Perfection

I am finally done with my trunk shows for this season, and while I had a great time, I have to say that just having the day at home yesterday with my angel face was sheer perfection. She was running a fever and we didn't do anything glamorous - mostly catch-up on dishes, laundry. But that didn't matter.

I love you, my sweet Anna!

Bed Head

Just because you have bed head does not mean that you can't work the camera like a supermodel. . .


I was taking some pictures of some clothes one morning, and Anna was still in her pj's with her unbrushed hair. I think she was getting jealous that I wasn't taking pictures of her, so she started standing up against the wall next to the clothes and saying, "Anna cheese!"

So even though I just *hate* taking pictures of her, I decided to oblige her...only because she was so insistent, of course. Don't you just love the hand-behind-the-head technique? Man, I just can't get enough of that kiddo!

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far. . .

Important note: Not sure why, but my family has always used the word "doot" (pronouced like "foot") in reference to cute little kid farts.

[Anna and Derek sitting on the couch this evening.]

Anna: [makes a big "doot"]

Derek: "Anna, did you make a big doot?"

Anna: "Yeah, I made a big one...like Daddy!"

I rest my case.

Pretty Purple Princesses

No, I did not fall off the face of the earth...have just been really busy with my Kelly's Kids trunk shows and a nasty stomach virus the past week or so. It's been a crazy ride, but there are a few upsides:

1. The stomach virus is gone.
2. The trunk shows are almost over. (It's been fun, but I am T-I-R-E-D!)
3. Anna got to spend a little extra time with her cousin Caroline during my Louisiana shows.

Here are the pretty purple princesses in their pj's (how's that for some alliteration?!) on Caroline's bed. They had an action-packed 24 hours together: cookie-baking, a bath, special matching princess bath towels & jammies, the insectarium, snowballs...I could go on and on.

Thanks to Mimi, Tio & Caroline for everything! I know Anna won't forget it soon :)

Texture

I recently bought my first set of Photoshop textures from Florabella. All I can say is that I am in trouble. . .


Oh yeah! You can definitely expect to see more of my playing around with these!

Not Me! Monday

Not Me! Monday was born out of one woman's desire to admit some of her imperfections and reveal a few moments she'd rather forget. I say why not. You may find it therapeutic to join in and do the same thing!

Here is what I have not been up to lately. . .

When I got my hair cut & colored this week, I did not find out that it was my first visit since APRIL! I knew it had been a while as evidenced by my lovely roots, but I had no idea it had been that long.

I did not dress my daughter up on Saturday and bring her to a very hot, open field with some pretty, wispy grass just to celebrate the fact that my broken Canon is now back and operational. I also did not convince her to stay in one place by warning her that there could be snakes "out there." This did not terrify her much more than I intended.

I did not decide to take on yet another children's clothing line this season in addition to this one. If I did, it would be ridiculously cute and you could check it out here. (Both trunks are available for shows the rest of this month if anyone is interested!) I know what you're thinking...and no, I am not obsessed.

And last, I did not grocery-shop in one three-inch heel and one bare foot after the toe strap broke on one of my shoes. When I was hunched over trying to see if there was any way to salvage the situation, a well-meaning but clueless fellow shopper did not stop and say, "Honey, those aren't shopping shoes!" Um...really?!

I feel better now. What haven't you been up to?

Live and Learn

Yesterday, I was in search of some wispy grass after being inspired by some pictures I saw that were taken by Shalonda Chaddock of Chubby Cheek Photography. Shalonda was kind enough to share her location with me, which just so happened to be right on my side of town, so I decided to take Anna on a little field trip.

I got some okay shots yesterday in a similar location, so I decided to try for a few more on the way home from Anna's hair cut today.

Here are a few things I learned:

1. A kid that is falling asleep in the car after a hair cut and 3 hours at the mall probably isn't interested in jumping out for an impromptu photo shoot.


2. An open field is probably not the smartest place to be at three o'clock in the afternoon. In the South. In August. When it's 100 degrees out.


3. This is also not the most optimal time for lighting.


4. Telling your daughter that she shouldn't run away from you in a field of long grass because "there might be snakes" may not be the most productive way of getting her to stay in the field so that you can get far enough away from her to take a picture.

