When I was a little girl

 This is what I looked like.  

I've been hearing lately, everywhere I go with Kaija, 

that she looks just like me. 

I love it, as I rarely get any credit for my kids.

I tried to let you see if there was any resemblance, 

but she didn't really understand the concept of

holding the photo by her face.

And my scanner is laying next to my desk,

waiting to be thrown out.  

So, this is what you get. 

You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit.

*This is part of the October photo challenge

that Yvonne has organized.

Stay tuned for more photos.*

#earnedyetmademyday

I heart aperture.

I'm taking a photography class.  Not in a I-want-to-photograph-your-kids-for-money way.  But, in a I-need-to-take-my-camera-off-of-auto-shooting way.  And we learned about white balance and aperture.  We are supposed to play around with white balance, but let's face it: aperture is so much fun.  This chica needs a macro lens.  So, if you'll just go ahead and get me one, all will be right with the world.  Thanks.

Lucky to have them

 Let's be honest here, if there was a book about cute kids- my friends would totally have a chapter in it. I mean, seriously.  Doesn't get much cuter that this.  Speaking of cute, you are so cute with your "take a picture of your non-mom jeans butt and post it for the world to see!" Yeah.  That'll happen.  I'm actually okay with you not believing me.  And thanks for the laughs.

 I survived 2+ weeks without my husband.  AND.  Not only was he not here, he didn't have cell phone service.  Besides a leaking water issue, the occasional kid talking back, and a few assorted other bumps in the road, it went okay.  That being said, I HATED it.  Hated not having backup.  Hated not being able to bounce ideas off of someone better than I.  Hated not having someone to unwind with every evening.  Hated the lack of adult conversation all weekend.  Hated single parenting, period. Kudos to those who do it all the time.  (Thank goodness for the moms of these cute kids.  They got me out of the house enough to make the time go by a lot faster.)

 I totally have a new appreciation for my husband.  It's good to have time apart in a marriage.  And.  I think that Zane enjoyed his two weeks in the mountains.  He didn't shoot an elk, but he had fun nonetheless.  And now we are all back together and not taking each other for granted.  For the time being.

 Which reminds me.  A friend from high school lost his wife to cancer this past week.  I'm starting to get a complex over here, with this evil disease.  It's so unfair.  And it's really, really scary how many people in my life are affected by it.  It also means that people my age can lose their spouse.  It's so surreal.  A part of me was hoping that we were still invincible.  I guess we need to make as many healthy life choices as possible, and hope that that is enough.

 I'm really, really lucky to have the people I have in my life.  And I'll try really hard to remember each day how blessed I am.

Mission: De-mom the denim supply

Accomplished! That's all.  Thanks for your help.

It's all in the jeans.

Pinterest is really good for a lot of things.  Especially if you are crafty.  Me? Not so much.  No offense, crafty people, but I still have visions of overly frilly stuff that makes me want to vomit when I think about crafting.  Huge, oversized bows and things reminiscent of the 80's or 90's that scarred my psyche.  I realize that crafting does evolve like style.  I realize that.  But, I still can't make the jump past my preconceived notions.  So, I occasionally pin crafty stuff.  And that is as far as it gets, because I don't want to turn into that oversized bow type of mom.

The other day, though, I pinned an epiphany.  My jeans.  OH, SHOOT.  I totally wear mom jeans.  (As if that is better than an oversized bow type mom). Shoot.  I got to thinking about the jeans that I have. Shoot, shoot, shoot.  And the jeans that my HH likes.  (Not many that I wear). And that article is so right!  I had this one pair of jeans that my friend Sabrina and I dubbed "The Jeans".  Duh.  No wonder they were "The Jeans".  They weren't mommish in any way. When did I cross that line?  Answer: after I had Kaija.  So, I'm staging an intervention on myself.  I plan on de-momming my denim choices.  

But, that begs the question: where on earth do you find decent jeans that don't break the bank?  My go-to choice for non-mom jeans are $80+.  Which is totally fine if you are planning on buying a pair here and there.  When you need a complete overhaul? Not so much.  Then again, maybe the whole subject of cost is what's steering me to mom jeans in the first place. (Answer: yes.)  Maybe I should bite the bullet and invest in a few really good pairs of jeans that will last me a few years.  I've heard that you should never cheap out with jeans and always go for the high end brands.  I haven't done it, so I dunno.  I've never spent more than $80 on a pair of jeans.  Ever.  Is it time? Me thinks so.  *wince* Unless you have a really great secret that you need to let me in on.  (Also, keep in mind- it's hard for me to find jeans as I need a 34" length at a minimum.  Maybe 33, depending on the brand. That's getting risky.  It dooms the pants to a lifetime of air drying.  Trust me.  Jeans shrink in length in the dryer.  TRUST ME.) 

Tell me all your secrets, you hot tamales with the awesome non-mom jeans!  Please.  Or I'll be walking around looking like my rear is wider than it really is, yet again.

My walkers

Today we walked for those that deserve a little sunshine.

We joined the thousands of people participating in 

The Rainbow Connection 10th annual Walk for Kids at the Detroit Zoo.  

We walked an honor of a child of a friend that lost 

a battle at too young of an age. 

And we thought about our young friend, Jayna, who is currently

kicking cancer to the curb.

It was really overwhelming to hear the stories of so many brave kids. 

Including the story of Maddie, the girl that we walked in honor of. 

It was a beautiful day, a beautiful walk, a beautiful cause. 

And I'm glad we could take part in it.