2009 November

Why whining like a four year old doesn’t make you popular

November 30, 2009 By Heather 4 Comments

I honestly don’t even know where to begin.

I am sure that the reason for the outcome in this situation is the fact that I am organizationally challenged and I tend to get overwhelmed easy.

We were living in Jacksonville, FL and my husband was stationed aboard a frigate in Mayport. If you know anything about ships you know that in the frigate is about as small as you can get.

Everybody knows everyone on a frigate. Its just and approx. 200 sailors on that ship. You don’t have the same anonymity you would have say if you were on an air craft carrier with a crew size of about 5,500.

For whatever reason, I wanted to fit in. I had this idea of the ideal Navy Family life and part of this life was forming lasting friendships with other families stationed on our ship. They would be on the same deployment schedule as us, it would be fantastic!

The husband calls from the base one afternoon and tells me of how he is bring home a shipmate and his wife. Other might also be joining us at our house later. Normally I would be so excited about the prospect of getting to meet people, but…..

The house was a wreck, I hadn’t showered in days (did I mention that we lived in Florida with a broken AC) and since hubs had been gone for the last week out to sea-his girls were getting on my last nerve.

He tells me they will be at the house in a few hours. I try to syke myself up for the clean sweep that my house would need and hopefully be able to get in the shower. The toddler and the preschooler had other plans.

They both became whiney and clingy. They wouldn’t pick up their playroom and proceeded to bring it out into the living area.

When I tried to put them in their room for quiet time, it just got more chaotic. And when I broke out the sweeper, the baby freaked. You would have thought she never had seen a sweeper before in her life.

I decided to jump in the shower and bring the girls along with me, a quick rinse off and we would all be good as new.

Those are some famous last words if I ever heard them.

Quickly getting dressed, Giggles whining “Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom…..Mom, Mom, Mom….” behind me the whole time. The baby is crying and I just snap.

I scream “That’s IT! I’ve had it-how to you like getting whined at constantly!”

I bend down in her face and proceed to immitate my 4 year old in the whinest voice I could muster (did I mention that our AC was broken, so all the windows were OPEN)

Suddenly the baby squeals with delight as she sees her daddy in the front yard, the dog was barking, and it was then and only then that I see six people I vaguely know from the ship, standing in my front yard with their jaws on the ground.

Jeremy is coming up to the house he mutters to me “Real Classy, Babe, real classy.”

I ask how long they have been there and his reply “Long enough.”

I go outside to try to apologize, but none of these people have kids. They didn’t understand that single parenting two little girls in the massive heat of Florida without an AC is enough to make anybody snap. It didn’t matter.

No one came in that day. They all made excuses why they couldn’t stay.

But Jeremy & I always knew why they couldn’t….because who wants to hang out with the 20 something year old that whines better than her 4 year old.

This rough first draft post was inspired by my most embarrasing moment. I am taking place in a {w}rites of passage-taking the challenge to write well. Please feel free to join us to help get in touch with your voice and let it all hang out. We’d love to have you!

Filed Under: cherishing each and every day with my family and children, NaBloPoMo, over achiver challenge with write of passage

Weekly Winners-My Friend’s Baby Edition

November 29, 2009 By Heather 8 Comments

This week wasn’t photo filled, which is unusual, but might be because one day I went out with a dead battery and another day I went out without a card in my camera.

On Tuesday I went to hang out with one of my best friends & her daughter. She is such the little ham. She almost makes me want to have another.

Almost.

She turns one tomorrow, I can’t believe it! Where did the year go?

Although to her defense I never told her she couldn’t get older, unlike a certain nephew.

Because if I was going to freeze a child at a certain age, well, I would probably be kind to the parents and do it after they are potty trained.

The Joys of Standing

Such innocent eyes

She’s making some plans

You Found Me!

Happiness is a hug from your Mommy

To view the rest of the photos from that day & to see others I have shot check out my Flickr Stream
To see other awesome shots from other shutterbugs check out Lotus’s Weekly Winners Post

Filed Under: friendships, having fun with someone else's baby, NaBloPoMo, photography, taking pictures with my camera

Come take a look with me….

November 28, 2009 By Heather Leave a Comment

Instead of a long post heavy with words I thought I would share my aunt’s quilting studio.

I find such peace in that old mill house and all the things there.

Sometimes I find myself jealous that I don’t have the grand space that she has.

And then I remember, she started out with a small room for her machine as well.

Don’t forget you only have 2 days left to enter for the 16×20 rolled canvas!

Filed Under: heather durdil photography, NaBloPoMo, photography, photos I took in exchange for my very own iPod

Even if you don’t believe you can make a difference

November 27, 2009 By Heather Leave a Comment

Last week when we went to the mall, twice, we walked through Macy’s.

