.hoop is up!.

A very, very, very big thank you to our awesome neighbor Tom who we now owe BIG for helping Chris put up the hoop. We couldn't have done it without him. It is NEVER going down. It is straight, level and really...just awesome!

I need to take pictures of the actual hoop because really it is impressive! It even has a light above it for night time play! For real!

Anyway, one of the coolest parts of the hoop is that both of the boys wrote their names and put their hand prints in the cement before it dried.







Seriously, I love this. I will forever know how big they were when this hoop was put up. When they are in high school playing, they can put their hands on their hand prints when they just started playing. I love the fact that THEY wrote their names too. :) So cool!

.perfect.

I could not be prouder of the certificate CJ received in the mail today.

Perfect Attendance!!

I will save everyone from me getting up on my soap box giving my thoughts on this (my friends know I have very strong feelings on this issue. LOL!) , but....it is SO important for kids to BE in school! :)

Way to go CJ!

Beyond "Cheese!"

Beyond "Cheese!", originally uploaded by {kristin W.}.

I have had so many people come up to me and tell me I should do a mini beginners camera class for people that really don't have a clue. Which totally cracks me up because just a few years ago I loved photography but didn't have a clue either.

Well, anyway, I decided to finally do one of these classes this summer.

I named it - Beyond "Cheese!" - a fun photography learning experience for people who just don't have a clue. I am really targeting this to beginners and people who want to have fun!

6 people.
4 hours. (1 1/2 on BASIC camera stuff, 1 hour shooting with kids as models, and 1 1/2 hour computer stuff).

Still working on price and final location and date, but I am really excited about it.

I love teaching and I am so excited to share my passion to others!

Details will be coming soon...keep an eye out on my photography blog if you are interested!

.strawberry picking.

Today's lunch time fun activity was strawberry picking! To the boys that means running around a field stepping on strawberries which they don't even like. For me that means an awesome photo opportunity. For Chris, well...he is just excited that I didn't make it a family trip.



This picture just cracks me up. You can tell it is the end of school when the conversations go to what you can and can't do with your hands.

Connor (on the right) is trying to do the "spock" thing I think? He can't do it. I can't do it. Daddy and CJ can.

Strange. Again...CJ looks like me but acts like his father. Connor looks like Chris but acts like...well...me. :)

Once in a while they act like they love each other. Really...Connor has been counting down the days until his brother was home with him. I think he is just so excited to have a playmate finally!

Oh...and the shirt. It is CJ's favorite, especially when we are doing something together. He is so cute when he comes down stairs and winks at me and smiles when I look at it. I actually tear right up usually. It is getting a little too small and I don't even want to know what is going to happen when it doesn't fit any longer. :)



CJ picking -



Connor picking -



Yummy strawberries for dessert! :)

Crew for a Cure

Crew for a Cure, originally uploaded by {kristin W.}.

I am so excited to share all of this finally with you. Because really, I don't have enough to do...

I have been revamping our walk team logo, web site, message board and blog!

Anyway, it is the same great walk team...new name!

Crew for a Cure reflects the growing size of our group and attempts to honor all of the survivors that participate with us in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

We will be "crewing" in NYC in October of 2008 and walking Boston in May of 2009. I will be participating in both.

Anyway, why else is this so exciting to me? I just coded the entire splash web page all by myself! Nothing like learning HTML by doing it! Anyway, I am really proud of it and you know how much this all means to me. :)

Check it out at www.crewforacure.com

Oh and by the way....the Christy's Crew web site goes to the same place.

.last day of school.

What a day filled with all sorts of emotions...the last day of school.

This year isn't any different then the others. It was cool to see the kids excited about summer vacation. It was great to see them finish another year of school and to look back and see how far they came in 10 short months. It was sad to see them say goodbye to teachers that both boys just loved and to say goodbye to friends that they have talked about for the last 10 months. It is the good thing about Victor. The chances of them being in the same class with some of these friends next year is really good. I think both boys "graduating class" only has around 250 kids in it.

It was scary to figure out what in the heck I am going to do with them over the next two months. :) I am sure there will be plenty of blog posts over the next two months where I am ripping my hair out in frustration, but then I remind myself, it is only 2 months.

Next year Connor will get on that bus and my days will be too quiet. I get emotional thinking about it already. There is something about putting your first on that bus for the first time and there is even something more about putting your last.

