A couple of special guys

After quite a long hiatus from the blogging world, my recent birthday has inspired me to find a way to blog! I have been completely overwhelmed with birthday wishes this year and it’s just blown my mind! Now, part of that is largely due to facebook which I’m still fairly new and not so great at but I also got tons of texts, several e-mails and phone calls all to wish little ole me a Happy Day. So I’d like to thank every single one of you for your sweet wishes and I really do cherish each and every one. I am so incredibly lucky to have so many friends and such an awesome family. With that said, I do feel the need to give special mention to a couple of guys who I don’t get to see nearly enough of.

First up…Jeremy! Oh, Jeremy how I miss you and your sweet wife Karen! Jeremy, Karen, Jay & I were at one time pretty inseparable. We had known Jeremy for several years and he & Jay ended up working together where they became great friends and in turn, his fabulous wife Karen & I became very close. Well, the four of us ran around doing anything you can think of. From eating out to karaoke & board games, shopping at Target and planning our “baby competition” we had a blast with those two. Then they had to go and ruin it by moving to Texas J. We have dearly missed our friends-especially when I was pregnant. You see, Jeremy made it known that he thought pregnant chicks were gorgeous and Jay always made fun of him for that. So I was really counting on having him around to make me feel better about my huge self when that day came but I had to suffer through it without him. Well, on my birthday this year Jeremy called and left me the sweetest little voicemail “because a facebook message just wouldn’t do”. How sweet is that?! Absolutely made my day and I can’t express how much I appreciate it. I love them to death and can’t wait to take a road trip to Texas to meet that lucky baby next year!

Next up we have…Justin! I have known Justin literally most of my life. We went to church together, he dated my sister, he was my boss & at one point one of my closest friends. When we worked together we always had the best time no matter if we were stocking shelves or playing rummy (strategically hiding it when customers came in of course). This cat is one of the most thoughtful guys you could ever meet and he NEVER forgets my birthday. I mean never ever. It’s been 7 years or so since we worked together, he lives in a different city and I only see him a handful of times a year but he’s always either the first or one of the first to wish me a happy birthday every year. Well, this year was no different. He wished me happy birthday early on in the day—making a jab at my last year in my twenties—but it still made me smile and made my day special. I love you Justin and feel so lucky to call you a friend!

So there’s my sappy ode to a couple of guys know how to make a gal feel extra special. Not a very interesting return to blogging I know, but I really felt like these two needed a shout out and to know how much they are appreciated.

Clarification, Rethinking and Explination/Apologies

Clarification: Obviously I don't have a talent for vague blogging. I posted yesterday without naming names because I didn't want to openly call anyone out but the identity of my 2nd "compliment" was quickly exposed! So first of all, I want to make it clear that I was in no way offended by either comment. I merely thought they were funny and could be taken either as a compliment or an insult. After saying that, I apparently misquoted my complimentor (is that a word?), who assured me it was indeed a compliment but it should have been quoted as "...pump some sunshine" rather than "cram some sunshine". I stand corrected and now am and probably will always be, ever-so-lovingly referred to as "sunshine pumper" by him.

Rethinking: After my post about my crush on Adam Durtiz, one of my blog-readers reminded me that I was not alone in my crazy crush and obviously, this man has some skills that appeal to certain women who I'm happy to be in the same category as. Although he's never been married, he has courted the following ladies:

Mary Louise Parker-the chick from Fried Green Tomatoes and now is on Weeds
Monica Potter--Who? You may ask. She's the girl in Patch Adams & I'm sure some other stuff. The song Mrs. Potter's lullaby was written for her.
Courtney Cox-she was in the Scream movies, 3000 to Graceland, oh and a little show called Friends! More importantly, she also starred in the music video for their song A Long December.
Jennifer Anniston-no explanation needed. It was pre-Brad Pitt but still, she's pretty up there on the Hollywood list I'd say.

He was also spotted a few years ago out and about with Mary-Kate Olsen but I choose to believe he was just mentoring her because I really don't think my Adam is a creepy 40-something year old who would date an 18 year old. Never! He may have dirty-looking fake dread locks but he's really not dirty people...

So, I have rethought my stance on my crush being strange and crazy. Clearly other women find him interesting too.

Explanation/Apologies: I really don't know why I'd say "apologies" because no one really cares. So I realize that I sound like one of those "I'm so sorry I haven't posted pictures of my kids for you to look at! I'm sure you're all just waiting by your coumputers to see there faces" mommies. But I suppose I am apologizing and explaing for the sake of my children in case they ever see their little friends mom's blogs with pictures of everything. I don't want them to think their mother never cared enough to work them into a post. So, the following blog titles will hopefully sooner, rather than later, be coming to a blog near you:

• Was that M & M really worth it?
• Daddy's (maybe not such a good idea) Birthday Gift
• Bryson Goes to School
• My Little Protege'
• What ever happened to the Pictures from that Atlanta Trip?
• It's been 10 years...really?
• 3! Oh, it's the Magic Number

The reason I haven't posted these is because they actually, really and truly have pictures to go with them!! Hard to believe, I know. You see, my only "blog-world" time is while I'm technically working. At home computer time can only be used for work because I stay far enough behind as it is. So usually, while I'm running a gallery or something else that ties up photoshop for a while, I'll copy pictures to my jump drive so I can bring them to work and use them in my blogs! Now, remembering to do that is what proves to be the problem. For some reason I don't ever think of it until I'm actually at work and have time to type a blog. So, I will try to do better by my youngins.

