All good things are wild and free

Another picture post. 

Today, my infamous nieces and nephews and I went to the park for a little while.

 Where I proceeded to 'borrow' (it's still in my possession- ha ha!) my sister's nice camera and take literally 260 pictures.

 It was on that continuous picture setting...and this kind of cuteness cannot be over photographed, let's be honest.

Oh saints above.

I've become one of those people.

Those weirdos who think everyone WANTS to look at 72 pictures of their children with accompanying stories. 

If it's this bad with my nieces and nephews, let's pray I never have my own:) 

Of course I couldn't catch both of them mid-air

The true relationship between siblings is revealed :) 

I love running pictures. I know it's cheesy but I can't stop.

Elly Bean in mid air

This is one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. 

They agreed to this one as long as I photoshopped in a creeper chasing them. Whatever that is. 

JUMPING!

Jack, expressing his feelings about being over photographed;) 

The rat- always with her hair in her eyes. Danielle tries so hard to keep it neat but it's nearly impossible

Aren't they beautiful? 

Don't we live in a beautiful place?

There are some things about my life that I wouldn't trade for any amount of money. 

Lori Ann

I know you want it

A few random things I've been meaning to put on my blog.

Yes. You know you love these kinds of posts!

This was the bruising below my dad's knee after his recent double knee replacement. I'm sure he won't mind that I'm posting his business on the Internet. 

My Halloween lights. *sigh* I love this time of year!

I have very few pictures of just me and my mom. I love this one.
(even with a lurking Elly bean in the background)

Fall sunsets are the best. Everything is the best in the fall.

Earlier in the month I tried to make German mac and cheese. I tip my hat to you, Germany.
(as I return to culinary safety of my boxed macaroni)  

The pink hair. I'm still in love with it. I think it makes my clients a little nervous:)

No post is complete without a picture of the Sugar cookie! We are both going to be witches for Halloween!!

Also, I just heard that song "Blurred Lines" today.
 (because I'm not young and hip anymore. Well, I'm still kinda hip, let's not lie to ourselves)

Anyway, I can't stop the "hey hey hey, cause your a goooooooood girl" from playing in my head.

 Over and over.

Thanks, Robin Thicke. And Miley- I blame you too.

 Lori Ann

Time will be sweet for thee

Things I would rather be doing at this moment instead of sitting in my office.

1. Watching "the Village". I know people say it's a 'lesser" M. Night Shyamalan movie but there is something about it I love. Maybe it's the fall in PA scenery or the early American life. It makes me feel like fall is magical and a little spooky. Also, Joaquin Phoenix.

2. Walking through the cold rain, listening to my tragic love songs play list. (the one my sister Erin calls 'the suicide mix')  I love the rain in fall. I tried to recapture this feeling by laying on my office floor between appointments and listening to "a little fall of rain". But it was not the same.

3. Laying on my parent's couch, covered by the really warm fur blanket thing they have, watching the news with my dad and the cats. Drinking hot chocolate. Sounds like heaven.

4.   Baking something. Something that smells like pumpkin or apple but tastes like new york cheesecake.

5. Anything, really. Anything but work today.

It's my long day too. I still have 5 1/2 hours to go.

And I'm almost out of tic-tacs.

Get here soon, weekend!!

Lori Ann

So what- I'm still a rock star

Ignore the fuzzy picture.

All that matters is the pink hair, baby!!

That is one of the twelve bucket list goals I hope to accomplish this year.

Next up..

Sleep under the stars on Halloween!!!

Lori Ann

I hope you don't mind

Jack Jack with Nana Terry and "her twin"

Today is a very important day.

It's the 11th birthday of the cutest baby ever born who has somehow turned into the handsomest, smartest young man I have ever met.

My nephew Jack.

He has changed all of our lives.

Jack, when you read this one day, I want you to know...

You are brilliant.

You are so sweet.

You are just like your dad in all of the good ways.

(And some of the 'debbie snack cake' ways too!)

You are a great leader for your siblings.

You taught me what it really means to love someone more than my own life.

