year and was excited to do it again!

Michelle the greaser:)

Kimmie also brought glow stick for the kids, another hit.

And here is a picture Michelle took of me, wearing Max's birthday crown. (my sad attempt at dressing up.)

Now we have a bucketful of candy to get through...

happy halloween!

2011-10-31T16:25:00.002-04:00

(please excuse my sad attempt at a spooky picture)

Our Halloween is kind of lame this year (like most years, that's what happens when the mom isn't really into holidays), but the boys both have costumes and we are going trick or treating tonight so it's not all bad... Plus I'm making cupcakes and cupcakes make everything better. Who cares that we never carved our pumpkins? They'll taste better as pies anyway.

i finally did it.

2011-10-25T15:48:00.004-04:00

I did, I caved in. I've been avoiding it for months. Like I need another time suck, you know? But I finally got to the point where I needed to organize ideas and get some inspiration for a couple projects I've been planning. So here I am:

Want to follow me? Here ya go:

And hopefully I'll find some good ideas from you too!

Although, it does make things difficult.

For example, I found these whilst perusing one day:

and

and

and

Fun, right?

That's what I though too. In fact, my thoughts were "How fun! I can handle doing that with the boys!"

Then I remembered. This:

Do you see any trees? Or leaves? Yeah, me neither.

So, would anyone like to send us some leaves? Or other fall-related found items (like twigs, pinecones, etc.)? Don't feel like you have to, we can make do with what we can find here. (Like tumbleweeds. And dirt. Rubbish anyone?) But if you feel so inclined to share your autumn with us just email me!

Anyway, the main point of this post was just to say:

"Hey, I'm on Pinterest! Look me up!"

sunday best, vacation edition.

2011-10-24T00:27:00.002-04:00

This is what I wore to church when we were up at Ft. Lewis... it was so nice to wear layers!! And sleeves! Now we're back home in El Paso where it is in the upper 80's. Still.

shirt: Bitten by SJP (RIP, very sad 'cause her clothes fit me fabulously)
sweater: Old Navy
skirt: Old Navy
hose: either Target or Forever 21. I'm leaning more towards Forever 21 though.
shoes: Target
belt: Forever 21. I had to have my dad punch more holes in it, like I do with all my belts.

I miss wearing sweaters:(

flying tips?

2011-10-03T12:42:00.002-04:00

And on a different note, do any of you have tips for flying with kids? I'm getting ready to head up to Seattle to visit our friends Tiffany and Chris (thank you Southwest airlines for having your anniversary sale!)! And while I have flown plenty of times before, this will be my first time flying with kids. Ever. Yup, that's right. All this travel my kids have done up until now has been by car. So while I'm excited Max gets to finally fly in an airplane (we've been to the airport many times with him, he's just never been able to get close to the planes), I'm terrified because I have NO idea how they're going to do. I'm less worried about Max... Nick is the handful. (and in case it helps, Max is 5 and Nick is 16 months)

So... any tips? I've been doing research and reading everything Southwest has on their website about flying with kids. But I want to know what you have figured out by trial and error. Like, where's the best place to sit on the plane? Anything I can do that will make it easier to get through security? Things to do to keep the kids close and occupied during layovers? TELL ME!!

And thanks:)

it's monday.

2011-10-03T11:28:00.002-04:00

Well, there is no Sunday Best post today because I didn't get dressed up yesterday. This past weekend was Conference weekend for us, and thanks to sweet technology we can watch it online at home. (it was fabulous too! Definitely the two best weekends of the year) Just picture me in yoga pants and a t-shirt and you've got my outfit.

But here is a picture of Rob so you have something to look at. He is holding his practice samurai sword... he dreams of owning a real one someday.

And, of course, today I am feeling kind of grumpy. My fuse is very short and everything is driving me crazy. I think the fact that last night I dreamed of having an uninterrupted night's sleep (which never ever happens) gives me a clue as to why I'm grumpy. Why is that so hard to get? And I'm not just talking about a night where the kids leave me alone... I'm talking an entire night in a sensory deprived room all alone kind of sleep. sigh. I think the boys actually just leaving things be instead of tearing everything apart might help too. My poor studio...

But life goes on. I think a trip to the park is in order, some fresh air will probably do us some good!

weekly interrogation: Kim Orlandini!

2011-09-30T01:00:00.001-04:00

This week I'm so excited to share Kim Orlandini! She too is a photographer, and an incredible one at that! In addition to all the hats she wears (listed below), she is also an adoption advocate; check out her blog for information and inspiration on the subject. I can also vouch for what an incredible, strong, and lovely person she is!

website: www.kimorlandini.com

1.What do you “do”?

I am a photographer, a mother, a graphic designer and sometimes a good wife. Bwahahahaha.

2. Why do you do what you do?

I am fascinated by the process of creating a photograph, from the capture to the print, it inspires me like nothing else. It is like magic, and I love creating magic over and over again for myself and for my clients.

3.Where are you from?

Born and raised in Salt Lake County, Utah where I still reside.

4. Favorite color?

All of them, yep, really, all of them.

5. Favorite food?

I don’t think I even have a favorite food anymore. How sad? Things I love? Steak (so not a vegetarian) and really good sweet potato fries. I also love a good roll slathered in butter.

6. Favorite shoes?

I have a pair of yellowish-tan heels I bought for $10 at Target a few years ago. They are super tall and have the cutest bows on the front. Sigh, they are beauties.

7. Favorite place in the whole wide world?

Well, I hope to travel the world more someday, but of the places I have been, I love the beaches of Brazil and my husband’s home town of Atibaia, it basically hasn’t changed for hundreds of years. The streets are cobblestone and beautiful. Miss it there.

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment?

The Merry Go Round, a close tie to the swings.

9. Your funniest story?

I should probably just link you…it is SO embarrassing yet so funny: http://kimorlandini.blogspot.com/2008/06/i-promised-funny_2034.html

10. Mac or PC?

Just converted to Mac and could not be happier.

11. Manual or automatic?

Automatic

12. What do you consider your best asset?

My eyes.

13. Guiltiest pleasure?

Pissing off my mother in law.

14. Biggest pet peeve?

Lying.

15. What do you consider priceless?

Time spent with family. Capturing those moments on film a close second.

16. If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be?

Wow, this one is so hard, there are so many great people to choose from. The 30 Rock episode of Liz Lemon and Oprah comes to mind. Giggle. I would love a chance to talk to Annie Leibovitz.

17. What would you choose as your last meal?

A loaf of white bread and butter from my local Kneaders. (The entire loaf.) A cookies and cream shake from Chick-fil-a and an Original frozen yogurt with chocolate chips, strawberries and brownie bites from Red Mango. Yep, that sounds like heaven.

18. What era in time do you connect with the most?

I love the 40’s. I think it was a turning point in our time, and would love to have been a part of it.

19. Your motto for life?

Never, ever, ever give up.

20. Best advice you can give?

Love deeply and learn to forgive. Life is short, don’t regret not doing either of these things.

Here is some of Kim's work she shared with me (love!):

And some more stuff:

These make me want to go find a farmer's market here:
http://kimorlandini.blogspot.com/2011/08/salt-lake-farmers-market.html

These next two go hand in hand:
http://kimorlandini.blogspot.com/2011/07/ashers-birth-story.html
http://kimorlandini.blogspot.com/2011/07/newborn-asher.html

And another gorgeous birth story. I had to stop myself from linking up every sinle one Kim has done, so go to her blog to see the rest:
http://kimorlandini.blogspot.com/2011/07/welcome-kalista.html

As always, thanks for supporting these fabulous people!

If you'd like to participate, just click on the 'weekly interrogation' tab at the top and follow the instructions there. Hope to see you here!

just braggin'

2011-09-29T12:40:00.002-04:00

Not about me though, about my dad!

You see, my dad is a very talented guy. He got his Associates in Commercial Photography and his Bachelor's in Graphic Design. And on top of that is handy and can fix anything. Not to mention has his own wood shop in the garage where he's built all sorts of stuff. Basically, he can do anything.

After having his own graphic design business and then teaching visual arts he decided it was time for another change. So he now owns his very own Furniture Medic franchise!

And he's pretty good at it.

Here's his website:
www.fmtriad.com

It's pretty awesome what he can do. The furniture you think is 'done' and needs to be tossed? Chances are he can make it look like new again. I'm not pulling your leg either, I got to see some transformations while we were in NC this summer.

I'm not the only one who is impressed, Orson Scott Card is too:

The Help, Refinishing, Wonder

(Refinishing is the part about my dad; skip down past the section about the Help and there it is)

I've been privvy to some pretty awesome genes, if I do say so myself. (my mom is incredible too!)

army life lesson three.

2011-09-28T01:00:00.001-04:00

(photo from 2006)

Goodbyes never get easier.

In fact, they only get harder.

I think anyone (military or not) who has to say them a lot can attest to this fact.

my five year old.

2011-09-27T00:25:00.003-04:00

Well, ready or not it came. Max's fifth birthday. I'm happy to say I think he enjoyed it, which makes you feel like you've done something right as a parent...

So, here is my five year old in all his glory:

I made him his crown and shirt the night before his birthday... for some reason it didn't cross my mind to do them until the last minute. (typical)

I was also not planning on doing a party since we'd already done one this year (before you butcher me, they're a lot of work and money and I think it's good for you to not go all out on every single birthday as a kid. Makes you stronger and all that jazz). But Rob told me I was a terrible mother for even having such thoughts and insisted we do one. So we scrambled and put one together last minute. So no cute invitations or themes this time around.

Max does like Captain America a lot so I made these cupcakes for him:

Nick really liked them, that's for sure:

Of course, Max really liked getting sung to and blowing out his candles:

And I made him a pinata... I figured that was enough activity for us and it doubled as the goodie bag. I made it myself, following this tutorial. It was really easy, just a little time consuming, and I love how it turned out!

Unfortunately it was a little too well made for these little kids, although they gave it their best shot:

(also, I realized the day of the party I had no idea how we were going to hang it. We have no trees here and it was really heavy after I filled it. Thankfully I have Rob who was able to jerry-rig something up)

After the kids gave up we let Billy have a go:

He successfully tacked the beast and the kids attacked.

Max also got completely showered with gifts, and for the first time dug right into the pile without waiting for anyone or anything once he decided it was time. It was a new experience for me not having to guide the present opening.

I'm glad he had a great time, especially since the rest of us were sick all weekend and were no fun. Thankfully Max escaped it and managed to get in lots of time on his new video game:)

what i wore to the field.

2011-09-26T01:00:00.000-04:00

We've been sick all weekend so there is no Sunday best outfit to share since we didn't make it to church. So instead you get to see what I wore out to the desert this summer!

One of the things I was absolutely clueless about when Rob joined the Army were things called "Field Problems." I knew about OCS and Basic and deployments, but nothing about "The Field." Ends up, it is necessary for soldiers to conduct training away from where they work (called "in garrison"). Which now makes sense, I mean, you can't train to use a tank in a parking lot. But not knowing about field problems meant not realizing they're gone away a lot because of them.

And since Rob is currently non-deploy-able he gets to go the the field a lot instead (oh joy!). And when I say a lot, like he is gone for 3 months. Fortunately he can come home for some weekends, but that's almost harder because you have to say goodbye again.

Anyway, last spring and early summer Rob was gone. But I was very fortunate to get to go out to the field one day to see what they do out there. Unfortunately I didn't get to see Rob since he was way out in the desert, far from where our little group of dependents (spouses. I would just say wives but there was a husband with us) was. I'm SO glad I got to go, it was an eye opening experience. (one that I'll hopefully write about one of these days).

And here is what I wore. This area is blistering hot in June, so I tried to plan accordingly. In addition to what I'm wearing in this picture I had a lightweight long sleeved button-down I wore when we were in the sun (the indigenous people here have dark skin for a reason. My Irish skin doesn't stand a chance against the El Paso sun). And I had a lot of sunscreen on, for the same reason. If you are curious what I'm pointing at, it's the layer of dust on my boots. Made me VERY grateful I wore high boots instead of tennis shoes or hiking boots. We were pretty much walking through lots of small sand dunes.

shirt: Old Navy
pants: Old Navy
shoes: Minnetonka Mocassins (soft soled, the only way to go)
bandana: no idea, we just have a bunch

I was really happy with this outfit, I was able to protect my skin without getting too hot AND I felt kind of cute. I credit it to the boots. They make any outfit feel cute.

weekly interrogation: Jana Kleitsch!

