My Weblog

What I have been up to...

(mommy goggles below i know... but still hehe)

Then of course my photography WORK below (which is nothing like work at all, but more like a head-first-dive into one of my favorite creative outlets!)

(a sneak peek at a client's comp cards)

a couple adorable maternity portraits...

An amazing family photo shoot (LOVED this family... hope we can become friends as our kids got along famously!) The following images are straight out of the camera, so no editing yet (Sorry!)

a beautiful senior who i took out last weekend for shots as well :)

Oh Happy Day!

Today is just a good day. :)

I have been playing with some super cute pictures of Anna that we took while she painted... Here are just a couple from yesterday afternoon :)

In addition to absolute CUTENESS, Abbi also got her STROLLER today!  Its been almost a year in the works with Tricare Echo, but it got APPROVED!!!!!   This will open the doors of possibility for us SO much.  We will be able to actually go to places like the mall, or the zoo without having to worry about her wandering off, getting incredibly tired (or hurt), or us having to carry a wiggly 55 lb girl around the whole time!  Plus, she LOVES it.  I mean LOVES it!  :)  Check it out - its pretty dang cool!

Its going to grow with her and last for years... this is really something we could not have done on our own at ALL.

Just feeling totally blessed right now :)

Activities

One of my goals is to play (REALLY PLAY) with the kids each day and do some sort of fun activity together!  So - I thought I would make a list of some of the activities we plan to do in case anyone else is wanting to do the same :)

~Balloon Volleyball: blow up a balloon and toss it back and forth practicing throwing and catching skills.  This can be especially fun and challenging if you have to catch it using your feet only, or only bouncing it with your nose!  So many fun variations on this activity!

~Box Car: Grab an old box and sit down with your kids and some markers or paint and decorate the box to look like a car.  "Drive" all around the house and talk about the imaginary places you'll go!

~Color Blots: give kids a sheet of construction or printer paper and a little bit of finger paint.  have them put a small amount of paint on the paper.  then fold it in half, and unfold to see what new creation has been made!  For an added activity, let the paint dry and then give the kids crayons or markers to further decorate their creation

~Play Dress Up

~Play with Play Doh: use various items to cut, texture, and shape the dough!

~Go to the library

~Make an "indoor sandbox" (otherwise known as a sensory box): On rainy days (or any day!) use items such as oatmeal, cornmeal, noodles, etc to create the "sand" to play in.  Put it in a large box, over newspaper or a drop cloth on the floor to help contain any mess (and remember that it all vacuum's up if it spills so dont worry).  Put in scoops, containers, and small items to be searched for/found/played with in the sand!

~Make an obstacle course

~Make a paper chain

~Paint on a big piece of foam board from the dollar tree

~Build and decorate something with popsicle sticks

~Root a potato (and watch it grow together)

~Do leaf rubbings with crayons

~Make a "safe dart board" with pretty fabric, foam board, and velcro.  Then put opposite velcro on bean bags to throw at the board.

~play with sewing cards

~Make puppets and read a story together using the puppets to tell the story

~Make an undersea world (use a small bucket or tub filled with water, and some items you bring in from outside, such as pebbles, grass, etc.)

~Write the president (okay so mine are too little, but this is SO cool.  I did this when I was a kid and actually got a letter back.  I was SO proud).  The address to write to is:
President Bush (or whoever is in office this November)
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

MANY MORE ideas to come so check back!

days 5 & 6

blurry - but one of my favorite photos of me none the less. :)  I was late on this challenge since I was feeling sick yesterday, but I think its working out okay! The prompt for yesterday was, ""I am beautiful no matter what they say" ~Christine Aguilera

Today's prompt is one of my favorite quotes of all time. "Hold out your hands to feel the luxury of the sunbeams." ~Helen Keller

 

That quote reminds me so much of Abbi - and how she experiences the world in ways we dont even think about.  Sometimes I just have to close my eyes and imagine what her world is like.  Many times I do find simple joys that I overlook.... like the soft warmth of the winter sunshine...

Working on a Goal

One of my big goals was to find ways to contribute to society / volunteer / help out each week, focusing on the local news, and going from there.

