High Time for an Update!

I am amazed, once again, that I even figured out how to log into this blog. I just cannot keep up a blog! I tried to write my entries on my iPhone, but it would put my pictures way far apart (as seen in post below with Colie at the park) and logging on to my computer just seems to take too much time. That and I've been trying to keep up with my photography website (which I'm not even very good at doing!). But, I just couldn't leave this blog like this! Just all scary and full of worry!! I want to say that Jamie is fine. Well, she still has some issues with her eyes, but after a few month in hell she came out the other side okay and for that I am eternally grateful! Just wanted to let you know (anyone who came here and wondered). :)

As you can see, we also got a new addition to the family. I lost my ~beloved~ rescue corgi in November and I just couldn't get by without a corgi in my life. But, he (being a pound puppy) never had his tail docked and I REALLY did not want to PAY someone to cut off my dog's tail...so the long search for an undocked corgi began. I started off by contacting local rescue groups, and then by contacting not-so-local rescue groups, and then by searching all the rescue groups in North America, but I couldn't find a corgi for me. So then I looked into responsible breeders (who don't breed constantly, do all health checks, and are willing to take back the dog...for the life of the dog...if anything should happen...so that we don't have any more dogs going into shelters), but none of these were willing to not chop my puppy's tail off. Then, finally, someone put me in contact with someone who had the ~only~ responsibly breed, corgi, with a tail, in the U.S. or Canada. Literally. She was already almost 9 months old and all her litter mates had already found homes. I'm not entirely sure why she was still waiting (was it because of her super-cool blue eye?!), but I was so glad. I scooped her up and she took a big plane ride to come live with us. And, can I just tell you that she is the greatest dog in the world? She is such a gentle soul and she loves the girls. She is just best friends with "the baby" and follows her around all the time (even sleeping under her bed at night). I love her SO much and she was another great gift that came out of great sadness last year. 

Oh, and speaking of "the baby". She will be starting Kindergarten this September. Yep. That's right. My baby will be going to school all day, every day, starting in just over 4 months. All drama aside, I can tell you right now...that ain't gonna' play well. Oh, she'll be fine...it's me I'm worried about. I don't handle change, or aging, or the change that comes with aging well. The fact that Harrison Ford is in his 70's can just about bring me to tears. Corey Hart is 50. Madonna has had a face-lift. I just can't take much more. So, there is bound to be either lots of drinking or lots of working out coming up in my future (maybe a bit of both...hopefully I stick to the healthier modes of dealing with it all).

What with her leaving me as she trots off to school with her two big sisters and all...I've been thinking seriously of taking a little hiatus from my photography business. I just don't want any other deadlines or things I have to get done hanging over my head. I want to enjoy my time with them and I want to be free to spend my time with them. I also want to spend my photography time on them. I have been doing a fair amount of work lately that is more based on what my clients want (understandably...since it is a business and not a hobby) versus what I want, or like...and I'm thinking I may need to modify that. Since I do not depend on my photography for my living (I also still work as a Veterinary Technician/Animal Nurse), I feel like I have the luxury of doing things how I want...so I probably should. I may need to spend some time modifying my portfolio to show the kind of work I like to do (lifestyle) versus the kind of work that is always in demand (posed) so that people know what I like to do and they can go ahead and not hire me. Ha!

I just now signed up for a little online photography course over at Big Picture Scrapbooking. It's all about finding your style. I think I pretty much know my style, already, but I just think I need to spend a little time focusing (so to speak) on that so I can...I don't know...refresh my love of picture taking. I do love it, so much! Just, you know, not so much when I'm curling a baby up into a basket that's laying on it's side with a bumpy textured blanket spilling out onto the studio backdrop. Blech. 

That reminds me...anyone want to buy $1,000,000 worth of studio backdrops and lighting? 

Okay! So...I think that gets us all caught up. :)

Maybe I'll post some photos here when my class starts. Who knows? It's just that photos on here are so small. Maybe I should start a real Mommy Project photo blog. That might be fun. We'll see. Whatever I decide, I'll be sure to update you sometime within the next decade or so...knowing me. 

:)

Pop Quiz

My life requires:

A) Healthy Family

B) More Caffeine

C) A Nap

D) All of the Above.





Answer: "A", but "D" would be good, too.

