If you know me, you know my brain doesn't work in an organized fashion. I enjoy the concept of organization and I'm capable of maintaining simple organization...but ask me to make a daily plan or stick to a routine or come up with a organizational system and I'm at a loss.
So, you can imagine, chore charts have not been a part of my children's lives. I've tried many, many different charts. Written charts, sticker charts, magnetic charts, moving a paper from one side to another, computerized charts...nothing has stuck.
But then one of my MOFs mentioned an idea that I thought was brilliant. She makes "media bucks" for her kids. They earn a media buck for exercising and something else that I don't remember. Each buck was worth 30 mins of computer/TV/video game time. So I thought "I can do that" and talked to Dave about it and he created some physical media bucks and we started it.
Turns out...keeping track of those little paper dollars and who had how many and how to earn them was outside the realms of my organizational abilities.
So then Dave took over and revamped it in such a way that I'm capable of keeping it up. All I have to do is go to the webpage he made and add the amount they earn. If they want to use one, I click use. If they lose any for bad behavior, I click minus. They also have the option of trading them in for money or prizes which cuts down on their media time.
The best part is when I want extra chores done I can just offer X media bucks and I have eager kids ready for chores! It's amazing! And I've actually kept it going for a while now. I'm kinda amazed at myself. :) Not to mention, I'm sitting here blogging while one kid cleans the kitchen, another is folding laundry and a third is cleaning the playroom. Yay for cheap labor!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Clara and the binky...
Despite my attempts to force a binky on all of my children at one point or another, not a single one of them has succumbed. They all made it through their infant and toddler years without any sort of binky dependence.
Until now.
Clara has been the baby for a couple years. Not just the baby of our family, but the baby of the extended families on both sides. Apparently, she was aware of this fact and quite liked it.
About 6 months ago my brother had a baby. They live in a different town than us so Clara didn't have much interaction with her new cousin. But when my sister had a baby a few weeks ago and we went to visit, Clara realized there were TWO new babies and she was a little perturbed.
At one point she gave Ethan his first bonk on the head by a kid bigger than him, then later after he had played in his exersaucer for a while, Clara wanted in. So I went ahead and put her in and she flopped down in it and said "I'M THE BABY!"
I laughed at her and life went on.
Then I weaned her which she was a total champ about. I told her, her 'nurns' (that's how she said nurse) were all gone and she was like "oh...ok" and never nursed again. Easy. Painful for me...but easy.
So we've been watching my other sisters daughter and my friends kids on a fairly regular basis and Clara sees that her best friends have binkies. She apparently processed this for a while and one day refuses to go sleep without her binky. The top of an old bottle that I cut to make it easier for her to drink smoothies out of.
(side note...took this pic with my fun new hisptamatic iphone app)
THEN...she came across her old binky that has been floating around her room for the last year. It was more of a toy than anything else but she knew what it was and was like "MY BINKY!" That night I let her use that one instead of the bottle and apparently she liked it better. She now refuses to lay down without her "rabbit binky" (I think that means 'regular binky') and I officially have a 2 yr old that thinks she needs a binky. Right at the time that, had she taken a binky as an infant, I'd be trying to take it away. Yippee.
Until now.
Clara has been the baby for a couple years. Not just the baby of our family, but the baby of the extended families on both sides. Apparently, she was aware of this fact and quite liked it.
About 6 months ago my brother had a baby. They live in a different town than us so Clara didn't have much interaction with her new cousin. But when my sister had a baby a few weeks ago and we went to visit, Clara realized there were TWO new babies and she was a little perturbed.
At one point she gave Ethan his first bonk on the head by a kid bigger than him, then later after he had played in his exersaucer for a while, Clara wanted in. So I went ahead and put her in and she flopped down in it and said "I'M THE BABY!"
I laughed at her and life went on.
Then I weaned her which she was a total champ about. I told her, her 'nurns' (that's how she said nurse) were all gone and she was like "oh...ok" and never nursed again. Easy. Painful for me...but easy.
