Snug as a bug in a... BOX.

I know, it is kinda hard to tell... But this is a picture of Carson, asleep in a box.

Steve got me a really cool wine fridge for Valentine's Day. Well, the box that the fridge came in was the hit of this party.

Brady was napping upstairs. I was working on picture stuff (and playing words with friends) in the office. And I thought Carson was watching cartoons.

Nope.

He created a home inside this box and fell fast asleep.

Zzzzzzzz.

Epiphany

As Oprah would call it, I had an "Ahhh Haaa" moment.

I have really been feeling a bit overwhelmed and under the weather emotionally lately. Lots on my mind. I have felt as though my life has been spiraling out of control with a lack of direction. Friends have even approached me about my "un-me" nature.

And well, on Saturday... It happened. I won't go into detail... because it is pretty deep. But I think I saw the light. Steve is not so thoroughly convinced.... but I am on my way to prove it.

It may not be possible to change that quickly because I do believe that it is partly hormonal and at a level that is way out of my control... But, I am going to try. I have an incredible support system and the most amazing husband in the whole world.

And because I am pretty sure life can't get any better than these two little nuggets of goodness.

Seeking 125...

Dearest 125,

I recently announced on Facebook that I am having an affair with Jim... spelled GYM. Well, to be perfectly honest, I am just using him. I am using him as a piece of meat, or should I say a piece of celery, to get to you. Yes, I know it has been a while since I have longed for your love and affection but I'm back on the trail to seek your attention.

You see, I haven't forgotten the comment my "wonderful husband" made a while ago. It lingers in the back of my mind. And with that being said, I have set out some goals and have enlisted some friends to help me to meet you once and for all!!

Goal 1: March 26, 2011 - The Big Sur Mud Run

Team: We don't know yet...

Goal 2: April 16, 2011 - Millerton Lake Triathlon

Anyone want to join me??

Exhibit Friends A, B & C: Meet my new running shoes and their trusty companions...

Nike Free. Best shoes. EVER. Yes, they are an obnoxiously ugly pink, but my other option was purple. And those who know me, know I hate purple. But the best part is that little piece of goodness that fits under the sole in my left shoe... Nike + iPod. Yep, it is a GPS device that tracks my running, tells me my time and distance while syncing to my iPod. There is even a dude that talks to me while I run. I pretend that he is totally hot. It motivates me to run faster.

Exhibit Friend D: Miley Cyrus

Would you still be my friend if I told you that "Party in the U.S.A." is one of my favorite workout songs? Well it is. So be it.

So there, 125. There you have it. I think you are damn sexy and I am back in business to rekindle our friendship. I realize that reconnecting with you is a shallow attempt to feel good about myself. But if it encourages my overall efforts to exercise and be healthy....

So be it.

Here's to you 125.

Until we meet again.

Devotedly,

Patty Lyn Schmidt

20 Things I love... on the 20th

Ok... I have a few friends that made super cool scrapbook pages to represent 12 on the 12th. Well, I didn't jump on the bandwagon quite in time... So, considering today is the 20th, I am going to list 20 things I love right now... On the 20th.

1. Coffee. Yep. 'Nuf said.

2. Imitrex. Woke up with a migraine. Don't know what I'd do without Imitrex to make it go away.

3. Brady's laugh. It is just as infectious as his smile. I love him.

4. Words with Friends. It's more of a love/hate thing really...

5. My new camera. Canon 7D. It rocks.

6. Drinking wine in Carmel. Although I am not doing it right now, I am thinking about it right now.

7. Toys that don't make noise.

8. Grandma Heidy. I love when she watches my kids.

9. Sex Kitten. It's eye shadow. I swear.

10. My fresh pedicure. There is nothing better than freshly painted toes. Well, maybe a few things, but not many.

11. My new website. Check it out: www.pattyschmidtphotography.com

12. ...

13. My iPhone...

14. The fact that the sun might actually shine through the fog today... Hopefully.

15. Onion dip and potato chips. I forgot to put out the dip at Carson's party which means I get to eat it all for myself.

