Sun, sand and gratitude

I thought this was a cute shot of Steph and Josh gazing down the beach. I'm typing this as I lay in a comfy chair, listening to the ocean waves roll in and enjoying the feel of the sun warm up my skin. How I love my wonderful and unselfish husband for staying home with our girls so I could be lounging peacefully in this chair. A great big thank you to my parents for providing the place to go and for getting me down here. It has been so nice. A very much needed break from reality.

Recharging...

This is what I did most of the day. Pure bliss. No cutting up food, changing diapers, folding laundry. I love my little girls with everything I have, but a small break is good for my body, mind and soul. I'll come back rested and recharged. I'll come back a better mother.

New surroundings

Jen and I arrived in Marco Island! This is home sweet home for the next couple of days (thanks Mom and Dad!!). I am very much looking forward to spending a few days with my sisters and mom (and dad and Josh). 

A morning of gymnastics

Abby earned enough Mickey marbles to cash in for a trip to IGM's open gym. A good time was had by all. Ella especially loved this pit of sponge blocks! Avery was very happy she got to participate instead of watching her sister do things all the time.

A new do

Abby has been asking all sorts of questions about where I get my haircut. What does it look like? What do they do? Who cuts your hair? So, I made an appointment for her with my stylist and while she wouldn't say a peep during the cut she babbled nonstop afterward. Her favorite part was getting her hair washed in the special sink and Gina massaging her scalp. We love her new do and hope it doesn't get as tangled as her previous.

A big day for Avery

Tonight Avery went potty! She was pulling on her diaper and leading me into the bathroom so I sat her on there and she went a teeny tiny bit. I think she was most surprised out of everyone by it. Abby and I clapped and cheered for her which she liked and started clapping for herself then. After we got her off the potty she insisted on putting her pants on herself. She managed to get both legs in and the pants pulled up...too bad they were in the same leg!

Tuesdays are her favorite

Abby's favorite day of the week is Tuesday because she has dance. She loves everything about it and dances her little heart out every Tuesday night which leads to a hungry little ballerina afterward.

Winter fun

Today the pretty white snow, shining sun and wound up children lured us outside. This was Avery's first time sledding, which she loved until they fell off mid-ride and she got white washed with snow. Abby thoroughly enjoyed it and gets more daring each winter. Daddy happily tugged them back up the hill after each trip and Avery refused to go back inside until I gave her a ride on the scooter, a summer favorite of hers. Adam and I joke that Avery will grow up and leave us for California. She appears to be a fair weather fan thus far in her life!

Legit?

Buckett Photography had two photo shoots today and these are the collages I created from them. I'm very happy with what we did in my basement with our cameras and two flashes. I say we might be legit!

Meet Mia

Steph and Josh got a new puppy and we got to meet her today. It was love at first sight for Avery. She now has three puppy cousins to love on. Should keep us from having to get a dog for awhile...

Conquering Photoshop

I can now say I have successfully conquered one percent of all that Photoshop has to offer. I am very proud of that one percent though. That program stumps me time and time again, but I finally did something successfully!

It was actually a big day in the photo world for me. Stacey and I set up our equipment in the basement and practiced using our studio lights. I played with my new remote shutter release as well and captured the above picture and then edited in Photoshop. Small victories must be celebrated!

Ketchup for dinner?

Really, Avery? That is all you are going to eat for dinner? She squeezed ketchup out of the little container at McDonald’s tonight like it was GoGurt. She decided she didn’t need anything more for supper after she finished that. 

Wall of TVs

Adam asked me to take some pictures of the TVs in the store for their website. I attempted and wasn’t pleased with the results. I can’t believe how hard it is to properly light the area plus avoid glare on a zillion screens. I will be trying this fete again and hope for improvement!

Tickle torture

There was quite the giggling fest going on in my bedroom while I was getting dinner ready. I grabbed my camera and headed in and found a game of tickle torture happening. Abby tickles and makes loud noises and Avery giggles with delight as she tries to wiggle away. As soon as Abby lets her go Avery crawls right back over and gives her big sister the sign for “more”.

I neglected to take a photo today so I decided to pull one from recent archives. This one just makes me smile. Abby had a sleep over in December with her best cousin, Kaylin, and her best friend, Ella. They came up for dinner in my old ice skating and dance costumes. Here is my narrative on the photo:

Kaylin strikes a beautiful, commanding pose and has chosen a very princess like outfit to wear. Super sweet, pink and graceful. All Kaylin.

Abby picked an outfit with a little bit of sparkle. Not too flashy but still cute. That is her! She likely looked to Kaylin for guidance on her pose and did her best to copy her while throwing a little of her own flair in there.

And then there is Ella. A complete mess. The sequins and fringe around her neck is supposed to go around her waist, the skirt obviously not a part of the outfit and as far as her pose goes....well, she just threw her hands up in the air and called it good. We love Ella. She makes us laugh, her spunk is inspiring, her smile is adorable and her eyes always sparkle. And, she and Abby have the best time together. 

