Kids say the darndest things...

Julian was looking over my shoulder one day while I was editing this photo and came to this decision.

"Mom, I don't ever want to get married."

"Why not Julian?"

"Because they have to pin a flower on you and that would hurt."  (Not sure why he thinks it would go through his skin.)

Stephen heard about this and told him he found a woman that was worth the pain of having a flower pinned to him.  

I'm going to Texas with Maggie Lu and D'arcy this coming week.  D'arcy was kind of waving this fact in Julian's face.
Julian says, "I don't even care."
D'arcy says, "Aren't you going to miss mommy?"
Julian, "Yeah, but this will be my first time just chilling with the boys."

On another radom not on the way to the Super Bowl Village downtown today D'arcy pointed out a black car and said "That must be the paparazzi."  Julian follows it up with yelling, "I hate mosquitos!"

I'm not always the best mom.

I mentioned in my previous post that I would share a story to make plain the fact that I'm not always the best ______.  Feel free to insert wife, mom, house manager, photographer, friend, daughter, sister, etc, etc, etc, etc.  I typed this story out the day it happened and ended up deleting it for fear of my defects being public and for fear that people would not appreciate me making light of my mistakes.  And although, I do think the situation I'm about to share could have turned into something horrible, it didn't.  And, in hindsight, it's kind of funny (in a scary, self deprecating kind of way).  So here goes.

My sister-in-law and I took our babies one morning to the central library downtown.  We had a nice time.  We made our way to leave around noon.  There is a lady who sits at a desk by the elevator who noticed our little ones and said hello.  We took the elevator one floor down to the parking garage. I was letting Maggie walk on her own.  She's a confident walker.  We all walk out of the elevator (I'm confident she was right beside me) and immediately start messing with paying our parking tickets at the machine in the "elevator lobby".  At some point, Emily asks "Where's Maggie?"  The elevator lobby was enclosed and we were alone so I was sure she was just at our feet.  I look down, turn around, but I don't see her.  I ran out the lobby doors into the parking garage and call her name.  I didn't see her and plus she can't open doors by herself.  Then I'm realizing the only place she could be was on the elevator.  I push the button.  The door opens and a man with a stroller is standing in the elevator.  I ask him if he has seen a little girl.  He says, "Yes, she's upstairs with the lady at the desk."  He jumps out.  I jump in.  The elevator goes down.   UUUgggghhhh!  A couple gets in.  We go back up.  The couple gets out.  Emily asks if I found her yet.  "No."  I go up.  The door opens.  There is the desk lady and a smiling Maggie Lu.  She seems pleased to have taken her first solo elevator ride.  I kind of explain what happened.  One of the ladies at the desk gives me a "that happens sometimes" look and the other lady gives me a "I was about to call CPS" look.  One look was deserved the other was appreciated.

I'm not always the best mom.

Inspiration 2012: Blogging

My friend Julia suggested I check out this blog.  So this morning I woke up before every one else at 7:45 and pulled my ipad (thanks mom and dad!) into bed with me to give it a look.  Her most recent post was titled "Dealing with Criticism".  Unlike her, I don't have a gazillion people reading my blog and making comments so I don't really get a lot of criticism.  My sister told me once that I sounded a little "know-it-all-ish" at times.  The point was taken (stay tuned for a blog that will solidify in your mind that I am not the best _______ ).   What was most inspiring about this post and applicable to me was the four little rules she came up with regarding blogging.  Here they are.

• It’s your blog.
• Be who you are. That is enough.
• Try to give the good feedback as much weight as the bad.
• Do all things with love.

A facebook friend asked if anyone had any advice in regards to her starting a blog.  Her first comment was "have something interesting to say".  Yikes!  See the first rule.  

I really enjoy blogging which is the only reason why I have sustained it at this level for this length of time.  It pleases me when I hear other people read what I have to say, and I have to admit, I wouldn't be as devoted if I wasn't receiving some response.  Primarily, blogging has fulfilled my long time desire to journal, and I get the most joy when I go back and have a chance to reminisce. 

And in regards to the younghouselove.com blog, be warned of possible addiction and the desire for perfect stuff which could lead to inspiration or discontent.   

I love your style.

Julian likes what is comfy.  He much prefers T-shirts with Star Wars or Superheroes over ones with stripes.  He likes a good pair of boots, cowboy or winter are acceptable.

It isn't uncommon for me to ask D'arcy to edit her look (think Tim Gunn from Project Runway), but I couldn't ask her to take this off.

Stephen has become a layers man.  His corduroy jacket is from urban outfitters and was inspired by a 70's suit jacket that was given to him by a friend of ours from Texas. That one had this spot on the back which I tried to get out but made worse.  He didn't mind the spot so much, but I interceded on his behalf.

D'arcy wears this or her hand me down flower girl dress every Sunday to church.  She has always preferred dresses.  She would have no problem wearing red tights and high heeled shoes in the dead of winter but these boots represent her more practical side.

Just Dance

So I stopped drinking Mountain Dew almost a month ago. Here are the changes I've noticed. I pee more often. My teeth don't feel as dirty. That's it.

To my chagrin, I did not lose any noticeable weight. Remember when I told you that after D'arcy was born I gave up Mountain Dew and lost a considerable amount of weight in just two months? Well, I was realizing that I also did the core Weight Watchers Diet which meant I only ate no or low fat items, lean meets, and whole grains. Plus I was breastfeeding for twenty minutes every three hours.

So I didn't lose weight, and I'm at this weight that gives me determination. Whenever I hit this size, my pants are getting tight and I feel uncomfortable in my own skin. It's a feeling that wakes me up and drives me to take drastic action...like exercising.

I have this mental hang up with exercising. Shouldn't physical activity be this natural occurrence in life? Why do we drive everywhere and take the elevator and then spend a bunch of time every day hanging out in a gym? When did this concept of walking in place or biking in place two miles come about? Probably the same year that Little Debbie Snacks were invented.

With that being said, It's important to me to find a way of exercising that I enjoy and can keep up. I don't want to start something that is both boring and painful and time consuming. So, I've decided to use my wii and do Wii Dance each day. They have a sweat option and will roughly calculate how many sweat points you earn with each song. I'm taking the 1000 sweat point option. Sweat points don't correlate to any actual calorie amount...

If I do Wii Dance everyday for a month (give or take a day or two), I'll give myself permission to purchase one of the other versions as these songs will eventually get on my nerves. I've done it for a week and have already noticed some changes.

Why do you care? I'm not sure, but my friend Carrie has been recording her goals recently and she has inspired me. If my goals are lame, go visit her blog here.

Picturesque

Some of my favorite (wedding) photos of 2011!

I really love to photograph weddings.  I'm probably never going to sign up for one every weekend, but I could totally go for one a month.  Here are some of my favorite shots from my 2011 weddings.