16. Christmas Cards. They are still hanging on the wall in my house. I enjoy looking at them. Especially all the one's that I took.

17. A clean house. The housekeeper came on Tuesday. It makes me sigh a breath of relief.

18. Hanky Panky. The underwear. They are the best.

19. The thought of Summer lingering in the distance. I know it is not even spring yet, but I live for the summer.

20. Life.

Learning to Appreciate it all...

Life the last month or so has been a big blur. My photography business took off with so many families needing pictures for the holidays. Christmas came and went. The New Year has arrived. And here I am... trying to put together the pieces of what seems like a whirlwind that has hit me over the last month or so.

Amid some good moments, more than a couple glasses of wine and several buckets tears, I am left trying to make sense of it all..

I recall a conversation with Steve about a month ago. I told him, "For the first time in a long time, I am content. I have everything in place. I have a great husband, family and friends. I have the opportunity to stay home with my beautiful children. And have a photography business that allows me to be me."

That is about when my whole world seemed to come crashing down.

"Why?"

"You have the perfect life?"

"What do you have to be sad about?"

Or as my sarcastic husband would say... "You have it soooo rough..."

Tears.

More tears.

We live our whole lives wanting to achieve that next big thing.

We graduate high school... then move on to graduate college.... then get a job... then look for the love of our lives... only to get married... then to have children... then more children.... (not all of us in this order, but you get the idea.)

And now... here I am. I am at the best place in my life where I get to enjoy it all. But somehow I don't know how to. I feel sort of a let down of not having that next big thing to achieve.

It seemed as though the screaming children got louder, the piles of laundry got higher, the dishes got dirtier, and the poopie diapers got smellier. For some reason it didn't all seem as glamorous as I thought it was going to be.

I thought running away would help. I ventured to the beautiful central coast where the sun was shining and the wine was chilled. I scrapbooked, visited with long time friends, the kids played, I gallivanted around Carmel, and took pictures in Salinas. Life was good... for the moment.

And then I came home. The screaming children got even LOUDER... The laundry was HIGHER... The dishes DIRTIER... AND the diapers definitely SMELLIER...

The husband didn't understand.

That's when the tears poured even harder.

I then tried to remember a particular day....

This day...

It was a last minute decision to take the kids to the beach in Carmel. We arrived at about 3 0'clock in the afternoon. It was beautiful for a November day. The sun was shining. The water was warm. I sat on a blanket and watched the boys play as I enjoyed a glass of wine with a dear friend. That was the life. It was in that moment, I was content.

I wanted every day to be like that one. But unfortunately not every day can be.

But what I am starting to realize is that I need to take more days like that one. Stop and smell the roses, if you will. Because the children are going to cry, poopie diapers are still going to stink and the laundry is never going to stop getting dirty.

However, learning to appreciate it all is definitely the hardest lesson of life.

And I am still learning...

Christmas Spirit

I have a gazillion other things I could (should) be doing right now so I thought, why not update my blog.

After a few amazing days in the Monterey area without the kids and a couple days back at home with THREE children.... I would first like to say that I am glad for my husbands vasectomy! Jane was a doll, but now it is back to business because I just realized that Christmas is NEXT WEEK.

Enough with the daydreaming already.

However, among my daydreaming, I starting thinking about something pretty serious.

As many of you know, the holidays have always been a time of stress and havoc for me. I try to avoid the holidays as much as possible.

But this year as I was running for cover, I realized that I have TWO amazing children that I need that I want to enjoy the holidays to the fullest. I want them to look back on their childhood and remember how wonderful Christmas was. I want them to remember specific things that I went out of my way to make special for them.

So, tonight, I shouted, "Who wants to get in the Christmas spirit?"

And Carson replied... "Not me."

I have some work to do...

Maybe I should start with putting the Halloween decorations away and start decorating for Christmas.

Promise...

I want to update my blog soooo bad!!

I just never seem to have the time anymore.

But I am going to make the time.

Soon.

Promise.