The Miss Elaine-ous Life

About this photography thing...

2012-05-28T23:01:00.001-05:00

I grabbed my camera the other morning after sitting on the back porch with my coffee. K came through the door to join me and I noticed how beautiful her eyes shone in the morning light as she approached me. I couldn't resist taking her picture ~~for the bajillionth time~~.

At one point I switched the dial to "Auto" just to see what would happen and the flash activated, I assume because it was somewhat dark in the house and she was still inside. I got two pictures of her with the flash and it was so interesting to me how different her eyes looked in those shots.

I kept snapping, but this time not in auto, and I captured her gorgeous baby blues again, as well as a bit of her attitude. (But that just comes with the territory lately...)

with flash - oh that smile!

without flash - don't you just want to smooch that face?!

This weekend I had a photo shoot and I was a little nervous since it was with someone I know, but she is more of an acquaintance and so I do not know her kids that well. Her youngest is 19 months and frankly, he was a bit hard to "catch" or capture, shall we say. And her daughter's personality did not really shine until we went to the play area at the park where we met.

I'm telling you all this and writing it out for myself to remember, that right now, this can still be hard for me at times. I do not get ALL the technical stuff of taking photos. Sometimes I just wing it. And someone reading this may say, "Well then I would never want you to take my photos" and that is fine. Everyone who does this is in their own place. I know the basics I feel I need to know to get decent photos and I have Light Room and Photoshop on my side. ;)

But it is still intimidating and overwhelming for me at times and just like any artist, I start to doubt myself and my abilities and I think and wish and feel I should be better. That I need to be better.

So I am not sugar coating it at all. I'm still learning and experimenting and filing away tidbits from all of my experiences and the beautiful people who are trusting me with their memories.

And I would like to thank God that I am finding my way in this photography journey in the digital age and that it is quite easy to hit the "delete" button. :)

p.s. I won't even get into comparing myself to others because, well. WOAH.

If at first you don't succeed...

2012-05-24T21:57:00.000-05:00

We were outside the other day, blowing bubbles and making chalk drawings (see previous post) and I had the idea to try to do one of THOSE pics. You know like the ones where someone draws a scene with the chalk and then puts a kid in it? Yeah, that.

And I just want to warn you all right now, it's NOT good. But I'm still going to share it with you anyway. Because it kinda makes me laugh and I think it will you too.

First of all, I drew the picture in about one minute. And I had K lay down in whatever she was wearing, which was not "rain appropriate".

Also, we have a very old driveway here, it's not nice, clean cement (although Tim did power wash it recently), and it has cracks.

Lastly, how are you supposed to pretend to be holding an umbrella while laying on your back? Especially when you are two?

So, I tried. And we may try again, with more forethought. Surely "practice makes at least better than this", right?

Sometimes, it's just as hard as it looks...

2012-05-24T08:51:00.002-05:00

Summer is almost here and I have mixed feelings. On the one hand I am happy to have a break from making lunches every morning and getting kids to school by a certain time, but on the other hand, I will miss the routine.

I am most happy to not to have to help with homework for a while, as I know it will be two-fold and even harder, come August.

I cannot wait for us to go on vacation next week but I know that week will go by way too fast! (trying not to think about that).

My kids have been a bit extra challenging lately.

Yesterday, we were just trying to leave the pool and it took us no less than 20 minutes to make it to the van. I was carrying a huge bag of towels and two floaties, and a friend (who has just one child) was walking with me in awe. She could not believe all the goings on of my kids - losing a flip flop, tripping over a floatie, begging to get back in the pool after clothes were changed.

And me taking deep breaths and just SO ready for us all to be strapped into the van and the air conditioning blowing on my hot face, with all the kids behind me, riding home.

Sometimes I just feel so overwhelmed by the stuff that goes with and time it takes and words that have to be said and are not listened to, just to wrangle three kids.

I love them fiercely and in a way that cannot be explained to those who do not have children. But it doesn't mean they do not get on my nerves sometimes. ;)

So Summer is here, and it will be a busy one. But my plan is to keep taking lots and lots of deep breaths and enjoy my growing children as much as I can.

It's the best plan I've got.