I can't imagine what the future holds for you but I know you'll be amazing at whatever you do.

I can see you being an experimental chef, a video game maker, a stay at home dad to 6 crazy girls, a teacher- you could do anything you wanted.

I have loved every minute of the past 11 years. From clapping for you as a baby, to chasing you as a toddler, to creating secret clubs with you as a little guy, to now making youtube 'Chopped' videos with you as a young man.

I have a million memories that I will always cherish.

Thank you for being you. You are incredible and I thank God every day for bringing you into our family.

Love always,

Aunt Lori

Watching the tide roll away

Today I am 34. 

This blog is officially 4 years old.

I think the last 4 years have worn off the last of the child like excitement I used to feel surrounding my birthday.

It's kind of like an average day where people give me gifts. 

I think that is good for me. 

It's a sign (hopefully) of emotional maturity.

Anyway, here are my goals for 34.

1. Go to church every week for all 3 hours. 

(except Stake Conference which I consider a get out of church free card)

2. Get my Temple Recommend renewed. 

(Which means giving up the weed, younger men, and trips to Atlantic City, but I think I can do it:)

3. Exercise 5 days of the week- leading up to...

4. Walk the "Love" half marathon in Philadelphia on March 30th, 2014. Maybe run some of it- we'll see.

5. Do legitimate weekly service. (i.e.- not baking brownies for my dad)

6.  Do not wear my hair in a ponytail ONCE for the entire year.

  (I am wayyyyy too dependent on it- I need to learn to actually style my hair)

7. Give up all junk food- soda, candy, cake, any refined carbs and sugar. No exceptions.

8. Accomplish 12 items on my bucket list

(crossed off one today- adding a streak of pink to my hair!)

These are all self improvement goals. I usually fail at self improvement goals but I have a little momentum this year with some of these. 

I've started to see the benefits of some of them and I feel like that will help me get through the long, hard days when I want to give up.

If you've read this blog just for today, thank you.

If you've read every painful entry for the last four years, thank you.

I write mainly for myself and for my nieces and nephews to remember me and their childhood but I've appreciated every single supportive comment (and even the debates!)

Here's to another four glorious years of the infamous Spinster Chronicles.

(Although I fully anticipate that by then  it will be called "The I married an emotionally detached divorced man whose middle school aged children resent me just for the social status of not being a Spinster Chronicles") 

Lori Ann

p.s.- Thanks to my family for the...festive...gifts, the wonderful lunch, and for giving me the glory of having defeated an entire tableful of Monroes! 

It don't run in our blood

Another Random Picture Post from the kick off of my Birthday Weekend!!

You guys, a year ago today, I was here

Scariest license picture ever taken

Today I walked my first 5K. And not to be self congratulatory but  I could have kept going.

I was obsessed with getting a picture of my FIRST EVER shirt number thing. But I ended up looking like a perv taking multiple pics of the chest.

If you are considering a 5K, this one was tons of fun;) 

I did get kind of bored waiting for it to start. I arrived at least 2 hours early to get good parking. Hence the excessive number of weird selfies.

I was SO excited to cross this finish line. It's the first one I have ever crossed. 

We are having a heat wave here and I was sweating like I'd been in a sauna. That's for the sweating genes, Dad;) 

Other people looked cute and girly and sparkly at the end. I looked like I was getting moldy. 

My mom and nieces/nephews got me 130 balloons- one for every lb I've lost. (well, technically its 138 but I told my mom I forgave her for the missing 8 ballons:)  I've got a seriously amazing and supportive family. I thank God for them every day!!

Close up of Elly doing her now classic Elly jump!

My mom is so awesome. She always knows when I am kind of just hanging in there. I can't believe she spent 130 dollars on balloons. It meant the world to me though. 

Amazing.

All of this on Conference weekend. It's like the best weekend ever and  a great way to send out 33 and welcome year 34, baby!!

Next up on TSC- my goals for year 34. They are going to be very different from what I've done before.

Brace yourselves:)

Lori Ann