In With the New!!!!

It's FINALLY in! Thanks to Chris and his brother, the stove got installed without too much trouble and only a little bit of blood! LOVE IT!!!!!

SO Close...but then...not so much so...

All four new appliances are currently sitting in my kitchen. Beautiful in all of their stainless glory! The dishwasher installed so easily. The microwave installed so easily. The new fridge installed so easily. The new stove...well it is currently sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor...NOT installed. Apparently, this stove we bought is part gas and part electric. Isn't that neat? Except...apparently, even though the stove requires electricity to work...it does not COME with a power cord with which to plug it in. Hmmmm. That's a new one for me. I've never bought any appliance that REQUIRES electricity that was without the cord needed to supply said electricity. And somehow...Home Depot failed to mention that it was a little extra accessory that we would need. Also...we paid a $50 installation fee...ONLY to find out that these people don't install gas appliances. So...we paid for...? What's just so funny (only not really funny at all) is that the lady told us that we had to make sure to purchase a brand new gas line because they won't hook up the new stove to an old line. So I have this brand new gas line sitting here on my counter for the installation people who don't actually install anything having to do with gas, but which I have paid them to install...I am thinking that somewhere, somehow, there is a very serious idiot factor at work right now! Chris will just have to step in here and do his man thing and fix this situation for me! I LOVE the new appliances...even though one is clearly NOT where it belongs. That aside...the kitchen looks amazing! I will post a picture once we conquer our little stove issues! In the meantime...my delicious, wonderful, Southern Living gourmet dinner (which I imagine I MIGHT be inspired to cook IF my stove was hooked up....maybe) is just going to have to wait another night!

Out With The Old!!!

Crackberries

My husband works for a company full of workaholics. They all work TOO many hours TOO many days of the week. Part of being an employee there with any value at all means that you get assigned a Blackberry for communication purposes (or "crack"berry as we wives have taken to calling the things. We call it a crackberry because it's so addictive...the pull of the vibration of the thing so strong that few are able to resist looking at the screen to see who has sent them some new news or assignment. I have mastered the discreet, yet still present sound of the vibration that results from each new message or phone call routed to that little machine. I hear it...and then I watch to see what my husband will do. How will he handle the temptation of the mighty crackberry? RARELY does he say "oh well...whatever it is can just wait until morning." No...usually, he pretends to ignore it...and then...when he thinks noone is looking, he quickly slides it out, just enough to get a peek, and checks to see if it is anything important. I bust him on it regularly. Even go so far as to point out to him that our silverware drawer (that's where he deposits it at night) is vibrating....AGAIN. He used to keep it in his underwear drawer...but the darned thing goes off all night, and my hearing is extremely sensitive...and so it had to be left someplace far away from my bed you see. Sometimes, I make a real point of watching him once he has received a communication...and he KNOWS I am watching him...and then it's kind of fun to watch him break into a sweat from withdrawal and try to think of ways to distract me so he can check it without feeling so bad. Often it just doesn't work...and he apologizes for just not being able to resist the mighty summons of the blackberry pull! And so we live with the allure of the crackberry...answering it's every beck and call. Catering to all the other workaholics there...not to mention the Europeans who are on a totally different schedule. Well...it's an all call, all the time...never a quiet hour on the crackberry...no siree. WHY am I blogging about the crackberry you ask? WELL...tonight, we sent out an invitation for an informal happy hour thing for some of the other employees. Chris really likes to do those from time to time...and I oblige because it's a GREAT excuse to get the house really, really clean. Anyway...the invitation went out around 9:30 p.m. and literally, within LESS THAN A MINUTE we already had 2 acceptances. Now...WHY are these people reaching for their blackberries at 9:30 p.m. I ask you? Does the work day NEVER rest? I am always amazed at just how many people reach for those....the fastest blackberries in the west! Nakil won tonight. His acceptance was nearly instantaneous! That's a quick finger I tell ya! Okay...enough on the crackberries. It's time for bed!

Marking Time

I take a lot of pictures. Obviously! However...fewer and fewer of them are of my own little ones. Most of the smiling faces that I see through my camera belong to others. Now, as a photographer, I would stress to parents that marking time is SO important and remind them that these little blessings of ours are growing and changing right before our eyes. And NOT just because I want to see them in here all the time so I can build my business! I just recently realized that my own daughter has undergone an amazing transformation, right under my nose, with me looking right at her every single day. And it's AMAZING to see. I did pictures of her just back at Easter...that's just over 3 months ago. And then the new batch I just did up in Showlow...well. It almost does not even look like the same child. I am posting them here for you to see for yourself. If you haven't taken your children somewhere for pictures recently...and I do mean RECENTLY...it is probably time! Seize the moment, mark the time. You will be glad that you captured a VERY fleeting moment of their childhood to have forever. Unfortunately, we can't keep them little, can't stop them from growing up. But long after our little ones are not so little anymore and are off in the world doing their grown up things...then we moms can still look and remember when they WERE those sweet little beings. We can look at their sweet smiles, their missing teeth, their funny little expressions...and for a little bit we can just remember how special it was to be blessed with these amazing and precious little people in our lives. Moms...GO MARK YOUR TIME! Three months doesn't seem very long at all! But just at the change in my baby!

