photo credit goes to

Lewis Whyld / Pa / Pool / EPA

Out of the millions of photos taken this morning I felt this was the simplest one to use for today's blog post.
Now I did not get up/ stay up all night to watch the wedding. I believe some TV stations started festivities at 1:00am and I think the wedding was at 3:00am.
When I awoke at 6:00 it was pretty much all the news stations could talk about. The wedding even overshadowed the horrible tornado's that ripped through the south that have killed and displaced so many people.
As I explained to my kids this evening, this is but a moment in history and if one day I'm asked what do I remember from watching the ceremony I want to be able to answer them.
I would say that I hope and pray that they have a happy marriage. That the media will be careful and respect them, doubtful but I can hope, I hope they have many happy, healthy years together.
Also, I loved her dress.
In fine English style the pomp and circumstance was amazing and everything was absolutely breathtaking.
One of my favorite scenes was when the couple rode out of Buckingham Palace in an Aston Martin convertible headed to Clarence House. How normal, surreal but normal looking it was.
I have wanted to got to London for years, one of my favorite things is English history and that love was inspired from the historical romance novels that I read.
Of course knowing that my family, on my fathers side, is English doesn't effect me one bit, nah not one bit :)
I was six when Princess Diana and Prince Charles were married. I vaguely remember seeing it on the TV and the moments that stood out to me were the ones you see played over and over. The carriage ride and the kiss.
This time around we were privy to so much of the ceremony and I found it fascinating in a way.
But today wasn't just about the royal wedding. Here in our country we have experience devastating storms that have torn apart towns and neighborhoods. The weather service has said it was record breaking tornado's over 150 in less than 24hrs. It's just plain awful, and I pray for all those families going through this tragedy.
Also going on today was that the space shuttle Endeavor was suppose to have it's final launch but sadly it has been scrubbed until Monday due to some mechanical problem.
It is special to us Tucsonans because Mark Kelly the husband of our congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is shuttle commander of this final mission. If you don't remember Gabby was shot on January 8th and has remarkably recovered enough to be able to make it to the launch, she was even seen walking up the stairs. No pictures have shown how the congresswoman looks as she is rehabilitating. We don't know how much facial damge she has endured. It's not really important, what her scars will say we just know how strong, resilient and brave she is.

What a day it has been


*Carrie*

Happy belated Easter!
We had a very low key Easter this year. Very low key.
We didn't even try to take a family photo and Chelsea was in her usual wild child mode.
We were so low key that this year I couldn't find the kids' Easter baskets and we didn't dye the eggs until Monday.
I can't seem to balance all the activities that are going on. I know I just need to prioritize and use my time management wisely but really, how many of us truly do that?
I did manage to get some new head shots of each of the kiddos but even that was a hassle.

This young man still won't look at the camera. Wyatt looks every where BUT toward the camera.
My super sensitive boy, my drama king.
** Mama's note** Wyatt has started to use deodorant. I swear he stinks within hours of taking a shower, kind of like his daddy if he doesn't use deodorant.

We are going to let Wyatt grow his hair back out. I miss his curls and I'm wondering how it will look longer. If Wyatt doesn't like it I'll get it cut short again.

Over the last few weeks all the kids have been sick, last week Wyatt had double pink eye, the week before Chelsea had a double ear infection and we found out yesterday that Kelly has a double ear infection.

Kelly, not always the most willing model, but then what kid really is, but she loves to see the photos that I've taken of her.
I'm thinking this will be the last year we make her wear a fancy dress. She will be dressed up just not made to wear a dress just for Easter.
Kelly is very much the big sister, bossy, helpful, attitude queen.
We are working through some new hormonal issues but lately seem to be on a more even keel.
God help us when we start PMSing.
Rob has threatened to move to moms during that time.

Last but certainly not least is Chelsea. Lord this girl was a handful Easter Sunday. I chased her down, I cajoled, begged and even threatened trying to get her to sit or stand still for a minute just to get a decent picture.
We frequently hear how cute or adorable she is but thankfully most people know how strong willed and obstinate she can be. On the brighter side Chelsea is learning by leaps and bounds, her colors, alphabet and numbers.

We are even doing well in potty training.

One quick note, see this balloon?
In less than 30 seconds, once I had turned around and my back was to Wyatt, this monster balloon popped.
It sounded like a gun shot...
and I jumped a good foot in the air.
Scared me half to death.

Happy Easter!
*Carrie*

 This year was our County Fair's 100th birthday.
After last year we promised the kids we would come back this year.
Even though I thought I had brought enough money my kids wanted to go berserk.
We bought 40 tickets when we first got there and the kids rode this dragon train and then everyone but me did one of those giant slides.

 Afterwards Kelly and Wyatt just had to go see the snakes, then we walked around and the kids did a fun house and another ride before we called it quits and headed over to the food area.

