2008 June archive at Filtering Life

Archive for June, 2008

Geez Louise

Published by Kelly June 27th, 2008 in Uncategorized. 12 Comments

What is with the flack for not putting up photos or bragging on my kids. I try not to be THAT mom or THAT blog even though I do slip up.

Because we are in wedding season and my arse is on the couch at night editing a BAH-GILLION wedding, bridal and engagement photos, I feel negative 10 desire to take more pictures of my kids and edit those. So…my wonderful friend Heather, who came to visit us from the great North took some pictures and I will shamelessly rip them off so that you can get your eye candy of the Benster and me. Nope, don’t call him that.

How cute is he? No seriously, on a scale of 1 to 10 rate my child!!!! Kidding. He is a WINNER in my eyes. Can you believe what a moose he is and SOOO strong. He sits with his head held high with no help. Did I birth a three month old? I love him so much, he is such a flirt with me I could eat him up! He talks so much and LOUD! Chloe is and has always been really quiet…details kinda girl. Bennett may be my little chatterbox.

Heather is 23 weeks prego with her first….YEAH!

I am trying out for the Hunchback of Notre Dame. I think I will get the part if I am lucky! The hamhock arms are for good measure.

Drinking the nectar of the gods….Chickfila milkshakes!

AT Joy’s b-day party. My jublees made a nice appearance, no?

There you have it. Pictures of my family not by me!! Thanks Heather. We miss you already. Happy weekend.

Monday…come on ladies…we will dish part II on the Bachelorette.

Let’s dish…

Published by Kelly June 25th, 2008 in Uncategorized. 32 Comments

I don’t want to hear it, Not One Single Word about my enormous gaps in blogging. It isn’t my desire to leave you hanging from my ultra exciting life….I just can’t, in good conscience, put the time in. If I were Dooce and got paid out the butt to blog…well…then I would find the time. But seeing as all of you read and none of you pay me…WELL…you get what you get! Cash and checks are welcome though.

So this is a quick one. I need to hear some opinions on The Bachlorette!!!! You heard me. Superficial TV at it’s finest. Anyone in blogland watching this season? Oh my word, I am so stinking hooked. Usually I watch because Monday nights blow for TV and it is so junior high…like watching a trainwreck of bad decisions…BUT….this time I am so feeling Deanna’s sincerity.

I totally did NOT like her when she was one of the ladies on The Bachelor. Talk about a “know it all”. I have since warmed up to her and feel like she is one of the only ones to really care about the guys’ feelings and not lead anyone on. She doesn’t take any B.S. which I really appreciate. She is really mature for 26.

So yesterday morning at 6:25 am as I am breastfeeding Bennett in bed I caught up on my episode on ABC.com…..thank you ABC. Not a bad way to spend the morning hour if you have to get up so early. Ryan is working a new summer shift for the school system…a four-day work week. So he gets Monday’s off all summer but has to pull 10 hour days Tues-Friday. He goes in from 6:00-4:30. So basically I get to hear him clanking around in the five o’clock hour then the kids seem to know that they should wake up and keep mommy up. So not cool. I want to drop kick Chloe because she used to sleep till 7:00 and now for the last few months she thinks 5:45-6:30 is much better! We have upped her bedtime an hour and it has made NO difference. W T H?????? Bennett is still a dream and has been sleeping 7-9 hours straight at night. YUPPPPPPPERS, at 7 weeks he is sleeping like a champ. Thank you Jesus.

Anyway….

So….Jessie. Super dooper love him with a cherry on top. I think it was because my brother is into extreme sports so I grew up around those types of guys that I have a soft spot for ones who actually pull their crap together but are still a total goof ball. I do not condone his style of dress. White suit…come on Jessie…this is not Miami Vice. But I will forgive his clothing faux pas because he is such a gentlemen, hilarious, and sweet. I love his OCD tendencies…labels on his kitchen cabinets…WHOA! Even though he is my favorite I don’t think she will pick him in the end. My guess is he and Jeremy will be the last two.

Jeremy….I fight the fact that I love Jessie so much that I think Jeremy is more of a dill than he probably really is. He just isn’t my type. He is a little too reserved and square for me, but I can’t deny they do share a bond with both losing parents. I think he may be the front runner but she has surprised me many times throughout the show…so who knows.

