RazNoggle

I’m listening to Jungle Jam with Qade. ha ha ha! It’s funny. Luckily for us my sis-in-law Joy said they have several more disks of Jungle Jam stories! Whew! We’re in serious danger of having these ones memorized. Strangely though there is one song, (a nice melodic lullaby like song) that Qade thinks is “scary” at night. He’ll scream and cry while that song is playing. So I need to make sure that particular one doesn’t end up on the bed-time play list. Weird.

We’re guarding our internet bandwidth jealously. So I’m not on FB much again. It’s outrageous what they charge you for just a bit of internet. If you have a smart phone you should check your bill. You’ll be plenty surprised that you’re probably paying $30 or more for just a few gigs of internet. And they’ll tack on significant fees for going over as well. Since our options out here (a mile from nowhere) are nil we went with a Verizon wireless card, but we still have to be very careful not to go over our “limit.” *sigh* Whatever happened to unlimited internet??? Oh well. I’m happy that I can update my blog and check FB now and then. It’s really no big deal since I’m spending less time in front of the computer anyway.

It’s been raining recently in a Monsoon like pattern which is nice. It’s been SO dry out here the bushes are chasing the dogs around! Seriously! But the past few days it has rained in the late afternoon/evening, and that cools things down nicely! Not that I’m complaining about the heat, mind you!! I feel like I’ve only recently thawed out so it’s welcome to be warm for awhile. I was sorting the lad’s winter clothing this week, and just looking at the long sleeves and sweaters made me feel cold! Ha ha ha!! We should move to somewhere tropical…. if it wasn’t for the bugs I might be tempted!

My camera is in the shop, and I miss it badly!!! Apparently something “major” has to be replaced on it. Their service orders are so unhelpfully descriptive. So I have to approved that repair online tomorrow. There’s a wedding coming up that I’m really going to need the camera for, so I hope it can be a quick fix. I was also hopeful that the warranty would still cover it, but apparently Nikon lenses have a 5 yr warranty but the camera body’s only have a 1 yr. So no luck there. I should be happy that it’s only so much after 3 yrs of pretty strenuous use, but I’d rather not have to sink money into it right now since I really want to save for an upgraded camera. Oh well. Stuart has several “entry” level DSLR cameras for his class at school and he brought one home. Yesterday I tried to take some photos with it, and could NOT figure that thing out to save my life!! How in the world do you shoot Manual on a D3100?? I couldn’t figure it out at all, and was really shocked when the flash just pops up all by itself. Ha! Who would have thought that an automatic camera would be so difficult to use?! Anyway, Stuart will be using it as my second shooter for the wedding. I wouldn’t trust myself with that one in any way! I hope my baby comes home soon! *sniff*

Anyway, I’m off to enjoy another Summer day! Toodle-oo!

Somehow this post never got posted. So here’s our camping trip in a nutshell.

I am happy to say that our first family tent camping experience was a success!! I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I went into it with some fear and trepidation as I was sure that none of us would sleep and that it would be more miserable than not. But I underestimated my kiddos and they did so well!

We went with Stuart’s family and it was fun to hang out in the woods/mountains together. The boys had a blast playing with their cuz Aiden, and it was interesting to listen to all their little made-up adventures. Myles got the biggest kick out of putting gravel and dirt in his shorts till they could hold no more and then standing up to have it all come pouring down his legs. Yeah… he was filthy!

Ella did phenomenally well! She had her little pack-n-play bed and didn’t mind taking her naps in the tent one bit. She LOVED watching the 3 dogs who came along on the trip as well, and now says “Doh” repeatedly if you say something to her about a “dog.” She had her own personal little play tent to roll around in courtesy of Auntie Tiff and Uncle Curtis.

The first night Myles kept squirming out of his blankets and waking up cold, but that was the only challenge. Ella had a little “suit” to wear thanks to her Auntie, and it had a hood on top and feet to keep her nice and toasty. She slept like a rock so it must have worked. Qade slept very well also, though I don’t know how he could not with as hard as he was playing all day! I will say that I do prefer my bed to any kind of sleeping on the ground, but the little air beds that we had worked really well. I was only slightly sore. Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m a wimp!

