Monday I got to see my girls Kate & Carrie for our bi-annual dinner.  Much fun – nice evening, good food, no screaming kids.  :)

Tuesday I endured lots of screaming kids.  That was the night of the Santa photo but that wasn’t it – there was also a large lights display that the kids liked (though I think they tired of it quickly on) and dinner with my good friend of over 18 years (omg, I had to think about that one, am I really that old???) and her one-year-old as well.  An interesting dinner consisting of Kayleigh being the ultimate ham and climbing on the table not once, oh no, but twice.

Wednesday was extremely busy starting with a concert with Elijah’s guitar class.  That was interesting.  I let him go in first at 2 but the concert was at 230 so I came in with Kayleigh about 15 minutes later.  Immediately upon entering the room, she freaked out and even grabbed the trash can that was by the door in an attempt to stop me from pushing her (in her stroller) further into the room.  She would then scream and cry if I tried to sit down or be near people etc.  Finally was able to stand on the other side of the room near the door and she was quiet playing with my wallet and debit/credit cards.  Sigh.  It wasn’t the best view to see E or get pictures of any kind.  When it came time for us to leave early, ’cause I was on a time schedule, I felt both guilty and relieved.  Of course, my kid was the one who stood up and talked after every song and was the one who announced the songs loudly as he was finding them in his book, etc.  Oy.

After that, I had to drive the 30 miles home and get dressed and, leaving the kids in good hands with Stacey’s son and his girlfriend until Stacey could get there, headed back north and met my sister-in-law and her sister for dinner, our mother-in-law and Sarah showing up soon thereafter.  From there it was to the Fabulous Fox Theatre to see Beauty and the Beast.  We’d planned this for a while, having bought tickets not long after Sarah and I went to see The Addams Family.  These tickets were just under $83 a piece and we sat in the front row of the Mezzanine.  The show was ah-mazing.  It was really good.  Of course, this was Disney’s Beauty and the Beast so it largely followed the movie with a few more numbers in there.  Everyone in the show performed marvelously and we all just really enjoyed it.  The girls are already making plans for The Lion King in the summer.  There were a lot of kids in the show, though, my first time really encountering kids at The Fox and during the first scene with wolves attacking Belle’s father, I whispered to Sarah, “wow, this is kind of scary,” and almost immediately all kids in the place started wailing in fear.  There were three such scenes.  I think the little girl behind us wanted to leave, poor thing.  But how they did the wolves, you could see the people running them, all in black clothes, and the wolves looked like they might have been skins of the real thing (doubtful, of course)… it was really good.

Thursday was the slowest day but I still had to head out to Elijah’s swim lessons.  However, after this week, he’ll no longer be in “lessons” but officially on the swim team.  His teacher gave him his t-shirt and told me how to sign up for his insurance, etc.  I have to get him a pair of Speedo shorts things very soon, too.  He’s nervous about it – he thinks that he can’t swim without the swim fins no matter how many times his teacher and I tell him that they don’t help him swim, they just work and train his muscles more.  Earlier in the day we spent a long time discussing how no one is going to let him drown — the life guard, his coach, and if I have to jump in there fully clothed, I would — besides that, he CAN do this, he just thinks he can’t.  Both his coach and I are hoping that being around the other kids on the team will help.  As of the last several months, all the other kids in conditioning class have dropped out.

Friday started the Christmas festivities with the annual gathering of my mom’s family at my  uncle’s.  Yet another Interesting Kayleigh Night.  Steve was with me this time, he got the day off – last year he’d had to work and I was just miserable dealing with her crabby butt over there myself.  This time we traded off but, boy, was she an absolute terror all evening.  She didn’t even want to stop and open presents.  That became the theme of all Christmas to her, “no one’s gonna make me sit down and rip some paper up, so help me, God.”  But all the ladies loved their gifts of Naked Soap items and a candle that I’d made, my adolescent and teen cousins loved their scarves and stripey knee-high socks, parents and babies alike adored the owl hats I’d made for two little 6 and 7 month old baby boy cousins, and the other random gifts were much loved as well.

