Monday's Confessions

Wow, I am looking at the clock and I only have 35 minutes (PST) to complete this blog entry to remain in compliance with my own goal undertakings.

I have been putting it off all day because I just couldn't decide what to blog about. I am now up against the clock and going to make it happen. So, I thought I'd reflect a little on my very unproductive day and reveal some confessions in the life of a stay-at-home mommy.

My Monday Confessions...

1. This morning I drove 25 minutes across town to take Carson to school. After dropping him off, Brady and I decided to go to the gym that is near Carson's school. However, Brady left his "Bebe" (aka. baby blanket) at home. He screamed bloody murder for it and refused to go into the gym without it, so I drove all the way home to get it before going to the gym. And I wonder why my kids are spoiled.

2. I had a date with JIM. I did 45 minutes on the elliptical machine. Can I get a whooop whooop??

3. After picking up Carson from school, we came home, put Brady down for a nap, and I attempted to take a nap too. Notice the word "attempted".... Yeah, try taking a nap with a needy 4 year old. Doesn't work very well.

4. While trying to nap, Carson made me cut his toe nails. Really Carson? I am trying to sleep!! Does this have to happen right now?? Yes. Apparently it did.

5. I fixed Mac n Cheese with hot dogs for dinner. And not just for the kids. One of our family favorites. Shhhhh.... Don't tell anyone.

6. I selfishly made Gingersnaps tonight for myself instead of the Chocolate Chip cookies that everyone else loves. No one else likes gingersnaps, but I do. Just means more for me to eat.

7. I mentioned to Steve that I did not receive a single birthday gift for my birthday last month. Not one single gift. Yep. Wow. You know you are getting old when you don't get to unwrap anything for your birthday. Kinda sad. But whatever, I'm not bitter or anything. So, tonight, Steve brought home a cake and a present. The kids sang "Happy Birthday" and I unwrapped a Sonicare toothbrush.... (silence). I love my practical husband more than anything in the world.

8. I secretly (not so secretly anymore) dreamed of living in Salinas today. Moving back is not really an option so I really should stop daydreaming about it. But it is a nice thought every now and again.

9. I confess that this blog entry is really boring and I sincerely apologize. This whole blog writing thing is not like riding a bike, it takes some getting used to again.

10. I really really stayed up way to late.

But here's to me back on the blog.

Bring it!

The BLOG Return

Ok, so I realize that it has been quite a while since I have last "blogged".

I have been agonizing about what to "blog" about. I thought because it has been a while, it should probably be good, right?

So much has happened in my life since my last blog. I wondered, should I blog about all the cool things I did over the summer?

How about Steve's and my trip to Kauai?

Or, how my photography business is keeping me really busy?

Or even how I have put my life on a hard core schedule and am doing my best to try to hold true to it?

Or what it is like in the life of a stay-at-home mom who apparently doesn't stay home because she has almost 23,000 miles on her car that she has only had since last DECEMBER?

Or how cute my boys are?

Or maybe how Ashton Kutchar isn't that funny on Two and a Half Men?

Yep, so many things to blog about. But instead, I am just letter vomiting about nothing really.

But I do have a plan. Refer to the item above about creating a schedule and sticking to it... well, yeah, I am going to have a Monday, Top 10 blog.

YEP! Real original. I know.

But hey.

I have to have focus and a goal to keep me on schedule.

So, stay tuned.

FYI... Tomorrow is Monday.

What is my Top 10 going to be?

Don't worry, I have no idea either.

But tomorrow we shall find out.

NITE.

Blog Absent

Wow.

I can't believe that it has been almost 2 months since my last blog post.

Sorry. Not that you care. But I do.

Gonna jump back on the band wagon.

Soon.

I hope.

Stay tuned.

Lucky Charms

How do they learn to do this at such an early age?

Happy Birthday COW

Everyone celebrates stuffed animal birthdays right?

I mean, really?

When Carson starting claiming that Cow was turning three on his next birthday, I didn't think much of it. Then he obsessively (wonder where he gets that trait from?) started telling me that we needed to plan for his party. I figured I would just roll with it.

So, we made invitations and delivered them to the neighbor boys.

