adventures in baby signing... clean dancing :)

courtesy of Kathleen

My cousin in law Kathleen felt me growing weak to my laundry and sent me this... lol... hope you appreciate it too :)

"Warshing" Clothes Recipe..........

Never thought of a "washer" in this light before..what a blessing!

"Warshing Clothes Recipe" -- imagine having a recipe for this ! ! ! Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe: this is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook - with spelling errors and all.

WARSHING CLOTHES

Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water..

Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert.

Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water.

Sort things, make 3 piles 1 pile white, 1 pile colored, 1 pile work britches and rags.

To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water. Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch.

Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch.

Hang old rags on fence.

Spread tea towels on grass.

Pore wrench water in flower bed..

Scrub porch with hot soapy water.

Turn tubs upside down.

Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs..

Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings. ================================================

Paste this over your washer and dryer Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks.. First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer, also your toilet---those two-holers used to get mighty cold and also smelly ! For you non-southerners - wrench means, rinse ;) AND WE THOUGHT WE HAVE IT ROUGH

facebook challenges

I am rewarding rgonzalez photography referrals by giving away referral points. To encourage traffic to my facebook page I am hosting photo question challenges worth 1-5 referral points (worth $1-5 towards session costs). The winner of the challenge gets the points and the person who referred them also gets the points. Todays challenge was "Lucy gave herself a food facial tonight... what is her beauty secret?"

labels added

Mom..GiGi... I put the labels back up...they are in the right hand column under blog archive :)

getting geared up

People mention to me that its Friday... I feel the excitement for others as I know its break from the work monotony that consumes them thru out the week. I'm lucky that I even know what day it is. Andy has got my old PDA charged up from when I worked as a paramedic. Since being a photographer requires that you actually know what day it is... I've surrounded myself with reminders, calenders, books... email notifications... Im doing my best to stay on top of it.

My mom called me this afternoon and told me that Lucy must be walking by baby Saturdays...which is tomorrow... I sent Lucy the memo... and shes walking now. WEIRD!! Max is a little speed demon on his bicycle... and I think that Katy at the ripe old age of 3 is PMSing. Good grief...can we talk more about the drama?!?! On a lighter note...here is a picture of our little princess in her favorite outfit EVER. Any doubt what her favorite color is??

Anyway... I've got get back to my milk and brownie! Goodnight!

Public Breastfeeding is Disgusting??

fellow facebooker posted THIS today... initally hit a nerve... then I finished reading it. So true, so true!

getting excited about school

I can't believe that the kids only have 4 more weeks until school starts. Oh my goodness what am I going to do with all that free time??? HA! Well, I'd like to say I'd catch up on things around the house and complete some business tasks BUT.. I've thought that in the past and ended up doing everything but :) I truthfully see myself spending more one on one time with Lucy. I think I'll be overwhelmed with the quiet noise.... and will compensate by making more noise...lol.

Im new to this public school parent thing...aren't they suppost to send some sort of supply list? I haven't seen anything yet. Katy Ro will also be starting ballet in september... she has been talking non-stop about this since we mentioned it a few months ago. She is also really excited about being in preschool with her..."favorite girl" Hannah.

Looking forward to baby weekend this week.... HUGS!

"Dont yell at me, Im just a kid"

(this is a photo I took yesterday of my close friends sweet girls)

So its been a tough couple of days... I think a compilation of cabin fever, no structure and colds. My patience has been questionable. I try not yell... once that approach is put in motion...it seems to all landslide. Its like... they have ear plugs in... I could be standing right in front of them saying there names and they completely ignore me. ArG... Katy called me out when she told me "Mommy, don't yell at me, Im just a kid"... wow that was way bigger than her years. Definatly put me in check for the rest of the day.


