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*

I have amazing news, my mom is getting a house!
I'll try to make a long story somewhat short.
Mom has been house hunting for quite a while until she found out early this year that because of her former boss and his shenanigans she wouldn't be able to qualify for a house until next year.
Mom has gone through anger, depression and even questioned her faith.
Her brother, my (insert thick sarcasm) darling uncle and his girlfriend are living on the family property and have been impatiently waiting for her to move so that they can move into the house.
Now things have been getting worse in mom's situation, with those other people eating her food, leaving messes, hogging the clothesline, and going through her stuff.
Almost daily I would hear of a new transgression. On Saturday my uncle stated that when it reached 90 degrees outside, that whether mom liked it or not they were moving in.
I told mom to get on her knees, pray and ask God what he wanted in her life. The next day, Sunday, after church we were talking and I told mom briefly about what the message was about. The message was about listening to Gods voice and doing what he wants you to do.
Mom said that she was going to pick up a newspaper and head home. A little while later she gives me a call about this house. Owner will carry, $5000 down, yada yada. She was making arrangements to go see it Monday but she wished Rob could go look at it too. So I said could we go right now? Mom called the owner who basically gave her the key codes and said have at it. Mom drove back across town and met us at the house and we proceeded to walk around, inspect, mentally place furniture for about an hour. At one point Rob and mom were in the bedrooms talking and I sat down and prayed.
I prayed that if this was the house that God wanted her to have he needed to give her a obvious sign.
About 10 minutes or so later another car pulls up to check on the house. We are polite and welcome him in and he tells us that he spoke with the owner yesterday about walking through. I know all three of us were sweating it for a few minutes.
The man and his wife did a brief walk through and then he says to us, the house is yours if you want it.
What???
He said that he told a friend that he would stop by and check out this house for the friends son. The son though had been messing this guy, Will over because he had helped him by renting him a condo and the guy would pay his rent late or not at all.
Will calls his friend and said that they lost out on the house that another person is taking it.
HUH??
Will then tells us what had been going on and said if you take the house you can thank Cedric. He also told us about the owner and said that he had never walked through a bad house out of all that the owner had sold.
After he left I told Rob and mom what I had prayed about earlier. I felt that, that was a weird and obvious sign.
Mom should be closing on her house this Friday!
Thanks Cedric!!
We've been talking since then and what we have come to understand is that when Mom stopped giving God her demands He gave her His.
Yesterday, mom, Rob and I were talking. With the house comes a house payment, one that is at the limit she wanted to spend. Mom has been trying to find another job in the paralegal field but there isn't anything in Tucson so mom was talking about finding a couple of more clients to clean for.
Rob says that our neighbor who is a paralegal, said that her office might soon be looking for another paralegal and that she should submit her resume.
So guess what we have been working on?!
If she can land this job, mom can really testify to the amazing things God was worked in her life.
So prayers that she can land a job in the field that she worked so hard to get a degree in. And... the realtor mom was working with told her that if she can get a paralegal job for at least 30 days she would qualify for a house! That would mean that this house she is getting she could re qualify for her own home loan and not be carried by another person. Lower interest rate, lower payments.
So I don't know about you but I'll be sending lots of prayers up.




*Carrie*

Last week my mother in law took the kids to see and pet some horses. I latter find out that they went to the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch.
The kids were asking to go again and I know I wanted to go so after church we grabbed some lunch and drove out to the end of Speedway where the ranch is located.
There were several corrals with lots of horses. We walked along the fence and if any of these big girls or guys put their head over the fence we would give them a rub.
This is Judge. A pretty tall boy who had one brown eye and one blue.
One of the wranglers walking by gave us his and one other horses' name.
These were two of the sweetest horses.

The is the other horse. His name is Budgy, he is quite the character. Budgy was very interested in my camera among other things or should I say little people.
He was very curious and I had to keep a eye out for where that muzzle of his was heading. At one point he shoved his nose almost against my lens.
But Budgy found a certain midget interesting.

