Life As We Know It

Here I go again...

I've launched another Project 365... version 2008.  Here's hoping I can stick with it this year. 

Beds, School, Mess, Work, Pictures, etc etc...

Just some random things going on here....

• JCPenney has the bunks on backorder that I want.  I'm afraid they're discontinued.  The search for bunk beds at an affordable price continues.   I freaked all day at not being able to find bunks I like.  The ones at JCP have "slats/spindles" on the headboard/footboard so I thought that'd not make the room so "boxy" as a "flat" foot/headboard would look.  I found a black bunk set I really like (I so love black wood furniture!) but I was afraid it'd be too dark/solid (no slats/spindles to let light through the foot/headboard) but then I had a flash of brilliance and thought DUH!  The whole reason we're getting bunks is so that *just in case* we decide we don't need the extra bed, each of the boys can have a twin bed.  So, for now while we're stuck in this tiny house and P is in his 10x10 bedroom, we can just set up one twin and it won't look like the bunk is taking over the bedroom when people come to house showings!


• My check engine light came on in the Fe today.  And it sputtered when you step on the gas.  And on the way home it struggled to accelerate above 35mpg.  Nice. So, Ryan is taking it in to our mechanic today.  Please, please don't let it be anything expensive.  We are flat broke right now.  Not to mention Christmas bills are breathing down our necks.

• I forgot to mention a few weeks ago.... I'm going to be working more than part time this next semester!  I had applied for a Title I full-time teaching position but never got called for an interview. Turns out the Title teacher at our school (who was part time- afternoons) took the job (it was at our other elem. school in our district) and her job was left open.  To compensate her position (I'm assuming this) they are having both Language Arts Specialists (me and another teacher) work afternoons 4 days a week.  We'll basically assist 2nd and 3rd grade at risk students with math etc.  So... instead of only getting 13.2 hours a week I'll be working 25!!  Such a blessing.  I was just thinking last month that I get paid a great amount per hour, but if only I could get more hours.... and look what pops up!
  

• Ryan and I have awesome, amazing families that are so gracious and willing to step in and help us out with watching Porter a couple days a week.  And they are always so willing and "offering" to help out when I have sessions and just need a break.  I never thought we'd be so lucky.  Bless them!!  (ok, I'm sure it doesn't hurt that they just love being around P, though, right? HAHA!)

• I'm pulling my head out of the sand and signing up for Masters courses this fall.  How I'll do this with two kiddos under 3, plus work, plus a house, plus Ryan going to school... I don't know.  Only, Katie kicked me in the ass reminding me that I have just 4 years to complete 18 credits or my teaching certif is null.  I need to just do it.  This topic deserves an entire post in itself... which would outline:
  • How will I afford this on top of my now $50k in student loans (which are costing me $400/month, FYI)
  • How will I find the time to run my photography business, take care of 2 kids and a house, spend time with my family, and do daily mundane "errands" and still have a life?
  • How will the schedule work out with Ryan going to school?
  • Oh, should we touch on the topic that I don't even TEACH yet?  At least not in an actual "teacher-as-a-title" position... which I should get my ass in gear looking for.  I don't want to obtain my Masters before having a full time job... it'd make getting a job even harder I'm sure. 
  • So, the Masters course is 36 credits.  I have 6 years to complete.  So, 6 credits a year. Basically means I have to pile on a class every summer as well as one in either fall/spring EVERY YEAR.  And after that's done don't go thinking I'll be done.  I still have to accrue 6 credits every 3 years to keep my certificate valid. 
  • Gosh, teachers are asked a lot of... not to mention they get paid jack squat in relation to what the job entitles.
    
    
• Desperate Housewives sucked tonight.  UGH.

• Our house is still a pit.  But, its coming along.  We have made lots of progress in the past few days!  I'm actually excited about all the moving around and rearranging we've done.  We're a little more cramped, but its looking good!

• I am going to vote in the election this year!  I've never voted.  I've never been interested in political things, but I think its something I need to get educated on and be a part of.  So, this year... education begins!  I will vote! I will vote!

• I need a new blog banner. (ETA: ok, so I have a new banner now!)

