Keep Calm

Surely you have seen these signs before...

For the Stressed:

For the betrothed:

For the Bloggers:

For the Faithful:

And for the Mommas:

This tank was sent to my by my girl Jennifer from Circle of love and the craziness around it.  Our kids are about the same ages, although she's raising boys and I'm raising girls.  I absolutely adore her and whole heartedly envy her craftiness.  Thanks for the tank, Jenn!  I have a feeling I'll wear it until the fabric gives out!

MisCELLaneous Monday - Where am I???

Where have I been?  What day is it?  What's my name?  How did I get here?  Yes, yes, I ask myself these questions often.  Life is a whirlwind.  Lovin' it and surviving it!   

So, it's time to post some CELL phone photos in this MisCELLaneous post as well as a few deets on what I was doing last week, when I wasn't here.  Here we go!

Last Saturday, we decided to convert Chloe's crib in to a toddler bed.  I was hella reluctant about this.  This is my second go-round here...I know better than to be EXCITED about this milestone.  I know that it inevitably means she'll get out of bed whenever she wants to, I know it will mean procrastinating bedtime and bedtime struggles at some point in the future.  But, the child needs to be able to get out of bed to use the potty, so in an effort to complete her potty training we converted her crib.  So far so good.  She has yet to get out of bed by herself in the middle of the night (which by the way, was supposed to be the point of converting her crib).  She is still sleeping well and still asks to go to bed at night.  But, I'm not declaring victory.  I know that this will be short lived.  ::Le Sigh::

I've purchased numerous items on etsy; headbands, knitted hats, tutus, hair band holders, leotards, but this is my biggest etsy purchase.  I purchased a dining room table from Modern Rust on etsy.  This farmhouse style table is made from reclaimed wood (I love you mother earth) and was made to order in 6 weeks and delivered from Virgina to Florida quickly.  Yes, it looks like someone put a picnic table in my living room, but that will change soon.  I am very pleased with the table and with the fact that the pink playhouse is no longer in my dining room.  Now, I just need to finish this naked room.

On Friday, I took the day off of work.  I attended an event at Camdyn's school in the morning, and then met up with Liz for some shopping, lunching, and a pedicure that didn't turn out like I visioned.  It was relaxing and the company was fantastic, but the polish on my big toes has this white ghosting across it.  I'm miffed enough about it to post photos of my "spoon toe" or "potato toe" as the hubs likes to call them on the interwebs.  Really, my big toes are so round...like perfect circles.  It's weird.  I guess I'll have to go back so they can fix it.

These were delivered on Friday and made me forget all about the botched pedicure.  I hear this show is fantastic, and I can not wait to take Camdyn to her first concert.  Of course, I paid way too much money for tickets to this sold out show, but I don't have buyer's remorse over it at all...this something we are looking forward to!

On Friday night, we packed the suitcases and loaded the kids in the car and took them to Orlando for a weekend get-away.  Our hotel room was upgraded...we ended up with 2 beds, 2 baths, and a loft style game room.  This was more space than we needed, but we weren't complaining.  It ended up raining the entire time we were there, so we spent a lot of time at the hotel, and the space really came in handy.  The girls enjoyed playing upstairs and watching movies in their room. 

On Saturday night, we met up with LeeAnn and Rylie and attended the Arabian Nights Dinner Show attraction.  The girls, all 3 of them, were so well behaved.  We ended up having front row seats and an unobstructed view of the action.  The dinner was a smidgen above average, but the show was fantastic.  When I asked Camdyn what her favorite part of the show was she said, "I don't have one.  I loved all of it!" 

Because of the rain, we cut our trip short and came home earlier on Sunday than we had planned.  My house looked like a bomb went off in it, so I set to cleaning.  While I was mopping floors, I caught the hubs doing this...completely on his own accord.  Reason #652 why I love this man. 

**note that the playhouse is not going to be permanently located there and the big brown box contains a new chandelier that needs to be hung
I hope y'all are having a great Monday!! 

9/11 Remembered

The girls didn't get to watch many of their shows on Sunday morning because Momma was glued to the 9/11 tribute which was broadcast on every major network.  It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years.

