My New Bathroom

Finally some photos of the bathroom. The 'before' photos are located here. Even this ugly blueish green drywall is better than that monstrosity.
While Austin is in Germany next week I will be mudding priming and painting. He tells me that everything has to be done before he can bring up the washer and dryer. My goal is to have it so that all that needs done when he gets home is to put in the floor. We will have to see just how cooperative Mason is next week.

Yes, it is very green!!

This is the same tile that is going to go on the floor.
The wonderful light for the shower.
I am not sure why Hyde is in the tub.

The pocket door.
The pocket door again.
And again the pocket door.
We have to invest in an adjustable shower head because this one is so tall that I have to have a plastic glass to wash my hair.
This is where my washer and dryer will be stacked. I absolutely cannot wait to get them in the bathroom and working. Unfortunately that won't be until we are done painting and the tile is laid.

My New Camera

I was at the limits of what I could do with my old camera here. It is a Nikon D60, it came with a 18-55 mm VR lens, extra battery, card reader, 55-200 mm VR lens and a camera bag. I think my husband was just as excited as me. Incidentally he got to take the first photos with my camera. He is such a brat. I truly didn't mind;) He has promised to pay me later. I no longer have to worry about him breaking the camera when he takes it overseas. He will now take the Panasonic DMC-TZ3.

I will turn 28 this year and have finally decided what I want to do with my life. I know most people are already doing what they want to do, but not me. I worked to put my husband through school and so I didn't really think about what I wanted to do because I couldn't do anything about it anyways. After he graduated we moved, to Cincinnati OH/New Trenton IN, for a year before moving back to the central Iowa vicinity. We bought our house, #2 for us, and found out just a couple months after moving in that we were pregnant. So I have been raising our son.

It was always the plan for me to go to college after he graduated but we moved, bought a house, and I hated being so far from family so we moved back, bought another house and had a baby. You will notice that I never we sold the other house. That is because we haven't yet. It isn't that we don't want to it is just that it hasn't yet.

So for the last 2 years it has been "well, when the house sells" that I would go to college. Well I got tired of waiting. This spring I am going to start the photography program down at DMACC. It will be in the evenings as much as possible. That way Austin can take care of Mason. The unfortunate part is that all but one of the classes is held at the Ankeny campus. That is over an hour from my house.

I figure I'm not getting any younger. Incidentally Austin and I have decided to start trying to make our family bigger. I know it won't happen anytime soon. I mean after all it took us almost 5 years to get Mason. For the time being we will just have fun trying.

Here are photos of my new camera.

8 INCHES...

I thought it was time for a change. I was unable to wear my hair up any longer because of the weight. As anyone that has ever had long knows it is just so much work and can get soo heavy that it can cause migranes and other pains.
8 inches later and I love it. I had forgotten how much hair I actually have until I went to curl it for a wedding saturday night. It just kinda poofed out at the bottom. I might need to go get it layed very slightly at the bottom. (I'll post a better after picture later.)

Mason's first Hair Cut!!

My baby boy no longer looks like a baby. Mason got his hair cut this last Friday.

Here is a before picture with my little sister Cameron. (We call her Cammie or Aunt Mimi)

Now some 'during' photos. Aunt Mimi was holding him so that I could take pictures.

He is starting to get upset.

Ohh! Lets bribe him with a hair clip.
No help for it he is just going to get to be upset.

I took over holding him from here and things went much smoother.

After: Doesn't he look so much older.

MOPS!!

MOPS starts today and I'm so excited. I don't know what I'm looking forward to most: the 2 hours away from Mason, the fellowship, 2 hours babyfree, friendships, did I mention a whole 2 hours away from Mason, food. I think it is a toss up. I have waited patiently all summer. A big feat for me.
This year I am doing the newsletter. I have a feeling this will get to be more of a chore than anything. I have made my template so all I have to do is change the articles out... maybe... I mean really how many people actually read the newsletter.
After MOPS Mason and I are going to make a quick pit stop at home and then we are going to my mom and dad's. We have a very busy weekend planned. Hopefully We will be home by Tuesday.
Austin asked if I was going to drag it out another day and I could honestly tell him no this time. See... I ordered a new camera and it should be here tomorrow... so I want to get home and play with it. Since he refuses to put it in his backpack when he drives the motorcycle to go to grandma and grandpa's this weekend.
I know! What a brat. Even though I am taking his clothes with me. Good thing I love him or this could be a grievous offense. I think I will forget his underwear. That should show him. I mean really I made his lunch today ,without the spit mind you, the least he could do is bring my camera down with him.
Anyways... so I off to go switch my clothes over. Somehow in the bathroom renovations laundry has gotten messed up and I'm of schedule and ran out of underwear for me. Let me rephrase that. I cannot find almost all my underwear. Out of 30 pairs I can find exactly 4. That's right 4. So instead of being able to do my laundry once a week it feels like I am doing my laundry everyday. Not good when you have snakes in your basement. I have no clue where they went but I have my suspicions that Austin does. He has found this oh so hilarious.
I just keep telling myself that 2 weeks and my washer and dryer will be upstairs. I know I live in a dream world.

