366 1000 miles

This past weekend I had to head to Saint Louis, MO to shoot a wedding with my good friend Candy. And because we love to share the fun, our other photog friend Tricia came along with camera in tow. Chip of course had to work, so I took the kiddos down to Cleveland to stay with their Mimi and Pop Pop. It must be excruciating to get pampered by the grandparents! :) Katie loves going down, and I think Connor enjoys it quite a bit too (if it wasn't for the whole lack of Mommy thing). I took them down on Friday, and we started for St. Louis early the next morning.

I meant to be super prepared. To be all packed and ready to go. Wake up and brew my own coffee. To be bright eyed and bushy tailed. Instead I ended up hitting the hot tub after I got back from the four hour round trip to drop the kids off. My back was hurting and I needed to relax. I managed to set out my suitcase and throw most of the stuff I would need in it. I had to do a load of laundry, and I got that going. I packed my camera bags. And then I had to SLEEP!! I knew I had a long day of driving ahead of me. I still managed to hit the snooze button a couple times before I looked at the clock and realized I needed to pick everyone up in the next half hour. Then it was a mad dash to finish getting ready. Amazingly I managed to remember everything ... except shampoo and conditioner. I am just not girly enough to remember to pack hair care products. I did good to have a comb.

I gathered up the girls. Tricia was ready to go. We loaded her up and headed to Candy's .... who had managed to lock her keys in her van. Luckily she could get someone to come take care of it and we were able to hit the road. The drive was uneventful. Not to mean boring ... we laughed our booties off and had a great time getting there. I was amazed at how quick the drive seemed. I am sure if I made it with screaming kids that it would have felt much longer. We got there with an hour or so to spare before we had to find our way to the rehearsal.

Once the bride and groom have seen the pics and given me the go ahead I will post some for you to enjoy. And until then I will simply refer to them as Bride and Groom. I know, they probably don't care, but I hate just throwing out info just in case.

THANK GOODNESS FOR GPS! I am by no means a navigator. I have no sense of direction, even with the little readout in my car. And even with GPS we managed to miss our turn. It didn't help that there was also a good bit of construction in the area we seemed to be centered around. We found the City Museum and made it in time for the rehearsal. This was my first time to meet the bride and groom since Candy had done all the meetings since she booked the wedding. The bride absolutely glowed. You could see how happy she was to be marrying her Prince. The groom was obviously smitten. The whole wedding party was fun and fabulous ... even the best man who showed up almost an hour late ... and I thought I had a problem with being punctual (just giving him a hard time, it is kinda my job). Rehearsal flew by, we got used to the lighting and scoped out a few photo ops.

A quick trip back to the hotel and we headed out for the rehearsal dinner at the Morgan Street Brewery. (did I mention we missed our turn and crossed the river?) We finally got there and it is a great little place on a cute cobblestone street. The dinner was upstairs with a bar and pool tables. We had a blast ... yes, I know we are there to work but you will realize that the bride and groom treated us more like friends and family than hired help. I am totally adopting them! We had a delicious rehearsal dinner and it was back to the hotel before the Bachelorette Party. The bride insisted that we go out and have fun. AND WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!! We met up at a little bar called Heartbreakers. At first we had the bar pretty much to ourselves but as the night progressed it became more crowded, and not just with the dancers on the bar. There was a great band playing called Come Closer. The lead singer had a wonderful voice and they really were the perfect backdrop to the night. We ended up calling it a night before the rest of the wedding party in order to have our eyes well rested to take pics the next day. Although they might have beat us back to the hotel rooms anyway. We were almost back to our hotel when Candy realized she had left her debit card at the bar. And OF COURSE the street was now closed off to thru traffic. I had to drop them off at one end and circle back for them. Do I need to remind you that I had NO CLUE where I was?! It was nerve wracking. But, they got her card back and we made it back to the hotel, and that is all that mattered.

Thankfully the wedding was not until 2:30, so we were not in a mad rush to get going in the morning. We even got to the museum early in order to walk around and take some pics. I didn't take too many, which was a good thing since my batteries barely made it to the end of the night. The City Museum is insanely cool, and I need to take the kids back up very soon!! And when I am not wearing three inch heels! I got to spend my time with the groom and his friends. I did not stop laughing! These guys were hilarious. We had such a good time. I have never had so much fun hanging out in the Men's Room. I got some great pics. Some sweet ones of the groom dressing their son in his tux. A couple really funny ones of the guys. I just love the way that men interact with each other. These guys had a really special bond. Awesome.

The wedding was beautiful. Emotional and sweet. When I first saw the bride even I teared up. Gorgeous! Everything went perfectly, and I think we captured it quite well on camera. I just hope the whole feeling of the wedding comes through. And might I say, the bride and groom give each other what can only be described as "yummy kisses" .. they put their whole heart into each one. They have a long and very happy life ahead of them. You could see it in their eyes and in their interactions. They just radiated joy and happiness.

