My perfect moment.

7:42 pm Monday evening. My living room is nice and clean all the toys put up. The baby is bathed and in his jammies. He has had a snack. Mat is relaxing on the couch and good tv is getting ready to start. Aghhh does it get any better than this? I am so happy in this moment that I have sat here for ten minutes and just thought to myself what did I do so right to deserve this? All the other stuff in life are just details. The only thing that truly matters at the end of the day is your family. Now that the "moment" is over Rees is standing over on the bench grunting which means he has just poopied in the pullup, which is so bad. As I say Rees what are you doing? Did you poop? He replies Pooooop. Such a short moment. LOL I can't believe how well potty training is going though, all jokes aside he is doing amazing with it. I am not pushing or making him do anything yet and he comes to me and says pee pee and he goes in and uses it as soon as his tushy hits the seat. So I hope things keep going this smoothly. Well I have a big day tomorrow so I am going to settle in and watch my Monday sitcoms that I look forward to every week then turn in early.

Sneak Peak

I took some family pictures for my friend/neighbor last week and they turned out so well I thought I would share one of my favorites. I am not done with all of them but so far I am loving this one ( I wish Mat and I had some like this) It's really pretty in color but I am in love with the black and white version. They had a family of 5 and three full grown mastiff's. Needless to say I'm gonna post some of the pics with the doggies too! They are so pretty and so HUGE. Okay I better keep working on them I'm sure their anxious to see them.

Just a little share.

He loves the tree. I hope he doesn't figure out that he can climb it or knock it over!

Back in action

It's been over a week since I blogged and I have a lot to talk about. So did any of you crazies go shopping on Friday?Sister? (Inside joke, I don't think I'll embarrass her today) I have to tell you about all the awesomely wonderful deals I got...from the comfort of my own home! Yeah, I didn't know how good the sales would be online, but now that I know I have got to tell ya I will NEVER go shopping at 5am again. I stayed up until midnight to lurk around the stores and see if any of them were doing "black Friday" sales online and to my surprise they were and it was Amazing. I shopped Old Navy and got over half my people done. Then I hit Kohls and got a ton of stuff for dirt cheap. Then Sephora. Then American Eagle. Oh the memories of hot chocolate and internet shopping on Black Friday. It makes me so happy. Then at 2am I was tucked away in bed dreaming of buy one get one free sales. You have to try it next year! Now they have a new holiday (well that's what I'm calling it) called Cyber Monday where the stores have internet sales so I'm really hyped up for that. I have done so well sticking to my budget this year. I think it has helped that I have done ALL my shopping online thus far and I haven't been tempted in the stores to buy all the "extras".

Thanksgiving. Three places to eat = big belly and stretch pants. The food was so good. The company was great. Nothing more to say.

I have a stupid cold and I have lost my voice. I just feel stupid when this happens. I worked today and I was trying to make calls on bounced checks and the people were like what? who? ... hang up! I was one mad voiceless woman. ** If you are wondering why I was trying to make those calls on a Saturday it's because I have tried numerous times during the week and had no luck so I figured they might not expect it on the weekend. Desperate I know. I have been drinking hot tea with honey and that isn't even working for me so I guess I just have to let it run it's course. I am sitting here listening to Rees cough during his nap hoping and praying that he doesn't catch it. It breaks my heart when he's sick.

I put up all my Christmas dec at the restaurant now I am trying to get geared up to go up in the attic. Oh how I dread it. It is so nasty up there. Smelly, low ceilings, dusty and worst of all a gigantic mess. Then there are pull down steps so getting the all that stuff down is hard. I can't wait until I have a real storage area. Oh well. I got my Christmas dishes out already does that count?  Off I go to get Rees up.

Here is me waiving the white flag!

