Quarters.

Natalia earned a few quarters. She immediately invited me to the mall with her. How sweet. Finally after about three days, and a 150 mentions on the mall -we went there.

This girl is bubble gum crazy.

Before we left the house she asked Lincoln and Wyatt what color they wanted. I thought that was so sweet of her. "Green and Watermelon," she said as she buckled her seat belt. She brought along her purse, a ziplock bag to put the gum in, and her cat "Natalia". =)

Here she is at the bubble gum heaven!

So- since this post is about my beloved blue-eyed child, I will add to it. Natalia asked if she could bring her little green eyelet purse to church. I said that would be fine. I didn't not say it would be fine for her to bring a PAIR OF SCISSORS in it!

She cut her hair during primary class!

Are you kidding me? Help me. Seriously....what is a Mom to do? Her teacher found her hair on the floor, and then asked her about it. She didn't cut a lot of hair...it was long, but not a huge amount.

Is it so bad that I am laughing right now? I adore this naughty little thing.

Talented....

I am in love with dance photography!

I am so ready for this to be a major part of my business. I got to do a session with this talented young dancer. She is amazing! Look at these images!!! Could you just die? I am really pleased with the majority of images from this session, and I had to share some of the images here.

I'd love to know your favorite. =)

Fixed for you sweetie. How about a picture of a chair? Wow I'm great.


-Lincoln

I can't post pictures.

Oh the agony!


So- we have been busy and happy.

I went on an online shopping spree!

One dress---(a gift from my husband for collecting kid poop!)
One slip from vintage hem
One orange tailored jacket
One blue jacket
One green and white jacket
One light grey cargo skirt
One light great pencil skirt with a skinny white belt
One grey and yellow floral maxi dress
One navy cropped jacket with grey piping
One red shirt with "poet" sleeves
One red jacket with short sleeves
One

I don't really care about making that list anymore. I got a ton of stuff...most of it was under $8, and regular prices were around $65. LOVE all of it!

Here is a list I said I would write.

July GOOD things.

*I got to have my family pictures taken TWICE!
*I got to hug my family!
*I got to pick raspberries TWICE! Once in Maryland and several times in Utah.
*Lincoln's cousin Rileigh and her darling family moved to COLUMBIA. They are in our ward, AND I LOVE HER! We have so so so much in common. We both went to Catalina island on our honeymoons....wait...it gets better.....and WE BOTH RODE BICYCLES BUILT FOR TWO with our new husbands on that super steep island. We both love SYTYCD! See what I mean...so much in common. =)
*Simone said Mommy and Daddy in July for the first time.
*We got to go camping at the dunes.
*My kids got to see their cousins!
*I never threw up.
*I got to watch fireworks while Simone climbed on me and treated me like playground equipment.
*I ate at JCW's
*My kids were so good on the airplane. (Well sort of...it has been so long, that I don't remember all the bad stuff. Like Simone screaming because her ears hurt...OR Talia holding a sour cream tub the WHOLE flight "just in case".)
*Totally- mango ice cream with my sister-in-laws...and seeing The Proposal too. =)
*Getting my hair done by Adrie! She is amazing, and seeing her always makes me happy!
*My brother-in-law and sister-in-law letting us borrow their car and truck so we didn't have to rent one. SWEET!
*Having an adventure with people I adore.

That felt good. I am sure there are more things I could add.

Wait until you see the pictures I have to show you. I have had a good week! August is a lovely month, by the way. Lots of good things have happened.


------------------------------------------------------------------
A letter for my awesome husband, WHO IS AMAZING and HOT!


Dear Lincoln,

Will you fix my blog? Please. I love you. I know you are busy, or I am hogging the computer all the time. I am DONE proofing for a little while. You can have it. Pretty please with a cherry on top.

Love,
Jeri

luck

July is over! Hooray.

Things that I didn't love about July.

1. Lincoln was gone all last week. It was a very hard week.
2. Simone had to get four stitches in her little forehead after falling on a sharp corner.


