So you think you can dance

We went to the SYTYCD concert with Ben and Rileigh, and Sharon and Mark last year. Our tickets were not as close to the stage as last year. (Thanks to Lincoln wearing mittens while typing on a laptop...(ha ha), and me getting 6 great tickets and accidentally hitting "search again". Doh.)

I love this picture because they all look like terrible dancers.

Kayla just stubbed her toe.
Evan's pants are on fire.
Janette forgot the dance.
Jason is doing the robot.
Melissa's arm is stuck behind her head.
Kapono is doing the potty dance.
Kaitlyn is contemplating crowd surfing on her adoring fans.
Randi is trying not to be blown away.
Brandon is going to run into everyone and knock them off the stage.
Ade is going to step on Jason's toe, so he can take him out of the tour.
Phillip is hiding, still embarrassed about the redo of the Russian folk dance.

We went to our car at the top level of a parking garage. There was no way we were getting out of there in the next HOUR, so we went back down 5 flights of stairs and got a taxi. We met Sharon and Mark at Pazo. We ate delicious cold tapas and fancy pizzas, and then these mini cupcakes. Those cupcakes are worth going to Pazo again! Yum.

We stayed out way to late, and had such a wonderful time. I can't wait for the "next"tour so we can do it again.

A long long time ago

in a green purse covered with ruffles there lived a point and shoot camera. The point and shoot camera got to go on many adventures, but was always put back in a dark case afterward. It was never able to share the many wonderful things it captured...until today.

The Renaissance Festival.....

We love the Maryland Renaissance Festival, and we usually go a few times each year. This year (LAST year) we made it there one time. It was a lovely time and we were able to show Ben and Rileigh a few of our favorite things.



Free pony rides. I had to put this picture in to prove that Simone was there. =) I love the expression on the the girl leading the pony.

Natalia was VERY excited to get her hair braided. It was the only thing she wanted. (One little side note....see those shoes...they are very dear to my heart, and they will get an entire post of their own one day.)

THE FOOD!

See the sign in the back it says, " Macaroni and cheese on a stick" (and Scotch eggs...which we love!) Everything comes on a stick at the Renaissance Festival...which I am sure is very true to the time period. =)

Pork Chop on a stick (the best)
Cheesecake on a stick
Macaroni and cheese on a stick
Frozen Banana on a stick (I always get one)
and
Turkey legs
Okay that isn't really a stick....but you have to try at least one in your life time.


Then if it isn't on a stick...it's fried.

Fried oreos
Fried snickers
Fried twinkies

Wyatt's first turkey leg!

I had a sweet potato pie, and an orange rind filled with Italian ice!

Oh, Talia did want to ride the elephant, but the line was insanely long. I told her I'd let her take a picture of it though...and she did. Then we went home.

The End.

C'est La Vie

Today was crazy.



First, Simone has been having a really hard time sleeping. She had an earinfection and pink eye all through January. It has been bad. Last night, I don't know what time, Lincoln brought her into bed with us. I woke up when the sun was up and saw her sleeping, so I went back to sleep. I did this a few times, because Wyatt had no school AND the house was so quiet. Finally I looked at the clock....it was 9:56. HOLY COW! How did I sleep until 10? The kids had a dentist appointment at 10:30. I jumped up and started getting ready. Then I got three kids ready. Lincoln was still home...he had taken the kids out to get doughnut holes and wood for the fireplace. Dreamy. Then in my sleepy but frantic state I looked at the appointment card....it read 11:20. Things calmed down a bit.

Three kids at the dentist is not fun. I love our dentist though, and they have lots of toys. Talia was first. I stayed with Wyatt and Simone in the waiting room after reassuring her that I was close and I would come to check on her. I did go to check on her about 20 minutes later. The girl was SINGING! Her mouth was wide open. Hannah Montana was playing on the TV. A rubber shield thing, metal tools, a vacuum, heart sunglasses on her forehead, bright orange hose on her nose, and fingers in her mouth.....and she was humming away! You can't get her down!

I couldn't help but smile.

Wyatt went next. He wasn't as happy as Talia, but only needed one filling so he was in and out quick.