But anyway...if you remember, in pre-K/good start they ask each of the children what they want to be when they grow up for their final ceremonies. CJ wanted to be an astronaut. Connor wants to be a professional hockey goalie. Well...that is good and bad. Good because it is better then what he usually says which is a "zamboni driver" and bad because well...we are 99.9% sure their hockey days are over (another post for another day).

Anyway, Connor really loved his teacher and as much as he gave her a hard time, he really did love her. A couple of times over the weekend he started getting all teared up saying he was going to miss her. The end of school is really hard on kids! Anyway, here she is with Connor on his last day. You can tell just how much she loves Connor. I bet she didn't weigh 20 lbs more then he does!



I don't have a picture with CJ and his teacher (darn it....uggghh), but he really liked her too. Today we even had to drive back after I picked him up to say one last goodbye. I sort of felt like a loser doing it, but I knew that if I didn't he would be upset about it all summer. He ran right up to her and gave her one last hug. After the first few days of 1st grade I wasn't sure what would happen with CJ, but he did great and in the end I think she was just awesome for CJ.

I can't believe I have a 2nd grader and a kindergartner! How did that happen?

Anyway, many have called asking about CJ's arm. It still looks horrible, but I think it will take a few days to get better. We ordered a protective sleave for this weekend and all of his games so hopefully that will help prevent anything further from happening. Here it was yesterday -

.Wegman's LPGA.

Apparently you are NOT supposed to have a camera at golf tournaments.

No, I didn't read my ticket.

No, I didn't read the "HUGE" sign at the entrance. I didn't even see it.

I was too busy trying to keep the boys from screaming in the middle of a quiet golf course filled with professional women golfers.

I just happened to have my point and shoot camera with me in my backpack (I guess they are not allowed in either), so I took it out and took a few shots of Michelle Wie as she came up the 18th on Saturday afternoon.

People were looking at my funny, but they always do. I am 6 foot 2 and fat.

When she finished her round she went to sign a couple of autographs in the autograph tent right off the 18th. Check out the ladies face right to the right of her -



She MUST have known that the Security guy right behind me was just about to SCREAM at me. chris had gone ahead with the boys and I was just standing there taking this picture and this guy walked up and screamed "How did you get that camera in here?" I told him in my bag, not knowing anything.

He went on and on about how there were no cameras allowed and got right in my face. I was shaking he was that bad.

I IMMEDIATELY apologized to him and told him I was very sorry and that I had no idea cameras were not allowed in (it makes sense to me, I just never thought about it). As I put my camera back in my bag he still kept screaming. I told him again I was very sorry, but I had to walk away, it was that bad.

What a prick. Seriously...get a life. I didn't know, you told me, and I put it away. Do you need to get right in my face and scream like a loon?

Whatever....

Michelle Wie? We watched her on the putting green hit probably 200 balls from 8 feet away and I bet she hit 20%. That is horrible. Really, I think I could do better???

She also has this puss on her face all of the time. Her Mom and Dad hang over her so bad and I am sure that is part of it, but she really comes across as such a bitch.

But I got a picture of her! LOL!

fewwwwwww......

I KNOW it is coming. **KNOCK ON WOOD** I know I am not going to escape this time in the boys lives without a broken bone. They are just to crazy, so it is coming. But...not now. :) Thank God!

Dr Tebor said that there were no obvious breaks or cracks but looking at his arm he wasn't going to rule out a tiny hairline fracture someplace that the x-ray couldn't see. He wanted to splint it for one week but then CJ went into what we call "mayor mode" where he did everything in his power to convince the Dr that he was okay and that he should be allowed to play in his baseball games this weekend.



It actually looked pretty bad yesterday as you can see from the picture above. The black and blue started to set in and the swelling really spread out over his entire forearm region. He new pediatrician (which I LOVED) decided at one look that he should go to an orthopedic Dr but was amazed at all he could do with it with "little" pain. See....well....if he knew no one was looking you could tell it was killing him. But he didn't want a cast because he knew his baseball season would be over with. It HAD to be killing him...it looked horrible!

Anyway....this is such great news. We have to find some way to protect it for his games so it doesn't get hit again, but he is good to go.

I will blog more later about getting screamed at at the LPGA, Michelle Wii, end of school stuff...

.ouch.

.ouch., originally uploaded by {kristin W.}.

Here is CJ's elbow after a really bad slide into home plate tonight....he was safe. :)

We had our good friend Janelle take a look tonight. She is a PT and said it should probably get x-ray to make sure it is not cracked or the growth plate.

