Experimenting

Well, I'm in the dark about a lot that this camera has going on. I'm learning about Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO. Who knew there was so much to learn and understand? Anyway, I've been trying to understand as much as I can, and in my past time this camera (that I am SO in love with!) consumes my time! Here are a few pictures that I've shot. I'm no professional, and I haven't gotten the technicalities down to an art by any means, but it's fun to experiment! Trying to figure out lighting as well as blurring the background as well as freezing the subject all the while getting the perfect coloring etc. is still a bit beyond me, but like I said I'm experimenting. That's the beauty about digital...experiment experiment experiment! This was the first picture I took. Of course Adi is SUPER cooperative!

The rest of these pictures are from the other day when Adi had some of her friends (her cousins) over. We made "Peanut Butter Stripper Dippers". They are a great invention we came up with along with one of Adi's friends, Will, who we watch. So fun for the kids. You make a grilled peanut butter sandwhich, cut them into strips, and then let them dip 'em in their favorite things i.e. chocolate, caramel, and strawberry jam! Not the healthiest, but we try and even it out with some fruit too:) This one didn't turn out hardly at all. I'm really having a hard time grasping how to still frame them and get the lighting to work. (sigh) Like I said, experiment!
Getting ready to try some Peanut Butter Stripper Dippers...mmm...She likes peanut Butter!

And OH Yeah, We LOVE the chocolate!

Best buddies!

Well, hopefully next update I'll only be getting better.

My heart is breaking...

(turn your volume up for this post. FYI: I realize that this is not the "typical" post. I think this is a little bit more mature content than usual. However I feel strongly about this, and maybe the more awareness you can spread, the bigger difference you can make.)

As many of you know, after I graduated from High School I went to Ecuador, South America to serve in the orphanages there. It's been nearly 7 years ago this March that I left. It was THE MOST fulfilling, rewarding, eye-opening BLESSING I have ever had the privilege of experiencing. I never knew ya know? I never knew a lot...and I learned so much. I realize that doesn't make sense, but it's hard to put in words. Ever since then children, orphans, and adoption have held a very dear place in my heart. And they forever will. In light of the recent tragedy that has befallen on Haiti, I have been feeling particularly heavy with heartache for the children.



Today I learned of more tragedy that has befallen upon this country and these beloved and blessed children. Because of the Trauma the country has suffered, an increasingly large amount of children are being taken to the Orphanages. Parents who fear their children will starve take their beloved little ones here in hope of giving them the only thing they can...a chance of survival. To them, the orphanages are a Godsend. Yet the conditions of the orphanages often consist of concrete floors, and broken windows. There is no electricity, or running water. Due to the quake, the conditions are only worsening. More and more people are homeless and left with what they feel is no other option than to take their children to these orphanages. With this is arising more problems. Children are coming and going without paper-work etc. Because of the large numbers inhabiting and overwhelming these orphanages, authorities fear that some are taking advantage of the numbers and the chaos and selling children as servants and sex slaves. Trafficking is a multi-million dollar criminal network. It is real. My heart is breaking, I feel an actual ache for these sweet and perfect children. Sometimes I think we like to live in unawareness, and naivety, and it's OK. Other times, I think it's appropriate to realize the conditions of this world. Bend down on your knees and thank God for the life you have. And while you are there, will you please join me in saying a prayer for the Children?

It pays to Save!

I've been saving for so long for a nice Digital SLR camera. It's been quite a go too. I would save and save... and then something would come up and thank heavens we had that money saved you know? And then I would save some more, and Christmas came. Well needless to say, it's hard to save right? Am I the only one? Well, I'm here to tell you that patience pays off. (see...there's that word again!) I got my camera! WOOHOO!!!!

It's the Canon Rebel T1i. I have so much to learn that's for sure, but I can't wait to get learning on this baby! The 500 page manual it comes with isn't daunting at all! :) haha. Anyway, just wanted to share my complete and TOTAL excitement! I heart my new camera!

Waking up

I woke up this morning to Adelynn sneaking into bed with me and cuddling up. I love those early morning moments when her freezing cold toes slide under my legs for warmth and she nuzzles in closely. This morning I awoke to an even more special treat. While cuddling she told me she brought me a present. Usually it's a lego tower, but today I looked over to see she had used Emersyn's stacking cups to put some Gerbera Daisies in. Aww, what a lovely way to wake up! Here's hoping to a good week, and an early spring!

Bummer, any suggestions?

For christmas I made Caleb this....

A date for every month of the year.

This is what we did for the month of January...

We saw Avatar and ate at Cafe Rio.

And the real big surprise was the month of April, our Anniversary, he is getting this....

A Trip to NEW YORK! Wahoo!

