Lots of Time to Fill

I find it funny that some days I complain about being overwhelmed with things to do while others go by so slowly, that by three o'clock I'm tapping my watch to see if the battery is still working. I think that as crazy as it may seem, I actually prefer those very busy days because they go faster and in the end I feel like I've accomplished more. Since, however, some days do tend to drag, I love finding simple projects I can do with the boys that don't take a lot of time, money or make much mess. (that third one is the hardest criteria to meet, especially with three boys. But they sure have fun!)

I did find one the other day though while wandering through Walmart in search of plastic soup spoons for Dan (who knew they even made those?). I found some animal shaped plates, and instantly thought...puppets! So for about five dollars, I bought the plates and some jumbo popcicle sticks. I helped the boys cut out eye holes and hot glued them all together. Of course we had to do the entire bag of plates, because they were all so cool. Here's how they turned out. You all should try them sometime.....easiest puppets ever!

wrong way O!


There we go.

A different day in the big blow up toy. They had more fun with it after I deflated it, than when it was full.

Big brother.

More photo shoots. I'm trying all kinds of things these days. I liked this one of Linc. He has the cutest crooked smile!

Logan in his tie dyed bear shirt he made at school.

This picture was so bright. I was trying to find the right setting with my camera on manual. I loved how his eyes are still so defined, even though the rest of his face is not.

We love Daddy!

Since tomorrow is Dan's birthday, I thought it would be fun to post this question survey I did with the boys a year or so ago. When I did it before I asked the questions about myself, but this time, in honor of him, I asked about Daddy. I love you sweetie, and after talking with boys, I can assure you they do too. Happy 31!

1. What is something dad always says to you?
Logan: Good Morning.
Lincoln: Hello.
Owen: Um O.

2. What makes dad happy?
Logan: Our family
Lincoln: When I smile when I was a baby, and because I love him.

Owen: You.

3. What makes dad sad?
Logan: When I'm not a good listener and when he has to leave to Florida to some stuff for a couple of days.
Lincoln: When he whines at me.
Owen: N

4. How does dad make you laugh?
Logan: Tickles me right here (pointing) in the arm pits.
Lincoln: When he tickles me on the head, um yeah um on the arm.
Owen:Umm S (can you tell he's sitting with me by the keyboard?)

5. What was dad like as a child?
Logan: I think he ate tamales and was a good listener.
Lincoln: Um, he was very smart.
Owen: Umm, o? he he he.

6. How old is your dad?
Logan: How old is he mom? 36? But now I think he's 37.
Lincoln: My dad was four years old on his birthday.
Owen: Ummm (Lincoln suggests 7) no Lincoln...8!

7. How tall is your dad?
Logan: Wait one minute I'll tell you when I come down. (running upstairs....pause and then shouts) 29! But now I think he's 30.
Lincoln: 18
Owen: Old?

8. What is his favorite thing to do?
Logan: Wrestle with me and take a day off.
Lincoln: I likes to wrestle with me too.
Owen: Ummm green? How bout a geezburger?

9. What does your dad do when you're not around?
Logan: At work? He do's his homework and eats lunch.
Lincoln: When he's going to work, I'm going to Publix, I think.
Owen: Umm, umm, what?

10. If your dad becomes famous, what will it be for?
Logan: Being an astronaut.
Lincoln: That's what I was going to say.

Owen: Umm I dknow you!

11. What is your dad really good at?
Logan: Soccer.
Lincoln: basketball.
Owen: goo?

12. What is your dad not very good at?
Logan: Building houses.
Lincoln: Not playing basketball. Well he's not kinda stinks enough.
Owen: umm dublboo.

13. What does your dad do for his job?
Logan: Helps with rockets
Lincoln: Going to work and fix all of the cars and trucks.
Owen: umm work? Gife? (no clue)

14. What is your dad's favorite food?

Logan: Beef turkey.
Lincoln: Umm my daddy likes to eat pizza.
Owen: peppyrony pizza?

15. What makes you proud of your dad?
Logan: When he does...when he...well lots of things. When he gets all of the work done.
Lincoln: Well, when my dad needs to eat poppin pies. Poppin pies are a great pizza.
Owen: Mommy?

16. If your dad were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Logan: Mickey Mouse.
Lincoln: And Donald duck for me.
Owen: rockin robin.

17. What do you and your dad do together?
Logan: Wash the car and play outside.
Lincoln: Play rockets.

Owen: UmmI liek talkin to daddy. Whered daddy go?

18. How are you and your dad the same?
Logan: We're both boys.
Lincoln: We're both three.
Owen: no

19. How are you and your dad different?
Logan: He's thirty and I'm five
Lincoln: I'm twenty five and dad's eighty five.

Owen: Ummm no.

