Today's Faces

It's fun to think about what my kids' interests will be when they're teenagers. I don't have a good guess for either one of them, really, but Lydia sure enjoyed her theatre exercises today.

a field of poppies

There's a new field of poppies on campus. While riding my bike a few days ago, I discovered it and quickly went home to get Lydia so that I could take a few pictures of her. It was the end of the day, and she was a bit of a ragamuffin, but I was picturing how cute they'd look in her Heritage Makers book! I've had a few clients request the poppy field for their upcoming sessions. I know it won't last long!

Watch Out!

Watch out for neighborhood pirates with water guns... and bow & arrows....and goggles.

A New Hobby

I took a picture of 16 packages of Electrosol sitting on my kitchen counter a few weeks ago. I can't find it now. I had a coupon for 2.50 off a box of Electrosol tabs. Actually, I had 16 coupons. I bought them on ebay (okay, so that's an entirely different post.)

They were on sale at Meijer for 3.00 a box. If you're following along, you realize that I bought each box for $.50.

I'll blame this new hobby on my friend, Heather. She told me a few months ago about her weekly food/drug store/cleaning supply budget and I was impressed. She coupons.

But it takes time, Traci, and I don't have time-- yeah, yeah. I don't have time either. That's why I let someone else do the work for me, and now that I'm saving so much money, I'll find the time!

The site I use most often is Bargain Briana although there is a whole internet community of couponers from which to choose. They give lists of sales at stores and then tell where the coupon is found that matches the sale.

For instance, I learned from the site tonight that K-Mart is super doubling coupons tomorrow up to $2.00. So a $2.00 coupon is $4.00. I have my list that was already prepared for me by Bargain Briana, and I'll hit the store after lunch tomorrow. I plan to get gum, tea bags, insect repellent, Bayer, Visine, Oust disinfectant, and St. Ives scrub for free, and I'll pay some loose change for shampoo, body lotion, and paper cups. Sounds like fun, huh?

There are a few things I've learned:
a. I've learned that it's easier to go without the kids so I can concentrate.
b. I've learned that I can't be brand-specific. There are some items where brands are important to me, and in that case, I just don't coupon.
c. I've learned that I plan my meals after I figure out the weekly deals.
d. I've learned that I can't go to every store every week; i live too far away. I choose to concentrate on Meijer and CVS and will visit Marsh/Target/Wal-Mart if I'm in the area without the kids.

My mom's addicted. It's fun to share the experience with her. Last week, instead of paying $4.38 per container of Old Time Country Lemonade, she paid $.25 per container and was given a catalina (the couponers term for the coupon you get at the same time your get your receipt) for $2.00 to spend on her next trip to Kroger. The week before that she bought Nabisco 100 Calorie Oreo packs for $.04 a box!

We're "stockpiling." That's our new word. She's added a shelf in her basement to store the dressing, barbecue sauce, Cheerios, and Charmin she's accrued.

Be inspired. Check it out. It's addicting-- and fun too!

Little Mommy

It's no secret that Lydia is Mommy's helper. While this often brings a smile to my face, it also brings some frustrations when she refuses to leave my side for 12 hours every day (with the exception of her nap, of course).

A few weeks ago, Mike and Jonah left for the day. I woke up that morning and said, "It's girls' day, Lydie! What do you want to do today? We can go get ice cream or play with playdoh...."

"Clean play room," she said, "It's really messy."

A little later that day, sticking with the cleaning theme that Lydia desired, I set up my ironing board in Jonah's room. "I'll iron and you have a choice. You can play in your room, you can play in the play room, or you can even play in Jonah's room with his toys since he's not here!"

She sat down on the trampoline in his room and declared, "Sit right here. Take clothes off hangers for you."

Whoa, Lydia. Don't have too much fun on our girls' day!

This evening I was preparing dinner, Jonah was outside playing with the kids in the neighborhood, and Lydia was organizing coupons before she walked out our front door. Wait! Did she just walk out the front door?

"Why did you go outside?" I asked.

"I'm checking on the kids. Jonah's staying safe."

I grabbed a piece of paper so that I could write down her words exactly as she said them.

She left the house again. "I'm just telling Jonah two minutes to come in."

"Actually, Lydia, dinner won't be ready for 12 minutes."

She ran out the door again and yelled, "Are you safe, Jonah?"

"I think he's safe. Do you think so?"

"Yeah."

So she sat down in the kitchen-- and started organizing her coupons again.

Yesterday

Lydia received a present after I found the money.

