Grungy Graphics

My graphics design class ended today - unfortunately - as fast as it started. Too bad. It was really so much fun; there is a whole new world of digital art out there for me to explore. Today I learned how to make things look 'grungy' (if that is a word). There are lots of variations you can do, but this is the one I did after coming home - meaning that I can do it without someone walking me though it step by step...well OK, I followed my notes that I made in class, but still that is pretty good. Here is what I started with...

And this is what I did with it.
Neat huh? I think it is great. If only there was more time in the day that I didn't have to be doing laundry or cleaning, just think what could happen on my computer?! Someday. Perhaps this will encourage the team to do better this weekend!!

Conference

Conference was a few weeks ago but I forgot to post a couple pictures. We went on Saturday when it was cool and wet, but it was great to be able to go to the Conference Center. Ryan stayed home with Bella so Clark, my dad and I went. We were so happy we could go. As always, it was a great meeting and there is a special feeling when you are there. I was telling Cami that I think it can feel the same when you are watching at home, but there is always someone needing something so it is a little harder. Clark had a great time taking pictures before it started, but since they never turn out really great being far away, I am posting only one (if you want to see the 10 others, including the video of the primary choir practicing before the session, just let me know)!

New Class

I found this great two week class that I can take for FREE and it is teaching me how to use my Adobe programs, which I really like, but didn't know how to work very well. It is two hours a day, two days a week. Today was my first class and I learned some neat stuff and I came home and tried out what I learned on this picture and here it is for you to look at. Hopefully I will keep getting better!

Follow-up

I have had a couple people ask me about Bella and her potty training that she almost seemed to do on her own. Less you think that it was that easy, the day after my post she ADAMANTLY refused to sit on the toilet. This wasn't just any refusal; it was an arch her back, stick straight legs, screaming two-year-old refusal. Why? I don't know. Why trick me like that? It has been that way anytime we have mentioned the toilet or tried to go near it. "Do you want to go sit on the toilet?" I say. "NO!" is her response. So we are taking a break from that exercise. I don't want to be frustrated and angry about it, so we will try again later.

Fall Time

Well it has been many years since I have been in a place that has a 'real fall'. Sorry to say Arizona has a lot of good things going for it, but a breathtaking fall is not one of them. Today we drove up into the mountains to see the beautiful fall colors (before it snows up there tomorrow). Wow. It was such a great drive. Unfortunately, Ryan was taking a test and Clark was in school, so it was just my dad, Bella and I. (My dad came for Conference.) Words don't do it justice, so here are some pictures; really there are a lot more pictures - these were my favorites!

Apple Tartlet

I saw this recipe on cooksillustrated.com and thought it looked so good, I had to make them. They were very good. I should have had the tartlet on a nicer looking plate for the picture, but oh well. And really I would love a better camera to take cool pictures with but we will work with what I have! It was fun to try something new. It was not as sweet as a pie, which I liked. A little ice cream on top...what a great FHE treat. And then there is Clark who when I ask, 'What do you think?', his response is, 'It's ok.' More culinary refinement is necessary!

Great Book

I am normally a novel reader. Some of my favorites include, Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudiced, certain Grisham novels, Magic of Ordinary Days, Twilight...If I ever find or make time to read I want it to be something I really enjoy and for the most part has a happy ending. Sometimes I read other stuff, but not recently - that is until now! My dad had told me The Price We Paid was really great, so I put it on my list of someday reading. But since it was staring me in the face on my bookshelf everyday I started reading. It was really interesting and very inspiring. I haven't done a whole lot of 'church history' type reading so it was a good branch in a new direction. I finished reading it a couple days ago and have found myself thinking about it as things come up. I was so amazed at the experiences of these early pioneers and even more how they responded to their challenges. Truly amazing. And I enjoyed it enough to keep reading when I got a minute but I wasn't so consumed that I couldn't fix dinner for my family for a few days either! GREAT BOOK! (But if you read a good novel make sure to let me know - I am not giving up reading them!)

A New Wolf

This one isn't part of the "Jacob Black or Sam pack" but it is CLARK who earned his wolf rank in Cub Scouts. He did a great job finishing all the requirements, many of which he did on his own. He also got some great help from his Grandpa and leaders! Many thanks!! He is very happy to have it done but wants to keep working on other badges and beltloops too! Way to go Clark!!

Recent Projects

I like to have projects. Sometimes I tend to get a couple going at a time, which really isn't the best, but here are a couple I have finished recently!!

I have always wanted to try making a rag quilt so I made this one for a friend's new baby. It was fun. I think I would make another...someday.

