My life...just not on the road I expected (but it's still dang good).

Packing up.

Coley had pushed me to my limit a few weeks back and so I told him that if he needed anything for the rest of the night, that he'd have to take it up with his Dad, because I was off-duty (which is something I do with him every now and then when I find that I'm frustrated and not dealing with him productively).

And then I left for the grocery store.

Josh told me later that night that after I left, he found Coley out in the garage with a piece of sidewalk chalk writing me a letter.

So pathetic.

That kid is hard to raise.  He tests my parenting skills daily.  Actually, multiple times a day.

But he's also a total love.

And more than anyone in this house...he hates it when I'm gone.

So I'm finishing packing this morning. 

Annie and I are heading for Washington for a few days to visit Jill and also to visit my Sister and her husband. 

And then my Sister is going to keep Annie while I teach Friday night (in Bellingham at Treasury of Memories) and all day Saturday (at Photo Express in Mapleridge, BC).

I love teaching, it's just the being away from home part that is hard sometimes.

And I mis you too Coley.

ETA: I just went to turn off the T.V. after all the kids left for school and noticed that someone had written "I love mom" with a heart next to it in the dust. 

A good reason not to dust too often.

The parrot.

She's a parrot lately.

Copies everything she sees and everything she hears.

She's been saying "Wassup daaaaaawg?" (which started after she overheard Josh requesting that everyone in the house start referring to him as "J-Dawg").

And mimicking my Mom, dancing (with a piece of the fabric trim from my Photography Q&A kits in her hair).

And she's always singing (which she gets from Courtney Lee who is always singing too).

Unrelated:

1. Annie is sitting here next to me opening up a stack of mail she found on the floor.

2. I was at the DMV yesterday because I lost my driver's license and while I was there, I wanted to make sure that I was still registered to vote, so I filled out a new voter's registration card.  Deliberated for quite awhile on what box to check for my party affiliation (I am currently a wavering Democrat).  Finally checked the "Democrat" box. 

I thought Josh (AKA J-Dawg) was going to cry when I told him.

And the picture on my old license was so much cuter than the picture on my new license.

3. I took Cole & Courtney and Annie to the movies by myself yesterday and decided that from now on, Annie will have to stay at home with her Dad when we go to the movies.

4. Josh & I sat out on the front porch last night with a couple of Zima's (he's willing to settle for Zima when he can't find a beer in the fridge) and finally decided that a big wedding isn't really what either one of us want (which completely changes the direction we were moving in). 

I feel so good and so relieved. 

All I want is a few details that feel sentimental and symbolic and to share it with our family.  No invitations, no cake, no DJ.  Just a pretty dress (that Jill and I picked out awhile back) and 25 people that we love, to celebrate with us.  And then a sweet little dinner at this cool Irish Pub in Ashland that Josh & I went to on our first date.

I can't wait.

5. Annie & I are heading up to Washington tomorrow morning (which will leave Josh to get three kids to and from three different schools until we get back on Monday).

A good Sunday.

I love that Sunday morning is usually the only morning of the week that we don't wake up to an alarm clock.

I think Annie woke us up a little after 7am.

Went on a walk with my Mom & Annie.

Then church.

Then sandwiches at home.

Then a little nap for me and Annie while Josh mowed and the kids played in the backyard.

Took a few pictures after Annie & I woke up (Annie and Courtney burying Cole in pea gravel).

And then we loaded up the kids to go look at a bunch of property that Josh found on the internet.

We've got a three year plan in the works (three years because Ross graduates in three years) and then we're moving about 25-30 miles south of Grants Pass so that we'll be closer to the school that the rest of the kiddos will be going to (complicated story, but right now, we've got 3 kids going to 3 different schools...which sure makes our mornings a load of fun).

We put an offer on 1.6 acres last week, but didn't get it.

I just keep reminding myself that God is writing this story (which is a drag because I've got some really great ideas for just about every chapter).

So we went back to look at another piece of property that we had found awhile back (and loved), but was out of our price range.

Unfortunately, it's still out of our price range.

And then we had dinner at Bella in Jacksonville (my favorite place...and Courtney's too).