I sat down yesterday morning with my cup of coffee and watched TV while two little girls played with horses on the floor next to me.  Every now and then Camdyn would ask me question, "Why did the bad guys fly in to the buildings?  Did the bad guys get out in time?"  Hard questions to answer in a way that doesn't evoke fear in her tiny, innocent, and perfect world.  But also questions that need to be answered.  She'll only remember what she reads and what we tell her.  Eventually she will know the magnitude of that day...although she'll never understand the gravity of it.  She'll never know how much the world changed after 9/11.

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day

It's Tuesday, September 11, 2001.  I'm living in a two bedroom apartment in Oceanside, CA with my old college roommate.  We both work in the 24 Hour Fitness Corporate Office and we wake up about the same time that morning.  It's 6:30 am pacific time.  I turn on the radio and hop in the shower and about half way through I realize that they aren't playing music and radio hosts are talking.  I realize that their tone is concerned and from what I grasp a bomb went off?  Someone is bombing the US?  I jump out, and immediately turn on the TV.  My TV is tuned to SportsCenter which I was watching the night before, but they aren't talking sports.  There is news on SportsCenter that is not sports related???

Out in the yard with your wife and children

Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky

I call for my roommate and I flip to CNN.  What in God's name?  My roommate and I stand and watch in disbelief. 

Did you shout out in anger

In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry

My mind swirls as I try to grasp what is going on in NYC, I think of the Hubs (only he wasn't hubs then...he was simply boyfriend No. 3).  He had just flown in to Chicago to play a series against the Cubs.  I dial him, knowing that I'll be waking him from some much needed sleep.  I am worried.  He's downtown Chicago and staying in a hotel located next to the John Hancock Tower (one of Chicago's tallest buildings).  I get him on the phone, fill him in, and then I leave for work.

Did you weep for the children

Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below

When I arrive at work, the scene outside has tragedy written all over it.  Groups of employees are huddled against each other, and some women are bawling to the point of hysteria.  You see, we live and work a mere 15 minutes from Camp Pendleton.  The military (marines) have a huge presence in this area, and likewise, many military wives work for in the 24 Hour Fitness Corporate Office.  They knew the gravity of this situation before many of us civilians did.  They knew this would mean war.  They knew that they would soon be sending their deployed husbands out to make this right....and they were distraught. 

Did you burst out in pride

For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to what really matters

We didn't work a full day that day.  I think I stayed two or three hours before the powers that be told us to go home. 

I'm just a singer of simple songs

I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran

My roommate and I spent the rest of the evening watching the events unfold on TV, while we restored a coffee table in to usable condition.  For all it's worth, we spent the better part of the week glued to the news. 

But I know Jesus and I talk to God

And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

Through all the tragedy, heartbreak and the feeling of helplessness and loss, there prevailed an even greater pride and patriotism.  I'll never forget how many cars had flags hanging from their car windows.  The same kind that people use to show team spirit for their favorite football team, only now they are American flags and we are all standing up for Team America. 

I'll always remember the tears I would blink away and the lump in my throat when God Bless America was played at every remaining baseball game that year. 

The greatest is love

This past Friday night, I saw Blake Shelton and Brad Paisley in concert.  Brad Paisley performed his song "This is Country Music" to a montage of photos of performers who have passed on and snippets of American history.  The song ended with a photo of the towers burning, followed by photos of military men, and the flag.  When the song was over and the music stopped...All that could be heard was a unified crowd chanting "U.S.A." 

The greatest is love.

**Song written by Alan Jackson

Treasured Moments

We had a busy weekend which included a trip to Busch Gardens on Saturday followed by a late night out with friends that evening.  We went to church on Sunday and then to a Fantasy Football Draft Party in the evening. 

But on Monday...on Monday we took it easy.  I spent the morning with a cup of coffee in my hand while the Hubs whipped up scrambled eggs.  I even blew the dust off my camera, which hasn't been getting much use at all lately.  I discovered that I miss her just as much as I miss the inspiration.

In the laziness of a Monday morning that was spent playing with the kids at home instead of making lunches, instructing little girls to brush their teeth, packing backpacks, and loading the car; I discovered treasured moments.

I visited their world.  A world that knows no stress, no schedule, no perception of time.

A world where your imagination can take you anywhere you want to go.  A world where horses talk and some can even fly.

