security measures

So, you may have noticed my new addition to the sidebar, a label warning against blog plagiarism. Recently I read, in my own blog lurking, that a few of my fav blogs have been copied word for word and used in conjunction with spam to sell anything from viagra to um, well, let's just say Bad Things. The accused have used photos and complete text, changing only a name or place. Reportedly, most of the copying was done by people elsewhere, in every language from spanish to japanese, but sadly some was done right here in the US of A by bored housewives looking for a better life than they have. They used the life trials of these ligitimate bloggers to jazz up their own stories and to gain accolades from their readership: "You have such a way with words! You should be published!"

It's such a shame to hear of this because a blog is supposed to be a place where people can communicate and share little snippets of their lives, and sometimes just to vent about whatever is going on. The realization that people with such impure motives can ruin such a good thing is saddening. I personally use this blog to keep our out-of-town family and friends in touch with our lives, as well as to post previews for a few of my photography clients. I of course do all this with permission from the family members in question as a security measure to protect all involved. And I'm happy to announce that as of yet I have not been copied or plagiarized in any way! I guess that's the benefit of being a small-beans operation and not having a huge readership. If at anytime I felt that problems were arising from my use of this blog I would go private immediately and that would be the end of it. But as of now I'm thankful I don't have to do that.

All of this is to say that I'm thankful for a place to post about our goings-on and thankful that I can keep up with others in the blogging world. And I added that label to hopefully deter any copy-cats in the future. I still believe imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but I'd rather you at least give me credit for what I've done and not say it's yours. I'll do the same where I find inspiration. Honor System, I thank you!

eta: if you read this and are curious how I checked into the situation, I went to www.copyscape.com and ran a check of both my blog and my website. There was no obligation to do the basic check, and since I didn't have any hits I didn't pay to go forward with the search of who is using/where it's being used..

what I've been up to.

So, I decided to apply for a guest designer position at one of the blog shops that I love, Shabby Chic Crafts, and for the app I had to send in some of my recent work. These are the things I put in; I had my friends help pick out the Layouts because I'm a horrible judge of my own work. This first one is from Josiah's exploits unrolling the toilet paper. The going home one is about how the kids each got special going home from the hospital outfits. And this best friends one is from superbowl sunday. Josiah and Ethan were taking turns pointing out "eyes" and "nose", etc. Josiah had to yawn and should have called a time out because Ethan took the opportunity to do "mouth" and stuck Josiah in the back of the throat. We all laughed hysterically at Josiah gagging and coughing, and it was a total fluke that I even had my camera out for this.

For the application I also had to include an altered item . . . something that is not meant for scrapbooking but that has been reused as a paper craft project. I made this summer margerita glass into a Smoothie/Mixed Drink recipe book for my sister's last birthday:


And I also had to include a mini album sample. This is the Lego album from Josiah and Ethan's first birthday party:

And a completely fabric album about my sister and me. Even the photos are fabric; I printed them on iron-on transfers and adhered them to white fabric, then sewed them onto the felt.

more of Miss "A"

I can't say it enough: I love my job. Here's a few more from my most recent session. I had so much fun capturing all the details -- her tiny hands and feet, perfectly formed but oh, so small.

Even her tiny eyelashes.
She slept thru most of it, as she should at 3 weeks old, but did open her eyes for me for a minute at the end.
And then one more of the sisters. I love those eyes.

sisters

Okay. . . so Kendra, you literally just drove away from my house and I came in here to download the pictures and I HAD to get this on here for you to see. It was just so sweet . . . I couldn't help myself. Thanks so much for letting me do this - it's such a blessing to see them together. I love you, friend.

rounded-up

Alright, Beans, it's official. You are starting Big School in the fall. I know we've been talking about it forever but I actually wrote your big name on some papers and the lady took them and said you are signed up for school. No more "Gennie"; now you're Genesis. I had to tell them if you had allergies and sign the permanent permission slip for you to go on field trips. And I had to come back with you to have your photo taken for the teacher's file. And I don't care if your dad laughed at me for taking this camera-phone picture: "Oh my gosh, you are NOT taking a picture of her getting her picture taken, are you? You're such a mom." (He was kidding, especially when I gave him the greasy eye and told him to shut it.)

You are such a big girl now, not my little side-kick anymore. I don't have to buckle your seatbelt anymore and you can see over the handle of the shopping cart enough to push it now. You pick out your own clothes and do your own hair. You are going to make your own friends and have your own secrets. You are going to learn and discover and grow all on your own, away from me. And maybe by September I'll be okay with all this.

But I don't think so.

easter

So, as promised, here's a taste of our Easter. We had the usual potluck breakfast at church - Kev lives for that each year, along with the Thanksgiving dinner and pretty much any other potluck supper at church - then the kids got to do the Egg Hunt in the parking lot. This year we had a bunch of kids running around and it was great!

The hardest part was keeping Josiah out of the eggs before they were hidden - he found them in the church kitchen and was just sure he could get them all open and cleaned out before we noticed. We tried to put more than just candy in them; some had erasers and some had stickers (which happen to be Josiah's favorite thing at the moment). Then after church we went home for a snack and a nap before Easter supper with Grandma and Grandaddy. When they got up from napping we let them go thru their easter baskets.Gennie loves Barbies and all things princess-y these days so hers was full accordingly - complete with a pair of princess sunglasses which she has barely taken off her face since then. Josiah is beyond obsessed with vaccuum cleaners . . . and anything you can push around while making the vaccuum sound . . . so he got a wagon (which he calls My Back-oom) and a helicopter and a plane. And yes, all his toys with wheels make the vaccuum sound, except for the cars which make a humming sound ending with a high-pitched squeal at the end when they screech to a stop. All boy.

Anyway, we had a great Easter! Hope you all did, too!

easter

Just a quick family photo for you. More easter to come once I finish up some photoshopping and *sniff sniff* registering Gennie for Kindergarten.

Just breathe, Amy, just breathe. You knew she was going to start school someday.