Live For Today... Tomorrow will take care of itself

My first school event... what do you think?

Lately, I have been busy with the florist portfolio work but I also did an elementary school event. It was a mother son Super Bowl Party. It was my first studio, mass production shoot and I learned alot.

#1: Don't start until you are 100% READY! I was still setting up and people were beginning to get in line and pay. I hadn't taken my test shots, or event finished setting up my tripod. The event started at six and they were there at 5:45 for pictures. I was stupid and let the crowd rush me instead of rushing them out the door. As a result I got sub par pictures for the first few shots. I'm sure the moms will like them but I was not satisfied and photoshop can't fix everything!

#2: Reflectors are key: I didn't have one because I thought I would have enough light all around but as light travels it gets lost SO I got harsher shadows than what I thought because I didn't have the compensation coming opposite my flash.

#3: Make a check list AND double, triple check the list before you leave. I had what I needed by the door but one thing didn't make it in my car.... my tripod! Luckily, I go to every shoot I do INSANELY early so I had time to go get it, but still, unnecessary aggravation and stress.

I only had one technical "foul" (reflectors) for my first big event. It went well once we got rolling and I got some really cute shots. Check out my photography blog to the left and let me know what you think

I feel dirty...

Why is it that TV has sunk so low or should I say our society has allowed so much? I was watching an episode of one of my favorite shows, a medical show at that, and the first thing I see is two girls totally going at it. This is suppose to be a medical drama not girls gone wild and let me say it was much more than an alluding look, touch and closing of the door. I'm ok with that. I get it, I can let the imagination fill in the rest. If I wanted to see lesbian love making I would look for it. It seems, now a days, one does not have to look for inappropriate material it just jumps out at you from the main stream. Why? Why does our society keep allowing the envelope to be pushed more and more in the name of tolerance. I don't drop to my knees in a restaurant, fling my arms towards heaven and loudly praise God for the pancakes and eggs I'm about to consume. I don't slap a mom in the face and yell at her to be a parent for not disciplining her daughter after the little girl maimed my son's face for existing. (no joke, Ollie did nothing. Apparently he was standing in her way). I don't yell back at the Mexicans who constantly call my boys racial names. For the record, I might as well sling back "beaner" when they say "juanito." It's not extremely offensive, but it's rude. I am so done with society being indiscreet, indecent, rude, or just plain push overs (mom at the park). I have been taught my whole life to "tolerate" and "understand". "Boo" to my upstanding upbringing! Oh how I feel like rebelling! "Boo" to TV, how you have desensitized us all! "Hiss" to the indiscreet Christians who pray in the streets, hoping others will see them... you have your reward. "Boo" to all you people who have no backbone. You are the parent, act like it (can you tell I'm a little upset about this?)! "Hiss" to the racial tendencies of our society. Everyone is a little bit racist but that does not mean you need to share it! Sorry for the rant, but I was hoping it would cleanse my soul from all the nasty things that has happened to me in the span of 48 hours.... it did.

Tug o war and Trains

We love our little Willis dog. He makes our lives so much fun. I admit, our family still misses Dextrose. Frankie asks for 'my Dex' every once in a while. One day Frank said he didn't want Willis anymore and he wanted to return him so he could have Dex back. I wish it were that easy kiddo. I explained to him that Dex went to a new home with two other dogs that needed a new doggie brother. He seems to accept this explanation contingent on our visiting Dex and his new family. The family that took Dex told us any time we wanted to come up and see him we could. Seriously, how could we ask for a better home for him???? Anyway, Frank is beginning to see that though Willis cannot be ridden on he is still alot of fun. Frank and Ollie got involved in a little tug o war match with Willis a few nights ago. It takes both of them to give Willis a run for his money. He may have stubby legs but he is pretty strong. Here is a video and some pics of my rough and tumble brood.

Frank and Willis

Ollie and Willis

DOG PILE!!!!

Of course when I finally got the camera out and shot some video Ollie decided not to participate but still, way cute.

A train, a train, a train, a train, would you, could you, on a train??

We went to Balboa Park's free Tuesday and got to see the TRAINS! That's all Ollie could say over and over again. The locomotive heaven put him in a complete state of euphoria. He would walk from platform to platform, window to window. "Train, train, train." "Wow, train." You get the picture. They had a special display of Lego trains too. It was way cool.

Funny side story.

