A shot of morning for you!

Meal planning

2010-03-15T08:24:00.004-06:00

I really don't mind grocery shopping. I love having a stocked pantry and refrigerator. It's the meal planning and list making I dread. Sometimes, coming up with a menu for 2 weeks can really tax my brain. When planning, I strive to have a variety of meals, {mostly} nutritious and well-balanced meals and make it easy on the budget.

Lately, I've been feeling in a rut, having the same suppers over and over again. So, this morning, I broke out a couple of cookbooks and my folder of recipes torn from magazines and printed from the Internet. My husband said it looked like I was doing research. :)

I wasn't necessarily looking for "new" recipes, {though, I did plan a couple}.

I found a list of some of our favorites suppers and pulled a few meals from it; I also rediscovered recipes I haven't made in awhile, but remember being a success.

The grocery list is so much easier to make when I have a plan. Now, it's off to the store! Hope you have a fabulous day!

Winter

2010-02-06T23:24:00.002-07:00

Apple Butter

2010-02-06T23:24:00.001-07:00

Catch a Bubble

2010-01-15T14:38:00.002-07:00

Haven't you always wanted to? And isn't it unfair that you never can??
**POP** right as it touches your finger.... Unless you know the secret.

Little Reminders

2010-01-15T14:37:00.002-07:00

He is not a baby anymore... He is a CHILD, and this journey is just beginning.
(Yet will be so fleeting...)

We've got spirit, yes we do!

2009-09-30T08:12:00.004-06:00

It's homecoming week...fun, fun! This year it's even more exciting than usual because Heather is on homecoming court.

Today is Wacky Wednesday for Heather and Pajama Day for Wendy. Wendy was disappointed her school isn't doing Wacky Wednesday, so she decided to wear the clip in colorful braids to be a little wacky on her own. ;)

Excuse the snapshots...too early to get all technical with settings. Also, excuse Heather's orange-ish skin; she's been tanning the past few days. I told her she's been in there too long, but do you think she'll listen? *roll eyes* lol!

Surf's Up

2009-08-23T20:44:00.005-06:00

We were in Del Mar this weekend for the horse races. On our way home this morning, we stopped to watch the surfers at Swami's Beach in Encinitas. Holy cow, there were hundreds of them! All those little black spots...surfers. I've never seen so many out there at one time!

Trying to catch up

2009-08-19T04:45:00.001-06:00

Whew where is time going?

I have been so slack with my blogging lately, I haven't been able to keep up with editing my photos as I go either. The last few weeks have been really busy and just flown by. We started as you know with the Lazy Town and Zoo trip, then that was followed by dropping in to see G'ma for her birthday then we hit Townsville. Up there for 10 days, flew and drove home - the boys travelled really well. Thank goodness for such awesome technology now that in car DVD players are a godsend. Then home a day and I was back at work again. Saturday saw us off to Canberra for the weekend to catch up with friends and their two kids the same ages as the boys. We got some shopping in and then back home again where Caden was digging through my closet for some reason only know to him and discovered his transformer suit that is supposed to be for his birthday in November! oh well since the two days since then he has barely been out of it! so since I have been so slack and not blogged here is a glimpse of our mornings (mostly) of the last 17 days!

As you can see we went from playing in the beach and pool to crappy foggy cold and dreary weather. But the sun has been shining the last couple of days and the boys are back at school and cranky from it. Ahh life is ever changing!

enjoy J

Butterflies at Botanica

2009-08-17T13:07:00.002-06:00

These butterflies were so much fun to photograph! I really need to look into a macro lens!

Taste of Summer

2009-08-13T06:31:00.003-06:00

8/12/09 10: 00 a.m

I actually took this shot yesterday morning, but by the time I had a minute to post it was late afternoon and decided to just wait.

This watermelon is a sugar baby variety. It's so sweet and juicy. The fact that we grew it ourselves make it taste even sweeter. The watermelon patch was experimental; we weren't sure how the growing would go, or if the melons would get big enough and ripen.

When we cut into this melon, we instantly knew it was ripe. A ripe watermelon has a distinctive sound when you cut it open.

