The Great Pretender

So a couple mornings ago I walked downstairs to find this:

"Sienna! What are you doing?"

"Putting on make-up."

"Sienna that's not make-up those are stamps for letters."

"I know Mom-I'm just pretending."

Well, I guess I better take a picture. That's what you're supposed to do right? There's that annoying, some what shrill voice that plays in my mind, " This is cute you need to take a picture, don't be mad just enjoy it." Ok so on the grand scheme of things THIS particular incident was nothing. Let's take the picture.

"Sienna, what are you doing?"

"I'm smiling."

"That is not a smile."

"I know Mom I'm just pretending."

"Stop pretending- smile for real."

Sheesh!

Caio Bella

Well, you can't say I didn't try.....last night we said good-bye to our puppy Bella. Ya know I hate to be a quitter or give-up but this situation was just not working out. I just gave her back to her original owner last night. It was incredibly hard to have a puppy- it really was like bringing home an infant. Crazy hard- messy etc. But it seemed worth it for awhile to see Sienna so happy. But then it wore off and Sienna started being mean to her- I mean really mean. And Bella was so skittish,scared, and jittery around us all. I think because the kids were always running after her. She seemed scared and unsure and unhappy. And she started barking/yipping all the time....we got her potty trained for awhile and then this last week she totally regressed and I had several accidents a day in my house...she didn't want to eat her food (just our crumbs from the floor) for the last 2 weeks or so. I mean it was just ridiculous- it was not working.

She was loved, but it's all for the best. On the upside we learned a lot :

I am not ready for another child

We will not have another pet again

I am not ready for another child

We will not have another pet again

Hold the Cheese

So in the last month or so I have been able to hear a couple church performances/solos and they moved me so much! I can't stop thinking about the words, the message, the melody. It has reminded me HOW deeply music can testify of Christ. Much of my testimony growing up as a teenager was built around music......EFY songs, Seminary songs, Girls Camp songs, church numbers, and choir performances. The point to all my ramblings is that I miss listening to church music. And I think there is a time and place for MoTab but it is not for everything....so that being said I need help finding good CDs, artists, composers what have you. What are your favorites? What do you listen to on a Sunday afternoon?

Easter Egg Hunt

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Ok, I've seriously got to stop....this is too much fun to make these! My office is a bomb, I've got oodles of laundry to do, dishes in the sink, should be headed to bed, need to edit photos for a client, pick-up the house, and remember what do-hicky I need to bring to preschool, but all I want to do is make another one of these. I am hooked! P.S. This our annual Easter Egg Hunt at Schnepf Farm. Trust me folks there's nothing to do out here-but I love going to this farm. And what I love about pictures is that it looks like you had an even better time than you remember (more thoughts about this idea later). The last few months I'd say we've really grown into our family. It feels right, it feels complete (ok I can't know for sure, but let's just say I'm good for now). Things are crazy, but we know each others quirks, how to push each others buttons (especially Sienna and Wesley) but we also know what each other likes to eat, where the best tickle spot is, and how to make each other laugh. So, maybe I've been hanging out too long on the Hallmark web site....but I really have fallen in love with my family.

Happy Easter!

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

It all started when I opened a cute Easter e-greeting from my friend......I saw this option to design your own card. I can't believe I figured it all out with no help from Nathan whatsover! Guys this is a BIG deal for me. I went bonkers, I loved making it and I've watched it a million times since.
I took the pictures of Sienna right after we got home from church. We tried taking them outside but no bueno. We went inside and I coaxed her into a corner in our living room where there was good light. Nathan held our Ikea curtains in the back and VOILA que magnifique! I probably have 50 photos of Sienna in this mini photo session and in every single picture she has a different expression-I was taking pictures of her for maybe 5 minutes? She packs a lot of punch! I am so happy that she humored me and I am even more happy with the results...she looks just dreamy. And don't get me started on her Easter dress!! Found it months, and months ago and I am in LOVE with it....it's hanging in my closet....not Sienna's.....no my closet-so I can look at it every time I walk in.

Bad Blog Girl

One of my favorite friends-Amy- tagged me forever ago.....so I am here to answer the questions!

http://amychad.blogspot.com

The rules:
1) Link to the person that tagged you.
2) Post the rules on your blog.
3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4) Tag at least three people at the end of your post and link to their blogs.
5) Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Let the fun begin!

