Brooklyn and her good deed

Brooklyn: Mom, can I make a card for one of our neighbors.
Me: Sure.
Brooklyn: (moments later) Mom, how do I give it to them.
Me: Which neighbors are you taking it to?
Brooklyn: (Points in the direction of their house.)
Me: You can ring their doorbell or drop it off on their doorstep.
Brooklyn: Well, how do I take it over with no shoes on?
Me: Go put shoes on. (Thinking she would get her shoes and ask me for help.)
I then wait a few moments with no return from Brooklyn. I walk out to the front room and notice she is not in the house. I look outside and she is already at the neighbors handing them the card. She was over there for a few minutes. I then watch her walk back with a bowl of cookies and trying to keep herself from eating the cookies before she came inside.

I was so proud of her for wanting to do something nice for someone. She really can be a sweetie.




Just a side note. We are the only house in our circle with kids. We stand out a lot to the other neighbors.

Incredible

Brandon showed this video to me last night. It brought me to tears. It is from Britains Got Talent. Watch this video it will completely amaze you.

Maria Saves The Day

I got this video from my sister in law's blog. I love it. I promise it will put you in a better mood. Have fun viewing.

Hooray for Spring

I have developed a love for Spring ever since we lived through cold Pittsburgh winters. My favorite is watching our trees sprout new leaves.

Tagged by Tatum

5 things I was doing 5 years ago:
1. Pregnant with Brooklyn
2. Student teaching
3. Graduating from Arizona State
4. Planning for our big move to Pittsburgh
5. Laurel Advisor in our ward

5 Things on my to do list today:

1. Sleep
2. Don't throw up
3. Put away my laundry
4. Keep the girls alive
5. Keep our home happy for when Brandon arrives home

5 Things I would do with a million dollars:
1. Pay tithing
2. Pay off debt
3. Put some away
4. Pay for repairs
5. help out others

5 Places I have lived: I have lived in only four places. I am okay staying put for now.
1. Mesa,AZ
2. Pittsburgh, PA
3. Seattle, WA
4. Cary, NC

5 Jobs I have held:
1. Pomeroy's missionary store receptionist
2. After School Sports on site Director
3. Summer Camp advisor
4. Receptionist and Dispatcher for Collins Comfort Masters
5. Wife and Mom

5 things I want to be doing in 5 Years:
1. Have a happy healthy family
2. Have beautiful gardens
3. Find more ways of getting more family members to move out this way
4. Stronger testimony
5. More time to help others

5 people I tag:
Ali Evans
Annie Evans
Autumn Halls
Amanda Bradshaw
Ashley Smith

Twilight Tide Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Twilight Tide Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Yeah! Another pettiskirt to give away. I should just make one for my girls. But it would be really fun to win.

Quotes from the ignorant department: King James Bible edition

The only thing I don't like about them is they sell foreign language versions of the KJB. I don't think that's right. We know the only true translation is the 1600's version in English.

It's too risky for anybody to translate that into other languages. Mistakes can creep in... and that can lead to heresy. True Christians should only read English.

If your original Hebrew disagrees with my original King James --- your original Hebrew is wrong. If your original Hebrew agrees with my original King James, your original Hebrew is right.

Gardening

The White House is putting in a garden. I thought this was a cool idea. I love gardening. I think anyone can do it. If you have ever wanted a garden but have never felt like you have the space or time here is the website for you. If you don't want to buy his book you can always check it out at your library. There is still time to start your garden for this season. Have fun!

More Visitors

This past week we were happy to host Collin and Ashlee at our home while Collin interviewed with some graduate programs in the area. We had so much fun with them. They even let me take them to our downtown and take some photos. Here are just a few.

The next two pictures were taken in my new natural light photography studio.

Well okay not really but a girl can dream, right?

I Love the 80's

Brandon and I attended our Ward's 70's and 80's dance. It was a blast. Here are some pics of us and some friends.

Momma Visit

We have been very lucky these last few months to have visitors in our beautiful town. My mom is usually a frequent visitor. However, July was her last visit. We were unable to do much because of rain/snow and a ward party I helped plan. We were able to enjoy many mugs of hot chocolate which replaces the fact that we did not get to do any yard work. Mom you will need to come back later this spring.










Thanks for coming. Love you!