I took pictures of Talia's super numb mouth with with a BIG smile with my iphone so she could see. We laughed ourselves silly in the waiting room. (I won't share those here.)


-But I will share this one! I kept saying "make kissy lips" and I would laugh so hard that I couldn't look at her anymore! This picture though...Her messy hair, the tiara, "c'est la vie" (such is life) and those numb little lips---all of it makes me laugh.

She has been avoiding candy and GUM like crazy ever since her first appointment (beginning of Jan.). I took her to Bed Bath and Beyond and she gasped and ran to the candy display by the check out. Then she hung her head and slapped her sides and said, " OOOooooH, I can't have candy," in a very sad voice. The people all around us laughed. It was cute.


(A big fyi for the people that still read my blog. I just downloaded over 500 pictures from my point and shoot camera! I will have a lot of catching up to do, but I am excited to share all the adventures we had from SEPTEMBER to January.)

I'm on a roll

I bet my Mom is in shock. I have been blogging so much lately!

I have so many pictures to share, but nothing new on the computer....so you get to see this oldie. The Sauropod (I can't remember which one) from the science center, and my super cooperative kids. =)

sunny january

Last week we went to the park with our sweet friends. I bundled everyone up, but the coats came off when we got there. It was so warm it didn't feel like January. Not to worry it's cold here again. I am really anxious for spring to arrive. I bought butterfly/firefly nets yesterday. How many more months until spring? Ah, too many.

love this tree --- love this girl

(Nothing stops the tears like a pb&j. Darn...I just washed that coat.)

The blizzard of December 2009

We got 23" inches of snow. Our poor camel out back was buried.

Simone stayed inside with me. Lincoln built our first fire in the fireplace. It was wonderful!

The big kids had a blast in the snow. I gave them spray bottles with food coloring in them, and they loved painting the snow.

The wildlife in Maryland is so amazing. We have squirrels, deer, foxes, rabbits, cardinals, blue jays, snakes, turtles, and geese near our home all the time. I spotted this interesting animal in our yard and had to take a picture! (Yes, those are real antlers. Lincoln hunts. Yes, she wore them for about an hour. Just FYI, I am pro-bambi.)


We loved being snowed in! I had to deliver some photo orders so we ventured out in Lincoln's truck during the thick of the storm. It was like driving a big four wheeler around. He even tried to get stuck...and couldn't. My husband is amazing...if he see someone in trouble he will help them. The kids and I stayed inside the warm truck countless times while Lincoln ran out in the blizzard to help someone whose car was stuck. He helped a man from Africa that spoke very little English, and worked for about 15 minutes to get him out of a snowdrift. The man said "I go home now," when the car was finally free. Lincoln laughed. I loved seeing him hop back in his truck with cold red cheeks, and every time he would say, "Woo, I'm tired!"

I fell more in love with Lincoln on this day. Watching him help these people was simply sweet. (And he looked hot doing it.) He is so thoughtful, kind, and loves to serve someone in need. He was with some friends in the morning and they took a lady that was 9 months pregnant and very stuck in the snow to her home. Those three friends got several people unstuck too. I teased Lincoln and asked them if they wore capes.

Then we were headed over to Rileigh and Ben's and saw a ulility van stuck on (Gorman) a skinny little country road. Lincoln helped him out, and then as we were following him down the road his van began to slide again. The back end of the van started coming forward and swinging off the road. We watch and gasped as the van slid right toward a telephone pole. We started laughing as it stopped literally 3 inches from the pole. It was unbelievable! Lincoln took another 15 minutes to help him out.(...keep in mind he is the one outside during this time...pushing, rocking, and jumping on the bumper.) Three other vehicles coming the other direction (two big trucks, one with a snowplow on it) were blocked by the van. They sat there and watched my husband push this big old van out of the snow. When the van was free I looked at the big strong men in those trucks as they passed us, and couldn't believe they didn't get out to help!

It was a memorable blizzard. I actually didn't hate it. I loved being snowed in with my family! I now I can say"remember the blizzard of '09", and I look forward to reminding the kids about their superhero dad.

billion

Wyatt went into the kitchen to get an after-school snack.

