I suck

Well, I said it. I suck. I can't believe that I only made it two months out of 12 in the 365 challenge. I was so excited and motivated to document our year, but stuff happens and belive me there hasn't been much this past week that I want to document, more that I would rather forget about actually. It's been a tough week between the store, my hubby working 60+ hours a week, Rees not sleeping well (which means mommy doesn't either) and all of lifes other worries. Enough boo hooing, I need to suck it up and get back in the swing of life. I think I have kinda went into hiding or something LOL! I think I'm just going to go back to recreational blogging. I do much better with that.
A good friend and I are having a portrait event at a local business next weekend. We have worked really hard to prepare for it and we're both obsessed with being organized so I'm sure we're doing way more than we would actually have to, but I'm sure all the hard work will pay off and hopefully the event will go flawlessly, I can dream right? LOL! So I was in my studio today practicing with my lighting and a tripod. Well of course Rees wouldn't sit still for 5 seconds to help me so I had to try and be the test subject. Now I feel his pain, LOL! I didn't like it either. It took so long I had to put him down for his nap then go back over. I was trying out some new stuff and wanted to make sure I had a good handle on it before our event. I had to set the self timer and then run over to the seat, I did that like 50 times. This picture kinda sums up my mood. I was  little aggravated at this point, but I'm happy to report I figured my light settings out!

Day - 49 Laundry day

There are 2 adults and a toddler in our house. Where does all the laundry come from? I have done 4 loads today and have 3 more to do. I HATE laundry.

Day 48 - Puzzles

We pulled out some wooden puzzles that I have been hiding away in Rees' closet, the first time we tried them he was too little and he lost some pieces (which makes me nutty) This time around was a whole different story. He was so good, he got all of them except the ABC puzzle put together. We had a great time doing puzzles over and over again. I think he regrets losing those pieces because he seemed rather annoyed that there were empty spots in his puzzles too.

This was a fruit roll up break he took, but he had to have one of his puzzles with him.

Special post for a "special" family

Let me introduce you to the Roe Family. They were kind enough to come over and let me take pictures of their beautiful family for an upcoming event I need to promote. We had a good time and we accomplished everything I needed too, but there was one "problem child" in the bunch. This boy was really hard to work with, didn't take direction well, and had something really funky going on with his eyes. Geez I feel sorry for Mrs.Roe.

Just kidding Jason! You were great to work with this was too funny not to share :)

Day 47 - Meet my extended family

Did you know I have a petting zoo? Well not really, but close to it. I have 4 donkeys and 2 llamas right outside my back door. They are all really friendly and love attention. This cold weather is probably getting old to them too! Let me introduce you...

 

This is Momma Llama 

Original I know, but when I got her she had a baby and I thought it had a cute ring to it.

This is Baby Llama

I know, not original either, but she was my baby 7 years ago. 

This was Mat's first anniversary present to me and I love it.

 

This is Twiggy

She is the latest addition to our donkey collection. I think she's preggo!

 

This is Jersey

She's a little dirty right now, but when she's all cleaned up she is adorable.

 

This is Ruby (front) and Donkey trailing her

I couldn't isolate Donkey from her long enough to get his close up! He LOVES Ruby :)

So this is my petting zoo. Before I had Rees I had free time to take care of them and love on them and Ruby used to run around the yard with me when I was working in my flower beds. She never tried to run away, she knew she had it good :)

So thanks for taking time to meet all my furry buddies!

 

Have a great day!

Day 46 - Another big storm

Enough is enough already! Snow is beautiful and I love playing outside in it, but two weeks straight of it is too much. The weather is predicting another big one for us. This picture is untouched. The sky really looked like this and then about an hour later the snow came in with a vengeance.

Day 45 - BLOG MAKEOVER!

I've had this blog design ready for over a week now. I was counting down the days until V-day so I could switch them out. Designing blogs is so much fun. I'm already thinking of what my next one will be. I have acquired so much useful knowledge from the internet about blog design and coding and it's all free! So my picture for the day is the one in my header of my little baby boy who will turn 2 in March.

