I actually do have lots to say...

but so much of it is the same ol crud about feeling so crappy all the time. SO rather than write that crap I will just share some new favs of Ashlin and Colton :D




Aren't they sweet :D

seriously they don't get much cuter than this...

(well except of course my two lol)

I saw this little girl a few weeks ago at a school type thing, and I wanted to take pictures of her. Isn't she adorable!!! Seriously the most cutest little girl, I am so happy that her mom wanted pictures. And so unlike Ashlin and Colton, she looked at me :D Yay. I really do love taking pictures, and whent hey shine, it makes me happy!



and another one :D



and I don't even think one of these is my fav. I will try and get that up later.

two weeks and counting

Our schools are out in two weeks. I am looking forward to not having the run around every morning :D I know the kiddos are looking forward to getting to stay up later lol. But they sure pack a lot into the last week of school. More fieldtrips than all year!

Soon we will be in our summer - HOT! Already the kids are getting a good tan from swimming, and I do use sunscreen. I only have sunburn on my nose every week. Have a great week everyone!!


Here is Ashlin in a quiet moment - rare!!

so I was looking for the cake picture...

I know I have it, I saw it the other day while I was uploading new pictures. But now I can't find it again. I am so bad at organizing my pictures.

But I did find these two :D





Doesn't Colton look so small and tiny on the trestle? Don't let that fool you, he is as loud and energetic as he is small.

Well I can't find the cake picture!

I need to improve my in computer organizational skills. I can't find the cake picture of Ashlin. Maybe Nicole will stil have a copy (please Nicole can you check)

So I have been taking other peoples pictures :D Check my photog website in a few days for new pictures. BUT in the meantime can I share some pictures of my kiddos that we took tonight.
ps- of course I can't decide which one of these I like better lol



and the cool girl in my sunglasses :D


And Colton posing fo rme :D I know he is chewing on his lip, but it is better than his cheesy smile lol!


I have not been doing to much beside taking pictures, scrapping, watching my butt grow bigger and hang out at the pool for the kids. Swim club is in full swing, which I love because it is something the kids really like to do, and they really listen and try to do well. So unlike skating which was hell for all of us! ok well in Ashlins defence she liked skating, it was Colton who really said he like dit but spent the whole 30 minutes complaining to me.

My wonderful spring allergies are still hitting me full force. Claritin and Reactine are my friends, but I am sure hoping this goes away soon! And I don't want to get into it but my mystery illness, whatever it is, is just really being a pain in the ass this past while. It is keeping me down that is for sure.


I am pretty sure we are getting the kids on of those self blowing up pools, 4 feet deep and 18 ft - hopefully that keeps them cool thru our scorcher summer! Either that or one of those big big water slides they have out now. Yet another decision I can't make - what would oyu get?

so here is the cake I am supposed to making later today...

It is a Princess cake - 4 or more layers, I am not really sure. I do this every year and every year I regret it! I get so annoyed that my cakes don't turn out like the picture.

So stay tuned for the after shot - I am decorating it later today :)

welcome spring!! yay :D

We have had a few days of glorious weather, and the apple tree in our backyard shows it. I was in there tonight, taking some pictures :D It smells wonderful, too bad I can not make a scratch and sniff picture post for you all. Tomorrow I will be bribing Ashlin and hopefully her cousin to be in it too lol



and check out Colton, in the "forest" at a localish lake:



and just in case you can't tell - he has a new serious look that he favors me with ;)





and Ashlin at the lake too, it was so bright out and she was not impressed I actually wanted her to look at me and the camera - poor thing lol



and finally the dear family kitty, in the apple tree before it started to bloom :D



Soccer is going well, for Ashlin. She is right into the soccer and is pretty darn god at going for the ball. So gets a goal per practice so far too, which we all think is really great. Colton was so excited to play, and he started out so well, but now he finds it boring. There are about 25 little 4-5 year olds on his team, and I think everyone is a bit overwhelmed. Many times there are kids that don't even touch the soccer ball for the whole hour. I am happy that Colton lasts for about 35-40 minutes before he gets bored and hungry. That kid sure can eat!

and before I go, here is a little sneak peek of a page you will be seeing on the new JMT blog :D




I bet you can't guess what letter of the alphabet it is for ;)

almost seven!

Because I love her so - she will be 7 on May 3rd. I know everyone says it but seriously where does time go? It really was just yesterdat that I had her, all 10 pounds of her! Her and COlton could not be more different personalites, even if I had of tried to make it so. He is so laidback and easy, her on the other hand, she is a handful. Headstrong and determined, lets not forget impatient! But she is all mine :D




and for good measure lol...

picture day :D

Well recently every day has been picture day. Quite honestly I am not up to much else. I am taking some medication to try and wipe out my bug and both of them are completely kickin my butt. I just wanted to share some pictures from recently.

so here he is - the day before FIVE!

Ok first of all if there is a tree around I can not keep him out it, hence the funny look. He was pretty proud of himself for getting in the tree. Like the hoodie look too hey ;) Well I am just glad that he had something on his head since it was kinda cool out. Here he is, the day before five :D



so what on earth do you think that goofy look if for? I think maybe I take too many pictures of him lol.

