An attempt at pretty, but pretty bad.

I took a few photos of myself...which always makes me feel silly, and I can rarely look directly into the camera...but I wanted to capture this look that Randi created so that later, I could attempt it myself....she tried to show me how to use hot rollers...you'd think I'd know coming from the south. Well....tonight I tried to use my hot rollers at home....but.....

It did not go so well. You should see the back. I could hide a small animal in there.

These photos exemplify how I can do pretty, and how I can do UGLY....and trust me, one day I'll have the nerve to post picture of my ugly face....it's a good one. Gini calls it my grumpy grandpa face. Adrian runs screaming when I make it. What can I say, I'm versatile wink, wink (insert Juliette tongue clicking sound here, those of you who know what I'm talking about)

Anyway, the ONLY reason I even had time to do this is...you know, me me me...is because Juliette is out with Allison, Vaughn is asleep, Adrian is sick in bed, and the house is actually clean. Now I am going to go watch Brideshead Revisited by myself. Me and my big bad hair to keep me company.

TAG...Caroline, Ali, Aby, Cheryl, Heather

This is a random but fun tag. Hannah sent it to me. Go to your photos. Click on the 4th folder, and then the 4th photo. Post and explain.

This is actually my 6th folder and 6th picture, because my 4th folder did not have four photos.

This is a photo of one of Juliette's first dance lessons. SHe and Naomi are the two little girls near the window. They are running and dancing to Putamayo music here, and when the music stops, they have to make a "shape" and hold it. I LOVE LOVE her dance studio. City in Motion. It's in midtown. The teachers are all professional ballet/modern dancers who still perform for a living. The studio also offers tons of adult classes as well...everything from tap, to burlesque, to hip hop, you name it.

We will never forget dancing lessons with Naomi. I'll never forget this day. There's something about seeing your little girl dance in front of the mirror and hold the ballet bar for the first time...in pink and black. It's magical. Makes me so happy.

Tag your it....ALI, ABY, CAROLINE, HEATHER, CHERYL
HEATER...invite me to your blog...I can't get to it anymore and I missed the boat when you sent out invites a while back.

late night (early mornin) bloggin

I am blogging at 2:30 in the AM!! Why you ask? My darling little baby boy who was hungry...again. Now I am waiting for him to fall back asleep. He has a cough and every now and then he chokes, and I can never fall back asleep until I know his little coughing fits are finished...poor thing. Actually, he does not seemed to be bothered by it one bit. It sounds much worse than it is. I am just paranoid. Anyway, here's few photos from the week...this will surely be sloppy as I am brain dead right now. ENjoy!

Vaughn in his camo from south Arkansas.

Reflection...oope...he's totally cross eyed in this picture, oh well.

JuJu....meditation. "ommmm" JuJu on her favorite website, pbskids.org

Adrian has wanted to see me with "golden curls" for a while now....he found an old picture of me with short blonde curls and would not shut up about it. The last time he asked me to try this "golden curls" look, I flat ironed my hair and dyes it dark dark brown....a little rebellious of me I guess. So I made it up to him today. Randi helped me find a way to achieve this look without having to take any length off...we just used hot curlers! He loved it. I think I look a little like a high maintenance Stepford Wife, but whatev. He was excited. I think it's kind of cute that he actually pays this much attention to my hair.

Adrian and JuJu doing math problems together. Better him than me...I'm no mathelete.Jone Snider brought these adorable socks for Vaughn. Jone is my Visiting Teacher from church.

Drool School

If you are a product junkie girly girl....

My neighbor Lorena turned 40 this year, and I just learned about her website, fortyflirtyfabulous.wordpress.com
She started this website as a birthday present to herself...and boy has it paid off. Cosmetic companies far and wide send her boxes and boxes of FREE product. I'm talking...Kinerase, Stilla, H20.....NICE products. There are also posts on drugstore brands, so somethin for everyoneShe uses what they send her, and blogs about it. Brilliant! Check it out and tell her Emily sent you!
By the way, Lorena told me I could do the same thing she is doing easy...so I emailed a few companies...no go....I think they could tell i was just trying to get free stuff. Dang! Ooo, but I DID find out that I can get a discount card for cosmetics like MAC, because I am in the "industry." Pshhh...I still can't afford MAC even with the discount. Oh well...one day!