Saturday, Christmas Eve, was spent at my parents’ house with all my siblings in attendance.  Good times.  I love my family.  We might argue from time to time but largely we really get along well and everyone is respectful of and cares for everyone else.  It was another night, however, of opening Kayleigh’s presents for her and trying to get her to look at them.  Of course, I’d failed to bring her Spongebob DVDs that I’d made where there’s no extra crud in there it’s just episode after episode to keep her attention when really needed.  She does love the Bob Bob.  She also got a baby doll with accessories from my parents and it was so cool to see her when we finally got her to look at it.  She got the cup out and was feeding the baby right away.  Very good to see her engage in pretend play like that, that’s one of the things the therapists are always asking about and pushing.  My mom and dad loved their canvas of all the kids, something I’ll probably be posting later — too tired now!  And the other pictures as well.  Mom was very interested in how I got my niece to not only wear a tu-tu and knee-high striped socks but to co-operate and smile for photos.  Let’s just say it was a joint effort.

Sunday, Christmas Day, a day we would love to spend at home by ourselves, but it never seems to work out that way anymore.  We did spend the morning with the kids – they shared a stocking because Kayleigh’s stuff wouldn’t fit in the other two I’d found around here – then they got to open presents.  Kayleigh did the best at this present-opening, probably because she was at home and there were no distractions of “hmmmmm what can I find to throw and break?”  Once again, I spent too much money on them.  They get so much junk from our parents and siblings and some of my aunts and uncles and cousins that I should just stop buying them stuff from us!  I am thinking of putting up some of the stuff I got Kayleigh that she’s showing no interest in.  I did put up one V-tech or Leapfrog (hey I can’t remember) toy, and she’s not noticed it’s missing.  She loves her Baby Alive though, and Elijah’s Spongebob Legos.  Elijah loves his new Legos too, I just wish the stupid things would stay in sets.  I’ve realized that I’m a bit obsessive compulsive about keeping toys in their proper groups… eek.  Legos built in their sets and kept put together, all the pieces to this toy all together, etc.  And that just doesn’t happen around here no matter how I try.  I’m going to have to learn to deal with it!

The biggest news of the day was that Steve bought me a Kindle Fire!  I almost can’t believe it.  We don’t really buy for each other for Christmas or birthdays.  Earlier in the week he’d texted me from work telling me to give him a list of 6 things I wanted… heh.  That was actually harder than I would have thought it would be because both of us are guilty of pretty much buying whatever we want or need this year.  Oh yeah, you know that’s gonna stop.  Not to say I have bought a lot of high-ticket items, but for instance, I couldn’t tell him I wanted a purse, I’ve bought them when I wanted.  Couldn’t ask for a laptop, had to do that earlier this year.  Didn’t want to ask for clothes because of my weight loss I’m trying to just wait as long as I can to buy clothes.  Didn’t want to ask for jewelry, I’ve bought it when I saw it and wanted it this year – nothing expensive, maybe $5 here or $10 there but still, I have plenty of new stuff – and I don’t wear expensive jewelry (cause I never have any haha).  So I’d said a Kindle Fire was #1 but then later said bleh, too expensive.  Plus, I figured if I was gonna get one of those, he’d be coming to me and telling me to order it.  But apparently they sell them at Walmart and he went in all on his own and bought it and I did not peek while it sat in the other room for 3 days.  What a pleasant surprise.  Then, of course, while I’m first checking it out, he says to me, “so what’s that thing do, anyway?”  :)

The downside was that I’d bought him a massage thing to go in a chair and you sit on it, right?  He hates it.  Says it’s too hard.  This happened to us a few years ago and we returned it, but I didn’t think that would happen again – different  brand, different type, etc.  So Stacey’s got it right now, trying it out to see if she’d like to keep it.  She’s got stronger back muscles than the two of us combined so maybe it won’t be so rough for her!

