What keeps us busy . . .

It was 8 degrees this morning.  And this afternoon it really warmed up . . . to 22 degrees.

And for a TX girl like me, I gotta say these days are tough days.  You don't go outside.  (they even cancel outdoor recess).  You hunker down inside and drink hot chocolate.   I call it winter cabin fever.

Thankfully these things keep us busy.

1.  books -- we do go to the library a lot-- Adam loves the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems and shocked me yesterday by reading the whole thing to me.
2.  xbox 360 kinect -- the kids have unlimited playing time and we only have kinect games.  The games are so intense that fatigue settles in before too long -- I played Madelyn in Kinect Adventures yesterday and we did the obstacle course 4 times and I can barely sit down today I am so sore from the repeated squats.
3.  Melty Beads (or from IKEA psilla beads) -- My kids can make designs for hours


4.  Legos - Adam can create an infinite amount of things


5.  Art -- Here are some painting Catherine is working on


6.  Computer - for me facebook and pinterest

True test of my photography skills

While I have taken photos for many, many people the real challenge always lies in taking them of my immediate family. Trent needed a new headshot for work and so I set up my studio lights and he got all dressed up and . . . I did it!!! I like it. He likes it. Oh I married a handsome man!

first -- the color one


then the black and white square cropped one (which was the required size he needed)

and last of all . . . the silly one!



Which one do you like best?

The last day of the holiday

Today was kind of a funny day.  It feels like the holidays are over, but it was another day off school and work.  Trent and I (and most Americans) are recommitted to exercising Monday - Friday so despite the holiday status Trent started off the morning on the treadmill.  We got breakfast made and then Julianne went over to the neighbor's home to babysit for them.  Catherine had a playdate with a friend and she also tried out her acryllic paints.  Madelyn fell asleep on the couch (apparantly she was tired!)  Adam went back and forth with Julianne (since she was babysitting one of his friends).  Trent worked on some stuff on the computer and I paid the bills.  It was oddly routine and yet nice since we were all kind of hanging out together. 
This picture is from yesterday -- but Owen looked so cute wearing this outfit that Adam also wore. This is Julianne busy watching Psych -- a TV show she discovered this break on netflix. She has watched a lot of episodes in the past 2 weeks! She is growing up and being more and more independent and yet still being our little girl. I ended the night by going grocery shopping and then going to the gym to swim for 40 minutes. Tomorrow is back to the regular routine and my least favorite task of all time --- packing lunches!

Adam and his Legos

There is a certain level of intensity both in thought and concentration that Adam maintains while he is working on constructing something out of Legos. I find it the cutest thing. He is singularly focused on building it and building it right.

Happy New Year!

I resolve to enjoy the whole year. To cherish the small moments. To pause for that brief moment when the sun parts through the dark clouds and remember that you can't have a beautiful sunset without having a few clouds. I resolve to be a better wife, mom, sister, friend, and stranger- to judge less, to love more.

Owen -- my little mess maker

I posted these photos on facebook, but wanted to make sure they got onto the blog. Owen is in that phase where he can make a mess out of anything!!!!

Something to look forward to

Catherine said, "Usually at the end of Christmas we have nothing to look forward to until Summer -- but now we have Disneyworld!" That was another one of our Christmas presents -- Disney World here we come -- over February break -- We gave the kids Disney world 4 years ago (and went with my family). Anyone want to come with us??? Here are some pictures of that last trip!