That is all the wisdom I have to impart today. Please stay tuned for more obvious lessions I have learned. . .

Brand New

I had been wanting to change my blog design for a long time, but I just didn't have the time or the know-how. Then, I saw this I Heart Faces tutorial on how to change your blogger template last week. It addressed so many things I had been having difficulty figuring out and made it so easy that I just had to take the plunge!


I think the one thing I am the most excited about is the big pictures :)

A big thanks to I ♥ Faces, and I hope you enjoy the new blog design!

Back in the Saddle

Today was a happy day - not only because I got my camera back from Canon yesterday, but also because Anna's Lil Miss Muffin outfits arrived this past week. So I got to get back in the saddle and snap a few pictures of her in these adorable clothes!

Cool

It's HOT outside, but in the car, Anna is the epitomy of cool. Trust me. . .

Note: For those of you that are wondering...no, I do not have my camera back yet. It's going to be another two weeks or so. <*pouts*> Any pictures you see on the blog between now and then were taken before the camera broke and recently edited.

Got Minny?

Anna is obsessed with getting handfuls of money (aka. "minny") from our change jar to put in her piggy bank. She typically asks at least once a day ("May have minny, peas?") and sometimes even more. She has even on occasion woken up asking for "minny." Most of the time, she winds up having to hold the "minny" in her shirt because her handfuls are so generous that she couldn't possibly make it all the way to her room without dropping anything.

Just one more really cute, creative way she's cleaning us out. One or two handfuls at a time!

Build-A-Bear

Our sweet neighbors Coop and Darlene gave Anna a gift card to Build-A-Bear Workshop for her second birthday back in March. A few weekends ago, we finally got around to using it. . .


It was Anna's first visit to Build-A-Bear, and she had a great time! She picked the curly teddy, and very creatively named her "Curly". She got to help stuff Curly, give her a heart, bathe her, and pick out her outfits. Anna chose an outfit like Arial from The Little Mermaid - complete with red wig. Hilarious! And we were in Louisiana, so we were able to get an "LSU" purple cheerleader outfit, too!

Where were places like this when I was a little girl? I definitely predict a return visit! For Anna, of course. . .

Slice of Heaven

Saturday was heaven. Not only because we got to spend the afternoon with some of our favorite people, but also because one of those favorite people brought their Canon Digital Rebel XSi along. (Thanks Cesar!) I shipped my broken Rebel off to Canon for service on Thursday, so I've been having withdrawals to say the least. Getting to snap a few pictures of the kiddos was so nice and will hopefully help tide me over until my camera resurfaces!

Here's my little monkey. . .

She was so pumped up all day long because we told her that her friends were coming over to play. If I had a dollar for every time I heard, "Where my friends?", I'd be a rich woman.

This is Charles. . .

Charles is quite the stud. He and Anna were kissy kissy, and I have a feeling she's not his only "girlfriend." That smile and those eyes are going to get him in trouble one day!

This is Olivia. . .

She and this Elmo were fast friends in the pool after Elmo got over the whole eyeball-chewing incident. (Elmo's pretty good about that whole forgiveness thing.) She's going to be a big sister soon, and I know Anna for one cannot wait to meet her new baby brother, Adam! This will be Anna's first lesson in vicarious living. lol.

This is Arianna. . .

Ari is starting kindergarten in the fall! She's a "big girl", so Anna thinks she is super-cool and follows her around everywhere doing everything she does.

Case in point, here they are in the playhouse. . .

And on the slide. . .

This is Emma. . .

Emma doesn't dish out the fake smiles for the camera on command like her sister Ari. But she loves to swing high, and that's what this genuine smile is all about. Who am I to say "no" when she keeps saying "Higher!" The only trick was keeping Anna from getting knocked out.

This is Santiago. . .

Santi is the baby of the group, but he sure does a good job of keeping up. He was climbing up the slide with the rest of the crew, and I think I even caught him standing up on a chair at one point. Age ain't nothing but a number, right?

And last, but definitely not least, this is Nicolas. . .

I don't know how or when it happened, but Nico grew up when I wasn't looking. I can't believe I held this kiddo in the hospital. Feels like it was yesterday.

Can we go back there? Please, oh please! Now?!