We went to story time at the library today with the girls..Andy and Max had a boys day. I think it was due... Max tends to act out if he goes to long without some intense one on one... thinking of it... I tend to act out too when I don't get enough one one one :). At the library today Lucy took her first couple of steps....YAH LUCY!!!

busy busy busy

So I got a phone call from my mom tonight "BECKY, YOUR GRANDMOTHER AND I ARE GOING THRU BLOG WITH DRAWL... ITS BEEN OVER 4 DAYS!!!" lol, sorry mom.. I've been sucked into the addictive world of facebook networking! Oh my goodness!! Get me out of the zone. For those that think I've died... I also blogging daily "Here" and my fan page is "Here". The networking on facebook is incredible!! I'm suddenly in regular contact with people whom I haven't spoken with in YEARS... and I may never have again if it weren't for "friend me". So, so cool... and I can randomly chat with my family...IE my auntie and I don't have to pick up the phone. Which by the way is damn near impossible these days. My children are gluttons for torturing me while I'm on the phone. From a recent and totally random personal poll... this kind of parent torture is more common than I thought.

So now for your regular update... Lucy is not walking yet.. in fact shes an expert speed crawler. I don't think she'll ever need to walk if she can get anywhere at light speed by crawling. She speaks regularly in baby sign language... did I mention that I recommend this to ANYONE!!! Its saved me a lot of un-nessesary tantrums figuring out what she wants...because she can...(that's tantrums from both of us)

Katy is quickly becoming queen of the house... need to nip that one in the bud. Not sure how I'm feeling the dominant personality is here to say...hmm I wonder where she gets that from???..lol. She insists on wearing her "birthday dress" and dress up clothes everywhere...I let her. I have to throw in my .2 by forcing her to wear the matching converse hightops. Girls are really a lot of drama... its definitely a different challenge...but equal to having boy.

Speaking of Boy, Max is growing up so quickly these days. Showing a lot of interest in playing with the older neighborhood boys. He desperately wants to keep up. Two weeks ago we took the training wheels off of his bicycle and he started practicing to ride like one of the "big boys". Frustrated easily, Max threw his bike down (several times) and gave it a break for a while. Today he asked to put his sneakers and helmet on and give it another try. Got on his bicycle and rode it like a pro. I'm so proud of him. I recall learning to ride my bike the same way... just got on it and went. We have decided to let Max go to kindergarten this year... we'll give it a shot...I'm sure he'll do just fine.

Andy is doing well also, its nice not to have to worry about the house. He's keeping busy tinkering with his car and playing computer games.

My photography business is growing very quickly... it amazing how much improvement 7 months will give to someones skill. Here is a photo taken when I just got started.

to this:

Im loving it!! Im already starting to book up for next month. God does answer prayers doesn't he??

never a dull moment

Other than whats on my schedule for photos... the only real set in stone plans we have for the week are library day and baby saturdays. It never fails that when we are ready to head out the door...some force of nature changes things for us. Today it would be fevers. Or fever...(katy ro) everyone else just has runny noses. Can't they create bubble suits for kids to prevent the spread of childhood BLech! Probably not, and I think I might get in some trouble if I wrap my kids in syran wrap.

I have found that over the course of 5 years... well... since I started having children my own immune system has become rock solid. I used to get some wicked disgusting colds that would last over a week. Now I get maybe a few hours of symptoms...then fatigue for a day or so. Not terrible at all... ... i guess it part of my superhero mom abilities.

We are getting better with the nudity in my house. I think the kids are starting to "get it" that they can't walk around outside naked anymore. And I'm sure I've got the message through about not answering the door when someone knocks... oooh...that one was scary.

Lucy is on "mama" strike. Oh oh ... i have to post a video of her signing now... super cute... I would recommend it to anyone life has been so much easier since she can tell me what she wants. Anyway, back to "mama" strike... she is refusing to say mama... she keeps calling me daddy...what the heck?? Why does he get all the credit? Anyway... I really need to get cleaning, my house is a disaster as usual. toodles!

I've come to realize

requested by a friend:

I've Come to Realize...

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note completing the 36 "I’ve come to realize." At the end, choose the friends you want to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you or I knew you way back when and am interested in what life has taught you!!

