(Photo Tease)

The most recent family photo session teasers are up on Alison's website! I'm so very excited to see the rest (she admitted to taking 500 snapshots that afternoon). Emmie's nine month photos still haven't hit the other photoblog quite yet...yeah we get photographed a lot, I have a problem.

Oh did you want me to elaborate on my problem? Ok I will.

I realize people are in the photography business to make money, but the price of photos these days is borderline ridiculous. $20-$30 just for a normal sized print, not even a humongous blown up one, on top of the sitting fee, sheesta. So that is why I enlist my fave little photographer Alison (also my employee).

She charges a reasonable fee and gives me the CD. All of my photos for me to do with as I please...and find canvas enlargement coupons online. I also like to make my own Christmas cards and this allows me the freedom to do so. To get the CD of my other photo shoot I would basically have to sell Emmie, and well, we're not going to do that. Tucker on the other hand, I mean we'd give him away...

But I do love our 3-6-9-12 month photo place too (and I suppose I wouldn't mind paying the extra bucks if photos were once a year instead of every three months). They use a great studio and are decently priced in comparison to others...so really...I'm just being difficult (and cheap)(well not that cheap considering I paid for two photo sessions, the photos from the first session, and outfits times three, times two)(and times more than that because we had outfit changes mid session).

So there you have it. Two photo sessions, less than a week apart. But I'm thrilled with both...so it works.

Follow up

I thought I should do a little follow up to some previous posts.

Sugar. So daycare did confirm that yes, fruit is in a can, but it's not canned in syrup. So that's a little better...but I've still been packing fresh fruit almost every day...you win some you lose some....I figure any day with fruit is better than not. And we have veggie and fruit filled dinners. Today she had plums and there is a kiwi in the fridge with her name on it for tomorrow, now I just need to Google and see if that's okay to feed her.

Passport. Arrived on Friday. Can you believe that? A week and a half later my passport is already here. Man I can't wait to see what amazing vacations I'm about to take or how long it will sit in the drawer untouched.

Sicky McSickowitz. She's on the mend...now mom and dad are sick. It's like never ending.

Oh yeah, I guess that's all I really had to follow up on huh?

Life feels a lot more hectic than that though.

We had Emmie's 9 month photos, followed by another family photo session this weekend. Planning outfits for three people for two different photos shoots...h.a.r.d. You want to coordinate, but not be too matchy matchy...all while making it look like you didn't try that hard. And then there is the baby shower I'm co-planning (it's going to be phenom, Laur) with an invitation to whip together because heaven forbid I just find something to buy online, along with a little first birthday party for someone that is looming in the distance...and then the Halloween costume. The Halloween costume! Parts were delivered to work and now I just need to figure out how to make this sucker.

There is just not enough time in the day!

screen door shenanigans

We had a random Monday night dinner at grandma and grandpa's house. A little after school play time for the cousins. The men were outside enjoying an amazing evening on the mini pitching green my dad set up. Emmie and Olivia thought watching through the screen was pretty spectacular and they find themselves particularily hilarious. And yes, this went on for quite some time.

all the other titles are taken

When you're sick in this house, you get a new toy. I think she likes it.

And in addition to new toys, you get a high chair. Yep, finally bought a high chair, 9 months later. Now Grandma just has to recover the plaid cushion.

Broccoli and corn off the cob...new favorites!

double trouble

I was sitting at my desk today trying to work myself into a work out excitement. Sometimes, okay most of the times, I'm not that interested. But today I had no excuse. No errands to run, no country to try to sneak into and the gym clothes were sitting right there...I just needed to get my ass off my chair and head out. Then I got the call. It's never good to see the daycare on caller ID.

To the clinic we went. She had gooey eye and just kinda looked a mess in general. Daycare figured it was pink eye. Ugh.

An hour in the waiting room later and two seconds with the doc, she has double pink eye and a double ear infection. Aw shit. Poor kid! No wonder she was up every hour and a half last night...her eyes were crusted shut and her ears hurt like hell.

So now she's sleeping away in her car seat and I'm trying to disinfect the WHOLE HOUSE. And not to be a hypochondriac, but I'm pretty sure I have pink eye too.

