Airplane + Touchdown = Football

Brodes and I are now in Idaho. Yesterday was the first day that we got any significant amount of packing done. That is why I am here if I never mentioned it. My mom is moving and needed help packing. Her husband is driving semi-truck and can't be home to help her. My grandparents are here but my poor mom has to move by the end of this month and her husband is delayed. At this point they are not sure if he is going to get home until the 31st and my mom doesn't have anyone to help her move. :( I feel awful for her and am praying that they will be able to get out in time. Otherwise they have to pay next months rent and she doesn't have the money for the next months rent because she spent extra money moving. 

Anyway I wanted to tell you about the first part of our trip. It was actually really fun traveling with Brody and my mom. If I hadn't already thought that Brody was the greatest kid ever he is even greater! He was a ROCK STAR traveler. :) When we left Minneapolis Brodes didn't cry he was excited. Loved the airplane. When we were taking off my mom and I clapped and said YEAH and Brody chimed in, threw his hands up in the air and yells YEAH!! It was pretty cute. 

He sat great in our laps during flight. We had a layover in Denver. As we were coming into Denver my mom tells Brody that the plane is going to touchdown... Brody once again threw his hands in the air but this time yells "Football"!! It was hilarious. He was excited to be in the airport terminal because he got to run around. He was in striped orange and blue footy pj's and was running up and down the terminal squealing and saying hi to everyone. He got a lot of attention. Back on the plane he sat in grandma's lap while we took off, looking out the window he waved and said bye bye during take off. My baby didn't fall asleep until the last 20 minutes of the flight. So basically he was up until midnight. He didn't complain or cry once. OF course once we landed he woke up by the time we got to my mom's house and got Brody to bed it was 2am minneapolis time. Poor baby. He was awesome though. I was a proud mommy. 

Since we got here we have been running errands and packing. Today we are going to Mountain Home Idaho. My mom is moving there. We have to move some stuff out there and then she has to rent storage. It's going to be a busy day. I miss you all. I will write more soon.

So Long, Farewell!

My week has been crazy but the time has come. Brody and I fly out tomorrow to Idaho with my mom! WHEW! I hope all goes well. Keep us in your prayers. I will be back in about a week. I am not bringing my camera! :( Too much other stuff to bring but hopefully my mom will take lots of pictures and I will get some to post. To my girlfriends, I miss you guys like crazy. I hope we can connect when I get back! I just have to add that Don and I haven't gotten much time together lately and tonight was wonderful. I got to go out alone with my hubby. We went and had dinner, walked around the mall, bought a game and went and sat at borders books and played it. It was so fun. Why isn't that being with someone somehow makes you miss them?? 

Goodnight, be back soon!

The CUTEST boy EVER!!!!!

There might be a dispute about this but I think he is the cutest ever and I know that there is a small following out there somewhere. This post if for those of you who are followers and those of you who dispute this well here's proof!! :0

TAKE A LOOK!!

So I created another logo. My sister and I worked on this one together. :) It was fun collaborating. Take a look here and tell me what you think. Should it stay or should it go??

My heart is breaking..

Our Sophie dog was attacked. I stated this somewhat casually in my last post about 31 things. She was attacked on Tuesday by another dog. It was in the evening and I am assuming Don didn't take her to the vet because of the price of emergency care. Initially I think we just thought it was a bite. Don kept saying that the vet will just clean it and put gauze on it and that will be that. I think that because he seemed not worried I wasn't really worried. We tried to get her an appointment this morning but they couldn't get her in until this afternoon. Roxy came with me. I didn't really want to take her by myself just in case I had to make some difficult decisions. The thing is, it's not good. She has a really bad infection. Her belly and breast is swollen something awful. She is in a lot of pain. The bite wound is bad as well. The dog ripped her skin to the point that it can't be stitched and Sophie is going to have to have surgery. :( Currently they will not operate until the infection goes away. So she is on antibiotics and I have to take her back to the vet on Friday. She isn't even the same dog right now. She won't lay down she just stands in one place with her head down. Don and I are thinking that she must be in more pain when she lays down. I don't even know what else to say. I am just so so so so sad. Sophie is the nicest and the best dog I have ever known. I hope with all my heart that the infection clears and we won't face any complications with surgery. If anything goes wrong there is no telling what will happen. We can't pay thousands of dollars to make her better. I love Sophie but she is Brodes best friend and I think that is what breaks my heart the most. :(

31 Things

Ok, so if you are reading this then I hope you will take the time to answer the 31 questions so I can learn more about you. Copy and paste it into a post, rewrite the answers to fit you and come back and let me know you do it! Thanks.


