SURPRISE!!!

This year we surprised Carter with a birthday party and boy was he surprised. It was so much fun to see him enjoying all his friends. We felt like we scored big with how nice the weather was. When we were planning the party, we weren't planning for 90 degree weather - so we lucked out and had the boys swimming, tossing a football, jumping on the tramp and enjoying some good ol' root beer.

What a great group of boys! I was so impressed with how well they kept it a secret too! Happy Birthday Carter.

another year already!

and they are off to another year of school experiences. the mornings find me home alone with little mitch. it is quiet and quite peaceful. the new school year is like a new year's resolution time for me. it is a time for goals, routines, and getting back to a schedule. it feels good, but we are all tired.

i don't have a picture of abi because it was dark when she headed out the door. all the kids are excited for the new year and ready for packed lunches, school buses, and the social life that school brings.

Silhouette Portraits Part II

This was a fun little project. Now I just need to decide whether or not to print them. Is it worth it?  I think that they would look good as standout's where the print is mounted on 1  1/2 inch light weight material - no frame needed to hang.  What would you do???

Silhouette Portraits

I just love the little profiles in my home and have wanted to learn how to make my own silhouette portrait like you can find here.

1. Photograph your subject, in profile, with a digital camera. Your camera should be on the same level as your subject. Try to shoot against a pure white background: this makes it easier to digitally remove the background later on.

This is how it looked strait out of my camera.  I hung a white sheet and used some lights behind him. I hung a picture in front of him on the wall to try and get him to look strait ahead and not at me.

 He was kind of tricky to get to hold still and have a calm look on his face. He's use to smiling and pulling faces at the camera:) I would have liked to have gotten  some eyelashes in there. 

2. Open your photo in Photoshop. With the Magic Wand tool, select the (preferably white) background for removal. Once clicked, the background will be outlined and highlighted, go to 'edit,' and select 'cut.' The background will disappear.

3. Go to 'image,' and select 'adjustments.' Select 'desaturate:' this removes all color. Also in 'adjustments,' select 'brightness/contrast.' Both lower the brightness, and increase the contrast: your image will take on the form of a silhouette. If your picture hasn't fully silhouetted, fill in the rest of the figure with black, or another color, using the Paintbucket tool.

4. At this point I used the brush tool to shape the shoulder area. When I got it looking the way I wanted, I used the magic want tool to select the silhouette. Then I cut and copied it into my new canvas and added some text!

I want to try this with my other kids. I'll let you know how it goes!

Expecting . . .

In February 2010

I'm a big kid now!!

It has been so fun to see this little guy accomplish this "growing up" part of his life.  We are so excited to have another little underpants wearer in our home! Love you  Mitchie.

From Little Girl to Young Woman

To Young Women

Elder Jeffery R. Holland

"I want you to be proud you are a woman. I want you to feel the reality of what that means, to know who you truly are. You are literally a spirit daughter of heavenly parents with a divine nature and an eternal destiny. That surpassing truth should be fixed deep in your soul and be fundamental to every decision you make as you grow into mature womanhood. There could never be a greater authentication of your dignity, your worth, your privileges, and your promise. Your Father in Heaven knows your name and knows your circumstance. He hears your prayers. He knows your hopes and dreams, including your fears and frustrations. And He knows what you can become through faith in Him. In the restored light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a woman, including a young woman, occupies a majesty all her own in the divine design of the Creator. You are, "a sanctified investiture which none shall profane."

Happy 12th birthday my dear girl. You have always been such a gift and blessing in my life. I am so pleased with the decisions you are making and the wonderful example you are to your brothers and sister. You have been a perfect way to start a family. This is a special birthday - enjoy! Love, Mom

Gracie B Grace

Give Away Surprise!

Look at what I got in the mail today! I have the most talented friend. I can't imagine the hours of work that went into this project. This darling bag is fully lined with pockets, a magnetic snap closes the bag, there are pockets on the side and pleats in the front . . . and I just love the darling fabric she chose.  This gift is a reminder of a valued friendship and a dear friend.  Thank you so much Deb. I am honored to carry this bag . . . what a treasure.

Friends

Home is where you can be silent and still be heard.

Where you can ask and find out who you are.

Where people laugh with you about yourself.