Just One More

Photography Homework

So...I have had several people mention to me now that they would like to see me do more outdoor photography. This is a real challenge for me...as I just don't do that...so far. However...I have decided to embrace that challenge and start working more on it. The only problem is, it is SO hot here still. So it will be the fall before I can really get out there and hit it. However, while we were away this weekend I decided to embrace those MUCH cooler temperatures and do some outdoor shots. And so...these are for all of those who are setting new goals for my photography skills and encouraging me out of my comfort zone! Oh...and her face is SO red...not because of my exposure skills...but rather, due to quite a little sunburn she got out on the lake that morning!

Camping Adventures

This weekend our family went camping in Showlow, Arizona. We loaded up and headed out to one of our very favorite spots...only to find it was absolutely FULL!!! Oh no! But never fear...we just moseyed on down the road and camped at Showlow Lakes instead of Fool's Hollow. Now...Showlow Lake was lovely enough. It's no Fool's Hollow for sure...but it was nice just the same. We had some good rain while we were there...but nothing too terrible. It did keep us from having a campfire that first night...but it was really nice to lay there in bed and hear the pitter patter of that gentle rain hitting the camper. The favorite part for the kids was that there was a playground practically right in front of our campsite...so they got LOTS and lots of fun play time there. They also got to do some fishing, along with some boating as well. We ate awesomely! There is nothing like a thick, juicy ribeye hot off the grill while you are out camping in nature! Ribeyes, salads...yum! Oh, and you can't forget the bacon and eggs and pancakes for breakfast each morning! Our family had a wonderful time. The kids got along wonderfully. Everyone managed to stop the non-stop bickering that had been going on all week and just enjoy themselves. One of the best parts of camping in Showlow is the drive getting there. You go through the Salt River Canyon, which is just gorgeous. I like it way better than I liked the Grand Canyon. It is a sight that I find myself just glued to, trying to soak it all in and commit it to memory each time we go through there. So beautiful! Anyway...wonderful weekend. Very restful. Very relaxing. I am now officially ready for all these kids to go back to school now!

Victory!

Well, Ladies and Gentleman. The battle of the beans has come to an end. And it only took like 14 hours. Max chose to go to bed quite hungry last night. I KNOW he woke up hungry this morning...yet sat quietly watching everyone else eat their yummy breakfasts. He SAYS he was not hungry...but he was. I imagine that he might have gone most of the day hungry...except that I upped the ante a bit and mentioned that we MIGHT invite his friend to come along camping with us this weekend...except...oh yeah...he hadn't eaten his beans. Too bad. Well, that lit a fire under his butt and was all the inspiration he needed. He loaded those beans with blue cheese dressing and....slowly, but surely downed them. Of course...what was maybe a bite and a half of green beans became no less than 6 bites...the point is that he ate them and lived to tell about it! Who knows what veggies will be on his plate tonight at the campground? But we will see!

