I got Jinxed!

I know it's a natural fact that as we get older, our bodies change. Now before your mind starts to wonder about what possible bodily functions I will be posting about today that you should possibly skip, rest assured that I will not be going into any depth whatsoever about anything of that nature. :)

With that being said however, I AM going to complain about what seems to be a natural phenomenon. Something like when my pediatrician tells me that teething and ear infections slash runny noses are not related. REALLY?!? Then why is it that EVERY TIME my kids were teething, these same symptoms occurred? Tell me that! This phenomenon I am about to mention was brought up to me by my sweet friend Rochelle who I love very dearly. (I bet you never thought you'd make topic on my blog:) It happens when one turns 35. And I just turned 35.

Are you laughing yet Rochelle??

And that is exactly the phenomenon- something happens when you turn 35. You put on a small amount of weight! I can't say I didn't entirely believe her, but since we are practically the same build, and she was even smaller than me when we were younger, the idea held more credibility...but she said that 35 started to be when she recognized that the weight didn't come off all that easy. At least like it used to....without much effort on either of our parts...okay, so we have really good gene pools to draw from. POINT BEING though, is that SHE WAS SO RIGHT!!! Rochelle, you were so right.

I put on 5 to 7 pounds. I can't admit to either of those numbers, can't AND won't, so it's left up to you to guess:) I'm noticing that my pants are tighter, I've got some random skin that is starting to pucker at my waist line, and the already saggy butt has taken on NEW DIMENSIONS.

But what's really sad is that I think I may actually need to start to WORK at keeping myself trim. I think I may have to start watching what I eat. (Not that I was a total piggy but I do like to eat. That's all I'm sayin:) And it's not as if I don't like to exercise, but I usually don't exercise to lose weight. Now nobody say "boo hoo to you," I know I got lucky with the DNA on the double helix.

Suffice it to say, I'm not super thrilled with this new found knowledge.

You will be happy to note though, that I am sparing you the picture of my derrier. I was thinking of asking opinions on the state of said derrier, but thought better of it. Tasha reminded me that I haven't posted anything for my "Quest with a Camera" posts so I was thinking I would kill two birds with one stone, but I don't think a picture of my derriere is worthy of the "Quest with a Camera" posts. And besides, I don't think I truly want to want to know anyone's opinion on my backside anyhow, and you CERTAINLY don't want to see THAT photo. And if I'm being honest, I think I am still in denial about the added poundage. The verdict is still out, and I will still probably have a piece of pizza at Winco whenever I go grocery shopping. I may still have the Urban fries at Jacks..though Tara and I usually split the order so that's really only half the calories right? I will still love IN N OUT burger and want to go by there occasionally after the gym...

OH.

I'm starting to see a pattern.

So maybe it's not turning 35???? Maybe it's what I'm eating? No...probably not. I used to eat worse when I was younger and never gained a pound.

Ah well, denial may be fun until I can't fit into my pants anymore. I need to take a page from Rochelle and get my derrier into the gym more than twice a week. It works for her cause she looks great!

Just so you know, I really WOULD NEVER POST A PICTURE OF MY BACKSIDE.

EVER.

Just so you know:)

Killing me Softly

It's a couple hours before kindergarten starts. Zak and I have just finished a couple pages of his homework, and I know we still need to go through his sight words and his alphabet...AND his numbers to 30. I'm also going through a list in my mind of everything I need from Costco, a Winco trip tomorrow, the whooping cough vaccine that both my girls need to get AGAIN since it's now california law, all the stuff I need to get them to tonight...and yet I'm not feeling super overwhelmed right now. I'm just sitting on the couch. Well, I'm sitting at the computer desk now, but still... I'm having a quiet moment. Zak is playing quietly with his Batman car, which I can assure you is a rare occurrence.

Not the playing with the Batman car, but the quiet.

