A Picture A Day: Week 8

Day 50

 

February 19: My boys recently discovered the joys of carpenter pants. After I showed Eli how to put the hammer in the loop on his pants I actually had to change Jonah's pants so he could have carpenter pants too. They were putting their tools in the pockets and loops all morning!

Day 51

  

February 20: My first attempts at photographing the moon only resulted in blurry, glowing orbs. I finally figured out the right settings and was pretty thrilled with this photo!

Day 52

  

February 21: For some reason my boys LOVE helping Mommy dry the dishes! Now I have to get out two drying cloths and stools so they can help me. Not that I'm complaining!

Day 53

  

February 22: Can you see that my tulips, crocuses and orchids are starting to poke out of the dirt? This makes me SO happy!

Day 54

February 23: Ever wonder why boys' socks wear out so fast? Now you know.

Day 55

  

February 24: For some reason Eli always has one sock on and one sock off. Honey Daddy and I went out this evening and left the boys with friends. When we returned Eli once again had one sock on and one off again. My friend told me that they have no idea where the other sock went!

Day 56

  

February 25: We has a little bit of snow this morning. I knew it wouldn't last long, so I ran outside to take some pictures before it all melted.  It's already gone.



Hosted by Cecily and Amy


Hosted by Chris

Autozone and Invisible Cars

I have been participating in a 365 photo challenge, where I take a photo each day. As a result I have found myself photographing some interesting (and sometimes bizarre) things.

For example, the other night we were on our way to Costco and Autozone to pick up a couple of things. I wanted to photograph a big clock near our house, so I brought my camera along for the ride.

As we got near the clock, I realized that the picture at night would not turn out like I wanted it to. But I had my camera out so I started playing around. I have only had my Canon XSi for a year or so and now that I am more comfortable with it I have been playing around with the manual modes more often.

Did you know that by changing your exposure time you can make things disappear?

 

I thought it was pretty cool that I could take pictures of a car headlights and make the car itself disappear! I actually took this picture from the passenger seat of our van, so that's why it's a little jiggly, but I still think it's pretty cool.

I think I am going to have to set up my tripod sometime (at a more photogenic location) and take some more long exposures to see what I come up with!

As for the next photo, I have no explanation for this random picture of air fresheners. I just think they are colorful... and there weren't a lot of people at Autozone to stare at me while I took the photo.

  

SafetyTat Review and Giveaway

When it comes to my boys, I definitely believe it is better to be safe than sorry! I found a safety product that must have been invented for busy boys like mine!  Safety Tat is a great product that will make you feel a bit more safe on outings with your child.

Safety Tats are an easy to apply and remove tattoo for kids that you can customize with a phone number if they get lost.  They are bright and colorful and come in other varieties such as allergy alert, special needs and medical alerts. Here is a bit of information about what SafetyTat from the company:


It can happen anywhere—at an amusement park, zoo, school field trip, or even your local shopping mall. Your attention shifts for a moment, and suddenly your child or loved one has wandered out of sight.

So put the odds in your favor for a safe return, with SafetyTat. Invented by a Baltimore Mom of three kids, SafetyTat is a fun and colorful temporary safety child ID tattoo that’s uniquely offered either customized with your mobile phone number or blank so you can write in your cell phone number on them. When applied to the arm of your child or loved one, SafetyTat provides an immediate, highly visible form of child identification that stays in place even when wet!


Review:
These safety tattoos were very easy to apply. They just peel and stick like a sticker-- no water needed! They were also easy to write on. They are very durable and stay on even after a dip in the tub! I find SafetyTats very reassuring because Eli cannot really talk yet. So if he were to get separated from me there is no way he could tell anyone how to contact me. We will definitely be using these on our trip to the aquarium for his birthday. That way the SafetyTat can do the talking for him... just in case!

Discount:
SafetyTat is offering Honey Mommy readers a 10% discount off an order of $15 or more. Just type in HoneyMommy as the coupon code.

Giveaway:

SafetyTat has also generously offered to giveaway 2 sample packs of the Quick Stick Write-On for 2 of my readers! The winners get their choice of boy, girl or the multi-design pack!



Mandatory Entry: Go to the SafetyTat website and tell me in a comment the SafetyTat product that you think you'd use the most. Please remember to leave your e-mail address if it’s not visible in your profile.

Extra Entries (leave a comment for each):
* Add my button to your blog
* Promote this giveaway in the social networking method of your choice (twitter, facebook, blog, etc.).

Giveaway ends March 4 @ midnight MST. Winner will be chosen at random, using random.org and contacted by e-mail and has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion for this product. I was sent samples of SafetyTat Quick Stick Write-On! and some Valentine's Tattoos free for review purposes.