Inside Macy’s right before walking into the mall itself was a giant red mail box that said ‘Believe’ on it. Not sure what it was, we stopped to check it out.

This year Macy’s is doing something so simple to make a huge impact in our community. For each letter that you write to Santa and drop in their Believe mailbox at Macy’s they will donate $1 to the Make a Wish Foundation. You can read about it here.

So even though The Chicken and her friend realize that Santa isn’t coming to their houses, they still believe in the magic of the season and making a difference in someone’s lives. So this holiday season I encourage you while you are out in the hustle and bustle to take a few moments with your kiddos to write a letter to the big guy and help out those that could truly use a bit of magic in their lives as well.

FTC Disclosure: I am writing this post because I want to share a bit of the magic of the holiday season. Macy’s has no clue that I have written, or that I even exist given that we didn’t actually buy anything while we were in the store.

Filed Under: Its the little things that make such a huge difference, NaBloPoMo, seeing the magic of the season through my daughter's eyes

You Capture-The Thanksgiving Edition

November 26, 2009 By Heather 8 Comments

This week’s You Capture’s theme was Food. And being that today was Thanksgiving, I just knew I would take some awesome photos of food.

What I didn’t know was that I would be making turkey. And if you don’t know why I am fearful of turkey you really need to read it for yourself. So not only was I taking photos of food-or however I interputed it-I would be stepping out of the box with the Turkey making also.

Our food prep started the night before with making some foods that needs to be served cool or could be easily reheated.

I decided that instead of Googling recipes I would use the handmade cookbook Jeremy’s grandmother made for me back in 1995.

This recipe is the ultimate comfort food-in fact I have the dough chilling right now.

Then from Today, Its roasted to perfection.

And finally the meal worth waiting 13 years for being enjoyed by my family.

For this I am Thankful.

So to my dear Friends-I hope your Thanksgiving or Thursday was a rememberable one!

Don’t forget to enter the contest for the 16×20 rolled canvas!

Filed Under: capturing moments for which I am thankful, NaBloPoMo, photography, you capture

Terrors of Thanksgiving Past

November 26, 2009 By Heather Leave a Comment

Let me take you back to a Thanksgiving past, one that I have tried to shove to the recesses of my brain never to be brought back out again.

The setting: Our Condo in San Diego on Thanksgiving 1996

The story:

My husband was in the Navy and stationed at the ASW base in San Diego, Alexis & I recently joined him in late July of that past summer. This would be our first Thanksgiving away from family or really close friends that had fed us Thanksgiving dinner the year prior when we were stationed in Orlando.

I was a newish bride, not quite having 2 years of marriage under my belt. I had this idea in my head of the perfect Thanksgiving meal. We invited a couple friends of Jeremy’s from the base to eat with us and they accepted happily. Because seriously who wants to be in the mess hall on Thanksgiving.

A little less than a week prior to the big day Jeremy, toddler Alexis, and I went to our friendly neighborhood Ralph’s to procure all the necessary ingredients for the big day. What a glorious feast we would have, we looked forward to it was anxious anticipation (on a side note, I can’t believe I spelled anticipation correctly the first time without spell check)

The turkey, whose brand shall remain nameless ~~because seriously who remembers a brand name after 13 years~~ to protect the innocent, was large, probably a good 17-20 pound bird came home and lived out its week in the bottom shelf of my fridge. Yes, Tom the Turkey was frozen when we bought him, but I was reassured that the turkey should be thawed out in time for the big day.

When the big day arrives we all wake up later than usual. That’s okay, we will just eat a bit later than originally planned I thought, and since I was cooking, everyone agreed with me. ~~Because really, what choice did they have?~~

I get the turkey seasoned and in its pan. I forget to preheat the oven, but I think in the long run it should be okay, I will just put the turkey in for a bit longer. I break out the brand new baster I had bought the day before. I was so damn excited to use that baster.

When I spoke to my mother in law just the day before Thanksgiving, she asked me if I remembered the baster and I told her I had one. She told me to just remember to baste the turkey whenever I remembered.

My husband had to nearly physically restrain me because I remembered nearly every ten minutes. I would go into the kitchen, baster in hand, to check on and baste the bird. Each time I opened that oven I would think of me in my apron (but not really because I didn’t own an apron) smiling while bringing my husband this giant, perfectly roasted bird on a platter. He would smile and carve the bird and it would be perfection.

These were also the days prior to my owning a meat thermometer. Which I learned later was the biggest source of my downfall.

The little button on the turkey popped up, indicating it was done, a full hour before I thought I should be done. No worries though, I would let the bird rest and finish making up the other sides to our dinner.

