a day in the life

Ten on Tuesday

1. I believe this could actually be named Ten Thousand on Tuesday as I have not blogged in so very long. The only reason I am blogging today is because I have a horrible cold and feel awful so I am sitting. I don't sit much these days.
2. The moving plans are coming right along. We found a house, had a good inspection, and now are waiting for the appraisal. Our money guy is working quickly to get us closed on June 23. Not bad since we put in the offer on May 30. Until everything is really set and papers signed, I will hold my breath. But I will tell you everyone will have their own bedroom (well I guess Bj and I have to share ;) I have a wonderfully well lit studio, and there is a sun porch on the back where I will enjoy many hours watching the kids play in the fenced in backyard. I can't wait.
3. Lily has (after today) three more days of school. Then she will be a 1st grader. School has been a bit of a massive stress lately as I have major concerns about the choices and judgement of the teachers and staff. I turned into a full fledged Mama Bear, writing lots of emails, making lots of calls, and meeting with the Assistant Superintendent. Lily may be gone in three days, but I could not let the kids we are leaving behind ever go through this again. I know I am being vague, but honestly this is the kind of stuff that you would see on the Today Show or Anderson Cooper. And if they don't take steps to make this right, it may be still...
4. I miss taking pictures. Oh don't worry, still doing my 365 despite the fact that I haven't posted a photo in FOREVER. I just miss taking client photos. But soon I will have my brand spanking new and gorgeous site up and I will be shooting everywhere.
5. Speaking of taking pictures, OH MY I want one of these.

Not saying that I will actually get it, but I want it.
6. I got that photo from Pinterest. Have you heard of it? It may be the coolest thing that has happened since, oh I don't know, the internet. Follow me if you haven't (Marie Willis Taylor) and see just want inspiration may end up in the new house. OH cannot wait to paint/decorate/play in my new house. I am giddy. And buyer beware, it is time sucking there is so much goodness.
7. Did you hear that Write. Click. Scrapbook. is TWO years old? While I am sad I have been so busy lately that I barely have time to scrap, when I do, this is where I go. There is so much inspiration there. And such wonderful, smart, funny, and dedicated ladies there. I am super lucky to be part of it. Elizabeth, I am proud of you for making the tough to decision to take a break, but come back soon cause it just isn't the same without you.
8. As I prepare to move I am SO excited to make plans with all of my Ohio friends. To sit on my back porch and chat. To scrap. To meet at Hibachi in 20 minutes. To go to my parent's house or Bj's mom's house with just a diaper bag and not a car load of stuff. That being said, I have made so many friends here. Really, really good friends. Friends who were there for me when Jack was born. Friends who came over to chat. To scrap. To eat at Aki. Who love my children. What Marnie said about me over at WCS "Marie - is smart, steady, and loyal. Her photos draw you into her pages but it is her scrapbooking of fierce friendships that makes me wish I were one of her besties." Well, I can't tell you what that means to me. If you remember me for anything, remember that I love my friends. I know they are so very important-especially if family is far away. So do what you have to to find them and keep them-even if it has to start with an interview at a coffee shop over queso. ;)
9. Jack turned five months old! The pictures are still on my camera, but I will tell you I will have another doozy for my 12 attempts album. He is now rolling and turning all over the place, looks a bit like a wild animal when he wants to put a toy in his mouth, has the BEST smile and giggle for his brother and sister, still is a pretty wretched sleeper, has FAT legs, ate Rice cereal for the first time on Sunday, still spits up but not nearly as much as the others, is happy 95% of the time but then WATCH OUT when he gets mad, and loves his Mama.
We all adore Baby Bean :) OOOOOO Do you see that up there on my photo? Why, it's my brand new logo designed by Patrick Jebber of Monsters Unlimited. I LOVE it :) Website coming SOON.
10. Charlie is also super sick. And super stubborn. Won't blow his nose. Potty training is non existent. Ever so slightly makes me want to lose my mind. And yet he is the sweetest, most loving little boy who gives me the best hugs and tells me I look like a princess everytime I dress up.

11. Ok you get a bonus. On Friday I taught a photography class to my MOMS Club. The goal is to help the average user understand their camera a little better so they can capture those every day moments of their kids a little better. Ohio readers I will be teaching it soon in your area too! Anyway, while preparing for the class I found this...
which reminded me of this...
My goodness does time fly.

Add to the list...

Packing up the house and moving. It is official, we are moving back to Ohio. And we are doing it soon. I am definitely a mixture of celebrating/shedding tears as I adore my friends here and I adore my friends and family there. All I know is I have the best friends in the world. So the Adventures in Moving tag will be used again. And look forward to a "Things we will miss about the 'Burg" album too.

An understatement

To say that we miss you is a complete understatement.

A Whoo HOO! and Lily's room

First my WHOO HOO! Charlie crawled today. My SEVEN MONTH OLD. This is all new to me as Lily didn't crawl until ten months. Not that he got far, but the knee went back and he went forward. And he does this little sprinter warm up thing where he moves his feet back and forth while putting his weight on his hands. I will see if I can capture it tomorrow. And yes, I know I am in trouble. He will be scaling my kitchen table in a week ;)

Now for Lily's room.
Oh I still have so much to do here. The tree is actually a picture holder. Wonder how long it will take me to get it filled with pictures...

