After a trip out shopping, Dylan gets in the house and starts saying "where my Rockin'Coon?"

PARDON???

He repeats again, same pronunciation.....

"WHERE MY ROCKIN'COON?"

finally something twigs with me...

The
RACCOON
that I bought from Micheal's 20 minutes earlier.

Because it was on sale in November for next to nothing

A doggy the size of Dylan

dressed up for halloween

wearing a mask

the ROCKIN'COON.

"he's in the garage Dylan, I'll go get him" I say.

Dyl's response?

" I luff him"

childhood

Maybe i'm hanging around pintrest too much lately, because i have a renewed interest in saying and poems and words of inspiration.  I stumbled upon this poem, which made me think of all the times I've shortchanged Dylan my time or attention, and how I should think twice about little boy requests.  Even when the little boy requests are annoying, repetitive or inconvenient.  This poem makes me think of how those type of dismissals affect a small person, and how they "live" inside their self esteem for a lifetime, and how I'll miss (and already do) those times, those requests, and the little voice as he grows up and changes.

{and since we've been doing respite foster care, makes me sad for kids that never get attention}

                              Childhood Doesn't Wait

                                                                                                                                   (Author Unknown)

                                                                               
I was sitting on a bench
while in a nearby mall,
When I noticed a mother
with two children who were small.

The youngest one was whining,
“Pick me up,” I heard him beg
but the mother’s face grew angry
as the child clung to her leg.

“Don’t hang on to me,” she shouted
as she pushed his hands away,
I wish I’d had the courage
to go up to her and say…

“The time will come too quickly
when those little arms that tug,
Won’t ask for you to hold them
or won’t freely give a hug.

“The day will sneak up subtly
just as it did with me,
When you can’t recall the last time
that your child sat on your knee.

“Like those sacred, pre-dawn feedings
when we cherished time alone
Our babies grow and leave behind
those special times we’ve known.

“So when your child comes to you
with a book that you can share,
Or asks that you would tuck him in
and help him say his prayer…

“When he comes to sit and chat
or would like to take a walk,
Before you answer that you can’t
`cause there’s no time to talk”
Remember what all parents learn
so many times too late,
That years go by too quickly
and that childhood doesn’t wait.

“Take every opportunity,
if one should slip away
Reach hard to get it back again,
don’t wait another day.”
I watched that mother walk away
her children followed near,
I hope she’ll pick them up
before her chances disappear.

                                                                                                 

appreciating my little man

As an at home mom- I see almost everything that my child sees.  I know everything he's doing, saying, and is exposed to.  Because I'm with him so often, sometimes although I see him, I fail to notice.  I was reading a blog by my favorite blogger who has a son a bit younger then mine, and started thinking about my boy.  I change so many diapers a day, offer so many suggestions, tell him no so many times, wish that he was out of a stage, wish he did something, or didn't do something.  But as he moves on and move into a new stage, there are lots of little things I want to remember, and know i'll miss.

I'll miss the chubby toddler double chin.

 and the very few quiet moments I get from this rambunctious little man.....

 The diaper bum, and long lean little boy legs....

 The sweet round little tummy that peeks out....

 The busyness that is really curiosity and zest for life but sometimes mistaken for negative terms such as out of control and wild....

The upside downs and various antics that he thinks are so funny.....

 The toothbrushing battles that even the cat rolls his eyes at.....

It's important to document and remember this stuff in a positive light even when it seems to be a negative.  I'm certain that I'll miss these things when he's older.

We have gone through a few renters in our suite, and recently got a new couple who have a dog.

Dylan has begun to refer to Oakley as his dog.

We have been down to the back yard 

A LOT

to play with him.

I'm thinking of ways to steal him and adopt him.

He's a sweet sweet soul who is so loving.

We really like him....

and he really likes us....

but as for Diego...

I'm not so sure....

this was their first "meeting" through the door.

One day last week he was calling and calling me....

Moooooommmyyyyyy   .... Moooommmyyyyyy!

Not sure how he got in, but he popped up and thought it was VERY funny !  

SCORE !!!!

We've been watching the extreme couponing show on TLC, and Mat is really into it... more so then me.

I do have to admit, it's fun to get a good bargain.  So, while in Calgary we stumbled upon cereal for $1.00.

NO FREAKING WAY !!!!

uh-huh!!!!!

Stock pile !!!

And YES, we had to display our score !

Couponing Nerds

Something old Part 1

Ohhhh-- the best laid plans ! 

 I had a series of posts all titled something old, along with a post about Dylan's first soccer class all planned out.  

But a very helpful husband of mine packed my camera and took it in his truck this morning !  

Sorry kids... I've got nothing to entertain you with while i'm gone...

Blame Matthew

(maybe, just maybe i'll be able to scoot on while I'm away to blog- no promises !)

Cherries !

The cherries were ready, but since I was sick I didn't help pick them.   Instead, Dylan was involved in the action this year.  He thought it was awesome- so much fun.

Now before you comment about our boy being unsafe on the ladder... I must let you know, we did have him read the safety instructions first.  haha.

(he's fine- really)

And finally he got tired of me taking his picture... so posed for this one, which basically says... get the * beep beep * away from me with that camera already !

END OF PHOTOS.

Now that Canada Post is no longer on strike- the mail has been flooding in.  We've been getting anniversary cards 

(our forth was June 18th- and we've been together 7 years now) 

 *hint- this is pertinent info for later.  

Anyway, we also got an envelope yesterday from the UK - addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Matt Cook.  

It was typed, which I thought was kinda of weird....so I opened it.

