Hissyfits Photography Blog

That is how I am feeling today.  It is more than safe to say that my afternoon has just plain sucked for a variety of reasons. And now to top it all off, the NYC trip has been canceled. Well, postponed actually. Due to the Swine Flu. Yes, I COMPLETELY get that and it makes all the sense in the world to me. I have had my own reservations about going and even tried to convince Chris that we should stay home because of it and the huge outbreak in NYC, but it is something he earned and was really looking forward to, so I agreed. Once we knew we were going, I got really excited and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t bummed that the company has decided to wait until later in the year to hold it. I understand, but I am still bummed. I have been on this crash diet/health kick, went and bought my cute little clutch and Assests this morning at Target and now I I have to turn around and take them back. Argh.

On the bright side, I more than appreciate all the comments and when the time comes that I DO in fact need to get all dolled up again, I’ll be more prepared!! Funny little bit here…I was looking at the packages of the Assests and was like, “What? They only go up to a size 5? That makes NO sense!” I was actually kinda mad so I grabbed the size 5 HOPING I could squeeze into them and then started off. It finally clicked with me to read the back…yeah…smart thinking! They are not sized according to pants but have their own little sizing system! Brother! And on that note I am off to feel sorry for myself and make a good old fashioned comfort food dinner!

Okay…so here is the deal! Yesterday I mentioned the fact that we are going to New York City and I am looking forward to it. I just found out about this trip less than a week ago and I have like NO time to get ready because it is literally right around the corner! {Remember that because I am weird I don’t tell exactly when we will be gone despite the fact that we now have a police officer for a neighbor and a super sensitive security system!!}

So there are two events that I have to get really dressed up for…a Broadway show and a fancy dinner. Well, just so happens that I have two fun little black dresses! However, it also just so happens that one of them hasn’t been worn since before I got pregnant with Huntler and I am hoping to cram myself back in it in just a matter of weeks! They both zip…I tried them on over the weekend. One just fits better than the other! Funny how the size 4 has plenty of room but the bigger one doesn’t??? If you know me, I am SOOO not a size 4…double that. Although that totally boosts my self esteem, it still doesn’t make the bigger one any less tight! So if you follow my Twitter, that is why I am on this work out craze!! But just a few workouts in a short amount of time and a crash diet aren’t going to be enough. I could just go buy another dress that actually allows me a little extra room to breathe, and if by Sunday I don’t have this little dilemma solved, I am going to have to. But I am SO not a formal kind of girl and spending time trekking to the mall, trying on dresses and then finding one that fits doesn’t appeal to me. I would so much rather buy my kids something fun instead!

So, that brings me to this. Has anyone out there ever used Spanx? Or what about the Target version Assets? Just be honest with me here…you can even post anonymously, I just want your feedback!! Obviously Target is cheaper and I can just go buy what I need as opposed to ordering…but do they work? I am not griping about being overweight because I don’t feel that way. Nor do I have a ton to hide here, but let’s be real, I have two kids and I didn’t exactly have a flat stomach BEFORE they came along!! And my thighs? We won’t go there!! So HELP me out here friends!!

I must be crazy for posting these pictures on here and definitely we’ll have to get some better ones this trip, but here are the dresses! You can laugh at them and how much we have changed…I don’t care!! I did!! And MY OH MY have we changed!

Here we are on our cruise to Cozumel. This was in January of 2004…so, so young! And my hair was SOOO long!! And yes, if you do the math you can probably figure out that I got pregnant with Huntler on this little trip! In hindsight I always think we should have chosen *Cruz* for his middle name! {This was scanned in and looks horrid, but you get the idea!!} And look how hideous their backdrop was!! UGH!!

Now this is the dress I LOVE!! I wore this one to a fancy dinner in Washington D.C. It is the one that fits well! You can’t tell but it is all glittery and shimmery and super cute!! This was taken in June of 2005.

Okay…I am counting on your help here! And for anyone who has ever been to a Broadway show…did you wear a wrap? The information they sent out suggests that women wear one. Ummm…for real? Chris and I laughed and laughed at that thought because it is so NOT me!!

Now…off to eat my salad! Wink, wink!!