There are 6 other watermelons in the garden, a couple about this size, and the rest smaller. I'd say the experiment was a success. Have a great day!

Tenacious Geranium

2009-08-11T09:40:00.000-06:00

I wish I could wake up to this all the time!

2009-08-07T15:54:00.002-06:00

I'm finally getting around to blogging about our family vacation to a cabin a few weeks ago. It was such a lovely, peaceful place and we had so much fun. But my favorite part had to be waking up in the morning. The view from our front porch was just so glorious with the sun shining on it, and the kids were so cute all snuggled up in their robes. Also, for some unknown reason (maybe it was the calming effect of our surroundings) they hardly fought at all the whole time we were there. Mornings around here are full of ornery whining and tantrums, but at the cabin it was BLISS! If only mornings could be this way all the time!

Just Another Favorite Toy...

2009-08-07T08:56:00.000-06:00

Mornings are getting away from me lately... I want to re-center, and a morning photograph is a good way to begin... I'm going to try to come back a bit more frequently, my friends.

This tiny little boy...

2009-08-05T11:00:00.005-06:00

is slipping away from me a little more every day. Replacing himself with a tougher, bigger talking, more independent version. He leaves for Grandma's today, and won't be back until next week. And even then, only for a few days, because then I head out to Denver for a few days of pea fun. :o) For all I know, the last vestiges of toddlerhood may slip away while he's at Grandma's, so I wanted to capture the other part of him-the sweet sleeping boy who still needs to crawl in bed with Momma and wrap his arms around me, and cling his little body to me, patting my back until he falls back to sleep. Because even that part will be gone before I realize it.

Waiting

2009-07-29T10:37:00.004-06:00

Staying close to the phone(s) today. I received a text from my best friend this morning...she was on her way to the hospital to be induced for labor. Hopefully today I will be able to meet her new son.

(apologies for the blurry pic. due to a home improvement project, my flash was unavailable)

New Toys

2009-07-27T08:50:00.002-06:00

Sorry I've been MIA for the past few days. But here are some of my new toys. I bought two sets of these close-up filters for macro work on Amazon. Each set has magnifications of +1, +2, +4, & 10x. I got them for both my 28-75 and my 70-200. The ones for my 70-200 have not arrived yet. They weren't very expensive and I got them just to play for a while and see if I want to invest in a longer macro lens. My only real macro right now is the 60mm and I think I want the 105mm.

Dear Starbucks,

2009-07-26T09:38:00.005-06:00

I know this is going to come as a great shock to you. Receiving this letter... with no hints beforehand at what was to come. Knowing you for all these years has been magical and dare I say, fulfilling. I will be forever grateful for the times we spent together. And the
free lattes I have gotten.

But it is time to say good-bye because we were simply not meant to be, my love. And because I'm seeing someone else.

I love you, still. Please know that.

Good-bye my love,

Janett

P.S. I hope we can still be friends.

Breakfest

2009-07-25T11:18:00.002-06:00

Yummy in our tummies.

Yarn

2009-07-22T10:46:00.002-06:00

Wound this baby blue/white variegated skein into a ball this morning. It shouldn't have taken long. About 2 minutes after I took the photo, something went terribly wrong and I had a tangled, knotted mess. The yarn loosely spun, so when it tangled on itself, it was nearly impossible to avoid knots. Plus, there were knots in it anyway...aggravating! I ended up cutting it in places and knotting ends together. I didn't have the time nor the patients to deal with it. All together, (after taking a break from winding) it took about 2 hours to finish.

I'll eventually be knitting a baby cocoon, but for now, I don't even want to look at it!

(the yarn isn't dirty, there's a cast from my table I didn't feel like dealing with either! lol!)

Jonquils and a rain storm

2009-07-22T06:25:00.001-06:00

Oh the things we do to get a photo! You would think that rain and cold winter weather would not really make you want to go an take photos outside? A ray of sunshine (despite still raining) and a whole heap of jonquils in bloom I was out in the pink fluffy slippers getting my pics!!

enjoy J

Spell check.