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Two More Weeks

So, Jamie has had three MRI's now. The last one showed that the infection is largely cleared up on the right side but, now, out of the blue, without any symptoms whatsoever, it has appeared on the left side. It's in the mastoid and the Petrous. She was so good for her MRI, staying completely still for 45 minutes in that banging laundry machine, in the hopes that a clear picture would mean the end of her treatments. But, despite her efforts, and enduring three needle pokes in her left arm (they cant get blood back from her PICC so there were two pokes for her IV for the contrast, then, they decided later to take blood, as well...poke three) the treatments continue. We are in, what, week 9 or 10 now of IV antibiotics twice daily over 3 hours each time. Plus an oral antibiotic, as well.

When we were in the hospital it was, obviously, all horrible and hard but we figured we caught it early and "4-6 weeks" of antibiotics would Fix This. We also thought her eyes would just "go back to normal" all on their own one day soon. Set-back after set-back from that idea is hard.

We've also learned that, no, her IV tubing cannot be changed every 4 days, but it needs to be changed Daily! We had a different nurse to the house one day (to change Jamie's bandaging) and she was horrified. She actually said, "I mean, she's just a little girl". Ugh. Can we, please, take proper, good care, of my daughter? Please? So, no, the nurses don't want to come everyday to change her tubing so, in addition to running all her treatments, I'm now in charge of changing the IV line daily. I could go ~on and on~ here at this point, but I'm really trying to stay positive so...yah...I just think the level of *care* and *cleanliness* should remain consistent no matter which nurse comes to the house. Seriously. Frack.

Oh Gawd. And her MRI. That contrast is radioactive, you know. Why doesn't she get IV fluids to help flush/protect her kidneys?! They don't even tell you to give her extra water to drink. Nothing. Are we giving better care to our dogs than our kids?!
Ugh.

This. Is. Stressful.

Two more weeks, then another MRI.

I guess I'll be calling in advance this time to see why she isn't getting fluids.
Advocating, advocating, advocating.





(undercover photo taken by Jamie while her Dad and I speak with one of her Doctors)

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Okay

So I find myself back at The Mommy Project now, not just to document my beautiful kids and the amazing thing it is to be their Mom, but to vent the boiling kettle that is my insides right now. I had been updating all the "goings on" on my Facebook page, but my hubby wasn't comfortable with all his friends, family, and people he hardly even knew knowing what was happening before he could tell them. I really can't fault him there. So, I stopped posting on Facebook. And I started just keeping it all inside. But, for me, that is hard. I need to get it out. Even if it is in a practically anonymous blog post that no one may ever read.

To make a long story short, my little sparkle, my funny one, my mini-me, my Poodle, my JJ, has Petrous Apicitis. Don't bother Googling that: her Infectious Disease doctor warned me not to, and for once, I listened. Our last few weeks have been so scary and life has taken place walking on eggshells. I just don't need anymore frightening information in my head. Basically, it is a severe bacterial infection in the bones of her skull, secondary to a virus. She had the flu, got better, then got sick again. She didn't have any severe symptoms...just a bit lethargic and complaining of a headache. We just thought she had come down with another bout of the flu that was going through her school like gangbusters and with some advil she was completely fine. But, when the headache moved from the top of her head to above her ear, I thought it might be an ear infection and we took her to see her doctor. Ear meds were prescribed and by the next day she felt, "Great!". Problem was, now her eyes were going crossed. We rushed her to the emergency room immediately and ended up with a CT scan, a MRI, myringotomy surgery, four teams of doctors looking after her, a prescription for 6 weeks of IV antibiotics twice daily, surgery to place a PICC in her left arm, and the diagnosis of Petrous Apicitis (an advanced version of Mastoiditis).

We are home now just waiting until her second MRI to tell us if the antibiotics are working or if she is going to need surgery. That has had its own challenges as she became allergic to her antibiotics after a few days at home (she has a history of allergies to antibiotics, so her becoming allergic to this one was pretty scary: she NEEDS these meds., and she needs them to work). That lead to 7 more hours in emerg. one day, and another 5 hours the next...after hours and hours of doctors appointments before that. Her doctors put her on something different (and off label for kids) and she had an immediate reaction to that, as well. We now have to give her Benadryl an hour before every dose of IV antibiotics and the infusion takes three hours to give, twice daily (we are giving it extremely slowly to avoid a reaction). Home care nurses aren't able to stay with her that long, so I've become her nurse, giving her all her IV treatments.