Compliments...(maybe sneaky, back-handed ones, but I'll take them)

In the past couple of weeks I've been enlightened with two odd little comments that left me wondering...Was that a compliment, or an insult? Me, being the ever-so-annoying optimist, chose to view them as compliments. I'll let you be the judge:

Compliment/Insult #1:

I was told by someone who I hadn't seen in a while:

"You know, I think I'd trade my boobs for your figure."

Hmm...how to take this? Well, let's be realistic here. Anyone with half decent eye-sight can tell that

A. My figure is the last one a person would want. I've had 2 kids people-in under a year and half- so you can imagine the havoc that wreaks on a body. So there goes the figure;

and

B. I have the least-desireable rack one could lay their eyes upon. The only time I've had bosoms larger than an a-cup was when I was pregnant with Kynsley (oh, how Jay longs for those good ole' days)

I have no problem admitting those things. So, more than likely it wasn't meant as a compliment as much as a slight to my lack-luster assets but I choose to take it that this person may have meant that I don't look quite as bad as they expected after having two kids.

Compliment/Insult #2:

Jay called the other day and asked me if I wanted to join him and a couple of guys he eats with from time to time for lunch. I was the last to arrive (shocking, I know) and then I sat down and spoke to everyone. Then one of the guys turned to Jay and said:

"See what I mean. She's just always so perky. If somebody's having a bad day then she'll just take some sunshine and cram it up their butt."

Lovely. Just call me "butt-cramming sunshine girl". Deep down I'm almost certain this person meant "YOUR WIFE IS SO ANNOYING! TELL HER TO STOP SMILING AT ME ALREADY!!"

but...Polly Sunshine here has decided that he was just refreshed to see a friendly person out there in this world. (When did it become odd to speak to people and smile anyway?) So, I'm sorry. I am overtly friendly. I realize this and have honestly tried to tame it but I'm afraid it's out of control.

If you've been around us much then you've probably figured out this is one of the things that annoys my husband the most about me. He has been embarrased by me on more than one occastion (just ask him to tell you the story about the Mexican restaraunt if he hasn't already). When we went to New York several years ago Jay insisted that I stop speaking to people on the street. I just couldn't manage the not speaking AND not smiling part though.

I'm afraid it's rubbing off on my children too. They wave at every car that passes as we enter Walmart and speak to everyone we meet in the store. Bryson walked up to a mannequin at a store yesterday, tried to shake it's hand and said "Good to meet you. How are you today?" I don't think there's much hope for them...

High Times in Nashville

Last Tuesday Jay & I headed up to Nashville to see the Counting Crows (see previous post for my perhaps-questionable love affiar with this most fabulous group). Well, hind-sight's 20/20 so the saying goes and of course if I, Superwoman, had anticipated how bad my little procedure was going to be would probably not have scheduled it for the day before this event. Not my brightest idea but, hey. Too late! So while I was unable to sit up at a desk and not coherent enough to be at work, I did manage to drag myself out of bed and put on some real clothes because let's be honest. Nothing was going to keep me away from my band! I was a little disappointed that I wouldn't be able to clap very much but I decided I'd just make up for it with my screaming and singing.

So as we were leaving, I took a pain pill. For some reason it takes a good hour and a half or so for those things to kick in & they make me feel really sick so I thought by the time we got up there it should be in effect & maybe the nausea would have passed. I reclined for the trip up to Nashville and rested. Oh, and I guess the meds must have kicked in a bit because apparently I had a phone converstaion with a mother-of-the-bride which I failed to remember so she had to call me back the next day and have the whole conversation again...whoops. (Luckily she's a super-sweet lady who's quickly becoming a favorite of mine!) Anyway, by the time we got there I was feeling pretty good.

The concert was at the Ryman. AMAZING place to see a show! My new favorite. We found our seats (right in the middle and we could see perfectly). It really didn't look like there would be a bad seat in the place. Jay went and bought me a t-shirt and some popcorn and then we nestled in for the show. The first bit's a little blurry (due to the pain meds) but I remember enough to say...

WOW. What a show. I have never been to a concert as good-ever. If you've ever been to a concert, usually there's an opening act that plays a set, then the 2nd act, then the main headliner. Not this show. The show opened with every member of every band on stage playing and singing. It was UH-MAZING!!! They all sang each other's songs and then there were a few solo spots where the others would leave for a couple songs. It was unbeliveable. It was like one giant jam session and we got to be right in the middle of it.

There were 2 other bands with them Augustana, which I'd heard of but only heard the song "Boston" (great song) and the other was Michael Franti & Spearhead whom I'd never heard of. I didn't really care much about these but now I'm a huge fan. Augustana is more main-stream and they were terrific. (Check them out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnqvjD7Kxs4)

Michael Franti is reggae. I know that's not typically what you'd picture me listening to but I've never in my life seen a better performer. He had everyone in the place dancing and singing. Yes, me, the bible school girl who's never been to a dance or ever learned how was dancing my little heart out. I could blame this on the pain meds but I really think anyone who was there would have been dancing too. He was just fabulous! (Check them out here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoaTl7IcFs8)

Of course the main attraction was absolutely wonderful and left me feeling all warm inside. I was in quite a bit of pain by the end of the night but it was so worth it. I couldn't exactly work a camera and didn't think to have Jay take pictures but I made friends with the girl next to me so she sent me the link to her (blurry, but better than nothing) pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=95185&id=649349451&l=33690871d8

Oh, and if you look at her pictures, you'll notice that apparently people get quite dressed up for concerts these days. It had been a while since I'd been to one so I felt a bit underdressed sitting next to her but she was really sweet & I'm glad she shared her pictures with me.