I am also planning on painting this bookcase white to match the rest of her furniture and putting some pretty paper behind where the books go. Just not sure when all this painting is going to occur...
Oh and see the two little cats on the shelf? Anyone remember those? They were from Hallmark in the 80's. I find it very fascinating that I have various combinations of a grey and orange cat. When later in life I owned a grey and orange cat. I still miss them.

This may be the best (and possibly cutest) thing I have ever bought. Lily LOVES her tent. LOVES it. She has since moved her radio in there and she just lays in there and reads books and listens to Little Mermaid (the book on CD) for the 2000th time. I have such fond memories from my cardboard house and my plastic house that fit over a card table from when I was little. Sisters? Remember those?
So little girl guests? We are ready for you. :)

Ten on Tuesday

1. I love mail. Unfortunately my mailbox is way down the street. Ok, it's not that far, but it does kind of prevent the obsessive ten time check throughout the day. I think the neighbors would notice.
2. This is my first Ten on Tuesday in PA. Took me way too long.
3. I have TWELVE new layouts from this past weekend, not to mention five or six from while we were living in limbo. Because she made me cry today, here are two just for Missy. and this one...picture from Lily's first birthday. And yes, that is the FIRST picture I have scrapped from Lily's FIRST birthday. And for the record I get sniffly every time I look at this one... 4. I promise I will share the rest soon.
5. Dear Charlie...I am really happy that you learned how to blow raspberries, but could you please NOT blow raspberries when I am feeding you green beans? Thanks. love, Mama
6. I am a recycler. Unfortunately my trash company only recycles cans and glass. It is torture throwing away plastic knowing it will be around forever. FOREVER. The good thing is I am really thinking about the packaging in which I buy things. Glass when I can and less handy single serve snacks. What are you doing to reduce, reuse, recycle?
7. At this very moment Lily is wearing her Dorothy costume and a gold wreath around her head, singing loudly in a microphone and playing her drum. It is a sight.
8. We are going home this weekend! I wonder how long it is going to take to get rid of the feeling that we are just on a really long vacation that will be over soon.
9. I have posted three things today. It is because I was organizing my desk area and my computer kept saying to me "Post! Post! Post! Post! Post!
10. I love the sound of my dishwasher in the evening as the kids are getting ready for bed. Weird as it is, I hope that becomes a soothing noise to them that will always remind them of home and growing up. Or maybe I am just in LOVE with having a dishwasher. :)

Overheard while we were driving in the car, trying to get home after getting lost while using the GPS, again.

(she was talking on her basket phone...you know, a basket up to her ear, acting as her phone)

"I'm sorry, I'm going to have to call you back. I'm confused. And this is really frustrating."

She may have heard this once or twice while driving in the car lately...

We're here

And so far so good. Still lots (and lots and lots) to do, but we are getting there. And we have GREAT neighbors. Seriously. We went on our first PA playdate with them at a park nearby and OH so beautiful and OH so fun. It has made the transition ever so slightly easier. So enough with that, how about some pictures?
The big tall tower...and a better picture this time. The living room...and yes, my books are organized by color :)
The piano side of the living room-all the boxes are my music books. Uh oh, no room...
and the kitchen from last night.
I will share pics of the kids rooms soon-want to get the pictures hung first :)
And don't worry, besides some terribly horrible non sleeping habits of these two, Bot Boy and Question Girl are doing just fine.
Both taken at the National Apple Fest that we went to this weekend :)
On the way back I said that we were almost home. Lily said "It's not home, it's just a house." Oh break my heart. But we are working on making it our home. One box at a time.

Last one for the road

Ohio
by Over the Rhine
Hello Ohio
The back roads
I know Ohio
Like the back of my hand
Alone Ohio
Where the river bends
And it's strange to see your story end
How I hate to see your story end
It's so sad to see your story end.

We will be back...

Ten on Tuesday

1. Seven more days in Ohio. Ohmygoodness.
2. Had a photo shoot yesterday...check here soon for a preview. All I can say is FUN.
3. Today Nonnie finally got to enjoy her birthday present, painting pottery with Lily and I. We had so much fun doing this. Took us about an hour and 15 minutes all said and done, and guess who was the last to stop? Yup, this girl. She LOVED it. Can't wait to see our finished products...in a week.
4. My eyes are killing me today. Boo.
5. We have something planned almost every minute of the last seven days. We are going to be very, very busy.
6. All I can say is Oh, oh, ooooohhhhh! Oh, oh, oooooooooohhhhh! And if you know what that means good for you. And if you don't, that's probably ok because you will just make fun of me for it anyway. Friday baby.
7. Did I mention that we are packing in the fun these days? Well we also went for ice cream. Yum. 8. All you Stow people out there be sure to join the "You know you are from Stow if..." group on Crackbook Facebook. It will CRACK. YOU. UP.
9. No really, my eyes really hurt.
10. And with that I leave you with this. She was singing to him :)

A good fortune

Cassie AND Missy both got this as their fortune last night at Hibachi Japan. A good fortune indeed.