Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee

iSam, Liv, and a special appearance by Beth

I just found this video on my computer this morning. 

Apparently this is what goes on when I'm not around.

Besides the hitting, it cracks me up.

Enjoy!

:)

P.S. Happy 28th Uncle Luke.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams

We took the kids downtown to the Christmas tree lighting.

Brian was a good sport about it. This wasn't his cup of tea, but he went.... missing the first half of the SU basketball game, and had Beth on his shoulders for 1 1/2 hours. 

GOOD DADDY!!!

I love Christmas music and so do the kids.

So.....

I am going to try to post something everyday until Christmas. Everyday I will be adding a new song to the playlist... all our favorites. By the time Christmas gets here we'll have a nice selection of songs. The kids are excited to be able to pick and add their favorites too.

I know that we are acting rather corny... but oh,well!

Enjoy.

Palmyra or Bust, Turkey, and 35

Wednesday night the kids and I headed West. (Brian was hunting.) No big deal I thought, driving to Palmyra... about an hour drive. See, I have been spoiled most of my life by not having to travel far distances to be with family on holidays. I know many people have to travel 1/2 day distances and cross many state lines to be with loved ones.

This year my Aunt Donna and Uncle Paul are living in Palmyra, NY. (They are spending the first part of their retirement doing senior missionary work.) They decided to host Thanksgiving. Wanting to split my time evenly , I decided to spend the night in Palmyra and then leave to see my dad (and Brian) on Thursday around noontime. 

So piling the kids in the car Wednesday evening and heading onto the NYS thruway seemed just one small part to the big puzzle. Wrong.

I was introduced to the "holiday travel" scene and bad weather. As soon as I got onto the thruway all I could see for miles ahead of me was a never ending line of red tail lights. 

The quick drive down the thruway turned into a high concentration, white knuckle kind of experience. With windshield wipers on full speed and traffic coming to a complete stop... twice, and driving at the top speed hovering between 35 and 60mph we finally got there safe and sound. It was definitely worth the trip when we arrived to a hot and yummy dinner all ready for us. Donna definitely deserves the ultimate hostess award.

The next day the hustle and bustle began with a "birthday breakfast" and company arriving.

The kids had fun together playing games and teasing each other.

Knowing my time constraints, sadly we had to leave. For our next destination.

Teamwork. Donna and Paul.

Thanksgiving prayer.

The 2008 kid's table.

Amanda, Angela, Beth, Sam, and Liv

Grammy with Beth watching the Macy's parade on TV.

Brian carving the turkey at our dinner with my dad. We had a wonderful and relaxing dinner. too stuffed to move the rest of the night. I thumbed through the "black Friday" store ads but nothing looked worth getting up for. Thank goodness because we were all exhausted and sleeping-in would be on the itinerary for the next day.

Beth has Grandpa Dave wrapped around her finger. She knows all she has to do is walk up with a handful of books and he'll read them all to her... twice! :)

Beth helping me with my 35th. I had a wonderful birthday. Thanks for all the texts, voicemails, phone calls, facebook posts, cards, and in-person hugs.  

Love you too!

~Tara

What Are You Thankful For???

Sam came home from school yesterday with this in his backpack.

This just about broke my heart and amazed me at the same time.

I am curious how many responses I will get. Leave a comment... 

What makes you feel thankful, grateful, happy, lucky... blessed?

Please share. (It can be anonymous if you're shy :) 

I'll start us off.

I am so grateful and blessed for the circle of people who surround me with an abundance of love and support in everything I do. I am thankful for all the loving encouragement that has been shown towards our family while we hurdle this "hiccup" on our road through life. I feel lucky to have healthy and beautiful children. I am grateful for the strong and mutual family commitment that Brian and I have towards our life together and our family. I am blessed to have so many positive people around us. Thinking of all the people out there struggling with their health and wishing they could have more time.... I am thankful to be adding another year onto my life on Thanksgiving day (totaling 35). I have genuine and sincere happiness for all my family and friends who have had some type of success or milestone within their own lives. For all the new babies who have been born and for those who will be here with us shortly. For those who have new jobs, promotions, new vehicles, new houses... for those who have finished paying off a debt, got to go on a vacation, made a new friend or reconnected with past relations, recovered from an illness or surgery. Now for all the frivolous things I am thankful for.... me learning how to round brush my hair, my polar fleece collection of clothing, unbunco nights, netflix, Old Navy's sweetheart jeans, the five times this year that my house has been clean, being introduced to the Sookie Stackhouse world, nikon, photoshop, and my macbook pro.

Your turn.

For LJ and Danielle, Overwhelmed...