I never dreamed that we would buy our baby her first bike before she even turned three. NEVER crossed my mind. EVER. I am sure that has a LOT to do with the fact that sweet Huntler, big brother, is still pedaling around on his trike. Oh yes, we bought him a fancy {read: expensive} new big boy back last summer after we had been back in Kansas and discovered he was ready. {See that post here.} We got home, got the bike, rode it maybe three times and he suddenly got scared. Ready to be back on the trusty little trike. And 99% of the time you will see him toodling around on that teeny tiny trike instead of his bike! It is quite the sight, but we let it go. I mean, really, eventually he WILL start riding the big bike!! He will, won’t he?

So a week ago when I had that moment of desperation after cleaning up yet another stinky mess from a potty training toddler, I promised her a shiny new pink PRINCESS bike if she would just start pooping on the potty. That was Saturday. Monday she went for the first time and hasn’t had an accident of any sort since!! So, making good on that promise, we hit up Toys R Us on Friday night and walked out with this little gem…complete with all six princesses!

Gentry totally reminds me of the lady riding her bike in *The Wizard of Oz* in this shot. So prim and proper…and oh so focused! Oh, and if you are wondering what exactly it is she’s wearing…that is ALL her. She was put in her room for time out and got creative while she was in there. She came out wearing two pair of bloomers OVER her shorts, dress up shoes and needing me to put her gloves on. We ditched everything but the bloomers before we headed out! {For those of you from nice, lush, green parts of the world…don’t ya love the rock lawns that people down here have? Ugh! Just another reason I cannot wait to move back to Kansas!! The pic above was taken right in front of our house…and we DO have grass!}

The little diva couldn’t be happier! She has been literally ZOOMING around on it since!! We allow bikes inside. We always have. Our downstairs is mostly tile and the kids do circles around the kitchen table and island and trek all the way to the front door and back.  As the weekend progressed I could hear the little training wheels moving faster and faster throughout the house!

Gentry,

I can’t believe how FAST you are growing up and gaining independence before our very eyes. It is hard to believe that you have been part of our family for nearly three years now! I remember the day you were born like it was just yesterday, yet I can also say that it seems like a lifetime ago. So much has changed since then, so much. The tiny little being that you were and how we would look at you and wonder who you would grow up to be is becoming such a big girl. We can already see so much of who you are and who you will be. Personality exudes from your little body! I have you pegged as the class clown! Huntler will be the bookworm and you will be the one we get called to the office for…there is not a doubt in my mind! You are stubborn, oh are you stubborn. And independent…always insisting that you get yourself in and out of your carseat on your own, that you put your pants on by yourself, that you do can do it all. As frustrating as it is sometimes to have a child as determined and as opinionated as you, these traits will suit you well in the future, I am quite certain. I hope you always have opinions and don’t let others cause you to waiver. I hope you always feel that sense of independence and don’t count on others to make you happy. I hope you laugh and love just as you do now, so openly and freely. Oh Gentry, we have so many hopes and dreams for you, just as we do your brother. Right now you absoultely have your daddy wrapped around your little finger. What Gentry wants, Gentry gets. Oh, but she doesn’t want to sleep in her bed tonight? Well, just ask daddy and he’ll snuggle you right in beside him! You and Huntler each bring so much love and happiness into our home every single day. You are so, so different yet my love for you each is so, so complete and encompassing. As you travel through life, remember this image and always look back on where you came from…you will find only love my sweet girl, only love.

XOXXO,

Mommy

Oh my!! It has been awhile since I updated!! I am still here…just got busy with the weekend and then Huntler went and got really sick on us again. REALLY sick. But his fever now seems to be down so I am hoping the worst is behind us. I am keeping this short as I have many things going on but wanted to pop in and say that I am still here!! And I still have tons of pics to share of our little man as well as his sassy sister! I may not have posted many lately, but believe me, I am still taking them!!

A couple of the blogs I read recently did this *tag* with 8 things. Here is my edition!!

8 Things I Am Looking Forward To:

1. An upcoming trip to New York City!! I have ALWAYS wanted to visit there…and stand outside the Today Show. Is that weird? Well, even if it is, I can’t go to NYC and NOT do it after all these years of dreaming about it!

