Abbie, Bud and Zabe

I know there are a couple people looking for these pictures I took the other night.  Zabe pretended to drive Daddy's car.  Pictures are perfect with the shirt he has on and all :)

Thank you Shelly and Lisa for bringing up my experience from last year.  Oh, that was a fun day.  Bud was in the derby last night in Farmington and got 2nd, tonight same time same place.  7:30.  See you there.

I'm sure this won't be the last picture like this, I hope there's years of his mother getting to video tape derbys.  Hopefully by then I will have my derby chick t-shirt.   Awesome.

As some of you may know I am shooting my first wedding for a friend of mine.  I get asked quite a bit if I do weddings and up until now I've said no, call my sister-in-law.  She is the one who has taught me everything I know in this business.  I help her with her weddings, below are a few of the pictures I have taken for those of you who are interested. (I will be posting more soon) THANK YOU everyone for everything during this learning process of photography, I'm having a blast.  If your interested in a photo shoot by me, email me at abbieflom@aol.com or give me a call 651-923-4253 or 651-208-1204.  And if you like my sissys photos click on the link and give her a call, she's VERY good!

Again thanks for all the support. 

Abbie

7-10-08 was the 2nd scariest day of my life thus far and probably Z's too. 

7-9-08 I was doing hair, Zabe was hanging out with his daddy and auntie Annie, when Bud and Zabe were going to go put the lawn mower away.  Zabe was excited and fell down a couple stairs on our back deck.  Were not sure if he fell down one or all 3.  He cried hysterically for a couple minutes and was fine, the next day auntie Annie and I were with Zabe and my god daughter Jenna and J.J. at my brothers playing on their play set.  It was a hot morning out and after about 35 minutes of play we decided it was time to go back to grandma's house.  I took Z out of the swing and he had no balance.  Couldn't stand.  Couldn't sit. 

Mom and I took him into the ER and after much crying by Z and I, we found out he had a concussion.  As we were in ER we came under a Tornado Warning.  Shortly after they finally got Z "asleep" we found out that the farm had been hit, and that everyone was ok.  Thank God. Needless to say, I felt like I was in a dream all day.  (Pictures to follow of the storm, I don't know maybe in a month?!)

(He's eating strawberries in the picts below.)

I believe Charlotte took these next couple of picures.  Good Job Char!

So, sister Shelly and her friend Lisa from her work are going to be guest blogger's next week while I'm on Vacation soaking up the sun, (Hopefully not to much!!), eating to much, and relaxing.  Hopefully some of my readers will want me back.  Although I'm thinking you guys might like Shell and Lisa.  Their hilarious!

This is a forward sent from Shelly this am.

Lisa my good friend from work was talking about Michael Phelps this am.  She is bored with him and wants someone else to win.  He wrote her a letter this am.  He responded.  She is hilarious!  Read below.

From: Shelly OReilly
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 11:10 AM
To: Lisa XXXXXXXXX
Subject: Greetings from Beijing...

Dear Lisa,

I wanted to take time out of my busy schedule here China to reach out to you, your good friend Shelly informed me you were a little upset this morning.  I want to give you a little explanation. (That’s just the kinda guy I am.)  I can’t help that I am the best swimmer in the world…  I have trained for many many, years to become this good and it actually hurts my feelings when I hear that someone is talking smack.  I understand you want other people to win or to beat me but I can’t help that.  My training has paid off and you should appreciate it and me like every other American.  I am really proud of myself for winning all of these medals.  My Mom is too, I am sure you can tell, she’s been on tv quite a few times.  I hope that you have jumped on the Phelps band wagon now.  (even if my teeth are a little jacked up.)

GO USA.

Yours in swimming,

Michael Phelps

From: Lisa XXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 11:23 AM
To: Shelly OReilly
Subject: RE: Greetings from Beijing...

Dear Mike Phelps,

I have the utmost respect for you athletes.  Competition at your level is an incredible accomplishment…so is eating 12,000 calories a day.  I am proud of all the American’s competing and winning their Olympic medals.  I do, unfortunately for you, feel like should not have qualified for the 2008 games because of your incredible speed.  By breaking every record and winning every gold I get a little bored with it.  My mind begins to wander and I think of things like orthodontia, head gears, spacers, etc.    Following these games I know you will be busy on the cover of Wheaties and on all the speedo commercials, but I’m offering you an opportunity to compete in the Albertville Games 2009.  Competition is for athletes who are brave & strong & willing to have their right hand tied behind their back & use only their left hands.  These Games include left hand only gymnastics, volleyball & swimming.  I would be more obliged to jump on the Phelps bandwagon if I get to see some struggling occasionally.  I guess I prefer the underdogs.  Go Poland.

Swimmingly yours,

Lisa   

Lisa XXXXXXXXX

HCA Consultant

American Medical Systems

x 6079

This is gonna be fun.

Sal (shell)

See ya'll Monday, before if you are lucky.

