Professional Photos

I signed up for a free mini mini session in January. The photographer wanted to "give back" and offered these limited sessions so I jumped at the chance. I am so glad that I did. I didn't think she'd be able to get good shots in the 5 minute time allotment, but she amazed me. I was so happy with how they turned out. I wish I would have dragged Hunter with me so we could have tried to get him in it as well, but it just didn't work out that day (plus, she had so many people want to do it, she limited the sessions to 12 years and under).

All images courtesy of Five Eleven Photography.

Of course, with the free session, I got 2 free images. And, of course, I couldn't just choose 2. I had to get them all!

Family Photos- Wordless Wednesday Edition

We had a session with Colleen Reed Photography at the end of August. I forgot to post some of our favorites. It's been so fun to watch my children grow through her eyes...she has an amazing eye and gets just the right picture.

Just think... we were once this tiny:

Quinlin- 2 1/2 months

Owen- 3 months

Hunter- almost 12

our family April 2010

and now... these were taken August 25, 2011. Hunter 14 1/2, Owen 3, Quinlin 19 1/2 months

It's funny to look back on how we've grown... especially even pictures of Hunter. Sean and I refuse to think we are aging...ignore the grey hair and wrinkles. Poor Colleen- I always stress about my eyes and needing airbrushing! But she puts up with us... and we're glad for it!

Weekend Recap/ Menu Planning Monday

We had a very low-key weekend. Friday, I picked the babies up from school and went home and picked up Sean, Hunter and his friend Michael and we decided to go o McDonald's for dinner (so much for my menu last week). I hadn't set anything out to cook and with Hunter's buddy over, we thought it would be fun. So we drove up there so Owen could experience the McDonalds playland. Do you think he liked it?

He loved every second of it! So did Hunter (though he's probably too cool to admit it). Quinlin too- you could just imagine her little legs kicking with delight. I know she wanted to get out and play- but no way! We came home and instantly threw them into the tub to try and disinfect them!

Saturday was a crazy morning. Our contractor came over at 8:30am. Sean's parents (yes- both as his dad was released from the hospital on Friday) came over about 9:00am and our photographer, Colleen, came over at 11:30am. Sean's folks didnt stay long- maybe an hour- and as soon as they left, I kept trying to get Owen in camera mode. We practiced saying cheese, wearing a santa hat. I bribed him with candy so he would wear his sweater (good stuff- I should add bribing to my Mom of the Year post). All in all, the pictures, I hope, turned out great- and no- we weren't naked as I once feared because I couldn't find outfits. I kept it simple- we didn't need to color coordinate- just look nice. So- that's what we did. My parents came over during the end of the photo shoot to pick up Hunter for the weekend. They took him to Billy Elliot (play) and then to the new Harry Potter movie. Sean ended up making two trips to Home Depot and I think, one trip to Lowe's for materials that the contractor needed. He became very stressed about the whole thing- the money the bar was costing, the time it was taking, having to bring Owen with him... so we stayed in the remainder of the day.

Sunday morning we went to my parent's house for brunch and to deliver our queen mattress that used to be in our guest room. Three kids in a four bedroom house eliminated our guest room and we had hopes of building a guest room in the basement so saved the mattress. Well- that theory didn't work as the box spring wouldn't make it down the stairs and into the tight turn to the room that would have become a bedroom. So- off to my parents house it went. We left there and rushed home to watch the football game (not sure why we were rushing since we had dvr'd it and could listen on the radio). The game was frustrating... and my fantasy team faired no better. so- losing day all around.

So- nothing crazy and exciting... you know you're getting old when you no longer have the fun, crazy stories from a weekend and are in bed by 9:30.

On to the week. With a short week, I haven't put too much thought into our menu. Our menu planning monday, inspired by Org Junkie:

Sunday- baked chicken breasts with broccoli
Monday- Vidalia Onion Roast hoagie sandwiches with horseradish and a side of cauliflower
Tuesday- bbq chicken and roasted potatoes
Wednesday- tacos
Thursday- Thanksgiving! We're having fried turkey, sweet potatoes and stuffing (thanks mom), mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, dinner rolls and Hunter is making a strawberry cream pie courtesy of what he learned in home ec class.
Friday- leftovers
Saturday- burgers and hot dogs

Hopefully I will do a little better sticking to this menu than last week!

Our busy week

Well- I knew going into it this week would be busy. Let's start with Sunday!

our photo shoot...The bee tried to eat the elephant.

Monday- the dentist. Ick. 1 cavity. To be filled in November.

Tuesday- Hunter's sports awards and choir concert. Doesnt he look cute thrilled to be going to a concert?

yep- the only one wearing a tie.... I came home and played with this:

Wednesday- a day to do nothing. A day to enjoy our kids and watch the Teen Mom reunion on my dvr...

Thursday- a cool day at work... could this be my new BFF?

After work, I went out to dinner with my 6 closest real BFF's.

Then there is Friday- busy day at work and then the weekend. Woot Woot!