Battle of the Beans

The battle lines have been drawn. It is the beans against Max this time. When we were in for Maxwell's 11 year old check up his pediatrician was MUCHO unhappy about the fact that Max eats neither fruit, nor vegetable. She said that at his age, it is time to eat them....or else. And took QUITE the hard line against it. Her instructions were, specifically, that Max is to eat 4 bites of vegetable BEFORE any of the other courses are offered to him. So while everyone else can dig into their steaks and what nots...Max must first tackle his broccoli or whatever else is served in the vegetable lineup. The other night was, in fact, broccoli. You could tell he was miserable and there was much drama over consuming that one whole little broccoli top. In addition to the veggies first rule, there is also the stipulation that if Max, for any reason, decides to throw up, then the mess is to be cleaned up (I vote by him!) and he is to be served the same vegetable again. Now, honestly, this is a scenario that I TOTALLY see happening in our house. We will see. Tonight we had dinner at grandmas. She too, has been informed of the rules and had several nice veggie choices available to Max. I quickly knocked off the two easy freebies (potatoes and corn on the cobb), which left the choice of okra and tomatoes medley or green beans. Under great duress he chose green beans. I gave him a whopping TWO of them. Long story short....Max passed on dinner (which the doctor assures me is JUST FINE). And so now...it is green beans (with ketchup at this point) for breakfast tomorrow morning. I just can't wait to see what tomorrow holds for us. I mean...such anticipation...NOT!!!!!! I imagine my day will start with a healthy dose of vomit...which will mean making Max clean it up...which will SURELY NOT be to my standards...which will mean I have to clean it up myself....AND mop the floors...just to be sure. Oh yeah...big excitement tomorrow coming our way. These are the real moments of parenting that you could NEVER have imagined when you pictured what raising children would be like. I mean....sucksville...big time. Worse yet...I KNOW without a doubt that when I take Clara in for HER checkup in two weeks, the doctor is going to ask me about Max and the veggie quest. And it will totally suck to have to admit that my child is still a veggie virgin. No siree...that is MOST unacceptable. Thus...we press on...and it's green beans for breakfast. Let's hope the battle is won right there. We are going camping tomorrow and I really, really don't want to pack this baggie of green beans to take with us! Pray for us! Pray for me! Pray for a spirit of compliance and a real tempting and craving from the holy spirit for greenbeans!!!!

Two LONG Weeks

School starts for us two weeks from today on August 9th. Right now I am sure that this will undoubtedly be the LONGEST two weeks of my life. My children are driving me NUTS...to the point that they are being regularly banished to their rooms for long periods of time and so that I can regain my own control and not beat them! Max and Clara cannot even seem to be on the same FLOOR of the house without arguing. Clara is the QUEEN of drama...and I just don't DO drama...so that's a problem. They have all lost their video game priviledges, with the exception of Ben...who has managed to keep a very low profile through all of this. It has been a pleasant summer to this point. But this week has been a slippery slope into a very bad, place behavior and attitude-wise with my children. They have been mouthy and rude, inconsiderate of one another and argumentative. In addition, after repeated warnings about his lack of practice, Max has officially lost his guitar lessons. I refuse to pay for any more wasted lessons. It takes a chunk of cash and a chunk of my own time each week for these lessons...only to be completely forgotten about until the next week. So there is virtually no progress at all with him. And I am DONE. Of course, Max is VERY sorry (he tells me) and is begging for just one more chance. But he has already had one more chance several times and I am just done with it. Cancelling the lessons that he obviously is not really interested in will be a savings of $92 a month...which translates to a total of $1104 over the course of this next year(and THAT total is consevative as it only accounts for 4 lessons a month, even though some months will have 5)...not to mention the gas money I save on top of that. At the rate he is going, I might as well just flush the $1100 right on down the toilet and never even set foot out of my home. Needless to say, I am MAD, mad, mad about his lack of practicing and dedication to something he begged for forever. So...there is that.

I am ready for school to start. I am nearly desperate for the doors to open and take in my children and begin the education process for the year. I am pulling out my hair and to the point where I am just not liking them too much at all right now. It doesn't help that I am only TOO CRANKY about this stupid hip flexor injury that is totally keeping me from getting even one little bit of decent exercise. I am not a sitter. I am a doer. I have been sitting since Sunday...well, Tuesday...but still. It has been hurting since Sunday and I have officially been resting it for almost 48 hours now with NO exercise (considering it really hurts to even walk). I went into the gym and lifted some weights this morning...all upper body. But nothing fun. It stinks. This afternoon I am alternating ice and heat trying to get a hint of relief from it. Hopefully TOMORROW I will wake up cured. Honestly, ever since I turned 35 in September it has been one injury after another. If it isn't a herniated disk, it's a knee. And if it isn't a knee it's a hip flexor. And if not that, then it is a migraine. I have had just enough of this! It's like my whole body is just on strike since the big 3-5 arrived. Geez!

On a high note (those are few and far between right now), we are going camping this weekend. Destination: Showlow to Fool Hollow Recreation Area. We have been there before and it is really pretty. Huge lake...awesome campground. NICE showers...oh...and the best part...temperatures only in the 70's for the highs and 50's for the lows. That should be a delicious treat. The forecast is for scattered showers...but we are having those here anyway. At least while it is not showering we will not all be cooped up here together staring at each other. The kids have really enjoyed the lake in the past and I just think the getaway will be great for all involved.

Oh...one more high note. All of my new appliances get delivered on Tuesday!!! Hooray. I will have a whole new kitchen by Tuesday night! Wa-hooo! NO MORE WHITE STUFF! If anyone needs some lovely white appliances for their home, now would be a great time to contact us! And those of you who know me, know that the stove has BARELY been used!!!!! It's practically brand new! ha ha!