Decorated the dining room.

And made a cake.

Friends came over and we celebrated....

Here is a picture of Cow eating his cake:

Guests brought gifts:

Suzanne even called to wish Cow a happy birthday:

Perfectly normal right?

Totally.

Unfortunately, Carson is already planning Doggie's birthday and Giraffe's birthday parties now.

Ohhh man. It's gonna be a long summer....

What's in YOUR purse?

On a daily basis I dig and dig through my purse looking for my keys... or my phone... or something hiding amid the mess on the bottom of my purse.

Yesterday during a recent shopping transaction, I instead of my wallet, I pulled out a half eaten sticky fruit twist left over from last weeks visit to Jamba Juice. It was pretty disgusting and I was kind of embarrassed.

I thought to myself, "Maybe it is time to clean out my wallet."

It wasn't just a thought, it was time.

So here it is my cute little nude colored Michael Kors hobo.

And inside it...

Here we go....

My Wallet - Yes, a necessity. It needs to be cleaned out too, but come on, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Checkbook - Only to pay the therapist. No, really.

To Do List - I probably make 10 a day, and don't complete any of them.

Glasses Case - Glasses are actually stored safely inside.

Receipt - From a recent hair salon excursion

Clothes Pins - Jane Wilson put them there during a photo shoot in Salinas.

Vitamins - Not sure why they are in my purse.

Coors Light Bottle Opener - Just in case? I have no idea where that is from either.

Chap Stick - A necessity.

Lip Gloss - TWO colors.

Cliff Bar - Open, half eaten. That was my lunch yesterday.

EmergenC - Generic kind. Thought I was getting sick.

6 pens and a highlighter - Because apparently one isn't enough

Business Cards - Love them. Gotta have them at all times.

Kids Toys - Duh.

Empty Container of Mints - My kids eat EVERYTHING!!

Sunscreen - Just in case.

Tampons - Well, secrets out...

Playland Tickets - Someday, maybe I will take my kids there again. Maybe. Just maybe.

Hair Ties - Three of them. This is proof that there is THREE of them in there. But why is it that I can never fine just ONE?

Gift Cards, Macy's Star Rewards, Coupons, Frequent Shopper Cards, Member Rewards Cards, etc....

and

A TC3 Temporary Tattoo.

So, I challenge YOU...

What's in YOUR purse?

Right Now...

So here I sit, on this blustery Saturday morning, drinking my coffee, reading some of my favorite blogs (like this one, this one, and this one) as the kids play. As I was reading, I was thinking, "I really need to update my blog. But I have nothing "monumental enough to blog" about." Then I came across this blog, that lead me to this blog, which, well... led me to the following...

Right now, this is what my life looks like:

My husband is on the couch, looking at cars on ebay on his ipad.

Carson is busy stamping. This lovely stamp pad is a gift from our dear friends the Harmons. I have yet to repay them for their generosity. But I must say, as messy as it is, Carson has sure gotten his use out of it, and that is all that matters... Right?

Also, note the Kleenex box in front of him, because he is sick... again.

And the sippy cup represents his chocolate milk that he drinks EVERY morning.

And the homemade blanket, courtesy of Delaine, on the couch that Carson snuggles up on every morning as he drinks his chocolate milk and watches cartoons.

Nick Jr.

Network of choice.

Fresh Beat Band.

Kid show of choice.

Marina

Carson's character of choice.

He loves her.

The coffee station.

Steve makes my coffee EVERY morning.

Don't over look the chocolate syrup for the kids milk. This is an EVERY morning routine. Including the fact that this is exactly the way Steve leaves the counter. So EVERY day, I put the condiments back, and shut the cabinet.

This is what my children had for breakfast this morning.

Don't judge.

This is the favorite toy of the day.

A brand new PIRATE SHIP water table that Brady received from his Auntie Ging and Uncle Stephen. Both kids LOVE it!! Brady actually thinks it is a swimming pool because I found him sitting in it yesterday.

And here's me... Well, not a picture of me because well, it is morning, my hair is a mess, I have no make up on and I smell. But a picture of all my camera equipment ready to go. I am taking pictures of my very first wedding today!!!

