Why you hire a professional photographer.

Sometimes, when I am in my time-suck otherwise known as, Pinterest. I come across something and I'm all, "Oh. This is happening."

A certain Superman picture (that has since been taken off Pinterest. Boo.) made me think of this little boy: 

As a photographer.. I can make a lot of things happen if you show me a picture you are going for. I know what I am doing there. I may not be a Photoshop genius, but for the most part, I can make things happen. 

The problem is when you, the photographer, want someone else to take a picture for you. No matter if you describe to a T or even show them the picture, most likely, they won't get it. 

J was pretty pumped about the picture. We tried to take it at the party and after two hours of hell, trying to Photoshop Claire into a picture, John took one look and said, "No. I need to be in a suit." Well.. okay. Wish I would have known that on Sunday. 

So, I gather the supplies and tell John to meet me at his mom's after work and we are doing. this. picture. 

He starts in on how he needs Clark Kent glasses.. um. Okay. Then you need to go find them. He wants me to grab some 3D glasses (!?!?!) and bring them. Done.

About 3 minutes into this photo op, I want to chunk these glasses in the road. He wants to be throwing them.. Um. Okay. 

And we have a 5 year old and a 2 year old. 

Pictures are hard for kids that age. I know. This is my life. I get it. 

I also use tricks and noises and generally act like a fool to get kids to look at the camera and sometimes it doesn't work. 

We took 99 pictures to try to get this family picture. (NINETY-NINE.) 

(Side note: I am doing a Project 12- one family photo a month for a year and it may kill me)

While I am not showing you all 99.. I am showing you a few of the gems we have. This is why you hire a professional people! Which is what I really need to do. But I am stubborn.

This is just a Hot Mess. 

John is giving the air gun to someone...

Could have been cute if it weren't for those stupid glasses.

Claire has found a present for you. 

C is frightened by how horrific this is turning out. 

Addy is clearly over this. And John is about to blow a gasket 

Who are these kids?!!?

Clearly I am arguing with Addy about her pink camera. John looks more like a Blues Brother than Clark Kent

Oh What's that, Rachel? You smelled a fart? 

John says it looks like I have scoop like Lois Lane.. I think I am smelling more farts. 

This is the best we could do. And Yes. Some people have been photoshopped into these family pictures. 

Family pictures... will drive a photographer to drink. 

My Style Monday and Gameday!

It's another edition of Game Day My Style Monday!

I wore the strapless dress most of the day but the white cardigan when I got cold.

The dress that Hubs got me for our anniversary from "What a girl wants"

Cardigan is from F21

Boots: target

Necklace: Target

Earrings: Etc by Nikki

We got down to Tuscaloosa on Friday, to set up the tailgate.. and *gasp* someone had stolen our spot. Now, we may not own this spot, but it's been our for a while. 

 So, what did we do? We got as close as we could to the other tents. We are mature like that. 

They ended up moving their tents back.

 Late night Target shopping brought us upon this.. 

It's fun.. in da-middle. I am not sure why this was so funny to us. 

 I spied Big AL... and I had to get my pic with him.. even if he did mess up my hair. 

 I got some red sparkly nail polish at Sephora.. it's called "What's your Poison?" Get it.. like a poison apple??

I forgot to take pictures from once people actually showed up at the tailgate.. but it was a good time had by all, with lots of laughs that wouldn't be funny to you, since you weren't there. But.. you are invited!! 

I took this picture for Becca.. I realize the game was a nobody, but there was no sense in the woman next to me falling asleep. I mean, you could only cat nap with the 2 boys that got up at least 10 times a piece before halftime. 

 This picture got a little out of order.. whoops. 

One of the many reasons I love sitting in the zone.. besides real chairs, a locker, air conditioning, and all the Cherry Coke I can drink.. is the red velvet cupcakes. 

Also.. I have a complaint. The student section should NOT be this empty at halftime. It's not cool with me. 

Oh yeah... one more reason I love the one.. Cup holders.

