My 30 Days Of Great

Back in February I took an online course through Creative Live with the oh-so-great Hailey Bartholomew from You Can't Be Serious and The AMAZING Sue Bryce. I was so excited for this course because I have been wanting to capture video for YEARS- wanting to give my clients something extra special for them to remember a part in their lives. I am actually probably - one would say- addicted to capture video clips. I secretly have a stash of them... not really knowing what to do with them lol..

Anywho... I took this course and at the end they announced a challenge for all us students. To video something each day for 30 days- something you are greatful for and make a video montage under 2 minutes to share with the world.

So with a hop, skip, jump and a twirl, I began shooting. I shot big and little things that made me happy. Things like coffee steam on a cold morning, a moist yummy chocolate muffin on a tiny plate and a tiny spoon - seriously tiny things make giggle. I got a lot of video of my littles... well because I love them and well because they were the ones that were around me the most.

The day came where I wanted to work on my grand video project.. only to find out that SOMEHOW I lost my video clips. I think I actually cried at that moment... and I can't really confirm or deny, but I think there was a little chocolate binge in there as well. Everything that I had worked hard on.. was gone :( How could I do this?! Being a professional photographer I tell others to make sure they back up their stuff all the time.. and I do it myself for clients.. so WHY would I not do this myself?! UGH! I thought that there was no way to actually make the contest deadline and I just threw my hands up and had a little pitty party for myself.

3 days before the contest closed I got a new surge of enthusiasm and I kicked my butt into gear and decided to have a go at the video with what I had and what I could capture in one day. I let myself have fun and told myself that even if I do not make the deadline, what is important is to 1. finish the damn video and 2. this would be something my kids would enjoy hopefully forever!

I found a song by one of my fave folk children singers- Frances England and had a go at what I had. By day 2 I was stressing out because I had 4 hours to finish and nothing was looking right. Once again, I had a pity party as I tortured myself by watching all the other great (seriously great) videos that were being posted online. Feeling like a failure, I closed my laptop and gave myself a mental tongue lashing.

To my surprise... I found out that I still had a WHOLE day to finish the video.. so once again I climbed aboard this emotional train I built and kicked butt to get it finished. That day had a bunch of little problems which included the program crashing and then me not being able to view it. Holy Boogers.. the only one that can fix it was hubby and he was working... LATE.

One hour till closing.. Finally he got the program working and I was cursing at the internet at this moment on how slow it was going. I sat on the facebook board announcing my troubles and begging for an extension. Knowing how silly that sounded.. why would they give me an extension??? But they were wonderful and kept telling me not to worry. HAHAHAHahahahaha how funny... no worries.. that is all I seemed to have done. Finally 30 minutes past the deadline, my video was published and posted. It for sure was no academy award video, but to me it was perfection. It was my life- under 2 minutes. Yes, it would be GREAT to be one of their top 5 videos, but there were some really amazing videos. I am just happy I did not fully give up and trash it. As crazy and stressful I made myself for this video... I would for surely do it all again! In fact, I can't wait for the next video challenge!

So here is my 30 days of Great. Go ahead and take a peek and tell me what you think :)

I Miss

This post is not to sound like I am ungrateful... this afternoon I had some thoughts of things that I miss- either for myself or for my kids. Again please do not take this as I am ungrateful or missing the good things that I currently have.

that being said....

As spring is here.. here except in North Dakota ;) I miss Upward Sports. My daughter played basketball and it was so much fun watching her.. even at practice. Sad that Dickinson does not have Upward. Am I brave enough to try to make that happen??? Eeekkkk.. I somehow do not have faith in myself for that challenge.

I miss things to do with the kids. Activities, events, SOMETHING. Yes, we have a gym here, but childcare is crazy and I have anxiety issues with just letting the kids swim without an adult being right there next to them.. more for the little ones then the big ones.

I miss family time. I miss the feeling of riding my bike as kid. Riding it as fast as I could- letting go of the handle bars and feeling the wind in my blonde hair. I miss climbing trees and playing outside. I miss BBQ's and the occasional bon fire.

I miss the feeling of cleaning the house- and enjoying it :) I miss running in the grass with no shoes on chasing the kids. Blowing bubbles, watching the clouds and sitting in camping chairs having adult conversations.

I miss the feeling of laughter between friends and how your face seems to deform with a great laugh!