He came back in the living room saying, "There is no way that is possible."

I looked at him with a puzzled look on my face.

"Those little red cubes in that container the kitchen ....it says 225 billion on the label. There is no way 225 billion of those would fit in there."

What? Then I realized what little red cubes he was talking about and I started laughing. "225 bouillon!"

"What is a bouillon?"

"Little seasoning cubes," I kept laughing.

"What is so funny?"


This kid loves labels and numbers. I don't think at 7 I would have even noticed the bouillon cubes in the pantry---I would have been focused on the the snacks!



"Nothing, I just love you Wyatt."

smile

(could those lashes be any longer? so lovely.)

Better....

I don't have a long list of New Year's resolutions. I know what I need to do this year....I know what makes me happy, so I am focusing on that.

I need to making better meals for my family though. I go through major phases with cooking, sometimes I love to cook and other times I hate it.

I got a cool recipe magazine from RealSimple from Santa. (Santa is the best.) I made recipes from it all last week, and some this week.


I made this fisherman's soup and everyone loved it. EVEN SIMONE ate it. (Full of fennel, leeks, fish, mussels, tomatoes, and one lobster claw person.) I don't normally like mussels, but this was a good soup and a nice change of pace. I saw the lobster claws at the store and decided they would be fun addition. The kids loved them!

I also made.....

Spiced Mini Burgers With Couscous Salad

Lincoln made some hummus (his hummus is always better than mine), and I had some yummy flat bread so this meal was wonderful. I will make this one again for sure.

Chicken and Bok Choy Stir-Fry

This was pretty good. The sauce is kind of crazy (soy sauce + bbq), but seriously turned out good. The baby bok choy was other new veggie to us, but we liked it. We being Lincoln and I...the kids don't love bok choy.

Simone

Her curls are kind of crazy...but I love them.

Do you want to see something amazing?

(Click on the snowflake to see it a little bigger.)

It snowed last Friday. I bundled up-- meaning I put a coat over my pajamas and high heeled booties with no socks, and went outside with my macro lens. We are good friends my macro and I, and I haven't used it in a long long time.

The snow was absolutely gorgeous. There were little pieces of crystal perfection everywhere! I was giddy..............and freezing so I went back inside not long after I got out there. I am sad that I did that, but I had to get Wyatt ready for school and Talia ready for a dentist appointment.

I think this is the first time I have ever said this- but I wish it would snow again.

2009 in random order

I wanted to post a few of my favorite photos from 2009....I wanted to do this on December 31st. Here it is the 8th of January. Well, here are a few of the things I will remember about 2009 and/or just a few good photographs.


Picking yellow raspberries with my children, and some of my dearest friends--knowing that I was going to just photograph them later. =)

The Crab Deck. If you come to visit us, we will take you here!

March 17th! A good day.

Simone gets to know the ER. Three visits in 2009.
A darling friend let me borrow her camera for a session. (This was my test shot.)

Happy Family with a house on the market for 63 GRUELING days. =)

All our cousins safe and sound. All of these kids were asleep in the room next to the room that caught fire at Grandma's house (the day before). Luckily they were here instead....

twirling glow sticks at the dunes.

Lazy summer days at our secret spot, and black and white film.

Uncle Paul came and caught fish with the kids at the lake. They LOVED throwing them back in.

Daddy Daughter day at preschool. (I love this picture.)

A moment I over looked, but when I looked through these images 3 seasons later...this image took my breath away. It was not the image I was trying to achieve....but I love the moment I ended up catching. (Dear blossoms, I can't wait to see you again!)

Simone turned ONE!

One of the happiest vacations. I can't wait to go back.

Cherry Blossoms. (That about sums it up.)

One of my favorite images from the year.



2009.

You were a hard but wonderful year.
You were a year of bliss moments.
You were full of tears, laughing, bruises, weaning, changing positions at work, goodbyes, adventures, visitors, love, construction, movies, luck, stress and kidney stones.
You will be remembered for the happy times, and we'll forget the bad.
You brought many smiles and lots of time to grow.
I think you were great.

Hello 2010.