Thursday, November 30, 2006

The Polar Express

On Monday night, Mike's Parents took us to Hood River to ride the Polar Express. It was snowing like i've never seen before adding to the magic of it all. This was the kid's first time on a train, first ride to the "North Pole" to pick up Santa himself. Ty was the only one to actually sit on Santa's lap and tell him what he wants for Christmas. A Seahawks helmet. Good times.







Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Our Thanksgiving.

We had a fun relaxing Thanksgiving at my parents. Here are some highlights


The Kid Table and the Adults, my Brother looking either like he's still praying or annoyed at his sister for taking a ton of pictures.

The Table setting...had to show you all where I inherited my Martha ways.

Chocolate Turkey Crafts Grandma had the kids make for the table. A messy, nummy treat!


Emery's first game of Go Fish. I played many o' card games on the same floor.


Kid's relaxing after turkey...and a cute picture of a little turkey.

Auntie Jenn and Cousin Haley teaching Piper how to make whip cream and Ty waiting for the whip treat for his pumpkin pie!

Monday, November 27, 2006

We're Home and Im Exhausted

We've been home since Saturday Night...since then we have torn up our entire bottom floor, moldings and painted the walls and gone on another snowy road trip. More tomorrow I promise...but Im too tired to type more. Praying for a snow day tomorrow.












Tuesday, November 21, 2006

I am Thankful...


For these goofballs...and for so much more. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! We are off to Seattle.

Well GO COUGS Anyways!


You probably all know the outcome of Apple Cup by now. So disappointing to loose to the Puppies, especially since we seem to always be favored...but choke everytime. But So much fun to go without the kiddos this time and just hang with our friends. So great to see that no matter how long it has been since we've seen each other, it seems like no time has past. Love these people. And fun to see some friends who came up from Cali for the game as well. This is the only picture that I think was taken the whole day. And the process of getting the picture was pretty comical to say the least. Go Jota!

And we missed you Jinx and Molly. But Mols, it felt like you were there since we saw your in-laws, your ex and a man dressed up in a refs uniform walking around the stadium with blind mans glasses and a cane...who looked exactly like your dad. Somehow I can't imagine Big John parading around a coug game in a costume though.
So despite it all...GO COUGS!

Monday, November 20, 2006

Meet Annie Moon and Jeb

Most of you know I have siblings spread out all over the country. From the Pacific Northwest, to the Midwest, to the East Coast. Here are my sister Jill's little babies. Not so little anymore. They are 2.5. I dont get to see them enough...arent they sweet. So I thought I would share some sweet pictures my brother Tyler took of the twins. Hope you dont mind Jill and Bryan.




Friday, November 17, 2006

Random Post

Just sitting here on a Friday evening feeling like I need to make a blog post. My desk is cleaned off with all my check-list completed. Love that feeling. I have had a very productive week with both my home stuff and my work stuff.
Home Stuff: Put myself back on a cleaning schedule this week. I've done this before and it really helps, but somewhere with the third child and the growth of DD (defining details, not my bra size) I kind of gave up on it. So here we are desperately needing it again.
Here's how it works: Each day I have a chore, like moping the floors. I have to do that chore in the morning, plus one load of laundry before I can touch the power button on my computer. See touching the power button means major distractions either with design stuff, emails, reading blogs, etc. So every day this week I have woke up, got the kids dressed and fed and off to school, came home and spent a couple hours on house work, then off to pick up the kiddos, feed them lunch and get them settle in their after lunch routine, Play, nap, quiet time. Then I can sit down at my computer to either work or play guilt free! I cant say the house looks much better than it did before , since as soon as I clean a room it gets destroyed again. But at least I feel productive and I know my time is spent well.
Work Stuff: On my list this week was as set of Birth Announcements, some invites for a Hospital function, 5 or 6 Wink's Ink designs, the November Daisy Bucket Kit and my own holiday cards. I am happy to say as of a couple of hours ago...all this work is completed. (although I am still wanting to play more with the DB kit.)
Yup, that's right folks, that means our family 2006 holiday cards are stuffed addressed and ready for stamps. All 110 of them! Phew...feels so good!
Kid Stuff: The kids had their last week of school before Thanksgiving Break. Ty got to take Grandma and Grandpa to school on Thursday, he had lots of fun doing that, then spent a few hours over and Grandmas being spoiled I'm sure. Emery got to go with Grandma on Wednesday to help her cook dinner for Church that night. She thought that was really fun.
I had Parent/Teacher Conferences today for Emery. We got her very first report card. All A's. Just kidding, they don't give Grades, but she did receive high marks. She is at level for her reading and above level in Math. She gets that from her dad for sure!
Okay, so here I sound like I'm bragging...sorry about that. More of a ramble than anything else.

Tomorrow Mike and I are off for a full day in Pullman for Apple Cup!! Hoping I don't freeze my bootie off. GO COUGS!

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

We Have A Toddler!


