They Are Taking Over the World

I am never disappointed by son’s ability to make me smile.  Yesterday on the way to take Lauren to school, Evan became extremely frustrated.  I could hear his heart rate increase from the front seat before he passionately said, “MOM, why are the bulldozers RUINING our world?” 

 

 

I laughed and explained that they are just making the roads wider and the roads will be much nicer once they finish.

He still didn’t find any humor in the situation,”Well their mommies must not have taught them to clean up their mess before they started something else.”

I was so thankful that I had just swallowed my drink of water because I have no doubt that I would have been wearing it otherwise.

The child is only three, but in our world he has not seen a road that leads to our home that is Construction-orange-free.  It’s sad to say… there are three different highway/main routes that we can take to get to our home and all three are under construction and have been his entire life.  So from his point of view, the machines are taking over.

Technorati Tags: bulldozers,boys,passion,road work,detour,toys

Of course I do, but do you?

THINGS HE SAYS TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING:

Evan: Mom, do you know where my balls are?

(I have to admit, I wasn’t quite sure how to answer that one.  So I answered it with a question).

Me: Yes, but do YOU know where they are? 

Evan: He giggled hysterically and said “OF COURSE!”

(I still have no idea what “balls” we was referring to at that particular moment).

 

Technorati Tags: Too Early in the Morning,Raising Boys

All about Canon Lenses

This is the lens that I currently own and LOVE dearly.  The images that this little baby takes are just short of magical.  This is the lens that I use for the majority of the photos on this site.  (On occasion I will use a Tamron lens, but it is most definitely not my preferred lens).

 

EF 50mm f/1.4 USM $389.99

(Here is a sample photo from the Canon website).

Recently (more like two months ago), I had a few (two) people ask about my thoughts on lenses and what I use.  I’m sorry that it has taken me so long to respond, life “encouraged” me to take a break from blogging. 

Here are some of the lenses that I drool over.  I have used some of them, but I don’t own any of the following lenses.  As you may have noticed, I shoot a Canon camera.  So if you have a Nikon camera, I apologize because I haven’t researched lenses for a Nikon camera body… at all.

 

STANDARD ZOOM:

The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM $1179.00

A standard zoom lens usually comes in most camera “kits” when purchased.  It is one of those tools that everyone should have in their camera case, if not attached to your camera.  Just looking at the aperture on this lens makes me drool and dream of bokeh (The dreamy-hazy effect on your background that just makes your sharp, crisp subject stand out).  Ahhhh!

 

The EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM $799.99

This is another standard lens that has caught my eye.  The aperture, or f-stop, isn’t as good as the 2.8, the focal length is greater. 

 

TELEPHOTO ZOOM:

The EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM *new

This lens is new and will be released in February of 2010.  So Canon, if you are out there and need anyone to test this lens and review it.  I will be more than happy (ecstatic even) to help you out in any way that I can.

 

WIDE ANGLE LENS:

 

The EF 35mm f/1.4L USM $1479.00

As I told you earlier, the 50mm that I own is a dream.  The only problem that I have with it is that I have trouble with getting group photos.  Anytime that I want to take a family photo or picture of my daughter’s friends at her birthday party I have to switch to a lens that I don’t really like.  Well this beauty would be the answer to that problem.   The wide angle would enable the user to include the entire group or room of people without distorting those in the photo.  I have seen other’s photos that were taken with this lens and was very impressed with how sharp the subject appeared.

I hope this information is what you were hoping to get.  If you have any more questions, I will try to answer them a bit faster next time. :-)

Now I’m off to go play cars with my son.  Of course I will be taking pictures!

Jess

Technorati Tags: Photography,Canon,Lens,Lenses,Bokeh

Completely Twisted

A month ago my step-dad had an accident and died.  Exactly what happened, no one really knows.  All I do know is that his spleen ruptured and then he suffered and died from massive internal bleeding. 

A woman that he worked with called an ambulance and then took him to the hospital.  Hours passed and it wasn’t until the hospital staff suggested that his family be notified she did not call my mom.  Later after this psycho woman threw herself over my stepdad’s dead body and she told my mom that she wanted to become her best friend just so she could remain close to Ronnie’s spirit, we found out that they had an affair.