• I hope Ryan doesn't snore tonight.  The couch is not comfortable.  Note to self:  we need to get P's bed sooner rather than later just so I have somewhere to sleep when Ryan's throat decides to close in at night.  Because, he SWEARS he does not snore.

• There was more I was going to post but now I've forgotten.  I'm way too tired.  I need to get to sleep.

And, if you've made it through my excessive rambling thoughts... here are some pics from St. Louis I finally proofed tonight.  I should mention how green with envy I am that Heather's tub has a huge window behind it.  *sigh*




(^^that is Saw-Man in case you couldn't tell.  Sheesh, they look a bit alike!)



(^^another of Sawyer)

Another package that arrived this week:

I took the plunge.  Purchased a flash.  GAH!  A flash!  After hearing/seeing Jess's attempts to mimic natural light with her flash, I decided what the hell.  I've seen some amazing photographs that I'd never have guessed were taken with flash (because they look so natural and... non-flashy looking... and had CATCHLIGHTS!!) and I hope that someday I'll be able to create photographs like that. 

For now, I'd just like to be able to bounce the flash off the windows/ceiling when there is no sunlight.  I want less snap-shotty looking snapshots.  I won't be using this flash for sessions anytime soon as I have a feeling there is going to be a steep learning curve.  Its so funny... I think I'm feeling right now how many people feel when they email me and say "Nicole!  I just bought a DSLR...what do I do next?!?" That's how I'm feeling.  I literally put the flash on my camera, turned it on and took some shots today.  I have no clue what all the buttons on it are for.  I have no clue how it works together with my Manual settings on my camera. I'll have to really get into reading about this to make my pictures look decent.

Anyhow, today I just dinked around with bouncing it off the ceiling and off the windows (my favorite!).  For some reason if I went above f/2.2 or so the pics were a little underexposed, but I have no idea how or what my flash was interpreting the settings from my camera.   So, I have a lot of learning to do.

Here are a few of the first images I took. Literally "plug and play" LOL! 

 

These were both taken this morning, when the sun was still barely up.  While the last one doesn't look very "natural" it at least lacks the nasty flash shadows. 

Adams Farm Market

Even after our visit to Plymouth Orchards yesterday, we were still lacking pumpkins.  They were pricey at P.O., so we opted to skip buying any.  Well, except for a tiny one that Porter got.  Usually we go to Flavor Fruit Farms in the fall, but I had also heard about Adams Farm Market recently from a mom in my mom's group.  I was told that ALL pumpkins were $5 each, and that you could get pretty large ones.  I wanted to go to FFF anyway, just to hang out and have some donuts, so the three of us planned to stop by FFF tonight and on our way home swing by Adams Farm Market for pumpkins. 

Well, as luck would have it (for AFM), the roads we normally take to FFF were closed so we took the detour route which took us right by Adams.  It looked really nice so we decided to just make the one stop.  I'm glad we did!  Look at these HUGE pumpkins we got... for $5!!  We also got a bunch of "pie" pumpkins (smaller ones) for $1.25 each.

Porter, as usual, was not very cooperative for "pictures", but I was pleasantly surprised that Ryan wasn't whiny and complaining so I took advantage of my time.  We walked the pumpkin patch, checked out all the crazy pumpkins and funny stems, made some jokes, laughed at Porter as he tried spelling "P-O-R-----P-O-R----T-O-R" out of the "Pumpkins $5" sign. (He thinks all letters spell his  name HAHA! And, yes, he spells it incorrectly)

The farm had a ton of these wagons you can use to go haul your pumpkins.  Its pretty much a necessity... those things are HEAVY!

Here are the three big pumpkins we bought:

Outside the barn there was an old truck that was filled with pumpkins.  I was able to trick Porter into looking at me by telling him that the ladybug that he found on the truck was on my camera.  Who would have thought.....

(the pumpkins turned at little nuclear on me in post processing... grrr.....)

And... the back of our car with our pumpkins.  (No... we didn't steal their wagon... it was in our car from this weekend LOL!)

I'm so uncreative with decorating for holidays.  (Right there with ya, Les!!)  Here's my great effort for "Fall and Halloween" HAHA!