A world where rules are simple.  "It's too hot to go outside.  Ride your scooter in the house.  BUT - STAY OUT OF THE KITCHEN.  I do not want dents in my new appliances."  "Yes. Momma." 

After watching them play and letting the coffee in my mug grow cold, they snuggled up on the couch together to watch one TV show.  Playing is exhausting.

(this shot is horribly OOF...but I love how their little fingers are intertwined.  You just can't pose kids like this).

And as I scrolled through the photos that I had taken of the morning, I realized just how precious and fleeting these small little moments are.  I warmed up my coffee, turned up Pandora, and set out to clean my Master Bathroom...when a little voice came in and said "Momma - can I help you?"  I gave her the Windex and we worked side by side for half an hour. 

Treasured Moments.

My Kinda Party....

Our weekend was anything but ordinary. 

The hubs was in Miami for a "work trip."  He won a contest at work and the prize was an all expense paid trip to Miami for the weekend.  He went deep sea fishing with 5 other guys who also won the trip and they had great time.

I was on the home front with the girls, although I had plans of my own.  I had tickets for a sold out concert at my favorite venue on Friday night.  So, at 5:00 my friend Liz came over to play with the girls and I met up with some friends and we headed out to see Jason Aldean.  The storm clouds were really looming and threatened to make our night really memorable.  I figure seeing a concert in pouring rain must be like playing soccer in a downpour...it only makes it better!

These photos are courtesy of my cell phone...

I have never seen so many people at this venue before.  Needless to say, the people watching was sublime.  And by some freak force of nature it never rained during the show.

We had a great time singing along and screaming when we were supposed to....like when Jason said "How y'all doin' out there on the lawn?" 


The lawn is where it's at.  We listened to good music and embraced our inner redneck on the lawn that night.


The show was one of the better ones I've been to.  If you have no idea who Jason Aldean is, you can read the review here.  And, it sure was nice to have a night out with the girls.  Of course, getting up with the kids early on Saturday morning wasn't a cake walk, but how can you not smile when this is what you wake up to?


Happy Monday!  I hope you had a great weekend!

Okay, so now will you put the lid down?

I think we all have a short-list of irksome spousal habits.  The ones at the top of my list are opening cabinets, cupboards, and doors and forgetting to shut them.  This usually results in me either hitting my head on an open cupboard, or simply having to shut it to do what I need to do.  If you open it, then shut it already.  It's terribly annoying and sometimes painful.  And, I suppose piggy backing on that would be the whole leaving the toilet seat up thing....a similar breed of annoyance only filthier. 

With two kids, I'm awoken nearly every night.  Most nights I don't have to get out of bed, but I wake, and toss and turn, and peer at the video monitor while I assess whether or not Chloe Belle will fall back asleep.  And, it's also not uncommon for Camdyn to wander down the stairs in the wee morning hours and crawl in to bed with us.  Of course, before we allow this we instruct her to use the potty, which she does.

Last night, this was our scenario:
A little voice moans from our bedroom door.  "Camdyn, go potty."  She flicks on the bathroom light and I hear her rustling around in my bathroom and then suddenly a little voice cries out, "Momma.  I need help.  Momma.  I fell in the potty and I'm all wet."  Hubs groans and turns over, I get out of bed to assess the situation.  Sure enough, the seat is in the upright position, and Cam's nightgown is soaked with toilet water.  Ugh.  For, the love, it's 6 am.  So, I instruct her to sit tight while I trudge upstairs to find her new bed clothes.  When, I return she is sleeping on the bathmat in front of our shower.  I re-dress her and we both climb in to bed....for 15 minutes of peace before the alarm begins signaling the start of a Monday morning. 

As the Hubs and I did our dance around each other in the bathroom I asked him...."So, you think you can manage to put the seat down before we lose another kid in the toilet?"  Hubs, "Girls, so demanding.....I suppose."  Cause, I tell you what, the next time the potty swallows a little girl, he'll be cleaning it up.

Happy Monday, Y'all!

::crickets::

It's been a little silent here on Knee Deep.  Not intentionally of course.  I've been thinking about my blog, my next post, and getting some photos on here everyday.  I just haven't prioritized it. 

