Let the craziness begin!

June is always a busy time. End of school, recital, work picks up, going to camp, you name it. This year is no exception, and may even be a worse case scenario! There are business trips and soccer games and photo shoots, a banana split party and a playdate about 1.5 years in the coming. Life is crazy, but life is good.

Right now the big deal is recital time. It's Katie's first show and I know she is going to do great. Although it's Paige's third show, I feel like it's her first. It is the first show she gets it. She knows what she is doing now and she is really excited. You can see her put just a little more into it at practice time. I am so excited to see them in it together. I can't wait.

And of course there are pictures to take-lots of them! It's such a challenge, but I love that challenge. I need to stop motion, show blur, but catch an expression. Pretty complicated with lighting that changes every 2 or 3 seconds and fast moving unpredictable dancers. But I have new equipment this year and I know the shots are going to be bigger and better than ever.

The stress is a bit intimidating though. I know I will do well, but there is so much unknown. It's a big challenge this year to do the formals as well. I know I can, and will do it well but I just don't know for certain, like with other shoots. It's the challenge of the unknown. So if you don't hear from me for the next few weeks, I am not ignoring you. Really. I am just a little buried right now.... Thank goodness for the help of family and friends.

Speaking of which, little Miss Katie was pretty excited to see Papoo this weekend...

And I get to Walk Like an Egyptian tomorrow night-Bangles concert with Karen! Gotta get some fun in there somewhere....

Enjoy your week!

Kristin

Catching up

Well, I've been busy lately and the last thing on my mind is blogging. And it's only going to get worse as the summer moves on. So quick updates and important notes is all you'll get for now!
Memorial Day weekend was great for us. Mark and his buddies went fishing way up north in Maine (but officially only "western" Maine!) while we had Paige's buddy Julia and her family over to the camper. Julia's dad went fishing too. It worked out great, the kids had fun, the grown ups had fun, it was a good time for all. The 4 kids in one area did get a bit crazy, and Katie had a bit of third-wheel syndrome, but I still call it a success. Especially since we hit the pool today-and it was actually warm.
So without men around I had the camp fire to make and maintain. Surprisingly, it went very well. I had Jen to help, and she is way more experienced with these things than I am, but I felt pretty confident after Saturday night. It was heavenly after the kids went to bed, we had a glass of wine and just had some quiet grown up time around the fire. Great stuff.
The kids had fun making s'mores too-we used peanut butter cups instead of just chocolate-not my idea, but GREAT stuff! The perfect snack for circle story time.
What's that-you don't know what a circle story is? I think I made up that name, but basically we sit around the fire and take turns telling a part of a story. They get pretty crazy. For instance, this weekend we had unicorns disguising themselves as cows, and going on treasure hunts. But when they dug at "X marks the spot" they didn't find a treasure...oh no. They found a truck. To which little Miss Katie promptly determined "They used the wrong X!"
She is too funny.
Sunday night we walked along the beach trying to find hermit crabs at low tide, but I guess it is too early for them. Come August there will be too many to count!
Today of course we had to come home and it was the best day of the lot. So we stopped in Portsmouth for lunch and got there right in time for the parade, then had lunch at an irish pub. It was a great end to the long weekend. Big thanks to all the veterans and their families who sacrificed for our country. You might not hear it everyday but we all appreciate it.

Kristin

The Golden Rule

Yes, we all need a reminder here and there about the Golden Rule. In case you forgot (which I think many people out there have) it's "do unto others as you'd have done unto you".
To be blunt-BE NICE PEOPLE!
Especially if someone works pretty hard for you. Or if someone is trying to do something nice for you. Please remember they don't have to. Smile. Ask politely and accept the answer maybe you didn't want to hear. Look at it from their side. Be realistic. So don't look a gift horse in the mouth and put on your good manners as we say to the kids.
I think we all need to re-evaluate our expectations in life. There are 3 mantras we use with the kids all the time. I think it will help them get through life. The sooner they learn and accept these truths, the better off they will be.

1. LIFE ISN'T FAIR
Someone will always have something you don't yet have. Or maybe won't ever have. Don't deny them their happiness because you don't have it. You may have worked just as hard as they did. You may be smarter. Or nicer. It doesn't matter. It happens. It stinks. It's real life. Don't let it get you down. It will only poison your soul with jealousy and greed. Learn to be happy with what you DO have. Remember, there is someone out there who looks at you the same way you look at those who have what you want.

2. IT'S JUST STUFF
Really, things are just that-stuff. You may feel like the Earth will stop rotating if you don't have it, and have it right now. Tomorrow you will have forgotten about it. If not, maybe the next day. Again, you will never have everything the Jones' have. Stop trying. And half the time I wonder if it's the parents who want something for their kids (Johnny just HAS to have that fire truck-it's so cute!) not the kids who want it. Stuff isn't what's important in our lives. It's the people we love and the relationships we have that matter in life.

3. SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES
You can't do everything. You can't have everything. Pick what's important to you and live with it. Again, it stinks. Again, it's not fair. But it's real life. Everyone doesn't always win. Happiness is one of those choices. Choose to be happy and it will be a heck of a lot easier.

Now I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to the wants versus the needs. I need to remind myself of all this too. When I start really wanting something I stop and ask myself "is it really that important?" Sometimes yes, sometimes no. And of course the girls are still working on these concepts too. But thinking about it and striving for it is a HUGE step in the right direction.
Paige is doing really really well. At Christmas she didn't get what she asked for. Not because she didn't make the nice list, but because it was expensive. She said afterwards "I really thought I'd get it, but that's OK, I got lots of other great stuff."
And she was super appreciative when she did finally get one for her birthday.
Katie is getting there.....especially when it comes to shoes! Can't blame her there.....

So next time you don't get what you want, or what you think your kids want, remember-life isn't fair. And it's just stuff. Make the choice to just be happy. Oh, and don't forget the Golden Rule.....it will come back to you someday.

Kristin

Happy Mothers Day...

to all the moms out there....

We had a fabulous weekend. The weather was great, spent lots of family and outside time, what could be better?

Saturday we skipped soccer, since it's not such a hit as I had thought it might be.....and went to open our camp for the summer. It was so great to be there and see old friends and just be together as a family. We even had time to go to the beach and get an ice cream. Not just any ice cream, best ice cream EVER! I had a kaluha fudge with jimmies in a waffle cone. Yummo. Highly recommended. And we found a scrapbook store right down the road. It was a great day. The drive home was harsh, especially with all the lightning, but we made it so we could enjoy Sunday at home. I got a very special Mickey Mouse pancake with chocolate chip face for breakfast from my fantastic husband, and some cute gifts from the girls that they made at school. Then we went to the garden shop and picked up some flowers to plant around the yard. When that was done, Karen and her gentleman friend (as Paige calls him...) stopped by and we had a beer on the porch. Great afternoon.

After they left I scrapped with Paige. I had to get ready for the convention on Friday! I need to not spend my whole allowance there! Good luck, huh?

Well I will leave you with some art that was created today....hope to squeeze more of that in soon. Have a great week!

Paige did this last one....in case you couldn't tell! Love the cat paper....

Kristin

Wipe. Flush. Wash. Brush.

My poor distracted little girl. Katie Beans can not get from point A to point B without touching everything in her path and stopping to play with a toy or bug on the way. She might ask random questions about her day or whatever is on her mind. The worst part is when she gets to the bathroom. She just can't seem to remember what it is she needs to do. And worse still, what order! So Mark started repeating to her every night, wipe, flush, wash, brush. She can get the peeing part done OK, but then needs help remembering to Wipe her backside, flush it down, WASH her hands, and brush her teeth.
This has somehow become her mantra. And she is improving by leaps and bounds. When we say "bedtime" Katie responds with her mantra. And it's helping. It's been a long time now since she gave me a good night hug, after which I ask, "Did you do all your jobs?" Only to hear her say "Ooopsie, forgot to wash!". Yum.
Just another sign that she is growing up. Babies no more-makes me a little sad, but more excited for fun stuff to come!
I feel a scrapbook page coming on....

Have a great weekend everyone-and happy mothers day to all moms and my mom-to-be friends! Do something just for you Sunday. We are opening camp and welcoming the summer season a little early....can't wait to feel that warm sand between my toes....ahhhhh.

Kristin

Long time.....

Wow, it's been awhile! So much has happened. I'll try to give the brief updates!

First and foremost, I was way busy because my little girl has turned 7. Yes, SEVEN. Seems like forever. I can't get over how grown up she is. Here is her annual birthday portrait!

She celebrated her day with her first actual soccer game in the morning. She had a blast, but it was like 95 degrees! She was wiped out and couldn't wait to get home. We did get a quick picture with some dance friends first...

Then we had 2 parties to follow, they both went great. We had her friends over first for some outside fun with dancing and general girliness. We filled up the kiddie pool to keep everyone cool and the moms and dads had cold drinks too! The family party went really well too, but I felt so bad, by the end of the night I was so spent!

Paige was a trooper though, she did well. And what really struck me was just how humble she was getting her gifts. She was excited, but when she got her art easel and Nintendo DS, she was just so appreciative. She is growing up into such a mature little girl.

Paige wasn't the only one having fun-Papa took Katie fishing in the kayak and she did GREAT! Check these out!

And Tuesday Daddy and Papa took them both out in the boat! First time this season...

In other news, I finished my first photo shoot for people I don't know! I was so happy with how the images turned out. Especially this composite-

and this shot-

And last but not least, we experienced the resurgence of the SLIP AND SLIDE!

I am loving my D300 still-and it works great with an 80-200 f/2.8 lens for these action shots!

Mark and I had some rare alone time last night, as the kids had a sleepover at Aunties. They had a blast! Except Paige, who I guess was too cool for some of it! Mark and I had dinner at Peddlers and just relaxed and watched a movie. It was perfect.

OK, enough computer time-there's still some Sunday left!

Kristin