Just a little sidenote: The girl across the aisle from us must have been on something much stronger than my loratab 7.5's. You would've thought she was at woodstock. She was flailing about and sweating..then all of the sudden she be sitting down with her head on the pew in front of her like she was passed out. Then she'd be right back up in the aisle again and the old voluteer lady would have to drag her back to her seat. Crazy. It's always funny to me to be around people like that because it's so foreign to me. Jay's used to it and he can usually even have a pretty good guess of what their on because he sees so much of it in his line of work. He said he was pretty sure she was on ecstasy by the way she was acting. Interesting & quite entertaining to watch. She was almost as much fun to watch as the show...almost.

"You're not Superwoman Alicia!"

This is what Jay reminded me of last week--not that I claim to be mind you. I just always seem to underestimate how long things will take, how hard things will be, how much I can do in a 24 hour period...you know...basically everything. I don't know why. Everything just sounds so easy until you're in the middle of it and it's not.

So, I've had this pesky cyst on my hand for a few years now. It's been getting bigger and started getting in the way & hurting quite a bit when I used my wrist very much (it's on my dominate hand). Since it's directly in line with my trigger finger I've been putting off having anything done until I had a couple weeks between photo shoots. So I had weddings on the 1st & 8th but nothing scheduled until a wedding on the 29th. Perfect! The doctor said it was no big deal they'd just take it out & I'd be on my way. Fully functional in a week. While he was at it he decided to go ahead and take off one behind my ear too that's been there for years. So I'm expecting to go in, have them cut out then head on it to work...ha!

After I asked him if that would be okay then he told me "Well, we will have to put you to sleep so you'll probably not want to work that day." Okay. Not exactly what I planned but still, not bad. So Jay decided to take off work to go to the hospital with me. I told him there was really no need. I could get a ride there, it'd take a couple of hours and then get a ride home but he insisted. I had to be there at 8:00 Monday so we dropped the kids off with my folks and I told them we'd be back by 10:00 to pick them up. Well, about 1:00 that afternoon I woke up in the hospital to miserable pain and found the nurse shooting me up with morphine and my hand wrapped up like I'd broken it! What?!! I was expecting a band-aid..maybe a gauze pad & some tape but a big 'ole bandage & instructions not to remove it or shower for 2-3 days??

He said the cyst on my hand ended up being about the size of a golf ball so maybe that's why it's been worse than expected. So I was sent on my way with a perscription for pain medicine and a husband making fun of me for thinking this would be a piece of cake & he kept telling me "You're not Superwoman, Alicia!" Naturally, I don't remember too much about that day because I was under anesthesia. I do vaguely remember being in the drive-thru at the pharmacy and raising up to tell Monique "I'm sorry to be rude..I'm just drunk!" Hmm...I may need to go by and apologize for that. I'm sure Jay was understandably embarassed. I was undoubtedly drooling and of course my afro was bigger than usual from lying on it all day in the hospital. Lovely.

So, needless to say, I did not go in to work that day. Or the next. I've really been in a fog ever since. I don't know if it's being put to sleep or the pain medicine but I just can't seem to snap out of it! I'm off to get my stitches out on my lunch break so I may ask him about it. Oh! And now that the swelling has gone down my hand still has the exact same knot! I hope it's just swelling because I don't know that I would do this again.

Despite not going to work last Tuesday, I was able to drag myself to the concert. That deserves an entire post of its own...:)

My Celebrity Crush

Not what you were expecting, I'm sure. I realize that I most likely do not share this crush with any sane women in America. While I appreciate the beauty of Johnny Depp, I'm just drawn to a man who can sing and compose. He may not have hit the jackpot on the looks but the way he writes and sings...ahh. Just makes me smile and feel all warm inside.



It all began back in 1993...

I don't know that I have ever wanted anything so badly in my entire life as I did this album. I remember distinctly going to Camelot in the mall and BEGGING my mama to buy it. I couldn't seem to express to her how much I needed it. I remember a man next to us laughing at me begging. Finally, she agreed--but with a condition. She would buy it for me but I could not have it until she had read all of the lyrics and listened to it. So then I had to wait. and wait. and wait. I asked her every day "Have you finished yet?!" until she finally told me if I didn't quit asking her that then I'd never get it. I can' remember how long it was-probably only a week but it seemed like an eternity-she released it to me. It was all over after that. I had been exposed to the beautiful lyrics of Adam Durtiz and have never been the same. I know this sounds crazy-it is. I have no problem admitting that. Most people have either never heard of this band or if they have then they don't like their music. This doesn't hurt my feelings at all. They just don't get it. I'm not the biggest fan of techno music but I'm sure it speaks to some people.

I always used to say that I would marry the guy who took me to a Counting Crows concert so when Jay took me to one 9 years ago then I was pretty much stuck with him. Obviously I'm kidding about being stuck with him but I did keep my word & now after 9 long years I get to see them again! Jay got us tickets to their concert so on Tuesday we're heading up to Nashville to the Ryman to be enlightened. You can look for a big smile on my face come Wednesday!!

Here are some a couple of other celebrity crushes that I'm longing to see...


Ben Harper

Beautiful Man. Beautiful Voice. His music can make you laugh & cry. It just makes your soul smile.

Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon

Wow. Just listen to one song. That's all it will take. His voice is so raw & different...love it! (Thanks Angel for turning me onto this band!)

New Photography Blog!

I'm working hard on my new website which I'm so excited about! So to go along with that I figured it be a good idea to seperate my personal blog and photo blog. So here's my new photography blog:

http://alicialooneyphotography.blogspot.com/

Hopefully my website announcement will be soon behind!!

