PAD 1.13.09

I LOVE THIS LITTLE FACE!

Hanging with the brides...

So this past weekend really threw me off with my blog postings. I pretty much lived at work (or at least that's what it felt like).

On Sunday I spent the day at the convention center where our store had a booth for the Bridal Show. It was crazy and I am most certain there were several Bridezillas amongst us as well as a parrot. That's right, the lady directly across from our booth brought a LIVE parrot as part of her 'decor'. (For those of you, who know me well, you know my fear of birds and parrots are BIG birds). I made it through the day with a close eye on that parrot. You could not forget he/she was around because the damn thing squawked all afternoon scaring the living daylights out of potential clients. I am not quite sure what attraction the bird brought to her booth, but I sure as hell would not want him anywhere near my wedding.

I never went to anything like this when I was getting married, but I am thinking some things have seriously changed in the last seven years. We saw several brides walking around with bags, shirts and even jackets with their wedding date plastered in large print across their chest and back. They were embroider, glittered, beaded....you name it we saw it. What is that all about?? Maybe (and I stress the word maybe) it is something that could be worn for a bachelorette party, but really... was it so did not have to ask when the big day was??

Anyhow.....I made it through yesterday and got home just in time to enjoy a story with the kids before bed-time. Danny took the photo yesterday and I was actually in it (very few of these exist). Of course I played around with Photoshop today and created a 'dreamy' effect.

Making Progress

Today was a BIG day in the Boatright household.

Some of you are well aware of Brynn's fear of characters in costume. I am not sure where this comes from, but everyone has assured me it is "normal" for some children. So I have went with it (after all, I have a terrible fear of birds). SO we don't do photos with Santa, the Easter bunny, Chucky Cheese or any other character for that matter, which leads me to wonder if Disney World is in our future. (sniff)

It's not just 'life like' characters that bother her. Last February I went to Kansas City to visit a friend and while I was there we went to the Build-a-Dino (it's like Build-a-bear) store and I purchased the cutest triceratops you have ever seen complete with a jean skirt, pink glitter shirt and leopard print shoes. I just knew Brynn would love it (after all we had been reading stories about dinosaurs for weeks), Boy, was I dead wrong. She screamed at the very sight of it and it took weeks before we could even put it in her room.

Then there was an incident this past summer when we went to a friend's house for lunch. Within minutes of Brynn going upstairs to play with the other children she was screaming at the top of her lungs. All of us mom's take off running upstairs thinking something awful had happened. Turns out that something awful was a stuffed Spiderman doll my friend's son had in his room! Nope, I am not kidding.

These are just two if the numerous stories I can tell you, but it is for REAL....Brynn for whatever reason has issues with characters. We (I) have learned to come to terms with it and am always prepared.

So why was today a BIG day here in our household? I tell you why (okay I'll show you)

Brynn actually put this mask on of Spiderman! (I think that is who it is supposed to be). Evidently, one of the boys in her class celebrated his fourth birthday today and his mom brought "goody" bags for all the kids. Thank heaven for school!

She paraded around the house "scaring" Braden (who laughed and laughed). This is progress people! (Don't worry I won't drag out the Santa suit just yet.)

Project 365

I mentioned Project 365 as one of my New Year's resolutions, so today I thought I'd tell you a little more about it. The basic concept is about capturing real life as it is happening by taking a photo and writing a few words about each day. I want to keep our album completely random and I love the idea of documenting the not-so-common things we do in our every day lives. I always manage to get pictures of the big events (birthdays, holidays, vacations, etc.), but tend to leave out the little things often overlooked (hence the photo of the kids brushing their teeth). So I will be taking photos of anything and everything. Which brings me to my photo for today (and a little story behind it).

I chose to photograph this particular car today because I must have picked it up several times. It belongs to Braden who loves this little car and plays with it often. It is not uncommon to find this car stuffed between couch cushions or in the dirty clothes hamper. I have even found it in my purse! Today I was walking by the living room and noticed it on the window sill and just knew it had to go in the album.