And It is peach season...my very favorite fruit of the year. We have bought a couple boxes of peaches and have eaten almost all of them. But then I bought another box to bottle. It was good. I did more than just three bottles - it was just the picture I took for your reading benefit! Glad I am done with that for the year too. I still have a few left and I think I am just going to freeze them. Frankly, it is just faster and what is better than fresh peach smoothies all year round?

Surprise!

Last Sunday morning before church I was doing a couple things for RS on my computer, Clark was reading, I am not sure what Ryan was doing and Bella was playing. I went to check on her only to find her with NO clothes on. She had taken off her pajamas and diaper and having a great time playing - I was not so happy about it. I couldn't find any wet spots, so I figured I lucked out on that one! Then today, I was changing her diaper and she threw the biggest fit when I was trying to put one back on. Wow. So we went and sat on the toilet, just because and nothing happened and eventually I got a diaper back on her again. Tonight I gave her some milk and realized that her diaper was still dry, so back to the toilet we went. And...drum roll here...she went pee in the toilet! Amazing. I hadn't really geared myself up for the potty training thing yet, but I guess if she wants to go I will do it! I mean, who really likes buying diapers? That would be great to get off my Costco list! And I would rather having her GO in the toilet than PLAYING in the toilet, which happened a few weeks ago. She didn't like the result near as much!

Bella's Party

Well, there wasn't an official party but here are a few pictures from Bella's birthday.
And here is her cake, which took me a while to even decide how to make. I suppose it doesn't really matter all that much but I wanted one that looked cute in the pictures.



She enjoyed eating it at least!

She wasn't quite sure about presents but she had a good time playing with them once they were out of the box!
I really wanted her to have a little doll and doll cradle, so we built this little cradle and I made the bedding for the inside. Both she and the doll have a good time inside!
I really wanted to post this video that was cute, but long and I just can't seem to get it shortened on this computer, so I am going to have to use Ryan's software sometime, but I just need to get this draft posted! So watch for it...it will be great!

What we love about Bella

Happy 2nd Birthday Bella!!! Wow how the last two years have flown by. I wanted to post things we love about our little sweetie.

1. Bella has the BEST hair! It is so cute when it is done all up and it is great when it is not. Here is just a sampling of a few hair pictures.

This is my favorite. What a classic primping pose. Notice she is sitting IN the sink which is her favorite place to be, when I am doing her hair.

I did help this hair out a bit, but it does tend to be a little crazy by the end of the day, even when I do it in the morning.

Most days we do her hair and there are so many things we can do with it - I am jealous every morning...

2. Bella is such a happy little spirit. She has her not so happy moments like all kids, but she really is a happy little girl and smiles often and especially with Clark - she LOVES her brother!

3. She is has so much fun playing and we have just as much fun watching her. It is fun to see her enjoy herself.

She makes every day better and we are so grateful for her that she is part of our family. I often say, "What would I do without her?" And I just can't imagine!

Abnormal Teeth

Clark has had very odd baby teeth losses. To start with, his bottom two permanent teeth grew in behind his baby teeth - so he had two rows of teeth (shark teeth as we called them) until the dentist pulled his baby teeth out. Then the tooth next to these bottom ones got loose but he was so scared to pull it out that it fell out in his sleep and he swallowed it. Which brings us to the next one. Finally one of his top front teeth became loose. He has been wiggling it around for at least 3 months. He kept trying to tie string to the tooth and then tie the other end of the string to his toe or a doorknob and get it to come out. We told him this was a waste of time, but he insisted that it was going to work. He would wiggle the tooth but only forward, so for the last couple weeks or so, he has had this buck tooth. Nice. Finally today he wanted it out before church, so I pulled on it and then he got out another huge piece of dental floss and tied it to the door and kept trying to tie the other end to his tooth. Over and over he would slam the door, and the string would always fall off the tooth. One time after the door slam, he screamed and amazingly enough, it had fallen out! It was bleeding a tiny bit so he had to stuff half a roll of toilet paper in his little hole while we looked all over the floor for the tooth, which did not stay in the dental floss. After 5 minutes we finally found it - it had flown 6 feet down the hall. How many teeth does he have to loose? I have one kid that can't seem to get them all in (Bella) and one kid that can't seem to get them out. I didn't remember teeth being such a huge part of childhood!

3rd Grade - Here Comes Clark

Clark started school today!!! I don't know who was more excited, mom or Clark! He was up way before he needed to be and was all dressed and ready to go. (Except he hadn't practiced his piano yet :) He has been home for more than a half-an-hour and has talked about his day nonstop. (And is still telling me stuff.) I am so glad that he likes to learn and enjoys being with people. His teacher seems really great and I think they will be a good fit for each other. And as a added bonus for Clark, there wasn't even any homework today since it was the first day! He is growing up!

Forgotten Pictures

I was pulling pictures off of the camera this morning and realized that I had forgotten to post some ones from this past month, so here they are.