I think that 2 nights is about the max that I can do the whole camping thing right now. Stu said he was ready for 2 more nights!! Even though I had a great time, and the kids all had a great time, and even Ella had dirt under her nails, I was very ready to pack it all up and head back to a shower after 2 nights. We’ll work our way in slowly to more, but now I’m not dreading it so much since I know it can be a ton of fun!

Today was the doctor visits for our oldest lad and our little lass. I hate the “well-visits” because typically they involve shots. Shots make me sad. I think they bother me ever so much more than they ever bother the kids. BUT all things considered I’d rather go through the immunization process than face debilitating diseases.

Anyway, we missed Ella’s 6 month visit which the doctor asked about because she said, “That’s not like you.” Ha! I told her the truth, that it fell right in the middle of senior portrait season and since I’m a photographer (I’m trying to get used to saying that) it was impossible to bring her in. They put all this weight and importance on these visits every 3 months, but if there’s something I’ve learned since having 3 kids it’s that mommy instincts are usually more “right on” than doctor advice, and while it’s nice to see where they ‘line up’ on the lists, it’s no big deal if they are ahead or behind a bit on certain milestones. Anyway, Ella is in the 90% for her height at 29 inches, and I didn’t see what she was on her weight, but she weighs in at 18 lbs 11 oz. She’s a tall skinny gal for sure.

I also didn’t see Qade’s percentiles, they don’t offer that info and I’ve stopped asking because of the stink eye the nurses gave me when I’d ask before….. just curious, really! But he weighs 34.5 lbs and is 40in tall. He’s also a skinny shorty, but I’m sure he’ll be just as tall as he needs to be. I feed my kids as much as they’ll eat, and more actually because sometimes I insist that they clean their plates, so I know they aren’t starving. Stu and I were both string-beany kids, and I imagine they have fast metabolisms. Not worried at all, and in fact am rather relieved that they don’t already suffer from the childhood obesity that I see so often in the small children of this area. Breaks your heart really.

They both had to have 3 shots today. Qade went first because I kept telling him that he was going to have to be a brave boy, and I didn’t wan him to see Ella’s reaction before his turn. He did well, but by the 3rd poke he did start to cry. Then it was done, he earned his tootsie-pop by being SO brave, and he was fine. Stu was with me in the doc’s office today, I determined NEVER to try to take more than one child by myself ever again! Ugh! So that was a huge help, but he told me ahead of time that I would have to hold Ella when her shots came up. He doesn’t like for anyone to hurt his sweetie-pie so I understood. My mommy’s heart doesn’t like it either, but I’d rather be able to hold them and comfort right away, so it was okay.

After all the doctor drama was over we met up with Grandma Noggle, who was hanging out with Myles, and then she took Ella home while we took the boys to see Cars 2. Since they are HUGE Cars fans we figured it would be the perfect outing for them. We were right! I had seen some stuff on FB about other mom’s opinions of the movie and was a little unsure of if I’d like it or like them watching it, but it was really fine. 007 cars style would sum it up pretty well. I’d have to say that the Harry Potter preview that came before was MUCH more disturbing to me, and we tried to keep the kids’ attention away from it with popcorn. Good grief!

We watched in 3D and the boys each had their own little glasses! Ha! I so wish I could have taken a picture of them sitting on the edge of their seats (literally) with those glasses on their face! I thought for sure that Myles at least would be taking his off, he’s not one for sunglasses even, but I guess the movie actually distracted him from the fact that there was something on his face.

It was fun to have that time with the lads. Qade was really sore after the movie from his shots and probably his legs dangling off that chair. But some lunch from Wendy’s and a frosty later and he was good. I was a sucker and picked up one of the “new” character cars for each of the boys. Qade keeps asking me what their names are. They aren’t as familiar as “Lightning McQueen” but they will be, I’m sure. Ha ha!

So it was a good day over all. I’m hoping that the kids will sleep well tonight and the shots won’t make them too miserable tomorrow. It’s usually the day after shots when my kiddos don’t do so hot. Good thing we have Tylenol and Motrin at our fingertips.

