All Astonishment

Gleam

2011-05-08T15:14:00.001-05:00

Miss Celeste, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

I love the gleam in her eye here. This sweet 3 year old wasn't very sure about having her photo taken, but once I brought out the tutu, she was smitten.

Samuel is 6 months

2011-05-07T12:06:00.001-05:00

Remember this little baby?

Look how big he is now!

In the right light, at the right time,

2011-05-04T16:23:00.001-05:00

everything is extraordinary. ~Aaron Rose

Because I take pictures, I am constantly noticing the Light around me. Not only do I take note of it in my own surroundings, I notice it in magazine photos and on TV as well. Apparently I’m not the only one. I found this article very interesting and informative. If you are a Light Junkie, check it out!

Cupcakes Gone Astray

2011-04-29T13:46:00.001-05:00

This Spring I found a tutorial for some adorable sheep cupcakes. I couldn’t wait to make them for Easter! What says “Spring” more than cute little lambs?

I whipped up a batch and showed the Munchkins how to decorate the top, then I left them to it.

When I came back, I found this:

and this:

Apparently, I have very creative children.

Follow

2011-04-23T09:25:00.001-05:00

Of (flying) Mice and Men

2011-04-17T17:20:00.001-05:00

The kids and I built a bonfire in the backyard last night. After we cooked hot dogs and snarfed down s’mores, we licked the last of the sticky mess off of our fingers and settled back in our chairs to watch the dusky blue sky fade to twilight.

All around us we could hear night animals beginning to wake up.

“Maybe we’ll see a bat,” I ventured. It’s always a treat to see a bat in our yard, flitting about the sky. So far this year, we hadn’t.

“There’s a star,” Miss Munchkin suddenly pointed. “Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might have this wish I wish tonight.” She paused, lost in hopes and dreams.

“Wish for a bat!” The Master suggested hopefully.

Firsts

2011-04-14T22:59:00.001-05:00

Remember this little lady? She was the star of my very first newborn photoshoot.

She went on to be slightly famous when Ree gave this picture a shout out on her blog.

Well, guess who just turned one? I was so glad that her mother asked me to document the happy occasion. Miss Margo is just as laid back and sweet as she was as a newborn but it’s fun looking back and seeing how much she’s physically changed in the last year!

This was my first 1-year Photoshoot. She and her mother made it entirely delightful.

This is the same pink headband that she had on when she was a newborn. Awwww….

Happy Birthday Margo Mae. I love watching you grow!

She's Home

2011-04-11T06:52:00.002-05:00

She, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

My Favorite Sister is back in the states.

Little Red is in the Hood

2011-02-22T19:41:00.001-06:00

I snapped this picture of Miss Munchkin in the woods behind our house last Fall.

In Which MrsMama Plays Hooky

2011-02-18T19:54:00.001-06:00

The weather was so beautiful today that I put Master Munchkin’s seatwork on hold and we hit the road for a Field Trip. We’ve been studying local Kansas History and had recently learned about John Brown and his role in the anti-slavery movement.

One of his historical battles, the Battle of Black Jack, was fought just minutes from our house. We set out to explore the site.

The Master gazing at a grove of Sugar Maples, thinking about syrup.

Some historians consider the Battle of Black Jack to be the first true battle of the American Civil War.

The men on both sides of the fight took refuge in the creek beds that run along the property. The Master was hoping to find a bullet or even a gun that somebody dropped during the five hour fight. Hey, a boy can hope!

We didn’t find anything metal but we did find ruts from wagon wheels near the creek (I’ve marked them in red on the photo).

We found a neat stone bridge.

While not related to John Brown, this silo also demanded exploration. Look closely - can you see the Master? Wait! Don’t go in there! I think there’s something in the Homeschool Handbook about safety…

Past the silo we explored some native prairie and ambled down a nature trail. We saw some deer tracks and a few very large dog-like prints.

After tromping around for a few hours, we were ready for a break so we headed into the little town for some Wheat State pizza. Wheat is one of Kansas’s main crops. So eating pizza on wheat crust is definitely educational. That’s in the handbook too. :)

I love field trips!

Linky Love

2011-02-06T16:15:00.001-06:00

Here are some goodies I’ve come across recently:

First, I found a recipe for my favorite Girl Scout cookie, Thin mints. Yea!

We all probably know someone who is a little lost in the kitchen. MrMama, this one’s for you :) How to Boil Water

Lastly, Flickr is one of my favorite places to get photographic inspiration. If you want to see what makes me gasp, check these out.

I have seen hell and it’s white

2011-02-02T14:44:00.004-06:00

“I believe I have have seen hell and it’s white, snow-white.”

Not really, I just love that scene from the BBC miniseries “North and South” and have always wanted to say that. Actually, we have enjoyed the snow that our brief blizzard has brought us.

Master Munchkin and I built a snow cave today. It wasn’t a “proper” snow cave – more like a hole in a drift, but in my mind it looked like this:

After all of our architectural efforts, we had worked up an appetite so we made one of my favorite Winter treats, snow cream. I think the two activities cancel each other out calorically, don’t you?

Favorite Face of 2010

2011-01-03T10:23:00.006-06:00

Looking back over 2010, I have a handful or two of favorite faces. They include some stunning Seniors, bewitching babies and charming children. But one photo makes me smile every time I look at it.
His eyes, his ears, his shy smile - this little guy just makes my day!

Birdbrain

2011-01-01T12:12:00.000-06:00

Our dog, Trooper

A Taste of Testing

2010-12-29T20:44:00.000-06:00

Here are a few moments of our Black Belt test. You can tell we were really tired!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T09:44:00.000-06:00

Country Christmas

2010-12-22T13:03:00.001-06:00

Country Christmas, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

Look at this cutie! I love the sparkle in her eyes. :)

From my Far Away Favorite Sister

2010-12-20T08:15:00.000-06:00

Create a free digital greeting

Black

2010-12-19T07:58:00.004-06:00

Three years ago I started martial arts along with Miss Munchkin. Mostly I wanted her to learn self-defense skills and she agreed to the lessons as long as I took them with her! Along the way, I’ve learned some valuable techniques, become physically stronger and made some wonderful new friendships.

