Babysitting then off to Mom's Birthday Dinner!

Tuesday 2/9 was a typical Tuesday

Except that it was also Mom's Birthday!!!

Since work was still hectic, I couldn't be sure I'd get to Krissy's before she had to leave for work, so Dan agreed to head over and make sure the kids were in good hands. Fortunately I did get out of work on time and I was there and ready to play by around 5, which means I got 10 minutes of quality time and a kiss and a hug from my best friend.

As soon as I walked into the livingroom, Aila crawled over to the chair (which is the barrier for the room), and pulled herself up on the couch, looking up beaming at me! {I wasn't able to babysit on 2/2 when she started standing on her own! Work sucks sometimes!!}

I missed these sweet cheeks!

Willy got some quality time in with Uncle Danny- playing a little guitar.

The 4 of us played for about an hour until Matt came home. A whole room filled with toys, and Aila- like her brother, cousins and friend Riley- chose my camera lens cap as the ultimate in entertainment. But when she looks up at me with those huge blue eyes, how can I say no?!

Walking around. Not on her own yet, but with support from the couch and the chair, she can make her way around pretty quickly.

Ok yes, a little camera happy for Aila today!

She's just soo photogenic... and, let's face it, I probably have 3000 more pictures of Willy by this age, so Auntie Jen has to catch up ;)

Oh wait, there he is!

He managed to smile- but really just wanted a photo of the airplane.

Once Matt got home, the 5 of us headed over to Mom and Dad's house for Mom's birthday dinner. Jeff, Melissa and Riley were there too. While Dad went out to get the pizza, the rest of us hung out in the newly renovated loft- playing with the kids.

Grammy showed us how she and Riley "exercise."

...............................................Bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy.....................................

Willy loved it too!

What a grin!

Meanwhile, Aila put on every set of beads in Riley's extensive collection.

What, I'm not supposed to EAT these?!

We had Spencer's pizza for dinner. Mmmm!

Then it was time for cake and presents!!!

Of course this year Grammy had a little help.

Make a wish!!!

I think Willy and Riley were more interested in helping Mom open the presents than anything else! Especially since this present was in fact a TOY! Score! {Wizard of Oz Pez dispensers}

We all had a great night!

Happy birthday Mom!

Home Make-over Photo Shoot!

Monday February 1, 2010

My cousin Jamie and her husband Chris started a photography business- Clunie Studios- and were looking to drum up some business photographing newly remodeled kitchens, so when the potential client said "great, come by on Thursday and show me your portfolio" they rented some lens and put out an APB to find newly remodeled spaces. Dan and I volunteered and poof- Jamie and Chris arrived, trekked down from NH to build that portfolio.

I got the call while I was at work, and came home and cleaned out my wreck of a kitchen-- I'd made chili the day before and then fell asleep! YIKES! But within an hour it was sparkling clean. Even Dan was shocked! "It looks like it did when we moved in!"

... sigh... if only I had enough energy to polish the granite every week!

Here are the results of their hardwork and talent!

Not too shabby

and the kitchen ain't half bad either :)

See my new grill pan from Krissy?! One of my favorite and most-used Christmas presents.

With a slightly different light

Close-up on the faucet (from the island)

Then Dan showed them the granite in the bathroom- and they decided to take some shots in there too. While the shots of the kitchen clinched them the job, Jamie reported that this bathroom nearly lost it for them since apparently he didn't like the light- but she and I still love it.

This shot validates that its NOT just me. This shower is soo cool looking in person- Dan did such a wonderful job on every little detail- and yet its nearly impossible to photograph! The angle is just tricky... you can't get far enough away (even with a wide-lens apparently) to get it just right.

Thanks for the visit, Jamie & Chris!

And thanks for the great photos!

If anyone needs portraits or other photography work done, check them out at Clunie Studios.

Delinquent

I've been delinquent!

again!

and its only February.

Chaos has hit again at work.

Not project work this time - that would at least be interesting

We are in the midst of yet another hospital survey

this one longer than the last.

draining, long hours

walking the units,

being ON all the time.

hoping that will be done come the end of the week but that's not likely.

at least i had a reprieve this weekend.

a girlfriend's getaway at a lovely place in hummelstown, pa

it was a superbowl themed crop- we were the Saints (see silliness on display below) versus the Colts. {WE WON!!!!}

more later but I wanted to give a sneak preview.

so that's the scoop for now.

more soon i promise