Banana...No Blueberry... No Banilla!

I love Friday mornings. 
Friday is usually the first morning of the week where I don't have to be rushing somewhere, off to work, taking Hannah to school, or running to some appointment.
Fridays we sleep in, (ha. right. like that exists in the Hass House anymore.) drink lots of coffee (and milk for the little ones), we watch cartoons, and we have time to make scrambled eggs and french toast sticks.

Hannah always gets up first.  (With the sun usually, but we make her stay in her room until we get her.  It works half the time.) 

I love my girls cute morning hair, and how they like to snuggle with their blankies while drinking their milk. 

We have recently had some trouble with Hannah not wanting to go to bed when it's time.  For a while there it was quite an ordeal.  I have seen a few gal pals take their kids to this adorable cupcake shop by the Mission Inn.  So I showed Hannah the pictures of this cupcakery, and told her that if she is a good girl at bedtime for 5 nights in a row, we will go and get cupcakes.  Well, she's been really good ever since I told her we'd do that.  She earned her cupcake about 9 nights ago, and tonight we finally went.

I just love downtown Riverside and the Mission Inn.  It's so quaint, and the Mission Inn is so beautiful.  I've never stayed in the hotel or gone to the spa there, but one of these days I would love to.

We've been asking Hannah "what flavor of cupcake will you choose?"  At first it was "Banana!"  Then the next day it changed to "Blueberry!"  The last couple days she's been saying "Banilla!" (Vanilla)

Hmmm, which one should I get?

The cupcake shop was So cute.  Outside they had cute pink tables with black chairs, and today there were pink balloons tied to all the chairs.

Looks like she didn't like it huh?

I know I missed the moment of Claire throwing her penny in the fountain here, but I was kinda proud of myself for this shot, and here's why...  the fountain was completely in the shade.  Kinda dark actually, and I knew how to adjust the settings on my camera, and the white balance, to let more light in without using the flash.  Although yes, I was a little slow at doing all that, and by the time I had it right and was ready to shoot, both girls had tossed their pennies and made their wish.  But I learned something.  And I'll get faster. 

Happy Weekend Ya'll!

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Dear Camera,

How are you my friend?  You should have made it to the Nikon geniuses by now.  I hope they're making progress.  I haven't received any word on your condition.  Are you well? Is it scary there?  Do you miss me as much as I miss you?  They haven't taken your cute and trendy strap off of you have they?  Why would they?  Tell them not to.  Tell them that is your fashionable accessory, like earrings.  And you need it.  We're going to a party tomorrow, and I have to go without you.  I'll feel naked.  What will I hold in my hand?  A drink I guess.  This two weeks is going by pretty slow.  Call me soon.  xoxo- Me

Bad News, Good News

The bad news is I had to take my camera in today.

Best Buy is going to ship it out, and it should be about 2 weeks until I get it back.

The good news is that I had a spot of dust on the sensor that I was going to have to take in to get cleaned sometime, and now that will get done.

In other good news, I bribed my Mom with food and drink to let me take her camera today.  She let me.  I think she would have let me take it without the bribe, but a bribe helps right?

In other bad news, once my kids woke up from naps, they were not in the mood to have their picture taken.

The good news is the dog was.

The bad news is, the picture I took right before this one was so stinkin cute of Claire, and it was out of focus.

The good news is, this one was still pretty cute.

And this one.

I'm off to go watch Idol now.

Oh yea, and some more good news...

The DMV wasn't so bad this morning.

2 hours in and out.

I read my book, I brought Jake's blackberry to play around with, I called Kelly, I sipped my coffee, I people watched.

Did you know there are still people out there in 2010 wearing their bangs half curled back and half curled under? 

Remember that look?  I sported it, when I was in 6th grade.

I saw those bangs today.

At the DMV.

I would post a picture of my half back half under bangs, but you don't really need to see that do you?

All in all, a most pleasant DMV experience.

Motherhood changes you doesn't it?

Now, I enjoy solitude WHEREVER I can get it.

Adios Amigos! 