I look over at him kneeling against the couch, talking his Batman and Robin..shirt off and pajama pants on, and I realize that this is a Moment. And I caught it:)

I drop my gaze further and see his sock clad feet, socks that I just recently bought at the store since his other ones got muddied up. But something makes me smile as I sit looking at his feet. There are big mud stains going through the center of his socks because somehow he'd gone out on the patio this morning.

I sighed a contented sigh, that somehow there are just things that don't change. Zak will forever be my high energy boy with dirty socks. And this morning, that is okay.

*smile*

Quest with a Camera

Inspired by this post by Enjoying the Small Things I decided that I need to have more profound moments in my life, to discover the beauty around me in day to day life. On my way home from dropping Zak off, the idea struck and I realized how perfect it really is.

I am going to find the joys of life through my camera lens.

I have actually thought about this a time or two in the last year, but never did anything about it. And for whatever reason, I have been feeling somewhat reflective of my life the last couple of weeks. Maybe the ensuing birthday tomorrow accompanied by the changing of a digit has prompted these nostalgic feelings. Or maybe it's that I have become more aware at the different seasons in life and how mine has left the young babies one and has turned into something else entirely. I am enjoying this season of my life immensely but I don't want it to pass me by like the last ones have. I want to find deeper meaning in my day to day activities with my husband and my children. Times change, the seasons in our lives change, and we can't get them back. I suppose, if I was to really dig deep and figure out why I feel so nostalgic and this yearning to go back, is that I think I haven't left my mark on life enough. Have I really taken time to reflect? Have I really truly embraced my life as a gift from God? Are my kids going to remember their mother as someone who was a meticulous house cleaner but who never shared "moments" with them?

I want to have MOMENTS!

I realize that this is decidedly late for resolutions for the new year, but like most everything else, it takes me longer than most people to get on board:) So this year I have but one resolution, and that is to be in the Moment, to grab my camera at the slightest whim and photograph what I see and think is beautiful. To really appreciate my surroundings and my life fully. And ultimately realize how much Heavenly Father has blessed me with. So there you have it...

my quest with a Camera.

I was coming home from dropping Zak off at school and for whatever reason, I always seem to exhale when I see the green scenery, or the cows, or the big power line holders thingies. I have no idea what they're called really:) And it always grabs me that I wish I had my camera! So I decided that I was going to run home and document what I see through my camera lens.

I love living out here. It makes me happy to see the cows. It's super quiet and I feel somewhat removed from the hustle and bustle of city life. It reminds me of how blessed I am.


Unfortunately I discovered that I didn't have the lens that I wanted in my haste to document my new found discoveries, so you can't really see the beautiful little brooks that run through the land.



No parking sign, shmarking sign. This was a beautiful view and I didn't give a rip! And besides, it's not likely some meter maid is going to show up.



I love roads. There is just something so soothing about a road. You can't see destinations end, yet somehow you know you'll get there. And really, it's all about the journey on said road.

So I got down, flat on my stomach, on the road, and took this picture. I worried for a minute that a car might be ensuing, but then I decided that being daring is half the fun.





My goal is to post something weekly that I find joy in, to remind myself how amazing and beautiful life is...

to remind myself that I'm not missing it.

Twin Day and Geo Caching

I meant to post these on two different posts since one has nothing to do with the other, but oh well. As long as it gets on here for me to remember:)

For twin day at school for the kindergartners, Andrea had this great idea to put all the boys in their soccer shirts and jeans. Rochelle and I wanted to get pictures after school, but unfortunately we couldn't find Troy. But we got the rest of the boys. It was so VEEERRRY hard to get them to stand still, and as I was going through the pictures I realized that there was always a few people with their eyes closed, or someone was blocking someone else's head. Rochelle, you may have gotten some better shots than me. Here are the few that worked:)


Ian was the only one blinking in this picture so to me it's gold:)



I love how Zak and Bryson are looking at each other, like there's some big joke the rest of us aren't aware of. SOOOO cute!