We listened to the Disney music channel the whole ride home (and Annie's screaming).

Coley & Courtney are crazy about Hannah Montana and Corbin Bleu, so we listen to the Disney music channel a lot.

Josh and Coley (and Annie) broke into a singing/karate/dance routine when Kung Foo Fighting came on.  And then Josh decided that it would be funny (and safe) to take his foot off of the gas peddle while he karate kicked the air...but ended up kicking his XM radio off the dash instead.

Which only temporarily interrupted their routine.

Came home, got everyone ready for bed and then Josh & Coley and Courtney watched Discovery Sharks (I got Coley a set of four shark videos for Christmas, but he found them already) and I went through a bunch of emails I've been needing to get to.

When I went to say goodnight to Courtney, she had a worried look on her face and asked me if I would make sure that her Dad never goes surfing.

And my favorite shot today.

Tonight.

1. Jill & I talked on the phone 3 times.

2. Josh is sound asleep.  He went fishing with his brother earlier today and came home tired (and without any fish).

3. I put out some Fall decorations that I picked up from Target.

3. Ross has three friends staying the night.  Two that are normal fixtures around this house and one that used to be a normal fixture, but hasn't been around in a long time (and I was glad to see him). They've been playing guitar out in the driveway and boxing all night.

4. I've got lots on my mind (but am feeling really good about it all).

5. I let Coley stay up until 9:30pm hanging out with the big boys.

Random stuff (as usual).

Apparently, that's what she does with a Sharpie if I'm not paying attention...

And some other stuff:

1. The Photography Q&A last night was great (thanks everyone) even if I did keep you all there until after 11pm.

2.  I got my Canon 50mm f1.4 a month or two before we went to Disneyland earlier this year and was so in love with it, that it was the only lens I took on the trip.  Having a little bit of a zoom would have been nice, but overall, no complaints (for me) in shooting with the 50mm the entire trip.  If you do want a zoom or a longer focal range, you may want to take the Tamron 28-75 mm f2.8 (that's the only lens I took on our trip to Germany...although it broke while we were there...but that's another story).  Here's a link to some of the photos from the Disneyland trip.  Yes, I would still shoot in aperture priority mode at Disneyland (just keep the aperture at 2.8 on the Tamron 28-75 and 2.8 or below on the 50mm, that way you're likely to have a quick enough shutter speed to freeze movement, like rides...just check to make sure that you're shutter speed is 1/250 or faster...preferably faster).

3. It popped in my head that someone had asked me either via email or this blog awhile back about the metallic prints from Scrapbookpictures.com.  It's tough because I can't give you a visual online (you have to see it in person to get a feel for what it looks like), but I think it's amazing.  I think it has a really classic feel and that it lends itself well to a lot of different types of photos (not every photo).  I like to use it on photos when I want to evoke a bit of emotion (if that makes sense)...a shot of Courtney playing in the ocean, a picture of a my Sister on her wedding day, a really moody landscape shot in Italy, a picture of Ross rockin' on the guitar.  If you are wanting to have a large, oversized print done in metallic, I would recommend first having a 4x6 of the same print done in metallic to see make sure it's what you want.  I've never been disappointed with any of the metallic prints I've ordered.

4. Gotta clean this house today.

5. Absolutely, positively loving everything on this blog.

6. No current plans of doing online photography classes, although it's an idea I've been putting a lot of thought into (would love any feedback/thoughts/suggestions/etc. in regards to this).

7. I've only taken two photography classes/workshops.  The first was with Cheryl Jacobs .  And the second was with Nate & Susan.

8. Off to clean.

Happy Birthday.

A big birthday dedication going out to Josh Downs...

Babies and Babies.

Annie had two babies with her at Coley's soccer game yesterday.

I made her share one of the babies with another little girl who was there, which didn't go over too well.

Annie chucked baby #1 on the ground and went after the little girl with baby #2.

I reminded her that she had to share which sent her into a hissy.

Then Annie realized that the other little girl was eying baby #1 (which was still laying on the sidewalk).

And it was a race to see who could get to her first.

And a few more things...

