As if I haven't spent enough money already...

This is one of three new "shorts" pixar has put out to tide us crazy cars fan over unitl cars 2 comes out next year. I can't even start to add up the $$$ we have tied up in cars paraphinilla at our house. Once N saw these he immediately told me we needed these cars for our collection - he is hooked. Truth is I am too...I love finding new cars that we don't have just cause it makes him so amazingly happy and like the songs says it all just to see you smile. The little miss has taken quite the affection with Lighting himself so it makes it double the fun!!! Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to catch up with some photos of the past few months that I've been MIA!

Cars Two

vote.....

thanks guys...

A Little Late...

a perfect day...

This is the conversation after we spent the afternoon and early evening outside in the "pool" on the patio....

n: Mommy - it's a perfect day isn't it?

me: Indeed, it is.

n: Laying in the sun, my feet in the pool, the whole nine yards....perfect.

me: speechless

Where in the world did he get that and how did he know exactly when to say it??? Who is that boy where my toddler used to be? After we came inside and were changing our clothes, somehow he managed to get a starburst stuck to his keester and this was the observation....

n: Now that's a sticky situation!

He certainly keeps me laughing. It's always interesting to see what he has to say when were out and about like when the lady at the movies asked us if we wanted any candy with our popcorn and he promptly told her that our candy was in my purse! You just never know with him. A is starting to talk more and I'm sure that when it finally comes full circle I will be glad that I didn't know what she was saying for the past 6 months. She has her own little language. I need to get it on video before it goes away because it is pretty sweet. Speaking of A, here is the most recent picture of her....

And, a few more pics for the road from of N...

back on line....

well kind of. And no Stacy, if you are wondering, I am not at McDonalds although I was tempted. This will be the first attempt at posting with the new service so we'll see how it goes. It's been crazy the last little while. N broke his thumb last week and was very very brave. Still working on a layout to commemorate that momentous occasion of a "first" broken bone. He wouldn't let me take photos so I had to steal the ones I did get and they are not great. He doesn't pose or sit still so I guess it's a good thing I'm not having to pay someone else to argue with him to get a good pic. So getting the picture for the above layout was tough, he was a trooper though, you only need one. I still can't believe he is four, FOUR. WOW. My favorite one of the 15 minute session is below but the landscape didn't work with the layout - may have to do a second page. The second photo really is "HIM" He is such a happy kid - splint and all. He laughs at almost everything and will try anything once, something I'm sure we will have issues with later. But for now I love that he is adventurous and full of life. I love that he genuinely cares and is concerned for the well being of others. I love how inquisitive he is about EVERYTHING. I love the little songs he makes up and his ability to make believe. I love that he wants to take pictures with my camera. That he wants to walk around the house and "document" his life. It's truly amazing to watch him and A grow and experience the ups and downs of their journey here. So I'm excited to have Internet so I can go back to getting things recorded. Hope you have a happy Wednesday!!

Another Year Older...

We hope all your wishes come true!!

my family - my sisters at least will appreciate this video. This is all I have been singing for the last few weeks...can't believe I still remember all the words!! Enjoy....

Boys...

this is what happens the day after mother nature leaves this in your yard....

Life...

So the last month has been a bit up and down for us. This past week was pretty emotional for me and I struggled with some decisions and the stress was pretty steep. So after it was all said and done we had a nice day and we took the kids to the park to so I could take some pictures. That seems to relax me. That night as I was going through them these two just struck me. It just made me realize that there no matter what decisions we have to make and no matter if we make the "right" or "best" one - we will still be a family. We will still have each other and that is really all that matters. So without boring anyone with the details, thats all I am going to say about that and I think now I'll be able to be back on track....

finally asleep

So two days in and I've already fallen off the wagon! In all fairness I did have a photo that I took yesterday. Its up for today on the side. The above photo will serve as today's. A was sick last night and so we got zero done. After dinner she started crying and didn't fall asleep till after midnight and then tossed and turned ALL night. She is finally sleeping well and we have an appointment this afternoon. So yesterday N says to me "lets play hide and seek." I'm always up for a good game of hide and seek so I agree and ask him who is going to hide first. He replies - "you stay in the kitchen and count and I am going to go hide under my bed!" He cracks me up. So when my hiding turn rolls around I told him to count and he agrees and asks me as I am leaving - "where are you going to hide?" It's always entertaining. In taking my photos for yesterday I really wanted to use this one but it is so technically challenged that I couldn't but I so loved it so I had to share....

busy busy busy

My life has been rather hectic lately. I have finished the 500 wedding invitations I had to complete and a few other things and now I think I will finally be able to get give some more attention to the blog. I read somewhere about a challenge to take "a photo everyday". So I have missed January and most of February but I am trying to take that challenge. I'll try to post a new one on the sidebar everyday. The photo for today is from a little boy I shot this afternoon. Hopefully that will force me to blog everyday! I'm off to Nauvoo this weekend to photograph another wedding. I'm excited to be going back up there and thrilled to be doing another wedding!! Hoping to get some great shots. I have been practicing a bit with my camera on objects other than my children (fake apples don't wiggle) and while I was N was gracious enough to let me snap a few of him. This one was my favorite. He has always had these facial expressions that say so much and this is his {what} expression when {what} is the answer to anything I say....gotta love him.

AND...chocolate frogs tagged me a million years ago so here are my answers...

What were you doing 10 years ago?

Ten years ago? You mean when I could remember ten years ago? If it was February than I was just 6 months into my first “grown-up” job post college as a marketing assistant and preparing for my real estate licensing exam.

What is on your to do list?

What isn’t?

Where are 5 places you've lived?