Gosh I love this one:) Even though you can't see Zak or Bryson, it's just so dang cute! Gotta love the look on Cade's face though:) Though I have to say that when we tried to get them to turn around, it turned into sheer chaos. There was just no getting them to do it. I thought about posing them on the black rail that surrounds the playground, one foot on the rail, one on the ground, with their hands in their pockets. Like a large team picture, but they were not having any more of pictures. The energy level was already hard to control with all these boys together. Whew!


For FHE on Monday we went Geo Caching. The kids loved this! I know it's been around for a while, but we have just gotten started with it. It was so much fun! If you're not familiar with it, it's a program that you download to your phone, a GPS game so to speak. There are people who have stashed things in various locations that you can go find. There are hints along the way if you get stumped. You put in your location and it brings up different "caches" that you can go find. There is a compass that points the way. Once your mileage gets to zero, you stop and then have to look around and find the cache. Some are easy, and others are hard. Doug had already done the ones we took the kids too, so we were able to do a few more than I think we would have.


This was the first one that we found, hanging in a small tube, behind a fence post across the street from the refinery.






Sometimes there's silly little trinkets inside that you can take. If you do take the cache, you have to put something back in it to replace what you took. There is also a signing sheet of people who have found that cache. You sign your name to it as well. There were signatures on some of these dating back a couple of years.




This next one we found off Eagles Nest near Mather.


Some of these you really have to look hard for where it's hidden. In this case, it was under one of the information signs.


Our poor dog went komikaze that night. The mere act of traipsing through weeds and brush was just enough to set him into doggie overload. It was like he'd gone to doggie utopia. So many smells, and sounds, and things that go bump in the night to chase... By the time we got home, he was so wet and dirty. Cause it's not like he's a TALL dog. Poor thing. Everywhere he went he just got wet. Half the grass was taller than he is! :)


Here's everyone opening it. Love Andon's face here.








The boys couldn't get enough. It was like treasure hunting, and what couple possibly appeal more to a young "laddie" than the possibility of treasure?! ARRRGH!


Do you recognize the flags??? Teaghan will probably not be too happy when she sees this picture:)




So the girls obviously were a little quicker on finding the caches, so Doug told the boys that this one was all theirs to find. Of course, they needed a lot of hints as this one was one I don't think they'd be able to find on their own:)


The girls were a bit stumped as well. Doug told them to start lifting things up. Anything and everything they thought might move.
*side note* Notice how wet Zak's pants are. That's because he trudged through a puddle that was actually that deep. But did it ruin the fun? Heavens no! This is treasure hunting after all!


They finally figured out that the bottom of the flag pole lifts. How cool is that to young "laddies?"


And SUCCESS!!


And of course, you have to open it.


This next picture is way out of focus. My poor camera just couldn't hack it when it got this dark.


All in all, Super fun FHE!! Even though it was a bit cold. There were some runny noses and some red hands afterwards. But nothing that good ole ice cream sandwiches couldn't cure! :)

New Find

I've been very much on the fence when it comes to flower hair accessories. You know the ones with the flowers on headbands or alone as clips. My girls look very cute in them, and though we don't have many, (okay, TWO), I am planning on getting more. But for me? I just didn't think it would work. But then I borrowed a friends flower piece for Doug's christmas work party, and decided that yes, I CAN WEAR FLOWERS. Just not obnoxiously large ones I think. I am going to have to be particular about what what types of flowers I will wear. Don't want to look like I'm trying to be 17 again! :)

I love it when I stumble upon new things by accident, without much effort at all on my part. I really don't spend a lot of time on the internet. Is that shocking? Do most people spend inordinate amounts of time on the internet? Anyhooo..... I came across a site called Whippy Cakes. Have you already heard of this site?

What does this drum up in your head? Food? Fluffy frosting? (Gotta love fluffy frosting. I don't like that heavy stuff.) Well guess what? It's not.

It's flower headbands and clips! But they're not your usual flower headbands and clips. They're very retro, like a throwback to the 30's, which is soooo in right now.

As I perused the inventory and read a little about how she got started with her business, I realized that one of my favorite photography sites, Sky Johanssen photography (I'm not looking up the spelling. You can see it at the bottom of my blog under favorite photography sites. Yes, I am that lazy) uses her headbands in her photography of children.