Spring Chill ;)

so really just 10 minutes before she was nothig but pouts and frowns. I tell you this girl will get frown lines before she is 20 lol. She wears her mood on her face and there are times when it seems it is all frowns. Who knew an almost seven yer old girl could be so fickle. But when she shines - she really does :D (and look at all of her baby teeth, she is so imaptient to lose even one, just one, and she would be happy.)

look ma - no wheels!

Except wouldn't you know it I never even took pictures! Today we took the training wheels off of Colton's and Ashlin's bikes! Yay. Of course go figure, it wasn't even me who convinved them. I figured they were not ready yet, (something like don't let my baby get hurt) and haven't even tried to take them off. Then yesterday we were at Sandra's and she was like oyu gotta get those training wheels off, they are so ready! Well I guess she was right lol. Colton did so well, he had one fall and a little teeny scrape, and that was it. Boy he can sure fly! Ashlin's took a lot longer to get her wheels off, and a tune up. She was way more nervous about it, and I had to hold onto her for a bit. Of course she was getting nervous and not pedaling and that can make you fall anyways. But the good news is they both have the hang of it! It is a bit scary to watch Colton because he bobs or something, goes like crazy and totally looks like he is going to crash, but doesn't. Talk about stressful. Ashlin is much more steady and even which makes me a bit less stressed lol. I also got my exercise by running with them as they were flying down the street, next time I need to remember to wear my sports bra! I am thinking that maybe I will do this a few times a week instead of the treadmill :D I bet the kids would love it too.

Such a mommy moment hey. On one hand I am sad they are getting so big, and not my little babies anymore. But even more than that, they did so great today!

big sigh here.....

You ever notice I go in stages? I guess right now would be a quiet stage, keep to myself kinda stage. I think part of it the fact I such a homebody, and I don't even live an exciting town. I guess I could tell you all about the river, it went up a few feet due to the rain. Isn't that exciting.

Or the fact I am a bit stressing out that I got a notice from Ashlin's teacher, she has booked me for a 30 minute parent/teacher conference. Like WTF could she want to talk to me for 30 minutes about. So of course my mind is wandering and imaging all the things she might say, and nothing so far has been good.

Rob and I are thinking of going to the movies tomorrow, he wants to see 300. (So do I but for different reasons lol) That means a round trip of about 5 hours driving, good thing I love my car :D

But I have been scrapping :D Would you like to see, if you haven't already.







and I think I might do a few more lol.

Have a great night everyone!!!

Meet Mr. I am FIVE!

So here he is with his big a$$ bike helmet. Now that is love hey, actually so far he has not complained about how big the helmet is. I do think he might be ready for a more boyish helmet soon though. I just love this pic, aside from the helmet, since it caught his eyes so well.



And here is typical Colton! If it is a puddle he is so there. Water or sand is no match for him I tell ya!



His birthday party is tomorrow at 11:00 am and I keep forgetting to order the cake! Ack My mom says she will bake one but they always turn out so wrong. Like the year we did a Wiggles red car cake. It was pink and looked like a blob. So we are thinking Dairy Queen for this party. I just hope that they have something suitable!

Wish me luck :D

getting connected :D and other misc stuff

So Rob bought me an IPod for valentines, so now all I have been doing is surfing itunes and getting some tunage for my "running". Of course he is giving me all these suggestions and ideas but we have kinda (really) different taste in music. So I need to learn how to do folders and give him his own folder just in case he listens to it. I highly doubt he likes my pop music. Talk about a fun gadget though!

My surgery went so well, I felt totally myself the day after. In fact I am wondering why on earth I waited so long to get this done! No more PMS :D I am sure that the whole family will be some glad about that lol. For me the most stressful part was when I was offered an epidural instead of anestetic (however you spell it!) I had epidurals for my c-sections and I didn't like them, I just can not handle the thought of that huge needle going into my spine. So I passed on that option lol.

After my surgery when they took me to the recovery room to see Rob they brought him in in a wheelchair. He got hit in the head on friday night and it was acting up really bad. When he couldn't respond to the nurse she wheeled him down to ER and sent me after him. We were there for another hour but the ct scan showed no bleeding - just a bad concussion. The doctor there sent him home with a checklist of things to watch for and some percocet. I personally get really freaked out about head and spine issues so I have been worried about him. Today I am dragging him to the doctor again since he isn't even going to work since his headache is so bad. Please think good healthy thoughts for us!

Today is a pro-d day so the kids are home, and two cousins who also have no school today - the good news is the Ipod drowns them out ;) My kiddos love it when others kids come to play so that is nice for them.

Have a great weekend!!!

wooohooo

We got a new computer!! No more dealing with crappy viruses (for now lol) And I don't know who is more excited - the kids or I. Although Ashlin did have a melt down because I wouldn't put the old one in her room, I told her maybe when she is 10 she can have a computer in her room.