1. Where is your cell phone? hmmm... good question. It's around somewhere. =)
2. Where is your significant other? on the couch sleeping
3. Your hair color? brown with blond highlights that are growing out, doesn't that sound lovely.
4. Your mother? loyal
5. Your father? hardworking
6. Your favorite thing? laughing
7. Your dream last night? not sure
8. Your dream/goal? I would love to be able to do some traveling with my photography. Maybe someday when Brodes is a bit bigger. Destination Weddings, shooting artists for their CD's or other promotions.
9. The room you're in? my bedroom
10. Your hobby? exercising, photography, blogging,
11. Your fear? sadly enough I have many fears. However, I know that God is greater then any of them and someday I will be completely free.
12. Where do you want to be in six years? Living in a house that we own
13. Where were you last night? home working on pictures
14. What you’re not? I am NOT alot of things.
15. One of your wish list items? Nike running kit for my ipod
16. Where you grew up? Dawson, MN; Houston, TX, and a few places in Florida
17. The last thing you did? edited a gazillion pictures
18. What are you wearing? comfy pants and a t-shirt
19. Your TV? off
20. Your pet? Sophie Bella. She is currently injured. She was attacked by a dog tonight and we have to take her to the vet tomorrow. I am worried about her. She has had a lot of problems lately. :(
21. Your computer? is on my lap
22. Your mood?a little wired.
23. Missing someone? my sister
24. Your car? Toyota Camry
25. Something you’re not wearing? jewelry
26. Favorite store? I am a sucker for the Gap, especially Baby Gap
27. Your summer? too short.
28. Love someone? sure do.
29. Your favorite color? pink, blue, orange, red, brown, green, teal and so many others.
30. When is the last time you laughed? Tonight. My cell phone called my sister and I didn't realize it. So when I went to grab my phone out of my person I heard a voice saying hello coming from my purse and it scared me. Hahahahahaha.... oh geez.
31. Last time you cried? The question should be when was the last time I didn't cry. If you must know it was this morning. :)

WHOOPSIE!

Well apparently NOT ME MONDAYS are quick on the rules. I missed the linky so I happened to write for you fine folks! I hope you enjoyed this, I feel a bit sheepish! ;0 

I know what you are all thinking btw... "It is not me MONDAYS!" Yes yes I get it... I am going to bed now. 

NOT ME MONDAYS!!

Here is a fun little thing to try out. Read about NOT ME MONDAYS and share with us what you would never do!! ;)

I have read a few NOT ME MONDAYS today and I would never get confused and not understand that people were being sarcastic. I am way to quick for that, I would never
Take 15 minutes to understand NOT ME Mondays… NOPE NOT ME!! Did I mention that I would also never write a NOT ME monday at 12:38am when it is actually Tuesday.. I couldn't possibly do something like that.. NOT ME


Saturday I spent a fun filled day at the Mall of America hanging out and riding rides with my sister and nephews. My responsible loving step-dad took Brodes to get something to eat. These two absolutely adore each other by the way. I am telling you all this because I just want it to be clear that me being the completely mellow laid back person that I am would never fret or worry about a responsible loving PAPA taking his grandson and being gone a little longer then expected. That is just ridiculous and something I would never do, Nope NOT ME!

I went on a ride that takes you up really high and drops you really fast!! Have you ever been on one of these. Seriously!!! I wasn’t scared one bit, I would never have peed just a little because I was just too brave for this ride and I would never kick and scream like a freaked out five year old little girl. No way, NOT ME. (It’s true what they say, you loose just a little bit of bladder control after having a baby! I wouldn’t know from experience I
just want all of you to know.)

