14th week of pictures - Easter

Easter 2013.

 

Dying eggs.

 

Kimberly writing on her egg before it changed color.

 

 We tried the normal Paws dye and then we tried Kool-aid.  Can you tell the difference below?  Half of the eggs are Paws and the other half are Kool-aid.  Personally I prefer the Kool-aid.  Cheaper, smells better, and they turned out just as good.

 Matthew and Jacob working on their eggs.  Matthew loves to dye eggs.

Easter morning.  The Easter Bunny came to our house and left some goodies.  The kids enjoyed themselves.

 Ready for church in their new Easter clothes thanks to Grammie and Grampie.

 Easter Dinner.  I love to cook and Easter is just one of those times that I get to have fun showing off my skills.

 Happy Easter everyone.
http://iotamaker.blogspot.com/2013/04/52-week-photo-project-week-14-easter.html?m=1

Random

We went to the Home and Garden show and the kids got these cute Home Depot aprons with a toy to make.  I loved how cute they looked in them. (Yes I know I still have a Christmas decoration up.  I really like this dishwasher cover and I don't have another one)

Easter egg hunting at Millville South Park.  This was our first year to go hunting in a park and the kids had a blast.  The only problem was the age groups and sizes.  Jacob was in the age group 1-3 and only got 3 eggs.  Matthew was in the age group 4-5 and got a bunch of eggs.  Kimberly was in the age group 8-9 and only got 5 eggs.  But then again, it could be their strategy.  I tried to explain to Kim that she needed to run toward the trees and get those in the back because everyone would get the ones in the front.  She never listens.  I told Matthew basically the same thing and he listened and got a bunch of eggs.  Oh well.  After Millville's egg hunt, we went to Lees and enjoyed their treat and saw the cute white Easter bunny.  Even Jacob was happy to say hi to him.

Happy Hunting!

13th week of pictures - At Their Worst

I figured this week would be a breeze to capture.  My children show me their worst at least once a day.  The only problem I had was when I tried to take a picture of them at their worst, they would get out of their bad mood and smile...every time this happened.  I learned I have a new trick to get them to behave and get out of their foul mood.

 

The only child I was able to get a picture of was Jacob.  He is not normally an unhappy kid.  He is usually pretty happy.  Now it was not easy to get this picture though.  I think this was my 12th picture I took and was able to capture him.  He didn't like his picture taken when he was upset.  It makes me terribly sad when he is upset.

Matthew has the most meanest frown when he is mad.  I could not capture it because he was so happy to see the camera.  So finally I got a cute picture of him smiling and told him then to give me the frown.  This is what I got.  This is also normal... his bottom lip sticking out pouting.  But you can see in his eyes he is happy.

This is Kimmy in trouble and hating to be in her room.  The only problem is she is smiling and laughing because I brought out the camera.  But you can see how stubborn she is because she will not stay in her room when she is in trouble.  My husband jokes that he is going to extend her door out a bit so she will still be in her room but really she will be in the hall.

Next week's theme is Easter.  One of my favorite holidays.
http://iotamaker.blogspot.com/2013/03/52-week-photo-project-week-13-at-their.html?m=1

Kimberly's 9th Birthday

Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter Kimberly.  I can't believe you are 9 years old.  I still remember the crazy couple days it took to have you.  Keep growing like a wonderful young woman.

 This was the cake she insisted on getting from Maceys.  She is on this kick of Rapunzel.

 My cool chic on her birthday.

 This was taken on Saturday before her birthday.  It was the day that the grandparents came to visit and celebrate.

 This is the cake I make Kimmy on her birthday.

 My beautiful young woman.

 With her cake.

 I made a zebra cake for her.

Blowing out her "9" candle.  Matthew is pouting in this picture.  Makes me laugh.

Here's to another year!  Love you Kimberly

12th week of pictures - Something Green

I have a mulitude of green things I could have taken pictures of this week but I choose the one thing that consumes my life the first 3 months of the year.... Girl Scouts.  Growing up I was lucky enough to be a Girl Scout.  I remember being a Brownie and meeting at Thirkell Elementary.  I remember being a Junior and getting to go to Camp.  I remember being a Cadette and helping run an overnight camp.  I loved Girl Scouts.  I also remember selling Girl Scout cookies.  I had sweet neighbors that always bought cookies from me.

I have always thought about my daughter being a scout but never knew how or where to begin.  A couple years ago at the first of the school year, a notice went out about joining Girl Scouts.  My husband had been in Cub Scouts for years and we always had fun.  My daughter was excited for Girl Scouts.  So we went to the joining meeting and I knew it was the right place for us to be.  Then they asked for volunteers to be co-leaders.  The Holy Ghost was telling me I needed to join because it would bless my life.  So I became a co-leader.  Within the first couple of months, I volunteered to be the Cookie Manager.  I figured it can't be that hard.  I had no idea what I was getting into.