2. Getting in shape…I am working hard! We need to make some serious life style changes around here and I am really working to get there.

3. Our summer road trip to Kansas! We have been back the last two years in June for our class reunions and haven’t made any plans for this summer as to *when* that annual road trip will be taking place, but you can bet I am  looking forward to it!

4. Getting my photography business off the ground!! My business cards are done, my first shoot is in the works, it is all coming together! Now I just have to get the website portion figured out!

5. HOPEFULLY getting to meet my amazing and sweet blog friend Julie in the next few months! She lives in California and we had so much fun on our last road trip out there that I would LOVE to go back soon and get to hang out with her while we are visiting!

6. Gentry’s *Candy* themed bash in July and Huntler’s Beach Party in September!! I am full steam ahead on Gentry’s party planning but haven’t done anything yet on Huntler’s!

7. Our 6th wedding anniversary which is coming up next month! WOW…six years already?

8. Editing some of the HUNDREDS of images I have of the kids!!

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Spent 30 minutes on the elliptical burning calories and working up a major sweat! Hated it but loved the way I felt after completing it!

2. Vacuumed the upstairs until the vacuum started overheating on me and made me mad so I quit!

3. Gave Huntler a FREEZING cold bath to try to bring down the 105.5 fever he had spiked. It was horrible, but it worked.

4. Ordered some of this fabric for a project {or two!!} that a sweet friend is working on for me!!

5. Wrapped styrofoam discs in cellophane and turned them into cute lollies!

6. Returned emails.

7. Took Gentry on a walk/bike ride. She got a new bike for being potty trained and we had to have a little photo shoot with it!

8. Enjoyed the RARE cloudy and cool day we had!! From inside since Huntler was too sick to take anywhere!

8 TV Shows I Watch:

1. Friday Night Lights

2. General Hospital

3. Keeping up with the Kardashians

4. Law and Order SVU

5. The Bachelor

6. Deadliest Catch

7. The Exterminators

8. Biggest Loser

I think that is it! Both my kiddies are awake now so I should get!! Need to get on the elliptical before it gets any later and I TOTALLY talk myself out of it!! Speaking of, does anyone know any amazing tips {other than starving myself because that is NEVER going to work!!} to losing like 5-7 pounds in a very short amount of time? If so, I NEED to know them!! I’ll tell ya why later!

Knock, Knock.

Who’s There?

Kay.

Kay Who?

Kay, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

So I had big plans to edit a bunch of pics of this lil’ one tonight and share some of his latest antics, because believe me, he has been in prime form lately! This is just one of countless *Knock Knock* jokes he has been telling us! He found it in a book tonight with Chris. I am sharing one that at least makes sense. Most of them are just random jargon he throws together and we crack up at!! Silly, silly boy!

However, he has other plans which include that same book they found the above joke in and snuggling with me. He wins. So maybe tomorrow or maybe next week I’ll finally have time to get some images up of him! But for now I am going to go cuddle with my favorite little guy and relish in the fact that he still needs me. He is growing up WAY too fast and I am afraid that one day when I least suspect it, he’ll no longer want loves and kisses and cuddles with his mama!

And by the way, I snapped this a couple of weeks ago on our patio! LOVE the ketchup smeared across his cute face and that expression. SUCH concentration! And SO Huntler!

Are you kidding me? WHY oh WHY do I keep finding all of these fun Etsy shops? For real? I need this lady to be my real life friend because I want one of every single thing she creates. Take a look, you’ll see why!!

Umm…serious cuteness overload, hunh? And that is just a smidge of what she has to offer! You can rest assured that Gentry WILL have a matching hat and scarf with polka dots this winter!! And that little bag with Moose and Zee?? So stinking cute! She would totally have it loaded down with her NUMEROUS tubes of chapstick in nothing flat! Do you think I can continue to reward her for taking care of her business on the potty chair for weeks on end with prizes like this?

In other random fun news, I came across a link for the cutest baby shower ever yesterday! I was really thinking that the whole candy theme would make for a darling shower, but this one is TOO cute for words!! If you have a dear friend having a baby soon, check it out!!