Then the problems with her PICC began, with me not able to draw back any blood from the line. That lead to a chest X-ray, an order to stop her treatments (her Vital treatments) and a Linogram (a "moving" X-ray taken while a contrast medium is injected into her line). She has had so many x-rays, but the worry of what affect that will have on her little body has to be set aside for the other more immediate worries of...is she beating this? Will she need surgery? Are her eyes going to go back to normal?

Is my baby going to be okay?

There are lots and lots of worries and stresses in life, but I've got to say, "Will my baby be okay?" is the absolute worst one I've ever had to experience.


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Busy.

It's hard to believe it has been almost a year since I've worked on "The Mommy Project".

Kind of.

Not really.

This past year has been really busy. Really too busy. In addition to my 3 days a week job, I also started a photography business...and photography blog...and volunteered with our not-so-local animal rescue. I also helped my hubby with his business...and attended another landscaping seminar. I also started running and trained for my first 5K. I also continued to be a mom to a three year old little girl who is still at home with me (when I am)..and her two bigger sisters. Of course, there were still all the pets (two dogs, two rabbits, and one ratty-girl) to take care of. And a husband to remember. And friends to keep in touch with. And a house to keep livable. When you have that many things on your plate...it gets hard to fit them all in and prioritizing can get difficult...especially when that new business you started requires more hours than there are in a day just to market it.

Well, let me tell you this: there is nothing like your little girl almost dying to remind you of what exactly is important in life.




I think this year will see a lot of changes (again), but this time it's going to be all about lightening my load and remembering to cherish every single minute I have with my family. They have always been my priority, but I've been working so hard to be able to, one day, spend more time with them, that I've been way too busy to enjoy them like I should have this whole past year. Ironic.

I won't be wasting any more days. Each one is far too precious.

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KMKY April

Okay, let's see if I can do this on my iPhone. Sorry about all the huge spaces in my photo post below, but, ya, I'm on my iPhone. I love my iPhone. You know that. Not always easy for the typing and the posting, though. 'K. Here goes...

1) Wedding Song:
Kiss of Love, Sade.
Ha! Oh wait. That's not even right. It's the song I think of as our wedding song bc it's what I walked down the, uh, grass to at our wedding (in Jamaica), and it's the song on our wedding photos slideshow. But, in fact, our first dance was "Can't help Falling in Love", Elvis. I would have loved the Corey Hart version, but, oh well. :)

2)Guest Star on a TV show...?
Hmm, I love Heather's answer and I TOTALLY agree on every word. True Blood. Eric. Rahr. But, you know what, I'd really love to work out with Bob Harper, so can I go on Biggest Loser for one episode? That would be totally wicked.

3)Fav. Children's Book:
All time...The Little Prince. One becomes responsible for what one tames. It's only with the heart that one can see rightly. All that good stuff. Love it (sorry Antoine for butchering your lovely words, there...).
Current: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Oh how I love that little guy.

4) Watch Royal Wedding:
No. I honestly couldn't care any less. We did ~happen~ to see the kiss. But, truly, seeing Kate wearing Diana's ring freaks me out. And makes me feel really old.

5)Fav. BBQ item:
Uh, veggie burger, I guess. Hubs eats a fair amt of BBQ'd stuff, but I don't. I guess I should try some BBQ'd tofu.

Okay! Did it! Are pigs flying past? I don't think I can link up to Shanny on my phone, bur if you stumble upon this post you can check out the creative genius behind this project over at www.shanrev.blogspot.com
Or, see if this link works!
http://shanrev.blogspot.com/2011/05/knowing-me-knowing-you-may-2011.html
Thanks!!
:)

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Adventures at Play-Park.

Hipstamatic iPhone Adventures at Play-Park...














10.0 on the dismount.














She takes her duties as Fire Chief very seriously.





























But a girl still
has to be comfy.













Weeeeee!



























































Loves to climb, this one.












































And collect little stones.






























Thanks for coming to Play-Park with us.















Gotta' go now.

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Following in Mommy's Footsteps?

Lesson One:

You must remember not to put your fingers over the lens.



Lesson Two:

Sturdy your arms against your sides to avoid camera shake.



That's the ticket, baby!


I swear, 14 years from now she is hired!

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Crazy Sexy Running (Thanks to Kris and Cathy!)

