A Photo A Day: Week 17

After looking at my pictures, I think perhaps I should call this my week of blooms or something! I guess it shows how much I love flowers in the spring.

Day 113

April 23: It was one of those days with the boys. The kind where all we seem to do is frustrate each other. So I was actually a bit relieved to go to work Friday night. Outside the library where I work they have these lovely trees with GIGANTIC blooms on them. I have no idea what kind of tree it is, but I think it is gorgeous!

Day 114

April 24: One of the best parts about being married is having a spouse who recognizes when you are having a hard day (or week). When I got home from work last night there were some lovely roses waiting for me. Thanks Love!

Day 115

April 25: Finally got the quilt top done that I have been making for Jonah. Isn't it cute? He is so excited to have this turtle quilt for his bed... now if only I didn't still have to quilt it and bind it!

Day 116

April 26: Oh how I love sunny days where the boys play in the sand! They have fun and I can get stuff done.

Day 117

April 27: I finally remembered to take a picture of the moon when it was full. I was so excited about how this one turned out! Then again, maybe I just like mooning you all!

Day 118

April 28: It was a rainy, cold, yucky day. I had a hard time finding anything worth photographing. Maybe it was just the mood I was in. But my cherry tree is in bloom... and I think it is lovely!

Day 119

April 29: We had a lot of fast moving clouds today, along with rainy-snowy-wet-sunny-cloudy weather. This week it has been a bit strange for April... and a little cold! I am hoping for more of that blue sky very soon!


Hosted by Chris


Hosted by Cecilyand Caitlin

My Firstborn and the Birthday Surprise

Sometimes I look at my little boys and can't believe that they are getting so big! It seems like just the other day my husband and I were looking at baby cribs, changing tables, clothes, diapers, and all the many other baby necessities.

It seemed like such a daunting task at the time! I think now it is so much easier because you can get most of that stuff online. I wish there were great sites like CSN.com when I was shopping for baby stuff. They have everything (did you know they have 200+ online stores?)! I actually do a lot of my shopping online now because it is so much easier than dragging both of my boys to the store with me?

Recently I was contacted by CSN to do a review or a giveaway, and my first thought was to host another giveaway for you guys. Then as I spent hours on their website looking at all the great buys I ran across something that made me think of a certain someone.

I took this picture a few weeks ago. Isn't he a cutie?

This little guy is having a birthday next month! I can hardly believe that he is going to be FOUR! So just this once I decided to be selfish and chose something to make his birthday special. I can't wait to tell you about it next month and I really can't wait for the look on Jonah's face when he opens it!





Hosted by Cecilyand Caitlin

Sandbox Boys and Sandbox Toys

One of my very favorite things about the approach of summer and warmer weather is our return to playing outside in the sandbox. When we bought our house I had no idea how much I would LOVE our big sandbox!

More accurately, I never realized how much my boys would love the sandbox. They spend hours out there playing together... digging holes, building roads, filling and dumping various trucks and sand toys. This leaves me (mostly) free to get stuff done (like hanging laundry or folding it outside) or just time to relax and read a book while they play. If you have boys, I've got to tell you that a sandbox is a lifesaver!

Of course if you are going to be playing in the sun and sand there is one more thing that you absolutely need... Otter Pops! My boys and I have already started our stash in the freezer and have gotten them out a few times. The kids love them and they are SO cheap. Ahhh Summer! I love it!

Facebook Status Funnies

I check Facebook fairly regularly and I am constantly amazed at how witty and hilarious some of my Facebook friends are when they update their statuses. I don't update my status very often because I can never think of anything clever to say (and I don't want to be one of those people that post minutia so often that you hide me)! If you are like me, never fear! Here are some status updates that you can borrow from my friends (they'll never know- I promise!).

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*What authority should I notify if I'm pretty sure Costco is sprinkling cocaine on their cinnamon rolls?

*So my 6 year old son made breakfast in bed for my husband and me this morning. He made a raw bacon sandwich. So thoughtful of him, but had to tell him that we need to cook the bacon first. But hey at least he tried!

*If you can't laugh at yourself, don't worry. I've got you covered.

*Did you know that WD-40 will wipe crayon marks off of walls and doors? *sigh*

*Tomorrow I’m gonna write a blog post about procrastination

*Sad day- My daughter can now wear my shoes. =( But on the up side, if hers are by the door when I want to go check the mail, no problem!

*scratch here ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ to reveal today’s status.

*Amy C. is wondering if I should be concerned that my daughter likes to talk to her pretend mommy more than she likes to talk to me.

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I suppose that I am actually pretty funny once in a while because one of these is actually mine... can you guess which one?

So what do you put on your facebook status? Got anything clever that I can say to amuse the masses?

