Jill Pregancy Pictures

My friend Jill and her beautiful family! I love photographing them because I really do not have to do anything-they always turn out cute!

Hailee giving baby brother or sister a love

Stone Family (bunch of goofs)

My moms Maiden name is Stone and we don't all get together as much as we should. This gathering came together because one of my moms Uncles passed away. It was Pete's birthday and of course we had to celebrate! Kate always picks the boys to hang out with!

My Uncle Ron thinks he is so funny! He knew immediately that I would be posting these pictures on my blog and couldn't help himself. He lives in Florida with his family but when I was in high school he and his wife owned an auto body shop that was close to my school and they so kindly offered me a job. I had lots of fun hanging out with him and Jeanine and Tyler when he was born. We went on lots of trips together boating for long weekends. Sure miss you guys!

Our Day

We had a busy morning today. Got Dylan to his last day of school for spring break, came home got Kate and I ready picked him back up to take him to a new pediatric dentist that is in the building I work in. We arrived early and Dylan had his first xrays taken and thought that was pretty cool. He went right on back with the hygienist and wanted me to wait in the waiting room. Everything is great no cavities and Kate's teeth look awesome as well.

I switched Dentists to try and save us a little money. Being in the dental field we do not have insurance so a lot of Dentists give professional discounts and as sad as I am to leave our current Dentists we were only getting 10% off which has been nice but I thought I would just try these guys and hope for more. I went to make him his next app. and pulled out my wallet to pay and they did not charge me anything! I was shocked! I thought maybe 30% off! I teared up a little bit so nice and we so appreciate it!

My mom had meet us there (her day off) and we headed over to have lunch at Chili's. It had been a fun and productive morning and when we got back to school Dylan was so excited! He said this had been the funnest day ever and ran off to show his class his extra set of xrays they gave him so he could keep them.

The day continues to get busier! Poor Kate will probably only get about a n hour and a half nap and then off to Warren's house she will go so I can help at Dylan's school for the book fair and then we have student led parent teacher conferences. I am excited to see what Dylan has been learning and how they do this. It is an adventure for all of us!

I have a lot of fun things planned for spring break next week if any one wants to join let me know! I am so thankful for kind and generous people and for my sweet Dylan how the littlest things can totally make his day! I hope he will remember his childhood and continue to be such a happy go lucky kid!

Little Helper

Weird pictures I know but what my tiny girl did brought tears to my eyes! I was in the shower and Kate was finishing up her oatmeal by herself in the kitchen. I got out and we had to rush to get out the door. I went into the kitchen to make sure she finished and I could not find her bowl anywhere! I immediately thought that d*** dog got up on my table and took off with her bowl! We left the house and later that afternoon after I had laid Kate down for a nap I went to load dishes in an empty dishwasher and I found this! My 2 year old had loaded the dishes all by herself! What a thoughtful good girl! I know two pictures are a little over kill but what can I say I am a proud Mama!

Happy (late) St. Patricks Day

We love Holidays especially when we are dictated on what to wear and what to eat! The weather here has been amazing in the 70s! Lots of trips to the park and playing outside! Friday we had Marc's family over for corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots. I also made a blue cheese fondue dip that was very good! Wendy made rolls and Grandma and Kerrie made a yummy dessert! We had lots of fun! Dylan is so proud that he can jump off the porch and touch our flag!
Don't you just love Kate's hairbow? At 5 the night before St Patty's day I called a friend and asked her if she would make me a felt shamrock so at 10 that night I was picking it up and glueing it on to a clip! I am a little nuts I know! Thank you so much Steph you are the best! I owe you one!

Little things

On the way to church yesterday Dylan says to me, "Mom I hope Kate always stays little" when I asked him why he said, "because whenever Kate sees anyone she waves at them and smiles with her tongue sticking out!"

These are the moments I have been meaning to write down so hopefully I will be posting more frequently with all the little things that happen around here!

Hats!! made with love from Gigi

Another photoshop lesson. I am going to print this on a matboard and it will have the white borders around. I love the middle picture of the two of them. It took all of 5 minutes to get these pictures, such good kids!

In your prayers

I had this post a while back and my friend Tracie has been keeping tabs on this family and baby Grace. Check it out again and please remember to keep this wonderful family in you Prayers.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

A wise Aunt once told me to write down books that I have read and a little something about them so I can remember and have a wonderful resource. I have failed miserably in doing this so with my resolution to update my blog more and the fact that I am fully participating in book club I am going to do this!



This was last month's pick: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I loved it! I read it under a week! It is a collection of letters written after WWII between an author, her publisher and people from Guernsey Island. I highly recommend, if a lot of characters confuse you you might want to write new ones down as they appear and their relation.



Other favorites recently are: The Pillars of the Earth by: Ken Follet EXCELLENT! Very long but sooo good!
Well I can not remember the names of the other books I wanted to mention, oh well!

Happy Valentines Day/ Photoshop Lesson

My friend Stacie is always doing wonderful things with her pictures. I was at her house the other day and she had a collage with four photos in a row of her kids in hats. I loved it and asked her if she could do it for me if I took the pictures. Do you know what her reply was? If you give a man a fish he eats for a day if you teach a man to fish he can eat forever. I just looked at her and she said why don't I just teach you? So anyway this was my first photoshop lesson. I knew I wanted to use a picture for my cards and hopefully make a collage. Thank you so much Stacie we will see what I can do on my own!