The Bob

2012-05-22T22:06:00.000-05:00

On Saturday afternoon she looked like this:

And then by Sunday afternoon (and Tuesday morning, second photo) she looked like this:

She never leaves anything in her hair (that headband only lasted a little bit) and after the "self cut" she gave herself last month that is taking FOREVER to grow back out, I figured I would give her some style. And maybe things will even out over the Summer.

My only regret is I think I aged her by about 6 or 7 years. Oh well, at least I'm pretty sure this style fits her sassy attitude lately...

p.s. HOW much do you LOVE that outfit in the last photo?!?! I double dog dare you to check out Lolly Wolly Doodle on Facebook and not want to buy something.

"The Bronx is up and the Battery's down..."

2012-05-21T22:00:00.000-05:00

I was looking at the photos in my Instagram feed early Sunday morning before getting the kids ready for church. As my finger scrolled through, occasionally hitting “like” and making a comment here or there I came across a photo of the New York City skyline and my finger immediately went to “like” it. I did not even have to read the words below. My brain immediately said Like.

Tim was gone for something for work and all the memories of our trip together last December flashed through my mind like a slideshow of wonderful. And then I thought how much I would love to be there again. Now. How a stroll through Central Park would do so much for my soul.

There’s just something about THAT city, you know? All the life and movement and constant everything. SO many people there with SO many different lives and dreams and accents.

The photo also made me think of a couple of my favorite bloggers that live there, Jessica and Illana. And when I think about them and how they are raising their children in that amazing, hustle and bustle-y place I think, “Why couldn’t I do that too?” But then I think, there is no way this suburb girl could move her family there and survive. But Jessica did. She is.

Other times I think what if I had gone there years ago, like I dreamed of, to go to fashion school. What if I had made that life changing decision? Well, surely, everything in my life would be different.

My first trip to NYC was in college. I drained my savings account for a trip there before my senior year. It was actually a class I took and we had to work on projects while we were there and I almost got lost the very first day, while touring St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I was in so much awe of it all and after we were done watching STOMP, off Broadway, I simply didn’t want to leave. EVER.

I remember calling Tim from the payphone on the first floor of our hotel not too far from Times Square and beaming on the phone about how much I loved “this place”. We’d only been dating for a little while and I remember missing him but thinking how I would love to just up and move there.

But of course I did not. I stayed “home” and married the love of my life and all things happen for a reason.

But there is still a part of me that would find living in New York City, even if just for a little while, would be absolutely amazing. Anyone wanna rent me their apartment for a year? I think that would probably do it.

Good thing I get to go back for another visit in August... :)

Lego Bounce Party & MEM

2012-05-20T21:21:00.000-05:00

We officially celebrated Little G's birthday this weekend at the local bouncy place. He wanted a Lego party so I obliged. As per last week's post on less stress, I kept things pretty simple and we had a good amount of kids.

I did make the cupcakes from scratch and I decorated the treat bags by applying round pieces of construction paper to make them to look like Legos (yes, idea found on Pinterest).

Tim actually had a great time "building" the candy blocks to go on the cupcakes. He's my best helper. ;-)

And I had a bowl of miscellaneous Legos at the table in our party room so before the kids left they either made something with them or grabbed a handful to take home in their treat bag, to play with later.

I also found adorable Lego-like candles at zee French store (a.k.a Tar-jay).

And I did not have to clean my house before OR after this party, so WIN-WIN!

P.S. Please make note of the way my two boys are hugging in this photo below. I do believe I'm going to crop everyone else out and print a large copy of just them together and put it in their room, so they can ALWAYS see how much the love each other... ;-) Good idea, right?

And hey, guess what!

It's "Miss Elaine-ous Monday"!

ANY "miss elaine-ous" post will do, something from your archives or something brand new! :)

Do you have a post that meant a lot to you but wasn't read by as many folks as you'd hoped? Or one that has great pictures and you want more people to see them? Or do you just have one that you really want to share!?

I'll also choose a random post from those who link up to feature on The Miss Elaine-ous Life Facebook page (please "Like" if you have not already) so even more folks will see a new post every week! Grab the button and link up! And please visit some of the other linkers as well...