It's Tuesday!!

How did that happen? Where did my weekend go? That's right. It was spent working on the bathroom and other stuff.
So it is Tuesday and I am not done with the newsletter for MOPS on Thursday. I really should be finishing that instead of what I am doing but who really cares.
Mason has made it impossible to do anything. I have caught him licking the dog 4 times today. 4 times!! I have no clue why he would want to lick the dog. Totally gross!!
Tomorrow I will be posting the paint color we I decided on. Austin may not like it but I LOVE it.
So for now I am off to finish my newsletter. Any MOPS members in the North Central division of Iowa should come to the North Central Conference held in Webster City at Asbury Methodist. I know I'll be there. There was even some talk of us steer team leaders wearing some kind of crazy hat but I think I will put an ax to that. It should be a fun time anyways.

How Do I...

I know how to get the dog to stop licking the kid but how do I get the kid to stop licking the dog?
I would really like to know the answer to this.

It's Real Life- How I Roll

It's time for It's Real Life over at Farm Fresh. This weeks theme is How I Roll.

The rule is to not prep for these photos. You know REAL life. Well my car is a disaster because my husband has been driving it. I can't even get him to pick up his dirty clothes from the bathroom floor. What would make me think I could get him to get his trash out of my car. Therefore my car is a mess but I didn't clean it for these photos. So this is HOW I ROLL.

The front view. It rained today or it would look way worse.

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Side view. We live on river rock gravel. This is the cleanest I have seen my car in a while.
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Back view. Most of the time you can't see the Chrysler or 300 for all the dirt.

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Yes I am hoping to see this turn over 200,000. I am cheap and cars are expensive!
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Gum, a dollar and a Hy-Vee receipt. You never know when you are going to need a dollar. The gum is so that my husband will never know when I sneak a cig.

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I just liked this little flip flop. I wasn't crazy about the smell so I let it hang from the BBQ grill outside until all the smell was gone.

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My cute little plaid purse that carries one diaper, a Ziploc baggie with wipes, a folder with my MOPS publicity papers, a notebook, one lighter, and a pack of cigs, for those days when my husband nuts. Occasionally it will also carry my check book.

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My radar detector. Never leave home without it. It truly has saved me hundreds times.
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Mason's car seat. We don't leave the drive without Alo the buffalo being on his lap. The little yellow fish he got from the Farm Progress Show. I need to get him turned back to rear facing it was just soooo hooootttt. The sun would beat right on him and no air conditioning would reach him. Every time I would take him out he would be dripping wet.

We are going to keep him rear facing hopefully for the whole winter because it is so much safer.
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Another of Mason's toys. This sits right behind my seat. Makes it easy to reach.

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Mason's stroller. Papers from the Farm Progress Show. 3 gallons of water that needed taken inside. (I did go ahead and take them in after taking photos) The license plate and the crazy colored book are my sisters that I keep forgetting to drop off at her house when I see her.

To the very right is a red object. It is my ice scrapper. I know it is August in Iowa but realistically we could be using this in 6 weeks. Scary thought for all the Iowans out there.

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Again it rained today. Otherwise this is how my whole car would look.
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Mason's cowboy hat from the Rodeo.

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This is what I drive when Austin drives my car and I have MOPS.

Now don't anybody get jealous.

Yes it is John Deere green.

We paid $650 for it 3 years ago. It gets me from point A to point B.

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I wouldn't mind driving it if it didn't have this stack. Yes ladies a stack. With a tractor flapper. For crying out loud a tractor flapper. Not to mention the 75 gallon fuel tank in the bed.

It truly is an embarrassment and Mason loves it. Good thing because it is probably going to be his first vehicle.
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She sure is a beauty!! Especially all the dog pee on the tires. Really who wouldn't want to own this truck.

Farm Progress Show

Yesterday Austin, Mason and I went to the Farm Progress Show. It was so big with so many people. There is no way one person could see everything in one day.
Mason did surprising well. He now likes to yell to get people's attention. We were walking thru the varied industries building and he is just yelling. People would turn around and smile at him so he would smile back. As soon as that person looked away he would start yelling again.
Mason was good and Austin misbehaved. A husband misbehaving is much more embarrasing than your child being naughty. It was a farm show so there was a lot of women. Let me rephrase that a lot of farm wives and I could just hear them "Well I never. How can she let her husband behave that way. Doesn't she have him trained?" It wouldn't have been as embarrasing but there were several people around that I knew. I am almost afraid to go to the store now because I know I will get looks. Maybe I will just refuse to go and make Austin.
We got there early, around 9. I know you would think living only about 15 minutes from there we could have been there earlier but nope. Didn't happen.
We parked in row 12 so we weren't that far from the gates. Stupid state patrol blocked the quickest way home too. I don't know if they were worried about people parking on the railroad tracks or what but they closed about 6 miles of highway 17 north of the show. Austin and I had to turn around and go clear into Boone to get home. Believe it or not it was a whole lot quicker than having to go clear into Ames and then north. O'well. We got over it. Well at least I did.
Mason and I only got a little bit sun burned. Mason today is just a nice golden color while I am still pink. I won't be tan until tomorrow.
We got home about 3 and then did nothing all afternoon. Austin didn't start working on the bathroom until right before supper. I think just so that he can say he worked on it.
I am just glad we went yesterday and not today. We only got about half an inch of rain but that is enough to turn the Farm Progress Show into a mud pit.

