Photo Shoot of Kids

My goal for taking these picture was to get just one, just one I say of all my three kids together that looks halfway decent. It's so hard with the ages they are, Caleb is at the point where he won't sit still for a picture, so all his pictures are him on the run or in motion. I got only one that looks some what decent. I am still not able to get all the kids to look in the camera at the same time. I had fun taking pictures of Kate because she is older and she loves to pose. I thinks she had a little to much fun, but that's ok, it's been a while since I just sat down with her to take pictures. I seem to always be taking my monthly pictures of the babies I forget to take more of them when they are older. I am still learning how to take a better picture, it's a work in progress for me. I seem to be able to get more great shots then I did before, so that must mean I have shown some improvement maybe. It's been difficult to take picture because are short lens is broken so I have to use our long lens. I have to stand so far back the kids don't realize I am trying to take their picture. The long lens is great for the shots you want to capture without them noticing you, but when you are trying to take a group shot it really stinks. I want a new short lens bad. It would make life easier at least for taking pictures. I am just grateful the camera at least still works with the long lens. I rather is be a broken lens then a broken camera. So here are my favorites, hope you enjoy!

Hand Print Frames

I wanted to show you my newest creations. I had a great time making these hand print frames for each of the kids. They were really simple to make and the most expensive part was the frame, and I ended up getting a deal on that anyways. It was 40% off at Michael's and an additional 25% coupon in the paper. I wanted to have the kids hand prints and I have been really frustrated with the plaster molds. I did one for Kate and Caleb and they both broke and I was so upset. I needed to find something that would be less likely to break, but still capture their little hands. So I traced Kate's hand on card stock and used that as my pattern to trace on to my fabric of choice. I then when on my computer and printed out the Kids name in a font that I like and made sure to make it big enough for the frames. I trace the letters onto the fabric then cut them out. I also tried to find a little accent object to add to the names, like flowers for Kate, fireflies for Jane and Cars for Caleb. I used fabric glue for the whole project, I ended up gluing a fabric pannel on the back of the frame. As I was making these, I had the idea to add a picture of each child, so you can see what they looked like at the time I made the hand prints. So now I have a picture and their hand print together. I tried to use picture I had take within the week to get a true idea of what they looked like when I did this project, that was important to me. I think they turned out pretty good. It was so nice to have a creative outlet this week something to keep my hands busy and my mind thinking about other things besides house work and Kids. This craft was good for me, sometimes I get discouraged when I try to do something to complicated or over my skill level, but this ended up being fun not frustrating. Oh just a little suggestion for the two smaller children, it was a little more work to get their hand prints. I actually stamped their hands with ink and then traced very closely to the ink and then used that to make my fabric hands. Caleb would let me trace 3 fingers and then move, so I had to get creative about getting his, it ended up working out great. I used a shadow box frame so I could put the accent items on or in case I wanted to add something to the frame. It was a fun little project, just thought I would share my newest creation.

Binky Bandit

Caleb has a new nickname, he is the Binky Bandit. He is doing really well with his Binky, we have limited it to only nap time and bed time. He knows that once he gets out of bed that he has to leave it in his bed. One day he didn't want to got to bed, so I came in to put him back in bed and tell him it was night, night time. Well when I went to pick him up, no sooner did I pick him up he threw his Binky back in the bed and wanted to get up and play. So he knows that he can only have it in his bed. He is transitioning so much better than Kate did, she really struggled to give up her Binky. The reason we call him the Binky Bandit is every once in a while you will catch him siting in front of the TV or walking around with his sister, Jane's Binky. Once you notice him he either smiles and laughs really big because he knows that the Binky is not his or he is running to give it to Jane and put it her mouth. Some times I think he tries to run to give it to Jane because he knows he got caught and is trying to let us know he was only really trying to help sister. We all know he really was trying to use it himself. It's really cute. He tries not to get caught because he know he will be put in his bed if he wants to use a Binky. I was worried he would get worse with is progress on his Binky, having Jane's Binky around,but he has done actually pretty well. I have a hard time with them growing out of the Binky, because it's one of the last baby things they will use other than their diapers. My little man is growing up, I am so proud of him, he is being such a good big boy and good brother to Kate and Jane.

Valentines Day

I love Valentines day! I love the cutesy part of Valentines day, the whole grade school fun with Hearts, and Valentine cards and Homemade boxes. I was super excited for Kate to experience her first school Valentines day. I dressed her all in red with cute heart socks. Kate said she had a lot of fun passing out cards and making candy necklaces. I also had a fun time this year, I got a little crafty with my gifts this time I made a frame with the scrabble words spelling out love you for my Husband and Mom. I also made Heart flowers with dum dum suckers for the centers and placed them in a colored flower pot filled with heart candies. I made those for my sisters and my girl I visit teach. It took me a while to finish having 3 little ones, Kate wanted to help cut, Caleb wanted to eat all the suckers, there his favorite, and as soon as I got started Jane wanted to eat. I eventually got them done, and I think they turned out pretty good. I also send out some cards to love ones as well. I had a lot of fun making the gift, it was wonderful to think about my loved ones while I made them. We also celebrated by opening gifts on Sunday. Caleb got a new Curious George DVD, and Kate got a new Strawberry Shortcake Movie, and Jane some bath toys. We really love the package Gramma Mott sent with all the fun goodies, thanks mom. I got Jerry a book he wanted and the frame mentions earlier. I got some flowers and a new diaper bag/purse. I really like my new bag, I needed a new one so badly after the last two kids. I also had a great time making Valentine cupcakes with the kids. Kate loves sprinkles. It was a nice day, I really enjoyed seeing my kids get into the holiday this year. I loved all the Hugs and Kisses I got from my family, that I think was the best part of all.

