Goodbye Summer

Goodbye summer hate to see you go
I wasn't ready for autumn wind to blow
So lonely
We had a fine time holding hands in June
Warm in a sunshine watching love in bloom
Where are you now?


My heart is frozen in this place
waiting for another summer's day
to bring you back my way


hello winter, watch the swirling snow
I didn't have a blanket for the cold
So lonely now

My heart is frozen in this place
waiting for another summer's day
to bring you back my way


I'll be waiting under the poplar tree
anticipating when you'll come back to me
in the spring


Hello summer kiss from my old friend
been such a long time, tell me how you've been
so lonely now


My heart is frozen in this place
waiting for another summer's day
to bring you back my way


Goodbye summer hate to see you go

Summer ~ India Arie

(I'm trying to figure out how to post the song. I love it!)

I have been singing it for weeks, and had this little project in my mind. I just wanted to capture the end of our summer in photographs. I am so sad to see Wyatt go back to school. Summer passed way too quickly. Natalia starts preschool in a few weeks.

I was feeling down the other night. Lincoln was out of town, and I couldn't sleep. I can make videos on my phone, and I watched a bunch of them and it cheered me right up. I had movies of the kids dancing outside Rita's, going down the slide at the park, swinging side by side, petting George, Walking in the fall leaves, Simone smiling in her car seat, catching a lady bug, riding the carousel at the mall....just tiny moments of the last year together recorded.

Anyway, here is my end of summer project....goodbye summer.

Nothing can cheer you up....

like a baby in bunny ears.

Wyatt is getting pretty good with the camera....well sortof. I am not showing the really out of focus ones.


I am feeling better. Still sore, but I can't tell if it is from the previous stones or news ones coming.


I have a new love. It is a bad bad thing. Anthropologie. (Thanks Holly!) It is a clothing store with the cutest clothes and stuff from your home. The prices are crazy, so it is good they have a big sale section! =) Sharon and I went shopping and I got some really cute things, but I made it home with a stupid censor on one of tops. Oh DEAR, I have to go back. =) I also finally went grocery shopping.

"Natalia what should we have for lunch?"

"Don't you remember MOM? We are empty!!" She opens the door of the refrigerator and points to the empty shelves.

Sadly it was like that for a long time. We had some very creative meals.

I went a new store our area, and they have the tiny little shopping carts for kids. Talia loved pushing it around. She looked so cute, and people kept telling her that! She loved it. We sampled strawberries and cantaloupe in the produce section (i love when they do that!), and enjoyed the time to together. When I got home I realized I left our dinner, a rotisserie chicken, there. I also left a big jar of peanut butter and some wild caught salmon. (Lincoln will not eat the farm raised salmon...it's because of the amazing Oregon salmon!) Another place I have to go back. I didn't get out much this week, and now I have to go back to two places! At least I will have a place to wear my new clothes! =)

Quotes and such from my day.....

9:00 "My side really hurts, but I am going to ignore it."

9:15 "Jeri, this is Barbara do you want to go to the park?"

9:16 "We would love to go to the park!"

10:00 "I am dying!"

10:15 "Wyatt don't rub my back your hand is so hot."

10:16 "Sorry Mom, I was trying to give you some comfort."

10:17 "Mommy are you okay? Can you walk? I thought you were going to take us to the park." This ended with Talia crying.

10:18 "Lincoln, I am dying. Can you take me to the doctor."

10:19 "Can you wait an hour?"

10:20 "NO!"

10:25 "Do you need me to take your kids?" (Barbara, Bless her!)

11:15 "Ouch!"-Me
"That is your appendix. Go in for a CT scan to rule out appendicitis." -Doctor

11:35 "You will need an authorization code,and a negative blood pregnancy test before we can do the scan. Can you come in next Thursday?"

11:36 Bawling. "I will die by next Thursday."

12:00 "Lincoln can you get off your (million dollar) call, and drive me to the emergency room?"