Chelsea wanted up to see the horse. So as Nina picked her up, the horse leaned over the fence and proceeded to snuffle and maybe nibble her hair. Chelsea took it all in stride and laughed.
We petted several of the horses and I kept my eyes open as best as I could to get some interesting photos.

One horse seemed interested in Rob and I think fell a little in love with him.

Doesn't he look so content?
When Rob stopped rubbing him I missed the exact look the horse gave but here is a glimpse of it.

Once Rob rubbed his nose again all was good.

But that wasn't even the most interesting look we received...

As we were working our way back toward the parking lot we stopped at a different corral and me this guy....

I don't know his name but I swear I know the look. I'm not sure if he looks like he is laughing at me or not. In reality when I took this picture he kept yawning. The face that he kept making was cracking me up. This was the best of the lot.

I plan on going back with or without the kids to take more pictures. Yes more than likely the kids will be with me. These guys were such a riot how can I not go back.

In other news work is going well except that my boss has been ill the last couple of days. It's given me time to get caught up but now I'm ready to be busier again.

LaDonna is back also from her very short maternity leave and she brought her little guy with her. Baby Bryson is such a sweetheart and I would just love to take a ton of photos of him. Before you even think, does she even take her camera to work the answer is yes.

I snapped a few of BB today but I want to get permission first before I post them.

I've made a friend and have become an honorary aunt in about a months time.

I'm really excited that LaDonna and I get along as well as we do. Even though I was really nervous about working for a tax prep and to some degree I still am nervous, it has all worked out really well and I'm enjoying myself.

I've enjoyed myself so well that I should be getting a present at the end of this week.

Stay tuned....

Look what came back home today!
After 6 long months we are back to being a two car family!
No more relying on family for rides or being stranded at home while the other person has the truck.
Now if it could magically turn into a new Ford Flex or a Toyota Sienna, with no payments, I would be over the moon.
I'm just glad it's back and in relatively the same condition as when I loaned it out.

This morning while I was at work and Nina had the kids my little terror, you know who, managed to find a pair of scissors and cut a hole in her shirt!

Tonight the kids spent some of their Christmas money and bought Mega mind and Beverly hills Chihuahua 2. Right now the family is watching Mega mind. I'll join them soon after I finish my update.
Chelsea is changing so fast, her speech is clearer and she is saying the darnedest things.
Wyatt is getting more into scouts and going on adventures. Kelly, she's my tough nut. We are still struggling with her attitude and her commandeering ways. Example; no matter whose toy it really is Kelly will sneakily incorporate it into her stash.
I should probably write down the interesting things the kids say but they are usually said while driving and my mind sometimes can't remember by the next stoplight.

In the last week we have either bought or inherited more orchids. I'll have to take a picture of our windowsill and individuals of all the new flowers. Some are very pretty and Rob has a way of making them bloom where most of our family has a black thumb with orchids.
*Carrie*

I'm still dreaming about this camera. I'm still trying to find a way to purchase this camera.
I talked to Rob last week and asked if I could save my paychecks and buy my 7D.
After much talking, where he never said no, I'm squirreling away my paychecks.
I'm praying that by the end of March I will have this sweet baby in my arms.
So pray for me please.
Anyone who knows me knows that I want this camera desperately.

I have been getting into sync at work and things are going really well so far. For the most part I'm enjoying myself but I miss having La Donna to talk to and crack up laughing with.
The good news is that she had her baby Sunday night and they came home from the hospital today. I get to meet the little guy tomorrow.
Work keeps me busy, so much so that I have my days sort of planned out by what time of day it is. I almost don't even think about what time the kids get out of school and when Chelsea gets picked up. There is just so many little details that I have to take care of daily that it's all I focus on so as not to forget.

