What do ya think? I could use some hints :)!

I know I am just a little behind on the times, but I just barely bought the photo shop program and have been playing around with it a little. It's crazy how things change so quick! It's great! It's all about progression, right (dangit)!
I am embracing the fact that photography has become more about 'editing well'. I've been cropping and balancing light and color, and that is about it. I know... archaic!
Opening up the photo shop program is a little overwhelming, and really exciting all at once (so much to learn :). I will say that it gave me a boost of confidence to see that all the cool effects and perfect lighting I've seen on so many other photos are done not through skill or pure luck, but by a few simple clicks on a computer program. I was blown away by the whole head swapping action! I could have used that one over the years!
So... I'm actually opening myself up to opinions to see what the popular vote is :).
The top photo is just my normal bag of tricks. The bottom two are photo shopped using various enhancements.
What do you like???
And that's my little sister and her hubby, so no comments about the "subjects" :)!

Also, because I am new with this stuff, I would love it if anyone had any fun tips or sites with good tutorials!

And Thanks to my friends that help me with just figuring out how to use this blogger stuff!

Oh yeah... and how in the world do you change the size of your photos when you post them on your blog???? Kami? Laurie? ANYBODY?.....

Chixie Dix and Family Pix

The other night, Joe and I went to a Fancy Shmancy awards banquet at The Grand America hotel. It was actually a lot of fun to break out of the rut and get a little dolled up to rub elbows with an over-accomplished crowd. Since we were 'fashionably late' we ended up at a table of unfamiliar faces. Which to me, made the night even better. I am cursed with this uninhibited ability to say just whatever random (and most likely stupid) thought that pops in my head. Knowing that I would probably never see or recognize these people again totally took the pressure off :). I am happy to report that it was not me that made the hilarious goof by mentioning the 'Chixie Dix'!

As the night wore on, and the various crystal and over sized jewel awards were claimed, my mind started to wander (big surprise) to the events of the past year. It started out like this... wow that chic totally climbed Mt.Everest and that other lady has 7 kids and 'somehow' she managed to become an amazingly successful business owner. And then there was this gorgeous scientist/ doctor that was making monumental discoveries that are changing the field of medicine... she was 29!

Yup... I was thinking what the crap is my problem! I have this mountain of unfolded laundry in my bedroom, I fed my kids corn dogs for dinner, and I'm pretty sure my shoes don't match what I'm wearing! So when the little server guy dressed in a tux brought me out this huge piece of strawberry cheesecake, drizzled with strawberry glaze, and sprinkled with flakes of white chocolate; I thought what the heck! Good thing I did, because it turned out amazing :)!!!

I am honestly not a jealous person (don't we all say that) and I was so happy for these people and their achievements (especially the one's I was there to support!), but I started to think about what my greatest accomplishments were in life, and what are my dreams for what's ahead.

There have been moments over the past few years that have felt like Joe and I were being dragged through the mud! Given a crappy hand! No more than anybody else, less than some I'd say... but just a raw deal!

That night, as we drove home together, I thought about how all the bumps in the road have helped my sweet Joe and I hold on to each other and our little family a little tighter.

Yesterday after church, we headed over to my mom's house where we did our own little family photo shoot, got some exciting news ;), and celebrated my brother in-laws and our oldest boy's birthday! Life is great! I have some pretty great accomplishments right in front of me!

 

That's What I get...

For taking my kids to church! AND
For thinking everybody else is crazy!



I haven't licked any pigs, but I am big on the sanitizer and washing my hands. I totally avoid McDonalds playland and only go to Walmart when I absolutely HAVE to. I've been known to use a gas station bathroom in an emergency, but only in an EMERGENCY! I'm sayin... I try to be healthy and keep things clean. And I really don't mean any disrespect by saying this, but the chapel I go to church at is gross! Specifically the bathrooms!!! It's totally worth the trip home!

So my last post (over 2 wks ago) was about how Caleb came home from church sick... Today was my little boys first day back at school! I have been super sick myself for several days (this really is not a whiny, poor me thing :). My personal nurse practitioner (my amazing little sister who is a nurse practitioner) braved a visit to our house and told me I have the swine flu.

Ha! I laughed!!! I have been making fun of people that are all worked up about this stupid thing for weeks! I am sick of hearing about it! So I guess I deserve it :). Yea it's pretty crappy stuff and the other night I didn't think I was gonna make it through the night because I was so freakin congested I couldn't even breath! I haven't left my house in what feels like forever, and I've had to be creative to keep my kids from killing each other from their boredom! I even entertained myself one afternoon by cruising the classifieds on ksl. By the way...somebody is selling a "real" rodeo queen outfit for only $800 and then there's another lady that makes all kinds of red hats with feathers and stuff in them. She says your friends will all be jealous if you have one! And who knew there was such a thing as a fur coat made out of raccoons! Certainly not me! It got me thinking... who catches the raccoons and then skins them? Then what woman in her right mind sews them together?!

I know I sound pretty crazy myself! Must be the swine flu talkin! Anyways, I am hopefully on the up side of this whole deal (really- nobody make me soup or I'll be chapped!) and I still think people are nuts!!! And even though I no longer need the vaccination for it, the whole idea sounds scary!

I love this little guy...