2009-07-21T11:51:00.003-06:00

Found this on my door this morning... Maybe I should call them and let them know?

showing off the light wand!

2009-07-21T07:35:00.001-06:00

I know it is a couple of days late but better late than never! WE had tickets to Lazy Town live on stage for Saturday. While we were waiting to go in WE got the kids some of the merchandise that was available. They got show bags with a heap pf products like baseball bats, Frisbees, elastics etc and we also got them these cool light up sticks that I keep calling the light sabers (yeah I know wrong show and ERA!). anyway despite of the mummy goggles here is Caden with his wand!

this is the kind of grin I would love to see outside the wand!

enjoy j

Hummingbird

2009-07-20T14:16:00.001-06:00

I've been trying for a week to get a decent shot of this little guy! Out of the 17 shots I fired off this morning, this was the only one that was even halfway decent. These guys are FAST!

Blueberry Buckle

2009-07-20T10:02:00.001-06:00

It's my favorite time of year...BLUEBERRY season! YUM!

Baby elephant

2009-07-20T06:06:00.000-06:00

We visited Taronga Zoo in Sydney this (well Sunday our time!) and we got to see the 2 week old baby elephant as well as a whole heap of icky snakes cool lizards and tall tall giraffes. I think the big seals were my favourites!

enjoy J

Morning In MoHo

2009-07-19T23:05:00.006-06:00

I spent this weekend in my hometown in northen California. This shot was taking as you head up the hill. I love it there. It's got a small town feel, lots of agriculture, and is full of lots of wonderful memories.

My fav from this morning's session..

2009-07-19T18:35:00.003-06:00

This was my first sibling pb session. We would have been doing this on Wednesday morning, but it stormed like nobody's business. Today the weather was perfect. The coolest weekend we have had in a long time...but seriously....A one year old and three year old are tough! I got a lot of aggravated sighs from sweet Miss K above (lol) , but I think I got atleast one decent photo of them together. Their mom is one of my besties so she promises to love anything I give her. I am going to hold her to that. :-)

Just editing.

2009-07-19T17:05:00.002-06:00

This image was was nothing special. I took it in Charlstone, SC. But with some time over a cup of coffee it turned out pretty nice. IMO :)

Back to Home Depot

2009-07-19T16:07:00.002-06:00

This morning, we went back to Home Depot to pick out new storm/screen doors. Ours are literally falling off. We also looked at some new interior doors, and some shutters. Then we went to the garden center. I photographed some cacti and some orchids while we were browsing...

Paint Chips

2009-07-18T15:58:00.001-06:00

Hubby and his best friend went kayaking this morning, and then I met them for lunch. After lunch, hubby and I went to Home Depot. On the way home, we had to stop for a family of Guineas to cross the street.

Who knew there could be so many variations of white? It's kind of a ranch/farmhouse in the woods, and it's currently just the bare cedar. IN a couple of weeks, it will be Picket Fence White, with Palm Leaf Green trim, and a few hints of Moroccan Sky.

A new couch cover + some cousions = good mood.

2009-07-18T15:08:00.002-06:00

I clean the most effectively when I'm angry. So after a big fight with Dh yesterday my house is spotless :) I got a new cover for our couch and some pillows among other stuff from Ikea and then got down to business. I scrubbed the floors until midnight - but today I woke up to a neat and organized apartment .... and some roses :)

Glorious morning

2009-07-18T08:11:00.005-06:00

{8:45 a.m.}

I enjoyed breakfast out on the deck this morning. So peaceful and beautiful with my book and my coffee: listening to the chirps of the birds, the tinkling of my wind chimes as the breeze blew, watching the sun filter through the trees, smelling the fresh morning air (smells like grass and earth and damp). It's chilly this morning, especially for mid-July in Misssouri, around 65*. It's a glorious morning!