12:01 "Can you wait 20 minutes?"

12:01 Shaking head, tears.

12:02 On our way to the emergency room.

2:00 Triage- IV in my hand...so annoying.

2:15 Feed Simone in the waiting room....that IV was so annoying.

2:50 "Look at that giant Texas cinnamon roll!" (Lincoln) I ate a granola bar in the morning, and I was starving. They said I couldn't eat or drink anything. Lincoln thought it was funny to talk about food.

3:00 "I took my friend in to the ER in college. We thought it was her appendix, but it was just gas."-Nurse

3:02 "Please Heavenly Father don't let this be just gas."

3:25 "Does this hurt?"- Doctor punches me in the back.

3:30 "If this is just gas, I am going to tease you about this for the rest of your life. When you are 80 I will still tease you about it."

4:00 "Take a deep breath and hold it."
"You may breath." CT scan machine....aka the big doughnut.

4:50 Feed Simone in ER.

6:30 Nap

6:50 "You are passing two kidney stones. One 5 mm stone, and one 7 mm stone. You have several more stones in both kidneys."

7:00 "I missed my flight to Florida, but I am not going to take a later one."

7:05 "On the way home let's stop at JCW's and get you some food." Still starving...and this is in UTAH! How cruel.

7:15 "Look at my sleeves, they are covered in baby drool." (Lincoln)

8:00 "Thank you for watching my kids all day!" It rained while they were there, so Barbara had to put up with Scaredy Cat Wyatt.

9:00 "I am so full! I am going to die. Thanks for getting us food sweetie!"

Good things about today.

*I didn't have to drink the contrast. That is the dye they have to use to see the appendix. I was told by a nurse that it tastes like rotten skunk. Yummo.

*My kids were so worried about me, and were so cute about it.

* I am grateful that is wasn't just gas.

*I am grateful that Babara called me to go to the park, and was so willing to take my kids for the entire day!

*I am glad Lincoln was home, and got to stay home. Next time he has to fly out, I may be tempted to fake a kidney stone.

*I am glad Chinook (Christie's dog- I am watching) didn't have an accident while we were gone ALL DAY.

*I am glad it wasn't my appendix. That would have been too much right now.

I needed a photograph of all three.

AND I GOT ONE! =)

& a good one of Wyatt to frame.

He looks so big, and so handsome to me here. I love his chin! =)

funny? yes.

A few months ago Lincoln made a bet with a co-worker. (yes, a bet!) They were competing to see which of them could lose weight and make it to 190 lbs. first. The loser had to pay the winner $190 dollars. Lincoln watched what he ate and went to the gym every night. He began to lose weight immediately.

Then we went on vacation and his diet went out the window. Three letters....JCW. (The yummiest hamburgers in Utah.) He still lost, but not as quickly as his opponent...I mean co-worker.

Then Lincoln got the news from his buddy that he was just two pounds away from the goal. That night I got the best idea to send the skinny friend a box of baklava from Harry and David. Where did I get this idea? Well, a year ago his friend sent US some baklava and fruit for our anniversary. (nicest people on the planet.) After we received it he said, "Isn't the baklava the BEST? It is so good, I ate the whole box in ONE day." *insert evil laugh here* We even paid extra for next day delivery.

His friend was walking up the path to his home when he saw and recognized the box on his porch. He began to yell, "Nooooooo, NO, NOOOOOO!" as soon as he saw it! He and his wife couldn't stop laughing after they read the note - "To my friend slim, from Lincoln". He jumped on the scale and he was still .8 pounds away from his goal. He told us he didn't eat any that day. He also wouldn't take the $190 a few days later either, and said the baklava was enough. Silly!



*****************************

I forgot to mention that Aug. 1st was the best day ever. I got four tickets to the So You Think You Can Dance tour. I can't tell you how much I love this show, and seeing them preform live is so great! My tickets are so good. They are really close to the stage, but on the side. My seats were not great last year and I don't have good eye sight. I am really looking forward to being able to SEE them! Joshua won the title of "America's Favorite Dance-a" (repeat in Kat's voice), but I voted for Katee as many times as I could! She was my favorite from the beginning. The Pas de Deux with Katee and Will was the most amazing dance on the show, but if you ask me my favorites I probably name them all! I really enjoyed this season. Watching was always the highlight of my week, and Lincoln had to travel a TON in June so I was glad to have sytycd as company! =)

I went to the gym with my new friend Sharon on Friday. She is from Australia and is such a fun person, she loves sytycd too. Anyway, we did the soul grooves class, which is many different dance types turned into a aerobic workout. The teacher did a little African, jazz, salsa, Broadway, and ballet to name a few. I enjoyed it so much. I noticed all these teeth in the mirror, and then I realized they were mine....I was smiling ear to ear the ENTIRE time. The teacher must I have thought I was nuts. =)

good.

On Saturday we took Lincoln to Medieval Times. We had a blast as usual. We really go way to often, but Wyatt thought this would be the best present for his Dad. Lincoln was knighted, and has requested we all call him Sir Dad...(or Sir Lincoln) from now on! I love being married to a knight. =)

We cheered for the black and white knight, and he won (sort of, until he was hit in the back with a lance!). He kissed a flower and tossed it to Natalia! She was trilled. The story is a new one, so it was a nice change! Simone slept in the sling for the first part of the show, and then watched it with us. She never cried...who is this child? She is so happy now. I am so glad!



After we left Medieval Times we went to Books A Million to get Breaking Dawn, and a birthday book for Lincoln. As we were walking to the store I saw ONE book sitting on the stand in the front. I said "Lincoln, RUN!" He laughed at me...and we all walked. I was so excited to get the LAST copy in the store. I really think they had hundreds hidden behind the counter. They probably place one book at a time on the shelf so each woman that claimed that book as her own would overreact like I did. I would like to work at a book store just so I could do that to people.


Here are a few photos from the week.



Lincoln just got home from work. He was playing with the girls, and then realized he was now part of a photo session! Ha HA!






My new blue bed. I used to hate blue. Really, I hated it. It was my least favorite color. After I had Wyatt I started to love blue. It is slowly sneaking its way into my decor, and now it has taken over my bedroom.

We also got a sleep number bed for our anniversary. Do I love it? I have no idea! What is my sleep number? Your guess is as good as mine. I have tried 35....no. I tried 50....okay. I am trying 80...a little better. I guess I just need to sleep in it more.




The power went out....so we had ice cream sundaes for lunch. I know I could have made sandwiches, but now when ever the power goes out my kids will be excited instead of scared. The weather here is crazy. Tons of rain and thunderstorms. Wyatt is terrified, and it is starting to get on my nerves. If he sees ONE rain drop he starts hyperventilating, and whinning. If we are going out the door he says, "But what if it rains while we are gone? What will we do?". Seriously, he gets so worked up. I have told him every calm, sweet, wonderful answer....and I have been blunt too...."We'll get wet Wyatt!"

Do you see this lovely iron? Do you see it? Yep, that is lavender! Lincoln came home with my new iron and new ironing board. (I asked him just to get a new cover, but they didn't have the right size.) He said, "I am mad. I thought I bought the white one." I love it. I have never enjoyed ironing so much. So to all my friends that don't iron...you are ironing with the WRONG iron! =) The best part....automatic shut off. Oh, I didn't mention before, the previous iron was left on for OVER 30 hours. Lucky. Blessed. Whatever you want to call it.

Happy Happy 30th Birthday LINCOLN!

Lincoln turned 30 on Friday! We were going to start his day off with a stack of 30 pankcakes, but he had to be to work early so that didn't happen. We decorated the inside and outside of the house with balloons and banners, and a couple of fancy "30" signs. It is really hard to decorate with little kids, they kept accidentally popping my balloons. Then we tied thirty ribbons around thirty bottles of soda, and made a giant 30 on the ground. We placed a giant party hat on the ground in the foyer that said, "DAD, put this on!"

