It's been a while

2.27.2009-Day 58

Today, TJ had an appointment all the way up in Heber city, so he asked if I wanted to join him. I was really excited to go, so we asked my MIL (mother-in-law) to watch the boyz.  She is always so good to do this kind of thing for us!!  While TJ was in his appointment I read in the car-it was so nice and peaceful!  Then we went shopping at the outlet malls in Park City-hence the photo.  I haven't bought perfume or lotions like this in close to a year...maybe more!!  It was kinda fun to buy these things, a luxury that is not happening so much anymore.  Anyway, after shopping, we went to dinner at this great new Mexican place, got an expansion pack for our new fav game Carcassone (we're total nerds, we have medieval clothes and everything-I'm KIDDING!) and then went home and got the kids.  It was a great night to spend with my sweetie and I love being sans the kids every once in a while.

2.26.2009-Day 57

I got aNOTHER package in the mail (Amazon LOVES me right now!) with these two books in it. I am tired of fighting with Drew.  We argue constantly...scratch that, HE argues constantly.  I need to know what I can do differently to stop the screaming and yelling from me (then maybe we can think about kid no. 3 eh?) and the constant punishment for Drew.  I actually have ordered one more, hopefully it will come soon.  I just hope TJ can keep up.  He's not so much a reader...

2.25.2009-Day 56

Today I got a package from UPS with a new DVD for Cam inside.  The new DVD is a potty training show that will hopefully inspire (?) the desire (wow, I really didn't mean to rhyme there!) to use the toilet.  Frankly, I'm just plain SICK of changing diapers, plus the kid seems really interested.  

2.24.2009-Day 55

I've been looking all over the internet for some classes that I could take for photography and/or photoshop.  I found some free ones that are offered at pictureline downtown and they're free!  I went to my first one today and learned some new things.  It was a very basic class, but being self taught, the more and more I can hear the basic concepts, the better (hopefully) I'll learn about photography.  I've already signed up for 3 more classes and am really excited to expand my learning!

2.23.2009-Day 54

The night before I had gone to Celine Dion and so I was so tired on Monday.  We dinked around all morning because I didn't really want to do anything.  The boys wanted to ride bikes, but living on the corner of a VERY busy road, I have to find other ways...so I brought a bike inside (we already have an inside bike/car/thing with wheels).  The only rule was, they had to stay on the tile in the kitchen-I'm really hoping we can get a fence soon!!  After the boys had been playing for a while, I realized that I could practice panning to show motion in my photos...I still have a lot to learn...I like this picture ok, I wish Cam was in a little better focus.  Maybe I should've used my flash.  Dad, what do you think?

2.22.09-Day 53

Sunday-we alternate going to dinner every Sunday with both of our families.  This week we went to my parents house.  My mom (grammy) had spent the morning setting up the train track for the boys...plus there was a new remote control train.  The boys were in HEAVEN!  Drew is the king (self appointed) of all of the trains and Cam gets in trouble when he messes things up, so he is generally banished to the sidelines.  I love how he looks on in this picture...he loves his toot-toots :)

Two (or three) more...

2.21.09-Day 52

Cam has been playing with this particular toy all week.  He loves that he knows all of the animals (the sorsey-horsey, the cow, the pig and the ship-sheep) and their sounds, and that when you push on their heads, they make their sounds.  He loves the farmer most of all though. His name is Bob.  Nobody has told him this, it just is.  He plays with it ALL day and hates to leave it for meals, naps or bedtime.  I love that he looks for this same toy everyday, he's always just played with what was around, never looking for a specific toy.  I just love this little boy.

2.20.09 -day 51

Cam is getting better and better with utensils, but even more than getting to eat my own cereal before it gets soggy or the smaller messes that are left where he sits, I love how he holds his utensils.  He holds on so tight that his knuckles turn white and I just love how all of his short chubby fingers curl all over each other.  

Up to date!

Here are my layouts for Week 7:

2.19.09-Day 50

I usually have music playing during the day, especially in the mornings as I clean (to help motivate me) and the kids love dancing and running around.  This is a shot of Drew doing some kind of move, and it just makes me laugh!!  What a funny kid!

2.18.09-Day 49

Today was a pretty lazy day.  It's sandwiched in between to busy ones, so I spent the afternoon playing on the internet, editing photos, and reading.  After we put the kids to bed, I made these mini chocolate silk pies for TJ and I...they were yum-o!!

2.17.09-Day 48

I grabbed my Camera on the way out the door to pre-school.  I've had every intention of taking a photo while Drew walks into school, and am SO glad I remembered this time.  I love how I froze the snow (get it, froze the snow!!?!) as it was falling and how I captured Drews profile...I love his long lashes!!

2.16.09-Day47

Tonight we had Family Home Evening-something we don't get to do very often because TJ usually meets with clients on Mondays.  The boys love it when we have FHE and at the end I snapped this photo.

2.15.09-Day 46

I love this photo of Drew...I took it outside my in-laws as they were preparing dinner.  I just couldn't resist the lighting, it was magical!!

Updates....

Here are my latest pages:

Day 45/365

Today was Valentines day and my husband and I and his sister and her husband went to the Spaghetti factory for dinner and bought some fun board games to play later.  While at Trolley Square (there's such amazing architecture there) I took some fun pictures...this was one of my favs.

Day 44/365

Today we were getting ready for the day when Drew cam running into our room telling us to come see what Cam had done.  I went into his room and this is what I found.  Instead of yelling or getting mad, I ran downstairs to get my Camera to record the moment.  Afterwards, I made him (I helped) put the Q-tips and the wipes away.  Instead of taking it as punishment, he sat there and sang "clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere....clean up clean up."  At least he's happy...

