Olan Mills....NOT a FAN!!!

well here is my horrendous story about Olan mills. I got suckered into doing their "featured packaged" while in K-mart last weekend...So I went ahead and signed up on there super special to take pictures of my kids. I thought to myself that it has been awhile and I normally like them to be outdoors but had time to kill and I thought that I would send out cute 4th of July photo/cards to the grandparents. Well it all sounds great and dandy until I got the day started and about had a breakdown 3 times before I had even got there. So when we got there all stressed out and curled hair was no longer curled due to brother smothering her w/ her blanket, lunch half down there shirts and my poor baby drooling on him self....teething. The lady sat us down and we got started. She walked us into the room where we were to take photo's, kid you not it was no bigger than 10x10 and many props to help out. First thing she turned to me and asked well do you have anything in mind....I'm thinking to myself...isn't this why I'm paying you?? Doesn't she have the photography experience?? I know that I don't!! I quickly looked down and saw a cute step stool and said lets try that one..?? She looks at me and said ok arrange them how you want them. So I proceed to do so and placed my girls on the two steps and mason standing behind and Titan sitting in front as she is taking the poses, she sneaks in "this first pose will be your featured pose." I heard it in the back ground and then asked to change a few things up and she said it was now her turn to pick and started doing a few cute poses w/ the kids. I really liked what she was doing and asked if these poses could used for my featured package and she told me NO! Sorry it's only the first...this was the companies policy. I let her know that this makes me NEVER want to come back to Olan Mills again. She then told me she was out of frames so I guessed that meant we were done after two different settings...??!! I asked if this was digital, and she said yes but I wasn't satisfied with what she had done? Out of frames, my butt!! Erase some more and do a few more shots LADY! I then began to get a little frustrated with the whole situation and told her later that I was not happy how she used all the props and worked extra hard to make these photo's look great! She said that's how we get you people to get in here! We give you the first pose so then the kids have warmed up and we can work w/ them better and then you can spend more then the $15. and we get your business. I let her know that I really was NOT OK WITH THIS!!! I seemed to get a little Sassy right back at her and I told her I was not here to spend $50,$60 or $100's of dollars...Plus I had all ready spent money on outfits for our family beach shots that we were doing in a few weeks. She told me oh...you just missed our beach event! Oh... No lady, I don't do indoor beach shoots...I had hired a photographer to come down from Phoenix to take them for us and they will by far be better then any indoor pail and sand toy she had! Right Bri?? all in all after she kept saying I know, I know mam I take care of you, She tryed to act all sypathetic with me and said that she couldn't imagine what it would take to raise 4 young kids like mine. I told her that things were tight and I wasn't planing on spending very much more. I asked her what a sheet(8x10, or two 5x7's) would cost and she would never answer me. A little annoying for sure! After my kids had had enough...Ryya screaming wanting a snack that I didn't pack then biting baby Titan's finger and leaving bite marks and him crying out of pain. I then thumped Ryya's mouth and put her in a close corner. Chloe wanting to sit on my lab w/ titan and mason trying to help, taking Chloe for a potty run...I just wanted to leave! I had had enough to say the least! As for the offer, she told me for a 12 sheet package it worked out to be $215. I said...ahh NO! Then she told me I could have the two 10x13 enhancements photo's for $69 each and she could give me two for free...I turned and said NO! I could tell she really wanted me so buy something and don't get me wrong they were pretty cute because she knew what she was doing and had done touch ups and zoomed in and they looked great! Then she offered the four kids individuals in 8x10 for $45. each I still said "NO". To make a long story short I got four 8x10 (enhancements) for a great price of 12.5o each and she had started out trying to get me to pay $45.00 each??? What was she thinking...I really felt like I was at a car dealership getting raked over the coles and thrown back out again. We soon left the store and came home and I put them all to bed and napped myself! MORAL:NEVER, NEVER TAKE 4 CHILDREN TO DO PHOTOS ALONE! :)

For all the Great Mothers out there...

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up puke laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, 'It's okay honey, Mommy's here'.
Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted. This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.
For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.
This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.
This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.
And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football , hockey or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, 'Did you see me, Mom?' they could say, 'Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world,' and mean it.
This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.
This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.
This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.
For all the mothers who read 'Goodnight, Moon' twice a night for a year. And then read it again. 'Just one more time.'
This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.
This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.
This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls 'Mom?' in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college.
This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.
This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.
For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.
For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.
For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.
This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.
What makes a good Mother anyway?
Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?
Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?
The jolt that t takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?
The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?
Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?
The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...
And mature mothers learning to let go.
For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.
Single mothers and married mothers.
Mothers with money, mothers without.
This is for you all. For all of us.
Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray.
Please pass along to all the Moms in your life.
'Home is what catches you when you fall. l - and we all fall.'