Jason. He is very very very sweet. I don’t see him with Deanna in the end, even though I think he is a class act and a very loving dad. I don’t have much to say about Jason. He is vanilla, not really memorable, but when someone brings up his name you think… He is nice.

Graham….day late, dollar short buddy. Yeah you are hot, but you are a dill times ten. He did actually shed real tears in the end. That was the most vulnerable he had been the whole time. I think she was wise to let him go even though she was most attracted to him. Been there, done that, not worth it. I think she would have always been working 200% in that relationship to get him to communicate and not be so withdrawn. Mysterious is fun at first, but not husband material.

Can. Not. Wait for next Monday for the tell-all episode and fantasy dates.

Is it sad how giddy I get when I wake up on Mondays knowing that The Bachelorette is on that night? Yeah, pretty pitiful, don’t judge….we all have TV shows that are guilty pleasures. So if you can’t wager in on The Bachelorette, tell me your guilty pleasure show. Ryan and I straight up love America’s Next Dance Crew…..we can watch ENDLESS hours of home renovation shows…ENDLESS hours and Candace got me hooked on “What I like about you”….Amanda Bynes and Jenny Garth…I know, I know, I know…but it really is funny in that corny predictable way. (this show was watched pre-Bennett…I can’t watch any adult tv during the day.)

So go on…fess up….confession is good for the soul. What’s your guilty TV pleasure?

Another round bartender

Published by Kelly June 18th, 2008 in Apparently someone thinks I'm cool, For Kicks and Giggles, Photoganza and Uncategorized. 19 Comments

For those of you who haven’t been scowering my Flickr account…then these pictures will seem new to you. I usually upload my pictures and then quickly write a post…however, I went to Richmond to visit my parents an hour after uploading and here it is two days later and I am just getting around to writing a post. Oh well….

For the last few years on my birthday I have gotten my girlie friends together to go out to my favorite restaurant for dessert and wine. I love getting dressed up and getting as many of my favorite gals around me as possible. No formal parties or presents needed, I am getting too old for parties, I would much rather have a total girls night.

This year I thought it would be fun to have a shin dig at my new place. The house we bought is an old 1920’s Craftsman style home. We have a really huge porch that is just begging to be broken in. So I sent out the invites for the girls to don their best cleavage baring dresses and come on over for lots of this.

My very talented friend, Candace, (check out her decorating skillz….) came over to help me decorate and make her famous cupcakes. Everyone brought over a bottle of wine and an appetizer or dessert. There were some GOOD EATS!!! Can I just mention that 75% of my guests were pregnant or breastfeeding. Let’s just say Bennett got formula that night, mama was going to have some wine…period!

The color scheme was teal, red and pink. Check it out.

OOOHHHHH Cupcakes!!!!

Panera bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. YUMMMMMMY in my tummy.

Who wants to help me clean up?

What a trooper Can, thanks for all your help. Wait..is that you stuffing your face?

Unfortunately I did not get pictures of everyone…sorry! I don’t even get a picture of myself…party foul! To my bff ladies far and wide that live too far to be here…man did we miss you.

Here are some of my ladies gabbing it up about world changing topics such as…comfortable bras, good sales happening, what fatty mcfat snack they were going to devour next…

I have to tell you about my favorite thing that happened all night. I told the girls on the invitation that there would be no talk of babies or children…this was adult time. However, HOWEVER….I heard over and over “We are not suppose to talk about this…BUT….I just have to say REAL QUICK…that my baby……blahdity blah blah blah.” Way to go girls. You’re all oaks.

Honorary host..Candace. She took the cleavage thing literally! I almost censored her. She is 9 months preggo. Way to bring the twins Can. Her tan makes me seethe with jealousy.

Amanda…surprisingly…talking! Amanda is the kind of friend who can talk to anyone about anything, seriously…try her…throw out any topic. You just want to take a breath for her once an awhile.

Jackie boozing it up…kidding…she was a good girl.

Steph showing off her sewing skills. She made her dress. How awesome is that?

Erin, my tune master. She makes the greatest CD mixes. I am sure back in the day she was the kid sitting next to her hot pink Casio tape deck taping off the radio.

