Monday, November 29, 2010

Fun Times

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This picture needs no caption for it perfectly states the “fun times” we had on our recent vacation!!!  Jamie and I took a cruise with Matt and his wife, Kiersten (also known as K-K) and we all had a great time together relaxing or in Matt’s case finding as much to do as he could!  On a side note, Matt has decided that he’s letting his beard grow until next year…sometime.  (Yes, K-K is protesting.)  If you haven’t already guessed, Matt is, well, one of a kind and in his search to find the perfect hat (not sure why he needed any shade with that beard covering his face), we ended up with quite a few pictures that of course couldn’t just lay dormant in my camera, but needed to be shared with the world.  You’re even in for a treat as each photo comes with it’s own pose…in true Matt style.  So here you go, Matt, this post is for you and your many hats…

IMG_1193The cute little 5 year old.  (Really, this was the look he was going for)

IMG_0761The ‘Gangsta’            

 IMG_1195A lady in waiting…she could probably stop waiting, ain’t no one wantin’ any of that!

IMG_0885Just stepped off the Mayflower and hungry for some gobbler

IMG_0694                      ”Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O…”

IMG_1192The 3 year old, ready for the beach, now all he’s needs is swimmie’s and he’s good to go.

IMG_0891Our darling cupcake…er, fruitcake I mean!

IMG_0886 Birds of Paradise

IMG_0887“I’ll get you my pretty and your little dog too!”

IMG_0760They just need some pitchforks and it’d be about perfect.

IMG_1187 Cheer-up, Buttercup…we ALL had to wear the hat!

IMG_0889 Surfer dude

OK so I agreed to try one on too…just to be a good sport.IMG_0890

    ( LOVE your bling-bling sunglasses, dude…any idea where I can get a pair???)IMG_0860

…and last but not least, the hat he really did end up buying…I think it’s perfect!  Thanks for the great pictures, Matt!!  The whole process was a blast, as it always is when Matt and K-K are involved!  Now would you please go and make your wife happy and shave! 

In addendum, I listed Ben Slabaugh’s website incorrectly in the Deitrick Family Portraits post, to find Ben go to the following website…

www.benslabaugh.com

Sorry Ben!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Butt-fly’s and Sugar Highs

 

My sister-in-law, Maegan, called recently to invite me along with her and the rug rats to the Women and Baby Expo for Halloween and I don’t care if the Queen of England would have been arriving that day for tea, I would have cancelled my plans!  But as my calendar was Queen-free that day, I got to spend a wonderful day with Maegan and the kids.

I have to say though, after following her around and helping to herd the runaways while changing diapers and attempting to turn frowns upside down, I have much respect for her as she juggles 3 kids, who are adorable…when they want to be…and still has a smile on her face at the end of the day.  You can tell she truly enjoys being a Mom and she’s great at it!

And like everything else, this event needed to be torturously photographed by yours truly and shared with the rest of the world.  But really, take a look at our elegant little Elli “Butt-fly” (again one of Isaac’s famous words) and tell me these moments shouldn’t be shared.  (I’m in no way biased, she can’t help that she’s the cutest little Butt-fly!)

IMG_0583Mommy and Elli Butt-fly

       IMG_0587IMG_0592  I absolutely love the smile she gives!  You have to wonder if at some point she isn’t wondering what in the world Mommy is doing to her.IMG_0585

Isaac on the other hand wasn’t so compliant with dressing up.  When asked if he was going to be a conductor for Thomas, he adamantly gave a “NO!!!” each time.  At least he wore the hat.  Isaiah simply had no choice in the matter…he was gonna be the cutest darn puppy dog he could be and I guess dressing like a puppy dog is a small price to pay when your only chore is to cry when you poo and to grow in your sleep.  Where I sign up for that job?!?IMG_0582

You many want to mark this one in the books…they are holding hands…although I think Elianna looks a little unsure of this whole ordeal.  (Soak it up now, girl, he won’t always play so nice…I would know, your Daddy is MY older brother and they only get worse with age…oh, just kidding, Mikey, I forgot you can see this!)IMG_0586IMG_0596IMG_0597

There were venders galore at this event and most were giving out candy…sure give them a sugar high, you won’t have to deal with them later!  They got balloons and candy…

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…ice cream from Turkey Hill…

(For those wondering, yes, the ears came with the outfit)IMG_0610IMG_0611

…cuddle time with Mommy…

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…a chance to pet some alpaca’s…

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…and we got lots of smiles in return!

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At one point we stopped for a break from all the

walkingIMG_0624  to check out some of the goodies acquired along the way.  We had attempted to watch Bob the Builder in his show, but as much as Isaac enjoys the TV version of Bob, he wasn’t so fond of the larger-than-life real version of Bob on the stage.  (Poor guy took one look at the big dude and promptly said, “I want go home, pay trains.”)  So it gave us an opportunity to check out the venders without so much stroller traffic.  Isaac also utilized the break to play with the train Aunt Jess gave (yea, so what if I choose to buy their love…it’s worth the smile on their face and a half-hearted hug!) and to also ham it up a little.  I see that smile plenty of times, just not usually when the camera is clicking.IMG_0617

‘Oh dearie me’IMG_0616

                   IMG_0620  ‘That’s right, I’m one hot Butt-fly…and who are you?’