2011-09-23T01:00:00.001-04:00

This week is another one of my oh-so-talented photographer friends! So many of them are crazy gifted in more than ways than one and Jana is no exception: she's got quite the impressive resume:) But I'm glad she rekindled her love of photography 'cause her work is gorgeous! ... and I think you will agree too!!

name: Jana Kleitsch
website: www.janakphoto.com

1.What do you “do”?
I had to stop and chew on this one for a moment. Currently I’m designing mobile apps for high tech companies and working on my portrait photography business on the side. I’m about to finish a contract position and at that point I hope to make the transition to more photography, less app design.

2. Why do you do what you do?
Many reasons! Going from design to photography has some cross overs in terms of tools and such, but I love photography as a business for many reasons. 1) Family photos are treasured forever. (Web sites and mobile apps… maybe six months!) 2) I can live off the high of a successful photo session for months. 3) I like having a business that is “me” and not just trying to make a client happy.

3.Where are you from?
Seattle, Washington.

4. Favorite color?
Blues of any shade.

5. Favorite food?
I love a good salad.

6. Favorite shoes?
In the winter I consistently wear boots. Right now I have a pair of low boots by Steve Madden that are comfortable and urban looking. They are my “uniform” shoes. In the summer I rarely remove my flipflops.

7. Favorite place in the whole wide world?
Paris

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment?
Swings

9. Your funniest story?
My golfing story. Too long for this document! Let’s just say, I can’t golf but people had money riding on me to win (unbeknownst to me).

10. Mac or PC?
Mac, PC and now Mac again.

11. Manual or automatic?
Automatic, but I learned to drive on a manual. While my friends in driver’s ed were conquering the freeways I was still trying to get out of first gear in a parking lot.

12. What do you consider your best asset?
Being an optimist. Might be my worst asset too.

13. Guiltiest pleasure?
Jersey Shore (season 1). I had to put a stop to it.

14. Biggest pet peeve?
My husband never unpacking his suitcase.

15. What do you consider priceless?
Vacations with my family.

16. If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be?
Oprah

17. What would you choose as your last meal?
Salmon, salad, good bread, and strawberries dipped in chocolate chased with mojitos.

18. What era in time do you connect with the most?
The present!

19. Your motto for life?
Life is about the journey, not the destination. Live like you’re on vacation.

20. Best advice you can give?
Don’t try to compete with anyone, and keep it simple.

Some of my favorites:

These made me smile. Kids are the best:
http://janakphoto.com/2010/07/planning-a-pajama-party/

As someone who lives in Texas I LOVED these (i think I'm turning into a Texan people!):
http://janakphoto.com/2010/09/the-old-west-not-so-well-preserved/

Boys make me happy:
http://janakphoto.com/2010/12/holiday-photo-at-the-beach/

I just love these. Not sure why, normally a bunch of people in swimsuits isn't my thing:) :
http://janakphoto.com/2011/01/happy-new-year-3tp-2011-polar-bear-plunge/

The first 4 of this session gave me warm fuzzies I love them so much:
http://janakphoto.com/2011/03/family-photo-session-at-the-olympic-sculpture-park/

I love the third one down and the second from the end the most!:
http://janakphoto.com/2011/09/san-diego-destination-wedding/

Thanks for reading, I hope you liked it!

If you'd like to participate, just click on the 'weekly interrogation' tab at the top and follow the instructions there. Hope to see you here!

how?

2011-09-21T01:42:00.003-04:00

a week ago he looked like this:

and a couple days ago he looked like this:

so how is it that THIS:

will be FIVE on Friday?!

I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around this fact.

So don't tell me how in another week he'll be going off to college... I won't be able to process that information yet.

sunday best!

2011-09-19T14:08:00.002-04:00

I cannot even begin to describe how happy I am to fit back into my "sophisticated" skirts! I missed them. Plus it's nice to be reminded you have a skinny waist from time to time. (NOT that I think I'm fat or anything, it's just that having two babies hasn't left my body completely unscathed)

shirt: Old Navy
sweater: Forever 21
skirt: Forever 21 (this skirt makes me feel hott)
shoes: street vendor in San Francisco's Chinatown
necklace: Forever 21

If you haven't noticed, I don't buy expensive clothes. And 90% of what I buy is on sale. And I manage to make them last (hello red skirt from high school). Take that Clinton and Stacey! And proof you don't have to spend a fortune to look nice and fashionable. (at least I think I look fashionable, I could be wrong!)

This week I got attacked:

By this very cute monster:

weekly interrogation: Amy Beth Harkess!

2011-09-16T01:00:00.002-04:00

So ironically, today we have the very same friend of mine as yesterday! This is Amy Beth, another one of my cyber photographer friends (they're seriously the best! If it weren't for the internet my life would be a lot less fun) who lives in Chicago. If yesterday didn't prove to you that she has a great personality I don't know what will:) In addition to her wit she also possesses a great eye and uses it to create some stunning work!

name: Amy Beth Harkess
website: www.amybethphotography.com

1.What do you “do”?
By day, I’m a mild mannered administrative assistant, but by night (and weekend), I’m a photographic ninja. I fight the dark underbelly of the city, with my camera as my only weapon. OK, that’s a stretch. I mainly photograph weddings, unions and portraits.

2. Why do you do what you do?
I can’t imagine doing anything else. The photography bug bit me years ago, and there doesn’t seem to be any vaccine available. I love photography because of the people it allows me to connect with and because it changes the way I look at my corner of the world, even when I don’t have a camera in my hands.

3.Where are you from?
What I like to call Chicagoland. Which means that even though I’m a mere 20 some miles from the city, it takes 8 days to get downtown in traffic, construction or snow. OK. Again, that might be a stretch. I’m from the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

4. Favorite color?
Green

5. Favorite food?
I used to answer this question, “cupcakes!” with no hesitation at all. However, cupcakes seem to have taken over the universe. And with lots of cupcakes, that means I’ve encountered far more bad cupcakes than I imagined possible. So let’s just go with mojitos. That’s a food, right?

6. Favorite shoes?
My ugly as sin orthopedic style SAS wedding shoes. They will not win me any style awards, but they have made 10 hour weddings so much more pleasant, so they will always have my gratitude.

7. Favorite place in the whole wide world?
Savannah, GA. It holds so many wonderful memories for me from many different times in my life. I love that place.

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment?
Tire swing

9. Your funniest story?
I’d tell you, but I’d have to kill you.

10. Mac or PC?
PC and proud (but you can pry my iPhone from my cold, dead hands)

11. Manual or automatic?
automatic

12. What do you consider your best asset?
I see things that other people don’t notice.

13. Guiltiest pleasure?
The movie Mean Girls. I could watch that 100 times. I probably have.

14. Biggest pet peeve? Unapologetic bad grammar. Listen, we all make mistakes and typos and forget the dangling participle rules here and there. It happens to the best of us. But people who know how to communicate in an effective manner, but choose not to do it? Drives me bonkers.

15. What do you consider priceless?
The time I’ve spent with my niece in the darkroom teaching her how to develop black and white film and print from her very own negatives.

16. If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be?
Sally Mann

17. What would you choose as your last meal?
Mojitos and cupcakes. Just kidding. It would be whatever could be served on a big table with all the people I love most surrounding me and sharing it with me.

18. What era in time do you connect with the most?
I suppose modern day. There isn’t a time I look back on fondly and think, “oh, I wish I could live in the olden days when we all died of cholera and women couldn’t vote.” I feel pretty lucky to live in a time when just about anything is possible.

19. Your motto for life?
Always follow my gut.

20. Best advice you can give?
Be the honey badger, not the cobra.

And here is some of my favorite stuff she's done:

I LOVE the colors in the first one. And the vines:
http://www.amybethphotography.com/2011/05/rockford-il-portra40/

I can't help but love all of these (my dad is from Chicago and I have lots of family still there so it holds a special place in my heart):
http://www.amybethphotography.com/2011/06/millennium-park-ektar/

b&w photography is one of my absolute favorite things in this world... and that picture of the tree is fabulous:
http://www.amybethphotography.com/2011/06/black-and-white-film-botanic/

LOVE love love the third photo. Makes me miss moss, all things green and moisture in general:
http://www.amybethphotography.com/2011/06/zeiss-canon-test/

Hope you enjoyed it!!

If you'd like to participate, just click on the 'weekly interrogation' tab at the top and follow the instructions there. Hope to see you here!

just for laughs

2011-09-15T14:03:00.004-04:00

So one of my photographer friends shared something funny today...

I'm sure you've heard of internet scams and may have even received a scam email before. As a small business owner you get a ton of them and deleting them becomes part of your routine. But instead of deleting this one, Amy decided to respond. She put the correspondence on her blog if you'd like to see:

Always be the Honey Badger. Never be the Cobra.

I asked her if I could share the rest of the conversation that she didn't put on her blog and she yes! So here is the rest of the story:

"I decided to call it quits, because he started going for the kill right away:

Thanks so much for your quik response and acceptance of the pet.Am very much happy to read about your availability and the session charges,Kindly calculate the total ...amount for 2 urban session(9th and 10th) for the selected date and any additional charges that may incur or you can let me know your own arrangement.

Kindly get back to me with the following details so i can instruct my associate to make half or full advance payment IMMEDIATELY.

1: Your Full Name to be on the payment
2: Your Address and zip code
3: Your cell phone number

Again I will like to have an idea on printing price for the listed size below:
1-8x10
2-16x20
3-20x24

Hope to read back from you soon.
Best Regard
Await your reply.
Rafael
0020149733728

------------------

Fantastic, Rafael!

I’m guessing you are going for the full Walk Like an Egyptian/Shih Tzu package? That will be a total of $1,050. Also, the prints that you have mentioned will be $500. In addition, I require an Internet Fraud Fake Money Wiring Scam fee of $3,942.15. Please use the contact information below for payment:

FBI - Chicago Branch
2111 W. Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: (312) 421-6700

Pyramidly yours, "

Hope you enjoy it! I wish I had her wit:)

army life lesson two.

2011-09-14T01:00:00.000-04:00

Military life is not for the faint of heart.

You learn to weather the tough things and revel in the good. To just let stuff roll off your back when normally you'd have an anxiety attack. To just "suck it up" and keep going.

The military really is a whole 'nother world. I can't tell you how many time I've said "It's the Army, that's just how it is."

But it really is a wonderful life if you keep a positive attitude. The lows may be low but the highs are the highest you'll ever experience.

sunday best!

2011-09-12T11:04:00.002-04:00

This week I finally pulled some pre-baby stuff out of the closet to see if it fit and it did!! Finally. I was getting very tired of wearing the same two skirts.... And what's even better is that it was this skirt, one of my absolute favorites!

shirt: Old Navy (surprised much?)
sweater: Old Navy
skirt: Forever 21 (I miss having knee-length skirts in fashion. Stupid mini skirts)
shoes: Target (little girl's! Sometimes having small feet pays off)
necklace: Saddleblanket place here in El Paso (I LOVE turquoise)

Usually once we get home from church I throw on some pj's or something, but this week I liked this outfit enough I just threw on some jeans instead:

(being small doesn't usually pay off in the pants department...)

ten years later.

2011-09-11T16:55:00.002-04:00

I hadn't planned on saying anything today simply because I don't know what to say. Ten years later it's still hard to make sense of all the emotions of that day.

But I read this article and I wanted to share. I especially love this statement from it:

"Destruction allows us to rebuild our lives in the way He teaches us, and to become something different than we were."

Even if you aren't LDS, or even Christian, this still applies...

"Destruction allows us to rebuild our lives... and to become something different than we were."

It is important to remember, but to change as well.

(hopefully for the better!)

weekly interrogation: Caitlin Sheffer!

2011-09-09T01:00:00.002-04:00

Today you get to meet Caitlin Sheffer! We go way back to the teenage years... we are both members of the same church and were in the YW program at the same time (I wish I could say I'm as young as she is, but alas I am not). She has always been one of the happiest, cutest, and funnest person I know. And just a beautiful person all around. She now lives in Utah with her husband and is a talented photographer herself:)

name: Caitlin Sheffer
website: www.ciaobellaphotography.blogspot.com, www.ciaobellaphotography.etsy.com

1.What do you “do”?
I take pictures of people, places and things, read chick lit, keep a clean house, and make delicious dinners and desserts for my hottie-mchothot husband. I lead a simple, but blessed life.

