I am so glad I joined my Mom’s group. Not only are they an awesome group of women/kids, they are introducing us to places we’d never know about otherwise!! Last week we met at a real farm in the next town over. There were cows, geese, ducks, rabbits, pigs, some sort of llama looking animal, horses, and I’m sure more animals we didn’t even see.

They had an entire area up front full of kiddie fun. Sand box, swingset, playhouse, carousel, pond, and an entire other playside we didn’t even get to play on.

The twinzies got to hold a baby duck, pet little baby bunnies, and go on a hayride!! We had a blast and can’t wait to go back for pumpkin picking this fall!

So far I’ve only found two things I really dislike about living in Bend. The first are my allergies. I had seasonal allergies in Las Vegas, but a little Claritin on occasion pretty much cleared them up. Ha, not so much here. My allergies are 1000x worse and constant. I wake in the middle of the night sneezing and itchy. All day I feel like my face is going to burst off of my head and let me just say, it is NOT a pleasant feeling. My eyes are constantly itching, my nose sneezy, and my head achy. So far my allergy medicine is doing nothing for me, which sucks! I may need to get some RX for it since it seems to be getting worse and I’m just DYING.

The second thing I HATE about Bend are the bugs. Bugs, bugs everywhere. And not just any bugs. SPIDERS! Now, you know I HATE me some spiders. Just the thought of them gives me shivers and makes me all itchy. I am not exaggerating when I say everywhere I sit, everywhere I walk, everywhere I go, I look for spiders. The other day while at the D&D Farm (more on that fun day later) I stupidly drank my entire cup of coffee on the drive up knowing I would have to pee. For some reason I never thought I’d have to pee in a porta potty. OMG just kill me now! So I REALLY have to pee and am forced into the nightmare potty. Thank God it didn’t smell as bad as some I’ve seen. I sit down, close my eyes and think of water. I have pee anxiety at times and this would qualify as one of those times. So I’m just sitting there concentrating on peeing (yes, I realize I’ve said pee like 100x, but whatev) and I open my eyes to a spider dangling from his little spindle of web right in front of my eyes. I scream (cuz thats what I do when I see spiders) and panic because I’m trapped in the porta potty with the spider. I suppose I should confess that the spider was teeny tiny, like really small, but I still screamed and killed it like a sissy lala. Of course then I had to refocus on the peeing when all I really wanted was to get the f out of dodge!!! Then last night I was again, being stupid and stomping on the lavender bush we are removing and a spider runs right onto my foot. OMG, I screamed bloody murder and ran as fast as I can while shaking my foot. Not a pretty sight to behold. And full disclosure, the spider below was NOT on my foot or I would be dead right now of a heart attack. That is actually a dead spider I took photos of and still got the heebies jeebies even though he was dead. I mean, come on, that thing is SCARY!

I will say I am REALLY trying to not let the twinzies see my crazy bug fear. We live with bugs now and I don’t want them to be in constant fear like I am. My friend Julie who loves all things nature really helped with their bug phobia by gently picking up a spider in her house and letting it go outside. Her boys also held bugs and let the twinzies see that bugs are ok and nothing to be scared of.

So there you have it, now I am even scared to sit on the toilet in the middle of the night without inspecting it first in fear a spider will crawl where no spiders should EVER crawl. In my defense one day I did see this guy just hanging out in my toilet so my fear is not totally irrational.

Just For Me Edition:

Since moving I’ve been too busy (or too lazy) to take many photos of the twinzies. I have a few bare walls that needed filled so I grabbed the kids, went out back, and snapped a few head shots. One of the best parts of being a children’s photographer is capturing your child just as they are. These photos truly show Shenzie and Heaten and I will smile everyday when I look at them. I ordered each of the photos size 16×24 to hang in my dining room (I’ll post the finished product when the UPS man gets here). =)

Before we moved we talked about all of the things we wanted to do once we got here. Grow a garden. Eat more organic. Be more active. Watch less tv. Spend more time outdoors. Cook better meals. Try to live more green (me).

