Shoot Me!

What a fun ride the last year has been of being in the picture. Was it easy at first? No. Did it get easier? At times. Did I always look perfect? No. Did that even matter? No! ……. Was it worth it????

ABSOLUTELY!!

Our families will appreciate that we have made this effort. It’s time we stop always being behind the camera and time to be IN the pictures! Congrats to those that are just wrapping up their 52 week challenge. Congrats to those that are in the middle of their year or just starting out. Congrats to those that are realizing just how important it is we get in the picture!!

So we are all in various stages of this journey and I know many of you have said how you want to continue it. I also know that at times it can be hard to get the kids or hubby in the picture, or maybe the kids are grown, or maybe you don’t even have kids yet. “Shoot Me” is for everyone! I just want to see YOU in the picture! With your child, with your dog, with your parent, with your spouse, with your friend or by yourself. Just get in that picture! We will continue to see you every Thursday!

Use whichever button is relevant to you. Finish up your “52 Weeks” and then begin “Shoot Me”. I haven’t decided whether to just title posts" “Shoot Me” or “Shoot Me: 1 of 52” and number the year again. I’d love your input on this one!

Please take the poll over on the side below my buttons, I'd love your input! Thanks!

Ice Ice Baby

When our Little Man turned two we got him a sweet new pair of hockey skates.   I wish you could see just how stinkin’ cute and small these things are.First it was practicing at home, just walking around on the carpet.  He loved this part.  He probably walked around for half an hour. 

When we got to the rink he was so excited, okay, so was I!  After we got everyone all laced up it was time to hit the ice. 

  Is that just so cute or what!

It was not easy at first.  We tried to help him hold on to the skate helpers.  Then Lineman took him around without the helper.  Nothing like torturing your back.

Another attempt with the skate helper and it wasn’t going all that easy.  So we decided to take a little break.

After a short break I took Little Man back out there and just let him stand.  Then we got the skate helper and……

He figured out what it was about!  I’m not saying he was going great guns, but he figured it out.  He could push himself around and I was truly shocked!

Look Ma, no Dad hands!

Only one year after learning how to walk he is figuring out how to make his way on the ice.  And in the mean time I can’t get over how stinkin’ cute those teeny tiny skates are. 

Deranged

Really, what kind of deranged person pulls this kind of stunt just days before Christmas?  Just days before company is coming to their house?

I decided on December 22 that I would strip wallpaper….

I began to strip the wallpaper down when I realized there was a slight problem….

The paint under the wallpaper was wanting to lift up.

That’s a section where I already pulled the wallpaper down and then the bottom most layer of paint ( I’m pretty sure it’s just paint) wanted to lift off.  There was no way I could leave it.  It was bubbling up and would be obvious.   So I ripped and scraped all I could get off.  That left some very irregular patches and rough spots.  What could I do?

Well, being the deranged, insane person that I am,I went to town and bought a texturing gun.  Got the room all taped off, hooked up the air compressor and started spraying texture all over the poor abused wall.  On the 23 of December when most people are baking cookies and preparing for Christmas I applied a coat of primer to the wall, then I applied the texture, then I applied more primer, then I finally put up a coat of paint…. And it turned out like this.  There are still some issues with the wall that the texture didn’t cover.  So if you come over and mention it I’m going to stick a paint brush in your hand and you are going to have to paint another wall for me!

This wall here I got done painting one day before the whole “let’s rip the wallpaper down” charade.  I think it turned out great.   And how about that fireplace.  Make you want to grab a good book and curl up next to it? Get this, I told my honey that I wanted a electric fireplace and this is what he found for me!  Isn’t he awesome!  I love the fireplace, it looks and feels so real! 

The only problem is that touch of white wall over there… ugh.  I might get up right now and start painting!

52 of 52!!!!!!!!

We made it!!!! 52 weeks, what an accomplishment! This picture here is the one I used for our Christmas card. I think I'm still in shock everyone is looking at the camera, smiling and looking good.

On the card it says "Have your self a merry little Christmas".... please do!

And YES! In some form I will continue with 52 Weeks, with a slight variation. So many have started out just recently and what an accomplishment to make it to 52 of 52! You can do it! It's so important for your family memories!

