My Life

Our Year In Photos: Month 3 Week 3

Capturing and recording our spring.

 

Spring Break: Day 1

Ahh, spring break.  Such a welcomed break with beautiful weather so we can be outside without too much complaint.

Since we hardly travel and this year is no different, I try to pack the week with things around town that we don't normally do.  I love how the speed of life changes and our focus becomes on what are we're going to do that's fun?

The kids had a sleepover with some of their cousins.  I got the big boys and the wind was blowing like crazy outside making Kyle's allergies flare up.  They spent the day indoors.  As much as I dislike that xbox and the constant playing and wanting to play and asking to play that happens, it was good they had something to entertain themselves.

I asked the kids to generate a list of things they'd like to do, within reason, and we'd try to make it happen this week. 

Does anyone else feel like they are the warden?  Constantly trying to teach their children how to govern their time?  It's exhausting sometimes, always being the one to get them to focus and be less distracted.  Particularly my older two.  Maybe it's just the age, they are entering and shortly entering into, the teenage  years.  Always so much to learn in every stage.

So this spring break, there are serious limitations on screen time.  I wish I knew how to implement that throughout the week as well.  It's really, really hard.  We all are dependant on technology for so much of what we do during the day.  Naturally, the kids like a little unwind time with their electronic devices. 

On a sidenote, these beautiful chairs have been around for years.  They are big and comfortable, but obnoxious, and the fabric has been loved over the years.  I'm itching to recover/attempt to rehupolster them.  I have quite a list of to dos, and this is probably lower on the list, what do you think, am I crazy?

Easter Fun

Had an egg-citing last week of preschool before spring break.

Egg experiments and predictions, an egg hunt and an egg drop.

The kids are always super cute about their egg drops.  I love to see the creative ways their families choose to pack them up.  Sometimes they name them:)  And then I have to smile when we open it up to see a raw egg with a drawn on face.

It's incredible how fast the school year goes by and how far the kids come.  I'm always amazed.

These little ones are going to be so ready for Kinder.

They are working the graphs like champs.

And they mostly know how to get along and work well together.  Prefect recipe for Kinder.

 

13/52: Planning

I'm a list maker.

I prefer pen and paper.

Don't really like my iphone organizer/calendar.

I like to check things off.

Makes me feel like I've accomplished something.

I even like to put down really small things, everyday things, just so I can check off that I did it.

Even though I have a calendar, organizer, to help me keep everyone's schedules together, everyday I grab a piece of printer paper, fold it hotdog style and make my list for the day. 

Sometimes I have to do this at night, so my mind can rest easy.

If I don't have a list, I forget.  Sometimes even with a list, I forget.

 

This weeks planning consisted of meal prep.  I am trying out a freezer meal group hosted by a friend of mine.  I made 10 casseroles and tonight I get to swap out for 9 others.  I'm hoping this works for our family.  I'm most excited that I don't have to cook or prepare or think up what's for dinner for 10 nights in April.  THAT'S exciting.

Check out these other participating photographers:

Michelle, Kristin, Jenn, Heather, Rhonda, Tracey, Stacey, Andrea, Jessica, Andrea, Sarah, Janet, Lesli, Carla, Lena, Rose, Naomi, Tracy, Heidi, Veronica

Next week: Excitement

Our Year In Photos: Month 3 Week 2

This week I am supposed to focus on relationships within the family, but I'm swapping it out with our move.

We spent St. Patrick's Day clearing out the garage.  This moving thing just seems never ending.  The kids dug in and helped out and we made a few trips.  Put a big dent in the garage project.  We had to laugh about the little trailer we borrowed from Grandpa Bruce.  We feel a little like the Beverly Hill Billies as we were pulling our things behind us through the neighborhood.  It is old, Steve remembers it from when he was a kid.  It's super bumpy, no shocks, and I can't drive the car when it's hitched on, I'm not that good.  It's been a lifesaver though. We've hauled lots of things.

I really wanted to get a photo of all of us in front.  One last picture of us and the house.  Wasn't practical or realistic.  The little boys had their cousins over the night before to spend the night.  They stayed up late and were grumpy.  The rest of us were in work mode. So I had to be happy with the pictures I did get.

