I Love My Camera

It was finally a nice enough day today to get outside a bit. I convinced Craig that going to the cemetery would be a ton of fun and would have some cool things to take pictures of. Guess what? I was right! We left the kids home to fend for themselves (I love having a child old enough to babysit), and spent a few hours at the cemetery. We had a lot of fun, and saw some really neat graves and mausoleums, crypts, or whatever they are called (I'll never be rich enough or important enough to have one, so no reason to know the official term). And of course, got some great photos. Craig even took some photos of me that turned out decent, and I got a few of him as well. Here is my favorite of the day. I'll try to post a few more in the next few days.

Cause I Stink At Titles

I'm not gonna give one. So there. Nothing witty, nothing brilliant. Really. Nothing.

The kids have their Valentines Day parties tomorrow, so tonight we had the mad rush getting Valentines made. Caitlin, the smart one, made hers about a week ago. She got out her scrapbook paper and cut out paper hearts for everyone in her class. Very sweet. She never even asked for me to go buy her some, she just knew how she wanted them done, and she did it. Brayden on the other hand comes home from school today and doesn't say a word. He sits on the computer for 3!! hours. (This is a big no-no in our house, they only get one hour a day.) And then we tell him to get off, and then the panic sets in. Tomorrow he has to have Valentines! He hasn't given them a thought, so it must be an emergency situation! Now imagine this...Craig has been painting the pantry doors in my kitchen, so its layered in black plastic and paint drips everywhere. Caitlin has to be at gymnastics at 6:00, Craig has band practice at 6:30, and I'm trying to start dinner, which will take 55 minutes to cook instead of the 15 I head originally thought (read your recipes all the way through, not just the first line). And Brayden is in the kitchen having a fit about going to the store and buying Valentines at 5:47. Needless to say I lost my temper a bit and yelled at him. Ugh. Kids do not get that while mom is cooking dinner, its really not a good idea to approach her with your demands. So he went downstairs deflated, thinking his mom is evil. But alas, I redeem myself and whip him up some really cool Valentines in Photoshop, and made Aaron a set while I was at it. I must say, I really like their Valentines better than anything from a store.

Yesterday I made a self-binding baby quilt. This is pretty fast, and I like the result quite a bit. My corners on this first one aren't perfect, but now I know how to make them better next time. I just need someone to have a baby girl so I can give it to them! I have a nephew on the way, but no girls. And since my mom has already made like 10 of these for him, there is no reason for me to.

Aaron is a hard kid to photograph. Nothing I take of him ever looks that great. Needless to say I was surprised when he made me take a picture of him on his 100th day of school and it came out pretty cute! I like it because he doesn't have some goofy grin, his eyes aren't bugging out, he isn't doing a stupid pose, its just Aaron. Oh, and just so ya know, he made me Photoshop out the 2 sores that are about the size of a freckle he had on his face. He said they made him look icky. So yeah, hes 6 and we are already airbrushing his photos. Insert Eye Roll here.

Getting the Mojo Back...maybe

Last night I actually had a desire to go into my sewing room. I cleaned it up a bit and then I started and finished a little pencil pouch for my church bag. I also made a twirly skirt for Keeley. I've had the fabric to do this for like ever. I've been such a lazy mom I hadn't started it. I got Caitlins made, but never Keeleys. I got it all done except for the elastic and she was already asleep when I went down to measure her waist, so this morning I jumped up and finished it. Here is the Squealy in her new skirt, and yeah, she's really that cute.

Craigs birthday was on Saturday, and lucky for me his mom makes his cake! Yeah! He always gets worried that I'm gonna be upset that he asks her instead of me, but hello! Why would I want more to do? Here he is with his parents. We have been playing Pinochle with them for about a year now, and his mom and I thorougly whooped the boys' butts that night! Go us!

And last but not least, we were finally able to get a picture of Caitlin doing her back handspring. Proof that they are actually teaching her something at gymnastics.

Hopefully I can start feeling better and get back to myself. I came down with a bit of a cold about a week and a half ago, and I've just been yucky since then. I am still running a low grade fever, so I think I might need to make a dr. appointment. I hate going to the dr. Not to mention our new insurance Sucks, with a capital S.

Craig is home all week, our first week of unpaid vacation. 1 down 3 to go. As badly as it sucks to have to take 4 weeks without pay the first half of the year, I'm extremely grateful he has a job. Our family has everything we need. Not everything we want, but need. And really, thats enough. Times like this really make you re-evaluate whats important. Being able to stay home and play a game of Clue with the kids is more important than Craig and I going out and seeing the latest movie in the theatre. My husband and kids are whats important, having a new outfit, getting my nails done, having the kids in 20 different activities, it all takes away from what matters. Family. I'm grateful for my family. Although I may gripe about it, I am grateful for my husbands job. I'm grateful that because of him and his hard work, I am able to be home with my children, where I'm supposed to be. And if that means having ratty fingernails and un-trendy clothes, well, thats a sacrifice thats pretty easy to make.