2. Why do you do what you do?
I’m a photographer because aside from being with my family, it makes me the most happy. I am incredibly lucky to be able to do what I love.

3.Where are you from?
Is this a trick question? ;);) I grew up in a military family so I would have to say Texas, Arizona, Virginia, Georgia, Virginia a few more times, England, Florida, and finally Utah.

4. Favorite color?
Definitely and without a doubt turquoise.

5. Favorite food?
Anything Italian. My mom’s homemade meatballs are to DIE for.

6. Favorite shoes?
I adore any kind of flats…the brand Rocketdog is my favorite. I also really love flip flops by Roxy. They are basic but super comfortable!

7. Favorite place in the whole wide world?
Europe!! I’d kill to go to Italy again.

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment?
The swings. I used to tell my dad that I was going out to “get my exercise” when all I was really doing was swinging. He laughed when I told him that, but he didn’t realize what a workout it is to pump your legs back and forth. ;);)

9. Your funniest story?
I can't think of anything in particular...I try to laugh every day so everything is pretty funny to me!

10. Mac or PC?
PC. I’m not opposed to Macs, but I hate to think about learning a new operating system.

11. Manual or automatic?
If you’re talking about cars, automatic all the way. BUT I did learn how to drive a stick on a vintage Porshe. Consequently, that’s the only thing I remember about driving manual. If you’re talking about cameras, manual. NEVER automatic.

12. What do you consider your best asset?
My sweet, adorable husband. Honestly, he is my other half.

13. Guiltiest pleasure?
America’s Next Top Model and romance novels. I LOVE chick lit.

14. Biggest pet peeve?
When people slurp their cereal/soup/hot chocolate. Just say no.

15. What do you consider priceless?
My faith and my family. (Is that cheesy or what?)

16. If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be?
I constantly have dreams about meeting the photographer Jonathan Canlas (I’m embarrassed to say that out loud) but I’m obsessed with his work. I don’t shoot film so I would have lots of questions. I would also want to sit next to Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman) because I think she would have me doubled over with laughter, she is SO funny. And awesome. And her recipes are delicious.

17. What would you choose as your last meal?
Hands down, my mom’s homemade meatballs with a loaf of parmesan-garlic French bread, a bit of leafy salad with ranch dressing & croutons, and chocolate covered strawberries to top it off.

18. What era in time do you connect with the most?
I have a lot of respect for people who lived without today’s modern conveniences…especially the early settlers of America. I tried making a cake from scratch the other day and I think it took me three hours.. I just don’t know how they did everything! But if I were to say what era I connect with…it would probably be the 40s or 50s. Deep down I just want to wear pretty dresses, have five kids running around, kiss my husband when he comes home from work, and cook delicious meals. I would have to infuse this with a bit of feminism though so I could work as a photographer from home…but other than that I always thought it would be so dreamy during that period.

19. Your motto for life?
“I am a strong woman and I can do anything!” I became seriously ill over the past year and when I was talking to my mom one day she said I needed a good mantra. Apparently my Great-Aunt Helen used this mantra and it fit perfectly!

20. Best advice you can give?
Take life one day at a time. Do what makes you happy. Be with those you love. Those are the three things that get me through it all.

Here are some of my favorites images:
I LOVE the third one and seventh ones:
http://ciaobellaphotography.blogspot.com/2011/07/family-campout.html

I just love the big wide open sky (one of the perks living in Texas):
http://ciaobellaphotography.blogspot.com/2010/08/clouds.html

This series is perfection to me:
http://ciaobellaphotography.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-brother.html

Beautiful lichen (makes me miss trees...):
http://ciaobellaphotography.blogspot.com/2011/04/color.html

The mood and color of these is absolutely gorgeous:
http://ciaobellaphotography.blogspot.com/2011/05/americana.html

As always, thanks for reading!

If you'd like to participate, just click on the 'weekly interrogation' tab at the top and follow the instructions there. Hope to see you here!

just be nice.

2011-09-08T01:00:00.000-04:00

Life is hard.

Over the past year, and especially recently, kindness has been on my mind. I don't think anyone can argue the fact that there isn't enough of it in the world these days.

My goal since Rob joined the military has been to treat everyone with kindness and respect. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fail, but that is my goal. But recently I've been really feeling it. Like, I want to be more than kind. I want to be charitable.

I know that to be charitable is an eternal goal, one that I will strive for (and never actually reach) my entire life and beyond. But I want to try harder, to be more aware of more than just me and my own problems.

So this article really spoke to me when I read it a few days ago:
We Must See Past What it Seems…
I hope it speaks to you too.

And after reading that article, this video came to mind:

Who wants to join me? I think there's plenty of kindness and charity that needs spreading.

the story of the elk.

2011-09-07T11:18:00.002-04:00

Yes, that is an elk. If you did not surmise from Monday's post, last year we went camping and hiking and swimming and shooting on labor day weekend. But the elk incident occurred whilst we were hiking...

We camped Friday to Saturday and hiked Saturday after packing up the campsite. But first we stopped by the wildlife refuge's visitor center to find out where the trail heads were. While there we checked out the little museum and watched a video which highlighted various animals within the refuge. Then we headed out. Thankfully the trail was easy (although not the one we were intending to take; the trails there were hard to follow at times because there was no clear definition through the landscape, unlike back east) and Max ended up at the lead with Chris. We were getting close to the lake at this point, and the trail ahead entered some brush/vegetation (if you have never been to Oklahoma, for the most part it is wide open space. But there are trees and other vegetation near water... but it's very short scrabbly stuff that is like a wall. So you can't see through it or really walk through it, so the vegetation we were coming to had been cleared for the trail and was almost like walking through a tunnel). The rest of us were a few paces behind Chris and Max so were not sure what was going on when Chris said VERY firmly "Max, STOP!" Immediately thoughts like "rattlesnake?!" go through my head and we catch up to where Max and Chris are stopped and we hear it; a "HUFF" sound coming from a very large animal. I seriously think a mountain lion or something is going to come at us from it's hiding place within the vegetation. Then we hear some more grunting then a loud splash. Chris is brave enough to creep forward to see what animal we stumbled upon and discovers it is a VERY LARGE ELK. Like, Max was as tall as maybe it's leg. Max had scared the poor thing so it retreated into the water, a safe distance from us. We were incredibly relieved it hadn't been a more vicious animal or that it was too scared to charge us or something. But we decided that was enough adventure for one day and headed back the way we had come. And for the rest of the day, and beyond, we love to tell Max that he scared the elk.

And here are a few more pictures from Tiffany's camera of that weekend:

what I wore to the ball.

2011-09-06T01:00:00.004-04:00

Here is what I looked like at last week's ball:

dress: Madison Ave. by Shabby Apple
petticoat: Malco Modes #582
shoes: Linea Paolo from Nordstrom (sorry, no link 'cause I can't find them)
lipstick: Covergirl Lip Perfection in Embrace #335
flower: made by me from 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet (it's the Dahlia)

I chose to accent with purple because everyone always does red with black and white. (I have to go against the grain). So I made the flower for my hair and wore some purple lipstick. And I have to give a shout-out to my friend Michelle who did my hair... it's not an easy thing to do because it's so fine and doesn't hold curl AT ALL. The above pictures don't do it justice either... we were running really late so I didn't have time to take pictures of every inch of me beforehand. So the hair pictures are from when we got home that night, after the style was 'done' and starting to fall out. (but hey, it's better than the OCS ball where I got NOT ONE good picture of me... don't have your husband's tipsy friend take pictures of you at the end of the evening because you forgot to earlier. Not a good idea if you're expecting a decent photo)

I hope you like it! I had fun putting the whole outfit together and making it "ball worthy." I still am not quite sure what Rob thought of it, but I did have plenty of women complimenting my get-up:)

And here is me and my Lieutenant at the ball. The only photo of us together that evening.

labor day weekend 2010

2011-09-05T01:00:00.003-04:00

shot with a Pentax K1000 w/ 50mm 2.0 and Lomo Lubitel 2 on Fuji 400h and 800z.

weekly interrogation: Bonnie Berry!

2011-09-02T12:55:00.003-04:00

Today I welcome Bonnie Berry! She is one of my cyber photog friends and I still cannot believe I "know" her. (networking is an amazing thing, I pretty much always feel a little star struck with some of the people I have "met") In addition to creating beautiful images and artwork, she is probably one of the wisest people I know (she gives the best advice!). So I am so, so excited to have her here today!!

photo by Jonathan Canlas

name: Bonnie Berry
website: www.bonnie-berry.com

1.What do you “do”?
Photographer. Ex-graphic designer.

2. Why do you do what you do?
Because at heart I am really just a storyteller.

3.Where are you from?
San Francisco, California

4. Favorite color?
Three way tie: chocolate brown, robin’s egg blue, classic orange.

5. Favorite food?
I have oh so many, but for the sake of brevity I will go with sushi.

6. Favorite shoes?
Right now my Cole Haan slip on sandals.

7. Favorite place in the whole wide world?
The South of France.

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment?
Swings of course : )

9. Your funniest story?
The night my birth father (I am adopted) invited me to a huge party, but neglected to tell
anyone there who I was beforehand. So I got to experience hours of watching people’s
shocked faces. It is a longer, funnier story, but that is the condensed version.

10. Mac or PC?
Mac of course.

11. Manual or automatic?
Manual baby. What can I say? I am a control freak. Although I do have to use auto focus
now because I am getting old and going blind.

12. What do you consider your best asset?
Being myself (see answer 20).

13. Guiltiest pleasure?
Watching ‘Law and Order’ and eating something I shouldn’t be.

14. Biggest pet peeve?
Ignorance disguised as a personal choice.

15. What do you consider priceless?
Family and memories.

16. If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be?
Dorothy Parker.

17. What would you choose as your last meal?
Probably pizza. It is my comfort food.

18. What era in time do you connect with the most?
The era of the Algonquin round table.

19. Your motto for life?
Keep passing the open windows. (John Irving)

20. Best advice you can give?
Truly be yourself. It is the best asset you have.

And here are some of my favorite images she's shot:

The feeling of this shoot gives me goosebumps:
http://www.bonnie-berry.com/blog/?p=1940

I absolutely love the ones taken on the hammock:
http://www.bonnie-berry.com/blog/?p=5401

(I am in LOVE with her son's school and adore every post Bonnie does about it):
http://www.bonnie-berry.com/blog/?cat=31

That first image is my favorite. LOVE:
http://www.bonnie-berry.com/blog/?p=7163

As a mom of boys too, these made me happy:
http://www.bonnie-berry.com/blog/?p=7303

Thanks for reading!

If you'd like to participate, just click on the 'weekly interrogation' tab at the top and follow the instructions there. Hope to see you here!

not much to say today.

2011-09-01T11:20:00.003-04:00

Well, today is the day. THE BALL. eep. I'm not quite ready for it (I still haven't finished my hair accessory...) but ready or not it's happening tonight!

So, that is why I have nothing clever to say today (or this week for that matter). But I will be sure to get plenty of pictures of me in my dress for you to see.

Wish me luck! I'm wearing heels for the first time in like, ever, (I think the last time was the OCS ball when I was pregnant with Nick) and I'm praying I can make it all night (unlike aforementioned OCS ball where I left with my shoes in my hand). Curse you cocktail hours!

so true.

2011-08-31T01:00:00.000-04:00

A friend shared this on facebook a while back and I love it! Thankfully that isn't always the case, but there's nothing like a deadline to squeeze the creativity out of you:)

sometimes we do this instead of unpack.

2011-08-30T01:46:00.002-04:00

It's hard to say no to those faces. Especially when Max willingly wants to have his picture taken.

So who cares if our vacation luggage is still sitting around waiting to be unpacked?

sunday best!

2011-08-29T01:00:00.002-04:00

This week I dressed a little more appropriately for our still HOT weather. Since we've lived here less than a year I have no idea when (or if) fall comes... I have a feeling it's still way in the distance. I guess all my cute jackets will have to wait a little longer to see the light. Anyway, here's what I put together:

dress: Old Navy (I actually bought this dress when I was pregnant with Max. I've always been too small for maternity clothes so I have to improvise. Plus side to that: I can still wear a lot of it when I'm not pregnant anymore!)
shirt: Old Navy (I should just be a spokesperson for them, think I shop there enough?)
shoes: Forever 21 (they were at the top of my list to get with my birthday monely this year!) (these are actually a size too big but I figured for the price whatever. They don't actually make gladiator sandals in my size:( So I was a little desperate)

And my mom has dibs on this dress when I'm done with it so she can cut it up to use in quilts.

weekly interrogation: Tiffany Goodwin!