So, ya, Fitness Friday is a little bit late, huh? Well...here's the story...I got all my gear on and by the time I made it out to the living room (with the DVD player), the kids had already taken over the t.v. to watch a movie. So, I couldn't work out! Yep. There were a lot of lame-o excuses like that one last week. Sigh. But, you know, whatevs! No use pouting. I'm back on track.

I got Kris Carr's cool new book on the weekend. Have you heard about it, yet? I mean, it's everywhere! It isn't really a cookbook. Or a diet plan. It's more like a "life plan". Lots of interesting stuff in there. I'm about 1/3 the way through (because I keep skipping all around it--reading different parts here and there) and I think it's pretty darn cool. Kris was diagnosed with inoperable cancer about 7 years ago and made a complete over-hall of her life. Those healthy changes have kept her going with the grace and gumption of a goddess ever since. Just think of what those changes could do for a person who isn't even battling a life-changing disease. But, then again, aren't we all? I mean, 1 in 2 men get cancer. 1 in 3 women. I have got to think our SAD (Standard American Diet) diet has a lot to do with that SAD statistic. It's time to make some changes and I'm back on track for the challenge!



I even went out and bought a juicer yesterday. I love a kitchen appliance -- oh, yes i do. I wanted to be Jennifer Marlowe when I was a kid. All those kitchen appliances! Shiny and New and Never Used.  But, that's another story.


I actually used my juicer this morning and made Kris's "Make Love, Not War Green Juice". It is full of kale, and broccoli stems, celery, cucumbers, ginger root and pear.

Then I drank it.

For real life.

It wasn't so bad actually and I felt so flipping healthy after drinking it! Then I shared a bit of the left-overs with Bun-Bun and Chum-Chum (they thought it was the best thing ever). Side note: the recipe and my juicer make more juice than i really need. I'll have to cut it in half next time. 

Then, all high on life and kale, I hit the treadmill.




I started up my Couch to 5K app. again. I jumped in at week 2 this time since I remember week 1 being very easy last time around (for those of you just catching up...I don't think I ever got past about week 4 last time I tried this. I got a cold and missed a couple of days. Then something else, I can't even remember what, came up and I missed a couple more days. Then I felt like I was too out of it to continue on and I sure didn't want to have to start all over again...so, ya, that was that).

Here's the deal.
I love my running shoes (they are super adorable "Newton's", ordered from The States).
I hate running.
Hate is a strong word.

I can "speed walk" at a pace of 6.4km/hr. I could probably walk at that pace all day long. But, kick it up to 7.0 km/hr, or even 6.8, or 6.6...just to the point where I have to shift from walking to jogging, and I suck! I get all tense and seize up. It's like I'm afraid I'm going to fall or something. I don't know. I'm just keenly aware of how uncomfortable I am, how all my innards are just thrashing up and down, how this can't be good for my knee, how i'm going to hurt something, how I have no flipping idea how other people do this...let alone enjoy it...are you kidding me?!

This is what goes through my head for the entire 90 seconds that my app. is telling me to run.

Then I get to walk again.

So, I got through it and, as usual, I felt great after...but I have to get over my mental negativity! I have to try and think of something pleasant during my running time. Something better than, "This sucks! This sucks! I suck! I can't do this! How many more seconds?! I'll never make it! This sucks! This sucks".

I sent a little Tweet out to the beautiful and talented (and able to run 5ks like nobody's business) Cathy Zielske to see how she does it. Cathy is my (and everyone else's) scrapbooking hero, but she also happens to be my running hero. She took up running last year and hasn't looked back. I figured she must have run when she was a kid. Nope. She literally just started last year. She said it was also very foreign to her and took her about 4 months to really hit her stride and start enjoying it. So, I'm not going to give up. I'll keep going and try to reach that 4 month mark and hope to Cathy Zielske that by the time I get there I'm not thinking, "I suck! I can't do this!!" for every single stride, but "You Rock! You CAN do this!" instead. :)

Thank-you Cathy Zielske.
You're my hero.
And, thanks to Kris Carr, too. I feel the unicorns are a-coming!
{you'll just have to read her book...}
;-)


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Mommy Fail, January/11.

We kept the girls home from school today. Their school was having another trip to the ice rink and I don't really want them going on the ice without Dave and I there to help them (which we would, but we also have a baby Coco at home and only so many hands). So, we decided to have a fun family day, instead!

Despite the fact that The Hubs got no sleep last night, we got ourselves all ready today -showers, dressed up, camera charged, snacks and water ready, and packed ourselves into the truck for the trip out to The Butterfly Conservatory!!