PS- Dear camera,
 I miss you.  I hope you are okay.  You are probably in a box on a mail truck right now.  You will get to the Nikon experts soon.  I am thinking of you.    xoxo-Me

My New Lens, Noah Turned 3, & Camera Trouble

Ya know how I confessed to you that I have a problem?
That I am a photogaholic?
Well, this photography class I am taking, is just the place for me.  I fit right in.  We're all photogaholics.  I'm not the only one who has dreams about shutter speeds, and different lenses, and lighting.  Ha ha.
I've learned a lot about lenses in this class.  And I've also learned that I have to save up A LOT of money to get some of the ones I want. 
That's right I said some... because just one lens is not enough.
No.
I need some.
Well, I saved and saved the last few weeks, and worked a little bit extra, so that I could buy this new bad boy...

It was supposed to come on Friday.  So Thursday night I was like a 6 year old on Christmas Eve.  I couldn't sleep.  I tossed and turned.  I dreamt of what it might be like to hold this bad boy in my hand.  And then on Friday, it never came.  The tracking said there was a "delay".   I was bummed.  It was a long weekend.  A long and lonely weekend. No new lens, no hubby (work). 

It came today and I was so excited.

Today my nephew Noah turned 3.
Tonight we were going over to my sister's new place to celebrate Noah's 3rd birthday.
I thought it would be a great afternoon for playing with my new lens.
It didn't work out that way.
We got there.  
Noah looked adorable.
He was super happy to be 3.
I snapped about 10 pictures, and my camera died.
No, not the battery.
My camera.
I do not know what happened.  
I heard a click, and then the shutter button would not press down anymore.  
And the menu screen now permanently reads "ERROR! Press shutter release button again."
Well I did that.
I pressed it again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And I googled what to do.
And I pressed it again.
And I busted out the manual.
No luck.
And I googled for more help.
And I asked my friends in photog class for help.
I got nothin'.
I'm so sad.
I think we'll have to take it in tomorrow.  
I'm guessing it's something wrong with the mechanics of the shutter and that Best Buy is gonna have to send it out for repair.
Crappy.
How am I supposed to practice for my photog class without a camera?  
Crap.
I am so not lucky.

Anyway, here's the few pictures that I did get before my camera collapsed.  Each week I've only allowed myself to shoot in whichever mode we had to for the class.  The last three weeks I have shot only in manual.  Which used to seem SO scary to me.  And it still does at times, but things really feel like they are clicking and I am having several "aha" moments now.

 Mr. Woah (as Hannah pronounces Noah) proudly showing us his new bike.

What a suprise, Claire dumped the entire bottle of bubbles out.

Look Mom, I dumped it.

That's all folks!
Tomorrow I have to get up early and get down to the good ole DMV first thing in the morning to renew my license.  It's been 10yrs, so I guess they want a new picture of me.
I'm a little nervous to take the eye test.
Wish me luck.
I'm off to go mope about my camera now.
Wish me luck with that too.
{Sigh}...

Pigtails & Pizazz

I got Claire's hair into pigtails for the first time today!

I thought she looked so cute.

And so old.
Aren't the bows cute?  My friend Amy made them and gave them as favors for her daughter's 2nd birthday party. (thank you amy!)

Claire wants to do everything herself.

She wants to put her shoes on herself, use utensils at meal times herself, and brush her teeth all by herself.

She wants to do everything that Hannah does.  And she wants to do it without our help.  She wants to wash her hands at the sink in the bathroom, while standing on the step stool, all by herself.

She wants to walk up the stairs, holding onto the banister like we do, all by herself.

She requires a wardrobe change at least 2-3 times a day.  No joke.

She climbs everything.  Things I didn't even think you could climb, like the screen door.  She shimmies up it like a cat. 

She waves to kids in the neighborhood because she sees her big sister do it.

She picked up dog poop in both hands and squeezed it through her fingers like play-dough for the second day in a row.

The girl

is into

everything!

No wonder I'm so addicted to caffeine.

I Looove this cup.  It is my version of a sippy cup. 

You've seen em right?

The plastic, insulated screw top Venti sized cup from Starbuck's.

I love it.

I've been trying to get my hands on one forever and stores sell out as soon as they get them in.

