Camera

So, the news on my Nikon D5000 was not good. Everything is basically toast except for the shell of the camera....and that doesn't do me much good.

Although I certainly hadn't planned on buying a new camera anytime soon, I am now the proud new owner of a Nikon D3100. It arrived yesterday (purchased online: great deal, no tax, no shipping). I just needed the camera body itself because thankfully my lenses are all fine.

I LOVE my new little camera. It has features that my other one did not (even though I technically downgraded...ah, technology). It has a "guide" feature that is awesome for someone like me. I know enough to act like I know something, but I am really camera stupid.

Anyway, yay for our new little family member: 3100. :) The mamarazzi will be back in action very soon!

air

I just caved and turned on the air conditioner. It was just too humid....

Meg's Wedding Weekend!!! (my poor camera....)

My poor camera has suffered a bit of water damage. I am heart broken. It won't turn on now, and I missed photographing a WONDERFUL wedding weekend celebrating Meg and Jeremy in Jekyll Island, Georgia at the historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel. I only have a couple of shots that I snagged with my mom's camera. Hopefully my camera will be diagnosed and fixed quickly (and without great cost) or I will have to bit the bullet and fork over the $ for another one....

I hope to add more pictures taken with the cameras of my beautiful friends. :)

Cruiser

The garage sale was a success. I will post more later, but we made $250. We just spent $150 on a new "loser" Cruiser for me and a new baseball tee for Connor...and a few other goodies at Walmart. Nothing like a late night shopping spree on a Friday night!

Garage Sale time.....Toes.

I am finally getting ready for our neighborhood garage sale....it starts tomorrow night... Aside from my general procrastination, this afternoon's events were a pretty big set back. While moving a table we borrowed from the clubhouse for the sale, I managed to mangle my foot. I don't know exactly what happened, but it involved the only table leg that was missing the rubber cap on the bottom. I mainly just remember thinking I must have broken my toe and then doing a little pain dance in our garage. I will say that I did not scream or swear. :)

I saw blood pretty quickly and when I touched the nail of my second toe, blood squirted from underneath. I knew right away I was going to lose that nail and I didn't want to yank it off myself. So, I gathered Connor and proceeded to take a stroll down the street to see if Tammy could be my stand in mom/nurse/doctor and take care of the nastiness. There were plenty of kids to keep Connor busy, so operation nail removal and bandage began.

Although I don't have a good picture, in addition to the nail coming off, my third toe is sliced on the inside from half way down the toe to the end. Initially, I wasn't sure if I needed stitches or not, but I'm confident I do not. I had a tetanus shot about 4 years ago, so I think I'm good. Anyway...fun stuff.
Nurse Rita (another neighbor) since poured peroxide all over my toes....ouch...and redid my bandage, separating my 2nd and third toes and used a non-stick pad for my nail. The gauze was only on it for about 2 hours, but just in that time it hurt like the dickens getting it off.

I'm really fine, but it wasn't a planned part of my day, that is for sure. It is going to be a pain not going in the lake for a while until there is at least tough skin on it and my foot is going to look lovely with my cute wedding shoes for next week. :o) As soon as there is skin, I'm going to paint it with the dark polish. I don't think any poison will seep in...

Connor, the graffiti artist....

So, it is funny....now.

Long story short:
Working on stuff for one of the weddings I'm designing.
Ribbon for napkin rings too bright.
Spray painting the 1.5" satin ribbon in the garage to be more "eggplant"
Almost finished with 125 napkin ring/bands.
Hear a spraying sound coming from the garage.
Takes 1.5 seconds for me to realize what is happening.
Run to garage to grab purple spray paint and look for damage.
Connor is clean, no visible paint spot on garage floor.

45 minutes later....

Take 3 large boxes of wedding stuff to post office.
Trying to make it before they close at 5:00.
Toss Connor in the car (seat on the passenger side, in the back...obviously)
Notice a GIANT purple spot on the front passenger door of Brian's car.
His company car....that gets inspected during his "field rides" with his manager.
Go to post office.
Thinking how in the world am I going to get this off....
"Connor, did you paint Daddy's car?"
"Yes, purple pretty....good job painting."
Not so much, kiddo.

Home.
Connor must lay down for a nap before I kill him...no nap yet today and it is now 5:08.
Go back out to the garage before Brian notices I'm up to something.
Windex (with vinegar), liquid dish soap and a pot scrubber in hand.
90 seconds of circular strokes and a lot of pressure.
No more purple paint.
Crisis averted.
Come inside and tell Brian that his car is dark gray again, & no longer purple.

I'm sorry I have no pictures....I thought about it, but it would not have been funny at all if I hadn't been able to get it off.

And for the record, Brian would not have flipped out, but I'm sure he would not have been thrilled. Besides, I was mad at myself for leaving an almost empty can of spray paint on the garage floor. The little bugger is smart and very dexterous...

Mr. Independent

I know I have back posts to do....however, this was worthy of a post.

Usually when I call Connor "Mr. Independent" it is because his determined spirit is shining through. It can be very adorable and simultaneously maddening. When he does "big boy" things all by himself, it frequently takes more than twice the amount of time it would take me. Or if I insist on doing it anyway, there is a good possibility he will throw a fit because he wants to do it himself (alone) and I usually give in. (I don't encourage the fits at all, but it frequently just isn't worth it.) So in these cases the whole scenario takes about 5 times as long as normal. (think getting into his car seat, putting on his own underwear/pants, etc.)

Well, C had a late nap today so although it was late, he got himself out a chocate (cha-ket) pudding (pood-en). I was about to get his drink ready and decided to go was my face and brush my teeth for bed instead. While I was busy doing that, he was alone in the kitchen. Several minutes go by. He comes walking into my bathroom, "all finished, mom". "Good job, Bud! All by yourself!" (and he wasn't covered in pudding from head to toe!!)

The absolutely amazing part is that when I went back into the kitchen to get his drink. He'd turned off all the lights. Then I asked where his empty pudding cup was...."trash, mom". As I was walking over to get his spoon out of the trash that I was sure he'd tossed in too...."did you throw your spoon away?" "No, Mom...in the sink." There it was, in the sink....even on the correct side, opposite the disposer. "All by self, mom!"

I am still amazed at my independent little man. I guess all that time I've spent letting him be adventurous and do things on his own is finally paying off. :) Maybe he'll unload the dishwasher on his own next week?! ;)

After tucking him into bed (following stories and prayers....his prayers are soooooo sweet) I asked if his music was too loud. "Just a little bit, but don't turn it off. Just down." So much for me expecting a simple "yes" or "no".

Oh, and he took his first shower alone today. I was still close by to wash his hair and scrub him down after being in the lake (very chilly lake) but he was in there totally solo!

Connor is 2 and three quarters...

I just pulled these from the low resolution CD.... I have prints for family. :)

By the way, I would have gotten the most of the one on the left, except the stupid background was tan. I hate that stupid background because white people with blonde hair just blend into the background. I much prefer it after a little Photoshopping to make it gray.

So, I got the black ones as the $9.95 special. Besides, you can really see one of his fangs in that one. :)