It's official. I know she's probably been one for a while, but I am now ready to admit it. No longer a baby girl...but a toddler. And here are some of the toddler things she is doing:

  • Trying to run. The funniest little run you have ever seen, since her little legs just got the hang of walking. So sweet...lots of tumbles.
  • Talking in two word phrases: Hi Mommy, Apple Juice, Where Daddy? (with her little hands up in the air), Mickey Mouse (which actually sounds like Mickey Mac)
  • Getting out of her bed at nap time 55,000 times. Making mommy very impatient. With a huge smile on her face each time as if saying "im testing you mommy".
  • Bugging her brother. Touching him over and over again as he screams "Stop Touching me Piperrrr." She thinks it's hilarious.
  • And just the other day I saw her pat her diaper, say pee pee and walk to the toilet. I asked her if she needed to go potty, and she nodded. Sure enough, she went tinkle in the potty! BIG GIRL, but I am so not ready to go there yet.

Love her...but miss my baby stage.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

I love Photoshop!




Just thought I would share some of the custom work I have been doing for Wink's Ink. It's been really fun!
And for all of those who know Jenkin's Tyler (the last sample), this is not their final design. I wont share that one so that people can actually be surprised when they get it in the mail. That and the fact those pictured in the sample are not Jenkins, or his parents. Cam and Katie, hope you dont mind I used your pictures ;).

Saturday, November 11, 2006

The Start of the Christmas Shopping!


I took the whole day to:
1. Get my hair done.
2. Shop around for Laminate Flooring (found it at Costco! Yeah.)
3. Start my Christmas Shopping.

I am fully convinced I am the worst Christmas shopper. Or maybe shopper in general. I went into town (the somewhat "big" town with real stores) with a full list for all of my immediate family members. I walk into the mall and panic slaps me in the face. The crowds, the options, the lights...whatever it is it makes my brain freeze. I loose all ability to make a decision on my own. And any ounce of creativity I had when I walked in the doors stayed out side on the side walk. And my list was no help at all!
I came home with one stocking stuffer for Emery! How disappointing and unproductive.
I did however find our Christmas PJ's. Yes, we are that family who wear matching pj's every Christmas. They only had Pink or Purple in Mikes' size, so we might have to go a different route than the kids. It would be a frozen day in Hell before Mike wore those colors. Actually, I know he'd choose pink over purple. Anyway, I am rambling. Here's the cute shot of the kiddos who had to try them on to make sure they fit. And then there was no getting them off of their bodies, so I broke and let them sleep in them tonight. But just tonight!

Oh and I had to share a cute one Mike got of the girls playing this afternoon. He was trying to sneak up on them so it would be natural. But Piper caught on! Funny, she smiles when daddy is behind the camera...but not mommy.

Friday, November 10, 2006

She's 30!


Happy Birthday Leslie!

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

A Turkey Feather and a Daddy's Boy


This is my little man...who is completely a daddy's boy! So much so that he asks his daddy every morning if he gets to stay home with him today. And every Saturday when the answer is yes, he jumps up and down with excitement and then follows daddy around all day. This picture is of him and his turkey feather he had to design for school. He wasnt too excited about having homework until I told him he got to go with daddy to pick out some crafts and then daddy would help him put it together. (hence the wsu on the feather). See that's my trick. If Ty doesnt want to do something...tell him daddy will do it with him. Works every time, except when vegetables are involve...daddy doesnt play along. In the morning before school he told daddy that he wished someday he could take him to class so he could show him around his school, meet his friends and play with his favorite toys there. Then when I picked him up he proceeded to show me the pumpkin he made...not for me, but for daddy. I wasnt offended...actually I love it and hope it is always this way. Father and Son relationships are special to watch grow.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

New Banner

Okay, so the picture is way goofy...but I thought it fit with my slogan. These three seperate phrases have been on my mind and heart lately:

  • Live in the Truth
  • Choose Joy! (because I believe it is a choice to be joyful)
  • Live it Loud.

...so much so that I want to paint them on my walls. And since I havent done that...well then, why not paint them on my blog! I think more people read it than my walls.

After playing around in photoshop with these three phrases...I realized how well they go together as one great motto to live by. And I myself, with Gods grace, am going to try to live by it.

Oh...and I am having way to much fun with Brushes in CS2 (geeking out now, goodbye)

Birthday Wishes!

Happy Birthday to 2 friends of mine!

Michelle J. & Stacy C.

Hope your days are special!

shan

(stac, cant wait for your blog ;).

Friday, November 03, 2006

Music


Last night Mike and I went with our friends Tim and Melissa to the Jeremy Camp Concert. It was awesome! I had this big post working in my brain about the concert or rather music in general. How music effects me personally, and thus what music I choose to listen too. But my thoughts are a bit jumbled, and maybe a bit too deep to type. So instead I'll give it to you the short way. I choose to listen to music that is positive and uplifting. Music is powerful, all kinds of music. I have seen what it does in my life personally, how it effects my thoughts and actions. Therefore, I prefer to listen to the type of music that encourages me to live the kind of life i strive to. There it is in a nutshell. Jeremy Camp is that kind of music, very motivating to live my faith LOUD!.
That being said...I am also known to pop in a little Ricky Martin and shake my Bon Bon from time to time ;).