I fell in love with these flower designs, and am now adding the "Crumpet" to my birthday wish list. Sorry Doug, birthday list is getting long! :)

Anyway, check it out if you're looking for something different. Just wanted to share my new find! :)

What I like to call "Dog Tag Jewelry"

I've gotten asked a lot recently where I got my "dog tag" necklace, and if I knew of any other websites that are nice, so I decided to blog about it. Vintage Pearl is where, but there are other sites that I have found since then that I like also. The only problem is that I don't remember which sites those are when I've been asked, so I decided to sit down and compile the ones that I did find that I like.

This one here from Chantelle Nicole Designs is having a FANTASTIC deal for the next six hours. Normally these kinds of necklaces are around $60, but she's selling this particular one at $32, which is basically like half off. The thing I like about it is that it's a disc, just a plain simple shape. There's just something to be said about simple. Good clean lines. You can put your hubbies name on this one along with your kids, AND it includes the freshwater pearl that I added to mine from Vintage Pearl. Check it out. I think it's super cute!!


Chantelle Nicole Designs (I really like this one)
Lisa Leonard Designs
Charmies Online
Three Sisters (I really like this one too:)
I tried to find the other ones that I've seen, but since I can't remember their names or where it was I found them, this will have to do I suppose:)

Hope this helps! Good luck in finding your perfect piece.

Oh, and HI MARY!!!

New Actions

Wow, three posts in three days. What's the occassion?

I came across a photography site some time ago when looking for some actions for my Photoshop. Let's face it, actions take the angst out of editing, especially when one finds photoshop very daunting. I've been trying to teach myself various functions of photoshop, but it has been very slow going. Actions just take all the hair pulling out of editing and make the time you spend editing way way less that it would normally be. Plus, you can tweak actions to fit your own personal style. See, it's just a win win:)

I stumbled upon "Paint the Moon Photography" when I was searching for some high quality professional actions. I actually thought that I had found another photography site that I love, but then I quickly realized that she sold her actions that she uses as a professional. She creates her own actions that you can manipulate.

Sold. And SOLD.

And really, I don't find them that unaffordable. Granted I could spend $200 there and not bat an eye, but I'm still a novice at using actions. Baby steps. Baby steps.

So I happened to check back with her to just remind myself of my wish list, and I saw that she was offering a free action for saying you "Liked" it on Facebook, for a limited time. Well SHOOT! I don't do facebook. BUT MY HUBBY DOES!!! :)

I ran downstairs. LITERALLY. I literally barreled my way downstairs. I'm glad my kids weren't there cause they would have probably gotten an elbow and thrown into the wall as I cycloned my way downstairs.

I made Doug put his movie on pause and explained to him what I wanted. Which was a very big deal because he had rented Inception the day prior but was only just getting around to some quiet time before I very spastically made him follow me upstairs.

Here's how it went down. He puts the movie on pause, runs upstairs, with me close on his heels like a labrador, and sits down at the computer. I show him the link to click on and as I try to explain more in depth he brings up facebook with such swiftness it would've shamed any olympic runner, and logs in. I am still jabbering at what an awesome thing this is and try to explain to him when he says, "No offense hon, but I just want to get this up for you and return to the movie."

No offense taken I assured him, and then he bolted back downstairs leaving me with this stupid grin on my face like I'd just discovered my computer made gold and was in the process of spitting it out at me.

Truly people, this stuff excites me. And when you can get it for free, OH MY WORD. How totally generous was Paint the Moon to share her stuff. Granted, I was going to buy a couple action sets (hopefully) in the next couple of months, so this was just the appetizer to the main course if you know what I mean.

Finally sat down to figure out how the action works. I pulled up this school photo of Zak. Here's the one I edited. And I still like it very much.



So then I took the original SOOC.....



and ran the Jubilee action.