I am very excited about guest blogging job on Ab’s site! Although I hope you are not too disappointed. This is a lot of pressure & I’m pretty busy. I have a policy about not taking up any new hobbies, as I’m just so booked. Phewww. But as a favor for Shelly & Ab I will write on. Also, I’m not very funny, it’s all Shelly (& Ab) they are hilarious. I’m just a dorkey lady that missed the mature train as it drove by. Also, I’m curious about what I will get paid….

I created a facebook page last week. I also have a policy about this. I believed it was for the teen set – mostly 15 & under. And you know how busy I am! I did it out of peer pressure from my high school friends who are “prepping” before our 15 year reunion. “Prepping” would obviously mean finding pictures of what our old classmates look like currently & finding out as much gossip as possible – therefore basing our decision about attending the reunion on how we rank on the Skinny &/or Rich Graph. If you’ve ever debated on attending a reunion I know you know what I’m talking about. Deny it all you want. It is what it is. I created the minimum page and now I just wait it out. Not half the class has created their pages yet & only 5 out of 700 have RSVP’d. We’re all playing the same game. Don’t get me wrong, I hope every one is doing fantastically and not one has suffered a loss in their short 15 years since high school. I hope all who prayed for love and marriage are blissfully romantically involved & those that prayed for boobs are also thrilled with the outcome. We all have goals. If I’m still praying for the windfall to pay for the boobs and the lipo, is it best to sit this one out?

I once ate something that I originally thought was poop. Don’t judge & I’ll give you time to get your gag reflex in check….

Okay then.

I have twins. They were #3 and #4 in our family. When they were born I also had a 9 year old & a 2 year old. Yes, I had 3 kids in 2 years.

Enough said.

I. Was. Tired.

We have a sunken family room that, when baby-gated off, was our play area. I laid on that floor and played with those little ones for hours and hours, days and days, years and wait…they did eventually grow up. Anyhow, because this was our play area (and I was tired) I also changed diapers right there - on a changing pad, thank you very much- hour after hour, day after day, year after….. Stay with me here I’m getting to it.

One day I noticed something out of the corner of my eye.

It was small, it was round, it was very dark colored.

And then I started to talk to God -

“It couldn’t be!”

“Are you kidding me right now?”

“Did I fail to notice a rolley?”

I was inching closer and closer.

“I think I just barfed a little in my mouth”

“Lord give me the strength”

Now, at eye level.

“for the love of God there is poop on my floor!”

“please no, please no”

I went in for the sniff.

“Hmmm….wait a minute

“It’s not!”

That’s when I picked it up, looked it over, and realized it was a RAISIN!

Great! All is right in the world!!

Then I popped that little thing right into my mouth and ate it!

I couldn’t tell you how long it had been there, or when we last had a snack of raisins.

I was tired I tell you.

Too tired to get up and put it on a shelf for later disposal, or Lord help me put it in the trash that very second.

So, I ate something I originally thought was poop.

Please don’t judge.

I’m done with summer. It’s hot out. It makes me crabby.

I love fall. I really really love fall.

It is my favorite season. Also, Halloween is my favorite holiday. My husband doesn’t understand why. What’s so appealing about sitting home by myself handing out candy? Are you kidding me? It’s almost better than Mother’s Day - I get to be home alone… with the remote in MY hand…with a big bowl of candy on MY lap. What’s not to understand?

My love for fall, might go back to my childhood. I couldn’t get enough of the shopping - supplies & clothes.

My ADD/OCD personality aside, it was all I could do to keep from labeling every single yellow #2 pencil.

Don’t forget the new school clothes! I sweated through more Labor Day picnics in my “new fall clothes” just for that first chance to wear them.

With the exception of that one year - those Guess overalls with the Forenza sweater underneath (not to brag) were just WAY to hot for August.

Now that I’m an “adult” I can’t stop loving fall….for slightly different reasons.

Can the kids get back to school already??!?!?

How many kjgjfkdhgijkfjdksjka days of summer are there?!!?!

Will the end ever come??!

And the shopping now? Please pray for me.

This year I took advantage of a weekend without the family and marched to Walmart – with 4 school supply lists in hand.

Things were looking good. Not too busy. In stock items. I got to the point where my cart was heaping.

It was going well to quite well.

I was THRILLED.

And then it happened…

I realized I filled my cart with all the items for a 1st grader, not the 2nd grader I have!

You’d think there wouldn’t be much difference between a 1st grade list & 2nd grade, but they are entirely different lists!

I must have had the look of sheer terror on my face when the (not) friendly employee asked me if she could help me with anything.

“Please shoot me now” I responded.

Dramatic I know, but did you see my cart?

Was she surprised that I said those words aloud? Was she shocked?

Her response was simply “oh, you’re here 8 hours?”

Okay. She wins.

Despite all of that, I had to admit it was WAY better than having 4 kids throw random things in my cart for 3 hours.

I bought myself a diet pepsi & a box of crunch n munch for therapy - and finished it all before I got home.

Reason #1 I could never move back to Chicago...

His name is Zabe.
(I don't know how to post pics otherwise there would be a really cute one of him and I right here.)

I know its only been 1 week since I saw him, but wow, I sure do miss him. I am heading down right after work to love him up!

I miss his Mom and Dad too. I hope you guys had a great "family vacation!"
See you all soon!