Sure she's cute, but she can drive me crazy!

There are many many times that Boopy is just absolutely the cutest thing I've ever seen. You can see this by looking at these pictures of Boopy admiring GG and watching to learn how to be a girl all while wearing GG's shoes.

But then there are those moments...that she can drive me CRAZY!!! Tonight, after having a nice bath with brother, getting a fresh diaper on and all ready for bed, I let Big Boy and Boopy play for a while before having to go to sleep. As I sat down at the computer, the two of them ran between Big Boy's room and mine where I could easily see what they were up to. That is except for the bathroom. Boopy, who has mastered climbing in and out of the bathtub on her own, decided the little bit of water still draining from their bath looked very inviting and climbed back in. She is definitely my patience tester....

However, just looking at this face helps keep me from going completely insane...at least not yet.

Where did he go?

Oh....there's the Big Boy! (Apparently, hiding under the futon in the guest room is mighty fun for boys and trains!)

He's such a good BIG brother!

I need to brag about what a wonderful BIG brother, Big Boy is! Not knowing how your child is going to react to suddenly having to share you as parents is a concern that most parents expecting their second child have. I remember this concern with Big Boy. It could easily have gone two ways, bad and a struggle or good with a smooth adjustment. Honestly, I think a lot of this depends on the kids personality as well as how the parents prepare the child and react to the change. Big Boy thankfully chose the good smooth path after Boopy was first born. After some minor behaviour struggles only directed to Mama and Papa Vaughn, we easily became a happily adjusted family of four.

Big Boy has always loved Boopy. He's always been gentle, hugging and kissing her and genuinely looking out for her. Granted there have been moments where he pushes her while fighting over a toy, but at least he immediately makes sure she's okay. Today especially, Big Boy proved his running for BEST BIG BROTHER award.

• He shared his beloved trains without being asked.

• He guided Boopy to see the Elephant at dinner at the Elephant Bar

• He helped entertain Boopy while I went to the bathroom at dinner. And yes, I know this picture was taken in a bathroom stall which is kinda weird, but I just couldn't resist. The two of them were taking turns bobbing up and down laughing!

• He loves to play with and entertain Boopy

Only ONE More Week!

Yeah! We're officially down to ONE week before Papa Vaughn comes home. He'll be flying in at 10:13pm to be precise! Can I just say that we are all sooooo excited to have him coming home. Three months has been a LONG time. I've started telling Big Boy & Boopy that Papa is going to be home soon. Boopy gets excited at the mere mention of Papa. She points at a picture of Papa Vaughn or grabs a phone saying, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!". Big Boy starts calling, "Papa, Papa" and looks around as if any moment Papa Vaughn will appear. Oh how fun it will be to see their little faces light up when they see him at the airport, even if it is really late! :)

As for me, while I'm of course excited about seeing Papa Vaughn and having him home, I really can't wait to make Papa Vaughn get up with our early risers on the weekends and get the chance to sleep in! Ahh....I hear my bed calling me already......

I want to go back to the Beach

As I sit here ignoring my many household chores that need to be done and letting Big Boy and Boopy run wild this morning, I can't help but want to go back to the beach instead. Two weeks ago today my Mom was visiting and we were packing up for a day trip to Pismo Beach. Ahh....wouldn't that be much nicer than cleaning bathrooms and looking out at the dreary wet day outside. Instead of physically going back, although it would be nice, I'll have to settle with looking at pictures of our full filled day.

Talking to Daddy

As usual, we give Papa Vaughn a call when we get up on Saturday mornings to check in and see what he's doing that day. This morning was no different. And as usual, Boopy has to wander with the phone calling out Daddy and listening to him talk to her. This morning however, Boopy found a secondary phone and wanted to listen to Papa Vaughn in stereo.


Big Boy still is not that keen on the phone and while he will talk to Papa Vaughn somewhat if he is on speaker, he'd much rather play his computer learning games.


I'm sure that Big Boy will enjoy having Papa Vaughn home and in person much more than harrassing him to talk on the phone. By the way, the countdown is on for Papa Vaughn to come home! 12 more days left!!!!! We can't wait!!!!