Most of the news in our local paper have been filled with notations of gang violence, shootings, and fires.  In almost every article, there were no options for community members to reach out and help one another.  Then, just as I was about to give up, I came across an article that fits the bill.  Its not exactly what I had in mind, but it might be a way for the kids to take part.  I will take them to the store with me, we will donate, and then we can talk about how it is good to give and help other people.  Here's the article:

LOCAL YOUTH HELPS RAISE MONEY FOR FOOD 4 KIDS
~By Tyrell Albin

A dollar doesn't sound like much of a donation, but when 16,000 Oklahomans each give $1 to fight hunger, there is strength in numbers. Marlow eighth-grader Jonathan Crider and the Ez-Go corporation raised more than $16,000 for The Food 4 Kids program throughout the state between Sept. 24, 2007, and Jan. 1. Crider, who has been raising money for Food 4 Kids since 2004, came up with the idea of partnering with Ez-Go convenience stores to have customers pay $1 each to sign their names on cards that were displayed in the store. The cards were donated by Color Graphics of Lawton. The fundraiser started in the eight Lawton Ez-Go stores, but two weeks later, the company decided to expand it to all 21 Oklahoma stores. The money raised in each community went to that area's Food 4 Kids program. $5,158 raised for Lawton Lawton Food 4 Kids received $5,158 from the local stores. "We started with Lawton, and Lawton went well, so we were able to take it statewide," said Ez-Go Director of Marketing Michael Fitzpatrick. "I just thought that it was something they could embrace, because it does affect the kids in their towns."

Just for fun...

Kev decided to go out to a movie tonight with his buddies, so I thought it might be a fun idea to do an art project with the kids.  I pulled out one of the big pieces of foam board I picked up at the Dollar Tree, and their art kit.... 

Here is the magic that happened next.....

They played together, and shared their markers... they really enjoyed the project, and for literally over an hour just colored. 

If these faces aren't proof positive of magic in the works, I don't know what is!!

I love that Anna gets so intense when she colors.  She has a purpose and every color goes exactly where she wants it to.  She's a true artist at heart, with passion and purpose, even at the ripe old age of two.  She amazes me, and I just get so much  joy out of watching her, and playing with her.  We had a LOT of fun tracing around her hand.  She just adored it!

You can see her works of art here!

Abbi has a rhyme and reason for hers too.  What really got me was that she just kept coloring.  It was like it was just never finished.  She just wanted to watch the color seep in more and more and more.  She used every color in the pack until it was almost completely colored in.  This is an in-progress shot of her work, way before it hit nuclear-meltdown-marker-ville.  There is almost no white at all now!

She also did some amazing things that I've never seen her do before.  For starters, she drew CIRCLES!  I drew one on the other side of the board and asked her to draw it with me.  She *traced* the circle over and over and over... this is HUUUUUGE!!!!!!  I mean WOW!!!  SO big for her!  I didnt get a pic of the circle, but I will do that tomorrow for sure :) I'm very proud of her!!   

She also decided that ALL of the marker caps had to be in one organized place so they wouldn't get lost.  This really stuck out to me.  I know as a part of her autism she likes order and organization (though her room doesnt show it half the time LOL).  Still - I'd never seen her initiate it on her own.  She put ALL the caps in here on her own - about 3 feet from the markers, just to make sure they were separate.

OH!  And I posted my "official" entry for the 365 days challenge over on my Reclaiming The Home blog (go check it out!)

Imperfection.

Today's prompt for the 365 day photo led me to think about my imperfections (and also about how I am okay with them).

One of my biggest *noticeable* imperfections is my desk area.  I kid you not when I say it is a disaster zone. 

My mom used to say that I nested anywhere that I went.  By that she didn't mean that I was "making home".... but rather that I was making myself AT home.  I tend to surround myself (literally) with what I'm working on, inspired by, or that I'm just too lazy to find a good spot for.

I don't do that with my entire house.  I have a niche that I allow myself to do this in.  My desk area is my creative area - its where I don't have rules, where I can put my feet up and lose my worries for the day, and its where the creativity flows. 

Honestly I think the artist in me thrives on the hodge-podge of inspiration that is usually all around me here. 

It may be my imperfection by traditional standards... but its me... and that's what counts!

Change.

Today's prompt for the 365 day photo challenge had to do with change.  I made a big change today.  Its a change a LOT of people make this time of year.  Its a change many people don't stick to (myself included in years past).  Its a change I am determined to follow through with and call my own.

New Years Resolutions

Its time.... Its officially January 1, 2008 and it is now time for the obligatory New Years Resolutions post!!!  I looked over last year's post, and realized a lot of the goals are the same this year... I dont know if that necessarily means last year was a failure.  Perhaps it just means that I am a constant work in progress, and that its good that I do still want a lot of the same things, and that I still have hope to work toward them!  Some others are more long-term goals that I want to continue on from last year just because they are great for our family.... So - here goes :)

For Abbi:

~eat with a spoon and fork consistently on her own.
~walk on a balance beam (from last year she can finally do this with help - by the end of this year, i'd love it if she could do it without holding a hand)
~learn 10 new signs and use them consistently
~learn 10 new words and use them consistently
~do a picture communication system
~get involved in therapeutic horseback riding (this is flexible depending on variables)
~ride bike by herself (the am-tryke)
~go to walmart at least 10 times without tantrums.
~learn her colors and shapes, at least by recognition if not by speaking them.
~make a friend.
~learn to throw a ball

For Anna:

~start tumbling and gymnastics OR dance
~learn to ride a tricycle
~learn 10-20 signs
~make a friend.
~learn "cleanup"
~learn colors & shapes
~learn her ABC's (the ABC song & by visual recognition - and practice writing them if we get that far this year)
~learn to count to 15 (we have 1-7 down pat)

Family:

~read to the girls 15 minutes each night before bed.
~order more of abbi's equipment
~Continue adding to our savings account
~build on the kids' savings
~Play outside (REALLY *PLAY*) for at least 20 minutes every day.
~Do a creative activity every day with my kids
~Pay attention to and nourish my kiddos' interests and talents
~discuss the possibility of hiring a nanny to help when I need to work
~simplify our belongings and weed out what we dont really love or need.
~clean out the front room completely.
~go on at least one outdoor outing a week (go on a walk / go to the park / etc)
~go on a "field trip" once a month (zoo, museum, etc)
~join play groups (perhaps the one at the library that meets m-th from 10-11)
~go on a date night once a month with Kevin
~take each girl out once a week individually (ie - the first weekend I take Abbi, Kev takes Anna - on the next, vise versa so we each get a "date" with them - just us).
~turn off the TV and computer at least 2 days a month.
~(private)
~replace flooring in the rest of the house

Health:

~go to the doctor and get my weightloss consult.  Make plans to really do this.
~Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables in my diet (at least 5 servings a day)
~Drink water (at least 8-8oz glasses a day)
~Increase soluble and insoluble fiber in my diet
~Cut down on fats (especially saturated fat & trans fat)
~Use less sugar, and eat fewer foods with added sugar in processing
~Use less salt, and eat fewer foods with added salt in processing
~Take my vitamins
~I also want to do some form of exercise each day.  This is tough for me.  I'm going to try though to do SOMETHING.  Even if its small.  I'll work my way up.
~go to the dentist (i'm seriously SCARED of this, but i know it will be a good thing)
~go to the eye doctor and get my glasses
~drink tea and coffee instead of soda.  limit myself to only having soda on very special occassions.
~get another mammogram
~garden and eat fresh fruits and veggies from our own land.
~can our own foods

Photography:

~Update equipment
~Continue to build my portfolio
~do at least six full-price, paid weddings (I'd LIKE to shoot for 25 as my minimum goal, but I'm trying to be realistic)
~look into incorporating my business
~build a professional blog and website
~Begin marketing and continue to advertise throughout the year.
~(borrowing an idea from Christina) - I'd like to take part in the 365 Days project.  Here is my first entry for Jan 1 !!! (prompt is LAUGHTER)

Creatively:

~Make HALF of my Christmas gifts for 2008, throughout the year.  Make a list.  Check it off, and store in an organized way.
~Learn to use my serger
~Work from my craft stash and yarn stash rather than buying new items as much as I can.
~sew 5 weighted vests and donate them

Personal goals:

~(borrowed this one from Christina!) Find my faith again.  I really fell out of the loop, and I feel like something is missing in my life and want to be an active member in church again.  This is going to mean finding a way for this to work with Abbi.  No more giving up or sticking my head in the sand.  I have to find a way. 
~get another meaningful tattoo on my birthday (which has become tradition)
~read/listen to at least 15 books
~When I am unsure of what to do, ask myself "how can love be the answer to this problem?" and then act upon that answer.
~Read the local headlines and choose one family or organization to help /volunteer with each week, even if only in a minor way.
~go visit my family in texas at least three times
~write a LOT of snail mail. 
~volunteer with Ambucs
~Write a letter to the editor
~write my congressman
~keep a pen and paper journal (of any kind)
~Take at least one new class at the college
~Become CPR and First Aid certified
~Create a photo-journal of a month in my life and print in book format.
~post to my blog every day for a month
~go to at least 3 FRG meetings
~go on a family walk at least once a week
~Learn sign-language more in-depth
~Go to a farmer's market
~actively try to raise my credit score
~Participate in a charity walk (more info to come soon!!!!)

I am going to print it, and post it somewhere that I can see often.  Maybe right here by the desk. Obviously this is a BIG list.  I dont expect to meet every goal.  I wont be disappointed or discouraged if I don't achieve something here.  This is a *goal* list... a reminder of the person I desire to grow into, and a gentle nudge to keep doing some of the things that have really benefited me and our family over the last year as a result of last year's resolutions!  If I complete any of these items, I will know that I have achieved success, and for that I will be happy.

Here's to a fabulous 2008 everyone!  CHEERS!

Being.

This is what we've been up to lately!!  Sometimes its just wonderful to BE together.  Naps.  Snuggles.  Watching too much TV.  Laughing.  Snacking together.  Wrapping presents.  Tickle wars.  More naps.  Going for long drives to look at lights.  Starbucks Gingerbread Lattes.  Smiling.  Did I mention napping?