So we've been watching my other sisters daughter and my friends kids on a fairly regular basis and Clara sees that her best friends have binkies. She apparently processed this for a while and one day refuses to go sleep without her binky. The top of an old bottle that I cut to make it easier for her to drink smoothies out of.
(side note...took this pic with my fun new hisptamatic iphone app)
THEN...she came across her old binky that has been floating around her room for the last year. It was more of a toy than anything else but she knew what it was and was like "MY BINKY!" That night I let her use that one instead of the bottle and apparently she liked it better. She now refuses to lay down without her "rabbit binky" (I think that means 'regular binky') and I officially have a 2 yr old that thinks she needs a binky. Right at the time that, had she taken a binky as an infant, I'd be trying to take it away. Yippee.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
St Patty's Day
This is currently taped to my front door.
One of my kids is terrified of leprechauns. And usually on St. Patty's Day, the leprechauns come and play jokes/pranks around the house, trailing chocolate gold coins as they go. But they've been banned tomorrow.
I wonder if they'll leave in a huff or be nice and leave some chocolate coins on the front porch?
One of my kids is terrified of leprechauns. And usually on St. Patty's Day, the leprechauns come and play jokes/pranks around the house, trailing chocolate gold coins as they go. But they've been banned tomorrow.
I wonder if they'll leave in a huff or be nice and leave some chocolate coins on the front porch?
Monday, March 08, 2010
Karma?
I started a blog about happiness today. It was about having a positive attitude and putting a positive spin on anything. It was sounding too preachy so I ditched it. I continued to think about it though.
Then I was putting away my groceries and I opened my garage door to go to the pantry. I took a step out and landed on a wire paint roller on the top step which spun out from under me and tossed me mercilessly to the cement floor. I grumbled, thought some naughty words and limped over to the pantry. I opened it and a container of oats fell out, hit me on the head and spilled all over.
That's when I decided to forego my sunshine and bubbles post for this one. If nothing else you can amuse yourself with the image. It was straight out of a physical comedy script, I'm sure.
Then I was putting away my groceries and I opened my garage door to go to the pantry. I took a step out and landed on a wire paint roller on the top step which spun out from under me and tossed me mercilessly to the cement floor. I grumbled, thought some naughty words and limped over to the pantry. I opened it and a container of oats fell out, hit me on the head and spilled all over.
That's when I decided to forego my sunshine and bubbles post for this one. If nothing else you can amuse yourself with the image. It was straight out of a physical comedy script, I'm sure.
Friday, March 05, 2010
Observations by Gabe
"Mom, did you know everything is made in China? Except maybe bean bags."
"Mom, did you know all red boxes are stuffed full of DVD's? I wish I had a red box."
And some answers to some questions my cousin asked him for her child development class...
1) Where do the stars go during the day?
Maybe in a house. Maybe somebody bought a house for the stars to go in. They stay in there until tomorrow.
2) Why is the sky blue when it's sunny outside?
His first answer was "just because" but I pressed him for more specifics and he said this... Maybe after night time and the stars go in their house and somebody closes the door so it's very sunny out. Maybe that's the thing. Oh! Maybe first the stars color the sun and the sky and the clouds before they go in their house. Maybe.
3) Where does dirt come from and what makes it?
Well if it's still the first day then the stars just color it too. Oh and worms just crawl around in the dirt.
------------------------------------------------
PS...this was my 500th blog post. I hereby repent of my blogging absence and will return forthwith.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
An amazing night
I need to record this and I doubt I can do it justice but I'm going to try anyway.
This weekend was stake conference. To start with, I think I live in the best ward which is in the best stake with the best stake president. I've never felt so included and loved and acknowledged as I do here. (I'll be coming back to that acknowledgement thing later).