Monday!!! How?

This past weekend went way too fast!! Saturday we slept in not very late put later than normal anyways.
Cameron and Marianne and their families were up to Des Moines to go to Adventureland. I hadn't planned on going but I was going to be down in Ankeny anyways to go to The Home Depot to pick up the stacking kit for my washer and dryer so I decided to take Mason and go also. It was fun. Long but fun.
Mason and I got down there about 2:30 and we finally left the park at 9:45. Mason was wonderful. He never cried or fussed. He did get a little scared of the raft ride. I was so glad I took two extra outfits for him. We sure used them. We had only been there for about 40 minutes when he spilled cherry icee all over the front of him and after the raft ride because we were all drenched.

We got home very late but Austin wasn't mad because he gets more done while we are gone. I think he was just happy knowing we were going to be coming home that night and it isn't like when I go down to my mom and dads and am always a day late in getting home.



Sunday Austin let me sleep in. He got up with Mason at 7:30 and I don't remember anything else until 9:30. I never sleep that late. Never!! Not even growing up or before Mason was born. I am one of those annoying morning people. No coffee needed.

After I rolled my lazy butt out of bed we did literally nothing. Well I take that back we did hang up a couple little pieces of drywall. Then we went to Wal-Mart and got stuff for the fresh water fish tank. Right when we got back from there we went to a friends house for supper. We will be outnumbered in November when we all get together because Jess is having a little one. For the moment it just feels like we are outnumbered. So after a very noisy supper we had to stop at Wal-Mart again on the way home because naturally we can't remember to get everything in one trip and forgot something.

We finally made it home about 9. We were literally both in bed before 10.

Finally...

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Mason talks all day. Just a constant chatter. When it gets quite I worry. Like with this last illness he didn't make a sound and it was just weird.
Mason was helping with laundry by taking clothes out of basket and making his own piles. He was also quite helpful by getting all his toys out of the ball pit and throwing them all over the room.
After Mason went to bed I was able to fold clothes and put away toys so that I could go to bed with a clean house. I even got to vaccuum thanks to the for dog tearing the stuffing out of one of his ducks.
I have decided that I could use a day off. A whole day where I didn't have to worry about if the baby was gettng changed and fed or if the dog was being let outside and fed or if my husband had on the right jeans for work. A day where I didn't have to go to the store or remind hubby to buy milk. A whole day where I didn't have to open the fridge and decide what was for supper. Maybe in about 17 years I will get one of those days. Maybe...

hmmm...

So much to blog about so little time.

The bathroom is coming along nicely. I have been taking photos since the beginning and will get around to posting some soon. I promise.

I think I have decided on a color. Ponytail by Dutchboy. It is a warm sandy color. I found a green I absolutely love called Happy Camper by Behr but it wouldn't go with my Americana stuff. So for now I will keep it a neutral color and maybe in a couple of years change it. After all paint is cheap. It is the so called free labor I pay through the nose for. Austin is always reminding me about something nice he has done for me. I love him that should be all the payment he needs.

Funny note because I am sick like this: Austin put his knee through the ceiling in the bathroom while putting a light in. I knew he would end up putting some part of his body through at some point. No I wouldn't have thought it so funny if he had actually gotten hurt or if we already had the drywall up and he put his knee through it. He actually lied to me and told me he didn't when I could plainly see the spot where his knee had come through. Incidentally shaped like his knee. He was afraid I was going to make him come down and put ice on it. Well I figure he is 26 and it will be his own fault if he can't move it in the morning. And yes I will laugh then also.

Austin's mother is trying really hard to talk to me. She has been trying to send me an e-mail everyday.

Truthfully I rather liked it before when I wouldn't hear from them for weeks at a time. Made my life a whole lot more uncomplicated. At least she is making an effort now to get to know me, know me. I think it is about time Austin and I have only been married for what 8 years.

Austin tells me it is because she doesn't know whether to believe Raquel on a couple of things so she figures what better way to figure out the truth than by talking to me everyday. It doesn't matter to me. It truthfully doesn't take that long to send a reply to e-mail. It is much easier to sound interested in e-mail also. Over the phone it is hard to disguise your voice to interested. I get caught all the time. Some people just don't appreciate good sarcasm.

