Dashing Divas

The girls want to look great for our wedding adventure weekend, so off we went for manis and pedis (thats what the "in" people call these things)

It was a very nice time and I was just thrilled to have my filthy feet washed. Poor poor dashing diva people.

I know, I know

I swore I'd upload those pictures last night... but Jack was asleep and the garage door was closed and etc. etc...

They're coming.

Picture Adventures

As you've all noticed I've had less to say and more to photograph recently... I try to only post the most perfect beautiful pictures up on the photography blog, but here are my other favorites...

Sarah doing what she does awesome: detail artsy


Samantha changing in the car at sunset:

The Shoot

Sarah found a bug on the steps of city hall

Sarah driving down this alley:

Little Gym

Abby has been having a great time at gymnastics with Bess and Pearl. Each week has a theme and this week's theme is heros. So they've had a police officer come by, a doctor and EMT, and today a Fireman. It's been so cool.

9 years, 9 lives

Steve and I have been married 9 years today. It's always so odd to think of it in terms like this because it feels like it's just been a flit of time - like the time within each year spans about a week and at the same time it feels like the times oh so long ago when we weren't married are just plain pre-historic. So, no comedy routine intended it does seem like we've been married forever... but its not a bad thing! I wonder if we would recognize our selves now back then. We're basically the same... just with kids added... and we're also totally different.... with kids added.

I'm happy. I think our family is as phenomenal as Dr. Phil could ever imagine. And I think we're only getting better.

Maybe for our next 9 I should pledge to... um... well... I dunno. He would say I should just give up and pledge "that Steve is always always right even when I'm sure he's wrong."

Harumph...good try hon, and you probably are... but for now, we'll table the issue and we'll revisit it at year 18.

The weekend of the Tri...

There is only one teency tiny little negative to having my mom in town. And that is, we haven't had any of those super relaxing catered to Camarillo family weekends that we used to have. Granted, with Steve's work schedule the last couple years, we haven't taken advantage as a family for quite a while, but it was always sort of there as an option.

WELL we proved this weekend that Poppa's place in Camarillo works just fine. And in fact, we don't have to climb down Mt. Everest to get to the pool. Poppa slathered us with snacks and food options, held the baby, played "water horse" in the pool with Abby, and even got up at 6 in the morning to drive me to the Triathlon (which we got lost going to, but thats just the way my family rolls).

We got food to go Saturday night and went out to brunch after Steve's race. Steve got a professional Poppa massage and then soaked in the hot tub. Having Gramma around didn't hurt either.

After we were in the pool for the second time on Sunday Abby didn't want to leave just yet. She wanted to set up in the lawn chair like the teenagers and "watch the world go by for a while."

Micaiah got to hang out for a bit while Sarah registered... of course he was fascinated with Ivan the Terrible (the one cat more dangerous than any dog we know). But no nerves were severed and all went well.

You know, despite what you may think (I do, after all take a LOT of pictures) Jack has not been particularly exposed to the flash of a camera. This is his innocent little face staring at the red Elph light right before the flash. He flinched something awful when the flash went off. And we, his loving mom and gramma, laughed really hard.


The point is, no matter how much my parents spoil me and their grandkids rotten, a really nice weekend just isn't super nice unless Steve's there too... prone to naps though he may have been.

The Day After - Guest Blog by resident Triathlete

The Day After

The late Jim McCay was noted for ABC’s Wild World of Sports. In the open he talked about the “Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat.” But Sunday I found a third way; “the Agony of Participating.” As some of you know I participated in a triathlon this Sunday. To those of you not familiar the triathlon consists of three events (swim, bike run) of varying distances. The version I did was the Sprint variety of triathlon in which the distances are reduced so you can “sprint” them (which I have to say did not enter my thoughts at any point during the day!). On paper it reads: Swim – ¼ mile, Bike – 12 miles, Run – 3 miles. Not too bad I thought to myself back in May.

The first event was the Swim, I should point out that this event takes place in the Ocean. Because of this fact wetsuits are recommended and a convenient rental company is made available. As Sarah and I (that is Sarah Scheidler, sister-in-law who did this with me) stared at the course from the beach, “the course didn’t look too bad.” Proclaimed with the delusion of standing on land, while dry, and not drinking in your weight in salt water.