Must go get ready now for the last guitar lesson. I would have already cancelled,except it would be rude not to give him notice. After all...he will be there waiting on Maxwell. Should be a fun afternoon. Can't wait.

Middle School

Today was registration day at the middle school where Max will be a sixth grader in two short weeks. It was exciting (and a little scary) to see where my son will be spending the next three years of his educational life. Today's process involved getting his picture made for his i.d. card and the yearbook, signing up for parent newsletters, finding out about and registering for the bus schedule, getting his class schedule, buying yearbooks, purchasing p.e. uniforms (which, according to his schedule he would need), purchasing school spirit t-shirts, getting lunch cards loaded, and getting checked off with the health office that all immunizations, etc were up to date. Then we got to actually walk his schedule and try to find all of his classes. We located all of those, along with his locker. Opening the locker proved to be quite a challenge for Mr. Max! In addition to just being a new experience for him (the combination lock thing), there was a bit of a trick to it. It took several attempts to get it open and then we were successful only with the help of a veteran student. Once we were let in on the trick, I had Max open it about 10 more times just to be sure he could do it! When we left I think he was feeling fairly confident about it all. He found out while we were there that one of his best buddies is going to be in the first 5 of 7 classes. And there lockers are only about 3 or 4 apart there...so the two of them are planning to stick together! That makes me feel a bit better about it all! I think he is really excited...a bit nervous, but really excited. In addition to the new school, will come the added challenge of riding the bus. To make it more exciting, he will ride a different bus home in the afternoon than what he rode in the morning. To tell you the truth, mom was just stressed out over so many complicated changes...but Max seems to be either pretty okay with them, or just still currently oblivious to them. Anyway...it was a good and informative morning. I'm not sure I am any more relaxed about the start of the year after it...maybe just the opposite! But either way the big day is fast approaching!

Headache is all gone today. It persisted right through 5 p.m. yesterday. A very long and drawn out episode for sure. I had to do my first photo session ever with a nasty migraine going. That was interesting and I wondered for a time if I would be able to get through it. But alas, I did! I pretty much lived on ibuprofen yesterday...but I got through it. And the family that came was so totally fun and their pictures were SO good. They will be appearing on the website VERY soon. I actually have quite a bit that needs to go up and change out! I'm sure Chris won't be too excited about it...but I sure am. I LOVE some of the new stuff that is going up!

And while my headache is better, I have definitely injured something in the front of my leg. Not sure if it is a quadricep or hip flexor or groin muscle...but it has been singing painfully now since Sunday. Pretty much every step I take really. really hurts a lot. So...no running today. Heck...it took 4 ibuprofen just to be able to walk around the campus with Max this morning at registration. There might be a couple more quiet days here in my future...though I would be overjoyed to wake up and find it cured tomorrow morning!

The rest of the day is somewhat busy. I have pictures tomorrow for one little one that I am very excited to see. She has the funniest little expressions and I hope she will be up to sharing them tomorrow morning! I am off today to buy a goldfish and bowl for her shoot...something I want to try with her. Hoping it will come out precious! After that I have another couple of errands to do...and THEN...I am going out on a date with my hubby! We are going appliance shopping tonight! Hooray! When they built our house, the original owners put white appliances in...even though the countertops are very nearly black and we have black iron hardware on all of the cabinets. It just doesn't look right. So tonight we will begin the process of looking at some new ones! HOW exciting!!!! Then after that is a girls night out at Applebees...so I gotta figure that one out too! Anyway...lot of fun and excitement tonight! Can't wait!

So that is what is going on in our house today! Life is good here in the desert!

Headache

Woke up with this one. It's a doozy. Intense. Very painful...right side, sharp stabbling pain, pressure behind my right eye. I am nauseas when I move around and the light is just painful. Something interesting though...I noticed last night that I was having trouble focusing on Chris while I was talking to him. I finally took my glasses off, it was so bothersome. I felt like he was too close for me to see clearly...but I was on one end of the couch and he was on the far other end...we weren't really that close. Having trouble with it this morning too...but the house is flooded with light and using my eyes is just painful all around right now. Getting the kids set up with what they need and then I have to go back to bed. Three ibuprofen taken a while ago are not touching this, and I have SO much to do today and a picture appointment at noon. I do NOT have time to be incapacitated today. Got to get a handle on it....like NOW. So...back to the dark...for now.

That's My Boy

Here are some of the latest pictures of our Ben! Nine...going on ten here shortly. Fourth grade...sweet as they come. That's my boy!