Pictures from the World's Worst Luau

The Birthday Girl!

My sweet little hula girl

I had 3 people offer to buy the cake for me just to avoid me making it. Why is it that other people can see your craziness when you can't? I should have taken them up on the offer. It wasn't hard to do it just took sooo much time (which I don't exactly have excess of these days). I have to say I was pretty proud of it though!

Why won't my kids pose for a picture like this with me?

This is what I get:

Gift time!

Kynsley ADORES Emma. They were running through the sprinkler--a safe distance from the pool but after the earlier events of the day I made Kynsley wear her floaties anyway.

I'm sure Jay's folks loved those grassy little feet in the pool!

Have I mentioned that I hate throwing birthday parties?

Seriously....hate it. Anyone that knows me at all can tell you that I'm the most laid-back person in the world. I let things roll of my back and try to spin everything in a positive way so I don't get stressed out. I can have 7 people waiting on picture orders, 4 albums to design with 3 shoots lined up for the weekend, 2 loan closings in one day and auditors in the office and you'd never guess that I had that much going on. Maybe because that's a fairly normal week, I don't know but throw a birthday party for one of my children into the mix and I'm a hot mess.

Sure they all start out fun...the planning...picking a theme...deciding on a cake...choosing a birthday outfit...

then it ends by staying up until 3:00 in the morning working on a stinking cake and then having both of your children almost drown at the party.

So I know all of you attendees have written about how much fun the party was...well if you happen to be reading this and did not attend:

1. I'm sorry you weren't invited

2. It was awful--you didn't miss a thing

well, except

• The WATER SLIDE--oh wait, that's right, it NEVER SHOWED UP
  


• BRYSON whipping the pool with his green swimming noodle and getting so into it that he fell in head first--I didn't actually see the incident but I did see him just as Pawpaw was pulling him out. He did really good-I was quite proud. He was doggie-paddling his little heart out and managed to have his nose & eyes above water anyway..granted his eyes were about the size of saucers but he did good!

• BRYSON's clothes and football "underpants" as he calls them proudly displayed on the bush for all to see while they dried out from his unexpected dip into the pool



• ME climbing into the pool clothes and all (with cell phone in pocket) to pull out my 2 year old a/k/a the birthday girl herself when she ventured past the steps of the pool while I turned my back to get her floaties


• An 8 month old baby cracking its head on the side of the pool so loud it silenced the whole party (thank goodness I'm not responsible for that one--by the way he's just fine as far as I know)



• ME not getting my act together and cutting the cake before guests were already leaving! (sorry about that)

So that's the nutshell of what you missed. Sounds like fun, huh?

So on top of apologizing for the party itself, I would like to apologize for my parenting skills. Letting both my kids fall in? It's a wonder DHR hasn't already come and taken them. Jay was gone to pick up pizza on the first incident and I'm not sure where he was when Kynsley had her turn under water but I accept the blame. I was extremely negligent. I guess I just figured with daddy, aunts, uncles and both sets of grandparents, someone would watch my kids while I did all of the party running around stuff. Well, I will definitley not make that mistake again! Unless I have specifically asked someone to keep an eye on them I will not assume anything.

Until 2 weeks ago Kynsley would not venture past the steps even with someone holding her. She finally got in further with Jay holding her a couple of weeks ago but still wasn't too sure about it. All she's ever wanted to do is sit on the side and kick her feet. Naturally she'd pick this day to be brave. I had literally just put her swimsuit on 30 seconds before and had turned my back to get her floaties and there she went.

Oh and apparently, I did not show enough motherly panic as I rescued my child. Holly said I just casually walked down the steps of the pool and pulled her out. Poor little Kynsley's head went under and she just slowly sunk with her arms stretched out beside her and those blue eyes looking up hoping someone would get her. It seems like more often than not I just feel like the biggest failure in the parent department.

So, technically it wasn't my party but I'll still cry if I want to.

P.S. I'll post the "fun-filled" pictures as soon as I can finish the wedding pics from last weekend and get them downloaded.

Shutdown threats, sunglasses handicap and new clothes!

Jay has been urged by a couple of husbands to shut my blog down. Thankfully, he never reads the blogs or he might actually give that some thought. On the other hand, I know of at least one case where a wife read her husband my blog about Jay's thoughtfulness and after calling him a jerk, he then proceeded to come up with a very thoughtful surprise for his wife the next day! See there, even though I fear my blog is slowly changing from random tidbits to more of an ode to my fabulous husband it looks like it's helping at least one husband who might need just a little help in the idea department to do something special for his Mrs. I hate to put you through this gushing about Jay again but he just keeps on with this stuff! I don't know if it's because he's gotten some feedback and feels like he has to do something for me to blog about or what but he's been even more over the top than usual lately! (So keep the bragadocious comments coming ladies;)

Sweet Thing #1

He got me a father's day present. You read that correctly. He got me a father's day present because I made him a father I suppose. (any excuse to buy me something will do for him) I think I mentioned in my turmoil over what to get him that I ended up letting him get some sunglasses he's been wanting. He has to have perscription lenses so he had to pick them out. Well, he wanted me to look at the frames before he ordered so I did. He had me try on some pairs while there just to "see how great the lenses were". This may seem obvious to all of you that I had a pair of sunglasses coming my way but it in no way crossed my mind because...