Miss Munchkin and I have been testing for our Black Belt over the past six weeks. Last week was our final test. It was 2 hours long! Before class started, we had to complete 100 situps, 75 pushups and 25 laps around the dojo. Then, for the first 30 minutes of the test, we were pushed to our limit physically with strenuous drills and exercises. After we were good and tired, we were asked to demonstrate all of the techniques we’d learned over the past 3 years. Kicks and punches, escapes from various chokes and bear hugs, throws and grappling on the ground. Then we sparred.

At the end of class, we learned that we’d passed! The following night we received our Black Belts in an official graduation ceremony. We also read a 3 page paper that we’d written about our “journey though martial arts”.

I’m so glad testing is over. It is one of the harder things I’ve ever had to do. I’m really proud of Miss Munchkin for hanging in there though it all and of myself, for doing this at age 40!

Reading my paper

Miss Munchkin graduating

Getting my new belt

The graduating class (we’re on the right)

Pictures You Won’t See

2010-12-14T13:55:00.001-06:00

On our Christmas card this year:

Smile!

Yes, I know you’re cold. Just a few more minutes…

Get down Trooper!

Now put your heads together, closer, closer…. too close! Ouch.

The Lick

Perfect (if you ignore the galloping dog in the background)

Linkey Love

2010-12-03T20:31:00.001-06:00

Miss Munchkin and I are halfway though our 6 week intensive black-belt boot camp! It's pretty tough and we are really sore. Don't make either of us laugh. Ow. :)

Here are some neat things I've found recently. I love to share!

10 Free Holiday Icons for your website

The Frugal Find (great for getting deals for Xmas shopping)

Ninjabread Men

10 Tips for a Sharper Photo by one of my favorite photographers

Something New

2010-11-27T09:29:00.001-06:00

I’ve been busy working on something entirely new the past few weeks – I’ve been taking photos of the students at our martial arts studio. This project required the use of lights and a green screen and digital backgrounds – all new stuff for me! It’s kind of funny – the students get to choose their backgrounds and every single child (and even a few of the adults) choose Fire. :)

Here’s a little taste:

Thankful

2010-11-24T21:26:00.003-06:00

My Favorite Sister is still living abroad in the Philippines but now she has a visitor - my mother! We've all been missing Rene, but my mom couldn't stand it any longer and hopped on a plane for a ride around the world. She's been having all sorts of grand adventures - hiking and riding around on motorcycles, helping in Rene's classroom and taking showers out of a cold bucket of water! I'll miss being with them for Thanksgiving, but I'm thankful that they are together.

Between baking pies this week, I've been working on a required paper for my Black Belt Test. We have to write a three page paper and read it out loud at our graduation. I think I should do an interpretive dance instead. ;)

Pharmaceutical Fun

2010-11-17T08:11:00.004-06:00

I learned a thing or two about my son this week. Apparently Master Munchkin is one of those kids who gets an awful itchy rash when taking the antibiotic, Amoxicillan. The kind that keeps him up at night, scratching madly. So, like any good mother, I treated his allergic reaction with Benedryl. Ha! I bet you didn't know that Benedryl makes some children hyper instead of sleepy! I had no idea until this week. The Master was chirping around, all perky and taking non-stop, generally getting on my nerves. Finally I took him by the shoulders and looked him in the eyes.

Why aren't you getting sleepy?!!

He stared back, his eyes widening. "I'm immune!" And then he laughed his evil scientist laugh.

Fall Family

2010-11-13T10:47:00.001-06:00

Here are a few shots from a recent family photoshoot. This time we hit the local train depot.

Black Belt Boot Camp

2010-11-10T12:36:00.004-06:00

If you have followed my blog for awhile now, you know that my children and I have been training in mixed martial arts. We’ve been taking classes for 3 years and this month we are starting to train for our final test! There are 5 weeks of grueling classes that we have to go through and, at the end, we learn if we passed. So I hopefully I will become a black belt in December! Miss Munchkin will be testing with me. Wish us luck!

Part of our test includes being able to do 100 situps and 70 pushups. Uh oh! I can do about half those amounts right now, so I need to get busy!

Speaking of busy, I just finished coordinating our school’s Book Sale. We’d been taking donations since the summer and about a bazillion books needed to be organized and, well, sold! It was a lot of work but we made $600 for our little school library, which is more than its yearly budget. Yea!

The Picture Within

2010-10-29T11:44:00.001-05:00

We’ve all gotten those “less than perfect” shots from time to time. You know the ones, where somebody wiggles at just the wrong moment or blinks right when you push down the shutter. Wait! Before you hit “delete” on your camera or computer, take another look. There might be a wonderful picture hiding somewhere in there!

For example, this cutie-patooie was showing me her sweater. Her brother was showing me some “Cheese”.

A little cropping, a zoom, and a slight rotation later you get this!

This next photo was pretty cute to start with but I think the viewer’s eye is drawn away from the girl’s face down to her lower arm and leg. I’m also distracted by the strong purple flowers above her head. And that’s a shame because, with a zoom and a crop…

You get this! So look twice at your photos; You may uncover a hidden treasure.

Samuel, 8 days

2010-10-27T05:24:00.001-05:00

This little guy was actually pretty alert for a newborn. We had to work fast between catnaps. :)

These were shot using natural light.

Geddes Gone Wrong

2010-10-23T19:30:00.001-05:00

I’ve had a few adorable babies in front of my camera recently. Of course, not every shot is a keeper. I’ll usually delete most of the seconds but, occasionally, I’ll capture something that just cracks me up. I call these “WGGW”s or “When Geddes Goes Wrong”.

After messing with this little guy quite a bit, he finally woke up and glared at me. Then he gave me me the Finger.

