Have you ever felt...

Like someone was just stringing you along? Have you ever realized that someone had no intention of following through on something they promised... and then worst of all you find out through the internet? Yah, that's what just happened to me. I feel like I've been slapped. Not a good feeling. Also is it wrong of me because I'm happy that a bunch of fake people are leaving? Sooo excited about that. Though sometimes I don't even know why I try anymore to do everything and be everything. Honestly I can't even keep my laundry clean and put away... I need to have a little me time. I want to be selfish... I've gotten myself in way over my head with all of my kids. I love them dearly, but they are a lot to handle at once. I'm hoping it's easier. I wouldn't give up any of them, but sometimes I feel like it would have been more prudent for me to only have 1 or 2 kids... then I could be a better wife and mom.
I'm super excited for Christmas, and I can't wait to go to Maryland... I keep saying we are going hoping that by saying it, it will magically happen, but honestly right now I just feel so blah that I don't think it will.
And I want more than anything to go to the gym tomorrow so I can run, but I need to go to the chiropractor's office... but if I do that I won't have time to go to the gym... I'm thinking of running home from the chiropractor but I'm a little nervous because I don't want to be without my phone... even though it will be in broad daylight and on busy streets I just feel like I'm inviting trouble if I don't have my phone with me. I guess I could always stick it in my bra strap but I imagine that running might make condensation build up inside my phone from the heat of my skin compared to the air... I don't know... guess everyone will find out tomorrow. It's somewhere between 3-4 miles from Dr. Fuh's to our house. It's not that far, I've gone a lot farther than that before, but I'm normally on a treadmill. The last time I was outside daily for exercise was over 5 years ago when I was a nanny. What I wouldn't give to be back in Ellicott City and have the Trolley Trail to jog on! Also when I lived on campus at OU I was able to walk several places. I miss walkability. Tulsa needs more trees shading the roads and more sidewalks that are wider. I'm thinking that maybe I'll start running home from Dr. Fuh's on Tuesday's and Thursday's so that when the older kids are in school soon I can just get a jogger and run to the gym, then lift and shower, then have danny drive us back... I just have to get a new jogger and figure out an easy way to attach it to the roof of the Jeep.
Anyway I'm back to the gym and losing weight again, and since I can't have anymore children, hopefully by my birthday I'll be back to my pre-pregnancy size. That would be awesome. I'm determined to make the year between my 27th and 28th birthday the best one yet!

so much to say, yet my mind is blank

well we finally got off our lazy bums last night and drove to okmulgee to have brett replace our hard drive. Could have done it a month ago but we just want to eat dinner and go to sleep by the time danny gets home. Last night he canceled his last appointment of the day so we could drive down there. It has been almost a month since I've had regular access to a computer. I had been trying to do everything on my blackberry and boy was that a chore. Our apartment seems to be the only place in town sprint doesn't work. It's very spotty and the exact sweet spot changes from day to day so i would always be wandering around the apartment trying to load a webpage on a 3 inch screen on a phone to pay bills etc.

Anyway thank goodness for brett! He found out that it's not our hard drive we just need a new cd/dvd drive and we can live without that for a while. So once he got the dvd out everything worked again! Yay! And mandy made taco soup and the kids played. it was very nice to see them again. it had been almost 6 months!

This past month I kept thinking of things I wanted to blog about but I never wrote them down. The way my mind goes blank all the time now don't be surprised if the next time you see me I have a sharpie and post it notes in my hand and my room wall papered in cork board with tons of stickums all over! I can't remember anything anymore. I'm starting to wonder if it's being a mom that causes the tiredness and memory loss instead of it being an age thing. Would I still feel this way if i had no kids? I'm only 26 but I'm thinking about checking myself into a nursing home. I'm exhausted all the time and there are never enough hours in my day to get everything done... so I procrastinate and mess around on the computer :D I will post new pictures soon and give some more updates, it has been forever!

Some Audrey Hepburn quotes I love!

I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe that loving is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.

-Audrey Hepburn

Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future. -Audrey Hepburn

“I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it.” -Audrey Hepburn 

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.” -Audrey Hepburn

random quiz

Your background and influences. 1. Name? Naomi 2. Age? 26 3. M/F ? Female 4. Highest grade of school completed? Some college, but going back once the kids are in school. 5. College major (or what you would like it to be)? I would like to do auto-cad, interior design, and possibly be a high school teacher. 6. Current occupation (if you work). I take care of four kids every day, that's more work than most real world jobs! 7. Are you religious? If so what religion/denomination are you? Yes, I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints many people call us Mormon. 8. What is one thing about your religious beliefs that other people misconstrue? That we don't believe in the bible, that we don't believe in Christ... some believe we grow horns when we pray, seriously, I'm not making this up people! A lot of people confuse us with the FLDS (the fundamentalists of our religion who split off after Joseph Smith was killed). There are too many to name. Ask me if you really want clarification to some of the absurd rumors spread about us! 9. Do your religious beliefs influence your political leanings? Yes, I'd be lying if I said otherwise. Although I am constantly amazed at how many religious people disagree with me... I always figured that religious people would be more liberal because of the love and compassion we are taught to have for others. 10. If so, how? I believe they make me more liberal and in more favor of social programs because I feel like it is our responsibility to take care of those in need. 11. Do you consider yourself, conservative/moderate/liberal? And why. Hardcore moderate... (I do believe I invented that term... can I get that patented?) because I am so middle of the road on most things. I can see both sides too easily so I am always going down the middle. Plus I don't like discord (except for in music... sometimes it's eerily beautiful). 12. Do you watch the news? If so what network? I try to catch the news if I wake up before my children I will flip back and forth between CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. I also like to watch the Today show and Good Morning America... however I can't stand CBS for some reason... heck, I don't even know what their show is called. 13. Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Extrovert for sure. 14. For the area you grew up in, what economic class where you considered? (ie: lower, lower middle, middle, upper middle, upper) Lower Middle but I think some people thought we had a lot more money than we did. 15. What do you consider yourself now? Probably lower middle to middle... danny makes decent money, but we have four kids and I stay home! Random 1. Favorite Color? Why? Kelly Green, it makes me happy! Every time I see it I smile! Plus it looks awesome on me! 2. Favorite Number? Why? I don't really have a favorite number anymore, although I prefer non-prime numbers that are divisible by five (I know, crazy huh?) 3. Vanilla or Chocolate? Dark Chocolate! 4. Pizza or Pasta? Pasta! Spaghetti with Marinara or Chicken Parmesan (from the Cheesecake Factory, delicious!) 5. Ice cream or Popsicles? Popsicles! 6. Car/Truck/Suv? SUV, I totally want a Toyota Seqouia and a Range Rover 7. Favorite drink? Dr. Pepper or Water with Sonic Ice 8. Something (song, quote, poem, whatever you can think of) that describes/reminds you of your past? Every long lost dream led me to where you are Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars Pointing me on my way into your loving arms This much I know is true That God blessed the broken road That led me straight to you I think about the years I spent just passing through I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you But you just smile and take my hand You've been there you understand It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true 9. Present? I can almost see it That dream I am dreaming But there's a voice inside my head saying "You'll never reach it" Every step I'm taking Every move I make feels Lost with no direction My faith is shaking But I gotta keep trying Gotta keep my head held high There's always gonna be another mountain I'm always gonna wanna make it move Always gonna be a uphill battle Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose Ain't about how fast I get there Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb 10. Future? Dear Mom and Dad, I'll send money, I'm so rich that it ain't funny. Well it oughtta be more then enough to get you through. Please don't worry cause I'm alright, I'm stayin here at the Ritz tonight, Whaddya know we made our dreams come true! And there are fancy cars and diamond rings, But you know that they don't mean a thing, Well they all add up to nothin compared to you, Just remember me in ribbons and curls... I still love you more than anything in the world Love, Your Baby Girl 11. Sporks... genius/stupid? Genius! 12. Chopsticks... love 'em or hate 'em? Love 'em! 13. For women, do you wear high heels? For men do you like women in high heels? The taller the better (well at least they will be as soon as I get my back fixed!) 14. Any names you hate and cringe when you hear them? Why? Tonya... just cause 15. Hate someone? Why? meh... probably because they think that what they say is more important than their boss. 16. Desktop or Laptop? hmm... both have their benefits and drawbacks... but I'm gonna say laptop... can't sit in the recliner at a desk :D 17. Pens(fine point/medium point/thick point?) or Pencils (.05mm/.07mm/.09mm?)? Medium point pens, .07 for pencil lead. 18. iPhone, Blackberry, Flip, or Candybar? Gonna have to say blackberry solely because it has the keyboard, but I still think the iphones are pretty awesome! 19. Spiral notebooks or loose leaf paper? 20. Mac or PC? Mac! Introspection 1. Where do you hope to be in 5 years? Back in school and hopefully living in California/Boston/Utah/DC (one of those places) and Danny will either be in med school or have his own studio. 2. Did your best laid plans succeed or fail... or somewhere in between? somewhere in between, on the most important things I've succeeded, but on the things I want for purely selfish reasons I've failed more. 3. One habit you wish you could break? Biting my nails 4. One habit you wish you could start? more diligent in personal studies and prayers 5. One character flaw? I tend to hold grudges (I know that's a surprise huh ;D) 6. One thing that makes you awesome? Nothing makes me awesome... I just am! 7. If you had to live without one sense, which would it be and why? ( smell, sight, taste, touch, hearing) I would have to say... smell, even though I love the way my husband smells, then I wouldn't be so tempted by yummy smelling food either (plus it affects taste so it would help me stay skinny). 8. Alzheimer's or loss of mobility? Obviously neither but I think I fear the loss of my mind for than the loss of mobility. Although both would suck something awful! 9. Who do you want to live longer? You or your spouse? I'm selfish... my spouse... I don't think I could live without him... but he better not get re-married, or I'll haunt him and his new bimbo! 10. Do you practice what you preach? Not nearly enough!

I just want to cry!

I hate not being able to sleep. It happens more often than not, and it's so frustrating. I just want to be able to have a normal sleep cycle... what I wouldn't give to be able to fall asleep anytime, anywhere, like Danny. 

"You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance." -Franklin P. Jones

Things I tell my children not to do but if I'm too tired or it keeps them quiet I will sometimes pretend like I don't see:

1. Climbing on top of the table.

2. Jumping off of the couch.

3. Hitting each other (don't you judge me!)

4. Bella or Tripp sucking on a pacifier they found. 

5. Playing in the toilet (again don't judge me! I have the clorox tablets in there so at least they are playing in bleach water!)

6. Unrolling a whole roll of toilet paper, paper towels, or pulling out every single baby wipe we own till it looks like a paper factory of some sort exploded in our living room.

7. Throwing food on the floor

8. Coloring on the wall (don't worry with both the food and the coloring on the wall I turn them into a learning lesson for the kids and make them clean up after themselves, I think only a few more times and they will have learned!)

9. Sneaking cookies

10. Playing with the trash can.

You know you want to send me a Mom of the Year award huh?

Go right on ahead! 

Naomi Stephens

P.O. Box  I need to get off my lazy butt and do something

McLazyville, Ok 

12345 (cause I was too lazy to come up with anything more unique than that lol)

Glad to know customer service still exists!

So within the past few days I bought a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos... these are mine, to be consumed by me only unless I am feeling particularly generous with my children and give them 2 or 3 chips of their own (and I literally mean 2 or 3 chips, no more!) They are my addiction, I love licking the seasoning off both sides before eating the chip, then when I'm done with my little bowl full (I have to put them in bowls or a cup so I don't eat the whole bag in one sitting) I get to lick the seasoning that has accumulated on my fingers, so delicious! I've always been that person who prefers salty to sweet. In fact there are two candy bars sitting on our counter that a friend gave me, that are just waiting for Danny to get home because even though I'm hungry I would rather not eat than to eat a candy bar. The closest I get to a candy bar is a huge bar of dark chocolate that I will break a piece or two off of occasionally and I don't know if dark chocolate quite counts as candy or not. Anyway so I open this bag of doritos last night expecting all sorts of ranchy goodness but they tasted burned. Yuck! I was all prepared to get on here and call the company Frito Lame or call them Lame Ranch Doritos but I decided to call the 800 number Frito Lay provided. I was expecting a long wait or even no one to answer since it says they close at 4:30 central time and it was 4:14 when I called but I wasn't even on the phone for 30 seconds when a very helpful and nice sounding lady answered. Apparently the proper term for what I was tasting is scorched and after giving her a few numbers off of the bag and the location where they were purchased along with my name and address I was off the phone and eagerly awaiting my coupon for a free bag of Cool Ranch Doritos! Yum! They are my favorites. Now to trick Danny into picking some up on the way home from work while making him think it was his idea... hmm Anyway so there is no need to call them Frito Lame because they are quite good at customer service, they deserve $4 of my hard earned money (well Danny's hard earned money) every week. They probably just bought themselves a customer for life as well as a customer for life for an as yet unknown cardiologist, but that is another post all together (and hopefully about 40 years in the future!)

Things that give me panic attacks...

1. 

When a number shows up on my caller ID that I don't know. Seriously if you want to talk to me you should totally text me first to announce who you are so I can program your number into my cell. Otherwise I'm not picking up. It's been a long time since I had a debt collector call me and heck I don't even have any credit cards anymore, but with the fraternal order of police (aka fraternal order of "we're gonna guilt you into giving us your last $100" which would totally better be used on pampers in my house or if we are being honest a pair of oversized sunglasses, a beach hat, and cute flip flops) calling my house at all sorts of times not only including the memorial day and labor day holidays, and political campaigns running all the time not only 2-4-and 6 years (seriously I'm not voting on the school board election my kids aren't in school so don't call me) I get calls all the time. Those sneaky bastards are always using local numbers to trick me into picking up. It makes me so mad. Not to pat myself on the back or anything but I seriously have a heart of gold (if only I had a money tree too I'd be set) and I can't deny people when they are in need. I can't watch telethons or save the children commercials cause I will literally start hyperventilating because I don't have enough money to adopt them all. And I didn't have very good money management skills when I was younger so for these reasons I don't answer the phone if I don't know who you are.

