Family Pictures!

So the family pictures are in...check them out here....

Ignore my big rear end in *way too many* pictures! Considering it was FREEZING, I think they turned out okay. I'm sure we can find plenty to order.

Proud of my boy....

Connor cracks me up. He saw me coming and posed like this before I could get the camera up!

He was being honored at his school for Perfect Attendance (go me!) and Straight A's. Woo Hoo! I'm so proud of my little guy; he really is thriving at this school.  He has worked hard and done a great job!

Even though he has put in over 60 hours of drive time so far, (I have double that!!) I am so glad that I made the tough choice to put him in a different school. Although, I may not have realized just how great it is if we hadn't had such a poor experience the last few years.

He has an amazing teacher and a supportive administration, But it's more than that, the entire teaching team works together to challenge each child and give them more than just the bare minimum. He's been continuously encouraged to actively think and try new things. He was already getting used to his last school's habit of limiting innovation and teaching to accomplish only the minimum requirements.  This has beeen a growing year for him!

He has been working on multiplication/division, story problems and graphing in Math. Reading  "Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing"(and writing chapter summaries which he isn't thrilled with). He hates to write, but loves to read, so we are really working on that aspect, but it's encouraging to see all the ways Mrs. Adams finds for him to develop personal responsibility, and deal with his hatred of putting pen to paper!  He's had to write several biographies and present a few projects to the class. 

That's another thing I am so so grateful for. His teacher is the Relief Society President. (That's the women's organization at my church).  She has known us since before he was born, she believes in the same things I do and has the same perspective on life.  I am so blessed to have her as my son's teacher this year.  I can't say that enough.  It has been a blessing for me to know her and have her teach my son.

Want to smile?

Those who know me as a photographer probably know I wish I was more like these guys. they are amazing....But I saw there post here and HAD to encourage you to go check it out!

I don't know what it was, but it just made my day. So happy thought of the day is this. Go see how much fun they are having and flash back to the days of sledding as a kid. I remember spending all day out in the freezing cold with my brother and our friends, sledding and crashing, then coming in 1/2 frozen and warming out under a pile of blankets with a good book.  It was always a huge neighborhood thing, tramping out to the big hill behind the house (Deadmans' hill, every kid has that one!) and trying not to crash into the kids coming down the opposite hill that ended up at the same spot.  The trek to the top of the hill was ridiculous but the ride was worth every minute.

I HATE the cold. I have definetely adjusted to Texas because this cold snap of 20's is KILLING me. 2 pairs of socks, 4 or 5 layers of shirts and the heat keeps getting cranked up (or I feel the need to bake!) But this made me almost wish I could go sledding again....if only to take pictures like these!

Here is one to get you started....go check out her blog to see the picture she actually took!

This is what makes me happy.

There are so many things that make me smile...bring me a flash of happiness, but seeing my little girl hug her beloved Daddy really makes me happy.  the obviously love each other so much.  The highlight of her day is when Daddy comes home.   Every day he is greeted with cheers and a race to the door by his children.  (I don't rate that enthusiasm...just him!  :)

Knowing that he is leaving so soon makes every moment even sweeter, but sad too.   I'm really not looking forward to having my best friend gone again.  It breaks my heart that my kids won't have him here to hold them anymore.

A few days ago, Maddy had her 4 year old shots.  I HATE HATE HATE taking my kids for shots.  Especially Maddy.  She is still so tiny and she is just, so heartbroken and devestated when she gets held down for a shot.  Matt graciously took time off work to take her.  I knew that she would sob harder with each shot and have that look of betrayal in her eyes.  but he said that when it was all over, they did their "no crying" routine.

He looks her in the eyes and asks, "What do we do when we get hurt?"   "sob Sob, Sniffle, mumble mumble"  "Shoulders back, deep breath"   "Sob, gasp, sob, gasp, breathe.....hug"  And she was done.

If it had been me....she would have cried in my arms for a few minutes before she calmed down enough to take a breath.  There is just something comforting about being in her Daddy's arms.  He is the hero and protector. It makes sense....his arms are the only place I want to be when I'm upset.  She (and boy) idolize him.  They look up to him and love him in a way that nothing and no one else could replace.  He is their Dad.

This wasnt' meant to be a sobby, whiney blog today...but it's hard not to be sappy when I see my little girl and her dad.

my life and my goals

So I wanted to throw this out for the Phaunt contest...what's your new year's resolution?



To get caught up on my life! Without moving anything, I walked into my living room and snapped this picture.