When Lincoln pulled up we all hid in the stair well....even Cyrus. Simone gave us away by babbling happily! We jumped out and yelled SURPRISE ( I know, not much of a surprise party!), and he was so happy!

Then we all went to the drive in movie theater! We took advantage of Lincoln's rental car, which is a brand new F150! We saw Wall-E again. We bought dinner (hamburgers, wraps, corn dogs, fries) and lot of treats (popcorn, snowballs, homemade lemonade, candies) at the snack bar, and had a really good time. Simone was so quiet the whole time. I was shocked and relieved! Natalia fell asleep, but Wyatt didn't so we had to leave. (The next movie was the Dark Knight.) It was a fun drive in, I recommend it anyone. It is just four miles from Gun Powder Falls state park, so it's close.

Natalia gave Lincoln a note that told him she wanted to take him to the book store for a new book.
Wyatt gave Lincoln a note that told him he wanted to take him to Medieval Times. (I post about that later.)
Simone gave Lincoln a note that told him she wanted to take him on a Disney Cruise when she was three years old.
I have Lincoln a note that told him about an upcoming 4 day trip to Florida to stay at the new Marriott near Disney World. We will go this next spring or fall.

I made the cake he requested. His family calls it "yum yum cake", but the rest of the world knows it by a "different" name. I think the real name is the name of several cakes. Our versoin is yellow cake with pineapple, vanilla pudding, whipped cream, and coconut on top. We ate it for breakfast the next day, and we lit 30 candles too.

Happy Birthday Lincoln! We love you so much.

Iron man

Happiness is having a husband who doesn't mind ironing his own clothes.
Happiness is having time to iron, so your extra sleepy husband doesn't have to do it at 5:00 in the morning.
Happiness is going down stairs to do laundry, even though it wasn't on the to do list.
Happiness is taking pictures of Natalia, while she models an ironing board.

So far this week...I have organized the girls' closet. No more "too big" or "too small" taking up valuable space. I should take a picture of that, it looks wonderful. Tomorrow I am going to do all the ironing. =)

eta....

NO, no ironing tomorrow.

The picture of the little girl under the tree was selected as Judge's Choice. I am so very happy. I have to go to a meet and greet type thing for the winners tomorrow. There is going to be a People's Choice ballot during the first four weeks of the exhibit. Look for my photographs and vote if you like them!!! =)

On the move..

Yesterday was another emotionally exhausting day. I tried an outfit on Simone, it was too big. I took it off, and as I was putting it back in the closet she was whining on the changing table. It is not really a table, it is a changing dresser. I was still standing in front of the dresser, but leaning over the corner reaching into the closet. I looked down to see Simone hanging OFF the dresser. She was on her way to the ground head first. I slammed my hand down on to her hips and caught her against the corner of the dresser. I can not believe she didn't fall. I CAN NOT believe she didn't fall. She was digging her heels down and pushing back, and very quickly- I just didn't notice. I held her and cried. I was a mess the rest of the day....like an emotional zombie. I just held my kids and did nothing. I told Lincoln and he said, "Why aren't you happy? You CAUGHT her." I guess that is looking on the bright side. She is now at the age where I will have to strap her in if I set her down anywhere.

Isn't she pretty? I love her smiles.

Wyatt and Cy. Wyatt is getting so big lately. Everytime he walks in the room I say, "Who are you? Get out of here. Go get my little boy Wyatt and send him in here." He laughs and I always get a hug.

After a Sunday nap.

Natalia loves to hold her. She does it very well....and so often.

Ten Years Today

Happy Anniversary! We have been married TEN years, and it has flown by.

During my primary meeting in the morning my phone rang. We had a rushed morning, so I thought it was Lincoln calling to wish me a Happy Anniversary. It was Lincoln, but he was calling for a different reason.