1. If I had to choose between the actions that I currently own, I would probably go with totallyradactions because I am crazy about their "Boutwell's Magic Glasses", "Vignette + Blur", "Technicolor Dreamworld No Glow" and "Super Fun Happy" actions.  But I would horribly miss a few of the actions from ittybittyactions, especially the "Lighten Up", and "Correct Tint" actions. 

2. Another thing to keep in mind with actions is that you can always reduce the opacity of the action with the opacity slider in the layers palette.

3. I'm doing an online chat with Serendipity Scrapbooks tonight at 9pm EST.

4. I'll be teaching Photography Q&A this Thursday night at the Scrapbook Connection here in Grants Pass.  Sorry in advance that I'll be keeping you all up so late on a work night.

5. The only other classes I have scheduled for the rest of the year are (sorry I haven't been better about updating my class schedule).

- Friday, Sept. 28th at Treasury of Memories in Bellingham, WA 360.715.3125 (Snapshots of a Good Life).

- Saturday, Sept. 29th at Photo Express in Mapleridge, BC 604.463.3654 (Photography Q&A, Picture This).

- Oct. 26-28 at Memory Lane in Quakertown, PA, 215.529.9194 (Photography Q&A, Snapshots of a Good Life and Picture This).

- Still hoping to get some dates rescheduled for you gals at No Bare Pages in Phoenix, OR too.

6. Although the Canon 50mm f1.2 is an amazing lens, I really think it's overkill unless you are wanting to shoot professionally.  I had the 50mm f1.4 and it is a really, really great lens (at a much more affordable price).

7. Annie can't pronounce her "C"s, so she calls Coley, "Doley" and Courtney, "Doughtney".  I love that.

And thanks for all the music suggestions yesterday.

Just in case.

Just in case anyone mistook me for a prude...

That's me, Halloween 1998 with one of my best guy-friends from college, Jeff, who was dressed as Steve Prefontaine (I was a purple color crayon, but I must have taken off my crayola tip hat).

Notice my tongue sticking out while I was dancing (kinda like Michael Jordan when he played basketball).

Shake That.

I started working out again last week.

Wish I could say that I enjoy it, but I don't.

The only thing that makes it bearable for me is listening to music.

And for whatever reason, it seems like dance or dance/rap music is what keeps me going.

Music that's kind of high energy and has a good beat.

I think that I currently own two songs that fit that bill (dance and dance/rap are just not my music genres of choice) and I'm mildly embarrassed to admit to owning either one of them:

- Eminem/Shake That

- Justin Timberlake/Sexy Back

Sexy Back...once you get past the Micky Mouse club thing and the Boy Band thing and the ridiculous song title...it really is good music and it really is good to work out to.

Shake That...I own the edited version of that song (thankfully), but I still have a pretty good idea of what they're saying and it's just plain nasty.

"There she goes, shaking that a_ _ on the floor, bumpin and grindin that pole..."

I'm actually really thankful that it wasn't the norm to dance like that when I was younger.

And though I'd like to think that I could cut a pretty mean rug back in the day...

I can say with great certainty that I have never bumped on and/or grinded on a pole.

My best friend, Jill, on the other hand...

In her defense, this one was taken all the way back in 1998 and that is her husband.

And while I'm having an attitude of gratitude...

I'm also thankful that the bare midriff thing wasn't cool when I was young...as I could have never pulled off that look with any degree of success.

Ok, where was I going with this post?...

Just wondering if anyone has any great work out songs that they swear by?

Saturday's game.

Another Beaver's game last night (not sure who they played...all I know is that the Beavers spanked em' because Coley called me after the game to tell me so).

Grandpa Tom went with them this time.

Josh takes his camera every game.

My favorite shot...

 

When I went to kiss Coley this morning, he was covered from his forehead to his neck in chocolate.

Now that I've seen the pictures...it all makes sense (and for the record, a face like that would soooooo NOT happen on my clock).

During Courtney's soccer game yesterday, Coley reminded her that "It isn't about winning, it's about having fun" (good boy, Coley).

That's when Josh (who has a slightly different philosophy on winning and who loves to make me crazy) jumped in with his opinion.

So after the game last night, Coley says "You're right Dad...it really is all about winning."