If you do not post the button, please still link back to my blog, even if you just put a little blurb at the end of you post such as "It's Monday and I'm being "Miss Elaine-ous" over at The Miss Elaine-ous Life!" - Thanks!! Oh and extra bonus points to anyone who puts a tweet out there, that would be awesome too! Thanks for linking up!
P.S. Thanks to all who linked up last week, I loved reading all your posts!! :D
Also linking up with Mommy & Me Monday since I'm in that last shot...

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

I Would Have TOTALLY dated Jake Ryan...

2012-05-19T14:12:00.000-05:00

In high school I was ALL about the rollers for dances. And by "rollers" I mean hair rollers. I loved to have my hair CUR. LEE.

And during my senior year there was some drama as to who I wound up accompanying me to my Senior Homecoming dance. I won't get into all the details but let's just say I had one sorta date (a good guy friend who I later found out liked me "in that way"...) and I dumped him to go with another guy that I was hoping would ask and did.

Oh man, even my family was a bit ticked off at me.

Anyway, bad decision aside (I did still have fun but felt really bad after the fact...) I was all curls and of COURSE, I was a #Senior Hottie!!

(I LOVED this dress!!)

And here I am now, on my birthday this year, sans curls...

And from the categories listed from Liz's awesome contest, I think I'm definitely "Most likely to date Jake Ryan". I mean I pretty much have the same hair as his girlfriend in the movie! Which category do you think I fit in?

P.S. I linked up to this last Summer too and my "Bangs" post is one of the most popular of my posts in my sidebar. You gotta check it out if you have not already... ;-)

"Vintage" Toys

2012-05-16T21:38:00.003-05:00

A while ago my Mom gave me some old toys out of "my" closet - you know the one that is in her house that is part of the room I grew up in until I was 18... yeah that closet.

The box she gave me ~~while threatening to toss it~~ included my little kitchen toys that I remember playing with a lot as a little girl, pretending to cook up something, probably for her.

So the other day I was out doing some yard work and putzing around the garage when I found the box and when Katie girl saw the contents she freaked out.

"Kitchen!!" she said.

Next thing I knew I had spread a blanket out for her on the lawn in the shade while she played with my toys...

...and it was SO fun to watch! Of course now they are her toys and she has since moved them into her kitchen in her room. And yes, it is just too awesome to see her playing with the same toys I did, so many years ago.

Trading it in for Joy

2012-05-15T21:55:00.000-05:00

I lost it the other night. The Saturday night before Mother’s Day to be exact.

I was on edge all week long, stressing over the million-ish little things that I needed to get done and even one I had already done. Now tell me, how does THAT work? Well, turns out one of the things was not completely complete. So right after I crossed it off of my lengthy “to do” list I had to add right back.

So yeah, no pinning a rose on my nose after all.

I was appreciating 6 teachers, getting birthday party invitations out (kinda late, I might add), helping with school projects, registering a child for kindergarten (late again), running errands for said birthday party, making phone calls and well…

…confirming with my doctor that several weeks of physical therapy have done very little good for the ankle that I still cannot use to run.

I want so bad to run again and as I cried to Tim that night, I told him at least half of my stress lately is because I cannot. And I have tried. I just cannot. It still hurts so badly.

So I had a really good cry and afterward I decided to change my attitude and focus on other ways to exercise for now.

Such as yoga. Working my body AND getting some stress relief? Sure, I’ll take it!

There is still hope for my ankle and I am not giving up yet.

Plus, school is almost out and I’m ready for G’s party this Saturday so things are about to lighten up around here.

I cannot wait until my “to do” list says:

“Pack for the beach”

And that is all.

*****************************************************************************************

Tim also said something to me that night that he feels like I do not always appreciate how good we have it. And he was not trying to be mean, he was just keeping it real.

And you would not necessarily know it by just reading my words here, but my attitude has been in the dumps lately.

Again, with the no running. I know that has SO much to do with it.

And I WANT to appreciate this amazing family and life I have. Because I really do and it really is. I have the family I always wanted – an amazing husband and three beautiful, healthy children.

And in the end, they will not care how cute the Lego treat bags were or weren't at their 5^th birthday party.

Because all they really want is for me to be there, with them, celebrating.

So I’m giving the finger to my “to do” list this week and winging it.

Oh and trading stress for JOY.

And yoga.

Happy 5th to my 2nd!

2012-05-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

I found out I was pregnant with Little G while we were on vacation in Florida in early September of 2006.