There's only one way to celebrate a victory in my book. And it's doing the Cupid Shuffle in your tailgating neighbors tent. 

Now.. onto my running lately.

The plan was for me to get up Saturday morning before we left for the tailgate and go run my long run of 6 miles.. I mapped out my run only to be told my way in and out of Jay's weren't the best running ideas that I had. So, I decided to go with my safety over my run. The run went through a bad part of town and a busy section with no sidewalks, on top of the fact I forgot my Garmin.. so I decided to a) not get stabbed b) not get hit by a car and c) not get lost. 

I said, "Oh, I'll just do 8 on Sunday instead." So.. I set out to hit the treadmill. Sunday was one of those days where nothing went right. I took my iPad to the gym so I could watch Gossip Girl and found this beauty and thought my luck had turned around!

A PINK treadmill!! I knew my day was sure to pick up! But.. alas, technology hated me and I couldn't figure out how to get the Gossip Girl to play full episodes on the iPad. 

Also.. it was brought to my attention that my treadmill running has been so easy since I don't do an incline, therefore my road races kick my booty because the road is harder to run on then the treadmill. So, I decided to start running on a 1 incline.. which, is taking some getting used to and makes me feel like I am the most out of shape person ever. Which really does a number on my mental toughness. I am extremely stressed right now, and I let all of the other things that I needed to be doing come crashing down on top on my run and I started to feel like I was drowning. I did something I have never done before. I quit. Yep. I stopped running and got off the treadmill. The whole time I was disgusted with myself but I knew what was coming. A mental breakdown. I could feel it coming last week. Being gone on vacation, running a business, 5 weekends in row being out of town-2 of which are out of state, gymnastics, school, laundry, cleaning the house, training, Ladies of the Houndstooth, photography assignments and projects, social networking... it's all so much. Because everything needs something from me. Right. NOW. I guess a good description of me right now is overwhelmed. Or over booked. Or not enough hours in a day.. Take your pick. 

So, instead of throwing a fit and crying and taking it all out on John, I decided to sit down and write out a list. And I delegated certain tasks for John and am trying to look at what is the most important for my mental health to get finished this week. I feel like a mature adult, acting like that! 

I will try to be around the Internets this week.. but I can't make any promises, as I need to drop a ball or two that I am currently juggling. 

See you on the Flip Side. 

PSA- Parents of Toddlers

I realize that there are a ton more serious things that could happen to your child. There are thousands of parents stressed over ailments that their children are going through. My girls have always been relatively healthy- except for the occasional virus or cold. 

I have also debated about putting this out there, I have beat myself up about it and surely didn't want DHR knocking on my door, but I figure if it could help ONE Mama out there, then it's golden. 

Friday morning, I was trying to drink my coffee and wake up so I could actually talk and not just grunt and point around (NOT a morning person) and I hear some gagging in the living room. I turn around and Claire has her fingers in her mouth. I go over to inspect. Open her mouth and she has her teeth clenched. I ask her if she has something in her mouth. I turn to Addison. I ask her. When I finally get an answer out of her, she tells me that Claire had a necklace in her mouth. I turn to Claire, and her teeth are now unclenched and there is nothing in her mouth. I ask her if she swallowed the necklace- Addison tells me that she doesn't think she swallowed it, so I asked her where the necklace is. We look around and Addison says with a shrug, "Well, maybe she did swallow it." I start to freak a little. Claire is breathing. She is actually smiling at me. I don't know what to do. It's 7am. I call Rebecca. She doesn't answer. So I call my sister. She hands the phone to Andy. He says he is going to call a surgeon friend. Becca calls me back, calms me down, and then Andy beeps in- he tells me to take her to Urgent Care to get X-rayed and then if she needs a surgery consult to let him know. Uhh.. okay. I call the only Urgent Care that has an x-ray machine. They don't open until 8. So, I  fix Addy some breakfast and we get on the road to Urgent Care at 8. 

The looks I get about this situation at the Urgent Care make me feel like a crap parent. I didn't chop my child's arm off, she just swallowed a necklace that she plays with everyday! 