We haven't been to see the butterflies since Jamie was Colie's age so the photo ops were going to be fabulous. It's a long drive, and a Freezing Cold trip from the parking lot to the front doors...but once you are in there it is fabulous. So warm and tropical with all the beautiful plants and gorgeous butterflies landing on everyone. Ahhhh. Love it.

Unfortunately,we never even ~thought~ to call first. I mean, of course they're open. Right?



Yaaa...
Not so much.
"oh, maaaaan"
-Swiper.

The girls still had a good laugh, though. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what has given them this mad case of the giggles...and caused them to start snapping photos like wild paparazzi.



It was a funny moment, though. You'll just have to take my word for that one.

And, me? Well, I had my new Vegan cookbook along, so I spent the better part of the trip trying to decide what to make for dinner tonight. So, it really wasn't a total loss.



(btw! Totally didn't get this book for the "weight loss" aspect, just the "healthy vegan cooking" aspect. I wish it had a different name...but it's a good cookbook, otherwise).

Okay...
off to work-out now before posting "Fitness Friday"
:-/



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Fitness Friday

Check-in time!

I did pretty good this week. Two days of Upper Body Pyramid (Cathe Friedrich) again. I only needed one day of rest in between this time, so I'm probably going to ramp things up a bit next week and add in some lower body work. I also did some ab work on Wednesday and it still feels like I was hit in the lower ribs today (going to try for two days next week). Aaand, i got jiggy with my Wii Just Dance 2 a bunch of times (including last night when I realized I had forgotten to do it, and I really no longer felt like doing it, but I wasn't listening to any of my own excuses. Yay me!).

Nutrition: I'm on day, what? Eleven, I think, of the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart and I'm doing well. I have not had any meat (no big deal. At all), eggs (a bit harder), or dairy (oh my gawd. There is ice cream in my freezer, people! And, I've yet to solve my no yogurt problem. This one is hard for me) for the entire time.

My saving graces so far have been all my homemade hummus recipes (yum!) and espresso with frothed soy milk (yum-mo!). I really need to prep and cook more, though. I've been doing a LOT of grazing...veggies and hummus, whole-grain bread and hummus, multi-grain crackers and hummus.... Eeee! I may be in danger of becoming sick of hummus.

So, plan for next week...
1) 2 day Upper Body (weights)
2) 1 day Lower Body (weights)
3) 4 days Cardio
4) 2 days Abs

And

Cook something good. Vegan good.

So, tell me,
are you doing something to take care of you this year?


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Fitness Friday

Remember those? Well, it is the start of a new year. Time to start taking care of you again, right? So...what are you doing to get healthy this year?

Here's what I've been up to:

Monday: worked. I'll spare you the sad details, but it was a very physically demanding shift. So, I left it at that.

Tuesday: "Intense Program" completed on Wii Just Dance 2. I love that program! Dancing really is so much more fun than running on the treadmill. There. I've said it. I get out of breath and sweat just the same...so it's gotta be just as worthwhile even though it's fun, right?

Also did Cathe Friedrich's Pyramid Upper body. THE best way to get your arms in shape. Period.

Wed: I.P. completed on Wii Just Dance. Upper Body recovery day. Rest of the day spent finishing up my Pet Photography blog (ie., butt on chair, body in front of computer, for hours).

Thursday: I.P. completed on Wii Just Dance. Day 2 of Upper Body recovery (i knew this would happen since I haven't lifted weights in so long. There is just no way my triceps were ready to kickback anything yet). Remainder of day spent on butt, in front of computer, getting pet photography website done. Oh em gee, that took FOR-EVER. Hours!!! My eyes were sore! So glad it's finished now, though. :)

Friday: I.P. completed on Wii Just Dance. Also did Pyramid Upper Body, again. Done with computer today (except for this post). Woo!!

Nutrition: I've eaten a vegan diet all week. No meat, no dairy, no cheese. Not huge sacrifices for me, though, I should admit. Although... I ~am~ really starting to miss my Greek-style plain yogurt. A lot. And soy yogurt is pretty darn expensive!! I may need some help with this one. Although, my Tassimo latte is truly delicious with the soy milk I froth myself! So, hurrah for that.






Plains for next week:
More of the same, but add in some ab work. Also, try to solve lack of yogurt problem.