I used two images for this shot, one metered for the sky and one metered for the rest of the scene. I layered them and erased back for the sky. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Bits & Pieces of the Day

2009-07-17T18:54:00.000-06:00

I forgot to take any photos in the morning, but here are some from the evening...We are getting ready to have our house painted (exterior) and have been stripping off the old paint from the front porch. I took a break and spent a little while trying to photograph the hummingbird that comes to feed every evening around twilight. Also grabbed a shot of the tomatoes ripening on the vine...

Painting

2009-07-16T10:47:00.003-06:00

Husband is painting our bedroom ceiling today. So, some of the contents of the bedroom are now in the living room. I had to make a run to Home Depot to pick up more painter's tape. While I was there, I also picked up a few paint chip color cards. Guess what the next project is going to be?

Who can resist?

2009-07-15T12:10:00.002-06:00

I am rarely in town during breakfast hours, but since the power went out at my house at 8 o'clock this morning, I headed into town early to run some errands. I couldn't resist a dozen chocolate glazed munchkins and a Pepsi...

Just add newborn...

2009-07-15T11:19:00.002-06:00

My new "fake floor" arrived this morning, so I set it up to get a feel for tomorrow's newborn shoot.

I think I like it.

Another Package!

2009-07-14T15:51:00.002-06:00

This one from Amazon. I always love seeing that logo in my mailbox. Today, it contained Books 4-8 of the Dark Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Perfect timing, too since I finished Kresley Cole's A Hunger Like No Other at 1 o'clock this morning. On a side note, I wasn't impressed with the Kresley Cole book. I don't think I will read the rest of the series...

I've Been Away...

2009-07-14T11:46:00.002-06:00

But I am finally home, and seeking my groove....

First shot: There is nothing like your OWN bed, your OWN pillow..... *sigh* **swoon**

And The second shot is just a bit of breakfast-- toast, peanut butter, and blackberry butter. Yum.

Morning on the River

2009-07-13T19:13:00.003-06:00

We spent this weekend on the Colorado River. It's so beautiful and quiet (before everyone is up and running around on their boats). I'm ready to go back!

I just love getting packages

2009-07-13T15:42:00.002-06:00

especially of fun stuff. Like Sephora...

still on

2009-07-13T10:14:00.002-06:00

We took the side rail off of Alex's bed yesterday and he slept without it for the first time ever last night. His bed used to be up on risers, so we were always concerned about him rolling off. He's a pretty restless sleeper... he rolls off an air mattress every time he sleeps on one. I was quite pleased to find him still on the bed when I got up this morning. Oh... he does have a bedskirt, but it's in the laundry at the moment... :)

First Pick

2009-07-13T08:35:00.001-06:00

We have our first tomato!!! It isn't pretty, but it made a good BLT!!!

it's not scary!

2009-07-12T21:14:00.002-06:00

I got this tunnel out the other day thinking that Jack would immediately love it. Well... turns out he was scared of it. He would actually cry if one of us actually crawled inside it. This morning he decided that it's not so scary after all and he's been in and out of it all day.

Storms Moving In

2009-07-12T17:36:00.001-06:00

I didn't manage to take a photos this morning, but here is one from this afternoon. (It's morning somewhere, right?) Storms moving in...

It's war.

2009-07-12T12:45:00.003-06:00

My daughter woke me up screaming about the house being tp'ed. My neighbors know not what they have started, it's on. (pictures courtesty of my daughter and her little p&s)

Vacation!

2009-07-12T12:11:00.002-06:00

We're in Charlestone,SC on a short vacation with Alex ( my son). We're visiting my brother that I haven't seen in 4 years and we're having a blast!!! I took some time this morning to photograph this nest that a bird build on a porch. What a change and pleasure for a city person coming from NY!

Morning Chores..

2009-07-12T09:22:00.005-06:00

never seem to be finished...especially when you have three kids in the house. Did I mention that we don't have kids? lol My neice and nephews are visiting my parents for the summer and we invited them to our house for the weekend-ish. Whoa! Triple everything...laundry, cooking, dishes, noise..and you would have my house right now.
My neice (age 12) made us pancakes for breakfast and is currently hogging my bathroom doing her hair and planning her outfit..
My nephew Zach (age 8) promised to teach me how to put a worm on a hook later when we fish. (He was so surprised to learn his mom and I did that at his age.)
..and Greg (age 14)..well. he is too cool for all us with his ipod and ps2.