So last night was the adult session of stake conference. I don't normally go to that. I'd only been to that session once before. I wasn't really planning on going but then I found out my good friend would be speaking so I asked Rachel to come over and watch the kids so we could be there.
I'm so glad I did.
The theme was "one by one." Or how has the hand of the Lord been present in your life in an individual way?
It began with a member of the stake presidency speaking of a recent talk by Elder Eyring where Elder Eyring spoke of being led by the spirit to write down the instances EACH DAY where he felt the hand of the Lord in his life. Small but significant moments that we all have but often don't recognize if we're not paying attention.
The next 4 speakers were members of the stake. All of whom struggled in some way with some major trials. One was a new member who overcame a gambling addiction, one was a young mother whose husband is currently on assignment in Afghanistan, one was a man who lost several people close to him to death and one was a woman who spent a couple years in prison because she caused a fatal car accident. All of them spoke of the way the Lord carried them and taught them and helped them or is helping them through these trials. Not only that, the way they were blessed because of these experiences.
I can't begin to describe the way the spirit filled the room as these people shared their testimonies of the Lord's love for them, personally. Their was no question in my mind that they all understood what Nephi meant when he said that although he doesn't know the meaning of all things, he knows that God loves his children.
So then the stake president stood up and read 3 Ne. 11: 15 "And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come."
He focused on the phrase "one by one." He asked us why it was important for each individual person to feel and see the prints of the nails in the Saviors body. Then he asked us for examples of how we have come to know the Savior individually. How has He manifested Himself unto us? How have we felt his wounds? He then had a couple guys stand up with microphones and opened the meeting to discussion.
The presence of the spirit only magnified from there as my brothers and sisters in the gospel shared the times in their lives that the Savior has carried them. The times they've come to know him and understand the atonement for themselves. The stories they shared were often tragic but laced with hope for the eternal blessings of the temple. Some were outright miracles and some were instances of the still, small, voice at work in our daily life and daily blessings.
I was left pondering my own life and thinking about when it was that I came to know the Savior and appreciate his atonement. It's still at the forefront of my mind as I attempt to put all the feelings and thoughts together cohesively. So far this is what I've come up with.
1. There's so much power in just recognizing the hand of the Lord. I've vowed to recognize and record those instances going forward.
2. I had (and have) an overwhelming love for my friends/brothers/sisters/leaders both in attendance at stake conference and those who weren't. A desire to acknowledge them (told you I'd come back to it) because all anybody needs is to be loved, noticed, acknowledged, understood and validated.
3. I got to thinking about when it was that I felt the Savior's wounds and the atonement became real to me. There was a moment, over 5 years ago now, when I miscarried a baby that I realized the Savior bled for me and all of us and I suddenly knew that He knew what it felt like to bleed for a child and then lose that child. Yet I felt comforted to know that because He did that we are able to have the fullness of the gospel and I wasn't losing my baby forever.
Finally, I'm just so full of gratitude and aware of how blessed I truly am. I hope I can hold onto this feeling indefinitely.
This weekend was stake conference. To start with, I think I live in the best ward which is in the best stake with the best stake president. I've never felt so included and loved and acknowledged as I do here. (I'll be coming back to that acknowledgement thing later).
So last night was the adult session of stake conference. I don't normally go to that. I'd only been to that session once before. I wasn't really planning on going but then I found out my good friend would be speaking so I asked Rachel to come over and watch the kids so we could be there.
I'm so glad I did.
The theme was "one by one." Or how has the hand of the Lord been present in your life in an individual way?
It began with a member of the stake presidency speaking of a recent talk by Elder Eyring where Elder Eyring spoke of being led by the spirit to write down the instances EACH DAY where he felt the hand of the Lord in his life. Small but significant moments that we all have but often don't recognize if we're not paying attention.
The next 4 speakers were members of the stake. All of whom struggled in some way with some major trials. One was a new member who overcame a gambling addiction, one was a young mother whose husband is currently on assignment in Afghanistan, one was a man who lost several people close to him to death and one was a woman who spent a couple years in prison because she caused a fatal car accident. All of them spoke of the way the Lord carried them and taught them and helped them or is helping them through these trials. Not only that, the way they were blessed because of these experiences.
