The days are long but the years are short

My sweet little baby is 7 months old now? How in the world did that happen? How can my baby possibly be 7 months old? It happened so fast. Didn't I just bring him home last week?He still loves sweet potatoes and fruits are hit or miss. Some days he eats them but most days he can do without. He loves his siblings and I fear he might never crawl because someone always wants to hold him. Although, he has seemed to master the art of rolling all around to get what he wants. His best friends remain Sophie and Mothra. He is growing like a weed!

On that note, all my kids are growing like weeds. When you first have children everyone tells you that they grow up so fast. It seems rather cliché because you hear it all the time. I think you (well *I*) sort of took it for granted. But it really is true. I just finished filling out the high school pre-registration packet for my oldest. My baby starts high school next year. How did that happen? My 11 year old son starts middle school next year and we just filled out all that paperwork as well. How did that happen? My sweet little 8 year old will be all alone in elementary school. When people tell you it goes by fast, they are not kidding. It really does. The days are long but the years are short. *sob*

On the job front...well I have no news. I am feeling pretty down about that entire situation. I had one lead that I really thought was going to work out but it looks like it is not happening. I am pretty bummed out about it and feeling like a loser. I knew better than to get my hopes up but well, too late. I am a ball of stress about finances and my self esteem has been punched in the face. *sigh*

My middle schoolers start track in two weeks and my boys start spring tackle in a month. I am ready, they are ready. We all need to get out some more. I am feeling rather like a hermit these days. The kids need the exercise and in a sick sort of way, I love the busy schedule (well most of the time).

Today I was at Target getting some last minute items for Valentine's Day and I came across this little gem. It was splurge these days due to our super tight budget. But I figure it is a Valentine's Day gift to myself. Yummy!

Project 52- (belated) week 6

Ok, so I am late on my Project 52. I took this picture last week during a walk/jog session with my little guy. I realize there is nothing really special about this picture. There are lots of technical issues. But this is picture is important to me because I trying really hard to actually learn my camera. I am trying to practice outside of the auto setting. I took this picture with in Aperture priority and was was just playing around with my other lens...I call it my YAFL lens because I hope to get lots of use out of it come football season :D.

I am a very timid person who has a hard time stepping out of my comfort zone. This picture is representative of stepping out my comfort zone. Yes, it is full of technical issues but I am trying and that is what is important.

Dirty Laundry

People always ask me what I think is the hardest thing about having a large family. When they were little I would say, "Buckling them all into their carseats." But these days I only have one in a carseat. The hardest thing for me is laundry.

Laundry itself it not hard. Folding laundry is not hard. Putting it aways is not hard. But keeping up with it is hard, at least for me. In theory, I think the key is doing at least a load or two a day. Right now, I am home 24/7 so that is feasible. But when I am working it is just so hard to do that. By the the time I get home from work, chauffeur kids to activities, come home, make dinner, help with homework, and on and on...laundry is just not high on my priority list, well not if I want to sleep at all. Therefore I end up doing it all on Sundays (a good 10-12 loads of laundry). The kids do help, they put away their own laundry. But it still takes most of the day.

I feel like there must be an easier way. I will be working again soon and I need a better system. Oh and the ironing...I hate ironing. Hate it. When I starting working full time again, the FIRST thing I will do is haul a load off the dry cleaners. I know it is a bit of a luxury, but it is so worth it.

How do you handle laundry in your family?

Running, running, running

Today I was determined to get in a good workout. I got up and got my children to school and got the baby ready only to find out I had a flat on my stroller. No big deal, just get out the bike pump, right? Wrong. I could not get it to fill up. I was not sure if it was the pump or if my tire needed to be repaired. At my husband's urging the baby and I headed over to a bike shop to find out it indeed had a hole. We paid extra for the special Thorn Resistant inner tube. By the time we got home I was all annoyed and ready to call it a day. But I pushed my lazy, over weight butt out the door anyway. My adorable running buddy and I jogged/walked a total of 3 miles. I even brought my camera and we took a few photos.

My adorable running buddy started to meltdown around mile 2 so I ran most of mile 3 trying to get home to soothe my little guy. It was the push I needed.

Plus it was down hill so that it always nice.

I am glad I went. I always feel so good after a run...even though I am really really really slow. I am ready to go again tomorrow. But I just notice another flat. Oh, the joys of living in the desert surrounded by goat-heads.

And just for fun, a picture of the beautiful Sandias that I am so very lucky to live by!

I am not a morning person

I am not a morning person. I am a total night owl and I am one of those people who is most productive late afternoon/evening. I have always been that way.

But I have to admit, when I go back to work I am really going to miss my mornings with the baby. After the kids leave for school and the husband heads off to work the baby and I have our special little time together. We snuggle and watch the The Doctors and Kathie Lee and Hoda (don't judge, I already judge myself enough as it is) and I feed him oatmeal while I sip coffee/tea. I love every minute I spend with him but I really love those weekday mornings. I just cannot explain it.

I have been applying for jobs and I already have a few interviews lined up. I know that the process can take a while. But still, I know this time will end soon. It makes me a little sad. I am really going to miss our mornings together.

For the budding photographers...

If you are like me, interested in photography but have no idea where to start I have a few helpful sources I would like to share. These two websites really break down the basics and explain all the important components (ISO, shutter speed, aperture, exposure) of photography one by one. I found them extremely helpful.

Manual Mode

Exposure Guide

Hopefully these website will help someone else as much as they have helped me. Please share any websites you find helpful as well because none of us want to end up here...

You Are Not a Photographer

*I have included a gratuitous picture of my baby because he is super cute. It is the best picture I have ever taken of my cute little guy with my fancy camera. And by me I mean my 11 year old. Yep, my 11 year old took this darling photo. *sigh*

Project 52-Week 5

Tonight I attended a photography workshop with a few friends. It was straight forward beginners type class taught be a local photographer. She was really nice and really helpful. She plans on offering some more classes in the future and even offered to let people shadow her when she works. This was the very first picture I took with my telephoto zoom lens. The picture is really nothing special other than the fact it marks a step in my little journey to be a better photographer. My goal with photography is to learn to take beautiful pictures of my own family and maybe take pictures for friends, just for fun. I really want to be good enough that others would want me to take pictures for them but not necessary go professional...if that makes any sense. I have a lot to learn but I think I can do this!