Nesting

2010-10-12T11:22:00.001-05:00

Nesting, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

I'm in the middle of editing a Family photoshoot. The mother is expecting in January and she let me do some fun tummy shots. Dang, I wish I looked that good when I was expecting! :)

Beep, Beep Beep

2010-10-08T17:29:00.000-05:00

As a music lover, one of my goals is to introduce my children to all kinds of music and to have them learn to enjoy it as much as I have. From the time they were babies, our Munchkins have been exposed to a wide variety of sounds, including classical, choral, Broadway, pretty much anything except Light Jazz (which makes me cringe).

One of the fun ways we’ve found to hook our kids on some classical tunes is through the Beethoven’s Wig series of CDs. They are a little goofy and a lot of fun. There are 4 out now and we borrowed the latest from the library last week. One of our favorite songs on this album is set to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. You can hear it here (click Track 12).

Others worth a listen include:

Beethoven’s Wig (Track 1)

Musical B’s (Track 4)

Warning, they are rather silly. And once you've heard them, you may never listen to the music again without hearing the words in your head. But if you need a laugh on a long trip, they are worth a listen!

The Sweetest Senior

2010-09-28T09:32:00.001-05:00

This sweet thing was such a joy to work with. Here are a few of my favorites shots from our time together.

Okay, Break it Up People

2010-09-26T13:56:00.000-05:00

Last night, MrMama and I were having a, er, discussion.

Me, in a ~~slightly grumpy~~ promising tone: Are we going to need to have a fight about this?

MrMama, calmly: No, I don't think so. Why?

Me: Because you're being..... (struggles for word).... wrong!

MrMama chuckles.

Happy Fall Y'All

2010-09-24T08:53:00.002-05:00

On the first day of Fall, the Munchkins and I were were listening to Vivaldi's Autumn concerto on the car radio. Or at least I thought they were listening.

Miss Munchkin: Is it pronounced "Ni-vall-di" or "Vi-vall-di"?

Master Munchkin: I think it's "Na-Baldy."

Me (trying not to laugh): It's "Vivaldi".

Miss Munchkin: Are you sure? I always thought it was Nivaldi!

Master Munchkin: Yeah! I mean, what kind of idiot would name his kid, "Vivaldi"?!!

(fade to spirited classical music)

Notes to Self

2010-09-23T05:30:00.008-05:00

Lessons recently learned the hard way in Photography:

Pond scum on a lake does not a pretty background make. Check and double check what's behind your subject before you start shooting.

Apparently I need more than my personality to charm a baby. Must get squeaky toy.

You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby

2010-09-22T12:13:00.001-05:00

I got to take photos of the sweetest baby yesterday. It was hard for me to stop smooching her chubby little baby feet and to pick up the camera. Luckily her mother was very understanding. :)

Overheard

2010-09-22T11:51:00.000-05:00

Overheard at our house recently:

Miss Munchkin: Madeline had to have her expendix taken out.

Master Munchkin: We need to make that again or I will die of Lack of Potato Soupness.

Miss Munchkin: I walk all-the-day. And I'm tired.

The Life of Fred

2010-09-19T23:34:00.007-05:00

One of the benefits of homeschooling is that I can tailor the curriculum to fit my child. Last year Master Munchkin was bored in Math at school so I really wanted Math to be challenging for him this year. And fun.

Happily, I found a Math textbook that is both. Stanley Schmidt, Ph.D. wrote a series called "Life of Fred". The lessons are infused with unexpected humor and surprises.

For example, here are a few of the questions from this week's quiz:

(A little background info for those of you who haven't been through the first 10 chapters, Fred has had an Accident. So brace yourselves.)

1. The knife in Fred's foot weighs thirteen pounds. How many ounces is that?

2. Reduce as far as possible 120/360

3. Drip! is the onomatopoetic word describing Fred as Betty carried him down the stairs. If Fred were losing one drop of blood every four seconds, how many drops of blood would he lose in four minutes?

8. It is seven furlongs from Fred's office to the hospital. How many feet is that? (A furlong is 220 yards)

etc.

Now what boy wouldn't love that?! I love hearing him laugh out loud as he's reading the chapters and I'm thrilled that he is enjoying Math again. Now what mom wouldn't love that? :)

InSight

2010-09-17T17:58:00.002-05:00

., originally uploaded by MrsMama.

A quick snapshot from a recent photoshoot. This is the Greek Goddess' little sister. Their mother brought along this beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers, which we incorporated into several of the shots.

Fight Class

2010-09-16T06:28:00.003-05:00

This year my Fight Class consists of 3 ladies and 6 men. Last night it was just me and the guys though. We took turns practicing some combinations then we sparred with each other. I always come out of class utterly exhausted and dripping in sweat. I think I won’t show you that.

Here’s some footage from last week. I actually landed a Superman Punch (I was so happy!)

Fight Class

Meaghan

2010-09-12T16:18:00.002-05:00

Meet Meaghan. We did her Senior photos downtown in the alleys behind the shops. I call her “The Greek Goddess” inside my head. She was tall. She was poised. She was beautiful.

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that people stopped and stared.

She was also really fun to shoot and was up for anything. To get this shot she had to climb over a railing, schooch out on a ledge, and stand in the middle of a bunch of bees.:)

Coming soon: some sweet shots of her sister.

Shout Out

2010-09-12T07:11:00.003-05:00

The Pioneer Woman is featuring "funny" photos on her blog right now. Check out the the entries for a guaranteed grin. And if you are a ~~stalker~~ faithful reader, you might just recognize one of the pictures in Group 5. (Woo Hoo Tiffany and Chad! Your boys are a hoot!)

For another smile, you can read about the night I met Ree herself here.

And now, back to my blog

The Earth Laughs in Flowers

2010-09-09T23:35:00.002-05:00

A few shots from a recent Photoshoot. Aren’t they cutie-patooties!?

