bobbing for apples

so i dropped my iphone in the toilet.
clean water in case you wondered.
i yelled, "NO!"
but it was so quietly that my children didn't wake up.
I grabbed it out.
tried not to cry. (it's only a phone)
"but it was my birtday present" (say that like the bunny on Robin Hood.)
turned it off.
watched the screen fizzle to black.
asked lincoln if he purchased insurance.
tried not to cry.
this morning lincoln was too curious, and turned it on.
it works.
i turned it off, to give it more time to dry.
please oh please.

a few dance images....

Here are a few of the photographs I took of the dancer. It was raining on us for a few of these images, but we still had a good time. She was supposed to have a white romantic length tutu on with the burgundy corset, but she forgot a "crucial" part of that costume. I don't love the short black one for these.

I GET TO DO THIS SEVERAL MORE TIMES!!!!! I am so glad I had a test run with Rose. She was up for anything, and next time I will put a longer lens on my camera for the pier shots! =)


I am so lucky!

Do you have a favorite?

A little girl time...

I got to have a few minutes alone with Talia tonight.

First, a trip to Target. I went for diapers and some leave in conditioner. I left with way more than that. Target is evil...I call it the $80 store. I always go in for one thing and leave with 20.

Then we went to Talia's ballet school to drop off a proof book. I photographed an amazing dancer named Rose, and we are showing the other dancers her pictures so they will want to book with me. Photographing Rose was one of the funnest things I have done in a long time.

The teacher invited us to sit and watch a few dances, and it was so fun! Talia enjoyed it. I got choked up, but hid it. I miss it. I would love to go back to class, and am really considering it now.

On the way home we were merging onto the freeway and Talia said, "Whoa, there are SO many cars out of their driveways! Where are they going?"

Then she added, "I know! They are out looking for their lost children."

"Or, going out to eat."

"Or, going on a DATE!"

I bit my lip and tried not to laugh. She is silly! It is nice to have a little time with just her.

a bit of bliss

I had to get everyone's attention as Simone stood up by herself in the middle of the room.

"Oh my goodness----Look------Simone!"

Simone stood up straight, and she was delighted with her new found skill.

Then her happy feet walked over to me with her tiny arms raised.

9 steps. A personal best for her! Tomorrow she'll try to beat it I am sure.

(ignore glowing dog)

It looks as though we have entered a new stage of baby proofing.

attic underway

The construction has started on our attic! I am so excited. It is going to be a little slice of heaven up there! We are doing the front half as a office space and the back half as a bed room.

Lincoln went upstairs to ask the men working upstairs what their plans for lunch were.

Lincoln- "What are you planning to do for lunch?" Points to watch to suggest a break.

Worker #1- in broken english, "We brought lunch." Points to our driveway where his truck is parked.

Lincoln nods.

Worker #2- nodding happily "Lunch tomorrow, tomorrow. Okay! Tomorrow!"

Lincoln came downstairs with a confused smile on his face. "I think I am going to have to buy these guys lunch tomorrow."

It's not a big deal. They are working so hard, and it is HOT up there. The vent work is going in tonight, so tomorrow should be much cooler for them. It'll be so nice upstairs, they'll want to eat their pizza up there.

(I am looking for carpet recommendations. I am clueless. Does anyone have some advice? I wanted to do WHITE hardwood floors and white walls up there, but was talked out of it. I do want it to be a quiet place, so carpet is the way to go.)

the rest of the blossoms.....

These photos make me absolutely gleeful! I love every single one! They aren't perfect. Some are missing a beautiful little white caridagan that was in the bedroom with a sleeping baby. Some are missing brushed hair. Some are a perfect representation of how I feel about my children, and how they light up my life. They are going to make the most beautiful album ever. I wish the cherry blossoms would have stayed a little longer. We had some strong storms that knocked them off a little too soon for me.

(I lied. These are not the rest of the blossom pictures. For my birthday my Mom and Dad gave me their old Polaroid camera! I love it! Film is very expensive because they longer make it for this camera. I spent $72 on film and did the math so my kids knew how much each picture cost....so they would sit still!! The sound this camera makes is pure heaven for me. The sound of the motor loading film, or the picture ejecting accompanied many happy times while I was growing up. The sound...oh, the memories it brings back. Not clear memories exactly, but just the happiest feeling that all is well in the world. It's strange how a sound can do that. Again, I love it. I shot 5 polaroid pictures under the blossoms. I will scan them soon. The film I bought was called "artistic"...artistic meaning, "made with expired chemicals...cross your fingers....we have know idea what you will get!" I got some okay stuff, some a little bright and some a little dark. Now I have to post them!)

A seven year old.

Wyatt turned seven on May 1st. We did the babysitting co-op that night and threw him a birthday bash! There is this bakery that I want to visit everyday. (Cakes Plus---thanks Sara!) I love their cakes. Really. I was being sneaky and cut a "mini piece" to shove in my mouth after the kids had left the kitchen. Don't worry, I had already had two regular pieces. With some of the most delicious frosting on my face, I turned to Lincoln and said, "HOW in the world is this cake better than any of the other cakes I have eaten in MY WHOLE LIFE? How is that possible?"

He smiled, and agreed with me.

Enough about the cake.

My boy! SEVEN! He is so tall. He is so handsome. He doesn't know how to use a napkin, so he uses his clothes. He is such a good reader, and loves math. He hates to follow directions. He is the best big brother to his little sisters. He loves when things are backwards....clothes, numbers (especially #5), and letters. He thinks his Dad can fix everything. He loves his Mom more than anything, and tells her that...then adds, "except Dad." He is clever and sweet and such a fun boy to have in our family.

On Saturday we took Wyatt and three friends to Medieval Times. (Frankly, I am getting a little sick of this place.) It was a fun time. Watching those boys scream their guts out, then turn and actually HUG (a tight rocking jumping cheering hug!) when "their" knight was victorious was priceless! We paid extra for the birthday package. Which means you get a scroll and a piece of cake. (Not as good as the cake mentioned above!!) When we opened his birthday scroll at home it read "Happy 33rd Birthday To: Zombie Tim". I believe Zombie Tim was the tattooed from head to toe, and pierced fellow that was sitting next to Lincoln.

We are lucky Wyatt, so lucky that we get to see you everyday!

THE BLOSSOM PROJECT

I took hundreds of pictures under the cherry tree this year. I am putting them in the most gorgeous album. I will post a few of my favorites as I get them finished.

We spent the entire afternoon under the two cherry trees in the front yard. I made a little head band out of blossoms by threading them on a thin wire. We talked and planned out Talia's "dog book"....which is a little spotlight book she made for preschool. It was such an enjoyable afternoon.

I love the one of the two girls....it looks like Simone is thinking, "Why does she get to wear the blossom tiara?"

Ciara and Natalia

Natalia adores Ciara, and Ciara adores Natalia.
Natalia follows Ciara everywhere she goes, and Ciara soaks it up!
they are 8 years and 2,091 miles apart, but have a special bond!
Cousins are great!

I think I have an idea of what Natalia will look like when she gets to be 13!!!! This is Ciara at age 4! The Tidwell genes are strong ones! ;)

I stole the entire post above from my sweet Sister in laws blog. I loved it!!! Every time someone mentions that Natalia doesn't look like any of us, I say "You should see her cousin Ciara, she looks a lot like her." Oh , we miss you guys!