I can't begin to describe the way the spirit filled the room as these people shared their testimonies of the Lord's love for them, personally. Their was no question in my mind that they all understood what Nephi meant when he said that although he doesn't know the meaning of all things, he knows that God loves his children.
So then the stake president stood up and read 3 Ne. 11: 15 "And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come."
He focused on the phrase "one by one." He asked us why it was important for each individual person to feel and see the prints of the nails in the Saviors body. Then he asked us for examples of how we have come to know the Savior individually. How has He manifested Himself unto us? How have we felt his wounds? He then had a couple guys stand up with microphones and opened the meeting to discussion.
The presence of the spirit only magnified from there as my brothers and sisters in the gospel shared the times in their lives that the Savior has carried them. The times they've come to know him and understand the atonement for themselves. The stories they shared were often tragic but laced with hope for the eternal blessings of the temple. Some were outright miracles and some were instances of the still, small, voice at work in our daily life and daily blessings.
I was left pondering my own life and thinking about when it was that I came to know the Savior and appreciate his atonement. It's still at the forefront of my mind as I attempt to put all the feelings and thoughts together cohesively. So far this is what I've come up with.
1. There's so much power in just recognizing the hand of the Lord. I've vowed to recognize and record those instances going forward.
2. I had (and have) an overwhelming love for my friends/brothers/sisters/leaders both in attendance at stake conference and those who weren't. A desire to acknowledge them (told you I'd come back to it) because all anybody needs is to be loved, noticed, acknowledged, understood and validated.
3. I got to thinking about when it was that I felt the Savior's wounds and the atonement became real to me. There was a moment, over 5 years ago now, when I miscarried a baby that I realized the Savior bled for me and all of us and I suddenly knew that He knew what it felt like to bleed for a child and then lose that child. Yet I felt comforted to know that because He did that we are able to have the fullness of the gospel and I wasn't losing my baby forever.
Finally, I'm just so full of gratitude and aware of how blessed I truly am. I hope I can hold onto this feeling indefinitely.
Friday, January 15, 2010
No time to blog...
Sorry about that! I'm going to try to be better. I still need to go back and do some big ones from last year. Good thing blogger has that thing where you can back date entries. lol. But in the meantime. Just had to record this one for posterity...
We just got home from kindermusik and Gabe was sitting in his carseat with a glazed look on his face, looking straight ahead with his mouth open in an 'o'. I stared at him for a while with no response. I spoke to him with no response. I tapped his leg and asked what he was doing and he suddenly starts giggling and says "oh, I was pretending to be a sticker." I'm thinking it's a good thing I signed him up for classes at the local theater.
We just got home from kindermusik and Gabe was sitting in his carseat with a glazed look on his face, looking straight ahead with his mouth open in an 'o'. I stared at him for a while with no response. I spoke to him with no response. I tapped his leg and asked what he was doing and he suddenly starts giggling and says "oh, I was pretending to be a sticker." I'm thinking it's a good thing I signed him up for classes at the local theater.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Check out the contest on my photography blog!
Bad news...for some reason the comments disappeared and I need everyone to comment again if you want to be entered. This time I'll save them on my computer as they come in. ugh.
You might be in it! And even if you're not you could win a free shoot!
http://mistyalger.com/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=12&entry=entry091231-214718
You might be in it! And even if you're not you could win a free shoot!
http://mistyalger.com/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=12&entry=entry091231-214718
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
This years Christmas Letter/card
I'm feeling pretty on top of things this year. Got my cards and letters mailed out already. For those of you that didn't heed the call for addresses, you get to see it here.