I would also never stay home all day in my jammies eating chocolate and crying. This is something I would never do before my period comes because I am just to rational. Nope I wouldn’t avoid exercising and take a nap instead. NOT ME!!

I think my eyes are starting to cross!!

I am working like a dog to try and get as many pictures edited before I leave for Idaho!! I seriously feel like my eyes are crossing right now. Any WHO... check out my blog.. there are 3 new shoots on there with updated pics! Enjoy!  JR PHOTOGRAPHY 

"Get your NOSE out of there!"

My weekend was crazy busy and wonderful. However this particular story deserved an entry all on it's own and well I will just have to tell you about the rest of my weekend in another post.

Saturday night my sister and I slept on an air mattress together on the floor. Before we went to bed I was teasing her that she better not cuddle up to me in the middle of the night thinking I was her husband. Who knew she was the one that was in for it. 

Apparently she couldn't get to sleep. She was laying there wide awake on her side facing me when all the sudden... WHAP right on her nose she got flicked! Then I said to her.. " Get your nose out of there!" ( I have to say that this probably isn't exact but as close as I can remember it being told to me.)

Then I smacked her on her nose again... a little harder this time and told her again... "I SAID get your NOSE out of there!" She was shocked. She looked at me and she said "What?" Apparently I told her that she knew what I was talking about. I laid back down and went back to sleep. After being abused by me she decided that she better roll over and face the other direction. A little later I sat straight up in bed and she was afraid to move, she didn't want to get socked in the kisser again! Poor girl... I told her that if she wouldn't stick her nose in other peoples business I wouldn't have had to take such drastic action! :) Hehehehe...

The power of saying "I CAN"!!

We have all heard the story of the little train that said I think I can I think I can! How much does it really sink in. For years I have had it in my head that I am not a runner and I could never be a runner. However, when I met Don and he ran my interest was tweaked. Partly because it's something that he really enjoys and has always wanted a partner to run with. Anyway, I think since I have been exercising my mind set has changed a little bit. I slowly have started to run with him but it's been pretty sporadic. One day we went four miles but it was walking and running. The farthest I had run without stopping up until recently was about 3/4 of a mile. That's nothing but I had it in my head that I could never run a mile. Like I said I think it all started to change since I have been going to the gym. It was just a decision that I made that I wanted exercise to be a regular part of my life. I definately want to loose weight but more then that I want to be healthy and I want Brody to have an example of regular exercise so that hopefully he will grow up enjoying exercising. Anyway, I have worked hard for months now and have built up to an hour on the elliptical. It feels good. So one night Don and I decided to run. It felt like it was out of no where and I ran a mile and half. Wheew!! I went over a mile. It was like I jumped the I couldn't hurdle and went above and beyond. The next day I went two miles. Since then it keeps going up. Today I went 4 miles. :) WAAHOOOO!!! I don't think I have ever thought that I could run 4 miles. My body feels strong. Regardless of running I am learning something that is greater then exercise. I fully understand what it does to you when you tell yourself you can't do something. You won't ever be able to because you have already decided that you can't. In some ways I have chosen to exercise and I do it on my own. I go to the gym almost everyday without someone telling me to go. I choose to exercise for a full hour and give it my all, I don't quit because I have made a decision to make it a regular part of my life. In some ways I think that choosing to exercise and persevering is harding then choosing God everyday. Then allowing God to be in control of my life, my heart, my mind, and my soul. I realize that saying I CAN and I WILL is all I need to do and yet some how I make it way harder then it needs to be. This has really impacted me spiritually and it all started by choosing to exercise. Isn't it amazing the way God teaches us things about ourselves and about him. If anyone of you is out there and there is something that you feel you need to do but you keep telling yourself you can't, try and figure out why! Stop saying I can't and just try. I think you will realize YOU CAN do more then you expected. ;)

PS. In the big picture I also don't think I exercise on my own. I think that God gave me the desire so that he could teach me something greater. 

He stuck his fingers in my soup!