 Positive Parenting Solutions (PPS) sends me their newsletter every month, week, well, honestly I don't know how often they send it because sometimes I delete it before I even read the subject line.  Today, I didn't delete it.  The article was about the new 4 letter word....BUSY.  Humph, certainly a word I use almost daily.  I'm too busy, to make a healthy dinner for my family, I'm too busy to get to the gym, I'm too busy to blog effectively, I'm too busy to edit those photos...life with 2 little kids is just busy...or is it? 

This is the PPS's question at hand:
How often do we let our "busy-ness" get in the way of what is important?

My answer:  A LOT. 

Although I like to think I have my priorities pretty well in line, there are definitely times that I choose to do something that completely whacks out my schedule.  I'm a social person and am guilty of prioritizing social events (birthday parties, lunch with friends, play dates, etc) over doing things that I should be doing...like cleaning and grocery shopping.  Of course this doesn't seem like a big deal at the time, and relationships, friendships, etc, should come before cleaning, right?  I'm comfortable with that choice, but then a day or two later and I'm overwhelmed by the number of things that need to get done, but didn't because I went out to lunch with the girls, or hit that gymboree sale with the bestie instead of tackling my to-do list. 

My New Year's Resolution this year was to slow down, to resist the urge to over schedule my life, and just like all New Year's Resolutions...I can't stick to it.  It's like it's in my blood...I'm born to be busy.  I keep saying that next month things should slow down, next month won't be so hectic, next month I'll make fitness more of a priority...of course, next month is always next month.  I guess I just need to accept that this is the way things are.  As kids get older life gets even more hectic. 

I'm dealing.  I'm trying to not sweat the small stuff, and I'm trying to keep my priorities in line...and I'm trying to keep my blog one of them.

I'll be back tomorrow kids...and that's a promise :)

My Kid Learned How to Play Spin the Bottle

AT PRE-SCHOOL!

Y'all I don't know if this is hilarious or disturbing...probably a little bit of both.  So, I share this with you for laughs and input. 

Last night we were sitting around the table eating cereal dinner.  The conversation went like this:

Me:  Cam you must be hungry that is your 2nd helping of Chicken and Asparagus Rice Krispies.
Cam:  I'm having seconds.  Daddy?  Have you ever played spin the bottle?
Daddy:  ::falls off chair::
Me:  ::wide eyes, mouth gaping::  What kind of game is that?
Cam:  You know, the kind where you spin the bottle.
Me:  Oh.  Who do you play this game with?
Cam:  I play with "sally" on the carpet at school.
Me:  Hum...
Daddy:  ::still on the floor::
Me:  How do you play the game?
Cam:  ON THE CARPET.  It's impossible to cheat at spin the bottle. 
Me:  Oh.
Daddy:  ::looks at me:: I think we are thinking of two very different games...

Later that night I emailed "Sally's" mother to share this conversation with her, mostly because I found it hilarious...AT THE TIME.  It turns out when "Sally" was picked up from school yesterday another little girl ran up to her and said something about spin the bottle and then kissed her on the lips. 

WAIT A MINUTE.  I thought we were talking about a board game...this sounds like the same spin the bottle game that I was imagining....

After further discussion, it turns out that there is an Arthur game on the computer in their classroom.  In part of the game Francine daydreams about playing spin the bottle, the bottle lands on Arthur and she kisses him.  I believe the computer game is tied to this episode. 

Hum...so the girls in the class saw that and decided to start acting it out.  It's not like they were actively taught how to play the game, and it's innocent as can be.  I just don't know how I feel about a 5 year old talking about playing spin the bottle.

So, my quandary is...Do I bring this to the teacher's/director's attention and request that the kids don't play that game anymore or Do I just let it go and figure that if I don't make a big deal of it then the kids won't make a big deal of it and they'll forget all about it?

What would you do?  Either way, I guess this is preparation for what the future holds.  I'm sure she's going to be exposed to a lot more when she enters the wide wide world of elementary school next year.

And, here are a few photos taken at the park last weekend.

Happy Friday, Y'all!

So You're Saying There's A Chance

My to-do list is about 100 items long.  It's overwhelming, really, but I try to tackle it one thing a week.  Last week my item of importance was sifting through and organizing the five bins of baby clothes (size 0-12 months) that I have stored.  On Tuesday night, I got to work. 

