18. car chalk. baby boys.

No more babies in our house. Mason turned 18 years old on August 8. While raising our children we sometimes think it will be easier if only.... 

 ....they could walk so we don't have to carry them, talk so they can express their needs, be potty trained, make their own snack, do homework without prompting, make decisions, make good choices, drive safely, get good grades, find the right college and graduate high school.... 

...and (deep breath) one day they are adults and we want simply for them to find their passion and be happy. Where did those years go? 

Oh yes, many of you know, I am the Mom that made scrapbooks (and these kids are current through 2012) capturing the big moments and the everyday and journaled in their books.You blink and two grown young men are your sons: Adam, 21 and Mason, 18. For parents with little ones, do not wish them older, bigger or to that next phase. It happens and happens a bit too fast. 

Now for a bit of humor. Walking through the mall parking garage with Vicki we saw a car painted up for a birthday. I mentioned I would think it a funny surprise to do to Mason. What parents would embarrass their kids that way?! Umm, us. A little creative help from google to get ideas, buy "car chalk" and we were ready.  Joe and I got up at 6am and instantly my work risk mitigation skill kicked in when I saw the looming rain clouds. We pulled the car into the garage since rain threatened and the parents "vandalized" the car with messages.  It poured rain like crazy all day. With the car safely tucked in the garage, the rains stopped just as he left for his party. His first statement was "how embarrassing" while wearing a beaming smile and the captains hat from his high school friend. He drove the car to his birthday dinner receiving many honking horns on the way. The baby, May May, towers over me now.  

Planning. Photography. Photoshop.

For over a year I have been planning to get what is called an "exec photo" taken for work. I delayed...always thinking I would lose weight, my hair style isn't exactly as it should be (or is it color? chocolate brown, red, blonde and back again), then it was my eyeglasses I pondered. What do women wear for these photos requiring a quick survey of other female executive photos. Seemingly they all wore dark suit jackets.  Some jewelry, some not.

I have been told by friends and mentors alike I think too much. I prefer to say I am a great planner. Yes, Lolli Logic at its best.

So a year passes and I have lost weight (a LOT of pounds but that story in a later blog--if you need a memory jogger of my pre-weight loss look, simply go back to old blog posts "Rain. Tamarack" or "Wine. Friends." where posts of me a year or so ago exist), new trendy glasses or contact lenses, great navy jacket, jewelry or no jewelry and decisions on lip gloss or lipstick?!..it was time. After painstakingly planning my haircut to occur the evening before, I made the photo appointment on a day of vacation and went for it. A couple quick photographer adjustments: camera, tilt of head, lower chin, lean forward, shoulders back and of course the hair. Done.

A year of planning and in less than five minutes it was over. Happy with the results and more than certain there were photoshop was adjustments by the photographer to create this final photo. I expect more places between work and home will find a use for this photo.  All the planning and I won't apologize for "over thinking" the photo process.  I am happy with the result.

Geranium. Butterfly bush. Roses.

For three years I have not blogged. Inspired by a coworker's new blog, I hope to post new thoughts to my blog Lolli Logic and share a tiny selection of the photos I routinely take. 

Geraniums

Each year we fill the two flower pots with geraniums. Geraniums are the only flowers that thrive in the heat, humidity and sometimes a little less watering than needed. I gave up the decision on colors and selection and Joe picked out these gorgeous red geraniums. Typically, I would get pink. Never again. The red color really pops on our steps.

Butterfly Bush

We bought this wonderful purple butterfly bush last year and it has grown into a huge, beautiful bush. I haven't seen a single butterfly yet but am continuing to look since it would provide limitless photo opportunities. Small problem that I did not estimate how large it would become. Currently threatens to take over our entrance gate to the back yard. Pomdering. New home for this beauty in the Fall near the front of the house.