Maybe now is where I should describe the necklace. Addison got it for her birthday. It's a silver chain with a heart shaped pendant that has a crown sitting on top with pink rhinestones. Let's think about how THAT felt going down and how it's going to feel coming out.

She gets x-rayed- it's definitely in there. They think I need a surgery consult. This where I really start to panic. My child made need a surgical procedure to get this out?!!? The surgeon that the dr talked to says to just give a day or two and see if it passes. Urgent Care Dr tells me to come back on Saturday if she hasn't passed it by then. Claire poops Saturday but nothing. We tried to pump her full of foods that normally make her go--let's keep in mind that this is the child that NEVER has a problem going #2 and we normally are silently cursing because we have to change yet another dirty diaper. 

We ended up taking her back on Sunday afternoon to be x-rayed again. The necklace is lower and looks like it's going to be coming out soon. She wants us to call if she passes it, but if she doesn't then she wants us to come back on Tuesday. 

The relief I felt when she said she definitely thought she was going to pass it- I can't even describe it. 

Anyway, we get no poop Sunday evening, all day Monday or even Tuesday. I start to freak. Is it stuck? Is it hurting her so she is holding it in? I decided that if she didn't poop on Wednesday that I would definitely take her back and insist that they go in after it. 

Good news, Super Nana to the rescue this morning. She passed the necklace, with no pain, either. The necklace is now part of the outside world again. 

And that my friends, is why you should always remember that though your child may seem old enough to not swallow weird things, that they will. We have since caught Claire with another necklace in her mouth, a dress up earring, and Addison's Hello Kitty necklace. I mean, hello?? 

Hide yo diamonds, Hide yo jewelry if Claire is coming to yo house. 

Also, for those of you who said that you did want to join the challenge.. it seems most of you are No Reply blogger e-mails and I can't e-mail you back. Will you please e-mail me at rayray.mcphillips@gmail.com

This week has been a tad difficult for me. Addison is having complete emotional blowouts about the smallest things. Here are some examples: She's been wanting to watch a lot of Toy Story, so John picked up some Toy Story soup at the grocery store for her. When she saw it, she completely flipped out, exclaiming," I only like Princess soup!!!" So I dug around and found Dora soup and she seemed okay. The VERY next day, she begged if she could eat the Toy Story soup because "It was her very favorite!!". Tuesday, I was trying to get them ready to go to MeMac's for a little bit and she flipped out because she didn't want to change out of her pajamas or brush her hair or brush her teeth. 

One of my best friends is in the hospital with kidney stones and I told her we needed to say a prayer for her and she fell out again. She didn't like saying prayers, she didn't like Rebecca, she didn't like me, she didn't want to talk to Jesus. The stuff really hurt me. I was on the verge of tears. I just kept thinking... who is this child? Why is she talking to me like this? I haven't raised her to act like this. When John came home for lunch, he had a big talk with her and that seemed to help. 

Yesterday, after one of her many drama filled tantrums, she told me she wanted to go shopping. !!!! What? I informed her that I don't go shopping with mean girls. Only nice, friendly, and kind little girls get to go shopping. 

And now, Claire sees Addy acting like that and is starting to mimic the behavior. Shoot me. Just shoot me now. 

She is sending me on an emotional roller coaster of emotions. I don't know what to do. We've tried spankings, spankings with the wooden spoon, time outs, taking toys away, big talks. I need all mothers of girls to weigh in on this! Is there a stepford daughter program I can put her in? I want her to be able to express her emotions, but not throw fits. I am trying to get it through her head that when you act nice, you get the things you want, but if you act ugly, those things get taken away. How do you do it??? 