Those of you who know me well know that my husband is a fire medic. He's the Ricky Rescue type: he's never off duty. We were almost to the park, coming down a steep grade. On our way down we see a bicyclist flat on his back and his riding partner coming back up the hill. Jesse begins to slow the car. "We're going to stop, aren't we?" I ask annoyed. Partly because I have to wait in the car with the kids and partly because I might miss seeing something potentially cool (call me a weirdy, the EMT is still in me). As Jesse is getting out of the car Frank asks "were is Daddy going?"

"He's going to help people," I said "because that's what he does."

"Oh," Frank replied, like that was the most logical explanation in the world. SOOOOOoooo, Jesse gets out our over intense first aid kit and heads over. Soon after, an unmarked police car pulls up. The cop calls it in and within five minutes two more cop cars show up and a fire truck. Frankie was out of his seat crawling all over the car. "Mommy, look, there's one, two police cars and (long sharp inhale) a FIRE TRUCK!!!! We got front row seats to see a call in action and my son couldn't get enough of it. In case you were wondering about the person lying flat on his back he had a dislocated shoulder. Dang it! I did miss something cool. The funniest part about all this, our over intense first aid kit didn't have the one thing Jesse needed... a triangle bandage! Welp, better put it on the list. ( the police officer had a small first aid kit in his car and he had one. Shame on me. I have IV bags and every gauge needle, bulk dressings and ace wraps but NO triangle bandage.... curses!)

Depression is never easy

It doesn't matter how it comes on but it sure is hard to shake. I have been one to struggle with depression for most of my life and every new wave of change seems to shake my foundation and set me unsteady for weeks or months to come. I do not waver in my faith. I know the gospel is true. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that families can be together forever. I have been lucky enough to have been taught that by my family. Even luckier to see some of them go on before me and have that reaffirmed to my mind. That is not what makes my inner soul quake. It's missing the loved ones lost. It's loosing faith in myself and, sometimes, it is something completely unexplainable that grabs hold and drags at my subconcious continually. I can't concentrate. I become short tempered with my children. I continually argue with myself about how I'm acting (just think PMS magnified to about 20). I want to sleep all the time or not sleep at all just to make myself miserable. I want to eat all the time, you know, all the comfort foods and all the foods that make you feel fat.... wait that is comfort food. It's in those low moments that I begin to pray with more earnest. Not kneel down to whine but just talk to my Heavenly Father about what is going on and beg for guidance. It's in those low moments that I remember to turn to my scriptures and other uplifting material. It's in those low moments that I make myself jog with the two kids in a stroller and dog in tow instead of walk. Those moments help me to realize I am the only person who can make myself rise.

Our Christmas

Christmas morning with our presents! Notice the milk and cookies remnants on the left. Yea, we don't forget how to thank Santa. The entry below is our holiday, in poem form. Enjoy!

The week before Christmas with shopping malls humming, reminded me soon that Christmas was coming.

So family in jackets, puddle jumpers and boots, went to see Santa in his big red suit.

The boys were excited, eyes sparkling with glee and then Santa said

"Would you like to sit on my knee?"

Excitement to uneasy, emotions changed, so standing my children with Santa arranged

the gifts that they wanted nestled under our tree and after which ate candy canes with glee.

I knew what they wanted, thanks to an insider tip, so I braved the nasty weather for one last mall trip. The toy strewn isles, cranky workers, the RAIN. The broken elevators, indecisive customers, aagh what a pain!

"I'll shop for Christmas early, next year," I promised myself as I hustled and bustled around like an elf.

Finally with all of the shopping and wrapping done. I knew I was ready for Christmas to come.

The Browning family gathering brought the feeling of Christmas to heart. We ate lots of food and goodies to start.

After eating our fill we all gathered round, to listen to the great prophet Luke expound.

The reason we celebrate Christmas, our Savior and king, was born in a stable and the angles did sing.

We too sang carols and tidings of cheer and we rounded it off with small gifts from Santa and eight tiny reindeer.

Fast forward, if you will, to Christmas Eve day. It came fast and went faster I really must say. The family, the presents, the food and the fun. Catching up with relatives, cracking jokes, promising more visits to come.

Jesse's family was first, and oh all the toys! His family knows how to spoil two little boys:)

We all exchanged gifts, had grown up conversation, in leu, of the boys watching a video...Toy Story 2.

We sang happy birthday to Jesus and ate angle food cake. With whipped cream and strawberries mm.... it was great.

After eating and packing up all of our loot to Grammie's and Papa's our family did scoot.

Grammie's and Papa's was Christmas dinner, round two. Ollie and Frankie knew just what to do.

They decided to play instead of to eat, knowing if they held out, soon there would be something sweet.