3. My kids got the stomach flu 3 times each! IN JULY!
4. Simone had Roseola in between battles with the stomach flu.
5. I passed two kidney stones.
6.I had to cancel two sessions. I got one session rescheduled. I borrowed a camera and lens from a great friend in Gaithersburg, had everything lined up by the front door ready to go, a sitter for the kids (Lincoln was gone.), AND Talia threw up while I was in the shower. I cried! I didn't want to call my client and cancel AGAIN. I was so embarrassed.
7. Sent most of my camera gear to Canon. Boo. I wrapped it all in bubble wrap. Four inches around each piece. Then I remembered I needed the serial numbers off each item!! I had to unwrap it all, and then I ran out of tape when I was almost finished putting it all back together. I came in the kitchen and Lincoln had tied them closed with a pink grosgrain ribbon! He was searching for more tape and found that. I loved it!
8.Fire and flood.
9. While Simone was getting her stitches out....my big kids had to use the bathroom three times EACH. Six bathroom visits while at the doctors office!
10. Talia got stung by a bee.
11. Wyatt needed a hair cut 4 weeks ago. =)
12. I was not able to get the smoke/burnt plastic smell out of some of my favorite clothes.
13. Didn't get to go on an anniversary date. (sick kids)
14. Left my van door open in a very hard rain storm.
15. Very poorly behaved children at a good friend's house.
16. One of my very best friends moved away.
17.I missed my family's 4th of July BBQ. I didn't get to see some of them while we were in Utah. A few of them I didn't see last December either. Bummer.




I was beginning to think I would never get rid of the black cloud over my head. The kids and I were outside. We were sitting in the grass, in a place where Wyatt has found two four leaf clovers. I SEARCHED for one. I needed one. A little good luck please, a sign that there would be good things to come. Yes, I know- There is no such thing as good luck or bad luck. I still wanted a four leaf clover. I didn't find one.

That night I took the kids to pei wei. We have a cute tradition. We break open a fortune cookie like you would a wishbone. In order to see who's fortune it is, two of us grab onto an end of the cookie and pull. The fortune will only stay in one half of the cookie. Then the next two people do it until everyone has a fortune. Then we all read them, and laugh. Lincoln wasn't there, but I saved him one. Mine read, "Luck will visit you on the next new moon."
Wyatt's is hilarious!!! He was mad and said, "THAT should have been Talia's!"

Lincoln came home on Sunday. The day before was his birthday. I decorated the house, and made dinner and a cake. His flight landed while we were at church, so I brought silly string, party hats, and noise makers in the car with us. Then when we got home we wore our hats to the door and sprayed him with silly string. It was so fun!

He brought us gifts. I got two silver necklaces. One was a silver pendant with an L on it. (So sweet!) The other was a silver four leaf clover with a tiny green bead next to it. He told me he thought I needed some good luck. I was so happy! I said, "Oh sweetie, I needed this. I was looking for a real one and I couldn't find one."

What is the moral of this story? Don't look for luck it is a waste of time.---- or perhaps,--- Sometimes you can find luck in a fortune cookie. ---- OR-- If you pray for something (even if it is silly), your prayer may be answered in a way you never expected.

(As I was writing the bad luck list I remembered A LOT of good luck things that happened this month. I will work on that list next.)

We are a family

I am so lucky. I have so many beautiful photographs of my WHOLE family to hang in my home. I am so excited to get some of these printed and on my walls.

My brother was kind enough to take us up above Saratoga to a beautiful wheat field. I love these images. We had a fun time, and had quite a few laughs trying to get these images. Thanks Steve!

Then, because Wyatt got sick and we extended out flight I got to have a photo session with my best friend from high school. Annie and I haven't seen each other in 11 years! It was a fun reunion but much too short! I love her style, and I love these pictures. SO FUN! I finally have some current pictures of Lincoln and I together, and I am trilled. Thanks Annie!

#36.

