Ok, so yeah I'm thinking about it....

Bloggin' over here that is.
Another New Year's Resolution per chance?
Hmmm....
Ok, well maybe, perhaps, we'll see... ;)

(but I WILL NOT set myself up for failure & try to blog every day...I'm not THAT crazy...most days.)

Relfections

Ok so I've been tagged & challenged by my bestest friend Rachel & my mama...so I will post a pic of myself for Rach & complete the tag for mom...here goes....

8 favorite TV shows...uhhh well I actually watch almost NO TV...before you think I'm all anti-TV or whatever, know that the bulk of that time is spent with my iMac.
However I do occasionally watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy..ok I ALWAYS watch this one.
...uhh...honestly can't think of anything else I want regularly....
(we don't have TiVo...I know we are totally behind the times)

8 things I did yesterday...
1. Got dressed in my sweats w/o a shower. Good stuff.
2. Watched my girlfriends boys.
3. Emailed a bunch of clients.
4. Finished editing my SIL's family photoshoot.
5. Took my kids to Sonic for slushies & then to the park.
6. Made my bed...a miracle.
7. Took pics of my own kids at the park...another miracle.
8. Chatted w/ mom my while she was over picking out pictures.

8 things I look forward to...
1. Taking pictures of any sort...but especially of my own kids this weekend for our x-mas cards.
2. Thanksgiving...a time to remember my blessings.
3. Black Friday shopping with my sisters...SERIOUSLY one of my favorite days of the year.
4. My kids faces on Christmas morning.
5. A beautifully decorated, scrubbed, immaculate house...(hey I can dream).
6. Actually filling the frames I have on my living room wall with pictures.
7. Brynn to stop crying.
8. LEARNFEST. (a photography workshop I'm going to next year).

8 favorite restaurants (yeah, like I ever go anywhere besides McDonalds....)
1. Carrabas
2. Cheesecake Factory
3. P.F. Changs
4. Texas Roadhouse
5. In & Out Burger...maybe not an official restaurant, but YUMMY!
6. Rosas
7. Crackers
8. Cafe Rio

8 things on my wishlist...
1. All my business debt paid off.
2. 85mm 1.4L, 24-70mm 2.8L, 50mm 1.2, 100mm macro (photography lenses)
3. A clean house.
4. A personal chef.
5. More time.
6. An organized garage, bedroom, closets, etc.
7. A long weekend with my hubby.
8. Wild success in my business.

I tag...whoever is up for this madness!

From the Mouths of Babes

L: "Mom, when will I go to heaven?"
Me: "After you die, probably in a long, long time. Grandma Roberts is in heaven."
L: (pondering) "Is Jesus gonna come down here again?"
Me: "Yes he is, we just don't know when that will be. That is why we have to try our best to do what is right so we can be with him when he comes."
L: "When he comes, I'm gonna give him a big hug."
Me: "Me too, buddy, me too."

(random conversation with L just the other day...unprovoked...just driving in the car...)

Saying Goodbye to the Blankie

It all started when little Z was about 2...somehow she became tremendously attached to a beautiful soft, pink blanket that her Great Grandma N made her (thanks Grandma!!). That blanket has pretty much never left her side since...well ok SHE DOES go to school, dance, friend's, etc without it...but at home and ESPECIALLY at night, it has been a constant companion. Once a few years ago we left it in a hotel by accident and had to have it shipped home asap....

Alas, the time has come to retire this faithful friend. It has been sewn and resewn and is basically in shreds....Z has taken to climbing inside it lately & cuddling up with the lining & batting. Bless Grandma L who made Z a new blankie for her birthday this year. She is already cuddling up with her new friend & had no trouble tossing the old one. I did, however, HAVE to document this event...this blanket did get us all few its share of illnesses, long nights & sad days.
P.S. I HAD to convert these pictures to black & white as the color of this blanket is....ummm....well lets just say it is no longer pink. ;)

How Did this Happen?

My little girl turned six on Friday....SIX!

How on earth did that happen? The years are flying & she is getting so grown up.
I love watching her little personality grow & develop. Does a mother's heart bleed with joy as well as sorrow? It seems to for me. Oh how I love my girl!

Here she is with her favorite birthday gift...maybe she does want to be like me...maybe just a little...sometimes. :)


P.S. I think 3 1/2 months of silence has been a little long, don't you??...I am going to EARNESTLY TRY to be more faithful with posting here....(really Mom I am!!) :)

July 1...Random thoughts

I am up at the insane hour of 5:45 am, and have been up for a whole hour. Can't sleep, must be all that Coke I've been drinking lately...BAD Jen....or possibly little L kicking me in the face as I tried to sleep. Will that boy EVER sleep the night through in his own bed...sigh. Anyways, I figured I might as well post on my sorely neglected little blog.

