And then there were two.

Wow, talk about a change of pace.  This is what the kitchen looks like tonight.  Quite a change from yesterday.  And if I'm being honest, I liked yesterday much more!

But thank you Mom and Dad for meeting us today!  I got a couple hours extra work in because of it!  And you got to spend a little time him.  I appreciate it!

The Kitchen Table.

The kitchen.  The heart of the house.  Frequently used for cooking, more often used as the central meeting place.  If it's an important conversation, it takes place in the kitchen.  Good news, bad news...it's all delivered around the kitchen table.  Family meetings, family meals, family visits.  If you want to know what's going on, hang out in the kitchen.  Or just sit in the living room, smiling as everyone else congrgates around the table.

He's Home!!!

A big thank you to Ms. Hendrick and Logan for bringing Hunter home today!  I can't think of a better way to spend Parents Weekend!

I confess.

It's been a crazy week.  I seem to say that every week, but some are crazier than others.  I'm counting down the hours until tomorrow.  Not only is it Friday, but we'll all be graced with Hunters company for the weekend and I know we're all looking forward to it.  Will's looking forward to having two full days off of band.  Jeff's looking forward to not going to work - did I mention it's been a crazy week for him too?

Anyway, since I'm sneezy and achy, I didn't really feel like doing much today.  That includes tracking down my camera to take a picture for the day.  Instead, after I worked until I couldn't see anymore, I spent the rest of the afternoon on Facebook.  There are a couple of people that I follow that make me laugh and that's exactly what I needed.  Mom-spirational is one of my favorites (you should like her page if you need a good laugh!).  Anyway, today she shared her 8 top "confessions".  She still adds on her fingers, she's afraid of ticks, etc. So I thought I would follow suit.  I mean really, who knows everything about everyone?  I'm sure the boys will laugh at a few and find out a few things they didn't know.  One day, I'll get everyone else to confess to a few things too.  So here goes...

Confession #8 - I'm picky about toilet paper.  It's the one thing in the house that I will overspend on to get what I want.  No exceptions.

Confession #7 - I would love to write a book.  I'm a JK Rowling wanna be.  Somewhere between Harry Potter and the Twilight you'll find my teen female witch/superhero.  She'll be better than Bella and badder than Buffy.  Maybe one day.

Confession #6 - I feel guilty when I kill bugs.  They have a family too.

Confession #5 - As much as I like Maineville, I miss Columbus.  Not the city, not the houses or traffic - just the people.  As much as we can all drive each other crazy, I just miss being around family sometimes.  It gets awfully lonely here.

Confession #4 - At least once a day (when I'm the only one home), I'm positive someone is breaking into the house.  Normally, it's the dogs making noise over my head, but for a split second it's terrifying.

Confession #3 - I pray every night before bed.  I know that I don't go to church on Sundays and I don't "re-post" every picture of Jesus that pops up on Facebook.  But don't for one second believe that my faith has ever waivered.  I just chose to have a more one on one conversation with the Big Guy. 

Confession #2 - I've been know to sneak a Twinkie (or other snack) in the pantry to avoid the kids catching me.  I didn't want them to ruin their dinner.

Confession #1 -  I've rooted for the other team when we were one run away from being run ruled and the game had lasted for hours.  I mean really, how long can a t-ball game last?  I was tired.  

AhChooooo!

You guessed it.  It's allergy season again.  Will finished his antibiotics today and I started mine.  Unfortunately, when you have ragweed growing in the yard, there is no escaping it.  We've tried for weeks but it got the better of both of us.  I hate to rush fall along, but we need a good freeze.  

And just in case you're wondering, the Vicks is for my feet.  Rumor has it that if you put it on your feet and cover them with socks, you'll rid yourself of the horrible cough.  I'll let you know how it works.  Side note, I'll try anything to rid myself of the cough!

Laughed Out Loud!