That wasn't exactly the excuse to not work out I was looking for...

back in the U S of A

There we were, approaching the border...getting a little nervous without my appropriate travel documents in hand...worst case scenario mom was going to drive to Grand Forks to pick me up; best case scenario I was only going to be questioned while some guard men and a drug dog searched our car. We pull up, whip out my sub par documents and hand them over.

BP: What's your reason for travel?
A: Concert.
BP: Pearl Jam?
A: Yep.
BP: Where you staying?
A: Radisson, downtown.
BP: You don't have a passport?
K: No.
BP: Have you applied for one?
K: Yes.
BP: Okay, have a nice trip.

WHAT? That was IT?! Seriously. All that worry for nothing. We drove in to Winnepeg, checked in, lunched, cocktailed, picked up the tickets, cocktailed some more, had dinner and then jammed out.

Now we know I'm not a huge fan, but I will say that these fellas put on a really great show. Andy was very pleased with the set list and the three hours plus of show time. While people watching I saw a shirtless man, children, a shoeless girl in the bathroom and plenty of other random stuff. It was all pretty entertaining.

And then on the way home, I was expecting the worst as we hit the border once again. I figured there would be questioning again, I hoped it wouldn't take too long.

BP: Where were you at?
A: Winnepeg for a concert.
BP: Are you coming back with anything you didn't have before?
A: Donuts from Tim Hortons and t-shirts from the concert.
BP: When did you apply for your passport?
K: A couple days ago.
BP: See ya.

Yeah, he actually said "see ya." So there you have it. You do not need a passport to get into Canada. But now a new one is in the mail...and that's just all the more reason for us to vacation somewhere better than Canada!

And thank you to Alicia and Matt for Emmiesitting most of the weekend and mom for taking over today. It's so nice to be able to skip the country knowing the babe is in good hands!

let's get physical, physical

Chubby thighs in leg warmers? Yes, please.

Watching Dad vacuum? Yes, please.

Being vacuumed? Yes, please.

Let's rewind to Grandparents Day for a moment.

Honestly, I didn't know it was (or there was such a thing as) Grandparent's Day until about a day or so before the big event.  Which left little to no time to buy anything for the Grandparents...that have everything already...which makes buying something for them too difficult anyways.

So I crafted!

Using a Pinterest photo idea, I printed a little saying onto tissue paper...using the printer that I had to go out and buy that very day because I have just been using the printer at my parent's house for oh, I don't know, years. Mom always has the right paper and random labels and ink, it's too easy. But then I had to craft a project for her and she wasn't leaving the house so I couldn't even break in to print...rude.

Anyways...all you need to do is tape your tissue paper around a regular piece of paper, print and then cut off.

And then you just Mod Podge (not to be confused with Modg) it onto a canvas (or a box or frame or a block or a vase, you get the point). How easy is that?!

And the whole, you can print whatever you want onto a piece of tissue paper thing, is pretty exciting stuff. So, when your gift comes with some personalized tissue paper in the near future, act surprised.

the things i do for my husband.

Wanna guess what I did all day yesterday?

Alright, we’ll be here forever, I’ll just tell you.

I was on the phone with the Post Office, then the Border Patrol and then scouring the internet for a day about how to enter Canada. I’ve probably set off some high alert warning at the FBI agency and they’re on their way to my house right now.

Why the sudden interest in Canada, eh?

As you may know, Andy is a huge Pearl Jam fan and he is going with a friend to a concert this weekend in Canada. There are two couples going as well, but my interest level in Andy’s music is pretty low, so a boy trip it will be. Well, yesterday, Andy’s friend new enemy cancelled. Like, totally backed out. Who cancels a cross the border trip the week of - leaving Andy to drive alone, stay in a hotel alone and attend a concert alone?!

And after asking every man in the tristate area, Andy is now being forced to take his wife.

Oh better yet…I have no passport.

Hence the multiple calls to Border Patrol. Did you know you can just call them? Anyways, even though everyone says I need a passport…supposedly, I’ll be okay with my birth certificate and driver’s license; I guess North Dakota doesn't so much follow the laws of the government. Don't worry, I’ve talked to about 10 “officers” and have their names and phone numbers written down and the approximate times I spoke with them.

But if it all goes down hill, Mom said she’d pick me up on the side of the road.