Mason is getting his first hair cut the first weekend of September. I have a wedding to go to in Tabor so I will also be getting my hair cut. I can't wait. I think I have decided to go short. I just haven't decided how short. I am thinking below shoulders to begin with and if I decide to go shorter then I can do that the next time I go down home. My hair grows fast enough that I don't have to worry about going too short. I haven't decided on bangs yet or not. So many decisions so little time. I also have to decide if I want layers and to get my hair thinned. Now that most of the post pregnancy hair loss hair has grown back I have way way too much hair and it gives my migraines to wear it in ponytail all the time. To tell the truth I will probably tell Val to do whatever she wants with it. I truly don't care.

Austin always ask why I drive 3 hours to get my hair cut. Well quite honestly because I know I'm going to get a good cut and because I will already be down there seeing my family. So I guess I really don't drive 3 hours to get my hair cut I really only drive 5 minutes.

When I go to people up here I never know what kind of cut I will end up with. When I leave the salon I want to be able to go home and straighten my hair and have it look good. Nice and even with no stragglers. Up home it is a crapshoot. I went a whole year without having to pay for a hair cut. I actually had women that would go on break as soon as they saw me come in. Chickens!! I never actually yelled at them. I would go home and straighten my hair and come back in and show them how uneven it was.

I know why go somewhere where the cut will suck. Well my hair grows on average a little over an inch every month so it won't look horrible for too long and... well... its free. I don't have to worry about that in Tabor and it cost about half of one in Ames. I cheated and cut it myself yesterday. Just the bang area and into the left side because it grows so much faster than the rest. It was driving me crazy.

Well I think I have blabbered on enough for tonight. Mason gets up way too early. It is like he knows the nights I don't go to bed until late. Tomorrow I will tell you all about my day home with Austin. I know everyone just loves those post.

Lunch

Yesterday I went to lunch with Princess Hateful's Raquel's step-daughter Amanda. We had a lovely time. She is so excited about the baby and just getting married. We laughed and laughed. Mason flirted with the server. Every time she came over he gave her a french fry. It was so cute.
The topic of Raquel only came up one time. Hard to believe, I know, but we had better things to talk about than that hateful snob.
Jokingly on the way out the door of the restaurant I said "Maybe we should invite Raquel next time just to piss her off." Amanda looked at me like I was the devil. It was too funny.

I Just Love....

my husband. I just thought everyone should know. That way when it comes out that I have killed him everyone can say "But she loved him so much. If only he hadn't been such a dumbass."
Needless to say he is driving me crazy. He will not stop putting his supplies in the middle of my kitchen. Isn't it enough that I have allowed him to take over my dining room with all his tools and supplies. I think it is.

Huh?

Well last post I wrote that it had been a year since I had my gallbladder taken out and that I hadn't even had any heartburn since then.
Well all day Saturday I had a horrible case of heartburn.
I couldn't believe it.
Thankfully I never throw anything away and had some tums stashed in my car and believe it or not in the diaper bag band aid box.
They might have been old but they still worked.

Iowa State Fair - U GOTTA LOVE IT!!

Well I might not be going to Amanda's baby shower/wedding reception but I am going to the State Fair on Saturday. I don't care if we get anyone sick down there. Not that we should. I don't let strangers hold my baby. I'm not crazy!!
I am excited! I love going to the fair! This year we should have much more interaction out of Mason. Last year he was just a tiny baby and slept the whole time. This year I should also be able to eat whatever I want. Last year I had to be careful because I was having gallbladder attacks. Tomorrow is actually one year since I had it taken out. I haven't even had heartburn since then.
We are leaving really early in the morning. Probably around 6. The grounds open at 7 but buildings don't open until 9. If we leave at 6 that will put us there around 8 by the time we deal with the traffic and find parking.

Hateful Sneaky People

Well I have had quite the week. Let me start off by saying that I have done nothing wrong. Now that I've said that let me start with a little background.

Austin has this sister named Princess Hateful Raquel. Raquel got married in November to a man who is 36,Dan, and has a 19 year old daughter, Amanda. (Do the math it is important for later) Well in February Amanda announces she is pregnant. That would make Raquel a soon to be 28 year old step-grandma. We will just say that Princess Hateful Raquel did not take this very good. (I thought is was quite hilarious)

Dan and Raquel tired to convince Amanda to give the baby up for adoption. Naturally Amanda didn't want to. (This is where the math comes in.) Amanda is hurt by this because they keep bringing it up and she has told them that she absolutely will not be giving her baby up. This really angers Raquel because she is used to getting what she wants when she wants. In the meantime Amanda and her boyfriend, Kevin, are making plans to get married getting stuff around for baby and going on with life. Raquel is stewing mad. Calls to complain to her parents (don't worry they come into play also) and starts telling lies about Kevin.

Amanda not getting much support from Dad and having no friends who have had babies contacts me over myspace and we have been talking about the baby and only the baby. Raquel had not been mentioned until the topic of the baby shower came up. (more on that later) I would also like to point out that I have been talking to Amanda since around the time of the wedding.