Lincoln was hit on the freeway by a BMW today. He is okay, the car isn't bad. It was the company car so they are taking care of it. I am worried about his back, because last time he was really hurt. I hope he doesn't have to go through all that pain again. So far he feels just fine.

This accident got me thinking. I didn't kiss him goodbye today. He needed help moving cars to get his out of the driveway. I was still in my pajamas holding a baby, and I needed to jump in the shower or I would be late (later, I should say). He moved all three cars by himself, and took the trash to the curb.

Oh, what if that was our last morning? My heart hurts just to think about it. I am so grateful that I have tomorrow, and the next day and the next day to try to do better. I want him to know I am grateful, and happy, and so in love with him. We worry about dumb things, and if our lives were shortened, those dumb things wouldn't matter. The trash, the long grass, the socks under the couch....WHO CARES?! Can you imagine finding a dusty sock of a loving husband who left this earth too quickly? I am glad he is okay, and maybe my thoughts are getting ahead of myself. I just wanted to remind myself to enjoy the little things, to find a little bliss moments everyday, and to give Lincoln a kiss before he goes to work.

untitled.

"Small"

"Wedded Bliss"

"Granddaughter"

Above are the three photos I chose to enter for the Monuments of Faith photography exhibit. I had the hardest time coming up with titles this year. I am not good with words...that is why I am a photographer. I got to take a peek at some of the other entries and it looks like it will be a very nice exhibit this year. I was in the visitor's center for 10 minutes, and during that time I saw FOUR people from my ward dropping off photographs. How exciting is that!?

I have started doing photo sessions again. I love my job! I don't like to be away from Simone if I have to travel very far, but so far I have been lucky and my sessions have been in Columbia. Here is one of my favorites from last Saturday's session. The girl on the right is the same little girl that is sitting under the tree at the top of this post! =) We have so much fun together. I have photographed her since she was 4 months old.


Lincoln and I got to go on two dates this weekend. Simone was horrible each time. I spent more time walking around the restaurants than eating. At one restaurant there was a boutique next door, so I went shopping on our date and Lincoln didn't even know it! =) I didn't buy anything...who pays $216 for a top?!!

Wyatt and Talia are doing well. We started a new Book of Mormon reading chart and they are really excited about it. I have them take turns coloring in the chapters. The person who gets to color the next chapter usually reminds us to read.

Tiny...

We spent the day at Larriland farms. Picking blueberries, and taking pictures. I didn't take one picture of a person! That is so not like me, but I did have fun with my macro. Once while Simone took a $5 nap (she was in the van while it was running), and once while Christie juggled my crying baby and her whining two year old. Her baby wanted to either hold the baby or be held, I am not sure. =) (Thanks Christie!) We had a funny lunch, because the main part was blueberry shortcake. Oh well, no one complained of being hungry!



I was putting the kids to bed and I said, "If you guys go to bed and stay in your beds, we will have had a PERFECT day." There was no fighting, no whining, swimming lessons was a breeze...it was just a really good day. Simone did scream her head off of the way home from Larriland but that doesn't count against our good day.
The dragonflies were everywhere, but there were so quick! I always manually focus my macro, and I would never have enough time to focus. They would not stay still very long. This blue one hung on for a long time, and the brown one above was there for .5 seconds. I CAN'T believe I got a picture of him- and he is so SHARP! =)







Simone had a doctors appointment. She weighs 10 lbs. 14 oz., and is 22.75 inches long. She is in the 5th and 10th percentile for her weight and height. This is so strange to me....Wyatt was always in the 95th percentile and Natalia was always in the 85th. Simone is growing and doing well-just on the other side of the chart! I have to admit it has been fun to have a tiny baby. She still fits in her newborn/0-3 month size clothes. She is a champion sleeper at night. Her longest stretch is from 8-1 or 2, and then I nurse her and she sleeps until 7. Our days are getting better too.