Tim says he knew I was pregnant a few weeks earlier when we went to see my nephew who was born very premature. I was acting a tad erratic (a.k.a b!tchy) and emotional.

Don't tell the other kids I said this but my pregnancy with him was probably the easiest. Yes, I was still working but we had a gym at the office and I walked and did yoga during the entire pregnancy. I ate the best and gained the least amount of weight.

G was born via c-section and my recovery was pretty good. But let's just say pain meds were my friend.

He latched on in the hospital and didn't let go until he was 14 months old. He never drank a bottle. Sometimes I think back on that and cannot believe it. I remember sitting up and crying in bed in the middle of the night when he was about 6 weeks old and saying I couldn't do it anymore, I was so tired from feeding him all the time. I also had a nasty bout of mastitis when he was about 3 months old. NO. FUN.

But we made it through and to this day he is my most snuggly, kissy, huggy child.

And today he is 5 years old.

These days he is writing his own name, becoming a pro at being both a little and big brother and continuing to turn heads with the dimples the nurses noticed right away when he was born.

A few weeks ago he was going on about his latest "crush" in his pre-school class and I asked him "What about so-and-so?" (a different girl he had been talking about the week before). He sighed and said, "Oh Mom, I'm just going to marry ALL the girls!!"

He might be right. Even the adult ones swoon over him.

But.

They don't live with him.

He is most certainly my biggest challenge (however this last week he is possibly being superseded by his 2.5 year old sister. Yeah.)

I see him growing out of many of the things he has done before, like the whining that used to be his favorite past time. I am pretty sure he's going to be ready to start Kindergarten in a few short months and although I think it's going to be a big adjustment, I see him thriving there. And you know, finding even more girl friends.

I decided to do a little interview and I'm sure someday G will love to look back at his own answers.

What is your favorite color? Blue

Who is your best friend? Nailah (a girl at school)

What is your favorite movie: Star Wars (don't think he has actually ever seen a movie, maybe just some scenes from one...)

What do you want to be when you grow up? A bike rider

What is your favorite food? Spaghetti with meatballs (I made this tonight so... normally I would think his answer would be some sort of dessert.)

What is your favorite drink? Root beer

What is your favorite store? Target

What do you like to do with Mommy & Daddy? play on the computer

What do you like to do with Ben? play Legos

What do you like to do with Katie? play Legos

What kind of party are you having on Saturday? A Lego Jumping Party!!!

Happy Birthday to my snuggly, cute, sweet, talkative, exuberant Little G! I love you, my Gavie Gavster!!

A Pretty Great Day & MEM

2012-05-13T21:02:00.001-05:00

I slept in a bit.

I had coffee brought to me and breakfast made for me.

I did a load of laundry and some dishes.

I laid with the toddler while she fell asleep for her nap.

I sat in the church cry room for a bit with the same squirmy, loud (but still cute) little girl.

My husband snored on the bed next to me while I typed this.

I wore some new, pretty clothes that I bought for myself on Saturday.

I hollered a couple of times at the people I love that are shorter than me.
{what? I'm not perfect... far from it actually...}

I took a walk around the neighborhood and played with the kids outside.

I watched some HGTV.

I DID NOT cook. :)

I accepted flowers and homemade cards and free mimosas at lunch.

I thought about what the week ahead holds, with one child's birthday just a couple of days away...

(two outta three ain't bad, right? ;-p)

I wished other Mothers I know "Happy Mother's Day".

So, what did you do on Mother's Day?

Link up your Mother's Day posts or any other post you like for
"Miss Elaine-ous Monday"!

ANY "miss elaine-ous" post will do, something from your archives or something brand new! :)

Also linking up with Mommy & Me Monday!

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

The Surprises of Motherhood

2012-05-11T09:36:00.001-05:00

How many ways has motherhood surprised you? (you know, if you are a mother...)

I'm talking about how motherhood has taken me by surprise over at Parenting By Dummies (I just love how she openly admits it, don't you?) with my fried Dumb Mom - who happens to parent some pretty cute "dudes". And I kinda love her photography skillz too.

So, I wonder if you can relate to my surprises... I'm guessing you can. But hopefully not the first one...
Anyway, please go read and find out! :)

Happy Friday and Happy Mother's Day to all my awesome mothering friends. This is hard work girls.
xoxo

I ask you... and some photos.

