We had a great night at Awana last night! Lots of kids and their parents! We were missing a few in our group (I have a sort of joint group of 5th grade girls with another leader since I am also the Awana paparazzi and sometimes have to leave handbook/Counsel time to get pictures of the kids activities and things for the end of the year slideshow), but overall it was a great turn out and most of the kids brought a parent or grandparent!

I got a few more pictures edited yesterday, but not as many as I hoped to. Little Miss had a couple of melt downs and a divided nap time so I didn't get to work through her two hours of naptime that I normally have. Hopefully tonight and tomorrow afternoon I can get some more done! I am excited for our friends to see them, and a little nervous, hoping that they like them!

Just as I was writing this I got a call from another friend about taking pictures for the local VFW's Veteran's Banquet on November 6! K is either going to do the sound or the video for the program. As our "payment" for working they don't charge us for our tickets for our meal and the program. I'm excited! Another friend of ours is the speaker for the evening and I may get the chance to go and take some family pictures with them beforehand!

I got a call from my Aunt the other day that Grandma made it to the nursing home and stood the trip pretty well. They had already started physical therapy with her that day! She will probably be there for a few months, but she won't have to worry about stairs to get in and out of the house and the physical therapist is right there.

Well, my Bug is asking me to play with him so I guess that's it for now....who knows I may be back later!

I slept so well last night! I did end up going to our friends house and getting a Zone Therapy treatment and within ten minutes of the treatment I could feel things relaxing and the pressure in my shoulders going away! I came home and went to bed, watching the beginning of the rescue of the miners in Chile dozing off a bit here and there. I woke up when I heard the cheering and saw the first man come up and out of the capsule, and then the second, but after that I was out! I woke up when K came to bed, he had taken the garbage out and if Teddy (miniature poodle) is under the bed when you either take or bring back the garbage can next to our bed he lets you know that he is NOT happy! He was loud enough that I jumped when he started growling and barking! I don't think I moved until 6 this morning after that! Now with things moving back into place and muscles relaxing I feel like I'm about 90 years old, but it's much better than how I was feeling before!

It's just me and Little Miss today. She's running around singing and getting into things that she shouldn't be lol! At least she's happy! Hopefully she continues to have a good day, Grandma P is picking her up today and it's Grandma's birthday so I hope to get her to sit and color a picture this morning.

Then it's Awana tonight! It's school spirit and parents night! The counsel time is on Isaac & Rebekah. Should be a fun night!

Well, off to chase Little Miss! Hope you all have a great day!

Today is definately a better day! The weather is beautiful and I got the kiddos out to run off some energy. My Bug is off to school and Little Miss is fast asleep! Finally! We think she may be teething again...when she's teething she is CRANKY! She gets mad at her toys and throws herself around and no one can figure out what exactly has ticked her off. She was getting fussy around lunch time so I gave her a little Tylenol hoping she will be able to sleep. Mom said she had a long night last night, she was up at one am just unconsolable. So far she's been asleep for an hour now, hopefully we can get another hour out of the nap and she will be happy when she wakes up!

Not much on the agenda for the day other than chasing the Little Miss. K may be going out to finish up an electrical project he has been working on for some friends of ours and depending on what time he goes out I may be able to go with him and get another Zone Therapy treatment. I would LOVE that! If not the night will be full of folding more laundry and editing pictures. Either way it sounds like a good night to me.

Ugh it's definately a Monday! The kids are cranky and so am I!
It was a long night last night catching up with some family and with the heat wave we have had here lately it was hard to get to sleep because it was so warm in our room! Saturday we got up to 93 degrees, and yesterday we hit 85!
First I got ahold of my cousin's wife to finally get some information on my Grandma. We got a call that she had fallen and broken her arm and it would need surgery, but other than that I had no information. My cousin's wife was a bit upset, as was I, because she thought that my Aunt was calling me. She had been calling my Mom, but Mom has been having some of her bad days memory wise and couldn't remember what my Aunt had said after she called....I can't understand why my Aunt couldn't at least email me if she didn't want to call. I am not the most popular member of that side of the family but I'm still upset about that. Thankfully my cousin's wife called and told me what is going on and promised to call me if she hears anymore.