MrsMama, MIA

2010-09-05T19:28:00.004-05:00

I know I’ve been MIA lately. It seemed the last few weeks of Summer were full to the brim. We squeezed in not one, but two Road Trips then returned to launch straight into School. This year is Miss Munchkin’s Junior year in High School and the Master’s first year of Homeschool. Between teaching him, my photography and people trying to punch me in the nose, I’ve had hardly any time to blog!

Last week I had two fabulous Photoshoots. One was of a darling little girl (and her little brother) in a field of sunflowers. The other was of a Senior who reminded me of a Greek Goddess. I’ll post pics soon!
But for now, here are a few memorable quotes from the Munchkins:

Me to Miss Munchkin: You know, when I was your age, I weighed the same as you. Can you believe that?
Miss Munchkin, after a long pause: I know the correct answer is “Yes”, but I’m thinking “No”.

Grandpa to Master Munchkin: Why don’t you use the Force?
Master Munchkin: I don’t think it works quite as well as you think it does.

Blue Dream of Sky

2010-09-02T06:19:00.001-05:00

Fight Class

2010-08-24T15:43:00.001-05:00

Tonight Fight Class begins. This is my 3rd year doing this and I’m still both nervous and excited about going.

Check out my post from last year:

Ready to Rumble!

Legacy

2010-08-17T18:43:00.001-05:00

I recently had the chance to visit my fraternal grandparents in Ohio. They have been married an incredible 71 years! They still live together, alone, in the house that they built 50 years ago.

I just found out that they went here on their first date.

Scary Crevice of Doom

2010-08-14T16:14:00.001-05:00

Tonight Miss Munchkin gave thanks for our safety during our latest adventure. “And thank you that we didn’t fall to our doom in a scary crevice.”

This area boasts a huge variety of topography and landscapes within a short distance. If you drive less than an hour to the north, you can lounge on the beach of a Great Lake. Another short drive brings you to these incredible natural rocky ledges tucked away in a State park.

Believe it or Not

2010-08-12T20:44:00.001-05:00

Believe it or not, these were not taken at the Ocean.

There’s nothing like sand on your toes and a fresh breeze in your hair.

Be careful Master Munchkin! And no, you may not spit.

Where in the World is MrsMama?

2010-08-10T21:22:00.002-05:00

I don’t think I’m in Kansas anymore!

Treasures found on the shore.

The Munchkins at sunset.

More adventures to come!

Before and After

2010-08-05T08:55:00.001-05:00

A sneak peek into my post-processing

The first photo is SOOC (straight out of camera). I use Adobe’s Lightroom for all of my processing.

First I lightened the circles under her eyes then, for the center photo, I applied Steller's “Color Shout” preset, which I toned down and adjusted slightly. I didn't touch her actual eyes - they were already gorgeous! Finally I increased the Luminance Smoothing (noise reduction) 100%.

For the last photo, I used Steller's “70s Heatwave” Preset then recovered some highlights and adjusted the greens. Lastly I adjusted the Noise (Luminance Smoothing).

As you can see, with minimum post-processing you can get two very different feels for the same portrait. I love editing – for me it’s a continuation of the artistic process of creating a specific photograph.

Everyone’s Got A Water Buffalo

2010-08-03T10:38:00.007-05:00

Yours is fast but mine is slow.

My Favorite Sister had quite an adventure over the weekend.

“Today I got to swim in the South China Sea, and on Saturday I rode a water buffalo!! They are huge and hairy kinda like hippos or elephants.

We hiked up a steep mountain to plant trees… and we got an amazing view of the countryside below. It was so beautiful. And peaceful! The whole valley is filled with rice fields, houses made out of bamboo and concrete blocks, corn fields on sides of mountains, palm trees, and dogs and cats hanging outside houses. The drive was beautiful too. It took about 6 hours to get there. The windy road took us up to the tallest peak on this island, about 8,000 ft.”

She is a few months into her 10 month visit to the Philippines.

Hey, Rene, where's my water buffalo? Why don't I have a water buffalo? :)

Mellow

2010-08-02T16:55:00.002-05:00

Mellow, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

Another pic from my last Senior Shoot

Mystery Photo

2010-08-01T14:57:00.001-05:00

OK, you guys got it.

Meet Frodo, our kitty, sans tail.

A few months after his accident, Frodo’s tail started to loose circulation and it started to, well, die. Shudder. It didn’t hurt him since it was below the break, but it sure looked bad. And smelled bad! It finally got to the point where it had to come off.

The surgery went well and he got to come home the same day. A few stitches and some time in the Cone of Shame and he was good as new. Except with a sylin’ new bobbed bum.

Now we can no longer call him the 1K Cat, although 1.5K Cat doesn’t quite have the same ring. My husband, who is not a cat lover to begin with, is having a conniption that we’ve spent this much on a stray cat! But, as many of you know, pets are a loved part of family. And there is a certain amount of guilt involved since I, ran over him.

But, we’re all glad he came though this whole ordeal (except MrMama). Although he’d better start bringing home golden mice, especially after what I did for him!

The end.

Whuh?

2010-07-31T20:23:00.003-05:00

So, this was on my kitchen counter today. Any guesses?

Unusual Abodes

2010-07-27T21:45:00.004-05:00

I grew up living in a variety of interesting homes. When I was 11, my father and I lived in a very small RV. When I was 13, our family lived in a few different basement apartments while we were building our passive-solar underground home.

The entrance to our house:

This cool dome home was down the street. I used to babysit there.

Here’s another house in the neighborhood. I babysat here too.

Since I have a history of unusual houses, this article caught my eye. Where is the strangest place you've lived and would you live in any of these homes?

The Next American Idol

2010-07-25T20:12:00.001-05:00

Meet Gracie. On our photoshoot Saturday night, we ran between raindrops, explored stinky alleys, tiptoed over large spiders in a wet field and dodged divebombing dragonflies. This spunky girl was up for anything!

Gracie is going to be a Senior this Fall and is a lovely young woman, inside and out. She has big, beautiful blue eyes and an amazing voice. And next month, she will be auditioning for American Idol.