Sunday was also the day we held our family dinner. This time around we went to my brothers house and had tacos. Oh yum, a family favorite.
What was even better was what occurred before and after dinner.
While we were snacking on baby shit dip and cooking the meat, we all, meaning Mike, Rob and my mom bring out their cell phones and we discuss games and apps.
This turned into me asking about the game Angry Birds.
OMG! I was hooked
 It was so bad that Rob made me put his phone down to eat dinner but afterward I started right up again.
At one point during our "family" dinner or our evening together it was Mikey playing Angry birds on his phone with Kelly and Clayton watching, me on Rob's phone with Chelsea and occasionally Clayton stopping by, Rob was on Amanda's phone playing too. Wyatt was on the stairs playing a different video game. Donovan would watch Mikey and then check out Rob. So basically we have 3 adults on our phones playing games with almost all the kids watching us.
Just sitting here writing about it makes me want to play. Sadly for me, Rob is at Boy Scouts with Wyatt and so is Rob's phone. Hmmm... maybe when he gets home.

I was writing in my journal this morning about just how content I am at this moment. I'm not really sure why I feel this way but overall I'm happy. Tired but happy.
The kids have adjusted well with me not being home when they get home, Chelsea is doing better at daycare and is learning cool new things. The only one who really misses me is Rob. Maybe that is a good thing :)
I miss being home because of all the freedom I had to do anything I really wanted. Now everything is either before work or after work and scheduling it all in.
I have some appointments for the kids to make, Chelsea is due for her eye exam and we've already picked out her next set of eye glasses.
I need to make an appointment for Wyatt at the dentist and I'm going to have to make myself one too since I broke a tooth a while back.
So that's my update in an condensed nutshell.
I'll let you know when or if I'll be able to get the camera.
Also, maybe now that my computer is fixed I will update more.
*Carrie*

On Tuesday morning in the wee hours we lost power for about an hour. When I went to turn on the computer last night it wouldn't fire up. It seems the power supply cord went bad.
Thus my computer is down, minus all my photos, links, how to's and everything!!!! ARGH!!
I'm typing from Robs laptop, or should say stealing time while he steps away. He is researching new towers. It is about time we upgraded and we have talked about it, but with the current issue it moved up the priority list.
Once, someday, in the future, pretty soon, one day when I get a new camera I'm going to need a better computer. I mean seriously, my computer is 5 years old and a 256k.
I need to get into the new millennium.
So hopefully by next week I'll be back on a computer whether it is this one or a new one. My hope is a new one.
No matter what we need a power cord to get files off the old computer, but once that is done we are thinking of giving it to the kids.

*Carrie*

Do you miss me?
Did you even know I was gone? Humph
I've thought about you? Seriously, I have.
I've just been too tired to do anything about it.
I went back to work full time this week and my brain is fried. On top of all that the truck broke down on my way to the auto shop.

I didn't get a photo of it because I didn't have my camera so I'm using this old photo of when the engine blew.
Any whoo, we put a new battery in Sunday and my battery indicator light stayed on. Today the truck went nuts, idiot lights flashing on and off, the radio turning off and on and all the gages weren't working.
I tried to drive it down to a new auto shop and a couple miles down the road the whole truck started moving v.e.r.y s.l.o.w.i.n.g I barely made it into a parking lot before everything shut down and I rolled into a spot.
Thankfully my co worker was following behind and gave me a ride back to the office where I called a tow truck to take my girl Betsy (my truck) to the mechanic.
Yes, I name my cars, big blue Betsy
Come to find out I needed an alternator.
My truck was fixed by the time I got off work and my mom picked me up and drove me out to get her.
I hate the feeling of not having a vehicle and knowing that I'm at the mercy of the auto shop. But I'm over it now that the bill wasn't outrageous and I have the truck back.
One of the few perks I get from this new job is auto parts at cost and a discount on labor. That I can handle.
I'm adjusting to working full time and balancing home, kids and all that extra stuff.
I've pretty much wanted to cry at least once a day, whether it was Chelsea's difficulty adjusting to day care or all the little details I have to remember and do while my co worker is on maternity leave, heck even the problems with the truck.
I'm hoping the rest of this week goes a bit better, things at work are becoming more routine and easier and today Chelsea had a better day at day care. Sad part is that I'm forgetting simple stuff and questioning myself on almost everything.
I'm hoping once things settle down my brain will start to function properly, kind of like it used to be before I had kids.
*Carrie*

