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Candi

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Back to School Photography ideas

There are 101 things wrong with these photos, but I am sharing them anyways. I had this whole vision on how I wanted these photos to look, but I didn’t make plans to get really good photos. So I had to work with what I have.

Things have only gotten busier since the kids have gone back to school. But pretty much it’s been the same old – same old. School, football practices, football games, homework, CCD, dance classes. Karli tried out for The Nutcracker at dance and she made it (for 3 numbers in the hour long performance), however we had to turn it down because we literally are already stretched so thin we have no time left! Every night we are running somewhere. As for myself I started working out 3 days a week since school started. I’ve been doing Zumba twice a week and then just circuit machines the other day. I keep saying I am going to walk or some other sort of activity on the other days, but that doesn’t always happen. These kids are keeping me hoppin’!

Karli - 2nd Grade

Chase - 3rd Grade

Blake  - 6th Grade

Andrew - Sophmore

doggy dogs, videos

Dogs

I installed the Viddy app on my iPhone the other day. It’s an app where you post 15 second videos and share them with other users or post to other social networks. Of course I haven’t had time to record any videos since then. Here was my first Viddy! It was funny how I called the dogs girls and Shaggy barked like he was saying “I’m a boy!”

A video of me rocking Daisy to sleep. She is such a cuddlebug!

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How about some honesty

I’m feeling a bit sassy tonight so don’t mind me if you are not up for a bit of straight up honesty. I can’t help but chuckle at some of the blog posts I’ve read here lately where moms are getting all sentimental about their kids going back to school. That’s all fine and dandy, I mean many of you are living the life I had years ago before I became a work at home mom. I too was drowning my sorrows in a pint of ice cream the night before their first day back. Oh wait, maybe that was just because I had to wake up before 9am?

Anyways, I do relate to some extent, but now that my kids are at the ages; 15, 11, 8, and 7 (AND I LOVE THEM DEARLY!!) – they need some mental and physical stimulation that I simply can not provide for them. I can’t just throw a basket of toys on the floor or a box of Legos and hope they keep busy for a couple of hours. Telling them,”Go outside and play!” just doesn’t work anymore. They have to be entertained, taken places, or invite friends over to be happy. They like to create chaos and noise. They are sick of me too, trust me. We all need a break from one another, especially the kids from each other. They are at the point they are so bored all they do is annoy one another all day. I have actually heard the words out of their mouths, “I can’t wait to go back to school!”

With that said I have to give a humongous thank you to all the teachers out there who will soon be making my life a bit more manageable. I don’t know what I would do without you. XOXOXO!! Granted our days are still going to be incredibly insane with kids in 3 different schools and all the homework and studying that will soon commence. But the fact that we will have a quiet house from 8am until 2:45 everyday is making my heart sing!

Now that I already sound like the worst mother ever …I would like to share all of the things that I will not be missing once my kids are back in school. Mind you this doesn’t really include my 15 year old. That would be a problem if it did. All he really does to bug me is nap in the middle of the day since he gets up at 7am for football 4 days a week. If momma aint’ napping, no one should be napping.

Hearing the kids bickering over the computer anytime I step away from my desk.
Cleaning up their messes in the kitchen hour after hour because no one can seem to eat at the same time.
Hearing them whine how there is no food in the house.
Telling them over and over again to take a shower and to brush their teeth.
Finding band-aid wrappers all over for the endless boo boo’s that they give one another.
Walking down the hallway and hearing their TV’s on in their rooms when no one is there.
Picking up socks off the floor in the family room. (Why even put them on in the first place?)
Seeing 21 cups on my island in just a few hours time.
Telling them to BE QUIET whenever our business line rings.
Putting away the carton of milk since no one else can.
Hearing the dogs bark when their friends come to the door and ring the darn doorbell.
Tripping over their roller blades when I walk into the garage.
Yelling at their friends to get out of our garage. (Cuz no one is allowed near Daddy’s Camaro!)
Finding their clothes on the floor in the half bath from when they change into their swimsuits.
Picking up wet towels all around the pool.
Searching for PS3 game cases for discs that are left sitting on top of my entertainment center.
Listening to each one of them say “It wasn’t me!” when they are getting in trouble.

Okay okay, summer wasn’t THAT bad. I really did enjoy most of it. It wasn’t until a week ago when I felt like I had my fill of frustrations. And really that’s not too bad. That means I lasted 9 weeks without wishing summer vacation was over. You really can not understand how I feel unless you are running a business out of your home. I know we created this situation and 9 months out of the year it is the absolute perfect scenario. Maybe that is our trade-off. Pure heaven 75% of the year, the other 25% is quite the battle. Maybe I shouldn’t complain?