An "inside" comment meant for Luke and Danielle.

Thank you.

 Made me surprised. Made me cry. Made me grateful. Made me humble. Made me feel lucky. Made me know your love. Made me do a chicken dance. Made me overwhelmed. And your right, it would be right back at you.

Thank you.

xoxo, Tara

The Law or Mug Shot?

Danielle emailed me this photo tonight.

He looks pretty serious, pretty mean don't you think??? ;)

I feel like I want to go over to him and tickle him under his arm.

~Tara

Calling all mothers!

Don't ask me how I stumbled onto to this site I just did.

It is a beautiful idea.

Click here.

'Tis the season

It's that time of year again.

Hot cocoa will be on our daily menu.

Sam has been waiting for this since last March!

A new mentor?

Me with John Isaac.

Last night I attended a presentation of multi award winning, famed UN photographer John Isaac. It was an incredible lecture with equally incredible images. His stories were inspirational and honest. Even though he is a master photographer working with Ansel Adams, Princess Dianna and her land mind work, and Audrey Hepburn with her UN work, he is a humanitarian deep in his soul. I had the opportunity to talk with him at length last night before the presentation. This morning he was taking appointments to individually critique portfolios. When I had called to make an appointment they were already all taken. Last night I told him that I had tried and was too late. He told me to come anyway and he would find time to meet with me. So I did! I was the last person he saw. He went through some of my work and seemed to enjoy my work with children, babies, and maternity.

YAY!!! :) 

(Although I have to be fair and state that he was so nice to everyone I don't know if he would have said anything negative.)

Mr. Isaac gave me his card with number and email, told me to write to him and send him more images of children for him to critique. I told him I would... he is so going to regret giving me his email! :) 

Bedtime Reading

Since Brian is home in the evenings now, he has been helping out with the bedtime routines. Usually after brushing teeth and pajama dressing I would climb into Beth's bed and read her a book. Meanwhile Sam took advantage of some last moments of quiet playtime in his room. After I finished with Beth, I would climb into Sam's bed and read to him. He has a few favorite books that no matter what I get new, he always wants to hear them again... and again... and again....

It's usually Curious George, a pirate story or any of the airplane books.

Last night after I finished with Bether's book and tucking her in,  I tip toed down the hall to Sam's door. I knew Brian and Sam were in the middle of a book and I didn't want to disturb them. In my mind I was thinking, "ha.... welcome to the never ending world of Curious George."

But when I listened harder Brian wasn't reading anything I had ever heard before.

No. He was reading "Strategies for Whitetails" by Charles J. Alsheimer.

When I made my presence known in the doorway Sam looked at me with a huge smile and said, "Hi Mom, Dad is reading me a chapter book."

Well I guess so , in fact the chapter that they just read was titled 'Structure Your Hunt'.

OK- I headed downstairs.... at least it's educational? And it does count towards his PARP reading minutes challenge.

I love Brian's twist on things.

I told Sam that these may end up being handed out when he is 18 to all his friends. This illustrates a typical scene after storytime. He NEVER wants to go to bed. 

Lots and lots of bedtime drama.

Someday Sam, someday.... ;)

Poor baby....

Somedays I wish someone was there "forcing" me to go to sleep.

:))))

*** If you are wondering why Brian is home now after working 12 years of evenings, click here.***

Public Service Announcement

Something very disturbing was brought to my attention last week. It all started from a phone call from another BFF of mine, Heather. She and her husband bought a new Honda Odyssey van at the end of summer. About 3 weeks ago their fuel pump went on the new car. So they had it serviced and considered it a fluke incident. Then last week it happened again. Needless to say they were very upset because this is a brand new car. Why all these problems??

Honda's official response to this incident was that there was a rodent's nest somewhere under the hood and that they ate through the fuel pump wire.

Ok- just when I thought I had heard it all... this happens. I mean it's not as if I already don't have enough irrational fears of mice/rodents now I have this to think about. My realm of possibilities has sadly grown bigger now. This is one of those stupid things that you hate to think about. It ranks right up there with the irrational fear of eating a spider in your sleep. 

You know there are already enough issues to worry about when owning and driving a car. Now this needs to be added to the list. 

After this news spread through our little circle, Kristin A. did some online research about this. Apparently this does happen. Even Kristin J. (my other BFF) says she has actually seen it. When she was younger she was looking at a used car with her father and when they opened the hood, baby mice were running everywhere. (I don't know what I was more shocked about... the fact that she witnessed this horrid scene or that it has never come up on conversation over the years.) Kristin A. said this happened to her aunt too. But both of these incidents were with vehicles that had not been driven for long lengths of time. 