Aquarium of the Pacific

We got to spend an afternoon at the Aquarium of the Pacific...What can i say but it was an experience for sure!! Not to mention that on our way down Ryya had a bloody nose...something she never gets and it wouldn't stop bleeding. After fighting heavy traffic and not being able to stop we made it after the kids kept saying this is staking forever...are we there yet? My new rule in my truck is that you can't ask these questions...or i will turn around and go home. So they now ask ask how long is the drive mom, or how more mins mom?? Which seems a little better when it comes from a four year old!! We are working on not winning...As for the bloody nose Ryya had she sneezed while at Burger King and i thought it was a large grape...Well it was a raisin, from the box she had eaten right before we left! I guess it was all my fault for not sitting her down and feeding then to her right?? She is two and it has been my worse case of the two's for sure!!Well on to our adventures....

the first aquarium....so real, it was actually built right into the side of the ocean.

Titan being so GOOD and loving LIFE!! All for of them at a look out...
seals... mommy's babies and grandpa's

Seals surrounding us and they would chase you around and around...

SHARKS ATTACKS.....I was so glad at times that the glass was 4" think!!

Us being silly...

L*A*R*G*E / K*I*N*G / L*O*B*S*T*E*R*S

Jelly fish just like in the movie shark tales...

Crab rides...

Did you know that Nemo's really start out black and then turn orange when they get older..

Fish rides "T" loved it!!


All in all it was so much fun and I never heard the end of "NEMO, MOMMY NEMO"
Ryya thought every fish we saw was Nemo and it was so cute to see her get so excited so many time. Mason asked me when we saw the whales if this really was Willy? I thought it was pretty cute!!

Balloons and Bubbles...

A friend brought over some big balloons....the kids loved them until i said they had to go outside because they we jumping and being too loud! A near by neighbor(no idea who he was nor did i want too) came out to his patio and asked if my kids were done popping bubbles...a little confused and not quiet sure of what he was saying and a slight language barrier...He was mad that they were popping balloons outside. I then asked him if he had a problem with it and then he shouted back at me and said ANNOYING!! I clearly understood that...and thought to myself and the girls i was with that how rude of him to come out and rein the fun of little kids like that...then I put it passed me and got caught up in my sweet little Titan blowing bubbles of his own...check out this video clip!! I really think he has great talent!

I know it starts out side ways but I soon remember that I can't change the direction with this silly cannon camera that I have, so I do flip it mid stream sorry! If you are wondering what he is saying it's "more, more, more". For sure it has crossed my mind to enter it into American funniest home video's for sure!

Laguna Beach...

We got to spend a day at Laguna Beach and what fun we had!! We ran around building sand castles, played football, ate, buried Dad, Mason and Titan. We even took a few pictures with the family. Baby Titan and the naked ones were my favorite! I have this thing for naked babies and bare bums, as well and cute baby feet!! We saw some fun, wired, and crazy people for sure!
It only took an hour to get there from were we are staying and even though we had to stop twice both ways to pay a toll it was well worth it! I guess there is ways around it but by the way you traveled the extra 50 miles or so you would might as well stooped, paid the cute old ladies and been on your way. There is also an express pass I guess it's for those people who buy a pass and don't have to stop for sure it kinda of got old stopping 4 times waiting in the lines and then on our way again but if I get my way we will for sure be doing it again!! Love those beaches!!

Titan and his little buns.....you know you want a pinch!!

Ryya posing for the camera...

My sweet girls...

Ryya turns TWO!!

Ryya's 2nd birthday...with Mason and Chloe.

This post is dedicated to my sweet Ryya Lyn as i used to call her. She turned two on May 31st and i can't believe that it has been two years already! I just thought it would be fun to put up some pictures of what she has been up to as well as some facts about her.

*Ryya loves to be girly!

*eats cereal like it's going to be her last bowl...always asking...having? having? wants to know what she is missing out on. Pretty cute!

*loves messing w/ anything electronic, t.v. , cell phones, computers and ipods. will turn the Chanel while mason is watching t.v. She is known to press the buttons on the computer when you don't want her too.

* loves to have her picture taken and she will almost always give you a CHEESY smile! Will always ask "I see, I see" When ever she sees our family picture at home she loves to find RYYA first!

* stories and movies she can't get enough...has a great love for reading.

* loves to give hugs and kisses...mom will take them anytime!

* LOVES her be be as she would cal it!(blanket)

* she reminds me that she is a helper w/ baby Titan. She'll say helping mommy helping!

* singing, dressing up,baby dolls and anything princess...she loves it all!

* wants to be as big as her older sister, says and does everything Chloe does!! Loves to get "pretty and get her hair done. many times while I'm getting ready and putting product in my hair she'll put in baby shampoo in her dry hair and look at me and say "so pretty"???

* words that describe her...mischievous, clumsy, very messy, cute, adorable, chunky, emotional, sweet, shy, tease, trouble, and what can i say she is the third child born and so was I so i know what the sweet little girl is going through! She'll make it in this big bad world... I did. :) I must not forget she is a *P*I*N*K* girl all the way!! We love you RYYA!!