MO, UT, UT, UT, UT

What are 5 jobs you have had?

Dry Cleaners Clerk (by far my favorite), Marketing Associate, Communications Specialist, Graphic Designer, Real Estate Agent (my least favorite)

What would you do if you became a billionaire?

Join the witness protection program.

Bad Habits?

I bite my finger nails and……

Things that you enjoy?

Being a mom, digital scrapbooking, taking photos, PSCS 2, making gifts, SEWING (who would of thought?), the Backyardigans, listening to D sing to the kids and doing Chicken Fat with N.

I am suppose to tag someone but there is only D left since he still hasn't replied since Critch tagged him weeks ago - maybe now he'll want to play....

a thing of beauty...

It's not everyday that you get excited over an appliance. But, last Friday at our house was just such a day. After living out of a mini fridge for the last month after ours died and the new one we purchased was on back order, the fridge was an anxiously awaited arrival. They brought that morning and about noon we were in the living room and I heard some really loud pounding I wasn't sure what it was so I went in the kitchen to check it out. Now if you don't know, our son thinks that ice is a food group all its' own. When I realized that the noise was the freezer making ice I called him into the kitchen. I said "Look what is in here." He pulled the drawer out and there were maybe three ice cubes. He looked at me with a huge smile and said: "our new fridge makes its' very own ice!" Needless to say he was the most excited of all!!

happy birthday HP

Hey buddy! We hope you have a wonderful birthday!! Wish we could be there to help you celebrate!! Love you!!

thoughts...

Yesterday President Hinckley, prophet of the LDS Church passed away. Although my heart is heavy I can only imagine the great rejoicing that is happening on the other side. I am humbled to think of a servant returning to his Heavenly Father having accomplished the Fathers will and mission. I spent the morning reflecting on my memories of the prophet and of his teachings.

I think the thing I loved the most about President Hinckley was his truly genuine nature and his sweet humor. Every time he spoke there was no question about his love for his Savior, us and for this gospel. As I thought about President Hinckley today one of his talks stood out in my mind. It was an address from Women’s Conference two years ago. I remember listening to this talk and feeling so much love from him and the love our Heavenly Father has for each of us. I decided that to remember him I would share some of his words from that address:

“…My dear sisters, all of these wonderful qualities which Relief Society stands for represent being encircled eternally in the arms of His love. It is this for which we all wish. It is this for which we all hope. It is this for which we all pray. …I remind you that you are not second-class citizens in the kingdom of God. You are His divine creation. Men hold the priesthood. Yours is a different role, but also extremely important. Without you, our Father's plan of happiness would be frustrated and have no real meaning. You are 50 percent of the membership of the Church and mothers of the other 50 percent. No one can dismiss you lightly. …This is what the Relief Society does for women. It gives them opportunity for growth and development. It gives them status as queens in their own households. It gives them place and position, where they grow as they exercise their talents. It gives them pride and direction in family life. It gives them added appreciation for good, eternal companions and children. What a glorious organization Relief Society is. There is nothing to compare with it in all the world.” -- Gordon B. Hinckley, 2006

Little Watch Dog

So on Sunday last week at church in primary the kids learned about being a "watch dog" and looking out to make the right choices. On the way home that's all we talked about. He wanted me to give him stories and let him decide if that was a right choice or wrong choice. It is really exciting to see him developing his free agency. While he was playing with his toys I overheard Lightening McQueen tell Doc that he had made the wrong choice and his mom told him he had to go to timeout. He is starting to understand that he has a choice and those choices have consequences. We went to town today and he said - let's play the wrong choice game. So we spent 25 minutes going over different scenarios. 95 percent of the time he gets it right. It kills me that in theory he realizes pushing his sister off the treadmill is the wrong choice but when it comes right down to it - pushing your sister off the treadmill is just to much temptation! Can't wait to see what we learn this week!!

SAHM

Some days it’s hard. There are times when I would rather be at work than listening to my kids yell. There are times when I am stressed and worried about money and paying for two teenagers and two college educations. There are times when I question my abilities as a mother and worry if I am doing all I can do. And then I see them playing, A following N all over the house and then I’m grateful. Grateful that sometimes the money gets tight, grateful that I worry and grateful for the stress because that means that I am home with them. And if I was not home with them I would miss the moments like these…..

these boots are made for walking...

Barbara and Billy sent the kids real life cowboy boots for Christmas and they are too cute. N wears them ALL the time!! He put them on and immediately said he was ready to go to work with Billy!! He wears them to church and with his dress up cowboy outfit....

I especially like the chaps with the CARS underwear - I feel some serious embarrassing parent moments coming on!! You can see the little miss in hers - she thinks she is big stuff - she has a little bit of a tough time walking in them but she's getting better!! They both look so cute in them! The kids love them and so do we - thanks Billy and Barbara!!

On a photographers website that I read she had challenged everyone to pick their top seven favorite photos of 2007. It took a while and it was harder than I thought it would be. It was difficult to only choose seven. So after sifting through all 3000+ yes you read that right - 3000+ photos I took in 2007 (thank goodness for digital) these are my seven favorite. Anyone else care to share???

Big Day

So today was a big day for me and the little guy. Today was our first official day of primary! I am the primary chorister so I get to be there with him which is really fun. I had prepared singing time with little vegetable characters to help them learn how good singing habits. He paid very close attention the entire time and seemed to really be enjoying himself. So after church on the way home I asked him what we talked about in primary today and in true child fashion he replied: "we learned about the vegetables!" Too much fun! Looking forward to the rest of the year and his growth! And I finally was able to edit some of A's cake photos so I will leave you with those....