SUNGLASSES ARE NOT MY FRIEND

Anyone that knows me very well has undoubtedly heard me mention that there has never been a pair of sunglasses created on this planet that look good on me. I'm sure you're all thinking "oh, I bet there are some out there that would look good on you!" NOPE. Don't waste your time. People have tried before. One of my best friends, Anna, just knew I must be being overly dramatic about the topic so she had me try a ton of them on in Target one day. After the 15th pair or so she finally said "You don't even try to look good in them" She hasn't argued with me about looking bad in sunglasses since. Even the clerk when Jay decided he wanted me to try some on kept handing me different pairs saying "hmm...how 'bout trying these. No....let's try these..." and so on. He knew it. I'm just not cut out for sunglasses. I've accepted it and just buy any $5 pair at walmart that will serve the purpose. Well, Jay knows this too but hasn't quite accepted the fact. So when he picked up his uber-expensive sunglasses and brought them home guess what...you guessed it...my very own pair!! I'm sure you can sense the sarcasam because I don't know how I could type it any thicker. I really, really appreciate his effort. It's so sweet of him and looking through them is great. Just don't look at me while I'm wearing them. Or do--you're sure to get a good laugh.

Oh, and I failed to mention--you'd think that he would have gotten an understated pair knowing my handicap. Not Jay! He got these big white sunglasses with amber lenses. The look amazing...off my face...when I put them on...I look like Speed Racer.

Sweet Thing #2.

I cleaned house Monday night! I'm sure that doesn't sound too much like news to most of you but with me juggling the jobs and kids the house is a little neglected. Hey, better it than one of the kids, right? I manage to keep the basics done but deep cleanings are a little spread out. Well, I stayed up until 2:30 scrubbing and cleaning. I could barely get out of bed the next morning--or 4 hours later, whatever you want to call it. I inherited my mother's back and when I over exert with scrubbing--especially 2 days after a wedding I pay for it. Well, my sweet hubby, to show his appreciation had a surprise for me when I got home from work on Tuesday. He had went shopping and bought 2 new outfits for me! Say what you will but having a metro husband is priceless!!

Okay, I'm done with the bragging for today. So husbands...get your dirty comments ready.

What's that heaven close to?

How in the world do you explain death to a 3 year old?



It doesn't help much that Bryson is the most curious little booger ever. He wants to know exactly how everything works, why it works that way, what happens next, etc... Mama Pearlie's passing has brought on all of those tough questions about death that I don't guess you're ever really prepared to explain. Since Jay was asked to officiate the funeral he was a little bit pre-occupied so that left me to deal with the questions. It has brought quite a bit of humor with it though.



I was always a little iffy on the "he/she went to heaven" line. I kind of felt like that wasn't my place to tell people and what if I was lying...you know-typical over thinker that I am. Well, clearly people tell children that because it's the easiest way to try and help them make some since of death without scaring them and saying "he/she may be in heaven but they might be in hell too, we just don't know". I realized this pretty quickly and went with the "she's in heaven" bit. When we were getting ready to go to the visitation he asked



"So now we'll just go visit Mama Pearlie at the funeral home & not the nursing home? I just want to go to the nursing home."

I told him the we were visiting her there for a couple of days so we could say goodbye before she went to heaven.

"Oh, okay, okay." (his resonse for almost everything)

In the car on the way to the funeral home it continued:

"Well, what's that heaven close to? Is that heaven over there with the black mailbox?"

I explained that it was the same heaven where God & Jesus are and when we pray 'Father in heaven' that was what we were talking about.

"Well, can we go visit her there in heaven?"

So I told him if we're really good and do all the things God tells us to do then we'll get to go there one day. Now I really felt like I had made some progress. Getting the ole message in there...maybe it'll stick a little bit.



Like I said in the previous post, the kids were able to visit Mama Pearlie the day before her death. Her mind was coming and going in the end and while the kids were there she kept talking about needing to cook a turkey. Well ever since then Bryson keeps saying "Mama Pearlie sure does want to cook that turkey. Can I eat some?" I think he reminded every single person at the funeral home that she really just needed some turkey.

I know opinions are vast on letting kids view bodies at funeral homes but for our kids I thought it was best. I thought it would confuse them even more if they never saw her again. They did totally fine with it. They kept wanting to see her "just one more time". Every time we went to potty at the funeral home Bryson would ask "Is it okay to flush it or will that wake Mama Pearlie up?"

When it came time for the funeral, there was so much family that it overfilled the designated family section so we were seated in the main chapel. When they brought the casket in, Bryson yells "Why did they close Mama Pearlie's little door?" (on the casket) Well, Jay preached the funeral-thankfully Ashley was there to help me with the kids and then it came time for them to take the casket out to the car. Bryson asks, as loudly as possible "Where are they taking Mama Pearlie?! Are they gonna roll her around the house?"

Ahhh....3 years old. Lovely age. It's just so hard to explain the events. The concept of a soul and body are hard enough for me to understand much less relay them to a 3 year old. Kynsley just rolls with whatever. I don't know if it's her age or that she's just that much like me but she was just happy to be there. She wanted to stay right with the body at the funeral home though. She didn't want to leave Mama Pearlie's side (except for when Pawpaw took them to the break room for crackers and pizza of course). Overall the kids were extrememly well behaved. I was pretty proud of them throughout everything.

Mama Pearlie

When Jay and I started dating he had 3 great-grandmothers living. I thought that was really unique because mine had passed away when I was a little girl so to be a teenager and have that many living was just amazing to me. Last week, Jay's remaining great-grandmother, Mama Pearlie passed away.