After the wedding and a quick greeting line, we took some group pics and then took off around the museum for some fun pics. The bride and groom had also rented a limo-bus to drive us around to take more pics. We were running short on time so we did not make it to the Arch, but we did hit Union Station and the fountain out front. Then it was on to the rehearsal where the party continued. Complete with karaoke (the bride and groom met doing karaoke, they took 2nd and 3rd in a contest). I almost got on stage, but talked myself out of it. No need to get the dogs of St. Louis howling.

It was an amazing weekend with a wonderful couple, and I am so happy I was able to be a part of it.

Monday we headed back to Mississippi. I also found out that Chip was ill, throwing up and confined to the bed. So, after I dropped off Candy and Tricia, I got more gas and I headed straight down to Cleveland, MS for the kids. I was exhausted and decided to stay overnight. Probably for the best, so they wouldn't be around Mr. Sickie. Or so I thought, until about 1AM when Katie woke up and went running for the bathroom. She only puked twice, but it was more than enough. Connor woke up with all the commotion and then refused to sleep without me holding him. It took me two more hours to slowly slide my way down to where he was laying on the bed. Eventually I was able to get a couple hours of sleep, clinging to the four inches of bed that the kids left me. It was not the best night of sleep ever, but itwas enough to get us home the next day. After a leisurely morning and breakfast with Mimi and Pop Pop of course.

It was a great weekend, but a thousand miles later, it was good to sit down in my own home ... for a while. Of course now I have to get the kitchen packed up, so they can paint and start installing the new cabinets. I am going to escape the demolition and construction. I don't think two kids need to be running around in here with all of that. So, I am headed to Atlanta to spend some time with the family, leaving Chip to supervise and hopefully avoid any kind of disaster .... his average for avoidance is really low lately. Cross your fingers for him.

365 Eight going on Eighteen

Katie had a whole birthday weekend. Friday she had her Recognition Ceremony at school (remember when you just had a last day, and then you went to the next grade? I miss that). And since her birthday was on a weekend we brought in cupcakes to lunch (which were taken away before I could take a picture ...). Then she had a friend spend the night on Friday ... and on Saturday she had TWO friends spend the night. All in preparation for the BIG SHINDIG in Hell ... I mean, Chuck E Cheese. Katie was chomping at the bit to go to Chuck E Cheese, and I was trying to keep her from crawling up the walls. We set up the paints and she and Mia finally tackled the bead-type things I had made them. It killed a few minutes, and they had fun doing a little crafting.

And then, finally it was time to descend into hell ... go to Chuck E Cheese. Katie took off running the minute they showed us to our table. We didn't see her for a while ... well, I didn't. Chip had to run to Sam's Club to pick up the cake. Luckily, Mimi and Pop Pop showed up and took over Connor duty. He was dying to run off after Katie and I was left dealing with trying to tell the hostess that I DID NOT KNOW what types of drinks to put in the special kid cups ... and I did not know how many kids would be coming. ( she was really very nice, and we ended up running her to death since we kept adding kids ) So, people started trickling in, and the kids took off running with their tokens and I took *gasp* some pictures ... And I managed to take a picture of the cake before it was cut. My niece Tori and her friend Whitney. My best girlfriends were there too (with kiddos in tow of course) After almost an hour of playtime, it was time for pizza and rats .. I mean Chuck E to come out and greet the birthday kids. For the longest time Katie was terrified of the rat. She would hide from him. She would run from him. And now, here she is HUGGING him ... And she made her wish. I am sure she used it for something constructive like having better things than her friends ... or maybe she used it for the classic little girl wish of having a pony. If she was smart she would have wished that we would win the lottery .... She can just be SO selfish :)And no, that little boy that is in so many of my pictures (in the P hat) was not with our party. He was a Chuck E party crasher. He is in training for the big wedding bonanza of June.And then it was time to open presents. Katie cleaned up. $80 cash and $50 in gift cards, not to mention all the toys. Kid has more money than me right now ... so sad.And the required meltdown while redeeming tickets. Katie wanted a Polly Pocket house that cost 6000 tickets.... not quite there kid. On the way home we asked Katie if she had a good birthday .. and she started BAWLING! She didn't get her bike and she was crushed. Little did she know, Mimi and PopPop had been sent ahead to the house to get her new bike out of the garage and put it in the living room for her. SHE WAS ECSTATIC!

All in all our little girl had a fabulous birthday. She finally talked us into a birthday in hell .. Uhhh, Chuck E Cheese. Sure, it was only granted because I thought our kitchen might have been gutted by now, but she doesn't care. She had a BLAST! And it was completely worth it to see her so happy.

Thank you to all the parents and little buddies that showed up. I was so excited to see all of you, and glad that Katie had so many good friends to celebrate with.