Playing Catch Up

The first thing out of Brynn's mouth this morning when she woke up was, "Mommy, don't forget I have school today." Someone REALLY missed school over the Christmas break. It makes me happy she likes school and looks forward to going. And to be honest I was looking forward to this morning too. Our routine has been so out of whack I was even starting to lose it. These past couple weeks Danny and I had a bit of a role-reversal (minus him keeping up with the laundry), he was off and at home most of the time with the kids while I filled in during the day at work for employees who were away on vacation for the holidays. Brynn found it weird (I believe her word was "silly") I was going to work during the day and Daddy was staying home with her and Braden. (Poor little girl thinks mommy's only work at night.)

Anyhow; Braden and I ran a few errands today and did six loads of laundry (which I am embarrassed to admit). Danny 'can' do laundry, I just prefer him not to (with the exception of towels). I like my (and the kids) clothes to still fit and be the same color after they have been washed so I prefer to do them myself (no offense honey).

So....we are on our way back to normal.

Just another photo....

It's been busy, busy, busy around here. I am hoping the next few days will slow done since Brynn will be heading back to school tomorrow. We have been out of our routine these past few weeks while Danny's been home and I am really looking forward to getting back to it!

Braden going to hate me for this one someday.....but it's too stinkin' cute not to post. (The boy loves shoes even if they are fuzzy and pink.)

Just a picture today....

Brynn and Braden at the park this morning. They had a blast!

Sticking with Resolution #2

Sticking with Resolution #2 this morning I went ventured out with a friend (for moral support) to Whole Foods and Costco for some healthy grocery shopping. I know what you are thinking....couldn't she have gone to the regular grocery store? Well yes I could have, but I failed to mention one small detail yesterday....the diet I am (need) to follow is one that is 'Wheat Free' and this my friends is not easy and requires lots of label reading (at least until I figure out what in the heck I am doing).

This past August I found out I am allergic to wheat and have been struggling to stay on the diet ever since. I guess you could say I yo yo'd with it making lots of excuses and have been paying the price health wise. Now that the Holidays are over it is time for me to commit to this lifestyle and today was the first step.

The grocery shopping adventure took 3 1/2 hours. Even though Whole Foods carries a lot of Gluten/Wheat Free items they do their best to spread them around the store unlike HEB who has half of an isle dedicated to it. I must have looked like a "newbie" because we met a VERY nice lady (who was a customer) that helped us out. She even told me about a magazine called 'Living Without' that is completely Gluten Free and full of information and recipes. So to make a long story short EVERYTHING I purchased today is actually safe for me to eat. Now I just have to figure out how to cook it!

Today's photo: This cat has adopted our family and has been hanging around for the past few weeks even though we are not feeding her (so she is eating somewhere). She is extremely friendly and the kids love her. (She has not figured out I am not a cat person).

Happy New Year!

I don't know about you but I LOVE starting a New Year. (I'd even go as far to say it is one of my favorite holidays.) There is something about writing a new year in my checkbook (yes I still write checks) that stirs excitement. It is a clean slate, a fresh start and new challenges that I look forward to. This is my 'spring cleaning' ~ out with the old and in with the new. I love setting goals and seeing just how well I keep up with them. I have learned to keep things simple (I have more of a chance that way ;o)

A few resolutions for 2009 (in no specific order)

1. Take a photo a day

2. Eat healthier & get in the gym (I know it is pretty cliche')

3. Date Night/Day ~ once a month with Danny
4. Continue 'Going Green' ~ a successful resolution from 2008
5. Find a church and GO
6. Project 365 http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/2008/12/project-365-kit-contents.html

And....to kick off #1 I have decided to post my photos to this blog. At first I was thinking of starting a second blog but who am I kidding I can barely keep up with this one. :o)

I took several photos today (a little ambitious) but this one is by far my favorite. They were watching cartoons together while I was cleaning up breakfast. Nothing like this to melt their mama's heart.

GOOD LUCK with your New Years Resolutions!!