Yesterday was the coldest day in Tucson since 1956. I think we ended up at 28 degrees, with the wind even chillier.
Yep.
Lots of our friends are either without heat or water and some are both.
We were fine until mid morning when I ran to Joann's and came back to this gusher in the back yard.
It's my fault too.
When we were getting ready i asked Rob to water the yard to help with the dog pee smell.

Weeeelllll, Rob didn't blow out the line for the irrigation again and that's what blew.
It shot out the side into our freezer and all over the bag of dog food.
20 lbs of dog food gone.
I called my handy husband who came home and cut the PVC and capped it off until we can replace all the PVC pipes.
Funny story, I called Rob to ask what I needed to do to turn off the water. Rob told be to turn the red knob. Now I hadn't looked where the pipe split and I wasn't sure if turning the red shut off valve would help because the crack I was looking at was right by the valve.
So, I turned the valve and got a face full of water! The pipe had split all the way up!
Anyway everything is fixed, the pipes are wrapped for tonight because we expect another hard freeze and we are snug as a bug.
This weekend is cookie booths and the SUPER BOWL!!!
I love both teams but I would like the Packers to win this one just for Aaron Rodgers. Big Ben has enough rings.
*Carrie*

Rob hits the big 40-0!

Oh what a good time we had.
Now granted the hour before the party was a little stressing but once people showed up and the food was uncovered and the beer bottles opened, it was all good.
I've said it before we have a small house and it stresses me thinking about shoving 20+ people into it. I had set things up outside so people could head out there if they wanted. 

 It was just chilling enough that no one really wanted to hang out there.
So at one point there were 4 people sitting on the couch and three snuggled on the love seat. All extra chairs are taken.
But you know what? It was all good. People relax and just talk and not that usual trying to talk louder over people or five conversations at once. The atmosphere was a little bit more intimate.

We had 200 chicken wings, 2 types of dip, 5 types of chips, 3 different types of cakes and 2 flavors of ice cream. Of course I also had some of Rob's favorite candy, dark chocolate dove, dark chocolate peanut butter cups, jelly belly's, Reese's pieces, almond joy and butterfingers.
Major sugar overload.
When I went into planning the party I didn't want to go the "over the hill" route. The plan was to include all of Rob's                                              favorite things.

I think everyone had a great time, we laughed,we watched you tube videos, don't ask, and we just enjoyed each others company.
We are a goofy bunch when we all get together and by the end of the evening, which was early, 10pm, the birthday boy and I were sitting out in the back yard with the fire pit going and just relaxing.
Now his birthday didn't end there. We had a child free night on Saturday where we stayed home and watched a movie  and on Sunday Rob had his race.

It doesn't matter what I didn't get done cause I really think no one would have cared, but it was the stage I was trying to set. I had all these ideas from the blog hostess with the mostess.
With working I just ran out of time. But those ideas will percolate just a little bit longer and who knows, those ideas may show up later this year.
*Carrie*

Wow, what a busy but great weekend. Last week did not go as I had expected, which isn't a bad thing just threw a wrench in my planning.

I went into work on Friday morning completely thinking that I would be done by work at 12:30 at the latest. Do you have any idea when I actually got off work?...

5:15!!!

I had a party starting at at 6:30 and I had finished decorating or anything else that was on my list. Thankfully Rob had cleaned up the yard enough that nobody was going to care and I had already cleaned the house so it was just the decorating that was stressing me out.