This is me.  This is definitely me.  If it's you, you'll laugh (out loud!).  If it's not, consider yourself blessed.

Old McDonald....

I swear, some days it's like living with a farm full of animals.  Don't get me wrong.  I love each of the three dogs, the cat, the 2 dozen fish and the resident wren, but keeping them all under control is a bit of a chore sometimes.  If we're not tripping over a tennis ball or stepping on an antler, we're cleaning biofilters and sifting cat litter.  And they're always getting into something they shouldn't.  ALWAYS.

Case in point, my new birds nest.  I spent a week tracking down the materials to make it.  If you close your eyes, you can see it filled with green fur and a teeny child sleeping it in.  Perfect for a studio prop.  Just to clarify, it was not made for the cat.  Not intended for animal use.  Certainly not intended to be a hiding spot from the husky.  But then again, what do I know?

A Step Back.

A day off!  What better way to spend it that with Jeff, Will and Daniel at Old West Fest.  The day was sunny and bright.  The gunfight was action packed.  The Medicine Show included a fire juggler.  Who could ask for more?  And while the weather was better, the boys didn't get hitched while we where there so I'm not sure it was quite the success that last year was.  But any afternoon that ends with a trip to Starbucks can't be all that bad.  Here are some of the highlights....

Sometimes....

the best pictures are the one that I don't take.  I love finding random pictures of the boys from someone else's perspective.  Since I can't be with them all the time (although I would love to be!), it's nice to get to see what they're doing when they're away.  So thank you to the people who post those wonderful moments that I couldn't capture myself.

After School Love

I love school days.  Well, not the whole day - just the two hours after school when Will gets home and hangs out at the kitchen table.  He plays music (ok, not my kind of music), taps his feet and makes conversation.  During band season, it's only one day a week that I get to enjoy his company so I cherish it even more.  But today I found myself with lots of work to do and not as much time to spend with the toe tapper.  Thankfully, I happened to pop up to see him just as the visitors arrived.  We spent at least 1/2 an hour wandering from room to room and finally to the deck, taking their pictures that whole time.  Will and I didn't get as much time today, but at least we got to share these beauties.  

Brrr...

Holy cow, it's cold in here!  And that's warmer than it was a few minutes ago.  I've resorted to opening the windows to warm the house.  I refuse to turn the heat on yet!  But, if this continues, my frozen toes may disagree.  Isn't it amazing how 71 degrees can be so warm in the spring yet feel so cold in the fall?

All about nothing.

Yep, I'm tired and I don't have anything to blog about.  I was going to take a minute to tell you how excited I am that it's Survivor Night but I figured you've already heard that one.  Then I was going to talk about politics since there's material I just can't pass up.  But then I figured I could run off some people.  My next thought was to vent about the stupid yearbook committee that listed Will as a senior but seriously, you don't want to hear me swear that much!  Up next was Toccoa and her injury, but since she's running around like a chicken with her head cut off, getting a picture of her injured leg is a little difficult and obviously not so injured.  I could have taken a picture of the rock oil lamp that we found at the Renaissance Festival, but since it's drying out after I spilled lamp oil all over it, it's kinda boring.  Which only leaves me with this...the meme that made me giggle.  Is it Friday yet?

What I learned.....

 Any idea what wooden dowels, binder clips and dollar store ribbon have in common?  Ok, that was a little bit of a trick question.  What they have in common is they were all required items to complete my birthday hat for Saturdays cake smash.  I don't generally use the blog to post tutorials, but this one was cool.  And once I figured out how to do it, I felt a little silly.  I mean, really, it's that easy?  You see, I was trying to make the cork screw curled ribbons.  The same ones that moms are charged an arm and leg for.  So here's how it worked....

First, wrap the ribbon around the dowel and secure each end with a binder clip.  It took about two minutes to do all four.

Second, bake the wrapped dowels for 20 minutes at 250 degrees.  I caught up on email and Facebook while I was waiting.

