Dark Chocolate Fondue

'Nuff Said

Potty Training

While I was walking through the baby section of Walmart yesterday, I decided that it was time to potty train my two year old. We found some cute panties that she would like and came home determined.

Right away, we put the panties on her. About every 10 minutes we ask her if she needs to go "pee" or "poop." Usually, she says yes. Which means I am spending 3/4 of my day sitting in the bathroom watching a two year old sit on the toilet, doing absolutely nothing.

So far, there has only been one minor accident. After sitting next to the toilet for an hour, the two year old decides that maybe she doesn't have to go poop after all. She gets off the toilet, puts one legs on the ground and the other on the stool, and promptly start to poop. "Plop" onto the floor. Luckily, I was right there. I grabbed her and sat her back on the toilet. She finished the job on the toilet.

This morning she even woke up dry. I ran her to the bathroom as fast as I could and she went. Hopefully, she stays this easy. Probably not, because two year olds are temperamental.

My Guilt

I saw exactly 1 1/2 of my #2's softball games this season. I am tired of all the extra curricular activities that we signed up for. Every night of the week we usually have something throughout the spring. Remember, I have 5 children, 4 of which are signed up for things.

Tonight, was #2's last game, the game that I only saw half of. #2 was out left outfield, so I went and sat in the grass where she could see me. I didn't want to sit on the bleachers with the other parents where she wouldn't know that I was there. When she looked up and realized that I was there, her whole face lit up and I cringed inside. I felt so guilty in that moment for missing so many of her games. In my head I really tried to believe that being there wasn't very important. Boy, was I wrong.

I will now try to be at every game. I sat on that grass, under that tree, realizing that the kids only have that time to truly shine in their own eyes, believing that they are wonderful in their parent's eyes. These kids need us parents to be there to show them how truly important they are. That us parents took the time out of our very busy day, to watch a very boring game, to show them that they are the most important thing in that moment.

3 Down, 2 To Go

I hate it when the kids get sick. What makes it even worse is when they get it one at a time.

#4 brought home some bug that only lasts two days. (at least it's short). It starts with a headache, fever, then goes into some vomiting for about 8 hours, and then the fever goes away in the next 24 hours.

It absolutely sucks when any of them get sick, but if they are ALL going to get sick, I wish they would do it all at the same time. Instead, we get to drag it out over 10 days if they all get it one at a time. #4 and #5 had it. Today is #5's first day without it. Today #2 is starting it.

Sigh. At least #2 is a big kid (almost 11). She can make it to the toilet if need be. It's when the little ones are sick that I am totally stuck.

With my #5 (who just turned 2), when she starts to gag, I try to put a pot under her. She shakes her head no, I know she doesn't WANT to throw up, but shit, please don't get it on the bed.

M.I.A.

I know that I have been MIA this last week/week and a half. Life has been just a little bit crazy ;).

Last Saturday, #3 had a dance recital. It was cute in the "I really don't want to watch all the other classes perform" kinda way. The recital was way to long, I think 2 hours. It was a bit much. I am glad that #3 likes dance, but I dread the recitals.



Wednesday's weigh in was fun. I did not win, but it was so neat to see these people break records for themselves. One lady finally broke her goal to be under 200 lbs, her final weight was 198 lbs after losing 45 lbs total. I watched another lady make her goal weight. It was a really fun night, even if I didn't win. I ended up in 10th place. I did get $20, which was a very nice surprise. I can say that since January 2nd, when the contest started, I have lost 26 pounds, went from a size 14 to a size 10 (and still going down), and I regularly go to the gym. I also have a lot more energy. It has not been easy to lose weight. I have cried and whined to hubby, I am sure he is sick of hearing me talk about it. But, I can say that it has been totally worth it. I feel a lot better than I did. We are starting a new contest in two weeks. I think I am going to join it again. I like the motivation and the support. Besides, it is a lot harder to cheat if you have to get weighed in front of a whole bunch of people.