Day 44 - Grocery trip on a Saturday night

We are livin' it up this weekend! I worked this morning, came home took a 3 hour nap with Rees then we loaded the family up and went to Walmart grocery shopping and it's around 10:00 and I'm headed to bed. I just can't get enough sleep this week??? Must be this snowy, dreary super cold weather we're having. This is our snack basket. This basket is the most important thing in our kitchen according to Rees. He would live off snacks if we would let him. Just recently he has learned that scooting the chair over to the counter and climbing up is much easier than begging mommy for 20 minutes until she gives in :) NOT A GOOD THING! He can now remove the baby gates what am I to do? Things were so easy when he could only crawl!

Day 43- At least the cat had a good day

Fridays are supposed to be fun, care free and nights that you stay up late. Well none of those applied to me. Fun we had to cancel our plans to go out with our friends because my hubby had to work late, care free work was very stressful yesterday lots of stuff to do and not enough hours to get it all done and staying up late yeah right I was passed out by 9:30 (from exhaustion). I'm just glad that Friday is gone this week! I'm sure the weekend will be better. But, on a brighter note the kitten sure was in good spirits he laid on the recliner all night long and managed to avoid being captured by Rees.

Day 42- The look

So today I wanted a cute pajama pic. It didn't really go that well. Little man was not havin it, every time I would raise my camera this is the look I would get. And after promising an assortment of delicious candy treats (at bedtime, I know that's horrible, but I was desperate) this is the best he could do.  Don't you love the striped pj's and the plaid wallpaper together??? That was the bench he just had to sit on and at that point I was too tired to argue.

Day 41- You must think we live in the bath tub.

I know I post a ton of bath time pictures, but it just occurred to me in addition them being adorable it's the one place were his is "captured" for the lack of a better word. He can't get away from me or my camera! Notice none of them ever have eye contact, but that doesn't matter they're still adorable to me!

Day 40 - It finally happened!

I have to thank my good friend Mary for spending a lot of time and exerting an extreme amount of patience and kindness to my son and myself today.  I woke up on a mission. GET GOOD PICTURE OF SON...that's all I could think about so that's what I did! I bathed him, gelled his hair, embroidered him a shirt, blew him up some balloons and asked Mary for her help :) Taking Rees' pictures is not a one person job let me tell you. She was so patient and sweet with Rees and thanks to her I got a TON of awesome pictures to use. I can't tell you how happy I am right now. Is it weird that I get so hyped up over his? Oh well, I don't care if it is. I take pictures or a lot of other children and they always turn out so cute and it's so hard for me to get good pictures of my own child...see my frustration? I am just so stickin happy I have permagrin! Here's a little cutesy one that I thought was a sweet snap.

Day 39- Spaghetti

A pictures worth a thousand words.

Day 38 - Super bowl Sunday

Okay, so I'm not gonna front, I don't like football, but I love a good excuse to get together, eat and have a good time. That's the true meaning of SBS to me. My sister had a great party tonight that was so much fun! The food was so yummy (all appetizers...my favorite!) I have a lady that I get all my cakes and cookies from and I had her make some super bowl cookies for my sista who is madly in love with the Colts take a look.

Day 37 - Really?

So, as I have previously complained about my dear son being very hard for me to photograph (especially in the studio)  this is yet another example of his absolute disgust of me taking his picture. I can promise him the world and it makes NO difference he does everything imaginable to NOT take a good picture. Anyone have any good tricks? It's really starting to get me down I need a good picture for his B-day invites. I already have them designed now I just need a good picture to put in them.