Lincoln always brings the kids and I gifts when he comes home from traveling. He travels a lot so the gifts are not always something huge. I love the thoughtful and funny things he gets me. Sometimes it's chocolate, a t-shirt, a giant pink diamond paperweight, lingerie (did I just put that on my blog!?), brisket and a huge bottle of bbq sauce from Texas, or and insane amount of clothes from England. Last time he was in Texas he brought me a bandana and a Texas shaped pen. (I was born in Texas.) 35 Things to do with a Cowboy's Bandana. It is too good not to share.

1. A decorative clothing accessory made from a variety of cloth ranging from cotton to silk.

2. A scarf or head covering.

3. A sweat band rolled and tied around the head.

4. A cloth to clean a gun.

5. A ribbon to tie back a cowgirl's hair.

6.A measuring tool.

7. A cloth to wipe perspiration for one's face and the insides of a hat.

8. A mask or disquise to hide one's face--like a robber.

9. Blindfold to lead a spooked animal or horse form a burning barn.

10. A covering to protect one's face from the elelments like a dust storm or a blizzard.

11. A handkerchief to blow one's nose.

12. A handkerchief to dry a lady's tears.

13. A sling for an injured arm.

14. Protection for the neck from the sun.

15. An ear muff to keep one's ears from freezing in cold weather.

16. Used with a stick as part of a tourniquet.

17. A bandage or poultice for humans and cattle.

18. A tie around one's hat to keep the hat from blowing away.

19. A tie for a splint.

20. A flag to help signal.

21. A pouch to hold money, food or gold dust.

22. Knapsack for clothes like a hobo uses.

23. A short rope to hang items from jeans, belt, or saddle.

24. Washcloth for body or dishes.

25. A towel to dry with.

26. A strainer for muddy water or coffee.

27. Dust or polish rag for boots, saddle, or silver belt buckle.

28. A diaper.

29. Covering to keep bugs off food.

30. Muzzle for dogs or biting horses.

31. A hot pad to remove the coffee pot or skillet from the campfire.

32. A napkin to keep food from falling on one's clothes.

33. A swatter to kill a pesky fly.

34. A ground covering for a lady to sit upon to keep her dress clean.

35. A gag to keep someone from talking.

BUT I THINK THEY LEFT ONE OFF THE LIST..........



36. Tied around one's face to keep bad smells from entering the nose--like when collecting a stool sample.



This is me ready to go in and face the music! My kids are still sick, and we need to do some tests. I have the weakest stomach ever. My Mom sent me some advice. "It's just mud!"

So-------I kept repeating in my head...."I am a marine biologist. I am collecting pond mud. I am getting paid for this."

Happy Anniversary!

11 years. What? That is a long time, and we have done so much together.

We couldn't go out last night because all three kids had the stomach flu. That is crazy. THEY JUST had it on the tail end of our trip to Utah. Simone also had Roseola in between the stomach flues. I have been home bound ever since we got home. I have only been out three times! (Church, playing in the stream (pics below), and berry picking.) I am going a little crazy. =)

Lincoln had an idea for out date last night. He sat in the kitchen on his laptop, and I was in the front room on my computer. We each had a $25 limit to buy each other a surprise gift online.

Lincoln bought me this:
I've wanted a holga for SIX years. Lincoln sat in the kitchen for TEN minutes trying to remember the weird name of this camera. A holga is a medium format camera that is made of plastic. Each holga is different. They have light leaks and create the most beautiful photographs. I can't wait to play with it.



I bought him this:

Lincoln wore a shirt just like this on our third date! I think that is the date where I started to fall for him. I always joke about this t-shirt, and I am excited to see him wearing it again. Lincoln, I think you are cooler than EVERYONE else! You are my favorite person on this earth!! You always make me laugh. I am so lucky to have you as my husband.

Happy Anniversay Sweetie!

Film

I had a chance to use my film camera. We still get along! =)

I don't really want to blog...

about my trip.

There were highlights. There were low points too. Mostly low points.