After they cool (about 5-10 more minutes), unwrap the ribbons.  Again, it didn't even take two minutes.  

At this point, you can tie them together in bunches, add a clip and embellishments.  I'll try that another time.  Here's my finished product.  I love it, the client loves it and by this time on Saturday it'll be covered in cake and icing.  at least I know it won't take much effort to recreate it.

It's not the camera, it's the moment.

I think today may have been Jeff's favorite day of the year.   The best part of season finales are the season premiers.  We've been waiting for Bones to return since May...nothing like a good cliff hanger to make you tune in, commercials and all, just to see the story continue.  Apparently, Toccoa was waiting too.  She stuck around the living room for the whole show, but sat in front of the TV for the last few minutes, just to see the end.  Obviously, I'm not the only one that loves Booth!

Please ignore the quality of the photo.  I took it with my phone.  And as someone said today, sometimes the best camera to use is the one you have with you.  Glad I got to capture the moment!

Arrgg!

Ah, what a great Sunday.  A well deserved day off for everyone.  No working, no painting, no housework, no cooking.  Well, a little cooking since we had to put the ingredients in the crock pot.  So what to do with the day?  With temperatures in the 70's and free tickets to the Renaissance festival, that's where we headed.  It's been a couple of years since we've been there.  Best I can remember, the last visit was before Marching Band took over all fall activities.  Anyway, we had such a great time.  Lots of shops, lots of food and lots of pirates.  Aaaarrrrgggg!

So thank you Jeff for a great day.  And thank you for letting me talk you into this.....

Snarky?

Yes, it's a word.  I'm thinking it may actually be in Websters Dictionary by now.  But if not, Urban Dictionary defines it as  - any language that contains quips or comments containing sarcastic or satirical witticisms intended as blunt irony. Snarkiness is usually delivered in a manner that is somewhat abrupt and out of context and intended to stun and amuse.  It's the lazy mans version of SNide remARK.

Now that we all are clear on the definition, lets all pretend that we've never behaved that way.  No snarky comments, no snarky thoughts, no snarky remarks behind someones back.  Really?  Who are we kidding?  I think I'm married to the King of Snark and have given birth to the Princes of Snarkiness.  Truthfully, I think it might be rubbing off on me.  Hard to believe, right?  

Anyway, I've spent the last few weeks trying to channel all of my snarkiness into four trading cards with no success.  But with the week (ok, the month!) we've had, when I sat down to work on them today, I managed to complete them all in record time.  I figure that while questionable in character...they'll at least make you laugh!  

A Taste of Home

Classes, clubs and concerts.  That's Hunters new schedule at Ohio State.  I don't envy him the classes or the clubs, but I'm definitely a little jealous of the concert part.  Especially since he had 3rd row seats at the Trace Adkins show last night.  But since I could feel his smile in the texts he send during the show, I'm just thrilled he got to see him, enjoy himself and let loose for an evening.  Even if it intensified his desire for a truck and a taste of home.  Hope you're enjoying yourself Hunter....you're gonna miss this!

 

A Ringer!

It's official!  Will's a sophomore and he has the class ring to prove it!

I know we didn't get ours until our senior year, but that's just not how they do it anymore.  Apparently, getting it in your sophomore "gives students more time to wear them and show they're school spirit".  That's what the brochure said.  Since we ordered in the spring, we being waiting patiently to see the final result.  Here it is.  And it's beautiful.  Or handsome.  Or whatever you call mens jewelry.  How about really cool?

Just funny.

Since it's been a rather uneventful day (unless you want to hear Jeff, Will or myself complain about being overworked, underpaid, tired, cranky and all around ready for a weekend), I decided to post the funniest thing I saw today.  It definitely describes a few boys that I know and it makes me laugh every time I see it.

It's the 11th.