-Laundry to be put away
-Canvas to be mailed to a client
-My gym bag with music that I have to learn for my job at Gold's Gym (try Body Flow!)
-Fabric to cut out for a dress
-Pattern and 1/2 completed dress for my daughter. I just realized that it has long sleeves and I'm in Texas. I have to get moving if she will get to wear it at all! (Zoom in to see the Holly Hobbie Pattern hanging on the quilt)
-Kids shot records so I can register them for the 16 FREE hours of child care during my DH's deployment to Iraq....Ahhh, free childcare.....

Plus I have several proofing jobs and an order to get out...and Daddy Dolls to make, and stuff to do for Sunday School ....I just want to catch up!

Quick brag on the boy.

I know my kid is a smart cookie, but seeing what he got wrong cracks me up more than what he got right.

Case in point.  He brought home an spelling assignment.....and what did he get wrong?

Thermo MOTOR.  Yup.  The temperature will be driving by at a blazing 40 degrees today.  I guess that's why he asked me on the drive home how thermometers work. 

Sorry kid, no engines, no motors.  But just a little smile on my part.


I guess I'd better stop chuckling and go wake him up for another adventureous day at school....

Too Funny or TMI?

You can't say goodbye without a kiss.  So as I headed out to photograph a reunion, I said, "How 'bout giving me a kiss now and a little something later?"

Connor heard me and jumped up, "I know what you're talking about!!!!!!  We're going bowling!"

Happy Birthday to me! (and Alice)

I just celebrated my 31st birthday in style. Thanks to everyone who joined Alice and I as we partied at Chipotle! It was so much fun to hang out and see my friends! I realy love the fact that even though many people didn't know each other hit it off right away! We finished the afternoon with exchanging of facebook/email...I guess that means all my friends are pretty cool people (at least I thought so!)

Speaking of crazy coincidences. Alice looked very familiar when she moved here. In fact, I was surprised to find out just how recently she moved here. It turns out that she was in my In-Laws ward in Colorado! I've seen her for years and probably bumped into her at ward events several times...so seeing her in my ward felt...well, normal! So it was a blast celebrating with Alice and getting a chance to hang out with her!

Still in shock!!!

300...yes a 300!!!!!!
Originally uploaded by Life Happens

I'm floored. Today is my birthday (all 2 hours and 15 minutes so far) and my husband surprised me last night with a Nikon D300.

I've been using a good camera for a few years now. It's long since discontinued but it has served my purposes. I can take pictures...even get paid for it sometimes.

Matt has told me (especially after the rash of weddings this fall) that I need a backup camera. Mine has taken 30-40,000 shots and the shutter is rated for 50,000. For a prosumer camera, that's not bad.

This new camera is rated for 150,000 shots, has a metal body (not plastic), shoots faster and better than anything I've ever handled and frankly, I never even dreamed of owning it. It's a PRO camera. I'm just me, not a pro. I figured that if buisness was good this year, I might save up and get a D90 when the prices drop.

But Matt believes in me. I'm in shock a bit because I still wonder sometimes if I'm going in the right direction. I worry that I don't know enough or that I'm not doing a good enough job. I've improved vastly over the last year and I know I'm still growing....but wow. The first thing that I thought was "wow. He REALLY believes in me."

He's not just supporting me and humoring my hobby because he loves me (frankly he has done that many times in the past....scrapbooking etc) But seeing this made me realize that his support and motivation is more than just love for me.....he really thinks that I have enough talent to do this, not just as a side hobby while my kids are small, but as something I could really do as a buisness full time one day....or as he said, "even if you never take another picture again, you should be able to craft your art and work on your talent. and you deserve this."

I don't know if I "deserve" it and I freaked out a bit at the price tag and even offered to take it back a few times, but he stuck to his guns.

So the moral of the tale?

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, for a small fortune, you too can tell your wife that you really think she has talent.

i'm still in shock. I was hoping for some flowers....

No smoking

Originally posted in Killeen Daily Herald......GO AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!!!! Edit via me!  :D   Last call for smoking ban discussion Posted on: Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 4:52 AM

By Justin Cox
Killeen Daily Herald

For those who believe that smokers will be the downfall of Western society – for those who smoke three packs a day at any restaurant in the city and want it to stay that way – tonight is your night.

Killeen's smoking ban committee has its second and final public hearing at 6 p.m. tonight at City Hall. The public hearing represents possibly the last chance for a member of the public to speak their mind before they consider an ordinance to ban smoking in public places.

After taking in public comments, the smoking committee will meet again at 3 p.m. Tuesday and discuss further changes to the ordinance at that time.

If a ban is eventually approved by the City Council, city staff said a three-month delay will likely take effect before the ban becomes active.

$ facts

Did you know that more young adults go bankrupt than graduate from college?

Colleges are reporting that more students drop out due to credit card debt problems than from academic failure.