December 14, 2009
Dear Everybody,
I'm not sure how I got stuck with this job. Something about me being the youngest and having no responsibilities... I don't know what they're talking about. I'm super busy! I have to learn all sorts of important things. Like why is everyone so excited about that fat guy in the red suit? I get that he says ho-ho-ho. Everyone gets excited when I say it too. But why do they want me to sit on his lap?! The candy canes are nice but I'm not letting him hold me. No way. Besides, it's not like they just hand me to other strangers, what's so special about this one? I have other things to learn too. Talking in sentences, jumping, shapes, colors, sounds...I think I'm busier than the rest of my family put together. I am the only one that gets so exhausted that I need a nap every day. Oh, and don't forget I have to keep practicing the things I learn, too. I sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star 500 times a day. My mom loves it. She also loves my favorite game. It's kinda like hide and seek, except I hide things and then Mom has to find them. My favorite place to hide things is in the trash can. It's so funny when she looks in there. But I know she loves it 'cause she tells me. She takes a big deep breath and says "oh, Clara, I love this game."
Anyway, Mom says I have to talk about everybody in this thing so here goes...
Daddy leaves every day. He gives me a big hug and I say bye bye and he says he wishes he could stay with me but he has to go to work. It's my favorite when he comes home. I hear the garage door open and run to the door to wait for him.
Mama stays home with me. Most days I take pretty good care of mom while dad is at work. Sometimes she takes me to my friends house so that she can help at Nathan and Aria's school. Mama takes *lots* of pictures, too. I'm her very best model. When people come over for pictures I hurry over and pose in front of the camera to show them how it's done.
My big brother Nathan turned 8 and got baptized this year. He goes to school a lot, even to an extra school once a week where he learns about knights and castles and how to say things in Latin and count using Roman numerals. He's in third grade. When he's not at school or doing homework, he's at karate. His belt is green. I like to watch him do nun-chucks.
I went on a date with my mom and my big sister, Aria, today. It's almost her birthday and she'll be 7. I have the best big sister, she plays with me, reads me stories and draws pictures for me. She goes to school too. First grade. She played soccer this year. I went to a lot of games. They were cold.
My brother Gabe is my best friend. He plays with me all day while Nathan and Aria are at school. He's so funny and he has good ideas of things to do. Mom doesn't always think they're good ideas, though. He's 4, he reads stories to me and our favorite show is Yo Gabba Gabba. He also played soccer this year.
Love, Clara (age 1)
PS...MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! WE LOVE YOU!
December 14, 2009
Dear Everybody,
I'm not sure how I got stuck with this job. Something about me being the youngest and having no responsibilities... I don't know what they're talking about. I'm super busy! I have to learn all sorts of important things. Like why is everyone so excited about that fat guy in the red suit? I get that he says ho-ho-ho. Everyone gets excited when I say it too. But why do they want me to sit on his lap?! The candy canes are nice but I'm not letting him hold me. No way. Besides, it's not like they just hand me to other strangers, what's so special about this one? I have other things to learn too. Talking in sentences, jumping, shapes, colors, sounds...I think I'm busier than the rest of my family put together. I am the only one that gets so exhausted that I need a nap every day. Oh, and don't forget I have to keep practicing the things I learn, too. I sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star 500 times a day. My mom loves it. She also loves my favorite game. It's kinda like hide and seek, except I hide things and then Mom has to find them. My favorite place to hide things is in the trash can. It's so funny when she looks in there. But I know she loves it 'cause she tells me. She takes a big deep breath and says "oh, Clara, I love this game."
Anyway, Mom says I have to talk about everybody in this thing so here goes...
Daddy leaves every day. He gives me a big hug and I say bye bye and he says he wishes he could stay with me but he has to go to work. It's my favorite when he comes home. I hear the garage door open and run to the door to wait for him.
Mama stays home with me. Most days I take pretty good care of mom while dad is at work. Sometimes she takes me to my friends house so that she can help at Nathan and Aria's school. Mama takes *lots* of pictures, too. I'm her very best model. When people come over for pictures I hurry over and pose in front of the camera to show them how it's done.