While there are million other things I could write about this evening, each would be overshadowed by the events that took place on 9/11.  It's amazing how a moment can be frozen in your mind forever.  I know that the boys will not remember where they were, what they were doing or how the tragedy played out .  But those of us that were watching the day unfold before our eyes will never forget.  In a day and age of instant replay, you would think that after eleven years, it wouldn't still take my breath away when I saw footage of the second plane hitting the tower.  No true.  As I watched it today, I felt the same horror that crept into every Americans heart that morning.  Maybe we should watch it more often.  Not to frighten our children, but to remind them of the way we came together.  One nation, under God, indivisible.  A nation united with a common resolve to ensure none of our children would ever have to experience pain and loss of that magnitude.  So as we enter a season of division and difference, remember that while we may disagree, we are still that same great nation.  Never forget.

GoDaddy Went Down...

and so did my website!

GoDaddy is the host to more than 5 million websites.  Unfortunately today I was one of them.  In a matter of minutes, their servers were flooded with enough data to crash them.  It took a few minutes for the world to realize that it was a large scale problem.  And about five minutes later, a "hack-tavist" took to Twitter to claim responsibility.  In the mean time, millions of small business users like myself sat and waited for business to be restored.  Thankfully, I had a whole house to clean so I had plenty to keep me busy.  But one will always wonder how many emails I missed, how many potential customers tried to get to our website.   I'm still amazed how dependent we are on technology and how our daily lives can be affected by a single individual with a plan to be destructive.  This on the eve of the 11th anniversary of September 11th.

Marching 110

Another weekend is coming to a close and it's been a busy one.  But no one had a busier weekend than Will.  After a lightening filled Friday night football game, he boarded the bus at 7:30am yesterday morning to head to Athens.  There, the Marching Panthers took part in the Ohio University Band Day.  Little Miami has been lucky enough to be included for the last several years.  Although it's a long weekend (he didn't get home until after 4am this morning!), Will really enjoyed it.  Not every band gets the honor of performing both the pregame and halftime show on a college field in front of a national audience.

Needless to say, he's extremely tired and could use an extra day off of school to recuperate.  But he's young and rebounds much faster than the rest of us.  I'm sure he'll be all set by next weekend when he has football and another band festival!

Vinoklet

I love wine.  Almost as much as I love the marching band.  So when we get the chance to help the band and follow it up with a sip on wine, I'm in.  Jeff...well, he's a really good sport about it and tags along.  Mark does too.  Once the rain moved out and left us with cooler temps and sunny skies, the day was beautiful.  And I think everyone in Cincinnati was out to enjoy it.  We did more than double the business this year that we did last year.  It was a win/win.  Vinoklet got great band parents to staff all the booths and we got to end our shift with an amazing glass of wine.

What's Your Vote?

Oh, were to start.  Since the evening was a total disaster...I think I'll focus on something positive.  Although, I'm not sure these are it!  I'll let everyone here have the final say.  Will was very excited when he arrived home today to find his new shoes here waiting for him.  He's been looking for them for weeks, apparently they're a little hard to find.  Maybe because they're from the 80's!  Anyway, he's thrilled.  I think they're a little..well, I don't want to be rude so let's just say that I wouldn't wear them.  But he loves them and that's all that matters!

Frugal...or creative?

This will come as no new news to those that know me, but I'm kinda frugal.  I clip coupons.  We only get magazine subscriptions I can find for free on the internet.  I haven't passed a clearance section in any store - EVER.  I do have a weakness for handbags, but I've even limited those to outlets and discontinued patterns (thank you, Vera Bradley!).

That being said, one place I try not to skimp is in the studio.  Spending a lot on a new backdrop is normal.  Antiques and vintage props never come cheap.  Fur, it's about $36 per yard.  You'd be amazed at what floors cost.  But being the "cheap" one, if I can make it for less...why not?