2011-08-26T01:00:00.000-04:00

This week I'm so excited to have my bff from Oklahoma, Tiffany! She and her husband moved into the same apartment complex as us right when I needed a friend; I'm so grateful she introduced herself to me when we were both paying rent (she recognized me from church since I had given a talk that week). We always joke how me and Rob and her and her husband Chris are clones of each other... we may look different, but Tiff and I have all the same interests and Rob and Chris do too. So we get along great. Sadly, they are now stationed at Ft. Lewis while we are here at Ft. Bliss but we're SO EXCITED to head up there this fall for a visit before Chris deploys (thank you Southwest airlines). Tiffany went to BYU, majoring in Social Work, and met her husband Chris on a blind date... he flew her to New York where he was attending West Point so she could go to a formal with him. Now they are married and are Max and Nick's 'other parents.'

name: Tiffany Goodwin

website: In the works...and hopefully up soon.

1.What do you “do”?

Presently, I am a stay at home wife. What do I do in a day....I sew, knit (thanks to Jackie), go to the library, clean, do laundry, read, cook, look after my parents, manage my dad’s office, run errands, exercise and sometimes, I just do nothing.

2. Why do you do what you do?

I have not been able to find a social work job, and now that summer is here, we have too many things planned, so jobs are on hold. Besides, it is nice being home and available for anything....I keep quite busy.

3.Where are you from?

Born in southern California, but raised in western Washington.

4. Favorite color?

Yellow.

5. Favorite food?

Cliche I know, but I love pizza.

6. Favorite shoes?

Flats.

7. Favorite place in the whole wide world?

Lake Chelan, Washington.

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment?

Swing....so nostalgic.

9. Your funniest story?

Why is it that when asked this question my mind goes totally blank?! However I do have a funny story about a girl named “La-a.” Let’s just say she is from the south, her mother is uneducated and this poor girl’s name is pronounced “La dash a.”

10. Mac or PC?

Mac. I was a PC until I met my husband three years ago and now I am a total Mac-ie.

11. Manual or automatic?

I drive an automatic, but I have always wished I drove a manual. Since I learned to drive I pretend every car is a manual....I hold the gear shaft as if I need to shift. Sad, I know.

12. What do you consider your best asset?

I can get along with just about anyone.

13. Guiltiest pleasure?

The Bachelorette....or reality TV in general.

14. Biggest pet peeve?

Oh so many....gum smacking is highly ranked, not washing hands after using the bathroom, nail biting. I have issues.

15. What do you consider priceless?

My family.

16. If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be?

Someone who either puts headphones in right away or falls right to sleep....I don’t like talking to people on airplanes. I guess sitting next to Thomas S. Monson would be cool.

17. What would you choose as your last meal?

A buffett of all my favorite things. Red Robin french fries, mint chocolate chip ice cream, Sonic corn dogs, sprinkle doughnuts, cheesecake, BBQ chips, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Goldfish Crackers, Cheese-Its and pepperoni pizza.

18. What era in time do you connect with the most?

Present era.

19. Your motto for life?

“Replace every fearful thought with an act of faith.” -Harold C. Brown

20. Best advice you can give?

Sometimes when people need to talk they don’t want you to fix their problems or even offer advice, they just need someone to listen and validate.

(I need to take my own advice....ugh.)

I hope you love her as much as I do!

If you'd like to participate in my weekly interrogation, email me at jaxharmon [at] gmail [dot] com. I'd love to have you!

i really like this picture.

2011-08-25T01:09:00.003-04:00

This was us in May of 2007. Taken in Atlantic Beach NC; Max's first visit to the beach.

Is it crazy that it doesn't feel like it was that long ago? But at the same time it feels like a lifetime?

Time is a weird thing. Part of me feels like high school was forever ago. But then I see something that happened in that same time frame (like a movie or tv show) and it doesn't feel like that happened all that long ago. I think in my head it will always be the early thousands, even though it's already been 10 years. Now I understand all those people who were (or are) "stuck in the 80's."

And I think I will forever feel like I'm in my early twenties.

Does anyone else feel like this? Or am I just crazy?

just my two cents.

2011-08-24T01:00:00.004-04:00

disclaimer: Most of the time I'm not very vocal publicly about how I feel about things that are in any way related to politics, but in this case I wanted to say something. I'm sure there are a lot who don't agree with me and never will, but hopefully I can provide some insight for those who are interested.

Our nation demands much from its military, & the retirement benefits in place are not gifts,they have been earned through blood, sweat, toil, repeated deployments, missed births, birthdays, anniversaries & sometimes loss of limbs or life. Shifting the burden of our nation’s fiscal mess on to the backs of our military-less than one percent of our population who volunteer for decades of service in harm’s way defending our way of life-is morally bankrupt.

-GEN Sullivan, USA, Retired

If you aren't aware, the topic of "messing" with military retirement has caused quite a stir (uproar may be a more appropriate term actually) within the military community.

Personally, part of me thinks "Well, the entire country is having to cut back on benefits and stuff so why should we be any different?"

But realistically, and overwhelmingly, I realize "If the military doesn't have benefits, who will do the job????"

I try to be as positive as possible on here (well, since Rob joined the army. I do have some whiny posts before then) because I don't want to wallow in the bad stuff. This life is hard enough without focusing on the bad; to survive you HAVE to focus on the good. Otherwise you won't make it.

But to be frank, it stinks. Big time. For both of us. Rob works long hours (think 12-14 hour days all week every week. He gets up at 5am most days, but has plenty of days where he has to be at work at 3am. Or 4am. Or anywhere in between. And doesn't usually get home until 6:30/7), plus is gone A LOT (like, all of May, June, and half of July. And random weeks. And days.) Thankfully he's not deployed. But when he is he'll be gone for a YEAR. Not to mention that his job is dangerous. Even when you aren't deployed. The equipment he works with can kill him (and his guys) if something goes wrong. And if you ARE deployed you have the added danger of people trying to kill you. Does any of that sound fun?

But Rob does it day in and day out, and I put up with it day in and day out because of one thing; the life it has provided for us.

It is all worth it because we are taken care of (although to some people that is debatable... talk to a wife whose husband has been deployed 5 times. Or whose husband lost a limb. Or died.).

But more importantly, for my soldier it feels good to know he is a part of what keeps this country safe.

So the least you can do is thank him and his guys by allowing them to live in peace once their time of chaos is over.

And ultimately, it will be MORE expensive for the government if they do change retirement; it will get to the point where the military will have no senior NCO's or officers because no one will have any incentive to stay in. Instead they'll fulfill their contract (usually 3-5 years) then get out because it's not worth it to put up with all the crap you do in the military. Thus there will be a constant turnover, which will cost a TON because all the new people will have to be trained before they can step in to replace the people who left. And if you don't know, training costs a lot. And is time spent not actually doing the job that needs to be done.

Also, if you think the military isn't necessary you are incredibly naive. We have been blessed to not have any more attacks on US soil since 9/11, but it isn't because the world holds us in high esteem. There are lots of people still out there who think America is the enemy and want nothing more than to kill us. You think all the bombings in other parts of the world are completely isolated from us? If terrorists had their way, we would be dealing with just as many bombings (or more). We have enjoyed this safety because our military is the best trained in the world and have been working non-stop (in conjunction with the other government agencies like the FBI, CIA, etc.) to keep the US citizens out of harm's way.

Oh, and it doesn't seem like a good idea to mess with the people who are in direct control of the country's big guns. Just sayin'.

yesterday's conversation.

2011-08-23T01:00:00.001-04:00

Max: "Moom, I watch this?" (holding up a movie)

Me: "I don't think so. How 'bout you help me clean up."

Max: "Nah."

Me: "I think you should."

Max: "No."

Me: "Why not? Are you lazy?"

Max: "Yeah."

At least he's honest, right?

sunday best

2011-08-22T01:00:00.001-04:00

Let's call this week the "wishing for fall even though it's still over 100 outside" outfit.

shirt: Old Navy (just one of their perfect tee's)
jacket: Old Navy
skirt: Old Navy (discovering a theme here?) (and if you haven't guessed, I wear this skirt a lot. Mainly 'cause it never needs to be ironed)
shoes: discount boot store in OK (same as here)
belt: Kohl's (same as here)
necklace: Ten Thousand Villages (on sale for $4!)

And since Nicola officially weaned while we were back east I lost those last extra pounds of "mommy weight" I had hanging around (although I could still do some work in the derriere region...) so I'm fitting back into pre-baby clothes. Which means I have a whole new world of clothes to choose from again! So hopefully I'll have different things to show from now on (instead of the same old 2 skirts)... as long as I do the ironing.

weekly interrogation: Emily Wassink!

2011-08-19T01:00:00.001-04:00

Today I have the great pleasure of introducing to you my bestest childhood (and on into adulthood) friend Emily! We were forced into friendship by our parents at the age of 7 and are so grateful they did because we are perfect for each other (in a totally platonic way). She went to BYU-Idaho, now lives in Utah, and served an 18 month mission for our church in Leeds England. She also has the most gorgeous red hair you will ever see and a ridiculous sense of humor. Her answers to these questions had me cracking up and totally sum up her personality in a nutshell:)

(photo by Stephanie Haven)

name: Emily Suzanne Wassink

1.What do you “do”?
I am not terribly fond of this question these days, as I don’t do much of anything because I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. So for the time being I ponder career options and work at the library.

2. Why do you do what you do?
I can’t make decisions. So I do nothing.

3.Where are you from?
The sweet state of Virginia! WOOOOO!

4. Favorite color?
Yellow, though I think I’m attracted to all bright colors.

5. Favorite food?
I’m kind of a mood eater, but cheese fondue is a classic. I’m also very fond of Thai food. Mmmmm….

6. Favorite shoes?
Anything that just slips on. I don’t want to tie or buckle my shoes.. Yes, I am that lazy.

7. Favorite place in the whole wide world?
I feel as though I haven’t seen enough of the world to properly answer this question. In my dreams it would be Ghana, though in reality probably anywhere those nieces of mine are.

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment?
Swings! Though those merry-go-round things are awesome. I heard they don’t make them anymore. Tragic.

9. Your funniest story?
(sigh) I think people only laugh at my stories because I’m already laughing. I was into retelling this story whenever I could for awhile: I was watching a movie with one of my brothers when he left to use my parents’ bathroom. When he came back he had green eye shadow on. “What’s on your face?” I asked. All he exclaimed was “Dang it, I thought I got it all off.”

10. Mac or PC?
Um. I don’t have a strong preference, but I use a PC.

11. Manual or automatic?
I don’t know how to drive manual. I spent one horrific day driving manual as a missionary. I still haven’t recovered.

12. What do you consider your best asset?
I have a winning smile? I don’t know. I asked Nate and he couldn’t give me an answer either.

13. Guiltiest pleasure?
Hulu is the worst thing that ever happened to me. That’s all I’m saying.

14. Biggest pet peeve?
Utah drivers.

15. What do you consider priceless?
I’m a big fan of quality time.

16. If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be?
Someone I know. I think I’ve only done that two or three times in my whole life. But if I had to choose someone famous it would be….I don’t know. Maybe Sharon Creech. I love every book she ever wrote. Or Ingrid Michaelson. John Cusak?

17. What would you choose as your last meal?
Bruce Bogtrotter’s chocolate cake. It probably would, in fact, be the death of me. And I would be happy.

18. What era in time do you connect with the most?
Hmm. For the longest time I had a fascination with the WWII era. I can even remember the first time I learned about the Holocaust. I was in second grade and I was reading the Big Lie. Not that I wish I could live in that time period, it just intrigues me.

19. Your motto for life?
Oh well.

20. Best advice you can give?
Don’t take advice from me.

Thanks for reading and please give her some love in the comment section!

If you'd like to participate in my weekly interrogation, email me at jaxharmon [at] gmail [dot] com. I'd love to have you!

why?

2011-08-18T01:38:00.001-04:00

I am 26 years old, wash my face everyday, and don't wear makeup or other pore-clogging paraphernalia.