A Photo A Day: Week 16

Day 106

April 16: Evening rolled around and I still had not taken a picture. So I took my camera on my evening bike ride down by the lake. I hope you enjoy the picture, because I will never be taking my camera with me again! It was much too awkward to carry.

Day 107

April 17: The first of my tulips have started to bloom. Soon my flowerbeds will be full of color. Oh how I LOVE tulips!

Day 108

April 18: This evening we went outside and played with bubbles. I love that if you look closely you can see all kinds of reflections in the bubbles, along with their colorful, swirly surface.

Day 109

April 19: As I left the house for my evening bike ride, I realized that I had forgotten my cell phone. I had a feeling I should go back for it, but I ignored the feeling because I hardly ever get flat tires, right?

Of course I got a flat on the way home. So I headed for the nearby church parking lot to change the tire myself. It was getting dark, so when I was offered a ride home by a nice mom and her kids in their van I only hesitates a moment before saying yes.

Luckily we have an ample supply of spare tubes. Check out the piles! On the left are the tubes we have used (that are in some state of being patched) and on the right are the boxes of new tubes we just got. Now you know what is on the shelves of cyclists' garages.

Day 110

April 20: What a day. I had a headache all day and saved my sanity by taking the boys to the park for a picnic. They played while I read a book. At least my peach tree is blooming and SO pretty. That helps any bad day.

Day 111

April 21: It was an icky, rainy day... so I went and picked up fabric for Eli's quilt. I am FINALLY almost finished with the one I started for Jonah's over a year ago. I meant to have it done before last winter, but since that didn't happen I hope to be done with Jonah's AND Eli's before THIS winter!

Day 112

April 22: As we got home this morning my son spotted this beautiful bird and his mate in the tree in our front yard. I just happened to have my zoom lens on the camera and managed to catch a nice shot. I love how cool and iridescent his feathers look!




Hosted by Cecilyand Pam

Hosted by Chris

Boys Like BIG Toys

I grew up in a house full of girls, so as I raise my boys I have been gaining an education about all things masculine. My boys love trucks, trains and all kinds of construction equipment. As a matter of fact, for his upcoming birthday Jonah has been telling us that he wants a garbage truck! I think garbage trucks are disgusting, but apparently for boys they are completely fascinating.

Not surprisingly, one of the boys' favorite books is one that shows all kinds of "rescue equipment". They love to look at the pictures and have me read about the tow trucks, ambulances, police cars, etc.

One morning while Jonah was looking at this book he says to me "Mommy, we need one of these!"

Me: Wow Buddy, that snowblower is as big as our house and probably costs just as much.

Jonah: But we need one!

Me: Why?

Jonah: We need the snowblower to shovel the snow off our driveway.

Yeah, right! Off our driveway onto the houses a few streets over! Dream on Bubby. Our driveway is big, but not THAT big.

Mommy and Me: The Games We Play

Have you noticed that there are really very few pictures of ME on my blog? Of course that's because I am usually the one behind the camera. Then a few weeks ago I came across Mommy and Me Monday, hosted by Really, Are you Serious? I love the idea of taking more pictures of ME with my kids. After all, I want them to remember that I was right there the entire time they were growing up, right?

Sunday afternoons while Eli is napping, Jonah often asks me to play games with him. So today while we were playing Candy Land I gave my camera to Honey Daddy to take a couple of snaps.

We had a fun time playing Candy Land. There may even have been a bit of goofing off going on.

Have you ever noticed that kids like to play games... as long as they are winning? Jonah won the first round and beat me pretty soundly (notice that I am blue above and he is moving his red man). Then on the second game I actually dared to win.

This turn of events was not well received, and SOMEBODY didn't want to play with me anymore. I guess winning is kind of important when you are only three years old.

Oh well. At least there is always Daddy to smooth things over. Especially when he cheats, but not in his own behalf. What a great Daddy!

Hosted by Krystyn  

A Photo A Day: Week 15

Day 99

April 9: The boys and I went to visit with one of my friends from college. Would you believe that she has this totally cool chalkboard wall at her house?! Now my kids totally want one (and secretly I do too!)! Jonah had the best time writing on the walls and then erasing them.

Day100

April 10: As an early birthday present for my Honey Daddy, I got a sitter for the boys and the two of us went for a LONG bike ride together. We rode around West Mountain (for those of you familiar with Utah County). We had a great time together and got in about 56 miles!

Day 101

April 11: Happy Birthday Honey Daddy! I am glad you have finally caught up to the rest of us old folks (he's 30 now!). Since neither of us is particularly fond of cake, I got my honey this yummy chocolate satin pie. It was SO good!

Day 102

April 12: It was a rainy soggy day. My picture prospects were looking bleak. Then I caught my boys staring out the window at the rain. I was totally drawn in by Eli's beautiful eyes.