Thoughts on the big day

Wow! I don't remember the last time they had an Inauguration like the one we witnessed today. In fact, I don't remember ever even watching an innauguartion..wait, yes I do...Bill Clinton's, and a few of my Governors School friends were on stage with Chelsea.

Adrian and I watched the big event today on our tv downstairs in the "family room." I call it the basement, but our real estate agent calls it the family room...whatever...it's a basement. It used to have red carpet and we called it "Club Frost"...we had the studio down there, along with giant speakers in every corner. Adrian would take guests down and beat box for them. Then it flooded and we had kids.....and now it is the "family room".....cold basement that needs new carpet.

Sorry, got off track there....back to inauguration. We watched it, along with Vaughn. Juliette was more interested in watching cartoons on the big screen up stairs. I tried to tell her how important this event was, but PBS kids was more exciting to her eyes. Oh well, she's 4. Adrian will make sure she knows all about it the next time they have their Presidents of the United States lesson. He likes to quiz her on all of them with pictures. SO far she can point out the first five at random.

Anyway, it was pretty exciting. I loved the playing of "Simple Gifts." Did you see the look on the face of the man playing clarinet? I could tell it was the best day of his life. Obama had his eyes closed as he listened. I had goose bumps. Music is powerful. Think of what a HUGE role music plays in an event like this...in any event.

Adrian is more on the Libertarion end of things, and he voted for some guy named Chuck from the Constitution party, but he liked Obama's speach...most if it at least. I love hearing him speak...he is just such a confident speaker, and he always holds my attention. What's to come with our new Prez....only time will tell, but I am hopeful. I like that President Obama is a big believer in service. It's true...service unites us, and makes us better as a nation. Our church is BIG on service. I hope to serve others more and more each year, I really do.

Michelle Obama was beautiful in her suit, but the color was questionable. Laura Bush was radiant. I have always loved her. Biden's wife is sassy..and I love that she will continue to be a teacher. The poem was okay...the reading of it was borrrrrrrinnnnnnnggggg, and s..l...o...w.

Watching George Bush board the helicopter was kind of hard...I felt sorry for him. Something about his face made me sad...I can't explain it. The boos of some were ridiculous...grow up people...have some decency. I am not a Bush fan either but like Hannah said...he has children...family...he is someone's father, and I would hate it if anyone was ever disrespectful to my Dad...that would hurt. I gotta hand it to Laura, she's had to stand by her man while people throw shoes and curse words. Not an easy thing to do I'm sure.

I am optimistic about the next four years, I am...if not for the economy and war, etc...well, for the people. Maybe we will be better, grow stronger. Maybe Obama WILL change things for the better! If I am wrong, I am wrong, but I am going to give President Obama a chance. Everyone deserves a chance. What a day!

Anyone, anyone???

Ignore this if you don't live here.
I NEED BABYSITTERS! I have two jazz bookings this week and since Adrian just started school, he will not be able to watch JuJu and Vaughn. I will pay cash, or trade if anyone needs a date night!
THIS WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY NIGHT.
I am desperate...sorry. I told you, juggling act...I'm there.
Thanks!
Em

yuk!

Okay, I have to say, it's true...it's true. I thought I would be a snob if I ever said this but....
McDonald's Play Place is NASTY....I HATE IT! The kids love it, they all love it, but I swear, without fail, every time we have gone, Juliette has come down with a virus of some kind within 48 hours. Why, just two days ago we went with some friends, and in the back of my mind I kept telling myself that I was asking for it. Sure enough, JuJu is sick...I mean, in bed and does not want to go to dance class sick. I swore I would never be a snob about taking my kids to McDonald's...but I also have learned in life, never say never. On one hand, maybe I should be thankful that Old McDonald's is building a better immune system for my child....good grief. I mean, it's only an enclosed play area with tunnels, and you KNOW kids pee in them...how do I know? Because Juliette peed in those tunnels when she was three, and we told the employees, and no one rushed in to clean it up, ever. How could they? You can't even get up there if you are taller than 4 feet! Anyway, it's done. I'm a play place snob. Not even just that...a tunnel snob. Tunnels...they are a bad idea. Even at the YMCA....no one gets up there and cleans those things out! Would YOU????
Adrian has always hated McD's, and refuses to go, but his reasons are political. But you know, sometimes the Play Place is all there is when it's below freezing outside, and you've worn out every other indoor option. Another reason why moving farther south sounds more appealing by the day...down south, where they have a play place outside. At least they did when i was little...remember the hamburger jail?

