Wednesday, November 28, 2007

cold cold cold

really cold... even with 4 sweaters, a scarf, a hat, and gloves, I am rarely warm. I have had the heater running constantly since I arrived. It has been running right around 32'F. We have had snow threatening all week.

The visit has been pleasant. Naomi has only had one thermal nuclear meltdown when someone told her no when she wanted to see a sleeping baby at Costco. We have had one over night, and that went well. She is in the 10th grade at the local high school. We went to the office here at Motel 6 and asked for a job application, and I helped her fill it out for fun. Her answers were so humorous. She would like to have a position where she folds towels. Her special skills are watching tv. She would like to make $.47 per hour. So obviously she is not quite ready for prime time.

Jazz and Pat drove over Thanksgiving day and we had a nice dinner at Granny's Buffet. She had her heart set on a photo shoot, which Pat was very cooperative with. We ended up with 23 really nice images for her to choose from for some large wall portraits and maybe even pulling from the last two shoots for her a Limited Edition Coffee Table book.

I just need to prod Krys into getting our current portrait orders processing before I get some really mad customers. ;)

Sunday, November 11, 2007

9 kids and not even a PARTY

things are going crazy here currently

had a mom over last night to preview her proofs. she brought her 2 year old

I had my two boys ages 6 and 8

Magnus had a friend over, Nickolas, who is Magnus 'BFF"

sverre invited a friend, who brought his7 and 9 year olds, the dad's left, leaving me with the kids

Krys was getting ready to go out so she left me with her 9 month old while she did her hair and make up

Jenna, who was going out with her, had her 17 month old and her 8 year old that was my 8 year old's BFF and they had a sleep over

so with youngest to oldest we had:

Jordan (<1)
Jasmine (1)
Walker (2)
Nickolas (5)
Magnus (6)
Caroline (7)
Nick (8)
Erik (8)
Cameron (9)

I got a little frazzled, so much so that I didnt even get a photo of all the kids, at the commotion in the toy room and had krys put on transformers to quiet everyone down. we had most everyone out of the house by 9 pm, narrowing it down to just 3 boys, two of which were MINE.

you should have seen the collection of SUV's in the driveway... Jenna has a Yukon, Krys has a Blazer, Chris has a Suburban, Nickolas's mommy and I have Honda Civics, and Walker's mommy had a truck, so we had a street full.
for adults, we had

Saturday, November 10, 2007

breast cancer support bugs me... I want to support HEART DISEASE AWARENESS

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Steps

Step One

Lowering your fat intake to 10 percent of your total daily calories is essential to reverse the effects of heart disease and to lower your cholesterol.

Step Two

Make sure that you do not consume more than 10 milligrams of dietary cholesterol a day. Egg whites and nonfat dairy foods are acceptable in low amounts.

Step Three

Target your protein intake at 15 percent of your total daily calories. Soy products are high in protein and rich in genistein, which lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of prostate cancer and breast cancer.

Step Four

Have complex carbohydrates make up 75 percent of your total daily caloric intake. Complex carbohydrates are absorbed slowly and keep your blood sugar down, thus keeping your body fat down as well.

Step Five

Avoid salt and caffeine. Both cause your body to retain fluid, which makes it difficult to lose weight.

Step Six

Abstain from simple carbohydrates, which include sugar, other sweeteners, white flour products. Simple sugars convert easily into fat.

Step Seven

Limit your alcohol intake to no more than 2 oz. per day.

Step Eight

Exercise 30 minutes a day. Walking is a good form of exercise, as it lowers your risk for injury while still having an impact on your weight, your health and your overall well-being.

Step Nine

Quit smoking. Smoking causes the arteries leading to your heart and brain to constrict, resulting in heart attacks and strokes, to name a few symptoms.

Step Ten

Join a support group. People who are lonely and depressed are three to five times more likely to get sick or die prematurely than those who have strong intimate ties with others.

Step Eleven

Employ regular stress management techniques that incorporate stretching, progressive relaxation, imagery, breathing exercises and meditation. Chronic stress can contribute to heart disease.

Tips & Warnings

  • Know that in an emergency, or if an individual cannot make significant lifestyle changes, surgery or drugs may be appropriate interventions for heart disease.
  • Remember that when you eat a meat-based diet that is high in fat, you stimulate the enzyme in your liver that stimulates your liver to make more cholesterol. Red meat, which is high in saturated fat, converts into oxidants such as iron, which changes cholesterol to a dangerous form.
  • Despite all the good press, avoid olive oil. It is just as high in fat as the other oils.
  • Check with your doctor before you partake in this program. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

a few more weeks

just a few hours each week for the boys scouting, Here is Erik in the Ehrhardt Patriotic Celebration, participating the flag ceremony

just a few more weeks and then I am off to see Naomi in Washington.

then after a few weeks with her, I am back home to get ready for the holidays.

I hope to pick up a few more session before Christmas

just a few hours each week taking care of grand baby Jordan

and then a few weeks to get the house ready to put on the market.

a couple of things to wrap up with scouting

then a few weeks until it is time to take spring photos of the daycare kids with the easter bunnies

and then a few weeks until it is time to pack and go back to Washington for the summer

and for Sverre to take the boys to Norway. I will join him at the end of the summer..

a couple of things to wrap up with the photography business

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Brittany Spears for Halloween


for some reason, no one believed that I would do it. but I did...