So now we can fast forward to the end of July. Amanda is having a baby shower thrown for her by her mom. I was invited because I am more friend than step-mothers family. Raquel was also invited along with Dan because they are having a dual purpose shower. Amanda is getting married this afternoon so the shower will be a baby shower wedding reception in one.

Dan and Raquel are not going!

Dan is already missing the nuptials and now the reception. Why you might ask. Well because his new wife doesn't want to go.

So I had already told Amanda that I would go and Raquel was mad. So now she has been calling her mom and dad and telling them all these bad things about Kevin and got them all worried that I was going to take my son with me to this shower.

Well Robin, MIL, talked to Austin at work and told him all this stuff that Raquel had told her and asked him if he was aware that I was going to take his son with me to the shower and that she didn't think it was a very good idea. Mind you she expected him to come home and just put his foot down and tell me I wasn't going and that I sure wasn't going to take his son with me. Anyone that knows me knows that is not how things work in my marriage. I believe there is too much respect between us to think one could control the other. Austin told her that he trust me and doesn't trust Raquel as far as he can throw her. That he doesn't believe half of the stuff out of her mouth because we have caught her in so many lies. This really upset his mom. She asked him why Raquel and him don't get along and so he told her why. He was brutally honest and didn't leave anything out.

Austin came home and told me all that his mother said and I discounted everything and explained to him what really happened and sorted out all the lies Raquel had told. Then I mentioned to him that his mom really expected him to put his foot down and forbid me from going. He didn't believe me. I might have been pissed that she did it. After all it was really backhanded and put a blog on my myspace that said:

-I’m Tired
Current mood: bullied
My husband will no longer be acting like a middle person. If anyone has concerns involving me or our son then they need to contact me directly. I'm tired of Austin being in the middle. I don't bite and am tired of the polite conversation and cold shoulders. I'm sure things get lost in translation. I would hate to think that people don't think I can take care of Mason and myself.
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Well Princess Hateful Raquel has access to my myspace and called her mom and told her what I had wrote the next morning when she saw it. Well Robin had a talk with Austin about it and it came out that she didn't expect him to talk to me about the shower conversation. (I got to say I TOLD YOU SO) He wasn't upset with me about the myspace blog. He was a little shocked but what was I to do when all they will talk to me about is the weather. They will even wait until I leave the room and then ask Austin the question then when I come back in the room Austin will ask me the question. I have started to just whisper the answers to him because we have an agreement that if one of us whispers the question or answer it is to stay between the two of us. I think it really annoys them. I know I do not care though.

It really bothered me to have to call Amanda and tell I wouldn't be going to the shower because Mason is sick and I don't want to get her sick. It is almost like they won. I can't stand that.

I am so glad that my family is loving and in your face. They don't mince words. They tell you exactly how they feel and give you opinions on everything. Austin thinks it is their way of trying to run my life but I don't see it that way because I can call them idiots and tell them I love them all in the same breath.

So that is how my week has gone. Austin told me he actually ducked into the bathroom to avoid his mom at work. How sad!

Herpangina

This is what Mason has. We are over the fever finally. He has also proved to be above average having 7 ulcers. What they forget to mention is that this is often accompanied with ear infections because of the swelling. Mason was lucky enough to get both ears. My week has been great fun and it is only Thursday.

Herpangina is a viral infection of the back of the mouth.
The main symptoms include:

• sore throat and pain with swallowing
• fever for 2 to 3 days (102-103)
• small ulcers (2-3 mm) surrounded by a red ring on the roof of the mouth and near the tonsils. There are no ulcers in the front of the mouth or on the gums. The average child has 5 of these ulcers, though there can be more.

What is the cause?

Herpangina is caused by several Coxsackie A viruses. A person can have herpangina up to 5 times.

How long does it last?

The sore throat and ulcers usually last 5 to 7 days.

WWWAT: A Different View

It's that time of the month again and no I'm not talking about Aunt Flo. I'm talking about Wordless Wednesday With A Twist over at American Mum Mom.

In the process of taking progression photos of the bathroom remodel I caught Austin staring up at me from the basement. I just couldn't resist.

Hyde likes to get in the way but this is certainly a different "view" of him.
Again during the bath remodel we uncovered a little cubby hole under the stairs and this old potty chair was in it. Now we need to get Hyde a new water dish because the pan wasn't with the potty chair but Hydes water dish fits perfect.
This is why little boys are not granted access to my bathroom alone. He plays with this chair like it is a real potty. He even looks all over for the flusher.

Should I Feel Guilty??

I know I probably should feel guilty but I don't. I know your probably wondering what about.

Friday night I photographed a PartyLite ceremony. As in I was the photographer. As I was getting paid to do it not just as a favor but was hired specifically to take photos of the event.

I know kinda repetitive but I had to get my point across.

