a day in the life

Any May a Beautiful Change

Katherine, Elizabeth and I are beginning May in a whole new way this year by writing about a beautiful change in our lives. We are doing this to celebrate the release of Any Day a Beautiful Change. We have also invited many others to share personal stories of beautiful changes in their lives to get you in the memoir-reading mood. If you have a blog, won't you join us? You can link your post here and not only get a chance to celebrate the release of this wonderful book, but you will also be entered to win your very own copy. Won't you join us?

A beautiful change.

I love those words. A beautiful change. I feel like I have had many beautiful changes in my life-saying yes to the ring in the little white box; the moment I found out I was expecting my first child; my second; my third. These are the big moments. The moments filled with fireworks and a swelling orchestra. But any day can be a beautiful change. Not just the giant life changing events. One of my every day beautiful changes is coming. Soon. Actually on June 19th to be exact. I am finally getting an iPhone. Did you just laugh? Roll your eyes? Yes, perhaps that build-up was a bit over-dramatic, but so has my journey to get this little piece of technology. I have waited five years for this phone. Almost five years to the day. It has been a long wait.

So why do I predict this will be a beautiful change? I will take more photos. Yes, I take so many photos already…but not always photos of the every day moments. Checking on the boys to see the boys laughing hysterically at one another in the toy box. A self portrait of Lillian and I while we wait for dance to begin. I won't always have to lug around that big camera. I will start Project Life.

I will tell Siri to remind me to put dinner in the crock pot. Or that we are out of toothpaste, or milk.

I will play Words with Friends when waiting in the doctor's office.

I will entertain my children with spelling apps, Angry Birds, and Scribblenauts.

I realize my frustration over my broken "r" or my spotty reception, or the fact that my phone freezes up at least ten times a day is really inconsequential in the long run…but if you know me, you will know my current mantra "June 19. June 19."

Any day a beautiful change. No matter how small. iCannotwait.

Would you like to read about more beautiful changes? With eloquent and poignant writing? Beautiful stories and hilarious moments? Then you should read Any Day a Beautiful Change by Katherine Willis Pershey. There will be several opportunities to win a copy of Any Day a Beautiful Change; until May 10th you can leave a comment on Elizabeth's blog for a chance to win!

12 | 12 | 12

Once again the 12th came around on a Thursday, which is officially my busiest, craziest day of the week. I remind myself that preschool M-TH is only going to add to that craziness next year. And, Jack and I are going to miss Charlie like CRAZY.
1. Apparently Mick Jagger's favorite new place to play is in the toybox. Don't ask me why he is unzipped like that, but I think it may have something to do with Charlie as when I sent him upstairs to get dressed, his jammies were the same. Weirdo boys.
2. Ahhhhh-haircut! While the during is fairly awful and horrible, the after is much better (although I will miss those curls.) After the cut we stopped by to hang out with Grandpa and play a little hide and seek around Great Grandma Watson's chair.
3. Bj was home today with a horrible case of bronchitis. Now there is "man sick" and there is "wow are you being stabbed in the chest every time you cough" sick. He had the latter. Smoothies make everything better right?
4. After naptime. My goodness you are handsome Jackson.
5. And, your tiny feet are also very chubby. And the crib is dirty. Hey, it has been used almost non-stop for 6 1/2 years.
6. Driving again. Let me just recap. Drove to Charlie's school to pick him up. Got a smoothie. Back home. Drove to get Jack's haircut. Drove to M&D's house. Picked up Charlie. Home. Drove Lillian to dance. Drove home. Went back to pick up Lillian. Drove home. Drove to Cassie's house. Drove home. Lots of driving...
7. We actually arrived early and had time to stop next door to pick up a new skirt for Lillian (50% off, whoo hoo) and just hang for a moment before class. I love that she finally gets to take dance here. Makes me very, very happy.
8. Well bighugelabs cut it off, but goodness did I have Charlie laughing hysterically after I asked if I could take his photo. He is a bit INYOURFACE during photo time.
9. And again, laughing hysterically. I kept yelling at him NOT to look at the camera. He either thinks I am crazy or hasn't caught on to reverse psychology yet.
10. This is Lillian's "WHY are you taking my picture AGAIN" face. Because your Aunt Elizabeth said I had to honey. Now smile.
11. Thank you.
12. And me. After all that running around. Of course I looked this refreshed after a long day. Or perhaps I use a bit of Fotoshop by Adobe'. Perhaps. Just keeping it real here folks. Don't think I even had time to shower that morning...

