Holiday Chaos - I've been self diagnosed

This time last year, was complete and utter CHAOS. I was taking photos, printing cards, reprinting cards, and taking more photos. And to top it all off, I was pregnant and highly emotional, all of this adds up to one big giant ball of stress. It was not such a good holiday.

This year I was determined to make it different and to feel different. I have been still photographing, but I put aside the card printing (trying to learn from my mistakes) and I decided to take a break from being pregnant too, just to guarantee a more Merry holiday. I thought all was going well, till this morning.

As I was reading a friend's blog she posted she was having a baby boy! I was completely surprised. As I read farther on it turns out she had an earlier post that she thought she was having a girl. As I read, I felt like the worst friend, that I had no clue she was even pregnant, let alone halfway through! I was silently blaming my husband for not even passing on the good news. Which then I thought, maybe he doesn't even know yet.

I started tracking down the post for when my friend initially posted her good news (thinking maybe no one knew she was pregnant, and the gender post was her initial announcement). Turns out that she did make her grand announcement clear back in August. As I was reading her comments of her good friends wishing her well, lo and behold there was a friendly comment from who else...?

ME! I am seriously losing it. I don't remember posting my comment at all. Like I said before I didn't even think I knew she was pregnant. I thought my good blogging husband must have put a comment on there for me. After reading what I wrote, it was definitely not my husbands comment.

How can this be? Is it truly possible to forget all of this and be just as surprised 4 months later!? I have resorted to blaming it all on the holidays and I will just start diagnosing my condition (because I think there is a condition here) to HOLIDAY CHAOS.

So to my good friend that is expecting a boy! CONGRATS AGAIN, I really am so happy for you!

I'm a Darfish

From the desk of Darrin:

So the other night I was home with the kids (“babysitting”). As I was cleaning up dinner I almost stepped on Eden, because she was right behind me just lying on the floor like this.
I asked her what she was doing and she didn't respond. So I stepped over her and kept doing my thing. I again almost stepped on her lying on the floor (she had moved to a new spot). I asked her again what she was doing, "I'm a darfish” she said. “What is a darfish”, I asked. “Darfishs don't talk” she said. It took me about 10 minutes and finally Baylie coming into the kitchen and telling me that she was a Starfish before it all made since. I will miss these days of little kids, and their imagination. I love them so much.

wrist-strap required

We are so fortunate for our TV that our children always wear the safety strap while playing the Wii. As for our girls standing so close to each other while playing Wii Tennis, well that lesson was learned the hard way!

Let it snow

Our first snowfall. I bundled up the girls and got the camera. As I was watching them, and especially Jaya when she stuck her tongue out to catch the snow, I was overwhelmed with that childhood wonderment. Do you remember that? How everyday brought something new.

My friend just recently passed on her mother's wisdom that as a mother we need to make everyday magical. I've been thinking about that, and wondering and hoping that I do that.

What I've realized is that a kids' life is already magical, it's just up to me to play along.

The Jesses'

So I had the amazing opportunity to photograph my brother's wedding and it wasn't until it was all said and done that I could take a deep breath, and enjoy the pictures. It was fun to shoot, but it was a stressful day in general, I will spare you the details, and just share the pics...

Candyland

I know this is late, and I posted all the pics on FB but then I thought not everyone goes to FB. Plus, after all the time spent to make the costumes, can I really only post them one place??

Welcome to Candyland...

Darrin is Mr. Mint, I wish we would have gotten a better pic of his ax because it was one of the best parts of the outfit (and the only real reason he wanted to be Mr. Mint). I was Lord Licorice, but we changed it to "Lady Licorice" - Darrin didn't want to be on a date with a guy!

Kale played Plumpy

Eden was the charming Mr. Jolly

Baylie - Princess Lolly

Jaya was Queen Frostine

Speed limit 30 ahead

Today is the last day of my 20's...Here are my discoveries

I got married when I turned twenty...therefore my entire 20's have been with my husband Darrin. I had several people think I was too young to be married at 20, I am sure they felt I missed out on living independently in the real world. But as for me, I have never been one to want to live independently. In High School I wouldn't even go through the drive-thru by myself. It's a complete compliment to my husband when I say that my twenties were FULL of excitement, life, adventure, discovery and more!

I had 4 kids in my 20's...Am I one of those mothers that wanted all of her kids by the time she turned 30? No. I never personally had that goal, but I guess that is what happens when you are on what I call the fast track (kids spaced 2 years apart). I will admit some days I have questioned our spacing, but they're only moments of chaos, and then things always seem to calm down, till it starts back up! This is a no brainer, I would have never done this differently.

I discovered 30 isn't that old...There is no reason to regret, wish different and hope for changes with the life I have had so far. I have loved and learned from all of it. All the different cities we've lived in I've learned something from. All the friends I've met along the way I have learned valuable lessons from and cherish all of those people. And even with all this "Life Experience" I am still a Spring Chicken!

Bring it on...I've loved each and every year of my 20's, the ups the downs, and the flat roads too. I don't regret any of it, I don't wish I could change any of it, because then I may not be here, where I am now, writing about the love I've had for them. So 20's you were good to me, and I thank you, but I just want to tell my 30's BRING IT ON, I'm ready for you!!

I'm now a raccoon lover

I seriously can't stand how cute this kid is! I put this outfit on and couldn't stop kissing him. Without the outfit I kiss him too, but honestly who can resist a baby when they are wearing a raccoon hat?

