2009 May | I Should Be Folding Laundry

Archive for May 2009 – Page 2

Going on

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

By Beth

Here’s the skinny.

We got the car back last Friday. Total damage? $2400.

I went to garage sales on Saturday and spent $12 on 17 summer items for Ariel.

I couldn’t find anything for Racecar.

This weekend, I spent time in the garden.

and took lots of naps.

We ate corn on the cob and we also went to Redamak’s and then we had ice cream.

I had a photo shoot.

I’m still feeling very vanilla about everything right now. Today, Racecar asked me when we were going to get more kids in our family and I didn’t even know how to answer him. So, Ariel did “when God puts some in her belly,” she said. (Since James and Jake, they never think of me being pregnant with just one baby.) I felt nothing when she said that. Maybe a little sad because I feel like I’m failing to add to this family and now I’m failing to explain why.

I just don’t know why. But we are working on that.

The interesting thing about him asking this and Ariel answering is that Brian and I are quite private about our feelings regarding our hopes for our family, even from each other, to be honest. We know we would like more children, but we know that right now we just can’t control that, so we wait. And hope and pray and we really don’t talk about it.

We know that the kids would like more children in our family, they are five and six, they see other families with more siblings, they know we lost James and Jake. They just know what isn’t there.

Anyway.

Last night I had the most vivid, crazy, beautiful, disturbing, passionate, awful, amazing dream I think I have ever had. I’ll never tell a soul what it was about. But part of me wishes I could have the same dream over and over again. And part of me wishes I had never had it in the first place.

I’ve been on the verge of laughter or crying, like that feeling before sneezing, where you feeling like something is going to happen, but the sneeze never comes. I’ve had the feeling since waking up.

And finally, tomorrow I’m getting a tiny piece of my uterus removed to be studied by my research doctor.

But let’s not talk about that, let’s look at pictures of Lynette’s family from Saturday’s shoot! These are some of my favorite shots, you can visit Lynette’s blog to see which ones she likes the best.

Lynette has no idea how beautiful she is, it’s both intriguing and frustrating. She hates having her photo taken. Such a shame, don’t you think?

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Categories: Beth Fletcher Photography, That's Life

Lands’ End – a giveaway

Monday, May 25th, 2009

By Beth

Comments are closed, the winner is Nicole at 4 and Counting. Thanks for entering!

A few weeks ago, Lands’ End sent me this bathing suit. Go ahead and look and then come back.

I have to tell you that I look JUST LIKE THAT GIRL in the suit.

Minus the perfect body and the beautful hair and the glowing skin. Other than that, we are like twins.

But seriously, there aren’t many people who have birthed children who can still say they like the way they look in bathing suits and the ones that can, well, they can suck it they’re the lucky ones. Because, me? In a bathing suit? IS NOT CUTE.

But still, a few times a year, like once, I cram my rolls and such into the spandex and then me and ALL OF THE PALE and the mashed up rolls all head out to the beach. I do this all for the love of my children.

I’m not going to tell you that I put the suit on and I was magically thinner, because if that were the case I would have it on right now and I’d wear it to the grocery store. But I will tell you that it fit nicely and it more importantly TUCKED nicely. If you know what I mean. If you don’t know what I mean, you can suck it you are very lucky.

So, I received a free bathing suit from Lands’ End to review and I also get to give away a $100 gift card from Lands’ End. This company is incredibly generous and has full faith in bloggers and listens to what we have to say. I.LOVE.THAT.

Who wants to win the $100 gift card to Lands’ End?

Here’s what you have to do to win:

In the comment section, tell me what you are going to do this summer that you are excited about. You can also feel free to head over to to their website to see what you would buy with your $100 and come back and tell me because I’m nosey like that. (personally, I would pick this, but that’s just me. Yes, I know it’s over $100, leave me alone, it’s my dream.)

Do not say “pick me” in the comments because that is SO ANNOYING.

For a second or third entry, tweet or blog about this giveaway. Please leave the link to the tweet or the blog post in the comments separate from your first entry because that’s how I maintain the randomness when choosing the winner.