Snow in Alabama

Yes by the title you read it right, it snowed in Alabama. February 12, 2010 in Enterprise, Alabama was a day to always remember. There was rumors of 1 up to 4 inches of snow the day before and I was not falling for it. They have said that in the past, but with all this crazy weather happening lately everywhere else, why not here right. Well, everything was cancelled, I mean everything, for a measly 3 inches. I guess if you aren't use to snow, 3 inches is a huge amount of snow. All the schools were closed and even some roads. Well as predicted it started snowing at 7:00 in the morning until about 4:30pm . I have never seen my kids get dress so fast in my life. Usually it a chore, not today. We when out as fast as we could to play in the white stuff not knowing how long it would last. I dressed them in three layers of pants, Kate had rain boots to wear, Caleb just his tennis shoes, and their winter coats (which have been used maybe 3 time before this time, crazy how warm it is down here) and I did what I remembered doing as a kid sometimes when my mittens where still wet, I resorted to socks. I ended up putting about three pair of socks on each kid. Now we were ready to go, I'm so glad I don't have to do the whole getting snow gear on all the time, it's exhausting. The kids where having so much fun, hey I was having way too much fun too. This was Caleb's and our dogs first time playing in snow. Caleb was only 7 months last year when he saw it in Utah. This was his first time playing in it. He was so excited he kept walking around looking down at his feet babbling like Charlie Brown. He loved it until Kate decided to try and throw a dinner plate size snow ball at me and missed and hit her brother right in the face. Nice initiation eh to the world of snowm eh. Caleb got over it quickly and began to play again. Sadie our dog didn't want to even touch it at first, then she started running all over with what we call the "zoom -zooms". Sadie rolled around in it and chased snowballs all day, it was funny after we threw the snowball she couldn't quite find the ball after she chased it, to funny. Kate was ecstatic, she said Mommy, Mommy it's snowing like at my Grandma's houses. I was so happy for her, she asked me last year when we left Utah if it would snow where we lived I said probably not, well she got her wish one year later. I believe anything is possible now. We have lived here for 6 years and I have never seen snow like this. Kate and I made a little snow man in the backyard with the first little bit of snow fall, I helped her make a little one thinking that was as big as we could probably make with the snow we were going to get. I was wrong, it snowed a ton more. After we came inside for a break we had Hot Chocolate and waited for the Clothes to dry in the dryer to go out again. Jerry then help build a large, I mean huge snow man in the front yard, it put my little snowman I made with Kate to shame. How was I supposed to know we would get way more snow. Kate and Caleb loved helping roll the snowballs for the snowman. We ended up deciding to make a whole snowman family one for each member in our family. We had all our neighbors come out and they all wanted to take a picture with our snowman. Each would tell us how long they lived here and that they have never seen this much snow and this much snow that actually stuck to the ground. We live by quiet a few of elderly people. So you know that this was something really unique. They would say they lived here over 30 years and have never seen this before. We even had several people drive by and take pictures of our creation, even the Postman, it was so neat to talk and meet more of my neighbors. I had a blast. It was that perfect fluffy flakes that are so big you can catch them on your tongue. It's the kind of snow you love to just take a walk in. I sure do miss the snow. I know all you cold weather state people want to strangle me right now. We spent the whole day from sun up to sun down playing in the snow. It was so fun to share this experience with my kids. My southern babies just don't ever get a chance to really see and play in snow so this made for great, free, fun entertainment for the day. It was really great family time as well, all working together to build each other snowman, it was great. I thought I was going to miss seeing snow this season for the first time in my life because we didn't go to Utah for our normal Christmas visit, but I was wrong it amazingly enough came to us. What a day to remember, snow in Alabama! The weather man reported up getting 5-6 inches of snow, so even more than predicted. Words can seem to express the joy and fun we had as family yesterday. A day of firsts for many, first time seeing snow in Alabama, a first time for Caleb and Sadie to play in snow, and Kate making her first official snowman. What a day, to much fun for words and somewhat unbelievable that it actually happen.

Srabble Letters

So I had a little fun with the scrabble game the other day, but everyone keeps giving grief about me not having a K by my name in the top picture. For all you scrabble players out there, you know that there is only one K tile for the whole game. If you look closely I did use a blank space to replace the missing K. Just a note to clear things up

A favorite Quote

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us...If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He wil hear our prayers."

-President Gordon B. Hinckley

Jane's 2 month Check-Up

Jane had her 2 month check-up today. Jane did really well considering she got 5 shots today, that is a lot I think, poor thing. She did great though she didn't cry much, I think I got another tough girl! Jane weights 13 lbs and 13 oz. and her height was 23 3/4 almost 24. She is in the 90 percentile and is growing big and strong. Doctor says she looks great and seems to be doing well. Just a little update for you blog readers out there!

Sunday Afternoon

It is so hard to get a picture of all three of my kids together, so I decided after church this week I would try to get one of them on the couch in their church clothes, we ended up having to bribe Caleb with a brownie to sit still. in one of the pictures Caleb is signing candy, classic Caleb! I was able to only get one half way decent shot the rest well they speak for themselves.