Note to self

Dear Anna Marie,
I know each time you attempt to leave the house it is pure chaos. After you've made yourself presentable, dressed Josie in a smashing outfit, and found both of Max's shoes - one in his locker and one in the toy box - you must be certain you have everything ready for your little outing. Do you have your returns and your grocery list? Check. Do you have your reusable grocery sacks? Check. Do you have a diaper, wipes, and a bottle for Josie? Check. Do you have a toy to entertain her in the car seat? Check. Do you have Josie? Check. Do you have your keys, sunglasses, purse, and iPhone? Check. Oh, the battery is almost dead on the phone...better run and get the car charger. Check. Did you make sure Max is NOT bringing his favorite hotwheels? Because if he sneaks them out of the house, they usually end up zooming across the smooth linoleum shop floor, under some fixture, never to be retrieved and thus leading to a meltdown. Check. Okay, I know this can be a little overwhelming at times. The brain space to keep track of all these "things" seems to be diminishing by the day. However, I have a request of one more item for you to remember to bring on your daily outings: your camera. You'll thank me when you find an absolutely stunning red and blue building as you are driving one block from the train tracks (that's another story for another day) and you know it would make a killer backdrop. If you do remember your camera, you'll be prepared for an unforgettable impromptu photo session. (You always have the best subjects; that is if you've remembered to bring them both.) So next time, with your camera bag in tow, you won't have to use your dinky 2 mega pixel iPhone camera to capture what could have been a stellar shot.

-amr