After all of that, the kids played with their new stuff and then we went to Steve’s grandma’s and met the rest of his family, most of them anyway.  Stayed with her a while, returned here to let the dog out and pick up a few things, then to his parents’ house for dinner and more presents.  Again, the kids made out like bandits.  Nothing high end, but just a lot of stuff.  Kayleigh’s really gotten the Spongebob stuff.  In between us and my family and Steve’s family I think she’s gotten two plush Spongebobs with blankets (interesting story on my part and the other from my sister), two coloring books, a story book, sleeping bag, tote bag, pajamas, and I don’t know what else!  She loves him.  Of course, she was again being a terror and after presents and watching the DVD I’d brought of the original Grinch show, Sarah finally put on Kayleigh’s Spongebob DVD… sucked her right in and we all got a break.  That kid…  I don’t get it really.

Her other favorite item?  A pair of kid sunglasses I put in the stocking.  What a turkey.

So it’s been a good week, very busy.  Today I spent the morning cleaning up and throwing away trash – getting it to the curb literally 5 minutes before the trash man came.  Then playing with the kids – games and what not – some of my own game I got for Christmas from my sister-in-law, crocheting, reading, watching a movie.  Busy busy!  :)  The only thing I wished I’d gotten in was some scrapbooking!!

Such a sweetie.  We’ve only did a really quick session with her so far, and I need to design the birth announcements, maybe here in a minute.  But soon there will be actual family pictures for them.  We’d better get with it, I’m anxious to fill the three frames I got for them…

Don’t feel any different, not sure what people get so freaked out about.  Granted, I didn’t like that grey eye brow hair the other day, but I took care of that.  Out of sight, out of mind.

Had a good evening with Kate and Stacey and was also joined by my parents-in-law and Sarah.  Elijah was upset when he had to go to bed at 9, he thought we were partying big time.  I guess he called it right… Chinese food, Mountain Dew, cheesecake, movies, and good family and friends, that is a party.

And now, my friends, ’tis time for bed.  Busy day tomorrow.

He’s gonna be a good boy.  The 3 and a half hour drive went well for him and so far no accidents in the house, a bit of chewing, of course, but he’s already learned that one certain toy is his and he seems to like it.  Has himself a little crate that we originally had for the ferret and cat many moons ago and he didn’t like it at first at all, but a bit ago when I put him in his little fenced area in the middle room of the house, he walked himself into the crate and laid down.  He cried after that though, so not sure how the night is gonna go.  We’ll see…  But I am EXHAUSTED.  Everyone else is in bed already and he’s passed out on top of his toy next to me on the couch.  So bed time!

We really didn’t even get to see everything, but a lot of it is still over their heads, so it’s not a big deal.  Elijah grasped a bit more than my niece as he is older so he wanted to do some of the things she didn’t have any interest in, but they evened each other out well and neither kid was bored.  Kayleigh even had some interest in a few things, especially the bridge over the highway, leaning over the side of her stroller to look through the glass in the floor.

We watched the Omnimax presentation of Sea Rex which had the kids leaning over every few minutes and whispering, “is that true?”  No, baby, it isn’t.  But it was still neat to see.  Even Kayleigh was relatively well behaved during the showing, thankfully, as the last thing I wanted to do was get up and leave with her.  Elijah’s favorite part was the space age area, he loved all the artifacts and models and had nearby people laughing when he yelled, “Yeah!  I wish I had toys like these!”  Punk.

