Pictures of Me

I have a HUGE phobia of pictures of myself. This might seem a little crazy with all of the pictures I take, but I think it is probably the reason I always find myself behind the camera. I have noticed the increasing lack of photos of myself since I had the babies. I have always been a little shy with pictures, but now I all out hide.

This camera fear might have something to do with the dream of that first picture holding my baby.....it was crushed when I went through three rounds of epidural and gallons of saline to have my first child at 9 pounds 10 ounces. The picture......well, there was not enough room in the room to back up enough to capture my entire face. It was the size of a city block. I nearly died when I saw it for the first time.

This "little issue" came up again when I received a phone call from my mother in law asking for me to send her a picture of myself. In all the pictures taken at the hubby's grandmother's 80th birthday, there was not one of me. I pretended to be surprised, but I am certain there were at least three or four. Where are they now? Deleted.....Bad Hair Day!

So, here is my attempt to break my fear of photos. I will post pictures of me right here on this blog every Monday. Not to be vain, but in attempt to get over this crazy issue with looking at myself. Why? Because I don't want to look back and miss pictures like this with me and my children. Plus, when I look at pictures of myself more than a year old, I usually think they are pretty good.




Challenge to my readers: If you have or take a picture of me, send it this way and I will be sure to post it.

Blessings!!!

Christmas is UP

Thanksgiving CAMEand WENT.
Then it was time to bust out the Christmas decs......
Now, they are up and.....
we even have lights on the house. I know, it is not much but for us, Nov. 29th. It is a Christmas Miracle!

A Little Holiday "Fist Bump"

I know that the holidays will be difficult this year without my mom, but with so much to be thankful for, it is sure to be a great season in spite of all of life's challenges. Yesterday, as I sat in church, I was thinking about some of the stresses of the holidays, when I began to listen to the sermon about being thankful. It was in that moment that I realized that God had prepared me for this very holiday season over the last few years with a couple of "little fist bumps."

It was Thanksgiving Day, 2004 when we found out we were expecting our first baby. This is a picture of me and JDC a little excited and very "freaked out." We had tried to have a baby for more than 9 months, I am not sure why we were surprised but we were!!!!Just a few months later we also invited our second baby into our home. I don't have pictures of finding out that piece of golden news, but I guarentee you surprised does not fully express the emotions we felt. Baby two was due on December 23, 2006. Sixteen months after we had son number 1 we had son number 2, two weeks early, December 14, 2006.

This is our family on Christmas Eve with our 16 month old and our two week old. With memories like this, the holidays will always be sacred time for me and my family!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Parties, Parties Everywhere

I am running around like a mad woman trying to get geared up for the holidays. I look at my calendar and FREAK.....why did I think it was a good idea to have so many parties, get-togethers, etc? Well, that is just who I am.

Rules I live and entertain by:
1. Have way too much food and then eat it ALL!!!
2. Always be ready for unexpected guests....the more the merrier.
3. Take a lot of pictures of the food
4. No mess = a bad day/party
5. Last minute planning works every time.....well, most every time. Vomiting child at the SS Ugly Sweater Party last year threw me a little off my game, but that is the only exception.

But, here is why I do it.

I love to just, "hang out" with my family.
I LOVE to Cook


(turkey from last Thanksgiving....that is my "helper")
Apple Sauce for recent Pork Wellington
Pork Wellington....ummmmmm!
The burnt...very broken two are mine....not the best baker.

I love to make things (especially food) pretty!

Friends, neighbors, friends, friends, friends.....Everyone is always welcome at the Curran House.

(pics from the Ugly Sweater Party last year)

I am getting excited already!!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom

My mom would be 58 today. She was born November 13, 1952. It was not unusual for her birthday to fall on a Friday....Friday the 13th, none the less. She always joked about Friday the 13th being her birthday. I also remember my mom always being pleased that all three of her children were born on a Friday. I figured that this was just a convenient day of the week for two very busy parents. I never really checked this little fun fact out, but today....in honor of my mother, I did. I used this birthday calculator. Sure enough, we were all born on Friday. I thought there was a chance she was born on a Friday, but no....my mom came into this world on a Thursday.

She always loved this little poem. In fact, when she had my youngest sister, someone gave her a little porcelain box with these words on it.

Monday's Child is fair of face,Tuesday's Child is full of grace,Wednesday's Child is full of woe,Thursday's Child has far to go,Friday's Child is loving and giving,Saturday's Child works hard for a living,But the Child that is born on the Sabbath Day,Is witty and wise and good and gay!
58 Things that Remind Me of My MomYellow RosesSoup TerrinesMy SistersPot RoastMy HandsDishesTable SettingsOU FootballFaberge EggsNCAA BasketballMy Boys (Sons and Nephews)NeedlepointingMy Living Room ChairsTulsaBirthday PartiesHerend ChinaMy Wedding RingCross NecklacesBedlamNew York CityGardeningBirkenstocksUtica SquareHomeworkTuna CasseroleDaffodilsCataloguesHarry ChapinLittle "yippy" dogsa good mealChristmas StockingsAntique StoresBooksSpringMy UnclesAwesome Kitchen'sFresh FlowersLaliqueNote CardsPolishing SilverSapulpaDiet CokeHer Maroon Leather BriefcaseLittle League BaseballCrane ScissorsLadybugsWilliams SonomaItalian GardensBirthday LunchesSkipping BreakfastRed ShoesSouther Living CookbooksNew MexicoSilent NightStaffordshire DogsApril 14October 5January 29

Hey Kids.....the Grand Canyon

I was so excited to sit by the window on the airplane flying out of Las Vegas. I looked up from my knitting and this is what I saw. I think this is just the edge....but, I am pretty sure it is the Grand Canyon. The boys were very impressed!!!!

Curran Craziness

Last week was full of Halloween activities. So, I started the week in a mad dash to finish the 2 year old art work for the school carnival and auction. It turned out awesome, but it took 4 different shoots and a little photoshop to complete. I love how it turned out and it was a hot item at the auction.
I also had my supper organized aunt came to help me organize my home....we started with the basement. Her initial comment, "Oh My!" Really? I thought I was doing pretty good. Here is a picture of the entrance to my basement. What do you think?
Wednesday night the nephews joined us for the church carnival. It was a lot of fun, but Jesse thought it was a little loud. Nathan ate sucker after sucker and Adam is still looking for a place to bob for apples. I guess he took the Charlie Brown special to heart.
Thursday night was the school carnival. It was awesome. All of the mom's and teachers did a great job. The kids loved it and I loved shopping the auction.
And, I WON this!!!!!........... The artwork from the Stingray class. Adam's flower is the orange and red one in the middle. I call it the "Ode to Bedlam". I love it!!!!
Saturday morning the sisters and I went wedding dress shopping. I loved the "bird cages". Mary, not so much. However, she has promised me one to go with my Matron of Honor dress. :)
The boys and I Boo'd a few neighbors!
And then we went Trick-or-Treating!!!!

Nate was just along for a ride........and some candy.All in all it was a great week and weekend. I hope you all had a great Halloween!!!!