The new community center opened this week. We have gone every day. My kids love it. I think that the gym is just OK. I wish it was bigger and better equipped. I still have my other gym membership until the end of July. I don't know what I will do then. I really don't like the gym in the new center. At least I have time to figure it out.

School ended for my kids on Friday. Thank God! I don't have to get them to school late anymore. :) I have the whole summer to work on getting up early again. In the meantime, I think that I will enjoy reading until midnight and waking up around 8 am.

Yesterday was #5's 2nd birthday! We got her a tricycle for her birthday. She just sits on it and rides it. Her great-grandmother sent her a box full of gifts. It was nice to have. Money has been tight and I am glad that she had some other things to open. I can't believe she is 2 already.





Luckily, last week is now over. I think that #2 has a couple of more softball games and then we are done with all of our commitments for the summer. I did put put #4 in swim lessons, but that is it. I want to take the whole summer off. No commitments. We are going to just play all summer. I think that we will probably get bored, but sometimes, bored is just what is needed.

Fun at the Pool

This is what happens when you take out your camera and say "go jump in the pool!"
























I love the kid in the background. He has the same expression in every picture.


















"Just ignore her and maybe she'll stop bugging us."

Swollen Ankles and Photoshop Fun

I was at work today and so incredibly bored that I e-mailed Hubs and said, "Please! Give me something to write about!"

He suggested I write about all his softball injuries and how he's too old to play anymore. Poor guy. He does seem to acquire a lot of owies. Currently, it's his ankle. He ran into a ball last week. It's still all swollen and lumpy and he hobbles around like the old man he's turning into. (Love you, honey!)

But, since I don't have any pictures of said ankle, I didn't think a post about it would be very much fun.

So, here's a bit of photography fun for all of you to enjoy. Or ignore. Whatever.

Here's a picture I took of Teeter's #5 while they were visiting a few weeks ago.



Um... yeah, it sucks. I was using the wrong white balance and didn't realize it until 30+ pictures in. Thank God for the ability to shoot in Raw and, of course, for Photoshop.

I opened the Raw (or NEF) file in Photoshop and selected the preset "daylight" white balance, which immediately fixed the lighting.



Of course, I couldn't stop editing there. There were some minor things that I wanted to touch on, like sharpening.

This is the picture after I ran the Unsharp Mask.

Next, I wanted to give it a slight boost, so I did, using PW's "Boost" action. I also bumped up the contrast in those gorgeous blue eyes.



After that, I did a quick crop to focus in on her cute little face and burned the edges of the photo.



Here's the before and after.





I know it looks like a lot of editing took place due to my mistake in not using the right settings to begin with, but after I fixed that, the edits were pretty minor. I just wanted to enhance her natural cuteness and give it a little "boost."

Two Peas in a Pod

I just want to show a couple of them off really quick.

You see, #5 had already had her bath and was in her PJ's when she decided to join big brother in the tub.



Oh yeah, she thought it was real funny.



We were at #1's baseball game and it was kinda late. We had a great view of the field from the car, so the three of us stayed in it. At one point, I noticed that things were a tad bit too quiet, and usually that is not a good thing. When I turned around, I found #4 and #5 asleep like this:

My Favorite Photography Subject

Okay, so she's not a "subject." She's my niece. My favorite blond-haired, blue-eyed, two-year-old niece. (I have to make that distinction because a, all my nieces are my favorite and b, they all have blond hair and blue eyes. My nephews have weird brown/green David Bowie eyes. It's kinda creepy.)

But I digress. Again.



This is M. Isn't she gorgeous? I'm not sure what I love more. The precious blue eyes, the sandy mouth (stuck there by a wonderful combination of marshmallows and boogers) or The Tongue, which I swear has a life of it's own. This little girl is so freakin' cute.

Unfortunately, she doesn't know my name. She calls me Justice. She also calls my sister and my mother Justice. It's not fair. I love her more than they do! Maybe she's still pissed over the whole putting-her-to-bed fiasco. I'll be making up for that for the rest of my life.

Or at least until the next time I give her ice cream. She loves me when I give her ice cream, but... who wouldn't?