That brings me back to poor, traumatized Heather (... oh wait I am the traumatized one.) She drives that car multiple times a day. How could this happen unless they were the "Extreme Home Makeover" team in the rodent world. They would have had to come in and set up shop in a matter of 12 hours. They have to be pretty resilient to stick around after multiple drive times, speeds, and three little kids getting in and out.

Ok- now I am starting to feel a little sorry for them (the rodents) now. I guess they were just trying to provide a safe, warm home for their young. What parent can't relate with that situation? 

As  I may understand their survival plight it just better never happen in my truck.

I just am not that strong... a mental breakdown would be just around the corner.

Right after the initial call from Heather, I quickly dialed Brian's cell phone. 

He was in the woods, hunting.

Brian answers in a whispered voice, "What's up?"

Me in a panicked whispered voice (have you ever noticed that you whisper when someone is whispering to you?), I quickly tell him the story. "OMG Heather's fuel pump.... rodent's nest...(blah, blah, blah)....and Johnston was looking with her father....(blah, blah, blah),.... and Atkinson's aunt.... (blah, blah,blah)....is this really possible?.... (blah, blah, blah)...." five minutes later.

Brian- still whispering, "okayyy? Is that it? are you ok?"

Me, "No, I'm not. What if they are in my car? I don't think I can drive until you check it."

slight pause

Brian, "Yeah, Bone, I have to go now... we'll , uh, talk about this later."

Me, resigned to the fact that he wasn't rushing out of his tree stand to come to my emotional and mental rescue with shotgun in hand ready to defend me against anything that moved, "ok."

I spent the rest of the day with heightened senses. Everything that moved in my peripheral vision I sharply acknowledged and franticly wondered if it was a mouse. Was it mouse parents scoping out my truck as their new spacious, open floor plan dream home? 

No, it was always a squirrel running by. I was driving myself crazy!

~

Before he left for another hunting trip and after quite a lot of begging from me, he inspected my truck. Thank goodness there are no signs of another family living in there. 

 

The funniest thing is that Kristin A. had an appointment the next morning for an oil change. She told me that she asked the mechanic to also check for rodent's nests. She said he looked at her as if she had 3 heads and reluctantly typed it in on the work order. 

Hey, there is definitely something to be said about peace of mind. In my opinion we have to have all our wits about us in the never ending, universal, "rodent world domination" plot against us frightened women.

:)

Amazing Race Contenders

The "fun" part of my Toronto trip included a BFF, Kristin A. The moment I called to tell her I was thinking about going to the seminar she asked if she could go with me. When I told her I would be in class all Saturday she said she didn't mind. Her agenda would consist of sleeping in and shopping. Perfect! So the planning began... well, that is on her part. I had been really busy editing client's pictures and photo work stuff. She tackled ALL the logistical plans of the trip. Kristin investigated hotels, researched local attractions and actually bought a Toronto travel guide. The day of the trip Brian actually said to me, "I'm really happy Kristin is going with you... she's actually organized." I agreed whole heartedly! So I drove us and she navigated. We are so the perfect team for the Amazing Race! There were a few little obstacles like how we couldn't find the hotel at first and then my Ford Expedition wouldn't fit below the parking garage height bar but we kept level heads and won. While I was at my class all day Kristin worked out, received a massage, took a self walking tour of the city, and shopped! We met up later back at the hotel at dinner time.

 NILMDTS had the opportunity to see a private concert,

Craig Cardiff

. Not too many took them up on the offer but we did and it was wonderful. It was held at a little whole in the wall bar/cafe with a crazy staff. (It just added to the experience!)

Afterwards I got to network with other photographers and have more conversation with the founder of NILMDTS and master photographer Sandy Puc. I really did learn A LOT!

After dinner, Kristin and I walked around the city. It was so beautiful because all the major stores had Christmas displays in their windows. It was the only time I really missed the kids not being with me. They would have loved it!

The next day we took our time getting ready to leave. We checked out and began making our way back to the US, that is until we spotted an IKEA off the QEW. Well, after sliding over 4 lanes of traffic to get off the highway we found our way to the store. We joked that our sense of direction was heightened due to the opportunity of an IKEA shopping experience! :)

Two hours later.... we headed back to the US but not until we made an impromptu visit to

 the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. (Yes, we were extending the trip for as long as we could! :)

After quick walk around and dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe we were on the road again. 