Then we called K's family and found out that not only did his Mom not have the procedure that she was supposed to have done on her neck but she was in a car accident on Thursday! She is doing ok, a little stiff and sore, especially in her neck which she's been having pain issues with beforehand anyway, but she's planning to go back to work tomorrow.

Nothing planned for tonight, probably a full night of laundry and editing pictures. I'm still working on getting the senior pictures edited for our friend, once I get those done and a cd off to her I will post some of what I have been taking here.

Hope you all are having a great day!

Had to edit here to say that the afternoon and evening got much better and after having a little ice cream I'm now getting ready to head to bed and relax!

It's Friday! And it's Homecoming!

Yesterday was a LONG day with the little one, but after she had gone home K took me for a drive to get some pictures and relax a bit and then it was off to prayer meeting and Worship Team rehearsal. It was great! This week we're singing Shout to the North, I Worship You, and Speak O Lord. And of course no one went home right away after practice was over and there were a few extra songs that were sung/played. Great therapy!

The kids get out of school three hours early today for Homecoming. That means no school for Mr. Bug, so he's here hanging out with me...Little Miss will be here for a couple hours maybe this morning, her Mommy has a Drs appointment....which reminds me I don't think I mentioned...her Mommy is expecting baby #2 in March and has already asked me to save a spot for the new little one! It will be different to have a tiny baby in the house again...Little Miss was almost 1 when she started and she already seems so grown up! Anywayyyyyyy Grandpa is going to drop Bug's brothers off after school and K is going to get out of work early and we are going to walk the few blocks up town to watch the parade...and give the boys a sugar high with the candy that's thrown haha!

We haven't decided if we're going to the game tonight or not yet...it's supposed to be nice, in the 80s today and probably tomorrow too! I love this weather! So not ready for winter!

Well, better get running and get my typing work done so I can get out and enjoy this beautiful weather!

Love and hugs!

What do you know I'm back again! It's only 9 am and I am SO ready for Little Miss to go down for her nap! She is contstantly getting into things she shouldn't and when I try to sit her down with some toys and play with her she gets mad and pushes them away and throws a temper tantrum! The joys of a one year old! So for now she is in her pack and play with some books and toys and singing away!

Awana last night was crazy! We have a new game leader in the 5 & 6 grade group and he's feelinga little overwhelmed and the kids are taking advantage of that and not listening and talking and pushing and shoving with friends and it's getting out of control. I think our Commander is going to have a little "chat" with them about that next week. My group of girls were wonderful! They were all ready and passing sections and helping each other. We had a great time! I'm really enjoying getting to know these girls, when they are finished with their sections each week I give them time to write in a notebook to me. They can write anything they want, tell me about their school day, what's going on in their lives, questions about Awana or anything they want to ask me, prayer requests...anything they want me to know. Last year this didn't go so well, but this year they (and I) have really been enjoying it! It helps me to understand them and get to know them a little better as well!

I'm slowly but surely getting our friend's senior pictures edited. I'm having to do some "erasing" of some sound equipment in some of the shots with the piano so it's taking a bit longer, but it looks alot nicer! I will post some of them as soon as I can get them finished up!

Gah! It's been so long again I don't even know where to start!

I was doing ok trying to keep up with things and all the sudden it was time to do the church newsletter! Then time just seemed to fly by and now that it is over and I've finally caught up on housework and things I find it's been entirely too long since I blogged last!



Lots of other things have been going on besides my typing work; flag football games, bridal showers, baby showers, realizing I had special music on Sunday in the midst of it all :l all sorts of fun! And of course there is Little Miss. She decided to cut four teeth at the same time to add to the fun! Poor thing! That made for some miserable days for both of us! She's also discovered the "joys" of temper tantrums! Fun stuff!



