Today I shall change that by proceding to the cool things going on latley….

Cool thing #1:

my *new* camera

Canon EOS 5D MarkII. Can you say boo-ya?

My beautiful, beloved, badass camera.  Check it… You dig?

It was a momentous purchase that has been accompanied with absolutley no regrets.  I didn’t take it out of the box for 3 days.  I didn’t trust myself to hold it, much less take the lens cap off.  I’m still drooling.

Cool thing #2:

She is five years old now.

She proudly holds the title of ‘most likely to give her parents hell.’

I think she is wonderful.

I think she is strong-willed.

I think her daddy and I have our work cut out for us.

Word on the street is, I’m paying for my raising.

I’ve always been up for a challenge.

Cool thing #2:

dimpled hineys

"Seriously mom?"

Good lookin grins…

Spunky blue eyed little boys that love their momma….

Mobile little men coming at the camera with a vengence….

thanks for the picture ms. padilla!

This is our life.  It’s messy.  It’s inefficent.  It’s unorganized. It’s relaxed and usually filled with laughter.  It’s something to be seriously thankful for.

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I don’t know what else to say except HE’s BiG.

And he’s got BIG blue eyes….not from me.  Mine happen to be a pretty shade of urine yellow/green.

I’m not bitter though….

Because as he grows, he reminds me of Joe Bill (that’s my dad).

Max may of have never had the pleasure of experiencing Joe Bill’s company….

but the BELLY…..

the belly is proof.

He’s got Joe Bill’s belly.

But the belly is not the only character trait I see shining through each day…..

It’s his laugh.

And usually it’s Lauren who can coax the gut laugh right outta him with ease….

But today it was my turn.  Mia and Presley went to a friends house to play.   They went to play with their Georgie…..who is beautiful.  I just happen to have proof….

everybody knows Georgie is one of my favorite kids in the world…..

I’ve known her since she was in my Kindergarten class circa 2005…or was it 2006?….

The girl has killer freckles.

But I got off track here…..

What?!?  Freckles?!?  I got embroidery hoops up in here!

Embroidery hoops that your momma never uses….and one good lookin’ grin…

Whose grin reminds me of Joe Bill.  Through and through.

and one ‘duh’ look you must have inherited from your momma….

Sorry about that Max, I’m appaled as well…..

Genetics can be a real bitch.  But I will always love you.  Because I will always me your momma……

We’re off to a roaring start.

Today she comes home with a note from her teacher.

It’s a friendly reminder note. .  .  .  directed to me.

The note simply stated the importance of bringing Mia’s backpack and folder to school everyday.

Awesome.

I am a teacher here dudes.  This kinda business should come naturally to me.  I should understand the importace of bringing her crud to school.  Do you think that’s prevented me from walking out the door and leaving the damned backpack sitting RIGHT BESIDE THE DOOR?

No.  No it wasn’t.  Like 3 times it wasn’t enough.

I can’t even get my kid to school with her backpack.

Mom of the year award right here.  Thank you Ms. Rochelle and Ms. Padilla for not thinking I’m a loon when I send my kid to school with a large hole in the crotch of her pants…and no backpack.

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I was also informed today that Mia will need a recent family picture for a school project by the end of the week.

*Gulp*  okay.

I thought for a second and remembered the first and only family picture we have taken since Max has been born (he is almost 6 months old)…..

Smooth move mom.  I take dozens and dozens of pictures everyday and I haven’t managed to fit my own family in one of them in 5 months.

So we tried again today.

Attempt #1…….

Not that Mia doesn’t deserve a good ole’ yank on the ear, but really.

I am not shooting for picture perfection here.  I just want all four of us in the same picture with somewhat of a smile on our faces.

So we aren’t quitters.

Attempt #2….

I really really wanted to spank her.  But something told me that would not be productive to the picture outcome.

So I did what I always due, and threatened the hell out of everyone.

Here goes attempt #3……

I’LL TAKE IT.

And happy 6 months to my Max Henry…..

He is the goofball I never knew knew I needed.

He’s big, bald and all boy.

….and an absolute blessing.

Turns out, starting completley over, is good for the soul.

Three weeks into the new school year and I’m embracing some change in my life.  Like for instance, getting Mia to pre-school and Max to his precious babysitter, all before 7:45a.m.  If you’ve never seen a couple of frantic freaks running around at 7:10am, just swing by sometime.  We’re tossing bottles, throwing lunches together, brushing teeth, changing diapers, searching for shoes (usually Troy’s) and this is not done with calm voices and quiet footsteps.  And don’t think for a minute that pouring that last cup of coffee in your coffee cup won’t get you yelled at.   Somedays I get out the door with my hair half done and toothpaste on my chin, somedays it’s worse.  Somedays it’s noon before someone lets me know about it.  Our weekddays start with a locked front door, leaving the living room looking like a violent event just took place in the vacinity.  We throw one kid in my car and the other in Troys, and speed off in separate directions.