Go Gracie!

Happy Friday

2010-07-23T09:55:00.002-05:00

oh boy, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

Hope you have a laid-back kind of day!

In the Midst of Summer

2010-07-20T07:14:00.002-05:00

We're still trying to sell our house and have been checking out some of the houses for sale in town. We pulled up in the driveway of one house and sat for a minute, taking in the neighborhood. The house next door had their garage door open and the walls were lined with these:

Oooookaaay….. This would either be a very good neighbor to have around or….. not.

In other news, I have chigger bites in places I can't scratch in public.

I have a Senior Photoshoot coming up this weekend.

I have a really fun friend, who likes to dance.

2010-07-14T18:30:00.010-05:00

My dad snapped recently snapped this photo of my mother, my sister, my daughter and me. He’s an archivist and I suspect he wanted to capture 3 generations.

I love my sister’s cheekbones and cute chin. I think she looks like Claire Danes. I love my daughter’s beautiful smile. I love that my mom looks so young. I hope I look that good when I'm in my sixties!

People tell me all the time that I look like my mother. I don't think that I look like my any of the other girls in this photo. What's up with that? Anyway, here we are, in all our generational glory.

Skip to the Link

2010-07-12T17:37:00.000-05:00

Link, Link, skip to the link.... skip to the link my Darling.

I'm feeling rather unoriginal today so I will share some recent links I like:

Oh, You did Not just say that to Bobby Flay!
Anyone else following this season's Next Food Network Star?

Miz Booshay offers words of advice to all you iphonies (Alas, I don't have one. But I would if I could!)

For the Snark in you: lmgtfy.com
Here's how it works. Am I wrong to like this? A lot?

And here's one of my favorite Flickr photos this week. You're welcome.

Family Photoshoot

2010-07-11T15:16:00.002-05:00

This is my second time getting to work with this fun family. I loved how they were up for anything! Rick and Kelli, your kids are a delight!

Sweet Sixteen

2010-07-07T22:53:00.001-05:00

Miss Munchkin turned Sixteen this week. She had a handful of friends over to help celebrate.

The homemade Photo Booth was a big hit. I had everything set up – the backdrop, props, camera on a tripod, even a fan for flowing hair, and just let the girls (and Master Munchkin) go at it. I loved what they came up with! :)

View Full Album

Gallantly Streaming

2010-07-04T06:54:00.009-05:00

Gallantly Streaming, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

Happy Birthday America!

Now go eat some pie. :)

Happy Bday Rene

2010-07-01T10:00:00.002-05:00

Today is my Favorite Sister's birthday. Actually, in her time zone, yesterday was her birthday. But here in the US, it's today. Weird, huh? I wish she was closer so we could celebrate. She seems to be making a habit of aging abroad.

She was in France on her 13th birthday.
She was in Costa Rica on her 17th birthday.
She was in Peru on her 21st birthday.
She is in the Philippines for her 23rd birthday.

When I was 23, I was finishing up graduate school in Kansas and was expecting Miss Munchkin. What were you doing when you were 23?

Happy Birthday Rene!

Patriotic Pics

2010-07-01T09:01:00.001-05:00

The Pioneer Woman is showcasing some of her reader’s photographs once again. This time the theme is “America”. There are some incredible photos there, guaranteed to tug at your patriotic heartstrings. You might even break out in song. By the way, you may see a familiar name in Group 3. :)

Ree’s Reader’s Patriotic Pics

Kiss Your Washing Machine

2010-06-30T17:06:00.000-05:00

Rene's latest blog post reminded me how grateful I am for my washing machine. Last Summer it was out of commission for quite some time and it was such a hassle! We really do take things like this for granted. So, if you had the privilege of tossing a load or two into the washer today, stop and give your washer a kiss.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur Ward

Superman Punch

2010-06-27T15:57:00.001-05:00

Last week we learned how to do the Superman Punch in class. Now it never takes much to fake me out and I fall for this technique every time. It looks cool though, and it’s fun to do.

I should come up with my own variation, some kind of Supergirl punch. Wait, is there a Superwoman? Or a SuperMom? I could do that.

Summer

2010-06-26T19:20:00.002-05:00

Watermelon, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

Although, according to the calendar, it just officially turned "Summer", here in Kansas we are in the thick of it. Heat indices in the 100s, chiggers invading the grass, air hot and humid. Not my favorite time of the year, that's for sure.

On the upside, there is that lovely lack of school, swimming at the pool and, of course, ice cold watermelon on the porch.

Pie Time!

2010-06-24T16:06:00.002-05:00

It’s that time of year again. Time to make my Fourth of July Pie!

He Broke My Nose, I Broke His Heart

2010-06-23T12:27:00.010-05:00

When I was a child, a young boy gave me a ride on the back of a powerful black horse. I remember reaching around his waist to grab the horse’s mane, laughing and trying not to slide off as we thundered bareback across the lawn.

I was the new kid in the neighborhood and Ben and I quickly became friends. We spent long summer days riding horses though the orchard, eating warm, sweet apples off the trees and racing each other though the bean fields. He was funny and sensitive and sweet, the very best of friends.

One day, when I was about 11, we were messing around with a ball and a bat and a lazy swing from Ben sent the ball my way. I neatly caught it with my nose. I think the amount of blood surprised us both. My black eyes faded over time, but the little crook to my nose remained. I think it was harder on Ben than it was on me.

The Summer of my sixth-grade year Ben handed me a note: Will you go with me? Yes or no? I checked the “no” box. I didn’t want things to change between me and my friend.

Eventually Ben moved out of the neighborhood but he was still there on the sidelines as I navigated though those awkward early teen experiences - my first dance, my first boyfriend, loosing a friend to a car accident, gradually growing up.

Ben went on to do some modeling and, today, he owns his own business and is still riding horses (lucky guy).

I guess I'm the one who's lucky. Even though I have a less-than-perfect nose, I have wonderful memories of growing up with a good friend.

