Memorial mix

Its been a long time, super long time. Life is busy, and just gets busier. Good that my life is ever changing and spicy, not so good for the poor little blog...moving on!

I'm not sure where the tradition of going to visit ALL graves came about but I have mixed feelings about it. I've always thought memorial day is a day to remember the ones who have fought and died for our freedoms, like these small little reminders below. Deep down I wish I was only visiting those graves and not ALL graves.

This post is partially a salute to all the men, women, and families that have given up everything so I could be free and partially the sadness at the thought of visiting my sweet little Lucas. I'm selfish what can I say. My heart breaks at the thought of going there. I think about the little guy all the time. I think about how old he would be what he would be doing and the happiness and joy I know he would be bringing to our family. I get the "realness" that he's not here, but there is something about going to his grave that makes it all "too real". When I'm there I just want to scoop him up and hold him, tell him that I love him and wish he was here. I want him to know I haven't forgotten about him even when life gets crazy and it seems like I have.

This weekend I will have a swirl of emotions, most of them being sad. I know I will see him one day and that helps, but I miss him and wish he was here.

It is the
VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the
VETERAN who
salutes the Flag.

Thank you to the men, women, and families that have given everything so that my family and I have the freedoms we do!

Mother's Day goodness

85 year old grandma in junior high

No this post isn't an amazing story of how an old grandma finally graduates from junior high, although that would be pretty amazing and redonkulous (yes it is a word) because junior high clearly doesn't matter.

Back to the point, this post is something totally not "kosher" to talk about but since its just you and me Jamie :) you've heard it all from me so why not?

The girls....oh the girls...they've deflated and if I had enough skin they would be rubbing my upper thigh! I've stopped nursing and its become an unusually sad sight to see. I honestly look like an 85 year old back in junior high (yay for title tie in). I've tried to be okay with super small girls and normally its just life BUT do they have to be unusually SMALL and SAGGY...come on!!

Its embarrassing really embarrassing. I think its "part" of what makes you a woman, MF disagrees of course but I think he's just trying to make me feel better. I do know that I am not "one" of those girls that is fine with indented nips that can't indent because they are too busy rubbing your belly button. Speaking of belly, guess mines holding out for the next munchkin to nestle in.

So here I sit belly hanging over my pants, girls nestling down in China town. Heaven help the person that has to see me naked, sorry MF.

Here's to hoping they make training bras that will fit my ever expanding rib cage.

oh my this is hilarious!! I might just have to order myself up some of these bad boys.

http://videosift.com/video/Sagging-Boobies-Lift-Em-Up-With-Liftys

What's in a name

can't post without a pic...isn't she so dang cute! this was an awesome session!!
So for all my plethora of readers out there I need your opinions, please!

I'm moving forward with this photo thing and I can't for the life of me figure out a blasted name. I know most people use their name since they are the "artist" but let's be honest my name is super long and people start to fall asleep after the Catherine (thank heavens I married a Vinton and not a Christenanson(I promise its a name)). So listed below are a few of the names I am thinking of.

Honest opinions please I promise you won't hurt my feelings! (just know it will have photography at the end...duh)

MCPhoto (MCphotography is already taken...go figure)
MCVinton
Mae Mae (what the kids call me when they can't say the whole dang thing)
MaeVin


More cutesy cheesy below
Salty lemon
MC Zest
Zesty
Sassafrass
Saucey (because I'm creamy)

There you have it! All the "good" ones are already gobbled up. Oh and if you have a super fantastic name pop up in your head spread the love ladies, I'd love to hear it.

Royal pain!

So a few months ago I got a call asking me to volunteer my time and head up the River Heights Royalty. In my mind I thought it would be fun, right? I didn't have very much notice and hardly any guidelines so I decided to just go for it and try to make it an awesome experience for the girls and hopefully get a "huge" turn out.

I decided to do a health theme because I am passionate about it and feel its super important for young kids to learn, know, and do. With a low budget I pitched for people to volunteer their time for this great cause. So with gusto I went to town....

I asked an amazing instructor from Golds to teach them a little fun hip hop dance (to show them exercise can be fun) and talk about how important it is to remain active. Then I scheduled a dinner at Kitchen kneads to show the girls how to cook healthy meals and the importance of eating healthy. Last but not least I arranged with CASPA to do a scavenger hunt helping families of violence. Super fun, right?