364 And so it begins ...

Monday night I put my sweet smelling little girl to bed. Tuesday morning when I went to wake her up and get her ready for school that had changed. There she was, asleep with her arms thrown over her head, so sweet and peaceful. When I leaned over her to pick her up and carry her downstairs ... BAM!! B.O.!! Where, oh where, has my little girl gone?!
Of course, Katie was as excited as could be! She has been trying to wear my deodorant for years, but I kept telling her she would clog her pores and really have to use it because she would stink. I have clung to her youth ... CLUNG I SAY! I teared up a little, and not just from the smell. My little girl is growing up ... no one better point out the next steps to puberty. I WILL CUT YOU!
After picking out and ordering her birthday cake (SINCE SHE TURNS 8 ON SUNDAY) we dropped into Walgreens. And I thought looking at toys was bad! She had to open and smell EVERY kind of deodorant ... and turn her nose up at them. Not sure what she thought they would smell like, but she was unimpressed with most of them. My one word of advice was that she needed to stay away from "powder fresh" scents. BLECH! Some she even had to smell twice.... AND OH MY I WAS LOSING MY MIND!

And of course all this time Connor was running around like a wild man. And it has to be along the makeup wall, so he is stopping to pull stuff off. We managed to avoid catastrophe ... right up until we ere checking out. That is when he managed to open a bottle of NEON GREEN nailpolish and THROW IT! Streams of neon green spraying across the floor and shelves. The lady at the counter was so sweet. She just said, not to worry, they were stripping the floors that night anyway. She came around with a box of kleenex and we wiped most of it up. At least it was an easier clean up than the yellow nailpolish he spilled across the carpet upstairs .....

So, my little girl is growing up ... but she is not so big she doesn't want me to tuck her in at night. And she is definitely not too big to fall asleep on my shoulder. I will hold tight to the little girl that remains, while I try to raise the big girl to be strong and smart.We are also caving in and letting Katie have her birthday party in Hell ... I mean, Chuck E. Cheese. My choices were limited. Our kitchen renovations will be happening soon, and it was entirely possible the kitchen would be gutted on her birthday. But, I had to come up with invitations of course. Katie is absolutely in love with peace signs right now. She wants every shirt she sees with a peace sign ... every shoe, everything! She had been saying she wanted a peace sign birthday, so of coourse I had to figure out something. I was just messing around. I painted this peace sign, and I wasn't exactly happy with it, not sure how I wanted it to turn into the invitation. So, I took a pic and loaded it into my editing software. I wasn't happy with the color so I started to adjust it a little ... and then I had an AHA! moment. I could adjust the hue and make a bunch of different peace signs. And this is what I came up with. I don't say it often about my own artork, but I LOVE THIS! It just might have to get printed up as a poster for Katie's room.And then the actual factuals ...
And VOILA! Birthday invitations .... and CHEAP birthday invites at that. I just had them printed as 4x6 prints. Even with one hour processing that is only about 19 cents a piece. Now if I could just stop putting it off to the last minute .... maybe next year :)

363 One Piece a Week #1

Last week, Chip and I watched Julie & Julia and I was feeling inspired. Not to the point I am going to do something crazy like cook my way through a HUGE cookbook in a year, but re-commit to my New Years Resolution to MAKE ART ... At least one piece a week. If you want to get all technical I definitely take more than one pic a week ... but I am hoping to do something in addition to the photography. So, just like you will have to get used to the rose pictures, you will have to get used to the fact that the majority of the time I paint bare trees.

I love the silhouette the bare branches make.

I like the promise that in a new season there will be new life.

I like the twists and turns and knots.

I think a tree without leaves has more personality.

Nothing to hide behind, no fabrications.

Bare bones.

Beautiful.

So, this is week 1. 6x8 Acrylic

I will be adding this to my etsy shop soon, along with a few others. Just have to get off my tush and post them.

362 Wild Things

Saturday involved a trip to Wally World for diapers. And of course, no trip to Walmart is complete without buying something completely opposite from what you went in for. We parked at the garden entrance (which was my first mistake) and I was instantly seduced by the colors and smells. Flowers are an instant pick me up. So, I decided to pick me up two rosebushes. I have never grown my own roses, but I drive past a house with a profusion of them each day. And each day I want to jump out of my car and go snip off a couple ... but I have been raised not to enter another person's yard so I keep driving. Hopefully these will survive, and I won't have to covet the roses of others. I bought a "Broadway"And a "Blue Girl"And obviously you will have to put up with quite a few rose pics from me in the near future. (please don't pray for them to die, I will eventually stop flooding you with pictures of roses) I did get a few pics of not JUST the roses .... Like this one of a cute little bee.Or this one of my cute llittle boy. Connor LOVES the roses.We also experimented a little hile e were doing chocolate covered cherries the other day. I had extra chocolate and we had a kiwi, so we gave it a shot. Katie ate them FAST.And because no post is truly complete without antics from the Monkey and the Magpie ...

We had the pool cover laying out, hosing it off. Katie ran outside, saw it all wet and inviting, slid across it and decided it made a better slip'n'slide. She and Connor played all day!! And the next ... and they even played on it today. You guessed it ... more rose pics. I can't help it!