The Army Crawl

I need to blog (before I forget when she started) that Lily is army crawling all over the living room, she is only 5 months and has been at it for a couple weeks. She is so proud of her new talent. Mommy is a little concerned now what I have two kids that can get into things.

Go Lily!

Weekly Menu

Mexican casserole

I have learned that with two kids I have to be more organized in the menu planning and shopping department. I really don't like taking the kids to the grocery store, it equals chaos. So, Monday is usually the day I dedicate to shopping. Here is whats on the list this week. I usually stick with the staples that I make over and over, but lately I have been trying new recipes and experimenting in the kitchen. Aaron seem to love all the cooking that has been going on.

~Creamy tomato shrimp pasta
~Mexican casserole (from thepioneerwomen.com website)
~BBQ Chicken with loaded potatoes
~Enchiladas

Yummy!

Buckets

I rarely blog about my husband, we are not the outwardly affectionate type, but we love each other and our kids a whole heck-of-a lot. Anyone that knows Aaron and I, knows how polar opposite we are. I'm from a large city in Southern California, he is from a small town 40 miles from a Target. There were 500 in my graduating class from high school, their were 100 in his. I was democrat, emphasize was, and he is a conservative republican. I was vegetarian*, he's an avid hunter. I fell in love with Aaron because of his strong sense of values, hard work ethic and his intense honesty for the way he felt about me. We just celebrated our six year anniversary last month, and I wouldn't be grateful if I didn't express how thankful I am to have met Aaron and thus married him and had his cute babies.

I'm truly grateful to have found Aaron and also almost equally grateful for the introduction to the tri tip! The last two weeks the kids and I were sick and Aaron tended to us by running to the grocery store, helping with laundry and rocking our crying baby girl in the middle of the night. Aaron is a strong man that would do anything for his family. I truly believe home is where our buckets get filled with confidence, love, understanding and praise. And as the mom the family I'm making it a priory to fill up some buckets!

*For the record, I'm no longer a vegetarian, but I refuse to cook with the latest hunted animal he brings home. It just kinda makes me ill.

Photography 101

So I've always been interested in photography. It started at a young age, assisting for my Aunt while I was in high school. My aunt is a professional photographer, so she would take me along with her and I would have so much fun helping with poses, meeting new people, and going on location to Laguna Beach for the perfect sunset shot. After I went to college I took a Photography 101 class, this was before digital cameras, while at least before they were mass marketed to the general consumer. I learned to develop pictures in a lab, just the basics of photography. I was also the photography editor for my college newspaper. I would get all the images "photo ready" for print. So much has changed since my college days, now with the digital boom, a whole new world in photography is born. A world I'm unfamiliar to.

These last couple weeks I have been inspired by many of my friends and their blogs to get interested in learning more about photography. I have a Nikon D40 and it takes great pictures. All I have to do is set it to automatic and fire away, but it really isn't enough to get really great shots just keeping the camera in the 'auto' setting'. So it is my goal to learn more and get caught up with technology.

This last weekend , I took the camera in the backyard and used my dog Koda as my test dummy. Surprisingly, he in less of a moving target than Garrett, hence why I choose the family dog. I switched around aperture, and the shutter speeds. All to find out who little I really know about all the above mentioned things.

So, I called my friend Kiwi, who has been studying the art for a couple years now and had gotten really good. She coached me through it. I realized this is going to be a long learning process. So, I downloaded the latest version of Photoshop and it all came back to me with in minutes...good news!

Then I got a call on Friday from a friend of mine, who heard I had a fancy camera, and wanted me to take pictures of her sons wedding reception the next day. First I thought, "I'm not really ready for such an important event, like a wedding reception, I don't even know what an aperture is!", then I assured myself, "you got to start somewhere, right?". So, needless to say I took a crash coarse in photography Friday afternoon, studying photography websites, practicing on the dog, and calling Kiwi with all my frustrations (thanks again!). I finally figured out what the heck the aperture is and where the function is on my camera, honed in on my Photoshop skills and viola I was ready for the photo shoot.

I will share with you the Photograpghy tips that I learn as I'm studying the art, I say art, beacuse literally it is a skill that takes years to master. I'm not one who is good with instructions, I prefer the 'learn by doing' philosophy, so I'm sure to have quite a bit of trial and error.

Here are some shots of the wedding reception of Z and J, they were such a cute couple. I had a great time taking the pictures of this sweet couple.

Little Monkeys

My Aunt Terri is an amazing photographer, TK Jones Photography, and while we are down in Southern California visiting my family she took some cute photos of the kids...well at least of Lily. Garrett was covering his eyes and not really participating. Here are a few of my favorites. Thank you Aunt Terri you are the best!

The picture of Garrett and Lily is actually my favorite. She is looking at Garrett in either fear, or the realization that he is crazy. Meanwhile, for at least this photo, Garrett is seeming to be the 'perfect little angel'. I love my little monkeys!

Opening Day of Turkey Season

Ok so everyone knows how much I love to hunt. Well this year I was planning on taking Garrett turkey hunting. Which it is still in the cards but unfortunately he is not a big fan of getting up earlier then 6am.

So at 5am I headed out to my buddies ranch. Our first set up was a dry run but the second one, bad it happen.

Check it out!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Design Projects

Last weekend I made these curtains and matching pillows for the living room, I really liked how it turned out. Now I just need some side tables and maybe a plant, and while I'm at it some matching upholstered chairs would be nice too, he he! It is slowing coming together the way I have it imagined in my mind. One project down!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Garrett's Life

Garrett found this frog in the front yard the other day, he was so excited when we showed it to me, here was the conversation:

Garrett: Mommy, look what I found!!

Mommy: Wow, Garrett that is so cool. Is this the first frog you've found?

Garrett: Yes, and the frog is my best frie...no, more...he's my life!

Swinging in the Backyard

Sweet smiles, feeling the wind in our hair, and laughter in the air...doesn't get better this!

Lily's 5 months

I really can't believe that my sweet little baby is already five months. She is such a blessing to have around the house, she is always smiling and laughing at her brother. We just started her on rice cereal, and has 10 percent end up in her mouth and the rest all over the bib.

The kids are I have been sick and stuck at home for a whole week and we are going crazy. Lily has RSV and Garrett and I have viral infections. Oh and to top it off with a cherry, both the kids have eye infections. So, back to being stuck in the house. I decided to make baby food for Lily today. Spent all morning cooking carrots and pureeing them, them making homemade apple sauce to last us the next three months. I was inspired by my friend Alison, who makes all her baby food. We are excited to get to start enjoying spring, planting flowers, going on long walks, and visiting the Colorado River at the end of this week.

Happy Spring!