She was 91 and lived a great life. She was 20 years old when she married Jay's g-grandfather. She became pregnant soon after and lost the baby 6 months into the pregnancy. Her husband was so disappointed he wanted to try and have another child right away. He worked road construction and during the winter came down with pneumonia from working in the harsh conditions. He died just a few days later. Although she did not know it at the time, Mama Pearlie was 17 days pregnant with Jay's grandfather when her husband passed away. I cannot imagine living through that--especially during the depression. She was a single parent for 5 years until she re-married.

Mama Pearlie was one of the most spiritual people I have ever met. Every time you were around her she was talking about God and spiritual things. Any time we'd visit we would always find her reading her Bible. When each of our children were born she gave them each a Bible with a special message in it. She always told us "Make sure they know the Lord--that's your job." She was a very wise women.

During the last few months she has been in the nursing home and the kids loved going to visit her. Kynsley always wanted to make sure Mama Pearlie's feet were covered up so they wouldn't get cold and Bryson always liked helping Nana wash Mama Pearlie's gowns and take them back to her. The kids ended up staying with Nana last Tuesday and went to visit Mama Pearlie for over an hour. Although she hadn't known anyone that day, Melissa (Nana) said that she recognized them right away and said "Bring my babies over here for some kisses." I am so glad it ended up working out that they went up there that day. (They were originally going to stay with Angela but Anna Beth was sick). Mama Pearlie got very bad that night and passed away the next day. I really hope the kids will remember her. I know they're young but hopefully they'll be able to remember just a little of what a great women their great-great-grandmother was.

This is exactly what I was talking about...

This past Saturday I photographed my cousins's wedding. Since I was working, I left the decision of whether or not he came with the kids up to him because I knew I wouldn't be able to help him with them. That was just the excuse he needed because like most men, weddings aren't his idea of a fun time--especially outside weddings in the middle of a 98 degree June day. I left the house at 12:30 to head to Huntsville to start pics. The wedding was at 5:00 and I think I left around 9:45-10:00 heading home. LONG day out in the heat! At the reception I started to panic a little because my battery was on the last bar. I didn't know how much juice I had left and you can't go buy batteries for my camera. No store in Huntsville stocks them and I've been meaning to order a back-up one but just never remember until I need it you know? I managed to squeeze it out and on the way home I called Jay and asked him to remind me to get online and order one as soon as I got home. So I finally get home around 11:00 and he told me that he found my battery online and left it pulled up so I could make sure it was the right one before he ordered it for me. I was already thinking--awesome, that's really sweet of you! So I open the door to the computer armoire and this is what I saw:

He had gotten me a 32g Ipod Touch--preloaded with all of the Counting Crows albums (the love of my music life) & all the songs on his playlist, a car adapter, a little docking station so I can sit it on my desk at work and a gift card to Itunes so I can download more music. Oh--and he already had it setup through my e-mail! There was also a card with a sweet note he'd written in it.

Bryson was still awake of course and was sooo excited! He kept saying "Momma! Look at the bow! Look at the bow!!" I finally said "Yeah, that's a great bow isn't it?" and then he told me "I picked it out all by myself for you at Walmart! It's red. I paid for it all by myself." I said "Really! You paid for it? Out of your piggy bank?!" He said "Yeah! Um...no. Daddy paid for it but I picked it out all by myself!!" How sweet....my two boys!

See this exactly proves my point. He always gets amazing gifts for me and goes way over the top. You know what he got for our anniversary? I told him to go pick out some sunglasses. In my own defense, it's not quite as bad as I make it sound. He has to get them through the eye doctor so I couldn't very well know what perscription he needed now could I? Still, it's nothing compared to what he did for me of course. What I do love though, is that even though he doesn't realize it, he's teaching Bryson how a great husband treats his wife. Hopefully one day Bryson will grow up to spoil some lucky (and I hope deserving) girl just like he watched his Daddy appreciate and spoil his Momma.

So as I sit here typing while listening to "Sundays" on my new Ipod in my little purple docking station (oh I didn't mention he got my favorite color in the docking station that sweetheart) I can't help but smile because I'm definitely one lucky girl:)

ABC's of Me

I did this book for Christmas presents last year and I think it turned out cute. Some of you have already seen it but I thought I'd post it anyway because I never post pictures, just rants about mindless things so here are the ABC's of Bryson & Kynsley:

Know a good sitter?

They really don't have to be good. Just trustworthy enough to leave my kids with. You're probably thinking I'm a bad mother right now (which may be true) but I really just mean that I need someone to watch the kids for a week, feeding them, change Kynsley's diapers, make sure they don't get hurt, etc. I'm not expecting puppet shows and paper mache animals at the end of the week.

So...if anybody knows anyone that's interested please let me know! Naturally, if you know me at all you will expect nothing less than short-notice and that is exactly what you're getting:) Granny has to have knee surgery next Wednesday the 24th so I'm looking for someone from Wednesday, June 24th-Thursday, July 2nd. She said she should be fine by Monday but Granny deserves recoup time and probably a break from my two to be honest.

I have no idea what the going babysitter rate is but I'll pay whatever he/she thinks is fair or trade pics they'd rather do that--or both. Whatever-I can get-I really just need a babysitter.
Oh, and they can keep them at my house or I'll take them to them. I'm totally flexible!

Thanks everyone!!

Help!

I'm the world's WORST gift-giver. Ever. I mean, seriously bad. I have good intentions but I just can't ever seem to come up with anything good. I start thinking on ideas months in advance and still end up scrambling a week ahead of time to muster up some pitiful gift.

