...ouch

Well Monday was my birthday.  #34.  I don't really have problems dealing with getting older.  Some people hate to say how old they really are, or hate birthdays.  I don't get it.  To each their own, I suppose.  But for me, it's just another year.  Time to look back on what I did, ha, or didn't do.....and look to the new year and see what it has in store for me.  And a reason to have a party.

"They" say you are only as old as you feel.  I get that.  Maybe that's why I don't mind getting older.  I certainly am not in any remote way in the same shape as I was when I was in high school or college.  For obvious reasons too.  I am not playing sports everyday.  I don't have a coach breathing down my neck or checking on my progress of things day in and day out.  I played 3 sports all four years in high school and in college I played 2 sports all four years.  Thats a lot of coached practices and games. 

And it's easy for me to figure out where I went downhill. I know what happened.  I graduated.  12 years ago!

I know, I know....it's up to me to be my own coach.  I can make plenty of excuses as to why I can't be as dedicated to myself as I used to be.  I got married.  I had a baby.  I moved.  I had another baby. I moved again. I lost loved ones.  I've had my share of heartbreak.  I have two bad knees. 

blah blah blah.

Anyways, I recently joined a gym in hopes of getting myself back on track.  I also joined a softball league.  It may be an over 30 girls only league, but I made a committment to something that's for me.

As for my birthday day, I got my wisdom teeth out "and two bonus ones" as my aunt said, for a total of 6 teeth.  It's only a matter of time before I get sick of ice cream (*gasp*) and applesauce. 

Oh and for my breakfast loving friends, I even broke down and had scrambled eggs - after 10am.

But the real celebration for my birthday is this coming Friday, when my husband is taking me and my good friends into Boston for a fun night...so let's keep those fingers crossed that all goes well and I get to enjoy it!

I miss it...

I really need to get my camera fixed.  I miss it.  I have a wonderful Nikon D70 that has been very nice to me.  I love being able to look through the camera and see things in only the way I do.  Taking pictures is a hobby, but I hope to really learn how to use it, so it's on my non-exsistant bucket list.  I know of words such as aperature, iso, shutter speed, etc., but I just set that dial to auto and click away.  I love finding the right background and I take into account a few other things, but overall I love the editing part.  That's just fun.

Anyways, so it was Christmas morning (great timing right?) that I figured out something was wrong with my flash.  It's now almost 4 months later and I still have yet to see what the damage will be to have it fixed.  The good news is I recently found a place in Andover to bring it to. 

In the meantime, I have been taking pictures on my blackberry - desperate not to miss one of the "moments". 

But this is what they look like for the last almost 4 months:

a big blurry mess

When it should have looked something like this:

Here's to hoping I won't have pictures like the first one for too much longer...fingers crossed.

I Heart Faces Constructive Feedback Friday!

I am excited to come across that I Heart Faces (http://www.iheartfaces.com/) is having a Constructive Feedback Friday.  I love love love taking pictures but defiantely consider myself a beginner and would love the chance to get some feedback!

So here is my original:

And here is the edit done in Picasa....

I wanted to get in some of the background seeing it was Fall...pumpkins, hay....but I just couldn't make it all work.  Plus the sun was setting and I thought it was a tad too dark.  My girls have very blue eyes and I was trying to keep that as normal as I could at the same time.  I do not have great software for editing, but have to make due with what I have at the moment.  I heard lightroom is great and once I can save for it, I think I will grab it. 

Anyways, any help is appreciated - especially with these two as they are usually the subjects of my shots! 

It's Friday Fun Day!

Its Friday and Haley doesn't have school....and its supposed to be super nice out so that makes it even better!  I don't know where we are headed just yet, but a playground I'm sure is on the list.

Tomorrow morning is the big assessment day for a softball league I joined with my other girls.  Alison and I will be hitting the dirt with all the other newbies to the league to be evaluated.  I am excited to see just where I stack up to the "competition"...seeing its been a very long time since I have played in a league.  Every fall my husband's work puts on a one day tournament and it always seems like its in our last game that I start to feel good....getting in that groove.  Then it's over.  Sure its kinda like riding a bike, but the bike I ride these days definately has two squeeky wheels. 

At least I got a new glove and some new cleats, so I will look the part...I hope.

....smell that?

I think it smells like Spring today!  Actually Spring is officially here this weekend, but after all that rain, I am glad we get an early look!  Outside we went, trying best to avoide the patches of grass that were still water-logged.  Surprisingly enough neither one of the girls got wet.  We're having a picnic lunch outside on the table and I forsee some chaulk time...maybe even get crazy with bubbles.

Its St. Patrick's Day and I did my best to deck the girls out in green.  Ok, their hair accessories are green.  I actually remembered after they were all dressed and just couldnt strum up any energy to re-do it.  Besides, Haley had a "green party" at school yesterday (she doesn't have school on Wednesdays) and she did wear a lot of green clothes.

I looked up what my maiden name meant and it came from O Tarpaigh, meaning Sturdy.  Ha.  Don't have to tell my husband that one.

It's my first time...

.....ever really doing one of these blog things.  I have been thinking about it for a long time now and finally took the plunge.  I will admit I have no clue how to personalize this, but for now, I will make due. 

I'm still not 100% what I will write about each time, but I can guarantee it will have something to do with my girls...my two amazing daughters ages 4 and 1.  Or it could have something to do with my crazy husband, who has blessed my life for the past 8 years.  Or it could be about my family, there are lots of them.  Or even about my friends - oh, haha, my good old friends. 

I know it won't be about politics or religion, thats for sure.  I will leave that up to all the others who like a good debate.  Not me...Can't we just all get along?....."guys, guys, look at yourself, bickering and squabaling...", I can hear my brother saying that. 

Well, if you have read this far, thats a good thing I guess.  Remember, whatever I write is my opinion and no one makes you read this stuff.  If you don't like it, don't read it, but if you do, thats fun!