There are only 12 more days to go and only 7 of those days are work days. Next week I want to let each of the kids pick one fun thing to do before they go back to school. Karli is actually having hers tonight. She has invited a friend to come stay the night, on a work night, which is usually against the rules!

Leave me your honest opinion about your kids going back to school.

Don’t worry, I’ll have my emotional moment later. It may not come until November when they snow is falling and I realize the house is too quiet, but it will come eventually.

doggy dogs, videos

Cutest Puppies!

In case you’ve been wondering what I’ve been doing lately…well these little stinkers pretty much say it all. My last post when I said they were like having a baby, well it’s almost worse. At least a baby wears a diaper and naps a lot more. Daisy and Pippa do nap a lot, but its not for very long and when they wake up I immediately have to take them outside. Then they eat and then have to outside again. It’s a vicious circle that never ends. At least they are finally sleeping until I get up at 7am. They potty, eat, play, and then go back to sleep…in result I go back to sleep too! I end up sleeping until like 10am every day. It’s crazy and really I can’t wait to get back on a schedule.

We have been so darn stinkin busy with football. Ken took over as area head coach for our youth football league. This is the same league that Andrew started out playing in when he was 8 years old. This year we have all 3 younger kids in the program. This will be Blake’s last year before he goes on to play for the junior high and Chase and Karli both have several more years to go. I never thought it was going to be an easy road and wasn’t exactly thrilled when Ken was asked to take over. I know my husband better than anyone and he doesn’t do anything halfway. He gives 110%, especially when it comes to sports. Unfortunately I get sucked in as well. It’s hard not to help. I don’t really have to do anything except the website and I offered to do the weekly newsletter. But somehow I was helping fit cheerleaders with uniforms the other day and next week I need to help get more parents to volunteer for games and fundraisers. There is just so much involved!

Here is another video for you. Its not very clear, but still funny enough. Andrew made up this dance a few weeks ago and his buddy was taping them with Blake’s iPod. I couldn’t help but snag it from him. Andrew was complaining because he said the dance isn’t complete! LOL!! Andrew’s talking reminds me of an aerobic instructor…so encouraging! Haha!

blog, holidays & occassions

Karli’s 7th birthday party

Karli had her first all friends birthday party a few weeks ago. We decorated a little bit with a luau theme. Since it was beautiful outside we were able to keep everyone outside, which was nice. They all swam, ate cupcakes and took a shot at the pinata. Everyone got along great, had fun, and didn’t want to leave. Karli constantly keeps asking now to have all of her friends over to swim! Also this weekend she gets to have another party with all family…lucky her!

The funniest moment of the party is when I heard one of Karli’s friends ask her, “Does this swimsuit make me look fat?” LOLOL!!!

Karli 7th Birthday party

Karli 7th Birthday party

Karli 7th Birthday party

Karli 7th Birthday party

Karli 7th Birthday party

Karli 7th Birthday party

Karli 7th Birthday party

Karli 7th Birthday party

Karli 7th Birthday party

Karli 7th Birthday party

doggy dogs

8 is enough

Daisy & Pippa - 6 weeks

I thought I would share the story of how we became parents to our new Pomeranian puppies. First off, I know you are all thinking, what is wrong with these people!! They already have 2 dogs and 4 kids who keep them extremely busy…what are they thinking? Well, for one, we love dogs. That’s pretty obvious. We had a Pomeranian for almost 14 years and had to have her put to sleep several months ago. Secondly, we are blessed with being able to work from home so in reality we are the best type of people to have puppies/dogs. We are home with our pets more than most people who have dogs and have to leave for work all the time. Yet that doesn’t mean that we went out and bought 2 dogs on purpose. Here is what happened…

Over the past month I became pretty obsessed with trying to find an all white Pomeranian. Ken kept saying that he didn’t want to get another Pom because no one could replace Pooh. The more and more I kept looking at pictures of these stinkin cute puppies, the more I wanted one.

Karli begging for a new puppy!
Karli begging for a new puppy!

About a week ago I found an ad for a really cute white puppy from a local shelter. It was a mix of a Yorkie and a Shih tzu. Not exactly the type of dog I was looking for, but mutts make such great pets and I thought it would be nice to adopt a homeless puppy rather than buy from a breeder. Unfortunately we waited to long to make up our minds and someone else adopted her. Then Ken and I had a conversation about how busy we are going to be soon with all 3 boys playing football and Karli cheering and her dance classes, etc. I started to feel overwhelmed and I agreed it probably wasn’t the best idea.

