Finally

I started this post on May 6, but never got back to finish it. Instead of ditching what I had already written I just picked up where I had stopped and kept on rambling. These are things that have been going through my mind lately.

Endure, I mean enjoy.

• My mom's Mother's Day card is going to be late. Again. I don't think she'd recognize it as from her daughter if it arrived early.
• The royal wedding. I blogged about that a lot. In my head. I have to admit I loved it. Sadly, I also have to admit that what I love about it is what we see and not what they actually live. I love the beauty, the castles; the idea of someone putting the tooth paste on my tooth brush and cleaning all my toilets for me. The beautiful clothes. The mystery of it all. Being swept away in a helicopter to a secret locatin for a weekend with the man you love. The hats, oh I love the hats. Isaiah and Nate even enjoyed watching it. They were much more excited about the horses and carriages than the bride however. I think what drawls women to this stuff is the femininity of a beautiful bride's heart captured by a handsome prince. Though our society likes to make us think differently, I think that desire is at the core of every women though often it is regarded as weak or old fashioned. Thankfully I don't get fan mail because I'm sure some would disagree with me. Just my thoughts. Congratulations Wills and Kate.
• Did you know that when Diana died 40 "Diana doubles" lost their jobs?
• Why is that I feel I need a vacation after cleaning the bathroom? Do mother's of girls feel the same way?
• Oh the joy I experienced yesterday when I realized I could buy washing soda at Wal-Mart! Now there's something no princess will ever experience!
• Change. Exciting? Scary? Coming.
• Jeremy and I spent Friday at a homeschooling convention. If you think that no body homeschools or that it is going out you should attend this convention. It was PACKED. I am excited about teaching Isaiah this fall. There is a lot of good stuff out there. Now to decide what we want to use.
• Homeschooling is going to be an adjustment and a sacrifice. I believe it is worth it, but I'm a little nervous
• As I was wringing the water out of a wash cloth after Isaiah's bath he, dripping wet asked me "Can you just do that to me?"
• I won't give the details behind this conversation... Me: Nate, let's find a tree for you to pee on". Nate: "Or we could find a tree to hug". I have no idea.
• Callie: "Cheese!" Yes this is a big deal because she doesn't talk much at all. Daddy is a favorite and Mommy when she wants something. She jabbers a lot though. And she communicates in her own way. I'm amazed at how much she understands.
• Trying to make soft pretzel dough in the bread machine. We'll see.
  
• Egg beaters and a 10 min rest period. They are the secret ingredients require for good pancakes.
• Isaiah and Nate are playing something together. Nate keeps calling Isaiah "Man". As in, hey Man, don't forget your weapon. He's been calling him that a lot lately.
• I still have not finished Callie's Easter dress. :( There's always motorcycle Sunday next week. It could happen.
• Jeremy has just one more week, one paper and one final exam to go and then he will be finished with his online class. The whole family is excited.
• That's all.

Happy Mother's Day

In honor of Mother's Day and because I am very, very far behind on blogging. Here are a bunch of pictures. Callie seems to be the focus of most of them. It must be the age. :) Happy Mother's day, Mom! I love you!

A favorite time of day. (except for the yellow tint)

Nate-Nate. He just makes me smile.

T-Ball player

Glamor Queen with her favorite bear and duck

Isaiah showing Callie the moth he and Nate caught with 2 Lego pieces (see another picture farther down)

Four generations. And a cracker.

Here's a favorite of Mom and Callie

Ok, so this isn't a great picture, but there is a moth in there.

Links

Here are a few sites that I have been enjoying lately.

Our Best Bites -I'm pretty new to this site, but it's interesting and fun. Their Everyday Cinnamon Rolls are so easy and absolutely amazing. Sorry PW, you may have lost the top spot.

Make it and Love it -If you enjoy sewing or crafts check out this site. Her tutorial section is great.

Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent -I don't follow this blog, but a friend gave me this link for this recipe. So far I have been pleased with it and it is so much less messy than the last recipe I used that called for several gallons of water.

Homemade Yogurt -another site I don't follow. My sister-in-law gave me this link and I finally made yogurt last night. I love it! Much better results than other methods I have tried. Thanks Cindy!

Links

Here are a few sites that I have been enjoying lately

Friday Night

-We're making crayons (waiting for them to cool right now)

-Listing to the fan chosen top 500 Christian songs on WJTL. Interesting.

-Dreaming of club sandwiches. How does she do that to me?

-Marinating a steak for our "date" after the children are in bed

-Wondering if Isaiah will have his first t-ball practice tomorrow or if it will be rained out

-Happy to be home on this rainy night

Why I don't do this...Part II

Several days after taking the boys pictures I decided to try it with Callie. First attempt was not pleasant. I then took off her shows because I thought maybe they were too tight. She was much happier without shoes. She walked around in her socks for the rest of the pictures. Dirty socks are a small price to pay I guess.

Not happy

Much better

There were many distractions including weeds and small boys in rubber boots

Thank you Aunt Cindy for my beautiful headband!

It was probably a little too cold to have her outside in short sleeves...

I wish she was looking at the camera, but even so this is one of my favorite pictures. Blogger is not allowing me to type below the bottom picture, but that is another one of my favorites.

No, I still don't want to be a professional photographer, but all in all this picture taking experiment was a lot of fun -for me at least. My kids may have a different opinion. :)

Why I don't do this for a living...

I have friends that are amazing photographers. I love seeing their work, especially of children. My appreciation for them has recently gone through the roof. Several weeks ago I decided it was time for each of my kids to have their pictures taken. I was thinking of just taking them to Wal-Mart, but then I remember that I own a Nikon D90 and I thought why in the world would I pay Sam's offspring money they don't need when I could at least attempt to take these pictures myself.

Isaiah did pretty well. Nate on the other hand...

I think I see a bird

"You talking to me?"

"Yep, it's a bird"

I am so cool

Like my boots?

This is the one I finally decided on. What a ham.

Isaiah did much better and I have less funny ones of him...

The picture that is now hanging on our wall.

Callie was a trip. I'll post her pictures soon. Until then, all you photographers out there -you are amazing!