But, I absolutely HATE it when he gets sick!! Not because he whines or moans, or even complains at all. He is actually the sweetest little angel! He goes from the tasmanian devil to a little bundle of blankets with a sweet little smile poking out the top. He's full of "thanks mom" and "I love you too mom". He even takes a nap (which he quit doing at the age of 2)!
In the past, him being sick was always a scarry deal usually involving a 3 am trip to the emergency room! The kid has had more than one brush with death since his birth! So, yesturday when we get home from church and he says "I'm not feelin so great"; I immediately start the routine of home remedies and swear to myself that I'm not taking him to primary in the last 3 months of the year again! What is wrong with people?! Don't they know that having a sick kid is the best excuse (I mean reason) to stay home and watch sacrament (or even football) on TV! I'm all for it!!!
ANYWAYS... my purpose in writing this is because I'm so grateful and relieved that during FHE tonight, he started teasing the dog and making the calm and peaceful moment out of control, once again.
See... I am grateful for the stressful, crazy feeling I get when he's running circles around the kitchen at the speed of light, leaving catastrophic messes behind!
I know I will have to remind myself I said that... just a few times tomorrow. Crazy me! I'm keeping him home just one more day to be sure (and to have a good excuse to cuddle up on the couch and watch cartoons again :).
I love being a mom!

Hot "Diggidy" Dog!

Third times a charm right :)...

We are catchin some flack for going down the dog route again, but I promise :) this one's gonna work out!

Here's how it all started...

So a friend asks me to watch her 3yr old little boy. She doesn't tell me it's his first day in underwear (that is a whole other story) and that he's a little mischievous. OK, he's 3, I'll call it curious. He's a sweet little boy, but he was really into our latest summer pet - the hamsters. He kept trying to manhandle the little guys and didn't seem to get the whole "be gentle thing". Reminds me of 'Of Mice and Men'! So I stashed the whole cage in the office and got the playdoh out thinking he would go for that. Soon after, my own two youngest get in a little fight (summer is so much together time :). I send the main culprit to 'His' bedroom to cool off. After I gave him a minute, I went to his room to talk to him. The talk only took like 2 min. We both have ADD, no sense in dragging it out! When I came back out, Ains was still up to the counter with the playdoh, but the other little guy was gone! I searched the whole house except for the office. I had closed the door earlier and it was still closed so I thought for sure he wasn't in there. I was wrong! I Caught him with a hamster in each little fist! Sneaky little guy :)! He dropped them back in the cage and slammed the door (kids are so funny when they know they are caught :). Anyways, Jacks came home about 2 min later and got right to work on his chores. First up on the list was cleaning the hamster cage (can you tell where I'm heading with this). To make a really long story shorter, we ended up having a funeral on the side of the house followed by a quick refresher lesson on the plan of salvation. The poor kid was in hysterics!!! He spent the next 3 days on the KSL website looking for a 'replacement' pet. It was driving me insane, because he has dyslexia and can't read very well yet and he was hollering for help every 2 min. I was very patient :),but I sure didn't get much done!

The funeral was on Mon. and I left Thurs. evening for a race hoping that it would have all blown over by the time I got home on Sat.

By Sat. evening I took Jacks with me and bought him this adorable little dog! His name is Diggidy and he' a Chaweenie. A chihuahua and a mini weenie dog mixed. Serious! Anyways, I told him that it was really important to read to this kind of dog, and being the obedient angel child that he is, he does it! Jacks hates to read because it's such a challenge for him, so it's working out to be a great thing!

So far the little guy is rockin the house training! Ains is warming up to him since he's cool with being wrapped in a blankie and stuffed in a doll bed. And he has been a great reminder to Joe and I of how great it is to be out of the 'up half the night with a baby stage'!

Things always work out for the best right :)!!!

Highlights of my week...

Here's just a few of my fav's from this week!

First up:

I told the boys it was time for a haircut and asked who wanted to be first (they hate getting hair cuts). For some reason Caleb jumped up and said "me first"! We headed out to the back deck with the clippers white trash style. Caleb looks up and says "give me a MOHOG mom".
Me..."what's a mohag"?
Caleb..."ya know..." He totally goes on to explain a mullet!

What do ya think?


We were headed to the temple open house that day (which didn't happen- another story)and I asked him if he if he wanted to go to Heavenly Father's house like that. He told me I better cut it all off like an army guy instead. No offense to anyone with a mullet or "mohog" - we are all children of our Heavenly Father :).

My next fav...

I was in Albertsons with Ainsly and she is trying to be so helpful bringing me all kinds of random stuff. I was getting totally annoyed, so I started telling her things on the list. Of course mountain dew is on it so we head down the pop aisle. I turn around holding a 2 litre in each hand to see Ainsley giving it all she's got to pull a case of Heineken beer out of the refrigerated drink section (opposite the pop of course). She says "I got your mountain dew mom. It sure is heavy". So funny! And I can totally see why she got confused!




I don't drink much dew myself these days (it's true, hard to believe)but I am not the only one in the house that contributes to the shopping list :).

Speaking of my sweet husband :)... He cleaned the carpets yesterday! I've got to make a big deal about that!!!




See boys...it goes a long way!

Chimes Choir Performance

 

 

This year Jackson got up extra early every Wednesday morning! He set his own alarm clock, made his own toaster waffles, and the whole works, just so he could get to school an hour early to be part of the chimes choir.
He has totally loved this experience and we were so excited to see his end of the school year performance!!! He did awesome!!!
However, he failed to inform me that instead of wearing his regular school uniform he was supposed to wear a white shirt and black pants :). I honestly think he didn't even notice...so I didn't point it out! I don't think the kid even looks in the mirror...he just doesn't care, and I personally think it's an awesome way to be!
After the concert, I took a minute to thank his music teacher. Of course he told me he loved having Jacks as part of his chime choir :). What I didn't know was that Jacks was the only 2nd grader he allowed to be part of it. All the rest of the kids were 5th graders. I had no idea his teacher had made an exception! I barely know his teacher, but I totally love him for seeing how amazing my little guy is and giving him the chance! Thanks Mr.Peterson!!!!! And thanks Jacks for an amazing night!