1. I've come to realize that the only truly full filling recognition comes from myself.

2. I've come to realize that life is what you make of it.

3. I've come to realize that I will never get ahead of the laundry for more that 3 days at a time.

4. I've come to realize I need my friends as much as I need my morning coffee.

5. I've come to realize I should always pick the battle that leads to a resolution.

6. I've come to realize that giving the benefit of the doubt is the kindest freebe I can give.

7. I've come to realize I can't do everything AND keep my sanity.

8. I've come to realize that letting my children be children means not sweating the small stuff.

9. I've come to realize that I love change.

10. I've come to realize Im almost 30 and have spent nearly a decade having babies.

11. I've come to realize that there are only a handful of people that really get my sense of humor... everyone else just thinks im wierd.

12. I've come to realize my kids will more than likely need therapy for the mistakes ive made.

13. I've come to realize... I can handle a lot of stress.

14. I've come to realize... I can't please everyone... I don't want to anymore.

15. I've come to realize... its disrespectful to try and change someone Else's opinion.

16. I've come to realize.. I can't be a perfect parent... admitting when your wrong gains trust in the hearts of your children.

17. I've come to realize... I'm a dreamer.

18. I've come to realize... I'm happy in my skin.

19. I've come to realize... I can be somewhat of a slob.

20. I've come to realize... not to take things personally unless someone tells you to.

21. I've come to realize.. I should never commit myself to chain mail requests.

22. I've come to realize... there are some joys in life that will never grow old.

23. I've come to realize... I will do something great with my life.

24. I've come to realize.. I am addicted to giving.

25. I've come to realize... I have very few material attachments.

26. I've come to realize...I'm really weird about dirty floors.

27. I've come to realize...I have a lot of unfinished projects.

28. I've come to realize... I'm unpredictable...and this drives the people who care about me...crazy.

29. I've come to realize...I get excited about stupid stuff.

30. I've come to realize... just being a genuinely good person can make a big difference in someone Else's life.

31. I've come to realize... I am very passionate.

32. I've come to realize...I can be absentminded at times.

33. I've come to realize... I will change my mind...again.

34. I've come to realize... Im hard to understand sometimes.

35. I've come to realize... I am gifted with a talent.

36. I've come to realize...I know how to truly love...life is good!

a week in review...baby bird...preschool

This weeks sum up... first off... happy belated 4th of July everyone! We spent our 4th with Andy's friends... the kids had a blast and we really had a lot of fun... the kids were totally wiped out by the end of the day. The host had tons for the kids to do... swimming, trampoline, 4 wheelers, volleyball... etc, etc. After dark they had a pretty decent home fireworks show and the kids got to use sparklers... fun fun!!

This little bird was found in our yard a few weeks ago... he was much smaller and I really worried that he would be eaten by a neighborhood cat, hit by a car or simply die from not having his mommy and being away from the nest. I had not seem him since that day... an yesterday he came hopping into our garage while Andy and I were outside. He looks like hes been taken care of... still not convinced that the mother was still around I went inside and got him some night crawlers from the refriderator. We fed him a few and Andy insisted that the mother was flying around keeping an eye on him... Whatever....no way. But sure enough... I saw a few other robins in the area and sat and watched. This sweet baby bird...peeped and another bird was digging around frantically looking for bugs... the baby was watching her from about 25 feet away... they chirped back and forth and met in my front yard where she fed the baby and then flew off. WOW.. thats amazing that even tho the baby has not been in the next for atleast 2 weeks that I know of.. she has still managed to take care of him... go mommy bird!

Lucy is soooo close to walking... and is starting to prefer being on her feet over crawling. Any day now, sweet girl!!

Letting the kids really enjoy their childhood...

Max is missing school...asks me about his friends daily and wonders when hes going back. I have been having some battles figuring out if he is ready for kindergarden. Some people say to hold him back if I have any doubts.. some suggest that I should let him try it out and if Its not working for him then I should hold him back..Im still not sure... and the fall is coming fast. Another reason for letting him go forward is Katy is looking forward to preschool and its just too expensive to have both of them in preschool. Does anyone have some helpful advice??