OFFICIAL SOCCER MOM!

Natalie and Olivia are both playing soccer now. Last week was the first practice for each of them. They were supposed to have games Saturday, but the yucky weather caused a cancellation.

So, Natalie has soccer practice on Tuesdays, and Olivia has soccer practice on Thursdays. Parker wants to play so badly.

Natalie was so, so, so, so happy when she got dressed for her first soccer practice. If you remember, she wanted to play last year (actually the year before - when she was 4), and I kept missing the sign-up. She was all smiles and really thrilled to get in her gear and get out on the field. She did well during practice. I'm so glad she loves it. I was afraid it was just something that sounded fun to her but she wouldn't like it once she tried it. - I was wrong to worry!

Of course, Olivia likes it, because she's doing something that Natalie is doing. So, time will tell if Olivia truly loves soccer as Natalie seems to. I'm getting Olivia scheduled to talk with her doctor about getting braces for her legs, since she walks so pigeon-toed. Her right foot really turns in. It has always done that, but her pediatrician thought it would go away on its own earlier on. It's definitely a problem. It makes soccer more of a challenge for her. Ballet will be really difficult next fall, if we don't get her into some braces now to try to correct the problem.

So, here's a little video of Natalie warming up before her coach arrived at her first practice. She was giddy!

One more thing...

As an incentive...

I would post more often, if my readers would post more comments! It's encouraging to know my blog time is appreciated.

Promises, Promises...

I realize I promised another blog update before the weekend was over, but I never took the time to do it. The blog is just on the back burner for now. A lot of stuff is on the back burner.

I've been putting my business stuff to the side for a few weeks now, too. Other than answering some calls and a couple schedulings, I've been putting off working on some of the new senior stuff and a couple other things I need to do.

However....I've been accomplishing so much on my personal to-do list! It feels great!! I'm really focusing on the family side of things.

I WILL POST A BLOG WITH A PHOTO OR VIDEO LATER TONIGHT!

Natalie's Story

Here is the cute little story Natalie wrote (dictated to me) and illustrated for the Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. She wanted to enter the contest last year, but she was too young. This year, we almost missed the deadline. She was so excited to get to enter this year.

I looked at some of the winners and entries from the past year, and some of them really seem like parents were involved in the writing of the story. This story is straight from Natalie! I think it's actually a good little story.

Some other time, I'll blog about the drama of getting the entry in. I need to shut down the computer, probably, because of the lightning. I just got home and thought I'd better get this posted right away - since Ninny didn't believe I was actually going to post a blog (after such a long time without one)! I've been busy with projects, and I'll blog about them when I feel like taking the time.

More later this weekend.....Promise!

Lucky You!

Sorry for the long delay in a blog update. You'll have to wait even longer for a blog of any substance, because I simply don't feel like thinking as much as I need to for catching up on the blogs I want to include (like back from Valentine's, etc.).

So, here are some random photos to make up for it:

The Man called home today and requested a spice cake, so I put one together really quickly - deciding to throw in an homage to a big part of our heritage today. I didn't put together any kind of St. Patrick's Day party for the kids this year, because there's just too much going on right now.

I've been working on some big re-organization in the kitchen, and I'll probably post about it sometime. I've got a bunch more to do in other rooms to implement some of my new ideas. I'm on a roll...and, of course, having a ton of fun doing it, because I thrive on organization and planning, etc.

Pregnancy update on Miss Chicken: She didn't get pregnant at the time Olivia and Parker heard her "getting bit by a snake". However, she is pregnant and getting really big now. I think we've got 2-3 weeks left.

New toilet design in the guest bathroom - compliments of Olivia. She draws characters from The Happy Monster Band (Disney channel short show in the mornings). I didn't let her finish this design, but I can't bring myself to completely scrub it off, yet. It makes me smile every time I see it. There are a lot of people in the world who have lost children or are unable to have any and would love to have little scribbles all over their house.

Talk to the Foot.

Just a quick cute thing from yesterday that I just remembered:

We were all in the car, and the girls were kind of picking at each other about stuff (kind of serious and kind of just playing). Natalie put her foot up on the seat and said to Olivia, "Talk to the foot." (You know, like the "talk to the hand" thing.)

Olivia goes, "Hi, what's your name?"..."Oh, foot."..."Hi, foot. How are you?"..."Ok. Bye, foot." Everyone started giggling, and the "fighting" was over.

It was such a busy, running-here-and-there day today! My back is killing me, and I'm exhausted! Busy, busy day tomorrow with a session and an order appointment and some other stuff.

The weather was gorgeous today, and I'm hoping for the same tomorrow for my session with little Kolton - from the contest entry in February.

A handful that Natalie picked as soon as we got home from all of our errands (business and personal) today! At least they weren't weeds this time. I end up with lots of little glasses full of pretty weeds most of the time.

I just thought this was a sweet moment. She loves flowers and animals.

DISCLAIMER

Things are really, really busy for me right now (business) - until at least Sunday. So...probably no posts until then. I may get to a couple by Saturday night, but...no promises.

Because of a message I received after my last post about the product photography, I thought I should place a disclaimer here:

The images in the post below have not been edited (levels adjustments, contrast, color correction, etc.). They were not delivered to the client that way. When I said that I was thinking about leaving them as is and maybe not redoing the set up, I meant only the "set design" that I had done - the food props and how the light was hitting on the jars (not easy to light reflective jars properly, with them not looking flat or also not reflecting in the wrong place). Anyway, of course the images were enhanced, once I decided which ones would be delivered.

So, just in case a prospective client should happen upon this blog, they should know that was not the final "product" (pun intended) that I delivered to the client.

Maybe a quick, fun update with a photo or two before Sunday - but, don't hold me to it!

Product Photography

I know it's disappointing to keep looking for a blog and find nothing new, and I know a post without photos is not as fun. So, here you go:

I worked on some product photography all night long - until 6:00 a.m. this morning. I have to have it done this weekend.

This is a project for a small local company, and my first attempt at the project was a couple weeks ago, before I got sick. I did some test shots and sent them for review, and they liked my ideas. Then, I got sick and haven't had a chance to finish the project. I'm just ready to get it out of here.

When I worked on the test shots a couple weeks ago, I was really having fun, and I thought that I might want to work more on learning techniques for great food and product photography and maybe get into that a little. This time around, I didn't have my "assistant", whom I was calling "Spritzer Guy", since he was helping spritz water and give me assistance deciding how to place the accessories during the test shoot. Yesterday, "Spritzer Guy" got the flu that I had last weekend. So, I was working on the shoot by myself, and I was already really tired. Plus, I've just been depressed the past few days, so I wasn't in the right mood to work on it anyway. I just don't have a choice, since I have to have it done this weekend.

I may redo it all, but I need some time to review what I got and see what needs to be changed/improved. (I can see so many things wrong with it on my initial review.) Or, I may turn it in as is, because I undershot the commission, thinking it wouldn't be that much work to shoot a series of jars and spices. That was because the original request was just for a setup like with a saddle or just rustic look. I made more work for myself by proposing the food prep style that they decided they really liked. Also, I'm getting paid in ITEX dollars (the barter group thing I got suckered into - and that I'm canceling after the next project I have that I'm getting paid that way in April). So, I'm not technically making any cash for this project. I'm just over it. Maybe, I'll have a better outlook after I'm better rested.

Here are a few shots from last night/this morning: