Athen's 7th Birthday Party

I had Reptile Man (jr) to come to my home with a bunch of REAL LIVE REPTILES to show the kids for Athen's 7th Birthday Party. Issac knows so much about the animals. The kids were mesmerized by his reptile facts, both scary and fascinating. It was very educational...

 oh, and I had an Alligator in my living room!!! 

waiting for friends to arrive with elliot

 friends arrived

sulcata tortise

 sweet pea

 rocky

and now...

I work as a bartender/server on the weekends at The Alibi Room in Post Alley at Pike Place Market.

I took this photo of my cousin when he came to visit Seattle a few summers ago. We did the tourist thing and I took him to see the infamous (and disgusting) gum wall while we were checking out the Market. The archway to the right is the entrance to the Alibi. Who new?

i quit my job at the cupcake shop

my last day is february 26th.

blogging in 2011

I hope to be better this year! I say that every year...The last few months have been a whirlwind of work, holidays, social obligations, school and family. I enjoy blogging about my boys and I'm committed to continuing to do so.

I want to focus on the things that keep me going. I want to have more time with my family. I got a job so that I could contribute to our income and honestly, we need the money. But at the expense of driving myself bananas? We don't have the luxury to pay for help with the kids or having someone come and do housework. We do everything ourselves and work around each others schedules.

So, I have cut back on my hours at work. This means two things:

1. I will not be able to get health insurance through my company
2. I wont be so exhausted all the time (ie. irritable, cranky Mom who's too tired to cook dinner or read to the boys...)

I've been working 30+ hours a week since September and now, finally, I see I am not Supermom...

quote of the week

"I'm having a pretty good time with you this menstrual cycle, which is irregular..." John said with complete sincerity.

work

I got a job at Cupcake Royale working mostly weekends as a barista and a cupcake froster. I'm pleased to be contributing to our income on a steady basis. It's more reliable than freelance work and CR is a good company that believes in taking care of it's employees. Since I started, I get asked a lot, "What did you do before this?" I really don't know how to answer... "I worked as a freelance photographer" or "I take care of my children" As if that explains my work ethic.

Since I graduated from college, I have been working on defining myself as a photographer. I tried incorporating my art work and my "mom life" by focusing on children's portraits. (Which I have never really pursued with the aggressive marketing and networking that a successful business relies on). I put pressure on myself to "do something with photography." But by investing in an area that I like very much, but am not that passionate about as an artist, I burned myself out. Taking pictures became something I was obligated to do. I had to back up my proclamations about being a photographer with work.

The reality is, as a young mother, I don't have the money or the time to be the artist I dreamed of. But now, as I embark on a coffee career, as I did once before while in school, I will use this opportunity to start over.

asher says @ 19 months:

Athen (only when Athen has hurt his feelings will he say his name), Pop, get out, what, hey!, meow, he haw (for a donkey) yay yay (which means anything sweet, as in "Yay! I got a treat!") night night, bed, good guy (any toy or person wearing a helmet, hat, holding a sword or riding a motorcycle) s'man (spiderman, just like Athen used to say,) zoom (for cars,) jump, on, off, light, Mom and Dad.

He has stopped saying "Mama" and "Dada..." so sad.