20. How do you know your dad loves you?
Logan: Because he always gives me hugs when he gets home from work.
Lincoln: Because he gives me hugs and kisses. I like that.
Owen: wike you! Wes, wike you.

A Lot of Light

Yesterday I practiced with some backgrounds. These pictures are all manual exposures. The first four I let a lot of light in and I'm posting them without fixing them. I thought they were beautiful. The last ones I worked on a bit. Wow, I can't believe how much I have grown to love photography. I was telling Dan last night that in my dreams I was picturing different shots, and backgrounds. It was really funny. As I drive around out here in rural Alabama, I see millions of places I want to stop and play around with my camera. This was a hobby I wasn't expecting to run into, and now I can't get enough! I better run now, I think my hubby would like to see me tonight and I've been on my computer for a while!

Pay it Forward

I thought this was a pretty cool idea. So many times I wish I could do more to serve others, but since I have so many very wonderful, young, children, I feel like people are always helping me out, and I can't do much for them. So when I saw this first on my friend Diana's blog (I was the fourth so I missed it) and again on my friend Mary's (number three that time), I thought it was perfect. Something I CAN do. Anyone is welcome to leave a comment as long as you follow the rules. :) I'll get your address from you somehow.

This is how it works..... The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a hand made gift from me during this year. When and what will be a surprise. BUT, in order for you to leave a comment on my blog, you have to post this on your blog first. (That means that sometime during this year you will send a gift to 3 people as well.) Get it? So, the first 3 people to comment on this post will be the lucky ones.

Pink Overload

I may be a few days late, but I hope everyone had a very happy Valentine's Day! Ours was full of excitement and energy. (not very different from any other day I guess) It was so fun to see Logan and Lincoln prepare their cute little valentines to take to their classes. Linc picked Transformers and Logan picked Star Wars and Hanna Montana. He had to have some for the boys and some for the girls. I was so frustrated with valentines this year, because I could not find a box of them that included envelopes and I had bought a bag of candy hearts for them to give to their friends.

When I was little, I loved getting the valentines with candy in them! We ended up using some envelopes from old Christmas cards I had still lying around from the holidays and filled them up. :) They did all the addressing and filling themselves this year, while Owen had his fill of candy. He's got really fast hands, that one.

Dan and I decided not to get gifts, so I bought him a card and some candy and he bought me roses and chocolates! (which technically is a gift, so I think he cheated.) He and the boys snuck out the night before and Dan made them promise not to tell me. Logan picked out the roses. He chose pink because the sweetheart knows it's my favorite color! I loved them, and had some fun taking pictures of them with my little pink girl. I'll post my favorites, and let you go!

To start the pink off, here is a glimpse of Ellie's room. I just put the polka dots up this past week and I love how they turned out. I hang out in her room more than any other, which makes me wonder if I decorated it for her or for myself. :) I really hope the girl likes pink, otherwise we'll definitely be changing it in a few years! Something cool about this photo...it's one of my first attempts at a fully manual exposure. I'm reading a book about taking shots with manual exposure, and I'm having a lot of fun with it. I've still got a long way to go though!

Another manual exposure. Thanks Sweetie!

beautiful.


Wow, I'm adding a lot of manual photos. I didn't realize I took so many. Here are the boys filling out their valentines!

Notice Logan's hands.

I liked to pink hue to this one.

My helper with the tattoos.

Stop and smell the roses!

Where are you looking O?

Save the best for last.

Three Little Men and Their Tortillas

Dan wasn't so sure I should add this post, due to the high "you might be a redneck if..." content. I, however, felt like I should. Because apart from being, let's face it, a little wierd, this was one of the best ideas I've had in a long time.

So, to save face for my husband, I am openly claiming all responsibility for the below posted picture and if anyone thinks I'm completely insane...so be it. At the moment I very well might have been. In some cases you just do what you you have to do.

So here's the story. Yesterday Dan had a meeting at our church after work, so he stayed late and went straight there before coming home. He has these meeting about once a week. On that day, I usually don't fix anything fancy for dinner because honestly, I've caught my kids eating out of the garbage from time to time. So impressing them with a fancy meal is not always my main priority. Yesterday was no exception. Add to the scenario a very long list of chores I am embarassingly behind on (laundry, dishes, Logan and Lincoln's valentines, bathrooms, oh yes and bathing my children) and I'm sure any mother will understand how it can be nearly seven o'clock and dinner hasn't even crossed my mind yet. I was gently reminded by Owen who made his way up the stairs into the bedroom I was cleaning carrying a gallon of milk and a package of hotdogs.