Of course we could do all of those things in Las Vegas, but just didn’t. Las Vegas is so not about any of those things and so it wasn’t as easy as it is here. The lifestyle in Bend is completely different so when you’re submerged in it, it makes it easier to live it.

We are a one car family now which is nice. Less gas, less maintenance, less everything. We are definitely eating better meals (with the help of my awesome husband). We are still working on eating more fruits and veggies, but I’m hopeful once Shenzie and Heaten help grow some yummy veggies in our garden that it will make them want to eat what they grew.

The biggest lifestyle change of course if Jeff being home every day all day. At first this was a HUGE transition for me since I was not used to it, but now I love it and will just cry when/if he has to go back to work. Spending all day with my best friend is seriously the best thing ever. Sure, he gets annoying and I want to punch him in the face, but don’t worry, I keep my fists of fury to myself. I think when you spend every minute with another person they are bound to get on your nerves. Especially the nerves of someone as crazy as me. =)

So life in Bend is just plain awesome. We’re settling in quite nice, and I’m making some awesome new friends. The twinzies are loving their new house, new yard, no naps, and quality time with Jeff and I. We eat lunch and dinner outside most days, and spend the majority of our time outside enjoying the awesome weather. I was so crazy busy in Vegas with work that I didn’t have much time for much else. Since I’m basically not working yet (although I’m hopeful I’ll get some clients eventually), I have tons of time to read, relax, and spend time with the kids.

I am honestly living my dream life and so grateful to be doing so. Life is good. Really, really good!!

*No pictures of me and Heaten since he basically hates my camera. My goal this week is to get a few good shots of Daddy and the twinzies and Mama and Heaten, wish me luck!

My girlfriend Julie named the completion of our play structure and it couldn’t be more accurate.

While looking at houses in Bend a big backyard was a top priority. Our house in Las Vegas had a pretty much non existent backyard that was filled with a trampoline, huge sandbox, and small play structure. And when I say filled, I mean FILLED. There was no room for the twinzies to run around and honestly it wasn’t much fun for Jeff and I either since we had to dismantle the patio furniture to make room for the kids stuff.

The minute I saw our new backyard I fell in love. I was instantly sold and had visions of my kids running free in the yard. Space to roam and explore. I wouldn’t HAVE to take them to the park every day since the backyard was virtually a little mini oasis. The willow tree, garden, and rock wall sealed the deal.

My sister got the ginourmous play structure from Costco and I was more than a little jealous. Of course I would love to have one, but the steep price tag kept me from crying about it too hard. Once we got settled in I immediately started bugging Jeff about getting a play structure. We decided on the much cheaper Wal*mart one, that while not as nice, would be perfectly ok because it was less than half the price of the Costco one. I ordered it and then a few days later went to Wal*mart and saw that they had it on display. I was a little disappointed in the size and quality of wood and the more we discussed it the more we regretted buying it. Luckily I did the site to store so I was able to cancel the order with no drama.

We ran over to Costco to preview their play structure and oohed and ahhed over the size, quality, and durability. After much consideration we decided to bite the bullet and purchase it. Of course Jeff did NOT want to put that monster together. My sister’s laughed at us because it was just going to be the two of us putting it together. It takes an average of (they say) 10-12 hours with 2 people to put together. It took my very handy brother in law about 15 hours (I think).

So anyway, after 2 weeks of random building we are finally done! I am so ecstatic to be done and the twinzies are over the moon with their new swingset and slide.

Back to the blood, sweat, and cusswords (of which there were many). It did take us a fair amount of time to complete the structure, but the directions were very well done, and once Jeff labeled the all of the wood pieces it was fairly straight forward. The hardest parts (BY FAR) were the main frame and the roof. The instructions called for 3 people to do both, but since I don’t have a brother or dad handy to come help, it was just us.