Home Invasion

We have a home invasion, people. Just in case you don't follow on the Twitter.. the stomach bug has infiltrated our house. Claire woke with it yesterday and threw up in my bed. I thought it was a fluke. But then, she threw up in the living room. I went into her room to find her bed covered in throw up. Why hadn't the Hubs or the 4 year old mentioned that as I snoozed to the new Disney Junior? So, I pulled off her sheets and washed them. She wanted some juice so I gave it to her. Then she had diarrhea. So I changed her and her outfit. Not 3 minutes later, she threw up all that juice in the hallway floor and the slipped and fell in it. DRAMA. A 2 year old vomiting is straight up drama, y'all. They don't know it's coming. You don't know it's coming. So all you can do is hope it will come out of your Pottery Barn rug. 

I called the dr. They called me back an hour and half later. Told me to watch for signs on dehydration, try to keep fluids down her, and that we were all going to get it. Awesome.

My sis had some phenergan gel from when they had it(yes, I know you aren't supposed to share drugs, but we are a medical family and my pharmacist AKA step dad told me to do it.) so we got that in Claire. Put clean sheets on her bed. Made her drink some gatorade. Then.. you guessed it. She threw up in her bed. John- who is wearing a mask inside the house at all times and eating meals on the back deck- gave her a bath, I stripped her bed again and washed the sheets again.. put down some ghetto bedding and let her go back to sleep. 

I think she threw up at least 12 times. I gave her a last dose of the phenergan gel, gave her a little gatorade, waited to see if she would throw that up and then put her to bed. She woke about 15 minutes later vomiting in her bed. 

John had gone to his parents house as to not catch it and little Addison is who helped me get things cleaned up. 

Claire ended up in my bed at 2:30 this morning and Addison in there at 5:45. 

I slowly introduced fluids to her and she seemed fine with it. Until she got into Addison's goldfish crackers. She threw up and then passed out standing up at the ottoman. 

Then, at lunchtime today, Addison started with it. And I am not feeling so hot now, so I am praying we get over this before we leave Wednesday. 

I am guessing there isn't a 10 mile run in my weekend plans anymore. 

I also don't know if this makes sense. I apologize if it doesn't. 

Slacker.. I'm a slacker.

This is my Me Monday picture.. on Thursday.




Where has this week gone? Claire started Pre School on Tuesday and I finally got back into my running shoes today. My goal was 5 miles. Around mile 2, I started getting these headaches I get when I run. I'm not sure if I am dehydrated or not getting enough oxygen, but they won't go away until I stop and take some Motrin or Alieve. Also, a new ailment poked it's ugly head out. A slight knee pain just below my right knee. It isn't killer, but definitely bothersome. Any ideas what that could be and how I can fix it?? Anyway, I didn't get 5 miles done.. it was 2.45 and I am beating myself up about it.

So, the Disney Princess Half is less than 2 months away. I feel like I am slightly better trained this go 'round, but nowhere where I need to be. Life keeps getting in the way. I realize that running should be a priority and it is, but my family and children come first, so, I guess guilt is what is getting in the way. Having to leave my girls to go run seems so selfish to me. But honestly, I feel like I could tear the walls down if I don't get those running shoes on. I am mean and snappy and I honestly don't sleep as good.

Claire turns 2 this weekend... I am not ready for that either. On a happier note, (because I feel like this is turning into a poor, pitiful me) I am really getting some stuff done around the house. New pillows, new ottoman, finishing up decorating the girls room. I still have the playroom to do, but I am trying to slow down and relax a little. These projects are consuming me.

Updates!

I ended up calling my OB/GYN yesterday and this is how the phone conversation proceeded:

Me: Hi! I'm a patient of Dr.F's and I am having some problems. I started having cramps last night in my lower abdomen around my ovaries, and then proceeded to start throwing up. I haven't thrown up today, but I am really hurting around my ovaries and was wondering if maybe I had a cyst to rupture? I would just like to talk to one of the nurses,please."

Mean Lady: "Well, she is going to want you to come in. How is Friday afternoon?"

Me: I can't do Friday. Is there anything sooner?

Mean Lady: Well then, can you do Tuesday? (In a snooty voice)

Me: *sigh* yes, Tuesday is fine. Am I still going to get to talk to a nurse today? Can someone call me back?

Mean Lady: Oh no. That's not likely.

