Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Shopping (day 63)

I am almost finished with my Christmas shopping!  Yay, so exciting.  Now comes the wrapping, I actually enjoy it, I find it relaxing.  Today I scored some great buys.  I found some great kids' digital cameras for $9.99. normally $70 from JCPenney's. 
It was supposed to be an online sale only, but they were backordered till the 20th.  No way would I have been able to get those before Christmas so I called the customer service center.  Through lots of discussion, some begging, they were able to honor the online price in the store.  This is not something that they normally do, but I beleive the woman could tell I was desperate (not really), but she was able to make it happen.  Luckily, my husband was nearby and was able to pick them up a short while later.
They aren't bad, they are definitely kids, but they are pretty nice, and the kids should be beyond excited to receive digital camcorders.  I would be excited for sure.  Anyways, I love great deal and always look for them.

And I leave you with Some static from my best friend's daughter's birthday party this weekend.  Electrifying!!!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Thanksgiving, shopping, and birthdays! (Day 62)

Thanksgiving, the beginning of my favorite time of year.  Get togethers, family, fun, food, birthdays, and shopping.  My family kicked it off right, with Thanksgiving at my dad's house.  The girls had a great time with my brothers and sister in laws and of course their oh so fun cousins.  We then made the small trek to my best friend's house to get ready for Black Friday.

My husband and I knew we wanted to get the girls a trampoline for Christmas, but we were kinda scared of the pricetag.  Luckily, their were some great sales, so we staked our claim and were victorious.  We were able to purchase one (barely) and get some other great goodies.  I was able to strike off some of my names from the Christmas list!  Yay! We also made it through the night and had a lot of fun.

Friday, we went to my mom's house for yet another Turkey Day Feast, and boy was it ever.   I don't think I have ever eaten so much in my life, but it was wonderful.  We again got to hang out with family and make more great memories. 

I also turned 30 yesterday.  Yes, I have been dreading that number, and even though I know it really isn't that big of a deal, it is a little strange to think that I am now in my 30s!!  We didn't really do anything big for it, but apparently there will be some festivities next weekend.  I can't wait.

So today was our last day in my hometown, and we spent it celebrating my best friend's daughter's birthday.  Crazy huh, we have the same birthday.  It was great!  The girls had a great time, we celebrated and not too many tears were shed.  We drove home after and am not ready to rest.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Cute Kids (Day 61)

I had a photo shoot today at the park.  The kids were so cute.  At first they were not up for the photos, but we had a great time, went with it and I got some wonderful shots!!




Monday, November 22, 2010

Blog Award!

Blog award!!

Thank you Melissa for my first award!!  Also, thank you for encouraging me in my blogging experience.
Rules for accepting this award are:
1. Thank & link back to the person who awarded you this.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pay it forward to 15 recently discovered great bloggers.

4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their Blog Award!

About me:
1.  I have an amazing family.
2.  I enjoy play time with my two adorable daughters
3.  If I could take photos all day, I would
4.  I really appreciate and love my husband, even when I don't always show it.
5.  I enjoy going back to my hometown and visiting old friends and family
6.  I have a degree in Education and taught high school English for four years
7.  I would love to have more children.

Sitting Still (day 60)

Having to get two toddlers to sit still isn't always easy.  Yesterday, I took photos in the park of the kids.  I haven't been able to really get good pictures of the sisters together since the baby was, well, a baby.  Now I get flashes of one kid getting up, while the other frowns or makes other slight faces.  I would set the older babe down, then place the babe next to her sister, get into position to take the perfect photo, then bam, she's up and running.
Which in turn makes for an out of focus, not so great photo.  Or you get the photo where they are sitting perfectly still, but very distracted by something that is so much better than any old mom taking photos.
Occasionally you get a great of of just one of the kids, in a single pose, pure beauty, innocense, purity.


I love these girls, they are my love, my life.  And for that, I am Thankful.

Friday, November 19, 2010

A couple of pictures (day 59)

Do post of pictures count as post?  I hope so, because words fail me right now, so I leave you with these.




Thursday, November 18, 2010

Stockings (Day 58)

"...and the stockings were hung by the chimney with care..." I have decided to make my girls' stockings this year.  We had one for our older daughter.  A plain, run of the mill, store bought stocking.  We didn't get the baby one last year, not that it mattered, there was not much to put into it, but this year, I want them to have ones like I had growing up.

Putting the stockings up in anticipation of that jolly ol' elf stuffing it full of goodies is one of my great Christmas memories.  My mom hand made all of our stockings and added great details and beadwork.  I loved my stocking.  When it was time to decorate the house for Christmas we couldn't wait to get to the box with the stockings.  We would carefully pull them out of the box, go over every detail of the work my mom put into it, lightly graze my fingers over the beads, make sure nothing was out of place.  We would clammer to the mantle and arrange the stockings in our birth order.

When Christmas Eve would arrive we would go to our church pageant anticipating what would be waiting at home for us, we knew for sure Santa made his early stops to our house.   Once we rushed through the door and clammered for the tree, the first thing we noticed was the stockings were carefully placed under the tree, bulging at the seams, full of goodies.

These are the types of memories that I want to create for my children.  So I found some stocking patterns and am hoping they turn out half as great as the ones my mom made for me and my brothers.  It is a ton of work, but surprisingly very stress relieving.  I have been working on Bailey's for the past several days and will post photos once I am done.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Where'd it go?(day 57)

November, it's halfway over, how, when...what?  Where has this year gone?  It's been an amazing year, it's almost 2011, hard to believe, kinda scary.  I am not ready for it, I am not ready for next week, let alone next year.  Can we somehow stop time, right now, not get any older, not watch or kids have to grow up, let them stay kids a little longer?  Can we? 