Day three of trying to get good Christmas pictures went terribly wrong...surprise surprise. I tried this morning then I called Abby this evening for reinforcements and nothing, nada, zilch nil I give.  He wins. My 1 1/5 year old beat me. But, I did come out of it with some awesome blackmail pics for when he gets a little older :) So I am just exhausted. Today was supposed to be a nice pj day where him and I just bummed around and had a nice peaceful day. Well after the commotions this morning with pictures, the house work that I attempted to get done (attempted being the keyword), Rees cutting about a zillion teeth all at one time, and the robberies that are polluting our town I have had a very stressful, non relaxing day. But I didn't get out of my pj's so that was pretty sweet. So my Christmas to do list is so freakin long that I am now feeling very overwhelmed and non organized, which makes me a crazy person. I have to get a holiday game plan and get everything done early so I can enjoy the season and not have the burden of rushing around last minute. I am so not into that, but all to often it is thrown upon me from my "other" half. He is such a procrastinator and it makes me insane. He always makes up late and we have to do everything (that he is part of) last minute. I am hand making a lot of my gifts this year so I have to get a move on! I work the next couple of days so Rees man will get a little picture vacation but here is a sampling of a semi good one that I got today. I like it, it's not Christmassy (I have now coined that word fyi) but as a mom it just reminds me so much of him. Sounds weird but you other moms know what I mean.

Long day

It's almost time for bed Yay! I worked all day today. It was one of those super productive days where I got lots of "busy" work done that I have put off for weeks umm well maybe months and finally it's off my desk, which makes me so incrediably happy. So then my little man came to visit, Aunt Abby brought him over before the Thirty-One party. We had the party at 6 and it lasted a couple hours, the turn out was great and the food was yummy so I had a great time! Come home, put Rees to sleep and wind down from the day..now off to bed. I am really hoping we can stay in our jammies all day tomorrow and not have to leave the house, then reality hits and I'm sure it just won't work out that way for us. Oh well, nighty night.

Christmas pictures TAKE TWO....

Okay so I have decided that is just too stressful on Rees to get his picture taken. Look what happens to the poor kid when I bring him in my studio

This takes all the fun out of it. I am almost to the point of taking him to Walmart and letting them do it. I got him all dressed up this morning with high hopes that we could get it done and out of the way. I even tried first thing in the morning thinking he might have a little more patience about him...WRONG. So the journey for good Christmas pictures is still a work in progress.  But isn't his outfit darling!

Christmas Pictures = mommy going insane!

The whole reason I became interested in photography was because I wanted to photograph my beautiful son. Every single time we step into my studio it's like a switch flips and he turns into another child. One that is dead and determined that he WILL NOT let his mother get a good picture. Ughh... so here we go again.

I gotta admit, I am loving the last one, it is so rees! Whata turd. This was Sunday morning while I had him dressed for church (he went for the first time with his Nana) I decided to slip over and get some pictures so now I see that I will have to take pictures everyday for the next month to get the "perfect" picture. Well at least the posed, well mannered, my kid is a little angel one that your supposed to have at Christmas :)

Here is a picture of the tree I put up in the studio for Christmas pictures, although I wasn't exactly happy with it so I have changed it since then so I'll post the others soon. And anyone that needs some family Christmas pictures just come on over and I'll click away!

Do you have the spirit yet?

As previously stated this week I DO! I am a Christmasholic right now. So much so I hit up Hobby Lobby for a new tree and some new decorations partly because I needed to freshin things up and partly (and this was a bigger part) because all my other stuff is up stairs tucked deep within the scary, smelly, cramped attic with pull down stairs that sound like they are going to fall off every time I climb them so I thought a new one was a good idea. Then it hit me that it's just November, and I really shouldn't put the tree up yet for Rees to climb so I got the bright idea of setting it up in the Photog studio! I will use it as my Christmas picture scene then move it to my house...genius I know right? I love when I kill two birds with one stone figuratively of course :) So I have decorated my tree only to figure out that I did not get enough ornaments for my gigantore tree it is so dag gone tall that it is hard to get the whole tree in the frame so I have to figure out all that.... I took so many pics of the tree tonight if only I had a cooperative test subject (that wouldn't climb my tree) but I didn't so the pictures are of the lonely tree, well actually I did wrap some faux presents lol, the paper matched the decorations I couldn't resist. I will sort through the pics and show you the tree tommorow but for now check this one out I did spruce it up a little but the lighting is all natural. Do you like? I fell in love with it, but I like different stuff, I know it's not for everyone but it strikes me, makes me feel all gingerbread cookies and pine scent inside (Christmassy) I hope you all catch the spirit soon seems like there is a lot of bagh humbug right now!