Now to the rest of the story.

The night was going good until this one person got there with their camera and no consideration.

This gals husband was constantly in the way. I kept backing into him. I had to compete with his flash. He kept telling everyone to look at him. Totally not cool.

Finally there was a point where I had a couple of minutes and this couple was behind me and so I told them that I was thinking about getting their camera for a backup camera and asked if I could see theirs to see if it would be a good fit. The wife looked insulted but the husband didn't know any better and let me look at their camera. Stupid guy.

I got a hold of it and 1.) turned it on Raw 2.) set it to Manual and 3.) set their flash compensation as far down as I could. 4.) turned the lens to manual focus
1.) They won't be able to open the files because they don't have a photoshop program or something similar.
2.) They didn't know how use it on Manual
3.) When the flash would fire it was so dim it was like a candle.
4.) This was my favorite. I could have changed it in the menu to manual focus only but thought maybe this they would have a fighting chance anyway of finding the right button.

I didn't feel one bit guilty. The rest of my night there went great.

They had been asked to stop by the person the event was for so they should have stopped but they didn't. The least they could have done was to stay out of my way.

Before I left they were in the corner both huddled over the camera and couldn't figure out why it wasn't working. The camera was new enough that they had the little manual that comes in the box with them.

Me being the 'nice' person I am went over and put all the settings back like they should be. I didn't bother to tell them about the raw I figure they would figure that out when they got home. I did change it back to jpg though so that the photos of her kids will come out.

I was steaming. I know it wasn't a nice thing to do but I don't care and given the same circumstances I would do it over again just earlier in the evening.

I'll get some photos of it up this evening or in the morning Mason has been running me ragged. I'm afraid we hit the terrible twos with a vengeance.

The little sickie...

We are off to the doctor for Mason this morning. He had a temp all day yesterday and woke up at a 103.5 temp. I think it is just an ear infection. I am going to see if they will check how tall he is. Our regular wonderful pediatrician is on vacation so we are seeing the nurse practitioner so we will see. I don't remember if this is the one I like or not.

We are Walking!!

Mason has finally taken the plunge and let go. Now if only he could get standing up in the middle of the room we would be doing great. There is no stopping him now!

Rodeo!!

My cousin and her boyfriend were sitting in these spots but Mason pushed them off.

I had drool running down my arm and dripping off my elbow. Gross!!

Mason fell asleep during the bull riding and was out for the night. He slept through the walk down the bleachers, getting transfered to the stroller, the bumpy ride to the car, getting transfered to the carseat, getting taken out of the car seat, and finally the walk in the house and getting put in the pack-n-play.

Tickle Me!!

Mason is trying to tickle my foot. Well he is actually trying to tickle everything. He will go up to the dog or the wall or anything really and move his little fingers, giggle and say ti ti ti. It is just so cute. As soon as I pull out the camera though he stops. Naturally!!

No Toilet!!

I now have no toilet.
I found out last night that Austin was taking today off and that him and his dad were going to be destroying my bathroom. Evidently he had been planning it all week. He tells me he told me but I would have remembered that.
I like him working because it gives me time to do what I want so I know I would have remembered if he told me he was taking a day off. That would mean he would cutting into my time. I know I'm selfish. When Mason naps I like to be able to do what I want. Not what he wants. So I know he didn't tell me.
So anyways... They are taking apart my bathroom. Austin woke me up at 4:10am to take a shower. I was not happy. 4am!! What kind of loon is he? He was even excited that he got to sleep in. He is crazy!!
He gets up that early by choice. He really doesn't have to get to work until 8:30. He chooses to get there at 5 so that he can get off at 2. I don't know how many times I have to explain that to him.
Anyways... I have no bathroom or running water for that matter. I am really hoping that by tonight he will at least have my toilet set back up. So here is to hoping...

Hot! Hot! HOT!!

