Moving responsibilities...

So if you didn't know we've moved 11 times...this makes the 12th and final move. So I'm pretty much a pro packer. Not that I enjoy it, because I can assure you I DO NOT. So when people want to help I kinda cringe inside and respectfully decline. Not because of pride but because I have a method and there's no rhyme to my rhythm. I just like to pack at my own pace. Anyway there's a lot more to moving than just packing (cleaning, organizing, de-junking, etc). One of the things I needed to get done before moving was pressure washing. We have this big play structure that I want to sell so I needed to clean the YEARS of grim off of it. So I finally got around to it today and the kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. Except Lula who hid just behind the sliding glass door. Oh, and the dog, who darted around not knowing what to do. Life can't be all stress and work, I couldn't stop giggling thinking about pressure washing my children clean...



I did actually get my work done...If you know anyone who needs this, email me.

A quick update...

on the house! So we paid a fortune to have an appraisal done and it came back low. The bank that is foreclosing on the house had to do another evaluation of the home to determine whether or not they would come down on the price. It took weeks...of course. Nothing about this has been quick! They came back and agreed to drop the price, YA!!! We are now buying the house for less than our original offer. That's the good news. The bad news is that because of all this it has delayed our closing. We gave our landlords notice and they re-rented the house were living in. So in a week we will be homeless! We're packing up right now. We're going to move our things into the garage of the new house since it's just sitting vacant anyway. We'll probably have to live in a camper for about 3 weeks. It's really not the end of the world at all. We're just totally pumped that things are moving along.

Lula at 1

We're going to count this as Lula's 1 year photo shoot. It was really a photo shoot for a boutique owner's spring line but we used Lula as a model. Since she's now over 13 months and I haven't gotten around to doing a shoot with her, I'm killing two birds with one stone here.
Lula is still the light of our lives. Everyone in this family dotes on her. She's spoiled rotten and has more clothes and accessories than Taylor and I combined. She's walking/running and just starting to try and talk. She say momma and daddy of course. But she's started saying yummy and I'm pretty sure she said Max (the dog) yesterday. Whenever I yell at the dog, she stands next to me and yells at him in baby talk right along with me...so cute. She's a little ball of energy and keeps me on my toes big time. She's the typical toddler who likes to empty cupboards, unravel toilet paper, empty drawers of folded clothes, you get the idea. I'll always miss the baby day's now that they're over for me but I'm loving this new phase in her life. To watch your child's personality unfold is really one of the greatest joys a mother can have.

Free Bowling

So we found out about this free bowling program for kids and jumped on it. You can join from any where in the USA, just click here and you can sign up to. Maybe we'll see you at the alley this summer!






Check out Lula's fabulous shoes!

Sushi

Alan has loved Sushi forever. He had a friend in middle school who's parents would take them out to Japanese for dinner all the time. That's when he fell in love with all things Japanese, including Sushi. I personally don't touch the stuff with a ten foot pole. Since I'm a good wife I try not to rain on his Sushi parade though. We go out to eat at his favorite Japanese restaurant every couple of months and we were there just before his birthday. He mentioned that he would like to learn how to make Sushi. So for his birthday I put together a Sushi making kit for him and bought him a book and DVD. He's been all jazzed to give it a try and today was the day. He did a great job right and now he's on his way to being a real pro. I can't vouch for how it tasted because as you'll remember I won't touch it but it looked awesome! Of course I had to take some pics to document this historic day. Next he's planning to throw a Sushi party. First we need a house to throw it in so it'll be a few months.






Taylor gave it a whirl herself. She opted for no seaweed or seafood...can you blame her? She put cream cheese and avocado in the middle.

Memorial Day at Owens Beach

We spent the day at Owens Beach yesterday and we had such a great time. It was a bit cold but that ok. The kids ventured into the water for about 5 minutes of the 5 hours we were there. They ended up just exploring the beach and making forts the whole time. Owens beach is great for that. It's covered in logs and drift wood.
We had BBQ steaks and corn which is our family favorie. It was just a nice relaxing way to spend the day after weeks of craziness. I need more days like this one.
P.S. Don't judge my pics, I took the old school 3 megapixel point and shoot. I'm going to do that more often until I get a good point and shoot because I'm sick of lugging around 15 pounds of equipment!








I had to play catch up today with work. I've been in "the zone" all day at my computer. Here's what can happen to poor neglegted children when their moms aren't paying close enough attention.