Caleb served a two year mission in New York, New York. He hasn't been back yet, so for our 5 year Anniversary I decided to combine Christmas and the Anni and surprise him with this. The whole she-bang. Staying in Time Square, going to a Yankee game, Broadway, etc. He was really excited, and I was too! But here is the catcher. When Caleb got back from the conference in Nashville he just went to, he found out that when his store makes the official Name transition this spring/summer, there will be no time off for anyone. For the months of April, May, and June, there will be NO time off. We were both pretty devastated since it looks like New York will be waiting yet ANOTHER year! (sigh).

Well, looking for the positive we decided it would be OK since times are tough, and we could pay down some bills. I let him have some of the money and get himself a present to make up for the disspaointment in not going, and basically loosing your Christmas present! So as frustrating as it is, he got a nice gift, and we're OK with waiting another year and paying down some stuff. But here is my quesiton to you all. I want to do something special for the Anniversary since this is kind of a let down, and especially since he's working so hard now, and will be working really hard then, and looking toward some really long days. Any great ideas that I could do to make it special for him? I thought about staying at the New York themed room at the Destinations Inn, but I don't know if he'll even get time for that. So, any creative ideas on turning our house into some sort of romantic NY getaway? Or other ideas too? Our Anni isn't till April, but I'd like to get ideas to start planning now. So any suggestions would be great.

He doesn't read this blog a lot, and with him being crazy busy, we'll keep our fingers crossed that if I don't mention the blog, he won't care to check it:)

Another Curly Haired Cutie, A Handy Hairdresser, and 2 Magnificent Mommy's!

I know I've blogged about Adi's hair being naturally curly before, but I'm not sure if I showed you all that the bouncing little spirals were passed on to sweet little Emi too. She bathes at night and sleeps on her hair so the next day it's usually just wavy, but here is a glimpse of those sweet little tendrils on that sweet little face that I love so much!(when she's not sick...but that's a different story!)

The girls both got baby dolls and strollers for Christmas because they love being Mommy's SO much! When we got home from Boise on Saturday night Emi wanted to sit on the counter and eat some marshmallows from the Marshmallow Mattie bag. Whatever. I was tired and exhausted, and mostly just happy to see her happy(I'll just say it wasn't a pleasant last 2 days because she was sick...but again, that's a different story, and WAY too long to share here). Anyway, she couldn't eat cereal without sharing with baby, and I just thought it was so cute how she held her little dolly in her arms while she ate. She also fed baby. She likes marshmallows too I suppose.

Last night after bath's right as we were sitting down for scripture study Adelynn sattled up next to me and proceeded to lift up her nightgown. I asked her what she was doing, and she said that baby duck was so hungry she had to feed him. So the entire time we read scriptures Adi fed baby. Then while we were in the middle she lowered her shirt and proceeded to life up the other side. She said "I have to switch sides now." hahah! Then when we knelt down for prayers she said it was baby ducks turn. Since she is his mama she helped him kneel down and then did the prompting. It went like this "Say Dear Heavenly Father....(pause)...Say Dear Heavenly Father....(as if she's waiting for him to respond! hehe) And then she proceeded in helping baby duck give a very nice prayer with sufficient pauses for baby to respond. Aww, what a good mommy she is!
Not this last weekend, but the weekend before I went to Boise, my Mom and Dad came over to pick me up and take me back with them. My diddy-boo helped fix our hot water heater while he was here, and it was my Ma's birthday, so we had an adult only dinner(thanks bec, I love ya!) at the Olive Garden to celebrate! YUM! I know it's boring, but I did the soup salad and breadsticks because they are just too delish! Anyway, that weekend Adi was so excited to see family. She just loves all of our family all around. We are lucky that way. While they were here she put on a show for us. (I didn't take pictures because I was too busy enjoying my time, and I spaced it, but it's good to write down for memory). Anyway, she got all dressed up fancy and got a tall little stool out and sang a great song she made up about giants and fairies and who knows what else, and she danced for me and Gayle and Grandma. We clapped and then she said "goodnight everyone, have a goodnight!" Then she made me get up on the stool and sing "Twinkle Twinkle" for everyone. Then Gayle had to do "I'm a little Teapot" and Grandma had to do "Mary Had a Little Lamb." It was such a hoot watching all of us adults up there dancing and singing for each other. It was pretty cute of her to do. She told us we were all wonderful and beautiful. Too sweet. Then later she wanted to cut me and Gayles hair. I remembered to get pictures of this...hahah! Anyway, after she finished "cutting" our hair, she styled it. Gayle got the best do, so I'll share some of those pics!

(Do you see how cute Adi's new haircut is?!)


Also while my mom was here we did some crafting. I love crafting, and it's especially fun with my sisters and mom. It's not finished, but I got started on this family night board. I did vinyl lettering for the words, a metal plate, and then mod podged some cute paper onto some letters and then attached magnets. Pretty cute, simple, and easy. A perfect project for me. And to go along with this, I'll pass on this site that another friend of mine shared earlier. It's a year's worth of FHE's that go along with the 2010 primary theme. I'm sure a lot of you have seen this, but if not, download it here It's worth it!

(I hope the rest of our kids have 3 letter nicknames:) Oh well, at least there is only 2 more open spaces, not 8 or something!)

MIA

I realize I've been MIA for a while. I guess I've not really been in the blogging mood. Not that there hasn't been much to blog about...there's been a lot going on...just not in the mood. I was doing some thinking this morning though, and thought maybe I would come write a little, and post an update.

I had my first Sunday teaching Relief Society this last week. It went SO good. I felt like I learned a lot from the lesson, preparation, and from the participation. I thought I was going to puke before I had to give the lesson, but I made it through everything fine.

This last week I got to do some home Improvement projects with Bec. We had a blast. We painted her Kitchen RED and stayed up laughing and eating yummy food. I love home improvement, and my mind has been twirling fabulous ideas for my house ever since!

I cut Adi's hair over Christmas break. Her cousins cut their hair, and so she wanted hers done too. I thought maybe it would help thicken out her hair a little, and it did! She looks adorable! (sorry, I will post pics to come...I'm not on my own computer...which brings me to now...

Caleb is gone. He left Saturday to go to meetings in Nashville. He's been having a good time. He got to meet John and Ashley Force. He said they were hilarious...I don't doubt it!! He also got to meet the Tennessee Titan Cheerleaders. He got his picture taken with them, and I think that made the trip worth while for him :)

I'm so jealous though. Look at this place they put him up. It's the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. AMAZING!

These gardens are all in a glass covered dome IN the hotel. Lucky duck!

Same with the waterfalls. Too bad he's sharing his room with a big fat mexican instead of his sweet little wife:)

I'm glad he's enjoying his time. I miss him tons. I hate being aways from him. I feel such a loss. But, I love him and am glad he's have a good time.

So since my husband is gone my sister decided she was going to come over and stay with me. OH! AWWW! So nice! ...

Then she got a notion to instead use me as her babysitter so she could go to HAWAII! hahaha, I don't mind! I'm thrilled for her.

She is staying at Turtle Bay on the North Shore.

Yesterday she called me and said "I'm in Hawaii in a Yellow Jeep with the wind blowing through my hair!"

I said AMAZING...and I'm....in Boise Idaho! WOOHOO! hehehe

Acutally it's been great. I was a little nervous about her little guy Jed. He's kind of a momma's boy. But as it turns out he's been GREAT! He's only cried once, and that was cause he fell and got a bloody nose. Not bad. The kids have been getting along perfectly and everyone's been sleeping great and we were even on time for school this morning! I didn't know how great I would be at that considering I'm NOT a morning person, but it's been nice. Maybe I can handle 5 kids afterall.

Speaking of that, my new years word has proved to be useful so far. I've really been enjoying it. Finding more patience in all that I'm doing has helped me be happier. Although I will admit I had a huge meltdown blowout on Sunday on the drive over. I'm so embarassed and mortified over my behavior! Why is it that I snap like that sometimes? Why can't I be the calm collective person I want to be? It ended with Adi in sad tears, and me not too far behind. We both said we were sorry. I told her I don't like it when she beahves that way, because it makes me sad. She said "but it makes me sad too." So we both agreed we didn't like it, and we would both try to be better. She got grounded from movies(which is like the ultimate punishment for her) and so far she's been great since. She really is a good girl. I do love her so much.

Last night there was one little incident that left me feeling slightly sad. My nephew was having a bit of a hard time and I wasn't quite sure how to comfort him. But we said a prayer and he went to bed. This morning he gave me a big hug and told me that "it's weird, but that prayer really helped." I was glad. I felt a lot better because last night I was feeling a little helpless. I talked to him after about the power of prayer, and he seemed to think that indeed it is powerful, and that helped him perk up.

At breakfast this morning we said prayer and then I had each of them recite an article of faith as part of their morning devotional their mom does with them when she's here. It was funny cause after they both got done reciting from heart their Articles and then I said "great job!" Then they both said "Your turn!" ....ugh....talk about being put on the spot! OK...memory....DON'T fail me now! hahaha. Luckily I stammered one out. I guess I better do some studying tonight to freshen up for the rest of the week!

Anyway, there's some tidbits of life. Aw, life. So fun. It keeps going whether or not we want it to. Look for pictures soon, and hope you all have a great week...or month...or however long it is till I type again:)