It was after the first 10 steps into the water when I thought to myself I have a made a huge mistake. I remember one moment during the swim when I looked up at the buoy we were to swim around, and I thought to myself, that buoy is further away than it was just a minute ago. A sobering thought, I am actually going backwards! And even that was hard. Finally I made it around the buoys and made it back to land. I was looking forward to walking in or taking it easy going to the transition area, unfortunately Adrea and Maggie Brandow (Chris Brandows wife – who incidentally was the one who started the whole Triathlon idea) were standing right there on the beach to greet and cheer me on. As nice as it was that they were there this meant that I had to run it out (the other men out there will know what I am talking, ladies you can ask them). I have to say that one of things I am most proud of was being able to finish the swim portion.

Next up was the bike. The bike went fairly well except that I realized half-way through that my front brake was interfering with my front wheel. This made me slower than I would have hoped but by that time any pretense of performance was based solely on finishing. Another issue with the bike was the fact that my seat was on backwards... at least it felt that way.

Finally, the Run, The home stretch! Only three miles, pshah! I can do that! Easy! I figured the fact that I couldn’t feel my legs was natural and I chose not to worry about it.

Finally we finished and all was well. There was much more that went into this whole thing and maybe you will hear about here in the future….. Stay tuned!


(excuse us, Tim & Sarah, for using your "guest blog" idea)

So I married a triathlete... and so did his brother...

Steve completed his first triathlon yesterday. (That's his wave entering the ocean)

(note M's shirt given by his auntie becca "my mommy tri s"

It was a "sprint":
1/4 mile Swim
12 mile Bike
3 mile Run

Now, since Chris (that's Chris running with friend, Aaron, Chris is looking tough because I mocked his sweet pose earlier) brought this up to Steve several months ago Steve has been biking and running up a storm. He knew the swim was going to be his most difficult part... but I think anyone deciding to do this should note that the "swim" which, doesn't it sound sweet? Such a cute little word. The "swim" is a ROUGH and COLD and SALTY water swim... i.e. in the ocean. Steve did fine of course, but its the "swim" that looked awful as us spectators watched experienced (and not so experienced) swimmers veer off course, get towed in, and get stuck in the tide not going much of anywhere as they optimistically continued their stroke.

Ugh.

Otherwise, hey, it was fun. Sarah signed up and became Steve's official triathlon power of attorney - helping to prep Steve on what to bring and bringing extra fluids for him. So Maggie and I cheered on the three athletes and my camera ran out of batteries at the finish line so I just had my little elph.

Abby and Jack were pampered at my dad's (we'd also brought my mom along to help).

Everyone did incredible and I can safely promise here and now you will never... not ever... see me doing one of these. I will however, take pictures.

Warning: Fashion Confusion

I think its a good idea to let you all know that I find that I am so thrilled that my old clothes (or any clothes really) fit me, that I am more likely to think I look great because the clothes are fastened and not ripping and yet really really probably not look great because I no longer have any idea what does look GOOD.

Judge Not...

Okay, I'll admit it - I used to judge you types out there that can't keep up with email or blogs or myspace or facebook or what have you.

I basically communicate MOSTLY through these means, so I could not understand what could be so hard about sitting down and clicking a few buttons.

But, I had ANOTHER bout of infection due to plugged duct this weekend and it was either very mild or I have become an expert at getting ahead of this thing and I felt 85% today.

That is, obviously, a lot due to everyone catering to me and taking my children so that they might have a better day than I!

Point being... I feel overwhelmed by my internet communications and check points and so I almost turn off.

Weird.

Would never have pegged myself as capable.

I guess that's why we're not supposed to be all judgey.

Cuz it comes back to us...

A long, long time ago

read the card Julie sent me... I had a feeling (it being oversized and thick and all) that it would have music in it - so I let Abby open it for me.

She took a step back, but loved it pretty immediately.

Then she insisted on letting it play.... forever...

Sigh....

Neglected

I have the cutest pictures of Jack... where to post? Here or at Abby/Jack... probably there... but not tonight.

