....and here I sit...

So I have to admit something (that most of you probably already know) I have a slight....ok bigger than slight...addiction. To. The. Computer. There I said it, I admitted it. Right, duh. Nothing surprising right? Well get this...a typical night for me. Kids in bed by 8ish me in bed around 11ish. Where was I for the 4 HOURS from 8-11 uh you guessed it right here. Occasionally I will get up to potty or to let the dog out or in or put a kid back in bed...but my night is right here. Some people watch TV, some people sleep...I sit here. What I do you may ask? Well I am not a gamer I don't do games...like I need to do anything else to keep me on the computer...so I stay far FAR away from games. I hear about these games people love but I don't dare even open them up. So right what I do...well I dodge that question because I seriously am not sure what keeps me on here for HOURS at night. I read blogs, mostly other photog'ers blogs (which btw I have one too because I am really that cool..or not...but I have one anyway) I read friends blogs (but never comment cause I suck like that), I read "my boards" I have 3---2 local playgroups and one worldwide group of about 20 ladies whom I have "known" since I was pg with Jakeb. I shop occasionally and if I am REALLY REALLY bored I jump on myspace here and there. My new obsession is Flickr which has been a wealth of helpful info for my budding wannabe photographerself. A big time consumer is editing pictures from sessions and my own...which are a complete mess (mine not clients of course).
What I SHOULD be doing is folding the laundry on my bed or cleaning my disaster of an office. Eh whatever...I will do it tomorrow.

and OMG. My dad took us out to dinner tonight to O'Charley's which is the kids favorite-probably because of the bread. Anyway glad not to cook, and my kids were relatively well behaved minus a Sassy 6 year old and a overly booth bouncy 4 year old and then the pipsqueek next to me who kept snatching my food. But yeah they were decent. BUT Oh. My. God. the kids er family behind us were appalling-ly awful. Just awful...the dad seriously look like he just strolled in from the construction site..like dirty nasty clothes and self.. that I could handle of course but the kids were throwing stuff at Jakeb (his back was to them), climbing on the table I mean the waiter came to take their order and their 2 year old was sitting in the middle of the table like a freaking centerpiece. Both kids stood in their seats the ENTIRE time and that drives me nuts alone. SIT.DOWN! They then both threw fits and the one kid (about 3) screamed bloody ass murder twice all the while the mom as nice as she wasn't many times swung at the kids... like reached across the table to smack 'em. Which I mean really they needed but come on lady it IS public after all. The dad kept yelling at the kid to get off the table and that it was RUDE but seriously dude pick your kid up off the table and leave already your whole family is RUDE. I mean really it was like these people had never taken their kids out in public before . The dad kept staring at me and ya know at first I thought it was because they kids were so bad and he was embarrassed but then it dawned on me it could have been because of my hot bod (haha) but seriously it kinda felt that way after a bit. Either way I was shocked...never have I seen kids that bad especially with parents to match. The manager kept coming to our area and talked to everyone but them...even told us how well behaved the boys were all while nonchalantly cutting her eyes at them. It was classic. Apparently it was take a redneck to dinner day at O'Charleys...and I can say that because I was born and raised here, baby. I mean don't get me wrong my kids have had their bad moments at dinner but I would NEVER let it get that bad...control your kids people fo real, these peeps obviously didn't care because they didn't do squat and really that chaps me more than their behavior parents that just kinda shrug it off like "I can't handle it, so I will ignore it". Ugh anyway yeah..my dad kept fussing at me for staring at them but I mean come on how could I not it was like jaw dropping bad...and for what it's worth the dad couldn't see me staring at his heathen's.
Right. Ok I am going to go fold laundry or something....

thought I would dig this out fer ya...what I look like most nights, not sure what or why I took this picture a few months back but I did, at least I did something else right? See the clutter? drives me batty but if I turn around and face the screen I can't see it and all is right, I pretend that when I turn around the organizing fairy came in and poof all like I want it. For what it's worth this is the only room in the entire house this disorganized...

What if...