And now I need to get my self in gear!! It is going to be another hot one down here!! Ugh! Have a Happy Earth Day friends!

So my good friend Laura is having weekly blog challenges. I took part the first time around but the last couple of times I have been so consumed with everything that I didn’t get a chance to post!! But here I am for this round!

The challenge this week is to share your bedding. We had what I considered this hideous, *too old for us* bedding for nearly FIVE years before we got what we have now!! When we were registering for our wedding, bedding and dishes were the two areas where we did NOT agree! Needless to say, I settled for bedding that I never really liked and finally managed to talk Chris into getting something new last winter!! It’s so fresh and fun!

And this is it. We bought it at  Kohl’s. They have some of the cutest bedding ever in my opinion!! I was just on their site looking around for the link to what we have and found all sorts of other fun sets! We are going to have to redo our room when we move too!! We aren’t taking our bedroom furniture back with us so it is the perfect chance to get something different and get new bedding too! Check out this fun one!! How incredibly cute would that be with huge black and white prints of the kids in red frames?!! EEK!!  And this? Love it too! And this little bit of fun for Gentry? Actually, THIS is what I really want for her room when we move! Maybe I need to list the *old* stuff on Ebay! I can’t really call it old because it hasn’t even been opened, but it isn’t what I want for her! Soft and soothing just doesn’t fit the little miss!! On the bright side, I think just about everything we have as far as decor goes will match perfectly!! That’s a relief!!

And just for giggles, here is the striped wall in our room once we got our pictures hung! These are actually canvas! LOVE THEM!!

Now I need to get! Sassy pants and I have some things to get done before Huntler gets home from school!

Ugh!! My computer is driving me CRAZY today so I am not sure how long this post will be!! I BARELY managed to get these three pics edited without having a breakdown…so if they look off, I was having issues and my patience with this sort of thing {meaning slow technology} is zilch!!

We had a great weekend! We stayed home and enjoyed soaking up the sun as a fam! Chris has been working a lot lately and now that tax season is officially over, we took advantage of him being around and just hung out! We had hoped to head out to the lake to take Huntler fishing {he’s been begging forever} or off to do something else fun, but what was supposed to be a few hours of yard work turned into an entire weekend of yard work. Hopefully all of the big stuff {other than mowing and typical maintenance} is out of the way because HELLO the heat is on down here!

Seriously, we were wearing jeans and coats one day last week…freezing our tooshies off. And now we are in the 90’s!! We had to hit Wally World yesterday to buy the kids a new Slip n Slide since our old one was torn. They are apparently not made for adult men to zoom down in case you are ever curious!! The pool isn’t warm enough yet but after this week of temps in the high 90’s and having the cover on it, it will probably be good for this weekend! Not sure whether to be happy or not about that. I am really NOT a pool girl. Baby pool, yes. Big pool, no. Hindsight being 20/20, I kinda wish we wouldn’t have gotten one. But…Chris and the kids love it and since we will never have one again, we may as well enjoy it I guess!

My big plans to get all sorts of things done were successful in some ways and not so much in others. My craft area is TRASHED as I sit here. Majorly trashed. But I am trying to be quiet while Gentry naps just a few feet away, so I am waiting to tear back into it! I managed to get some things organized and sorted through but not really put back just yet! Soon!!

I spent a good chunk of the weekend creating and painting. Don’t roll your eyes, but I am full speed ahead in getting things done for Gentry’s party in July! Yes, I realize her birthday is three months away {exactly}, but I have learned that if I wait until it is too close to time things either won’t get done, or I’ll be grumpy and stressed! And since I needed a break from the computer for a couple of days, party decor was a perfect alternative!

Before Christmas I made some cute little lollipop hair clips. When I was piddling around on the computer last week I found a headband that had a piece of wrapped candy {made from fabric} attached to it. It was cute, but it was sewn. I have accepted that I am not made to sew. It isn’t a strength of mine and I get that now…finally. So I emailed my crafty friend Julie and she assured me I could whip some up that were just as cute with hot glue and pinking shears! So glad that she is such a help and encouragement!! Without further ado, this is what I ended up with!!

