Laura Vegas

about a month ago i saw THIS photo on my good friend and amazing photographer shirley’s blog … her gorgeous daughter abby, modeling one of the adorable hats she knitted. i knew i had to have one. she was kind enough to make me 2 hats … one for the big kids and one for the little kids. actually this hat came right off abby’s head … she decided she didn’t want it. she’s such a cutie! both my girls think it’s amazing that these came all the way from australia!

i managed to get the girls to wear the hat for some pictures this afternoon. they do love the hat and think it’s so cute … but they weren’t too sure about actually wearing it for me! lol! i told alyssa to trust my photography talent … and that it would really look fun! and then she gave me the typical "i’m 11 years old and my mom is embarrasing me once again" look!

and sarah is feeling a little under the weather now too. but she gave me a few good smiles … even if they’re a little more forced looking. lol!

so thank you shirley … i love them and they’re perfect! can’t wait to try the smaller hat on the little ones! in other random stuff:

• i would actually show you a few more pictures. but i kid you not … those 4 photos up there took me over an hour and a half to do from start to finish. they would normally take me about 4-5 minutes for each photo. my computer is so slow right now … not even funny.
• which made me think of something i said earlier today. i’ve been catching some chats over at scrap-a-faire this week. and i mentioned that i had thought about taking one of the online digital scrapbook classes they’re offering … but that i thought it would be over my head. i actually do think i could catch on to some stuff. but then again … you didn’t see how frustrated i got at my slow computer doing these photos. lol! i can’t imagine trying to scrap on the computer too!
• i am finally feeling better. my head is more clear, my nose is totally dried up, i have a bit more energy, i’m not as achy, and i’m not quite as cold all the time. it only took 4 days! i have to say … you would not believe how much vitamin C i loaded into my body these past few days. plenty of "coldbuster" jamba juice. i’m surprised my body isn’t in shock with all that good stuff in it. lol! and funny how i consider jamba juice to be the healthiest thing there is! seriously … it has like 3-4 servings of fruit … and you know i HATE fruit.
• did i mention the kids are on conference week at school? home at 12:15 each day? actually they’ve been pretty good and not too noisy … so i shouldn’t complain. and i had the girls conferences yesterday. they are both doing so good. alyssa is one of the top 2 students in her class. her teacher said she can’t even improve in things … because she’s getting almost 100% on everything. and sarah is at the top of her class too … which i still am amazed at. i think she really looks up to her big sister … and that pushes her to do well in school. so proud of them.
• remember about a week and a half ago when i mentioned i had 3 episode of "brothers & sisters" to watch? i now have 4 episodes on my dvr to watch. lol! i’m really trying to catch up on all my shows. i think because i have so many of that show that i’m trying to get everything else out of the way … and then i can knock all 4 out in 2 nights. sad that i’m that far behind on a show that i think is amazing!
• i’m giving the whole photography thing some more serious thought. i’ve given it some serious thought before … months ago in fact i had a plan. but i got side-tracked with life and stuff. but i’ve had this great idea in my head for months … a way to get some practice and some exposure. just a matter of getting it worked out on paper and ready to put into action. then again … you’ve never seen the way i boss my girls around when i take their pics. lol! not sure kids that don’t know me would "get me" right off the bat!
• i have some layouts that i’m dying to share. just love the way a few of them turned out. but i’m waiting. i don’t want to jinx myself … so i’m waiting on these until the magazines make their calls. in all honesty … i hope i won’t be able to share with you. that would mean the magazine liked them! lol!
• my 2nd week in the month-long challenge on the MM blog goes up tomorrow! are any of you playing along? please share with me if you are!

i also want to thank everyone for their thoughtful and encouraging comments on my last post. i have read every single one of them over and over. and it means the world to me that each of you have taken the time to give me a little boost. i think i owe everyone an email still (busy day here) … and you will all get one … i promise!