Too Funny And Yet Too True

Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!

Today, on this auspicious day, is my little girl's 3rd birthday. Today 3 years ago the most beautiful girl ever was born. She is a constant surprise and sometimes when I look at her I can't believe that I love her sooo much and we haven't known each other that long.


We celebrated her day on Saturday and I am so thankful for the family that came and helped us celebrate as well. Lydia was excited for her special day. Ever since Caleb had his birthday she has wanted it to be hers. Caleb received cards in the mail on his birthday and since then whenever she is with me when I get the mail she asks me "Is that my birthday?" It was a little heart breaking when I had to tell her no but one day we got the mail and there were two cards for her and she asked "Is that my birthday? Is that for me?" And I was happy to say "YES!"




I have to give Kevin a lot of thanks and the credit for the party. I had school that day from 10:30 until 4:00 and so he was home dealing with the kids and baking a cake (cuz he knew I was comin) and putting up decorations and just being a wonderful hubby and daddy.

Weekend Workings

Last weekend I was able to start and semi finish a project for Lydia's birthday.


I found this (along with Lydia's Christmas present) on the most beloved craig's list for a grand total of $20. I was very hesitant about painting it because well, I'm always afraid of painting something that has history. Notice the newspaper? Those were Black Friday ads. Ahhh, they served me well.

Here is the after:



I would have posted it sooner but with all of Lydia's internet surfing I couldn't chance that she would stumble upon my post and then ruin the surprise. I'm only thinking practically.

I Think I Need Blogaholics Annonymous

I'm not really one of those people who is the life of the party. (I know, it's shocking. With my winning personality? How could that be?) After saying that it almost goes without saying that I have few social contacts. (And now you are all completely disillusioned about me.) And so I have turned to blogs to take up my socially free calender. Blogs have replaced books during these school months. They are easy reads. They inspire me, make me laugh and cry, they give me ideas to pirate and take for myself (Lindsay, I've got my eye on those leg warmers). I read design blogs, about children blogs, friend's blogs, and photography blogs. Well I think that I have now gone overboard for now my total count of the blogs that I follow is . . .

Wait for it . . .

Wait for it . . .

145!!

Staggering and a little sad.

You may now pitty me, I give you permission.

Go Towards the Light!

I can see it. It's getting closer now. I can feel the freedom coming. Can you?

THE SEMESTER IS ALMOST OVER!!!!

I am sitting at the computer, obviously not doing homework, craving that feeling of having no looming homework due. Of course before I can get there I have to write a discussion for history, a paper for my ECE class, a 10 page research paper for history, pictures for my portfolio, pictures of night, pictures of lines, and make a cover for a food magazine.

Oh dang, the light just jumped back 55.784 feet.

I need a break, and soon. My teachers are great, they decided that having a break for Thanksgiving was over rated and that we were all sane enough to work straight through. Oh boy, do they not know me.

I'm really looking forward to getting my creativity back. I feel like it has been sucked dry, drained, vaporized, disintegrated, obliterated, okay I guess you get the picture. I need my creative juices back.

We didn't do anything terribly exciting for Thanksgiving. Kevin's lovely Aunt and Uncle had us over along with Kevin's parents, brother, sister, another uncle, and a cousin. Kevin had to work so we weren't able to stay very long. Lydia had a blast, she always does when there is family around.

On a totally unrelated note Lydia is now officially potty trained! Hooray!

I am getting really excited for Christmas because we are staying a whole week in Utah and I get to see my mommy and daddy and brothers and sisters. I love my family! Every single one of them. Well, except for . . . ha, gotcha! See? Creative juices. Gone. Ah, I'm pathetic.

My Thankfuls

-for my husband -for my chillens -for my family who loves me even though I'm me -for my Savior and My Father -for my faith -for my life -for raspberry filled doughnuts -for generosity and kindness -for a washer and dryer -for sharp knives -for sharp wit -for chances, firsts and seconds -for believing -for sales and coupons and clearance -for creativity -for modern medicine -for books -for my camera -for DIY -for post-it notes -for forgiveness -for favorite pens -for make-up (used in bucket loads) -for inspiration -for mentors -for forethought -for prophets -for teachers -for great teachers -for lists -for crying -for laughter -for happy

Happy Anniversary and Midnight Pie

To celebrate our wonderful 4 years of marriage I decided to surprise Kevin with midnight pie by candle light. How romantic! He had to work and he doesn't get home until the wee midnight hour. Of course this totally flies in the face of our 'wanting to go to bed at a reasonable hour' goal (we are night owls, at least I am, and Kevin just likes my company) but I figured that it was a special occasion and I reasoned my way out of going to bed at 10:00 . . . ish. On the menu:
1 lrg. supreme pizza pie
2 hostess cherry pies
and a little "mormon" bub lee

Since we've been married 4 years here are my four reasons why I married Kevin (I couldn't tell you why he married me because I haven't figured it out yet):

4. I knew that he was the ONLY man out there that could (or would) put up with all of my drama. And any man that found out that I was a nut bag and still wanted to marry me is the man for me.
3. Even though I complain about this one sometimes I still love it about him. He is a doer. Plain and simple, he has to be doing something and usually that something is helping. So even though there are times I wish he would just STOP and listen to Frankie, any man that is a doer is the man for me.
2. After an Institute activity one evening (while we were dating) we were helping to clean up and Kevin got the vacuum and started vacuuming. After a few minutes he pretended to get tangled in the cord and kept tripping over it and made a cute fool out of himself, all so he could see me smile. Any man that would go to so much trouble to make me exercise my face muscles is the man for me.
1. And I hope this is the most obvious one. Because I love him. I love him deeper than the ocean, wider than my thighs, stronger than the mountains, and harder than my head. Any man that can elicit this kind of love from me is the man for me.