..and honestly..I wouldn't trade it for the world. :-)

Yummy

2009-07-11T12:19:00.002-06:00

turning these

into this, this is the only way I like orange juice

not to mention my boys love when we make juice in the juicer.

Time to make the Doughnuts

2009-07-11T10:42:00.003-06:00

8:11-8:47 a.m. I got up this morning and made biscuit dougnuts for the family. So delicious!

The storyboard is an action from CoffeeShop Rita.

What's in my bag?

2009-07-11T09:01:00.001-06:00

Tori reminded me that I have been planning to photograph products and items that I use every day (or almost every day) when she posted what was in her cosmetic bag. So here's what's in my cosmetic bag.

Birthday Eve and this is how he woke up...

2009-07-11T05:44:00.001-06:00

There is nothing like a temp, feeling crappy and a chest infection to stop a nearly 3 year old on the eve of his birthday. Fingers crossed that the antibiotics kick in tonight and he is A LOT better when he wakes up for his party! He has been looking forward to it all week. It has been the first thing out of his mouth in the morning - only 3, 2, 1.... more sleeps and G'ma and Papa come and my party!

PS I love the pics you guys have been posting. Sorry I haven't been here much to comment and post. Life very rudely intruded with work and kids! I barely even picked the camera up!

back tomorrow with cake and party pics (I hope!) with my soon to be 3yo!!

enjoy J

Well, not exactly morning...

2009-07-10T18:27:00.001-06:00

I was supposed to go run errands this morning, but I got sucked into the internet/computer vortex and it didn't let me out until afternoon. So here are my morning errands, which were run at like 3PM, lol.

cluttered

2009-07-10T14:03:00.001-06:00

My make-up bag used to be neat and orderly... then I went on vacation. And it hasn't been the same since. I really need to take the two minutes to straighten it back up.

Workout @ Home

2009-07-10T13:13:00.003-06:00

9:32 a.m.

It was threatning rain this morning, so I worked out at home on my new-to-me elliptical. We found it on Craig's list (love Craig's list!); we had to trave to the middle of Nowhere-ville to pick it up. (My old elliptical, also from Craig's list, died a couple of months ago).

The machine is in the laundry/storage/cat's bedroom room. It's a fairly large room, but it's U.G.L.Y. I threw a couple of textures on the photo to try to hide it! lol! Eventually I'll add another slash to the name of this room...workout room. There are plans to add a television and I'm not sure what else, but it needs something to motivate me.

Garden Stuff Again

2009-07-09T11:47:00.002-06:00

Things are pretty boring around here these days, so I am seriously trying to hunt up things to photograph. Took these this morning while watering the garden and the new grass...

Housekeeping

2009-07-08T14:38:00.002-06:00

I hate cleaning my house. Really, I do. It takes too much time away from more interesting things. But I had to buckle down and do it today. It was just as Un-Fun as I had feared.

Shredding

2009-07-08T09:05:00.003-06:00

8:45 a.m.

Yesterday I cleaned out a file cabinet, so today I'm shredding. (don't be jealous! lol!) 10 years worth of bank statements, credit card statements, pay stubs and other miscellaneous paperwork. I also have a plastic tub full of paper headed for recycling. (things that didn't need to be shredded).

Summer Cold

2009-07-07T15:06:00.007-06:00

My 2 1/2 year old has a runny nose and is coughing and sneezing like crazy! It is just a meatter of time before we all get it!!

Resting

2009-07-07T12:59:00.003-06:00

10:23 a.m.

...after my morning walk in the park.

This morning's commute

2009-07-07T08:51:00.002-06:00

Normally, my commute is to my office down the hall from my bedroom. But this morning, I had to take the hubster to work. His car has been in the shop for the past week after the timing belt broke and damaged the valves. So I had to get up really early, which I never do, and drive all the way to his office across town. It's about 45 miles each way.

