Wedding Bliss

I am so excited to do photography!! I just got to do my first wedding shoot today (and got paid!!) and I'm thrilled. It was so much fun. I would have loved to have more time and to get more pictures (we only shot for about 45 mins before the heat and humidity won) for them, but I was pleased with what we did get...especially for a first-timer. They are just such a cute couple and I'm really glad I got to do their engagements prior to that. Rapport is so important to getting good pictures of people!

It's great to have this one under my belt now and to move forward if I can start getting appointments set instead of just voiced interest.

No Fly Zone

"Niner-niner, we've got a bogey out here."
"Identify yourself, aircraft."
"There's no response. Fire when ready."
Or, so I assume there is some kind of defense mechanism going on in my bathroom which might be having conversations with the frequent "bogies".


We don't know why our bathroom has become the fly graveyard. If you take the time to count, there are 27 dead flies on the window sill. We've watched this cycle. The fly finds its way to the bathroom (looking around the house, it isn't like we are plagued with flies. In fact, I don't even see ONE buzzing around today.). It flies around a couple of times, lands on the window and then starts this weird death-throws buzzing ending with it landing dead either on the window sill or in the tub. It's disgusting, yes, but at least they are dying. However, we aren't sure what is causing them to die. Some invisible forcefield or toxic fumes (it is a bathroom, for goodness sakes! jk) or something has to be the cause, but we really don't know what it is.

Hit Me with Your Best Shot

Stealth and good aim are qualifications for a successful sniper. As I reach for the door latch, I move it as quietly as possible. I don't want my target to notice me before I can get him in my sights. I edge the door open slightly and point the barrel of my gun through the opening. Silently, I take aim; centering on this intruder. I adjust slightly to compensate for the distance my ammo must travel to hit the target. I squeeze the trigger and pray that I hit him with the first shot.
Got him! Right on target. The bully goes running off into the woods!
No, seriously, you have to take charge of your property around here. Living out of city limits has its perks, but also its downfalls. The biggest issue in our neighborhood are loose pets; namely dogs. We've had quite a few issues with people not containing their animals and since animal control doesn't cover our area, it's kind of up to the individuals living here. Our resort has been to use a BB gun, and I've become quite proficient in the use of it. It seems to be quite effective as these animals aren't sure what "bit" them over here, but they aren't too keen on coming back to find out. If they do, they suffer the same punishment.

Adopt A Random Grandma

While we were at the library today, a grandmother and her two grandchildren sat down on the seats in the reading area of the kid's section. This lady began to read a book, which caught Em's attention. She immediately wanted to get down and walked over to the lady to listen to the story. Random Grandma scooted over to let Em sit next to her (her granddaughter on the other side) and read a book to the kids. It was so cute to see Emily sitting there and listening to the story. (I'm so glad she's gotten back into sitting still for story time.) Anyway, Em didn't know this lady at all, but didn't want to leave her either. So, next time you take your kids to the library, maybe you can adopt a random grandma, too! =)

Going Green

The world market is changing. Resources are being depleted. Gas prices are continuing to hike. What can we do? There's been such hype about going green, but it has it's perks, too...aside from "saving the planet." It can make you feel good, too!
About a month ago Eric purchased a bike and trailer so he could take Em on rides. I stayed home or walked beside them (not making it very fun for them). We thought that should change, so we went today and purchased a second bike: one for me. I love it! (For those of you who are concerned b/c I'm prego...it's okay. I just have to take precautions and try harder not to fall, and yes, I will stop riding when I get too big to be coordinated enough.) We already took them out for a family spin today and had so much fun! It was great to ride down to the store to grab a few items we needed and then up to our (new and beautiful) library and back home. Round-trip, that's 4 miles. Not too shabby for my first ride since the mish! And no gas expenditure, either!! And, that's not to mention how great I feel now after getting some good exercise.
Word to the wise: if any of you are planning to purchase bikes in the next year or so, now is a good time to do so. Due to the world economy and oil prices (as bikes are packed with oil), the 2009 models are about $50+ more expensive than the 2008 models. As the 2008 models get sold out, you'll be left paying that extra moola for the same bike.

Daddy's Little Girl

Emily goes through phases of her favorites. When she was a newborn, she definitely favored Eric...and he loved it. The past few months she's been very clingy to me and only wants Mommy. However, in the past few weeks (basically since Eric got his bike and the bike trailer...meaning that he's been able to spend one on one time with her), Emily has fawned over Eric and ONLY wanted her Daddy. The past two days were very difficult to convince Emily that Daddy really did have to go to work and she couldn't go with him (although the training was done at our hotel). Eric came to see us at each break. I'm not sure if that helped or made it worse for Emily. She would have a fit every time he broke away to go back to work.

Emily's Encouraging Words

We've had some good laughs at Em's "dyslexia" with names. As verified by the previous post, she inverts names or, at times, mixes them with other names. It's quite often that Emily mixes Eric's name (Daddy) and creates a new name; either "Mom-dy" or "Mommydaddy"...usually correcting herself mid-way through the word.
Well, we had a funny one this morning. As Emily was trying to encourage me to go with Daddy and her, she prompted me with a "C'mon, Dumy." Of course, we were laughing, although I really hope she never refers to me that way again.