I've entered three more pictures into another photo contest and sent some of our fall foliage into a local tv station. I've also done some passport photos for a friend going to Brazil for a wedding, and some extra senior pictures (she won a professional shoot at prom, I did mostly outside shots with her) with another friend. And of course I've been taking lots of the daycare kids and just driving around and shooting sunsets and nature!

I've kept up with my clutzy ways during it all too! While I was doing the senior photo shoot I climbed up a few steps of the ladder and was shooting down at our friend with sheet music around her and K made me laugh and I slid off the step (I was in my socks) and not wanting to drop the camera I held on to that with my right hand and automatically grabbed the closest step on the ladder with my left. That plan didn't work so well and I ended up raking my wrist across the side and top of the step....needless to say about four inches of my arm was nice and multicolored! A couple days later I was baking and while I was stirring the filling ingredients to our Cinnamon Sopapilla I knocked the scissors off the counter and (point end down of course) right on my second toe! I made a face and all K could say was, "That didn't land handle side down, did it?" Thankfully it didn't cut too badly and it made for another one of my funny stories!

Now that I have some templates set up for my extra secretarial projects and I have one newsletter under my belt I should be able to write more, but I know I've said that before and it hasn't happened...I give you permission to yell at me if I don't!

I will post some of the pictures I have been taking as soon as I can get them edited too!

Finally a moment to myself and time to post...our church secretary is away in Texas taking care of her Dad (who has alzhiemers) and his girlfriend (who fell and broke her hip) so I have picked up a few extra projects. I have been doing the bulletin for each Sunday and now I am doing our church's newsletter for October. Trying to get that done with an extra two year old and my normal work has proved to be a bit challenging but we are getting through it. I will definately be glad when the secretary gets back!

I went and had three of my pictures enlarged at Wal Mart on Monday and ran into a few problems. There was a trainee who was working so we had to go back yesterday to pick up the 11 x 14 and we found that they had printed it on something between a regular printer paper and cardstock. Now I made all the same choices I did for the two 8 x 10s and have always made when I have gotten my pictures enlarged so I just can't figure out what happened there. I found that I needed a larger size than the 11 x 14 when we had gotten home after first ordering it on Monday so I was going to order it again, but we decided not to and ordered it from Wal Mart online and have it sent to the house instead. I'm waiting to see if it was a fluke or if Wal Mart has changed things. If it turns out well I may just start ordering them online. Wal Mart is about a half hour out of the way for us, so may just be easier all around to have them sent out.

Tonight is Hawiian night at Awana! Can't wait to see what the kids come up with!

Well Miss A is at my feet asking for some cuddles for guess this is it for now. Have a great day!

Wow, it's really been a long time! This summer has not only been a busy one, but not a happy one for my computer! It had to go to the computer doctor twice, costing me $160 each time! But I'm finally back and can't wait to get posting again! I've been going through withdrawls posting pictures too! I have alot that I would like to share with you and I will do that soon. It's a bit more of a process, we have two computers running on one system and the internet is on one and my pictures and the editing program is on the other. I've missed you all and hope you are doing well! I've kept up with reading your blogs and commented some on the hubby's tiny netbook (too small for me!) and can't wait to get back to posting again!

I know I've been terrible about posting pictures and even stopping by to write. I have been keeping up with your blogs but a few things at church, our Awana closing program and the slideshow of pictures that I made for that, and a new little one starting in daycare have kicked my behind big time!

Oh, and the new little one is not quite a year old...and a girl! I've had all boys for so long I won't know what to do with a girl!

More pictures and posts coming soon, I promise....

Oh and happy blogiversary to Mrs. Yellow Hat! Go and check her out and her giveaway and tell her Happy blogiversary yourself!

April 12 What's left of K's chocolate bunny that he bought for half price at Wal Mart. He goes around singing the Veggie Tales song...the bunny, the bunny, oh I ate the bunny...hahaha!

April 13 Some little blue flowers that just popped up in the back yard.

March 25 Had a little fun with a filter in Photoshop with these malted milk ball eggs

March 26 I couldn't decide if I liked the black and white or color better, so I post both! One of the kids trikes we keep out front.

