Getting Class-y

That's right!  But, not in a classroom....an e-class!

I just registered for this!

How can I not learn something?  It is supposed to be at your own pace, so I'm really hoping that I can keep up with myself.  Anyway, registration ends tomorrow, so go and sign up, we can all learn together - LIZ!  It won't cost you any more than 5 grande, non-fat, 3 pump white mochas.  I promise.

In other news...I'm only working until 1:30 today, then I have no plans for myself!  I might go home and clean...I might just nap...I might start working on those Halloween tutus that I need to get started on, and then again, I might just hit the 30% off sale at Gymboree....who knows.  The world is at my fingertips! 

Happy Friday, Y'all!

Self Portraits...are...um...AWKWARD!

The theme this week over at Paper Mama this week is Self Portrait.  Needless to say, this was work for me this week.  I have almost NO pictures of myself, and even fewer pictures that I took of myself. 

But, I like a good challenge, just ask my husband, so I gave it the good ole college try and this is the best thing that I came up with....

This is my submission for the challenge.  This photo was taken in the reflection of Chloe's sliding glass door...you know, because all babies need sliding door access to the pool.  The shot was dark, so I had to lighten it, and then I lost the scenary in the background, but it's my best attempt at me.  Oh, and it gives you an opportunity to admire my jewlery and hair band...you're welcome.

Just for fun, here are some more of my awkward attempts at a self portrait.  Maybe these look so bizarre to me because they don't have children in them, and I am most definitely mostly, always, usually, photographed with children...if ever at all. 

Here is the view from Chloe's slider, as seen in the flection.  You can see palm trees, our pool cage, and the pond behind the house.

I thought maybe I would look more comfortable in B&W...yeah, not really.

And, this is the shot that I am most comfortable with.  Love the colors.  The reflection is brighter, and my whole head is covered with the camera....yeah, this feels better!

So, head on over to Paper Mama and check out people who really know how to take a picture of themselves! 

[Singing] Well....I Stuck My Head In A Little Skunk's Hole

I've decided that my Thankful-ness today is going to be centered around one subject only.  And, at the same time I'm going to admit to being a complete douche over the daycare dilemma that I forced upon myself a few weeks back. 

Now, I'm no stranger to pre-school drama.  I've questioned the quality of our school, and then decided that it may not be perfect, but it is perfect for us..  I've also jumped to major conclusions about Pre-K classroom assignments, the Director's hidden agenda, and how smart my kid is or isn't.  Then, I made peace with all of that, only to attend the orientation and then free fall back in to loser-ville about Camdyn being separated from her friends, and my friends. 

Well, I'm here to atone for all of that and to admit that I have been completely neurotic about the whole thing.

Today.  Today, I am Thankful for Camdyn's new teacher, and her classroom, and the Director's wisdom. 

I'm thankful that she is in a room with a teacher who is creative and excels at communication.  I'm Thankful that every day Camdyn comes home singing a brand new song; That every day the white board is dutifully filled out with specific information about what songs they sang, what books they read, what they learned, and what art projects they completed.  I'm Thankful that her teacher talks to me about what Camdyn did that day, what she said or learned.  I'm Thankful that the conversation is easy. 

I am Thankful that the Director handled my neurosis with grace and patience.  That she stood her ground long enough for me to figure out that Camdyn is exactly where she should be.

I am Thankful that my daughter is blossoming in her new classroom.  That she wants to learn, asks to practice letters, and is retaining what she is learning. 

I am Thankful that she is in a small class. 

I am Thankful that going to school is often her "favorite part of the day." 

And if you are familiar with the song that is the title of this post....you will realize that I did stick my head in a little skunk's hole.  A hole that is located in assumption-ville, on a street called neurotic mom lane, and...

"Pssss.  I removed it.  TOO LATE!"    

Although, better late than never....