Don't Drown Upshe!

Emily has been enjoying some lovely coloring sessions on our back porch. Just like Linus, she drags a beloved object around with her. Upshe (we call her Sheepie, but Upshe is apparently the correct name...just ask Em) gets dragged through the dirt and now through the chalk drawings. She was looking pretty sad and smelling worse. Seriously, I'd started to believe that perhaps Upshe WAS real as she had that dirty dog odor to her.
Since we are leaving tonight for a couple days and Upshe must go with, Eric decided to throw her into the washer. Something had to improve her color (she was white) and smell. Em freaked out on Eric and boycotted him because he was drowning Upshe in the washing machine. Miraculously, Upshe survived the washing (contrary to Em's belief) although she came out with a pink tint (not sure if that was the pink chalk getting more evenly distributed or if it was due to another item in the load) but definitely smelling a LOT better.

Memory Tag

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Thanks!

A Haircut...or Two

Eric has been in desperate need of a haircut for several weeks now. Due to the joys of the first trimester, I haven't felt well enough to do it for him. So, this morning he asked if I could cut it quickly before he got ready for work. No prob! I quickly cut his hair while Em sat at the door and watched. As soon as Eric was finished, her cute little voice cried, "Un haircut!" which means "want a haircut". For those of you who don't know, I've been putting off cutting her hair and thought I'd give her a "trim" on her 2nd birthday. Scissors have never touched her hair before, and she's a girl, so it can just be long.
Well, I let her have what she asked for. I pulled up the top section (around the crown of her head) and trimmed those ends...about a 1/2 inch. I was sad to cut her hair, but she sat so incredibly still the whole time (not that it was long) and was so good.
I haven't gotten a picture of her yet, but you can't really tell the difference, except the long bottom curls are just a little more visible.

That'll Cost You an Arm and a Leg

I've often wondered "just how much IS 'an arm and a leg'?" Well, folks, we have an answer for you.
We received an offer in the mail for free AD&D insurance with one of our credit cards. Upon reading the fine print, we had a good laugh. This insurance is completely free (just for being a card holder) and is payable up to $1000. So, according to this statement, to receive 100% payment (yep, that $1000), you would have to lose one of the following combinations:
life
both feet (required to be completely severed through or above the ankle)
both hands (required to be completely severed through or below the wrist)
both eyes (hope you're a mom so that you have two spare in the back of your head)
one foot and one hand (see, I told you it was here!)
one foot OR one hand AND sight in one eye (glad you got options, like a side salad OR soup)
loss of speech and hearing in both ears (i didn't know you had speech in either of your ears)

Curious to what qualifies you for %50 payout? Half the pain, half the moola. The following losses:
one hand
one foot
one eye
speech
hearing in both ears (nada if it's only in one ear)

But what if you don't lose a whole hand? Maybe you just lose half a hand or fingers? The only way to get some cash on that (but only %25) is to lose not only a thumb AND an index finger, but they also have to be from the same hand, completely severed through or above the metacarpophalangeal joint.

Since they haven't up to this point discriminated hands vs. feet, you would think the same would apply to loss of toes...nope. Lose your toes and they just laugh at you as your sense of balance is out of whack, accidentally bumping into the door frame as you leave the office.

Final question...Aren't there more important parts of your body than fingers and feet....like kidneys or livers... These parts are nowhere to be found in the insurance plan and are presumably non-payable. Too bad if you have an accident in which part of your torso is whacked off.

Big Nasty Bug

I'm so glad this thing was already dead! I get so grossed out by bugs, but when they come in supersize, it really freaks me out. Granted, I also know that when I have "permission to be a girl" I am more squirmy around bugs and yucky crawly things.
What do I mean? Well, during my mission, one of the companionship had to "be the man" and take care of all the icky, creepy crawlies. A lot of times I got to play that role (I think it mostly ran with the "senior companion" title).
In fact, in one area...lovely Paradise, we had a huge infestation of roaches. Golden roaches. Seemed fitting for the place. Anyway, we kept complaining about them and finally decided to bring a couple to district meeting to show the elders how gross it really was. At that point, I could handle (w/toilet paper or other barrier items between us) these nasty bugs. Now, they are not nearly as large as the "tree roaches" down here in GA, but it was still pretty gross. I eventually was granted permission to find a new apartment (which wasn't much improvement except for the roach issue).

A Few Emily Moments

Emily just keeps getting more and more hilarious. These are just a few of the things that have made us laugh in the past couple days.
Emily, pushing against the pillar at the corner of our dining room: "It's stuck!"
Em, to her Daddy while throwing the ball for Hannah (the dog): "Good throw, Daddy!"
Em, irreverent in church, "I want my ______" (space filled for what ever other child had just been escorted to the foyer where she herself was being quieted...some things don't work for us).
Then there have been a couple of missed photo ops. Yesterday, Eric took Em for a bike ride. He has a trailer to pull the kids in behind the bike. She'd dozed off and was fighting to figure out how to sleep in the hammock-chair type seated position she was in.
Today, while playing fetch with Hannah, Hannah knocked her over. Em landed on her face. It wouldn't have been that funny, but Eric had just finished cutting the grass and there were yard clippings all over her face, body, and hair.
Ah, I love being this girl's mommy!