So why do I still get zits??

Life is so not fair.

army life lesson one

2011-08-17T11:07:00.003-04:00

Home really is where the Army sends you.

After going back to NC for a month this really became apparent to me. I LOVED visiting family, seeing friends again and basking in summer on the east coast, but it's no longer home.

I found myself homesick for El Paso. For my house, my friends here, Ft. Bliss, the desert.

Life here isn't peachy all the time; some days I hate it and some days I love it.

But what I discovered this summer is that it is home.

And in a few more years someplace else will become home. Such is this life.

advice please!

2011-08-16T01:00:00.003-04:00

If you are not aware, one of the things you get to do as a military wife is attend "balls" with your husband. It's actually kind of exciting to think about getting all dressed up and fancy, especially in this day-and-age where there aren't many opportunities after prom to do that.

BUT, it means actually getting fancy. And I don't know about you, but I don't have a closetful of fancy dresses just awaiting use.

Rob has a ball coming up in a couple weeks and since I skipped the past two and made him go by himself I'm going with him this time. (aren't I such a loving wife?)

The only problem is, I don't know what to wear. And I really don't feel like buying a new dress and don't have time to make one.

I do have this one in my closet, however:
I had bought it for a cocktail event back at Ft. Sill, but ended up not going 'cause Nick was only a couple months old and I didn't want to leave him with a complete stranger.

So my question is, Do you think it's fancy enough for a ball?

I have some snazzy wing-tip heels to wear with it, and I'm planning on having some fancy hair to go with it. What do you think? I know it's nowhere near red carpet fanciness, but do you think it's ok for a military ball?

and...

2011-08-15T11:33:00.002-04:00

...I'm back!

I've been back on the east coast for a nice looong visit the past month-ish.

My original plan was to have a bunch of stuff pre-blogged and scheduled for while I was traveling and then still blog while I was chilling back in the humidity.

But plans changed, like usual.

First, I didn't have time to pre-blog in between making sure I could pay bills while I was away and packing and working and being a mom and dealing with the usual crud you have to as an adult. In my brain I think that someday I will master the whole time management thing and have time for everything. But right now I'm not there yet. But I figured it wouldn't be a big deal to have a few days silence as I drove and I'd get right back into it once I arrived in North Carolina.

But I got to NC and... not internet access. I did not anticipate that at all. My parents have wireless internet, but it's password protected and they don't know what it is. And believe me, I tried every single number sequence and code on every modem, router, or modem-looking thing I could find in that house. But none of them worked. So I would steal my mom's computer long enough to check email or pay bills, but not long enough to blog. (and it ends up my BROTHER who doesn't live there knew the password. But by that time Rob was there and reclaimed his computer and there was no hope to blog- he is very possessive of his laptop and has already told me he is not letting me take his again and that he will buy me my own before that happens.)

SO, I'm sorry for the silence. And hope you didn't desert me.

happy fourth!

2011-07-04T00:05:00.002-04:00

(taken in Oklahoma last summer)

Happy Fourth of July!

I'm grateful to live in such a great nation!

Please excuse the sporadic posting over the next few weeks while we do a bit of traveling.

weekly interrogation: Paige Hughes!

2011-07-01T01:00:00.001-04:00

Today I present to you my other sister, Paige! She's currently serving an 18 month mission for our church in Porto Alegre Brazil. We miss her lots, but are so excited she's having this amazing opportunity!

1.What do you “do”?

Right now I´m a missionary for A Igreja de Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Últimos Dias (aka, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). I´ve been called to serve here in Brasil, teaching people about the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. Why do you do what you do?

I do what I do, because I know the church is true. I know that my Savior, Jesus Christ lives and loves me. This knowledge compels me to try to be a better person. And to help other people understand the love that their Savior has for them is the most rewarding thing I´ve ever done.

3.Where are you from?

I grew up in Virginia, but my parents are in North Carolina. So really, where my family is, that´s where I´m from.

4. Favorite color?
Green

5. Favorite food?
Right now, Caqui de chocolate preto. I think that translates into Persimmon of the dark chocolate variety. I´m not sure why it´s called chocolate because it´s a fruit, but it´s so good. so so so so good. I´m not even sure if they have them in the states, and I might cry if they don´t.

6. Favorite shoes?
my slippers. They´re furry and green with kitschy teddy bears. But I´m not sure I´ve found anything more comfortable in my life.

7. Favorite place in the whole wide world?

home. But it´s almost a tie with the Rio Grande do Sul.

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment?

swings

9. Your funniest story?
hmm, when I first arrived in Brazil, me and my companions were walking down the street and we picked some fruit off of this tree in the street to eat later. My companions called this fruit an abacate, and explained how you prepare it and how delicious it is, etc. Our abacates still needed some time to ripen, and for a week or so I saw these beautiful new brazilian fruits ripening on our table, and I couldn´t wait to try them and experience something new. And I don´t remember how I came to the realization, but one day I realized that these new brazilian fruits on our table, were nothing more than avacados. Still delicious, but not quite the excotic fruit I had imagined.

There. that was the only funny story I could think of.

10. Mac or PC?
Mac

11. Manual or automatic?
Manual

12. What do you consider your best asset?

maternal instincts

13. Guiltiest pleasure?
Disney Channel. But more recently, Brazilian novelas. I can´t even watch right now and I´m already addicted to the 5 minute clips I catch in other people´s houses.

14. Biggest pet peeve?
disrespect

15. What do you consider priceless?

family, testimony, knowledge

16. If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be?

Alma 23:14. I want to talk with the one amalequita that was converted to the gospel.

17. What would you choose as your last meal?

Bacon spaghetti, or Mommy´s London Broil with Brown rice

18. What era in time do you connect with the most?

40´s? não sei

19. Your motto for life?

Just do what you´re told. Just live the gospel, keep the commandments and you´re good to go.

20. Best advice you can give?

Pray. Prayer fixes everything. That and being obedient. Pray and obey.

If you'd like to participate in my weekly interrogation, email me at jaxharmon [at] gmail [dot] com. I'd love to have you!

seven.

2011-06-30T01:00:00.000-04:00

Today Rob and I have been married 7 years! How did this happen? I still feel like a 19 year old.

Then I think back to this day seven years ago and realize how much has changed. A lot like those shoes pictured above.

Those shoes are the ones I wore, brand new, the day I got married. It was not a decision most approved of; my seamstress even made my dress a little too long to hide them. But when your feet are the size of a child's it's not easy to find white "grown up" lady shoes to wear to your wedding. I decided instead Rob and I would both wear black Converse tennis shoes. So we did.

Call me crazy, but after we got married I didn't pack them away. Instead I've worn them for 7 years. So they're worn, and faded, and have paint on them. But they're as comfy as can be (they're so well molded to the shape of my feet) and I love them. And still wear them often. They are one pair of shoes I don't think I'll ever get rid of, no matter how ratty they are.

And so it is with our marriage. 7 years ago it was new and shiny and squeaky-clean. But now it has seven years of wear, some rough spots, lots of comfy improvements, and has increased in love and affection a hundred fold. And I don't think we'll ever get tired of it.

They say there's a "seven year itch" in marriage. Well, I don't feel itchy at all. Not. One. Bit.

Our marriage isn't perfect, but I don't care. We'll continue to move onward and upward and someday, hopefully, we'll get there.

Ti voglio bene, Rob.

i found this very enlightening.

2011-06-29T01:33:00.002-04:00

I read this article the other day and I think it's pretty awesome:

How to Talk to Little Girls

As the mom of two boys (and probably will only ever be a mom to boys) this isn't something that I deal with very often. But it really made me think about my interactions with girls, and wonder what kind of an influence I've had on the (few) little ladies I've encountered and talked to. Granted, I don't think we should stop telling girls how adorable they are, but I will be conscious about the emphasis I put on various subjects and make sure appearance isn't center stage.

Also, I never ever dreamed being an adult was so hard when I was a kid.

aunt paige visits!

2011-06-28T02:05:00.002-04:00

Last fall my sister Paige came to visit one last time before she left on her mission. If you can't tell from these pictures, we had lots and lots of fun.

We...

went to the airport for the first time (well, first time for Max and Nick)...

had playtime at home...

went for walks...

played at the playground...

snuggled lots and lots...

went to the field artillery museum...

and visited the historical buildings on ft. sill...

looked cute...

checked out Medicine Park...

visited the wildlife preserve's visitors center...

went hiking...

raided the leftover Halloween candy...

fought for Paige's lap...

and said goodbye.

sunday best

2011-06-27T11:35:00.002-04:00

It has been SO incredibly hot here the past couple weeks, so this week I didn't want any extra layers I didn't need. (it's so hot I was sweating just walking the 5 feet from my house to the car) I have a feeling this will be the theme for the rest of the summer...

shirt: Old Navy
skirt: Kohl's? (same skirt worn here)
shoes: Vans, from the PX (post exchange)
belt: Forever 21 (I think?)
scarf: some Malaysian online store. I can't remember the name, but I ordered my sister some clothes from there one Christmas and they threw in this scarf for free. (I love the way it looked with this outfit, but I don't think I will be wearing any more scarves this summer. It was just too hot.)

And sorry, no fun pictures of everyone else this week. Rob was in the field and the boys cared more about lunch than pictures:)

weekly interrogation: Laura Hughes!

2011-06-24T01:00:00.000-04:00

This week I bring you my lovely youngest sister, Laura! She goes to school at the Kansas City Art Institute during the school year, and during the summer she is my slave. (ok, not literally. But she pretty much does anything I tell her to) She's a very talented artist, so if you ever need to commission a piece she's your gal!

name: Laura Hughes

1.What do you “do”?
Art art art. More specifically, illustrations. I love to draw and paint, and making storieswith my pictures.

2. Why do you do what you do?
Its fun, relaxing, and the one thing that I'm good at. It also keeps me from being
criminally insane.

3.Where are you from?
Originally Fredericksburg, Virginia. Then I moved to Greensboro, North Carolina when I was fifteen. You can forget about the second part.

4. Favorite color?
Eggplant purple, and red.

5. Favorite food?
Pickles, almonds, Grandma's grilled cheese, and veggie burgers with expensive mustard.

6. Favorite shoes?
My pair of Minnetonka moccasin slippers. They are soooo warm. I've worn them almost every day of the past four winters even though they look funny on me. So sadly they are falling apart, but I will never forget the good memories we have had together.

7. Favorite place in the whole wide world?
I feel like I haven't been to enough of the world to be able to choose yet. Downtown Fredericksburg, and Ikea are close contenders though.

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment?
The pole you slide down. What fun.

9. Your funniest story?
So one day in eighth grade reading class, a certain boy sitting behind me was kicking and putting his hands on the back of my chair. He would not stop, so I turned around and pushed his hands off myself. He claimed that I had violently smacked him around, and several other certain boys backed him up as "witnesses". My poor teacher never had any control over the class, and in exasperation let them go to the office to testify, figuring they wouldn't be taken seriously because I was the model student. Well, a few minutes later, the principal came on the phone, calling me to his office. Then my teacher hastily explained the real situation. I remember hearing him say, "oh I see. This changes things." The certain boys didn't return for a very long time, and when they did, all of them looked on the verge of tears, and only came to collect their things because they had in school suspension for the rest of the week. The only other thing as funny is my Dad's glasses fogging up when opening the dishwasher.

10. Mac or PC?
Mac. I prefer computers that work.

11. Manual or automatic?
Bike riding is a great form of exercise, and very good for the environment.

12. What do you consider your best asset?
My boobs and my butt.

13. Guiltiest pleasure?
Animal Planet. Actually I'm not guilty about that. RIP Steve Irwin.

14. Biggest pet peeve?
People who don't wash their hands after using the bathroom. Also, loud gum-chewers who blow bubbles and do that thing where they stretch it out in front of themselves. Gross.

15. What do you consider priceless?
My stuffed animal collection.

16. If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be?
J.K Rowling, no doubt. There is so much of the Harry Potter world/story that could not fit in the books, so you know. Plus she's kind of my hero.

17. What would you choose as your last meal?
Spaghetti…

18. What era in time do you connect with the most?
Well, I rather love the 1700s. What can I say? Nothing can quite do it for me than a powdered wig.