So we will wait and see how the night goes and go from there. I REALLY think he is okay...it hurts but he is not screaming in pain, so that is good.

Keep your fingers crossed.

.MOM.

For all of you that have lost someone in your life you know that depending on how long they have been gone some days you don't think of them at all and other days as hard as you try you can't get them out of your mind.

For me, memories of my Mom surface for all sorts of reasons. Maybe it is a song that I hear. Maybe it is meeting someone that talks or asks about her. Maybe it is meeting a client who has a similar life story. Maybe it is the loss of someone who touched me heart...Tim Russert and watching his tributes wondering what his family must be going through.

My uncle was in town for a few days over Memorial Day. I hadn't see him in over 15 years and he brought some old pictures with him and shared a few of my mother with me. These very pictures serve as a testament as to why I am a photographer. We talked about my Mom for a few minutes that day and my Uncle shared some feelings with me about how it was for him around the time if her death that made me really think about her.

People ask me all of the time if I remember my mother. I regret to admit I don't. It is amazing how connected you can be to a person you don't remember. Being a mother and understanding that connection between the boys and I makes these feelings that much stronger.

I can't really explain it.

As I sat here today listening to this Teagan Ward song over and over again, I looked at the pictures over and over again that still sit right here on my desk from when my Uncle gave them to me a few weeks ago. I couldn't help to pull out the letters that I took from my Grandparents house after my Grandfather passed away a couple of years ago.

They were letters she wrote to them about day to day activities that she was experiencing as a mother. I can't tell you what a treasure they are to me. To read in words my mother wrote I sit here and try to imagine how it was for her. I laugh at some of the things she wrote because I have thought the same thing about CJ and Connor. Together with the pictures they paint back a memory my mind has chosen to forget.

The letter in the picture above says this -

"Things are still quiet around here. The kids had their Valentine party yesterday at school. They really enjoyed that. Kristin especially enjoyed the candy. She sure has been putting away the groceries lately. The other night we had a leftover night and she ate her bowl of chili (large) and 2 pieces of lasagna left over from Dexter (my Dad) and me not to mention French bread."

Sound familiar?

Anyway...it all goes to show that even the snap shots we take in life may be a treasure to someone some day.

.how I really feel about you taking pictures of me.

I almost always end up with at least one shot of a baby flicking me off. It sort of cracks me up when I go to process the pictures and find one like this. It also can be frustrating when you have an awesome picture like this with eye contact and you can't show it to a client too! :)

Anyways....more from this session on my photography blog.

Teagan Ward...ROCKS.

Seriously...it has been a LONG time since I have loved an artist so much that all I want to do is listen to her album over and over again.

I found out about Teagan Ward though my friend Carrie when she gave my a CD from the "Chicks with Picks" concert that she ran as a charity breast cancer event. Teagan sang a song on that album called "Song for Someone Else" that I am sorry...just rocks. The words are just amazing and really hit home with me and what my life has been faced with.

Anyway, last night at the "Crew for a Cure" (AKA Christy's Crew) Fundraising meeting we went to see her play at Beale Street Cafe in Webster. Teagan plays there every Tuesday night from 7-9 and I am tell you what...go and see this girl. She is going to be a star one day.

After she was done playing last night she came over to our table to chat for a bit and it turns out that she needs to band pictures and I would love to have her sing a song for my photography web site to help promote her as well...so we hopefully will trade!

Really....check out her CD here or check out her web site at www.teaganward.com. We were trying to get her to try out for American Idol because seriously...she would win. She has a very unique voice (a lot like Brooke White but WAY better) and her song writing abilities are awesome.

Anyway...just wanted to share her talents with all of you...I think she will do BIG things. :)

Great quote...

I was reading a blog on the D&C web site and found this quote which I thought was awesome -

“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all.” - Sam Ewing

How true it is.

....I HEART FEEDBACK....

I love feedback....all of it. I love hearing from my clients what they think of my pictures. I love seeing my clients faces when I deliver their prints.

Why? Because it keeps my going through the long nights of processing. It encourages me to move forward. It proves to me WHY I am a photographer. I want to capture families as they are so that they will never forget that moment. I love working with the families that I have been honored to meet through my business.