Counting Down the Days

It is exactly 2 weeks and 5 days until school starts. Our summer has been just wonderful. Full of some fun and awesome adventures, times with friends, swimming, reading, and relaxation. No complaints here! But alas...all good things must come to an end in exchange for even better things...like school! I tackled the VERY dreaded back to school shopping list a couple of nights ago. Target had all the schools lists out so I grabbed it (since I keep forgetting my copy at home) and started fulfilling the appropriate grade level necessities. $80 later...and that is STRICTLY the supply list...I am happy to report that three backpacks are full of supplies and ready to go. Three backpacks are NOT included in that $80 total. No...that would be an additional $50...and we haven't even begun to tackle the back to school wardrobe! It's an expensive season, to be sure! Still to do...haircuts for the boys (that's a MUST), clothing update for the boys and a couple of other items for Clara, new lunch box for Max...since he's a big middle schooler now and can't be seen carrying a babyish basketball looking lunchbox anymore...and registration day for Max next Tuesday. Apparently they will be doing yearbook pictures and everything THAT day...before the school year even technically starts. Interesting, to be sure. Of course...I really have no interest in school pictures. The yearly "mug shot" is something I have been passing on now for several years...for obvious reasons. Those pictures rarely look like my kid...and I have to buy an outrageously expensive package of like way too many....I just always get better ones of my kids myself. And somehow...even though I never order a package, I STILL end up with at least a couple or three of their school picture anyway! I think their teachers get a few for projects and what not...but rarely use them all...and so they come home to me! I have had several folks complain about the school pictures and I have fixed more than a couple of picture disasters...I think I am going to do a back to school special for those parents wishing to bypass the generic mugshot...something like 1/2 price units...pick your pose...something. I still have to think on it some, but I have had enough requests that it would seem a good idea. Not to mention that I just hate to see folks stuck with "the mug shot". Those school pictures are often the only professional picture done of the child that year. But...enough about the picture business...for now. As the "big" day, August 9th approaches, feelings are all over the board in our house. There is total excitement by Clara. She is SO ready to go to school and to have some homework. I think Max is fairly excited...really looking forward to the pre-algebra math class he has been placed in. He's vowed that he is going to be extra organized (LOL!!! Bless his heart...it will interesting to see his efforts!) Ben is not especially excited about school. He never is. Although, the knowledge that his best pal will be in his class with him for the third year running is boosting his spirits a bit! And as for mommy...well it's a mixed bag. I am excited for all three of my kids and the adventures ahead for them. I am excited about the possibility of having a clean house that stays that way most of the day. I am thinking that I will most definitely cherish the calm and quiet...to a point, but am pretty sure I will miss the sweet cloud of never ceasing chatter that comes with my dear girl. She and I are quite tight...and I fear it is her absence that I will feel the most. I've tried not to think too much on how I will be setting her off into the world of school and about how she will now spend more of her day with others than with her dear old mom and siblings. The thought that others will be privy to all of her smiles and laughter and chats and goings on...and not me...well. That's when the tears start flowing. And so...on that note, that is probably enough for today.

I HATE THIS THING

And that's all I have to say about that today.

Migraine

Woke up at 3:30 a.m. with this headache. It's one of the worst ever I think. My head hurt so bad I can't even describe it. Mostly the top, right side of my head...but everywhere is being drawn in, if that makes sense? I was up looking for ibuprofen just before 4 this morning. I thought I would die before I got to bed and got still again. Then the dog's breathing was bothering me, and Chris was in the shower to catch an early flight to Europe, so that was excruciatingly loud, and the hum of the ceiling fan...you name it. It is backed off a little bit this morning, but it is ramping up again as I sit here. I am nauseas as all get out and just miserable. It is nearly time for more ibuprofen. Ben is pushing the buttons on the toaster oven and it is SO LOUD...all those little beeps. I have a feeling that this is going to be a very, very quiet day for us! Got to find somewhere dark now. No small challenge on this very bright and sunny day!

And She Runs

Running won out in the exercise scheme of things yesterday. Only because when I got to my Bodyjam class the schedule had changed and the class was now at 5:30 instead of the 5:45 I showed up for. And I HATE, hate, hate being late. So I just came back home and did a short 5 mile run. Felt pretty great. NO problems. No real soreness. Could have run more I'm sure...but dinner was ready then! Oh...and no yuckiness afterwards! So that was greeat!

So Here's Something Funny...

I am actually sitting here comtemplating a run a little later today! I must be out of my fool head! Tonight is usually my Bodyjam class...WHICH I adore always. But I am sitting here and think that even after that nasty experience post 10 miles on Saturday, I might like to hit the pavement (or actually, the treadmill) again. Hmmm. Must be the heat getting getting to me! We'll see what the day holds.

