Monday, June 22, 2009

Mom's Day

My baby and me on Mother's Day

Photo Update Continued

May photos continue:

Helping Daddy with moving dirt using her pink wheelbarrow and shovel. Snack time in the kitchen... she insisted that she have her jello and crackers on her step stool.

She also insists on locking the door... and has become quite successful at it.
Kissy Face


Her GREEN period


My sweet Cheese Ball!!!

Photo Update


Ok, so this is the photo update since before mom's day. I'll caption as I go.


Soaking from playing in the sprinklers on a beautiful spring day.

Play date!!

The new famous 'daddy-do' hair-do!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Its June Still

I know that I have been more than delayed in updating, and it is still that you will have to wait. All is well, but busy... just wanted to post that we are all good and that a huge update of pics and stories will come on my return from a last minute trip to Butte, Montana. I leave Thursday and return sometime next week. Yes, this is the longest I am away from my family in ever and I will be missing the last two days of school... that was fun to try and get a sub for... :P Hope this blurb finds all well.

Oh yes, and Isabelle is with me today, on 'my' last day of school as my students shoot off their botle rockets. They are loving having her here...

Friday, June 05, 2009

June, June, June... June Already?!?!

I know, it is June and there has not been a post in weeks. Sorry. I have taken a hiatus from anything computer... needed that break (except grades for kids, and a little bit on FB games) no computer. That of course did not include taking pictures all around, just loading them onto the computer. That still having to be done, there will be no photos to share right now. soon, I promise.

As for what is going on... school is coming to an end. I only teach 5 more days, but there are two weeks left of school (remember I work everyother day). I got a summer job for Saturdays (messes up the weekends and the summer get-aways - but needed a bit extra) at a local wood products store. I have had a few photography shoots, but not many in the near future as of yet. I am HOPING! Pass it along!! Eric is good... working a bunch as always. Isabelle is growing like a weed, new phrases daily and now that the weather is good, all she wants to do is play outside! With the weather being as hot as it has been, we got a couple sprinklers and we LOVE them. Running through them, under them, in between them... all good as long as you are soaked. We also bought a tent like cover that can be moved around the backyard for extra shade, but it broke the second day we have it... so there was a waste of money! and no more shade. Guess I will have to spend more than $60 on shade for our back yard. :P

Till the photos!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Phrases of the Week

** "Daddy, fix it! Needs Battries. Push button!"

This phrase is used with any toy now, whether a stuffed animals that have no button to speak of or a toy that really needs a battery.
--Note all spelling errors in this post are on purpose, since it is Isabelle speaking.

** "Kitty puuuuk"

This is a new phrase that we hear every time she walks down the hallway, since our cat puked in the hall. Isabelle went and got me the paper towels to clean it up... how sweet... :P I am not the messy cleaner upper, that is daddy's job.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Izaa--beelllee

At least that is how it sounds when Isabelle says her name. She started trying out saying her whole name on Mother's day (up until then when you ask her her name, she would say 'Belle'). Now you ask her and she says it with a 'z' sound and drags out the belle... so cute.

Also, you ask her how old she is and she will say, ' twoooo-five' Not sure where she gets the five, (unless it is from teh 'hi-5's' that we do), but she shows the right fingers when she does it... holds up 2 fingers, then all 5.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

fun times

watering the goats...

ready to go....
play time with kitty...

My Coat

My mom brought over a coat that I wore when I was two... I believe it a Navy seal on the sleeve of my grandfathers, when he was in the Navy. How cute is Isabelle in it?

My new toy... Eric is setting for me... Isabelle's eyes really brighten with the right angle. :)

Art Show Photos








Mother's Day....

... Lasted the whole weekend.

