Another Day in the Kitchen.

Reaghan has taken a sudden fancy to the culinary arts.
Doesn't she make the cutest vegetable soup you've ever seen?

Big Air!

the sun was shining

the snow was glistening

the air was calm

It was a beautiful day at the Mount Shasta Ski Park today.  

Reaghan and I went up in attempt to catch some photographs of the brave souls that were competing in the BIG AIR event.  

I couldn't ask for a more cooperative assistant.

As we enjoyed the practice rounds, and cringed with every faulty landing, I was continually reminded of why I am a spectator of such sports.  I. am. a. chicken. (and not afraid to admit it).

Chicken, however, is not the right word for this little fellow.  I just happened to stand near his proud mamma for one of my vantage points.  I learned that today is his 8th birthday, and he was absolutely thrilled to be spending the day flying through the air.  To make it even more special, he was the only boarder in his age group for today's competition (an automatic winner)!  This little guy started snowboarding when he was just 2 years old.  (Oh, AND, on his first practice run, he fell pretty hard on his landing.  The little trooper was back on his feet and hiking back to the top of the run within minutes, bloody nose and all!)

Here are just a few snapshots from the event - enjoy the ride!

You Should Probably Not Even Read This.

Saturday - a BEAUTIFUL, sunny, warmish day in Mt. Shasta.  Reece is at the ski park patrolling today, and Reaghan and I decided to go up for a few hours to take photos of the Big Air Competition.  More on that later (when I get a chance to go through the hundreds of pictures that I took).

This post is about something much more...ummm...eventful?  interesting?  disgusting?  yes, disgusting is the right term.

Please stop reading if you have a weak stomach.  Fortunately,  I suppose I don't.

Girl or boy, I would guess that every parent has experienced getting "messed" on at the changing table.  With girls it tends to be a little easier and less frequent (at least that's my experience with Reaghan vs. my youngest brother).  The first time Reaghan surprised me I was thankful that she isn't capable of making a huge mess everywhere - just on the changing pad which is easily washed - or so I thought.

The story begins with our drive home.  After getting Reaghan all buckled in and starting to leave the parking lot, I hear a sound in the backseat that only means one thing - time for a "big job".  I figured that since home was only 20 minutes away, it would be easier to deal with it there rather than in the car.  So we talked and sang our way home.  Reaghan was delighted to get home and onto the changing table (one of her favorite places in the house); we dealt with the "big job" and it wasn't too bad.  Yes, she needed a new outfit, and yes, the pad had to go into the wash, but that's a regular thing with these big jobs, no problem (someday I will design a diaper than can keep it all in). 

Freshly changed and in a warm outfit, it was time for lunch.  She ate her fill and suddenly....that sound again.  Another big job.  Back to the changing table.  This time it was even more fun!  Giggles, and smiles galore.  She was telling me all about how....well, at this point I thought it was about how glad she was to be getting changed again.  It was a little messy, but not as bad as the first (she only needed a new onesie, not a whole new outfit). 

Just as I got the yucky diaper off and was cleaning and preparing her for the "fresh pants"...she squealed...it was too late.  Surely her communications earlier were an attempt to tell me she wasn't finished and that I should leave the dirty diaper in place. 

The result?  Do you even want to know?  Can I simply state that my little girl can push?  Yeah, not only did I have to clean her, but I had to clean myself (my rings are still soaking), the end of the changing table, a large portion of carpet, the wall across from the changing table, and you can just assume how thrilled Daddy is going to be when he comes home and finds out that we need to pull off the baseboards in one section to clean down there, too!  I need to put a new bottle of carpet cleaner on the shopping list.

Boys, you've got nothin' on Miss Reaghan!

Hershey's Anyone?

What do you get when you mix mommy's favorite little girl with her favorite dessert?

A Super Sweet Treat, of course!

And you can bet this little chef gets more kisses and loves than she can handle.

I must confess, I cheated. I used some leftover chocolate frosting for the spatula - not brownie mix...

and rest assured, there was no chocolate tasting for this almost 4 month old - she just happens to be in love with her fists, so I knew this would be the perfect shoot!

I'm Back...or am I?

I have come to the realization that I am a horrible blogger. First off, and really this is the only reason, I don't have time. I would much rather spend every moment I have with my sweet baby girl - she is growing up so fast! When I am not with my baby girl, I am with my 80 something 8th graders who keep me so very entertained throughout the day.

However, with the desire to get our photography business up and running again I am going to work very hard at keeping up with a blog for that...so I might as well update this once in a while...once in a great while!

Here's the news...Reaghan turns 4 months next Monday - crazy, I know! I can hardly believe it. She changes so much every day, I can't seem to capture all of her new tricks no matter how hard I try. Today I noticed she is "talking" in different tones now - and using new sounds, too! She LOVES sitting up - and moving from a horizontal position to a vertical one with only the help of mommy's fingers supporting her grasp brings her great joy. Airplane is a new favorite - especially with daddy. Mommy has had the joy of tasting regurgitated milk during one of our adventurous flights...mmmmmm...yummy! Giggles come much more frequently and the deep belly laugh can get everyone going - she is our little 15lb. bundle of joy!