Toodle-oo

Ahhhhh, Colorado! (HUGE SIGH)

We went back to Southern CO. for our 4th weekend to spend with Stu’s family. Wow! Just driving in is amazing! The Mountains on the north western side of the state are amazing, but I just have to say that this section of CO is my favorite. We drove through Durango… well, just skipped it, but that area, and from then on it just got more and more beautiful!!

It’s been so dry everywhere, and here is no exception, but to our desert parched eyes, it looked like a lush oasis! The mountains are magnificent but even the valley farmlands are amazing! As we drove through, Qade would pipe up from time to time, “Mom, I saw a pretty tree, did you see it?” or “I saw a waterfall!! I saw three ones!” And at the top of the pass, “There’s SNOW on those hills!! May I go touch the snow?” ha ha ha!! Our little lad loves CO too and he has only spent very small bits of time here.

It really is like a cool refreshing drink to come back up here and breath the mountain air, and see the rivers, that actually have water in them, imagine! See the mountains with the snow, and all the green growing things!

My photographer side was thinking things like, “Oh that would be such a great backdrop.” and “Look at those amazing flowers, that would be the perfect spot for a photo of Ella!” and “That green field would be awesome with a chair in the middle” and “Wow, what an awesome old barn! Wouldn’t that look great in a Senior portrait?” Ha ha ha!

I’m trying not to be too jealous of all this amazing scenery in this place. I know we have awesome stuff around us as well. Colorado colors are more to my taste, but AZ is beautiful too. Gotta grow where you’re planted, even if you don’t get enough water. Ha ha ha!

So anyway, it’s been fun to be in Colorado. I’m writing this before our amazing camping adventure which is about to begin, so be prepared for that one. I can make no promises at this point what “tone” that post will be in. Ha ha ha!

Ha! I bet you have been waiting for this! I know I’ve been talking incessantly about the conference, but it really was a great time. I’ve come to the firm conclusion that getting away for a few days by myself for some me time or me related activities is something that I NEED! I’m going to make a very strong effort to have that happen once a year from here on out. Not necessarily that I’ll go to a conference every year, but that I will get away alone, and recharge. It was great to come home after the conference and just have renewed energy for my daily life activities which before had been growing very monotonous. Good stuff!

So the kitchen plan is in full swing. Our garage is full of drywall, cabinets and countertops! I’m not thrilled about the process, but I’m very excited to see how it all works together in the end. Now that I have seen the colors of the cabinet and counter I need to get some new paint! I love color and want to go a little more bold and bright in the kitchen. My first inspiration was the fresh color of cantaloup when I was chopping one up for dinner one afternoon. I just happened to find that EXACT color when I was meandering through the paint aisle last week. I haven’t sold Stuart on it yet, but I hadn’t seen the cabinets yet either. Now I need to put the swatch up to them and see if that’s even a possibility. I do have some other ideas so if I cant have a cantaloupy kitchen then I’ll have a different one I’ll like just as much. Ha!

Anyway, Our camping adventure is coming up. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I’m happy we’re doing it as camping is something that we’ve talked about always wanting to do with our family. On the other hand I cant help but think they might be a bit on the young side for this to all be fun and games, ha ha! Either way it’ll be memories in the making. I’m sure we can survive anything for 2 nights right?? Right?? Hello???

I have had to send my baby #4 in to the doc. In case you’re all holding your breath, that would be my camera! Ha ha ha!! I’ve been having issues with the auto-focus function on the camera. At first I thought it was my lens. The one I like to use the most for portraits doesn’t really have an option to manually focus, so it’s just about impossible to use w/o autofocus. I sent the lens in first, but it came back saying it was all good, and the problem was still obvious so that means, most likely, that it’s a camera issue. I hate to send it in. Mostly I hate to be without it. But I’m hoping that it will be something that can be taken care of easily. *sigh* In the meantime I still have my point and shoot, but it’s so hard to go back to using it. Ha!

So that’s about it for now. Stay tuned for more non-conference news.