Quote of the Day

"What kind of treacherous world does Dora live in when on her way to her Grandmother's house she has to go through a swamp full of crocodiles and a haunted forest?"

-Matt, while watching cartoons with Ella

3

Unexpected Joys

The entire Ahern clan went to a heritage home today to get professional family photos taken. The photographer was just great and was especially good with the hoards of hot and bored children. While there, I took a few of my own photos.

I began to take pictures of my 2 sisters-in-law. Both of them are redheads and both of them are beautiful, but they are very different in every other way. Of course I asked them to stand in a totally weird place which placed them balancing on top of a coiled garden hose. (It's all about getting the good shot!) While I snapped away, Alison began to fall off of the edge of the hose. Michelle grabbed her hand to steady her and I quickly snapped a photo of their hands.


I took many photos today, but this one is my very favorite. It shows these sister's many differences. Michelle in a crazy green polka dot top with over sized black beads and a silver thumb-ring and Alison in a classic style cream top with a delicate chain around her neck. They are so different, but these two sisters hold on to each other and bridge their differences with clasped hands.

Hooray for unexpected joys!

4

Quote of the Day

A horsie would never yell at their Mommy!

-Said by myself to the toddler.

{I think you can figure out what was going on!}

1

CD Review: COLBIE CAILATT "Coco"

To shift gears from scrapping for a moment (because you WILL be inundated with scrap-talk for the next few weeks) I thought I might take a moment for a quickie CD review.

Many of you may have heard the single "Bubbly" on the radio. It is the debut single from a new artist named Colbie Cailatt. The song is a cute little lyrical number and I liked enough to buy the CD.

Overall...this is a really great buy. Colbie's slightly throaty voice keeps this very pop inclined album from becoming too bubble-gum sweet and makes it more relaxing.

The songs kind of meander along and this CD is a great little mix to put on for a dinner party or when relaxing, but may (after repeated plays) become just a tad ho-hum. A definite one to buy for laying back and letting mellow tunes take you through your day. I plan on scrapping to it (see...I the inundation has begun already)!

1

My Kind of Town...

Chicago is.

Okay I haven't been there yet, but I am on my way now for my business trip.

So there will be new posts next Monday.

Until then...

"Au Revoir Pee Wee!"

2

Pantsa's Little Helper

Yesterday I went to the mall (something I loathe...I despise shopping) to buy some new jeans. I always have the same problem when buying jeans. Most women carry weight in their hips and thigh. Not me. Therefore, when the waist fits the thighs have inches of extra baggy fabric. I decided to go to a store with a jean fitter.

My jean fitter was an early twenties man who had two missions in life:

- finding me the perfect jeans

- reinforcing gay stereotypes.

The 1st Mission: He measured my waist and reported that I was a size 4. Huh? Yes, this store has it's OWN sizes (surely put in place to make women who are a size 16 feel better about themselves). Then we discussed my personal fit issues....the baggy jeans bum. He then explained my perfect fit that would hug my bum but then flare out a bit at the bottom to balance my "apple shaped body". I tried on 3 pairs and found the perfect pants for me.

The 2nd Mission: He did all of the above while flamboyantly sashaying his hips, flailing his wrists and starting each lispy, high pitched sentence with the exclamation "GIRL!"

ie:

"Girl! Your butt looks fierce in those jeans!" or

"GIRL! Your hips are tiny!"

And yes...I LOVED every minute of it. Shopping with girlfriends is NOTHING compared to shopping with a flamboyantly gay man...there's just no comparison! The gay man wins every time and makes you feel thinner, cuter and more fabulous by the time you leave the store.

I did come away with perfect jeans! Mission accomplished!

5

WANTED: Make-up Invader

Police Blotter: Clearfield, Utah - 16 july, 2007 - 11:36 am

Suspect waited until her mother was on a business call and snuck into the bathroom to retrieve said mother's makeup case. Suspect then proceeded to smear blush as well as waterproof mascara and lipstick all over her face, hair and clothing. Suspect also destroyed make-up components due to cross contamination by placing wands into inappropriate containers, ie: the lipstick into the mascara container and vice-versa. Suspect is 29 months old, has red hair and shifty blue eyes and answers to the name Ella, but has also been known to operate under the alias "Little Chicken". Use caution when approaching, suspect may be armed with various make-up supplies and is considered glammed and dangerous.

16

Evangeline is 4 months old...

and cute as can be!

Isn't it funny that the more people you let into your heart the larger it grows? Having our first child enlarged our lives and enchanted our home. Now, adding another little person to our lives has grown our hearts and the love in our home once again! I thought Ella smiled a lot at this age, but Evangeline smiles even more. Her little grins are quick to come and contagious. She brings a peace and sweetness to our lives that I did not expect and I am enjoying getting to know her little spirit more and more as the days go by.


We dressed the girls in matching dresses today for church and when we got home had Eva's 4 month picture photo shoot. Getting 2 of them to comply was hard...actually impossible! This small kiss was the one usable shot from the two of them together!

3

my job...a study in written pornography

Can I say how much I LOVE my job? I truly do. I feel like I am dreaming! To get paid to do something I love and I am passionate about is heaven on earth...I highly recommend it.

There is, however, one part of my job that I absolutely loathe. As moderator of the Tinkering Ink message board, I have the disgusting job of weeding through and deleting spammers who sign up for random message boards just to peddle their porn or cheap prescription drugs. The drugs don't bother me...the porn does. The funny thing is, sometimes it's pretty obvious which people are porno and sometimes it's a bit more difficult. Some use innocent user names like "Pamela" or "Jerry's Mom" while others are of course more obvious (let your mind go wild here.)