March 27 Our church had another Ladies Day Away and this was a friend's sewing baskct

March 28 Some berries that were still around after the winter

March 29 It was a bit of a long day, so another picture of my sweet cuddly Teddy bear

March 30 Preparing for Easter this cross was by the pulpit at church. I though it was lovely with the fabric draped over it.

March 31 Some bracelets that were made for the Awana store

April 1 Playing out in the yard! We are so ready for more of this!

April 2 K playing around and I caught him with the mosaic option on my phone








April 3 Getting ready for Easter breakfast at church

April 4 Darth watching everyone run around at Easter dinner

April 5 Popcorn!

April 6 Apples and carmel!

April 7 The lovely sunset outside the church window during Awana! I really wanted to go out and take more pictures, but have responsibilities to take care of.

April 8 Playing with the fish eye/wide angle lens K surprised me with!

April 9 We went for another drive and I took over 100 pictures. This one was one of my favorites!

April 10 Another day, another drive, another 100 pictures!

April 11 Went on a bit of a road trip with K and another friend. Found these by the parking area by the local lake.

March 24 I pulled out the macro lens again and got this picture of some of the lights we have hanging between the living room and the computer area. The "twigs" are shaped into stars.

March 17 I pulled out the macro lens again to get some picgures of some of the buds on the trees and plants around the house

March 18 The sun!! We were all so happy to finally be able to get out and play outside!

March 19 Some of the Jr High kids in the play at the school. They did a wonderful job! We went to see it both nights, some of the kids from my new Sunday School class were in it!

March 20 A fence post we saw on a Saturday afternoon drive

March 21 Teddy all snuggled in and ready for bed!

March 22 Where I spent most of my night....editing pictures!

March 23 Another tree we saw on a short drive we took this evening!

March 12

March 13 The road on the way to the first meeting of the new young married couples' Bible Study we are starting with three other couples.

March 14 It was a beautiful day outside and we decided to enjoy some time outside and took the Christmas lights that were left down.

March 15 My old printer died and K went and bought me a new one...so I was able to catch up on my card making!

March 16 This is a rose from one of the flower arrangements from the last funeral at church. The flowers were wilting and a couple of the ladies pulled the roses that were in good shape yet and gave one to each of the ladies that were at church or whose husbands were there.

March 10 Teddy always turns his head and acts like he's really listening when you talk to him...I get this look alot haha!

March 11 Some of the lights on my usb hub on my desk.

It's another foggy day today. Sort of fits I guess, suits my mood. I haven't felt like writing much, haven't even felt like taking a picture for Project 365 some days either. There's alot going on and I've been doing alot of thinking.

February and March (so far) have been kind of rough. Not terrible but like I said I've been doing alot of thinking.

We've had two funerals at church these two months. Two older people, where you knew it would happen sooner or later, but when it does happen you're still not prepared for. I guess I have to explain a bit that I really haven't had alot of experience with death. Sure, I've had some older relatives die, but I can count on one hand people that I have really been close to or somewhat close to that have died. The first was my great uncle who had cancer. One summer my grandparents took me and my cousins out to Colorado so I could see him...I was still in grade school when he died, although I don't remember what grade exactly, one of the upper grades, though not quite high school. Maybe jr high, I'm not sure.



The second was a friend and former church member of ours. He was driving home to his pregnant wife and two boys after work one evening and was killed in a car accident. There was alot of shock and"church politics" surrounding that situation (we didn't agree with some things that the new pastor was doing/teaching and K and I left the church and that caused a big commotion) and K and I were left feeling very uncomfortable at the visitation and felt like we were getting "the look" so we thought it was best not to attend the funeral and cause more hard feelings at our former church.



The third was my Grandpa, my Dad's Dad. Now this side of the family is not really close...so it didn't affect me as much as you might think. In all honesty I grew up somewhat afriad of this Grandfather and never felt quite comfortable around him.