For Jo

2010-06-22T07:39:00.000-05:00

For my California friend

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/seismic_waves.png

14 Hours, 54 Minutes, 45 Seconds

2010-06-21T16:35:00.005-05:00

Welcome to the longest day of the year! Here in Kansas we have 14 hours, 54 minutes and 45 seconds of sun today. Master Munchkin and I actually beat the sun this morning as we got up early to attend the morning community exercise program in the small town next door. From 6 to 6:30 we ran around the track, sprinted up and down the stadium stairs, did plyos in the Coaches' box and generally got lapped by all the young, high-school athletes. Shortly into the workout, my son looked at his watch and said, "This has been the hardest 9 1/2 minutes in my entire life!"

Update

2010-06-19T08:16:00.003-05:00

I'm feeling much better now. Thanks for all your kind comments and get-well wishes! I lost 5 lbs in 5 days - not a good thing I know, but I am loving my new weight. I am hoping to return to martial arts classes next week. I've been missing all the fun.

What else is new? This week I learned a painful lesson about art and business. Art is subjective?! Yes. Yes it is. And now I know.

We have our first official showing of our house today. Happy/sad time. Now I need to get off the computer and finish cleaning! Wish us luck. :)

Yuck.

2010-06-16T14:26:00.000-05:00

My gut flaired up over the weekend and I've been feeling pretty yucky this week. The kids have been great about pitching in around the house and entertaining themselves. This morning Master Munchkin brought me breakfast in bed: hot tea, coffee and some pudding on a tray. I could only drink the tea, but his actions really warmed my heart.

My Crohn's has pretty much been in remission for the past 3 years, but every once in awhile, something like this comes up. Hopefully it will be short term!

Where in the World is Rene Now?

2010-06-12T19:35:00.002-05:00

After a short stay in Hong Kong, my Favorite Sister has moved on to her next destination, where she will be staying for 10 months. Can you guess where she is now?

Here are a few clues:

tropical climate
7000+ islands with white sand
over 200 volcanoes
formally under Spanish rule, it is now in the hands of the USA
its capital city was named after a white-flowered mangrove plant, the nilad
during war, its flag is hoisted upside-down
Southeast Asia
Rene has been studying Tagalog in preparation for this trip

So, any guesses?

Happy Weekend!

2010-06-12T06:09:00.001-05:00

SonQuestDay5_MG_7230, originally uploaded by Grace VBS.

It's been a wonderful, incredible, exhausting week at VBS. It's over and I already miss it!

Hope you all have a relaxing, fun weekend! :)

photo by Jeff McPheeters

VBS

2010-06-10T07:15:00.001-05:00

This is Vacation Bible School week at our church. There are 350 children attending this year. It’s fun, crazy, busy, and wonderful!

This year’s theme is Sonquest RainForest. Everywhere you look there are trees and vines and snakes.

Here’s Polly Parrot. Isn’t she lovely?

Here we are in the gym. I’m helping in one of the 4th grade classes – you can see some of my kids here – Hey, there’s Master Munchkin’s ear!

One of the highlights of the day is the Bible Story. Hey, is that April and Ellen?! You know that’s gotta be entertaining!

Miss Munchkin is helping out in the Oasis Room, where the teachers and staff can slip in and grab a quick bite to eat. I love you Miss Munchkin! Can you put some more of that yummy fruit salad out today? And the homemade cinnamon rolls. Don’t forget those.

We have some funny, talented people at our church. These ladies have us all cracking up.

And what would VBS be without some outdoor fun?

Well, I gotta run. Today is Day 4 and I need to get dressed in my Jungle Guide outfit!

All the photos are from Jeff McPheeters. Thanks Jeff!

Hong Kong

2010-06-08T06:03:00.002-05:00

Yes, Nichole guessed right - Rene is in Hong Kong. She wrote this morning:

This morning we took a city tour and saw some beaches, markets, fishing boats, and LOTS of high rises! Hong Kong is huge, but it doesn't seem too crowded because of the efficient public transportation system.There is a lot of green in the city too and many of the hills are covered in forest. It also doesn't seem extremely foreign; there's a lot of English around since it was a British territory for so long, and the city is very commercial with shopping centers, malls, and more stores! We drove to the top of one of the mountains for an amazing view of the city. It's all spread out between the mainland peninsula and a few smaller islands that are accessible by ferry or underwater tunnel.

She mentioned that she was struggling to use chopsticks and that there wasn't a "fork in sight".

Today she will get back on the plane and depart for her next adventure. More to come!

Where in the World is Rene?

2010-06-05T20:44:00.004-05:00

My Favorite Sister spent her last day stateside and is leaving in the morning for a new, exciting adventure. Her first stop is on the other side of the world. Can you guess where she is going? Here are some hints:

It’s the most densely populated city in the world.
Its name means “fragrant harbor”.
It boasts a humid, subtropical climate.
It is one of the world's leading financial centers.
Know as the place where "East meets West”.
Where ‘Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun’
It has more Rolls Royces per person than any other city in the world.
This place has the most skyscrapers in the world!

Over the last few years, Rene has visited Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica, US, Canada, Italy, Monaco, Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Denmark, England, and Wales.

You can read about some of her former adventures here.

Love

2010-05-31T07:11:00.008-05:00

I had so much fun with Kirsten and Michael on our Engagement Photoshoot. They are such a beautiful couple and were game for anything I suggested (Woo HOO!). :)

Here are a few highlights:

Engaged

2010-05-28T10:54:00.003-05:00

I’m getting ready for an Engagement photoshoot this weekend. This young woman was one of my first Seniors. I can’t wait to get her and her fiancé together in front of my camera.

I’ve been perusing one of my favorite sources of inspiration, Flickr, for some ideas for the Photoshoot. These are the kinds of shots that I’m wanting to do. Check out the talent of those awesome photographers. The feel is sooo different than the stiff, formal studio shot that MrMama and I had taken!

Oh Baby!