Wordless Wednesday & TT Photo Challenge - Laughter

“Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps,

If you are not willing to move your feet.”
~unknown

The theme this week over at The Trendy Treehouse is Laughter.  I searched through dozens of laughter pictures last night.  Pictures of my babies literally rolling on the floor laughing with their daddy, pics of pre-schoolers laughing at the park, I just couldn't make up my mind....until I saw this picture. 

It was taken in June, in the middle of a mild Florida rain.  It was the first time Chloe Belle experienced the fall of raindrops on her skin purposefully and puddles underneath her bare feet.  Although, you can't see the expression on her face, or the squint of her eyes while she laughs, you can see that Camdyn & I are laughing with her.  This dancing in the rain moment, I will never forget.

Head over to Trendy Treehouse and link up your favorite photo of Laughter, or at the very least check out everyone's entries.  At the very least, they will make you smile!

Weekend Spotlight: August 28-29

It has been awhile since I've done a spotlight post.  This is the type of post where I allow the voices in my head to have a one-sided conversation with you about our weekend.  So with that, I'll go ahead and channel those voices....

Saturday

Both girls are up at 7:00!  Don't they know it's Saturday?

I know, I'll bake muffins....chocolate chip muffins

Sure, Sweetie, we can play in the driveway just let me get these muffins in the oven

I just know the neighbors love watching me play soccer in the driveway at 7:45 in the morning in my pink Moo-moo.  At least I have my contacts in.  This is a sight to see.

Alright girls, it is starting to get hot out here.  Let's go inside

Chloe is whining to go back outside

Swim?  Sure.  Let me get the suits

Like the ducks Chlo?  Can you say "duck?"

Okay, suits are on.  Camdyn stay in the shallow end.
Come here Kenz.  Lemme take your picture, puppy.

Swim time is over.  It's time for lunch then nap time.  Whew.  I need a nap.
Lunchtime
Nap time
You want to go to Walmart?  You know how I feel about Walmart?  To buy bikes?  NOW? Why?  Okay, whatever.  Let's go to Walmart
Oooh.  I like that blue beach cruiser...I'll take that one.  And get Camdyn a new helmet, and can we pick up a red wagon for Chloe?  Chloe needs a wagon....everything else in her life is a hand me down from sissy, including her first tricycle and first bike....she deserves a wagon.
We'll have to come back to buy them....all this won't fit in my truck with the car seats.
Home
Ugh.  It's 3:00.  I need to clean.  I don't feel like cleaning.  Hey!  Let's invite people over to our dirty house? 
I'll post an invite on FB and text all of Cam's friends. 
Wheee!  They'll be here in 2 hours.  I gotta clean this place!
I have the best hubs ever!  He helps me clean.
I don't think you should vacuum that wet rug on the patio with my Dyson.  Really, it's probably not a good idea.
I hope you can get all of that gunk that is stuck in the roller out....Don't say I didn't warn you....
Hi!  Thanks for coming over.  Let's squeeze a swim in before it rains.
Budlight Lime, Shocktop, or Landshark?  I'll take a Shocktop.
Ohhhh.  That's lightening!  Time to get out kids.  Let's dry off and play inside
Thanks for coming over that was a lot of fun!
Let me get these kiddos in bed
Movie?  The Book of Eli?  Okay
Snuggle me
What is going on in this movie?  What war?  What happened?  Are they ever going to explain it?  No.  I wouldn't watch this movie again. 
Bedtime

Sunday
CRAP!  It's 8:30.  I guess we missed church
Coffee?  Why I'd love to. 
Playtime in the garage/driveway again.  Why do the kids love the garage so much?
Oh well....at least it is cool out this morning....
Hi Miss Marlene!  Huh.  She's wearing her moo-moo too!  See.  I totally fit in here.
Chloe baby.  You look so hot and tired.  Let's go inside.

Swim time.  Where's Cam?  Watching a movie.  Okay, she can come out later.
Hi Cam!  Jump on in.  Take off your jammies but leave your undies on.  Come on, it's okay, you don't have to have your suit on.  Okay....go get your suit. Silly girl
Lunchtime
You wanna Skype?  Sure.  I can't wait to see Abby walking...let me boot the laptop.
Chloe look at Abby.  Stop touching the keys, you have banana on your hands.  She is so cute on 2 legs!
Bye Bye Abby
Chloe you practicing putting on your shoes?  Almost baby girl.  Almost.

