Pictures With Uncle Justin

Here I am, finding myself playing catch up again, and there is SO MUCH to catch up on, but before I get to all the catch up posting, I thought I'd share the pictures we had taken while my brother, Justin, was in town visiting.

Before he came to town, my grandma and I were talking and she said, "You know, I haven't had a really good picture taken of you and your brother for such a long time.  I need pictures of the two of you.  Can you find a place to get pictures taken and I'll send the money along with your brother?"  Well of course I can, grandma!  I spent days on the computer with my trusty friend Google looking up local photographers.  One photographer was too good to be true with a $150 fee, but wanted $100 PER PICTURE for copyright release.  See, my grandma likes to print pictures on her own, so I had to find someone who would put all the pictures on a disc and give my grandma the rights to print, post and e-mail to her heart's content.  And then I found it.  A photographer not to far from me called Special Focus Photography.  And the best parts?  She only charged $100 and would put all of our pictures on a disc with full rights, and she has a specialty in photographing children with special needs.  It was a perfect match.  Claire is not a fan of having pictures taken, so having her pictures taken outside by someone who understands her needs was just AWESOME.

We arrived early on a warm, sunny day, minus David.  He isn't much for portraits.  Seriously.  I was lucky I had a groom in our wedding photos.  The photographer snapped away.  We laughed and had so much fun.  I thanked her, paid her, and a week later was greeted by a disc full of beautiful photos in my mailbox.  Want to see?


See that guy with that hat?  That's my little brother, Justin.


And this is Uncle Justin with the small ones.

After a few shots of all of us, just Justin and I and Justin with the small ones, the photographer captured some great pictures of the kids.












And, my new, very favorite picture of Claire.  I'm searching for a frame.


It was a wonderful experience, and when she has specials, I'm going to do it again.

Now I'm Gonna Give You Stuff: Printrunner.com Giveaway!

Stickers!  Who doesn't love stickers?  I love stickers.  I know my kids love stickers...As made evident by remote controls, old cellphones and maybe a closet door or wall that bear the scars of stickers past.

So what better way to celebrate everyone love of stickers than by giving away some custom stickers for you to call your VERY own.

Printrunner.com is a full service, high quality printing company located in Chatsworth, CA that was started 10 years ago on (in their own words) "a small press and a dream."  Today they are one of the foremost printing companies in southern California who pride themselves on offering affordable, high quality color printing for YOU.  They offer a wide variety of products from banners/signs to sticker printing to printing online.

So, what are the details on this Sticker Extravaganza...Stickerganza!!

Here's what I'm giving away:

Sticker Shape : Standard Stickers

Flat Width : 2"

Flat Height : 3.5"

Quantity : 250

Paper : Premium Sticker Stock

Colors : Full Color ( 4 Color Process), Black and White

Proof : NONE

Ready to Ship In : 3 Business Days

Do you see that?  250 stickers!  Sticker madness for DAYS!

So, what do you have to do to win this prize?

Main Entry: You must be a PUBLIC follower of this blog to enter this giveaway and leave a comment here letting me know that you are.

Additional (1 entry each!)
1) Follow Print Runner on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway, leaving a link to where your tweet can be found.  No daily tweets please.
2) Like Print Runner on Facebook and let them know I sent you.  Also, let me know where I can find you.
3) Visit Print Runner's website and let me know another product you like.

Please remember to leave your e-mail in at least one of your comments or make sure it is public in your profile so I can contact you should you win.  If I can't contact you, you can't win!

Winner will be chosen on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 11:00PM CDT.  Winner will be chosen by random.org and e-mailed.  Winner will have 24 hours to respond to e-mail before another winner is chosen.  Must be 18 or older to enter.  Open to US.  Good luck!

And, just so you know, I was not compensated in any way for this giveaway.  Once the giveaway is completed, I will receive the same price as the winner.  This in no way changed my opinion of the product.  My opinions are honest and my own. 

Dear Claire

Dear Claire,
Yesterday, you turned 4!  In the past year you've gone from this


To this:


We've had a rough year this year, but it's also been fun and exciting to watch you learn and grow.  We moved into a new house, you started preschool and you've blossomed since beginning school.  We also had a visit from Uncle Justin (mommy's brother).  He left the day before your birthday.

On your birthday, you woke up and daddy and mommy let you open a present before everyone came over to spend your special day with you.


Another Rapunzel!  I think we've got everything Rapunzel now.

Everyone came over and you opened presents.  You got Barbie's and games and a new bathing suit, but you also got copious amounts of Yo Gabba Gabba (your favorite show) including these guys.


They've been by your side since coming out of the box.  However, Grayson was unhappy with not being able to open presents.


It's OK though, we let him help you open the last one since you wouldn't let go of your Yo Gabba Gabba friends.

To keep with the Yo Gabba Gabba love, mommy made you a Brobee cake.


Which you loved!  You hid while we sang Happy Birthday..


But were more than willing to blow out your candles...A first!!!



Once everyone left, mommy put together your princess vanity, and you and Grayson spent the rest of the afternoon playing together and watching your new Yo Gabba Gabba movies.



Happy birthday baby girl.  I hope year 4 is all you hope it will be.

Love always,
Mommy

Writer's Workshop: Instagram Instafabulous!

Writer's Workshop.  Today I chose the prompt  Instagram fun! Share a photo you took with Instagram this week and tell us what you love about it.

I must confess, I don't have a smartphone.  David does, but I am just not lured in by everything having the internet with you 24/7 brings.  I can text status updates to Facebook.  I can text tweets to Twitter.  I receive texts back when people respond to my posts.  What more do I need really?

But the one thing I miss out on is Instagram.  I see other people's pictures and I LOVE them.  They are beautiful and fun.

And then, something awesome happened.  David bought the iPad 2 when it went on sale because of the newest  iPad.  And I downloaded Instagram.  Sure it's made for the iPhone, but it still works on the iPad.  Want to see my proof?

Last week, Claire took a seat on the windowsill in the kitchen.  It was warm.  The sun was shining and the windows were open (All but the window she is sitting by.  This window does not open).  She was enjoying listening to and watching all the birds fly around the front yard.  I pulled up Instagram and snapped this beauty.  The sun flared in just the right way, and it was beautiful.  I love that she is in almost silhouette.  I want to frame this.  I actually wonder if I could.