What if the sky was purple? What if deer didn't know that people were in the car and they tried to climb in? What if a mosquito drank up all our blood? What if....I mean really how do you answer those type of questions? They find the most off the wall things and then ask me "What if..." and then expect me to give them a logical answer LOL. And those are seriously questions they have asked me today alone. They are on a "What if...." kick lately. I am pretty good with answering questions for them, like am actually relatively patient with the 900 questions because I like that they are inquisitive about things and I don't ever want to discourage their little minds from exploring around and asking questions about things. So I try really hard to be patient with it...but seriously those types of questions are maddening LOL. Especially since they are dead serious and I am like uh...yeah that won't happen, of course they respond with yea well what if it did. And then I have to make up an answer...I mean it is a real answer most of the time but fo' real yo' it ain't gonna happen! hehe. Silly kids!
So the painting is ALMOST done!!! We just have the 2 downstairs bathrooms and the laundry room left to do. I am super excited about it! The living room color I think is my favorite...looks great I actually wish we could paint all the walls in there but right now it's too much to tackle.
Maddie girl got fixed yesterday....fixed so she won't get all knocked up. Poor thing was pitiful last night and got sick several times :( I was worried about her but she has perked up today and has eaten a couple times so that's good. She's such a sweet girl...sometimes I kick myself for adding yet another thing to take care of but she really is a good puppy girl. Her biggest issue is turning into a damn bouncy ball anytime someone new comes around....seriously the dog starts leaping like a maniac, it's a bit neurotic. But for now she at least listens pretty well. More than I can say for her elder companion...Bailey stupid dog runs out the door any chance he gets and then walks around the neighborhood VERY smug because we can't catch him. I watch him and know he's thinking...Stupid your not going to catch me, and you think i am the stupid one but here there are 10 people running all over trying to catch me." And all our tricks to get him back in are wearing off...oy vey! What if I had a dog with no legs?

Naughty 2 year old + Crayons + Carpet= Not so happy Parents

What we found smack dab in the middle of the living room floor.

And the face I got when I asked him what he did...I don't think he looks very remorseful...Definitely not caring...

Lucky for us...and Gavin...some Resolve carpet cleaner and scrubbing got it out. The sticker on his face is from the same goody bag the crayons came in from a birthday party. Seriously people don't buy the cheapy wax crayons, they WILL color on your carpet and you WILL be pissed and scrubbing floors just not worth it...spend the extra quarter for the good stuff LOL. Lesson learned...for me.

Home Improvements...

That's the name of the game for us this week. And I am mighty excited! My husband actually said "We could go get the paint and stuff you have been wanting and paint this week since I will be home" um yeah I ran out and grabbed more paint samples so I could be sure. And you bet your a$$ I jumped on that one! So 8 gallons of paint later...yes you read that right 8 gallons and we are ready to go! We knocked out the bonus room and upstairs hall last night. It's now a niceish shade of green. I say niceish because it's not exactly what I was wanting. I wanted a darker color but it's tolerable so it stays. We...er Robert is currently working on our bedroom while I wait for the kids to konk out so I can go down and help. It will be a nice aqua/light blue color that I am totally stoked about. Really I want to repaint every room in the house minus the kitchen and upstairs bath...BUT I refuse to do the boys rooms AGAIN until ours has been done. So that's the game plan for tonight...our room and bathroom (which will also be blue but a bit lighter). Tomorrow/Tuesday will be working on the downstairs halls and the living room walls we can safely reach (ie 1 wall) we have those dumb yet nice looking impractical vaulted ceilings and I have no clue how people paint those!
We also have tile to do a backsplash in the kitchen but I am not sure that's on the agenda for the week. We'll see...I won't push my luck LOL.

So many more...

Cool view...very windy, very cold, camera on roof of car LOL Other side of very cool view...Random...but we drove/walked up to the top of "Hawks Hill" which had awesome views AND housed Battery 129 which was an old military site built way back when that has since been abandoned. It had 3 view cool and very creepy tunnels that went thru the hills that you could walk thru, one of the tunnels had 2 pitch black rooms as we walked past one I spotted this on the walk looking out of the room...very creepy but oh so cool. I snapped a couple pics and took off running after Robert...seriously LOL. More on the walls of another tunnel..At Marin Headlands area...near the TN Valley :) this little beach was neat schmeato. More Golden Gate with a barge..At Benziger Winery/Vineyard Man I hate Paparazzi...driving thru Napa Valley with the top down so my hair could blow.... Need a Budda?
Or a colorful Oscar

Right so along with my empty trails, I love odd doors or just neat looking doors and there were plenty to be had...Above the fog on our way home!

