clean ~ simple ~ fresh...

a little bit of country... in NEW YORK

I have never been to New York as an adult but have to admit... when I think of NY I think of the city and tall buildings.  Well, where we went there was none of the above.  There happened to be plenty of farms, cows and corn for what seemed to be the entire world.  My eyes were opened to another part of NY.  A beautiful part I never knew existed.  If you have never seen this part you need to find time.  I promise you will love it! 

Since meeting my handsome man we have traveled to NY 4 times.  You would think I've met my quota for the year right?... wrong... I'll be going again 2 more times in the next couple of weeks.  Then I think we're good for a while.  I believe I literally met his ENTIRE family while we were there.  If any of you are reading this please do not hold it against me if I don't remember your name upon returning.  I promise I'll get them right eventually :-)

Here are a couple of shots of the kids while we were visiting.  It was their first time feeding cows and pigs and they loved every minute of it.  If they went missing we were sure to find them either playing in the hay up in the barn or talking to the animals.

here are two of the three ladies of the farm... Pancake and Chocolate Milk.  Pancake just had a baby (hiding to the left) and K chose to name her Milky Way :-)...

this little lady was one of Landon's best friends by the time we left :-) ... Pancake up close...

hanging with the pigs...

this one cracks me up!  this pig looks like she has a smile on her face...

and the most adorable addition to the family and New York.....  meet baby E.  Stuart's new little nephew.  He is as sweet as he is cute!

an evening at the beach...

Hello all ~ I know I have been neglecting my blog for a while now but I promise to be better.  Thank you for all the email complaints :-)  It always surprises me how many actually notice when I have been MIA. 

Here are a couple from playing at the beach with friends last night.  Our visit was cut short thanks to a bunch of biting critters but it was great to feel the sand between my toes.  Here is Mr C in all his grown up glory.  He will have a little brother to play with soon.  I can not wait to get my lens on that new little squishy :-)  I hope you are all enjoying your day.  The boys have been in the pool all day and look forward to a night of basketball.  It is something special when you know the coach and get the gym all to yourself at the end of the game.  That's their favorite part.  Have a good night ~ Tra

and some piggies...

we'll be playing again tomorrow night so I'm sure there will be many more to follow...  bye for now.

lamborghini's first game...

I think we should have to pay admission to watch these little men.  We laughed so hard we were crying half the time.  What a great night.  I attempted some pics - first time picking up my camera since... THE FRACTURES :-)  dum dum dum.....  so here are a handful of Landon from tonight.  He was cracking us up.

This was Landon playing 3rd base... it was his base and no one was allowed on it...

batter up...

so proud...  the game continued behind him but had to give Meme and Pop a thumbs up :-) ...

I believe this was part of a victory dance...

he cracks me up...  he actually runs holding onto the helmet like this so it stays on...

and home...

Hope you all had as much fun as we did tonight...  Tra

it could only happen to me...

I can't see the little black cloud following me around but I know it's there...

Bilateral Radial Head fractures.  I always said exercise was dangerous :-)  I won't be jogging with my puppy any time in the near future.

So now I sit with both arms fractured and wondering how I will be doing any sessions.  K.P. ~ one of my favorite seniors ever had to reschedule her session with me a year or so ago when I fractured my L Radial Head.  I managed to pull it off with one good arm so I'm sure I can get clever again...  (fingers crossed) Who needs arms to hold a camera??? :-)  

I'll be going out to practice when the rain clears to see what happens - wish me luck.....

Here are a couple images from a few days prior at the park... and a few days prior to that...

The boys now have a new "favorite" park because of this little gizmo... the flying fox...

check out the air...

Landon trying to be like the statue in Night at the Museum...

These were from a VERY SPECIAL day....

Yet another day at a different park...  someone should talk to their mother about this...

then we realize how high we are... :-) 

a couple of great companies...

I have a friend (Christopher Signore) that introduced me to a couple of great companies I'd like to share with you.  Please call him if you have any questions.  I used Send Out Cards last week and everyone loves what they received.  It is so fast and easy.  You need to try it!  It is one of my new favorite things :-) 

My plow man just arrived for the first of many trips this year.  Please tell me why I have not moved to North Carolina yet?  UGH!

Send Out Cards

ACN

fatso bear,,,

What can I say... I am waiting for a friend right now at La Festa in Dover. There are only 3 places to eat and this is one of them. They do have yummy pizza though. I believe the entire city if Dover is in here :-) I went to Sanford today to find a total mess everywhere. Trees and power lines down every direction you turned. I'm sure by the time you guys read this the ice storm will be a memory and we will all have power back. I can not wait to get my computer back! Thank goodness for iPhones :-) Apple ROCKS! Well, off to get some pizza and wine... Tra

ice storm 2008...

It has been 5 days since the storm hit and there are still so many with no power.  I am fortunate to have my back and will never think of a hot shower the same again.  It feels so much better after not having it for a while.  I just wanted to share some snaps from my yard when I came home on Friday afternoon.  I left pretty soon after.  The house was just so chilly...

every blade of grass was and still is frozen like little icicles...

the "back" driveway.  Thank goodness I have another on the other side :-)  The trees are still hanging down like this...

I hope you are all staying warm and have your power back soon if not already ~ Tra

one fine day...

This was that day... that day that we venture to the tree farm to find the perfect Christmas tree.  It started with Landon needing to find a saw so he could cut down the perfect tree.  We searched hi and low.  My eyes always find the tallest, fattest trees available.  Only one problem ~ my ceilings are not tall enough.  All said and done the boys finally agreed on the perfect tree for our house.   It took forever :-) !  I had nothing to do with that!  he he...  Here are some snaps from our adventure today...

The boys actually let me take a picture before we entered treeville :-)...

entering "treeville"...  where do you begin????

Landon thought this would be a nice tree for us :-) .... we kept searching...

Cole on a mission..

Landini did get very protective when he found a tree he loved...

It wouldn't be complete without a hot dog from the guy with the Santa hat on at the end of a long adventure :-)...  Landon wanted NOTHING to do with the real Santa there... :-)

thought this was cute...  that's Pop back there chowing :-)

Off to get the lights on the tree so we can decorate... hope you are all having a great night ~ Tra

girl envy...

Seriously....  this is from a session I did a while ago and I can not stop looking at it.  Makes me smile every time.  I love my boys but I can not tell you how much trouble I would get into if there was a little girl to spoil.  YIKES! I would be in some MONSTER trouble!  Well...  this was from baby A's session...  It is killing me!  I hope it brings a smile to your face as well...

first snow...

This was a couple days ago (Sunday) but had to share.  I am not a huge fan of winter over here but love when it snows.  It is so beautiful.  Sipping cocoa while cozied in front of a lit up Christmas Tree watching the snow falling....  is there anything better?  Hope you are all having a great day and staying warm...  Tra