Mine!!!!!

We have a new word that I'm starting to think I wish wasn't in our vocabulary. MINE! I'm sure because Big Boy has officially moved into the next class at daycare, which he was very ready for other than the potty training issues, he has had to learn to stick up for himself a bit more. He's now in a class with kids his age rather than being held back with the younger 2 year olds working on potty training. The good thing is that I'm sure we'll have a broader vocabulary to influence Big Boy, but for now MINE has become the big new word.



When Big Boy finally manages to vocalize a new word he finds many many many ways to use it. Don't get me wrong, this is a good thing and we are anxious for him to say more, but MINE can get really annoying. Take last night for example. While playing in their bath together, Big Boy, who once freely shared with Boopy has now decided that things can be made his by screaming the word MINE!

First it was the washcloth.

Than it was the frog. Then Boopy won. At least this time around.

Business Name Feedback

I think we may have decided a name for the photo and design business to make my hobby job official. The name was actually thought up by three seperate people as something they found very fitting for me, not too formal, yet not too sappy. The fact that Five & Kathie and then Kristen thought of this name without any communication with eachother, says a lot to me. It can work for weddings, families, kids, business, whatever we like. So, please let me know what you think and feel free to offer another suggestions if you have them.

Drum roll please........

Sunflower Photography & Design

I've already got Charles started thinking of good logo ideas so that we can get started on business cards. I'm starting my research of photo prices to see how what I currently offer measures up to the market and what I need to or should revise. Wish us luck and lots of prayer that this is what we should be working towards!

Fresno Fair Photo Contest - Results

Ah....nothing like the sweet taste of losing. No really, not a bad thing. I called this morning to make sure the pictures I entered were going to be displayed as I had not heard from anyone to come pick them up. I also asked if they could share the results of the judging. Upon review I was told that none of my entries placed. While I'd like to think it's truly not a big deal, as honestly I was really just hoping to have at least one entry displayed, I must admit a small part of me is a little disappointed. When you enter anything, anywhere or participate in any kind of competition there's always that chance that you could possibly win. At the same time, I'm really glad I decided to enter this year and really happy that I can go to the fair and proudly see my pictures up for all to see. That satisfaction of sharing my art with the world will be good enough to make this a pleasant experience. Besides, once I get the score card when I get my pictures back after the fair I will know better what the judges are looking for and can be better prepared for an entry next year!

So, if you are planning on going to the Fresno Fair which runs between Oct 3rd and Oct 17th, be sure to stop by the photo gallery and look for my submissions. As for the scrapbook page, I have no idea how it did. I figure that I will just wait until I go to the fair to see how it did. Thanks again to everyone for your help in selecting my entries!

Sad Sad Blankie

It's official. It's time for blankie to go to a blankie hospital. The undeserved amount of abuse poor blankie has suffered has taken its toll and I'm afraid if something is not done soon, poor blankie will not be around much longer.

Yes, unlike Big Boy (unless you count his "chompers" pacifier), Boopy has a "lovey". She is completely attached to her pink blankie. While other knitted blankies will suffice, pink blankie trumps all others. Pink blankie gets dragged throughout the house, outside, in the car and brings a constant form of amusement, protection, love and food source. Yes, food source. Strangely enough Boopy chews on her blankie. She is often caught with the holes of the knitted blankie hooked onto her bottom two front teeth while she gnaws on the yarn and tugs at the rest of it. Plus Boopy has found that the giant holes she has created in blankie make blankie a wonderful large necklace that she can walk around with stuck around her head. Quite strange I know, but then she is related to Papa Vaughn. Ha ha! :)

While blankie has already lived a wonderful life, I don't think blankie's life purpose is fulfilled quite yet. So it's off to the blankie hospital to make sure blankie can last a bit longer. It's either that or deal with the consequence of a sad Boopy when blankie no longer exists or perhaps having blankie get kicked out of daycare for unintentionally choking some poor child. Which yes, because of the gaping holes, blankie is on the verge of being kicked out. So without further ado here are a few fond memories of blankie to enjoy while blankie gets ready to go on a journey to come back to Boopy a healthy patched blankie!