2012-05-10T08:16:00.000-05:00

Do you ever read the comments on other people's blog posts and think, "Ah man, I wish I'd said that" or "woah, that comment was so perfect!"??

I do.

Sometimes.

But then I know I also have my own words and it's okay to say something similar too, especially if I really mean it and want to say it.

Just something to ponder while you look at just a few of the many photos I took of this oh-so-fun and beautiful family of four I had the pleasure to capture with my camera.

Later Taters!

Matching Umbrella

2012-05-08T08:39:00.001-05:00

The rain has stopped but the puddles in the driveway call her name. She loves to jump and splash in them, just as any little girl should. She learned her technique from her older brothers.

After I put on her "rain coat" she dashes out of the house to see her playground of water and her begging eyes look up at me as I find her boots.

"I splash?" Sometimes the answer is no. But today, she is free to do what she wants.

After we get her boots on she spots my umbrella, that was purchased many years ago. Many moons before I even knew that God would make me a Mama to a girl. There was a time when I never thought it would be true.

She delights in opening it and holding it over her head. I remark that it matches with her boots and she squeals a little as she twirls and runs and lands in the water. I do not even care that her new dress is getting wet since her smile and joy cancel it all out.

As do mine.

I have a GIRL.

her various faces crack me up on the daily...

This is part of Just Write

First Communion Forgetfulness & MEM

2012-05-06T21:18:00.000-05:00

I just have to say it is a good thing that God knows we make mistakes because I COMPLETELY forgot about the Friday night rehearsal for The B Man's First Communion.

Thankfully he had already practiced his reading, as well as how to line up and receive the host, the previous Sunday at the retreat they had for all the children.

And instead of re-rehearsing he was out with his family, including his Grandma and Grandpa that he does not get to see enough, having a Cajun dinner and dancing to Cajun music.

"When in Rome...", right? Plus, I'm guessing The Big Man upstairs would most certainly approve...

outside of the restaurant (this also serves as my "three on the fourth" photo for this month...)

Of course I say he had a "Cajun" dinner when in reality he had a pizza while the adults ate crawfish. But you know what I mean...

The next morning I suddenly, somehow remembered that he should have been at church the previous evening, as we were all getting ready for the REAL THING.

Oh well.

It still went wonderfully and he is now "in the club" so to speak. It is so very special to me that he can now receive the body of Christ during mass.

And wow, doesn't he look sharp?!

I am so glad my parents were able to be here to celebrate this so special event with him.

After the mass and some celebratory cake and hot dogs (yes, in that order...) Tim and I headed to Houston for the festivities for his company.

I took NO pictures except for this one out of our hotel room window.

There was a picture of him and I all dressed up, taken by a photographer (a la prom pictures) but the hotel staff threw it away. Jerks. :( And no, it did not include my hot shoes (it was not a full body shot). So sorry, no pics of the shoes but I did wear them well and most importantly, did NOT trip.

We are already back and my parents have left. This week is full of teacher appreciation and birthday prep for my almost 5-year old. He wants a Lego-themed party so Pinterest, here I come!

O-blah-dee, O-blah-dah, Life Goes On!

So... you know M.E.M stands for "Miss Elaine-ous Monday", right?

C'mon and link up, my friends!

ANY "miss elaine-ous" post will do, something from your archives or something brand new! :)

Then and Now

2012-05-04T07:11:00.001-05:00

I think we get more brave as we get older. More confident. More secure in our own skin. I know I have.

The other night I posted this photo on instagram and twitter.

I'm wearing that "cramazing" (crazy & amazing make one word!) shoe and its mate to a shindig this weekend for Tim's company. While perusing the vast shoe selection at the local department store I would have NEVER picked out these shoes. But another woman was trying them on and going on and on about how they were actually comfortable and I saw how they made her legs look about 5 miles long and I said to myself, "What the heck!"

We ended up bonding over this shoe. Me and a beautiful stranger. And we both bought a pair. United in shoes and I didn't even get her name. Such a shame.

Anyway, me and my hot shoes are gonna rock it on Saturday night, I guarantee it! :)
(That's also code for" please pray that i do not trip and make a fool of myself in front of my husband's new boss". k, thanks.)