Bright Spots

Well we do know how to have fun, and we love our girlfriends. Juliette had Capri sleep over on Friday. Of course they had a ball. Today, I took Vaughn and Juliette to Wonderscope. Juliette wore a teeny pony tail for the first time....we're getting there, slowly, but surely. We spent the evening at Randi's new house in midtown...it's a fantastic place. Her house has all of the qualities I love in a home...historic, BIG, sturdy, unique, and warm. I am so happy for Randi and her beautiful family. Randi's sister and I helped open boxes and put things on shelves. Milan and Juliette played. Julian taught Vaughn how to use the jumper. It was a good day. 40 degrees felt like the tropics compared to the last few. Tomorrow is Sunday, my favorite day. Adrian's too! Church, lunch, womens fireside, and spending the day with my family. Nice weekend. I have no complaints.

sorry

the previous post is the kind of post i swore i would never again write....sorry. okay, no more negative blogging....this week.

Grrr..and brrrrr!

Thanks to my every so unreliable babysitters, I am going to have to bail on my jazz booking tonight....calling in an hour before the it starts. Thank you FLAKE TEENAGE GIRLS...I am sure this is payback for all of the times I was once the same way...but still, thanks. Guess I should have a better backup plan. Oh yeah, I've exhausted all of my back up plans already....they screen their phone calls by now I'm sure.
This entire week has been a circus of schedule juggling and scrambling...and I see no reason why next week will be any different. I don't know why I even try to do anything for myself, esp an actual job...that pays...an actual check....with my name on it....to spend for everyone else....which gives me great joy, and I'm not complaining about that it's just....ughhhh....RED ALERT!!!!!! Oh yeah, I used it all up two days ago. Great. Perfect. Now what?
This morning I taught a music class with both of my kids right there...which they loved...but man, can I not even work???? Sometimes I wish I was the one going back to school...I'd love to get my PhD in music, which would be worthless but still...I'd love it. These are angry, selfish words right now...I am aware.
I love my husband for being so ambitious, I do....I do....I do. But this is not what I need to hear when he actually comes home once a year, after asking him to change a diaper, "Man, I JUST got HOME, are you serious?" YEAH...I'm seriously about to FLIP OUT!!!!!! Oh wait, I have already done that. Shoot! Nevermind, it's no big deal, it only takes all of thirty seconds anyway right?
He is a wonderful guy, I swear....but no one wants to read a blog about a perfect husband right? that is just nauseating.
Anyway, spread the word, Emily needs a babysitter every Thursday night, and Wednesday night too..just remembered I have another booking.... if you know of anyone, call. I won't call, I can't do it anymore...all I do is call call callllllll!!! I can't believe I am blogging right now when I should be singing...working!
I swear I do find joy in life, I really do....it's just not as fun to write about....(:...did I do that right...the smiley face thing....?
I will be 30 in June...know what I am going to do? Something for myself. By myself. With no explanations or apologies. Then again, I'd just feel guilty if I actually traveled without taking the kids...they'd be missing out on some wonderful cultural experience right? Sigh.
I know it is my choice to be frustrated, but for now, I am going to blame everything on the bailing babysitters. Oh, and the windchill is something like 30 below here in lovely Kansas City.

Red Alert!

Anna sent me a package. She is still in the desert. I think she may be living on a school bus-house. Anyway, I miss her., as I've said a million times. So she sent me a package and in it was a bottle of flower essence drops called RED ALERT!! She is a big believer in herbal remedies.

This bottle contains herbal calming drops for moments when you think you are about to freak out or lose your cool. They are in the vitamin cabinet in the kitchen. The other night, Adrian and I were having a "discussion" in the kitchen. He said something moronic like, "sorry Emily, but you might need to just suck it up...you don't really know much about sacrifice......" Like I said, moronic. I immediately shouted while spinning around to reach for the cabinet, "RED ALERT!!!!"

Adrian just watched, confused, as I fumbled with the bottle dropper and frantically ingested the flower essences. He asked me what I was doing, and I showed him the bottle. We both just started laughing histerically. Our discussion was over and all was forgotten. It was a great moment, esp when he said "give me this, what is this stuff?" He sniffed it, wincing and laughing still....the flower essences are preserved in brandy. Adrian, "No WONDER!"

