I'm DONE!

done done done done done done done.

It feels so good.

After the show I had to pack up all my stuff and take it home since I'm going to the beach tomorrow. Right before my last trip to the car, I stopped to look at all the projects one more time. Everyone else was already gone so I had the place to myself and as I stood there then walked up the stairs I started to feel a little sad for the first time. Emotional is not a word used to describe me during these last few months of school, but tonight it definitely applied. Now, don't get me wrong, I am still over the moon about being done, but this has been my life for the past five years so it's a little sad to end it. I had some really good times and found my soul mates for life, as well as grew into the person I am today. So, goodbye iarc. I have some wonderful memories. I'll miss you.

life.

Right now, this is what Rob and Max and all the rest of my family are looking at:

While I get to stare at this:

Tell me how that's fair.

more pictures

With LESS THAN A WEEK left of school, I haven't had a ton of opportunities to play with my new camera, so I've just hauled it around while Max plays.

This was Sunday at my parents house:

And the other morning when Max was having breakfast:

And Tuesday Max REALLY wanted to go outside, despite the fact it was so humid it felt like you were swimming when you walked. So I let him run around in just a diaper and shoes, the horrible mother I am.

Max also learned how to pick the bitter blackberries next to the driveway...

and threw them.

EVERYTHING is meant to be thrown or kicked in this child's mind. Maybe the next one will be an artist? Please?

Ok, ok, here it is.

I got my camera and I LOVE IT! A nice camera really makes all the difference. I'm not going to lie, though- it freaked me out when I first got it 'cause I had no idea how to use it. Not only is it the most advanced camera I've ever had, it's also my first Canon. So, I proceeded to sit down and read half the manual, and then everything was ok. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to play with it much as I now have a WEEK AND HALF left of school! Yay!! But it means a LOT of work as I am finishing my thesis during that week and a half. But anyway, I did take some pictures the other day...

I LOVE this lens, I think we're going to be good buddies:

And now for the surprise:

I got a fisheye lens!!!! I have wanted one for YEARS. They are so fun! Rob will probably hate me for putting this one up:

And this is my friend Shelley playing with Max and Shaelyn:

working working working.

So, seeing as how I'm doing my thesis right now, I have to work on stuff a lot. While I work, Max gets to run free in the house. As parents of toddlers know, when it gets quiet you know something's up. Well, it got quiet the other day and this is what I found...

The sad thing is, they're still there.

FINALLY!

Max FINALLY enjoys nursery. It only took 4 months, but hey, it's better than never. In fact, he enjoys it so much now that he throws a tantrum every week when it's time to leave. I'll take a tantrum as we're leaving to when we're arriving any day, though- I can just stick him in his seat and go home.

The little man exhausted from all the excitement.

can you feel the excitement?!

I just ordered my camera!!!!!!!!! I am over the moon! And this (imagine my fingers only an inch apart) close to having my business up and running. And I'm not even telling you the best part, you'll have to wait a week.

just some questions i got in an email and decided to answer here too.

1. WHAT TIME DID YOU GET UP THIS MORNING? around 9

2. DIAMONDS OR PEARLS? neither, i don't like jewelry, it's a waste of money

3. WHAT WAS THE LAST FILM YOU SAW AT THE CINEMA? indiana jones!

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? of all time? probably seinfeld or everybody loves raymond

5. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY HAVE FOR BREAKFAST? cereal or a bagel or nothing

6. WHAT IS YOUR MIDDLE NAME? datus- it's a family name, ok?

7. WHAT FOOD DO YOU DISLIKE? ginger

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CD? i have a lot, but the juno soundtrack is up there, alongwith melee, and meganoidi

9. WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE? a 2002 subaru outback sport, manual (i can't stand automatics)

10. FAVORITE SANDWICH? roast beef on REAL bread, the kind you have to tear with your teeth, with lettuce, mayo, sprouts, cucumbers, green peppers and onions.

11. WHAT CHARACTERISTIC DO YOU DESPISE? fakeness

12. FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING: right now i'm pretty in love with my keens, but i also love jackets and carigans


13. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON VACATION,

WHERE WOULD YOU GO? Svalbard, Huangshan mountain, and lots more

14. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM? plum and mint and orange

15. FAVORITE BRAND OF CLOTHING? whatever fits

16. WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE TO? probably the washington dc area, it's my favorite

17. WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY? i don't like the attention, so probably the one where i stayed home and did what i wanted to do

18. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? i don't like sports. some people don't believe in organized religion, well, i don't believe in organized sports.

22. FAVORITE SAYING? [insert name] you fat lard!

23. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? june 22

24. ARE YOU A MORNING OR NIGHT PERSON? a morning person if i can wake up early enough (like 5 am), but if i miss that deadline, then i am a night person


25. WHAT IS YOUR SHOE size? 4 1/2 to 5 in womens, 3 in mens


26. PET? a cat and a fish, but once they die i'm done

27. ANY NEW AND EXCITING NEWS YOU WOULD like to share? i'm almost done with college!!! july 30th baby!

28. WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE? a baker or a hair stylist or a designer

29. HOW OLD ARE YOU TODAY? 23

30. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CANDY? reeses peanut butter cups

31. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER? right now poppies

32. WHAT IS A DAY ON THE CALENDAR YOU ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO? august 11th i will be an official college graduate, and the day my new camera arrives!!!

33. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? i think i had some fruit snacks before i went to bed last night

34. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? no. they can't make them true.

35. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? hmmm. scarlet red or maybe burnt ochre

36. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? kinda sunny, already looks hot and humid.

37. FAVORITE DRINK? vanilla coke

38. FAVORITE RESTAURANT? i think don, it's AMAZING

39. SIBLINGS? one older brother, two younger sisters

40. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? summer solstice- i love sunlight! someday i'll be in the arctic for it, and the sun'll never set.

41. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? probably barbies

42. SUMMER OR WINTER? i like winter, but not here- it doesn't get cold enough to actually bundle up or snow

43. HUGS OR KISSES? both, and lots of them

44. COFFEE OR TEA? neither

45. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLa? vanilla

47. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? probably the other night when we watched pirates 3- i always cry in movies

48. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED? nothing- the bed sits on the ground, the way i like it to

49. WHO IS THE FRIEND YOU HAVE HAD THE LONGEST? emily

50. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? read some, and helped rob fill out some paperwork, and slept


51. FAVORITE SMELL? fresh baked bread


52. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? the dark, as only someone from the city can be


53. SALTY OR SWEET? both at the same time

54. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR RING? 7 i think


55. HOW MANY YEARS AT YOUR CURRENT JOB? 5 as a college student, almost 22 months as a mom, and i'm about to start a new career in august

56. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK? thursday


57. HOW MANY TOWNS HAVE YOU LIVED IN? technically, none- i've only lived in cities, and 3 of those

58. DO YOU MAKE FRIENDS EASILY? once i muster up the courage to talk to them

I just got these shoes a week or so ago and I LOVE THEM. They are the absolute most comfortable shoes I have worn in my life. And, my feet can breathe. And they go anywhere. They may just make an appearance to church. (Just kidding, but they really are that comfortable)