..lovin' the sunset

To see more go to the Tonic Photography blog.

Yay! (In Valley Girl Voice.)

This is my awesome and gorgeous friend who is moving back here like now! Hopefully she will excuse my picture posting and appreciate my excitement.

To see more photos go HERE

Emerging Butterfly

It's time for my kids.

Lately it has been time for things other than my kids. Now it's time for them. People say I am a busy girl.. "when do I sleep?" I take that to offense. Not literally, but personally. It is meant as a compliment, but when is being busy busy and not having that busy be inclusive of your kids something admirable? I have discussed this with several of late, so sorry if it is repetitious, but the girls we should be the most wishing to be like are the girls that lay down on the floor, pull out a board game, walk to the park, and play ball and make believe with their kids for most of their time. Of course I am not saying don't have hobbies, so don't take me to extreme. I just think a lot of times we, me included, feel inferior to those that do so much while in the mean time neglect their kids consistently. I always try to do homework and picture edits while my kids are asleep, but let's be frank, a lot of times, they are running a muckus in the house, watching movies, and eating crap so I can accomplish what I need in time. NOT COOL. A stay at home mom, to me, from now on, is striving to do more than just being at home with my kids-physically. It is more interacting, playing, activities and education. I am going to do better to make being a stay at home mom benefit them more, and my husband, and not benefit all MY to-do's. My to-do's should more often than not be directed around their activities instead of vice versa. Kids need mom's who are attentive and caring and listen. Not mom's who are working to be so successful in whatever they are doing that they don't have the capacity for the little things. I am not taking on so much, been there done that. My kids are little for too little. And I suggest we all do the same.

Stop feeling inferior to the wrong people.

So here is to a summer of kids, Lagoon, parks, vacations, and floor time.

Here is to a new mom who learned through stress that making people feel inferior with "how great you are" means also making your kids feel inferior.

... Now that I have time on my hands, get ready for some insight, right?.. or controversy...or offense.. all of which I can be charged as guilty.


Piper, dressed herself, and posed herself. This is a portrait of her in every sense, if you ask me.










Always looking to see what Piper is up to. Meanwhile I am praying he doesn't pick up on half the stuff she is doing.

I really haven't been one for blogging lately, so here is a high speed recap of what has been going on with ToneLoc & Company.

This weekend we went to Vegas for an Xterra. We left our kidlets and partied it up with the friends. It was a lot of fun. Jake pretty much owned the bike and swim, but weather making the waves higher than preferred, he had a fight with his stomache with some barfing and that made the run give him some problems. But I am proud. We met up with our friends and shopped and had a thrilling time. At the Cheesecake factory, I had a moment. I sat there laughing and appreciating these faces that I have been through so much with and watched go through so much. I love them, their humor, their honesty, their innocence. I am lucky to have such a wide circle of people that I adore, that probably have no idea of my affections.
It was fun, to say the least.







This is the resort where it was at.
Celine Dion lives here, apparently.




The start of the swim.. Jake is in there, somewhere.



Conrad Stoltz. Apparently he is THE man. He wins them all. He is number 1. He was sort of wondering why I was taking his picture. Some blonde idiot, in designer jeans, big earrings, and J-Lo sunglasses. Whatever, man, maybe I am cooler than you think! (or maybe I actually listen to my husband's ramblings so I know precisely who you are..)








Melanie McQuaid, the female Conrad, the triathalon woman.



This was his tri a week ago, continuing my role as cheerleader.



Mini with her minies.



Jake's brother, it was his first triathalon. Let's hope for Jen's sake he doesn't get the bug, she has it bad enough for one family.



I never know what is legal to post of him.. I don't want to be in the dog house by posting a post swim.. or get the bike shorts at the WRONG angle. Heaven knows those bike shorts don't leave much to the imagination.




And last but not least, Piper's dance recital!!

Luciana

My brother and Steph had their girl!


Luciana Toni Chatelain

Last Year

This was Easter last year. Beckett a baby and Piper a toddler, where does time go?

More Kids Hunting For Eggs

But they are mine, so it's more exciting.




Beck discovering candy in them.



Eli...



I found one, now leave me alone.



Beck just ate candy the whole time. Bigger pieces than his mouth could handle.



And then ate some more.



And then got tired and sat down and ate some more.



And then I took it away.



This is Piper's DONT TAKE MY PICTURE face. It's basically the only one that she is facing me.