At one point we had one of the roofs resting on the tip top of the 8′ ladder and were hoisting it up from there. The wind caught it and then it got stuck on the roof frame and we almost lost it for good. My back could sure use some TLC after all of the heavy lifting and such, but OMG!!! We’re done!!!!!!

It was a long road to get here and I’m so happy I shared it with you. Happy Father’s Day to my most wonderful husband, friend, and best Daddy ever! I <3 you forever.

And a Happy Father’s Day to my own wonderful, amazing Dad. I love you!!

*

*Just ignore that everyone is looking in different directions. =)

Oh So Happy Edition (alternately Tickle Mommer Edition):

The twinzies favorite game is ‘Tickle Mommer’ (tickle monster). I growl and chase them around until I catch them and tickle them to near tears. They LOVE this game and ask for it every day. I think the fear and excitement leading up to the actual tickling is as much fun as the actual tickling.

It seems like Shenzie has received a lot of attention here lately, so I thought I’d showcase my little Heaten Bear.

He is as sweet and cuddly as ever and totally all about emotions right now. His laugh is still contagious and I just LOVE it.

He tells me “I am really mad”, complete with his mad face. Another favorite is “I would be so sad if that happened, and Mama would be so sad too”. This one is just too cute and I wish that he would never stop saying it. And of course my VERY favorite of all “I love you”.

It seems like he goes thru little mini phases of wanting Jeff or I. Most night Jeff puts him to bed, but occasionally he will ask for me to put him to bed. I find this extra special since he really means it and wants some one on one time with me.

Some of the not so cute things he says: “I would punch him in the face”. Oops, that is totally from me! Or DOLO! which again is from me calling other drivers Dodo’s. Trust me, dodo is not that bad compared to what used to come out of my mouth before the little repeaters started busting me out.

He still LOVES all things train and every time we leave the house he asks to go over the tracks. We’ve actually chased the train thru town the other day. The train runs parallel to the freeway so we see and hear it often. This day we beat it to the crossing gate where Heaten sat open mouthed in the car and watched the long train go by with fascination. He will sit in his room for over an hour sometimes quietly playing with his choo choo tracks. We are getting him a train table for Christmas and I’m as excited for him as he will be to get it.

He still love the big kids and once he gets over his shyness he totally runs, laughs, and chases them around. He has turned out to be much more introverted than Shenzie and gets shy around new people. He does NOT like Shenzie in his room and often tells her to “get out of my room”. He loves to play in her room however. And while I don’t think it is fair, Shenzie loves the attention and him playing with her in her room so it works out ok.

3.8 is really a magical age and I am loving every minute of it.

* Since we moved I have been LAZY with the photo taking. I need to get some new photos of the Crazies and OMG, that header is a year old….remember the days when I would replace it monthly. Hahahahah.

I’ve said before that Shenzie is a Mini Me and that statement hold true. Very, VERY true. We are so alike it is just not funny at times. We butt heads daily while Jeff just sits back and laughs. She is also taking after her Mama with her camera. Last week’s Foto Friday showed her taking photos with her little Sony Cyber-shot. This is the outcome of her work.

I present to you Shenzie Weather Echo Photography. =)

Her Princess Castle

Her Poppy’s

Aphids

Mama Taking Photos of Aphids (which just creep me the f out)!

More Mama

And Mama’s photo of the Aphids

My little budding photographer. =)

Budding Photographer Edition:

Shenzie recently found our very first digital camera, a little Sony PNS that my Mom got me some years back. I think it is like 3.2 megapixels and just perfect for my little budding photographer. She loves to follow me around taking pictures of the flowers. She is taking pictures of the just bloomed poppies out back and her “castle” (the willow tree has become her secret Princess Castle). I love it!

Where is Heaten in all of this fun photo taking you ask? Beating a tree with a stick, typical boy. =)

And don’t you just love Shenzie’s puff. She refuses to let me brush the knots out or put it in a pony or braids so we leave the house with crazy hair daily. =)

For my take on the flower photo taking you can visit my Photography Blog.