When the first people arrived I had pretty much finished what I could on the decorating and they helped me to start setting out the food.

A

Any way I'll get to the party in another post. Today is recap on the Tour DE Cookie race that was on Sunday and the Salon opening that I shot on Saturday afternoon.

I didn't know what to expect from the cookie race. This is only the third year that the promoters have put it on.

The object is to ride from cookie booth to cookie booth and then get to the  finish line.

Well, there were only 6 cookie booths and roughly 26 miles in the race. It was fun for me because I could drive from stop to stop ahead of the guys and take photos of them. This was very different from El Tour. The Tour is so huge that it shuts down roads and creates mayhem. This is a fun ride around town.

It starts and stops at the U of A and there are maybe 600 people riding.

The promoters don't use the chips to keep track of the riders so basically they are on their own. For the riders that completed the whole course, without cutting out parts of the course my guys are in the top 5.

We found out after the race that the course map given to each rider is basically a guideline and the safest route. What we didn't understand is that you could cut the course wherever you wanted as long as you hit every cookie booth and got marked off.

So instead of my guys getting in the top 5 they were in the top 15, still pretty awesome and we all had a lot of fun until we found out how lax the rules were. Now we are better prepared for next year. 

We have even talked about supporting a booth next year so that the riders we feel cheated the course will actually have to complete the whole thing because our booth will be in the area they skipped. Which is actually really close to our house anyway so we kill two birds with one big ol' stone. Riding the route with the guys was fun. Knowing what I know now I either needed someone else to drive so I could hang out the window or I need to have power windows so I can shoot from the drivers side out through the passenger.

With only me driving I missed the guys at the first booth and I missed them crossing the finish line. I had to deal with traffic and parking around the U of A. If the guys choose to do this next year we have already discussed having James' wife Lara at the start/finish line and I can get stuff in between. Sounds like a plan, huh?

Saturday Afternoon was spent with these lovely ladies at the official grand opening of Melissa's new salon, Beauty is.

I spent about four hours shooting everything I thought the girls would want to remember. I still have a little bit of editing to do but my wonderful children broke my track ball and now I can't right click and can barely scroll through a page. Once I can get this fixed I can get their photos done and on disc to give to Melissa.

So Rob just came home with a new trackball and it's completely different from our last so this is going to take some getting used to.

Any way now I can begin working on the photos.

*Carrie*

Lordy be I've almost done it again. I try not to go so long between posts but this week I have been a wee bit crazy.
Monday I got the call to come to work. I arranged the day care and I have worked Tuesday, Wednesday and sometime this afternoon.
I'm getting more comfortable in the job but I miss being home with Chelsea and our routine.
On top of everything else it's in the countdown mode for me to get ready for Rob's party tomorrow night. I went out this morning and picked up the cake and some decorations. I think tonight after home church I'll head to the grocery store to pick up last minute things. This way all I have to do tomorrow is clean.
Thankfully with me not being home the house is still somewhat fairly clean from this past weekend. I guess that's one of the benefits of working, well, besides that paycheck.
Gotta get busy, I'll have no photos to post after this weekend. Yippee!
*Carrie*

Has it been a week already?
I'm sorry.
Mentally I'm insanely busy, in reality I'm not that busy.
I've been waiting for a phone call for me to go back to work.
In September I was asked to help out in a family friend's accounting firm while his office manager is on maternity leave. I thought there were like 4 women working in the office and sure I can help out.
In December I go in for a formal/informal type interview and found out that it was just the office manager and the owner. YIKES!
I can do this. We talked about bringing me in for some training. I came in one day and only 4 hours. That was December.
I have waited ever since. The doctors have pushed back her due date, so I waited. The lady is due today and I got a call. The message said could I come in anytime this week.