This morning I received the e-mail below from a client I did a shoot with last weekend. Her amazing little boy is above. I seriously cried reading it it meant that much to me. I love what I do. I know that I couldn't do it without each and every one of you....so thank you! Thank you for taking the time to share your feelings on my work. Thank you for the e-mails that I get from complete strangers saying how much they enjoy my work. Thank you to all of you who see me around town at functions and take the time to tell me how much you enjoy my web site or love looking at the blog. I am humbled by all of it.

Anyway, here is the e-mail....

"I had to take a minute to send you an e-mail to let you know how thrilled we are with our pictures! You managed to capture our children's spirits! The way you see life, love, and laughter actually comes through your camera. I've never seen anything like it! The minute the slideshow started, I was crying and overcome with emotion because you saw my kids. You saw them through your camera the way I see them everyday. The fact that you captured that amazes me.

I understand that I probably sound like a complete freak right now but I am seriously blown away. I can tell you that you just may have to quit your day job because of all the referrals you will be getting from us!"

Pinch me.

.newborn.

Last Thursday night I squeezed in a mid week night time photo shoot with this little guy. He was 3 weeks old and was just so alert and strong for his age! We finally got him to go to sleep at the end, I don't think he wanted to miss anything!







His parents were just such awesome people, so fun to have here in my house for a night. They were saying that he always sleeps with his hands over his head. They were right! I thought it was so cute!

.odds and ends.

On Saturday morning I needed to go to Wegmans and I woke up at 6:15 and decided that that time was better then any other based on all of the activities of the day. So I got up, left all of the boys sleeping at home, made a quick trip to Starbucks and then off to Wegmans.

I got home at 7:15 and this is what I found -



Both boys playing baseball in the backyard, Connor like this.

Chris was still sleeping so he had no idea. :) He fits right in with the blow up "trash" pool in the backyard! Nice.

Last Friday the boys celebrated Flag Day at school. I was able to get a couple good shots of them sitting on the front porch.





Connor hit the $1.00 bin's at Target last week and really had a whole Flag day outfit!





We had quite a few rounds of Thunderstorms go through last night. Early in the evening we had 2 sets of rainbows because of them! They were amazing!

Do these things on the back of people's cars totally annoy you?

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Seriously...the ones that have so many kids and so many pets that the stickers have to go around to the side window drive me nuts. I don't know what it is about them that bothers me. Maybe it is that I don't really care how many screaming kids you have in your car and how many pets you have in your house either...just get off your cell phone and drive! :)

If you want to create your own cool sticker like this one you can by using the above link. Our picture cracks me up because we all look alike! I couldn't put a dress on me!!

.ummmm....no thanks.

Here is a family portrait of all us with a 65 lb yellow python around my neck. Never again.

This was a presentation by The Reptile Guys at our friends son's birthday party on Saturday.

These pictures were taken by my friend because I left my camera in the car because honestly, I wasn't expecting this to happen...but then the guy said something about me being a "wimp" and then something about "Cortland" and that was it. Here I was.

The boys LOVED the show...really, these guys were awesome. Boys are so nuts with this stuff...I would NOT be laughing!

And the jury says....

CJ has Eczema all over his hands that has flared up from something he has come in contact with. It could be the pool, it could be a soap, it could be really anything!

I went with my gut and because I am in a PPO and don't need a referral to a specialist, I was able to make an appointment on my own quickly with the PA at Helendale Dermatology and Medical Spa right off of Empire Boulevard in Rochester. Anyway, the whole staff was great there and the office is really cool inside!

Okay...back to CJ and his eczema. She said he could grow out of it, but he may not. Down the road they may choose to do some skin patch testing to try to pinpoint what is causing it, but for now because his hands are so raw, she just wants to treat it. Anyway, this is a far cry from the "dry skin" that Elmwood Pediatrics said. The other thing that really bothers me about it is that they prescribed him a steroid creme and told me to put it on him 3 times a day and then put those spa gloves over it. Well, according to the people at Helendale, that could really hurt him because the amount they prescribed is an adult dose (because he needed it) and keeping the gloves on his hands would give him too MUCH of the steroid and overtime could be harmful. She said it was good that I only had done this once.

She also gave me different medicine for his Athlete's feet because they don't think the over the counter stuff will help him.

This is the second (maybe third) time my pediatrician has "messed" up and you know what they say...three strikes and you are out! My main pediatrician is awesome, but she is only part time and everyone else in the practice knows how awesome she is so I don't normally get appointments with her unless I schedule them FAR in advance. Sick? Forget about it.