We baked in the heat! Friday it was around 100, Saturday it was 101, Sunday it was almost as hot, and Monday was another hot day. The whole weekend was miserably hot.
Friday I drove down to the Sidney area for a weekend of fun and rodeo. The original plan was for Mason and I to go alone. Well we found out some info and I put my foot and told my husband that he had better make an appearance. I really try hard to get down and see his grandparents whenever I am down with Mason. I have given up hope on getting Austin down very much so he didn't throw too big of a fit. Lucky for him!!
Friday around noon I had the car all packed and ready to go, Hyde included. Since Austin would be riding the motorcycle down. We got to Austin's grandparents house around 3:30 or so. Mason was just a doll the whole time. About 5:30 I was getting ready to head over to my parents house for supper when Austin's parents show up and Grandpa informs me that Mason and I are going to go to supper with them. Not a big deal Mom and Dad didn't think I was going to get over there until around 8. So we went to Shenandoah and had supper at the Depot. Thankfully Mason decided to behave and ate his supper instead of throwing it on the floor.
I got over to mom and dads around 8 so I wasn't even late. It was so hot outside that the sweat was dripping down my leg and my carpi's looked as though someone had sprayed me with a hose thanks to the leather seats in my car. The black leather seats in my black car. Why my father-in-law ever wanted a black car is beyond me. I did notice though that his next car was silver. Mason went right up to bed much to the chagrin of my family. I really hate to get Mason off of schedule just because they want to keep him up to play. I ended up staying awake really late talking with Mom and Marianne. (When will I ever learn?)
Saturday Mason woke up at 7. Yes 7. I was thinking just shoot me!! Again will I ever learn to go to bed instead of staying up gossiping. Probably not. Again it was hot outside. Even at 7 in the morning outside letting Hyde go pee I could feel the humidity surround me and weigh me down. I gave up on my hair for the weekend and just put it in a bun and took two Tylenol for the head ache that would follow. I really should get my hair thinned out but I hate dealing with it then because not all the hair is one length and there seems to be more flyaways. Anyways it was hot.
Marianne, mom and I went down to one of moms houses in Thurman and cleaned. It is a super cute house it is... just... in... Thurman. It does have air though. Trust me I wouldn't have been down there cleaning it if it hadn't.
Saturday night we went to the rodeo. We always sit on the north side at the very end of the general admission section because with the addition of kids someone is always having to get out and go to the bathroom. This year there was a wonderful cool breeze and we all had fun. No one puked or spilled anything sticky on me so by my estimation this year was huge success.
We ended up getting over to Grandma and Grandpa's house about 10:30 and Mason didn't wake us up until 8. We spent Sunday morning with them and watched Mason be a loon. Austin had planned to leave after lunch to go home. I almost felt bad for him because he rode the motorcycle down with a tank top on and got sunburned so he had to wear a long sleeve shirt on the way home. He has informed me that it wasn't too bad because he didn't have to listen to me yammer on and on. (I read while he drives so I know better than this.)
After some lunch in Shen Mason and I headed over to my moms house only to find out that hey were headed up to my grandma house to show my cousin Jessie and her boyfriend Rapheal a house close to grandma's. So I turned around and headed north. I couldn't believe it but I beat them there by like 20 minutes. So glad I have a key to grandma's house.
We also got to look the house and let me tell you it needs some major work. The houses in the area are assessed around $200,000 and the house was listed for $139,500. I guess it didn't deter them. They put in an offer and got it. I can't wait until they are done working it. I am sure it will end being a show place.
Sunday night Mason and I stayed at Austin's grandparents again because we planned on being there for lunch on Monday and everyone over at mom's works full time so they wouldn't be there.
Monday we made it up to my Grandma's house about 2 to go shopping with her. She works at JCPenny and gets a pretty good discount. Austin needed a new suitcase because he came home with a hole in the last one. JCPenny was have a huge sale on luggage so I ended up getting him a really nice suitcase for about $80, or literally a third of full price. I also got Mason some shoes and clothes and Austin a couple of work polos. All for under the sale price of the suitcase.
I had planned on going home Monday afternoon but again it was so hot that I decided to stay with my grandma. She was thrilled. I don't get up to see her as often as I should. I also spent a good part of Tuesday with her also. I figured Austin doesn't get home until 5 anyways so why should I. So I didn't. I did have to stop at the store on the way home. I don't why he couldn't stop on his way home. No instead it had to be with a car full of stuff and the dog with me. Sometimes things like that irritate me. I guess I'll just have to get over it because it isn't going to change.
So that was my whole weekend. Nothing too exciting. Mason behaved for the most part. Hyde was a good puppy and didn't bite anyone. Not that he ever has but I wouldn't blame him if he ever wanted to take a chunk out of one of my nephews. They have all been warned. The naughty little cusses that they are. I know Mason just sits there, watching them, soaking in all the naughty.

I'm back...

We are home from rodeo finally. It was so stinkin hot that we didn't come home until Tuesday because I didn't want to on Monday. Austin expected it so he wasn't too surprised that I wasn't home on time.
We are also home puppy less. Sidney is a very busy town during rodeo and our puppy was out in the yard playing before we were to pick it up and somehow it got in the road and got ran over. So we are still on the lookout for an outside dog. Hopefully Tasia will have another litter and we can get 2 but I will leave that up to her.
Well believe it or not I am running behind this morning and have to get my butt up to MOPS registration. I would like to be on time this time. Right!! Too late for that already;)

M-I-L's Blog

My mother-in-law recently started a blog. I know you can read the excitement on my face. Yep.
Anyways it is just a blog that shows her photography. Check it out and let me know what you think of it. On my computer all the photos look blurry or fuzzy. None of them have a sharp focus. I just wanted to confer with other people before I say anything about it to her.
Thanks for your help.
While I have you checking out relatives sites here is one that I love!! Austin's Uncle Blaine is an amazing photographer. He is also a pilot and right now he is in Alaska helping with the wild fires like he does every summer.
One of these days I am going to pick his brain but it is hard to get him nailed down and have a serious conversation. Probably one of favorite relatives of Austin's.
If you scroll down on his site he has links for other albums that are just wonderful.

