Lisa Heuer

Since I have mentioned that there is always an unexpected problem around here, I might as well put this…  a problem!

We have had this problem for a while but haven’t been willing to put money into a TV since we hardly ever watch TV.  The problem started with a little yellow circle on our screen and soon the yellow circle took over the whole picture and now everything has a yellow-ish/green-ish hue.  Children often notice the change in character color when watching movies over here! 

The good news about this-The company is fixing it gratis!  Finally, a break.  He is here now, fixing our TV so we no longer have to watch everything with a Spongebob color.

Next on the list to fix… our POOL FENCE. 

“mmmoooooommmmmmyyyyy!” (extreme tears, screams, etc.)  I shut off the law mower (yes, I mowed the lawn for Tim today-I didn’t quite get it done before he got home so he caught me doing what I had hoped would be a surprise and then since I didn’t cut it low enough, he went out and finished the job.  Oh, well… I helped him one step closer!) and said, “What?”  I was so confused why all the sudden the tears and the panic.

Zoe and Ellie were playing with orange marbles today (Yes, those ones Gabrielle) and Zoe decided to put one in her mouth.  Apparently she didn’t read the warning on the bag, or I didn’t and allowed them to play with them.  Well, Zoe’s fell down her throat.

“(screaming and crying)Mom, I swallowed a marble and I don’t want to go to the hospital.”  She literally was in a complete panic.

I explained to her that as long as she wasn’t choking, she is ok.  I assumed that we would see the marble again someday coming out the other end.  She immediately stopped crying and said, “So, I am ok?”  It was so funny, the relief she felt.  She then questioned how we would know when it came out and how we would prevent it from clogging our toilet.  Should I put her in charge of the investigation? 

Later, maybe 2 hours or so, she decided that she would sit on the toilet and begin her “getting rid of the marble” adventure.  She sat, and sat, and sat, and sat, and sat but no luck with marble removal.  She was disappointed.

She keeps referring to “when this marble gets out of me”…  I can only imagine how her brain is interpreting all this and what she thinks is going on inside of her body.

I was thinking about what I would do when Zane is in preschool.  I can’t imagine what I will fill my days with… a job?  More photography?  back to school?  Then, I went in my closet and remembered how frustrated I am about the lack of organization going on around here!  I am ready to get rid of junk and get back to clean, simple, and fresh.

I have never finished decorating this house.  It feels undone.  I don’t want to put money into it because it is so big-where do I start and how do I water my money tree fast enough?  BUT, I figured, I could do one room at a time.  Get rid of the junk then maybe finish it.  My poor Zoe has a darling chandelier but her decorated room stops there!

I decided that I will use some of my favorite pictures of the kids to decorate my hall-big versions on some type of foam board and I am excited about that!  I am going to rip out the carpet in the piano room.  Nice how it is called the piano room-only because the piano is the only thing in it.  I want to make that something more family friendly.  Isn’t concrete flooring more family friendly?  : )

So, my mind started going, going, going, going…  that can be dangerous! 

Our last vacation of the “summer” (meaning before we had to be home for Zoe’s school) was to Newport Beach.  We decided to camp on the beach for the first time at Newport Dunes.  It was an experience and we are always learning!  The beach was great for the kids.  We tried to run into the Chamberlin’s but there was NO parking for miles along Newport Beach.  We popped in for a quick hello since Zane is in love with Courtney and we saw the most amazing waves EVER.  We used our Disney passes and went there for 2 of the evenings and enjoyed some rides.  Night lines are so much shorter.  We didn’t want to deal with the crowds or the heat so we headed out there both nights at about 8pm.

The kids loved the beach and the pool.  Zane was kind of intrigued by sand on his hands.

And this is clear verification that Zoe loves to BUG her brother!…

Does somebody who loves photography ever go to the beach without a camera?  We went to the beach a few times and I NEEDED my camera.  I suppose the pictures above tells the reason why!  You never know what you can capture and what story you can tell…

I am grateful for alarms (which I chose to conveniently ignore today, almost made me late).  I am grateful for contacts so I can see and maybe someday I will be grateful for Lasik surgery!  I am grateful for tweezers.  I am grateful for the scripture story booklets so I can understand the scriptures.  I am grateful for the 3rd row seat in my Pilot.  I am grateful for the truck-how did I live without a truck?  I am grateful for the dollar store.  I am grateful for the magic of weight loss (where does it go?)  I am grateful for Colby at the bank who knows me when I appear.  It is a nice gesture.  I am grateful for my cozy couch-where I slept last night so I could be closer to my screaming child.  I am grateful for playgroup because I think I might just get a nap today.  I am grateful for cream of wheat!  I am grateful for music and I can’t stop listening to the 3 songs on my website right now (www.lisaheuerphotography.com).  I am grateful for inspiring people and words.  I am grateful for my orange purse again.  I pulled it out and it was like buying it all over again.  I am grateful for the late nighter at Scrapbooks, Etc.  I have enough cards for a very long time now!  I am grateful for compartments because I am a creature of organization.  I am grateful for these words: reliable, courageous, strong, humble, kind, gentle, love.  I am grateful for Diet Rite raspberry.  I am grateful for little hands and feet that live in my home. I am grateful for kind words and kind people who are genuine.  I am grateful for my super fun friends.  I am grateful for the sunrise each day (so that we can fry ourselves when we step from our car to quickly get inside).  I am grateful for AZ-so close to anything that we want to do.  I am grateful for online bills and banking.  I am grateful for Secret deodorant.  I am grateful for expandable/stretchy pants.  I am grateful for all that I have been blessed with; the large and small, complex and simple, deep and shallow. 

post edit:  I am so grateful for my hardworking husband! Our computers have been down and he worked and worked and worked and worked and worked on solving our problems (on top of finishing up some serious stuff with deadlines) and hardly slept at all just for the love of technology and his family.  Thanks Tim!