Oh mischievous children, already on a high, from all of the sugar they've consumed by and by. Curse you Christmas goodies! It is you that I blame for creating such monsters out of children so tame.

Our family exchanged gifts, with a twist. This year all gifts were home made... you should try this.

Grammie and Papa, of course, were exempt, so with glee a little money they spent. Two brand new scooters for the boys, how grand! Who needs Santa with such giving families on hand?

Once again, loading up our green "sleigh", with gifts, tired boys, and our dog we did say

"To the edge of El Cajon, past royal we go. To bed to await Santa and a day in the snow."

Seven in the morning, and I hear a peep, so to the boys bedroom I did now creep.

"I think Santa came." I said "Do you want to go see?" Hoping they were excited for what lay under the tree. "No," they replied to my gentle bade. They were playing with the new things they already had.

When I finally coaxed them and Jesse out of their rooms, we all went downstairs to see what would loom.

Mater and Lighting Mc Queen were just two of the stars on the big morning scene. Cars, board games, movies and comforters for their beds. Man, Santa really pack that big sled.

The boys played with their toys, ate breakfast, and then we all hoped to go up to Julian to play in the snow.

Oh the gray clouds, the rain, the puddles and such! The hydroplaning, winding roads, no snow! What rotten luck:) But with all those lemons we made lemonade. We returned, watched movies, ate pumpkin bread, yes at home we stayed.

Our Christmas was grand and we hope yours was too. May the reason for the season not be lost on you. Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior and King was born, and that is no little thing.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !

Love, The Wattsons

Camo Christmas Tree hunting and "Puddle Jumpers"

Ok, moving in December is not my favorite thing to do. Though I seem to do it almost every year, I am commited to this new place. We finally got our tree on the 12th and decorated it the next day. Our family has a special tradition for our tree. The tree, in my opinion, offically starts the season. It gets me into decoration, baking goodies, giving gifts, Christmas mode. Our tradition is going out to eat and then going to get the tree. Everyone is fed and happy AND more willing to hang out outside and shake out prospective trees. Frank was so excited to get the tree we had to promise him fifty times over that AFTER dinner we would get the tree. We went to Applebee's this year. Little shout out for the Applebee's: We ordered mac and cheese for Ollie and it came out looking like it had been sitting in the pot for an hour or two and it tasted like it too. Everyone, knows what I'm talking about. You stick a fork in it and pick up half the bowl all clumped together. Anyway, the manager was totally cool about it. He comped the mac and cheese and let Ollie pick at it while they made him a grilled cheese. Hey, you try telling a 2o month old he has to wait even longer for his food!! They rock. After we ate dinner we all got back into our jackets and drove all the way... across the street to Home Depot. As soon as we got inside the fence the boys were off like a shot in different directions both yelling "There's a Christmas tree, there's a Christmas tree, there's a Christmas tree." We were able to convince Frankie to stay close to us but Ollie wasn't having it. Eventually we played a little game of hide and seek to keep them where we were. They LOVED hiding in the trees with their camo jackets. I would call "Where are you, I can't see you," and here them giggling standing between two trees with their faces to the wall. After Jesse shook out about half a dozen trees for scrutiny I chose one. Frankie held the "ticket" and Daddy and Ollie hauled the tree to the truck. So now we have my favorite symbol of Christmas in our living room, fully decorated. I would put a picture up but with the boys and the dog's help the decor changes almost everyday.

This last week has been a really wet one. Frank, like most little boys, loves jumping in puddles. I, like most moms, hate changing my son's soaking socks and shoes three times a day so we decided to buy golashes aka puddle jumpers for the boys. They were not easy to find but boy were they FUN! Yes, I still had to change my son's soaking socks but my kids were able to play outside instead of getting cabin fever inside. Sane mommy is a happy mommy!

Here are the boys, ready for action!

We had a mini lake at one end of our apartment complex that the boys loved wading/running in. The water was almost up to Ollie's knees It was all fun and games till Ollie fell face first into the freezing water.

Here's Frank, racing down the stretch of sidewalk, filled with puddles.

After I got both boys back inside Frank was so wet we had to strip him down naked! So much for keeping him dry but how many other kids do you know who were out playing this week? Totally worth it!

Erin rocks!

I need brides for my portfolio before I go pitch to a venue. Erin was the first to get in line and I was so excited. Despite our rotten luck we got some great shots in and had an awesome time. Anyone else want to jump into their wedding dress for me??? Check out the pictures on my photography blog on your left. Here are a few of my favs.