I think it's back......

my mojo!!!  I'm feeling the desire to be creative again!  and it feels good!  I've completed one layout this week already, and have another half done, with a third in the wings.  and it makes me smile!  the layouts are not elaborate, and I may only be getting in there 15 to 30 minutes at a time, but that is ok!  soooooo, I should be posting some on here soon!   yay me!  wonder if this has anything to do with Winter CHA being this past weekend?

 

in other news..... the cupcake turned 9 months old this past Sat, and took her first steps on Fri.  By the time we got her on Sat, she was standing up and walking 10 - 12 steps at a time before plopping down.  she will be running in a month.  thinking this may just be the exercise I need!

 

here are a couple of pictures from Thanksgiving of the cupcake!  I swear, I could buy 20 tutus for her, and still not have enough!  now that she can stand alone, I'm going to need one in every shade of every color.   

 

 

 

 

and that folks is about all the pictures I managed to get... because I was too busy cooking! 

Ready for 2014!

Oh my goodness!  Another year has flashed by.... and in a hurry. 

 

I'm already planning for 2014 to be a great year!

 

This Little Cupcake will turn one in a few months!

 

 

 

 

 

I've no doubt she will be walking soon.  She stands all by herself, will take a couple steps before tumbling, and is showing of some very entertaining dance moves! Has 6 teeth already, and knows what food is!

 

I've picked my one little word of the year.  Focus.  It's going to be a big word this year!

I will hit the big 50 this year.  Not sure when that happened, but, I do know that I am still wearing capris, jeggings and leggings, and I'm not cutting my hair!  Matter of fact, I may put a blue streak in it next time!

This year may be the year I jump of the diving board.  I really do need to do that. hahaha I've only been saying this for what, 4 years now? I think I really only say it to give David hope that it will happen

Going to work more on my photography, because for the last 2 or 3 months, I've not been liking what I'm seeing come out of my camera.  Hmmmm, wonder if that means I should be a little less critical of what I'm snapping.

Seriously wanting  this little baby, but not sure I need it.

 

I plan to do lots of experimenting with cooking this year.  I'm going to learn to chop onions like a pro and flip items in the skillet just by using my wrist... AND, not get burned or cut any body parts off in the process!   Seriously though, I'm going to broaden my cooking skills! 

 

Mainly though, I'm going to find some kind of time to carve out for myself.  I seemed to have lost that this past year, with someone needing something from me on a pretty regular basis.  I had enough of that, and 2014, the year I turn 50, it's my year!   (and that starts next week, just as soon as I finish everything on my honey do/momma do list!)

 

 

and now, a few pictures from Christmas Eve.

 

she was thinking she was going to take her Santa hat off.  I was thinking she wasn't.  She won.

 

 

I really am so very proud of the daddy he is.  He is so in love with her.

    

                             They really are fun, and I think maybe big things are in store for them

                                    She seriously has her Aunt J wrapped around her little finger

 

                                                           Love her facial expressions

Now, let's make 2014 a most fabulous year!

A Glance at November....

I'm really stinking at blogging here of late, and I know I'm going to look back in a few years and wonder why???  So.... as a reminder to me, this is why I can't manage to find time to do the things I enjoy....

 

 

but really, what a super cute reason!!  I mean, who can resist this squishy little slobber face!  She is almost 8 months now, where does the time go?? and curious about everything!  David gets golf magazines each month, along with Rollin Stone and some other music one... I keep the current ones on the coffee table, and she makes such a game of pulling herself up and pulling them off... and then she beats on the coffee table.  I'm thinking she just might be a drummer girl!   

 

We also think the house might be haunted, and she is the only one who can see "them", because she is forever talking to someone, in some other language.... and it appears they answer her back.

She has discovered that there is more than just the living room and kitchen to this house, that there are hallways and bedrooms too! When I take her into my scraproom, her eyes get so big and she just looks in utter awe at all the stuff. I really think the wall of ribbon hypnotizes her! I'm still waiting for the moment that she discovers the music room and starts trying to play with the guitars. Wonder how fast David will move??

She has 4 teeth, with 2 more about to break through, and knows when you have food!  She hasn't been very fussy while teething, but you can tell when she doesn't feel good, because she just wants to cuddle.  She is just a mess, and I had forgotten how much work babies are!

 

 

I have managed to get in my scraproom to work on a few things that I'm planning to give as gifts.  Yes, I know I am running out time... but I'm not going to stress.  This is going to be a stress free holiday.  Stop laughing, really it is.  I was remarkably calm at Thanksgiving.  I mean strangely so, plus it's the 5th of Dec and I have a total of 3 gifts bought... and I'm not stressed. Bwhahaha.  Care to place bets on what day it is that I totally wig out?

So let's take a quick glance at November.   My semi-annual girls 4 day weekend at the lakehouse was fun.  With the help of a friend I made a church out of paper. (it's really cool and I need to post a picture of it)   My daddy turned 70, which is so hard to grasp.  Matt got hit from behind, on the ice, on a overpass, and put his pickup into the railing.  It's most likely totaled, he is just waiting to hear from the insurance adjuster. Thanksgiving was at our house again, minus Jessica and Josh, who went to Georgia. I slept in on Black Friday, didn't get out in all the craziness!  One weekend the temps were in the 80's and the next in the 20's.  My photographer workshop wrapped up, and I think I spent more time being confused than saying "ohhhh, I get it".. but that is ok, because it means I'm on the road to understanding!  