Let me get Chloe down for a nap

Camdyn I'm sorry I turned your movie off, but you need nap.  Stop crying, honey.  You are crying because you are tired.  Just ignore her babe...she's tired.  She needs a nap.

Did she just pass out inside the tent?  Told ya she was tired.

I have to go to JoAnn's....I need tulle for tutus.  Be back in an hour
I could totally get lost in here.
Man, these ladies aren't in a hurry.
What? the dog peed on the chair?  What is wrong with her?  She never does that.  I hope she isn't getting sick again.  Poor thing.  I'll be home in 10.
Should we wake the kids and take them to McD's to play.  Sure.  I need sweet tea.
Cam, I know you are still angry with Momma for turning off your movie, but you owe me an apology for your behavior. 
Great.  Let's go to McD's....and Walmart?  You want to go to Walmart again?  I haven't seen this much Walmart in one weekend....EVER! 
Umm....sweet tea....french fries.  I can't stick on a diet worth shiz.
Let's get the wagon now, and the helmet, and the bike seat for Chloe and we'll come back for the bikes next weekend since we can't fit all of this in one load.  Good plan.
Fantasy Football draft Party.  How many leagues are you in this year?  3.  Humph.  Okay, I like a party.
Baby Jax is so small....he's so cute. 
Camdyn share the toys
These lemon bars are divine.  Ummm....
It's 6:45, we have to go.  I don't want to blow the schedule on a school night.  See ya, everyone.  Thanks for having us. 
Chlo please stop crying we'll be home soon. 
Cam is she sleeping?  She fell asleep?  We are one minute from home.  Ugh!
Bathtime
Photo editing time, blogging, Fbing...I can't believe she wrote that in her status!  WHAT?  Liz, you crack me up.
I really have to go to bed
Chloe is up already, it's only 12.  Bottle then back to bed.
Zzzzzz
And here we are at Monday!  I hope it's a good one!

And I Learn...

On Friday afternoon, I met my friend Bridgette at McDonald's so our girls could romp and we could gab.  I just happened to bring my laptop so I could pick her brain about photo editing.  B is turning out to be my muse.  I love to bounce things off of her, soak up all that she's learned, and pick her brain about all things photography related.  She's awesome.  If I were in to idol worship, I'd bow down...willingly.   

During our conversation she asked me "What is it that you are hoping to accomplish with Photography?  How serious are you?"  Good question.  The answer:  I don't know.  I enjoy it.  I'm new at it.  I want to take fabulous pictures of my kids.  I want other people to want me to take pictures of their kids.  Am I going to want to charge them?  Probably not.  But, I want to be the best I can be at doing something that I enjoy doing. 

So, with that, she leaned over my shoulder and helped me find tools in my editing program that will help me. And I absorbed.  And, I learned.  And I couldn't wait to get home to practice what she showed me.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

I bet y'all are so sick of seeing dinosaurs in my pictures.  But, I have one little girl who is infatuated with dinos, and it's our life right now.  Dinosaurs and a Cookie Jar....the best subjects I could get in my photo at the moment.

Thanks, for all of the tips, B, and for meeting us, and friending us, and being so passionate about what you do! 

Vacation Staycation Pictures

You know how it works when you think you can throw something together really quickly and it should be seamless, and then it never works out that way.  That's this video.  I really wanted to use the "Just the Way You Are" track by Bruno Mars but my itunes wouldn't let me upload it MP3 style, and Picasa won't use MP4 files, so I spent hours dinkering with it only to get so frustrated that I just grabbed the last song I used on one of these slideshows.  Sorry about the audio and burdening you with another country tune, but it's 11:00 and I'm whooped.  Bruno will have to wait for another day.

The trip involved a lot of pool time, coloring books, and beer.

Happy Friday, Y'all!