I made a pile of "keeper" clothes that have sentimental value; the Girls' homecoming outfits, first Xmas dresses, dresses worn for photos, and Easter dresses.  I got together a box of Gymboree and fancy label stuff that I'll be loaning to a friend.  I prepared a giant bag of clothes to give to a teacher at the school who is expecting her first girl.  As I was throwing the last few outfits in the 2nd of two giant garbage bags to donate to Mothers Helping Mothers, the Hubs (who had been diligently watching the organization process from the comforts of the bed) said:

Him:  Are you sure you want to do that?
Me:  Do what?
Him:  Give it away?
Me:  What?  The clothes?  Yeah.
Him:  But, ALL OF IT?  Don't you want to keep some of it?  We'll be left with nothing.
Me:  But, we're done.
Him:  ::silence::
Me:   ::finishes packing up the last bag and brushes teeth::
Him:  ::silence::
Me:  The way I figure it...Chloe only wore a handful of the clothes we stored that were Cam's, so IF we have another girl we'll buy her new, or we'll borrow from Liz, or we'll have Laura send us all of her stuff since she is done for sure.
Him:  ::nods::
Me:  And, if we have a boy, it doesn't matter anyway
Him:  Alright.
Me:  And, it's all IFs anyway
Him:  For now...
Me:  So, You're saying there's a chance
Him:  There's always a chance....

And somewhere in the heart of the MidWest Gramma just smiled :)

Is It Warm Enough To Swim? Perhaps.

We awoke on Saturday morning with absolutely no plans for the day, a rarity in our household.  The girls played quite contently while nibbling on doughnut holes, the crumbs from which are still spread across her chin and cheeks.

We played outside on the patio and the girls could NOT STOP getting along. 

Melt. My. Ever Loving. Heart.

Then, Cam and I took a walk to the soccer fields to watch a friend coach a soccer game.  We played on the playground and on the walk home we realized...it's really frickin' hot out here!  Hot enough for the pool?  Perhaps.

If you are a crazy 5 year old who is impervious to the cold.  The pool is 68 degrees and we don't have a heater on it yet.  I made it quite clear - "If you go under, kid, and I have to come in and save you,  Momma will not be happy."  Of course, she stayed glued to the wall or the stairs the entire time.  She knew that Momma was serious, cause that water was FAAA-REEE-ZZZ-ING.

As the sun set on Saturday night, and yielded way to an over-scheduled and busy Sunday, I counted my blessings.   Saturday was good for my soul.

Happy Monday Friends!

Rockin' the Mullet

It's no secret.  Baby rocks a mullet and she has been, well, since birth.  The simple fact is that my kids can not grow hair.  Well, they grow hair, it's just at an alarmingly slow pace, similar to the way a roof ages, or grapes ferment.  It's an oddity, really, given that Hubs and I both have thick and curly hair. 

I've been pondering whether or not I should cut the back of her hair just to even it out, and I'm scared to do that because, well, it might be another two years before it grows again.  And frankly, one of these days I'm hoping I'll be able to comb it into piggytails.

Regardless....sure is the cutest little baby mullet - EVER!

Happy Weekend, Y'all!

I Love Cake More than any Sane Person Should

At this very moment I'm enjoying the dry desert of Las Vegas.  I'm enjoying the fact that my hair looks fabulous and is perfectly straight and that never happens to me back home.  I'm enjoying the company of my oldest and dearest childhood friend and no doubt laughing over diet coke and high school memories. 

While I'm busy doing all of that and taking photos and creating memories to share, enjoy this little ditty.  This was originally written as a guest post for LeeAnn over The Life of Rylie...and Bryce too!  enons ago.

I'll miss you while I'm gone!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I like Cake.


Maybe I didn’t emphasize it enough. I mean, I REALLY LIKE cake. I like all baked goods, really, except for scones, which just aren’t sweet enough for me, and therefore don’t really belong in the baked good category. I have a serious sweet tooth, but not in a Swedish Fish/JuJuBe kinda way, but in a delectable, soft, chewy, fresh, and sweet kinda way.

That piece of knowledge about me is essential to this story.