BFF Session

2009-07-06T19:42:00.000-06:00

Had a great time this morning with my best friend, photographing her daughter, and her daughter's best friend.

Choo Choo

2009-07-06T06:55:00.002-06:00

All day, every day :) What is it with boys and their trains??

Not again...

2009-07-05T11:48:00.002-06:00

I thought I was over with math when I graduated from High School.... and here I am - years later going over it again. I have a placement test tomorrow to get back into college so hold your thumbs. I've been studying hard this morning.

The early morning beast

2009-07-05T11:33:00.003-06:00

That is what I call him at the moment his real name is Stuck, anyways this boy for some reason every time he runs up or down the stairs he makes a weird meowing/purring noise. It is funny when he does it during the day but not at 3am

The Garden Path

2009-07-05T10:31:00.001-06:00

The hubby is building a decorative concrete walkway to the garden this weekend.

Sleeping in...

2009-07-05T09:04:00.003-06:00

feels so good! And apparently I wasn't fully awake as evidenced by a slightly crooked shot! =)

Working off last night's bbq.

2009-07-05T07:33:00.000-06:00

We recently discovered the neighbors had a push mower and the boy BEGGED to mow the lawn. Wonder how long that will last?

Walkin...

2009-07-04T11:01:00.003-06:00

(excuse the cell phone pic)

Today I started walking (and dieting). 2 miles might have been a little much to start with, but I made it. All the way to the new stop sign (which I hated before and I doubly hated today..lol) and back again. Considering the last time I honestly tried to get in shape was for my wedding (10 years ago this August), 2 miles in 50 min was a good effort. oh..yea the reason Im suddenly so motivated is b/c we were informed that we would be photographed for the their website and we might be on ESPN when we shoot our tourney in Vegas.. eek.. The camera adds how many pounds?! lol

My current favorite

2009-07-04T10:28:00.000-06:00

This is my current favorite lens. I am still trying to get used to it's weight and hand-holding it. I hate using tripods or monopods, so I need to be able to hand hold this sucker without camera shake. It takes practice.

Brunch

2009-07-03T15:26:00.002-06:00

Pulled over to the side of the road this morning on my way to meet some friends for lunch. This is about 3 miles from my house.

Brainstorming..

2009-07-03T12:07:00.003-06:00

On my birthday (06.26), my team and I played in our Regional APA Pool Tournament. First prize was qualification for the National APA Tournament in Las Vegas. Well..WE WON! So excited about this!! I have never been to Vegas and we have been trying for this for almost six years. :-) Now its time for fundraising. They give you some travel money, but not enough for the 6 of us to be in Vegas for 7 days. Hence the raffle tickets above. Its a 50/50 cash drawing. We started last night and have sold almost $200 worth. Whomever wins gets half the pot and several have already told us if we draw their names we can keep it all. :-) We are definitely having a few pool tournaments, but if anyone has any fundraising suggestions Im all ears.

Bliss

2009-07-03T11:57:00.003-06:00

Here's what I was doing early this morning. Photographing my granddaughter's birth. :)

Baking

2009-07-03T10:51:00.004-06:00

Chocolate chip cooking baking for a get together this afternoon. It's only one of the things I did this morning. I also dealt with 9 yr. old girl drama, but I didn't take any pictures. Though, I briefly consider it! Oh, I tried to channel Barbie w/the storyboard, but I'm not so sure I picked up the right signal! lol!

Lunch

2009-07-02T12:17:00.001-06:00

It was an early lunch, at 11:00 AM, so it counts as morning, right? Steak, Italian cheeses, and garlic Parmesan sauce on a pita...

...don't get caught...

2009-07-01T14:41:00.003-06:00

Effective today, cell phone ban prohibits the use of mobile electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle without a hands-free device. Lucas decided to test run it to make sure it was in proper working order. Of course, little brother had to help too. {O'ahu, Hawai'i}

the one that doesn't stay closed

2009-07-01T10:44:00.002-06:00

Jack loves playing with this toy, but this one particular part just doesn't like to close sometimes. We have to turn the dial just a touch and then it'll close.