Zoe started 1st grade today.  She is growing up so fast, it is unbelievable.  She loved her teacher from the moment she saw her-that is a good start.  She came home today, we had our traditional cookies and a school chat.  She never has much to say but I just hope to create the environment of a warm welcome home.  A parent, ok… ME, I will never know what is right and wrong in the world of parenting.  All we can all ever hope for is that when we do our best to raise the best it will all work out in the end.

Some are very critical of parenting styles.  Some are strict, some are not.  Some have rules, some do not.  Some love, some discipline, some yell, some don’t, some spank, some don’t, some laugh and play, some take time, some are too busy… I could go on.  The truth is that we all just do the best we can do given what we have got (our history, our knowledge, our upbringing, our emotional state, etc.)

To my children… please know that I am doing the best I know how.  If I learn better, I will do better.  I love you and want so much for you.  I want to share in your happiness and help to avoid sadness.  I am sure that I have done things along that way that you think are seriously crazy and may have screwed you up for good but know that it was all done with good intention.  ; )

Zoe, you are a beautiful young girl.  You are so smart.  I know you will do well in school and your dreams will become your reality.  I know that you can do anything when you want it bad enough.  You have such a tender heart and a creative mind.  You teach me everyday about patience and understanding, you stand up for what you think about and believe.  You are strong and determined, you will do wonderful things!  I love you.

She got a hold of my camera today and it seemed to be almost as big as her.  Anyhow, she wanted to know how to turn it on and off.  I put it on automatic and let her go to town.  I heard the flash all over the house and then she disappeared downstairs for a while.  I was actually excited that she was loving the camera and let her use that creative mind while I was sorting through camping pictures.  About 30 minutes later, she reappeared and told me all about the photo shoot…

“Mom, I made a Disneyland downstairs with the Tower of Terror, Pirates of the Caribbean, Soarin’ Over California and I am trying to find my Minnie Mouse, have you seen her?  I also took pictures of Big Bird and Diego and some firemen.  I took pictures of all of it."

I am now very anxious to see what is on that camera.  I will be sure to share! 

Ok, I got the pictures.  See below at what Zoe considers picture worthy!  Including her mock model of Disneyland.  I am sure they will look amazing after she sends them through Photoshop  ; )

OK, kids really do say the darndest things!

Zane: (after taking my ice cream cone) Mom, I hold your ice cream now.  Too bad for you

Zane: (taking him to the doctor for his 3 yr old well child) Mom, I don’t want to go to the doctor

Me: the doctor needs to check you and make sure you are growing healthy and strong.

Zane: I am helfy and chong but I can’t reach the ground yet…

Zane: (during/after his shot, not a tear shed, not scared one bit) well, dat wasn’t fun at awl.

Me: (saying to Zane after he bonked his head) Zane did you hurt your head a little bit?

Zane: Mom, A LOT it hurts, not a wittle bit.

Zoe: (playing school today after her first day of school) ok, Zane, I am the principal and you just got sent to the principal ok?  “Sit here.  You are in trouble because you called the other kid a wiener.”

Zane: I called him a wiener?  That’s weeerrrrd…

I have to do better a job at keeping track of these things that add humor to my every day.  I will be a sad girl when both my kids are at school (OK, sad for a moment or two…)

Well, I suppose when I decide to do something, it becomes difficult to get in the way.  Sorry about that if I have ever offended or hurt some feelings.  This weight thing is going alright so far.  Last night at my official weigh in contest with mom and Lindsey I was down 5 pounds.  We had a great disagreement on how the contest was supposed to work.  Apparently, I wasn’t clear on some information.  Needless,  putting 2 people in a room to discuss something they are passionate about and want to be heard doesn’t create the most positive environment.  Sorry Lindsey and all those who had to listen!

I was getting motivated looking at some pictures today of some friends who have lost some weight and look amazing.  I am dreaming of next summer (already)…

the AZ winds were crazy, I mean CRAZY tonight.  I was in the middle of FHE (trying to be a good little mommy and teach my kids about President Monson) and suddenly I felt as if we might blow away.  We paused our education to look out the window and watch as the storm blew through our backyard. 

The sad part… our tree!  our tree that we grew from infancy was blown right out of the ground.  It was our biggest tree, our shade tree.  We are so bummed-not to mention the cost to cut it up and take it out of here and replace it.  (I tell you what, I might as well just give up on ever having a month without an unexpected expense.)

I hope to save it but it doesn’t look promising!