********************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

I debated on wether or not to put up the Linky but I'm going to go ahead and put it up. I'm pretty sure I won't make all of the rounds today, but perhaps within a couple of days when it slows down a bit. Have a wonderful Christmas!

A little boy… A little bokeh

This little guy has been going non stop lately.  It’s tough to even snap a picture of him these days! 

I went to check on him before I went to bed last night.  As my eyes adjusted to the dark room I noticed he looked a bit different in bed.  Hmm, a close inspection would reveal he stripped off his clothes before falling asleep.  He opted to leave the diaper on thank goodness!  I let him sleep that way.  I’m afraid to check this morning…  what if the diaper is no longer in place?  Aggghhhh, I shudder to think. 

Excuse me, I’m going to go peek in his room now!

Limelight?

The boys had their Christmas programs last week.  My middle son about broke my heart.

His teacher called me before the program to let me know he was not doing well.  I asked her to try to get him up on stage and she said she would do her best.   As he walked up to the stage I could see he was not himself.  He never did see me during the performance which probably didn’t help things.  He did OK during the performance and occasionally I saw him try to sing or do the moves.  Mostly he was just trying to get through it I could see.

At the end the music teacher invited parents to come take pictures up in front….  All the attention was overwhelming for my son.As I watched him my heart started to break. His pain was suddenly my pain.  I ran up there whispered to his teacher I thought he needed to get off the stage.  He finally saw me then as I waved him down.  He fell into my arms and the tears started flowing. 

This little boy that climbs effortlessly on top of buildings, jumps and races his motorcycle as fast as  it goes, plays hockey, soccer, baseball, wrestles his brother twice his weight, has no fear of heights, is a monkey on the loose…… is a marshmallow on the inside. 

He breaks my heart.  I wish I knew what to say or what to do.  I know I can love him and encourage him and support him…I hope that’s enough for now.

Friday Photo Flashback

Or is it??????

Okay, obviously it is, but there is something a little bit familiar looking with that boy. It’s our youngest boy. I mean it’s our middle boy. Okay, it really is our oldest boy. This time I’m not kidding. This pic was an outtake from our Christmas card for 2003. I was pregnant with our second here and almost ready to pop.

51 of 52

Nothing special going on, just me and my oldest. He is always the most willing to be in a picture and is always such a great helper.

********************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

It’s a boy thing

Well, at least I’m pretty sure it’s a boy thing, seeing as I only know boys and the ways of boys. But I’m pretty sure it’s really just a boy thing.

Maybe

All of the boys ripped of their shirts and began wrestling one another.

Then, the next thing we know the middle Wild Child jumps on the coffee table to do push ups and show off his muscles.

Maybe I’m wrong, but it sure seems like a boy thing.

Sincerely,

Tired Estrogen in a House Full of Testosterone

P.S. Please excuse my messy house.

P.P.S. The messy house really is a boy thing.

P.P.P.S. That's MY excuse anway!

Evergreen

Evergreen....

Jolly Green Giant...

Green green grass of home...

Green backs...

Go green...

Green and Gold...

Hmm, sense a theme going on here? I just got back from a trip I took to the big town. Time for major supplies and shopping. Thank goodness for a Suburban. I even had a prehung door in there!

So, after driving nearly 5 hours in negative temps and snow we were about 10 miles from being home when I hear Little Man shaking what sounds like my gum. I asked my middle son how he got the gum and he said he put my purse in the middle seat. Urg. Well I asked him to get the gum away from his brother. I turned on the light for him and I hear him shout....

"Ahh, he is GREEN!"

"What?" I say.

"He is green."

"WHAT are you talking about?" I say, getting impatient.

"His hands are green, his face is green."

"WHAT?!"

"Mom, this toy is green and these straws are green. Everything is GREEN"

"OH NO!!!!!!" I say as I put the pieces together.....


Earlier in the day I had gone shopping for a small container of craft paint at Micheals. After I checked out I said no bag was necessary, I'd just pop it in my purse.

My purse.

Little Man had my purse for how many miles????

He had green on his hands, green on his cheeks, green all over his sweetshirt, green on the carseat... and green on the seat.