Sigh.....so I'm carrying the red alert everywhere I go now...not because I am a closet drinker...seriously, it's not even the size of an airplane bottle and you have to use a medicine dropper. Because lately, I've had many red alert moments....and even though it may not even work, it always makes me laugh in the moment.

Today may be a red alert day...why? Adrian is going back to school to for economics and chemistry....full time student starting today, and he also works full time. Oh, and we have a real estate agent coming to look at our house tomorrow and the Christmas decorations are still out amid a giagantic mess because I still have not unpacked from Arkansas. And people, that's just the tip of the ice berg, trust me. RED ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!

At least he said it with a smile!

JuJu's first commercial

Well, it was her second tv job...the first was a walmart ad when she was 2. Today was actually Juliette's first INFOmercial. Haha! No but really....we filmed today. She and I played mother and daughter, and we had a cute little boy play brother as well. The commercial was for some kind of windshield wipers. Gotta start somewhere. She did great, had fun, and was well behaved. It turned into six hour shoot, and no melt downs, easy day actually. Good job JuJu!

A present from Adrian

I found this bill on my dresser when i got home from Arkansas...that, and a clean dresser. I had a mountain of tangled jewelry that had been there for months...maybe a year. He spent hours organizing and untangling. My accessories are finally tucked away in the jewelry box he bought me at Banks years ago, which sits on top of the beautiful black dresser he gave me a few years back. He has given me very nice things in the past, but I think this year's gift beats all them. Number one, it did not cost a dime, phew! Number two, it's totally an Adrian original. Only those of you who know him best will get why this gift is so great. If you look really close, you will see what I mean. Adrian made it with Adobe and printer paper, but he distressed it to look like the real thing. You just have to look at it to see all of the detail...his photo is even on there. It's good for 100 dates. I have always rolled my eyes at "date coupon books," but this idea is priceless! Take a closer look if you have time and aren't gag miming by now.

Words I can't forget

Juliette, admiring my fashion show hair: 

"Mommy, your hair is CRAZY!  It's jacked up."

She placed cat ears on my head,

"You're a kitty cat!"

Juliette, pecking me like a duck:

"Mooooommmmmmyy!  Mom.  Mom!  Mama. Mama. Mom.  Mom. Moooooooommmmmeee!"

Me, about to lose it, trying to keeping my cool:

"My name is not Mom anymore, I no longer answer to that..."

Juliette, responding before I could finish my sentence:

 "EMILY, can you come help me with this?!"

Caroline:  

"She doesn't miss a beat."

The pictures below are a few from my trip to Arkansas....just a few!  There are hundred more to come when Dave makes me a cd from the shots he took his fancy shmancy camera....I can't wait!

SO I should explain the pictures, esp since my sister is wearing goggles and a graduation gown.  

New Years Eve, Chloe went to a Camden party with Cari Moll, so Caroline and I promised JuJu and Sidney that we would have a fashion show.  A "vampire fashion show."  Sidney really wanted the vampire bit.  Sidney and JuJu made a runway with a red sheet, and modeled a variety of princess/vampire attire.  Caroline and I ended up looking like runaways from an asylum who had gone thrift shopping.  We did our best with the left overs from the dress up bag and our high school closet.  I almost lost it when Caroline put on the goggles.  Mom used a flashlight as a strobe, and we played techno music from itunes.  What's that club in Little Rock...Discovery!  JuJu is ready.  Daddy watched the football game and tried to ignore how insane his daughters were, then gave us all sparklers.  I told Mom that I was going to pick up Chloe in my fashion show outfit, and she believed me, and almost had an asthma attack.  Anyway, it was all good an fun and it made the little girls happy.  

Caroline and I took Chloe, Cari, and Virginia to see Twilight.  Caroline and I were like two girls in the church pews, spitting in our hands, trying not to laugh out loud...we were in tears.  I almost fell on the floor when Jasper came on the screen, looking like Edward Scissorhands.  Caroline loved the line, "number one...I was in love with a vampire....."  We had fun hanging out with teenage girls.  They think we are so old!  They introduced Caroline to the song "Honkey Tonk Badonkadonk."  Fun times, let me tell you!

I am the only one left now....me and JuJu.  We don't want Mom and Daddy to miss everyone all at once, so we are going to hang out for a few more days.....maybe longer if Adrian can stand it.

I sure love my family.  We have had such a nice time.  Mom and Daddy are bracing themselves for a quiet house...what they don't know, is I am bracing myself too.  I will miss being here.

family, fashion shows, and fireworks