The town petting zoo

Who is that crazy woman who has the 4 little donkeys and 2 llamas in her yard??? I have no idea *wink wink* All the sudden it hit me today that it's not really normal to have these animals in your yard...but all these years (6) it has been to me. Thinking back I wonder what in the world ever possessed me to want these animals? Now that I have a husband, a toddler and a store they sure have taken a back burner actually they don't even get that how bout maybe the warming drawer on the bottom of the stove!  I was outside to day trying to winterize and they were crying and carrying on for some attention. My donkeys really are great. They are more like dogs than donks. They loved to be petted and given a lot of attention. They do make wonderful pets, if you have the time. Rees is infatuated with them. He loves to get the scoop and feed them grain. I can't get him away once we start. But at last the time has come, it's time to say goodbye to these great little farm animals. I really need to find them a new home. It has to be a good home where they can get some much deserved lovin. The two females are preggo and I just can't deal with more babies!!! Although they are the cutest baby animals you will EVER see! Jersey was born a month after Rees was (she is not pregnant) the two older females are. So if anyone knows of someone in need of some mini donkeys please let me know or just send them my way! I will put some pics of them up tomorrow if I get time!

It has arrived!

As I have preached before I absolutely LOVE the Pioneer Woman. She is the shiznic. I am imaginary best friends with her...is that weird? HERE is here incredibly fabulous website. You have to go see it...right now look around then finish reading this. Her site is way more important than this!

Okay your back...good! Now for the icing on the cake. Her new cookbook arrived to me today! Yeah. It is so great. I am in love with it, the recipes, the photography, her wonderful sense of humor aghh she's is so great. And all her info is free! well, not the cookbook but it was cheap. Click HERE to buy a copy from Amazon for $15. It's a hardback with a beautiful cover, and extraordinary photography.  She has a bazillion pictures with each recipe and her recipes are super yummy and from everyday items that we have in Gallia county. Her stories will entertain you and her hilarity is unmatched. I am just in love with this book and I think everyone should own it. She gives lots of great tips too. So please please please check it out, you won't regret it. Off to cook dinner!  Oh I almost forgot here are a few pictures I took of my new prized possession.

***My kitchen light is not working for some reason that is why the lighting stinks!

Christmas

It's right around the corner! I am so stinkin excited this year. Rees is just the right age to really enjoy it. I am starting early to try an explain about Santa Claus so he just might understand it. Is he too young for that yet??? My house is so cramped that I am already stressing about a tree. I already know that it will be climbed and pulled down multiple times. And anyone that knows me, knows that I have a ton of different "themes" that I have decorated my trees with over the years, but which one can I spare? Ya know if it gets broke or whatnot. It's inevitable and I don't want to get upset about it so I am going to plan on losing a few bulbs to warfare...aka Rees. So I have decided to decorate the Korner up all pretty and I started by purchasing these adorable snowmen valances from LTD they were so cheap like $4 each I need 7 of them so I have to bargain shop! But they are really adorable and I want to decorate my tree here all nice and pretty. I hang wreaths on all the windows I enjoy going over on Sunday mornings and being by my self to decorate that big open space! The only thing that sucks is when people steal the decorations LOL, but it's happening less often now so that's a plus! I am sitting at work taking a break from reconciling my bank accounts and this was my happy thought of the morning! And as Sarah reminded my Christmas music time is approaching I just can't wait!!!

"that kid"

Okay, so Sundays are the day I usually venture to Walmart for the weekly grocery thing. I always take Rees with me. Today went horribly wrong. I have no idea who the kid in my cart was, but I didn't recognize him! I was horrified, embarrassed and I was looking for a hole to crawl in. From the moment we walked in I knew something wasn't quite right, but we really needed the necessities this time so I hated to leave, I kept on truckin and boy did he make me regret that! You know that kid that you see out in public that your thinking "was doesn't his parent do something with him" or "oh my gosh I can't believe they take that kid in public" that was so us today! LOL, it went from bad to worse to unbelievable. He was screaming Hi to everyone that passed and normally that would be all cute and adorable but today it was in a vicious loud voice that really  was terrifying. Anything he could get his hands on was immediately thrown in the floor. He unloaded my cart several times. He opened a bag of fish crackers and dumped them. You name it he did it. This was really the first time that it was this bad and I was by myself. Next time I'm am leaving the cart and we are running for the car. I just can't figure out how you punish that behavior. I mean I don't want to be "that" mom that makes a huge scene but by the time we got to the car it had went on for an hour so what the heck am I supposed to say? Just so weird and I never want to experience it again, but I somehow doubt that I will be that lucky.  Mat is spending some man time with Rees so I am doing some "me" time and I really need to get back to that so enjoy what's left of the weekend...it always fly's by.

randomage

Definition (made up by me:) Things that enter your mind through out the day that just bring a smile to your face.

