Marleyisms

Scene: Family of four driving down the street.

Marley: Mom. How are you doing?

Me: I'm fine Mars.

Marley: Well I AM NOT FINE!!! I HAVE AIR IN MY EYES!!!

Me & Tre': Laughing hysterically, while Marley wonders aloud WHAT

IS SO FUNNY!?

A Southern Rite of Passage

A Southern Rite of Passage, originally uploaded by stlanier.

Sticky Baby, originally uploaded by stlanier.

Mackenzie's First Snowball, originally uploaded by stlanier.

Here in the south, your first snowball is pretty much one of those milestones that must be recorded. It is a big event in which you must be stripped down to your diaper (you MUST still be in diapers), sit out on the front porch with a rainbow snowball (it MUST be rainbow, and don't you call it a snowcone!) and be set free with a spoon, a straw, and waaaayyy too many colors of food coloring combined with an illegal about of syrupy sugar and ice - all while your mother documents all of the sticky sweetness with that giant camera that is constantly in your face. Oh. No? That's just in my world? Well who could resist a half naked baby in full bliss and amazement that, what? the whole thing? you are just giving me the whole thing? and - whoa! that is delish! Mmmm and you aren't even gonna stop me when I... pour it on my face? Oooo check out this purpley red syrup drip on my belly! Ooo! right in the button! that is sticky! and cold! Dang! You are the most AWESOME MOM EVER! you want to take my picture, whatever, I didn't even notice you sitting there! Anywho here is my baby in all her sticky sweet goodness.

And we're back...

After a nice long hiatus of repeatedly failing technology I am back and Maude (that's what I named my camera) is better than ever!

We had a wonderful holiday weekend for the Fourth of July holiday spent lounging with some of our favorite people and eating way too much of our favorite foods!
We started our weekend hanging out by the pool with Uncle Wes, Aunt Heidi, (or Nanny and Parran, depending on which child is speaking) and the girls' best cousin Brody. Marley, who used to be terrified of the "big pool" has now taken to it like a fish to water. (Pun intended)

Kenzie on the other hand was not feeling so aquatically inclined. Okay, every time I look at this pic I crack up.

Still not feeling it...

Okay... maybe if I hug him, he will leave me alone?

Free at last! And a nummy baby belly too! I can't hide this baby under the water!
Really - does he seriously think five minutes will change my mind?

Finally Papa gave up. And all was well, see, if an idea is not Kenzie's then it is just not a good idea. And bad ideas just do not happen in Kenzie's world. Case and point. Cookies. A good idea. Really. Good. Idea.

After noshing on way too many cookies, and burgers, and hot dogs, and slices of chocolate cake - a bunch of our favorite friends and family went up the street to the levee to watch the fireworks over the Mighty Mississippi.

I was stoked to finally get some low light photos that didn't look as if I had too much to drink!

We spent Sunday lounging around enjoying these awesome ladies. I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing weekend as well.

Yay! It is so good to be back!

Marleyisms

This is a little compilation of her greatest hits in order to further illustrate the ridiculous drama that serves as my entertainment.

Me:  Marley, go put on your shoes so we can leave.

Mars:  WHAT DID YOU SAY? (through clenched teeth)  You don't LOVE me and you want to leave me here? (face droops)

Me:  Now

Mars:  Fine, but I'm not going to be your friend.  Babyhead.

Me:  (flatly)  Wow.

Mars:  But I can't FIND my SHOES!!! (hand to forehead, falling   gently to the ground)  I never find my shoes!!!  (violin music starts in the background)

Me:  Mars, they are directly in front of you. (barely holding back the laughs)

C'mon Kenzie, you're looking cute today.

Mars:  (with face squenched and lips pursed)  You never think I'm cute.

Me:  Of course you look cute today!  (said through chuckles)

Kenzie:  abubaabaa, ahhhhh!

Mars:  WHAT KENZIE!!!  You WANT to leave me at home!!!!

Me:   Marley, she can't talk remember!!!  (barely containing the   laughter)

Mars:  Oh, yeah.  Let's go mom!  It's a beautiful day today!  Mom, I looooove you!  Where are we going to go today?  C'mon Kenz!

April

I have been pouting after the epic fail of the memory of my camera.  Somehow, about 500 pictures were randomly deleted, and about 79 were left.  Easter - gone, Jazz Fest - gone, the butterfly that spent it's dying breaths modeling for me that would have made amazing portraits to hang in the girl's rooms - gone.  Argh!  But I digress... these were spared, thank goodness!

Mars and I went for an afternoon walk to pick some wildflowers in a field near our home and the sky was singing!  That's the New Orleans skyline in the distance.

Macks has really been working her new walking skills and she loves to walk up and down the sidewalk in front of the house.  Then she plops down in the cool grass and takes in some sunshine.

Recently we got to spend some time hanging out with our favorite Northshore ladies, my dear friend Erin and her beautiful daughter Ava Grace.  Erin was sweet enough to let me practice photographing a child other that my own, though Ava is so adorable she makes it easy.  You can check out those pics over here.  The girls loved playing with Ava and ONE of them was kind enough to take a few pictures too.

Mrs. Lori, you might want to close your eyes for this one!  Tre' loves to toss my (and other peoples as well) children high into the air.  This causes oxygen deprivation for said child's mother and giggle fits from said child.

My sweet Marley Grace just looking lovely.

Here she is trying on the pettiskirt from my wedding dress - ah ruffles.

Kenzie took Poppie's project for a test drive, but she discovered the brakes were a little sensitive.

Gotta love the self portrait.

Finally we have Kenzie examining her first crawfish.  As expected from any good cajun girl, she loved it.  Then again, there isn't much this little foodie doesn't eat!