Thank you to both of you, Ella and Kaylin, for being the best of friends to my little girl. Every girl needs them when they are little and when they are 31! Abby loves you two dearly and I hope you can still call each other friends when you are my age.

Poor slinky dog

Why do all kids think the stairs are the absolute best place to play and leave toys? It seem universal and the desire certainly didn’t skip over mine.

Today’s games involved placing the various Toy Story 3 characters on the stairs. All was great between the two of them until Avery shoved Slinky Dog down the stairs. As you can see Avery thought it was quite amusing and Abby not so much. Slinky Dog made quite the racket tumbling down and you guessed it. Buzz, Woody and Jessie were next.

Shoe obsession - Post 1

This is my first post of I’m not sure how many, but it will be lots, relating to Avery’s obsession with shoes. Anyone that spends time with her can attest to this. She loves all shoes. She is not biased. Doesn’t matter the gender, size, style. She wants to try them on.

Today I released her from the bathtub after toweling her off and decided I’d chase her down to diaper her after I had cleaned up the bathroom. When I was done I found her in Abby’s rain boots happy as can be. These are currently her favorite pair to try on and walk around in.

I hope her love of shoes can be satisfied at Payless as she gets older. This could get expensive!

Playing with dough

Today I joined Abby’s preschool class for a field trip to Great Harvest Bread Company. They let the kids knead dough on their huge butcher block. Abby thought the dough was “interesting” and “sticky”. 

I’m glad I was able to go on the field trip. Siblings weren’t allowed on this one so it meant that I had to find care for Avery, which wasn’t readily available so I told Abby that I probably wouldn’t be going. This produced some tears and when prompted as to why she was so sad I wasn’t going she simply responded, “Because you always come with, Mommy. That is what you are supposed to do.” And she is right. I’ve never missed any of her field trips. So, that was it. I decided I was going and searched harder for Avery care. I figure these moments are fleeting. She won’t always want me to sit by her on the bus and hold her hand. Plus, in her eyes, this is simply my job. To be with her. And she is exactly right. 

I want it!

If it was difficult to interpret the look on Avery’s face, it was simply her reaction to wanting the washcloth in Abby’s mouth. Unfortunately that face comes with the most horrendous screeching sound that is very similar to the clapping monkey with symbols from the movie Toy Story 3.

This is her reaction to pretty much everything. Intense face and screeching monkey sound. Lovely. This will pass, right?  

The Crazies!

I don’t know if this really needs much explanation. Pretty much sums up our night. Crazy. Silly. Fun.

Today was just one of those days. We haven’t had any requests for showings on our house in a month and today we got two! Go figure. Of course it is on the day I have three extra kids staying with me, my husband is on vacation and I have my sister and Missy and their kiddos coming over for dinner. The showing went 45 plus minutes late so we looked like we were having a three car stake out by the neighbors as we waited for them to leave. Dinner was late, kids were hungry and the noise reached decibels I haven’t experienced before. All the while I was thankful to have the company of adults. Other women just make everything more enjoyable...cooking, cleaning up, changing kids. Maybe those sister wives women have it figured out!

I don’t want to seem ungrateful for the showings today because I really am thankful. Plus, the one that went really late gave us really good feedback and plan on coming back in a few days when Mr. Buyer is in town. Keep your fingers crossed! Strange how as the prospective of a potential sale slowly makes it way on the table, I get a little sad and start to mentally cling to the house. I’ll save the mushy, sappy ode to the house for another post if it actually sells someday!

Thanks Jen and Missy for being my sister wives tonight!

I just have to ask. Are they all yours?

For part of this week, Abby and Avery’s cousins are staying with us. During lunch I took this adorable picture of Abby and Carter. Love it and them!!

Today I had 45 minutes or so to kill with all five kids in tow before we needed to be at the next destination. So, I decided to do what any good mom and auntie would do...I took them to Target and let them each pick out any treat they wanted. With five of them trying to make a decision it definitely took the 45 minutes plus some! Abby, Kaylin and Carter picked out suckers that you lick and then dip in none other than straight up sugar. The dentist we just visited this morning for check ups would be so proud! I picked gummy bears on Avery’s behalf and Braydon selected Pokemon cards. This was after I had to negotiate my way out of him wanting what I was going to spend on his treat put on a gift card for him to use later. 

I had a lady stop me and say, “I just have to ask. Are they all yours?” I smiled at her and said, “It would have been possible, crazy, but possible.” I proudly added, “All of them are “mine” in a way though, but only two by birth.” Amazing how much love you can feel for nieces and nephews. So glad we live close enough to share in their lives on a daily basis. 

Tomorrow’s shot will have to be with all five of them. Should be interesting to get them to sit still long enough!

Drink of choice

Yes, you are seeing the above photo correctly. Tonight my husband drank a beer and I opened a bottle of sparkling grape juice. I don’t know what came over me, but it sounded fantastic...and it was!