So bear with me - I have lost ALL my bookmarks, and ALL my fonts :( Man that hurts this certified font addict. All my digi kits are also gone. But I did have most of my pictures put on CD (thankfully) and now that I have a new computer I can use the burner agian and start saving even more pictures to disk! Now all I need is my new camera lens and I will be ready for anything :D

I have my ablation surgery on tuesday - all total I will be at the hospital about five hours and I have to prove that I do not plan on driving myself home. Kinda hard to do that when I am the driver in the family, but hopefully something works out. No treadmill for one week (I am sorta ok with that) and no bedroom activites for two weeks (haven't told hubs yet lol, but I am fine wih that too), no driving for 24 hours because of being put under. Uhm also just take it real easy for two weeks, you think I could convice the hospital to find me some full time care for my kiddos for that time frame? They just do not understand 'slow down', which is fine since they are kids and all. Seriously though I am happy that they are such exuberant kids, loving their childhood. :)

Ok enough rambling - I am off to do the treadmill and maybe instill my photoshop :D

do you ever notice how we change...

as we get older? And I don't really mean "wider". I mean the way we think and what drives us.
ah once again I am editing before I post. I don't think anyone wants to read the big lond post I had typed. Suffice to say - our family really are precious, hold them, guard them, love them and cherish them - nothing else matters.

I am doing the online class {Journal Me This I am doing an album for my daughter Ashlin, I want her to have a keepsake that she can look at anytime, and realize just how passionately I feel that family is the most important thing.

This is the cover, dedication page and the first page using the Promt sent today:










(I am sorry the baby pic looks funny, it is the finish of the photograph that doesn't scan well)

holy update Batman!!

I am here :) Barely lol

I have been deaing with a household of sickies. We all have really bad head colds, I am sure Kleenex appreciates the support of their products. But you know even though I have been sick and out of town a fair amount I have still been doing the treadmill (almost) everyday :D I am pretty happy that I have been keeping it up but I can safely say my shins hate me. It is weird but after I got sick after Christmas, darn flu, that I have actually felt much better, almost my old self. I have missed feeling this energy for way to long!!!

I haven't even been taking pictures. It is so dreary out and just no fun to take pictures in the front room again so I have been giving the ol camera a rest. And scrapbooking? Well I do have a layout that I started two weeks ago, it is still sitting on my desk. BLAH I am just feeling so inspired, and I am sure it is my cold just draining me. I do plan on scrapping later today so I hope to share something soon!

Today I making up little 'kits' for a Valentines craft get together for Ashlin tomorrow. We are making tissue roses, with glue and {ACK} glitter! I am hoping that if I precut all the hearts we need that it will be a bit easier going tomorrow. The good news is Colton is going to be at a birthday party so the glitter is safe!

Wish me luck ;)

the ongoing school saga

Yes Ashlin STILL does not like school. Well she likes school, just not if she has to go. And she really does like her teacher so that isn't the problem, she says the days are just to long (oh and boring).

Not to torture her or anything, but because I thought it would be good, I put her in after school french two days a week. The start at 3:30pm and go to 4:30pm. It is very casual and has kindergarten to grade four age level. Well yesterday was supposed to have been her third class. But at 3:00pm she told her teacher that her tummy was really bothering her, so they sent her home! Ya big surprise when she got home she was 100% fine. Ugh I am so annoyed that the teacher fell for it for one thing, and I am also annoyed/frustrated because I seriously do not know what to do! I am sorry that she doesn't like school, but she has to go. I really don't know if homeschooling is the answer. Ashlin totally knows how to manipulate me and get out of things, so I worry if I home school that we will just have power struggles all the time. What good would that be. She is learning at school, how much I am not to sure though. I don't remember what grade one was like but I keep thinking the stuff she is doing is so basic. So anyways all I can think is "oh dear, she has 11 more years to go. What am I going to do."

On a brighter note, I gave Ashlin a new bedroom wall yesterday. I am sure that most of my scrapping friends have seen it but just in case, here it is:

I used 12 x 12 papers and just spray glued them up :D Ashlin seemed to like it, but she has already asked if I could paint all the green squares blue. Ya, like I will get right on that!

Anyways thanks for listening to me rant about school - again!

the downside of kids birthday parties.

So Ashlin had a birthday party to go today, three glorious hours of 16 girls running around playing diva. Thank goodness I was not the host lol. She had so much fun though, and I am happy to hear it.

BUT, and I hate to say this, but the goodie bag she brought home is scary! Nothing but sugar, and very noisy toys. I kinda snagged some right away and she didn't even realize it, which I am very grateful for because I dislike fighting with her about that kinda stuff. I convinced her to set aside some for daddy, and she is sharing with Colton. So now we can figure that she has about 1 cup of sugar at her disposal. And of this the worst is these plastic vampire teeth, that come with a big plastic baggie of colored sugar. You are supposed to put the sugar in the mouthpiece where your teeth go, I guess to pad that plastic suckers or something. Like oh my goodness, can anyone call those things good for teeth!

I don't want to be a mean mom and say that my kids can't go to birthday parties because of the sugary goodies bags sent home (95% of the time) but at the same time I just get so annoyed that this seems to be the norm. And I think that if I just made the kids leave without a goodie bag they would both be pretty upset.

Would it be rude to let the birthday hosts know that I would prefer only one to two pieces of candy in her bag??? What else could I do?