A couple of things...

2009-07-01T10:36:00.002-06:00

First, any idea what this is? It was on my kitchen window (outside, thank god!) and it's HUGE! It's at least two inches long.Second, today is market day. Menu planning, list making, and shopping. Normally I go on Mondays, but this week was a little off. Here's two weeks of meals planned out...

Last day of summer school...

2009-07-01T08:56:00.002-06:00

And she's so excited she can hardly stand it. So am I-I get to sleep in tomorrow!

It is getting bigger and bluer...

2009-07-01T07:13:00.001-06:00

yes the last remaining Yabbie is still alive (much to my disappointment I want fish back). Since Daz re-arranged the lounge room and the Yabbie got moved into the corner he/she/it has been a bit more sociable - I guess because they can't see all of the happenings. I captured Yabbie peeing out of his/her/it's log the other day.

enjoy J

hmmm......?!

2009-06-30T23:43:00.000-06:00

I was scouting around this morning looking for something interesting not breakfast or kids or anything else to shoot and walked out the back to try and get water droplets. I turned around had to get this. I have to assume it came off one of the kids toy or climbing frame things but it looked cool! I wonder if the birds will use it?

enjoy J

Where can I go today?

2009-06-30T15:54:00.006-06:00

I've figured out how to lunge forward on my tummy and squirm like a mad turtle! If I rock back and forth long enough, I can move a little backwards. Mom's trying to take a pic outside, I'm going to try and follow her! This is my fursister Ka'iulani. She's 15 yrs old. Her brother, Ikaika is up in heaven as of 8 months ago. I was only 2 weeks old. He was a rascal like me. Ka'i is the lazy girl in the house. Big brother Lucas loves to chase her when he's not chasing me! Oh, and she never did get that pic outside! =) Enjoy your day! {a moment from our boring, full of chaos morning in Hawai'i}

Getting by with a little help from my friends

2009-06-30T12:17:00.002-06:00

Due to summer fun, my poor house has been neglected. So, I called on some friends for help.

I've been cleaning like a mad woman!

Changing the linens...

2009-06-30T08:20:00.002-06:00

I hate changing the linens on my bed. The mattress weighs a freakin' ton, and fitted sheets are always too big. So I use those straps to help keep the sheet tight and smooth. Making the bed with fresh linens is a huge PITA.

My FurBabies

2009-06-29T11:01:00.002-06:00

Since my only two-legged kiddo is 4,000 miles away, I have to make do with portraits of my four-legged kiddos. Meet Anna, Pete, and Woofey. Anna's rather ill-tempered most of the time, Pete is somewhat of a loner, and Woofey is my spoiled baby, who would probably ride the short bus if he were human.

messy

2009-06-29T09:16:00.000-06:00

He used to be such a clean eater....

The easiest kid's shoes in the world.

2009-06-29T08:24:00.003-06:00

I just bleach them ;) lol

*I spent a good half an hour this morning looking for the other one. Found it in the laundry so I guess Alex was trying to say in his 19 months old way that they need to be cleaned.*

Thristy lawn

2009-06-28T10:51:00.003-06:00

poor lawn has been somewhat neglected but we finally found the sprinkler and this morning we watered, well hubby did it.

8am

My morning...

2009-06-28T08:40:00.003-06:00

While my husband went to church to tell about all the good things that happened on his youth mission trip this past week,
I still have mono, so I stayed home. So, I'm getting ready to go snuggle down with the movie he brought home for me yesterday,
and work on a baby hat for (hopefully) next week's newborn baby girl.

The good, the bad and the ugly, right?

2009-06-28T07:35:00.004-06:00

6-28-09 8:28 a.m.

Well, here's my ugly...it's been a busy weekend. Not many meals have been prepared since Thursday, except for super quick breakfast(cereal) and maybe a lunch (sandwhich), so there hasn't been many dishes. Not enough to bother with. But the few dishes here and there...mostly bowls, glasses and coffee cups have now piled up. Our collapsible cooler is also on the counter drying out. (you can just see the zipper in the pic). It's another busy day today, so this probably won't get cleaned up until this evening. It's not pretty, but it's the truth! lol! I apologize, Barbie if this causes you any stress...I know how you like to wake up to a clean kitchen. =)

Who needs expensive toys?