My big brother Nathan turned 8 and got baptized this year. He goes to school a lot, even to an extra school once a week where he learns about knights and castles and how to say things in Latin and count using Roman numerals. He's in third grade. When he's not at school or doing homework, he's at karate. His belt is green. I like to watch him do nun-chucks.
I went on a date with my mom and my big sister, Aria, today. It's almost her birthday and she'll be 7. I have the best big sister, she plays with me, reads me stories and draws pictures for me. She goes to school too. First grade. She played soccer this year. I went to a lot of games. They were cold.
My brother Gabe is my best friend. He plays with me all day while Nathan and Aria are at school. He's so funny and he has good ideas of things to do. Mom doesn't always think they're good ideas, though. He's 4, he reads stories to me and our favorite show is Yo Gabba Gabba. He also played soccer this year.
Love, Clara (age 1)
PS...MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! WE LOVE YOU!
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Christmas has begun!
We went out in the cold today to cut down a tree and visit Santa. I've been really looking forward to doing this and it was so fun! On the way out we even saw a huge herd of
We got to the tree farm and began our search. Nathan and Aria both wanted to hold the saw. Nathan got it first.
The kids loved all the teensy little trees.
Aria is so pretty.
Looking, looking...
Gabe liked this one because it had so much room for presents underneath.
The kids all took turns cutting.
Dave hauled it back for us. Aria took her turn carrying the saw.
They put all the trees on this machine that shakes them down and gets all the dead needles/debris out of the trees. This is the pile of nests that had fallen out.
Then it was off to Santa. Clara was not impressed.
We ran into Rachel, Sean and Mae at Harvest House so they came back with us to see Santa again. (they had been leaving when we got there.) Mae did good with her first visit to Santa but the second one with my kids wasn't quite so good. As we were leaving she said "I cried with Clara."
Then it was home to decorate. I love how it fills the whole bay window. This is my favorite tree so far. Except maybe for the Charlie Brown tree we had our first year of marriage.
Clara spent the whole time yanking the ornaments off the tree.
But when it was all said and done she was amazed.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
I was just reviewing Nathan's homework
It's a sheet about silent letters. At the end it says
"I need to be careful when I write words with silent letters because..."
His answer was
"I migt forget silent letters. P.S. Did you notice I missed a silent letter? (turn over for answer.)" and the back says...
"Answer: migt should be might."
I love my kid.
"I need to be careful when I write words with silent letters because..."
His answer was
"I migt forget silent letters. P.S. Did you notice I missed a silent letter? (turn over for answer.)" and the back says...
"Answer: migt should be might."
I love my kid.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Gratitude again
Last year I was doing a month of Gratitude in November. I think it lasted 5 days or something. I've been doing it on Facebook though this year and figured I might as well put them here too. So...so far.
1. I'm grateful for the sun coming through my bedroom window and warming up a spot on my bed on a cold day so Clara and I can snuggle in the warm spot and she can giggle at the dust particles in the sun.
2. Today I'm grateful that my kids' great Uncle made an extensive family history database online for their Alger ancestory. Made it really easy for Nathan to find out exactly how he's related to John Hancock and King Edward IV for his Ancestor homework.
3. is thankful for both my Grandpa's, Dave's dad and all the other men and women that have served out country. I always think of the Title of Liberty... "In memory of our God, our religion, our freedom, and our peace, our wives and our children"
4. today I'm grateful for sun flare. (photography thing). Sun flare makes me happy.
5. is grateful for music. Specifically, my mom for making me stick with the piano, jazz band and jazz combo which taught me about improv, Mr. Simon, my history of American Music teacher in college, my cousin, Brian, for giving me my first Harry Connick Jr CD and all my bishops who've kept me in music callings at church for the last 12 yrs so I'll keep practicing and don't let it get swept aside in the busyness of life. Also, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr, George Gershwin, Louis Armstrong, Chris Botti and so many other great musicians whose music soothes my soul.