So after I spend months trying to find a vintage, weathered wood crate for babies, I gave up.  I just couldn't bring myself to pay $50-$100 for old wood.  Thank goodness for Michaels and Pinterest.  Who knew that a little apple cider vinegar and some steel wool would make it easy for me?  I know it sounds crazy, but if you soak the wool in the vinegar over night....homemade stain.  And the combo oxidizes the wood and you have instant old!  Just in time for my newest baby session tomorrow.  And the cost?  A whopping $17 - and I have 90 percent of the steel wool still left over.  Time for a new project, I guess!

Before

After

What Not to Do!

To my college student, watch where you ride your bike!  To the 18 year old currently in the hospital, prayers and thoughts for a speedy recovery.  Oh, and don't try to be faster than a dump truck that can't see you.  

Mr. Roboto

My heavens, let me tell you how early 6:20am is.  I know that we don't get to "sleep in" in the summer, but that's quite a change from our normal routine.  But only minutes after I swatted the alarm clock, dragged myself out of bed and went in search of coffee, I found Will in the kitchen all dressed and ready to go.  He looked wonderful...an entire outfit designed to match the piece de resistance....his new belt buckle.  Nothing says it's the first day of school like a new, shiny belt buckle.  A gift from the only person who would spend his first days at Ohio State searching out the most unique buckle out there.  So thank you Hunter....you made the first early morning of school very comical!  And thank you Will for getting up, getting ready and riding the whole way to school with a smile on your face!

End of the Summer.

As we speak, the sun is setting on our last day of summer.  According to the calendar, the last day of the season is still a few weeks away.  But on the eve of the first day of school, we say good bye to the carefree days of summer.  The days with no alarm clocks, no bed times, no homework.  We'll replace them with early mornings, last minute projects and report cards.  I would be lying if I didn't say that we were all somewhat looking forward to it.  Along with all of the hassle comes a little more routine.  The chaos of the summer, while fun, can be exhausting.

But as I sit here, awaiting the fall colors and chilling winds of winter, I am sad.  This particular summer has been such a season of growth for everyone in the family.  Hunter is an adult.  He's fully engrossed with his new home, new schedule and new experiences.  Will will be driving to the first day of his Sophomore year.  The first year he'll ever attend without his big brother.  Both beginning a journey of independence. And Jeff and I find ourselves a little closer to being the parents of grown men.  It'll be interesting to see what the next year brings.

Ahhhh....

What a great day!  As everyone knows, I've been waiting for today for 20 days.  Will, Jeff and I were out the door at the crack of dawn this morning to make it to Columbus for our first visit with Hunter.  It's amazing what a difference 3 weeks can make.  Living on his own agrees with him.

The only thing missing from the day was Charlie, Cary and the kids.  And boy, were they missed!  It's just not a family gathering without them!  But I want to thank everyone for such a wonderful day.  There is nothing like family.  Some days you want to kill them, but they are the one thing in life that is yours.  No one can replace them.  They make you laugh, they make you cry, but most of all...they are the warm, fuzzy feeling you can't get anywhere else.  I hope everyone has as much fun as I did....some days are just too great for words.

YeeHaw!

I've been waiting for today since January.  Hunter has been waiting all summer.  Jeff and Will, begrudgingly, agreed to participate.

The Buckeyes, now lead by Urban Meyer, took the field today in their season opener at home.  Hunter got to sit in the student section and wear the Ohio State colors for the first time.  In an effort not to squelch Will's excitement, Jeff agreed to watch the game.  Yep, he's still mad about Urban Meyer.  In true Buckeye form, they killed it.  And while it was a little difficult to watch at times (a Little Miami player wore the opposing uniform), it was a great way to start the season.

But the big game has just begun.  The Cowboys Classic is what they call it.  An evening full of heart stopping football is what I call it.  Michigan vs. the reigning national champions. I don't know whether I should do the Hokey Pokey or hide in the closet until it's over.  And everyone in the family is settled in the see the outcome.  I'll say it once, then I'll go watch what could be a great game.  GO BLUE!