The worst part? Jay is the world's BEST gift-giver. No joke. I am spoiled beyond belief. He has given me so much jewelry that I could wear a different nice piece every day for probably a month. He surprised me with canvas paintings taken from photographs I'd done of the kids for mother's day once. All of my camera equipment is thanks to him. He got me the cutest leather camera bag that cost an absolute fortune and I really didn't need just because I mentioned how awesome they were. (It really is--polka dot lining and everything--I'll show you sometime). When he worked nights I would frequently wake up to fresh flowers and a sweet card on the nightstand with a long note written in it. He surprises me with trips and concert tickets to my favorite group. If he sees a pair of shoes or an outfit that he thinks I would like then he'll buy it and surprise me with it just because "I'm a good wife & mother" (he thinks--we know better). When I read Twilight I just mentioned how excited I was to start the next one and I'd have to look for it on my lunch break the next day. Well the next morning he had all 4 of the next books stacked up for me when I woke up. (He even stole the 2nd one from the Athens State Library because Walmart didn't have it but he had ordered it online and had it overnighted so I got it the next day and he could return that one). The other day he saw a lady with a cool necklace on that he thought I'd like so he asked her where she got it and then went straight there and bought me one. I could go on and on and on....

Sounds great, right? WRONG!!! It's awful. Don't get me wrong, I realize how extremely lucky I am and I am ever so grateful to have such an amazing husband but the thing is ...this makes for a miserable partnership. He always gets me amazing gifts and puts so much thought into them and I always feel like an idiot because I have some awful gift for him. Sometimes, I'm almost ashamed to admit (notice I say almost because clearly if you've read my blog then you know I have no shame) I've even just not gotten him anything at all because I figured what's the point? Why should I spend money on something he really doesn't want, need and probably won't ever use? How does he come up with so many great ideas when I can't come up with one for him?!

I've almost come to the conclusion that it's his own fault. Any time he wants something he buys it. The only great ideas I can come up with are the ones too expensive for him to go buy which also means I can't exactly go get them either. So I need your help. Father's Day is Sunday and our anniversary is Monday--Double Whammy!! Bryson thinks he needs a remote control (typical male, huh?) and Kynsley wants to get him "Peeeeejamas" so I figured I'd let the kids get their own gifts for him but he deserves a real one too. Any suggestions??

Nana & Pawpaw are leaving :(

Jay's dad recently took a job in North Carolina and they will be leaving us this week. It still seems very surreal. We've always talked about how lucky we were to have both are families living so close. Then for a while we were worried about my folks moving--they were even to the point of packing--but we prayed every night that they wouldn't have to go. Turns out we should have been praying for Nana & Pawpaw too because it worked out for Granny & Poppy but now they're having to move. If it was just me & Jay it wouldn't be a big deal but now that we have the kids I'm just heart-broken. My kids ADORE Nana & Pawpaw. They are always so excited when we go over there and beg to spend the night. I just don't know how I'm going to break it to them that we won't be seeing them very often anymore. I know we'll be traveling back and forth a lot but it still won't be the same.

On a selfish note...(oh come on, you knew it was coming)...Nana & Pawpaw are our go-to babysitters. If we ever want a date night or if I have pictures and Jay's working too then they were our sitters. They're the only people who the kids spend the night with. My parents would let them but they keep them all week so I really don't like to ask them to do overnight or Saturday duty. They usually only kept them overnight maybe once every 4-5 months but since they found out they were moving they've wanted to see them as much as possible so the kids have spent the night the last 3 Fridays in a row which I'm afraid will make this move all the worse. Bryson & Kynsley have gotten accustomed to seeing them so much & staying over that I'm sure there will be many fits over this.

I was going to include the going away festivites in this post but after re-thinking it I'm going to devote an entire post to that. You all know I tend to be a bit long-winded or handed...whatever you'd say in the blog world.

Not so grand news it turns out...

I fully intended to do an entire blog post about the pacifier fairy coming a couple of weeks ago and taking Bryson's pacy leaving him a Mickey Mouse watch (Sidenote: The watch happened to be mine when I was 7 and doesn't work but while we may think Bryson is brilliant he is in fact not a genious and can't tell time yet so doesn't seem to notice). Then Anna Beth had to show him up and ditch hers before age 2 so it really doesn't seem that grand anymore. La-de-da Anna Beth. Thanks for stealing my boy's thunder.

I'm kidding of course. Well done Anna Beth! Kynsley refused to suck a pacy even though I tried to cram one down her throat for the first 6 months of her life before finally giving up and just letting her have her thumb. My mother secretly thinks I'm a failure because of this, I know. She hasn't come right our and said it but when I started to wain in my forcing it she gave me those "tsk-tsk" looks and I knew. So yes, I will have to somehow break her of the thumb. I don't really think I'll be able to swing a "thumb fairy" so I'll have to concoct some other way. Don't bother with the dipping her thumb in something gross method because that child will eat anything. She'll even try to lick the bug wipes which are beyond gross. I'll come up with something though. I think I'm gonna make a go at potty training first though. My goal is to have her trained by Disney World and I think that's doable. We'll worry about the thumb after that. She just looks so sweet rubbing her little nose while she sucks her thumb...I'm not quite ready to give up my baby just yet:)

Back by popular demand...