And this wasn't a gratitude update, but it made me laugh and I want it recorded for posterity. lol. This was yesterday morning, I was in bed...
Clara just came in my room, yelled hot dog! and threw a package of hotdogs at my head. I think maybe she's hungry.
1. I'm grateful for the sun coming through my bedroom window and warming up a spot on my bed on a cold day so Clara and I can snuggle in the warm spot and she can giggle at the dust particles in the sun.
2. Today I'm grateful that my kids' great Uncle made an extensive family history database online for their Alger ancestory. Made it really easy for Nathan to find out exactly how he's related to John Hancock and King Edward IV for his Ancestor homework.
3. is thankful for both my Grandpa's, Dave's dad and all the other men and women that have served out country. I always think of the Title of Liberty... "In memory of our God, our religion, our freedom, and our peace, our wives and our children"
4. today I'm grateful for sun flare. (photography thing). Sun flare makes me happy.
5. is grateful for music. Specifically, my mom for making me stick with the piano, jazz band and jazz combo which taught me about improv, Mr. Simon, my history of American Music teacher in college, my cousin, Brian, for giving me my first Harry Connick Jr CD and all my bishops who've kept me in music callings at church for the last 12 yrs so I'll keep practicing and don't let it get swept aside in the busyness of life. Also, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr, George Gershwin, Louis Armstrong, Chris Botti and so many other great musicians whose music soothes my soul.
And this wasn't a gratitude update, but it made me laugh and I want it recorded for posterity. lol. This was yesterday morning, I was in bed...
Clara just came in my room, yelled hot dog! and threw a package of hotdogs at my head. I think maybe she's hungry.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
A time of change!
For the last several years I've used this blog as both my personal blog and my business blog. It's time to separate them, though. I've been making some business changes. New name, new logo, new website and...new blog. The website isn't up yet but the blog is and I wanted to announce it over here so the people that come here will know where to go for pictures and specials and such.
I am offering a special for November and December. My biggest package + a Christmas Card for half off. So only $250 and you get all the pictures from your shoot. You can see the details here.
And my Christmas Cards that I'm offering for this year can be found here. There are a lot of fun ones and I'm especially excited about them because I designed all of these myself. :)
I'll post again when my new website is up.
I am offering a special for November and December. My biggest package + a Christmas Card for half off. So only $250 and you get all the pictures from your shoot. You can see the details here.
And my Christmas Cards that I'm offering for this year can be found here. There are a lot of fun ones and I'm especially excited about them because I designed all of these myself. :)
I'll post again when my new website is up.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Meet Goofy Gus
He was grown in my Mom's garden.
He's ginormous.
My kids gutted him and Dave carved him and they popped the pieces out.
Clara did a lot of this...
We call him Goofy Gus.
Happy Halloween!
He's ginormous.
My kids gutted him and Dave carved him and they popped the pieces out.
Clara did a lot of this...
We call him Goofy Gus.
Happy Halloween!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Halloween treats!
Gabe and I had some fun today. We've gotten goodies from the "Family Night Phantom" every monday this month and I wanted to do something fun when we went out to ding dong ditch people. So I thought to myself...who better than the queen of goodies? And I went to Bakerella's blog to find out how to make Cake Pops!
It was so fun that I think I'm going to do another batch for teachers and such on Thursday or Friday.
Scary ghosties. (I love the little guy in the upper left that's looking the wrong way). My edible pens that I bought did NOT work. Luckily I had some black gel frosting hanging around. It only worked for the ghosts though. The poor pumpkins had to be faceless.
I had Gabe dip apple bites into the leftover melted candy. (this whole project took several trips to several stores. I'm severely lacking in kitchen stuff...mostly because I rarely do things like this)
Happy kiddos!
Finished product. Got the little glass "bags" at the dollar tree.