Day by day I say.

Day by day.

Because at 4pm, it’s time to cuddle on the couch.

Max will be 6 months old soon, and his personality is seriously chill.  He’s just happy to be wherever he happens to be.  He doesn’t really care what kind of commotion in going on around him, as long as his belly is full.

"Make me a bottle devil woman!"

And so far, he’s even survived Mia.

well……barely….

Shall we just say that big sisters can be really clumsy.

and annoying……

and emotional……

and irrational…….

all the time…….

But we won’t go in to that right now.

“Is this drool ever gonna stop running down my chin?”  (that’s what he has to be thinking by now)

“Will these dang teeth ever come in?”

“Will she ever stop gettin in my space?”

“Will I ever get rid of these kankles?”

“Will I ever be able to get my big toe in my mouth?”

These have got to be the thoughts going on in his not so little cranium.

Because after all, the torment started early early in his little life…..

And the next thing I know, he’ll be asking for a donut….

….and Lord knows Mias got his back on that one……

Camping runs through my veins.

Seriously, this destination is embedded in my genes.

Our family has been traveling in camping trailer convoys to this place for 50 years.

No really, like 50 years.

I’m 31 years old and I bet I’ve been to Fun Valley no less than 12 times.  The last time I visited this place, I was celebrating my 16th birthday.

This is not actually a picture of Fun Valley but you get the idea. (That would have been nice here) This was taken out the car window on the way to Lake City.

Now.  To a 16 year old, this is not a rad place to blow out your candles.  In fact, I bitched and moaned for 5 days until my parents finally got tired of me moaping around, and let me go home early with some family friends.  (Thank you Moose and Jean for saving my 16 year old all supreme social life)  Teenagers are a complete and total pain in the ass.

The next trip to Fun Valley was 15 years later, and it was a complete blast.  We showered every third day.  Smelled like a camp fire explosion from dawn till dusk.  Dined on delicious Nini cooking, and rode a gazillion miles on some super cruiser Huffy bicycles.

And not to be forgotten…..freezing your bag ass off tubing down the river…..

We’re talking the temperature of melted snow here.  I don’t care if the outside air was 90 degrees,  the water sure wasn’t.   In addition, I wasn’t particularly in the mood for a river rock enema that day.

So……I volunteered to take pictures (that turned out mediocre at best) of this incredible display of derangement.

And I bet you’re wondering who was brave enough to take the plunge down the rapid first…….

Um, Lauren of course……..(I know, this surprised the hell out of me as well)

Lauren's butt cheeks were more than just a little bit puckered at this point.

……Men are such wussies…..oh just DO IT Cameron….

………..Troy goes for it…..

Trey had no hesitation.

Neither did his dad. But 2 seconds later......

He got bucked.

.....and he didn't care.....

scared Chelsi?

Everybody made it down….some with more hide on their talebone than others.  We won’t mention names……..

We will no doubt be back to Fun Valley.

This is no tradition to let go of.

The sixty degree mornings and eighty degree afternoons felt incredibly good.

I don’t have anything against beaches, but they ain’t got nothing on this.

There is something amazingly spiritual about the mountains.

And peaceful.

I want to live here like really bad. 

I’m usually not big on scenic pictures.  But man.  I could live right there and be happier than happy.

Don’t forget ole’ saggy cheeks here…..Say hello to Mutt and Jeff…….

She pedaled her little butt off from morning until night. Visited the campground snack shack more than a couple of times…..

Chased poor, defenselese ducks nearly to death…..

And spent hours playing in the river….

We drove to Lake City one afternoon.  The drive was breathtaking.Since nobody was game to stop for forty two photo ops, I took a lot of ‘out the window’ shots….

OF course Camereon had to drive like he was running from the law….

I shot my first favorite of all time (in the inanimate category that is).  This is straight out of the camera.  No editing.  And I love.

It was a good trip.

Memories are such sweet blessings.

But I had a better idea………….I thought a white sheet would look cool as a backdrop…

Which one do you like better???

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by the way, sister for sale……….5 dollars or best offer………………..

rip my cheek off Mia, no big deal

This one just makes me laugh.  like out loud…….

he wouldn't stop gnawing on the edge of this bucket...thats gotta be like 70 years old. nice.

If you like big bald babies, you’d be in business at my house.  His temperament is such that as long as his belly is full, he’s got not a care in the world.  He sleeps with with his arms raised like he’s getting robbed and snores like Joe Bill Seuhs.  I’m in love and I love the way he loves his momma.  No one prepared me for the strong connection boys have with their momma’s.  I’m just thankful for it.

