Mommy Notes

Hi Kiddos,

Mommy here. I feel the need to apologize to you publicly. I've spent much time pondering my parenting of late {being the new year and hope for new improvements and all that jazz} and can't say I'm quite pleased with myself. Heck, I'm downright disappointed {in me, not you}. I've been cranky, inconsistent and surly. I'm heartbroken to realize that overwhelmed and impatient is my par for the course these days. I know it has been a very difficult year for our family and I'm supposed to protect and shelter my little ones from the nastiness of life, without bringing my own nastiness into the mix. I'm so very sorry.

Let me just put it out there that I'm not perfect nor do I believe in perfection. But I do believe in doing your absolute best at any given moment. That is where I feel I have failed you and where I want to improve. Significantly. So, I will begin to listen more, breathe deeper, reflect before I respond, and show more understanding. I won't sweat the small stuff {but I do have to say that picking up your room or not complaining about dinner or doing a helpful act without me asking you to do it 15 times or using a respectful tone when you answer me once in a while would go a long way to helping me on my journey}.

My sarcasm? That one will take a bit more work.

The fact is that you babes are my lifeline. You are my soul and my heart and my spirit. Your giggles and smiles and the twinkles in your eyes is everything to me. I love you from here to the moon and back. From here to Saturn's rings and back. From here to Pluto {or whatever it is now called...will always be Pluto to me} and back. Arms wide open, heart on my sleeve, dreams come alive - you are my loves.

So I resolve to work on me, work on my parenting, and find my way back to my inner zen.

I love you truly and forever and unconditionally.
Mommy

PS. A little patience with me would be appreciated, as well as a little photo cooperation now and then. In my reflections, I have also realized how much a beautiful photograph of my angels means to me. A lovely photo of all of you now and then would certainly help my mommy skills {hint, hint}.

PPS. Note that no such photo is part of my open letter to you. I don't have one. No sarcasm here, just letting you know.

PPPS. Little A let me get a few snaps of him today so we should have a good evening together. Especially if you don't give me crap silliness about doing your homework. See, I'm already improving my communication skills! <3

It's not clickin' right now

I mean, how could it, with such charming images like these? My children want nothing to do with the camera in their face. And I must say, with photos like these, I haven't much wanted to take their pictures!

Just going for a cute holiday time photo here. I love how when the camera comes out, the eyes look elsewhere. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.


Ooo, this is a classic! Nine year old attitude. And MAJOR homework attitude.


At least he is smiling! Covered in oatmeal, yes, but smiling!


Gotta love the food stuck in the snot photos! Doesn't this make you just want to eat him up?!


I think I'm going to post the holiday photo card out takes. They are REALLY GOOD for a laugh and to brighten up the gloomy, frigid days we are having! Maybe after that I'll get the urge to click away again.

Thank you so much to everyone who supported my holiday card fundraiser! With your help, I am able to send a nice check to my family member to support her cancer treatment. All of your kind words and positive thoughts are certain to help fill her with positive energy in the upcoming months.

I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2010. I know I am looking forward to the new year with lots of hopes for a very uplifting year. To quote Albert Einstein, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”

Holiday Card Update

Thank you so much to everyone for your support of the holiday card fundraiser for a very special person fighting cancer. I've created a few new designs for people and have added them to my post below. There is still time to order your holiday cards, so please consider donating to a very worthy cause and getting a special unique design in return!

Buy a Holiday Card Design and Help a Special Family!

I created several holiday card designs this year and am going to give them to anyone who wants them. All you have to do is make a donation to a fundraiser for a very special family. You will then have a unique holiday card design that you can print where ever you want!

A close relative was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer this summer. Friends and family are gathering together to help raise funds for her treatment and to show this special mom and her family how much we care about them.

My husband went through chemotherapy over the summer for testicular cancer and he is doing well. We want the same outcome for our relative and hope that by raising funds for the treatments we can do a small part to show our support.

So here's the deal...

Donate $20 and I'll add your photo (that you send me) and personalize any card design for you. I'll then send you a high quality image for you to upload to your printer of choice. Or I'll personalize one of the scenic cards for you.

Donate $25 and I'll convert your photo to a lovely black & white image, personalize the card, and send you the high quality image for you to upload to your printer of choice.

You want a one of a kind design? Let me know what you are looking for and for a $250 or greater donation, I'll create it for you.

*NOTE: I have discovered that many places do not allow you to upload your own design for their holiday card specials. So if you would like to print at one of the big box stores all you need to do is print your image as a 4x8 or 5x7 photo and then purchase envelopes on your own.

Another option if you want envelopes included is to print at:

My account at zenfolio.com. I'll upload your customized card design to my account, send you the link and you can order directly from them at cost (I will not receive a profit on this). You can order 4x8 prints, with envelopes for 45 cents each.

-OR-

www.scrapbookpictures.com
www.MPix.com - greeting cards/diy option
Costco - their size for holiday cards with envelopes is 6-1/2"x7" and I can size all of my designs to fit their specifications.

I have ordered from these 3 places many times and have always been pleased with their quality and they have competitive pricing on their prints. I'll send you step-by-step instructions on how to upload a photo at any of these places.

My husband found that www.vistaprint.com allows you to print your own designs as well for a very good price. I've never printed photos there so I'm not sure of the quality but it is certainly another option if you want envelopes included.

Finally, if you don't want to handle the printing aspect yourself, I will print the cards for you and I'll ship them to you. I'll use my pro lab and offer special low pricing for the fundraiser. Contact me for the details and I'll send you a price list.


If you are a photographer and want the layered files to use with your client's images, which are sized to WHCC's guidelines with their templates:

Donate $10 and I'll send you any one layered file, created in Photoshop CS4 and compatible with previous versions

Donate $25 and I'll send you any 3 of the layered files.

Donate $50 and I'll send you any 8 of the layered files.

Of course you may always make a larger donation if you so choose. :-) Please know that you will be helping a very special family as they go through these challenging months.

Positive thoughts and prayers for the mom, dad and their two young children are immensely appreciated!

Donate here by clicking the "Donate" button below. Your donation will go through PayPal, and all monies will be given to this family. I'll contact you after I receive your donation to complete the holiday card customization. Be sure to include a valid email address where you can be reached. If you are ordering the templates only, list which templates you would like in the message box in Paypal. Please allow 3-5 days for delivery of a personalized file; allow 24 hours for delivery of non-personalized/layered files.

Thank you so very much!

Card 1, 4x8"


Card 2, 4x8"


Card 3, 4x8"


Card 4, 4x8"


Card 22, 4x8" (yes, these next few cards are numbered out of order)


Card 23, 4x8"


Card 24, 4x8"


Card 25, 4x8"



Card 5, 5x7"


Card 6, 5x7"


Card 7, 5x7"


Card 8, 5x7"


Card 9, 5x7" Note: If you are ordering the template of this design, it comes will all 3 colors below


Card 10, 5x7"


Card 11, 5x7"


Card 12, 5x7"


Card 13, 5x7"


Card 14, 5x7"


Card 15, 5x7"


Card 16, 5x7"


Card 17, 5x7"


Card 18, 5x7"



Don't do family, kid or pet picture cards? Here are some scenic cards you might be interested in:

Card 19, 5x7"


Card 20, 5x7"


Card 21,5x7"