One night I put 10 children to bed by myself. That was fun. Talia and her cousin Haylie got along so well. They haven't seen each other in two or THREE years. I was glad to see her so happy, and holding hands with her new friend. Ofcourse Wyatt was in heaven to be around his favorite cousins. They have a great relationship! All the kids slept in the basement of Lincoln's Mom's house. Two nights later while the house was empty, the water heater started on fire. The heat caused the water heaters (two) to explode. Then the basement filled with ash, smoke, and water. A horrible combination!!! We are so lucky those children weren't down there sleeping! We were at the dunes, but most of our stuff was still in the basement.



Did you know that smoke is a terrible thing? It creeps. Like an animal. It climbed into my suitcases that were closed but unzipped. It crept into my camera bag that was on the floor, even though it was zipped...my camera still smells of smoke. My camera and FIVE of my lenses! It covered Talia's American baby doll, and paid special attention to cling to the white satin on the doll's dress. It crawled into my cute purse/diaper bag. It was able to slide right in to the drawer that held my hair dryer, flat iron, and brushes. When I lifted these things out of the drawer there was a white shape in the soot at the bottom of the drawer where these things lay. It completely covered the shopping bag and the items inside I had purchased the DAY BEFORE for our family pictures. You think something is safe....safe from the soot, and then after touching it you notice your hands are now black. Lincoln had a laptop on the ground too.

See the soot?

These are just my little things. My Mother in law's home is covered in soot! The vents made sure that the smoke was carried to every inch of the house. So many things were ruined. Her insurance is doing a fantastic job make sure everything is replaced. Mine....hummm, I am not so sure. (Her insurance wouldn't cover our things because we were visiting.) I have to make a list of everything. The trouble is that I am torn about weather something was RUINED or not. Our clothes have been washed but they still smell bad. I don't know if this smell will ever come out, but they are my FAVORTIE clothes. I don't want to get rid of them. =(



Talia grabbed a baby wipe, and started to clean her baby doll. After she was finshed she said, "I don't care if this baby stinks. I don't care if this baby is dirty. I am KEEPING her." Our insurance will get her a new one. I will ask the company to send her new doll in a hospital gown (they do that) so she believes it is the same doll that has just been repaired.

More later. I will be sure to post about the happy stuff next time.

What I love..

Lincoln!


I was on the hunt for green shoes for all of us. I saw a family picture with all family members in green shoes. The boys were in chucks, and the little girl in sparkles. Well, we all know I have the CUTEST green shoes on the planet so I wanted to do this idea for our family pictures. I even saw a man at the airport in AZ in green asics and wanted to buy his shoes right off of him!

I haven't found shoes for everyone. Yesterday Lincoln called upstairs, "I found a pair of green shoes for me."

I had nordstrom.com open on the computer earlier and I thought, " Oh, my goodness. Could he be any sweeter? He found green shoes!"




Ya. Really sweet. We had a good laugh though.

He always makes me laugh!

Last night he ordered a pizza for himself very late at night. The kids and I ate pizza earlier with the Walls and he was starving. Strangely enough we had pizza the night before with the Hansen family, and even with all that pizza I decided to grab one slice. We sat down for a minute, and I took a big bite. Then I proceeded to DIE.

"DID YOU PUT ANCHOVIES ON THIS?!!!!!"

"Yes, the other half doesn't have THEM! I'll get you a new piece." He left the room laughing.

I chewed. I almost lost it. Lincoln came back with a new slice for me and I said, "That was AWFUL!" (with my mouth full)

Lincoln said, " You want a falafel?"

Yes....if will help get that taste OUT of my mouth!

I also love my funny kids. Wyatt was doing pilates with me. We were doing the hundred, so he was counting. I heard him say 50,and then the next number he whispered was 90! What a cheater!

Simone fake gasps when she sees something amazing. It is so cute! We have a terrible wallpaper border with fish on it in our kids bathroom. (Why is this still there?!) While she takes a bath she points in different directions and gasps. Fish! Fish! Sounds more like "ish" though. That is two words for her. ish and da. fish and dog. She signed cheese yesterday. Talia was pretending to take our picture and she said, "say cheese". Then Simone signed it! She also signed book this morning. I better brush up on my signing, because it tooks like I am going to need it.

Simone was happily laying on the rug in the front room this morning. She was lovingly cuddling two remote controls.