Pretty cute, hunh? Well, even if you don’t think so, Gentry and I do!! She loves them! This was the first set I made and the cutest! I tried making more but I was too lazy to run downstairs and get the yellow ones to use for an example and the others were too big! OOPS! That’s what I get for being lazy I guess! So, anyway, this is one of the party favors for the girlies that will be here! We pretty much know like 4 girls and a ton of boys so I won’t need to make too many!

I also spray painted like a crazy person!! I don’t spray paint much, but this was fun!! Well, fun unless the spray paint eats your styrofoam and you therefore waste money on both the paint AND the styrofoam pieces because none of it is cheap! Only two out of a whole lot have had to be trashed, but it was kind of annoying! Several others withered a bit, but I think they are going to make it!

These are soon to be lollipops. I have since painted a bunch more discs and some styrofoam balls too!! The plan is to now paint some dowel rods white, cut them to different lengths and insert them in the sides of these guys. I am thinking that I’ll have to hot glue them in since the dowels will probably loosen the styrofoam too much and then the tops of my lollies will fall off! Anybody ever hot glued styrofoam before? Does it even work? Tips? Anyhow, once I have that all figured out, I’ll cover them in iridescent cellophane and tie them off with fun ribbon! Clear as mud? I’ll share when I get to that point!

I have to admit that out of all the parties I have planned so far, this is by far my favorite! I have a sneaking suspicion that this one is going to be the most over the top yet!! I have more ideas than I know what to do with!! It is times like this that it would be really fun to have the time/energy to have an Etsy shop and stock it full of fun party favors and decor!!

The picture is bad, I know. But these little guys are the soaps I made!! FUN!! If you have never made soaps, it is about THE EASIEST thing ever. For real! Anyway, they are just big circles that I wrapped in cellophane and tied off the ends on!! I am all about unique, useful party favors if you can’t tell!!

In other *big* news around here…potty training is going fab!! We had a major breakthrough this afternoon and Gentry finally pooped in the potty chair. We have been telling her for days now to tell us when she has to go and today, she FINALLY told us!! Of course, she tried three times before she finally went which meant I had to haul a soaking wet child all over the house and up the stairs because we were outside playing with the Slip n Slide, but that’s okay, because she did it!! The clips I ordered last week came today and just in time! She is sporting the ladybug at this very moment! This past weekend I may or may not have promised her a new princess bike once she gets it down. I was desperate…so very desperate. So if she continues to keep taking care of all her business in the potty chair, looks like we are getting a pink bike before too long!

And now I need some help! I would LOVE to get my hands on some of these crayons that Meg blogged about but can’t find them anywhere!! Yes, I could just order them, but I thought I would try something a little more fun!! If anyone can find me some at their Wal Mart or Target, I’ll trade ya a set of hair clips for ‘em! Your choice…lollipops or the little wrapped candies from above! I have another idea for clips that I am going to attempt, but it may be a few days before I have any to share! Be the first to email me if you are game!!

Alright…Gentrini Beanie is up now so I should hop to and get to work on this room here!! Hope you are all happy out there in blog land!

Anyone out there?!! I am not sure if anyone is checking in on us anymore since I don’t have my tracker on the side!! Although I LOVE LOVE LOVE Wordpress, I do kinda miss that little piece of info on the sidebar showing me who was visiting!

So today we ran errands. We drove all the way to the other side of the earth {or really just like 45 minutes away} to hit up Hobby Lobby in search of a parasol and whatever else *fun* found its way into the cart! Back in Kansas City there are Hobby Lobby’s all over. Here, not so much. When we moved out here they were just opening the first one. I have seen another one or two since, but they are F*A*R!! Anyway, the whole parasol outing was a bust. They were all torn and ripped except for two purple ones. Arghh!! I REALLY wanted orange because Gentry has so many happy, bright summer clothes, but what can I do? Just make do with the purple one I guess!

I haven’t been too hesitant to trek all over with her this first week back into potty training, but we have been fairly close to home. Today, not so much. So what does a potty training mom do with a girl that will ONLY potty in her potty chair when she has places to go? Umm, take the potty chair of course!

