a giant fish returns to the store...

My job as a mother and wife, involves some interesting tasks. Walter came home from work last Tuesday and this was our conversation:
"So, I kind of splurged and bought something on my way home from work."
"Okay, what did you buy?"
"Well...I need to show it to you on the computer first, that way you can see how cool it will be."
That's never a good sign...


He then shared a You Tube video of an enormous fish floating through a house. He bought an enormous, helium filled, RC fish.

Shortly after this, I left for a get-together for area photographers and Walter was going to put together the fish with the kids. I walked in the door later to Isaac screaming, and a very angry husband. The fish was missing the tail fin and apparently that's what propels it. I know, usually you would check the box for all items before assembly...not if you're a man. I assumed my task as damage control and assured him that I would take care of this situation.

After a few phone calls, I found out that the toy store would either replace the fish or give a full refund. Phew! The problem: I had to take the blown up fish back to the store...with two kids in tow. I couldn't help laughing at myself and the fact that I was trying to figure out the logistics of taking all of this stuff, including a four foot long fish, back to the store. It was pretty comical.

Random...

That toy Isabella is holding, I'm pretty sure someone who couldn't stand their parents invented it. I always hide it, and it always re-appears.

Walter insisted we needed a picture of me controlling the fish...

Our friend Adrianne, celebrated her thirtieth birthday on Friday night. Eric and some friends organized one of those murder mystery dinner parties...it was the best party I've ever been to! The party was set in the 20s and so we all wore appropriate attire and I changed all of the pictures to black and white (probably should have added some grain for added effect). Adrianne was the murderer! 

Neville the Nose Nutella...

Baroness Ravioli... 

My mom did my hair!

Rebecca Ravioli (my grand-daughter)

Don Wannabe...

Adrianne looked so pretty!

(I'm sorry Eric, I forget your character's name!)

Don and Meme Wannabe

Mr. and Mrs. Star

Al Capone and (I can't remember Kristen's character name because my character was supposed to call her a "gold digger" as many times as possible that night, so that's all I remember)...

Big Jim (my son)...

Vicki Ravioli...

Milo, as Milo...

Nathan and Amanda

When Walter's cousin Nathan got married, I offered to take pictures for them at their reception since they only had a photographer for the ceremony. Most weddings end up experiencing some sort of snag and unfortunately for these two, they were both sick on their wedding day. When they arrived at the reception, I asked Amanda if the photographer had already taken pictures of just her. She hadn't, so I offered to take bridal portraits while Nathan and Walter drove back to the church to pick up a missing CD.

After Isabella was born, I told Walter that weddings should have a mother-daughter dance (I already have our song picked out). Hooray for Amanda for having a mother-daughter dance. It made me smile...

my cowboy boots and an outhouse...

On Sunday we all needed a trip out of the house, and it was a beautiful day, so we decided to attempt a family picture. Isaac enjoyed the change of scenery and was the happiest he's been since the surgery. He's healing well and quickly, which is wonderful.

Eating at restaurant with two small children requires, patience, careful choosing when it comes to your meal choice, and what often happens in our situation, is one of us has to leave the restaurant and walk around with Isaac. Well, this totally worked to my benefit while we were on vacation because I was doing just that, walking around a store with Isaac while waiting for my turn to eat (if you don't have kids, that probably sounds really weird--just wait) when I happened upon my dream come true: a pair of dark red cowboy boots (bright red might be my real dream, but these will do). Do you want to know my dream vacation? Okay, I'm going to tell you. A week at a dude ranch. We're going to do it when the kids get older, and you'd better believe I'll have my cowboy boots with me (maybe I'll even get Walter to wear a pair--probably not). Anyway, I'm in love with my boots and they make me feel very tall and very cool. Although, my sister may have a different opinion since a couple years ago she told me, "Just because they sell them (cowboy boots) in the store, doesn't mean you should buy them." Deep down, she's just jealous.

We wanted to sit a little further away from the barn, but Isaac vetoed that idea.

He really liked when Walter and I were jumping up and down making silly faces...
(Isabella had a perfect smile for her preschool pictures and now I get this ridiculous one. I asked her why she doesn't smile nicely for my pictures and she told me that she only likes to smile when "other people make pictures.")

Walter's brilliant idea was to take a picture in front of the outhouse, and apparently, I didn't do it right because what he really wanted was more emphasis on the outhouse...hmmmm...

We'll probably try again for some better pictures, or maybe I'll have this professional photographer I just happen to know, take our family picture. 

two babies...

Milo is already two months old and the Lily (in the pictures after Milo) is close to two months old. So yeah, it's taken me awhile to get this done. 

I recently read an interview featuring two newborn photographers who said that they spend four hours taking newborn photos. That's crazy and obviously they've never had children. And if they did, I would like whatever super drug they were on after giving birth. My goal with a newborn shoot, is to get in there, get it done, and leave so that everyone can take a nap. But in their defense, I'm sure their posing is perfect and they take the time to do those pictures where the baby looks like it's hanging in the air. I prefer my babies to remain safely on the ground. 

I'm pretty sure the next pose was Michael's idea...

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Lily, who literally slept the entire time. At one point she thought about opening her eyes but decided that was way to much work...

Alex, the very proud big brother! Thanks for letting Isaac play with your trucks and legos!