Now, I'm not really the type of person who you could call a 'bedtime nazi', but serisouly, I wear down around seven and am pretty much useless by eight, so getting my kids in bed by seven-thirty is healthy for me and for them.

When Owen approached me with his food, I peeked at the clock, saw how late it was, realized that the kids not only needed dinner, but were in serious need of a bath and knew that if I didn't figure out somthing, it was going to be a late one. I dreaded the thought of hauling them all downstairs to my freshly cleaned kitchen, messing it up while we had dinner, dragging them back upstairs to the tub (leaving the messy kitchen for later) and getting them cleaned, dressed, teeth brushed, and read to. It was going to be at least another hour and I was so tired. So, in that instant, I came up with an amazing plan. I ran down stairs and threw together some quesadillas (easy clean-up), then came back up, threw the kids in the bath and divvied the food out. The boys thought I was insane, but loved eating in the bathtub! After they ate, I scrubbed them down and tossed them in bed! I was done in fifteen minutes; just in time to turn into a pumpkin, lay on the couch with Ellie, and watch American Idol.

Judge if you must, or try it some time.....I'll let y'all decide. Oh, and does anyone know how I can get ahold of Jeff Foxworthy? I want to tell him I've got a good one for him! :)

All Worn Out

Wow, I have just read a lot of blogs from around this area and I can't believe how many people are sick! I hope everyone is feeling better and though I don't like to wish my time away, I do hope spring arrives soon. It feels to me like a lot of us are very ready to get out of our houses and enjoy some fresh air. Our little family has had it's turn with the colds this weekend too. Poor Ellie has had a fever and Owens nose has been a faucet. (where does it all come from anyway?) I've had a cold too, but I haven't had the time to notice and Dan's allergies are hitting him hard. I'm not complaining, (especially after reading what some others are going through) but I do feel exhausted and ready for some relief. I've often wondered why my Mom (or any other moms for that matter) never really warned me about how hard it is to be a mother. It is really hard. You have to be tough mentally, physically, spiritually and all the other "ly's." I've decided that she was probably too busy worrying about the laundry, or nursing a sick child to have the time to tell me! Seriously though, even though it's tough, I think the pain is forgotten quickly because of all the joy. No words can explain the fulfillment felt when a chubby little finger is shoved in your face for a kiss, or when your kindergartener hands you a hand written note with misspelled words, telling you how much he loves you. I am tired, but grateful for my family. Dan is too... I can tell because he's fast asleep on the couch right now. It's been a long day! :) Oh, and here is my seven, seven, seven picture. I tag anyone who wants to post one of their own! Go to your seventh file and pick the seventh picture and post it! I've seen some really fun ones!

Baby Ellie's first cry.

Lots of contrast!

I got a lot of comments about using more contrast in my black and white pictures. I honestly know very little about brightness and contrast, but as I play with them I'm figuring out what I like. 

Here are some pictures from the week that I've played with. I had to have Ellie's weekly photoshoot of course! The poor girl is probably so sick of having the camera shoved in her face! If anyone out there wants me to practice on their little ones my kids would really appreciate it I think. Well, maybe Logan wouldn't, he loves having his picture taken! :)

Fuzzy-haired Ellie

Playing with color. Owen likes to drink his applesauce these days.

Eyelashes.

I didn't do much to this one, but I had to add it cause Ellie was smiling so sweetly! Lincoln was playing with her and she loved every second of it.

More applesauce, 50% more contrast.

I love this picture. Yesterday I was giving Linc a piggyback ride, and when it was time to let him down, I thought his feet were ready, but they weren't. He landed flat on his back and bonked his head. I felt so bad, but he is sweet and let me cuddle him until we both felt better. Afterwards, Logan took him and made him lay on the couch while he played doctor. He got him the blanket, pillow and icepack! Lincoln was more than happy to play along.

Here's what's new at our house. I'm teaching Logan piano! I also teach one of his friends who lives around the corner. They are both doing really well, and I am not as scared of teaching as I thought!

plinka, plinka, plinka, plink.

Logan on our exercise ball. This is about as much exercise as this ball gets unfortunately!

Peek-a-boo!

The rest of these are from Ellie's photoshoot. Here is where I upped the contrast and I love how they turned out!

Ellie's First Rice Cereal

I hope this works. Ellie started solid foods last week and we took a video of her first few bites. She spit out more than she ate, but it was fun to watch! This video is a little bit long. It's real glimpse into our family on a Sunday afternoon though. It starts out with slobbering Ellie, then moves on to silly Lincoln and ends with some Starwars/WWF moves. Logan, in his typical way, narrates throughout the entire thing. Oh, and thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions on my last post. I need all the help I can get, and that's exactly why I love blogging. I'll write more later!