She picked out her princess helmet and elbow pads. They cost almost as much as the bike :)

sometimes money grows on trees

You know the feeling you get when you reach in an old coat pocket and find a five dollar bill? It's a good feeling.

This afternoon I was cleaning out drawers for a garage sale this weekend. I found a black velvet wallet that my mother-in-law gave me many years ago. I used it occasionally to store extra cash when we lived in Michigan.

I opened it up.

I found $129.

Now that was a GREAT feeling!

a visit with cousins

neighborhood friends

I grew up in a subdivision. Mike grew up in the woods. I have fond memories of playing flashlight tag, catching lightening bugs, and building leaf houses with Amy, Leslie, Jason, Troy, and Adam (to name a few). Mike has fond memories of riding on his 4-wheeler through the woods with his brother and playing with Evan-I'll-get-you-with-my-short-arm (that's what Mike always says-- as if it's one word) who lived through the woods.

Mike has always talked about owning a home in the woods. I've always wanted a house in a subdivision.

I'm getting my wish. Our little subdivision is growing. They're building the ninth house.

Jonah was outside yesterday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. He even had a picnic lunch on our neighbor's back porch. We played with the slip & slide, enjoyed sidewalk chalk, took advantage of the swing sets, and even filled water balloons.

Lydia thinks the big kids are her friends too. "Wait for me, Tyler," she says (as if eight year old Tyler really cares about waiting for her :)

This is going to be a fun summer.

Graduation

Jonah graduated from preschool this week. School is officially over, and we're preparing to transition to a summer routine.

I am so thankful for Jonah's preschool this year after last year's experience. I cried when the program first started. It was a mixture of emotions. I was thankful for Kiddie Kampus. I was thankful for Mrs. Fox. I was thankful that Jonah was up on stage and fit in. Unlike other mothers, my tears had nothing to do with my child getting older; they were all about the progress he's making. And in that moment, I was so proud!



Mrs. Fox, Miss Tonya, and Miss Diane. At his conference a few weeks ago, they had nothing negative to share with us! Nothing! They clearly took the time to love him, understand him, and appreciate his strengths. (I keep thinking about last year when the teacher could say nothing positive. My blood pressure rises just thinking about it. AAGH.) I've definitely learned to appreciate good teachers.
Jonah's friend, Reanna. Jonah told me once that he was going to marry Reanna. She's very special to him. We carpooled with Reanna this year; I loved listening to their conversations. Reanna's family is moving to Arkansas in a few weeks. They will be missed!

For Beth

"Mom...Dad.... Don't even try to make me laugh. This picture taking stuff is serious business."


"Ah, the smell of goose poop at the lake..."

A Mother's Day Present

6:15: I suggest Jonah should remove the training wheels on his bike so that he can keep up with his friends in the neighborhood. He's been avoiding it, saying that he'll do it "this summer." I'm secretly worried that he'll get frustrated or won't be able to focus. I talk to him about patience and explain that if he starts to learn tonight then he'll probably be able to ride his bike by the end of the week.

6:16: I go inside to give Lydia her bath and put her to bed. Mike stays outside to help Jonah.

6:50: Jonah calls me outside.

He did it... in thirty-five minutes.

"It helped that he's fearless," Mike says.

They're enjoying some ice cream to celebrate right now.



Yeah! We're proud parents tonight :)

Are you a fan?

I've added a Traci Falder Photography Facebook page. Since I'm recruiting high school seniors right now for my business, I thought it was important to advertise in this way.

I want 100 fans. If you're on Facebook, search for me and become my fan, please!

Friends

We had a warm fuzzy moment this morning. Since our family is banished from other humans until tomorrow when we're not contagious anymore, our Monday has been quite different.

The kids asked to play outside this morning. Our neighborhood is very quiet during the day. They had fun on our playground in their pjs while Mike and I watched through the windows inside. After a while, they walked to the field behind our house and sat & talked.


I wonder what they were talking about :)

Wacky Day/Wacky Weekend

They celebrated Wacky Day at Jonah's preschool on Thursday. He asked me to take some pictures for his "2009 book." That made me smile.

He picked out his outfit: a pajama shirt, mismatching socks, a church tie, a hat on backwards, and a pencil in his cap.

But now we're sick. Sick. Sick. Sick.

What does a house look like when Mom & Dad are sick? Lots of movies and popsicles!

After living in misery since Saturday morning we decided to visit an urgent care center this afternoon. It's strep throat for three of us.

I asked Jonah what hurt this morning?

"My throat," he said.

"Anything else?"

"My esophogus."

-- a response only Jonah would give:)

From Massachusetts...