Where sorrow is divided and joys multiplied.

Where we share in love and grow.

It was my privilege to take pictures of these beautiful children. I just wanted to share a couple of my favorites. Aren't they a handsome group of kids!

Over the river and through the woods . . .

. . . to Grandmother's house she goes.

I was surprised at my emotion when Abi got onto that airplane for her much anticipated vacation.  I asked her for a hug before she got on, and it was an 'I don't have time for this' hug. I asked her for a real hug, where she responded "Mom, I'm going to be late"!

I am going to miss this girl. I have been so excited for her to take this little trip. She LOVES spending time with her Grammy and Aunt Sis. As I was waiting for her plane to take off, I was thinking about our nearly twelve years together and how fast they have flown by.  How lucky I am to be her mother.

Have a great time Abi!! I can't wait to hear all about it. Give everyone a big hug for me . . . Grandpa too:)

ramblings

As the summer draws nearer and the school year to an end, a piece of my heart is a little sad. This little guy has been my partner during the school year for quite a while now, and because he is my fourth, I have learned that as they start school a little something is lost. I have loved dropping him off at pre-school this year as we have developed a body language for saying goodbye for the two hours of pre-school twice a week. When does this end?? I can tell you my big kids aren't saying goodbye to me like this each morning before they head out the door for the day!

I am excited to have my kids home for the summer. I adore summertime. . . slower mornings, kids home, relaxed schedules, little projects, family vacation. And with school in the fall, I am left to just one child home with me all day. Someone once said to me when I had a houseful of little kids not yet in school; "once they start school, the years just disappear". They do go fast, I hope I am making them count!

A Mother Heart

Who can find a woman [with a mother heart]? for her price is far above rubies. She worketh willingly with her hands. With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor. Strength and honour are her clothing. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

(Prov. 31:10, 13, 16, 20, 25-27).

A woman with a mother heart has a testimony of the restored gospel, and she teaches the principles of the gospel without equivocation. She is keeping sacred covenants made in holy temples. Her talents and skills are shared unselfishly. She gains as much education as her circumstances will allow, improving her mind and spirit with the desire to teach what she learns to the generations who follow her. She is a goodly parent who lives and teaches standards of behavior exactly in line with the teachings of living prophets. She teaches her children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord. Rather than listening to the voices and partial truths of the world, she knows that gospel standards are based on eternal, unchangeable truths. She believes that to be primarily responsible for the nurture of her children is a vital, dignified, and sacred responsibility. To nurture and feed them physically is as much an honor as to nurture and feed them spiritually. She is not weary in well-doing and delights to serve her family, because she knows that "out of small things proceedeth that which is great"

-Sister Julie B. Beck

A "Mother Heart"

My Mother is . . . wise, talented, spontaneous, creative, a comforter, easy to be with, fun, beautiful, practical, faithful, generous, a teacher, open, honest, sincere, strait forward, adventuresome, a leader, natural, what you see is what you get, devoted, true, always looks at the glass half full.

Thank you Mom, for always being a beautiful example of motherhood and for living and sharing your "Mother Heart" with me. Happy Mother's Day. I love you.

It's about time!!

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.

-William Shakespeare

Week 11

SPRING

Oceanside 70.3

This last weekend Doug and I travelled to Oceanside, CA where Doug participated in his first half Ironman. Doug has done other traithalons in the past, but this was his first swim, bike, run at this distance. He had trained hard and had been anticipating this race for a long time. It was so neat to be able to witness all the hard work and training pay off. 

Early in the morning, making our way to the transition area to set up.

Doug's wave started at 7:03 am. 

Swim Time: 36:20

Bike Time: 2:46:47

Run time: 2:13:28

Finishing: 5:48:47

Race Day Buddies

1 down 1 to go:

Ten Weeks to Boise Half Ironman

Way to Go Doug!!!

work

For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a great and a marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be everlasting . . . to the convincing of them unto peace and life eternal . . .

1 Nephi 14:7

Week 10

WORK

Welcome Home Joe!

family

Sometimes our hearts get tangled
And our souls a little off-kilter
Friends and family can set us right
And help guide us back to the light.
~Sera Christann

new

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.

-Rajneesh

Week 9

Family

Week 8

New

game

Week 7

gAmE