Before:

Huge difference! We I uploaded these pictures I thought they were terrible and did not know if we could fix them.

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Happy Valentines Day! We love everyone very much!

Hailee's Valentine Pictures

My good friend Jill asked me to take Hailee's Valentine Day pictures, she says she likes using me because Hailee is comfortable with me and we can get it done quickly. I have been taking her pictures since she was born and I just love watching her grow! Here are just a few of my favorites!

Kate had to get in on the action!

Bathinette

I feel the bathinette deserves its on post. This was one of my obsessions the past year. We were at Debbie's house and she pulled out a bathinette that she had gotten in Germany of course! I started searching the Internet for one and did not have any luck. About a week before Kate's birthday I decided that we could make it. We meaning my parents and myself. I had my mom pick up the one from Debbie's house so my dad could look at it to see if he could make the frame. Long story short we ended up at Home Depot and the fabric store. The hardest part was figuring out how to make the tub part. I love this because it folds up and stores so easily. Kate loves it because she is obsessed with water. After the party we filled it up and Kate and Dylan had a ball. She needs to work on keeping the water in the tub but it was fun!
That is her new water baby- she floats and dries very quickly. She is the baby tidoo by Carolle.

The tiny girl after a very busy but fun day!

Kate's Birthday Party

Kate had two birthday parties. A family one at the Mugleston's and a friend and family one a week later. She loved all the attention and tried to sing along! She knows what cake is and when the Dr. asked her at her two year appointment if she had cake she shook her head yes so hard and got all excited. I think she thought he was offering her cake!

Look at that beautiful smile!

She knew exactly what to do and did not need any help blowing out her candles!

I keep attempting my manual settings I took this one and then I get nervous and switch back to automatic... I think this one turned out good!

She loves all the play food!

Auntie Brenda made her a beautiful scarf!She loves the singing again!

Aunt Audrey had to rescue me in the preparations of the party and frosted her cupcakes for me they turned out cute.

All the kids at the party: Dylan, Owen, Ellen, Hannah, Kate, Lilly, Ellinor, Ben, Calvin, Stella, Jessie and Jenna

It was not very warm outside but it was so hot in the house that I decided when it was cake time to put them outside to cool off and to keep the crumbs off my floor!

Kate received some wonderful gifts: wooden puzzles with the velcro a birthday cake and vegetables, grocery cart and food, a little cabbage patch doll with a pink tutu like her, a strawberry shortcake doll, some ballet crocs, a blanket crocheted around for her baby, a cute apple outfit for this spring, a dress with smocking on it for this summer, a tea set in a basket, a princess plate, bowl and silverware, a high chair for her babies, pj's, two color wonder books with markers and triangle crayons, and a bathinette with a bath baby with a hooded towel and robe for her baby.

The party favors we did were Kate's favorite things. All the girls got hair clips with their name embroidered on them (Etsy), each family got a cd that I put together with her favorite music and everyone got a ring with ribbon sewed on to dance with.

I think everyone had a wonderful time I know Kate did! Thank you everyone for coming! I love being surrounded by the people who we love and love us!

Stock Show

We made it to the Stock Show the last weekend it was in town, late in the day and it was really cold outside! It seemed a lot different to me this year and I was a little disappointed. The children's area did not have near as many animals that they could watch and see and everything cost extra. When we left it was after six and we went to our favorite local restaurant Rico's and had pizza. A fun family outing!
The kids had fun looking at the guinea pigs and rabbits that were for sale. They had a little petting zoo with goats, pigs, and sheep. There was a carousel with real ponies and Kate loved watching them!

I love her dress. Tracie sent it to us Kate got lots of compliments!

Having fun on the Tractors!

Happy Birthday Kate!

Here is our tiny girl- her big 2 year pictures! I am just in shock at how FAST the time is going! I know deep down it is really bugging me because I am totally obessing over my house and her birthday party!

We went to my moms on Sunday to celebrate and while we were singing she was clapping and trying to sing along and blew out her candles no problem! A couple days later we took her to her two year check up and the Dr. asked her if she had a lot of cake and she was frantically shaking her head yes super excited!

Words Kate attempts to say:
mom, dad, dyl, max, pops, sam, aud, anything starting with a "b", baby, belly, bum, bow, ball, balloon, bird, she loves saying ewwww, me and still the grunting.

She is a wonderful daughter and sister. Her and Dyl have so much fun together! She loves playing dolls and will stand there rocking them swinging just her hips back and forth so fast! She loves all the attention she gets from her Uncles and Aunts and Cousins. Kate is definitely strong willed but I have learned certain tricks to keep everything under control and to make her think it is all her ideas!

We Love you so much Kate and wish you a very Happy Birthday!

These next four pictures I used on the front of her bday invitation. I will take a picture and post later!

Wearing and sitting in everything she got for Christmas while at Grandmas and Pops house!

She loves curlers but her hair is still so short it looks funny when I take them out!

Pictures from when we did our Christmas card pictures!