Day - 36 IKEA the greatest place on Earth

So the hubby and I ventured to Cincinnati for our first IKEA experience and believe me it is truly an experience. IKEA is gigantic. The entire top floor, which has the same amount (or possibly more) of floor space that Walmart has is set up as furnished rooms. They look exactly like someone lives there. Pull the kitchen drawers out and see all the kitchen tools you could ever dream of having and they all have price tags. Then just write down the item number with the pencil and pad they give you and they after your finished exploring the top floor head down stairs and shop! It was so fun. They have a great cafe to eat at. A nursery to babysit your children (we didn't have our little man, but he would have LOVED their playland) and they even sell groceries. Every detail of the IKEA experience is unique, even the shopping carts are amazing. I know this sounds silly, and originally I thought I had a broken cart but the wheels on the cart turn slide all over the floor. I can't think of words to describe it, but just know when you get your cart the first time it's going to be hilarious! So now that I have my love affair for IKEA out in the open I want to share one of my favorite finds. We bought Rees an awesome chair that hangs from the ceiling. It is so cool. and the best part, it was only $34. If you could see how cool this chair is in person you would be amazed. Here is Rees enjoying it.

Day 35 - More bath time

Bath time at our house is the biggest event of the day. We love it so much that sometimes we take 2-3 a day. Rees and I were kind of lazy today, since someone (Rees) has gotten up in the middle of the night for the past two weeks we are just worn out. My hubby and I are like zombies. Today has been especially bad for me since I had 10 little toes digging into my back during the night my back has been killing me all day. We had a late bath today and he played in the tub for an hour. He loves to wash himself (of course I re-wash him) but he was wetting his hair in this shot preparing to shampoo it.

Day - 34 Gloomy outside

It's that time of year for me. The time where the flowers are depressing, the yard is muddy and the trees all look like they are on their last leg. This is my koi pond. It is so "dead" looking. It still has ice chunks from our last snow fall and the forecast is saying we are going to get sleet/ice/snow tomorrow & Saturday so it looks like there is no end it sight. Hurry up Spring!

I got an award!

I got this fabulous award from Heather at butterfly girl ms blog designs. I'm very pleased to accept this award and pass it on to my 12 lucky followers/friends. This award brought a smile to my face when I needed it most.  Thanks Heather I greatly appreciate it!





Here are the rules I must oblige by in order to pass it on:

•   Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
•   Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
•   Link the nominees within your post.
•   Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
•   Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Here are my 12 great bloggers I am passing this fabulous award onto:

1. Rita at Coffee Shop
2. Jeanette at Easy Custom Blogs  
3. Vicki at Project 365 
4. Olivia at Robin Blogs 
5. Jill at Sneaky Momma Blog designs 
6. Eating Elephants 
7. Kami at Kami Buchanan Designs 
8. Kara at Kara's Party Ideas 
9. Sarah at My Four Hens 
10. Alison at She's one crafty mama 
11. The Polka Dot Chair 
12. Kellie at This Blessed Nest

Day - 33 A trip to the fabric shoppe

As you have probably noticed if you follow this blog I am highly addicted to crafting. It's like my drug. I get on crafting binges and just can't think about anything other than my next craft fix. LOL, with that said my "next fix" is a quilt for Rees with his name appliqued on it. So cute, relatively easy and an absolute must have for him. Being that we do not have any place to purchase fabric in our little town now that Walmart is not carrying fabric anymore (not that it was good fabric anyways) I ventured to a neighboring town to go to their amazing fabric shoppe. When you walk in the door it's like your walking back in time. It's so old school and wonderful. I'm not a huge quilter or anything, but I do LOVE collecting fabrics. Unfortunately they didn't have the fabric line I was looking for,but I found me so amazing Christmas fabrics on sale that I had to have. See what I mean about addicted? Who buys Christmas fabric in February? Just thought I would share my treasures.

Day 32 - Meltdown

Crabby, impossible, unexplainable, crazy, silly, whiny, loving, hateful those are the words to describe my son today. The poor little man has been on the edge of insanity all day long. One minute he is crying the next he's laughing (a lot more crying than laughing though). He has had a very emotional day. The past week has been really terrible in the sleeping and eating department for him and I think it's all catching up with us now. He wakes up during the night about 3ish and stays up for a couple hours then goes back to bed. It's is starting to really take a toll on ALL of us! He got his shots last week and every since then he hasn't been eating very well either. The mixture of those two things and then me trying to take some pictures for his birthday invitations has really pushed him over the edge this evening. This is really the only picture that I can do anything with out of the whole session we had in my studio. I guess I'm going to have to torture him some more later this week :)