19. Your motto for life?
Live long and prosper

20. Best advice you can give?
Find something that you love to do, and to do it very well.

And just to prove how awesome she is, here are a couple examples of her work:

If you'd like to participate in my weekly interrogation, email me at jaxharmon [at] gmail [dot] com. I'd love to have you!

2011-06-23T01:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes my children drive me so crazy I want to wring their little necks.

But then sometimes all I want to do is squeeze them as tight as I can and never let go 'cause they are absolutely perfect.

twenty-six

2011-06-22T06:10:00.002-04:00

It's my birthday!

Year 25 was full of change and immense personal growth.

You've got some big shoes to fill Year 26.

In the meantime, we're partying it up Harmon style; as low key as possible.

It is my one day I can ignore the world guilt free, after all.

halloween 2010!

2011-06-21T01:00:00.001-04:00

I had originally planned on making the boys some themed, complicated costumes that would rock... then I realized that Halloween was in just a couple of weeks and that wasn't going to happen:) And that I didn't feel like having to put any major effort into costumes (I'm a killjoy, I know). So I scrounged up a couple costumes with what we already had and I loved them!

Max was a cowboy:

We had bought him the leather set (vest and chaps) on this trip to Colorado (and finally fit him!), the boots he already had (they're his church shoes), shirt is one of his church shirts, bandana we had, and hat is mine (give you any idea how big his head is? and how small mine is?). I did end up getting him his revolvers and making him a holster for them... I mean, what is a cowboy without his sidearms?

Nick was Pubbert Addams:

We had a few Halloween celebrations, and the first was our apartment complex party. Unfortunately Rob wasn't able to make it so I had to try and get a picture of the two boys together on my own... this was the best I got:)

My little cowboy:

I have to say, his costume was a hit. Especially with our Saudi neighbors. They kept asking where I got it and I had to say "sorry, we got it in Colorado several years ago and I don't know what store or what brand it is." They were so into it the guy was ready to hop in the car and drive to Colorado... I convinced him that would be futile and told him his best bet was to look for something online:) I wonder if he ever did?

Anyway, here is my Pubbert (I was sad that by the time I was able to take some good pictures of him his mustache had been rubbed halfway off):

Unfortunately, not many people got what he was but the ones that did LOVED it.

I don't think Max had any problem getting into character:

The day before Halloween we had a little party at our house with the Goodwins. I don't decorate much for holidays, especially ones that aren't Christmas, but Rob and I had a blast putting this display together (Rob was the mastermind behind the candlesticks in bottles. And Hobby Lobby sells candlesticks in all sorts of different colors for CHEAP):

Max helped me make cookies:

And the guys carved pumpkins:

(it's supposed to be Iron Man... didn't turn out quite like we'd hoped)

(Tiffany got to hold the baby and take pictures:) )

We really loved the candles once they'd burned down:

Very spooky!

And we had lots of yummy cookies to munch on in addition to our Halloween candy:

My sister Paige came the next day (on Halloween) so we went trick or treating with her. Here she is with the boys:

I finally got some good pictures of Nick in his costume:

And Max was more than ready to get some candy in his pumpkin:

Paige and Nick (we both wore mustaches to get into the spirit):

Max stowed his action figures in a safe place:

A blurry picture of me and my boys:

The infamous mustaches:

Trick or treating really wears you out!

Now I need to start thinking about this year's Halloween and make some costumes... any suggestions?

sunday best

2011-06-20T01:00:00.001-04:00

I had a little more fun this week... after a couple of weeks where I really didn't care what I wore I got back into the groove! (I'm seeing a trend... I'm more excited about my outfits when I can pair then with boots...)

shirt: Old Navy (same shirt as the one under the maxi dress a couple of weeks ago)
overshirt: Target (not normally something I would buy, but it was on major clearance so I bought it)
skirt: Old Navy (I think I was 15 or 16 when I got it)
shoes: they're Minnetonka moccasins, I bought them somewhere online
belt: Kohls? I think I bought it my freshman year of college. I also had to punch another hole in it Saturday night so I could wear it around my waist instead of my hips.
necklace: Saddleblanket, located here in El Paso (it was only $16!!). That place has AWESOME jewelry (very much my style too; although if you don't like lots of turquoise it's not for you).
The whole outfit was chosen to be worn with this necklace.

And this is what I got when I was setting everything up:

That man doesn't take a serious photo to save his life.

And these are here just 'cause he's so stinkin' cute.

And I think the novelty has begun to wear off with Max... he just popped in to boss me around for a second before taking off again.

weekly interrogation: me!

2011-06-17T01:00:00.001-04:00

I'm starting a (hopefully) weekly series called weekly interrogation where I force people I know to answer my obnoxious questions. I do it out of love, and so all of you (my lovely readers) can get to know my people!

I was all set to start with my first person, then I realized it probably isn't nice to make people do something I wasn't willing to do. So instead I figured I'd do me first so you can get to know me a little better... So here goes!

photo by Jonathan Canlas

name: Jax Harmon (I consider that my "professional" name, don't freak out if you call me something else)
website: www.jaxharmon.com

1.What do you “do”? I am a mom, first and foremost, a photographer, and hopefully someday a landscape architect (that's the plan, at least. It'll probably change knowing how life is). But deep down in my heart I think I want to be a farmer...

2. Why do you do what you do? I got a whole lot of creative genes and only a smidgen of practical life-skills genes (ok, maybe more than that. But the creative side wins out) so doing something artsy/designy was my fate. And I love every second of it.

3.Where are you from? The east coast. Virginia to be exact. And the most historic city in the country to be even more exact. I love it and miss it a lot. My childhood home is still the location of 90% of my dreams.

4. Favorite color? red. Well, I have a different favorite color all the time but red is the most consistent one.

5. Favorite food? Bacon. Garlic. Cantaloupe.

6. Favorite shoes? Minnetonka moccasins

7. Favorite place in the whole wide world? The woods round about the Appalachian mountains in early summer. (I dream about the way it smells that time of year)

8. Favorite piece of playground equipment? The ginormous tires buried halfway in the ground.

9. Your funniest story? I brainstormed an answer to this for a long time because I really did not want to share this story. It's funny (Rob finds it hilarious) but I find it slightly embarrassing and don't have much desire to share it on the internet. But since I'm not a terribly funny person the pickings were slim, so here goes. Just a note, my family finds fart jokes very amusing and so does Rob. Since getting married and sharing a bed, Rob likes to give me "dutch ovens." (if you don't know what a dutch oven is, it's when you pull the covers over your heads and fart so your unsuspecting victim gets to suffocate on your gas) I am not a fan of them, but he's relentless and always successful, so one night I tried to get revenge by giving him one. Well, Rob is significant larger than I am so instead of Rob being trapped under the blanket, I was the one who got trapped. And almost suffocated on my own fart. There, now you know how immature we are. And that I can pass gas to compete with Rob.

10. Mac or PC? Mac all the way. That's what happens when your dad is a graphic designer and you don't touch a pc until high school.

11. Manual or automatic? Manual. I turned my back on automatics forever the day my battery died but I was still able to start my car and drive to the auto store to get a new one.

12. What do you consider your best asset? My eyeballs. And I like my feet when I'm not pregnant.

13. Guiltiest pleasure? The Bachelor/Bachelorette. And Mike and Ikes.

14. Biggest pet peeve? People who walk out the door as I'm trying to go in with my two kids (and usually a stroller). I mean, hello, I'm not holding the door open with my butt while wrestling two hooligans so you with absolutely nothing in your hands can weasel your way out, especially when you're going out the in door, while the out door is completely empty right next to us. Or when Max pushes the handicap button ('cause I have the stroller) so the doors automatically open, cuing the entire contents of the building to exit (again, with absolutely nothing in their hands) out of my open door, leaving us just standing there, while the other doors are not being used AT ALL and by the time everyone is out, the doors shut so Max presses the button and the process starts all over again. Or when people give me dirty looks when we're waiting in line to check out and my kids are freaking out. If you really want to not have to listen to my kids fuss anymore LET US IN FRONT OF YOU SO WE CAN LEAVE. No amount of giving us dirty looks is going to calm them down because they are fussing because they are ready to go. And I am NOT going to abandon my stuff and leave just to have to come back later because it was a hassle to come the first time. If you can't tell, I'm passionate about the stuff that annoys me. The common sense in this world has pretty much vanished.

15. What do you consider priceless? I had to give this one a lot of thought, and I honestly have to say the way I was raised. Since we've been a part of the military community I've met people from all walks of life and I have to say, my parents rock. I honestly believe I'm doing ok with this crazy life (that so many people flounder in) because of how I was raised. It takes a lot to ruffle my feathers. (I do get easily annoyed, but it takes a lot to make me really upset)

16. If you could sit next to anyone on an airplane, who would it be? This is another one I had to think about a lot. My first thought was someone I admire/am a fan of/love what they do, but everyone I thought of I realized were more people I'd like to meet, but not necessarily someone I'd want to pick their brain for hours. So instead, I'd like to be seated between Michelle Duggar and J.K. Rowling. Michelle Duggar so I can find out how she can be a mom to so many kids and yet still raise them to not be brats. I'd be taking lots of notes too. And J.K. Rowling so I can find out how in world she managed to write 7 books that flow together flawlessly. And not just the main storyline, but details in the first book are major parts of the story in the 7th. How does your brain hold all that information and still make sense of it all? Did she dream up the entire series in one sitting? Which seems impossible to me. I've always thought stories developed as you wrote them, but in her case it all ties together so perfectly and I want to know how. So there you have it. Noting impressive or important, just answers to some burning questions that I think of periodically.

17. What would you choose as your last meal? The lemongrass beef with vermicelli noodles from Saigon in Greensboro. I'm salivating as I'm writing this...

18. What era in time do you connect with the most? It changes as I get older, but right now it's the 70s/early 80s "normal" part of society (NOT the crazy fashions and stuff the rich and famous wore). That's when the best playgrounds were built (I did my thesis on playgrounds so they're my standard to go by) and I just get warm fuzzy feelings when I see pictures from that time frame.

19. Your motto for life? Treat everyone with kindness and respect. It's not always easy and I fail miserably everyday (I get annoyed easily...) but that's what I strive for.

20. Best advice you can give? YOU decide if you're happy or not. Happiness isn't something that just happens to you, it's a state of mind.

this dude is awesome.

2011-06-16T01:00:00.001-04:00

Estevan Oriol — "Run Up" Profile from Stas on Vimeo.

Warning: he has a filthy mouth.

I don't even know what to say about this video, other than this is filled with so. much. wisdom. Every photographer needs to watch it and take notes.

Also, it proves that stereotypes are crap.

Oh, and his work is amazing!

oktoberfest

2011-06-15T01:00:00.000-04:00

Last fall, back in Oklahoma, we headed out to attend Ft. Sill's Oktoberfest celebration. (thank goodness we had Tiffany to make sure we went out and did fun stuff, otherwise I probably would've just stayed at home the whole time like the hermit I am...) It was so. much. fun! Not really how Germany celebrates Oktoberfest I'd guess, but we had a blast!

I was really excited when we got there because there was a mini fair set up and we had heard that the stuff for kids was free. So Max ran through this bounce house a couple times:

When we moved on to the next thing we found out that it was, in fact, not free. You had to buy tickets to go on any of the rides... We're guessing Max managed to go through that first thing without any tickets 'cause the old man running it didn't really care:)

So we wandered around instead (tickets were way overpriced) and managed to find the free activities! Unfortunately, they were on the tennis courts where it was blistering hot. Max managed to guzzle most of my water that day:

Max got to bowl (with Chris, of course!):

Here is Max watching some games with dad:

Meanwhile, I got some shaved ice (my favorite!)"

Then we all chilled in the tent while the military band played. Nick did some people watching from the safety of his stroller:

While we scarfed funnel cake:

This old man was so cute, he just sat by himself drinking, toasting the band whenever the occasion called for it:

I thought the tent was pretty cool:

After we ate we found the free bounce houses and Max had a grand old time:

He would only go down the slide this way:

Then Max wanted to see how strong he was:

Then decided he might need dad's help:

It may have been hot, but it was fun!

Sorry for butchering your holiday Germany!

chunky monkey and skinny minnie

2011-06-14T01:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday morning the boys and I were engaged in our morning activity of lounging in my bed. I was calling Nick "chunky monkey" since he looked huge in his too small pajamas, and upon Max's request for a nickname too he became "skinny minnie." A couple minutes later, out of the blue, Max tells me

"Chunky monkey my best friend."