My favorite cleavage bearing friend, G-Love. Gretchen finds it completely hilarious (I mean annoying) that every year I call her out for not baring cleavage. She could put us all to shame. I love to beat a dead horse,(shocker) so of course I make a big deal about it EVERY year. What G, is this 10 years in a row you have covered your jublees up?

My former roomie and dear sweet friend, Janelle.

Katie, mother of three and one on the way. She is so adorable.

Charity….who can confidently quote from Elf that “smiling is her favorite”.

Adria, my pregnancy buddy. Her son was born 6 days before Bennett.

Oh wait…there is my little noggin. I am in the middle with the nubby ponytail. I really was there. I am saying goodbye to the last of the party goers!

Thank you ladies. I had a great night! We need to do this MORE often.

Cousin Lovin

Published by Kelly June 10th, 2008 in Uncategorized. 16 Comments

We had a good old fashioned family filled weekend. Two of Ryan’s brothers came in to town. Uncle Joey and his girlfriend Joanna and then we welcomed back Sam who has been in the middle east since October. While Sam was away fighting in the war his wife,Brittany, and I were baking away some babies.

I don’t know about you, but I just LOVED being pregnant with a first time mom who is a size zero. If I didn’t love her so much, I would hate her for wearing her normal jeans into her 9th month. Yeah, I know, I know.

Brittany decided she wanted to take Lamaze. We weren’t sure when Sam was going to get back so I volunteered to be her partner so I could brush up on some info. We waddled our big and small butts into lamaze in our 7th month. We were the last to enter the classroom full of eager new parents and bulging bellies. The nurse asked for our names. Brittany Portnoy and Kelly Portnoy. She looked up a little confused. I allowed several awkward moments to pass. We had joked that we should get t-shirts made that said “I love my mommies” just to be scandalous. I finally broke the silence and explained we were sister in laws. Not so scandalous.

Brittany and I were only 9 days apart with our due dates but she ended up going over a bit and brought Ella into the world 16 days after Bennett. I think Ella just wanted to make sure her daddy was home first.

So here are some shots of the cousins and the new family. We make some huge kids in this family. Ella is very tall and has the classic big hands and feet. But she sure is sweet and the spitting image of Brittany. It was so great to see everyone.

Bennett consoling Ella

Ella telling Bennett a secret

Ella has such petite features and Bennett’s are so round

I am seeing some basketball in these kids future.

32 moments

Published by Kelly June 5th, 2008 in Uncategorized. 27 Comments

Well my 32nd b-day has come and gone….sympathy comments welcome. One of my favorite presents this year, came in the form of a photography trade-out with the fabulous Amy Martin. You know the saying or maybe you don’t but “the cobblers children have no shoes.” Well, we pretty much have no photos of our family except when our photographer friends and family have time to squeeze us in. Uncle Joey hooked us up over Labor Day last year. Now Amy has our back this spring.

So here are my 32 favorite moments of the day for your enjoyment. Thanks Amy, even though Chloe gets a C- in cooperation, you captured the humor and chaos of our family. I love them.

We started out on our bed thinking Chloe would be a little more cooperative if she was contained. Not so much. She wasn’t bad, but she wasn’t good either. Well…see for yourself.

“Chloe…sit with mama.”

“I am glad you are having fun with your animals, but come back here with mama.”

“Look at Bennett, what a model student. Come on Chloe, maybe tickling you will keep you from being a camera hog.”

Check out those chompers.

This was the best we could get.

Four pairs of dirty tootsies.

Let’s move this party outside. Chloe got a bit somber for awhile.

Kissing her elephant pool

Dandelion blowing with daddy

Bubble baby

Bennett’s moment in the spotlight

Match it or beat it Ben

Now it is the Kelly and Ryan show….buckle your seat belts.

Notice I finally got my hair “professionally” colored and had some little sassy bangs chopped in. It is going to be a beeotch to grow out and I AM GROWING IT OUT…but I am going to have fun with it in the meantime.

Take that Ryan

and a little of that

just kidding

kiss and make up with me

I was very tempted to send a similar shot as this when I got engaged to Ryan as a joke. He is 16 inches taller than me. Makes slow dancing a wee awkward. I get good facetime with his belly button.