Good times...

AT&T Park...Giants vs Brewers Right so I have realized that I have tons of pictures of empty paths..
And a full path :)
Love this...
Golden Gate
Robert holding his hat (SUPER windy) and checking the view. Redwoods and a sweet flare with extras in it???
Awww...
Why yes that is a big hole
Weird tree fascination...

We're back!

And had an awesome time! Our flight was delayed last night so we didn't get home til after 2 this morning, so we are BEAT!
San Francisco is definitely a "must see" gorgeous "country side" around it and just a neato city. I think I could have driven around the hills and admired the views for days. It was chilly and a bit foggy in the city but not TOO bad.
Friday night we hit up a Giants game at AT&T Park it was very cool but VERY cold so we left mid way thru, my poor body is used to 95 right now not 50 and strong winds LOL. Saturday we went up to Muir Woods which is gorgeous and wicked cool...we walked up to the "top" of some trail and it seriously kicked my never exercising butt. But was totally worth it! Loved it..I have some weird fascination with trees so it was awesome to see some huge ones. On the way home from there we stopped by Golden Gate Recreation Area and walked up to Hawk Hill which gives a GORGEOUS view of the bridge, the city, and the coast out the other side. I think that was maybe my favorite part...maybe. Sunday we headed up to Sonoma and Napa Valley...drove thru cute little Petaluma...oh yeah in the convertible Mustang with the top down--good times!...stopped at Benziger and Sebastioni Vineyards for some tastings. Neither of us had been to a winery/vineyard before so it was very cool to do that and enjoy an awesome drive thru the countryside. We did buy a bottle at Sebastioni and brought it home with us, yum! We hit up Fisherman's Warf and Chinatown and just walking around the city that night and Monday morning. Seriously I am STILL sore from walking all the hills...and in my defense we walked a TON yesterday!
We had an awesome, awesome time...the kids were great and glad to see us. And we both cannot WAIT to go back.
And you know I have tons and tons of pics...I will post a few in a bit!

Meet me in San Francisco...

I am outa here tomorrow morning at 9am! So I am excited and nervous at the same time. Seriously more about something awful happening to us or them while we are gone than anything else. I know they will be fine and super excited when we get home but that lingering thought in the back of my mind is consuming my thoughts right now....ugh damn nerves! I know RObert and I will have a blast though and I cannot wait to have some much needed alone time with him for 4 whole days!! I don't know what that is like.

Anyway don't miss me too much!!

Wordless Wednesday...make you happy?? hehehe

Ready for a rub-a-dub-a-dub-down..

Kiddie style. So yeah new found perk of having kids! After the boys bath tonight I put lotion on them all, with them being in the pools so much lately their poor baby skin is quite dry. Right so anyway they got lotion, Gavin wanted to play with it so I squirted a little on my leg and let him rub it in, well that of course started something because they soon ALL wanted to rub lotion on me. It started with just my legs and then Jakeb hit my feet...ok side bar--but I had to step away from my "bragging moment" because my darling 2 year old who was supposed to be upstairs picking out a story decided it would be a good idea to squirt nearly ALL of my wet jet cleaning stuff all over the floor--to the point of making a big ole' sloshing puddle--and funny thing is I heard him doing it but it just didn't register that the sound I was hearing was that stinker that child is!...right so anyway. Jakeb hit my feet and I thought hmmm this could be a good thing after all! So they rubbed me down just about head to toe in nice calming bedtime lotion hehe! All 6 of their little hands were rubbing lotion on my back and I had one of those "I love my sweet boys so very much" moments. They were being so sweet and gentle it was just oh so cool. I hope they stay so sweet!
I am super behind on the picture posting...I know, I know but been pretty busy lately I guess.
So this past weekend was super cool..I had my very first session with someone I hadn't met and no one I knew knew them either. Before that every session has been with someone I knew at least a little bit but this person I didn't know at all! I wasn't quite as nervous as I thought I would be and I think I held my own pretty decently. They were the nicest family...with a 3 year old little boy and a 1 year old little girl. SUPER cute kiddo's and seriously were So darn nice! It went great and I feel good about the pictures and just about the experience overall. I am so glad that my first "blind session" was a success because it certainly would have been pretty discouraging had it not been! I just hope they are happy with their pictures. But I bet they will be they have some adorable kids!

