Thursday Thirteen - Vacation Places

Because I'm in desperate need of a vacation....I'm going to list 13 places I've been to on vacation (and silently...ok LOUDLY) complain that I want to go back. It's my Thursday Thirteen!

In a little bit of an order....recent trips to long ago trips...but maybe not. I'm kinda confused and probably missing huge trips in there...but oh well.

1. London. Yes...went to London in May (and a pre-trip in February) and have still yet to blog about it. Maybe I will. I do have proof and lots of pictures.... Ok...it's on my list to blog about. Stay tuned. But London was fantastic in May. Great weather (which says a lot) and a TON of stuff to see (which my husband drug me to nearly everything). I worked all week at the conference...and then we had a long weekend to play around...so I think I'm postponing the blog about the trip because it will make me tired just thinking about it.
2. Cruise to the Caribbean (3rd cruise). Travis and I went on a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise for our 5th anniversary in mid-October, 2007. You can read a little bit about it here... here...here... can't forget here....and here. God...I love cruises. See our flickr album from our trip here.
3. Florida. In October of 2006, Travis, myself, G-Man and my mom went down to Florida. We hit Sea World for a day and had a fantabulous time. Then we hit the beach for a couple of days. Remember this? G-Man loved the beach. I'm think we're taking him back to Florida this fall...it's been 2 years and we're feeling guilty.
4. Madrid, Spain. I went to Spain for work in May of 2006. Yes...my job is rough. I'm sorry. But I truly did work 80% of the time...and only got to do a few things....by myself and my co-workers. Whoot Whoot! It's not the same going to these fantastic places with none of your friends/families. So don't be mad at me. Me standing on the Toledo bridge.
5. Hawaii. Travis and I went to Hawaii (Maui) in February of 2006 for a friend's wedding. It was awesome...but it was our first trip without G-Man. We were gone 8 days (I think) and I was still nursing...so that made it a little crazy (trying to pump, whale watch, get a tan, and take the road to Hana (yes...it was rainy and nasty that day...but the road wasn't crowded so that was cool!)...all at the same time). We came back home 4 days before his 1st birthday!!! CRAZY! It was great...and we definitely want to go back. Whale watching was AWESOME!
6. Michigan (Lansing, Ann Arbor, Grand Haven, etc.). Travis went to law school in Michigan (Lansing) so we've been there lots of times and all over. We especially like Ann Arbor and the shops/beaches/lake. This was where G-Man got to touch sand for the first time! Granted...he was 4 months old...but still. :) He liked it.
7. Cork/Kinsale, Ireland. I went on my first OUS trip to Europe for work in May of 2004. I was scared to death...having never flown to Europe...but it made it worthwhile since I got to fly on the CORPORATE JET! Yes...you can hate me now. And let me tell you....it's hard to fly commercial when you've flown on a private jet. I had a great time...and was thrilled to visit Ireland (a place I had always wanted to go). But again...no friends/family to share it with...so blah.
8. Cruise to the Caribbean (our 2nd cruise) in Spring of 2004. We went on a Western Caribbean cruise with another couple and had a FANTASTIC time. We got to swim with the stingrays...and Travis almost had a heart attack. And I couldn't help him because I didn't want our camera to get wet. I mean come on, people....it's my CAMERA....with my vacation pictures! Serves him right for not wearing a life-vest.
9. Cruise to the Caribbean (our 1st cruise & our honeymoon!) in October of 2002. Can you tell we like cruises? Let me tell you, people...they are the BEST EVER! With it being our honeymoon....it's safe to say we had a good time. ;)
10. California (LA & Hollywood). Travis has been to LA a bunch of times...and he loves it there. So, before we were engaged/married...we went on a little trip to LA to see the sights and have a grand time. We did...and I have no electronic pictures from the trip. This was pre-digital camera time and I'm not searching for and scanning pictures. But to wrap it up...we had a good time and want to go back. If only we could plan it and not go on any more cruises!
11. Baltimore, Maryland. Also known as THE TRIP FROM HELL. We went with some friends and headed there for only a short weekend. Well, it started off bad when our friend told us it wouldn't take long to get there. Well, DOUBLE the hours he stated and that's when we arrived to the hotel to find out they've given our room away. Now, can you blame them when we arrived at 5:00 a.m.?!?!?! Yeah...see...I told you were were late and our friend had botched the whole thing up. This was before mapquest and us knowingly went along with someone else's plan. We don't do that anymore. The trip just went downhill from there.
12. Chicago. We've been there lots...and we love it to pieces. It's so close (~3 hours away) and so many things to do (SHOP!, EAT, SHOP!, EAT). So Chicago fits in this list a lot of times in a lot of different ways...but you get my drift.
13. So 1-12 are my work trips and trips to Florida...but I'll go ahead and list a few of them to round up my 13 trips...and these don't include Travis. These are also in no particular order...just whenever they come to my scattled brain. Texas (visiting my sister when she lived there), Myrtle Beach (trip with my mom and sister when my sis was pregnant and it was all pre-kids. Was really fun until I dehydrated myself and then almost OD'd on Tylenol PM. God....I warn you all....don't do that. But hey! I was desperate for Tylenol and that's all she had. So I took 3. And paid for it later.), Gatlinburg (shopping trip with mom, myself and G-Man when he was 6 months old), lots of trips to Florida when I was little, Washington D.C. on my 8th grade trip, Cancun, Mexico on my senior Spring Break trip, and as typing this I can see that I'm pretty boring and haven't seen a ton of things. At least within the US Or at least a lot of the same things. But just remember we saw lots of places on our 3 cruises....cruising through the Caribbean. So that makes it better. Oh...and my free trips to Europe.