So, I spent a while yesterday afternoon getting them switched over to Fairport Pediatrics. I tried to get in there when we first moved here and they were not accepting new patients. Shannon thought that they might be now, so I called and sure enough, they were! Their new Dr. is Dr. Sara Dovichi. She is young and according to Shannon, awesome! So, I hope this is a better fit for us!

Anyway...we will continue with the steroid creme and go back in 3 weeks (July 2nd) for a follow up.

On another note for CJ...we had a tough week school wise because they took all of the kids to see the string concert from this years kids. He is STILL upset over all of that. Last night was the parent concert and parents meeting for next year, so let's hope someone decided not to stay in so CJ can get in. :) I can't take any more tears over all of this. Although, I am sure I will get a few next year when I make him practice and he doesn't want to! LOL!

Anyway...off to Connor's field days today and the zoo with CJ tomorrow! The heat is coming back tomorrow, so it will be time to close up the house and get on the air again!

Oh...and I have a newborn tonight coming here for a shoot. :) I love newborns!

And the Dr. says....

CJ has athletes foot on his feet and severe dry skin on his hands. I am sorry, but if you see his hands right now it appears he has more then just "severe dry skin".

The nurse practitioner (who is probably right) says he thinks he is having a reaction to something he is coming into contact with which is causing his skin to peal which he is then picking which is then causing all of the dry skin in the area that puts him into this cycle of pick...pick...bleed...pick.

When I dropped him off at school I asked his teacher about it and she had not noticed it. She did say that this would explain why he all of a sudden doesn't want to write.

They did give us a prescription for a steroid creme, but I think I am going to get another opinion on this. His hands are a mess and honestly, my gut is that this is more then just dry skin. I hope I am wrong. :)

.nerves.

View Larger HERE.

This is CJ's new thing. I don't know what it is. I don't know if it is the nerves from the end of school? Too much time in the pool. Dry skin. I tried talking to him on Friday when I first noticed it about if something was bothering him or what. He said nothing was, but I think it might be some of each of these things.

He isn't biting them, he picks the skin off with his fingers. Some of the parts of his fingers are so bad that they are actually bleeding in spots.

It HAS to hurt.

I want to cry just looking at them. He can't even eat the right way because the food touching his raw parts of his skin just burns.

I think I am going to try some A&D Ointment, but I don't know. Any ideas?

“Don't be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against, not with the wind.”

“Don't be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against, not with the wind.”, originally uploaded by {kristin W.}.

Aunt Sue brought both of the boys kites on her visit from Kansas City. They have been so excited to fly them...today we finally got that chance.

What a beautiful sky it was!

.pepper.

.pepper., originally uploaded by {kristin W.}.

Once in a while I get to shoot my other love....dogs! Our good friends got a new puppy this past week and I was able to snag a couple of shots of "Pepper" because really, dogs grow up too fast too!!

Pepper is a Shitz Zu and is 10 weeks old and just a ball of soft fur!

Congratulations on your new baby Sean and Julie!

No...I am not....

PREGNANT! :)

For all of you who called today thinking that is what my "exciting" news is you are nuts.

Let me help you for the next time without giving all of the crazy details. Chris and I can't have any more kids so right after we stopped trying I took care of things to take all possibilities away and also help with some other female issues I have...so no need to ever get excited about that! :) We are done and we are both at peace with the decision.

The funny thing is...you want to know what our exciting news is?

We got a in ground basketball hoop for the boys yesterday!! An awesome one...so much nicer then we thought we would be able to get thanks to Chris' mother who GRACIOUSLY made sure the boys got a hoop that would last forever. This one even has a light!! We are so excited about it but need to figure out how to dig a three foot hole in our horrible soil before we can get it up!! Grandma is just amazing and I literally cried when she made it happen for us. The boys are so excited!! THANK YOU!!!

Can you say hot????

First of all....Hillary is out of the race officially now and by the sounds of it finally opened up and relaxed like she should have all along in this race. It sounds like based on the news stories that her speech yesterday was awesome. I wasn't voting for her (I don't like McCain either!), but I loved this quote she said yesterday in her speech that centered on "what her quest had meant to women" -

"It would break my heart if, in falling short of my goal, I in any way discouraged any of you from pursuing yours," she said. "When you stumble, keep faith. And, when you're knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on."