There was an area where you could try a Segway for 5 minutes for $5.  I wanted to try it but decided I didn’t want to pay for it, especially after the woman manning the exhibit ignored us when we came by.  Well if you don’t want our money…  However, it was entertaining, as we were standing there, to watch this kid who was on one.  The woman kept telling him to approach the stop area and stop and he just kept going  by.  Must have been 4 times he ignored her then he hit a still-standing Segway and flipped over it.  I really couldn’t feel sorry for him that he hurt his hand, should have listened!  It was even funnier than his older sister had just done the same exact thing (though she didn’t get hurt).  My mom immediately turned to me and said, “Uh, I don’t think you should try this.”  I said, “Yeah, well the guy who owns them did recently die on one.”  She goes, “let’s get out of here!”  Ha!  Really, I just wanted to see how, aside from the actually moving part, different is it from the Wii Fit.  ‘Cause, you know, that thing really stretches my calves.

When we left, we went to dinner at the restaurant where my sister and brother-in-law work.  Of course, we had to request her table and we gave her lots of trouble.  (Though we tipped handsomely to make up for it.)  One thing people don’t understand about Kayleigh is how she just really throws everything she can get her hands on, right?  So when we’re at a table, usually the three of us are squished together on one half with all our plates and what not and Kayleigh gets whatever table she can reach all to herself.  Otherwise we’d never get to eat or drink anything, it would be all over the floor.  Well my sister came over after visiting another table and was standing at the corner between me and Kayleigh.  Suddenly without warning, Kayleigh grabbed her serving tray… the only thing on the tray was a pot nearly full of hot steaming coffee.  My sister, mom, and I reacted immediately and were able to avoid a disaster.  But oh my gosh, I keep thinking about it.  Never before has Kayleigh grabbed something like that (and it was above her eye level and sort of behind her as well), it’s always been things on the table.  She always goes right for what the waitress sets down, never for things she’s holding.  I just cannot imagine how bad that would have been had she been able to pull it on herself…  Kayleigh is going to have to learn, but that’s not the way.

This wasn’t our first family wedding, but it was the first from my side.  It was also the first family wedding that I got a babysitter for!  That really did help out.  Shooting weddings can be complicated enough but add family to the mix when you are working and it really complicates things.  Not that I would not do a family wedding again, by any means, if family is in need of photos, no reason we shouldn’t both help each other out!  But it really can get complicated.  In all cases, I’ve also gone over and beyond what a photographer does, often being part wedding coordinator or planner, too.  Scheduling things, booking things, doing invitations, directing rehearsals, etc.  Then the previous times (pre-babysitter) I also had to be MOM.  For the most part it’s fine but every time when Steve and the kids have shown up and Kayleigh has seen me, she’s cried because she’s wanted me.  I’ve had to be distracted with children from “will you hold her for a minute” to “Mom, Mom, MOM, can I have a piece of cake?!”  Since my kids weren’t immediate family or in this wedding, getting a babysitter (aka the in-laws) was the best idea ever.

Not only all of this but I need – and want – to greet our extended family.  So I have to be hostess, too.  I’m blessed, though, on both sides I have a decent amount of family, I feel like we’re not real small but we’re not real big, either.  I know people who don’t even know the names of their great-aunts and uncles, yet I’m lucky enough to know every one of them except those that died before I was born.  Heck, I even know one of my great-great-aunts.  That’s pretty darn awesome.  It’s just too bad she lives in California so I’ve only gotten to see her twice now.  Then, of course, there are my mom and dad’s first cousins (they would be my first cousins, once removed!) and my second cousins.   So it’s great to see all of them, too, even if just for a little bit since my time is mostly spent working!

But this wedding is all said and done and it will probably be the last family wedding for a while.  I guess you never know, though.  Now it’s time to edit the photos.  Always a fun part, ha.  Shouldn’t take as long as some of the others, though, as due to various circumstances, there just plain aren’t as many photos to start with.  She’s still going to end up with several hundred, though!  That and if I say so myself, aside from some face merges I know I’m going to have to do, these photos largely don’t need much editing.

I also have to say that I love, love, LOVED the bouquets at the wedding.  The one pictured above was the tossing bouquet and you can see a pine cone in it.  The bride also had pine cones in hers and the bridesmaids’ were all pine cones and crystals.  Maybe this is more common than I think but I haven’t seen it before, I thought they were quite unique.