Family Reunion

Saturday morning Mason and I were up early to get ready to leave for the family reunion. I was not excited. At all.

Austin was to get up and help me get all my stuff and Mason into the car but what do you know he didn't. I wasn't real shocked.

Austin and his dad had plans to go watch the nascar race in Newton. I had told him that he would want to get there early but he told me not to worry about it. They had planned on leaving his dad's house at around 10. At 8 Austin got a text message from our friend, Joe, that was already down there telling him they might want to leave earlier than 10 to get a parking spot as it was already really busy down there. So of course he listened to Joe and hurried out of the house and didn't help me carry anything to the car. Even though he made several trips in and out of the house and had to step over all my stuff and pass my car on the way to his truck. I could have just beaten him. Beaten him with a really long heavy club, with spikes. Repeatedly.

So I finally get out of the house and over to my mother-in-laws to pick them up. Yes, I drove because I refuse to be uncomfortable. I realize I'm short but I don't remember it being a law that the short people have to ride in the backseat. Some conceited tall person made that up and considering that Austin's family is all tall I would have been stuck in the backseat the entire trip in one of their small ass vehicles. No thanks. I drove guaranteeing me a front seat spot. It seemed only natural since I have the largest car with the largest backseat. Suck that Raquel.

We had a real good drive out to the Amana Colonies where we ate at the Ox Yoke because Raquel had her ipod. After we ate we all used the potty and I was the last one out, because I don't know why, anyways I get out to the car and Raquel is sitting in the front seat and Robin is driving because I asked her to. I went to the passenger door and opened it and calmly told Raquel that I get car sick and can't ride in the back for more than 20 minutes.

I know a total lie but that bitch wasn't going to get stick me in the backseat of my own car. I don't know how she even came to the conclusion that it was okay to just take the front seat. So anyways she had to sit in the back and stew for a bit.

I didn't care how upset she was. The sucky part was that I couldn't let myself think that because of my mother-in-law, she can read minds. We carry conversations all the time without me having to say a word. I know how freaky!!

So I had to keep thinking I was queasy. How simple. I would read a page or two of my book and then look up and think 'my lunch is not agreeing with me'. I am nothing if not convincing.

So we finally get out there to the hotel and I find out that Raquel and I are sharing a room. Wonderful.

After unloading our stuff at the hotel we ventured out to find a grocery store to get stuff to take to the reunion. I know real exciting. I took a 12 pack of Coke and some fresh pineapple chunks.

The family reunion went good everyone seemed to know me as Austin's wife because even though Austin hadn't seen these people in years they remembered him. No one remembered Raquel. They kept asking who she belonged to. Ha Ha...

After we ate I pulled out my camera and started playing. It is amazing to see peoples reactions to the camera when you tell them you are a photographer. They don't mind. They trust you to get them in the best light. Raquel had out my mother-in-laws camera and no one would look at her so she went over to the playground with Mason and took photos of him while I took photos of the croquet game.

Even when we were taking family photos everyone was looking at me and not her and she had hers set up on a tripod. I am still chuckling about it.

We finally left the reunion around 9. Way past Mason's bedtime. By the time we got to the hotel he was telling everyone 'night night'.

I got stuck with the idiot that has to sleep with the tv on. Not a chance with Mason in the room. I put my foot down after she turned off the lights. I reached over and grabbed the remote and just turned it off and then put the remote under my pillow. She wasn't able to reach the tv because Mason was in the way in the pack and play.

I didn't feel one bit bad. I might have been laughing inside my head every time I heard her sigh. After what felt like an hour she finally passed out. I think she was trying to outlast me so she could get the remote. Not a chance.

I know it might seem like I went out of my way to make her uncomfortable but I didn't. If she wasn't so cocky and thinking me a second class citizen I wouldn't have had to put her in her place. No one is going to make feel inferior. No one. Blame it on my self confidence, or just call me a bitch, the outcome is the same.

So after she finally passed out I snuck out for a cigarette. I deserved it dammit. Everyone was still alive weren't they? It was wonderful! I have never enjoyed a cigarette so much.

Sunday morning we all got up and went and had breakfast with the family. After breakfast we had to go out to the cemetery. I wasn't too interested in the cemetery until I saw the chapel at the entrance. Made the trip all worth while to me.
We finally got on the road to come home around noon. We stopped off at exit 220, Williamsburg, at the Tanger Outlet Mall. Highlight of the trip for me. We were there for a couple of hours before heading home again.

Austin met me outside when I pulled in the driveway at about 6. It felt so good to be home. Saturday and Sunday were more exhausting than Tuesday thru Friday because I had to constantly be on alert as to what I was thinking, saying, and how I was handling the delicate situation known as Princess Hateful.

I don't know how Austin handled growing up in that household. Honestly I don't.