The fourth was my other Grandpa, my Mom's Dad. Now this Grandpa I was close to. We lived with him and my Grandma when my Mom was in the hospital with Guillan Barre. Dad was working full time and we lived in the same town as my Grandparents, only a few blocks away, so this was just a natural solution. Even after we moved I would go and spend weeks at a time with my Grandparent's house in the summer. Grandpa was a janitor at the jr high/high school at that time and I went to work with him many times. He was the one who first took me to drive after getting my permit, and who I was pulled over by a police officer with...only to find out it was because my Grandma was looking for us (she worked at the hospital in town and needed us to drive to another town to pick up a doctor who was flying in the helicopter with a patient to their hospital...the doctor ended up not going and Grandpa and I had a fun roadtrip anyway!)

Now two funerals in the span of about one month. Both of these people were strong in their faith and prayer warriors. There is no question as to where they are now. But it stings. The second funeral was more of a "happy funeral" if you could call a funeral that....but we know she is in Heaven and there were some wonderful memories of her shared and some jokes...that's how I want my funeral to be....
It's also gotten me thinking about some of my closest friends and their health and losing them.
And to be blunt combine all this with that time of the month and I'm a mess!

I've also got a friend who I used to spend alot of time with, had a falling out with, and who has been working her way back into my life. Her oldest son lives with his Dad in another state and he has tried to kill himself three times. They had him committed to try to help him but his last attempt was in the hospital. This friend can't go to see him right now. She was in a car accident and is suffering from panic attacks and having a hard time herself in general right now.

I have another friend who is an adult living at home with her parents and having alot of trouble right now and has been talking to me quite a bit. Her parents, to be blunt, have pretty much told her that she's a disappointment and she's ruined the family. They talked her out of going overseas to be a missionary. I'm at a loss.

Another friend has been sick in bed with very high temps and the drs say a kidney infection due to e coli. I've been worried as you can imagine.....praying but worried.

So yeah, I'm not trying to be depressing or to beg you all to feel sorry for me, if you have even read this far through....I just felt the need to write it all out, to hopefully clear my head a bit....to not be so stuck in things.

And don't get me wrong, there are lots of positives. I've had some time off this week to catch up on some things around the house that needed to be done. I start teaching Sunday School again on Sunday. This time the Jr High kids. I'm nervous but excited!

Hubby and I have been enjoying our time together. We've gone out on a few drives just to get away and for him explore and get lost on roads he's never been on before and for me to get some pictures.

I've enjoyed some great talks and good times with a few other close friends and gotten closer to a couple more.

So it's not really all gloom and doom around here. Like I said I just felt the need to write and vent it all out. Make sense of some things. I commend you if you read this whole thing. I don't think I would want to. Ha! But thanks for "listening" if you have.

March 6 Another funeral at our church. PM was not only the "officiant" but also played piano for a song in the service that the family requested. He does not play by notes, but by ear and chords and this was his music.

March 7 Keith and Casey cuddling on the couch while we were waiting for PM to drop off some typing for me to do.

March 8 Not the greatest picture but the latest "paint job" that my nails got. Something fun and funny ha!

March 9 The "feathers" from one of my fun pens on my desk. I pulled out the macro lens again and tried to get a good shot.

March 4 An accidental picture but I thought it was kind of cool and may be able to use it as a texture in Photoshop. It's actually a close up from my camera phone of my jeans!

March 5 Hubby and I went out on another drive to get lost/take pictures and found these tennis shoes on a bridge with no one around. Hubby says hmmm maybe someone did the splits on the bridge and fell of lol....

Februrary 28 Out with the old! Time to trade in my old cell and renew our plan...I blew a speaker or something in this one...was missing calls and it was hard to hear the other person when they did call, especially if the kids were around.

March 1 In with the new! My new Samsung Trill! I LOVE it! We've had lots of fun with the boys taking pictures with the funny photo frames too!

March 2 My boys! Hubbys lap haha Teddy and Casey

March 3 Teddy "yelling" at me and telling me to get off the computer already and go to bed!