12 | 12 | 12

This did not go as planned. I woke up on the 12th excited for another new day of photos. I planned some shots, took some candids, concentrated on how lucky I am. Got a shot of Jack that was just perfect-he was looking out the window at the trash truck. Kinda looked like he was going to break through the window with the toy in his hand.

But.

They are gone. Somehow I lost every photo I took on March 12. I don't know how. I have the surrounding days. Didn't lose anything else, but somehow, they just disappeared. Even that perfect one of Jack. So I had to do something different this month. I just chose 12 photos that I loved. And although I am really (really, really) sad I lost those photos, I love the photos here. They are a true picture of our busy month.
1. Lillian lost her second tooth. 2. I got new studio lights in the hopes of next year doing some pre-school photos for the schools. Charlie was my first subject. 3. We took some fun shots in preparation for his Superhero birthday celebration. I think he looks quite hero like, don't you? 4. One of my favorite shots of Lillian ever. It is SO hard to get her real personality and smile in the camera. But this is it. 5. And here is Jack's serious face. NOT hard to capture as he really is quite a serious baby. Until he isn't. 6. Shuffle, thump. Shuffle, thump. 7. I gave Jack a spoon for the first time. It went as to be expected. 8. An excited little birthday boy. The party was a success I think, except for the poor sister who was suffering from a sad tummy. 9. I got to go to a wonderful and rare event. My grandfather was inducted into the Ashtabula Basketball Hall of Fame, posthumously. And my mother was the one who got to speak for him. I know she was nervous, but her speech was perfect and touching and made me so proud. 10. Cupcakes, cake balls, gluten free cupcakes, gluten free cake balls, and one last birthday cake for the birthday boy. Let's just say this is my fanciest and least "wrecked" cake I have ever decorated. It is just not my speciality. 11. After all the brother celebrations I thought it would be nice to take Lillian to see Mirror, Mirror with some friends. Before hand we stopped for a few photos. Not natural, but I love her laugh. 12. I even managed to get my monthly self portrait in. Just before the movie. Me and my girl.

Not how I planned it, but still, a month documented. Perhaps they will turn up in my computer somewhere. I hope...

Weekend recap

This weekend was a good one. A really good one. Friday we went out with friends for sushi (lots and lots of sushi.) Lots of laughs, lots of driving (ha) and lots of sushi. I even managed to almost recreate my beloved V8 roll. By the end of the year I have decided I will be a sushi master and just make it at home any time I have the craving.

Saturday morning started with a lovely sleep-in. Until 9am. Yes, my standards may have changed, but it really was lovely. When we got the day started, I did laundry, cleaned, researched my new lights and got some shots with the bigs. LOVE my new lights. Preschool pictures here I come!

Saturday evening we got out the old whirly pop, invited over Nonnie and Grandpa, and had popcorn (with M&M's) and watched Oceans. And laughed about how Beverly's husband is a retired museum. And a professor. Kids to bed, me to my studio to work some more on a very cool assignment for WCS going up Wednesday! and Bj (or WILLIAM as he may or may not want to be called now) over to Nerd McGeek's Game Emporium. After I finished for the night, and shared finished projects with Jess as Jess shared finished projects with me (cause she is all crafty like now) I watched Water for Elephants. I loved it. Though I did not mean to stay up so late (and even later due to the time change) to watch it. Oops.

Today was church in the morning followed by lunch, park for the bigs, me scrapping to some great music, quest to find Charlie's new big boy bed (score of $29.99 off of $90, yes please, thank you very much) and home for a bit more playtime outside, crockpot lasagna with Mor Mor, and even more playtime outside. Lillian and I played a bit of softball-hitting, amazing. Throwing, laughter inducing.

All in all, an awesome weekend.

Short Letters

Dear Nick Jr.
I really wish you would bring back Jack's Big Music show. Jon Stewart and Andrew Bird as special guests? Of course it was totally cool.

Dear Whitney,
I'm still sad. Thanks for motivating me during my workout today.

Dear Amazon,
You rock and so does your pre-sale. You are going to make my husband a very, very happy man-one day early, as we will be cracking open Game of Thrones TONIGHT instead of tomorrow on its official release date. Bonus, only had to lie to unsuspecting husband for ONE day instead of two after he asked if he could buy it tomorrow. Sorry, honey, not right now. OH YEAH.

Dear Lillian,
I'm very sorry I did this to you. We knew this day would come, but I was really hoping it would be much later. Looks like I will be scheduling your eye doctor appointment tomorrow. *sigh*

Dear Me,
Why, oh WHY did you read Knuffle Bunny Free IN PUBLIC, AGAIN? You know how it goes. The story hasn't changed. And neither has your very public tear wiping. Could you maybe not do that again? Thanks.