Thank you for four amazingly fantastical, wonderful, enchanted, hilarious, maddening, lovable years. You are my one and only, you are my favorite and my best, you are the one who keeps me going, and I will never stop loving you.

I'm A Bully Like That

Today, Lydia got a hold of my purse and started rifling through it (looking for some green backs I've no doubt). She pulled out this little card that I'd forgotten that I had in there. I was given it while walking around Estes a month back. Some lady just walked up and handed me the card and wished me a happy day. I saw that she had a whole stack of them so I didn't think much of it and I threw it in my purse and (can you guess what I did?) I forgot about it (wow, you're good. how did you know I was going to say that?) So I took some time and sat down and read what it actually said . . .

and then . . .

I cried.

I know I come off as an emotionless cyborg but there is a heart in me . . . somewhere I'm sure.

Because I love and respect all of you ladies (and I only say ladies cause let's face it, what male is going to read this blog?) and because I'm a bully and I want to make you cry too I'd like to share these words with you.

Dear God,
The lady reading this
is beautiful, classy, &
strong and
I love her.
Help her live her life to
the fullest.
Please promote her and
cause her to excel above
expectations.
Help her to shine in
darkest places and love
where it is impossible to
love.
Protect her at all times,
lift her up when she needs
you the most and let her
know that when
she walks with you;
She will always be safe.

I Finally Figured It Out!

For the longest time I've admired a certain style of photography. I just think that it is so beautiful. It's not for everyone. It's called high key. I finally figured out how to edit my photos to fit this style. Here is an example:

Before

After

This is my first attempt. Now if I could only get this result SOOC (straight out of the camera).

Who Knew. . .

. . .that hitting the couch could be soooooooo hilarious?

Poser

This last weekend the kids and Kevin went out with me so I could get some pics for my Photog class and to scout out sites for future "shoots". We stopped at this abandoned cafe along the way and I was able to pop some shots of the kids. There is some focusing issues but I'm gonna work on it.

Passover

When the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians, Moses came to tell Pharaoh to "Let my people go!" When Pharaoh refused Moses, through the power of God, unleashed plague upon plague onto the people of Egypt. And even after all of the sufferings of his people Pharaoh still refused to "Let my people go!" With that last refusal came the last and final plague. The Angel of Death visited every house hold in Egypt to take the life of the first born. But for one loop hole; every household that slathered their doors with sacrificial lamb's blood the angel would pass by or Passover.

This is what I've been reduced to to keep the Angel of Death (the Vote Now or Die people) away from my door. Okay, so they don't really say that I will die if I don't vote and I am being overly dramatic when I call them "the Angel of Death" but they are rather annoying.



Every single day it's:
Knock knock knock (or worse) ding dong (this wakes up the kids.)
"Hi, I just wanted to encourage you to get out and vote and remind you to cast your vote on November 4th. Have you or do you plan on voting?" (One girl in particular had on a rather "colorful" shirt that told me to "Vote F*****" I'll let you venture a guess as to what it said.)
"Yes, we've voted already thanks."
"Has everyone in your house who is eligible voted?"
"Yes."
"Who did you vote for?"
"That's kind of personal." (I don't know you! Why on earth would I tell you who I voted for?)
"Oh, well I have some information on Obama if you'd like." (So far no McCain people have stopped by or any other candidate's people for that matter.)
"That's okay, thank you."
"Okay, bye."

BYE!

My New Best Friend

During my hiatus into paper he. . . Whoa! Was I really going to say that? Naw. Anyway, back to the point. While I was being distracted by school work I met my new best friend.


Yes, she is pretty isn't she. We met at Walmart of all places and for $12.99 we have formed a friendship that will endure for as long as she slices and dices.
I love my new friend. She cuts through everything very nicely. She cuts through everything like butter, no that's not right, like butta.
Apples - butta
Cantaloupe - butta
Ham Steak - butta
Raw Chicken - butta
My fingers - butta What? I was just too excited to use my knife and those stubby little digits got in my way.
Butter - well she cut through butter like margarine but that's close enough.
Of course I am sure that there are better knives out there. Based on some sage advice I was going to splurge for one of theses:
but with a difference of about $67 majolies I am very happy with my frugal friend.