*Thought #1: We are off to San Diego today. Most beautimous of places. I am thrilled to be leaving the horrendous, scorching heat behind, but must say that I do not relish the though of traveling 6-7 hours with my 16 month old...love her soul. True to her age, she is a busy bee & will probably have a difficult time sitting still for so long. I am having painful flashbacks of last years drive when our little peanut screamed almost the entire way home...but it'll be better this time...right? But she's cute anyway. :)

*Thought #2: Z lost her first tooth on Saturday. It has been loose for a few weeks since she took a voracious bite of a big green apple (her favorite) and made it "wiggly". She walked in from the front yard & said, "Look Mom." In her palm lay the TEENIEST, TINIEST little tooth EVER! Are they SERIOUSLY THAT SMALL??? I hugged her & we got all excited, but I felt that little jolt in my heart as she skipped away. My little girl is growing up. Another milestone. Bittersweetness. (yes I DID take a picture of her with her cute little gap...but my Mom has it...MOM! I need it! :D)

Thought #3: I am ashamed at the state of my office. It is a pit of despair. Seriously. Piles & piles EVERYWHERE. I think my goal for the month (for the few weeks we are in town) needs to be to clean out this space so that my mind can breathe a little bit better. Maybe when I get home I'll post a before & after pic...no promises, but surely that would motivate me.

Thought #4: Who knew that starting a small business would consume absolutely every particle of brain cell in one's head. Just an FYI for those of you who were unaware. Joyful obsession.

Thought #5: I have a new favorite store...Hobby Lobby. Yep, we Arizona folk have finally been blessed with this rockin mecca of crafty, home decory goodness. My mom, sisters (and little B) spent a lovely hour there on Saturday. Ooooh what delights. It is like Michael's and Joann's all rolled into one. I'm addicted. Of course all I could think about was stuff for the business, but that is pretty general these days. Who knows maybe I'll actually buy something for THE HOUSE next time I go. Now that would be a novel idea.

Thought #6: Speaking of novels, I'm reading a GOOD one. Katherine by Anya Seton.

Originally published in 1954, it is a LONG, epic, historical story that I'm absolutely loving. I couldn't even find it in the library, but ended up borrowing it from a friend. It is GOOOOOOOOOOOOD. Best book I've read in a LONG time.

Thought #7: And still speaking of reading, me & miss Z are enjoying this:

Totally takes me back to when I was growing up. I am LOVING that Z is into the chapter book thing now. We have read so many fun ones together lately, the Junie B books, Wizard of Oz, Charlotte's Web, Trumpet of the Swan and Stuart Little to name a few. Good times.

And now I am hearing the sounds of awakening...goodness it is going to be a long day. Make it a happy one. Ciao!

Tag, I'm it....

Alrighty, been tagged by my very awesome cousin Kristie. So I'm doing it...although my answers are probably gonna be WAY boring.

1. Four places I have lived: Mesa AZ, Tempe AZ, Fresno (I think...right Mom??) CA and uhhhhhh oh yeah....Safford AZ. See, boring.

2. Four shows I watch (gosh TV...what is that?? I'm always on the computer): Grey's Anatomy, Supernanny...sometimes (makes me feel good about my own insanity). Honestly I can't even think of anything else...I really never watch TV.

3. Four jobs I have had in my life: Waitress at Denny's, Bank teller, L&D RN, and NOW photographer! :D Hardest job?? Mom of 3.

4. Four places I have been: Mexico, Maryland, California, Guatemala.

5. Four Blogs I read regularly: Goodness there are a lot...my Mom's, Tara Whitney, my friend Rachel, my sister Jessica.

6. Four of my favorite foods: Shrimp, lobster, jamocha almond fudge ice cream, sourdough bread w/ clam chowder FRESH from San Francisco....YUM!!!

7. Four places I'd rather be right now: Photography workshop, shopping all by myself w/ LOTS of money, on the beach w/ a good book & no interruptions, on a date with my hubby.

8. Four things I look forward to in the next year: My new business flourishing, B heading off to nursery, Z in full day school, getting new floors...please oh PLEASE let this happen in the next year.

9. Four things I like to do in my spare time: Read, take pictures, spend time with friends (including my dh), play in Photoshop/work on my business stuff.

10. Four favorite things to do with kids/family: Make goodies, talk, be "out" together (hiking, swimming, movies, etc), one-on-one time doing whatever.

I TAG: Jess, Mom, Rachel