Uhhh okay. Please tell me, what is the point of having doctors if and when you have a FREAKING problem, you can't get into see them that day? Please tell me how 6 days from now, this dr. appt is going to help me? This is ridiculous. I didn't call to be cock blocked by some stupid receptionist. I wanted to talk to someone. To see what I can do to aliviate pain. I can't even pick up my daughter b/c it hurts. Please tell me how this helps anyone?? Besides, when you go to these drs it's an all day affair anyway.

But, I am already feeling better. Just a little sore and extremely bloated. I have a muffin top over my jeans. I prefer elastic waist pants today.

On a different note... My weight loss is going pretty well. I got down to 136.5 a couple of weeks ago, and the WW peeps decided I needed less points and I kind of fell apart. And got sick. And with the bloating, I am back up to 139. Which isn't so bad. But I wanted to be 135 at Thanksgiving, and it doesn't look like that will happen. Sad day.

Is today Monday?

This morning, I was to meet Natalie, who is my partner in crime for the Disney Princess Half. We have started running two mornings a week together to prepare for our 13.1 mile journey in a few months. As I sat in the car, waiting on her to get there, I started thinking about last night when I was putting the finishing touches on my new photography blog. I was in the section about myself and I thought Who Am I? I am a photographer. A Mom. A Wife. And.... a runner. I love it. I get down on myself a lot about it. Maybe I'm not as fast as someone else, or have the motivation to get up before the sun to run-- which is when I actually have time to do it, and it really makes my day better. BUT... I do love it. I never thought that would be a part of me. Pushing myself to succeed in something, has never been my strong suit. If it doesn't come easily, I get discouraged and quit. But, running has taught me in the past year, to get better at anything, it takes WORK. Lots of it. A better wife. A better Mom. A better photographer. A better Christian. All of these things take DAILY work. So, it was in that moment, that I decided, I am not okay being mediocre. In anything. I want to be the best that I can be. I most likely, will never win a race, but just completely them is more than enough for me. So, I seriously slowed my pace today and was able to chit chat with Natalie during our run, but guess what? I ran two whole miles without stopping to walk, while carrying on a conversation with someone not in my head.

That, my friends, was an accomplishment for me. I can't tell you the last time I ran through pain, and the thought to stop never crossed my mind.

Of course, I then came home to a daughter who had a MAJOR accident in her bed... to the point she peed through her pull up, which also had poop in it, and she smelled like a homeless person. It stunk up our entire house. I had to wash all her bedding and spray our house and light candles. I kid you not, people. She smelled like a homeless person. We had to hose her down in the shower, which she didn't care for. AT ALL.

The rest of the morning went smoothly, until, I decided to take out one more bag of trash and I picked up the trash bag and there was standing liquid in the bottom of the trash can. Awesome. Our trash can is now sitting outside after being hosed down. Gross.

I'm hoping that the rest of the day gets better. No one said that motherhood was a glamorous job.

Question of the Day: Those of you that have running partners, do you run with ipods and not talk, do you talk, or what do you do while you run with them?

Ahh.. Saturday.

Saturday. A day for relaxing. Right? Well, what was going to be a fun day for Princesses, quickly turned to crap. A stop at Duchess Doughnuts, first thing, earned Addison the beating of her life because she ran out into the road after I told her to stay right by me. 

Yes, I beat the crap out of her in the middle of the road. Right after I had my heart attack.

She continued to not listen, which had me wondering if she is just now starting to get jealous of Claire? Is that even possible? 

I must show you my new snack. Toast, Nutella, and banana. YUMMY. 

Also thought I would share my new favorite summer dish. It's called Summer Pasta. I used penne, because we had it at the house, but you can use any kind.

Mix 1 cup EVOO, Mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, 4 Roma tomatoes, garlic, salt and pepper together and let it get to room temperature.

The keep to this, is letting the pasta cool off some. I noticed the last time that the cheese melted immediately, and caused for clumpy cheese, but I let it cool a little this time and it didn't.

I mixed faster this time also.

Mmmm... yummy. If you like pasta, garlic, and tomatoes.. it's delish.