Sent out letters to about 20 girls listing all these fun and exciting things to do plus the joy of course of answering a few questions for a few lovely people and standing on a float for 17 (fine 13...17 sounds more dramatic) plus parades waving the "wave". Oh and did I mention they get a whooping 70 bucks (queen gets 100) to put towards school (should take um far, I know). I didn't think they were getting much so that's why I put together all these great activities. I'm sure you can see where this is going.

Drum roll please...ONE! only one girl sent in her application. So begins the calling and begging until I decided I felt like I was forcing girls into doing something they don't want to. A month after I asked for them another girl sent in her application...man! I don't think its worth it to have 2 girls, am I wrong?

I'm sad and frustrated and can clearly see I don't understand Junior aged girls at all and I think RH wants their Tamber back.

Needless to say Royalty is NOT my thing and I won't be volunteering myself next year :).

Sneaky Sneaky

if only I looked this fashonista!

Today I discovered one more way I have a little of my mom in me...how could I be so lucky!

When I was younger I always remember my mom sneaking into the cupboard, rustling of a wrapper, slowly sliding her face into the cupboard emerging with the look of I've got a secret and jaw moving ever so slowly. When I was little little I didn't get it, when I got older I would sneak into the cupboard to find out just what exactly she was sneaking. Rare occasions I would actually find it, the other times I would spend my time emptying the whole cupboard only to find bitter sweet chocolate and rock hard raisins...YUCK! (I always wondered if she had some secret cupboard hiding the goods...back of course when I had a fun kid imagination..now I'm old and WAY too logical)

Today I finally realized why my mom did that (do you blame her honestly...7 kids I would be downing the little moments of heaven number 1 for my sanity, number 2 because if I didn't eat them all my kids would). She needed a little moment of heaven and she found it through a special little treat, just for her.

Today I found myself distracting the little man while I ever so slyly snuck a treat. My treat of course is never the sweet smooth delight of chocolate (not that I would know since I don't like it) its the fruit snacks I supposedly bought after my little man begged me to get them...ha I fooled him, right?

Goes a little like this....
What? you want Gushers....oooh they are more expensive! (pause) But since you've been such a good guy grab 5 boxes, okay fine let's make it an even 6.
"Wow that's a lot mama"
Its for food storage little guy (let's be honest, not one of those 6 boxes will ever see the inside of my food storage let alone the next week)

Moral of this post is:

1. I get why my mom had "special things" just for her, even though back then I thought it was so "MEAN"

2. I think all mamas need a little moment of heaven throughout the day.

3. Reading back this post I look like a sneaky liar...sweet I rock! (Okay I really am not that bad, I have the sweetest intentions...food storage is a good idea I just eat it before it can ever make it down there:)

*I think the little man might be on to me because when he asks for a fruit snack and I say...oh no they're all gone...tears well in his eyes and he says MAMA you ate them all... TOTALLY BUSTED!

kids are superfantastic

We all know kids are fantastic but this morning I realized kids are more then just fantastic, they are super fantastic.

The last few weeks, okay really March has been a rough month for me. I piled my plate WAY to high and then some pretty craptastic things have happened to me making it all the worse. When I woke up this morning at 7:00am I was grumpy right off the bat. I set my alarm for 5am so I could make the 5:30 session and well we know how that turned out. I was mad at myself and super sad I didn't get the chance to feel some peace in this life of turmoil(SIDE NOTE: this sounds super dramatic, its really not that bad I'm just a stress mania). Oh there's more...I had a photo class that I've been going to (putting stress on myself and my mf) that was looking more and more like I wasn't going to be able to make it (money down the drain, YUCK). I tried to be as happy as I could but I am a terrible actress..(note to self, never persue acting, although at some point I secretly wanted to be on Days of our Lives).

I rushed MF and lil man out the door and turned back into the house feeling totally depleated (its only 8:30am, yikes). Then I hear the door open and in walks my lil man with tears in his eyes. I instantly scoop him up and he tearfully explains that he didn't get to tell me he loved me and give me a hug and kiss. By this time my tears are flowing! That's what its all about, that's why kids are super fantastic. At that moment nothing else mattered. We gave tons of hugs and kisses and he was on his way again.

Thanks lil man, you have no idea how much that small moment meant to me today. I sure do love you and think you are SUPER FANTASTIC!!