My first year as Cookie Manager was extremely stressful.  I was in charge of 44 scouts.  That meant that I had to make sure I got their order forms to and from them in a timely manner, enter in 44 girls' cookie orders into the cookie system, blindly figure out how many cookies we might sell at a cookie booth, and collect money from 44 girls.  Needless to say I gained a few more gray hairs during this time.

I wasn't sure I wanted to do this again for another year but I figured I had 1 year under my belt so it had to be better.  This cookie season has come and gone and it was a pretty good one.  I knew what I was doing this year.  I only had 25 girls to worry about.  I had parents willing to do what was needed of them.  I also had a wonderful assistant that helped me and learned the ropes so she could do it next year.

I love Girl Scouts, what it represents, being a co-leader, the cookies, and the fun we have.  Yes it can be stressful but well worth it.  My favorite thing about being a leader is watching a shy quiet girl come into scouts the first day and barely say her name.  Then watch her 6 months later selling cookies with all the confidence in the world.  What a difference scouting makes in a girl's life.

I definitely have been blessed by being a leader in Girl Scouts.  Thank you Heavenly Father!

Next week's theme is At Their Worst.  This one will be easy to get.  I see this one every day!
http://iotamaker.blogspot.com/2013/03/52-week-photo-project-week-12-something.html?m=1

11th Week of Pictures - Siblings

Being an only child, siblings to me meant my dog. My parents have siblings but they live far away and I only got to watch interaction with them once a year.  I then married into a family with 7 brothers and sisters. From all these examples I have learned that siblings love each other, they fight with each other, they have their favorites, and there are many similarities and differences between them.

I was very determined not to have an only child... I now have 3 children.  I enjoy watching my children grow and they teach me about siblings.  They too love each other, fight with each other, have their favorites, and there are many similarities and differences between them.

I commonly hear from strangers how much my children look alike.  I don't see it.  Maybe because I know them in and out and their personalities and what not... they are all completely different in my eyes. A stranger the other day stopped me and mentioned to me that I must be Matthew's mom.  I had to think of how I might know this lady.  Nothing came to mind and then she pointed out Jacob and said they look so much alike she knew they had to be brothers.  Come to find out, she teaches Matthew reading in school.  I have even had people ask me if Matthew and Jacob are twins.  Still don't see it.

So I decided to take some pictures to see if I could see the similarities that others see:

 

 Yes Kimmy's legs are gigantic.  Matthew's are a bit small... and Jacob's are a bit long.

 I love seeing the ages in this picture.  You can pick out my cute little baby fat Jacob hands and of course Kimmy's are the ones painted.

 I love how their ears stick out... but not too far.

I do see the connection that other people see.  I am grateful I see the differences too.  My beautiful children.  They really do get along well and love each other very much.
So thankful I have children.  They truely are a blessing.

Next week is something green... I better take pictures on Sunday for St. Patricks Day.
http://iotamaker.blogspot.com/2013/03/52-week-photo-project-week-11-siblings.html?m=1

10th week of Pictures - Office

 Here is my office:

 And here:

 And here:

 Here too:

Now I will explain.  I don't have a set room called office.  I have many areas around my house that are my office.  The first picture is my office desk in my room.  It is the desk that houses my printer and all the paper and cords of various things.  Sitting here makes me feel like an office.  The second picture is where I house all our office supplies and where I house my Girl Scout stuff.  The third picture is where all my bills, coupons, special papers, etc.  This house came with these handy dividers that help me stay organized.  The fourth picture is our other computer where I can do some more things.  See my hubby sleeps during the day so my access to my office desk is non-existent until after he wakes in the afternoon.  So that is where the other laptop comes into play.  One day I might have a room designated "Office" but for now this works for me.

 

But I have to share with you my "Office" chair.  Brian got it for $3 from his work.  Great buy!

Next week is Siblings.  I should get some great pictures of some siblings fighting since that is all that happens at our house. hehe

http://iotamaker.blogspot.com/2013/03/52-week-photo-project-week-10-office.html?m=1

A boy and his daddy

This is pure love.  Jacob has a crazy love for his daddy.  It is cute in a way and drives Brian insane in another way.
I also wanted to show off Brian's beard.  This is the longest he has ever had it ever.  He is obsessed with this show called Duck Dynasty.  It is a funny show but my hubby is obsessed.  He has to watch all the reruns, the previews, etc.  If you have never seen or heard of the show, it is about a family of duck hunters that started a business.  The business is widely successful but they all look like they are rednecks from the back country of Louisianna (which they are).  The men all have very long shaggy beards and hair.  Since this winter, my hubby decided to grow out his beard (I am not sure if this was inspired by the show or not but I am guessing it is).  He tells me he is going to grow it till Memorial Day.  I have my doubts because he is getting tired of it being this long.  I am still on the fence whether I like the beard or not.  But it is his hair, not mine.  Let him enjoy while he can.
:-)

