Mama's Mumblings

Well, today hasn't turned out anything like I thought it would this morning!

We all got up and moving around like normal.  Marty went to work, and I showered and dressed to take Jameson to school and then go grocery shopping. When I talked to Chelsea, she was her usual bubbly, happy self, raring to get to school.  Jameson was supposed to start a school-sponsored guitar class, so that meant no waiting for an hour in car rider line for me today.

Typical Thursday for our family.

Then, the dreaded stomach bug that we had been blessed to stay clear of hit...

me.

At first, I thought it must be something I had eaten the night before.  But, as the day progressed, it was pretty evident some-sort of viral process was making it's way through my body.

UGH!  Wasn't I punished enough when I had the FLU during Christmas?

So, I spent the majority of the day in bed...which I never, ever, ever do.  Marty said he would take off a little early today and go get Jameson from guitar practice, and as normal, my mom would be getting Chelsea.

THEN, unexpectedly, the weather drastically changed.  It went from a day of only cold, wet rain, to freezing rain and sleet, shutting down roads all over the state.

Marty had planned his day around picking Jameson up at 3:30, well around 2:20, Jameson called me from school to let me know that guitar practice had been canceled.  On a normal day, I would have been already waiting in car rider line for at least 20 minutes. Now, Marty wasn't even off work yet and had to drive at least 20 minutes once he got off work.  I made sure Jameson knew that somebody would be there, he would just be at the end of the line, not at the front.

So, then the whole "Will you be able to pick him up on time?" game started.  It was a really stressful hour, but they finally made it home all safe and sound.

**whew**  Thank goodness!

Now we are all just wondering how long this weather will last and will the kids have school tomorrow?  According to Mr. Spann, the weather should get warmer throughout the night, melting all the ice.....but they missed all of this craziness today so....

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I did just get something good in the mail to occupy my time in bed:

I pre-ordered this MONTHS ago and was thrilled to death to finally get it today!  I've read every single entry of Black Heels on Ree's blog, so I can't wait to read more!

I'm not sure if I am going to attempt to get this copy signed, like I did her cookbook.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE me some Ree, but I'm not sure my heart/nerves could take another rush hour drive through Atlanta traffic!

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Even though I haven't posted anything, I have been working on a few things around the house over the past couple of weeks.  I just haven't managed to finish anything....

The story of my life!

I did manage to clear out 4 large garbage bags of clothes out of my closet.

I was going to post "before and after" pictures, but I think I will wait until we actually have more accomplished in there.  We hope to completely redo our entire closest this year.  Currently, we only have one long rod with a shelf on top.  Not a great use of space, but it works until we can afford to do something else.

Here is part of the huge stack I am giving away:

Anybody need a hanger?  (It was also laundry day, so the sheets weren't back on the bed yet.)

4 bags filled to capacity:

 

And this is all the hanging clothes I have to my name!

It feels good to purge sometimes!

(Except when you have a stomach virus....UGH!)

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Remember the ugliest picture ever?

Hubby and I have been working on it, and it's not ugly any more!  I have one more thing I need to finish and I will show you all about it!  For now, here is a little sneaky peek:

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I hope you are all having a most wonderful, flu-free week!

Fantastic Photos!

A few weeks ago, our family had our first-ever family portraits made.

Hubby has never been one to have his picture made, so talking him into this was a little bit of a challenge.

Fortunately for me, one of hubby's old high school friends is a photographer, and just happened to be coming home for Easter.

The conversation was something like this....

Me: "Honey, Roxanne is setting up some photo shoots in Oxford on the Saturday before Easter."

Marty: "Oh, OK."

Me: "Wouldn't it be great to finally have some professional family photos taken."

Marty: "Uh yeah, I would be nice to have some good pictures."

Me: "Well, I think I will see if Roxanne has a spot for us."

Marty: "Oh, OK."

I immediately booked a shoot with Roxanne during his moment of weakness!

Me after confirmation from Roxanne: "Great!  She's got a spot!  I can't wait to actually have a great family photo with all of us!"

Marty: "Wait, you mean we ALL have to have our pictures made?"

Me: "YES, that's normally what FAMILY photos mean."

Marty: "I thought you mean get pictures of you and the kids, I didn't know I had to be in them."

Me: "Well, you ARE part of this family, aren't you?"

Marty: "Yes, but, but, but....."

Me: "Oh well, it's too late to back out now.  I guess you will just have to endure the torture of having your pictures made."

Hubby was a little "put-out" with the whole idea, but he was nice about it and said he would do it....but ONLY with Roxanne as the photographer.

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As I let you all know, I was extremely nervous about getting the "right" clothes for the shoot.

It's hard finding clothes that are similar in boys, mens, teens, and plus sizes!

I shouldn't have been nervous at all, Roxanne made the experience FANTASTIC!

We laughed so much, my stomach was literally sore from laughing.

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The one thing that I was MOST worried about was Chelsea.

I would never say this in front of her, but it has always been difficult to get pictures of Chelsea that look like....well.....Chelsea.

When the camera is on her, she just tries SO HARD to smile and act like she thinks she should.

The problem is, she just tries TOO HARD.

Does anyone remember that episode of "Friends" where Chandler and Monica were having their engagement pictures made and Chandler just couldn't make a "normal" face?

That's Chelsea....Bless her heart.

Most of the time, we just make her laugh, so her picture looks "Natural", not staged.

PLUS, she seems to have inherited her daddy's tendency to close his eyes every time a picture is made.

She is just SO beautiful, and sweet, and precious....

I wanted pictures that showed her the way WE see her every single day.

Roxanne delivered.

Honestly, I cried my eyes out when I looked at these pictures.

She captured Chelsea the way we see Chelsea.

And for that, I am FOREVER grateful!

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So, I guess you want to see them?

OK, OK.....here goes....

(I left the watermark on these so some slimeball couldn't steal pictures of my kids....if anyone [ie :family, friends] wants a picture, let me know and I will send them to you)

I love the above photo.

See us all laughing?  That's how the ENTIRE photo shoot was.

Love, Love, Love this picture of all of us!

Chelsea was saying in this picture "Hurry up! Jameson is about to knock me over!"

This is one of our favorite pictures.  We like this one so much, we are going to have it put on a canvas and hang it above our couch in the living room.

Jameson is planning something.

What do you mean, I can't date boys?

Note to ALL big women out there....DO NOT wear hot pink, shiny, tight shirts to a photo shoot.  IT WON'T LOOK GOOD ON YOU!  Even if pink is "your color"...lol!

Seriously, I really wished I had just left my original clothes on for the whole shoot.  I think it looked much better and was much more comfortable.

I TRIED to get Roxanne to Photoshop me to make it look like I was 100 pound lighter, but she didn't...

Dagum it!

These actions take my breath away!

"NO!" You cannot date boys!

He's smiling AND his eyes are open!

By this time, it was just about to rain and my hair was a flat as a flitter and sticking up everywhere...lol!

Contact me for any potential modeling contracts.....

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Didn't Roxanne do a great job?

Seriously, more than thrilled with all the pictures!

Hubby even said when it was over...

"You know, it wasn't TOO much torture!"

So, if you are in the Atlanta and surrounding areas, and want to have some super-fantastic photos made AND have a great time doing it?

Roxanne Ponds is the gal to go to!

I have placed her button on my sidebar to the left.

Just click on the picture to get in contact with her (or click HERE) and be prepared to have the time of your life!

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(This is NOT a paid endorsement for RoPo Photography nor is the button on my sidebar a paid advertisement.  I am doing this post simply because I am so completely and totally amazed by these photos and by Roxanne!)