Puppy Training-Week 1

We started puppy classes with Oscar last night at PetSmart. There are only 3 puppies in our class...two of them being my own and my mother in law's. Then there is Bailey, who is a 6 month old Scottish highland terrier thing. There was supposed to be a lab joining us as well, but was a no show. So just the three musketeers last night. We all got introduced and started working on a few basics. My thoughts on this whole thing thus far? I HATE that clicker thing. What a pain in the butt! I dreamed of clickers last night. Click, click, click, click, click, click, click. Not to mention that you almost need like extra hands to do it. NOT to mention the mental challenge of just making sure you click the stupid thing in the first place...and at the exact right moment on top of that. So...I'm feeling clicker challenged this morning. Despite the fact that I hate the clicker...I have heard good things about clicker training and this class and has witnessed firsthand some amazing transformations of good behavior because of it. And so...we will stick with it. At this point, I am wondering though if I can perhaps expand it to work also on my children. I mean, as long as I am clicking and training. Though I doubt they would do much of anything for a liver treat. No. I'm afraid I'd have to be dropping dollars into their little hands each click instead of liver yum yums. Too expensive. Besides that...I'd need another hand. One for the clicker, one for the liver snacks and one for the dollar dispensing. Okay....so clicker training the kids is officially off the table now.

Speaking of the kids...they are making me nuts! I am very certain that I am NOT the only parent saying that this summer, however, they really are just stepping up the "make mom insane" behavior here this past week. We have actually had a really great, easy summer thus far. But the past few days have yielded a whole new level of bickering and WHINING!!!!! You may or may not know this about me, but I simply do NOT do whine. And boys tend to do WAY less of it than girls do (though I did not KNOW that until we had Clara). I always thought that the fact that my boys were not whiney was due to my outstanding parenting skills. Then God smacked me right down a notch or two by blessing me with Clarabelle who can, at times, be the world's most skilled and most annoying whiner. Which, just really makes me nuts. We are in whiney mode here as of late...and DRAMA! Oh my! Clara actually told me just last night that we just don't understand how hard it is for her and how much tougher life is on her. We simply don't get it...the hardships of being a whole 4 years old. Clara is currently learning to roller skate. Chris brought the infernal things home with him the other day after Clara went with him supposedly to get a haircut! Along with these skates, she had also wrangled a new helmet, new set of knee and elbow pads (complete with water bottle) and a set of wrist guards. Now...I would not really be opposed to Clara getting the skates...IF she could skate. However...she does not. Not even close. So it requires the assistance of yours truly. WHICH might not be such a bad thing IF it wasn't 106 degrees...are you following me here? So we have been hitting the culdesac out front rather early each morning in full roller skate safety attire and it pretty much happens like this. I drag Clara by the arm and she complains that I am going too fast (even though my speed is like....hmmm...BARELY moving). I mean, it's taking like 15 minutes to go around the little traffic island there in front of the house. ONCE! Yesterday morning we were out skating and we started down the sidewalk and Clara nearly lost her footing and she shouts out "Mom! THINK of me!" The way she said it was SO funny and so dramatic and so out of nowhere. Then I got to laughing so hard that I did not think I was going to be able to hold the child up! All this while juggling my morning cup of coffee (GOT to have that!), which, is coming dangerously close to being WORN isntead of consumed due to laughing hysterically and trying to hold up Clara with my other hand. All of this happening, of course, right in front of the peekers house. The "peekers" are my VERY annoying old neighbors who have a closed circuit camera system monitoring everything that happens in front of their house (including the sidewalk we were standing on). They watch everything. Then they also tend to peek out of their blinds at my kids if they are racing around the outside of the house and climbing over OUR wall and what not. I'm pretty sure they can't stand my kids and we have probably single handedly removed several years from their life just in the worry caused that perhaps a child might actually TOUCH an edge of their property. That's FINE with me. Needless to say, there is NO love between me and the neighbors. Although, I'm sure they thought we were insane as this whole skate/coffee/ hysterical laughing while trying to hold up the child happened right in front of their little camera thing.

Okay, so enough commenting on the drama and whining in our house. Life is good. We are rocking along. Oh...I have nearly recovered from my 10 mile run. Can I just say that the hours following that run sucked most horribly?! It felt great WHILE I did it! But man...once I stopped...NOT fun. I was in a state of extreme YUCK for several hours post run. I'm really not sore at all from it. A little bit tight through my hip flexors, but not really sore too much. Not much planned today. Got to take my Max to the doctor for his physical! Fun, fun, fun! More on that later! Life is good here in the desert!