I worked lunch and dinner at the store today. We are a little understaffed right now so I have spent some extra time in the kitchen, which I enjoy. I like all the girls and I love to get to interact with people and it makes the day go by so fast. But today when things were a little slow and I was wiping down my food cart I had a random thing pop in my mind...pretty couches. I know right? Weird. I was imagining finding one of those gorgeous vintage couches that was in pristine condition and made with red velvet. It brought a smile to my face then I popped out of it and realized that while I couch shopping my hand had made it's way into the mayo YUCK! After I laughed I realized how neat it was to just step outside of my worries and everyday life and just think about  "nothings". Sometimes those 60 seconds of uninterrupted bliss renew me for another day. It does sound a little dramatic I know but simple things are very important!
So here's my list of random wonderful things that make me smile!
1. Organization...oh how I love to color coordinate my closet!
2. Bernie after he comes back from the groomers, he smells heavenly
3. Vintage couches (as previously mentioned)
4. Christmas ornaments
5. Pretty Yarn
6. Ice storms (I love the way the trees look)
7.  Stationary
And this list goes on and on. Drifting off into la la land is not always a bad thing in my opinion just like when Rees is watching his morning dose of Yo Gabba Gabba (A mind numbing childrens program) day dreaming is what gets me through LOL...that show is so bad! Well my break is over back to work I go!

Progression

It is so amazing to watch a childs development. I just can't believe how much knowledge Rees already has learned in his 20 short months. This morning we were playing with a bag of those oversized lego blocks. Rees likes to seperate all the colors then it is so neat to watch him build. I just can't believe he puts together the things he does. I didn't realize that children picked up on so many things. Things that I have never pointed out to him, he has just picked up on. These small, but wonderful accomplishments are so rewarding to watch. I am so glad that I get to be around and watch him progress. I have to thank my momma for giving me that wonderful gift! Without her I wouldn't get to have this time with him and I am so lucky to have such an amazing mom. I love you!!! Aparently I am feeling a bit sappy today, but it's just one of those moments ya know??? I just didn't think about all the small things along the long road of becoming an adult and it has given me priceless experiences just observing Rees growing up. I was so clueless about being a parent. Everyone always said "you just don't know" and I always thought that it was an exageration but turns out you people did know what you were talking about. It is just so wonderful that's all I can say!

I went a little overboard...

So I decided I needed to order myself some new pictures of Rees. I took some last week that turned out really well. So I couldn't choose which ones to print then I decided to make collages. Once I got started I couldn't stop! I ended up ordering 5 collages ranging in size from 10x20 to 20x20 LOL, as everyone knows we are limited on wall space so I'm not sure what I am going to do with these when they get here but I couldn't stop designing them. Going into the holiday season is so exciting this year. I can't wait to start taking Christmas pictures! I have had a lot of shoots lately and they have all come from word of mouth, that has been so encouraging. I love photography! I am looking forward to putting together something fun for holiday pictures!
Here's what I put together and ordered for myself.

 

Woo Hoo I did it!

After a couple hours of fiddling with it I finally created my own blog. I have been obsessing about learning how to do it from scratch and after a lot of research I finally got it. I just love the little turkeys for Thanksgiving it puts me in the mood to cook! After Rees goes to bed at night I play on the computer if I don't have work to do, well "important" work to do lets say. As I have preached many times there is a wealth of free knowledge just waiting to be learned! If you have any interest in making or improving your own blog you have got to check out this site Easy Custom Blogs. Blogs are great ways to stay in touch with people without having to make a bunch of calls everyday or just think if you could set up a blog for you childs class and keep parents updated with all the fun stuff happening in their class. That home room mom would  be the Bestest!! I have had such a great response from everyone (yeah I actually have readers...who knew?) that I would love to encourage people to start a family, mom or just a for fun blog and if you decided to forward me the link I want to keep up with ya'll! You will be amazed at how addicting and constructive it is. I even found a place that will print your blog and bind it into a book. How cool is that! All the pictures I post of Rees that might be a good idea to have for him when he gets older. Okay, enough play time my stupid ol' laundry won't fold it's self so I better get to it. I have to have a clean house and no laundry by Sunday night so I can start out fresh on Mondays! I know kinda weird but it's my thing!