Not much of a post...

Nothing great happening around here.  We've had a relaxing weekend so far, I've decided to stop working on photography (client) related stuff from Fridays-Sundays.  Its made for a very relaxing and stress free weekend.  Other than Porter being oddly bad lately.  He is normally SUCH a good listener... he does what he's told, and lately he's been SUCH a good boy. We're always told by people who have been around him that he's such a good listener and that he's so well behaved.  A month or two ago we went through a little spell where he had to have time outs etc, but for quite awhile now he's been such a good listener, not getting into trouble, etc.  Well, the last 2 days he's been so naughty.  Not listening when he's told to do something (such as go in his room to get his diaper changed, etc etc), and getting into things he has been told multiple times not to get into.  He's been in time out twice today.  I know, I know, its this AGE... but honestly, this is so not like him.  He's driving me crazy lately. 

Here are a few pictures from this weekend.  His new infatuation is the Bumbo Seat ("bummo.  seet!" pronounced with the pause inbetween the words haha!).  Leslie had borrowed it for Reyna, and recently returned it to us, so its been hanging out in our living room.  Porter loves to watch tv in the "bummo. seet!" That, or "Ahhh bree's seeet!" (the booster that Aubri used the weekend we babysat her.  I guess that warrants it "HER" seat).

By the way, Jess... these were taken with my new 30mm 1.4.  So far, I like it.  I haven't been able to really see the tack sharpness that I imagined, but then again... I never get tack sharp pictures of Porter... something about taking pics of your own kids.  Ugh. 

I love how he's curling his toes in this picture. That is something that I do alllll the time.  I even stand and do my makeup with my feet curled... as in, I curl my toes and stand on the side of my feet.  Weird, I know.

I'd rather bang my head against the wall. Repeatedly.

That is exactly how I feel about trying to take pictures of my own child. 

First, let me recap our afternoon. After Porter's lovely nap boycott attempt (which was successful, let me add), Ry and I took him to the park before dinner to get him out of the house.  Oddly, he was in a pleasant mood, despite not having a nap.  We played at the park (by the way... check out who is super brave!)

and then I figured we'd walk over through Ella Sharp Park and see if I could get any decent pictures of Porter.  Well, let me just say that trying to do a "session" with your own kid just does NOT work.  Porter is numb to every trick I have up my sleeve.  I did get him to copy me standing by this barn, but by the time I stepped back and got ready to take the picture, he was off and running. 

And don't get me started on the eye contact and total bershon*ness.  This kid will NOT look at me whatsoever, and his expression, I swear, you'd think this kid was lacking a brain. 

Let's move on to the husband-help.  Or lack of.  Here is how he worked the session....

I'm like, SERIOUSLY.... I'm killing myself here trying to get this kid to stop looking so walking-comatose.  And Ryan just.... sits.  I give up.  I'm hiring someone (ohh... Jennifer..... *wink wink*). 

You won't believe the number of out of focus pictures I have from our 20 minute jaunt.  I am not sure I even have anything worthy of being larger than a 5x7. Ugh.

Here are the only keepers.

And, here is Porter... about to flop over dead from being so tired.   I was trying to get him to sit on the porch like Ryan, and he'd go to sit, but he'd lay down and just LAY there.  HAHA!

Outakes: 3 of 3; What the hell were they doing, anyway?

And, of course... as with any attempt to capture pictures with a one year old, there are many that you think... WHAT were they doing?  HUH?

Confused?  Well, let me show you this...

Seriously, I'm scared of my husband after seeing this pictures.  I think it was around this time that Porter started being freakishly clingy and whiny toward... ME.  Hmm... I'm starting to feel like there was some sort of spell cast that day. 
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"Dude, talk to the effing HAND.  Hear that?  The H.A.N.D."
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"Listen, up, biotch.  You can take a hike!"  (and I'm smiling... hahah!)
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This one, I seriously don't know and don't remember.  I'm pleading the fifth and sticking to the "Someone spiked my drink" story.
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7

Again, my drink was spiked, my reaction time was nil and a little overreactive.  Was that little love tap from Porter so painfully scary that it called for that drastic of a reaction?
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And you're sure to love this...