Remind me to breath...

I have been so incredibly busy these last few weeks. I'm a little overwhelmed by it all. I can't even begin to explain all the reasons why I'm busy, I just am. Blogging has not been high on my priority list so I'm sorry to have been neglectful. I'm so busy photographing other people that I haven't taken many pictures of the goings on in my own family. I was cleaning up my laptop hard drive when I came across these pictures that I snapped a few months ago. They don't tell much of a story but they sure did make me smile and feel all mushy and happy inside.


My kids are pretty amazing and have been so understanding and supportive of me as I try to build a business. I've been working full time lately along with trying to juggle the household. It leaves me a bit frazzled. The kids have stepped it up a notch and have taken on even more responsibility. After a particularly bad day Alan reminded me that when we were kids we spent far more time doing chores than our kids do and that it wouldn't hurt to add a few chores to their list. So now on top of doing the dishes, table, and vacuuming they are doing their own laundry as well. They aren't exactly pleased with it but they get it done without to much grumbling. I gave them a little incentive. Instead of threatening or punishing, I give them a privilege. They only get to play video games, computer and t.v. on the weekend. So I told them that if they have all their laundry done on Wednesday they can have a free day. They LOVE this and it totally motivates them to get their chores done.
If only I could figure out how to motivate Alan to do some chores. After 12 years I still haven't figured out how to get him to do housework!!!

My nephews photo shoot

No name now has a name...Grant Alexander Thomas Collins. I took his first real portraits on Mothers Day. He sure is a beautiful little guy. He did what I expect most newborns to do...peed all over his momma, then finally went to sleep so we could get some great pictures. There's a few more over at my photography blog, if you want to see those click here. I would love to see more comments on my photog blog so leave me a note and let me know you peek in.

Enjoy!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL YOU WOMEN WARRIORS OUT THERE. TODAY IS OUR DAY AND I PLAN TO ENJOY EVERY SECOND!

So far this morning I was able to sleep in until 9:00 am (woohoo). I was brought a fantastic breakfast in bed. This is a yearly tradition that the kids look forward to more than anything. Alan made me a Monte Cristo sandwich (yum) and a Mormon mimosa (double yum). I ate with 5 pairs of eyes watching my every bite with gleeful anticipation. One four year old jumping on the bed because he couldn't wait for the present opening to begin. I was gifted with two absolutely beautiful handmade ceramic creations from my talented 11 and 9 year old. Last but not least my husband and daughter picked out new dishes for my new kitchen and I couldn't have picked out a better set myself.
Alan reminded the kids that I am not supposed to do ANYTHING today. They asked what kind of things I'm not supposed to do. Alan told them like clean up and do the dishes. Tanner reminded us that he already does the dishes so he's not actually saving me from doing them. I guess we'll have to come up with something else for him to save me from.
So here I am still laying in bed at 10:30 and I'm getting bored. I love it when I get bored!!!

Here's a cute little mother's day laugh for you! These were answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:


Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.


How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.


What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.


Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.


What kind of a little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.


What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?


Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.


Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection.. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.


What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.


What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.


What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect.. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.


If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

That's right...#1!

Yesterday was the pinewood derby. A long awaited, long prepared for event. Tanner has been slaving away on the perfect car for 2 months. Grandma and Grandpa got him a book with secrets to win the pinewood derby for Christmas. He's been following the tips in the book and apparently they work. Tanner took 1st place in his division and 2nd for the whole night. He took it all very serious. At the final race kids were chanting his name and he just took it all humbly. He's so different from his Dad and Mom that way. We are totally competitive and we love to talk smack. Not Tanner, he just acts all humble with this little grin on his face if he wins. I can't really describe it, it's just so him. He's totally proud of himself and that's all that really matters to him. Here's and example from last week.

Tanner: "I haven't decided where I'm going to put my trophy".
Me: "Huh, what trophy?"
Tanner: "The pinewood derby trophy I'll get when I beat everyone!"

He's was totally confident that he would win and totally pleased when he did.







Oh and P.S. Lula's walking. I tried to push her down whenever she get's up. I tried holding her all day long so she didn't know how to use her legs. I even debated tying weights to her legs, but I thought that might be a little much. No matter, nothing worked. She's walking now and my little baby is a little girl. This marks the end of an era for me. I'm ok with it now that it's here, but it's still a little bittersweet.