Here is where I made my first mistake. I called to set up daycare for the rest of the week. I have a meeting with the daycare provider tonight after scouts.
Because my sister in law goes there I was thankfully able to bypass the interview process.
I called the office and talked to the manager. Toward the end of our conversation I double checked to make sure this is for the whole week.
NOPE! it's only for tomorrow, just to give me a refresher course. I'm going to talk to the owner.
That was mistake #2. I should have confirmed with the office before arranging day care. Now I have daycare paid from Tuesday to Thursday. Money I have to pay up front and money I don't necessarily have.
To say I'm freaking out is an understatement. While this might not be very big to anyone else this is hard for me.
#1 I'm putting my baby in daycare, where I know she will do great, but still
#2 The daycare provider tripped me up a bit when she brings up the fact that normally I have to interview for Chelsea to be there, there are papers that have to be notarized and rules and paper work with her in home daycare.
#3 I'm not sure how long I'll be working and I don't want to upset the daycare provider relationship in case I need her again.
#4 I feel I'm being kind of jerked around with this temporary job situation. I said I was flexible but to keep me informed. We had talked about bringing me in for a week to get comfortable and that's what I going to ask tomorrow.
#5 Rob's birthday party is Friday night and I'm trying to get all the details together.
#6 It's cookie time in GS and I have to sign up for booths and all that stuff
#7 the daycare provider is talking about potty training in a couple of weeks. I was going to wait until it is a bit warmer but hey if she wants to do it. fine by me, I guess.
#8 I'm helping a friend with some soccer books and a Disney autograph book, so I'm trying to squeeze that in.
Lots of balls in the air. Seriously not used to being this busy and scared to death that I'm going to fail.
Yep that sums it up.
I guess what it comes down to is time management, and since that isn't such a necessity for me anymore I suck at it.

Pictures- I went out last Friday morning to shoot this saguaro. The previous morning the moon was huge in the sky so I thought it would be like that the next morning. Nope it wasn't. I froze my butt off. It was eerie to hear the coyotes howling once the sun started to come up. Then as I was sitting on the ground shooting the cactus up 3 coyotes crossed in front of me and scared me when they started to walk toward me.
The other photo is of a glass water sprayer at the local nursery with the sun reflecting off it.
*Carrie*

Wednesday of last week the morning dawned like this, liquid gold across our eastern sky.
It amazes me the beauty that is our world, and that no matter how hard I try to capture it I cannot do it justice.
Sometimes I skip the camera and just sit back say, thank you to the heavens and enjoy.
Actually we have had quite a few mornings with beautiful sunrises this week and yet I choose to sit in my warm home and watch out my living room window.

I have purposely stayed away from my blog the last few days because I didn't want to finish what I started about the Tucson shootings.
Wednesday night was the public memorial service, while it wasn't what a lot of people expected, and that's Tucson for you, it brought tears, cheers and comfort for myself and so many others.
All the deceased have been laid to rest privately with their loved ones surrounding them and the congresswoman continues to improve.
And yet the news media is still camped out on our doorstep. There have been TV programs thrown together telling about the congresswoman's marriage and their "love story". There have been reports about how Tucsonan's can heal and move on.
How about you just leave us alone?
I cringe almost every time I hear a national news channel mention the name Tucson.
I will be honest and say I have not watched any of these programs and I might be in the minority when I say I want the media to go away.
I hate having our way of life critiqued and criticized. Are there things that can be learned from these horrible events? Yes, most definitely.
I'm going to move on from this topic. I need to focus on the beauty that is my town.

Which leads me to one of my resolutions this year, I want to photograph things that are synonymous with Tucson. I want to compile all of these photos into a photobook for my family that live here and away.
I started to make my list and now I need to make the time to go out a photograph it.
*Carrie*

As I was typing yesterday's post I was informed by blogger that I was at my capacity of 1G of photos... really?
How could I ever continue to blog without pictures?
Google generously offered me 20G a year at the price of $5 a year. Why not?.
So back for your pleasure are my amazing photos *not*, lol
Saturday evening Rob and I went to a local nursery looking for pots for our orchids. I, of course, wanted to take pictures of whatever flowers were in bloom. The sun was getting lower in the sky which made for some beautiful glow on the flower petals.
It seems blogger is still miffed at me. I just tried to upload a few more photos and it's not even opening up to look on my computer. Bad blogger.