~

I have to say that even though I was in Toronto for something very serious and difficult, the rest of the time was full of laughter, smiles, and great company! I have some wonderful memories that still make me laugh.... Kristin trying to act as if she was a native from toronto with her Canadian accent, the truck almost getting stuck in the parking garage, getting lost (twice) trying to get back to the hotel, thinking Kristin's wallet was stolen while in IKEA (and realizing that her pretending to be Canadian may actually come true since she had no ID to get over the border), and while at Niagara Falls being able to see the bridge to get back into the US but not finding the ramp to get on it. Lots of boneheaded moments!

After the entire weekend of adventures we proved to be a great team. Perfect for the Amazing Race. I think all my future getaways will end up being photo related. The next dream place is the gigantic photography trade show in Las Vegas. 

It's mid February 2009... do I have any takers??? :0)

The CN Tower
View from our hotel room. (Sheraton Centre)
Kristin checking out.
IKEA outside of Toronto.
Niagara Falls... Canadian side.
Hard Rock Cafe... just trying to prolong the trip home. :)

Making it back home!

~

A special shout out to Brian and Dave who had to manage the kids, houses, a birthday party, ponytails (yeah, can you imagine Brian trying to master that?),  coughs/colds, and all meals.

Thank you!

~

Also, to hear her version of the weekend and see her pictures check out her blog... it's listed under Atkinsons on the right side of my blog.

NILMDTS

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep is an organization that I have been accepted into. I applied a few months ago and was accepted just a few weeks ago. This past weekend I attended a seminar in Toronto, Canada for NILMDTS. It is a wonderful organization and I am proud to be a member. It definitely will be hard for me if and when I am called upon but, knowing that the parent's world will be 1000x worse makes it seem selfish for me not to offer my help. 

It may be hard for you to watch these videos but please do. This group is beautiful and I am honored to be a part of it. For more information www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org

** Don't forget to turn off the music at the bottom of the blog page to hear the videos. :)**

Philly PD

I have been waiting a while to be able to post this news. Luke starts in the Philadelphia police department in just over a week. This is the end of a very long, drawn out drama starting with the NYS police canceling his class last year. Fed up with NYS red tape he left. Where you ask? Well none other than the city of his favorite football team.... Philadelphia!

So, one year later he has jumped all the hurdles, passed all the tests, given countless glowing interviews, and checked out ok with all the background investigating. He begins November 17th. I forgot my cell phone  today and when I got home there was a missed call. I was surprised to see it was his number. Immediately I called back fearing that something was wrong with Danielle.... (Luke never calls me!)

Danielle is safe and sound... and very happy.

After he laughed at me, he told me his good news. 

Brian and I can't be any prouder for him. He is making a dream come true. Of course, being the meddling, nosey sister that I am (and this ones for you Danielle) after he told me, and I congratulated him I said, " So, does this now mean you can officially get engaged to Danielle??"

:)

.... don't you wish you knew what he said!

Good luck Luke!

Yes. We. Can!!! :)

Brian and I stayed up well past midnight to listen to his acceptance speech. Watching the crowd in Chicago's Grant Park made me wish I was there. My friend, Heather L., and I made several calls back and forth to each other through out the night. Excitement was seriously flowing through our veins. We spoke of how honored we felt to be able to be part of this special history in our country. Of course this won't change overnight.... he is inheriting the problems of some of the worst 8 years in our nation's history. But I felt motivated and inspired listening to him. He is trying to reconnect ALL Americans, no matter what party you belong to. 

I smell that breath of fresh air... I see that light at the end of the tunnel... I feel the hope.

If you don't... well then, I will carry you. I will carry you through the skepticism and doubt because I have enough hope, belief, and faith for this moment in time, in the greatness of this country, and in you.

Giving out a cyber high 5!

VOTE!!!

If you haven't done so already, get out there and VOTE!!

:)

A new future starts tomorrow.

 patriot

pa·tri·ot (pey-tree-uht)

–noun

1.	a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion.

2.	a person who regards himself or herself as a defender, esp. of individual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government.

Conversations from the Backseat.... Part 1

The Subject - College

Me- "Someday when you go to college you'll get to learn about whatever you want to. What do you think you might want to learn about?"

Sam- "I think I would like to learn about science and math. I also want to learn about... what do you call it when have the tubes of liquid and you pour them together and make an explosion?"

Me- "Chemistry?"

Sam- "Yeah, chemistry!! I want to learn about chemistry, science and math. I think that would be fun."

Me- "Sounds great Sam! Beth, your turn, what do you think you would like to learn about someday?"

Beth- (imagine her saying this in her "Beth" confidence/attitude and very serious)....

 "I want to learn how to ride a unicorn and milk a cow."

It was all I could do to not starting laughing. :)

Of course we'll support them in whatever they want.... at least she dreams BIG!!!

~Tara