The table was set, the video camera set up so that we could send these warm family memories back home, and the turkey was being carved when my wonderful husband asks…

“Honey, are you sure that the turkey is done?”

“Why yes, love, the little button popped up telling us so.”

“Ummm, well……” he stammers

I come into the kitchen, surely to find the most juiciest turkey and surely he was just pulling my leg and just wants to thank for the wonderful meal away from the prying eyes of our 23 month old, his friends, and the video camera.

I turn the corner to the kitchen and stop dead in my tracks.

“Why is there pink water all over the counter and floor?” I ask my dear husband

“That is what I asking you about. I don’t think this turkey is done, in fact the turkey is cold in the center. Its pink and raw. I am pretty sure this thing isn’t done.”

So we take what pieces look done-ish and pan fry them just to be sure.

We all sit down to my perfectly made table with festive dinner music playing the background and start to eat.

My mashed potatoes were crunchy.

My cranberry jelly sauce was melty.

The rolls, they were slightly more done on the bottom than on the top.

The gravy was lumpy, but not in that good ole fashion way lumpy.

The green bean casserole was goopy.

The stuffing….well, let’s not even talk about the stuffing.

And the turkey, well….I couldn’t get that pink blood out of my head and so it was awful.

Everyone was trying to eat this awful meal. We had spent a good chunk of our grocery budget on the Thanksgiving meal and we were planning on eating leftovers for a few days.

The turkey was raw, cutting chunks off of it to grill or pan fry for other meals was disgusting. And it was then and there that I decided I would NEVER make turkey for Thanksgiving again.

That is until today. We went to the store to pick up the ham and there was one lone fresh turkey. The girls stood by this turkey, protecting it from others, and looked at me with those faces.

Now normally I am not a sucker for ‘those’ faces, but they really laid the guilt on thick. They really wanted a traditional Thanksgiving meal. I looked at the turkey and then I longingly looked over to the ham waiting for me. I took one last look at my girls, standing by that fresh Butterball and knew I had no choice, I was going to be forced to face my fears and make a turkey.

Now, I admit I am freaking out a bit on the inside. I am really hoping that things work out for the best. And come 3 o’clock tomorrow-if it doesn’t work out. Well, I bought a pack of hot dogs, just in case.

Filed Under: NaBloPoMo, thanksgivings of years gone past, things I do for my kids

Because a 50% off sale makes everyone smile….well mostly everyone

November 24, 2009 By Heather 5 Comments

Yesterday we went to the mall with my mother.

We also went on Sunday-with my mother.

Two days at the mall in a row-not something I like to do often, especially with the girls. They see sale signs and they go all bezurk trying to get me to get them this or that. They suddenly have NOTHING to wear at all.

You would think that I sent them to school in a potato sack the way they carry on when I don’t buy them something at the mall. Which is why it was my mom’s idea to bring them.

She wanted to ~~buy~~ show her love to her grand daughters and buy them each a coat for their birthdays.

The Chicken got her coat on Sunday when we went shopping, but it had a tear so we had to take it back to exchange it. Giggles still hadn’t gotten her coat, so Mother insisted we meet her there so Giggles could get her coat too.

We walk into the store and the sales lady announces that everything is 50% off. EVERYTHING.

My mother helps Giggles pick out a coat while I am exchanging the Chicken’s. I no sooner had got Chicken’s new coat in the bag when my mother tells the girls to go and pick out an outfit each, while turning to me telling me that we can’t pass up this great sale.

Giggles questions whether Grandma is legit by asking me if the whole outfit also includes jeans.

I refer her to her grandmother.

The Chicken asks if this whole outfit comes with a scarf.

This time I just point in her grandmother’s direction as Mother had taken a seat on her walker bench to watch the girls shop.

Once they realized that Grandma meant a WHOLE outfit they were busting a move.

When they started looking at the Clearance rack-Mother poo-poo’d at them and told them to shop the store.

What happens you ask when you set your children loose in their favorite store and decide to take photos of them?

I am so glad you asked.

You get The Chicken trying not to look at or smile for the camera

You get Giggles giving you the best WTF look of all time

And you get to see this

and realize that it wasn’t about the money she spent or the clothes they got.

It was about her spoiling them a bit and enjoying every minute of it.

And for that I am thankful.

Filed Under: Life with Giggles, life with The Chicken, NaBloPoMo, why shopping at the mall can lead to priceless memories

Fun on a Sunday with a Giveaway

November 23, 2009 By Heather 24 Comments

Congrats to Moosh in Indy whose comment #17 was picked by Random.Org Why oh why doesn’t blogger number their comments, it would have been so much easier on me. You know because counting to 17 is so hard! I’m a photographer not a math guy….LOL.