I'm getting groped from all directions.  Porter's grabbing at my boob.  And Ryan...well what in the world does he think he's doing?  Check out the determined, yet very trying-to-be-unsuspicious, look on his face.  Seriously, dudes... keep your hands to yourself.  I guess that what I have to look forward to 
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Nicole cheers: "Go, Ryan, Go!  You can do it!  LIIIIIIFT!!!"

"Errrrruuuughghhh... this kid is HEAVY!"

Nicole cheers "YEAY! You did it!  You did it!"
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This one I do have a reason for my attempt to flash the world my panties.  Jess (or... was it Ryan?) yelled "GATOR!" or "SHARK" or something and of course I freaked out.  I'm a dork like that. 
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And this one... dang, wouldn't this have been THE cutest shot... MINUS the sweaty husband summoning the sun gods to go behind a cloud RIGHT in front of this adorable mother/son moment?  I love this pic... but I have to keep asking myself... why the hell did he do that... Right in the line of the camera to us?  Now, if you look closely, you'll see he was actually tossing Porter's tractor in the air.  To try to get his attention. Apparently he wanted him to crane his neck backwards or something.  Hell if I know.  Ryan's agenda... ruin good shot.  CHECK!  Thanks honey!  :) (you know I'm joking... right babe?)  (and, those of you who wonder why I added that disclaimer.. my hubby would TOTALLY think I was being serious and be all "Like I MEANT to ruin that shot! And run to his room and pout into his pillow.)

Outakes: 2 of 3; The floppy retarted hand family

The second thing I started to notice about some of our pictures is that we apparently have some sort of "wrist/hand" issue.  There are numerous pictures where we have our hands just.... there... hanging like a useless, limp limb. 

Like this... I mean, really... what was I doing?  "OH Hmm... what should I do with my hand.  Oh, YEAH!  Lets just hang it in the air a bit like this and that should work great!"  Really.  Its not needed.

Here we are, the whole family looking like dink heads... staring blankly up at the ceiling, and me there all limp handed and all. 

Seriously... SET IT DOWN.  Relax your hand, my WORD you don't have to hang it in the air all day!!

Its not just me, though... This would have been a cute picture, had my husbands hand had some sort of PURPOSE.

Awww look... our very own little hand-hanger.  Those of you who know P in person probably have already noticed he does that a LOT.  EEEk.  Poor kid. 

Stay tuned for tomorrows... it should be great!

Outakes: 1 of 3; Nicole's BIG Mouth

While looking through the hundreds and hundreds of images that Jess took, I started to notice a few trends.  Let's discuss Trend #1 in this post. 

I have a Big. Freaking. Mouth.

And, apparently, I don't know how to keep it closed. 

For further inspection, take a look at this.. awww, cute little boy walking to his mama.  What? What's that?  What is that gaping hole in her face?  OH frick! Its her mouth!

And... AUGH!  She's trying to eat his arm! No! Stop! Mother's don't EAT THEIR YOUNG!

Looks like Ryan is in on this "eating of the young" thing here...

More mouth action...

For the love of Pete, close your MOUTH!!

And, not only do I have a huge mouth, I have long freaking tongue too... Exactly WHY am I sticking my tongue out this far?? During family pictures, at that!?

Family Pictures

Tonight I got to talking to LeeAnn about family pictures and how Ry, P and I sucked at having ours taken... we are total losers under the spotlight.  Jess did a great job, though, and we ended up with quite a few that we absolutely loved. 

And quite a few hilarious outtakes too. So, this post is going to be my "Good" family pictures, and I'll post again with the "Outtakes".  It will be interesting, I promise.

(all images ©Jessica Porter. I was just too lazy to watermark them that way)

This next one is an 11x14 in my living room on the "HappyWall"






That last one I have in a 16x20 in my living room.... like this...

Ok, so those are my "favorites".  There are a few other good ones, but I didn't want to BORE you to death.  Now, on to the Outtakes.  I might have to add a few good ones of Jess and her family too... heh heh heh!