A Photo A Day: Week 7

Day 43

 

February 12: The boys and I went out so I could practice taking portraits. I learned a lot... especially that I really need someone else with us to help keep the boys attention. I did manage some nice shots though. I just fell in love with this shot of the two of them walking down the railroad tracks together.

Day 44

  

February 13: Saturday before Valentine's day was pretty busy at our house. I tried out my new cookie press and made tons of these little beauties. The good news (for my diet) is that we gave most of them away to Jonah's friends along with his robot Valentine's.

Day 45

  

February 14: I am sure that for Valentine's Day you were expecting some lovey-dovey picture. Sorry to disappoint. I did take some pictures of my boys, but none of them were really spectacular. Luckily I too this picture of one of my favorite candies: Almond M&M's! Yum!

Day 46

  

February 15: Honey Daddy had President's Day off and we mostly spent it at home enjoying time together.

Day 47

  

Feburary 16: It was kinda warm outside (nearing 50 degrees) and mostly sunny. So the boys and I went outside for a little while. They played with sidewalk chalk while I sat and soaked up some much needed sun.

Day 48

  

February 17: I set up the train set this evening so Honey Daddy and I could watch a little Olympics together in peace. It worked... for a while. Eventually Honey Daddy and I  were all sitting in front of our iMac, each with a boy on our lap, watching the women's downhill and the men's halfpipe.

Day 49

February 18: Today has been a soggy, wet and drizzly day. It has been raining here in the valley, and slightly higher up on the foothills there has been a little snow. Looking at this picture I wish it was a bit more happy and sunny... but then again I wish the weather was too. Maybe I will take another picture for the day and replace this one... maybe not.



Hosted by Chris



Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Signs of Spring

Inevitably this time of year I find myself looking forward to Spring, even though we will probably have a little more wintry weather (I do live in Utah, after all!). It has been a relatively mild winter, but I am still SO ready for the weather to warm up.

So far there are some very encouraging signs that Spring is just around the corner.  The snow piles have melted off my lawn. Yesterday it rained most of the day, instead of snowing. And just last week we spotted some of these guys.

I was so happy to see this friendly little robin! They haven't really been around here for a while. Then again, I would probably spend a few winter months somewhere warmer if I could!

Then this morning I noticed that my tulips and crocuses are starting to push up out of the dirt! That means that in no time we will have FLOWERS!

This afternoon the temperatures neared 50 degrees, so just before lunchtime I let the boys go outside in their jackets and play for a little while. They ran around the yard and played with their sidewalk chalk while I sat on a chair and soaked up a little sun. It was not really warm, but it was wonderful!

Spending time outside with the boys was glorious. It was almost like a promise of the summer to come. It is going to be great, and I can't wait!

A Picture A Day: Week 6

Day 36

February 5: There is a retro gas station not too far from my house, so I went to take some pictures. Turns out the pictures I liked best were not of the gas station. Instead I found myself in love with the vintage cars parked there.

Day 37

 

February 6: Honey Daddy and I actually got to go out on a date together! We have worked out a babysitting swap so that we get to spend time together twice a month. It was so nice to spend time together alone. The best part is that we got to pick up the kids just in time to put them to bed and spend the rest of the evening together too!

Day 38

 

February 7: Today Jonah and I made cards for Valentine's Day. We had a great time crafting together. Jonah was so excited to make cards for his grandparents and show them how much he loves them. He also decided he needed to make a card for Mommy and Daddy. Here is the card he made for me... isn't it lovely? 

Day 39

February 8: I am usually up in time to see the sun rise since my boys are early risers, but I rarely have time to take a picture. I thought the clouds were spectacular this morning so I raced out the door and took a few pictures.

Day 40

February 9: Currently my bike is on the trainer in the basement. It isn't particularly exciting to ride inside on the trainer, but I am trying to stay in shape this winter. I have been trying to get up early to get in a 10 mile ride each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can ride outside!

Day 41

 February 10: Eli always gets upset when we drop Jonah off for preschool because he desperately wants to go too! So when my friend suggested we take our younger boys to look at the horses, I readily agreed. The boys watched the horses, got muddy, and had a great time.

Day 42 

 

February 11: Hello, Robots! This afternoon Jonah and I made robot Valentine's for his little friends. He saw them in my Family Fun magazine and kept telling me that was what he wanted to make for his friends. They were super easy and I think they turned out absolutely darling, don't you think?

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Hosted by Chris 
Hosted by Cecily and Mamarazzi

I Heart You

This week has been a bit exasperating.

Eli hasn't been feeling well, which means he has been my cling-on for a few days. When he hasn't been stuck to me like glue, inevitably he is getting into things he shouldn't.

I had a lot to do this morning. After aerobics I had a half hour to get in shower and get back out the door with the boys. I took a quick shower and was relieved when I got out because the boys weren't yelling, screaming, or banging on anything.