I am angry.  It is hard enough to watch my mom mourn her husband’s death but equally hard to watch my mom live through the hurt of finding out about his unfaithfulness.  I didn’t respect Ronnie even before his death.  I avoided him but I also accepted him because he was the person that my mom chose to spend her life with.  He was a mooch.  My mom worked and paid for everything, supporting Ronnie so that he could do what he enjoyed.  She wanted him to be happy.  He enjoyed finding treasures and collectibles and reselling them at Flea Markets.  My mom paid for all the items, bought the buildings and stores to house the things, bought him many vehicles and paid for his gas. 

Now my mom is having to pay this woman to get her out of her life.  Ronnie was helping support HER.  It is such a mess.  Karen, the mistress, was stealing the merchandise from the flea market while my mom was busy making funeral arrangements.  The insanity just keeps going on & on.

Now my mom’s world is more than a bit upside down.  My heart is breaking for her.

UPDATE (or rather explanation): Right after Ronnie passed away, we let HER (the mistress)  run the store while funeral arrangements were being made, family was arriving in town, and people were coming over to pay respects.  We weren’t sure if the rumors were actually true at this point.  We had already been to the store and taken a visual inventory.  It wasn’t until a few days later when my sister walked into the store and witnessed her changing the tags on the merchandise that we became aware that she was stealing.  She was claiming that she was Ronnie’s business partner and so she was going around adding a “k” stating that the item was purchased together and she was entitled to half of the profit. 

By this time, unfortunately, the matter had become a “she said/she said” issue and it was just one person’s word against another.  So it quickly was escalated to a legal matter.  Since we couldn’t prove that it didn’t happen the way she claimed, and we couldn’t prove that she wasn’t a partner we had two options: (1) to buy her out or (2) to let her stay and continue hurting my mom and stealing (adding her initial to the merchandise tags). 

True Happiness

I know that we are only 4 days into the year but I just have a feeling that 2010 is going to be a GOOD good year.  I am so sorry, that song has been stuck in my head for days.  What 2010 and tonight…. they are interchangeable, right? 

That is one of Lauren’s favorite songs so we play it often.  My little baby girl started preschool in 2009.  It wasn’t bad enough that she already believed that she thought that she was 4 years old so that meant that she ALREADY knew everything, (Her words, not mine) but now she thinks that she is old enough to start planning her wedding.  (I tell her that she has to wait until she is 30).

This little “Know It All” skipped past the stage of life where she felt the “need” to discover herself.  She came out of my womb already knowing.  At the age of 3, she began telling people that she is going to be a “Choirpractor” (chiropractor) when she grows up.  (Hey, I have to make a big deal about the way she says it.  It’s the only word that makes her sound like she is 4.  Most of the time, I feel like I am talking to a 20 year old).  She is already saving for college.  I tell her that she has to save her money because mommy & daddy are broke.  (I have to say that every time we go to the grocery store or we would come home with the store.  These kids LOVE to eat and they have high metabolisms).

I joke, but my daughter’s unwavering faith in God is truly refreshing.  She is so strong willed, but as long as that strong will is in line with her faith then she is destined to make this world a better place, whether we like it or not.  She doesn’t have a problem righting things that are wrong, and telling others to do so as well.  (She could care less if the person is supposed to be her authority figure… they better shape up & step up to the plate). 

While I am a little excited that she is so mature for her age, I also can’t help but want to pick her up and snuggle with her and still sing all the sweet lullabies that she begs me to sing for her.  (Pretty soon she will realize that Mommy sings REALLY out of tune).  Life passes so fast, I just want to push pause and hold onto this moment.  Right here.  Listening to her infectious laughter and squeals as she plays in the snow.

I love her zest for life and how she isn’t afraid to take on a new challenge.  I admire her love to be social.  Ok, for her it’s not so much a love, but a need.  She enjoys being a part of other people’s lives as well as touching there lives and leaving an impression.  She is constantly thinking of others and is daily drawing pictures for multiple people.  Note to family & friends, mailwoman, cable guy, and Don, the electrician:  I am sure that we have at least 20 cards, notes, and pictures for each of you.

It wasn’t that long ago that my OB said that I wasn’t going to have kiddos and then viola!  My little gift from Heaven arrived 11 months later.  She is truly a miracle and has always been one of the greatest blessings that I have ever experienced in my life. 

I am so excited that Corey & I get to share such a blessed experience in parenting this little beauty.