I didn't blog about our first swimming lesson, I was most likely trying to block it from my memory forever. I don't want to type it out....here's the short version.

Talia in class
Wyatt waiting, and whining.
Talia going down the slide at the end of class with no one to catch her.
Talia sinking and sputtering.
Me screaming with baby in arms.
Talia out, shocked, fine.
Talia "I NEED TO GO POTTY"
Baby screaming
Wyatt's class starting
Wipe a bum, and pull up rubbery wet suit while holding screaming baby.
Talia crying, "I want to go back to my class"
"Your class is over honey."
More crying...both Talia and Simone.
Simone asleep.

Doesn't that sound fun?

They are doing so well now. Wyatt is loves holding his breath under water, and he makes me count how long he stays under. I just remembered the first time we took Wyatt swimming (he was probably 1 and half years old). It was SO funny. He was absolutely terrified of the water. Lincoln jumped off the diving board to show him that the water was fun. Wyatt screamed with such terror, he thought his dad was gone forever. Lincoln did what any good Dad would do, he jumped off the diving board again so we could all laugh when Wyatt screamed. =) It took him a long time to get comfortable in the water, so when I see him hold his breath and go under and I am so proud! =)

Talia is doing well too, but mostly she just looks cute in her new swimming suit! =)

Remember

What do you remember about me?

Ok, I'll do this tag from Cami. (Be nice.)

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

4 months....

Four months old today. We had to take a picture to celebrate! We love you Simone!

(if you don't already know this...click on the image to see it uncompressed.)

Share....

An online magazine did an article about the photo exhibit at the Temple Visitors Center, and spotlighted the winners from last year. I don't like what I said about myself or about each photograph....it is a good thing I like my photographs.


click here to read the article.

Lincoln took my head shot, didn't he do a good job?! =)

simple

I took this on May 2nd. I had a dandelion sunrise.....may be this is the sunset.

We had a busy week.

*The kids and I went back to the beach. I got a migraine headache, and tried to sleep it off when we got home. I woke up at 6:00, and Lincoln had made us dinner. Smmoooch.

*We went to the lake by our house twice. Simone slept in the baby bjorn. We saw turtles, baby mud swallows being fed by their parents, tiny fish, flying geese, butterflies, we tried to get as close as possible to the robins on the grass, listened to the wind, collected sticks (Wyatt's favorite thing), watched squirrels jumping in the trees, and came home and ate Popsicles. I love summer, and I wish we went to the lake more often.

*There was a concert at Centennial Park for kids one evening. We went with Christie's fam, and Christina's kids. We had a picnic dinner, and listened to a silly man sing silly/naughty songs. "Don't put your finger in your nose" was my fav, and now will be a Tidwell family song forever!

*We had a good Forth of July. We spent the day with our friends the Merrells. It was the most peaceful day. Our kids get along so well! Amanda, who is Wyatt's age, plays with dinosaurs with Wyatt, taught him how to catch a frog, and even tackled him to the ground a few times. For those of you who don't know Amanda, she had a rare bone cancer in her leg when she was two, and had to have her leg amputated. She is such an amazing little girl. It is so nice to be in their home, it just overflows with gratitude and happiness.

Here is a conversation I overheard between them.

Wyatt-How old are you?
Amanda- I am six.
Wyatt- ME TOO!
Amanda- Ya, but you are taller than me.
Wyatt- It's true. Are you six and a half or just six?
Amanda- Just six.
--Then they both sat there puzzled, because how can they be the same age, but not the same height.

Saturday- I went shopping. I had two hours before the mall closed, so I ran around like a mad woman and bought stuff! It was so fun. I got $118 jeans for $24! I am so good, and I want to go back....someone hide my credit card! =)

A quick update on Simone....I think the Zantac is working. We had a GREAT week. She is growing up too fast for me.

Black and white photo post.

Sweet smile.

Look at her! She thinks she is so big.

"Go take a shower, I'll watch the kids."

What a sweet husband. =)