It was great to see Elise and her family (twice, actually in a month) but here are the pictures from the first visit. Aren't the kids so cute?

Bella asleep? During the day? Yes, she was sick for a few days and this was a major clue that she wasn't feeling well. She is fine now and back to her normal, almost-two year old destructive self.

Twilight Saga Complete!

I have finished Breaking Dawn so with it the Twilight Saga. I have to say overall I was pleased with the ending. I really don't think the last one is a great one for teens - glad I don't have a teenage girl that wants to read it! In someways I wish it had just been Twilight and I could have imagined my own little ending, but it wouldn't have been even close to the next three elaborate and inventive books so I guess that is why I read them and not write them. Now I can go back to my normal life and not have to wonder about the crazy world of the supernatural!

Mom (according to Clark)

Cami had this on her blog, so I let Clark answer the same questions.

1. What does mom always say to you?
Clark: "Do your piano." (Why did he miss the word, PRACTICE?)

2. What makes mom happy?
Clark: "If I clean up."

3. What makes mom sad?
Clark: "If someone in the family gets hurt."

4. How does mom make you laugh?
Clark: "Tickle my foot."

5. How old is mom?
Clark: "30, almost 31."

6. How tall is mom?
Clark: "5'5" (He is kinda into stats.)

7. What does mom like to do?
Clark: "Talk to her sisters."

8. What is mom's job?
Clark: "To clean the house."

9. What is mom's favorite food?
Clark: "Never really thought of this before....salad."

10. How do you know your mom loves you?
Clark: "You care for me; I don't know"

Little Surprise

A few weeks ago I went to K-Mart (not my favorite store, but I don't have too many choices that are close to our home :). As I was going in I noticed the little carousal going but no kids were on it. You know, those little rides they put outside stores to torture both children and parents; children because they ALWAYS want to ride and parents because the kids are ALWAYS asking to ride them. Anyway, I am kinda a mean parent who doesn't want to ever let my kids ride because if I do it one time I am supposed to let them every time and if they do ride and are happy for 2 minutes when it is over they have forgotten that I let them ride and cry because it is over. Anyway, this one was going and no one was on it, so I thought, I can be a nice mom and put Bella on it to ride until it is done, she might like it. So I stick her on a little horse expecting it to go for another 30 seconds or so, if we are lucky. But to my surprise, it just kept going. After 5 minutes I finally took her off (and she cried) and went into the store. When I came out it was still going. Amazing. I am sure they have since fixed it so they can keep gouging parents, but it was kinda fun, I guess.

What Jane Austen Character are You?

Take the Quiz here!

I love Jane Austen. Actually my favorite book of hers is Pride and Prejudice, but apparently I am more like Elinor of Sense and Sensibility and Elinor is "practical, circumspect, and discreet. "Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see." Is that all true?

I haven't read a good book in a while...I need to find more time to read! I am thinking of reading Persuasion by her. Have you read it? Let me know which character you are!

The LAKE

So now I am getting to the vacation of the summer! Ryan's family came from far and wide across the US so we could all be together and we went up to the lake.

It was really fun. Before we get to the great part, no trip is complete without the traveling story. Can we go on a car trip without one of our children chucking in the car? I have never been car sick before and this concept is really weird to me, but anyway, this time it was Bella. We were almost to the lake and driving through a windy canyon to get there, Bella was asleep, and she woke herself up by throwing-up all the Nilla Wafers she had eaten during the drive. What a mess. Of course there is no place to pull off on this nice windy road, so we have to go a few miles before there is a small spot to get off and I can kinda clean her off. We were really close to the lake, so we opted to not take an hour and just do a quick wipe so we could get there and then throw everything in the washer! Clark spent the rest of the drive with his head hanging out the window! But HURRAY we made it!

We had a really great time. The first day we were there Bella liked the sand and had fun filling buckets and playing in it.

The next day we went, she wouldn't put her feet on the sand AT ALL. She spent the whole day going from the mat to the beach towel, unless we were holding her. Crazy girl!

Bella and Clark both liked the rides on the Sea-Doos as well. Clark wasn't sure on the first trip that he loved them, but decided they were alright after all and had a great time riding them. I didn't get a picture of him riding (opps) but here is one of Bella.

We called her our little sumo with all that flotation! There was also a boat that was lots of fun. Clark especailly loved getting pulled on the tube behind the boat. Ryan and I took a turn as well but between the two of us there was a lot of mass (mostly his :) that got jurked around as we bounced over the wake of the boat. I was SO sore the next day but would do it again!

The place where we stayed was great and the kids had a good time playing tennis and swiming in the pool with their cousins.

Well, we really loved being together and had a great time. Too bad we all don't live closer together!