So Stinking MAD!

I don't even know how to start this story.

Lately, I've been noticing a lot of dog poo in the grass by our car. For a while I thought that the lazy bums with dogs, in the complex were just trying to stay warm by not walking across the parking lot to the dog area. But then it seemed like the poo was following my car. I started parking a couple of spots away from my normal parking area and, lo and behold, some poo appeared there as well. I really thought I was crazy.

Today, though. Today, I walked outside, with my children in tow, to go the grocery store and the front driver side tire was as FLAT as a pancake! I am not kidding you. There was no air left in it at all. I assumed I drove over a nail, but I couldn't find one. I thought maybe the tire had a leak but the air has been really good lately.

Then I started to think that maybe someone slashed my tire, but I couldn't find any puncture marks on the tire.

Well, after Jake got home and while he was changing the tire he noticed that the air cap was on incorrectly. Then he noticed a finger smudge on the rim near the air thing.

So I took the tire to the tire store and they dunked it in a tank to make sure that there was no leak. Sure enough, someone let the air out of our tire!

It's frustrating because Jake has arrested a number of people that live in our complex. Some of these people live in our building. I've complained about a college age couple that doesn't pick up their dogs poo and it's not a secret that it was me (something about staying home all day with all the blinds and windows open gives you away...).

So, anyways, I'm not sure what to do about it. I'm frustrated but I'm stuck.

Changes...

So, most of you know I'm making a go of it as a photographer. I've decided to change my name from Star Smith Photography to Star Tree Photography and my new motto is "Reject Mediocrity."

I also got a neat little version of Photoshop and made this cute flier with it... if your in Gainesville keep your eyes open...

You just might start seeing it around town!

It's been SOOOOO long!

I can't believe how long it has been since I've posted a real post!

We've kind of been doing a lot while not doing anything at the same time...does that make sense?

We're still waiting on the notice of transfer from Jake's work. We submitted the paperwork in November only to find out that we weren't eligible to submit until December 18th so thankfully they changed the date for us. The only problem is that the cut off for transfer requests each month is the 15th! So, our request has been pushed from November into the January pile. I'm hoping that we'll have word sometime next week since the 15th is THIS FRIDAY!

For Christmas Jake got a PS3 that he loves! I got a microphone and game called "SingIt Disney" for Jane. She is so cute while she sings Hannah Montana in the living room. She really belts it out if I sing with her; so it is easy to say that we sing-a-lot!

Sawyer, I have decided, moved right past learning how to speak one word at a time into speaking in full sentences. You have to know though that he doesn't "say" words. He shrieks everything. It is cute and maddening at the same time. Anyways, yesterday I shut the door of the bathroom while Sawyer was trying to creep into bathroom and he starts shrieking "You closed the DOOOOOR!" Over and over and over. It is hard to believe that a 14 month old would be able to say that but I swear to you he did. He is always walking around babbling about something.

I will be starting a photography class next week. I'm pretty excited. I love taking pictures and would love to make money doing so but, as with everything else, you need proper training. Keep your eye on my photography blog www.starsmithphotography.blogpsot.com to see an update of my work.

Also, a few product recommendations for my lovely readers.

If you live in an apartment or house with carpet and limited storage (no room for a steam cleaner...) you MUST try the Resolve Deep Cleaning Carpet Powder. It is amazing. Seriously I did it to my whole living/dining room area and the place looks great! I would suggest any mother of small children have this on hand at all times. Since we all know the big stains don't just fall off a plate they slowly reveal themselves as time and traffic progress you need something to clean it up without lugging out a steam machine all the time. You'll appreciate being able to quickly spot clean (or slowly clean your whole living area). I sure do!

Also, I got a new recipe book by Hungry Girl. She has a recipe called Saucy Cheesy Veggie Stacks. It is made with Eggplant, Zucchini and Portabello Mushrooms. I HATE all of these vegetables but when I made it the recipe was saucy and cheesy and oh-so-delicious! Man it was good. AND, if you make it according to recipe (which I basically did) each veggie stack has LESS than 200 calories! You can't be that, Ladies. Get a copy of that recipe because it is delicious and satisfying.

That's all from me for now. I'm going to take a page out of my BFF's journal and start (trying to) blog every day. I'm sure you guys will be biting your nails with anticipation of my next post. ;)

I moved this post from my other blog...

Monday, December 14, 2009

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Wow! It has been a long time since I've given a real post. Life has been pretty normal lately. Recently though we snuck off to Orlando for a little holiday retreat. We got a rockin' deal on a room in the Gaylord Palms Hotel and went to the ICE! exhibit. I have to say, the Gaylord Palms Hotel is the coolest hotel I've ever been to!




Jane and Sawyer getting some pre-ICE! snuggling done.
The entrance to the exhibit. ICE! is 5000 sq/ft of sculpted ice exhibits. Every year it changes.

This is Sawyers' "I'm trying to eat this ice" face. He kept licking the ice even though it's against the rules...naughty, naughty!





The smallest jacket they had BARELY fit Sawyer.




Jane riding on the carousel. This swan boat was really neat.


Sawyer riding on the polar bear.


Jane wants to help Santa deliver his presents this year. She got started with her reindeer riding lessons...





Yes, Jane, there is a Santa...



The cool glasses our hotel gave us to enhance the lights in the atrium at night.


This picture was taken through the glasses. They turned all the lights into twinkling snowflakes.



The atrium

The HUGE Christmas tree!


One of the ponds connected through a system of streams in the lobby. All of the ponds were full of fish! Koi and black catfish! They also had turtles and alligators as well as a castle and a full-size sailboat INSIDE the hotel. Sawyer cried when we left. He thought it was the coolest place ever!