(stats quoted by Dave Ramsey on Financial Peace University)


That's something to think about.   And on a positive note, mortagage companies will lower rates, suspend late payments, stop forclosure etc for deployed soldiers.   But the best company is USAA (imo) they will lower your interest to 4%.  Yeah, 4%.  I wish I had USAA.

Maddy's Money

Thanks to C. for telling me about Dave Ramsey and his (formerly) free military program.  Sorry, it expired.  Anyway, I've been taking his online Financial Peace University program.

There is a ton of good information and it's presented in an easy to swallow set of baby steps.  But being 100% out of debt is something that is important to me and haivng a financial plan for the future is also high on my to do list.

Connor and Maddy both recieved $20 gift cards for Christmas. (Thanks again M, C and J!)  I never really thought about a gift card as a really amazing gift for a kid before.  I thought that it was a good way to give a gift if you had to buy for tons of kids or just were unsure as to what was a good gift or a distance gift kind of thing (no shipping) but back to the point.

I think it's fantastic!  Maddy and I went grocery shopping and she saw a Barbie that she wanted to look at.  She asked to "please hold her in the cart but I'm not asking for her".  Since that's about as polite as you can get while clarifying that you were not "gimmie gimmie"-ing, I said okay.

At the register, she willingly and unwhiningly put the doll away.  As we walked to the car I remembered her gift card and unloaded the groceries and then told her since she was a-so well behaved and b- had $20, that we would go back and get the doll.

She was thrilled and we nearly skipped back into the store.  But the doll was $25.  I had a deliema.  Do I cover the difference or do I make her live within her budget?  I really did have a hard time with this.  It would have been so easy for me to just give her what she wanted but in the end, I want her to learn to be wise with money.

She was probably a bit dissappointed but never showed it.  She just looked through all the other toys and debated which one she wanted.  I helped by pointing out all the NON-barbie toys.  :)  (yeah, I hate Barbie)  She picked a pretend hairstyle set with blowdryer, curler etc.  I even played good mom and showed her a Barbie again, but she was happy that she had enough money to get a toy for her and her friend M to play with plus a princess book.

So long winded as this was, it only took a few minutes for this to sink in.  How am I doing in my quest to raise self sufficent children who are savvy with money?  I should be doing this NOW and letting her feel satisfied with living on a budget. Indulging her now with $5 will not help when she is 16 and needs $100... or 21 and needs $1000.

I see that it's just like everything else.  Start young because the lessons and consequenses are small now....but very large when you are an adult.  I see the people who are dealing with the recent trend of charge it now, get a loan and pay for it later.  The bill came due and the country panicked. 

I want her to learn now to live well within her means.  That' s a lesson that I'm still working on.  I don't have elaborate expenses, but living WELL within our means is a whole lot different between just barely living within our means.  It was a hard lesson for me to learn and I want her to learn it soon.

If I'm looking a little distracted, now you know why.

It's hard to not know the future.  It's hard to live in a state of indefinetes and maybes.


But it's harder to know the future. 

I'm talking about deployment dates here. My coping mechanism is to stick my head in the sand and try not to think about it to closely.   "Is my husband deploying?  Yeah, sure, this Spring sometime."  I might even be cooerced into naming the month he is going.  But the entire time, I'm mentally plugging my ears and singing Laa la la as loud as I can.  I just don't think about it too much because when you do, the count is on.

Once you know the date 100%, then all pretend is off.  Even if you are intentionally vauge with friends and family, the truth is there and it's inescapable.  It's the ultimate pink elephant. (Go ahead, try not to think of a pink elephant...you can't do it.)

I hate the military calendar too.  The powerpoint one that they shine on the wall about 3 feet high.  The one where you can't NOT look.  The one where the months run together and it's impossible not to notice the number of Sundays you have left.  I really hate that because now the clock is ticking.

Now I have to know and I can't try not to.

A dinner success!

As a mom, I have learned that my kids are picky eaters.  Not all the time, but they are understandably drawn to McD's, Mac-n-cheese and peanut butter sandwiches.  I'm really trying to cook healthy and yummy food that they will actually eat.

Way too often, Matt and I eat "adult food" and then give the kids something we know they will eat just because we wanted to eat stuff that they didn't enjoy and didn't want to face the whining.

But today I made a winner.  Both kids declared this dinner delicious and super yummy!  Woo Hoo!

We had baked sweet potatoes and "pop" peas (edamame-that is always a winner because it's a finger play food!) .  I also made a Chicken and Apple Skillet that was sweet and tangy and a big success!   I used 2 chicken breasts, chopped up instead of big pieces of chicken so it's a budget friendly dish too!

This just thrilled me.  I love it when things go well.  Now if only my Christmas Decorations would put themselves away!

Check out my other blog...The Spaghetti Mistake for the recipie!