Love it. I honestly think if she would have kicked out all of her campaign advisor's that told her NOT to center on being a woman and being non-controversial, she might be the candidate, but hey...that is why I am not a campaign adviser. :)

Oh....on another note. Last week we were freezing, this weekend it is in the 90's here. Nuts. The high today is 95 and it is just HOT. I am supposed to have a photo shoot this morning at 9:00 to "avoid" the heat for their kids...it looks like I will be calling them because I think it is already 80 or so out there.

Oh...and last night I want to my good friend Shannon's daughters dance recital...it was amazing. Really. Both Taylor and Paige did so well and really are the leaders in their groups for sure! I brought CJ with me, and he sat through all 3 1/2 hours of it and NEVER complained! I was so proud of Paige (4) and her first dance recital. She can be a bit timid at times and I wondered if she would go out on the stage and do her thing in front of all of those people! She did! Wonderfully! Taylor is a pro...I mean she is so good. Her friends look to HER when they are lost and Taylor just seemed like such a natural leader. Anyway...I was so proud of both of them and was so glad I could come and watch them dance. :)

Oh...and in the process if setting up the pool to get ready for this heat this year I filled the entire pool and went to turn the pump on and...nothing. This is the second pool and 3rd pump in 2 years. So I call Intex to see what they can do. Nothing. I ask the girl if there is anything she can do to the fact that we have had to buy 3 pumps in 2 years and she said, "No, it just sucks." Can you imagine if I said that to one of my clients?

Anyway...we can replace the pump for $73.00 and keep a pool that will only get one more year out of it because of its size or we can next size up pool at Target that we can use for a few years more and pay $75.00 more dollars. We went with the bigger pool. Other then it is HUGE and Chris started filling it and it isn't level for that size there. So we need to fix it today before we can fill it more...or else...we will have a big time mess!

Anyway...some other exciting news tell you about...but later. :)

.progress.

.progress., originally uploaded by {kristin W.}.

I had Connor's parent teacher conference for pre-k on Monday and just as I expected he took a few steps back on some behavioral stuff and took a few steps forward academically.

I came so close a couple of times in the middle of the conference from just starting to cry. I know each time it will get easier, but it is so hard hearing stuff bad about your kids all of the time. The daily notes home, the conferences, the e-mails...I know that it doesn't happen ALL of the time, I know Connor isn't really "that" bad, but it is still so hard for me. Why? Because I love him so much.

I have always said that a child's behavior is a direct reflection of what IS or IS NOT going on in the home.

It all came clear to me last week during his graduation from his preschool what Connor's problem is....and honestly, I blame no one other then myself.

What Connor needs it love, attention, strength and affection. He got that from the two amazing teachers he had for preschool 3 days a week at St. John's in the morning.



They hugged him everyday when he walked in the door. When he was sad they hugged him. When he needed attention, they gave it to him. When he graduated last week....they cried. Why? Because they genuinely LOVE these kids like their own. It is a private school and they can do all of that there. Well, guess what? He didn't have the behavioral issues there like he does in the afternoon at Victor pre-k.

Connor needs that love and attention at home too. I didn't give it to him this year. He is home with me all day long. He needs it from me, but I work. At night I catch up around the house. On the weekends I work photo shoots. Let's call a spade a spade, but after much reflection of this I draw one conclusion...as his mother, the person he needs most, I failed Connor.

What is so different about the morning school and the afternoon school? It is a public school. Hugs? Okay. Anything more then that? Not acceptable.

The truth of the matter is that life is not filled with hugs and kisses all of the time. I just think that if I had more time, wasn't so over scheduled and a better ability to give him more attention and nurturing at home instead of having to work all of the time Connor's behavioral issues would be very different.

I just hope and pray that next year things will be better for him. Mrs. Condidorio has been amazing this year, and I hope that next year he is placed with a teacher that will nurture and challenge him all at the same time. It isn't easy.

Anyway, look how much progress he made with his self-portrait! It is so great to see this....academically his is doing an amazing job. I can't wait to see him start reading next year! He is an amazing little boy filled with lots of love. I can't change the past, but I can make sure his future is filled with more brighter days! :)

.flowers from my boys.