{This is pretty much SOOC – just a tiny bit of editing.}

Yep…that is correct! I loaded up the potty chair in the back of the van and off we went! Little stinker used it three times while we were out!! And not an accident one! Weird and gross both, I know. But you gotta do what you gotta do!

Notice the trashed car? That little red guy is waiting to be taken to Goodwill…I just haven’t made it yet! And the crazy hair? She was VERY opinionated on what she wanted to wear today and that headband was a must. But we left in a rush so I didn’t get her hair curled so she looks a little crazed! But, that is our Gentry girl, wild and crazy! You can also see her sparkly pink belt by her leg…such a fashion diva I tell ya!! How did I get so lucky?!

Just wanted to say that I am taking the weekend off from blogging and all things photography {other than sorting all my April images} in order to get some of these half way completed craft projects done and out of the way!! I need to focus so I can get back to work on my website and other fun ventures and get this business launched!!

May you all have a fabulously fun weekend!

I saw this catchy new word on the People website today. Kinda fun, eh? I am not really even sure what it means, but it sounds like what I am after in this post!

Girlfriend here got her hair cut last week. She has had a cute little stacked bob for awhile now, but this time I had it shaped back up and left more in just a *regular* ole bob. Total cuteness I tell ya. So last Friday we went to a playdate and I left her hair down. I can count on one hand how many times I have actually left her hair down for trips out and about. But can I tell you why? I dried and curled it and she looked too stinking cute for words! I even called Chris before we left for our outing and made him video chat with us so he could see it! That is how excited I was!

Last night I was blog hopping and Etsy hopping and was reminded of one of my favorite Etsy shops, Chic Baby Rose. Kristyn is the name behind the cuteness and I am telling you, she has an eye for all things girlie! I have ordered from her before {you may remember our *Shelf Elf*} and not only is the quality great, she is FAST!! I am not really even sure what exactly I was doing last night {wasting time apparently}, but I was back in her shop shopping!!

And that is where the whole *Frenemy* thing comes in. Etsy is my frenemy. Ohhhh how I LOVE Etsy. But ohhhh how Etsy has WAY too many cute things that I simply *need.* Man there are some amazingly cute creations from amazingly talented crafters out there! Thank goodness I have sold so much of the kids’ stuff recently…that is allowing me to splurge just a tad and order a few extras!! Now I need to go scrounge around and find more things to stick on Craig’s List!!

I just ordered my goodies today. These are the super cute clips that will soon adorn the super cute hair cut on my super cute girl!

I chose the “Little Miss Bossy” one from the set above! Fits our *mother hen* perfectly! And of course her clip will say *Little Miss Arizona* {I’ll have to order another one once we are back in Kansas!!} and the other will have her name on it…and the color combination is different as well!

Potty training is going fab. She seems to have the whole *potty* part down. I have hauled her all over this week in panties and not an incident one! YAY Gentry!! Now…she isn’t quite there though on the pooping part. Ugh. So, I am hoping to maybe *reward* her for going in her potty chair with a cute barette each time she does it? I have NO clue if it will work, but I am willing to give it a try!! She does love all things girlie so I am crossing my fingers this will entice her!! Cross yours with me!! Wouldn’t it be a shame if she responded so well that I had to order another set of clips? Ha ha ha ha!! {But I will say that Kristyn is offering 5 clips for $20…that is a really great price!!}

One more bit of randomness before I head off to start sorting some clothes and getting them ready to mail off! Do you Twitter? I started awhile back and while I go in spurts of updating regularly, I love it! Chris thinks it is kinda weird {although he told me he heard the other day that one in four people use it}, but that’s fine by me because I think it is fun! And seriously, your space is limited so you can only write like two lines…it only takes 30 seconds to update! Much faster than a blog post! Anyway, if you follow my blog and ever want to know what we are up to during the day, check me out! And let me know if you have an account…then I can follow you too!

Okay…the kids have trashed the house that WAS immaculate just a few hours ago during my little *me time* here so I need to get things whipped back into shape and then get started on those clothes with my helpers!! Hope everyone is having a fabulous day!