Tonight is the memorial service for Saturday's victims, President Obama is on his way to Tucson to speak at McKale Center at the University of Arizona. People have been lining up since 1am last night because only 14,000 people can fit into McKale and it's first come first served. The rest of us will watch it on the local news tonight.
I sincerely hope that after tonight everything starts to die down, the national media will pack up and go home.
I know the debate will rage on and I hope it can bring some productive talk, not finger pointing and blame.
Congresswoman Giffords is doing very well, she is off the ventilator and is responding to commands. For this I am grateful.
If Giffords recovery is as amazing as its starting out to be and she has the power of thought, organization and speech, as I'm still praying for, I wonder what she will have to say. Will she become an advocate for stronger gun control, will she fight more for people with disabilities? Will she fight for survivor's rights?
I wish I could know her thoughts. I guess I envision a female Jim Brady (from President Reagan's assassination attempt) who with his wife became more of an activist.
I'll update as I learn

*Carrie*

1/11/11

 This has not been a good start to today.

First thing this morning we realized that one of the lenses was missing from Chelsea's glasses. I've searched my purse, the floor and the truck and still cannot find the lens. Now I need to call and find out the cost to replace the lens.

Then I was letting Chelsea draw at the kitchen table and I heard a ripping paper sound. Thinking she was ripping up the paper that she was drawing on, which she sometimes will do, I told her to draw on her paper not rip it up because she wasn't getting more. I heard more ripping and I look up and she is ripping the pages from my bible!!

                     Yep, Genesis chapters 34-46 are pretty much toast.

I'm thinking I might try to tape it back together, it is my favorite bible and one that the language is easy to understand when I read it.

Also yesterday the truck started making that terrible knocking noise again. It subsides when the engine is warm but is VERY loud until then.

This is starting out to be a rough year.

To be honest I'm completely frazzled. I have been somewhat in a funk since Saturday and the tragedy in Tucson.

It's hard to see your town in the national news for something so horrendous and the media coverage of all the grieving people just depresses me. I feel like crawling in a hole

till I feel "safe" again.

Since one day I or my kids will re read this post I guess I shouldn't be so vague about it.

On Saturday while my kids were playing on the computer and I was reading a magazine I received a text from my friend Julie. The text asked if I had heard about Gabrielle Gifford's. I replied that I read it from the link she posted on Facebook and I had just flipped the TV over to the local channel where the ticker read that there had been a shooting.
Of course as the minutes pass by more information comes through. First we hear that the congresswoman was shot in the head, but alive, then briefly we hear that she has passed from her wounds, then word comes in that she is alive but that there are 13 people shot and 6 dead. Most of the day is spent listening to the news and praying for the families. I struggled not to cry.
I heard that they had apprehended the suspect at the scene and all I could think about was how this is going to turn into a media circus.
I'm grieving and thinking about each person who was there. The husband that died sheltering his wife whom was still shot in the leg three times. I thought of the beautiful girl that was Kelly's age and it really upsets me. The federal judge whom my mom knew from her being a paralegal.
I won't even discuss the person who did this. The history books will say enough about him.
Regardless of your political position you don't deserve to be shot for it.