Anyway, when the name is innocent sounding I must look to other resources to decide whether someone is real or a fake. One way is what they list their hometown to be. This is also a sure indicator of the porn-poster's intelligence. Today I have allotted a bunch of my time to weeding through these posters and thought I would share some of their stated locations....just for laughs...

Zarindor (some mythical location...perhaps filled with unicorns)

Pharma (a land where oxycontin flows like honey)

the void (a spammer who feels his life is pointless? And I agree.)

Nitozaefu (huh?)

and the always classic,

FreePorno, MI (I don't know if this is Michigan or Minnesota, but I do know that the porn is free.)

I would write more, but I'm back to the message board. Is there a way to swish my memory out with bleach?

1

For Your Listening Enjoyment

Of course, you've noticed the new playlist. Months ago, I came across a blog with a playlist and was totally annoyed. Somehow, it's different with my own music.

I have had great feedback so far and some of you even told me that you leave our site up while you work so you can listen to the music. Gratifying indeed. The key to my music mixing abilities is to keep this blog mix mellow. I was tempted to put AC/DC's "If You Want Blood" on there, but refrained for the listening enjoyment of our blog audience.

To date, only one of you has complained....you know who you are. For the record: Beatles covers are perfectly acceptable, especially when I'm calling the shots. And I am calling the shots Bryan! Oops...did I mention his name? Be sure to send him an email sticking up for my musical choices if you know him.

Just added a few new songs today courtesy of my ghostly white brother-in-law and indie music god, Jon (pictured left masquarading as one of the villans from Superman II with his wife and photo-victimized child).

There aren't many things I enjoy more than a good ABBA song (and let's face it...they're ALL good!) and Jon pointed me towards an indie band with an absolutely delicious rendition of "Super Trouper". Loving every minute of it.

Thanks one-shot-jonny...you're the BEST!

3

Even shoes need exersize.

While pushing a dolly stroller containing an outgrown, fur-fringed, pink winter boot...which was belted in for safety.

"Hi Mommy.
I'm just taking my shoe for a little walk."

.

1

The way things are....

Been thinking a lot about family lately.
And about life.

These are complex topics.

I've come to one conclusion.
There are the way things should be and the way things are.

The way things should be is that your family would be your biggest fans, they would sometimes annoy you, but when the chips were down they would always be on your side. They would always expect and look for the very best in you. This is the way things should be. But not the way things are...at least for me.

Last year I took on a Goliath. I stood up to terrible injustice. I told the whole truth about parts of my life for the first time. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. The other people involved should have fought against what they knew was wrong. They should have chosen what was right over what was easy and comfortable. But they didn't...and I stood almost alone against this terrible evil.

How did it turn out? Depends on who you ask. Here's how it turned out for me. I spoke the truth and as they say, the truth will set you free. And it did. More than I could have ever imagined. I am finally free and that is how it turned out.

Recently we had good friends struggling with these same sorts of complex family relationships and I hope this lesson learned helped them accept the way things are in some small way. Even though it's hard and sad and heart-breaking. Sometimes it's just the way things are and hopefully someday they will be as they should be.

I am starting a new "label" for blog posts entitled Too Serious for a Blog. Filing this post under that title. Just wanted to say my feelings to the world out there and speak my truth.

4

A day in the mud...err...water.

We went to Willard Bay yesterday. For all of the talk Ella did about swimming...she mostly wanted to play in the mud. And by mostly I mean only! There were too many fun photos to choose from so I made a little collage.


While Ella was enjoying the mud, Evangeline was completely hating the entire experience from start to finish. Sure, she looks pretty content in this first photo, but believe me, she was SO READY to get out! You'll notice her red rimmed eyes in the 2nd photo...yes, from sobbing for the duration of our Bay experience.


As for me...I was so busy being the Mom and making sure everyone else had on adequate sunscreen I didn't realize that I had not put mine on until we were done swimming, yielding the worst sunburn I have had in years. I stayed home from church today to wallow in self loathing, cringe when my clothing touched my back and rub aloe on myself. No photo available.

5

Big Matt and Little Matt

A cute pic from the 4th of July of our good friend, Matt and his nephew and namesake, Matt. They are referred to as "Big Matt and Little Matt". They were having a fun time together and I captured this impromptu picture of the two of them.


I just hope no one ever names their kid after me. It may be flattering, but I can't think of a worse fate than being known as "Big Emilie" for the rest of my life

(flashback to 4th grade teasing moniker...wiping a tear away).

.

2

bask in the blazing inferno of friendship

Every year, on the fourth of July, my family would get together and light ground fireworks. And every year, since I was 5, I have loved the Friendship Pagoda firework. If you haven't seen it...you should. It starts as a small, one story little hut and when lit it spins and the upper levels grow and build a tall tower. Once the spinning is done a warm glow lights up the inside of the Pagoda and the small red windows on all sides glow. Doesn't it sound enchanting?

Well, this year I went all over town in search of the illusive Friendship Pagoda firework and finally found...the LAST one in town. I was so excited. Last night the whole Ahern clan gathered around and I lit the immortal Friendship Pagoda. It started to spin, but then the side closest to the wick became stuck and the levels could not fully open. The wick then lit one of the tiers of the Pagoda on fire. We all watched in fascination as the entire Friendship Pagoda was quickly consumed by flames. We didn't even dare to try to put it out for a few minutes since the blaze was so large.

We all know friendship is warm and wraps you in it's loving embrace. But this year it was an all encompassing fire that devoured everything in it's path! Can you feel the love?

0

It's a jungle in here....

Mommy: Are you hungry?

Ella: Yup.

Mommy: What do you want for lunch?

Ella: Monkey-monkey cheese.

Mommy: What?

Ella: Monkey-monkey cheese.

Mommy: Oh....macaroni and cheese?

Ella: Yup. Monkey-monkey cheese!

2