Readers,

Beware.  Lauren turns 5 in ten days so this is probably not the last post dedicated to how much I love Lauren that you will see in the next few weeks.  I may or may not turn into a sappy mess by then. 

Please forgive, misspellings and run-on sentences that may be worse than normal.  It is really late (or early I guess) and I am operating on no sleep. 

Until Later,

Sleepy.  aka Jessica

Farewell 2009, and Good Ridden

I didn’t write very much last year because my life was consumed with situations that I “couldn’t” write about. So I was respecting other’s privacy and I am glad to say goodbye to 2009.

I am thankful for all the wonderful life lessons that I learned along the way, and I am thankful for the strengthened relationship that I have with God. We have been through a bit this year now God & I are pretty tight. :-) Ok, maybe I’m still clinging to his pant legs (or robe), but either way I’ve accepted that fact that I need Him dearly. It is because of Him that I can walk out of 2009 a better daughter, friend, wife, mother, and woman.

2009 was quite a year:

A battle with cancer that truly tested limits, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Relational roller coasters

And then the year ended with the deaths of my step-dad and grandmother (my mom’s mom). My poor mom’s world was turned upside down at Christmas.

However I can still say that 2009 was QUITE a year!

My mom is beginning to cope with all the secrets that are being revealed about her husband’s life. My heart breaks for her, but I know that God will pull her through this crazy time.

My dad kicked cancers butt! He had battled with liver cancer while being on dialysis for kidney disease and this Gladiator of a man fought and won. The cancer had grown so big and resisted all chemo, and then after the doctors tried all that they could, we turned to family prayer: all 12 kiddos, and eight grandkids. Then within days the tumor started dissolving… granted it turned into liquid that had to be drained, LOTS of liquid that had to be drained. The draining process took another 2 months, but all is heading in the right direction. We are not completely out of the woods yet, but I am thanking God that my Dad’s appetite is back, that he is looking stronger, healthier, and happier. I’ll write more during another post, because the story is truly amazing. I have received permission to share this wonderful journey with you and to give God all the glory that He deserves. (The doctors are still baffled… and amazed).

All roller coaster rides have been exited and are no longer in operation.

Lost Dog, Will Sleep & Snuggle for Food

A month ago, on Thanksgiving night we nearly hit a dog running across a busy road. Because we were expecting our first big freeze and I can’t bear the thought of an animal suffering, I talked Corey into stopping the car so that I could try to rescue it. That in itself was quite an adventure.

I thought that we would only have to take care of it for maybe three days, maximum. But no. I have posted this baby on Craigslist and five other animal finding websites, called shelters, taken him for multiple walks 30 minutes away in the neighborhood that we found him (hoping that HE knew where he lived or that the owner would spot us).

A few times, the walks were in freezing rain. All the poor dog wanted to do was quickly pee on every tree in sight and get back to the car. So we still have him.

During one of the walks, the postal carrier told me that people just dump their dogs in that area hoping that they would find a home. It tool me awhile to pick my mouth up off the ground and respond. I just couldn’t believe it.

The kids have named him Tiny. (I think that he looks like Yoda. This picture makes me laugh. He is pouting. He wants to sit in my lap and I am making him sit a few feet away from me so that I can get some photos. He looks so mistreated and sad).

He gave up on me. “Fine if I can’t sit on your lap, I’ll just sit on your couch.”

“No more pictures… I’m on break.”

“I’m getting sleepy…. very very sleepy.”

I don’t know very much about Miniature Pinchers, but I think that they just might be part mouse.

And Tiny Yoda is out. He is the sweetest little dog. Even Corey likes him (and isn’t allergic to him), which is a miracle. I am going to give finding him a home ONE more try then I think that we just might have to adopt him.

I just can’t believe his owner hasn’t claimed him. Someone put in a lot of effort to train him. He’s house trained. He dances with Lauren. (She swears he knows the two-step. She doesn’t even know the two-step). He doesn’t bark inside the house. (I haven’t heard of a MinPin that didn’t bark inside. I’m easily amazed).

Hopefully his owner will suddenly appear. I would be frantic trying to find my puppy. I don’t even want to imagine how sad his owner is without this snuggly puppy.

Technorati Tags: Lost MinPin,Min Pin,Miniature Pincher