2009-06-28T07:22:00.000-06:00

The boys visited Grandma and Papa this weekend. Papa got a new chair that came in a big box! Yep there is nothing more entertaining than a box. Who need toys or TV or balls or anything else? It kept them occupied for a good couple of hours this morning. So today my photo comes from my Dad who grabbed this great capture of the boys in the box!

enjoy J

My morning "pick-me-up"

2009-06-27T15:23:00.004-06:00

I just started this, and already I am thrilled with the results. My energy is up (despite being sick as a dog right now with strep throat and sinus infection) and my cravings are down a lot. I've been editing photos and usually I am always looking for something to nosh, but today I haven't even thought about snacks.

I am hoping that this will be the change that my hubby and I needed. We were so sick and tired of always being sick and tired. Crossing my fingers that things continue in a possitive direction for us!!!

New Grass

2009-06-27T08:56:00.003-06:00

We have a heck of a time growing grass at our house because the trees are so thick and tall they block all the sunlight and suck up all the water in the soil. But every year, we try again. Here's the new grass I have to water 2-3 times a day...

having fun..

2009-06-27T06:10:00.000-06:00

Technically they aren't taken in the morning or today but I edited them tonight (morning your time!) so I think they can slip in! I just love this one of the boys blowing a bubbles! the other is one Daz shot of Tyler and I. I actually am really happy to have a nice one of the two of us!

enjoy J

New Tenant

2009-06-26T14:18:00.003-06:00

This lovely little lady has decided to build a nest on top of the ceiling fan on my porch. Each morning as I sit at the kitchen table and drink my coffee I look out the window and watch her progress.

#35

2009-06-26T12:12:00.002-06:00

:) Today has been spent cleaning and packing so that I can have a long weekend with the girls. We play on a billiards league and this weekend is our Regional Tournament. If we win, we get to go to Nationals in Vegas. If we don't, I'm going to spend all my birthday money at the casino the tourney is held in and drown my sorrows with lots of mimosas and wine. well..Im probably going to do all that regardless...it is my birthday weekend after all. LOL

You ladies have a great weekend!!

Whose Flower Is It?

2009-06-26T10:18:00.002-06:00

Obviously, the bumble bee has size on his side. Not sure what kind of bug that is buzzing around waiting for the bee to leave so he can have the flower. There were a whole bunch of them around this particular plant.

As I am absolutely terrified of bugs in general, and stinging bugs and spiders in particular, I can't believe I was outside in my nightie shooting these things! (I really need to go take a shower and get dressed, lol!)

Off she goes

2009-06-26T09:41:00.004-06:00

6-26-09 8:20 a.m.

My youngest is leaving for church camp this afternoon. She'll be back Sunday night. I'm taking her out to lunch before she leaves for some one on one mommy/daughter time.

Early morning phone calls never a good thing...

2009-06-25T12:05:00.003-06:00

Woke up this morning to my cell phone ringing. It was 8:10, and hubby had left about half an hour before for his coffee stop and 60 minute drive to work. He was on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. We suspect his timing belt broke, which concerns us as this can cause a tremendous amount of expensive damage on a diesel Jetta. And the warranty expired on the last belt change 18 days ago. While he got a ride to work using the shuttle service his mechanic provides, I have to go pick him up after his golf game tonight all the way across town at 8 PM.

Shoot the Duck...

2009-06-25T10:24:00.004-06:00

6-25-09 9:35 a.m.

Walked at the park this morning with hubby. Did you ever do the "shoot the duck" move at the roller rink when you were in jr. high? That has nothing do to with my photo...but saying "shoot the duck" reminded me of it. =) Hope you're having a good day!

In My Husband's Backpack

2009-06-25T09:09:00.003-06:00

Cleaning out my husband's backpack to use it for our upcoming trip... Found these things, which delighted me. For a dozen different reasons. Love him.