Lately

Lately. . .

I tagged along with Nick to a Las Vegas convention.

I took a solo trip to NYC, visiting with Sean and Melissa

And Gram in Connecticut.

Gracie celebrated six months with cupcakes for us and real food for her.  She also took her first ride in a shopping cart.

She still dresses exclusively in pajamas but lots of summer cuteness arrives daily.     

Online summer clothes shopping is a necessary distraction from the endless winter.  7 inches of snow this week.  It's March. 26!  Very much over it.

We've tried to keep spirits higher than the temperature with lots of cars

Too much TV

And World Cup anticipation.  78 days according the counter on Univision deportes.  Yes Nick makes me watch this channel.

Our mood also lifted when my cousin Kelly visited. She is awesome with the kids and helpful to me.  

So helpful that I made her help me makeover a new room for Gracie.  Picture to come once final touches are done .  

St. Patty's Day came and went, the only one in our house that noticed was Gracie's outfit.  Note she's not in pajamas.

I think that's it.  This post was exhausting.  We're going to go take a nap.

Or more likely go play more cars.

Meanwhile

Meanwhile during the five minutes it took me to write and publish the below post this happened.  . .

Don't worry the mess inside the fridge was just as bad.  And people wonder why the blog isn't up to date. . .

Photographing Two

It is impossibly hard to photograph these two together- one of the two does not like to cooperate.  Note this phrase can also be applied to life beyond photographs.  Bet you can't guess which one?

We also don't believe in hairbrushes.

Photoshoot

Flashback early December 2013. . .

I begged Nick to have professional photos taken.  I spent weeks picking the outfits, planning the outfits and choosing the location.

I should have remembered that the level of my excitement is generally proportionate to the level of failure.  The more excited I get, the more something fails.  Like clockwork.

Needless to say when I woke up to 15 degree weather and pelting snow, I should have cancelled the outdoor photoshoot with a 6 week old infant and 2 year old.  At the very least I should have permitted them to wear jackets and gloves.  Nope.  My vision was sweaters and Christmas campy at the Christmas tree farm, ugly black winter puff jackets not invited. Sorry.

After 15 minutes of attempting to look happy while freezing no one was speaking to me anymore . . . including the photographer.  I then demanded we do the shoot at our house.  Something she didn't really want to do, but I refused to let the dream die.

And here you have it folks. . .Christmas camp on my porch.  Not to mention the snow made my hair frizz. I think I could have taken these photos myself.  Better luck next time.

It is maybe 15 degrees with serious wind.  We are miserable.  Although wouldn't this background have been amazing?

Fisher is blinded by the wind.  He hung the ornament on the tree and left it there as we fled the farm. 

Warm, but still with tears in his eyes.

Sorry Gracie your mom is crazy, you have many more years of this to look forward to.

This picture almost makes it all worth it.

A "happy" family