P.S. PLEASE visit me over at Jamie's place, Chosen Chaos, where I have written a letter to my 18-year old self, who I am pretty sure would not have had the confidence to really wear these shoes... you know?

I simply could not resist its charms

2012-05-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

On my way to take photographs of my friend's sweet baby girl on Saturday morning I happened to notice that a local antique shop was having a tent sale outside.

I desperately wanted to pull ~~swerve~~ over RIGHT then and take a gander at what they had to offer ~~and see what I could find to buy~~. But obviously, I could not.

Instead I texted Tim on the way home and told him I had to make a "quick stop" (ahem) and that I would be home after. He was good with it.

As I walked up I immediately spotted THIS chair.

My heart started to race and began to beat even faster after I saw the completely acceptable price for a chair like this. I instinctively put my hand on it and believe I may have uttered the word "mine" as I did.

Do you ever have a physical response like that to buying a CHAIR? I do.

Anyway, the wonderful chair and several vintage fabrics and a blanket somehow made it into my van.

These things happen.

Turns out two of the vintage fabrics were old flour sacks and one would be REALLY easy to make a dress out of for K, no kidding. Right now though, she's using it as a make shift pillow case (that would be even easier to make!)

I also framed the other flower sack and some of the other fabrics and hung them in her room. The frames were purchased earlier in the week at local thrift shop and the yellow one was formerly tacky gold. Thank goodness for inexpensive spray paint.

Plus, I could not resist this awesome quilt/blanket in which you know someone tied each one of those little pieces of yarn by hand. Two dollars people. $2!!!! You can't beat that with a stick!!

BTW, the chair was $20 and I've seen chairs like this before for a lot more than that. PLUS! She had already recovered it with vintage fabric. That right there is worth at least half the price to me!

So what do you think, did I do good? I am so happy to add these things to K's new big girl room.

And I think she likes the chair almost as much as me...

P.S. I got the smaller owl pillow from the Etsy shop, Emily Ann's Kloset and I adore it. She does a great job so check it out if you get a chance!

p.p.s. I was asked to share where I got the other owl pillow and K's bedding and that would be good ole Target! :)

Wordful Wednesday at Parenting By Dummies! Link it!

The Puzzle

2012-05-01T08:31:00.000-05:00

He sits on the floor with all the pieces spread out before him, some still upside down where you cannot see the part of the picture they will eventually make.

I tell him he should do the outside border pieces first but he does not listen and just grabs the one that looks like it might go with the other one in his hand.

He tries to make them fit. He mushes his palm on top of them both very hard but the two pieces are not a match. He is not ready to give up on them though and tries again.

I watch him struggling a bit and then he finally gives in and moves on to the next piece, the one he thinks will fit instead.

I feel like all the puzzle pieces are not fitting quite right in my life right now. They are all there, in front of me, on the floor, with their ability to eventually go together. To come out in the end as a masterpiece.

The outside border is done, the groundwork is layed for the beginnings of filling it all in to make it right and good.

But right now, they sit jumbled, some upside down, some showing their beauty, just waiting for me to join them all together...

To make the masterpiece.

This weekend & MEM

2012-04-29T22:43:00.000-05:00

Blink, blink, blink goes the cursor.

Throb, throb, throb goes my head.

But still, I want to put something out there for you all to see and read because I thrive off of it.

I want to tell you how busy the weekend was with two photo shoots(!) and preparation for my son's first communion next weekend, and van washing and family time and just living.

the grill of my van is soooo clean...

I want to share with you what joy I get from taking photographs for other people.

I want to share with you how much joy I DO NOT get from trying to finally wean K from her paci addiction. (4:45 wake up time, anyone??).

she is forgiven. ;)

I should be doing my ankle exercises and icing it like I do every night but instead here I sit, in front of my computer monitor, Lightroom as best friend. :)

Oh, but I also have to tell you how awesome the meal was that my husband cooked on Saturday night. Recipe HERE. We had the leftovers for lunch today. Still so delish.

I wish he had time to cook every night (just because he's really better at it than I am)(but don't tell him I said that, k?)

Now I shall leave you with a photo of this little peanut. I mean really, how precious is she?

I'm loving my new "job"!!

p.s. if you have not already, please go read my post from Friday about feeding my kids and leave me some feedback. I would love to know what YOU have to say...