It was so fun that I think I'm going to do another batch for teachers and such on Thursday or Friday.
Scary ghosties. (I love the little guy in the upper left that's looking the wrong way). My edible pens that I bought did NOT work. Luckily I had some black gel frosting hanging around. It only worked for the ghosts though. The poor pumpkins had to be faceless.
I had Gabe dip apple bites into the leftover melted candy. (this whole project took several trips to several stores. I'm severely lacking in kitchen stuff...mostly because I rarely do things like this)
Happy kiddos!
Finished product. Got the little glass "bags" at the dollar tree.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
These boots are made for walking!
Miss Clara got new boots and she loves them. It's just the cutest thing!
They totally helped her language skillz too. She was calling them "shwshwsh" (that's how she said shoes) for a while and then she went to "oosh" and now says "BOOTS" very clearly. lol.
I just adore that girl. Oh, she's in nursery now and a total star. No tears and she totally holds her own against the rougher kids.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
no color. no fun.
We're having super schizo weather this fall and it's no fun for a photographer.
In case you were wondering.
It's bouncing between freezing and quite warm and it's freaking the trees out apparently. I have a weeping cherry outside the window by my favorite reading chair. In the spring it's pretty with pink flowers and in the fall it's pretty with yellow leaves. Except not this fall. This fall the green leaves are just shriveling up into icky brown and blackness and dying WITHOUT CHANGING COLOR.
I keep doing all these shoots and all the pretty fall colors are not there.
And I don't like it. Not one bit.
In case you were wondering.
It's bouncing between freezing and quite warm and it's freaking the trees out apparently. I have a weeping cherry outside the window by my favorite reading chair. In the spring it's pretty with pink flowers and in the fall it's pretty with yellow leaves. Except not this fall. This fall the green leaves are just shriveling up into icky brown and blackness and dying WITHOUT CHANGING COLOR.
I keep doing all these shoots and all the pretty fall colors are not there.
And I don't like it. Not one bit.
The naughty word discussion
*disclaimer* There will be mild swearing in this post.
The other day Aria was rhyming in a sing song voice. "mitchin, litchin, ditchin, bitchin, mitchen, litchin, ditchin, bitchin." So, I mentioned to her that bitch is not a nice word and people use it to be mean to other people and she probably shouldn't say it.
Fast forward to today. Nathan said "Mom, what does faggot mean?" Dave said it means a bundle of sticks and I said that sometimes people take normal words and twist the meaning so it becomes a bad word and that faggot is a mean name to call people.
I told him it was just like when Aria said bitch and that it actually means a female dog, but that people use it in a mean way now. Which then ensued this discussion between Nathan and Aria and I dissolved into laughter.
Aria: But I didn't say bitch, I said ditch!
Nathan: Nuh-uh, it sounded like you said bitch.
Aria: No Nathan, I didn't say bitch!
I could see this going on indefinitely, with bitch being said in every sentence out of my sweet kids mouths, so I stopped them at this point. Then I laughed.
The other day Aria was rhyming in a sing song voice. "mitchin, litchin, ditchin, bitchin, mitchen, litchin, ditchin, bitchin." So, I mentioned to her that bitch is not a nice word and people use it to be mean to other people and she probably shouldn't say it.
Fast forward to today. Nathan said "Mom, what does faggot mean?" Dave said it means a bundle of sticks and I said that sometimes people take normal words and twist the meaning so it becomes a bad word and that faggot is a mean name to call people.
I told him it was just like when Aria said bitch and that it actually means a female dog, but that people use it in a mean way now. Which then ensued this discussion between Nathan and Aria and I dissolved into laughter.
Aria: But I didn't say bitch, I said ditch!
Nathan: Nuh-uh, it sounded like you said bitch.
Aria: No Nathan, I didn't say bitch!
I could see this going on indefinitely, with bitch being said in every sentence out of my sweet kids mouths, so I stopped them at this point. Then I laughed.
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