Just in time for the Holi-daze is a giveaway for a 16×20 rolled canvas print sponsored by Large Format Posters.com. This would be the perfect photo gift idea for the family or a loved one. The hardest part about the contest? Picking which photo to use!

HOW TO ENTER: Head over to comments section and share with me your favorite photo gift idea for the upcoming holiday season-if you have a photo in mind that you are planning on using please link to it because who doesn’t love to look at photos? Want an extra entry? Tweet about the contest and comment with the link.

ELIGIBILITY: Sorry this one is only open to US Residents. (Hopefully Canada will be included soon!)

The Winner will be announced on Monday, November 30th! GOOD LUCK!

**********

Yesterday I had the pleasure of photographing one of my best friends and her family in hopes of getting a great family photo for her home as well as gifts for the grandparents.

I am pretty sure that we nailed it.

But then again, I am pretty partial to this one as well

But I am sure that no matter what photo they chose to get printed out.

When they open it the grandparents will Jump for Joy

Notice all the little details

And simply enjoy the timeless moment in their grandchildren’s lives.

FTC diclosure: I am receiving a 16×20 rolled canvas in exchange for hosting this giveaway on my site.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Weekly Winners-Shots from the Week Edition

November 22, 2009 By Heather Leave a Comment

This week’s Weekly Winners is different shots I took during the week.

A shot from Sunday

A shot from the doctor’s office

A shot from the corner of 4th and Middle

A shot of a tree planted by Chicken and now it grows

For more weekly winners head over to Sarcastic Mom.
To see more photos from me check out my flickr stream.

Filed Under: NaBloPoMo, stuff that I shot with a camera, weekly winners

Why I should totally get yesterday free

November 21, 2009 By Heather 6 Comments

In the world of NaBloPoMo, I guess I failed.

I could cheat and back date a post-but what fun would that be.

I will just share with you my rock solid evidence of why I totally should get a “I failed to post once during the month of NaBloPoMo but that’s okay because of your undisputed selflessness in the line of parenting so you get a day free” card

They do make such a card, right? RIGHT?!!?

Behold Defendant’s Exhibit A

Yes, folks, that happens to be a movie theatre. Not just any movie theatre. A theatre that we had to walk across a huge parking lot to get to because this particular movie theatre was showing…

Defendant’s Exhibit B

And they weren’t showing it in one, two, or even four movie theatres. They were showing this particular movie in SEVENTEEN of their movie theatres (out of TWENTY)

The line was out the door-thankfully I listened to my nearly 15 year old and purchased the tickets earlier in the day. The concession lines were even worse. So just imagine that many cars in a parking lot in which I had to walk through. In the dark. When it was cold. Listening to my teenager complain about the fact that she may look like a dork because she was going to see a sparkly vampire movie with her mother.

Her exact words were “Put that camera away are you trying to make this worse for me than it is. I mean, I feel like such a geek coming to the midnight showing with my mom.”

I did not force her, if anything, she forced me. Bringing up some crazy promise I made to her when right after we saw the last sparkly vampire movie. I believe it was around THREE A.M. that morning.

I will let my daughter call me a lot of things ~~like awesome, wonderful, mother of the year, sweet, my BFF~~ but non keeper of promises is not one of them. So we trudged to the movies well after my bedtime, and after I worked for several hours in a very warm and well lit television studio shooting people at a phone bank.

Did I mention that I went to the said station before I had a chance to eat the wonderful home cooked dinner I made for the rest of my family? I got to eat veggies, dip, cookies and Diet Coke. But I’m not bitter ~~much~~.

The movie had technical difficulties and it didn’t start until 35 minutes AFTER it was supposed to. I got to sit next to a ~~smelly~~ lovely little boy who…well, let’s just say that if I wasn’t concerned for the fact that I didn’t want to cause a scene or embarass my teenager, I would have told that boy and his mother a thing or two about the words pouring out of his mouth and her humor at them.

Ahem….but where was I?

Ah, yes…..after getting home from the movie at nearly 3 AM, I got in bed, only to get back up again at 5:45 AM and I sort of sat on the couch all day in a sleepless coma watching episode after episode of Desparate Housewives on the DVR.

The good news, I stayed up and went to bed in the evening and woke up after 11 hours refreshed and feeling wonderful.

The bad news, in my coma like state I did not post or read many posts, as words were trickier to get out than they should have been.

So I beg with, throwing myself on your mercies, to excuse me one day out of 30 for NaBloPoMo……watching sparkly vampires way past my bedtime, should more than make up for it.