I sincerely need to go to the grocery store but I keep putting it off.
I know that the likelihood of this happening again is extremely rare and me not going isn't about the shooting, it's about the fact that I haven't made a grocery list and I just don't trust myself let loose in a grocery store without a list. :)
Is there anything else I want my family to know???
Right now the political climate is pretty volatile. We live fairly close to the border and the violence has increased along with every ones opinions on how to deal with it. The last election here in Tucson was pretty brutal with both of our incumbents Gabby Gifford's and Raul Grijalva narrowly winning re-election.
Arizona in itself has battled the country with SB1070 and the boycotting of our state, which surely hasn't helped in the recession.
I wonder if people will finally realize what a powder keg southern AZ is.
Not that it releases any idiot from shooting everybody, there is no excuse for that.
*Carrie*

On Monday night I was looking at Kelly, really looking at her when it hit me how much she has grown and changed so far this year.
Yesterday I began, again, working on the kids' school albums when I it hit me yet again how much she has grown and changed the last few years.
One of the items Kelly got for Christmas was a little make-up kit. Oh my. The lip gloss went on a bit crazy and the blusher was on her jawbone instead of her cheekbone but she was happy and we

weren't leaving the house that day anyway.
If I approach her just right she is more receptive to my help then when I just state this is how you do it, whether that is color coordinating clothes, how to apply makeup, trying different ways to do her hair, etc.
Smart, bossy, emotional, that's my girl.
*Carrie*


Top photo- Kelly age 2 1/2, bottom photo Kelly age 8

One, One, One One

How could I pass up this opportunity to remark on today's date, 1/1/11. A new year, new start, new goals.
In order for me to move forward I want to briefly look back at last year.
Briefly meaning that I looked back at last years, new years day blog post and I didn't accomplish any of my goals.
Wow. I thought they were reasonable goals too. Okay I can check off being more creative and trying new things because I did learn a couple of new techniques but I didn't take any classes, never did the photo scavenger hunt, never lost any weight, and didn't even make any cards monthly.
I found it interesting that as I sat here today and thought about what my hopes and dreams for this year are that I had some of the same goals as last year. 

My goals for this are to complete the 2 Peas 12 week photography course, have at least one craft night a month.
I want to listen more, move more and eat less.
I want to continue my creative journey. I would like to create a photo book of some of the quintessential spots that Tucson is known for.
I would also like to make a cute scrappy recipe book.
I just re read last years blog and I could almost re write it word for word. Kind of depressing if you think about it.
This year it's about finishing what I start and not sabotaging myself. I want to have a happy year. I pray that all my family and friends have a great year.
*Carrie*

Happy New Year and come on in 2011!

As of right now I'm afraid of what this year is going to offer.
We awoke this morning to the house being 60 degrees, outside the temps were in the 20's so it could be colder in here.
Anyway something is or might be wrong with our furnace. The thermostat reads 60 degrees in the house and the thermostat is set for 72 but the furnace isn't coming on.
We've replaced the batteries in the thermostat. Now we've replaced the thermostat after learning that the average

age of a thermostat is about 10 years and we've had ours about 13 years.
Still no heat. The furnace cycles but kicks back off before it starts to force air out.
Rob has poked and prodded but nothing has worked so far.
I know he is stressed and cold but there are some things he just cannot fix and this frustrates him.
Rob has been doing some googling and researching causes, fixes and the price for a new furnace.
Now I'm not the type of person who jumps on the "just buy a new one" bandwagon but in this case I would rather just buy a new one.
One of my reasoning's for a new furnace is that we could get one that is more energy efficient. This house used to be a rental and when they replaced the furnace when trying to sell the house they bought the cheapest model.
My other reasoning is that for the past several years I'm always afraid of carbon monoxide poisoning. Yes, we have detectors, which could fail, but it's always a small worry that I have.
Our furnace is around 14-15 years old. To be totally truthful I know nothing about furnaces and this could be still considered a young furnace, I just don't know.
Rob and his googling came up with one little trick to try. Unhook a wire and clean it with a piece of tinfoil and hook it back up.
When I took these pictures he had just hooked back up the wire and the furnace fired back up and has been working since!!
Could it have been something so simple? Please Lord, Yes?!

*Carrie*