Headache

Okay...first day of my cycle...another annoying headache. More left sided this time. However, this one stayed fairly mild and responded well to ibuprofen. I tried to outrun it with my ten mile run...but when it was all said and done...it was still there. So...took MORE ibuprofen and just pushed through the pain as they say on the Survivor Tylenol challenges! Pretty much gone right now as I type this...but I am going to head on to bed before it comes back again!

I Ran Ten

Miles that is! That's right...I said 10! Feel free to leave your congratulations in the comments section below! I have NO idea what got into me. I just hopped onto my trusty treadmill for a quick spot of exercise and next thing I know I am rolling right over the 10 mile marker! It is amazing what you can do with some great music playing in your ears! I felt like I could have just run and run...which I did! It was QUITE an accomplishment. The first time this gal has run that distance, for sure. And while it felt great to do it...I will be the first to admit that it WON'T be happening tomorrow...or even the next day...or maybe not even this week again. Heck...it might not EVER happen again! It took forever to cool down from that run...and my body has been in a state of "What the hell was THAT?" ever since it happened. Can't say I'm feeling particularly fantastic right now since I've finished. No siree. Not fantastic at all. As a matter of fact, I have been downright nauseas since I got done! So...going to sit and suck down some serious water now and recuperate from my fitness quest of the day.

Dazzling!

This little beauty opened up in Jackie's yard this morning. SO gorgeous! So dazzling that I had to share!

Headache

Okay...it's a good one. Knocked somewhat back with ibuprofen...but by no means knocked out. I am due to start my cycle this weekend, if that counts for anything. Right side of my head...my skull...all the way up the top of my head into my hair and across right side of my forehead. Noise was hurting it worse earlier...along with movement, temperature...breathing...life just pretty much sucked there for a while. I am up and moving right now, but am by no means comfortable. Still hurting lots on the right side. Already looking forward to bedtime tonight and quiet!

Portrait of a Puppy
I have a new backdrop in the studio and I just had to try it out...on SOMEONE!!! My kids sure aren't volunteering! So I snagged little Oscar for his first ever, official portrait session! All in all, it went very well. He's a good little guy...very patient! The fact that he can't jump off the things I put him on yet and run away helps too!

Cardboard?!?

Okay...so I just got off the treadmill from doing my morning run. Thanks to the humidity I only managed 6 miles instead of 7 today. It's just too thick and sticky. Anyway...while I am running, I am watching t.v. I watched a little of this and a little of that...nothing really held my interest for more than a few minutes at any point this morning. However...I was watching the commercials and the new Tampax commercial comes on talking about "Time for an upgrade". And it shows a girl's blah blah boring closet turned into a super huge store sized closet with all sorts of glamorous stuff in it. It also shows a girl working out at the gym and her view is this big ugly guy...but then "it's time for an upgrade" and her view changes to this gorgeous hunk of a guy. Then it goes on to show tampons and says "time for an upgrade" and then I'm expecting something new and unique and they show "Tampax Cardboard". Cardboard? Cardboard is an upgrade? We're talking luxury closets and hunky men...and that's on par with cardboard tampons? What the heck is THAT all about and who is the marketing genius behind that one. Ooooh cardboard...those sound comfortable. And the box is ugly too...it's the usual TAMPAX in white letters on the blue box...but in a HUGE bright yellow box in huge letters it says CARDBOARD. Anyway...this entry pretty much has nothing to do with anything. Other than to say that that commercial does NOT entice my desire for cardboard tampons. I like the ones that say something like "Pearl" or "Comfort" or "Satin" or "Princess"...NOT cardboard. Cardboard may be the latest and greatest craze...but I'm going to have to go with the old lousy NOT cardboard ones. I want the ones in the pretty box that promise me comfort and freedom and everything else under the sun! Just my two cents.

Conversations With Clara

C-"Mom, my foot is really, really hurting."

Mom-"Oh? What did you do to your foot?"

C- "Well, remember when I kicked Ben? That's when I hurt it."

Mom- "Clara, if you hurt YOUR foot kicking your brother, then how does poor Ben feel?"

C- "OH! It didn't hurt him at ALL...he's just that much bigger than me!"

Another One Bites the Dust

Well folks...this morning we say goodbye to another green (or used to be green!)friend. His stay with us was short (as are the stays of all green things in this house!) and sweet. Clara brought me this little plant for Mother's Day this year. I made it ALMOST two months. That's pretty amazing for me! The past week he has been looking sadder and sadder...droopier and droopier. No amounts of sunshine or water seem to help...or lack of water. This guy is just ready to depart this world. I did my best (which rarely counts for anything in the world of plants!). So farewell, my plant friend. Happy travels!