So tell me...
What did you do
To take care of YOU
This week?


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21-Day Kickstart.

So the hubs and I went to Chapter's last week because, well, the girls were suddenly, surprisingly, being babysat and there's nothing like a trip to Chapter's sans kids! Hubs wanted a magazine and I usually check out tons of stuff: photography books, beading magazines, scrapbooking stuff, general arts and crafty stuff, fitness, pets, cooking, baking...ahhh...I love it all. I ended up picking up another vegetarian cookbook and happened to see "The China Study" there, too. I've heard this book mentioned many times and many people (including "The Biggest Loser" fitness guy, Bob
Harper) have said it changed their lives. I decided to pick it up.






Hubs began reading it, just to see what nonsense I was into now, basically, and he ended up not wanting to give it back! I'm telling you he is a certified carnivorous manly-man who, while he may like animals- that would never be a reason for him to give up meat. Ever. Well, he has now gone about a week with NO MEAT and very little dairy. Amazing!

Of course, this is all flipping fantastic for me since I hate eating meat. Now the veggies are just overflowing our fridge. We have two types of tofu. Our cupboards are stocked with an assortment of beans. There is no shortage of whole wheat pastas and an assortment of grains...we even have veganaisse (vegan mayo), soy cheese, and a bunch of non-dairy milks.

Hubs will never label himself vegan, or even veggie...he is just trying to eat a more healthy, plant-based diet. That sounds good to me, too. I may give up milk, and cheese...but I don't expect to stop putting honey in my tea, or throw out my leather shoes, or pledge some sort of allegiance to the vegan flag. Yet, I have started the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart today and, of course, so far it's going great!






My biggest worry was how i would replace my morning Tassimo latte. But, i picked up this cute little frother at Fortinos and, i'm telling you, the frothed soy milk on top of the Tassimo espresso is even better than the original version! It tastes less, I don't know, oily.

I was planning on posting the recipe for the delicious hummus i'm eating right now, but i've gone on long enough. I'll come back and post that soon. While it is very convenient...creating entire blog posts with one finger on my iPhone is tiring. I think I may need an iPad? ;-)

But that's another post.

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Resolution Time?

Is it that time again, already?
Okay, here are my goals for the new year...

1) launch my pet photography business



2) update my maternity/newborn photography site

3) make time spent away from my family worth it <-- I vow this one.

4) eat a vegetarian/vegan diet (I'll do the best I can with that one...but I don't plan to obsess about eggs in bread, or milk in my coffee just yet)

5) exercise. I plan to work-out in some form 5 days a week. If that is wii dancing, fine. If that is a big walk with the baby, fine. If that is a 20k bike ride, fine. Something. 5 days a week (my weekends already involve about 15,000 steps...so that's covered).

I plan to be buff by August.

Seriously.

Stop laughing.

So, what are your goals for the New Year?
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Classic.

This is a photo of a photo--so not the greatest quality--but you get the idea.



I love this photo.
I love all our Santa photos. I love seeing a baby, a toddler, pop!, another baby...one crying at 2, another crying at 2, and a third crying at two. And now with Santa's expression...priceless.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

:)

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Her Life Story

JJ and I finished putting her homework assignment together last night. It was a bit tricky considering JJ knocked our external hard drive flying last year, wiping out a year and a half of family photos. But, we got it done, and I thought it was so cute.


















{Since she hasn't quite hit 6 yet, she was told to just write about what she would like to do. So unlike her Mom on this one! I'd be happy to never step foot on a plane again).


It was really sweet to go through all the photos (that we do still have), and see how much she's grown.

It was also remarkable to see just how much JJ at two looks like Colie Coco today!



No wonder I call Colie "Jamie" at least once a day!

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Meet the Teacher Night

I wasn't sure if we would make it. It all depended on when the hubs got home from work. But, Jamie was sure hoping we would go. As soon as she came in the front door after school she was screaming, "Meet the teacher night! Meet the teacher night! Can we go?! Can we?!".

To be honest, I always kind of feel like, "What's the point"? I mean, we've already, usually, met the teacher. And we've usually seen the classroom. And it's too early in the school year for the teacher to give us any real input as to how the kiddos are doing. But, the girls sure love it.

They love showing off their work.












And their desks.









And, of course, their teachers.






They get so excited about it all and are always so happy when we are there that, in the end, it's always a great time. And, i remembered, sharing in their excitement for education is the whole point.


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