I hope they stay best friends for the rest of their lives.

sunday best!

2011-06-13T00:31:00.002-04:00

Like last week, this outfit was chosen last minute before bed Saturday night. Not one of my favorites, but I love color and I think this reflects that pretty well:)

shirt: Old Navy (hand me down from my sister)
sweater: Target (on clearance!)
skirt: made by me (for Easter), fabric from Hobby Lobby
shoes: Target (little girls section...)
necklace: Classic Hardware

And with a little bidding from Max, I did some jumping photos...

(only one I don't look terrible in:) )

Then I grabbed him for a couple shots of us:

And Rob was really confused when he saw me moving everything away from that wall... He asked me what I was doing and when I told him these pictures he rolled his eyes:) I think he thought I'd get over it pretty quickly. Sorry hun, we have too much fun!

check this out!

2011-06-09T00:13:00.003-04:00

So cyber friends of mine and fellow photographers Wendy Laurel and Tory O'Leary have started a blog that features portrait sessions!! It's called Let the Kids Dress Themselves. The internet has SO many blogs dedicated to weddings and wedding photography, but is severely lacking in blogs for life before and after the big day. What's even better is the goal of Let the Kids Dress Themselves is to feature HONEST photography of REAL people. No more styled shoots with models and props. Instead, honest-to-goodness families, babies, kids, pregnant bellies, normal people. They launched the blog this week and have already showcased some yummy sessions, I can't wait to see what the future holds! So if you're ever in the mood to view some fabulous photographs, head on over!

sunday best

2011-06-06T00:37:00.004-04:00

I present week two! This outfit didn't really excite me that much... I pulled it together last minute Saturday night while I was brushing my teeth 'cause nothing else had come to mind the entire week preceding. I especially didn't like the shoes I wore with it; I wanted some sort of sandal (like some cute gladiator sandals) but I don't own any. And since I didn't try on any shoes with it until Sunday morning I didn't have time to try on every pair of shoes I own so I just went with the ones below.

shirt: Old Navy
dress: Target
sweater: Old Navy (I wore at church when I got chilly, otherwise it was too hot here for it)
necklace: not sure, it was a gift
shoes: Payless

And in case you were wondering, the novelty hasn't worn off yet...

I don't mind though. It's pretty much the only time he'll willingly be photographed these days.

(p.s. I've noticed after taking these that I have a good side:) Explains why all my IDs look like mug shots.)

sorry ladies...

2011-06-03T00:14:00.000-04:00

He's TAKEN!

one year!

2011-06-01T00:30:00.001-04:00

I'm still somewhat in denial that I'm the mother of a one year old... again.

But whether I'm ready or not, he is and he's made sure to rub it in my face!

Nick is still a sweet little thing, but there's some toddler vinegar starting to creep in...

Some of it came through when I tried to take some pictures of this freshly turned one year old... he's not as patient at putting up with mom and her camera like he used to be, that's for sure! But some toys and a tube of chapstick managed to get him still long enough for me to catch these:)

Nick still isn't walking, but he's been standing confidently for at least two months now. He managed to take ONE TINY step yesterday so we know walking is coming soon!

And I'm sad to say this was about how happy he was for his birthday. My kids have a knack for being cranky on their big days...

Originally I wasn't planning on having a party for Nick's birthday. But Rob convinced me to have one, mainly because we've made great friends here and they all love Nick so much. So I figured it would be mean not to let everyone share in his big day.

Here is Nick right after he woke up, the morning of his birthday:

Ready to PARTAY!!!

Rob reminds me all the time that I am weird. And he is so right. I decided to have a germ party. Hey, I'm the mom to little boys allright? And they love the Yo Gabba Gabba germ song and this germ book we like to check out from the library AND my nickname for Nick is booger. So I think it was appropriate.

Here is the invitation I designed:

And the cupcakes:

I had a ton of fun putting the goodie bags together! I had to get creative (I mean let's face it, germs aren't exactly common party themes) but I think it worked out.

I just used simple lunch sacks and made little paper germs to use as name tags.

Each bag held a couple sheets of make-your-own-"germ" stickers (they're really monsters), "germ" finger puppets, fuzzy "germ" creatures, and hand sanitizer.

Remember these from when you were kids?:

Or these?:

I was so excited to find them!

Now for the party itself...

We decorated balloons to look like germs:

Nick was not into pictures at all during the party but I snapped a few anyway:

Michelle (she reminds me of you Shelley!) and Nick's "girlfriend" Isabelle:

Nick and Kimmie:

Nick and Billy:

These two together crack me up. We know Billy from Oklahoma, and the first time I met him was at Rob's platoon dinner. Billy came up, introduced himself (Rob already knew him from class), then took Nick (who was only a couple months old at the time) and carried him around with him for the entire social hour. It was so cute to see this big Army soldier holding my tiny baby:)

Singing to the birthday boy! He was so confused at the roomful of people looking at him and singing at him:

And was not sure why there was a candle in front of him:

I blew out the candle for him and took it out, but he just stared at the cake (still a little confused at what was going on). Rob finally helped him along by pretty much shoving the icing against his lips so he could taste the goodness:

Getting the go-ahead from dad after tasting the icing:

And digging in! Or almost. He started out timidly by just licking icing off his fingers:

Then he started getting into it!:

Going to town:

Showing off his messy face for the camera:

He officially loves cake.

And I snapped this photo quick so the camera settings were all wrong, but I wanted to put it up to show what Nick did for the next couple days:

He contentedly played with his new toys for long periods of time, it was great! It enabled me clean the house back up after wards without too much interference from my mess maker:)

It was a fun party and this little boy got spoiled with all the love and attention (and gifts). His sweet spirit is felt by everyone!!!

sunday best

2011-05-30T00:05:00.002-04:00

I like putting outfits together, it's really fun to see what I can do with what I have. Unfortunately, I only do it for church or special occasions. The rest of the time I live in t-shirts and jeans or yoga pants... Catch me on a weekday and you'd be nominating me for what not to wear. So, I've seen other bloggers post pictures of their outfits and I love seeing what they come up with so I'm jumping on the bandwagon! (they typically put where they got what they're wearing and the price... I'm gonna put where the items are from if I know but no price. I don't keep track of that, especially since a lot of my clothes I've had for years)

There are two reasons I'm attempting this;
one: to get some good pictures of myself
and
two: to keep track of my outfits. (I imagine these will be fun to look at when I'm old and fashions have changed drastically)

So without further ado, I present my Sunday Best!

shirt: Bitten by SJP
skirt: Kohls? It was a hand-me-down from my sister-in-law.
vest: Old Navy
necklace: Forever 21
boots: discount boot store in OK

And this is what I looked like after I changed...
shirt: (same as above) Bitten by SJP
pants: Old Navy
shoes: Minnetonka moccasins
and I should note I'm not a huge fan of long hair on myself, especially here in El Paso where it is incredibly windy, so it goes into a ponytail a lot.

And now some extra photos for your entertainment...

Max wandered in while I was taking these; in this photo I'm talking to him.

And then he decided to check things out...

And he started to get really into it... (I LOVE this picture btw)

And I have about 50 photos that are like this...

Or this...

We caught some smoochin'

Then Nick found us and we dragged him into it...

He's not quite sure if he's into it...

So we let him try it out alone...

Trying to give it back...

Then finding a better use for it.

Future Sunday Best posts shouldn't be so child-heavy, I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon.

Oh, and when Rob saw me setting everything up he asked me what I was doing... after I told him he said "You've got some weird priorities." :)

couponing is not for me.

2011-05-26T01:11:00.002-04:00

Like many people out there, at one point I wanted to start couponing. I wanted to be like those people who save 95% off their grocery bill. I thought it was awesome!

But, I didn't know where to begin.

Thankfully not long after I decided to become a couponer a class on it was taught as one of our ward's relief society activities. And as soon as the teacher said "If chicken is on sale that week, we eat chicken that week." I knew it was not for me.

And sure enough, I was right.

Every time people post pictures of all the stuff they got on their latest couponing trip I study it and realize that 98% of it is stuff we don't use.

I am a picky eater. I am very dependent on cravings to eat (part of the reason I'm so small, I can't just put anything in my mouth). And I'm very brand loyal (I only buy Peter Pan peanut butter, for example).

So, for me couponing was a waste of money because we wouldn't use what I bought. I figure if we eat it, who cares if I paid full price for it? At least it's in our bellies and not the trash can.

I still look at coupons and use the ones I find for things I use, but I'll never be one who plays that game.

Am I the only one out there like this?

happy birthday booger!

2011-05-21T02:37:00.003-04:00

The past year flew by in a wink; our little Nicola is ONE today! He has brought indescribable joy to our lives, this gentle soul. I'm so lucky to be his mom. I love you little booger!

hours old.

one month.

two months.

three months.

four months.

five months.

six months.

seven months.

eight months.

nine months.

ten months.

eleven months.

(almost) one year!

random tidbits

2011-05-07T01:59:00.004-04:00

Just some thoughts and stuff whirling around in my head right now...

I've been looking through old photos recently (instead of going to bed...) and have found some gems. This one is one of my favorites:

exhibit a for why I am the photographer in the family. 98% of pictures of me are rough.

Max has started telling me there are ghosts in our house when the lights are off. Not sure where he learned about ghosts.

Nick crawls bare kneed across rocks (picture gravel driveways). He's hard core.

This is the time of year I miss the east. There's something about the way early summer smells that I just miss.

Nick has slept through the night all week!!!!

There are some craaazy drivers here.

I currently have a clean laundry pile the size of a minivan waiting to be folded. Folding laundry is the bane of my existence.

We've discovered that I am very capable at being an adult. I never would've believed it myself...

Nick turns a year old this month! Wasn't he just born?

I miss reeeeeallllly good Asian food. Mexican just isn't my thing.

Every time I ride my bike I curse the wind. It's like pedaling uphill again.

I am obsessed with The Biggest Loser. I cry every episode. I don't know what I'm going to do when this season is over.

I bought myself my mother's day gift. Yes, I'm lame like that.

Little boys don't have the best aim.

I like to play words with friends. If you do too, hit me up.

I'm starting to gather a pile of UFO's. Life just doesn't seem to want me to finish anything.

I now teach the 10 year olds in primary. I love them.

Rob is really good at rucking.

I watched the royal wedding (after the fact on hulu). I thought it was a beautiful ceremony.

Rob says our washer and dryer remind him of Star Trek.

I just love my boys.

And time passes way too fast.

happy (belated) easter!

2011-04-26T17:15:00.002-04:00

We spent our Easter sick (more on THAT subject later) so will be celebrating later this week. But I remembered whilst lying comatose in bed trying not to die that I had taken family pictures on our last real Easter (last year we were in GA for Rob's graduation and weren't able to make it to General Conference). So this is us, 2 years ago.

I can't believe how much has changed since then.

I've said this before, but I'm not really a holiday person (they're a lot of work), but as far as holidays go Easter is one of my favorites. I mean, what can be better than celebrating living again, forever??

THE state fair.

2011-04-11T23:44:00.003-04:00

When we found out we were moving to Oklahoma I knew we had to do two things: buy cowboy boots and go to a rodeo. You bet I made sure both happened.

It just so happened that there was a rodeo during the state fair so we did both. And we had lots of fun!

This was my very first ever state fair. I'd been to other, smaller fairs, but never a state. I'd heard awesome things about them and was totally prepared to try all the fair food and ride some rides... then we got there and saw the prices. $5 to try a piece of chocolate covered bacon? Um, I don't think so. We ended up just getting a funnel cake and lemonade and let Max pick one ride to go on (I know... I'm such a cheapie).

This is what Max chose:

He's got good taste, right? He was sooo cute riding around on that thing (see his cowboy boots?)

Lucky for me, there was plenty of FREE entertainment in the form of ANIMALS! A part of me wants to be a farmer, but I know I could never handle actually doing it, so instead I live vicariously through other people's farms and animals. We had a blast just wandering through the huge buildings checking them out.

(I think he fits right in, what do you think?)

pointing out the poop.

I took this because when I was in school we got all fancy like this for halftime shows and stuff, but in OK the big deal is walking your animal around the pen:)

I discovered I love donkeys. Who knew?

(just showing off our cool stroller. I still can't believe it's mine)

we got to (attempt to) see baby chicks hatching!

I think Max is a farmer at heart too.

checking out the piglets.