Day 43/365

Tonight, my two brothers-in-law and myself played games until the wee hours of the night and this is what helped me power through...

Day 42/365

My husbands sister (with new baby) and her husband, and their brother came to visit this past week.  TJ's brother Brad had never met Emalee (my new niece) and so we were all able to spend some time together.  My cute MIL really wanted a photo of her and her three grandkids so, of course I obliged!  I love how everybody is looking in different directions (we had more than one person trying to make the boys smile)...and how BOTH boys are SMILING!!!!

Day 41/365

Today I went to Target to get some organizational cabinets for the boys playroom.  It's something I've had my eye on for about 4 1/2 years!  I am so pleased with the way it turned out...it only took me 2 1/2 hours (that's including "help" from the boys and re-organizing all of the toys), and it was worth every minute.  Now, the room looks very clean, organized-no more clutter yay!!!, open and much bigger.

Day 40/365

Today My little Cam had a cough and a fever...there is NO medicine to cover both of those!!!!   It was a pretty miserable day.  He was a little trooper though.  Oddly enough, it didn't really slow him down.  He was still up to his normal mischief and mess making.  But, he was a lot more willing to cuddle with mom :)

Photos, photos, photos!

Day 39/365

Today I borrowed my dads 105mm macro lense to take some photos of the roses TJ got me for Valentines day.  Side note-I know that it's not Valentines day yet, but you see I have a very frugal and practical husband who decided to get these beautiful roses for me a week early.  He figures he probably saved around $40 dollars.  Good job honey, now you can get me that new camera bag that I need!!! :)  I love my sweetie!  I think it's sweet that he got me these roses.  Thanks my love!  

Ok, so I took this photo with my dad's AWESOME lens and I just LOVE how it turned out.  How cool is this!!! 

Day 38/365

I spent almost the entire day at my parents house today (with the kids of course-TJ was skiing).  My dad and I had some nice chats about photography, I was able to spend time with my mom and my sister.  It was a good day.  When we were leaving, I realized I hadn't taken my photo for the day and I looked outside and saw the top of what was probably a gorgeous sunset.  I noticed that the sky behind my parents big tree was all shades of blue, pink and purple.  It was so beautiful.  I loved the random pattern of all the branches against the sky and so I took a few shots.  When I went to edit the photo, I decided to to this high key, dramatic moody black and white.  I really like how it turned out!

Day 37/365

Friday was an awesome day.  My AMAZING mother-in-law decided to take my kids for the day so I could do anything I wanted.  I scrap-booked ALL. DAY. LONG.  It was much needed.  I am really behind and it felt good to tackle this huge project!  Thanks Karen!!

That night, TJ and I surprised the kids and took them to Chucky-Cheese (or Cheppy Cheese as Drew calls it).  They had a ball, it was a really fun night! 

Day 36/365

On Thursdays I deep clean my bathrooms.  Right before I started cleaning though, Cam had the most disgusting, explosive diaper EVER.  I had to give him a bath, so I decided to put them (Drew got in too)  in mine and TJ's big tub while I cleaned.  It was AWESOME!!  I didn't have to worry about them, Cam didn't try to play with the caustic cleaning materials...it was pure cleaning bliss.   Afterwards, I turned on the TV for them and I did some more cleaning...I came back to find them sharing Drew's banana chair...ahhhhhh, how sweet!

Day 35/365

I am so lucky to have such a helpful husband.  There is nothing he won't help out with in the house (except scrubbing bathtubs...:), and although I am so grateful for him, we don't exactly share the same organizational, um...desires.  So, Drew, knowing how crazy I get when things aren't in their place put out his and Cam's toothbrushes and their toothpaste on the right side of the counter (they each have their own drawer) so that Daddy would know which drawer to put in.  I love how Drew is always trying to help :)

Day 34/365

My cleaning jobs for Tuesdays are sweeping and mopping the floors (all my downstairs floors, bathroom, entry way and the kitchen and pantry), and laundry.  It's the busiest cleaning day of the week, but by doing this I don't any jobs on Fridays or Saturdays! 

Layouts and photos...

I am FINALLY caught up with all of my photo-a-day layouts.  It was kind of a pain at first and I thought this was a LOT of work in addition to the photos everyday, but it's made me a faster scrapper and better at journaling already, plus I appreciate templates even more now!!!

Week 4 Layout:

Week 3 Layout:

Week 2 Layout:

Day 33 (Feb. 2nd)

Now, that I'm in a new month and have to start adding...I might screw this whole thing up!!!

Well, here is a picture of my Vacuum.  I used to HATE to clean, now not so much...but I love having a clean house.  Instead of doing all of my cleaning on one day, I do one (or sometimes two) job(s) a day.  Monday's is vacuuming.  I actually look forward to it (I love the lines in my carpet).  Don't judge me, remember, I have OCD. :)

Day 32 (Feb. 1st)

Right before we had to go to church, I ran the kids outside and shot a photo on our porch.  They actually stood still for more that a millisecond.  I got some pretty cute pics of them!

Day 31

I went to a Beginners Photography Workshop today and really enjoyed it!  I ended up coming out of the class with a few more questions than what I went in with, hahah (well only about photoshop), but it was fun to be with other photography lovers.  The two girls who taught it were awesome too!  

Day 30

Drew has loved puzzles from a pretty young age, and now Cameron loves them too.  So, we did a puzzle-a-thon and had races and decided to display our work and take pictures.  Unfortunately, it turned ugly shortly thereafter and it ended up that there was some SERIOUS drama after that!