 My highlight moment....  my last picture I posted for critiquing... Karen Russell said

Exposure - Perfect

White Balance - Perfection

Let me tell ya, this girl got up and did the happy snoopy dance!  I think I might have even punched David in the arm, which he does not love, but I was so stinkin' excited!  BECAUSE, I've been struggling with my exposure and white balance.  Granted, the picture was taken outside, BUT, you still have to get it right.  AND,  it was straight out of the camera for critiquing, no editing!  Just thinking about it still makes me do a little happy dance!

 

And that folks, is a wrap on November.  I shall leave you with this picture of Cupcake in a box.  She loves pushing it around the house.  Ahhhh, to be amused by the simple things in life.    Now on to December, and time to get all the Christmas Decorations out!

Quick Glance at October

October seemed to be either really busy or go by really fast or both! truthfully, I'm going with both. November seems to be moving at the same pace, and so far, I've just not been able to find a way to slow it down.

October found us in Wichita Falls, Evelyn got to meet Devia and loved playing with the chairs in the salon. really, what child doesn't! then we were off to the pumpkin patch and Uncle Josh bought Evelyn her first pumpkin.

love love love her laugh

 

she wasn't too sure about sitting on the straw

 

 

 

I spent 4 days in Louisville, KY with some good friends. we went out messing around downtown. took some silly pictures with some metal birds, under a bridge, in kiddie cars at the mall, yes, we just had a silly fun good time! it was the middle of the day, the sun was playing havoc on my thinking and my pictures, and I spent a good portion of the time more than a little frustrated over my sudden inability to remember how to operate a camera!

yes, everyone was looking at us, and we didn't care!

 

again we didn't care who was watching!

 

Suze showing her love for the peeps.  couldn't keep the sun off her face

 

 

 

back home, and things did not slow down. took the girls, all 3 of them, to Oklahoma City to Affair of the Heart, in the rain, but we had fun. we also spent a little too much money, but really, you know that is going to happen. anytime Jessica and I are out shopping, too much money gets spent! I did get started on Christmas Presents and bought the cupcakes holiday outfits! winning!

then off to Wichita Falls to do a photo shoot for a young family. KL and Jess have been friends since high school, the went to the same college, both with a degree in education, and even though life is busy they stay in touch. KL wanted some new family pictures, her little one is about 8 months now, and it was time. I was thrilled to go do this for her and hoping she lets me again!

aren't they sweet!

KL and her family

 

 

 

Halloween arrived, and the kids dressed up. M and K both have jobs where the dressing up is required, which works out great for a little family trick or treating. they only went to a few houses, the ones down our block, then came back, sat out in the driveway and started handing out candy. somehow, I didn't manage to get them to understand to not give out ALL the candy, save some from D, so he isn't grumpy, and by 9pm three huge bowls of candy was gone. all that remained were 4 little pieces of bubblegum. Jess dressed up for her classroom and I wish I'd been able to get a picture of that, I'm going to have to figure out how to be in two places at once!

everyone goes, even Fruitloop is dressed up

the little princess, ready to go

 

 

if you don't know, that is a Dallas Cowboy tutu she has on.  Her daddy is a huge Cowboy fan, and her momma is becoming/has become one.  E has her little foot lifted up, her eyes squeezed shut, and is giggling here.  I've had this tutu for some time now, been dying to get pictures of her in it, but she can't stand alone yet.  this is a chair that one of my snowmen sit in, and I thought, hey...  it's not very pretty, I might paint it, but then again, she will be standing alone just fine in a few months.  anyway, it's not the photo I have pictured in my head, but it'll work for now.  :)

 

 

the holiday season is almost upon us, retailers seem to think it already is, and the weekends will just be getting busier. that is ok, because I'm really determined to get out, create memories with the kids, and give them traditions to remember, because you just never know what tomorrow brings.

one last note, it is Nov 7th, and I still have a yard full of flowers, pretty blooms, and color. how crazy is that!

October what?

someone please tell me how it got to be October the 8th already? little miss E is going to be 6 months old on Friday, summer/pool season is over, if I lived farther north, my trees would be turning, and wasn't it just Easter yesterday???

maybe time seems to be going so fast because life is crazy busy?? I don't know, but I feel as if I should be doing something as the days speed by, something other than playing Candy Crush! :) kidding!

I have been taking a lot of pictures, David informed me 2 weeks ago that I've taken over 5000 pictures of Little Miss in 5 months time. I said "is that all", he thinks I'm insane, I think he just doesn't understand. and the photography workshop, I'm loving it, but it is kicking my rear! I should have taken a leave of absence from work, grandma duty, and hired a maid before signing up. the forums are fast paced, the information makes my head spin, and I have discovered there is a lot of info out there that not only I didn't know, but I needed to know!

I was thinking about my blog this morning, and how a group of us all got started, think there were maybe about 10 of us... of the 10 only a couple still regularly blog themselves or even visit the blogs anymore. It's a bit sad, because it used to be a great way to keep up with what everyone was doing... and now, it's pretty much just me rambling about a whole lot of nothing, which I understand I'm pretty good at.

gotta run.... work is supah supah busy..... have my girls retreat next week! woohoo! and the workshop which has taken over my life, at least I'm not saying I'm bored! :)

here is Mr. Neurotic, A Giant Among His Kind Oz! This is one of the photos taken for the workshop... I excited to read Karen's critique later this week.

Have a super great Tuesday!