Brody and I love to eat chicken and rice soup. YUM! Especially with crackers. So today to appease him while I was getting the soup ready I gave him some plain multi grain crackers. I started to share the soup with him and after a few minutes he looks at me takes his cracker and dips it into the soup!! His little fingers and all went right in, then he proceeds to let it sit there so that the crackers soaks up some of the juices. He did this over and over until his crackers were gone. Clearly he likes his crackers in the soup! It totally cracks me up that he knew enough to just let it soak up the juice. However I am going to have to work with him on getting his fingers in there. Kind of gross! I did wash his hands but still. I would be mortified if he ever stuck his fingers in a strangers soup... not to mention it might be hot. Anyway I am started to babble but I thought it was a funny story! TTFN!!

Would YOU eat a strangers gaucomole??

I am a nerd because I talk about gaucamole way too much on my blog. Who does that? Seriously if you don't know this by now, WELL then you must be a newbie. Anyway I had to write this story because I thought it was a little odd. 

Saturday I was at Como Park and Conservatory in St. Paul. I needed to eat before I had my next shoot. I ordered a taco salad and the guy gave me barely a tsp of gaucamole! :( So I kindly asked if he could give me a little more. He was great and he did. Then the lady in front of me says you can have my gaucamole, I can't stand the stuff. I didn't reply... what am I going to say, it felt weird taking her food off her plate. So I go and find myself and seat. I start mixing up and eating my salad and guess who comes and sits at my table. Little did I know I sat down with the people she had come with. We talked a little, very nice person, and then she brings it up again.. "Do you want my gaucamole." I politely declined. Something in me could not bring myself to a strangers food off her plate. I think she was just being polite and it probably would have been fine but still... a little weird! 

All sorts of things...

Last weekend was BUSY with a capital B!! I had 4 photo shoots! At some point those will be on my photography blog. (Probably in the next day or two.) It was really fun. Saturday I had two family portrait sessions, and an engagement session. On Sunday I shot Sr. portraits. It was a beautiful weekend. The weather couldn't have cooperated any better. 

Now I am gearing up for next weekend. I have so much that has come up. First of all I had asked my mom if there was anyway she could come to MN this weekend to watch Brody while I went to a photography class. She is an owner operator semi driver. She is able to request loads to places in the states. Well it worked out and she is coming here with her husband this weekend. Well since she is coming my sister, brother-n-law and there three kids wanted to come as well and see my mom. It's not for sure yet but it's possible we are all staying at our little place! So it's going to be fun. My mom mentioned to me that she is going to go back on the truck only to come off the truck to go back home to Idaho to pack. Her and her husband (aka: Papa G) are moving. Before I knew it she decided to stay off the truck with us for a week and then fly out to Idaho. She also asked if Brody and I would want to come with her because she could use some help packing. It's crazy because she brought it up yesterday, we decided on the dates last night and in two weeks I will be flying off to Idaho. :) I am going for about 5 days. So not too long but it will be enough to help my mom get some work done.  I will also get to see my grandparents and they will get to meet Brody. 

Idaho is really beautiful. It's going to be interesting taking a trip with Brody. I am a little nervous about that part. If anyone has any input on traveling with a toddler I would greatly appreciate it. I would also love your prayers as we are traveling. I really hope that we won't have any flight delays or cancellations... I think that would make me a nervous wreck. Anyway it will be interesting. I will probably be blogging less after this weekend because my mom will be here and then I will be gone to Idaho. WHOOOOHOO!!

My little winkie!

Don winks at me all the time. Now he has taken to winking at Brodes. I don't know what it is but I love it when he winks at me. 