It was a wedding invitation.  

One of Mat's friends has upcoming nuptials   

Nice.

Good for them.

How lovely that they thought of us.

Sweet.

I scanned it and removed some of the info so a bunch of people don't show up at their wedding as gate crashers- but, here was the lovely wedding invite.

Thanks for thinking of us....

Again, thanks for thinking of us...

BUT

WHO THE EFF IS DEBBIE ??????

haha

You might be wondering what's with this....

on every recent picture?

Well, as you know, my photography business is 

Cherry Bliss Photography

www.cherryblissphotography.ca

http://cherryblissphotography.blogspot.com

If you haven't been to my website or my blog, please go.

So the watermark on the pics is added protection.

Once something is out there on the web, it can be used for different purposes.  By adding the logo on my images, it helps cut down on the chance that someone will steal my images and use them in a way I don't want.  So that's why you see it front and center on pics.

Us- circa 2008 in Mexico... is the logo a bit of overkill?

While I'm goofing around....and looking at Mexico pics, AND because it's my blog and I can do what I want....

 here is the next James Bond... I for sure need to protect this photo.... lovin the pose !

<sigh> 

 I think I need a tropical holiday

 (back then we had a crappy camera.. can you tell?)

Very cute.  

:)

Me- the last two days....

Sick... laying on the couch with a face cloth on my head.

Blech

My NEW photography blog...

Subscribe or book mark my newest blog-

http://cherryblissphotography.blogspot.com

Head over and keep up to date with what's happening with my photography.  I'll be doing sneak peeks of sessions and adding other photos.

So please show me some support over there !

Thanks !

Dylan's mom.

any guesses what happened? (and how hard it was to clean up?)

have we continued to look after our flower bed that Mat's dad planted?

Thank you flower model.  haha

 Three days last week Dylan refused to nap.  He stayed in his room for 2 hours each time.  The first day, this is the shambles I encountered....

Bed fully stripped of bedding and stuffies....

 Stuff ALL over....

Where did the book and teddy bear baskets go??  Their contents appear to be dumped out all over....

Ah -ha- they were used as props to help Dylan reach things... like the light....

Even Diego looks stunned at the destruction.....

Day 4- he slept.

BUT, Sunday evening after 3 days of no naps- Dylan had a horrible night terror.  Poor little boo.

We are not ready for him to cut out naps...and apparently his body isn't either...despite what he thinks !

I hate to beg you-- yes YOU ! for comments, but if you read my posts, I challenge you in the next month to comment just once.  After lots of thought and prep goes into each entry, I wonder what's the point?  Who's reading it?  (I know grandparents are) but it's nice to hear from people- to know what they think, what pics they like, what they notice, etc.)  It's so easy to comment.

At the bottom of each entry it will say a # (usually) 0 comments.  You click that.  You write your comment, click the drop down that says.  You can chose to comment as anonymous, or you can click name, and just type your name. 

So there is your challenge.

Last 7 weeks re-cap

We were in Calgary......

I did some photo shoots that were awesome !  The boudoir marathon was my favorite !  I'm always surprised that I enjoy that style of photography so much, but I really do !

Dylan played with his cousins and tried to hug and kiss and cuddle them- sometimes successfully, sometimes not. 

He's become such a huggy little guy. 

When he was little he wasn't affectionate.

We persisted.

We hugged.

He fought.

We kissed.

He pulled away.

We cuddled.

He ewwed.

We finally broke him !  (haha) He's given in and become such a huggy lovely little guy- it's awesome.

 He spent lots of time with Grandma and Grandpa.

(why he more helpful in their kitchen,

and more destructive in my kitchen?)

Mmmmmm Peanut Butter Lid

 Kendra visited... we did what we do best- watched trashy TV- this time on the computer. 

<disaster date !>

(who took this pic by the way?  I don't remember it being taken)

Diego "graced" my parents with his presence.  I don't think my mom felt too graced when he licked her freshly made pan of rice krispie squares.

Whoops !

When we came home I don't think Sasha felt "graced" by his presence either.... can we say battle for dominance?

Break out the vacuum, cuz the fur really flew !!

....... to be continued tomorrow.

When I was a kid, I can barely remember anyone staying at our house.  If they did, where did they sleep?  Not a clue.  Family from Medicine Hat must have stayed at our house- only I don't remember.

Because Mat and I live in a city where we have NO family, we have people stay with us regularly.  In the time we've lived in this house, the "guest" bedroom has changed location three times.  After having Mat's parents here for a month, it got me thinking...what kind of hosts are we?

I always wonder, were they warm enough?  Did they have enough to eat at supper?  Did they feel comfortable to help themselves if they were hungry?  Did they think my bathroom was dirty?  Did they notice that I don't sweep my floors enough?  Did they notice that sometimes the litter is really really stinky?  Did they get stuck watching crap they would never watch on tv at night?  Did we do enough things?  Did we sit around the house too much?  Did we go out too much and spend too much money on "stuff"  (lunches, dinners, activities, etc)  Did we take advantage of a guest's generosity?  And in general, did they feel WELCOME in our home.

Some of those things matter a lot, and some don't.  (sorry bout the cat litter, we really can't do much more- it's the curse of three cats)  We don't send out comment cards, we don't give frequent lodging coupons or discounts, and most people are too kind to say that you or your place sucks.... so how do you really know?

Maybe I do need comment cards.... Dear: Guest- thank you for staying at Ziebart-Cook enterprises, please complete this quick survey and in return you will be rewarded with.....


Endless kisses from this face.