I would have gotten pictures to share but after driving in such horrible and stressful conditions, it wasn't the best way to end a trip.

But don't worry. No one is green any more!

Friday Photo Flashback ~ Skiing when you’re broke

I thought I would see what kind of winter pictures I could come up with.

Maybe some old skiing ones, or at least something with snow anyway.

Then I came across these pictures from college at Montana Stat University. Bridger Bowl, the ski resort was right there! How lucky and cool would that be!

Then I learned what all people learn in college. Math and economics.

Apparently one actually needs MONEY to go to one of them thar fancy ski resorts. College kids don’t have money.

So we skied in the dorm rooms. That’s my roomy Willow there.

Apparently any broke, crazy person can ski in the dorm halls.

And get this……

It’s even FREE!

50 of 52

This picture is actually from two weeks ago. We have so few pictures of us together that I made sure we would at least have a handful of good pictures of the two of us together. Sigh, I love this man!

********************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

My Three Sons

All I can say is that I am one lucky mom to be raising these boys.  And  am one blessed mom that my husband allows me to stay home and raise these little balls of energy. 

Just to see you smile

Lineman and I recently celebrated our 16th anniversary.  I had picked up a nice western shirt for him when he called me and said, “we’re not doing anything for our anniversary are we, let’s not”.  So, I hung that shirt in the closet so at least he would still have something new to wear, even if it wasn’t a gift.

He came home from work and we were visiting when he says “hey hon, can you go grab my slippers for me?” So I head to our bedroom when what should I see on our dresser but this….

That little stinker!  He said not to get him anything and then he goes out at gets me a laptop and all the goodies to go with (the hairspray is an inside joke).  Can you believe that guy.  After 16 years you think I would know all his little tricks!

He gave me a nice little card that sang “Just to see you smile” by Tim McGraw. 

Yes, his little surprise gift made me smile.  I’ll tell you what else makes me smile.  When he laughs, when he plays with the kids, when he laughs, when he smiles, when he laughs, when he is ornery to waitresses, when he laughs.  Oh, his laugh is infectious, medicine for my soul, I could never get enough of it!

The laptop is pretty great, it has Windows 7  and so far I’m loving it.  I hadn’t realized just how old and slow my desktop was. 

And in other news… right now it’s minus 15 feels like minus 29.  Phew, this Global Warming is tough to take!

Friday Photo Flashback~ Ski Joring

Snow

+

Skiis

+

Horses

=

Ski Joring!

That's me just getting ready to go.

And we're off. It was so much fun and a total work out too.

Here is my mom pulling a friend. I can't remember if my mom ever pulled me or not. I do know we all had fun!

Ski Joring is a real sport and they have their National Finals near my mom in Red Lodge, MT. Granted we were just goofing off and having fun in the pasture but the people that compete are insanely good. They couple and amazing horse and rider with an extremely skilled skier and they are serious about it. You can check it out here.

49 of 52

Sigh…. This man sure knows how to make me happy, how to make me smile. He was in the middle of a room remodel when I asked him to come take some pictures. And he did! Mind you he’s not a fan of getting his picture taken but he is a fan of making me happy and he knew that would do the trick. Thank you honey for a few pictures!

And wow, week 49….. how did I (and you too) get this far? Amazing!

Any ideas how I should handle the new year with some still just starting out? Maybe after 52 I could have a different button and have two running? I’m sure open to suggestions here.

********************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

He makes it easy

From the very beginning he made it pretty easy.  As a baby he was sweet and cuddly.  He was sick oh so much though when he was little.  Other than that, he has been such a sweet, old soul. He helps out around the house with big or little chores. Helps with his brothers.  Does well in school.  Has a huge, giving heart.  Really, he makes parenting easy for me.  Maybe it’s because he is the oldest?  I don’t know.  But I do know I’m glad he is the oldest brother and is such a good example for his little brothers.

The other thing he makes easy….. Photography.  He is so eager to pose for me and help me by being my model so many times. 

The thing he DOES NOT  make easy…. Keeping my camera in MY hand.  The little paparazzi, he could take a thousand pictures a day if I let him.   How could I say no to him though?