Ok, you're gonna think I"m crazy, but this cow was GORGEOUS! She even won a prize!

Max got to pet her!

That evening we met up with Tiffany and Chris and went to the RODEO!!!

It was pretty awesome.

And apparently Oklahoma is the best state to see rodeos in 'cause they know how to do it right.

Coming up another day are my film images...

reassurance

2011-04-08T00:39:00.002-04:00

You may or may not be aware of the potential (at least that is the state of things while I write this) government shutdown and it's effect on military pay. It is an unwelcome trial in ours and other military families' lives, but we are hopeful.

I, especially, am grateful for the Spirit in my life. Because of it I followed promptings to buy more food than I usually do so our freezer and pantry are full. To hold off on doing/paying some things that can wait so we have enough to cover our bills for the next month. For both of us to have full tanks of gas right now.

We are so very very blessed.

But not everyone is prepared, in fact many aren't. For them we are praying that our country's leaders can put their differences aside and finish this. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated too.

And we are praying for those who are even less fortunate than us; we will eventually get our paychecks. Many won't get that luxury.

But most importantly, we are so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It makes all the difference.

this post is on nothing in particular

2011-03-30T01:21:00.002-04:00

I had set a goal for myself to blog a few times a week and was doing so well...

Then the Army decided my husband needed to be in the field a lot so I'm doing the single parent thing again. It's all good, we're just pretty busy over here. Ya know, life.

But hopefully I'll have the chance to sit down and spit out the posts rattling around in my head soon. Before I forget them...

Until then, enjoy looking at my boys.

I think they're swell.

he stole my moves.

2011-03-24T22:44:00.000-04:00

this cracks me up.

2011-03-19T00:52:00.002-04:00

Dear Fellow Babies,

OK, here’s my situation. My Mommy has had me for almost 5 months. The first few months were great – I cried, she picked me up and fed me, anytime, around the clock. Then something happened. Over the last few weeks, she has been trying to STTN (sleep thru the night). At first, I thought it was just a phase, but it is only getting worse.

I’ve talked to other babies, and it seems like its pretty common after Mommies have had us for around 5-6 months. Here’s the thing: these Mommies don’t really need to sleep. It’s just a habit. Many of them have had some 30 years to sleep – they just don’t need it anymore. So I am implementing a plan. I call it the Crybaby Shuffle.

It goes like this:

Night 1 – cry every 3 hours until you get fed. I know, it’s hard. It’s hard to see your Mommy upset over your crying. Just keep reminding yourself, it’s for her own good.

Night 2 – cry every 2 hours until you get fed.

Night 3 – every hour.

Most Mommies will start to respond more quickly after about 3 nights. Some Mommies are more alert, and may resist the change longer. These Mommies may stand in your doorway for hours, shhhh-ing. Don’t give in. I cannot stress this enough: CONSISTENCY IS KEY!! If you let her STTN (sleep through the night), just once, she will expect it every night. I know it’s hard! But she really does not need the sleep; she is just resisting the change.. If you have an especially alert Mommy, you can stop crying for about 10 minutes, just long enough for her to go back to bed and start to fall asleep. Then cry again. It WILL eventually work. My Mommy once stayed awake for 10 hours straight, so I know she can do it.

The other night, I cried every hour. You just have to decide to stick to it and just go for it. BE CONSISTENT! I cried for any reason I could come up with:

-My sleep sack tickled my foot.
-I felt a wrinkle under the sheet.
-My mobile made a shadow on the wall.
-I burped, and it tasted like rice cereal. I hadn’t eaten rice cereal since breakfast, what’s up with that?
-The dog said “ruff”. I should know. My Mommy reminds me of this about 20 times a day. LOL.
-Once I cried just because I liked how it sounded when it echoed on the monitor in the other room.
-Too hot, too cold, just right – doesn’t matter! Keep crying!!
-I had drooled so much my sheets were damp and I didn’t like it touching me.
-I decided I was sick of all the pink in my room so I cried.

It took awhile, but it worked. She fed me at 4am. Tomorrow night, my goal is 3:30am. You need to slowly shorten the interval between feedings in order to reset your Mommies’ internal clocks.

Sometimes my Mommy will call for reinforcements by sending in Daddy. Don’t worry Daddies are not set up for not needing sleep the way Mommies are. They can only handle a few pats and shhing before they declare defeat and send in the Mommy.

Also, be wary of the sleep sheep with rain noises. I like to give Mommy false hope that listening to the rain puts me to sleep sometimes I pretend to close my eyes and be asleep and then wait until I know Mommy is settling back to sleep to spring a surprise cry attack. If she doesn’t get to me fast enough I follow up with my fake cough and gag noise that always has her running to the crib. At some point I am positive she will start to realize that she really doesn’t really need sleep.

P.S. Don’t let those rubber things fool you, no matter how long you suck on them, no milk will come out.

Trust me.

Sincerely,
Baby

From here.

such a shame.

2011-03-18T01:00:00.001-04:00

It really is a shame Nick isn't a girl 'cause I could've had sooooo much fun with his gorgeous hair.

just a question.

2011-03-16T11:25:00.003-04:00

Why is it that no matter how much planning you do or how careful you are, painting a room always takes about 10 hours longer than you thought and you end up covered in paint?

mom and baby.

2011-03-14T00:13:00.003-04:00

Well, it should come as no surprise that as the resident photographer I am the one always behind the camera. Which means 2347634857495894564958645069785067 pictures of Rob and the boys and 5 pictures of me. And of those 5, maybe 1 is actually one I would show people. So I think it goes without saying I love these pictures of Nick and I. See, this is what I look like!

Quattro!

2011-03-11T01:00:00.001-05:00

Last fall the little man turned 4!! I still can't believe I have a four year old. Anyway, for his third birthday we went all out because I knew it was our last chance to throw a big shin-dig with all our Greensboro friends. So this year we kept things really low-key. It was great. The celebrations started the night before, however, by dad giving Max his gift:

All four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movies!! Woo Hoo! (That kept him entertained for the evening while I got the house clean...)

I took a picture of the packaging 'cause I thought it was so sweet:

On his actual birthday the next day the poor boys both had doctor's appointments, but we made up for it later by going to dinner at Cracker Barrel (he loves their grilled cheese and chocolate milk) with Chris and Tiffany. Then we headed home to open presents and eat cake.

This boy is so very very loved. We were getting packages all week:

Checking out his new Ironman:

And Max and Ruby books (He LOVES Max and Ruby):

Just watching the spectacle:

Showing Chris one of his gifts:

And now for the cake!

He was THRILLED we sang to him (it was a little pathetic, I will admit. None of us are singers):

And even more THRILLED to blow out some candles!:

I decided to make cupcakes instead of a cake, and since Max loves monsters that's what I made. We totally raided the candy aisle at the dollar store and dyed icing some monster-ish colors. Here's the result:

I made some mini cupcake monsters too:

The monster family:

Unfortunately, Max was not so fond of the candy on top. He's a strict icing guy:

After the festivities the boys and I snuggled in bed and read Max's new books. They were so pooped this is what soon followed:

Melts my heart.

And, the aftermath. I think it was a successful day, what do you think?

home schooling?

2011-03-09T01:00:00.001-05:00

(this kid is SO hard to photograph these days)

I'm just gonna come right out and say it... I'm seriously considering homeschooling. I never thought I'd say that, but I am.

When Max was a toddler I was so ready to have a few hours of the day to myself, but now I'm not so sure. Now that he's out of that crazy monster-ish toddler phase I really like spending all day with him. Recently I contacted the school Max will (?) be attending to ask about their Pre-K program (his birthday falls after the cut-off so he won't start Kindergarten until 2012) and they said they'd love to get me that info so just call them. And I panicked. Suddenly this whole school thing became very real and I realized I don't think I'm ready for it. Do I really want for him to be gone all day every day of the week? That would mean no more story time at the library, no going to the park all afternoon, no going to brigade runs with dad, no museum trips. Everything we'll do has to be fit in around a school calendar. Summer vacation would have to end by the end of July, with no trips during the school year 'cause they're sooo strict on attendance here.

And on top of all that, he'd only be learning like 20% of his time there. The rest of it is wasted by teachers having to deal with crap. And I don't think they get recess anymore. And even if they do, they aren't allowed to just play. And I can go on and on and on.

Now I'm sure you're thinking, "Uh, if you feel that strongly about it, why are you waffling with the idea of homeschooling?"

I'll tell you why, it's two things. One, I have no idea what he needs to be learning and when. I'm terrified of him being behind everyone else his age because of me. And two, I don't want him to be one of those socially awkward home schooled kids. Don't lie, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

What do you think?

I did have a great conversation with a "friend" (I put it in quotations because we've only hung out twice, but we get along great) about the whole thing. She is of the same opinion I am, although she is looking into private school instead of home school (something we can't afford right now). And when I voiced my concerns over the whole socialization thing, what she said really struck me:
"Is that REALLY the kind of socializing you want your kid to have?"
And she's right. I don't think it's any secret how immoral our society has become. And how kids are stripped of their innocence SO YOUNG these days. So I am faced with this decision:
"Is it more important for me to have a socially 'with-it' child, or to have a morally sound child?"
I must confess, I'm definitely leaning towards the morally sound child. I definitely want his innocence to stay in place for as long as it possible can. It is my obligation to rear my children in righteousness, and I'm not sure yet if I can do that by sending him off to fend for himself every day in this immoral world. (or am I just being overprotective?)

BUT, if I do home school, I'm clueless. I don't where to start. And if I don't figure it out soon, he's gonna end up right where I don't want him. So do YOU have any advice? A great curriculum I should look into? Especially for the preschool level? Anyone you know I should talk to? Am I the only one contemplating this? And PLEASE let me know if I'm a good mom for even contemplating this. It seems the older my kids get, the harder this whole mom career really is.

oh, children.

2011-03-08T14:59:00.002-05:00

Life with 2 kids is different. Here's an example for you:

Today Max brought me a capri sun to open for him, so I did. Only I was a little thirsty too so I snuck a sip (am I the only mom who does that?). Except I wasn't as sneaky as I thought and Max freaked out. So I told him he could get another one and I'd keep that one. While he was throwing a fit on the floor (which means he wasn't listening too well). It only lasted for a minute though and he was off to go do whatever again and never came back so I forgot about it.

Until a couple minutes later. You see, Nick is crawling now. And guess what he found? An open capri sun. Which I found him shaking around, with capri sun flinging in the air. And when I tried to take it from him he instantly put his death grip on it. Which meant capri sun gushed out of the straw and all over him and the floor.

And that, my friends, is what happens to forgotten capri sun when you have 2 kids.

fun in the... wait for it... water.

2011-03-07T01:00:00.001-05:00

There are no ifs, ands or buts about it, Oklahoma is REALLY hot in the summer. With no beach in sight (sob). But we made do with two things: the splash park and the pool.

Can I just say I. Heart. The splash park. It's just a concrete pad with things that squirt water everywhere for the kids to run through, with covered seating and a spray mister for the parents. We would go and just stay all day.

(I think it's safe to say Max enjoyed himself.)

And who doesn't love the pool? We especially loved to go with the Goodwins, have a pizza delivered and just chill until the sun went down. And even better? It didn't close for the season until October; pretty awesome since it didn't even start to get remotely cool until then!

(Max loves water so much this is what he would do when it was time to go; I guess in hopes I would give up and leave him there?)

Lucky for us, Ft. Bliss has a splash park too!

disbelief.

2011-03-04T01:00:00.000-05:00

When did this:

Become THIS?

I'm in denial.

it's a small world.

2011-03-03T16:36:00.004-05:00

For those of you who read the NieNie dialogues, you will know that she is having her basement remodeled and is putting up pictures of the process. You probably saw this picture on it today too:

picture is not mine, it is NieNie's.

Well, if you look to the right at the pictures hanging on the wall, you will see they are drawings of sneakers. These sneakers, in fact. And guess who sells them? MY FRIEND SUZANNE!!!! How awesome is that?!!

If you do not remember Suzanne, I talked about her here. She is such a fabulous artist, an awesome person, and I'm so lucky to actually know her. And I'm so excited her work is making it's way into the world!! (although it's no surprise, she really is so very talented.)

Congrats Suzanne!

And if you want to be as cool as NieNie, buy a print yourself! I think I need some more Suzanne Cabrera artwork myself...