It’s December, we are at a birthday party for a girl in my 4 year old’s class. It is held at one of those gyms for kids with balance beams, rings, a trampoline, and giant mats for tumbling. The kids have a blast. The Hubs spends the majority of the time with Chloe who is 9 months old and crawling, and I spend time chasing around our 4 year old and the birthday girl with the camera.

It’s cake time, everyone’s favorite part of a birthday party, right? So, Hubs goes in to the cake room to help Cam get situated at the table with her friends and I hang in the waiting area with Chloe, who refuses to be held and only wants to crawl around the filthy carpet. So, there I sit with her, trying to keep her from chewing people’s shoes, and picking yuckos off the carpet and putting them in her mouth. Before, I know it, cake time is over, they are passing out balloons and the party is over. So, Hubs being the gentleman he is and knowing me like the back of his hand, offers to grab me a slice of cake “for the road.”

We lug the kids, the diaper bag, my camera, and the balloon out to the truck and we get the girls in and we drive off. I look at Hubs and notice that he isn’t holding my cake. I look at the dashboard. Nope, no cake sitting on the dashboard. So I say to him, “Where’s my cake?” He looks at me with that “Oh crap” look that just signals that he screwed up and…I know. I know exactly what is coming ::gulp:: “I left it outside.”::crickets::

Now, I pause to describe myself a little further. I’m passive aggressive. I do not like confrontation, I am really hard to anger (although my 4 year old has figured out exactly how to accomplish that) and I have patience as long as the Nile. That said, this was my reaction:

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LEFT IT OUTSIDE?” Hubs: “I think I forgot it on the bumper.” Me: “Well, it’s gone now….oh, I really wanted some cake.” In my head I’m thinking this, “You frickin’ idiot. How can you not remember a simple piece of cake? Every day I tote two kids around, lunch bags, diaper bags, toys, and crap, and rarely do I ever forget something. You had one kid and a piece of cake in your hand. How does that happen?” BUT, I would never say that, because it’s not my style.

So, I say, “It’s just cake.” But, inside, I’m fuming. And, I get silent. You know I’m mad when I can’t say a single thing. And, Hubs knew it, because as we merged on to I-75 he started apologizing for forgetting the cake, and then went in to a long narrative about how the cake wasn’t that great anyway. It was a nice effort on his part, but I really wanted that cake and I. Was. Furious.

So, we drive. We drive six miles down the freeway and merge on to city streets and we pull up to a stoplight. Something catches my eye. It’s a car load of teen-agers next to us, and one of them has their arm sticking out of the window. What is that they are doing? Taking a picture with an iphone? Of my bumper? OMG! The CAKE!

The kids are taking a picture of my lonely piece of cake sitting on my bumper
and they are probably posting it to their Facebook pages at this very moment
with a caption that says:

“Look at these schmucks driving around with cake on their car”

No way. So, I pull the car into a gas station, the Hubs jumps out, he retrieves the cake and brings it back in to the car and says, “There’s your cake! See I didn’t lose it, it was right where I said it was!”

Later that night, after the girls were in bed, I debated eating that cake. It had traveled down the freeway at 70 mph. It was exposed to exhaust, bugs, and unknown airborne particles of what-not. But, that cake wanted me. That cake held on to my bumper for dear life, and that cake was my destiny.

So, I ate it. It was damn good.

And, that’s how much I LOVE CAKE.

Total 'Lunar Eclipse' of the Heart

It wasn't until yesterday afternoon that I even got wind of this celestial event.  I himmed and hawwed about whether or not to wake up for it and in the end I decided this could make for a SaWeet picture. 

When I tucked Camdyn in last night I explained what happens during a Lunar Eclipse and told her that I would wake her up in the middle of the night to see the moon. 

I then took out my camera, emailed photo-genius Ashley Sisk for pointers, put on my 75mm-300mm lens and tested a few moon shots, set my cell phone alarm and went to sleep.

I awoke to a groggy voice at the foot of my bed, "Momma you forgot to wake me up for the moon...."  Huh?  What time is it?  Did I blow this?  Oh, wait, it's 2:50....20 more minutes Cam, jump in bed with us.  Twenty minutes later two cell phones screamed, we got out of bed, put on sweat shirts and shoes and headed outside.  Cam was in awe of the glowing orange moon.  I tried desperately for a photo but was unable to meter/focus on the dark, barely glowing moon.  Bummer.  I didn't have the equipment or the skill to figure out how to take a nighttime shot like this....maybe a telescope would have helped.  It was still awesome.  The sky last night was clear, the stars were out-shining the moon, and the moon looked like a pumpkin in the sky.