So, that's it. Now I REALLY want to go on vacation. Florida and maybe Disney World are in our near future....along with Chicago and Michigan. Again, same old-same old.

Any suggestions on where I should visit and see? My 101 in 1001 list contains a few places I want to go...so let's hope I make it to them!

You guys going anywhere good for vacation? Want to make me jealous? Leave me a comment!

The Girls...

You guys all probably recognize my neighbor girls...(G-Man calls them "the ghouls"...as he can't pronounce the "r" sound) that I've posted pictures here...and were once of my first subjects to practice on.

Well, their baby sister was born July 3rd...and she's just as cute as they are. I was dying to get my hands on her to photograph, and she didn't disappoint.

She was under 2 weeks when I wandered over next door to photograph her. I also wanted to incorporate her sisters into some shots with her, because everyone loves a little sisterly love.

Here's a few of my favorite shots from the day.

Love, Love, LOVE this photo of the 2 older sisters.

Sisterly kisses.

FEET!

Sleeping so soundly. Or at least she was for 5 whole seconds (the time it took for me to take 2 shots of her) and luckily I got a good one! She was screaming 3.2 seconds later...and not so angelic-looking.

I love this look on her face!!!!

A couple of days later...I was back over there and the girls were in the pool. I had to capture the pool moments! I love these! Somehow I just love silly photos...they truly capture their spirit!!!!

Let's Luau!

Do you guys all remember my little neice...E?

Remember...the funny face and the tears?

Yes. She's adorable. AND...she's getting ready to turn 2 the end of August. My sister is planning a big 2-year birthday luau party and it should be a blast. But in order to plan the PERFECT Hawaiian-themed luau party...she needed E's photo taken with her in her size 9 months mu-mu. I think that is what mu-mu's are for....no waist and can wear them whenever and whatever size.

So the other night we were all at my dad's for dinner and had an impromptu photo-shoot to try and get some good shots for her invitations. I think we got some good ones...and I just laugh at the looks she can give you...or how silly she can act.

And let's not forget her sister...M (who will be 5 in November!).

So, I decided to post some of my favorites. This fall we'll get M & E's offical 2 and 5-year old portraits done...as well as some family portraits. So until then...ENJOY all the images!

My son...

...the swearer.

It all started with the "it rhymed with sucker" incidence. That opened his eyes.

[Sidenote: he hasn't said it since that incident...or anything else until this next bit.]

Then it started back up again with the TMNT. As in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. AKA my archenemies.

Raphael.

Leonardo.