Dear Cancer,
You suck.

Dear Charlie,
Three naps in less than a week? Should I be worried?

Dear Jack,
I am not trying to be insensitive, really, I'm not, but the ear piercing siren cry you are now producing at any time of day? Let's just say a regular cry will get the same results. I will come get you. Promise.

love,
Marie/Mama

Ten on Tuesday

1. Finally, yes FINALLY, Jack is starting to clap. He has always been a foot kicker when he is happy, and I was beginning to worry, but today Charlie came running in the room and said "Mama! Mama! Jack is CLAPPING!"
2. Speaking of Charlie, he is less than a month away from four. The past two weeks I have seen a huge change in him. Yes, we still have some three-year-old fits, but less and less often. He is taller. He is more descriptive. He is super fun.
3. Speaking of older, a few days ago Lillian turned 6 1/2. That's right, 6 1 2. My favorite age. Hee hee. I am a crazy person.
4. Speaking of crazy, anyone else tired of this crazy winter? We have had two straight weeks of a horrible virus-Lillian being its latest victim. Give me a solid cold snowy winter any day if it means we don't have this up and down weather of sick. Thank goodness it is the end of February and spring is almost here.
5. And speaking of the end of February, it is a Leap Year. SO happy that I saw on the Ella blog about doing a Leap Year time capsule to be opened in four years. AWESOME and totally doing it. How fun is that. I plan on taking lots of photos, listing some things about the kids, and Lillian and I are going to look some stuff up (as yes, she will be home again tomorrow I'm afraid.)
6. Speaking of photos, I have a mini book due in a few weeks and can't decide what the topic should be. So, dear readers (if there are any left because wow still not blogging as much as I should!) what are some mini book ideas you have planned?
7. Speaking of big decisions, I have a big one to make. Sometimes I don't mind, but this one is just really annoying. Grrrrr
8. Speaking of grrrr..nope got nothing.
9. As I am running out of things to day, I will just show you a picture. Of me. Right now. My studio with my growing favorite photos wall, my new necklace from Charming Charlie (LOVE) and my hair that already needs to be cut...
10. And now for my last thoughts. Yesterday there was a shooting at a high school in the area. A friend from college is actually the choir director there. As of now three of the five students shot have died from their injuries. I can't help but think back to last year where Lillian's school not only allowed, but exposed the entire student body to guns in the school. This is a very stark reminder that it is never ok to bring guns into school. Never. We need to tell our kids if they ever hear about a gun, or see a gun to report it immediately. I am still processing exactly how to talk to Lillian about this, as while I think it is important, I do not want to bring up the other details of that project with her. But just as she corrects anyone who says the word "stupid, hate, or dumb," I hope she will immediately report anyone who has a weapon. My thoughts are with all of Chardon, and all the families affected by this tragedy.

12|12|12

As I was talking to Jess on the eve of the 12, she mentioned she was going to take a photo every hour for 12 hours. Brilliant, I thought. And it just so happens that I had about the busiest day ever. So here they are-12 hours in my day.
1. Breakfast with Charlie, and probably my favorite photo of him ever. He was looking at me with that sweet smile. 2. Talk about sweet smiles, Jack with Nonnie while dropping him off at the grandparent's house. 3. Charlie in the middle of getting out of the car saw me with my camera and said take a picture of me NOW Mama! Well, when you look this sweet, I am happy to oblige. 4. Volunteering at Lillian's school 5. Quick trip back to pick Charlie up from school, then back to Nonnie and Grandpa's house for lunch-sadly bighugelabs cut off Grandpa's pirate eye.  6. Sitting for a moment to drink my Dr Pepper and put a few words in my game with Jess. (I am winning-she only wins when I accidentally give up-hahahaha) 7. Either like mother like daughter, or like Aunt Katherine like niece Lillian. I found this Ariel while going through one of my old boxes and it just so happens Lillian has been making all the Muppets and now Tinkerbell fairies just like this. I must say though, I think Lillian's is brilliantly done. 8. Almost every day Lillian gets off the bus this excited, runs up the driveway, arms extended, ready to tell me about her day. It is awesome. 9. Originally I thought this was Lillian practicing piano in her dance clothes (yes I need a new piano light) but when I was editing, I noticed this photo is something more about the awe of a younger sibling. Did you catch it? 10. Dance class! 11. Dinner with the boys (Jack was laughing) 12. I have decided in an attempt to get more photos of me, I will be included every month (blurry and all...VERY small bathroom) I was all ready to go out to my first MOMS Night Out in Ohio.