Funny Converstation

Me: "Brooklyn, I know that you think it is important to close my laptop. But it is doing something important right now, so please don't close it."

Brooklyn: "Laptop? Is that Spanish for 'computer'?"

Coleman Photoshoot

I could photograph these kids all day long. The older girls were so much fun. Ethan is one of the prettiest boys ever. He will definitely drive those girls crazy with his gorgeous blue eyes. Gillian has the beautiful red hair and bright blue eyes. Thanks for the time and humoring me. Here are some of my favorites.
















I am playing around with overlays and textures. I am not sure I how feel about this washed out photo.

Visit from GoGo and BaBa!

We love having visitors especially when they are grandparents. I lived very close to my grandparents. My girls live very far from their grandparents however their love for them is no different than what mine was for my grandparents. It is always a treat when family comes into town. We welcome more to join us here for visits or maybe live here.

Brandon and his mommy.

Edward is always making friends with random people.

I love this picture of Gillian and Brandon.


All of the cousins together. It took awhile to get the kids in a position that they liked. Well I guess it was just my kids causing the problems.

Everyone enjoying lunch at the local Red Robin. Lots of eating out when family is in town.


The girls looking darling and clean before church.




Can't wait to have you out again.

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!
I have not done these giveaways in awhile. I absolutely love these skirts. I want to make one for me! My girls and I can all be matching. Yea!!

Christmas!

Hooray for Christmas! We really did have an amazing Christmas. We were lucky enough to have Tobi fly in for a week. We have made it a tradition in our family every Christmas Eve to pick a place to go out for dinner. This year we chose The Irregardless Cafe. I think it will be our choice every year from now on. The live entertainment was so fun for the whole family and the food never disappoints. Here are a few pictures from the week.

Brooklyn sporting the new dress ups I made for the girls.

Brooklyn got herself dressed and styled her hair.

Camden in her new shirt.

Yea! We got a trampoline and it was free. Thanks to friends that look out for a family in need of a trampoline.

We also had the Colemans over for a lovely Christmas meal, gourmet hamburgers.

Camden covered in piggy pudding.

Tobi and the girls ready for church.

Family Twister night.


Brandon and Brooklyn's beautiful sand art.

Picnic at the park.

Lets hope that next year I will post sooner and Tobi will be here again and more.

I bought a couch!

I love in photos when families or individuals are on a couch or chair in a random urban or natural setting. I have been in search of a couch, chair, or love seat for a few months now. I obviously can't afford the thousand dollar couches that are used in the high end photography studios. So what do I do? I hit the local Goodwill many times a month, Raleigh's awesome flee market, and craigslist daily. I finally bought an ugly modern multi print couch yesterday from Goodwill. I think with a rich bright colored slipcover this is going to look awesome for family and individual portraits.

It is really cool when a family already has a really cool prop like a brightly colored red chair. No worries the mom was right on the side of the chair and had let go for just a second so I could get the shot.



Here is my attempt at being cool like some really cool photographers.

Now imagine it in a beautiful field of tall grass with a wall of majestic trees for the backdrop. The couch is draped with a fitted slipcover in colors of gold, red, or deep purple.


What do you think? I will for sure show you the finished product. I am still on the lookout for a Queen Ann style chair or sofa. I am not very good at craigslist.

Pittsburgh Trip

Just before Christmas we had the opportunity to drive up with Brandon to Pittsburgh, PA. We have not been up there since Brandon's graduation from Carnegie Mellon. Brandon was meeting with some students at Carnegie Mellon for work so we took the opportunity for all of us to go. We were able to stay at our friends Scott and Margie. Here are some fun pictures from the trip.

We also went over to our old house to visit with our friends and Landlords whiled we lived there. They have since moved to the downstairs where we lived and have totally changed the look of the house. They tore up the nasty shag dark brown carpet and magically found beautiful wood floors underneath.


Brooklyn loved their hill in their backyard.

Camden not so much.


This is Rex. This picture almost looks as if he is trying to lick is nose clean.

This is Felix. He was almost a year when we moved from Pittsburgh. Brooklyn had a lot of fun with both boys.

Margie and Scott were very nice to allow us to stay at their house even after some other friends of ours were visiting over Thanksgiving weekend.

Camden was pretty much stuffed into her jacket and snow pants.

Saying goodbye. I love the look on Felix's face.