It started Saturday with a brunch at our house, that I cooked for my mom. ( I know.. the word 'cook' in the same sentence as me is a new one, but I do yummy breakfasts!!) There was fruit, muffins and two different Quiches. Then after a nap, we met up with some friends at Olive Garden for dinner. For some odd and yet very wonderful reason, they treated us like VIP. For only four adults and 2 kids, we got a table for 10 in a cove and had 3 waitress' for us. They even gave us our appetizers for free. No complaining here, it was wonderful... the dads had the kids on one side and us moms were on the other, enjoying and relaxing. Of course we did have to do the diaper duty, since there are no changing tables in men's rooms.... what is up with that?? Of course, that is a whole other post and soap box. :)

Sunday began with waffles and juice in bed... lazy morning. Hmmm. Then I went to a local art show in Maple Valley and did the photography for it. I took photos of the art and people looking at the art. It is way harder then that sounds... I didn't want to take the photos of the backs of peoples' heads, or their heads blocking the art... I had to get faces and art work. That proved a bit difficult, but I got some. I'll post them next. Of course, it was easier to accomplish when some people I knew showed up, and I told them where to pose. hahaha

After the art show, I came home, changed and met up with Eric's parents and sisters for dinner at a Greek restaurant. Now I am not a big Greek food fan, but the 'Chop Chop Chicken Kabob' was SUPER!!! And the risoto... YUM

The best part of the weekend was the gift. We ALL know how much I am loving photography and taking pictures... so Eric got me a relfector set. I am going to need to practice a ton! So I volunteered Eric to be my model. hahaha, he doesn't know it yet though. But it came with a DVD, which I watched and am so ready to play.

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Baby Shower

No, don't' get all excited... not mine!

My dear friend Katie, the one that moved away to South Carolina with her hubby to get her dream of living on the east coast (near a beach with her new adorable black lab Hans) came back to Seattle for her baby shower, which I oh, so happily hosted. I got my hands filled with all sorts of research and played my hand at party / event planing. Being the dork that I am, I researched ideas, games, activities, decorations (which was made so easy after she mentioned that she was having a boy and they were going with a nautical theme in the nursery) , and gifts. I was extremely lucky that another dear friend of Katie's was going to help out with the shower as well, since there would have been no way I could of done it all alone.

I loved being the behind the scenes of the event... I was able to watch people enjoying Katie's company for her short visit her, get photos taken, printed and put into a small album that she was able to take with her before she left the house, plan out how games and activities were going to go and make sure to tweak things if needed... and that tweaking was always adding more time to them... seems as though everyone enjoyed the games. I was so happy about that, but I do think that part of that is I know how to read individuals (being a teacher and all) so I tried to present things in a way where everyone could enjoy each other company - even those meeting for the first time.

The party started with food! Lots and lots of good food, all done by Katie's friend who co-hosted with me (we all know I don't cook - I just eat). We meandered into the playroom (aka living room) where we played some games.

First game was the name the baby animal that goes with the listed mommy animal. When watching the guests struggle (I borrowed form Isabelle's favorite show, Go Diego Go - not everyone is familiar with this show), I decided to give bonus points as we went through the answers... if you could make the sound of the animal - give yourself a point... that was a 'hoot!'

The second was an activity, which each guest was to draw a number, which corresponded to an age (o-18) of a child's life and each guest was to write, on a card provided, advise to / for Katie for that age. Each advice card was to go in the book with the photos of Katie with each guest that she took home with her. Since many guests were stumped at first, I lightened that mood by introducing the next game... "Baby Food Tasting." Using Popsicle sticks, guests had to taste and /or smell baby food and write it down. Now this game can easily go two ways... no one plays it, or everyone does... and YEAH, everyone got into it. Some even tasted a couple of the foods twice.

The last game we played, in pairs, was 'Finish the Nursery Rhyme.' This is self explanatory, yet way harder than it seemed... and for bonus points (can we say teacher), I let teams sing the rhymes.