Recently one of my sweet clients who knew how badly I wanted one, brought one to me.

I was so excited.

I've been making iced vanilla chai lattes with a mix I got at Sam's Club.

I think it tastes even better in my cute cup.

I'm off to go wash my cute cup now. 

So I can refill it with more caffeine tomorrow.

I've got to keep up with those pigtails...

...and pizazz!

Today

I think it rained a lot last night.

I woke up several times to the sound of the rain.

I love being tucked in my warm cozy bed when it's raining.

The sky was so beautiful this morning.

After I took Hannah to school I did not want to go home.

My house is a mess.  I was hoping that if I left for a while, when I came back it would be picked up, dusted, dishes put away, and laundry all done.  No such luck.

But getting out of the house for a bit was still nice.

Just me and my sidekick Claire.

First we went here...

Venti iced skinny vanilla latte for me.

Then we went over to the fountain. 

This week our lesson in my photgraphy class is on focus.  I have to turn in my assignment on Monday and I still haven't gotten the picture I want for it.  So I thought maybe I'd get it this morning.

It was chilly this morning.

53 degrees.

So we needed to wear our Uggs,

and bring our nie nies.

I did not edit this picture of the sky at all.  For a little while the sky was so vibrant and blue with white puffy clouds.

We cruised around B & N for a bit.  I bought Hannah a new book called Michael Recycle that was pretty cute.  And they had The Help on sale, so I had to get that.  And they had a large paperback version of Gone With The Wind so I HAD to get that. 

When we came out of the book store, the sky looked like this.  Those clouds sure were moving fast.  Looks like another rainy night.

My sweet hubby booked me a massage tonight at 6pm and I am in desperate need of one.  Yesterday morning I fell down the stairs.  That's right.  I fell from the very top, all the way down.  Don't ask me how.  I hadn't had my coffee yet.  Maybe that's why.  I was just coming down in the morning and my slipper slipped, and I fell so hard on my butt and then just kept sliding all the way down.  I was holding my unfinished water from the night which fell all over me.  If that doesn't wake ya up in the morning.  My butt hurts, my arms hurt, and I hurt.  Not fun.  At least I wasn't holding Claire.

A Great Day

We've been in need of some good quality family time.  So yesterday the four of us bad Hasses drove out to Tanaka Farms in Irvine.  It was SO neat.  The kids loved it.  We loved it.  It was a really fun time. 

We got there and checked in, and waited just a couple minutes before the next tour began.  Then Juan pulled up on our tractor to give us a tour of the farm.  (Note- his real name is not Juan... well it could be, but I named our tractor driver Juan.)

Juan's shirt says "Have a Berry Nice Day".  The tour of the farm was really neat.  The area was so beautiful.

Juan stopped the tractor multiple times to pick us FRESH veggies and fruit to eat (and take home).  This is the way to get your produce, let me tell you.  I have never tasted anything more fresh.  Everything was SO good. 

We ate cilantro, snap peas, carrots, sweet onions, red leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, and strawberries!

Juan was so nice.  We chatted a bit.  He has no idea that he's all over my blog now.

This beatiful head of romaine turned into a delicous salad that we ate with dinner last night.  Hannah and Claire were digging the veggies.  Hannah ate fistfuls of lettuce (it was the best lettuce I've ever had) and Claire ate a whole carrot.  After touring the farm, our last stop was the strawberry fields.  We had so much fun picking our berries...

...and eating them.

                   And just to prove it to you, I was there too.

It really was a great day.  The girls had so much fun.  Mr. Hass and I had so much fun.  After our berry picking we bought a few things in the produce stand.  I used the mushrooms in our eggs this morning with a bit of feta cheese, and oh my.  Yum.   We also bought some chocolates to dip some of our berries. 

The farm has lots of different tours.  We can't wait to go again.  In the fall we are going to do our pumpkin picking there.  And they have a tour that requires reservations that I would love to do sometime.  You go out and pick your own fruits and veggies, and then go cook with them and eat your meal there on the farm.  I don't think it gets more fresh than that.

I better go now.  Mr. Hass is vaccuuming all around me.  The kids are climbing the furniture.  I guess I better go help.