Wordless Wednesday, Get Your Kicks

Silly Little Boys

While scrapbooking at my aunt's house this weekend my cousin D was running W-I-L-D.
Apparently he recognized the problem, because the following is a snippet of the conversation that got us all laughing so hard our sides ached.

D: Moooo-ooom!
His mom (annoyed): WHAT?
D (giggling the whole time): Can you give me a chill pill? or two? PLEASE?

Made you laugh.
Have a great Sunday!

A Beastly Conversation

Picture this if you will: Beast cracks up laughing from the bedroom, where the computer is located. I am in the adjoining loft area on my computer where I was loading music on the Girl and my phones for the nine day long trip which includes a 3 day road trip doing some important computer work.

Beast: you HAVE to come see this, they thought of everything!

Me: What are you talking about (no, my annoyance isn't a figment of your imagination, this was like the third time he had interrupted me.)

Beast: TSA, they thought of everything. They have this "Ask Jenn" column where you can ask them anything and they have an instant answer for you.

*A bit of background for you: we were flying out to California the next day and he was checking online for information regarding car seat and stroller restrictions for Alaska Airlines.

Me (as I walk to the room in order to humor him): Please don't tell me you asked if you're allowed to have sex in the bathroom.

Beast (the man actually giggled): Well, uh, sort of. Look!


And here's what I see on the screen:

Guest (this would be Beast of course): Can I join the mile high club?
Jenn: Seeing as I'm virtual, I don't date.

Gotta hand it to them, they did think of everything.

Love Thursday, a Tad Early

Since I'll be out of town visiting family in SoCal (don't be a hater) until the day after Christmas, I wanted to leave you with my Love Thursday post. It's long to cover both Thursdays that I will miss. You're welcome.

This Love Thursday, I am celebrating accomplishments.
I love that I am in a place in my heart and mind that I can acknowledge the good things I do and the things I like about myself, as well as reveling in the warm fuzzies that accompany completion of tasks I take on. This isn't something I've ever been able to do, for fear of sounding conceited, tooting my own horn...well, you get the picture.

I completed the "25 Days of Christmas" altered book for my parents-in-law, complete with photos and embellishments, prior to our trip. This is the first book I have done, and while daunting in it's task, I thoroughly enjoyed making this book. I showed it off to friends without a moment of awkwardness or self-criticism. This has been hard to come by for a very long time.

I am tickled and very happy that I was able to carve time out with my kids and bake dozens upon dozens of holiday cookies. This was the first season that I have felt the drive to do this, had the energy to follow through on my promise to bake and been able to have both my kids' participation. This is also the first time that I haven't felt the burning desire to "just do it myself" because it would be faster or less stressful. I truly enjoyed every second of the time I spent creating, tasting, mixing and baking (of course not in that order) with them. They obviously seemed to enjoy themselves as well. I can't help but be certain that this has brought us all a touch closer. Must be that Christmas magic.

When we went to SoCal for Christmas in 2006, I didn't want to waste the time to put up trimmings we wouldn't be around to enjoy. This decision, mixed with the 80 degree California weather (I enjoyed it, don't get me wrong) made it impossible for me to hold onto any Christmas spirit I might have been able to muster in the first place. This year, having realized this mistake, we put the Christmas tree up and it has made a world of difference. Even though it took us three days to finally get the decorations on the tree, we have enjoyed the brilliance of it every moment since. Since I'm such a perfectionist and more than a little anal retentive, I am proud to also recognize that I haven't moved a single ornament that the kids placed an inch apart, or the same color next to each other, or hanging at the very edge of the branch, etc... The surprising, and most important, fact about this accomplishment is that I haven't wanted to.


Yet with all the holiday busyness, the baking, the decorating, the project completing, the playing in the snow and all the normal day-to-day happenings, I was still able to find the time to relax, enjoy myself and just be spontaneously silly.

And for all of these accomplishments that might seem 'normal' or common to others, for me, they have been a constant struggle. I'm not afraid or embarrassed to admit these things. And for that sole reason...I am proud.

My Christmas wish for you: take time out to be silly, stay up late to enjoy those cookies without worrying that your ass will suffer the consequences and just enjoy this time with your families.

See you back here after Christmas. I hope you have the best one yet.

Wordless Wednesday

This is what happens when we leave them with the sitter.

Greeblemonkey Photo Contest

***UPDATED (AGAIN): All of this taken into consideration, you all are still famous in my eyes. You're welcome E. Feel better now? Geesh. You may be letting the fame go to your head. I'll have to keep an eye on you.
**UPDATE: I didn't make the finalists, but you should still go here: http://www.greeblemonkey.com/2008/12/december-greeblepix-contest.html and vote for one of the photos that did. Maybe next time...

Well, this will be a first - and yes, it does make me nervous.
Greeblemonkey is hosting a photo contest this month with no topic. This will be my very first entry...so keep those wicked fingers and toes crossed ladies...hopefully you are about to be famous! *Don't worry, we won't let it go to your heads. Meh!

I Always Keep My Promises, Burnham Style

This afternoon, I had the greatest pleasure of finally shooting the Burnham Family's Christmas Photos. I was beginning to worry this shoot would never take place. "Why?" you ask. And you know you were asking. I'll tell you why. Mrs. Burnham, aka My Creative Director and Close, Personal Friend, is normally very camera shy, as is Mr. Burnham - so convincing them that this really was a good idea took a tad bit of work, not a lot, just a tad. Then there were the weeks of wardrobe contemplation (though I have to admit, I am anal retentive so this would have been difficult for me as well), several borderline-manic text messages, a shopping expedition (there's nothing I won't do for a great shoot, and a friend), and last minute scheduling changes due to my pending vacation.