9th Week of Pictures - Mealtime

Before we get into the theme for the week, I want to clarify something.  I love to cook.  I love to experiment with new recipes.  I love to watch the Food Network Channel.  I love to pretend I am a chef with my own tv show (yes I really do this when I am at home cooking by myself).  I really couldn't cook much when Brian and I got married.  I have been working on it the past 11 years hoping to improve with each recipe.  My downfall is yeast.  I have had the hardest time baking bread and rolls and what not.  I finally had success in baking rolls a couple weeks ago.  I didn't kill the yeast and the rolls were pretty good.  But that being said, I love being in the kitchen cooking.  Our goal is to cook 6 days a week at home with good food and then splurge on Saturday by eating at our favorite joints.

 

Now after saying all that... I am very disappointed to say that this week's theme of Mealtime hit on a very bad week for cooking at our house.  Our Monday was swallowed up with Girl Scout cookies and we had to eat out.  The rest of the week has been devoted to easy, quick meals because of many activities or cookie deliveries.  So you are not going to see anything fancy or great in my pictures.  I am going to show you two staples in our house when we have weeks like this one.

 

The first thing I am showing you is my favorite go-to kitchen gadget... the crock pot/slowcooker.  This has been my lifesaver on crazy days.  This handy cooking contraption can be found on our counter almost every Tuesday.  I leave Tuesdays around 3:45 (Dance and Girl Scouts) and do not return until 6:30.  At 6:50 my hubby leaves for his Scouts.  As you can tell, we don't have much time for a family meal.  So I usually throw something yummy into the crock pot for us to eat when we can.  My hubby is great to add some carbs and veggies for us.  (This great invention also helped me learn how to cook roast.  Everyone tells me it is so easy in the oven but I have never had luck.)

The 2nd staple in our house is what we call Fend Food.  How fend food came about in our house was because I had my favorite foods I loved to eat before I got married that my hubby wasn't a big fan of.  To make both of us happy, we would have a Fend Night.  This is where he would throw in a couple frozen pizzas and I would cook noodles.  I know it doesn't sound much but sometimes the simplest things make us happy.  Well our kids love Fend Night.  They love daddy's frozen pizzas and they love my noodles (with ketchup).  On nights that we can't think of what to fix, we have Fend Food.  Makes everyone happy.  This was our meal on Thursday this week because we got home late from Dance and cookie deliveries.

Maybe one day I will dedicate a post to my great yummy food I have made for my family.  But this is what you get for the week of Mealtime.  Next week's theme is Office... hmmmmm.
http://iotamaker.blogspot.com/2013/03/52-week-photo-project-week-9-meal-time.html?m=1

My "diet"

So my 2nd full month of my "diet" has come and gone with good news and bad news.  The good news is that in the first 2 weeks of February I lost 5 pounds.  I was feeling great about everything I was doing.  The bad news is that I didn't lose anything the last 2 weeks of February.  I am trying to look at this positively though because I didn't gain anything either.  The last 2 weeks of February was insane as is.  I was busy stressing about Girl Scout cookies and then it was my birthday and decided it was my day to splurge.  I treated myself to a free Cinnamon Roll from Angies (birthday) and a yummy Shaffer Bakery Carrot Cake (birthday).  All was so yummy.  I was in a sugar coma the entire next day.
So with that said... I still have more stuff to stress about with Girl Scout cookies in March and it is a very busy month for us.  Hopefully I will stick with my eating habits and no sugar (except for Kimmy's birthday and my dad's birthday).  I know I need to work out more this next month.  I hope it turns warmer so I can get outside and workout because I am feeling a bit of cabin fever.
My biggest challenge will be not to eat the Girl Scout cookies in my pantry.  I mainly got them for my family but I also got my favorite for a treat for doing so good on my diet.
Wish me luck for March.

Matthew's Cool Haircut/2nd Tooth Gone

Matthew has been begging me for a mohawk and when crazy hair day came up last week, I thought that was the perfect time for the mohawk.  My attitude is get it out of his system now and then maybe when he is teenager, he will just want normal hair.

Matthew lost his 2nd tooth just the other day.  He has been working on this tooth for 3 weeks and was getting pretty mad it wasn't coming out.  He started talking dad into pulling it out with string or something.  Finally it started bleeding and I promised him it would come out at school.  Well he was determined to get it out before school so in the car on the way to school he pulled it out.  I swear the kid needs to be in a vehicle to get out his teeth.

My Ballerina