1.) I have this thing with Post-It notes....they rule my life! They are everywhere....follow the trail of posties and you will find me. Case in point...I jotted down my "answers" to these questions on a postie but now I can't find it! Nathan says that when I die he is going to have my gravestone be a big ol postie that says stuff about me and then an arrow that points down and says "she died".

2.) I also have a thing about ears. They must be clean. Mine and everyone in my immediate family. I literally check their ears-often. It drives me crazy if I see anything suspicious. Don't ask because I don't know...but I have Q-Tips in my car.

3.) When I was really young (like Elementary school age) I had a massive crush on Elvis Presley. I would come home from school everyday and go find a picture of him and kiss it and think of how handsome he was (cute photo long before the 70's hit). I had no idea that he was already dead.....so sad.

4.) I am extremely self- conscious. When it's important (or I deem something/some event important) I obesses about what I am going to wear- how it will look, does it look perfect, do I look thinner, and try on a million things. I am always checking mirrors to make sure I look alright, don't have food in my teeth, and no sweat pit marks, my fly is up, etc. It's exhausting and drives Nathan batty!

5.) I hate cooking. I'm talking seriously hate cooking. I don't get it. I don't get why after an exhausting day I would want to stand on my feet longer, and sweat, and make a big ol mess, for the kids to smush it and throw it on the floor. Not to mention it is devoured in 5 minutes flat. I ENJOY food, and other people's food that is made with love...I just don't want to do it. I am a big fan of pulling stuff from the fridge and freezer and tossing out the main food groups-no rhyme or reason, or what will taste good, just cover the basics- that's it. I actually bought cookbooks (back in the day when I used them) that were titled The 4 Ingredient Cookbook, and that was too much bloody work, so I bought The 3 Ingredient Cookbook!

6.) I adore my son. I think he is the cutest little boy. He is so fat, and squishy and handsome. I love his apple cheeks, and his smile, and his intense brown eyes, and chunky thighs. If I get in a car accident it is because I was looking in my rear view mirror making faces at him or blowing him kisses. I know this will only last so long (3 months to D-Day- turning 18 mos. old that is). But for now I love him.

I tag.....Brooke G., Allison A., and Lacey S.

Oopsie

I put down the wrong web site for the Baby Idol Contest I entered Wesley in. To Vote for Wesley go to mix969.com (http://www.mix969.com/main.html) And on the left hand side of the page you will see in small white letters Baby Idol 2008- click on that and it will take you to the contest. Don't forget to vote on March 19th!!

Vote for Wesley

So a couple days ago my girlfriend Tina called me up and asked me if it was ok if she entered a picture of her daughter into the Cutest Baby in the Valley Contest. She felt like she had to ask because she was submitting a photo I took of her daughter- not one she had taken. I said that was fine and thanks for asking. And she said she felt like she should share some of the prize money if she won....I said no, no don't worry about it- if it's a $100 or so it wouldn't be worth it to share- she should just keep it all.
THEN she tells me the grand prize is $2,500 dollars!! Are you kidding?? Hey girl throw me a bone! So the minute I got off the phone with her I spent an hour looking for a cute photo of Wesley (where he is dressed- because his cutest are the naked bum-bum shots) and submitted this photo into the contest. What do you think? ?!
Here's where YOU come in...the baby that wins is based on how many votes they get. You can vote everyday if you want...if all my friends Vote for Wesley.....we could win the contest! Starting March 19th, you can go to 969.com and click on Baby Idol Baby Contest and vote for my little hunk.

Oh Cutie Pie

...my favorite picture from a recent photo session with my friend Tina and her cutie pie Hailey. What is it about tutus !? I can't get enough of them!

Bella & Bananas

So this is Bella.......her tenure at out house is sketchy right now. She's cute....but she barks- a lot! She's yips at the slightest noise...yes, now I know after the fact that her breed (pom & chiwawa mix) is known for that. I don't know what to do. I am sure my neighbors have had it with us. I don't have the time to train her.

The pros to keeping her slightly outweigh the cons. The kids love her and it's good for Sienna to have something/someone to play with while Wesley naps in the afternoons. But she can also be really mean to Bella. And I never believed people who used to say "having a puppy is like having a baby." HAH! I scoffed at them...thinking "you have no idea what you're talking about my friend." But I stand corrected....(ok I sit corrected while I write this post ) They have to be potty-trained, they make noise, they cost money, they need shots, and I have to take her to the Dr's this week. It sounds all too familiar!! What have I done?