I miss a great MOPS meeting- a meeting where you no longer felt alone and you accomplished a cute craft- with no kids hanging or biting your ankles.

I miss the smell and feel of the ice under my skates.

I miss the beach. The smell.. the way the air tasted.. the sound of the ocean at dusk. The feel of the sand as I squish my toes in it.

I miss being able to go to bed with no problems.

I miss being able to laugh, sneeze or cough without peeing myself.

I miss having boobs.

In all those serious and funny things to miss.... I am grateful for so many other wonderful things. Like granny panties for those days that my butt just needs an extra hug.... and for those 5 little kids that show me love and give me hugs and kisses just when my day needs it. 

30 Something Going On 13

I officially have a TEENage daughter in the house. I never thought this day would come... I mean I knew it would come but I just enjoyed envisioning my kids still young as toddlers running a muck through the house. Now, I have an emotional TEEN dancing, running, crying, yelling, laughing and singing through the house.

What is even more crazy is still have littles in diapers WHILE having a teen. I mean its great having someone always available to watch the littles while I [try] work, shower or once in a while sleep in.

Wednsday, Lilly turned the big 1 3 and I wanted to do something special and fun.. and a little embarrssing for her. So I decided that a special delivery at school with 13 balloons, 13 flowers and a tiarra would be great. Then I thought that it would be even FUNNIER if I showed up in a tutu and crazy hair. Well lucky for her I didn't find or have time to make a tutu.... so instead her dad and I stopped at her school during lunch and surprised her. She was sitting in the back of the room- with her back towards us- PERFECT. So we walked in... calling her name- louder and louder until the WHOLE room was paying attention and she turned around.. "lilly..... LILLY.....LLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYY"
When she finally let herself acknowledged us, she stood up- just as everyone starting singing Happy Birthday. To my surprise, she started crying and did not want to let go of me. IT was pure classic moment. That moment where I wish I had a photographer following us JUST to capture her! After everyone was done singing, dad threw her some keys to her own truck. Charley had said back when they were little that on the kids 13th birthday that he wanted to get them a truck that they can rebuild and learn how to take care of. I just wanted to buy her shoes. He definitely got the best parent award for LIFE!

That night, we took her to get her ears pierced. She has been wanting to do it forever but kept chickening out. In fact she did change her mind again but we as bad parents took her anyway lol. She did fine.. ok she did cry even before the lady did it. She got so emotional before the actual piercing she started to cry. But she looks so beautiful with those earrings in. Now, hopefully she will buy some fun accessories THAT I can "borrow" from her without asking ;)

We had dinner at one of my fave places and then went home. She had planned a sleepover for friday- so that plan was going to be interesting......

The Sleepover

4 girls showed up and we planned on going to a 7pm movie to see The Great & Powerful Oz and let them do some shopping at the mall. If there was time, then hit the yogurt shop for a treat. Hubby ended up working late so I wanted till the 9:45 movie... again this is showing my age because my 8pm I am ready for bed and no more kids. Keep in mind that they have been asking to go to the mall since 5pm- right when they showed up.
We finally make it out of the house and to the mall at 8:30. That left them with 30 to power shop.. I get out the car like a normal mom and suddenly 5 hyper teens start shooting and running out of the car like it was on fire LOL. I calmly walked in a different direction enjoying my little window shopping in peace :)

By 9:00pm we were back in the car and decided to go get that yogurt to pass the time before the movie... again it was like the car was on fire as they exited the car. Oh to be 13 again!

We all finally got home a little after midnight... and somehow teen girls still have a LOT more energy than their parents. Hubby and I went to bed right away while the girls laughed and giggled and talked. I had gotten up around 3:30am for a potty break and they wer all STILL up.. still chatting, giggling, laughing.

One of the guys got up at 5 for work and they were STILL up. Oh there is for sure going to be some crabby girls tomorrow- especially when they have to up and bright-eyed at 9am. MUhahahahahahahahha



THE MORNING
Waking up 5 girls that didn't get any sleep is HILARIOUS! Watching them jump awak and mumble some kind of words is totally video worthy, but once again I went unprepared . Bummer. I am sure their parents would have loved the footage.

Over all I think it was a great birthday for my little girl. I do admit that I am not a cool mom for sleepover for older kids. Now, a sleepover with babies.. anytime :)