Two Time's The Charm

The other day we started trying to get Lydia interested in the idea of potty training. She could really care less about it right now. So we did what any responsible, well meaning, parent would do. BRIBERY!! I'm not ashamed to admit that I routinely use this parenting technique, just don't tell anyone. Some may call it coercion but I say coerce away. Does that make me a bad parent? Oh well, I think we can all safely say I wasn't in the running for mother of the year anyways. So we (I) told her that if she went two times in one day then she would get a surprise.

And.......

RESULT!

Well, my Miss D tagged me in her blog post and so I decided to, duh, be tagged. I don't know why but this was a thinker for me. And now thanks to Miss D I am short a few brain cells, and I really really needed those.

I AM...too much and yet not enough.

I THINK...there for I am.

I KNOW...too much of the world.

I WANT...my body back.

I HAVE...more blessings than I deserve.

I WISH...I had more confidence to be myself around people.

I HATE...hate and destruction.

I MISS...my family so much that it hurts.

I FEAR...being forgotten.

I HURT...when others are alone.

I FEEL..., like D, an urgency to make myself better and be prepared.

I SMELL... No I don't, I showered today.

I SEARCH...the Internet for information, my soul for understanding, and the scriptures for wisdom.

I WONDER...if there is anyone funnier than D.

I REGRET...February-June of 2003 and that I'm not funnier than D.

I LOVE...(in no specific order) my honey, my chilens, my family, my camera, Photoshop, and you.

I ALWAYS...procrastinate.

I AM NOT...the brightest flower in the field.

I BELIEVE...I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky. I think about it every night and day, spread my wings and fly away.

I DANCE...when no one is looking and the blinds are shut and doors are locked, security is placed outside my door and the streets are closed.

I SING...to my chilens before bed.

I LIVE...with my family, duh.

I DON'T...know.

I WRITE...whatever pops into my mind, which could get rather disturbing. Have you been in there? I'm in there all the time and I can tell ya, not pretty.

I WIN...when my chilens play nicely together, whenever they give me kisses and loves, and when I find a bra that fits.

I NEED...a life overhaul, gumption, vigor, energy, motivation, chocolate, to not need chocolate, and my mommy.

I NEVER...know what I'm doing next.

I LISTEN...to KUNC.

I CAN USUALLY BE FOUND...on the computer doing my homework.

I AM SCARED...that I won't be prepared and that I won't be able to co-lead my family through hard times.

I READ...text books right now but other than that I find books on anything that I want to learn more about. I read Jane Austen, Chris Stewart, cook books, blogs (I counted I follow 106 blogs! I know, I'm crazy!), and Susan Evans McCloud.

I FOCUS...with a camera.

I DREAM...of living close to my family and having my children grow up being close to all of their cousins.

I AM HAPPY ABOUT...having a space heater blowing directly onto my cold tootsies.

!!Bubby's Birthday!!

Caleb had his number 1 first birthday Sunday. I can't believe that he is that old.

And now for your viewing pleasure, a bunch of pictures of a 1 year old.

First things first, the cake.
Don't worry, I'll turn away so you can giggle.

Go ahead it won't hurt my feelings. But if you hear a sniffle and a sob it's not that my feelings are hurt, no, it's just that I have a cold. Yeah, a cold, that's it.

. . .

Okay, are you done yet? Is it out of your system?

. . .

Serriously, it's not that funny is it? Can we move on please?

Now here he is wondering why we were shoving a big blue blob in front of him.

Oh so yummy! The blue blob is my friend!

This was my favorite present that Caleb received. My little ladies man. Thanks Aunt Shannon!

WE LOVE YOU, BUNCHES AND BUNCHES!

I've Returned from the Void

Yes, gentle readers I have just finished a very stressful, very annoying sojourn into crazy paper land and I have emerged semi victoriously. And while the news of me being BACK, (oh, did I forget to mention that?) is no where near as exciting as Lindsay's happy news it is exciting for me because it means I don't have to write another paper for at least a couple of weeks. And now I will leave you all jumping for joy and shouting hallelujahs and I will be back later today with a much more exciting post than this one. But really, how much more exciting can you get?

Figures.....

.....that exactly the same time that I am the most busy and hardly have a moment to think (unless it's about school or has to do with school or it is school), I have loads of posts that I am itchin' to get out. And so it is with a heavy heart that I am taking a hiatus from blogging. I know how many of you hang on my every word (eye roll......nervous laugh.....ugh, okay then) but never fear I will return with oodles and oodles of things to share. So as a great philosopher of our day once said "TTFN! Ta ta for now!"

Phew....I Need A Break

School is underway. Only two weeks have gone by and I already need a break. Oh goodness I'm in for a treat this semester. Anyone up for a spa day? Oh, wait that requires money. Maybe we can go down to the river and roll around in the mud; so soothing. Or maybe we can all track down a pigeon and hold it over our heads (you don't want to know).
I decided to take a full load this go round. I'm taking Photoshop I, Digital Photography, Early Childhood Education, and Colorado History. And you'll never guess which one is kicking my ever expanding posterior, it's the history. Can you believe it?
Well, it's time to buckle down and get some work done....that's due in....HOLY COW!! Did you realize it was 10:00 already? Why didn't you tell me?

Gotta go.....