I think it is cute that he winks at Brody too! Anway, today we were sitting at the table eating lunch and apparently Don winked at Brody and he winked back. Don got soooo excited... did you see that did you seeee that!? I did not. So we both now sitting there winking at him and HE DID IT!!! He winked today and it was the CUTEST!! 

sweet moments

Our bedroom, mine and Don's, is a place that I don't really let Brody play in. There is too much stuff for him to get into and it's not things that are safe. So I usually keep the door shut. Certainly there are times that he follows me in there. I let him mess around and then redirect him out. Well today he follows me into the bedroom and when I went in to redirect him he ran off. Our quilt was laying on the floor because I had stripped the bed this morning. He goes and falls down on it. I thought for a split second about picking him up and carrying him out but in an instant I decided to plop myself down on the floor beside him. In return I got a one in a million smile. We played a little bit on the floor. Then he got up and started running around again. So I tried directing him out of the room again and he did the same thing, so I layed down beside him again! The next time he got up he ran right out of the room. It was so precious. We have so little time when are children are small to cherish those precious sweet moments. We have choices that can create those moments or we can get back to work without realizing the opportunity that we missed. I am thankful that today I made the choice to create such a precious moment with my Brodes.

mm....mmm.... good!

After having a hairy morning I decided that one way or another I was going to take a bath ALONE tonight!! Don got home from work and we had one of my favorite meals... grilled cheese and tomato soup! :) I told him that I really wanted to get some sort of exercise in today. I could have gone to the gym but I kind of wanted to go for a run. So Don and I bundled up Brodes and we went for a run tonight. We have done this off and on through our marriage and I have always wanted to run with him. It felt so good, and it was fun. It was dark out and a little cool, and the air smelled completely of fall. I love the smell of wood burning.  

Well like that wasn't fun, then I came home and I got what I had been really wanting all day! A bath, and I was a little naughty because I treated myself to a glass of wine! I tell ya, nothing like a bubble bath and a glass of wine. :) 

Maybe I should take a hint!

Brody had a new discovery today! :) We didn't go anywhere today. It seems we both might be coming down with colds. Regardless I felt the itch to exercise today but didn't really want to take him to the daycare at the Y. So we didn't go anywhere all day. I kept thinking I might exercise so I had on exercise clothes and did not shower. Sounds pretty sexy right? Well Brodes and I were playing on the floor when he started to run his hand down my leg... do you see where I am going with this? He keeps doing it and then he tries grabbing at my hair stubbles.. that's right... he discovered my hairy legs!! 

A Little more rational

For several days maybe it's been more then a week, I am not even sure anymore. Brody has been waking up every night in the middle of the night, sometimes several times. He is usually a good sleeper. I haven't slept through the night since before last Friday and I am thinking it's been more then a week. I think this more I hit bottom. I was up till midnight working because I have procrastinated a bit with some picture editing and am now getting caught up. Among gathering some information for some stuff. I just had a lot to do so I finally crawled into bed around midnight. This has been the other problem I don't go to bed at a decent enough time. So when 2, 3, 4 o'clock in the morning roll around I can't handle getting out of bed to take care of poor Brodes. I can't hardly walk straight I am so tired. This morning he woke up at 4:45 and wouldn't go back to sleep. I was so irrational in my thinking. I don't function with little sleep. Don slept, he had been up until 2 working on a paper for school. Brody finally went back to sleep around 8am and I followed about 20 minutes later. We slept until about ten. So I am feeling a tad better. However, I am so exhausted. I need just one night of sleeping at least 8 hours without waking up!! I pray that this comes soon...

My Mom

My mom and her husband having been semi-drivers for I don't even know how long! MOM??? Anyway, she has a blog and she shared about something that happened to her recently and you can check out the story here. I think it's just craziness. I think that as a truck driver you would have many interesting stories to tell and I hope that she will continue to share them with us. Also she is an amazingly talented photographer! Check out her blog here.

The silly things we say..

We have all done it, had a conversation with someone and one or the other person completely misses what is being said and it makes for a funny. Well here is a recap of a conversation that Donny and I had this morning. I will preface this by letting you know that poor Brodes has a yeast infection. :( poor little guy.

Me: Did you change Brody's diaper yet this morning.

Don: Yep, I sure did.

Me: Did you put his medicine on him.

Don: No, I didn't

Me: Did you make sure that he was good and dry before putting the other diaper on? You know when I change his diaper I will use it like a fan to help dry his bottom and he thinks it's funny.

Don: His diaper was so full this morning that if I would have used it like a fan he would have gotten wet with pee.

 (Me looking at him like GROSSS....)

Me: I DON'T use the dirty diaper, I use the CLEAN diaper!

Don: OH....