Blankie with Boopy at 5 months old. And Boopy giving blankie a ride at 10 months old.

A tired Boopy and blankie at 11 months. Notice the fingers poked through the holes of blankie. Yes, the abuse has been going on for quite some time. Although blankie has gotten to enjoy a few meals. Here's blankie at 13 months enjoying dinner.

In retrospect the eating and abuse of cotton items should not be a surprise as Boopy did start at an early age. Here's Boopy at 7 months eating a sock.

Playdate Gone WILD

Sunday fared to be a quieter day....well sort of. The kids and I got moving early to deliver the wedding pictures I took Labor Day weekend. They rode in the car for the hour total trip wonderfully. Granted I did bribed them with a "moo-drink", but good nonetheless. Our afternoon was spent at home hanging out with friend, "Nanny" (our better known as Danny by everyone other than Big Boy), his brother Grant and mama Kristen. Kristen and I are finding that our days of getting together to scrapbook are seeing less and less scrapbooking being done and more and more child herding, boo-boo kissing, cleaning food off the floor, washing hands, talking about pee and poop and overall kid filled stuff. All of these of course things we would love to scrapbook but can't seem to find the time....I wonder why? Could it perhaps be because of these 3 lovely creatures?

And where was Grant during all this craziness? Well, he was supervising.

Business Help

Since you were all so good at helping me pick photos to enter in the fair, I figured I'd see what creative help you can offer in my next big venture. After a lot of thought and discussions between Charles and me, we've decided that we really need to take a serious look at making my photography hobby job a real business. So, now we need to come up with something creative, catchy, fun and easy to remember, to name the business. We'd like it to reflect the ability to do more than just photos as Charles can offer graphic design ability so keep that in mind. Now for your help. I'd love any thoughts, suggestions, ideas, etc for a business name. Right now I'm mostly doing wedding photos, but I also do family and kids pictures.

The sooner we can come up with something we like, hopefully love, the sooner I can get going on a business license, get Charles working on a logo and business cards and a website to display my portfolio. Put your thinking caps on and send your comments my way!

Thanks!

Driveway Fun & Birthday Party

For not really having any plans this weekend, we sure filled up our Saturday with fun activities! We lounged around in the morning. The kids played and I attempted to keep myself distracted from the household chores I should have been doing. We ended our morning with me taking early Halloween pictures for a neighbor who has commissioned Charles and me to help them with a Halloween party invitation. After that is was nap time for Boopy, a Pampered Chef party at my friend, Natalie's, house and then home for some play and quiet. Since it was proving to be a nice evening the kids and I took advantage of the cooler temperature (low 90's), well at least compared to the last couple of weeks, and played in the driveway.

Boopy has decided she's big enough to ride a tricycle. Maybe she'd better ask Santa for one, since I don't think brother is going to tolerate this for long.

"I think I can....I think I can..."


Big Boy thought he was stuck and needed help peddling up the driveway. The "Incredible Boopy" came to the rescue and gave Big Boy the push he thought he needed and more.


As a good brother should, Big Boy gave Boopy a loving hug and kiss for her help.


While outside playing, my dear friend Anne, of Big Anne as many of you know her, called with last minute details for her daughter, Lindsay's 8th birthday party which started in a half an hour. Since we didn't really have anything else planned for the night, we loaded the car and were on our way to "Pump It Up" a bounce house play place. With mostly older kids running around both Big boy and Boopy shied away at first. It didn't take Big Boy long to warm up and get brave and take a few plunges down the giant bounce slide. It did help that Big Anne and Diego went with him. :)


Finally at 10 minutes to spare before being ushered into the next room for pizza, Big Boy got even braver and ventured into a big bounce house that was empty of other kids. Of course Boopy then had to follow him. They quickly found that bounce houses are even better than Big Boy's bed and smmiles were found all around!




A picture of Caitlyn hanging out with Mama.


And a few more pictures of our fun Saturday I thought I would share....




Big Boy decided that Mather "Meow Meow Kitty" needed to be covered up with his Thomas shirt and given a stuffed animal since she was sleeping. What a tolerate creature she is!