You know M.E.M stands for "Miss Elaine-ous Monday", right?

C'mon and link up, my friends!

ANY "miss elaine-ous" post will do, something from your archives or something brand new! :)

Do you have a post that meant a lot to you but wasn't read by as many folks as you'd hoped? Or one that has great pictures and you want more people to see them? Or do you just have one that you really want to share!?

I'll also choose a random post from those who link up to feature on The Miss Elaine-ous Life Facebook page (please "Like" if you have not already) so even more folks will see a new post every week! Grab the button and link up! And please visit some of the other linkers as well...

If you do not post the button, please still link back to my blog, even if you just put a little blurb at the end of you post such as "It's Monday and I'm being "Miss Elaine-ous" over at The Miss Elaine-ous Life!" - Thanks!! Oh and extra bonus points to anyone who puts a tweet out there, that would be awesome too! Thanks for linking up!
p.s. I've kinda been a slacker about the FB thing lately and I'm SO sorry. I will definitely choose a post to feature on my page this week!!

Doing the best I can...

2012-04-27T21:12:00.001-05:00

The other morning I sleepy-eyed open the freezer like I do on most mornings. I pulled the cardboard tab to open yet another box of "toaster sticks", as we call them.

My messy-haired self stuck two of them in the toaster and another directly on a plastic IKEA plate. Someone I know likes them frozen. It says on the box to toast them first and not to consume frozen but we like to break the rules around here.

I got spoons for their yogurts and asked the oldest which cereal he wanted, while I packed his lunch with a turkey sandwich, an apple, a water (every other day it's water or a juice box) and some gold fish. He also likes dark chocolate so I threw a square in there for "dessert".

I made my coffee and my eggs with cheese and when the coffee pot beeped out that it was finished I filled my mug with it's caffeinated goodness and added a little creamer.

After the 2nd-grader and his Dad left for school and work the almost-5-year old asked for "second breakfast" (you all have hobbits in your house too, right?) and he settled on a TLC cereal bar. His "third" breakfast was basically the same thing, a piece of whole wheat toast with strawberry preserves. Sometimes he even asks for a "jam samich".

Some mornings they have a little glass of lower sugar o.j. Some mornings (usually a Saturday) they have canned cinnamon rolls (reduced fat... sure...). Some mornings they have pancakes with real maple syrup. We go between wheat and regular, blueberries or not.

The rest of their diet consists of the usual things kids like such as chicken nuggets (homemade or frozen or fast...), PB sandwiches, french fries (but I try to limit this!) mac n' cheese, pasta, pizza, various fresh fruits and veggies, granola bars for snacks, nuts, cheese (although oldest doesn't like it unless it's on the pizza), hamburgers (homemade or fast... ugh...), and various "treats". Oh and Mexican or Asian food that we eat out, like Thai or Chinese. Plus a decent amount of birthday cake at other kids' parties!

they rarely have soda but they split this one...

I'm telling you this because I feel like there is constant information out there about how to feed or NOT feed our kids. And I really do try to make sure they have a good, balanced diet but there are still things we/they eat that are probably not always the "best" choice. But with our busy lives and the day-to-day constant of having to EAT! I feel like I am doing the best I can. No, I do not spend all day in the kitchen making things from scratch. That is just not my thing. The littles sometimes have oatmeal or eggs for breakfast too. I whip up a batch of homemade granola bars on occasion and they all love nuts and nut butters. We usually just have a meat or fish, veggies and a fruit for dinner.

Do they eat too much birthday cake and treats, probably so. Do I feel guilty? Some days yes, other days I just cannot.

I feel like I have friends that are doing a lot better than me but then we go to my Mom's she thinks we eat a little "crazy" because I buy certain things for my kids that have less sugar or more whole grain and I'm always reading the labels of the ~~old~~ things in her pantry and fridge. (love you Mom)

And then there's the fact that I read things about "pink slime" (how horrible!!!) and that there are chemicals in the cans used for canned goods and that we shouldn't cook with teflon and GMO's everywhere! And the microwave ~~I use A LOT~~ is evil too...

This is hard stuff, y'all. I just want good food to feed my kids (and myself for that matter). Why does it have to be so hard?