That didn’t stop me from still checking the several websites that I was stalking every night while laying in bed with my iPad. I just couldn’t stop looking because what if I found the exact puppy I was looking for…then it was meant to be, right? Last Thursday night I found the ad for our puppies. They were located in Battle Creek, just under a couple of hours from us. Well less if driving the Camaro, LOL. When Ken came to bed I showed him the photo of all 4 puppies that the breeder had posted. Of course he thought they were super cute and I took that as a sign that I should probably contact the breeder and see if they had any puppies left.

Karli and I out shopping
Mommy Daughter shopping day!

The next day when Karli and I were out shopping for her birthday party supplies the breeder called me. He told me they had all 4 puppies left; 3 females and 1 male and that they were 6 weeks old and would be ready to find homes on August 10th. When I got home I filled Ken in and he actually went along with it and was ready to pick out a puppy. Although he said we should drive to Battle Creek and pick out our puppy, rather than my idea of trying to reserve one based off of photos and the breeders description of the puppies.

Several hours later we were at their home, sitting on their floor, playing with the puppies. There was 1 female, the runt, that I originally thought I would want because she was the smallest. But she was so shy and timid and wouldn’t look at you in the face. My Yorkie already has a similar personality and we didn’t think she would be the best fit considering we have other dogs. The other 2 females were so playful and adorably cute. We finally picked which one we wanted, paid a deposit, signed an agreement, made arrangements to get our puppy in 2 weeks and were on our way. We had planned to stop at FireKeepers Casino since we were right there and had never been there before.

Our puppies parents
Daisy & Pippa's parents

The entire way there I kept asking Ken if we picked out the best puppy. The two females that we liked were so hard to tell apart. One of them gave lots of kisses and the other one was just as playful, but a bit more ornery than the other. She kept tackling the other puppies and you could just tell she was real spunky. Ken wanted the more loving puppy, but I wasn’t 100% confident that we picked the right one. Finally Ken said something how we should have just gotten them both. Next thing you know we are pulling in the casino and I suggested that we take the cash that we were going to waste at the casino and buy the second puppy instead. I also thought that we might be able to take the puppies home that night if we bought two of them since the most important part of the puppies growth during the 6 – 8 week mark has to do with socialization with its siblings. The puppies had already been weaned from their mother and she was already at the point where she wanted nothing to do with them. We called up the breeders and told them we would take the two females if we could take them home that night.

They are getting tons and tons and tons of attention!
Daisy & Pippa - 6 weeks

Daisy & Pippa - 6 weeks

Daisy & Pippa - 6 weeks

It took some convincing, but the breeders finally accepted our offer and we came back and paid for both puppies! Ken had stopped at a gas station to buy a blanket for the puppies to lay on in my lap for the ride home. I was cracking up because he came out with two fleece blankets that we large enough to cover an adult. LOL! I told him I am so lucky to have married a guy that crazy enough to go along with my insane ideas…like driving out of town to buy a puppy and end up coming home with two!

They absolutely love to play in the grass.
Daisy & Pippa - 6 weeks

Daisy & Pippa - 6 weeks

Pippa and Daisy are the sweetest things ever. They are actually both very playful and we realized that the puppy that we originally bought was the instigator! Good thing we ended up with two of them or she would have been tormenting the crap out of our dogs. Today I watched Pippa drag Daisy across the floor by her tail. We took them to the Vet today and Pippa is 2.4 pounds and Daisy is 1.6 pounds. Funny thing is Daisy looks bigger because her fur is a bit more fluffy than Pippa. The only way we can really tell them apart is Daisy is a shade more white than Pippa and the paw pads on the bottom of their back paws are different. Pippa’s are a mixture of pink and black, where as Daisy’s are all pink with only one black pad.

Daisy & Pippa - 6 weeks

Daisy & Pippa - 6 weeks

I love them dearly, but boy oh boy…it’s like having a baby all over again. We always said we wanted twins! They are waking me up at 3am-ish and then again at 7am. This summer I have been enjoying sleeping in a bit, but not anymore. Today Tori finally started playing with them a bit. So far Shaggy just barks at them whenever they start playing. We keep saying it’s like he is the grumpy old grandpa dog now. Now that we have 4 kids and 4 dogs…I think our family is officially complete.

Daisy & Pippa - 6 weeks

Daisy & Pippa - 6 weeks

doggy dogs

Pippa & Daisy

Meet the newest members of our family…Pippa and Daisy. 6 week old Pomeranians.
Details coming….been a busy day!

20110730-075306.jpg

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$30 for some good laughs

Anyone download the new operating system on their Mac yet? The OS X Lion? Other than the scrolling being the opposite of what it was (unless you adjust the settings) and the Launchpad…I think I just paid $30 to have some new photo booth effects.

sPlaying with OS X Lion upgrades

Playing with OS X Lion upgrades

Playing with OS X Lion upgrades

Playing with OS X Lion upgrades