Rapunzel

Emily has always had a lot of hair for her age. However, it isn't until we wash her hair that we realize how long it really is. Even then, we can't get a picture of it because it curls together and is shorter in appearance than it truly is. But, this is as good as a picture can show you (without another set of hands to hold the hair down). Eric keeps telling me that "someday you're going to have to cut her hair." I try to deny it, but I am planning on giving her a TRIM on her birthday. It will be the first time scissors will touch her hair, so it's a big deal to me (remember Jake and his Yoda-hair? I finally understand a little). Of course, what scares me more than anything is that she'll somehow then find a pair of scissors and do her own styling and I don't want her to ruin her beautiful curly locks!

Big Girl Cup

We've been working on transitioning Emily to the "Big Girl" idea. Big girl's do lots of things Mommy likes. She sits still in Church (obviously a BIG developing habit); she wears Big Girl pants (no more yucky diapers); she puts on her shoes (still with help but she gets the right one most of the time); and she drinks out of a Big Girl cup. She was so proud of herself yesterday and thought it was so funny to have a milk mustache and all.

Babies, Babies, Babies

Well, Mark and Amanda had Caitlyn two days ago and Stef and Ryan got to have their new son yesterday. It was really fun to be close to someone having a baby. Since all my fam is so far away, I haven't gotten to experience that at all. So, I loved being able to help out and keep Caleb for them while they had the new baby. And such a sweet baby, too!! Sawyer was so quiet and just let me hold him. He'd open his eyes and look around and was just so peaceful. It's a good thing we have our own on the way b/c it would have just made me crazy baby hungry!
So, congrats to all the new parents!!
Oh, and HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

Lost are Found

Stef found Em's shoes!! They didn't walk that far away. They just were hiding under the bathroom step-thing. We are so glad she found them. She's a good detective: she read my post and then searched according to my written statement. =)
Now we get to pay her back by keeping Caleb while she's in the hospital (went this morning)!! We're excited to meet Sawyer!
Oh, and a CONGRATS out to Mark and Amanda on their newest addition! Welcome to the fam, Caitlyn!! I just heard she arrived yesterday.

I'm Tagged

3 Joys
My husband who is much better than I deserve (he's picked up my slack w/o complaint or comment lately, too!).
Emily, who endears herself to everyone she comes in contact with because of her "classic" looks (come on, how many kids have a natural 1950's appeal?) and her larger than life personality.
Good friends that spoil me (like Stef who kidnapped Em one day so I could get some rest even though she was 8 months pregnant herself!).

3 Fears
Losing husband or child: either frightens me and at different times I've had nightmares about it.
Drowning in debt. Finances have always been something I stress over and I fear having to survive on plain white rice again.
Getting "kicked out" of the Celestial Kingdom. I fear not being good enough.

3 Goals
To consistently have FHE as well as consistent scripture study.
To talk to my neighbors about the church.
To have a healthy family.

3 Obsessions/Collections
I can't say that I have any obsessions. I don't feel really passionate about any particular thing. I guess if I looked around the house to see things we've "collected" I'd have to say, books, DVDs, and board/Wii games.

3 Random Surprises
Surprises? Well, I'm not that secretive of a person...
I'd trade in my lovely Passat for something that got better gas mileage AND I could use a cheaper grade gasoline. (In fact, I've been driving Eric's car for quite awhile now b/c I hate the idea of using it...especially as premium has risen to $4.27/gallon).
I'd like to enjoy cooking. I used to, back when I was going to school at BYU. Now it just seems like a chore and kind of pointless. Of course, I'd really love to be able to make anything right now and not feel nauseous (even boiling noodles does it to me!).
I'm not a fan of being out in the sun nor in the water. I burn too easily to enjoy the sun (even WITH sunscreen on and reapplied appropriately) and water has always held some fears for me, aside from not liking to be wet. I like showers b/c I get clean, but if there was another way to get the same clean, I'd probably do that instead.

Thanks for the tag, Stef!! Now, to pin it on others...Sarah Arnold, Sarah Hartsfield, and Julie Stratton.

Shoes that Walked Away

We had a fun-filled day yesterday. We went over in the morning to play with Caleb while Stef went to the doctor (she's due this coming Monday). The first thing that happened was Emily wetting her pants (she's on to "big girl" underware, so if she has an accident, it's a mess...but, she'll go on the potty more frequently this way). I took her into the bathroom and set her on the toilet. I then tried to hurriedly clean up the mess in the bedroom. To make a long story short, don't leave two toddlers unattended in the bathroom. When I got back there, they had thrown Emily's wet underware and jeans into the toilet (thankfully, they'd already flushed it so the water was clean)! Em had her shoes in hand and I feared that was going in next. We got her cleaned up and went about our morning playing.
When it was time to go home, I realized I didn't have her shoes. We looked everywhere and couldn't find them. We left, hoping they'd turn up sometime. After a day of looking, Stef still couldn't find them. I guess the shoes really did just get up and walked away.