Monsoon Arrival

We had rain tonight. Nothing really to write about...but then, rain in the desert is ALWAYS something to write about I suppose! It's been muggy and sticky all day. Working out this morning was just sticky and gross...felt like I was trying to do my step aerobics under water. We got in a nice afternoon of swim. The Newmans came over to swim with us, along with Vicki and her girls. It was a nice afternoon by the pool watching the clouds build. Then this evening I began to hear the first rumbles of thunder. It was actually pretty exciting. It sounded like we were maybe in for a good little shower...but then...not really. The lightning was impressive, as it always is here in the southwest. So of course...I feel the need to head right out into it with my camera to see if I can "capture the moment" so to speak. Didn't happen. But it sure was fun trying. Afterwards, I thought that that might not be the wisest choice of photography...lightning storms...but it was a real thrill tonight! A whole new challenge...right up there with the two year old challenge! But for now I am going to stick with my little kiddos...they still have my heart and make me smile! Anyway...the sky was really cool during my attempts to snag the lightning. It was cool to see the edge of the storm!

Headache

I'm dying here. Had a very, very mildheadache the past two days...so mild that it really almost wasn't even a headache. Today...it is significantly amped up and I am miserable. Right side of my head is throbbing. I can literally feel the veins in my forehead throbbing with my heartbeat. Was okay when I got up this morning. Ran 7 miles. Took a shower...and now PAIN. Also have horrific heartburn the past two days...another wonderfully unpleasant sensation on top of my nearly exploding head. No fun on the fourth! It's a painful day here in the desert!

With Reality Comes the Victims

Okay...so I have been in TOTAL denial now for a couple of months that my dear friend was moving away for a year. I was just SO sure that it was so NOT going to happen. I just did not even break a sweat or waste a worry over it because I just knew it would be wasted since she wasn't really going to go. Even though we talked about watching her house and a gazillion other details...it was just conversation to pass the time because I just knew it WASN'T going to happen. My daughter went to her daughter's going away party (which was just silly since she wasn't REALLY going to go away!) And another friend and I took the dear one out to dinner as a "send off"...which again...was just silly since I had no plans to really "send" her anywhere. But reality hit home yesterday as final plans really finalized. And I really had my first inkling that she might actually leave for real when she showed up on my doorstep with...her plants. It was like someone knocked the air out me. The plants are like the FINAL final detail. Especially since this friend KNOWS I have a thumb blacker than any other found in the wide west. All things resembling foliage in my own home are silk. I simply wash the dust off of them every other month or so. But other than that...NO maintenance and they live FOREVER! My friend is not so cursed and manages to grow a great many things in pots both inside and outside the home. And so...she shows up with FIVE plants for me to kill for her while she is gone. And there is no sense pretending that anything other than that is a possible outcome! And it all just hit home that my friend actually intended to get on that airplane and LEAVE...and for a whole year at that. So it's been depressing around here...looking at all of these stupid plants that are SO out of place here in my house! I think they know they received the ultimate death sentence and are already looking paler today than when they arrived yesterday. It's a stark reality reminder that my favorite friend and walking buddy is no longer just around the corner...that I can't just call her and ask for "hypothetical" directions when I might be hypothetically lost...that I don't need to call and ask what she's wearing so that we don't show up in the same place wearing the same shirt (since I hooked her onto a particular favorite one that we both own a ridiculously high number of!). It is weird to think that it might be months and months before I see her. She has been my walking pal, my bible study pal, my mexican food pal, my dearest confidant and friend in the time I have been in Tucson...I think I may just be lost without her and her sweet smile. She left today...and I don't quite know what to do with that. I have managed to keep especially busy today so as not to think about it too much. My neighbor was kind enough to come over and swim for a short time with her little ones this afternoon and the distraction was SO needed. But now the day has come to a close and it is quiet and calm and all of my thoughts have turned to Mary and her long journey that she is even now on...and I miss her already. I would have given her a huge hug today...but she has an aversion to that sort of thing! So I have hugged her in my heart and will be holding her ever so close in my heart and prayers for the next 12 months. I am going to make a concerted effort not to kill her plants...but she knows better than to hope they will be here in a week or two...let alone a year! Happy travels, my friend. I will be missing you terribly here in the desert!

Here are more pictures of our Oscar. I keep taking a whole bunch because he is growing SO fast. He's still a teeny little thing...but there is definite and noticeable growth in the two weeks since he came to be a Roberts! These were taken yesterday. Before and after bath. Oscar wouldn't look at me anymore after a bathed him. Ignored me for a good two hours at least. His message was loud and clear! Not a water dog, this one! No sireee!