Day 103

April 13: Still rainy! Today the weather was being such a tease! Rainy... sunny... hail... more rain. Sheesh! During a break in the clouds I ran outside and took a picture of these wet flowers in front of my house.

Day 104

April 14: Hooray for sunshine! Spring must really be on it's way because today I got to hang my sheets outside to dry AND I saw the first butterfly of the season! Isn't he gorgeous?

Day 105

April 15: We have been doing a lot of cycling around here (especially on the sunny days). Honey Daddy is often commuting to work by bike. On his way home today he took the long way home... just for fun. When he got home he showed me his gps, which documented that his average speed was 20 miles per hour! His ride turned out to be exactly an hour and he went 20 miles! He is smoking fast!

This evening I went on a bike ride too.... not quite as far, or as fast, but good enough for me (average 17.5 mph)! I often see the most beautiful things while out riding. Tonight I saw baby ducks on the lake, the most beautiful ripples on the water as the sun set, and two deer crossing the road in front of me.

It's just too bad I don't carry my camera with me when I ride. But I guess some of life's beautiful moments have to be captured in our memories instead of in pictures.




Hosted by Cecily and Mamarazzi 

Your Mother Dresses You Funny

One nice thing about my baby boy getting older is that I don't have to change his diaper nearly as often as I used too. Hooray! After all, who enjoys changing diapers?

Of course we still do quite a few diaper changes each day and since Mommy is often busy or in a hurry, sometimes things don't quite get put back together correctly.

Can you tell what's wrong with this picture?

You got it... Eli's pants are on backwards! Since he is only two, still in diapers, and can't exactly dress himself, I think we all know who is to blame!

Seeing Eli running around with his pants on wrong totally cracked me up so I had to get out my camera. I was laughing even harder when Eli totally didn't understand that I wanted to take a picture of his rear end, so he kept looking right at me and saying "cheese!". My kids are too well-trained!

I don't feel too bad about putting the pants on wrong. It can happen so easily, especially with toddler's elastic waist pants. Even Jonah has made this mistake before! It wasn't until I realized that I did it again today that I started to wonder if perhaps I have pants-dyslexia or something. Haha!

A Photo A Day: Week 14

What a group of completely mediocre pictures! I blame it completely on the weather we have been having. It is just not right to repeatedly have snow in April!

Day 92

April 2: Dyeing Easter Eggs is quite the experience when you are trying to help two boys AND take pictures at the same time. I finally gave up and just enjoyed doing it with them.

Day 93

April 3: It was a busy day! We had our Easter egg hunt and made and delivered these Easter basket cupcakes. Aren't they cute?

Day 94

April 4: Seriously... SNOW on Easter Sunday. What is up with that? I also can't believe that this is one of my better pictures from this day... what is up with that?!

Day 95

April 5: I call this picture "Blossoms Popping-- Silly Apricot Tree!". Why is my apricot tree blooming? Hasn't it been out in the kind of weather we are having? Frost will probably kill all our apricots again this year... *sigh*

Day 96

April 6: I call this one "Told You So- Silly Apricot Tree!". My poor flowers! All stiff and cold because it snowed... again.

Day 97

April 7: Today the clouds finally blew away! I think Mount Timpanogos looks especially lovely all white against the blue sky. (Hooray! Blue sky!)

Day 98

April 8: This is the only picture this week that I am in love with. For weeks Eli has been making this face whenever he gets in trouble or doesn't get his way. This morning after he got in trouble for coloring on the walls with crayon, I finally caught it!

 


Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Buzzing around the Van

When I posted my weekly photos last week, Liz of Loving Mom 2 Boys requested (for her boys of course) that I post some more of my pictures of Buzz Lightyear.

You see, while we were traveling to St. George for our bicycling trip I got a little bored of just watching the scenery fly by in the van. So I got out my camera and started playing around with it.

Bored mommy + camera + toy Buzz Lightyear = lots of silly pictures.

Buzz likes to sit on the gear shifter so he can see what is going on. This allows him to properly supervise and issue commands from his vantage point.

Sometimes Buzz likes to take the wheel. After all, he is a Space Ranger. If he can fly a spaceship, surely he can drive our van!

Here is Honey Daddy taking a break while Buzz drives. Check out the cool reflection of Buzz at the wheel in his sunglasses!

Sometimes even Buzz Lightyear needs to take a break. Here he is in his isolated rest chamber (until Jonah commandeered him, that is).

This last picture is my favorite.... probably because you can see Buzz, his reflection, AND silly Honey Mommy who is taking his picture.

So now you know what happens when you leave me in a car for extended periods of time with my camera nearby. Hope you enjoyed the silliness as much as we did!