I CAN do this thing, right ?

So as if my week wasnt going to be crazy enough playing the 'single parent' while Randys on a business trip for a few days add to it the following... Camden is sick, like fever, achy, miserable, sick. Kyle is under the weather but not near as bad. And now, you'll love this part, *I* have a temp also ! Its only 100.1 and I hope it stays that way, but COME ON !! I work 5 days this week. Have to hold down the fort. Address homework issues, thankfully I have a few people on stand by because as I said on my FB I may be "Smarter Than A Fifth Grader" but I'm not smarter than my 8th graders homework not to mention my 10th grader that has 11th grade classes ! lol SO to my self, heres the deal... We are gonna work together, you are gonna get better ASAP and have a Can.Do. attitude !! You hear me ? OK dont shake your head at me, I know each and every one of you have given your self a pep talk at one time or another. *I* was just brave (or craZay) enough to post it. LOL I may FEEL like THIS

at times and by the end of the week I may LOOK like this

but in between those times I promise my self and my wonderful family to focus on doing THIS

... Stay tuned this promises to be a very 'special' week !

One of my PlayLists...Hope you enjoy a few of my favorite songs/music !

About me...

Some things you should know about me...
I like to use this ... A LOT.
I love all things purple.
I am addicted to ice, like I eat 44oz cups of it daily. (seriously)
I wear blue mascara and I Rock.It.Out.
I love my family.
My kids are my life and off limits .. mess with them and well, dont do it and you wont have to worry !
My goal each day is that as I go to sleep at night I can look back and say "Yes, I did the best I could."
If said goal does not happen then I FORGIVE my self and commit to start a new in the morning.
I have THE best husband in the world, not even kidding.
I have THE best Mom this world has ever known, again totally serious.
I have wanted to start a blog for months now, but it utterly intimidates me.
I am afraid no one will follow said blog or like it. (pitiful but honest)
I like the TV series The Walking Dead... There I said it, dont judge me !  lol
One of my favorite songs is "Now We Are Free" by Lisa Gerrard and I could listen to it all day ever day, and I have, just ask Randy.
I love all genres of movies but REALLY enjoy ones like Gladiator, Braveheart, Troy, Alexander, and Kingdom of Heaven.  Not because of the violence and war, but for the love stories in them and because I admire those that went before us and fought for something they believed in...  
I believe that 'to have a friend you must BE a friend' and I'm still working on this.
I think one of the number one things we parents need to instill in our children is to simply do the best they can, always.
I believe if we set the bar high for our children that they WILL deliver, all we have to do is believe in them.
I love it when my daughter says "Lets Do This Thing" I admire her and want to be like her when I grow up.
My Kyle is my Son-Shine, he makes me smile.
My Camden is an Old Soul and he makes me happy.
Randy is our rock.
We may not agree on everything but our number one goal is Making Memories for and with our children.  Though we can not spoil them with 'things' I think we do a pretty good job finding ways to show them we love them.
I love black and white photos, especially of buildings and random things.
I take too many pictures.
I strive to find the positive in EVERY situation.
I dont laugh enough, but I'm working on this.
I believe in CHOICES... like, its a CHOICE to be happy.
I believe in second chances, and sometimes a third and a fourth...
I LOVE the sound of my children laughing.
I am NOT perfect, and Do.Not.Want.To.Be.
I am... Courtney Michelle's Mom
I am... Kyle Randal's Mom
I am... Camden Chadwick James' Mom
I am... A wife, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend... and somewhere in all of that I am ME, just like YOU, doing the best I can to make this one life I was given count for something.
Please, walk with me on this journey...

A Tribute to my Mom

So here I sit feeling slightly 'special' as I browse around trying to make heads or tails of this "blogging thing." BUT I was challenged today to make this and I said "I'll have it up and running by tonight" so here it is.  I keep my promises !

For now I will address the name of my blog "Making KoDaK Moments."  

How did I chose this title you may wonder ?  Well its thanks to my amaZing Mom (Donna Livasy) and over the years I have made this my life's mission.  

When I used to get frustrated by the demands of having 3 small children, just every day mundane 'stuff' my Mom was ALWAYS there to encourage me and pick me up.  

One day she just looked at me and said "Well, Tiff you can always CHOOSE to turn these situations into KoDaK Moments, or you can CHOOSE to keep letting them get to you."  Or thats how I remember it anyway.  :p  

And sure enough I slowly caught on to making the most of even the worst of things that happen into Kodak Moments.

Like when on a family vacation for example... Picture hot, humid weather, sweaty, sticky, tired, cranky children all three age FOUR and under, two stressed out parents, and a wonderful loving Grandma out touring the streets of Virgina Beach.  

three

When all of a sudden one of those three precious children, suffering from the heat index, gets sick.  

We're not talking just any sick, we are talking projectile, exorcist style head spinning, puke fest.  

On me, Randy, Courtney, Camden, the stroller, his clothes, the ground... you name it he(Kyle)covered it. In that moment, though I knew he didnt do this to me on purpose, and my heart was hurting for my baby because well, he was sick,I'll be honest I.Was.Not.Happy.  We started reaching for wipes, extra clothing, bibs, spare sox, anything we could get our hands on to clean the mess.  

I looked to my mom for help and see her doing the most unconscionable thing ~ she was taking a picture of this mess and to make it worse she was SMILING.  

My first thought was 'how dare you, do you not SEE what I'm dealing with' but instead I said (quite lovingly I'm sure) "MOM this isnt the time to snap pictures we need help."  And she said "Oh but it is, I'm taking a picture of this "Kodak Moment."  

I wish I could say that at that moment I 'got it' but I wont lie, I was irritated as heck with her.  Of course after her photo op that seemed to last a life time, she came and calmly took care of Kyle, and helped with the mess.  All the while smiling her 'I have inner peace' smile while, I was still fuming, which of course, made me even more irritated.  

I am here to tell you however, that not only did I survive that ordeal (and you'll be happy to know that my Mom survived to hehe) but I made it through MANY more trials, and testing situations.  

My mom was right there with me through them, be it literally, or on the phone, instilling in me that whisper of This To Shall Pass and it IS a Kodak Moment.   

She is and will always be my number one Balcony Person.  (if you haven't read this book yet I highly recommend it)  In other words shes my personal cheerleader...

Now, years later, those same kids that I thought would NEVER grow up are growing SO fast (another thing my Mom warned me about) almost too fast... but not fast enough that I cant with the flash of a shutter, catch glimpses and pieces of all the wonderful memories they have given me, and that we have created together. 

So I guess I said all this to say, I dedicate this, my first blog post to my Mom ~ with out her I would still be fuming at 'those' moments and I'd be missing out on the Joy, just pure Joy, of living in the moment, going with the flow, and yes, snapping away at those Kodak Moments, one beloved puke fest at a time...  Dont be afraid to just MAKE your own K.M.'s ~ in fact I encourage and challenge you to do so.  You will thank me one day, just as I thanked my Mom ~ Trust me on this.

I love you Mom, I hope you know you mean the world to me ~ and this little family would NOT be the strong bonded unit we have become with out YOU !!!