I  always hoped to have a son one day.  Its a good good feeling to know that my experience in motherhood has only just begun.  He may adore me now, but I know I’ll get old and uncool one of these days.  That’s okay though, I’ll make a man of him before that happens.

Over and over I resolve to do one load of laundry a day in order to stay on top of it, and not wake up one morning and have 13 loads to do.  Today, I did 6 loads.  It took all day.

About 8 weeks after Max was born, I was determined to show my butt jiggles who was boss.  I bought the resistance ball,  bought the weights…blah blah blah.  Worked out TWICE, and almost knocked out Mia’s two front teeth working my triceps.

EPIC FAIL.

I was hell-bent to be a more consistent blogger this summer.  My true intent was to post every other day or so.

I thrive on taking pictures and photographing our life, and sitting down to recount the thoughts/happenings/experiences that we have.  But sometimes, the pictures stink.  And sometimes, I sit down at the keyboard and don’t know what the hell I want to say.

BUT, I turned 31 on July 4th and it was a  B  L  A  S  T.  We loaded up the family and drove to Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine Texas.

This was our second time at the Lodge and we love this place.

Max loved this place.

Mia wasn’t completely healed from her tonsilectimy.    She kept complaining that her cheeks hurt.  She’s quite the schemer, and quite possibly could’ve been faking it.   The 64 dollars we spent on Dippin-Dots is proof that we fell for it.

We only stayed two nights and nobody wanted to leave.

Troy has this inherent knack to close his eyes every time it’s time to take a picture…….

But he scored major points on his dinner reservations at the Gaylord.  For two hours we sipped wine, ate salmon and steak, and enjoyed ourselves immensely.  We toasted to life.  We celebrated in style.

happy happy joy joy after that bottle of wine

It felt amazing to just get away.  I love to get away.  Getting away makes me happy.

Vacations make me happy.  Going to new places with your family, making memories that will last forever bring me so much joy.  It can be seriously stressful and sometimes the pictures suck.  But it’s worth it.

She sleeps through the night without holding her breath, has a completely cuter voice, and consumed an entire bag of lays potato chips today.

This has been a long 2 week recovery process right here in the middle of summer.  She’s been under strict instructions to restrict activity and avoid the heat altogether.

and wow.  Can you say SUCK???  For 14 days straight we have been in the house trying to entertain ourselves in any way possible.  We’ve colored, painted, play-dohed,  Phineas & Pherbed, and Sponge-Bobbed ourselves stupid.

If I have to watch that ridiculous movie Gnomeo and Juliett one more time… I swear, I’m gonna kick somebody’s ass.

Thankfully, Lauren the thoughtful, bought Mia silly-puddy in a pail of goodies the day of her surgery….

It was a HIT.

She had a silly-puddy party the other day in her room….

I would have never guessed a 4-yr-old could be so creative and content with a handful of candles and silly-puddy for so long.

She put on her new pretty dress, asked for a clip in her hair, and played pretend all afternoon……

I eaves-dropped only a little….

OK, maybe a lot.

A 4-yr-olds conversations between her silly puddy and her trapezoids can be pretty damned interesting.

Unfortunatley, I am loudest and clumsiest eavesdropper known to man.

I got totally busted.

Eavesdropping….perhaps it’s a skill I should hone for the future.

Say, when she’s about 12.

I’ve heard of mothers who hide baby monitors under their children’s beds to listen in on their conversations.

I don’t want to speak to soon, but she shouldn’t put it past me.

I’ll be the first to admit, I am scared to death of her heart being broken.

Growing up is hard.  People can be mean.  Maybe I’ll know what to say to her when she comes home crying.

I wish she could stay this age.   Having pretend parties in her bedroom is not hard, nobody gets their feelings hurt.

Pickle anyone????

But for now, we have the rest of the summer to enjoy.  And enjoy we will……

This momma turns 31 on Monday.  I love the 4th.  And we’re taking a roadtrip in celebration.

We’re loading up the 4-Runner and heading to Great Wold Lodge for the 2nd year in a row.

Dinner for the birthday girl at a fine eatery near by.

July has a lot in store.

I am so thankful.

Momma bangs for the birthday……….

Happy Fourth of July.  I hope you get to spend it with friends and family.

Mia got her tonsils and adenoids taken out early Friday morning.  And even though I know it was the right decision, a decision that will improve her quality of life 10-fold, it was rough.  Watching your little girl jump up into a wheelchair and blow you a kiss as she is wheeled off down the hall is not an experience I want to relive.

Thank you Nini and Lauren for the beautiful flower and balloon bouquet and mom, for the de-lish chicken spagetti