The other day at a friends house CJ and Connor picked me these beautiful "lilacs" (they are not lilacs but that is what they thought they were). They were SO excited to give them to me and even put them in this beautiful vase for me! LOL! It is one of those huge plastic "beer bottle" banks that was once filled with popcorn. They actually smell amazing! CJ was all upset this morning because they were dying already. They are such good boys and they love me so much....even when I yell at them. :)

Anyway, I forgot to tell you all about our trip to RG&E this weekend! As you know Chris was selected to cross the picket lines if one of the unions went on strike. So Saturday, CJ's birthday, he had to go into work and pick up all of his "stuff" to get ready. We thought it was going to be a quick trip in and out, so being that it was CJ's birthday we decided to take a family drive to West Ave. :) Those familiar with Rochester know this is not the best part of town.

We drove into the totally fenced in office park complete with security guard stationed in the "watch house". What a joke. Anyway, we park and Chris goes in to get what he needs.

We stopped at Wendy's on the way there to get lunch so the boys had their food and drinks in the back seat.

We sat.

And sat.

And sat.

Then we started fighting.

Punching each other.

Mommy tells them to stop.

They tell Mommy that the other is "enjoying" it so they keep doing it.

I tell them don't cry when someone gets hurt, because it is going to happen. Beating each other up in the back seat can only possibly be enjoyable for so long.

We sit longer.

Laughing turns to crying because exactly what Mommy said was going to happen is.

CJ gets thirsty from all of the beating he is taking and takes a sip of his soda and chokes.

All of you know what is going to happen next.

I knew.

I get out of my seat, open his door, and.....

PUKE.

I was right.

There right in the middle of the RG&E parking lot sat a huge pile of puke.

Everywhere.

Nice.

I bet we gave the security guard some entertainment for a while.

He recovers quickly...but we wait.

Daddy and a guy FINALLY come out and the kids start yelling out the windows at him. Nice.

I panic. What if they walk over to the car and step in the puke?

I move the car so that they don't come over where we were. They walk to a meter reader truck and sit in it....forever.

We sit more.

Finally they are done. I have to pee so bad I want to cry. The boys are telling me to go in the bushes. I can't do that. I can't leave either. There is no place to go potty in this part of town that I can bring the kids into and go.

I pray Chris comes to the car.

No.

He goes back into the building...and walks within FEET of this big pile of puke. Can you imagine if he had stepped in it?

I have no choice other then to try to get into the building.

Locked. You need an employee badge to get in (remember, bad part of town?)

I just want to cry.

Finally Chris comes out and lets me in the building before I pee my pants.

I made it though another exciting adventure of the Williams family alive.

Never, ever a dull moment!

Continental Annouces Layoffs...

Continental Airlines today announced that they would lay off 3000 workers and cut flights by 11% in September. As many of you know, my brother just took the leap from Continental Express to Continental and has expected this for a few weeks now. Because of the structure of the two companies as totally different companies, Brian is now is at the bottom of the seniority list and I think expects to be included in this 3000.

I am so impressed with my brothers attitude with this whole thing...he is ready for it. He already has resumes out there at the NTSB, FBI and other places where he can use his pilot skills in fields other then the airlines which he really thinks are in some serious trouble due to the cost of gas, etc.

Anyway, keep my brother and his family in your thoughts...and if anyone has any connections or needs a amazing well trained 737 pilot let me know. :) Brian would do well in any industry but has his bachelors in Aeronautical Science and is very close to his masters in Flight Safety Investigation from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

.the longest blog post ever.

I hear you...I know, I know...I am so behind on my blogging. Let me tell you...I am it is so fun to watch your kids enjoy their birthday festivities every year, but man...does it seem like they never end? I feel like ALL I have been doing is running around with me head cut off for 2 weeks straight! Thank GOD I didn't have photo shoots on top of all of it.

Anyway, as many of you know, my Grandma, Aunt Sue and Uncle Russ were in town Memorial Day weekend from Kansas City - my hometown! Auhhh...I bet you didn't know I was born in Kansas City. :) Anyway, they DROVE here...nuts...my Grandma is in her mid 80's and I can't imagine driving for 16 hours at 33, let alone at 83. They made it though and it was GREAT to see all of them. I had not seen my Uncle Russ since high school and I had not seen my Aunt Sue and Grandma for a few years either. The boys always think it is cool that they have a Great Grandma. She is doing great! I really wanted to get some better pictures of the boys with her, but I waited until the last night she was in town and she wasn't feeling well, so all I got is this one.



Anyway, CJ had a great party...there were over 50 people here! Tons of kids, ton's of fun. Thank you to all of those who came and brought some awesome food. I swear...Chris and I have the best friends in the world. Really. All of you mean so much to us!