As we headed back inside 10 minutes later I told Camdyn that this was a special event because Lunar Eclipses only happen "Like once every ten years."  Come to find out this morning, it's more like once every 300 years.  Now, I'm doubly glad that we all crawled out of bed to witness it with our own eyeballs, although, I still wish my camera could have captured it.

My New Address Is...

HOME

Yes, we are finally home.  There are boxes yet to be unpacked, there is a stove that has yet to be delivered, but there are clothes hanging in their proper closets.  There is food in the pantry.  The washer & dryer are operable, and we are settling in one box and one day at a time.  We are finally in the house that we will call home for decades to come....our forever house.  And, I really hope it is because I absolutely detest moving.

This year, we celebrated Thanksgiving with friends in a very traditional fashion.  I made my broccoli corn casserole and Sweet Potato Crunch and we ate and talked, and soothed crying children.  We ate grilled turkey and homemade apple pie.  The girls even got to swim after dinner, and I don't think we've ever done that before.

On Saturday, my Xmas tree even found it's way out of the box and in to the picture window in our front room.  Chloe hung her very first ornament on the tree ever.  It wasn't breakable of course.

She knew exactly what to do with it, and it was the one and only ornament she felt like hanging and then she scooted on her way to play with her baby doll while Camdyn and I finished the tree. 

The fastest way to make a new house feel like home is decorating it for Xmas...THIS. IS. HOME.

I Need to Change my Attitude.

“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”

~Maya Angelou

Change has been on my mind a lot lately.  Change is constant.  You can't escape change, and unfortunately some people don't deal with change as well as others.  I'm typically a go with the flow kinda girl.  I don't usually "sweat the small stuff" and I usually consider myself easy-going, but in the midst of all of the change that we are going through, I find myself wound tighter than a drum.

Tomorrow, we are packing the house and moving for the 2nd time in nine months.  It wasn't that big of a deal the last time we moved, but this time around it's complicated by Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner.  It's complicated by the fact that our lease isn't up until February and our current house is not rented out yet.  It's complicated by a handful of projects at the new house that haven't been completed yet.  It's complicated by the fact that our appliances haven't been delivered yet.  There are a hundred things I am stressing over and I need to just let it all go....

I need to change my attitude.  I need to embrace the change.

And, then there have been the unnecessary stressors I've been putting on myself over Camdyn's behavior at school.  The truth is, she's a good kid.  She has her act together when she wants to, like during her first ballet class on Saturday, and at the Build-a-Bear party two weeks ago.  She can be a handful, but she can also be an absolute doll.  I see both sides.  I know my child.  I need to let it all go.

I need to change my attitude.

Then, there are friendships that have changed over time and some of those changes weigh heavy on my heart.  There are days when I curse my job and the fact that I'm sitting in a cubicle while ALL (yes ALL) of my friends are SAHMs and are getting together for playdates and mommy-time.  I feel somewhat discluded (not intentionally of course) and I forget that this job provides my family with benefits, a new house, clothes, trips to Disney World, and college funds.  I forget that I like my job.  I forget that I chose this job. 

I need to change my attitude.

On Sunday, I had the pleasure of taking pictures for a dear friend.  She needed just one good photo for her Xmas card, and I thought...I can probably handle that.  It was the first time I picked up my camera since Halloween, and it felt good to spend 45 minutes snapping away.  I lost myself through my lens.  I let all the stresses of the move and life in general drift away.  I existed in the moment and it felt good.

My dear friend asked me to take one picture of the girls together.  She wants one to frame and hang in Little Miss' bedroom to remind her of Camdyn.  Next year, they will set off to different elementary schools, different Kindergarten classrooms, and their lives will take them down different paths. 

When Hubs saw this photo he said it makes him want to cry.  His words.  Honest. 

Their whole worlds will change next year. 