Tell All Tuesday

Random thoughts:

• I have so much to do! I am working on a huge project at work and it is taking over my world. I go to bed and dream about it, think about it, plan next steps. I love it...but cannot find a way to wrap my arms around the whole project to finish it. The good thing is- I kind of volunteered for this project. Anything to make myself more useful/valuable can only be a good thing, right? I'm waiting for my boss to come in today to check on my progress and let me know if I'm at least heading in the right direction. I think I am- and am, in fact, quite proud of what it is shaping up to be. It's art related, and because I work in the sports industry, this project is completely out of my expertise, but I'm getting there. I'm going to be an art pro before you know it!
• At home, I did not do any cleaning this weekend, aside from laundry. And- I'm ok with that. We spent the weekend at home, but my priorities were my children- all three of them. Hunter needed me because of his surgery, and the babies always need me, so my messy house can wait. I'm hoping to tackle something tonight. Once I get organized to a point, Sean said we can get a cleaning lady. Please let me get organized soon.
• The dentist last night wasnt that bad. I actually like him- and this is the first dental office I have been to where I dont get talked down to. One cavity- so could be worse. It just means I'm stuck going back in November. Yikes!
• I came home from the dentist and Owen was waiting for me- kept asking for me when I was gone. It totally melted my heart. I think his routine was thrown off a bit since I'm the one who always picks him up from daycare. So- it was nice to have some extra cuddle time with him.
• I missed out on cuddle time with Quinlin as she took a nap when I got home. So- I got to feed her her bottle at 7:45 and put her to bed. She decided she didnt have enough time with me and preceeded to wake up at 1:20am. Back to bed she went about 1:45 but I was up the rest of the night.
• Dropped Owen and Quinlin off this morning and Owen was especially clingy. I felt bad leaving. The guilt of being a working mom. Then more guilt as Sean told me about a co-worker (or someone) who has a 2 year old son who was just diagnosed with cancer. I cannot wait to pick my kids up today and hug them.
• Hunter is getting more and more independent. Has a sports banquet at 4:15 today and he is hanging out with his buddies after school at a local restaurant and then heading to his banquet (which I'll miss- again the guilt of being a working mom). I get to pick up the babies from daycare, run them home, pick up Hunter and take him to his choir concert. I wish I could be in two places at once.
• I cant get Adam Lambert's songs out of my head. Driving.Me.Crazy!
• Is it wrong that I love Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant? I'm incredibly excited for the new seasons to begin.
• My Fantasy Football team blows...
• The babies had their photoshoot with my friend Colleen Colleen Reed Photography and I am having trouble picking out which photos to get on a disc. They are all so good! Do you not die over this face?

Or this one?

Love them!



Picture Day

Owen and Quinlin had picture day at daycare last week. We got the proofs back yesterday. My children are sooooo cute in person, not always the most photogenic, though when taken by the right photographer (ahem- plug for Colleen Reed Photography- http://colleenreed.zenfolio.com/) they really come out so adorable. (so- if you need a photographer, Colleen's your girl!)

The photographers that came to the daycare werent able to quite get the images I am used to. Quinlin was a ham... Owen- not so much. Pardon the quality- we were given a photocopy of the images so these were from my cell. These were my two favorites of Quinlin's. Not sure yet which one I'm going to order. Maybe I'll do both. Not sure which one will go in the class photo too.

Then there was Owen...

Could he look any more miserable and pathetic? He looks like he was just placed in time out. Again- even if I dont order a picture (which I almost feel obligated to because I dont want to show favortism with my children) I still have to pick a picture for his class photo. Ugh.

Luckily I have a small halloween photo shoot scheduled with Colleen this weekend. She can get Owen to smile!

Roger Waters Concert

So- last week I got an email from GE Smith asking if I'd be interested in seeing the Roger Waters Concert at the Q on Tuesday night. GE is currently touring with Roger and gets two tickets per show. I was so incredibly flattered that he invited us!!! I called Sean who was so excited and jumped at the chance. After checking with my boss, since that is how I have a relationship with GE, I immediately emailed him back and said we would love to go! He told me the show started at 8, but that they really didnt come on until 8:15pm. I was so glad he told me that! We drove downtown and I couldnt believe how many people I saw. I didnt realize how big a show this actually was- but the Q was sold out. I should have known- with how big Pink Floyd was- it was jam packed! We got to will call and there was an envelope with our name on it. The ticket lady opened it up and handed us the contents...

First- our ticket


Section 109, Row 5, Seats 1 and 2! we were on the right side of the stage (not floor) but lower sides (right side when facing stage but I guess to the artists left?). Fantastic seats! I forgot to bring my real camera, but a pic from my cell phone

Also inside my envelope were hospitality passes- woot woot!

How cool is that? it allowed us to get to the hospitality area to see the band prior to admission and intermission. We didnt make it down prior, but went down in intermission. It was a nice little area they set up in the visiting team's locker room at the Q. They had couches, restrooms and then an area with beer, water and chips. A few of the band members came down but it was pretty rushed. It was kind of funny to see some girls, completely dressed up....groupies maybe? LOL.

The show itself was amazing. The Plain Dealer took some great shots of the show:

You can see GE in the first shot playing guitar (hi GE!)

What a neat experience- such a fun night! Best part- it only cost us $10 for parking!

Weekend Recap

Our weekend was good- yet they always seem to go so fast!

Friday started with going to Eddie's Creekside with my parents. They were over watching Quinlin for the day so we took them to dinner as a thank you. Dinner was good until I started to not feel well. Once at home for a little while, I started feeling much better. One of the things that helped me feel better was the arrival of the above picture in my inbox.

My friend Colleen has a photography business and came over at the end of March to take some newborn photos of Quinlin and some pictures of the family. I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures!

Saturday was fun- I went to Rocknes for lunch with Tiffany and Mason, Krista, Melissa, her sister Erin and Erin's son Dawson and of course Quinlin and Owen. Hunter wanted to come but I thought he'd be bored. I think I'll bring him next time. After lunch, we went shopping at Aurora Farms. I only made it to a few stores before I knew Owen would have a complete meltdown. So home I went. Christine and Jay came over to see the family and have pizza. They are expecting and due at the end of July. My guess is that baby Jatzek is a boy so we'll see if I'm right.

Sunday ended up being a day of running around in Mentor. went shopping while we waited for Hunter to finish with his hebrew lesson. back home for a day of laundry. I still have about 4 loads left to do, in addition to putting everything away. Our weekend just never seems long enough- never enough time to catch up with everything.