But then.. I had this to do.. (Which didn't get done.)

I blew up a pool and a bouncy ball and let the girls fight over them. Seriously.

The sat in the pool and watched Pinocchio.

And I looked like this at the end of the day. Crazy hair. Crazy eyes. Nutella on the face.

The moral of this story? Don't let your husband go out of town for 3 days. Especially when your children are daddys girls.

Digging for Gold

As most 3 year olds and any child for that matter, Addison is constantly picking her nose. She does it a lot when she is getting embarrassed or trying to avoid doing something. Like, picking her nose is the hardest thing to do in the world and she couldn't possibly be bothered with picking up her toys because she is doing important work by digging for gold. 

She has been having a really hard time taking naps lately, and is fighting them with all her will. So, I expected no less when I picked her up from pre-school on Monday. Only, she fights them there, by taking our her rubber bands and chewing on them until one of her teachers takes them away. When she got in the car, she told me that she stuck a rubber band up her nose. I told her that we do not stick things up our noses and and she nodded like she totally got it. 

The next day John was putting her down for her nap while I was blog stalking, and he called me into her room. "What does this look like to you? It looks like a rubber band" 

Me: "Well, she told me yesterday that she put a rubber band up there, but I assumed she got it out."

John: " Go get me some tweezers, please."

On my way to get tweezers, I grabbed my camera( what? this was totally a blogging moment!) When Addison realized kinda how serious this was, she started getting scared. And crying, just because she was scared.

John was able to get it out, but I informed Addison the next time we might not be able to get it out ourselves and it would involve a trip to the ER with lots of needles and poking.

I think she understood, but now she has some strange freak out around anyone with a white coat. I don't know what that is about. 

Nervous Energy...

NERVOUS.

Seriously. NERVOUS.

We leave for Disney on Friday. I know, I haven't talked a LOT about this trip, because I am honestly scared. It's my half marathon. IN 4 DAYS!!! I feel ready, but not. I am scared for how my body is going to react. Am I going to be able to finish? I KNOW it's okay to walk, but I REALLY want to be able to keep those feetsies movin' to light jog, if I need to slow down. I ended up getting sick late last week and didn't get in my 10 mile run and had to get a steroid shot to help get over my cold. So.. I am not 100%, but am getting there. My ears a still a little stopped up. My shins are bothering me a little bit, but lots of stretching and ice seem to help a LOT. How is my body going to react if I hit a wall? Should I carry a towel of some sort for sweat? Do I even want to mess with the Nike + system because the arm band makes my arm sweat and I hate that. Am I going to be too cold in a t-shirt and shorts? Should I try to get a running jacket or a long sleeve shirt? Am I even going to feel like being at Disney afterwards? Am I a crazy person? See.. lots of questions!! What do I need to do post race for myself?

So, since I have a TON of nervous energy, it means stuff around here is getting done. The stuff that no one else cares about. Like bow holders and hanging stuff up. Like, I want to repaint the hall to our bedroom.

So, I finally made the girls bow holders last night...

This is Claire's...

I started with a blank canvas, since I always have those lying around, you could probably do some MDF board though.
I hot glued the edges around the back side of the canvas, but I would have rather done a staple gun, but was out of staples.

Folded the corners down and glued those.

Then I took coordinating ribbon and measured them out about 3 inches apart and hot glued those as well.

While I was at it, I hung up a bunch of stuff that I have had since before Claire was born. My friend Mal made the canvas for Claire.. How cute is that?? The picture frame and cross are from my sister. I know she will be happy to finally see something on Claire's walls. P.S. I need a picture for the frame..


I also hung the coat rack that was from my sister in C's closet.. oh look. The Duckie bag that was for Addison.. also from my sister. Do we think she loves my girls? I believe that answer is YES.
This is Addison's bow holder.. she picked out the fabric herself... and she needs some stuff on the sides of it. Not sure what though...

Anyway... if any runner's out there are reading and have some calming advice or answers to my questions, then feel free to leave it!