...to Indiana. We enjoyed a quick visit from Leann and her girls. I'll post more pictures of them on my photography website soon!

Jonah gave Taylor an unprompted kiss and hug as they were leaving this morning. He obviously knows a cute girl when he sees one!

Grammy's New Hobby

...yet another reason to be thankful for her!

she's growing up

After a trip to Wal-Mart tonight, Mike was returning Lydia to her car seat and made a nonchalant comment about her hair.

With both hands she wiped her bangs away from her forehead and said, "...having a little trouble with them [her bangs]."

Mike responded immediately, "Did you just say you're having a little trouble with them?"

"Yeah," was her reply.

My baby girl is growing up.

What's Your Talent?

Jonah was talking yesterday about talents.

"My talent is jumping and doing flips," he said, "And your talent is taking pictures."

"What's Lydia's talent?" I inquired.

He didn't miss a beat.

"Following you around."

Look at these cool girls!

Audrey

This is for my family:

I'll finish the other ones from the birthday party tonight.

Finally

I never feel like I'm able to get a good picture of Lydia. She loves to pose for the camera, but she always gives me that silly grin and never a nice smile. I followed her around the yard a few days ago. I finally captured her-- the Lydia that I see-- the beautiful, dainty girl that warms our hearts. I love this picture.

I Found it Interesting

I was at the playground tonight with the kids. We were the only ones there until an older kid came and started swinging.

Jonah was very calm when he came to me and in his I-can't-quite-get-my-words-out voice he says, "The squeaking on his swing erupts me."

"Erupts you?"

"Yeah," he says, "It's disappoints me. I need earphones or an ipod."

I found it very interesting. Sure his vocabulary was not quite what it should be, but I understood what he was trying to say.

The squeaking bothered him.

At that moment, his brain was completely in sync so he knew as soon as the squeaking began it was going to bother his brain.

I'm thankful that he's learning to recognize that which causes him to get "out of sync"-- and that he can verbalize it to me.

He put on Lydia's hat at my suggestion and told me that it helped a bit.

Good for him.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Seriously. My kids are into their silly faces.

Seattle, Part II

Troy and I took pictures most of the weekend, but here's a small collection of some of my favorites.










Can you tell we had one adventure after another? The Space Needle, the tide pools, a tourist "duck" tour, a motorcycle ride, a three hour time change, Pike's Place Market, the original Starbucks, three meals of fish and chips (yes, T & A, they had another meal at the airport:), a playground, the monorail, a personal tour of Fire Station #10, Ashley's wonderful cooking, the Seattle aquarium, two consignment stores, plenty of money in parking meters, one heartfelt conversation, and lots of love shown by an aunt and uncle.

Seattle

We returned from Seattle at 2:30 a.m. this morning. I have lots of pictures to post, but I'm not sure when that's going to happen with all the work I have to do with TFP this week.

Here's an initial favorite:

Grammy

My Superhero

It's a bird, it's a plane
NO-- it's The Destroyer Man!

Following his return from preschool, The Destroyer Man is seen in the epic action-adventure The Destroyer Man Returns, a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world's most beloved superheroes. While two weary parents plot to render him powerless once and for all, Destroyer Man faces the heartbreaking realization that he's not in control.

His latest victim:

My Formula

I've always had this formula in my head that goes something like this:

If the time it takes to play something is greater than the time it takes to clean it up, then I'm willing to let the kids have fun.

My formula backfired yesterday. It took a little longer to clean up than I thought!

Too Cute

Lydia and her friend, Delayna

New Room

We're decorating Lydia's room right now. I say "we" because my fabulous friend Beth is definitely the brains behind it all. I'm loving the process, and I think it looks beautiful so far. I'll post pictures once it's complete, but for now, Beth recommended that I take some fun pictures of Lydia in her room.

I tried a mini photo session with her on a whim yesterday. I didn't even brush her hair. I actually was trying to make them fuzzy which I'm not sure was the best idea. I guess it was an experiment for me to see what direction I want to head. I don't think I figured it out yet, but regardless, I think she looks awfully cute!

Haircut

Lydie had her first salon haircut last week. She thoroughly enjoyed it. She asked all day when she was going to see Miss Kara to get her "aircut at Body and Sole."


And, Ladies and Gentleman, we've got a track star in the house. I've noticed specifically in the past couple of days that Lydia's had moments where she just acts like she's three years old. She said, "Mark, Go, Ets [set]," repeatedly as she raced in a short line from our kitchen to the living room today after church. I'm excited for this next phase.

Today