More PICS!!!

There are a few things I said I would never do if I had a daughter:

1) Allow her to go out half-naked

2) Dress her up in tutus and fairy wings

3) Give in to tantrums

Well, I've done all three and even documented it for posterity. You've been gracious enough once to indulge me in viewing a photo montage of my kiddos...so, I thought I'd press my luck and go for round TWO. My friend Nicole sweetly agreed to come to my house and do a mini photoshoot of the little miss. Here are the fruits of her labor...I personally feel her subject is so sweet...but, I'm a little biased.

But, Daddy, I want a GOLDEN EGG!!!

Family Pictures...

Those words strike fear in my heart. I dread family pictures. Growing up it meant standing in line at K-mart in a funky outfit with my three siblings. When the middle school years hit it meant me with a frizzy perm, glasses and braces smiling awkwardly into the camera lens. Don't even get me started on high school...there's a reason I never break out my old yearbooks. Bad. Bad. Bad.

Now, it means wrangling my crying munchkins, bribbing the little Mr. with fruit snacks and wiping the little Miss's drool strings from her chin just before the camera flashes.

Yes, it's a grueling and painful process my friends. The only reason I partake is because the grandparents would otherwise disown me.

There is a bright sunny spot to my glum sounding post...her name is Nicole Young (cue sun rays beaming through clouds and an angelic choir). A few weeks ago I got my family 'picture perfect' and we hauled ourselves and our gear to meet Nicole at the Papajohn sculpture garden downtown. Then, Nicole took over and worked her magic. The girl is a genius behind the lens, not to mention the most patient photographer ever! My kids were smiling and happy and that made this mama VERY HAPPY! I don't know how she did it, but she captured my sweet family as I see them every day. The pictures are so natural (for once I don't have a cheesy forced smile...or maybe I still do, but my cute kiddos distract from it!) . This gal is so talented.

Thank you Nicole for your patience and for taking such great family photos! You have forever changed my whole outlook on family pictures...I am putty in your hands!

Ladies Who Lunch...

When I was a little girl, my mom, grandma and I sort of had a little tradition. I think it was an unspoken tradition. We would set out fairly early on a Saturday morning and go SHOPPING. The aim was to beat the crowds and hit as many of their favorite stores before I got cranky. I would walk as fast as my short, stubby legs could carry me and we'd hit em' all. Honestly, I loved every minute of it. I'd watch them try on stylish outfits and if I was good...there was usually something in it for me too...like a COOKIE! Or sometimes a browse through the toy store...just to 'look', but grandma couldn't resist and usually I'd come out with some little treasure.

Then there was LUNCH! Mmmmmmm. We'd stop in some restaurant, grab a booth and I would slide in next to grandma. She would read me the options from the kid's menu, using her pinkie finger to underline the words 'grilled cheese', 'hot dog', 'macaroni n' cheese' etc.
Then there was the other unspoken tradition...the argument between grandma and mom as to who would pay the check. Mom would insist, grandma would quickly grab the check and threaten that if mom didn't put away her money, then this would be the last time we went shopping. Just so you know...this little argument still continues to this day.

I'm happy to say that I get to continue this tradition with my mom. I took my mom to lunch at
my favorite spot, Flarah's in Beaverdale. Of course what good is a tradition if we don't include the next generation...so Eva tagged along. We stepped up to the counter placed our orders and...mom and I both started to pay...mom (grandma) won. We ate, chatted, cooed over Eva and just enjoyed being ladies who lunch.