WOW. Talk about professional grade. Most of the actions I use don't have nearly the layers that this one has. There was something like 15-20 layers that can be tweaked. 15 to 20!!! All to achieve different results when adjusting the opacity.

Oh my gosh I've died and gone to heaven.

This woman is absolutely amazing! I am in awe of her abilities. Truly. And she isn't paying me to say this or, really, even knows I'm alive. I'm just giving credit where credit is due. To create these kinds of actions is just...wow.

So here's what I came up with after playing with Jubilee for a few minutes.



Or this one. I decided I didn't want the center that bleached out.



Thank you thank you "Paint the Moon" for letting us mere mortals try your amazing actions!

I am in love! :)

Life's Ironies

Life is great. It really is. One thing I like about life is it's little ironies, or as in this case, one really big irony that smacked me upside the head.

Wanna know what it is? I'll tell you:) And if you haven't read the post below this one, you might want to so you can get the full scale of how completely ironic this truly is.

I had emailed Andon's teacher a couple days ago about me taking in some form of treat for the kids for Andon's birthday today. I asked her if there was anything that she absolutely didn't want in her classroom and a good time to bring said goodie in. I heard back from her after school yesterday, a few hours after yesterday's post here on my blog.

She told me that they would love to celebrate Andon's birthday, gave me a good time to bring in a treat, and then..... then she made a suggestion. And boy am I trying not to laugh right now. Can you guess what it was????

Wait for it....

Wait for it....

CUPCAKES!!!!!

I couldn't believe it. Seriously???? CUPCAKES??? I don't even like to serve cupcakes to MY kids! :)

You may be interested to know that I am leaving in a few moments to go pick up some doughnuts. Andon nixed the smoothie idea. It is HIS birthday after all:)

(Did you think I was going to say cupcakes?) LOL

So much for getting my panties in a bunch. Really though? Of all the things to suggest, she had to suggest cupcakes:)

Just shaking my head:)

School Treats?

Warning: I am going to vent a little. Or a lot. Who knows? Here goes!

Andon's birthday is tomorrow. He turns 7. I know...where did the time fly? I ask this every time one of my kids has a birthday. So I've been thinking of what to bring as a birthday treat, besides the same old cupcake. For one, it's extremely messy, and I have been in the classroom helping on those days that a parent brings in cupcakes and the teacher just sighs and says, "I hate those things." So cupcakes were out before it even got started. I'm not particularly clever in the food department. Love to eat..hate to cook. I joke that I should have been a food critic. Now that would have been fun!

So I get online to see what other people have been up to. (Seriously you guys, I google EVERYTHING:) The internet, and especially blogland always have great ideas. Seriously, people are so dang clever! I thought for sure I'd find SOMETHING. And I did. I was looking for something easy, not altogether unhealthy, but definitely something the kids would like without the proverbial "It's a birthday. We have to eat crap for a birthday, don't ya know?" Well I came across a blog and I'm thinking that this site will have lots of great ideas, cause that's what the name generates right? Weeell..no. Google failed me:) This actually is a blog of some domestic diva spouting off her ideals on politics. Well, after all, it is free speech. Just like this blog is too, so really, whatever rocks your boat. Say what you will, I don't have to read it. But I was intrigued because she had posted a letter from her child's teacher that her daughter had just brought home. This is what the letter said:
Dear Parents,
This year I am trying to give the students only healthy treats and snacks. Please do not bring cupcakes or cookies for birthday treats. They are very messy and hard to get out of the carpet. Other ideas for treats are: crackers, fruit snacks, fresh fruit or veggies, pencils, or erasers.

I thought that sounded like a cool idea, we've even had teachers that have requested that very thing over the years. I continued onto the comments section and was amazed at what was shared. There was comments like "school's are sucking all the joy out of childhood," and "My wife is a teacher and I know she'd never get picky with parents like this....pencils, erasers for snack food? I'd think the teacher's an idiot."

REALLY!?!?! Sucking the joy out of childhood because the teacher asked for healthier treats???? Mocking some child's parent because they wanted to bring in something that wasn't food or sweets???