I cannot both upload pictures to the blog and to snapfish at the same time. And I am sadly behind on Snapfish. And the whole "taking massive amounts of massive files and putting them on my less than massive laptop" thing is taking it's toll. So every few days... or weeks, depending on how many pictures I'm taking, I have to unload onto my massive hard drive (courtesy Samantha Sue) which is not all that simple because I am still stubbornly using my laptop (to be fair, I don't have a desk top yet because I was just gifted the coolest camera in the world - one HUGE expense at a time, people), though I suppose I could set the laptop up as a desktop...hmm... that's an idea...

ANYWAY point being sometimes I am unloading pictures onto the hard drive (which is stored in the closet) before I get them up on snapfish and you know I will probably NEVER go looking folder by folder thru the massive hard drive ever again in my life so if they are lost on there, they may be forever lost on there...

SO snapfish won the toss tonight. Sorry....

A Grayscale for Everyone

I am finding that when I turn photos into black & white there are certain people who look better with different sorts of black and white. There are softer black and whites, deeper black and whites, grainer black and whites, more ethereal black and whites, more subtle black and whites... and each of you, oddly enough, seem to lend yourselves to a different one.

Interesting.

For Those of you Wondering

what burnt fudge looks like...

And it is the sugar love of my life.

Failure

The problem is, it doesn't matter if the most important people in your life are five days, five years, or fifty - when the people closest to you are disappointed in you... pleading for you to give them something they cannot or should not have, or that you are unwilling to give. It just plain ends up feeling bad.

I know I'm a great mom because I am a present mom, I am an adoring mom, I am a listening mom. I know that.

But I still end up feeling inadequate when every single night Abby desperately wants the same thing... and it's not something I could, even if I would, have an answer for. She wants a family bed basically. So every night we go through the same heart-wrenching (well, it seems heart-wrenching to hear her tell it) talk about how she isn't alone and mommy & daddy have their bed and she has hers and her room is her special place and jack (was) in her room and on and on we go. We don't sit there and discuss it for ten minutes every night - I'm not that new a mom. No, no. I say quickly and simply the same basic, bracing things every night. She never seems particularly comforted or braced and I always walk away feeling like I've failed.

The idea of Jack being in her room worked for a while, but he may as well still be sharing our room because even when we had his pack n' play in with her, she still complained he wasn't actually cuddling WITH her and oh how she swore she'd hold on to him and make sure he wouldn't fall or bump his head.

AND adding to the fact that it didn't really seem to help the problem, it incurred other problems - like my fear of letting him cry at ALL and waking up Abby who would then re-wake up Jack who would need to cry who would wake up Abby. OR my fear of Abby doing ANYTHING to disturb Jack's sleep thereby starting off the aforementioned first cyclical fear.

This too shall pass. I don't feel like a failure anymore when Abby wants twelve playdates per day or when I say we'll eat at home. And to some extent this should be even simpler to not feel guilty about... I mean... look... even if we were family bed type people... this girl would still get kicked out. As my mom has said, "she is not a restful sleeper."

You would find it hilarious to hear the wheels grinding in my head trying to figure out how I want to answer her plea, "but WHEN do I get someone to sleep with always"... Maybe I'll go the fairytale route and talk about when her prince shows up. You unconventional types are probably rolling over in your non-graves, but its a concept she understands and is familiar with and it can grow with time. Where as YOU try to explain to her (without giving into a twenty minute discussion) how someday she'll date and choose someone special and marry them and... well you see the trouble this starts.

Speaking of which... see the Abby/Jack blog in a minute.

Even Jack, my happy little sweetie mcsweetums gives me moments where I just want to hang a letter "F" on my chest and walk around... Yes, it's true, I can not make the happy baby happy all the time. No I don't know what the heck he wants when he crawls over to me, all the hope in the world in those sweet innocent eyes and pleads with me to help him.

Okay, I know what he wants - he wants the remote, the phone, the computer, that tempting looking rocket launcher looks like a good toy to him... and oh how badly he wants these things, why oh why must I be such a cruel, cold-hearted, tease?