2010-05-26T21:40:00.003-05:00

I finished editing photos from my baby boy shoot today. He was such a cutie! Here are a few more of my favorites.

Kicking with Tommy

2010-05-25T10:23:00.006-05:00

This weekend I got to attend a kickboxing seminar with Tommy Whitaker. He was former professional fighter, a 4-time kickboxing champion, and is a very big, very nice guy.

He showed us some techniques then turned us loose. I ~~hid behind my camera most of the time~~ took it upon myself to document the event.

I think we all had a lot of fun, especially the guy on the right. ;)

Dear Miss Munchkin

2010-05-23T19:55:00.005-05:00

Dear Miss Munchkin,

Please have mercy on your mother! Yes, I know I showed you Mostly Martha and Julie & Julia and Ratatouille, and now you want to move to Paris and study cooking, but do you really need to practice on me? You are killing my waistline with your delicious homemade Olive Bread, Apple Crisp, Rainbow Sugar Cookies, Baked Potato Soup and pasta fettuccine. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing your brother wearing an apron and acting as sous chef, but it is time you moved on to the next chapter in the cookbook. The one with the veggies and low fat recipes. Please?

Love,
Mom

Up Next…

2010-05-23T15:19:00.001-05:00

I had my second Baby Photoshoot yesterday. Alex was only 4 days old and as good as gold – even with a full diaper! Isn’t he beautiful? I’ll post more shots soon.

Miss Munchkin, Model

2010-05-21T09:27:00.001-05:00

Miss Munchkin had the fun opportunity to model some of Hip Mom Jewelry’s fabulous necklaces.

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I loved getting to shoot her and Ann’s beautiful jewelry. These were shot using natural light and a reflector. To see more of Hip Mom’s very cool necklaces, check out her website.

A Tale Times Two

2010-05-19T09:24:00.003-05:00

Once upon a time, the Master came across a little snake in our yard. At first he was cautious and had to check things out from a safe distance.

That didn’t last long!

That snake kept him entertained for a long time.

Once upon a time, Frodo came across a little snake in our yard. At first he was cautious and wanted to check things out from a safe distance.

That didn’t last long!

That snake kept him entertained for a long time.

The end.

Dogs and Cats, Living Together

2010-05-18T09:58:00.001-05:00

What is this world coming to!?

And an Eggroll to Go

2010-05-16T18:49:00.000-05:00

My nine-year old boy cracks me up. He has a deadpan way of saying things and will deliver the funniest lines without cracking even a hint of a smile. We went out today for lunch at our favorite Chinese buffet and throughout the course of the meal, Master Munchkin made the following comments:

"I love shrimp. Too bad they only come in bite-size."

Me: Here, try some of this squid.
"I made an oath never to eat anything with more than four legs."
Me: Shrimp have more than four legs.
Pause. "Four BIG legs."

Me: Are you done with your food?
"No, I still have ice cream; Only a fool would give up his dream."

1K Cat

2010-05-15T08:01:00.002-05:00

Laid Back, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

You will be happy to hear that Frodo is well on his way to a complete recovery. You can read about his unfortunate accident here. Other than a limp and useless tail, he is almost back to his normal self. The other day I found him on the roof and watched him shimmy down a tree in a hurry to get to me.

He has definitely used up several of his nine lives and a good chunk of our checking account. All I can say is that he'd better do some serious mousing in the near future!

Miss Munchkin

2010-05-14T13:29:00.003-05:00

"Look Mom, I can stand on the ceiling!"

Every since Miss Munchkin was little, she has been a very active child. She was walking at 9 months, climbing trees when she was 2, and ran in places that she should have walked. Along with her energy, she was very bright, very determined, and very, very busy. I was exhausted! I remember taking her to the library when she was two. She ran away from me and I found her dancing on top of one of the library tables. Honestly, there is a reason that there is a 7 year age-gap between our children. I thought, "How can people have more than one of these ~~impossible creatures~~ precious children?!"

With age came maturity and, thankfully, a drop in her energy level. She was still determined, however. She taught herself to ride her bike when she was 5; peddling furiously around the cuald-a-sac, sweaty and red-faced, falling over and over but refusing to give up. It was the same with swimming and skiing. When Miss Munchkin was 9, she decided that she wanted to go diving for treasure. It didn't matter that we lived in land-locked Kansas. She set her mind to it and, at age 10, became a certified scuba diver. She passed the adult written test and all of the grueling physical and mental tasks set before her. I remember standing on the edge of the lake, watching her disappear beneath the cloudy waters, where she had to go down 25 feet, remove her face mask, empty out the water and put it back on.

Now that she is almost 16, I see that some of that same ~~stubbornness~~ determination. She's decided that she's going to be an "A" student. She will be testing for her Black Belt in mixed martial arts this year. As difficult as she was during the early years, she has actually been a delightful teenager. And I'm really proud to be her parent.

No Comment

2010-05-11T10:01:00.001-05:00

I wonder what goes through his mind when he sees us peeing in his water bowl. ~Penny Ward Moser

Sorry, dear Readers, it's been one of those days.... :P

Struggle

2010-05-08T14:43:00.006-05:00

I've been struggling with learning this armbar in martial arts class. It's just not clicking, not matter how many times people patiently show me. I think it's something I need to DO, repetitively, not just see. To make matters worse, MrMama won't let me practice on him anymore. Somehow he keeps getting hurt. Wimp.

Here's a quick version of it. It's actually a bit more complicated, once it's broken down. Especially for me!

Homes, Sweet Homes

2010-05-07T17:10:00.004-05:00

Every so often, I get the chance to take pictures for a local builder. They hire me to come in and get photos for their website and to give their clients. I love the opportunity to explore these fancy, brand new homes. New carpet, fresh paint, gleaming floors… it all makes me a little giddy.

Last week I visited this one:

View Full Album

The rooms were full of unique angles and colors and the quality was outstanding. Granite counters, beautiful light fixtures, closets to die for. If I lived here, I would sleep on the screened-in porch that backs to the woods.