Donnatello.

Michaelangelo.

Those pesky turtles. Somehow G-Man has decided that the "turtles" are the best thing since sliced bread and I am forced to endure conversations revolving around Raf, Leo, Donny, Mikey, Splinter, Shredder and the Foot Ninjas.

Trust me when I tell you...the stupid animatronic turtles and real people in the movies dating back to 1990, 1991, 1993 and then the newer TMNT movie from 2007 with just the animation (WAY better to endure than the stupid mouth-moving to wrong words animatronic movies of the 90's movies).

We watch all the movies. And ALL the cartoons that are still on tv Saturday mornings. And we watch these over and over and over again.

It's not unheard of to hear "COWABUNGA" if you're in our household.

Well, back to my original thought. In one of the original 90's movies...the turtles say "DAMN!" or "DAMNIT" something like 3 times! Now, why would they do that? It's going to be kids to watch this. Why throw that in there?

Well, he's watch it and never say anything (not pick up on it?). Then he would softly repeat it after they said it. We'd tell him that that was a bad word and he wasn't allowed to say it. So not much happened.

Or so we thought.

The other day Travis got him up and was getting him ready for daycare. He always wants to wear his jammies to school and Travis told him he couldn't and that he was wearing these clothes he had gotten out for him.

"DAMNIT DADDY!!!!"

Travis swatted his butt and reminded him that he wasn't allowed to say that word. Even if he heard Mommy, Daddy or the Turtles say it....it was bad and he wasn't allowed to say it.

G-Man hung his head, mumbled "I Sorry Daddy", and that was that.

I was worried to death that he would cuss at Mamaw (my mom) this weekend while spending the night.

Luckily, that didn't happen. I wouldn't want to cause my mother to have a heart attack.

But then last night, we're getting ready for bed, got our jammies on, got our books out to read, and the boys informed me that it was "Daddy's Turn" to read and put him to bed so I kissed him and headed out the door. I had taken 2 steps out of his bedroom when I heard him say "DAMNIT".

For no reason at all. Not sure what brought it on. But Travis got on him again.

Explained him it was a bad word. He wasn't allowed to say it. He was being punished. He had to go to bed by himself and not read any books to him.

G-Man was laying in bed with his arms over his eyes, avoiding all eye contact and we left his room.

45 minutes later, we could still hear him upstairs through the monitor and he was talking and winding down.

"Daddy.....Daddy....", we'd hear him say. "I need a HUG!" He likes to request hugs, high-fives, drinks of water, etc. through the monitor to push back bedtime. Just like any other 3-year old.

So he went up there and kissed and hugged him and he finally went to bed.

Well, this morning, Travis got him up and got him ready for daycare.

"Daddy...."

"What buddy?"

"I promise I not say DAMNIT anymore." He of course said it in that pitiful tone he has.

His head was hung down and he apologized (without prompting and after he thought about it all night long, I'm sure) and gave Travis about a gazillion kisses this morning.

He is quite the ass-kisser when he needs to be.

So, we'll see how the non-cussing goes. I'm just glad it's Damnit and not the word that rhymes with SUCKER!

[Another sidenote: we have weeded the DAMNIT movie out of his collection until further notice. If we do cave in...I'm skipping the cussing parts.]

Carnival Rides!!!! What F-U-N!!!!!

Well, the Hendricks County Fair started this weekend and I'm excited to go.

I have so many great memories of my hometown fair, and I want G-Man to experience the same thing.

Lemon shake-ups, elephant ears, the taco stand (must be a Martinsville thing), the fire station ice cream, and all that other bad-food stuff.

YUM.

So for the 4th of July, our little town had a 4th of July carnival/fair/celebration thing and we took G-Man.

It was July 1st, and the opening night. The weather was fantastic and we dined on tenderloins, hot dogs and all that deliciousness. And because it was opening night, they had the $15 arm bracelet thingeys so you can ride the rides endlessly.

Now, G-Man last year wasn't TOO thrilled with the rides, but he did ride a few. I thought he would be PUMPED...and was pointing to the carousel and the cars and all that un-safe-ness that the Carnies provide.