2 more days until I hit the air flying. I feel like I am leaving for like a month and think I need to get all these things done and taken care of before I leave...seriously I will be gone 4 day that's it. I need to take a chill pill. I am not too nervous about leaving the kids just yet, but ask me Friday morning and I think I will be a ball of nerves. Remember I have never left them so this is new for all of us! I am so super stoked about Robert and I getting to spend some much needed time alone though and I know we will have a blast.

Ok guess I better get to "work"...I want to get some of their session done before I leave!

Shhhh...Do you hear that??

Good! That means EVERYONE and I mean E-V-E-R-Y-ONE is sleeping in this house...except me of course. The kids, the cats, the dogs woo! I haven't had a day like this in a LONG time. Jakeb and Zachary don't take naps anymore except on the rare occasion that I deem it necessary. Today was one of those days.
We spent nearly all day yesterday gone, as well as having busy days on Mon/Tues. So I had planned for today to be spent at home...ALL day. Yesterday the J&Z had swim lessons which turned into playtime at the pool and then a lunch trip to Chick Fila...we headed home to drop off our 2 extra's (ZJones and Alex from our 'hood) and then hit the road runnin' again. I decided I couldn't wait any longer and absolutely had to go get Gavin's new bedding for his room and had to go up to my mom's and get my old bed...which is now Gavin's new bed. So we didn't even get home from doing that til 10 last night. Well I figured we would totally make a day of it and stayed up getting his room put together. Gavin konked out on the way home so he was in my bed and I let J&Z stay up "helping" me. So everyone is tired and needing the down time. Including me! I am working on trying to get some clothes given away and organized as well as other things (story of my life). We are getting some much needed rain as well!
OH and super exciting thing! Next weekend Robert and I are getting an entire weekend away ALONE. He has a trip to Rancho Cordova, CA next week...which is right outside Sacramento...which is about 2 hours away from San Francisco. We have a sweet little credit with Southwest that we need to get used so I am going to fly out to San Francisco on Friday morning! Robert and I get, Friday-Monday in San Francisco all to ourselves. I am SUPER stoked and super nervous something will happen to screw it up. This also means *I* am leaving our 3 kiddo's for 4 days. Something I have never done. Robert of course travels so it's not a big thing for him to be gone, but the longest I have left any of them is less than 24 hours! Gavin has never stayed the night away from Robert and/or I. So this is a huge thing for me to be ok with that! He's old enough now that I think he will be ok. My mom is going to be taking care of them while we are gone and I know they will be in good hands. And if you have any "must see's" in San Fran please let me know!! We only get about 3 full days so we will be on a time crunch but I want to do as much as possible!

On a serious note I found out this past week that my grandmother (my mom's mother), has found out that she has breast cancer. I guess it's small and she will only have to go thru radiation. She had a lumpectomy yesterday and now will have to do radiation. I am not sure all of the details other than that. Please say a prayer for her! She lives in Florida so we dont' see her as often as I would like and I hate that she has to go thru all of this.

Alrighty well I am going to go enjoy my quiet time! I will post some pictures of Gbaby's "new" room later!

Little Ole' Me got TAGGED!

I have seen this on several blogs I "stalk" here and there and always knew my day would come LOL. So here goes....And thanks Roxy!

Here are the rules:

a. Link to the person who tagged you

b. Post the rules on your blog.

c. Write six random things about yourself.

d. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blog.

e. Let each person know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog.

f. Let your tagger know when your entry is up..

Ok a, b, done so onto C....6 random things about myself...oh gosh where to start LOL.