And to top off my wonderful morning, this is a picture of the resort we just booked.

YEP!! A trip to HAWAII is officially in our future!!!

So, that is a look at my RIGHT NOW.

Aloha!

The Mammogram

It's official....

I do NOT have Breast Cancer.

Not that I really thought I did, but now I know that I do not .

It's just amazing how once you have had cancer, your whole life changes. I was fortunate to have survived a treatable form of Thyroid Cancer called Papillary Cancer. However, ever since then, I have been extremely paranoid about having Cancer again. It's really a scary feeling.

You see, the first time I was diagnosed, I had no symptoms. I was living my life as what I thought was a healthy adult. Then came along that dreaded day in 2005 when my doctor felt a lump in my throat. Shortly after that, I sat in the my doctor's office, ironically the same day crazy Tom Cruise jumped up and down on Oprah's couch, and was told that I had CANCER.

I had surgery to remove my entire thyroid. I endured a significant amount of radiation to kill any remaining thryroid tissue filled cancer cells. And currently live my life, as far as I know, CANCER free.

Everyday I have to take a pill to regulate my thyroid levels. I have regular check ups. I have blood work done every 6 months. I have yearly ultrasounds done on my neck. And with every pill, every check up, every blood draw, every ultrasound, it is a reminder that I have had CANCER. And every time, as the doctors review my chart, I wonder, could I have CANCER again? I mean, that is why they are checking.... right?

Can I also add that I have lost THREE friends in the last few years. THREE dear friends who have passed away in their mid 30's, leaving behind a family and children who adored them. So, when the thought of cancer runs through my mind, I get sad... and really scared. It's a lonely place.

Then last week when I sat in the doctor's office because I had sharp shooting pains in my breasts... my mind wandered. It wandered to places that I couldn't help but let it go. When the doctor said I have lumpy fibercystic breast tissue, and suggested that I have a mammogram... again, my mind wandered to that "what if" place. Why is she suggesting that I get a mammogram at 33 years old? Knowing my chances were slim, I still couldn't help but wonder "What if I have Breast Cancer?"

So, today was the day. I got to have my lovely breasts squished between the glass. Usually I have them pushed up against the glass, but this time it was a little different. The actually procedure wasn't nearly as bad as I had anticipated. The worst part was going half the day without deodorant. But I stuck it out. Or stuck THEM out. Literally speaking.

When the tech left the room to review my images with the radiologist... I was again left wondering for those, what seemed like forever, few minutes... "What did she see?"

Only for her to return to my room and announce that there were no signs of breast cancer.

I don't need another mammogram until I am 40 years old.

Waaaahooo!!

Like I said, it's not like I thought I had breast cancer, but what a relief it is to know that I do not!

At least not today.

God Bless You

Tammy Herrera

Shawna Kilbert

Blair Weber

I miss you.

Life Through the Eyes of the Littlest Photographer

Carson must have my passion for photography.

He LOVES taking pictures.

And by taking pictures, I mean he LOVES being behind the camera, NOT in front of it.

While I was busy uploading pictures of my own, Carson was running around with my old digital camera.

I was in tears laughing when I uploaded the things he had captured.

So here it is,

Life through the lens of a 4 year old...

His dog:

His garbage truck:

His train:

Ni Hao Kai Lan of course:

A picture of a picture of Brady Boo:

His Mommy:

The Sky:

The BBQ:

The Olive Tree:

My Hydrangeas

(glad I'm not the only one who likes to take pictures of my hydrangeas)

Our backyard:

Dog Poop:

The sky AND our backyard:

The imfamous "SELF PORTRAIT"

Self portrait... Take TWO

Tenaya... Again:

The Sky... Again:

Mommy... Again:

(At least he didn't cut of my head this time)

Pictures of pictures in my scrapbooks:

More pictures of pictures in my OLD scrapbooks:

More scrapbook pictures:

Engagement pictures hanging on the wall:

Apparently he had to go pee during his photography session....

Because we got that too:

His feet:

Inside the BB Q:

The Sky... Again:

Tenaya... Again:

The Sky.... Again:

I am probably the only one who finds this incredibly humorous...

But I am still laughing.

Dog poop... Really?