Talia. Oh, Talia is such a crack up. She asked me how much a car costs. I told her a round about price. She said "CARS are too expensive. When I am a Mom, and I NOT going to buy one. I am just going to walk home, and hold my kitty and my baby in my arms."

I am just busy....

Hey. I shouldn't be blogging. I have so much work to do, but I thought I would make a quick list of what is making me loose my mind.

*I flew to Arizona to photograph a client of mine. They treated me so well! I flew first class, stayed in their guest house, they paid for all my meals, and got to spend all most every waking moment with a camera in my hand. The weather was GORGEOUS, and the children were adorable! She had the most beautiful clothing for the family pictures---several options for me to choose from. I was in clothing heaven! It was so fun! I am so super lucky. Amazing family, and an amazing location!!

*The attic is almost finished.

*My living room is full of things from the storage unit.

*My basement is full of the things from the attic.

*My dishwasher broke

*I have a mountain of laundry to do.

*I had a huge yard sale on Saturday. We got rid of A TON of stuff. At the end of the day a woman who works in the NICU came by. I gave her all my newborn (not all, I had to keep a handful!) blankets, and tiny clothes. She is taking them to work!!! I am so happy about this. It made me so relieved that the "Columbia yard sale professionals" didn't swoop them away! Those blankets will be going to someone who will treasure them as much as I have. I should have just taken them up to the NICU myself.....maybe that is what I will do with the "handful" I saved.....but much later on.
There was this group of women that were "so in your face" and rude. My friend Christina, that joined us in our yard sale, nick named them the "professionals". (The name I called them wasn't nearly as nice!) Christina and Lincoln and I couldn't believe them. I was so stressed out by the way that treated us that I will NEVER have another yard sale again.

*I got to photograph all the dancers from Talia's ballet school. This session was during the dress rehearsal. It was a blast for me.

*I got a speeding ticket on the way to the dress rehearsal. I was going 71 in a 55. Ooops. Talia was so sweet to share that information with everyone at the rehearsal. (This was my second speeding ticket---the first I got when I was 16!)

*I got to photograph more dancers at the beach yesterday. HEAVEN!!!!

*SYTYCD is my weekly highlight! I love this show and the dances the first week were amaizing!

*Lincoln is changing groups at work. Big changes = stressed out husband. He has watched the kids two weekends in a row. I am so grateful for him! The kids love him so MUCH...espeically Simone--- because he gives her chocolate milk when I am not home to stop him. =)

*I am in charge of quite a few things for the primary activity this Saturday. I am making an insane treat table, and photographing the kids for a father's day card. I am planning to photograph the kids, download them to Lincoln's laptop, crop, and print the photos AT THE CHURCH. Yes, I may have alreay lost my mind. It is a good thing Lincoln gets free ink!

that is how it feels.

I went out with the kids after Wyatt got home from school to get a few things done. We were finished and ready to head home when I remembered that we were out of whole milk for Simone. I thought I would swing by Trader Joe's and pick up a few fun things while were there.

I saw the storm. A big black mess in the sky. Lighting was streaking across the sky, and I thought about turning back toward home. I didn't. The rain and wind hit while we were inside the store. The people coming inside were drenched. Wyatt was freaking out from the loud thunder, and a nice girl told him that God was just bowling. She was sweet to us, and tried to ask him about school to distract him a little. She left her keys at the counter,and I ran them to her. She was about to run out into the rain, and wouldn't that have been a sad thing to discover at the car door. When I came to the door with my cart, 3 kids, and 3 bags of groceries there was a huddle of people waiting for the rain to die down. A kind employee had a large umbrella and was running with people to their cars. I asked the "bowling girl" if she would stay with my kids while I ran to get my van. She did, and another lady chatted with Talia and gave her TWO of the flowers she just bought to keep her busy. My cute shoes were instantly soaked, because the water was so deep everywhere I couldn't avoid getting them wet. The umbrella escort ran the big kids to my van, and I ran in to get Simone.... (I have mention that she SLEPT through this entire shopping adventure!) Bowling girl carried my groceries. We were all laughing, and happy I couldn't believe how kind all those strangers were to us. I was soaked to the bone, and I had a good parking spot too! There was a large tree that had blown over near our home so traffic was at a stand still. Then it happened. I looked down at my finger and noticed my wedding ring was GONE! I had on my band, but the solitaire was gone.