Do you think about this as much as I do? How do you feel about the way you feed your kids?

p.s. one of my VERY favorite snacks is Annie's Kettle Corn. Get you some. It's awesome!!! (not paid to say that, btw...)

My Roots...

2012-04-27T08:10:00.003-05:00

Today I am guest-posting at my good friend Erin's place. She is an amazing mother, writer and friend and I am so honored to be sharing her space today. Please go check out my post, "Writing Ways" when you get the chance and do not be too jealous that I get to room with her at BlogHer '12 in August (Squee! Yes, I'm going!!! NYC, here I come!)

And go ahead and take a little time to think about your writing roots. Because if you author a blog you are a writer in at least one way... :)

Out Back

2012-04-25T22:37:00.000-05:00

Pretty sure my kids think my trusty camera is my fifth appendage.

But I can still push them on the swings (although, good GRAVY, almost 5 year-old, learn to pump your legs already!!!) when we venture out back to play.

And they don't seem to mind too much when I take a break to snap a few photos.

I also grilled a pork tenderloin while doing these other things.

Totally putting "Ulitimate Mulit Tasker" at the top of my resume.

You know, the one that hasn't been updated in 7 years or so...

Photos anyone?

I just love how these big leaves became like "bowls" for the little blooms! :)

This roller coaster...

2012-04-24T21:04:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you're up and sometimes you're down.

The ups are scary and the downs are scarier.

I'm in the downs right now.

I cannot run (still, yet, now, pain free, ugh). This fact makes me a bit depressed. And so I just want to EAT! The true definition of a vicious cycle in my life.

Sometimes I think it's really not fair that I have "struggled" with my weight all my life.

I know in my heart that I will never be the skinniest one and I don't even want to be.

But I JUST want to maintain a weight that I am comfortable with.

Comfortable with the number.

Comfortable in my clothes.

Comfortable in my skin.

Comfortable.

I'm not comfortable right now.

And I get so angry. SO angry that I have to think about every damn thing that goes in my mouth.

Does it have too much sugar?

Or too much fat?

Or too many carbs?

Or just TOO MUCH of anything!!!

I don't want to always live like this.

But I do.

I do live like this.

And I just wanna scream, "It's NOT Fair!!!" It shouldn't be this way.

But it is.

It SO is.

Mom!

2012-04-23T23:12:00.000-05:00

I wash hands, Mom!

I watch t.v., Mom!

I want window up, Mom!

Mom, I want joo box!

Brush teef, Mom!

I want L.C.*, Mom!

Where Ben, Mom?

Where Gavin, Mom?

I want yogurt, Mom!

Unstrap, Mom!

Turn it up Mom!

I. WANT. MY. PACI. MOM!!!

Mom, MAHHHHHHM!!!!!!!!!

You so pretty Mom.

I love you Mom.

Ahhh, Mom...

She already calls me Mom. She has for a while.

Many times that one little word is partnered with demands and needs and wants and is said with a bit of determination and underlying tones of wishing she could do it herself.

Sometimes I wish she would just say "Mommy" instead and quit acting like such a kid already. I wonder how she's changing so fast, how she talks so well.

But no matter which word she uses I still want to remember every which way she says it... whether she is standing watching me getting dressed for church while admiring my reflection in the mirror, or she is just ready to get out of the van.

Honestly, I'll take it any way I can get it.

Someday she'll say "Bye Mom" as she leaves, taking part of my heart with her as she goes, not even knowing until someday when she is a mother, that she has done just that.

So for now any "Mom" from her sweet lips is a good one for me.

And yes, we are working on saying "Please" too...

*L.C. stands for "lamb chop", what we call K's half blanket/half stuffed animal lovie that goes everywhere she goes these days...

I'm Really Doing This & MEM

2012-04-22T22:38:00.000-05:00

There have been some pretty exciting happenings around here lately.

Including more friends trusting me with their precious family photo memories.

That's some kind of wonderful trust, if you ask me.

I can only hope I lived up to the task for them.

Thank you, my friends. I enjoyed it so much. And your family is beautiful. Inside and out.

:-)

I'm having so much fun doing this.... can you tell?!

p.s. You know that MEM stands for "Miss Elaine-ous Monday", right?

ANY "miss elaine-ous" post will do, something from your archives or something brand new! :)