After all was said and done, it was present time and then cake time. Now here was something fun... I didn't like any of the cakes I went to buy (and our Safeway only give 2... yes TWO choices... lame ones!!). So with the recommondation of some co-workers I went to a local hole in the wall, home town bakery - pricier than most - and they let me design a cake. How cool is that!!! Of course, it took a few days for me to do more research and come up with a design, but I did, and it was cute. So YEAH! It was a success... Maybe I should do this on the side ;) just kidding.

Enjoy some photos.



Tuesday, May 05, 2009

My Baby


Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Bang Bang Bang

Goes the baby...

Yes, this is how Isabelle wakes up now... by banging on the sides of the crib which bang against the wall. Sometimes they are soft kicks and sometimes I swear a foot or something is going to go through to the kitchen , there is so much force. Up from naps or first thing in the morning... bang bang bang. These sometimes come with happy screams or lots of garbled talking and other times belly bursts of pure laughter! Which of course makes me laugh and wait a little longer in getting her, since she is obviously enjoying herself. So I might have a hole in the wall to fix someday, Eric has had practice with drywall... :)

This morning, no different than any other... I'm in the kitchen making my lunch and 'WHAM' and 'hehehehehe' comes through the monitor. Yes, I jumped out of my skin... nice quiet kitchen and then the walls shake... who wouldn't of jumped? Of course next came the sweet laughter and garbled conversation that she has with her dolls. SOOO CUTE!!! After a few more hefty bangs, and chatting, she fell back asleep... of course I peeked and sweetly was she laying there in her crib, head to head with one of her dolls who she had placed a blanket on top of and her arm was around.

Perfect Morning

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Spring Drama

Ok, so this is a post dedicated to teenagers! AAAAaaaarrrrgggggghhhhhhhh!

On that note, what is with the teens this year? The drama has started so, so, so early! Between the fights (and posting them on you-tube), dating drama, he said/she said, rumors, taking and sending inappropriate pictures through cell phones, and other non-sense (like throwing apples down the hallways), I am not sure there is a sane teenager out there. Of course there is the normal chatter boxes -mostly the girls- that never ever stop talking and the 'not listening to the directions because I was looking outside at the sun and daydreaming' teenager on top of all this. -Yes, the windows get closed when the sun is out... how sad is that for me!- Goodness Gracious!

And then there is me.. still loving it all (for the most part) and teaching science. Though, I can do without all the teen drama, I do still love coming to work everyother day (since I only work everyother day). Those Ahh-Haa moments from teens are the best... I just hope that they remember that Ahh-Haa later in life (or at least till the next test). ;)

At the end of each day though, these teens simply crack me up... they are laughing non-sense and enjoying life. If we could only all have so much fun; drawing our interpretations of the skeletal system.

Enjoy your day!

Busy with Jobs

Yeah!! I have had two photography jobs this week, both for school sports! I am hoping that this pattern continues (for next year, since this school year is almost over).

Also, I did two other family shoots earlier in the month! I am so happy that this is starting to take off... though slowly, I am glad of that to honest! I was worried a bit, and still am, but I am also happy with how things are going.

The website is getting revamped / reprogrammed by my wonderful sweetie and it is going to look so AWESOME and AMAZING. He hasn't showed me much yet, but he keeps saying that I will really like what and how he is changing it. I have peeked a few times, when it is in preview mode and it does look cool. Not sure when it will be up and running, since he can only work on it at night, after work and after Isabelle goes to bed... but I will sure post when it does!!

All that is left for me to advertise, since I still mostly want this is be advertised by 'word of mouth' is getting my new business cards done (I have a perfect logo that I am going to keep a secret for now, I just have to wait for good weather to get the photo I want for the logo) and then take them to different venues.

Those of you reading this... start spreading the news! :)

Monday, April 20, 2009

The BEST Present

Today, on her actual birth-day of Isaballe turning two, she gave ME the best present ever. She said "I love you" for the first time! Of course I wasn't sure if that is what she said, so I asked her to repeat it, she did, looking right at me this time. My heart just melted.

I LOVE YOU, ISABELLE!