Happy 80th birthday to my beautiful Grandma Brown! I hope to live as long and with as much grace and heart as she has. 

New view from my bed

I apologize for the intense look from the TV lady! She is really serious about promoting Colgate, I guess. Adam brought home a TV from the store a few days ago so now we have something new to look at from the bed. Bit big isn’t it?! 

What I’m more proud of though, is that I used some of the skills I learned from a photography workshop I took recently to bounce light off the ceiling to light up a dark room. I took this picture at night and no lights were on in the room. I haven’t edited this picture at all. My toes are a little overexposed, but other than that I’m pretty proud! Sorry for the diversion there for those that could care less about the technical side of photography!

Chase me!

A daily ritual at our house. A game of chase around and around the island. Abby runs after Avery and tickles her while Avery giggles with delight. About every third night it ends with tears from a disaster caused by a misstep, but I allow it nonetheless because it gives me a few minutes to get dinner ready and their mutual laughter feeds my soul. I guess we disregard the “no running in the house” rule here!

Avery's "Pup-pa"

I admit defeat already! I didn’t actually take this photo today. However, I did take some shots today! But, I can’t figure out what happened to them. I went to the Best of the Best Show at the UofM which consists of college and high school dance teams performing their jazz and pom routines and took pictures there. I’m guessing I ended up deleting them because none were noteworthy, but the performances certainly were! I had a fantastic time with a few of my wonderful girlfriends and thoroughly enjoyed watching all the dances. I think I was a hip-hop dancer in a former life...those numbers made me want to get up and dance! Maybe Abby will be and I can live vicariously through her. For now I’ll have to settle for the princess ballerina number she’ll be performing in her $82 costume this June. 

Today’s photo of Bella was taken a few weeks ago when she was staying with us while the Buckingham’s were in Canada for Christmas. She is the softest and gentlest dog! Avery has a strong attachment to her. She gets beyond excited when she sees her and thoroughly enjoys laying on her like she is her pillow. She climbs on Bella and rides her like a horse, covers her with newspapers, speaks gibberish nonstop at her and all the while Bella lays there and patiently waits for Avery to get done harassing her. Bella’s sweetness and extreme tolerance for Avery is her saving grace (not to mention her adorable face) because oh lordy the hair!!! 

New obsession for Avery

Avery has a new obsession to add to her list. Shoes of course are still at the top followed by any and every “pup-pa”, but she has recently grown rather fond of this backpack. It is a little one we bought for Abby to store her Tag Reader and books in. But, Avery thinks it is the perfect size for her and enjoys toting it around at all times...pants or no pants!

Laying on the floor

When I look at this photo and remember how Abby was laying on the floor playing with her Woody, Jessie and Buzz dolls, I think about how fast time is going by. Four years ago she couldn’t do anything more than lay on the floor and stare into my eyes. Now, she lays on the floor and plays with dolls, colors, reenacts her favorite movies and millions of other things. I’m sure it won’t be long and she’ll be laying on the floor trying to figure out her 8th grade homework (we all know if it is math she is working on that I’ll be of no help to her!). 

Time will surely keep flying by, but I’m glad I can pause and stare back into your beautiful eyes, Abby, and remember this moment captured in time when you were little and loved laying on the floor playing with your dolls.

Why?!

Why can’t I open these doors and pull all the pretty cards, photos and papers out? Why, Mom??!! 

This is the reaction I get every time Avery opens cabinet doors in the office and I tell her “no”. Devastation. Maybe someday I’ll let her go to town in there, but for now, I’ll stick with capturing this very sad, but still adorable, face.

Today Abby asked me to type an e-mail to Daddy for her. Here is what she wrote.

On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 2:30 PM, Abigail Brett <abby.brett@gmail.com> wrote:

I love you, Daddy. When do you think I can earn ten Mickey marbles? Me and Mommy were exercising. When do you think you'll come back? But I think I know that you are going to be home in time to tuck me in. I love you, Daddy. I will love you forever and ever. This is from Abby. That is it.

Abby

She also asked that I type an e-mail to John to wish him a happy birthday. This was what she dictated. 

On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 1:24 PM, Abigail Brett <abby.brett@gmail.com> wrote:

Johnny,

Happy birthday. I wish we could come. But we are almost ready to exercise and I'm coloring a picture for Daddy and you too. I love you. This is from Abby. To all of you too (Ella, Owen, Johnny, Missy). I hope I can come there soon. I'm sorry I didn't stay overnight. But, it was so funny when Ella tooted on the bed and she said I'm a turtle after she did that.

Love,

Abby

Take my picture!

Avery made today’s photo pretty easy! As I was sitting at the computer, she pulled my camera off the desk, handed it to me and then began to back up and give “posing” faces. After I took her picture she ran up to me and through grunting sounds and pointing explained that she wanted to see the picture on the camera’s viewing screen. Thanks for making today’s obvious, Avery!