(barely) alive and kicking

I'm still here. Just totally swamped with work. And, by swamped I mean that I've already worked 40 hours this week. We've got a big deadline on May 18th...but then two other related projects will start up. Not really much rest for the very, very, very weary.

That's not to say that it's been all work and no play. Au contraire. Last weekend, the fam headed down to Charlottesville to go to Foxfield, which are steeplechase races that are a total drunkfest UVA institution.** (Trivia fact: John and I met/exchanged numbers at Foxfield. Twelve-freaking-years ago.) The weather forecast was very gloomy, but as our friend Pete always say, "God smiles on Foxfield." And, sure enough, it not only didn't rain, but was occasionally sunny and warmer than expected.

This weekend, we head up to Philly for the big race. Training for this race in the midst of my crazy work schedule has been difficult at best...but I'm still looking forward to running it. Actually, I look forward to casually mentioning that I ran 10 miles just to sound badass...but same difference, right?

Finally (WARNING: SHAMELESS BRAG!), I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the Slacker household is home to a 2-time Computation Queen. I wasn't able to make it to the ceremony this time (see also: Work Sucks), but John represented and took this incredibly blurry picture for me. It was almost like I was there...you know, if I were drunk or had vertigo.

So, that's what's been going on in our neck of the woods.


**EDITED TO ADD: Lest you think John and I got hammered this weekend, Foxfield *used to be* a total drunkfest. Wrangling the kiddos and just generally being adults have made it much, much less of the par-tay it used to be. But it was fun to see our friends!**

time flies when you are having fun

This morning, as E was dancing around our kitchen and singing along to Lady Gaga's Bad Romance (don't you judge me!), it hit me.

Every ounce of baby, toddler, preschooler and little girl is gone. My oldest daugther is a big girl now.

 

But as I tell her every night before she goes to sleep, even when she's grown up and has kids of her own...she'll always be my baby.

it's been a while...get used to it

So, I've been meaning to post pictures from Easter since...well, Easter. But I'm swamped at work. It's not as bad as last year (thankfully!), but I'm super busy nonetheless.

Anyway, Easter was fun. The fam took off Good Friday to hang out together. We went hiking. We played tennis. We grilled out. Then Grandmom and Granddad came to visit. Good times were had all weekend.

Easter was a success, despite needing an eleventh hour trip to Target to get basket stuff. (I swear, one of these years I will purchase stuff in advance.) On the bright side, I have successfully established a tissue-paper-in-the-basket policy...which is far less aggrivating than the Easter grass. So, I think that puts me slightly ahead of the game.

We tried to recreate our Christmas miracle of a great family picture. We failed. This was the best we got.

Thanks again to Grandmom for the girls' Easter dresses. I realize that the time for matching dresses is coming to an end...but damn they look cute dressed alike. And when the girls busted out the dresses again for our trip to the Dentist...*everyone* commented on how cute they were.

Alrighty...gotta get back to work!

the prude and the polygamist

After our anniversary dinner last night, the fam all sat on the deck and enjoying our wine (me and John) and dessert (E and A). We started talking about marriage.

Marriage According to E

E, how old do you have to be to get married?
25, maybe.
And, what happens when you get married?
You kiss a boy...EW!
So, what you are saying is that you won't kiss a boy until you are 25?
YES!
Uh...can we get that in writing?

Marriage According to A

I'm gonna marry one-hundred boys!
100, A. Wow, that sounds like a lot.
Yeah! And one-hundred girls, too!

two years until italy*

Eight years ago, I married the love of my life. It was freezing that day (unlike the temps near the 90s we are expecting today)....but I didn't care. I forced my bridesmaids to trapse around Arlington in pink halter bridesmaid dresses so I could get gorgeous shots of the Washington monuments in my wedding photos.

I was *so* happy that day. And, the last eight years have been wonderful, indeed.

I was 27 when we got married. It seemed so old back then...but now? I look back at pictures and we look so young. Though one day, I'll look back at pictures from now and think the same thing.

Happy Anniversary, John! I love you!




* For our 5 year anniversary we went to Ireland. We're headed to Italy for our 10 year anniversary. I cannot wait!

picture this!

E has taken an interest in photography. She has one of those V-Tech cameras that she loves...but after World War 3 broke out between E and A over sharing the camera, I gave E my old point-and-shoot to use. Since then, she's been taking tons of pictures. So much so, I've found myself having to delete some every few minutes because the memory card was full. I finally broke down and uploaded all her pictures to my computer so we could clear the memory card. Which will buy me about 10 minutes when she starts taking pictures again.

I thought I'd share with you some of E's work. As you can see, she focuses primarily on three subjects.

Still Life with Toys

 

Family Portraits

 

Self Portaits

 

I'll also be posting some tips for parents when their kids are Photography Prodigies. Basically, it will be how to pose for your kids to avoid having The.Worst.Pictures.EVAH taken of you. I'll be writing it as soon as the shock of learning that I have a triple double chin and the world's largest stomach pooch wears off.