So I am completely incensed by now and keep reading on. I come across a comment from some woman named Sandy and here's what she said:

"Really? Is it so offensive to request that kids have a healthy snack at school? Sucking the life out of their childhood? Oh, what a horrible life. Crackers and cheese. An apple. Please, Rebecca. Give'em the hostess at home; kids won't have a miserable childhood because they eat one less cupcake a week. Maybe, as adults, they will thus learn to lead a more balanced life. Sandy. "

I am thinking, "FINALLY!" Someone with some sense. I'm also thinking that there are going to be more people that agreed with her.

Nope.

Not a one.

She got blasted. And I was so mad!! I tried to leave an anonymous comment but it wouldn't let me, and I didn't want any backlash on my blog here.

She then quotes the bible: "Proverbs 24:13 My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste. I wonder what God is trying to tell me."

Pause.

Say WHAT????

I just shake my head sometimes because that's all you can do.

So here's my opinion, and you can tell me if I'm way off base here. What is so HORRIBLE about the teacher wanting to have healthier snacks? What is so bad about a teacher requesting that there be items that she doesn't want brought in to her classroom? And if that means healthier treats being brought in from home, what is the problem? I don't see anything wrong with this. It's certainly not hurting anyone for pity sake. You want to serve my kid an apple? How dare you! (Really?) I understand the schools have to provide healthier lunches than they did 20 or however many years ago. I really don't think it's a bad idea to ask parents to bring in healthier choices for birthdays. Especially when there are food allergies, or religious restrictions, or you're simply just trying to eat healthier. Just because it's tradition to bring in the sweets doesn't mean we can't bring in an alternative option without the idea being ridiculed. I think that's what's got me so up in arms; that the idea of not being allowed to bring a treat into someone's classroom is so very offensive to some.

I for one don't remember all the crap I ate as a kid. I remember the memories. And honestly, those memories wouldn't be tainted because a cupcake wasn't involved!!

Was I thinking of taking in veggies to school tomorrow? No. If my school had a policy about the healthier snacks being brought verses the junky ones, I would abide by that. However, I was thinking of trying to minimize the amount of sweetness in whatever food I decided to bring and thus am giving to other people's kids too. I actually was thinking of taking in smoothies, or something that didn't have a ton of sugar in it, or some small little toys instead of food. There are quite a few religious restrictions and allergies in Andon's class. Do I think less of you if you bring in cupcakes? By all means, NO. I've brought in more cupcakes than I care to count. I just think that if the teacher asks that there not be messy foods brought in, she shouldn't be ridiculed for it.

What do you think? Am I way off base here?

Hopefully this hasn't offended anybody. It is solely my opinion, but I welcome comments if you have an opinion. You can disagree, just be nice about it. My fragile feelings can't handle it:)

Oh, and if you have an alternative idea other than cupcakes for birthday treats to school, I SOOO welcome the idea.

Christmas Photo Shoot

Elisha, this was so EXTRAORDINARILY difficult to narrow down what pictures to show you for your sneak peak. They all turned out amazing! (If I do say so myself:) So I decided to post my favorites.

FOURTEEN favorites. And I make no apologies:)

I still haven't finished editing all of them yet, and it's looking like there are going to be QUITE A FEW, and I do not envy you the job of figuring out which ones to frame:) Your children are so very photogenic, and despite the fact that it was raining when we first started, I'm glad we stuck with it. When the rain cleared we got what we came for! And I'm so glad too:)

The boys were so fun to hang out with and we got some great photos of Addison as soon as we figured out how to get her to smile and be happy. Thanks for letting me take your family photos! I had so much fun!

And a special thanks to Coleen who makes an excellent assistant:)

Here you go!

My Mia- Well, Kindof

Are you tired of all the photography lately? If you are, you can quit reading:)

Tara asked me to take some photos of Mia in dress up for her room. I was super excited to do it! Mia is just gorgeous and photos so well. And I'm going to share just a few.

It's so hard for me to share just a few too! :)