Hand-in-hand they are on the same path.  Cam with her favorite dinosaur tucked beneath her arm.  They are the best of friends.  Their friendship knows no parameters, it knows no stresses or misconceptions.  They fight, they argue, they refuse to hug, then they turn around and play together again.  I wish adult friendships had the same ease and security.  I wish "play nicely" was the mantra for everyone, all the time. 

I need to change my attitude.

So, I'm going to change the way I'm thinking about the things that are stressing me out.  I'm going to take a deep breath, realize that everything will fall in to place, and that everything will be exactly the way it should be.  God is in control and I need to let him do the worrying for me.

I am changing my attitude.

I can't keep up with myself

Literally.  This weekend was so busy, in a fun, festive, wouldn't trade a second of it kind of way.  I will be sharing pictures and going in to more detail tomorrow.

But, on top of the Halloween madness, I've also been swamped with house stuff...coordinating painters, the designer, the flooring guy, and the guy who is supposed to put a child fence around the pool.  And, then I go home and look at all of our STUFF and wonder how it is that we are going to pack and move for the 2nd time this year.  I'm getting overwhelmed.  Just a little...okay, a lot overwhelmed.

I know we'll survive the stress of moving, and once we are settled we'll take a deep breath and revel in the fact that we won't be moving for a long time...if not ever. 

So, my posts are spotty, my mind is a bit frazzled, but my heart is full and the ride is wonderful. 

I'll be back tomorrow with some photos and serious deets on how we celebrated this weekend!

Happy Monday, Y'all!

Here's to 100!

I was planning on taking a bloggy break today, but this is just too exciting to wait.

WE HIT 100 Ya'll! 

Let's all welcome Stephanie from Dirt and Lace to the group! 

Now, I just met Stephanie, but from what I gather, she's cute as a button, and a budding photographer with 2 adorable little girls.  It appears we have a few things in common.

Please clicky on over there and say "hi" to Stephanie!  Oh, and look around for a picture of naked Barbies that are properly censored...it's hilarious!

Feelin' Trippy....

I'm feeling kinda trippy and not in a 70's, psychedelic kinda way, but more of in a memory lane, nostalgic kinda way. 

I'm not really sure what prompted the feeling.  Maybe it was talking to Camdyn in the car this morning and being completely floored at the things she remembers and how she expresses herself.  She reminds me daily that she is not a baby anymore.  She's a kid, and although she still doesn't listen all that great, she still doesn't stay in her own bed at night, she really is becoming more of a kindergartner than a pre-schooler...already.

And, then there is Chloe Belle, and I look at her and think, when did you get this big?  When did you start putting your shoes on the right feet? 

Of course, I amaze myself because as the girls have managed to grow faster than the mold on the unused hot dogs in my fridge, I have managed to stay completely untouched by time.  It's a miracle really.  I mean, how did I do that?

So, in honor of October, my next favorite month to December, after all, it houses my birthday and Halloween, and the start of the fabulous winter wonderland season. 

Follow me to October 2007:

Camdyn is 21 months old in this picture and she's sporting an outfit she received from Auntie Liz.  I don't know how I remember that, but I do.  She had hair long enough for piggies, which cracks me up because Chloe is so far behind sissy in the hair department.  We mostly referred to her as "Cammer" back then and "Jam Jam."  We've lost those baby nicknames now :( We lived at the old house and had just painted the walls that shade of gray.

This was one of Cam's 1st pony rides.  We enjoyed the pumpkin patch with her sevreal times that year. 

She still loves horses!

She was such a cute fairy that Halloween.  And, oddly there must have ben a cold front that Halloween because she has sleeves on and I've come to know that it is usually Hotter than Sin in FL on Halloween.  So, this is odd.  I think she looks a little like Chloe in this picture.

And obviously, all of these pictures were taken pre-Good Camera days, which makes me wish I had picked up a DSLR in college, but then again, they are a lot more affordable now. 

Well, this weekend, I'll still be working on Halloween costumes, Camdyn is also taking a stab at gymnastics again, so we'll cross our fingers and say a prayer for her attention span.  We will also be welcoming the bestie back in to town, enjoying some time together and, we are doing our annual Halloween photo shoot with my dear friend Bridgette.  I hope she brings all of her talent and a boat load of patience with her on Sunday morning. 

I'll see ya on the flip side!  Happy Weekend, Y'all!