Anyway, on Sunday morning Chris and I made sure we were still in the running for "Parents of the Year" because we finally broke down and bought CJ a trampoline for his birthday. I know, I know...."don't tell the insurance company", "I hope you have rules", "those things are so dangerous". Believe me, in the last week Chris and I have heard 100's of stories from people who have had kids lose legs on these things (just kidding, but it feels like it). So why did we do it? Because CJ has wanted one FOREVER...well, that is not the only reason. Our neighbors have one and that is where the kids have been all spring long. The problem is that this house is about 10 houses from our house and their backyard is in the woods and for some reason this year I can't stop thinking about all of the bees. They are EVERYWHERE. If the boys love the trampoline that much I would rather have them jumping in my backyard where I am right there in case Connor gets stung. And...well...another reason is that I have a LONG 2 months a head of me when school gets out. The boys will be home with me for 2 months and honestly, I hope they spend a couple hours a day jumping on this thing burning calories while I sit on the deck hooked up to my wireless network/VPN working. Time will tell, but I am keeping my fingers crossed. For all of you worried about our "rules", don't worry. Because of their weight only CJ and Connor are allowed on at once so that pretty much scares the neighborhood kids away. We have only had a few kids try to get on and I told them to go home and ask their parents and have them call me if it is okay. The kids are too lazy to do that so they just find something else to do. :) Anyway...I am enjoying trying to take pictures of the kids jumping. As you can see, it isn't easy!



On Sunday we went on the Canandaigua Lady which is a little tour boat that goes around Canandaigua Lake with Grandma and the rest of the KC gang. It really was an awesome ride, the boys had a blast and CJ left saying "this was the best day ever" so that is good! It was a beautiful day and it seemed like Grandma really enjoyed it!





Monday we had the Memorial Day parade for baseball/softball. As you know, Chris coaches the boys and I help coach a little girls softball team. I just love these girls. Really, they are so much fun. Here I am with Shannon's little girl T.



Then there was a crazy short week at work, followed by a crazy Friday with CJ's 7 year well child visit. I walk in and they hand me a form on the 7th year and what does it say at the bottom? Keep your kids off of trampolines. Yes, again, Mother of the Year. By the way, he is 4 foot 4 inches tall and 96 lbs. So, Connor is 1 lb. heavier and 2 inches shorter. Dr. Murphy was really impressed with CJ's healthy choices over the last year and she was really pleased with his "slow down" in the weight gain. Of course....what does he say back to her? "Well, my belly is getting smaller because I have been jumping on my new trampoline!" I guess it is time to start coaching what to say to who. :) Nice.

So we left the Dr. after CJ freaked out about getting a shot and headed back to drop off CJ in time for some "bird assembly" that was going on at school. I had to walk him down to it and ended up staying for a minute and then walking him back to his classroom. Off to go get Connor at Shannons, bring him home, feed him, run to Wegman's, bring him back to school, and then go back to CJ's school with his birthday snack. Is his birthday over with?

No. It hasn't even really BEEN his birthday yet.

Finally, the actual birthday has finally arrived. The boys had a game in the morning, then we went to this pottery place in the village to paint pottery, and we went to RG&E for an adventure (more details on this later, this blog post is already too long). We stopped to get the cake and last minute stuff on the way home and made it back JUST in time for his kids party and Auburn Creek Driving Range and Mini Golf Course. Anyway, other then a thunderstorm in the middle of the party it went great. CJ had a blast and it seemed like all of his friends did too.

CJ was so sad when it was all over with. I remember feeling this way as a kid. As for Chris and I? We were so glad. It was a 2 week party and as much as we don't want to wish time away, it was exhausting!

Yesterday I had a photo shoot in the morning with my friend Michelle's boys. She has twins and a Freshman in high school. We went down to the village of Victor and hung out and really had a great time!





I was thrilled with the pictures I got with them!

Then it was off to the Red Wings game for Victor Baseball and Softball day. :) We marched around the field with our teams and them watched a few innings of the game before we had to leave to CJ's travel game in Sweden. We got home around 6:30 and I just wanted to crash.

Anyway....there are so many more details to all of this, but you get the picture. I have more pictures of all of these events too! Maybe I will get a minute this week to download them.

I will get on tomorrow and blog about the RG&E trip...that was an experience. Oh...and they have not gone on strike yet, but Chris is ready to go this week if they do! Keep your fingers cross that he doesn't have to.

Anyway...I missed all of you! If you made it this far....wow.

Holy long run on post.