Thursday, April 24, 2008

vivid color...








Isn't it amazing the difference of feeling color gives?! I already posted these photos in the previous blog for every girl, but felt like they were so much more vivid in color. I had to share them one more time. I usually always prefer pictures in black and white. There seems to be something simple and clean about them that way, but these I think I prefer in color. The girls spirits seem to shine through more vividly in color. What do you think? Do you see things in color or black and white?

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

to every girl...








"Freckles"




I used to care so much about what others think about


Almost didn’t have a thought of my own


The slightest remark would make me embark


On the journey of self doubt


But that was a while ago


This girl has got stronger


If I knew then what I know now


I would have told myself don’t worry any longer it's OK


'cause a face without freckles is like a sky without stars


Why waste a second not loving who you are


Those little imperfections make you beautiful, lovable, valuable,


They show your personality inside your heart


Reflecting who you are


I wondered if I could trade my body with somebody else in magazines


Would the whole world full at my feet


I phantom worthy and would blame my failures on the ugliness I could see


When the mirror looked at me


Sometimes I feel like the little girl who doesn’t belong in her own world


But I'm getting better


And I'm reminding myself


That a face without freckles is like a sky without stars


Why waste a second not loving who you are


Those little imprefections make you beautiful, lovable, valuable,


They show your personality inside your heart


Reflecting who you are


Reflecting who you are
~these are the lyrics from a song by Natasha Bedingfield called "freckles"... I love it. Just thought it was something all us girls could use to hear, and be reminded of! I hope as I raise my girls I instill this message into their hearts!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Good Dogs




Emma & Bently enjoying a little spring sunshine pouring through the window.
What a life! I want it....

Thursday, April 10, 2008

What's for Dinner at your house?

Here's what's been for dinner this week at ours...

Sunday ~ Chicken Wraps, Apple Slices, & raspberry pomegranate lemonade.

Monday ~ (Papa's Birthday Dinner, all his favorites!) Chicken, bacon, tomato, and avocado sandwiches on whole wheat buns, oven fries with homemade fry sauce, homemade pasta salad with broccoli, tomato, onion, & cucumbers, and lemon, pineapple pound cake with white chocolate drizzle for dessert. Yum.

Tuesday ~ Off to the Blazer/Laker game for Matt's B-day... we ate way too much junk! The girls had pizza and salad with Grammy & Papa.

Wednesday ~ Homemade tomato sauce with ground pork & gnocchi (potato dumplings), green salad, corn, and yummy organic milk to drink.

Thursday ~ Meatloaf muffins, (they cook way quicker than a big meatloaf) pasta with Parmesan cheese, asparagus, and crescent rolls, with some more yummy organic milk to drink.

What is for dinner tomorrow?
What are you eating at your house?
I love to eat can you tell?

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Bella's New Bike


Oh, the excitment!
A long awaited wish comes true. She's been dreaming and hoping since last summer for a bike. Not just any bike, but this bike. She occassionally would ask to go next door to the bike shop to visit it, and yesterday the dream came true. She got her birthday present early, & is absolutly beside herself HAPPY!

It's fun to be 4 and a half... (don't forget the half)

This was so funny and cute that I had to share it. Bella made a special card for Papa's Birthday this week (today actually). I knew she was proud of her card with matching envelope, but had NO idea until I went to download pictures off of my camera and found this........













A picture of the special Birthday card in different places all over the house. (funny enough this isn't even ALL of the pictures of the "special Papa card"!



Friday, April 4, 2008

revealed...

I haven't done much blogging lately, mostly I guess because I haven't felt very inspired or interesting lately. I figured how boring to not have new posts to look at for the 2 of you out there that do like to look at this blog I do. I thought it might be fun to reveal some facts about myself you may not know... or maybe you do ( I have been accused of being somewhat predictable at times). So here goes, a few random facts revealed about me...




I made my blog because I feel painfully guilty that we have so many family members that we do not see regularly, and that misses so much in Bella and Meritt's lives. (you may notice that my blog is primarily centered around the girls, that's why...)

I love cheese, almost any kind in any form, always have, probably always will.

I am terribly uncomfortable in big social settings, & I don't like to be the center of attention.

I was 16 when Matt and I started dating, he was going to be my attempt at a "fling". How did that work out for me? Did you know that we have never even had a break up?

I have watched every season of American Idol, and I never miss it.

When I was little, I used to have "pretend" conversations with my Grandpa Virgil. (He passed when I was 2 weeks old, I longed to have a grandpa that would take me on adventures.) I didn't get a grandpa that took me on adventures, but am enjoying seeing my girls go on their adventures with their papa.

I love the beach.

I have, 1 brother and 5 boy cousins all older than I am. I am the only girl on both sides of my family.

I love to be massaged, back, neck, feet, you name it... I would pretty much do just about anything for a good massage!

The first thing I do every day before I ever even take my head off my pillow or open my eyes is pray.

The middle stone in my wedding ring was given to us by my grandmother.

When I dreamed of what I would grow up and be and do, I thought I would go to Parsons Art School, be a graphic designer in a large metro area, and live a city life... loft apartment etc. Instead, I went to a community college, for graphic design, took a few business courses, and followed my mom and dad's entrepreneurial lead and opened a boutique in a small city, and live in an wonderful old house. (it's funny how things never quite turn out the way you have them envisioned...)

I really like to fish, haven't been in a long time, but enjoyed it so much that as a kid fishing the NW was my favorite program.

I love to cook, hate to bake (it's the measuring).

I love to plan parties, right now I am working on planning Bella's 5th Birthday carnival!

I am a pretty sensitive person (although I do tell it like it is). I always replay things I've said, and things I shouldn't have... my feelings are fairly easily hurt. I always listen and hear the meaning in songs, poems, cards, things like that.

People assume that I am a lot like my mom because we work together, and for the most part can spend great deals of time with each other, but I am much more like my dad.

Bella is named after my Great Aunt Isabelle (I loved that woman, she passed away just recently) Meritt is named after my Great Grandmother on my mom's side Nettie Odessa Meritt.

Matt and I have a boy named picked out if we ever have one, but are keeping it a secret... why? People have too many opinions about names. What can they say once you've named someone it? I have no idea if we will have any more children, Bella is convinced she needs a brother. I asked her what would happen if she got another sister and not a brother.... she said nah, we don't need another one of those.

I am a perfectionist, to a terrible degree.

If I had to pick the main reason why I love my husband, it would be how much I genuinely like him, and how safe and happy he makes me feel anytime he's around. (OK, maybe a couple reasons) (and trust me we're not perfect, we get on each others nerves from time to time, but at the end of the day, I like him the best.)

I am going to have Lasik eye surgery soon. I have worn glasses or contacts since I was 8.

I am two years from my 30th birthday, I don't know how I feel about that...

It annoys me when people say I don't look old enough to be a mother to my children. When I'm 45 it won't... just predicting the future :)

I love old things, preferably from the 20's, 30's and 40's. I have a huge collection of chenille bed spreads, dishes, pottery, & quilts.



Well, that is enough revealed for today. What can you reveal about yourself? (this would be a great time to tell me you like to read this blog, say hi, and let me know something about you!)