2. The thought of trying to get medication for pain from a doctor. Ever since I was little I have had a fear being accused of something wrongfully whether it be something as simple as accused of lying when I'm telling the truth or as heinous as being accused of murdering someone, I've always feared this type of situation. It has made it very difficult to get help for pain I've had because I'm scared to be pushy because I don't want my doctor to think I'm a drug addict. It doesn't help that I am forever klutzy and always getting hurt or finding out I'm allergic to something (today I found out I have developed an allergy to latex, who knew?) and a lot of time I end up doing something like fracturing my elbow or breaking a toe or who knows what and then the doctor acts like a tylenol should suffice... hello I've taken so much tylenol that if they were to take a look at my liver they would guess it belonged to a 78 year old drunken hobo! I need something stronger cause my abuse of tylenol/advil/and aleeve cannot continue!

3. Clowns- Coulrophobia

4. Velvet and chenille fabric (certain fabrics- Textophobia)

5. The sound of metal on teeth such as forks or dental tools (Sounds- Acousticophobia.)

6. Ventriloquist's dummy- Automatonophobia

7. picking out fresh produce at the grocery store... seriously I start sweating trying to find apples that are blemish free, bananas that are at the perfect ripeness so they aren't too green to eat that day but that aren't so yellow that they spoil within a day or two. Also strawberries, I always try to find the freshest and if I see a single bad spot I have to start looking again. It's awful, I try to have danny get the produce for us cause the decision making process leaves me in a panic. 

I'm thinking I might need to ask the doctor about some xanax but then I would be afraid of #2 again.

Free Photo Shoot Give Away!

I'm giving away three in each category to the first people who leave me comments. Remember as said in my previous post you must be in the Tulsa area or be willing to pay for traveling expenses. Each session will be for up to 2 hours and limited licensing rights to at least 25 photos. You can get prints from snapfish very inexpensively!

Children

1. Tony and Jack

2.

3.

Families

1. The Goodman Family

2. The Luette Family

3.The Sohl Family

High School Seniors

1.Jordan Luette

2.Courtney

3.

 Engagement/Couples

1.Marla/Matt

2.

3.

Bridal Portraits (not weddings, just a bridal shoot for now, I also have a great hairstylist/make-up artist I can refer you too. Then if you like the bridal shots we can talk about the wedding)

1. Marla

2.

3.

Maternity Portraits

1. Amanda Hill

2.

3.

New Pictures

So my wonderful friend Katie came to visit me last week all the way from Virginia (DC area). I love that girl, she is so awesome! Anyway while she was here I took a lot more pictures and did a little mini-session with her and her daughter Gracie and then took a few more of all the kids playing etc. Perhaps one day I will actually get around to blogging instead of just posting photos... I wouldn't hold your breath though! I've realized that I love taking pictures and am going to try and parlay this into an actual career. I'm offering 3 free two hour sessions in each category of children, families, seniors, engagement, and brides. So if you know anyone who would like to get their pictures done for free (granted they will still have to purchase prints from snapfish or someplace like that but honestly for about $75 you could easily get 50 prints including one poster sized if you wish) have them drop me a line at photosbynaomi@gmail.com They need to be in the Tulsa area or willing to travel here if they want their pictures done. I'm willing to travel to them as long as it is within a few hours of here and there might be some traveling charges. I'm so excited and I hope you guys love these pictures as much as I do!  Remember only 3 in each category (I would also consider doing the brides wedding pictures at a discounted price if they hire me after their free session). So leave me some comments! (And forgive my poor paragraph structure etc. I'm working on setting up an actual website once I have a few more shoots under my belt.) If you want to see more pictures go check out my flickr account by clicking here!

This picture is cropped so you only see the reflection, it's not an actual picture of them, it's a picture of a lily pond, neat huh?

One of my all time favorite pictures of Bella, the look on her face is priceless!

This picture has not been edited except to brighten it a little since she was standing in the shadow of a building. She just turned to me and gave me this adorable smile... what can I say, the apple (or perhaps nut in our case) doesn't fall to far from this tree :D

Bella's cute feet! You know you love her shoes, too bad they are from last summer so you can't get them now :( And too bad they didn't have them in my size. Gosh I love Target!