It was all worth it:

(polaroid effect courtesy of picnik.com)

(effect courtesy of picnik.com)

(Mini-Burnham kissing Burnham Bun-in-the-Oven)

And this post would be completely incomplete if not for this next picture.

Subject Beware: it's now policy that if you LET the photographer take the picture, and especially if you redo the act to LET the photographer take the picture, you can't COMPLAIN about the picture. M...kay?

Late but Worth the Wait, Bates Style

You are getting two posts from me tonight you lucky dogs, you!

I had a photo shoot for a close friend and her family this morning and after completing this session, I realized that I never posted the Bates Family Photo Shoot!

How dare I?!?

So, without further ado...I bring you the Bates Family.

I had the fantastic opportunity to shoot the lovable Bates Family this fall. We were lucky enough that the leaves and weather hung on for us a touch longer than normal here in the Pacific Northwest.

You may recognize Mrs. Bates from her previous Trash the Dress sessions with me (or not, as I haven't posted those pictures yet EITHER! Holy crow, I'm behind), as well as Baby "Godzilla" Bates from his personal session (which you can see on Flickr, see link in sidebar), this was the first opportunity I have had to photograph them family style. We had a wonderful, though cold, experience at a favorite site and the pictures turned out wonderfully. I don't just say so myself, I've been told. Heh!

Here are a few of their shots:

(polaroid effect courtesy of picnik.com)

(cross processing effect courtesy of picnik.com)

I am enamored with these photos and Baby Godzilla's cheeks. He was a complete ham, and thoroughly enraptured with his repeated attempts at tasting those crispy fall leaves. Mom and Dad were fun-blockers on that one, rightly so.

I truly look forward to being honored enough to photograph them again.

Love Thursday - a Different Spin on Things

Excerpt from Language of Letting Go:

"One of our choices is choosing what we want to think - using our mental energy positively.

Positive mental energy, positive thinking, does not mean we think unrealistically or revert to denial. If we don't like something, we respect our own opinion. If we spot a problem, we're honest about it. If something isn't working out, we accept reality. But we don't dwell on the negative parts of our experience.

Whatever we give energy to, we empower.

There is magic in empowering the good, because whatever we empower grows bigger. One way to empower the good is through affirmations: simple positive statements we make to ourselves: I love myself...I'm good enough...My life is good...I'm glad I'm alive today...What I want and need is coming to me...I can...

Our choice is not whether to use affirmations. We've been affirming thoughts and beliefs since we were old enough to speak. The choice is WHAT WE WANT TO AFFIRM."

Leaving you with those thoughts to ponder, while I try to love myself a little more on this Love Thursday. I believe I can...

Wordless Wednesday, Double Dipping

Mocos are Yummy! aka Posts You Should Never Have the Material to Write!

Disclaimer: The following video was taken in the normal progression of an evening in the McGlocklin household. Said video was shot by Beast, as he is the only witness with presence of mind to document future blackmail material a funny home video for public personal use. This was taped about a minute after it actually started. Thankfully, the camera is always primed and ready.

This is the funniest (and almost the most inappropriate) 33 seconds in our household this evening. Enjoy.



Translation for our non-Spanish speaking readers: Mocos = Boogers and is a term that was taught to The Girl by some old friends who now live in Italy (ahem...we miss you K and R). Hey, gimme a break, a toddler bellowing "Mommy, look MOCOS!" in the middle of a crowded store is way more polite than the alternative "Mommy, look BOOGERS!" It's inevitable either way, so why not camouflage it a little, right?

A Day in the Life

The Boy is nestled in our bed watching Finding Nemo for the gazillionth time on the mini-dvd player while football plays in the background for Beast...nothing like killing two birds with one stone, eh?

I hear The Boy yell at the top of his lungs "DORA!!! Git back here!"
Never mind that he has the name wrong and it should be Dory, how funny and cute is that?

Beast, hearing my chuckle from outside the room, informs me that the other day when The Boy watched Nemo for the whatever time (what's one less than gazillionth?) that he overheard him screech at the top of his 2 1/2 year old lungs, as powerful as they are, "Don't kiss the butt!"

Probably one of my favorite lines in the whole movie. Yours too now, I'll bet.

Coffee-versary

Oh, Starbucks, my sweet, sweet, love.

Last week, I had my coffee-versary. Well, sort of. It was the anniversary of my coffee addiction. No, it wasn't the first time I had coffee, but it was certainly the turning point of my dependence upon it for remaining calm in tough and tiring situations, enabling me to go days without biting off the head of some poor, unsuspecting soul.

I was always the "Hot Chocolate with Mint" kind of girl. I despised even the smell of anything coffee related. Much less was I going to drink the crap. In fact, the Beast suffered at my unrelenting unwillingness to make coffee for him. Poor Beast.

I take it all back. I sincerely do.

It started with the Cinnamon Dulce Latte brought to me by an eager friend. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't addicting...sort of take-it-or-leave-it but a nice treat once in a while, it's innocence overwhelmed my need for consumption.

Then at Midnight Madness on Thanksgiving, another dear friend introduced me to the Peppermint Mocha. It's been all down hill from there. That Peppy Mocha, as I so lovingly refer to it, can be very persuasive.

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't have to drink one every day, but really, it's better for your safety and my sanity if I do. On the days I don't, stay out of my way. Or, better yet, why don't you pick one up for me. Grande, non-fat, no whip Peppermint Mocha---and NOT, I repeat, NOT the Peppermint Mocha Twist. (They went and messed with a good thing. But I digress, that's a post for another time--only love in this one!)

Happy Coffee-versary to ME!