"Maybe they behaved themselves for the three minutes I was in the shower!" I thought.

I should have known that silence is rarely a good thing. Next thing I know, Jonah comes in and says to me "Mommy, come see what Eli is doing!"

I found Eli sitting on the couch, surrounded by a pile of sidewalk chalk. And where there is chalk, there is chalk dust... everywhere! Of course he had to go to time out and then help clean up.

It wasn't until later that I thought, "Hey! I should have taken a picture of that!" I can't believe I didn't think of it. I guess in this case the Mommy superceded the blogger. :o)

On our way home later in the day I saw this sidewalk chalk heart on a house and it made me think of this morning.

I hope that even when I am frustrated with my boys, I can still show love for them. No matter what kind of trouble they get into, they are still my boys and I love them tons and bunches!

Happy Valentine's Day to you and those you love!

Hosted by Cecily and Mamarazzi

A Valentine For Mommy

What a week! I feel like every time I touch something it ends up broken!

The first victim was the closet door yesterday. I was just sliding it open when the screws popped off two of the hinges! The door was left teetering there on the remaining hinge. So I got to tell my Honey about it so he could take the door off and add it to his fix-it list.

Then this morning I was on my way out the door to go to Storytime at the library with my boys. When I pushed the garage door opener, the door started to go up... then the most horrible grinding noise occurred. Yep! I broke the garage door somehow.

I called Honey Daddy to tell him that the door was broken and have him tell me how to disengage the motor so I could open it by hand. Fun stuff, huh? Luckily I have a handy husband who will have this stuff fixed in no time (the garage door already is!).

I also have my Valentine to cheer me up.

What?! You don't have a Valentine yet?!

Jonah and I made Valentine cards on Sunday and they are adorable! We started out making cards for his Grandma and Grandpas.

I noticed that while I was making cards with him, Jonah had to make cards exactly like mine. Then I left him to do some by himself and he got more creative. After making his Grandparents cards, Jonah told me he needed to make one for Daddy.

He even told me what to write on his card for Daddy. Then Jonah said, "Now I need to make a Valentine for you, Mommy. No Peeking!" It was so cute! Even when he asked me to help with the glue on his card, Jonah kept telling me not to peek.

Then Jonah "surprised" me with my card. He is so excited about Valentines day that he just couldn't wait until then to give it to me. He actually surprised me with it three times that day! What a cutie!

So can you tell which Valentine is for me? It is the one in the front with all the hearts and buttons... and I LOVE it.

Pajama Time

I don't know about you, but winter and cold weather make me want to lounge around in my pajamas all day. We don't go outside to play, so there's no reason to get dressed, right?


Unfortunately, when I am in my pajamas and haven't showered I don't seem to get as much done. Most of the time I have to get dressed before I can really get going.

Even though I like to be productive, sometimes it is nice to just kick back and relax in the morning. Especially when I have some real cute pajama boys to spend time with.


My boys are early risers. They wake up before the sun most days and hit the ground running! If it were up to me, I would probably spend 20 minutes in bed, slowly warming up to the new day. But since the boys like to get up early, this means we can have some pajama time AND still manage to get some stuff done before lunchtime.



Count your blessings, right? I sure have some cute ones!

Our Week in Pictures: 365 Project

 Day 29

January 29: I planned to take my camera to work and take a picture of all the books at the library. So... I forgot my camera! When I got home I was trying to decide what to take for my daily picture. Then my eye fell on the laptop. If I am not careful I spend way too much time in this corner of the living room... on the web page shown.

Day 30

January 30: My boys love to "help" Honey Daddy. They follow him around constantly (for as long as he can stand it). Today Eli "helped" Daddy put a hitch on our new van. What a cute helper, huh?

Day 31

January 31: Have I mentioned that both my boys just LOVE Buzz Lightyear? So when I won a wall poster from an online contest, I knew just what to have printed on it. I think the boys approved of the image I chose. What do you think?

Day 32

February 1: After a day of working hard at home, we spent the evening playing Toy Story on the Wii at a friend's house. We don't own a Wii, so it took the boys a minute to catch on. It helps that Eli wants to do whatever his big brother does. This picture cracks me up because it looks like they are both playing, but only one boy actually has a Wii remote!

Day 33

February 2: The view I see every day behind my house. Here is Mount Timpanogos on a mostly clear day.

Day 34

February 3: Not too far from our house is a Harley-Davidson dealership. The building is made from reclaimed steel from the old Geneva Steel Plant, so it looks pretty cool. My favorite part is the old water tower on top of the building.

Day 35

February 4: The snow is starting to melt and the temperatures are slowly rising. I don't want to jinx it, but I am SO ready for spring. Honey Daddy and I anxiously awaiting the arrival of cycling season!






Hosted by Cecily and Robyn 
Hosted by Chris