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And then came the bouncy blow-up playground…a device of torture for grown-ups because after attempting to tuck your boobies into your jeans and chase after the little rug rats, who could very well run circles around your jiggly parts (I’m speaking clearly of myself here as my sister-in-law has a body I envy), the rug rats pop up and make a mad dash for the line screaming…"AGAIN, AGAIN"!!!  Lord have mercy on this poor gal, my bones have already begun creaking at the near thought of getting out of bed in the morning, let alone, chasing a 3 year old through a massive slippery plastic torture-tube.  But again, Maegan comes out smiling!

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Of course next to the slippery tube of torture was the house of thigh-burning horror.  Ya know the kind with the air filled obstacles inside that kids can just dive under while the objects just seem to know how to obstruct your left arm and your right leg from following the rest of your body.  And once again, the kids have climbed around and through you several times before you’ve even made it huffing and puffing through the first obstacle.  But it was a blast to see Isaac run and play and be a part of it all…now if I could just find my boobies again…”Hey, kid, have you seen…”

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And this little puppy dog (only from the waist down, it was WAY too hot in there to sweat the poor guy out in the whole costume!) slept through most of the day.  I just love him…he always smells so delicious…except when he poos!IMG_0663

A self portrait with Aunt Jess…this was taken prior to the thigh-burning horror house…you wouldn’t have wanted any photos afterwards as some parts no longer matched up correctly!IMG_0647

I believe at this point Isaac was starting to space out a little…IMG_0662

…and space out a little more…”Isaac are you tired?”  “NO!”  I attempted to lay down with him when we got back to their house and he actually laid with me for quite some time while we watched a Thomas movie, but he wouldn’t have any parts of a nap…almost, but yet again unsuccessful.  Stubborn little guy!

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I took this one while Maegan was out pumping gas.  She was standing beside his window making faces at him and I couldn’t help but snap a few pictures cause it was just, well…too cute!              IMG_0667        Maegan, any time you need someone to tag along either for moral support, a distraction, or a buffer for the slippery torture tube, I’m game!!!  

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Deitrick Family Portraits

Deitrick Family Portraits (24 of 79)Well Fall arrived this year with a flurry of color for the month of October as well as bringing with it some much needed change in our lives as well.  Much as the seasons change, so do our lives (sounds kinda like the title of a soap opera…then again, my life has felt kinda like a soap opera lately) and I feel as though my life has had way more seasons in the last 2 years than should be allowed.  But with Thanksgiving approaching I believe I can finally be contentedly thankful for the seasons endured, yes even those with blizzards and hurricanes, because it brought us to where we are at today and I wouldn’t want to be any place else or with anyone else!
With the beautiful colors of fall and the celebration of settling down again as a couple, we thought that it was high time we finally had a photo session and who better to take our photos than our very talented, Tate date extraordinaire, Ben Slabaugh!  And since we already had a Tate date scheduled for October, we tacked a photo shoot onto it and the results were so amazing I just had to share my favorites with you!  I’d love to know which are your favorites.
Deitrick Family Portraits (79 of 79) Deitrick Family Portraits (5 of 79) Deitrick Family Portraits (72 of 79) Deitrick Family Portraits (15 of 79) Deitrick Family Portraits (38 of 79) Deitrick Family Portraits (44 of 79) Deitrick Family Portraits (56 of 79) Deitrick Family Portraits (46 of 79) Deitrick Family Portraits (4 of 79)   Deitrick Family Portraits (40 of 79) Deitrick Family Portraits (33 of 79) Deitrick Family Portraits (76 of 79) Deitrick Family Portraits (43 of 79) Deitrick Family Portraits (63 of 79)Deitrick Family Portraits (61 of 79) 
If your interested in a photo shoot with Ben, please visit his website at…
Thanks again, Ben, for doing such a wonderful job…don’t forgot to pay the Carla who made us smile the whole time.  I look forward to finally hanging a few updated photos in our house and I can’t wait for the next laughter-filled photo shoot!
Speaking of house, we have, yet again, MOVED!!!  Can you believe it…US….moving????!!!  I know, we who never move!  OK, OK I’m moving on…uh, no pun intended.  Jamie’s boss and his family have blessed us so much since coming to Maryland and once again they came through just when we needed it and we are now living right on one of the properties where Jamie has been caring for the buffalo each day.  The TW Inn has now moved as the poor, sad house we just moved from was falling apart around us and needed much more TLC than we, as renters, needed to put into it.  So thanks to God’s incredible timing and Jamie’s wonderful boss and his family, we are now enjoying unpacking EVERYTHING, as well as a home that holds some heat and will hopefully be hosting some grand parties in the near future!
AND on the party note, we are doing something I’ve always wanted to do…hosting Thanksgiving at our home this year…yes, I did say home.  Both of my Grandma’s know/knew how to entertain and it filtered down through the generations as both of my parents can put on a pretty good shindig as well.  So if your looking for something to do or just need a quiet place to put your bum…your always welcome at our home, just leave your worries at the door….I’ve got enough of my own to deal with.
And stay tuned…there’s LOTS more to come!
So much time and so little to do…scratch that…reverse it!” ~Willy Wonka