So, we go up to the ticket window and I'm debating whether or not to get him an arm bracelet. Travis tells me not to, and in typical fashion I did it anyway. I'm too cheap and wanted the "bang for my buck" and basically ignored Travis's suggestion.

I am now hearing about this every damn day (practically).

So we're at the window and I pay for the bracelet. The chick wants me to pick him up, shove his arm through the hole, and let her apply the bracelet to his arm.

SHREIKING!...CRYING!...SCREAMING!...

I should have just demanded my $$ back right then and there but I did not. My hard head wouldn't let me.

So I grabbed it from her and put it on his arm myself. Why? Because I like to torture myself.

Travis all the while is giving me his evil-"I told you so"-eye.


So he's crying and acting like his right arm is broken and dangling down by his side. Like the paper wrist-band weighs 80 pounds and he cannot lift it.

We go to the Carousel. He WILL NOT RIDE IT. He is crying and clinging to my legs.

WE. ARE. HAVING. FUN. (!)


So we go to the little motorcycle ride. I somehow manage to get him on the motorcycle thingey. I hurry up to the other side of the fence and give the carney "the look" like HURRY UP AND TURN THE THING ON BEFORE HE KNOWS HE HATES IT!

But no....she waits FOREVER. Forever as in 2 seconds for it to occur to G-Man that HE HATES THE MOTORCYCLES LIKE THE CAROUSEL and HE WANTS OFF RIGHT THIS MINUTE!

CRYING. SCREAMING. SNOT FLYING OUT OF HIS NOSE. TURNING BEET RED. FREAKING OUT.


So Travis is still giving me "the look" and I run back in there to get him. Snot is all over the place and tears are EVERYWHERE. I am AWESOME PARENT OF THE YEAR!

His arm is still hanging loose by his side and he is acting pitiful.

No more rides. It ain't happening.

Goodbye $15 down the drain.

I paid all that $$ (because I'm cheap and wanted the "bang for my buck") and he didn't ride ONE DAMN RIDE!

Serves me right.

So then we proceed and find out that all G-Man wants to do is play those stupid carney games. You know...so you can win a cheap stuffed animal, a gold-framed poster of Pamela Anderson, or some stupid inflatable hammer.

Yeah. So I really should have taken the $15 and applied it to the games...but now I know.

So G-Man now wants to hit frogs into some moving lilly-pad game thing for a stupid 3-inch long stuffed fish. You know...because we don't have a 3-foot stuffed fish thing at home. Ugh.


So we agree to do the frog-thing...but his arm is still not working. I, believing he might cheer up later and STILL RIDE A RIDE have left the bracelet on his arm. And he's acting like it's broken.

He won't hit the pad, his arm is lifeless, and Travis is cursing me under his breath. See the non-working right arm?!?!?!


Although he won us a prize with the frogs.

I finally got pissed enough during the "fish for a SHARK!" game that I ripped the stupid thing off his arm and gave up. All was well after that and the weight was lifted and his arm miraculously worked again.

It was truly amazing.

After I gave up on the games and non-riding....we went next door to the park and played on the playground. That I know he loves.

So, now I know. This county fair season coming up...we're playing games and not even attempting a ride. I just can't take it.

During all of this struggle...I was struggling with my humongous camera...all to capture the lovely moments of G-Man riding his carnival rides.

So enjoy the non-riding-carnival-rides photos....

Head-Shots

I was contacted not that long ago from an old friend from my childhood. She now lives out in California with her husband and daughter, and she was going to be home over the 4th of July.

Her daughter is gorgeous, and she was looking for someone to do some "head shots" for her to send out to some agents. She's a reader of my blog (Hi Jaime!) and thought of me!

Yay!

So the day after the 4th of July, I met her, her daughter, and her sister-in-law for a quick mini session.

Little Emma wasn't quite sure what to think of me, and kept giving me some dirty looks with her scrunched up face. It's pretty funny. I did get some shots where she wasn't giving me the evil-eye, and I think they turned out pretty good. By the way....I LOVE her little dress!