Don't get me wrong, they still think I'm doing a whole lot right. I just find the whole thing fascinating... that these little beings can make me feel inadequate simply by giving me that look... that "you just crushed my entire world" look. Ugh.


http://dianeconniebright.blogspot.com/ It also doesn't help that my mother is insane wonder crafts woman. But I was so CUTE... sort of...

Redemption

I know... I'm a little off my rocker when it comes to taste. Literal taste - as in one of the five senses... not as in 'taste in' clothes or art.

But few can deny that while difficult and odd and generally useless, I DO seem to have a genuinely sensitive sense of taste.

My mother, who has been battling this sense of taste of mine since I first saw Aaron refuse his first egg, is a hold out.

She thinks its all in my mind.

For example, she does not believe that I can taste a difference when she uses food coloring in cake or frosting.

It is totally different in taste and texture - especially when liberally colored... which is Abby's favorite way of coloring food.

So I said, go ahead, test me.

So blindfolded, with my mom administering the test. She gave me just the two bites to start with. And I knew IMMEDIATELY when she gave me the food colored one. (To be fair - since her frosting is not a precise art, I needed to taste both to tell the difference - but I did - in fact that should give me DOUBLE points because the frosting doesn't always taste the same and STILL I could taste the food coloring).

Despite this, she still didn't believe me. Mix it up, I challenged - give me two of one and one of the other or none of the other. So I got 2 out of 3 that time but only because I doubted myself...AND I was still completely sure when I got to the food coloringed one.

SO 3 out of 4, blind, taste test.

Do I get solid recognition from her? No. She still doesn't believe me. But that's fine. She can make me cupcakes every week and I can keep proving my useless talent. Works for me.

Family Fourth

The Sheer Loot!!

Okay, not only do I get the camera I have secretly coveted and tried to convince myself I didn't need, but I got the mother load of 12x12 creative memories page protectors!!!!

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.

and some super cute clothes...

AND even a super fluffy furry white rug (if we can find one)

So listen... seriously...

SERIOUSLY...

Thank you all.

I can't wait to go protect my pages...

and make you all incredibly awkward...

Aaron - I have this idea for a picture... don't worry you don't have to smile...

Be Afraid...

Be Very Afraid...

Thanks to Steve, Aaron&Megan, My Mom, My Dad, David, Marysue, Samantha and.... Abby and Jack... I am about to receive the coolest camera ever... well... the one I wanted anyway.

You know what this means of course. I'm going to have to break him in. (it's my camera so it's a he...)...

The focus points...there are so many focus points.....

Soul Searching

I have decided, after much thought and inner struggle... that I am going to start carrying a purse.

I know... you don't believe it. Maybe you've even heard it before. But as I sat in the hair shampooing station chair the last time with my little pile of goodies (cell phone, hair clip, wallet, keys) in my lap, I decided, ick. I'm done with no purse days.

I am sure that if Steve has found it impossible to round up 300 Creative Memories Page Protectors by Monday, he will accept my plea for a purse for my birthday. Or three.

Sarah - if you wanted to make me one, I wouldn't argue.

Super Narly Wish List

My birthday is coming up and, as usual, I don't have a good list for Steve to work from. Everything I want is too expensive for just a birthday present. And besides, they are also thing that I'm sure I'll get someday in the next 20 years or so... so there's no rush.

But as I was thinking of them, I was thinking some were funny. I can't remember which right now... so I'm going to write them all down.

Lenses (only super crazy ones)
Camera (5D)
Desktop - but only if it comes with an office ;)
Hundreds of Creative Memories 12x12 and 8x8 page protectors - ah yes, I think that was the funny one. And it IS out of any price range, because I need SO many.

This is not a hint. Well... you can print this out for Steve *after* we do the plumbing, the roof, the stairs, the kitchen, the deck AND he just happens to land and hit his head on a few thousand dollars. That's when I'm totally hinting.

Obvious?

Why are there no toys representing wires for babies? Would that be because any long cord like thing is inherently horribly dangerous? Probably. Would that also be because we do not want to encourage the idea? Or perhaps it is because babies are just too smart to settle for anything but real live current running through plastic.

Besides the remote control, the other thing Jack probably learned to crawl specifically for is the computer cord... and the light cord... and... well... any dangerous CORD.