 A traditional sight at the fair is the Piggly banners flapping in the wind.
Has fair food always been so expensive?
We paid $4 for a hot dog and I paid $7.50 for a gyro. Rob refused to eat! One, he couldn't make up his mind and two, he said it was too expensive. Rob later had a funnel cake with powdered sugar and a strawberry glaze drizzled on top.
After dinner we headed out to see some animals

I have really no idea but for some reason this bright pink pigs butt caught my attention. I felt compelled to take this blurry picture.
Anyway we saw all kinds of farm animals but my favorite was this huge black and white cow. She is about 6 years old and just pretty if you can say that about a cow.
What kept running in my mind was the chick fil-a slogan

Eat more chikin!
Seriously twice she swung her head toward me and would give me this look.
Sorry for the blown out picture.
But this cow was perfect for the commercials!
Anyway after running around the barns checking out all the animals it was now dark enough to take some night shots of the fair.

We had a couple of problems. One is that I didn't have the right trigger release for my camera and two my kids wanted to ride more rides.
So I got a few shots of the Ferris wheel, which had some amazing colors this year, before I packed it in and bought more tickets so that the kids could ride some more rides before heading home.
Rob and I agreed that next year we should come one night without the kids so that we can take all the pictures we want and then do a family night another night.

*Carrie*

 Meet my "boyfriend" Red Roy
Now I have lived in Tucson for almost 20 years and this is the first time I have ever seen a cardinal.
I've seen pictures of cardinals on saguaro cactus but never in Tucson.
So imagine my complete surprise one day when this cardinal comes tapping at the windows at work.
The first time I saw him was at the window in my boss' office. I froze and

  watched him jump from bar to tap on the window. When he finally flew off I talked to my boss about it and he said the bird had been tapping at his window for a couple of days.
That afternoon LaDonna and I started hearing a tapping at our window. I slowly raised the shades to see Red Roy just tapping away.
Wouldn't you know he would pick the dirtiest window to be at.

Anyway, daily for almost two weeks now he comes by and starts tapping. LaDonna named him Roy and since we were listening to a lot of 60's music, every time we heard a tapping I would hear the song My Boyfriends Back.
Now to clarify, yes I've seen cardinals before, hello I grew up in Michigan, cardinals, blue jays and robins galore, but I have never seen a red cardinal until that day here in Tucson.

*Carrie*

 Hi kiddos, mommy is home!

So let me explain where I've been. This is Murray's Business service.
It has been a great place to work and I like how Art runs his business even if he can be a tad anal.
See that blue chair back there? That was the computer I used the most.
This is where I input all the details from your tax organizer sheet and print out your tax return for Art to check.

Once Art goes over and checks for any mistakes then I take it to here. I assemble your tax return here at this table, make copies and mail all in this one area.
See that white/black box on the floor under the table? Because I am so tall and the table is so short I would use that box as an assembly table so it wouldn't hurt my back so much.
A cool thing about Art offices are that there are train tracks and trains all around.
Now I didn't get his permission to post 

these photos but the Art and his late dad Murray were train fans. There are three trains that can run in the processing room and two trains that can run around in the lobby area.
In Art's office he has shelves of trains and all these Disney trains still in there orange boxes.
Art is also a HUGE Disney fan. My friend LaDonna's office is Lion King and Pinocchio and another office has Little Mermaid and just other Disney stuff.
Anyway this is where practically lived for the last three months. I was usually in the office by 7:45 and sometimes didn't get home until almost 6 every night.
I have learned a lot about taxes and have made a great new friend in LaDonna and just adore her little man Bryson.
But more to come and lots to update you on.

** Okay I just reread what I wrote and boy did I simplify my job. Here is a little more detail about what my day was like.
The night before I call all the clients due to come in. Once verified I would then make a copy of the schedule for Art's desk and then pull all the client files and print out individual client sheets. These sheets are filled with the prior years info and spaces for new info. The next morning I would come in, check messages, get everything up and running, make coffee and either get the mail ready or input client info or assemble returns. After the mail was picked up I would e-file any returns that had been signed for and then check for returns that have been accepted. Once your return has been excepted by the state and feds then I would print out a client letter and make an envelope that would be mailed within 48 hrs. Afternoons could be clients picking up returns besides appointments, answering questions, calling clients to pick up their returns or helping LaDonna take care of Bryson. There really wasn't much down time and maybe that is why I dropped 11lbs while working. I'll say it again, I really like working there and being helpful to Art and LaDonna.
Now that the tax season is over the office is once again quiet. Instead of leaving at 5:30-ish they leave at 3 and on Fridays noon. I have been asked to work again next year and I'm pretty sure it will be on a more part time basis. Which I think Rob will like better.
Boy did my man and the kids miss me. This was a hard adjustment for them and I know Rob is really happy to have me back home.


*Carrie*

Sorry for my absence but work and home have been a bit crazier than usual.
This is my last week working and I will have tons to update you on after Friday the 15th, plus lots of housework and crafting to catch up on.
Such is life. :)
*Carrie*