Also, before I forget, Lands’ End is giving away a trip for four to BARBADOS. I have been to Barbados and I can tell you that YOU NEED TO GO THERE. You can enter their sweepstakes by clicking here. And if you go, I’ll go with you. K?

$100 gift card giveaway ends on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at noon, baby.

Categories: Giveaways

For me

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

By Beth

Sometimes, very rarely, I do for myself what I do for others.

I take pictures of my children.

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I’m not just reminded of how amazing it feels to have these tender, perfect images of these tender, perfect children.

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I’m reminded of how lucky we are to have them in our presence.

Twenty years from now, I’ll look at these photos and I’ll be reminded of the sparkle in their eyes, the softness of their skin and the immense love we feel for each other.

My children, they take my breath away.

But today, it wasn’t just our kids, it was our entire day that reminded me of just how amazing life is.

From the simple weeds standing along our paths

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To the spunky turtle sitting in our trail

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To the flowers growing wildly on the side of the road that your husband pulls over for you to photograph because the memory you have of them will never do their beauty justice

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To the vivid sunset that kissed the kids good night

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This day, no, EVERYDAY, holds so much beauty. The question is…can you see it?

Because it’s there.

I know I don’t always see it, but when I do, I am so grateful.

Categories: Being a Mama, Beth Fletcher Photography, That's Life

Gotta Get Get

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

By Beth

Do you listen to the Black Eyed Peas? You should. If you did, the title of this post may make some sense, but actually, I’m realizing that it doesn’t make sense at all, whether you’ve heard it or not.

But it’s still my theme for today. GOTTA GET GET. Because it makes me feel better.

I do very little self-promoting on my blog, so if you excuse me, I’m going to take a few minutes to do so because I can and because I’m excited and because this is my dream and I want to share it with anyone and everyone. (especially if you live in Northwest Indiana…)

Meet Erin. She is my friend and she is my client.

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She is just one of the many people who have encouraged me to take photographs. Last fall, I launched Beth Fletcher Photography.

And here I am. It’s spring, I need to earn my keep around here (stolen tires, remember?) and this is how I’m going to do it.

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I need to push this new business of mine, which is not easy for me. (why is that?) But I have to, seriously, I HAVE TO. So, I’m having a spring sale.

Get $50 off of your sitting fee, plus three FREE 8×10′s (total savings of over $100) if your session is booked and held prior to June 15, 2009.

Friends, this? Is a good deal. If you live in Northwest Indiana, click over and check it out…and if you know someone who may be interested, please feel free to pass along this information. I would be forever grateful. Seriously.

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Isn’t she the cutest?

Categories: Beth Fletcher Photography, photography

Waiting. Hoping.

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

By Beth

I’m waiting for something to change. I’m praying for everything to be okay. But day after day things just seem to be getting worse.

Yesterday, five year old Racecar had an appointment with an ENT, his second in six weeks. We learned he’ll need surgery, tubes in his ears and adenoids removed. On the way home, sweating in the heat, my legs sticking to the seats because our car has no air conditioning, Brian calls me on my cell phone and says “someone stole my fucking tires off of my car.”

That’s right. ALL FOUR TIRES were missing. Completely. (note to all of you: everything you have heard about Gary, Indiana is totally true. Stay far, far away.) (he parks there to catch the train into Chicago)

Instead of getting air conditioning, we get to pay a $500 for the deductible to get tires put back on his car. Tires we did not remove.

This on top of about twenty things running through my mind and creating darkness in my heart that I just can’t write about. Some things are little and some are bigger than I can handle.

So, I’m waiting for the lesson, the blessing, the SOMETHING that will tell me why so much of our lives right now is just not okay. I’m waiting to FEEL again. I’m hoping, hoping, hoping that this dark cloud passes over us swiftly and without much more pain.

Worry.

Heartache.

I’m not saying that we should be excempt from anything bad happening to us, but it just seems so soon. I just really want to be left alone.

I’m trying to take it like a big girl, facing each day, but one of these days, I’m pretty sure, I’m going to pull the covers over my head and leave them there for a very, very long time.

And after pulling the covers off of my head, I just hope the sun is shining, here, with us, once again.

Categories: Uncategorized

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