It must have slipped off my soaking wet finger some where in the parking lot at Trader Joe's. I jumped out of the van, and opened the side door and began to look frantically for it. I jumped back in and called Trader Joe's, so they could start looking for it. Then it hit me. I had lost it for good. My lungs felt like they were crawling into my throat, and my shoulders crunched against my ears. My hands covered my face and I cried. I pictured the day Lincoln gave it to me, and how shiney and beautiful it was in the black velvet box. He had worked so hard to pay every penny of the price before our wedding day. I had worn it everyday for 10 years and 10 months.

Wyatt and Talia were so concerned, and Wyatt was crying right along with me.

"Does this mean you have to get married again??" he asked with despairation in his voice. (Like I would have to marry someone else!)

I had to laugh. "No, sweetie! I just won't have the ring that Daddy gave me when we were first married. It is just a ring. It's okay. ----but it was so special to me."

Tears came again.

I was driving back to the store. When I pulled up the rain was just about gone, and the parking lot was crawling with employees looking for my ring.

Talia said, "We can get you a new ring. How much do they cost?" That made me laugh and cry at the same moment.

We didn't find it.

Wyatt tried to cheer me up. "Mom, I promise promise PROMISE by next year me and Dad will buy you a new ring." I smiled, how sweet.

I called Lincoln. I was so upset. I told him I was going to look and see if it was in my ring drawer at home and I would call him back.

It was---- in my ring drawer! I don't know how I just put on my band and didn't notice the missing ring. So I guess my estimation was wrong. I had worn it for 10 years and 10 months- minus one day.

I called Trader Joe's and thanked them for helping me look. They were relieved that I had found it.

**So that is how it feels to loose a wedding ring....and I hope I never have to feel it again.

Concrete Cookies

This recipe has been in my family for generations. I have clear memories of my little brother eating some on the front porch when we were young. I thought I would pass the recipe on for those of you who don't have a copy of this gem.

Ingredients:

A one year old, just learning to walk.
A large slab of concrete. A driveway, sidewalk, or front step are places that work well.

Directions:

Place baby on concrete (in a sitting position). Let them marinate here for a few seconds. Turn and try to accomplish another simple task, like putting the stroller in the car. The cookies do not take long to bake. They usually take between "a blink of an eye" and "I only turned my back for a second."

When you turn and see baby sliding face first down the driveway your cookies are done.

Optional ingredients:

Clean towels
Antiseptic
tears
kisses
apologies
concerned siblings
a questioning husband

..

just a few pictures from photography group last month.

showing the girls how to deal with 11 am sunlight! =)

the house is crooked...not the camera!
they look like they should have real fairy wings on their backs!

hello sweet simone





(p.s. my phone works!)

bobbing for apples

so i dropped my iphone in the toilet.
clean water in case you wondered.
i yelled, "NO!"
but it was so quietly that my children didn't wake up.
I grabbed it out.
tried not to cry. (it's only a phone)
"but it was my birtday present" (say that like the bunny on Robin Hood.)
turned it off.
watched the screen fizzle to black.
asked lincoln if he purchased insurance.
tried not to cry.
this morning lincoln was too curious, and turned it on.
it works.
i turned it off, to give it more time to dry.
please oh please.

a few dance images....

Here are a few of the photographs I took of the dancer. It was raining on us for a few of these images, but we still had a good time. She was supposed to have a white romantic length tutu on with the burgundy corset, but she forgot a "crucial" part of that costume. I don't love the short black one for these.

I GET TO DO THIS SEVERAL MORE TIMES!!!!! I am so glad I had a test run with Rose. She was up for anything, and next time I will put a longer lens on my camera for the pier shots! =)


I am so lucky!

Do you have a favorite?