My Favorite Sister came along to help carry my gear. She’s nice like that. Here she is holding my gray card. Isn’t she lovely?

I can’t believe they pay me to do this. :)

The Dog Barks at Midnight

2010-05-05T09:25:00.004-05:00

It was almost midnight when I was awakened by the piercing, hysterical yips from our puppy. He had gotten Out and saw/heard/smelled Something in the Woods.

Barrrrkkk, bark, bark, bark!

I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.

Bark! Barkbarkbark BARK!

My daughter poked her head in my room, informing me that her little brother was awake and roaming around the living room. Now we were all up. And the neighbors too, I imagined.

What a nightmare. Our puppy, when faced with freedom, ignores us entirely. He doesn't come when called, in fact he usually bolts the opposite direction. So, as you can imagine, catching him is Quite an Ordeal. Especially in the dark. He will, however, chase our van (which is another headache entirely). I grabbed a few cheese sticks and my keys and wearily shuffled to the garage.

"Heeeere Trooper. Come on...."

Baaaaark. Bark BARK bark!

"Trooper! Hush!"

Bark!

The van's tires crunching on the gravel finally caught his attention. He switched over to Chase mode and raced me to the mailbox. At least he had stopped barking! I put the van in park and opened the sliding door.

"Here Puppy..."

I nosily unwrapped a cheese stick. Sometimes this works. "Mmmmmm, want some cheese?"

Silence came from the dark outside my van.

"I know you're there; I can hear you panting. Come on...."

Nope. He was having way too much fun.

I slowly drove back to the house. Trooper happily ran nearby, frisky and wild.

I was almost out of ideas. I walked to the front porch and sat down. Frodo lay on the railing nearby, watching me. Trooper trotted out of reach and stood there, panting and watching me hopefully from the corner of his eye. Were we going to play chase again?

I sighed. "Here Kitty, Kitty. Have some cheese." I broke of a small piece and offered it to the cat. Frodo jumped down and padded over. Suddenly Trooper was there, right in front of me, all wags and wiggles, demanding the cat's cheese.

"You bad dog," I said sweetly and caught his collar.

I put the kids and the dog back to bed. It was almost 1 am now. I hope the neighbors weren't too mad. I vowed to bake a batch of brownies for them and went to sleep.

Why, MrsMama?

2010-05-04T06:33:00.000-05:00

MrsMama, why, oh why were you racing up and down your driveway at midnight last night, dangling a cheese stick out the window?

Feel free to speculate...

I Wish You Could Smell This

2010-05-03T20:33:00.002-05:00

I Wish You Could Smell This!, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

The lilacs are blooming outside of Miss Munchkin's window. I've been opening her windows and letting that sweet scent trickle though the entire house. Heavenly!

Eyes to the Sky

2010-05-02T08:24:00.001-05:00

Wait, what’s that in the sky?

Is it a bird?

Is it a plane?

Hey, there’s April. What in the world are you pointing at?

Every year, the kids from our church meet at a park with their families to shoot off rockets that they made.

We all eat together and have fun visiting and hanging out.

Look, the Munchkins are there. And MrMama! He’s holding a stick, not a rocket. Wishful thinking, MrMama. Miss Munchkin is holding a gluten-free hot dog bun. That won’t fly very far either, Dear.

It’s just good, clean fun and something the kids look forward to throughout the year.

MrsMama, Cat Expresser

2010-04-27T21:58:00.006-05:00

Well, we finally got the house on the market. Here are some of the interior shots that I took to give to the realtor. I think it cleaned up nicely. I especially like our bedroom; we finally removed the Country-style wall paper that was there when we moved in.

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I am a master at moving stuff from place to place to make things look tidy. I usually cram things into my bedroom closet – out of sight, out of mind! I can’t do that so much now. We are getting new carpet this week so I will be venturing into the deepest, darkest corners of said closet tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Now for a Frodo update. When we brought him home from the vet’s on Friday, he wasn’t able to use the restroom by himself. Without going into the lovely details, let’s just say that we had to help him go several times a day. Yesterday he used his litter box successfully for the first time! Then again last night. For the first time, I think that he might just make a full recovery. Happy news!

Now, if I can just master the art of giving pills to a cat. Feel free to chime in with any tips!

All Astonishment

Gleam

Samuel is 6 months

In the right light, at the right time,

Cupcakes Gone Astray

Follow

Of (flying) Mice and Men

Firsts

She's Home

Little Red is in the Hood

In Which MrsMama Plays Hooky

Linky Love

I have seen hell and it’s white

Favorite Face of 2010

Birdbrain

A Taste of Testing

Merry Christmas!

Country Christmas

From my Far Away Favorite Sister

Black

Pictures You Won’t See

Linkey Love

Something New

Thankful

Pharmaceutical Fun

Fall Family

Black Belt Boot Camp

The Picture Within

Samuel, 8 days

Geddes Gone Wrong

Nesting

Beep, Beep Beep

The Sweetest Senior

Okay, Break it Up People

Happy Fall Y'All

Notes to Self

You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby

Overheard

The Life of Fred

InSight

Fight Class

Meaghan

Shout Out

The Earth Laughs in Flowers

MrsMama, MIA

Blue Dream of Sky

Fight Class

Legacy

Scary Crevice of Doom

Believe it or Not

Where in the World is MrsMama?

Before and After

Everyone’s Got A Water Buffalo

Mellow

Mystery Photo

Whuh?

Unusual Abodes

The Next American Idol

Happy Friday

In the Midst of Summer

Related

Skip to the Link

Family Photoshoot

Sweet Sixteen

Gallantly Streaming

Happy Bday Rene

Patriotic Pics

Kiss Your Washing Machine

Superman Punch

Summer

Pie Time!

He Broke My Nose, I Broke His Heart

For Jo

For my California friend

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/seismic_waves.png

14 Hours, 54 Minutes, 45 Seconds

Update

Yuck.

Where in the World is Rene Now?

Happy Weekend!