Preschool Bug

My little Baylie Bug has started preschool. After thinking she wasn't going to get in, and determining we were going to have a great year at home, I got a call from the school that she had been excepted. Because I had come to terms with her being home for the year I had alot harder time letting her go then I thought I would.

The day of, she anxiously asked nearly every half hour if it was after lunch yet (because she is afternoons).

It feels so strange to have two children leaving my home, even if one is only half day. Were has the time gone?

Just plain dirty fun

Sometimes pictures can tell the whole story, but what they can't show you is how dirty I felt this last Labor Day. We were excited to be invited to go with some friends 4-wheeling. But a day in the wind and desert just make for one fun dirty day. It was a day of firsts for alot of us... Eden got to ride, Jaya got to drive, and I drove a dirt bike for the first time.

Day 11 - Tomatoes

OH the joy of canning! 2 days ago some friends and I spent the morning picking tomatoes at a local farm. Then yesterday we canned all day. I got to my friends house at 9am and left at 5pm, still needing to hot bath all the tomatoes, but I am close to having it done. I am so ready to have the tomato smell off of my hands.

Day 10 - Peaches

So this is not a fun post and there is no picture, but I got rid of a box of peaches that were on my table. I decided to freeze the peaches this year, so now I have 4 freezer bags of peaches. Yea!

Understanding

I don't want this post to sound like I don't like newborns but I just have to say they aren't my favorite age. I do appreciate with my whole soul how much they sleep as newborns but I start to wonder if they will ever show personality. Then they start to smile, and I think to myself "this is why I had a baby." I love it when they are more aware of what is around them and those smiles, oh...I just love those smiles.

Day 9 - Kid's Cupboard

I have a cupboard that would literally jump out at you when you opened it. That's because everything was just thrown in and then I would shut it fast. So today was the day to conquer this cupboard. I got a little worried because as I started organizing it looked as if my entire house had exploded, I wasn't sure if we would recover but we did just nicely, and dinner was only a half an hour late.

So now this cupboard has a sole purpose and that is for the kids. Crayons, pencils, playdough, markers, books, and homework pals all go in here. I love it, I can't wait to see what they create!

Back on the bike

I have not worked out for about 3 months straight now and it's starting to take it's toll. It's taking it's toll on my body of course but alot of it is mental too. I am ready to work out again. This is a tricky phase because I am still not sleeping much so the idea of waking up at 6am and working out, just isn't happening. Fortunately Darrin had Friday off so I took full advantage and tried out my new road bike. I got it a month before the baby was born, but I wasn't brave enough to try it.

It was a pretty good ride, except for one minor detail. I forgot to figure out the shifting before I left. I shifted to the low gear that you mainly spin your wheels in and couldn't change it from there. After about 3 miles of that, I was done for the day. I had Darrin show me the shifting, so I am ready to go again, hopefully on Monday.

Day 8 - Office supplies cupboard

Another much needed change. Need I say more? Oh, look at the top shelf almost completely empty, I am not sure I know what to do with an empty shelf.

Day 7 - Entertainment with a little decor

My entertainment center, and my piano are main pieces of furniture in our house. For years I have decorated with the same stuff, because that is what I had...well no more. I took down everything I didn't like and just did a little rearranging.

On the piano I added a picture of Kale, and took down all the other stuff that I just didn't like. Then I took the pictures from the entertainment center and arranged them a little different and cleaned up everything a bit.

Day 6 - Hair bows

So there has been a bag on my floor for about 3 weeks now, and it's been full of bow making supplies. In normal situations this could just all be put away in a craft corner but this time a majority of the supplies needed are my friends, so they were waiting to be assembled. So today was a bow making day.

Now this may sound weird coming of out my mouth but I would never want to make bows for a business, after making these, it's A LOT of work. I can do the occasional assembly because they are super cute.

HE asked & SHE said YES!

My brother is officially engaged!

October 24th is the big day.

CONGRATS!!

Day 5 - Bathroom Shelf Clutter

This project was going to be fast and simple because I started at 9pm, and didn't have the energy to take on a big task. So I thought simple, I will do the top of the guest bathroom shelf. As you can see needs some work right?

Then as I opened the drawer, to put some of it away I found this...Yikes!

You can't tell from this picture but some of the baby powder had spilled out so this drawer ended up getting a complete overhaul, dumped out, wiped down, the works!

Here is the whole shelf complete. Love it!

Day 4 - Glider rocker also known as laundry basket

Okay so after 4 days of posting pictures of my messes, I am beginning to seriously wonder how I walked around all of this for so long. I do have a valid excuse (having baby) and I will continue to use that to make myself feel better, maybe till he's even a year old, or however long it takes.

Today's mess was a combination of laundry and again sorting out seasons and sizes of boy clothes. Laundry is tricky because it must be constantly done and I am usually finding my green chair with little loads of clothes on it. That being said I am trying to turn over a new leaf and I hope this chair stays clean and clear so it will serve it's original purpose of a rocker.

Blessed Day

August 16th Kale was blessed and it was a great day. We were surrounded with family that had traveled from near and far, it helped that Darrin's parents had returned home from their mission and his siblings had come, but I like to think it was all for little Kale. We were fortunate to be able to do it at the Case's home, so it was very relaxed and his actual blessing was beautiful. I just love this little boy.

Day 3 - Office drawer

Running a photography business on the side while being a wife and mother has taken it's toll in the filing cabinet. I have one drawer dedicated to this business and all in all I think it's pretty impressive that it's consolidated to a drawer, but the drawer was a mess. It was amazing the pile that got thrown away (I should have gotten a picture of that!) So here is my newly organized office drawer...