Kade wasn't willing to participate until he realized he could spit at us below.  Boys!

Wasn't as sad as I thought.  I haven't even been emotional about leaving.  Is that weird?  It's probably because it took me so long to process it already.

"Who wants McDonalds?"

Who's overly tired and throwing the biggest tantrum after learning he won't be getting McDonalds?  That boy right there.  Plus my pointing the camera at him put him right over the edge.  He was so angry seeing that I was editing this puppy.  He was certain I had deleted it as he had demanded.  Couldn't do it.

March: Create

Loving this project:)  Seeing it all come together each month.  That's my main tool for creating.  I've had many over the years, but this is one that has stuck.  Probably because this hobby is so meaningful.  Memories and pictures mean something as opposed to a tole painted easter bunny or wreath on the door:) So glad I've learned how to use the camera and the wonderful, beautiful memories I've been able to capture over the years.  Glad to have put forth the effort to gain knowledge.  Lucky to have had the chance to learn from Wendy,  She's amazing!  That I've had the courage to try and fail and try some more.  Grateful for the quiet confidence that comes over time and much, much practice. Grateful that this journey is never ending.  There will always be more to learn.  Glad to have gotten to know wonderful photographers who have become great friends along the way:)

(Kristin and Lesli.}

Our Year In Photos: Month 3 Week 1

I'm falling behind on this project.  Hoping to catch up in the next few weeks.  The move has caused some disruption in my photographing our family in our home.  It's not quite all put together, and as the days pass on and we continue to be busy, I realize it's going to take longer than I'd like to make this place feel warm and cozy:)  So staying true to my philosophy: it is what it is and embrace the imperfections of life, perfectly imperfect, you get the idea.  I'm going to be true to documenting what we are living right now:)

So this week we focus on a room in the house:  The office

Our office used to house our computer and my kids were frequently in there arguing over whos turn it was and how long so and so had been on playing a game, along with sneaking all their snacks that were forbidden in there.  That room was the place to be.  Currently my office is a wreck.  Full of boxes, waiting to be organized.  Our computer will no longer be in there, which I LOVE.  Much more control and lots more togetherness now that it's in the kitchen.  So, the office has a big open table, ready for projects, and the sewing machine, place for me to prep preschool, and a quiet place for the big kids to do thier homework if they so choose.  Once it's all cleared out, it's going to be an awesome extra bit of space for working.

Until then, it's a headache:

 

Summer Camp

New and improved summer camp:)

All the info is below.  If you want a spot, holler:)

 

12/52: Spring

We typically spend a lot of time in the backyard when the weather is cool.  At least my two littles do.  It's their place to unwind after a long day of school.  They found a couple of bottles of bubbles, and discovered that Lily goes crazy over them.  She will run, jump, wait for the bubbles so she can get them.  It's a fun little game.

Spring doesn't last long around here, so we like to soak it up:)

Check out these other participating photographers:

Michelle, Kristin, Jenn, Heather, Rhonda, Tracey, Stacey, Andrea, Jessica, Andrea, Sarah, Janet, Lesli, Carla, Lena, Rose, Naomi, Tracy, Heidi, Veronica

Next week: Planning

 

 

Soccer Season

has begun.

We signed all three boys up again, so our Saturdays will be booked for the next little while.  Tuesday is the new crazy day as we'll be at the fields practicing from 5:30-8:00.  Last week the kids met their new coaches and had their first practice.  Super nice coaches all around.  No screamers, super encouraging, I love that:)  I'm really grateful our practices are on the same night this season.  We're there for longer, but it's done and over with in one night.  

I didn't bother to look for soccer gear before practices and the night of I relaized we only had one cleat for Brandon.  We were going to do a little switch a roo as Kade had practice first.  Didn't work out so well, Kade's practice went over.  So Brandon practiced in his tennis shoes :)  and Kade wore his floods.  Kyle couldn't be outdone, so he wore his most favorite and our least favorite, cookie monster shirt:)  We are so fashionable and on the ball.  Luckily while cleaning out the garage at our old house this weekend, I found the missing cleat.

We will be much better prepared for tonight!

He spotted me and didn't appreciate the fact I had my camera pointed in his direction.