Ok, I’m off to buy earplugs…I kid, I kid…but I am going to search for concert appropriate attire. Wish me luck. Andy is a little nervous about my excitement level for the band he loves...so he has instructed me to pretend it's a Reba concert circa 1995.

grandparents day

It's grandparents day! Who knew? So this goes out to the very best grandparents on their very first grandparents day.
 
I knew my parents were going to be great grandparents, but I never realized just how much I would enjoy seeing their grandparentness. Emmie lights up with that sparkle in her eye while Grandma and Grandpa are down on the floor reliving childhood all over again. Watching my parents interact with Emmie is pretty much the greatest thing ever.   I don't exactly know why that is either? Maybe because something that I made has brought so much joy and love and happiness? Whatever it is, I can't get enough of it.

We'll start with Grandpa Mike. Don't let that business suit fool you, he's a softy.  When Emmie and Olivia are over and Grandpa gets home from work, he immediately drops to his stomach and plays with them. He buys the girls matching Fargo Country Club outfits, takes them for walks around the house and compares bald heads. Those girls pretty much had him wrapped around their little fingers from day one.

And I've already told you about Mama Vicki but have I told you about Grandma Vicki? She's pretty much the best thing ever. She's the kind of grandma that knows how Emmie's day was, loves a Saturday afternoon drop off while we run errands, buys new toys for their house to keep the girls entertained and has only recently been put on an Emmie spending freeze because her closet is about to bust at the seams.

Emmie is spoiled with outfits and jammies, but better yet...she's spoiled with love. There are so many kisses and hugs and Emmie squeals with delight. Grandma's office is filled with photos of her grandbabies that she so quickly gushes about and Grandpa carries around photos in his wallet. Let me tell you, these two were made to be grandparents...

We are so very lucky to have them in our lives...and just blocks away makes it that much better. (Hey Dad, go ahead and bookmark this post to read again before you think of retiring states away.)

So thank you mom and dad for being amazing grandparents. The only thing better than having you for parents, is Emmie having you for grandparents.

Sugar.

Oh the dilemmas. 

Side note: am I the only person that has always thought you spelled dilemma with a silent “n”? I mean, I do fancy myself quite the word enthusiast and all these years, I thought it was dilemNa. Damnit!? Wait, is that dammit too??

Anywho.

My newest dilemma. Daycare. Fruit = canned = filled with sugary syrup.

I am NOT cool with this.

Emmie’s totally into real live, fresh fruit at home and I am into NOT giving her sugary so called fruit. Or any sugar for that matter. (But I've also been known to lick the salt off of the totally expensive organic crackers I give her...note to self, unsalted next time.)

So I asked about fruit at daycare. It’s in a can. Ugh. Seriously.

Sooo now, am I going to be that mom that cuts up fresh fruit and packs her 9 month old's lunch box everyday? Or do I quit my job so I can stay at home and feed her fresh organic foods all the live long day? Ok, so I know the last one isn’t happening but I just don’t think I can let her eat canned sugary fruits this early in life.

I know I'm a little nuts and I know I will succumb to the sugars at some time, but I'm just hoping to hold off as long as I can.

What’s a me to do??

you see, she likes peaches...and popped collars.

The Gate

It was finally time to put up the gate since the little miss is getting her crawl on. First of all, the gate was a total pain to put up. Second, it's just a pain in general...but it's keeping our baby from falling down the stairs, so unfortunately it'll be here for a while.  Someone else not impressed with the gate: Tucker. Of course I'm using it to keep him out of the way when he's being annoying and then the sad puppy dog eyes come out in full force:

she taunts him just a little.

9 months!

And we're back with the numbered onesies.

Here is the only photo on her back and it took everything in our entertainment arsenal to keep her still for a second.

See ya later suckers...you can't hold me down!

Emmie loves to clap and bang things together and is all sorts of happy now that she's on meds for her double ear infecton, the 4th tooth was a killer.

She's crawling up a storm and keeping us entertained every minute of the day. She says mama and dada but not necessarily directed at the right person all of  the time.

  

Big brother likes to keep a close eye on her.

She loves to pull up on everything and anything. She even stands by herself for a little bit. And she thinks she's hilarous, laughing out loud for no particular reason.

Peek.