Oh, and she didn't like the wet, dewey grass. :) I think this was a mixture of being tired, being off of her time-zone, and needing a bit of a snack. So instead of walking and frolicking in the grass, we played on the playground! And picnic tables!!!!

Enjoy!

I love this one....giving me the evil-eye while she eats her strawberry snacks. I think she thought I was going to reach over and take one. :) Too cute!

#30....Check!

#30. Buy a cool Macro lens.

Check!

Yay! It's my first 101 in 1001!!!! And really...I bought the lens before I posted my 101 in 1001...but it was already on the "work-in-progress" list, so this counts.

Do you know how hard it is to think of 101 things to do in 1001 days?

It's hard!

But anyway...I bought the macro lens. And I love it. Especially for babies! You get the cool close-up shots that focus on the little tiny lips, ears, feet, belly buttons....all those cute baby things. Can't really use it on bigger kids (unless they're really good at holding still) since it works better on manual focusing than the auto focus.

So it's perfect for still babies.

Just like this little girl....my first subject with my macro lens. I used it solely during the shoot...and I loved each and every shot.

Here's some examples. I wanted to take photos of my new macro lens....macro-lens-style....but couldn't do it with the lens attached to my camera. So it's not the effect I wanted. :(

Yay! Now I'm excited to photograph my neighbor's kids this weekend. 3 girls (5, 3 and 1 week)! How cool is that! I feel sorry for them when it comes time for boys, proms and weddings!!!!

More Sprinkers, Nasty Eyeballs & Fiery Sparklers

So...Happy Fourth of July everyone!!!!!.....4 days later. Oops! Better late than never!

Life has been hectic and crazy. I have never been to Wal-Mart more in a 4-day period than before in my life. We had cookouts and cookouts and even more cookouts!

Last Tuesday was my last working day because frankly I couldn't take it any longer. So I was off Wednesday - Friday...and just returned yesterday. And let me say...Tuesdays are worse than Mondays. Don't know why...but they are. I'm tired.

Here's a run-down on my "relaxing" vacation.

Wednesday: Outlet-mall shopped all afternoon. Had to frantically race home to pick up G-Man when we realized it was already 4:30 and I was 45 minutes away. Oh...and I had to pick him up by 5:00. Oops! Then we cooked out that evening and it was a tiring day.

Thursday: Raining and nasty. However, I had promised G-Man we'd go to the zoo and the bread place (aka Panera Bread). So, we got up, got ready, went to Panera, and went to the zoo IN THE POURING DOWN RAIN. No giraffes having sex like the last time. We did get to see (in the rain) an elephant getting a bath, the sharks getting fed and G-Man actually got to feed a non-sexual giraffe.

Came home, both of us took naps (God...I love vacation), we just lounged at home. I did some pre-cook-out-cooking that night and we watched Wipeout. Oh. My. Goodness. You NEED to watch that show. I CRIED AND CRIED with laughter. So watch it tonight. Tuesday. It's good.

Friday: 4th of July. Kinda yucky morning...but it got better. I cooked and cleaned and did all those things. Then we had our friends come over. The kids played in the sprinker, G-Man got his eye poked with a sword (nasty poke since it popped the blood vessels in his eyes and he had a nasty red spot in the white of his eye...but it's better now. Thanks for asking.) and we did fireworks.

Lots and lots of fireworks. Poppers, worms, sparklers, big booming fireworks, and a lot of those nasty black-cat poppy fireworks.

It was fun!

That evening we went downtown to watch the fireworks and G-Man was more interested in the Cheetos than he was with the actual in-the-sky fireworks....but we had a good time.

Out too late....and on our way home G was crying "I just want my beeeeeeeeeeeeeedddddd". Which, he has never done. So, he got home, got in his bed (at 11:30) and we all crashed.

Great day indeed.

Enjoy some photos to capture the day....

Loving the new sprinker....


However he was cold and shivering with the chilly water....


Loved the snap poppers....


Loved the sparklers....(notice the brownie mustache)


Loved the other kind of poppers....(BTW...this is a hideous picture of me...don't look closely)


And lastly....a close-up of his poor eye. GROSS! But...it's gone now and he's fine.