When it rains... Go Fishing!

First off, these are taken with my old funky camera, so don't judge too harshly please!

I ordered my new professional camera, and it should be here next week... I can hardly wait! :)

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So last weekend, we knew it would be storming most of the week, so we took the boys out to the back of the property to go 'fishing'. We just use a rubber weight on the end, because their Mother rather enjoys them having both of their eyes. Kyle is completely content with this, and he's sure he's going to catch a fish. I think, however, that his older brother is catching on to the fact that fish must be caught with hooks.

I think I will keep the knowledge that the 'pond' in the back is rain water... and doesn't have any sort of fish in it... to myself. After all, who am I to ruin a Mom's chance of getting cute fishing pictures in her own back yard? (Even if it is with her old point and shoot camera that is 8+ years old??)

As for our storm, it's been so incredibly cold here. They actually forecast snow on the Valley floor on Friday. It snowed about 30 minutes north of our house, which only happens about once every 10 years. (And by snow, I mean everything turns white... not usually measurable) However, we've had a dusting twice this year on the valley floor. So much for global warming.

So the boys and I are snuggled up in the house on this cold Saturday. My work has been slow this week, because a Saturday off is almost unheard of for me. However, John got called into work, and he's been earning overtime for almost 9 hours today. I suppose that money is going to help a new camera find a good home. :)

Withdrawl.

Last week, I took the whole family with me on my photo shoot. The little princess that I was shooting, was VERY hard to entertain. I had two secret weapons, so I had them help me entertain Kelsey. They tried their best to make her smile... And I just had to snap a couple of shots of my handsome boys. Wildflowers are not a very 'man-friendly' backdrop, but there wasn't a junkyard in sight...

And since I was lucky enough to have another session today, and I didn't need my assistants, so I thought it was best to leave them at home.

The session was going along fine... until I got the code of doom on my camera. It was an error code, and no matter what I did, I couldn't get it to go away. The session was over, and lucky for me I was more than half way through it.

I came home to research the error code... and it looks like I am going to need a pretty serious repair to my camera. It's very bad news when your camera is an appendage of your physical self.

I haven't even shipped it off yet, and I am already going through withdrawls. Yeah, yeah, I know... I could take pictures with my phone, or an old camera. I could also eat cardboard for the next 14-21 days.

This wasn't the worst thing that could happen, that's for sure- the timing of it was sort of good. I did get most of the session done today, and my clients know I am still in the 'learning curve' part of my career. They get a great deal, and I don't feel the strain of a professional photographer.

I haven't told too many people, but in May, it looks like I've been hired to do a pretty big shoot. It could be big for me- and a broken camera could have had 'disaster' written all over it.

And since I am a 'lemonade outta lemons' kind of gal, I am looking at the bright side... and on the web for a my new (gulp) glass of lemonade! So be patient, and we will be back as soon as we can with new pictures....

Kelsey Love Bug

Isn't she a cutie?? This is Kelsey...

This is my cousin's baby girl... and she is almost two. We had a photo shoot today, and I have never worked harder to get a little person to smile. I am exhausted... lol... Thanks Rose family!

Mama Knows...

I drove him to school on Thursday, and when we pulled up to his drop off spot, Zach told me he was sick and wanted to go home. He had been complaining of a headache for a couple of days, but he didn't have a fever, or any other symptoms that would indicate he was sick enough to stay home.
I pulled out one of my tools that I carry in my "Mommy Bag o' Tricks"- I informed him he would not be allowed to play video games if he came home, so he chose to attend class. I picked him up from school to find a very slow moving little guy... with that look in his eyes that told me he was about to make a crash landing into sick-o-ville.
We arranged for John to be off work on Friday (he's the one with sick time to use) and sure enough on Friday morning we woke up to find Zach with a fever of 103 degrees. He was certainly not going to school, and just as I anticipated... we were about to have one sick little fellow.

Sure enough, he spent most of the day miserable. We controlled his fever with Tylenol, but opted not to take him to the doctor since they rarely give antibiotics. I didn't want to expose him to all the germs that are at the doctor's office, just to be told what I already knew. His doctor believes that we are over-prescribing antibiotics, and making the viruses more resistant. So I just kept giving him as much vitamin C as possible, and kept the cartoons on.

I questioned my decision when I came home from work, and the poor guy's face was all swollen. He looked miserable... and I felt just as bad for not being able to do anything to help him. I had to go to work on Saturday, but got good news that his fever had broke. He was still not himself, but managed to smile a few times.

On Sunday morning, I knew he was just about back to normal. Zach and Kyle were fighting over a blanket... not just any blanket though. This blanket was a 'rocket-ship' that someone had covered a chair with, and didn't want it destroyed. It was music to my ears... cause I knew things were going to be okay.

And sure enough he felt well enough to bounce on the trampoline, and eat all of the yummy food we had for Superbowl Sunday.

Of course, he was feeling better just in time to head back to school this morning. And for that, I really feel bad for the poor little cutie pie. Whah-ah-ahhhh!!!!

the CUTEST monster

Would you please take a good long look at this face? Look at that twinkle in the those eyes... The little dimple in his cheek, and the grin that lights up a room?

Could you even imagine this little fellow growls at me? Tells me "I'm putting my foot down!" when he's tired of me telling him no?! He was yelling at John the other morning, so I yelled his name in a way to remind him of his manners. I heard him stomp into my room, yell "I'm not talking to you Mom!" and march back out.

Oh yeah, I have given him warnings, then popped him on the face (just enough to scare him). He's been sent to the corner, and smacked on the bottom. He's had things taken away, and we've tried ignoring him. We've tried re-routing him... but he is S-T-U-B-B-O-R-N!

He is also cute... and that's why he smiles. He likes to remind me that he is the CUTEST lil' Monster you'll ever meet! Just tonight, he refused to eat his dinner because I served him with a fork, and not a spoon. Then when I told him to stop growling at me, he crossed his arms, and took his chair to the next room. This went on for 35 minutes- all while he watched Danielle and Zach enjoy their dessert.

John took him for a bike ride, and when he came back he carried on for 10 more minutes. When he was good and ready, he sat down to eat his cold chicken pot-pie. He finally got his dessert... but he still isn't talking to me.

I love this little cutie with all my heart, but he keeps me on my toes, and tries my patience in ways that Zach never did.

He is so imaginative, and tells me each day about his new 'inventions'. The other day, he invented a giant fan and vacuum system that would blow, and suck, the fog away. He also insists that we paint flames on the van, so we can go faster than the police car when it chased us. He was p.o.'d at me the other day because I hadn't painted the van AND I forgot to pack the 'fire-balls'.

I don't know what's happening in the back of the van, but it's very different than what happens in the front- I SWEAR!

I am so blessed to have him, because without him, life wouldn't be the same- or as colorful.

And by the way, and comments about how he might be like his mother in the 'stubborn' category will be deleted promptly. ;P