Random thoughts for the day!! (Okay, so maybe it's not by popular demand but that just sounded better)

1. Today is one of those days that you just wish you could slip away and not tell anyone where you were. Just leave, you know for a day or so to just collect yourself. Problem is that does not exist and even if I could do that it wouldn't work. My mind never shuts off. Even when Jay gets me spa packages for a "relaxation" day (which I REALLY appreciate, don't get me wrong) all I can think about while I'm getting a massage or a facial is everything that I should be doing while I'm wasting time on myself. No matter how many hours I work and how little I sleep, I think I will always be 3 steps behind. Remember the movie Multiplicity? I haven't seen that in years but I've been thinking about it a lot lately. If I could just clone a couple more of me, even if each was dumber than the last I think they could still do a lot of the things I need to get done. Oh well, just daydreaming and my luck since they'd be clones of me then they would probably take on about 12 more obligations each and then I'd be in even worse shape! Before you start thinking well, if I'm that busy then why do I waste time blogging--I'm technically on the clock. Shocking...I know. I'm completely abusing my employer. I'm actually on hold listening to elevator music waiting on the barely engish-speaking person to get back on the phone so I can sort out a work related issue. Multi-tasking at its finest:)

2. Yesterday I took the young-uns to see Nicole & get their teeth cleaned. Then we ventured to the mall and as I was walking in with Kynsley holding my left hand and Bryson holding my right I just had one of those "How in the world did I get here and what am I doing with these children?" moments. I just really do not feel old enough or responsible enough to have a 2 & 3 year old. I was literally walking into the mall thinking wow...I really am an adult. I have kids and everything. It's just strange how quickly your whole life changes. I have no idea why that hit me at that moment but not much about me makes sense as you probably already have guessed.

3. Kidbop. Need I say more? I would like to get a hold of whoever had the idea to create this awfulness and then whoever decided to package them in Happy Meals! If I have to listen to Life is a Highway with 7 year olds singing in the background on repeat for one more car ride I may just intentionally run into a telephone pole. The old version was bad enough and then Rascal Flatts had to go and redo it. There are a few other songs on the happy meal kidbop cd but Bryson refuses to listen to them. As soon as it goes to another song he says "That's not my CD!!! Play my CD again!" But I can't say that I'm too upset by that because the next song is Fergie and that would just absolutely be more than I can handle.

Somehow my blogs always turn into a gripe session. I'm sorry about that...I'm generally a very peppy, optimistic person but for some reason blogging about all of my issues is theraputic. My usual therapist, a/k/a Holly, should be back in about 3 weeks so maybe my blogging will be a little more upbeat then.

Why?

Bryson has hit the "Why?" stage with full force. It's so funny to watch him trying to figure something out. He's such a little thinker it just kills me!

I have a little photo album with pictures of me & Jay when we were dating. Bryson & Kynsley like to look through it and drag it all over the house (like everything else they can get their hands on). Last night Bryson brought it to me and had it opened to a page from our Senior trip. On one page we were on the bus and on the other we were taking a nap in a hotel room (there were people in the background & everything so don't get any ideas about where this is headed...) So here's how the conversation progressed:

"Mommy, did Daddy lose me & Kynsley in this picture?" (I love that he thinks it would have to have been Daddy to lose them and not Mommy)

"No, sweetie. That was before you & Kynsley were born."

"Well...why were you on a trip? (He recognized we were in a hotel!) Why did me & Kynsley not go?"

"We were on a school trip and you and Kynsley weren't born yet. That was even before Mommy & Daddy were married."

"But why were you not married? See...you're holding hands! And you're holding hands in this picture too!" (the bus picture)

You could just see his little wheels turning in that head. Is it really possible that every single thing you say can have a "why?" Yes. Yes it is. If you don't believe me then just try to tell my son anything at all. On the way to Atlanta we had this conversation thanks to Miss Kynsley:

Kynsley: "Well...where's Anna Ba-yuff?" (because clearly we should not be going anywhere this far without her, right?)

Me: "She's at home"

Bryson: "Why is she at home"

I ignore that one--hey--take a car ride with these two before you judge...

Kynsley: "Well where's Angela?" (if Anna Beth can't come then Angela will do)

Me: "She's at home with Anna Beth"

Bryson: "Why is she at home with Anna Beth"

Me: "Because that's where they live."

Bryson: "Why is that where they live?"

Me: "Because they just do. That's where their house is."

Bryson: "Well, why do they just do?" (seriously.)

Me: "Does anybody want to watch Mary Poppins?!"

Good ole' Mary Poppins. Practically Perfect in Every Way. Circling "why" conversation over with just a little spoon full of sugar.

Jackson

So I feel a bit guilty. My very first post ever was just one big complaint with the last one being that I had to go shoot a 3 month old and 3 month sessions were the worst...gripe, moan, etc. Well, I never followed up to say that he was the best 3 month old EVER. He smiled and laughed and was just a dream. Really made me eat my words. So now the little charmer is 6 months old--actually 7 1/2 months because it took us a month and 4 rain dates to actually get a pretty day to shoot these! He's jsut as cute as ever and he has the most amazing eyes! I get the yummiest catchlights with those big eyes. On to some favorites & collages:

I had a vision of a naked baby in the bright green grass with bubbles all around...

...of course that didn't really work out as planned. We still got some cute shots though.

His daddy wasn't too happy about this outfit but I thought he looked sweet!

I didn't realize until this very minute that I didn't put the correct initials on this one. Oh well, easy fix!

www.alicialooneyphotography.com/Jackson-6month/index.html

Laura Beth & Joe

I recently shot engagment pictures for my cousin Laura Beth and her fiance Joe. It was a perfect day. We started out downtown then went out to her dad's place in West Limestone. The afternoon light was just perfect and we ended up shooting around 650 frames I think (I tend to get a little carried away) Here are some of my favorites:

The entire shoot's at www.alicialooneyphotography.com/LB-Joe/index.html

Thanks for looking!