My oldest is on her way to 4, youngest creeping to 2.  Wow!  Scary, sad, worriesom.  In less than two years I'll have to watch her scamper off to kindergarten...I don't want this.  Let's stop time, stay young, don't grow old, have fun, smile, be young in body and mind.  Let's hold on to 2010 just a little longer.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Wonderful Day (day 56)

Today I had a great photoshoot!  Unfortunately, it was quite cool, but the cloud coverage made for great photos.  I had three shoots, and they all turned out so so great!  The first shoot was a beautiful seven month old.  She was adorable, adn so happy!







This was my second photoshoot, aren't they just the sweetest brother and sister ever!?!? Love it!






These are my good friend's babies.  They are so awesome and adorable!  She makes the best tutus, shirts, bows, and all kinds of things.  Anyways, I had a great time chasing them around the park snapping pictures!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Excited (Day 55)

Tomorrow I am having a photo shoot with a good friend of mine at a park.  I am really excited about it.  Today, my mom and I went to scope out the location (I have never been there, but my friend has) and see where we could take some great photos. 

Well when we got to the park and we are extremely, pleasantly surprised!  This park is amazing, which in turn will make the shoot amazing.  I also scored some great props at a local thrift store for next to nothing.  I can't wait to see how the photos turn out! 

Friday, November 12, 2010

Surgery (day 54)

Today was my husband's surgery.  All went wonderfully well, but it definitely was a long day.  He was scheduled to go in at 1:30, but the surgery didn't start until after 3:30, yech.  It wouldn't have been so bad, except I had the girls with me.  So I had to find ways go entertain them until he was done with surgery.

We hit up the mall, and left without buying anything (lots of will power), then went to Toys R Us, just for fun to see if I could scope out what the girls wanted, go figure, they wanted EVERYTHING!!  Also left there with my money still intact, go me!  Then actually did buy something for my husband at Best Buy, a video game since he has to be propped up for the next couple of weeks and hasn't played video games since July, soooooo, I got one for him.  I'll probably be kicking myself in the next couple of weeks, hopefully I won't have to pry it from his fingers.

But all in all, not such a horrible day, hopefully, my husband heals fast and does well in the next few weeks.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Cuties (day 53)

Whew, what a day!  A very good day.  The kids had a great day, I was able to get some work done around the house and I have new pictures!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Shaving Cream (day 52)

Have you ever noticed that kids will play with anything?  Boxes, paper towel rolls, pots, pans, tupperware, spoons, anything.  You know what else they like?  Shaving cream, that's right, plain old, run of the mill shaving cream. 

The kids had a blast today.  I put them at the table, rolled up their sleaves, put a paper towel over their shirt, squirted shaving cream in front of them and let them have at it.  And boy did they have a blast.  At first some of the little ones were reluctant to touch the white foam, so I put their fingers in it and dragged them around.  When they saw that it was ok to touch they started to go crazy.  The baby tried to put it in her mouth, one small taste was enough to know that it was not edible. 

We played in that Barbasol for awhile, the kids pushed it around the table, slapped at it, blew on it, had a great time squealing and enjoying the texture.  By the time we were supposed to clean up the kids were exhausted, I was exhausted, and the dining room was a mess!    So, if you are ever looking for a cheap but outrageously fun activity (even if it is a little/lot messy), get out the shaving cream and watch the kids have the time of their life!




Monday, November 8, 2010

Can't Win for Losing (day 51)

Monday, I have have to say, I don't really like you.  The kids were great, they had a fun day.  We played hard, baked cookies, colored, read books, you know, the usual.  What was not so much fun was the news that my husband is going to have to have major foot surgery sometime this week.

I know, more medical bills.  Things were just getting back on track, stuff was getting paid, then bam, more bills.  I thought that we were done with all our out of pocket payments, but our oop was a lot more than I thought.  Soooo, more bills.  I am grateful that my husband has a job were they can put him on light duty and what not, it is just really hard though.  I am trying to find the silver lining, and I know it will appear, just have to keep looking for it. 

On a lighter note, I am getting ready to do some photo shoots this weekend.  I love doing these shoots, they are fun, and I get to meet a lot of really cool people.  They are great to help releave stress, and just enjoy my day without having to worry about the day to day stuff.  This one is a Christmas Shoot in the park.  Can't wait!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Tired (day 50)

Wow, this weekend was LONG, but a lot of fun!  Yesterday, we went to my nephews' first and second birthday party, then went to a good friend's daughter's first birthday party!  Needless to say, the girls were worn out, as were my husband and I. 

We started the day with a small trip to Target and JCPenney to get a few items.  We knew the parties were next and luckily the baby slept all the way back to the house and about thirty minutes in the car in the driveway (don't worry, we stayed outside with her!)  Once she woke up we made the one mile trek to the first party. 
The girls had a blast, they had a bouncy house and a barrel train that was ridden several times.  We played, ate, played some more for several hours.  The girls did not want to leave, they didn't know they were going to another party later that afternoon.  So we packed them up, got them into the truck and set off for the next birthday.

The girls took a great nap on the way to the next party and actually slept for another hour in the truck before getting out (again they were supervised, no worries).  The baby woke up in a pretty good mood, she immediately went to everyone and had a great old time, my older girl was not such an easy wake up.  She had to get adjusted to the idea of waking up and being around a totally new crowd of people.  When she finally came out of her shell she ended up having a blast.  We actually did not get home until after 11pm, of course the baby went to sleep well before then, but my older girl did not.  This was definitely a special treat since she goes to sleep around 7pm normally.  Like I said, it was a crazy busy day, but we had a blast!