So yeah, this was a very busy day! (Oh and dear spellcheck, I believe it is officially time for Muppets to be included in the dictionary...)

Hello, goodbye; More or less.

This was a year of hellos and goodbyes.

Bj: Goodbye to being gone every week. Hello to going to an office everyday. Goodbye to car allowance. Hello to best friends, game nights, family and old friends. Goodbye to Football on the computer. Hello to games on TV.

Marie: Goodbye to dear friends in PA and more distance between the friend in DE. Hello to dear friends in Ohio, family, trips to see brand new babies, and familiar streets. Goodbye to photography business in PA with families I have watched grow through the years. Hello to growing a business here.

Lillian: Goodbye to dear friend I, Uga, and a bedroom in a tower. Hello dear friend Maya, fabulous school, dance and piano, family and new friends.

Charlie: Goodbye to Logan and London and Hank. Hello to Laney and all the trouble I'm sure the two of you will get into together. Goodbye to the only place you knew as home. Hello to a place that will become your home.

Jack: Hello world. Jack will be one tomorrow. I will not have a baby. A toddler. A toddler with personality. One starting to stand. With FOUR teeth-a record for my babies. An eater. A laugher. A Houdini. I am trying hard to look forward to the new toddler-dome, trying not to be sad that my babies are not going to be my babies for much longer. But that doesn't mean I didn't hold him extra tight and give him a few extra kisses as I put him in bed tonight, on the eve of the New Year and the eve of his birth. My baby...

This year my word(s) are more and less. I will be saying to myself all year, Do we need more of this or less. More reading, less stuff. More activities? Less time committements? We may have to make some tough decisions, but I think more or less will help us in our crazy three children busy lives. More...or less.

Midweek Miscellany

Taking a page from Katherine and as 1. I haven't blogged in forever (again) and 2. I missed Tuesday (again) I will now share some random things off the top of my head.

1. Charlie calls puddles, "cuddles." I believe that is the absolute cutest "mistake" I have ever heard. I will be very sad when that one stops.
2. The thunder was so stinkin' loud last night it scared the c*** out of me. Yet all of my children slept through it. HOW is that possible?
3. This year the children were supposed to go as The Incredibles for Halloween. Well. Somehow (still haven't figured this one out) my drugstore.com account switched over to Bj's account and Lily's Violet costume was sent off to Chambersburg. It arrived on the doorstep of our old house on October 6. Apparently those lovely people have decided to KEEP IT. I will keep you posted if they decide to do the right thing.
4. Today I went into a bit of a design freakout mode, needing two quicky projects done. That being said, I am quite happy with how this one turned out.
So anyone need a headshot?
5. I am working very hard to figure out a way to get around my EIGHT MONTH wait to get an iphone. Anyone happen to have an upgrade they don't need for Verizon? I would be forever grateful.
6. I think it is safe to say that it is raining CATS AND DOGS outside. Why yes, I did yell that for emphasis.
7. This kid... at his 9 month check-up was a POUND lighter and in INCH shorter than his older brother was at this age. I was shocked. I must also say that this cute face did not make an appearance today. It was a l o n g day around here due to his cold? Teething? Being held? Not being held? You get the idea.
8. I am going to start reading Raising Your Spirited Child tonight. And I am going to cross my fingers it helps me with my spirited child.
9. Yesterday I discovered that mousse actually makes my hair look horrible. Let's see. I have been using mousse since I am going to say 6th grade. So it only took me aproximately 22 years to figure that one out.
10. Not that I am wishing time away because really, I CANNOT BELIEVE tomorrow is Thursday, just as I have that shocking revelation every week, but I am so super excited to decorate my house for Christmas this year. I know exactly where the stockings will be hung, where the Christmas tree will go, what the front porch will look like and I am chomping at the bit to decorate. I think part of my happiness and excitement is because this year I will not be 8.5 months pregnant, and I WILL. NOT. have stomach flu on Christmas Day.

This weekend

1. I got almost all the laundry done. AND PUT AWAY.
2. Went out on a really fun date night.
3. Finished editing another session.
4. Almost done editing the next.
5. Had a very cold photo shoot (where we embraced the rain.)
6. Baked two pumpkin pies. There is still a little left.
7. Hosted a little Fall Festival.
8. Finished one one, but TWO projects I pinned on Pinterest.
9. Organized all my coupons in PAGE PROTECTORS.
10. Decorated for Halloween.
11. Hung a photo collage up the stairs.
12. Organized the hall closet.
13. Helped Lily with her homework.
14. Blogged :)