1. I am pretty afraid of the dark and sleep with the kitchen lights on so I can see.

2. I have decided I am terrified of death...for myself, for others, especially those close to me. I think it's absolutely awful and it scares me.

3. I can't stand clutter but am forced to deal with it. Somedays I feel like I might have a nervous breakdown because of it. THankfully I don't.

4. I have on green pants...how's that for random?

5. Hope brought over Captain Morgan Parrot Bay Pinapple Colada girly drinks yesterday and they were oh so good, I drank the "forgotten one" tonight...I wish I had had more!

6. I wish we had money to travel all over the place...I get so antsy that I get itching to go somewhere super cool!

ok C...check...D..
So now I have to tag these peeps...Amber P, JenR, Erica, Chandra, Kate, Monica

Ok so now off to do E, and F! This is almost like work i tell ya!

Little Monkey

Can you guess who this is about?? Yep, Mr. Gavy Gav! So 2 nights ago (July 5th) Gavin decided it was time to throw down at bedtime and threw quite the fit about having to go to bed. To completely throw us for a loop he thought it would be a good idea to scale the walls of the crib to freedom. You got it, the kid has learned to climb out of the crib. Fabulous. I have been wanting to get him a new bed for a while now but just haven't actually gone and done it for several reasons most of which being that he seemed ok still. Apparently not! Little stinker climbed out 4 times that night, each time looking at us with this darn cute little grin and quite proud of himself. Needless to say he ended up in our bed. This new stunt has totally blind sided us! We were 1)not ready to buy him a new bed and 2) totally NOT expecting mr. hasn't grown to actually be able to get out! So for now the big rail is off the crib and the "toddler" rail is on it so he can't climb out but he can get out. Last night went ok, tonight...not so much. I think I lost count after the 607th time of putting him back in the bed. Here's a pic of him last night...his first night in the "big boy" bed (aka his rigged up crib LOL) and note the "ball blanket" at the foot of the bed. I bought that hoping he would us that to cover up with instead of the one on him and that maybe it would help him at night. Not sure if I have posted our sleeping dilema before but he still wakes up in the middle of the night, BUT only for me to walk...er drag..myself up to his room ONLY for me to cover him back up. So I had hoped that the bigger blanket would help...no luck, he doesn't even want it in the bed much less ON him. He's VERY particulary about the blankets and wants his on him just so and nothing else will work.

He sure is sweet sleeping in there though!

Boys after my heart..

which I guess they already have hehe. But anyway.
So many people that know me know that one of my very favoritest (yes I know that's bad grammar) things to do is driving around with my windows open jamming to some "tunes"...usually quite loudly. Well my super rockin' cool kids are right there with me baby. Our new super cool VAN (trust me it IS a cool van I swear LOL) has big giant windows that roll down on the back doors SO that means we get some mega wind blasting around and it keeps us nice and comfy even when it's July! So because of that we usually are cruisin' around with the windows down (and low a/c if we get too miserable). Anyway a few weeks ago I d/l some new music from itunes and of course have been listening to it nonstop...well of course the kids are totally diggin' it too. And there is just something so dang awesome about riding around with my 3 cuties with all of us jammin' to some music and the wind blowing thru our hair. Jakeb is back there singing his heart out and bobbing his head...and I can tell out of the corner of my eye that he's watching me to see what I am doing (which is of course the same hehe). He is also usually requesting songs and asking me to turn it up. Zachary is bobbing his head of course but is usually asking us to turn it down LOL. And Gavin well he just soaks it all in and occasionally gets the head dance going on too. Anyway I was thinking about it earlier today while we were driving and I just love it, I love that we can all have our moment together to kick back and chill...even if it's in the car hehe. I love seeing them enjoying some of the same things I do and hope they get the same feelings about it that I do. I absolutely love the wind in my hair and good music playing, just that combo together relaxes me in an instant and I love that the boys are enjoying that as well. I love rockin' out with my kiddo's. So if you see a silver van buzz on past you blasting music with the windows down and some REALLY bad singing I am sure that is us, pay us no mind, I promise we aren't too crazy.