Chasing Bubbles Photoshoot

I volunteered to take some pictures for a blog that I follow in exchange for a pattern. I have to say she got the better end of the deal. The pattern was really difficult to follow and as I was making the dress I realized that she might not have a lot of sewing experience (not that I do). I could see where she was making the pattern more difficult than it needed to be. Anyways, I muddled through it eventually giving up on the pattern and just making it by eye. For some reason I can look at something and I can visualize how to make it in my mind. This isn't always true but for the most part I can figure it out. Anyways, the dress turned out really cute, I just would have made it differently.

So today we did the photo shoot. Jackson was a little jealous that I was shooting only Elizabeth so I let him jump in for a few. We tried to incorporate bubbles into the pictures but it is hard to blow bubbles and take pictures at the same time so they didn't turn out too great. However Elizabeth is so beautiful that anyone could photograph her and get a good picture. She is really photogenic, something she did not get from me.

Jackson making his sad face lol.

chasing bubbles

This picture just brings me so much joy.Such good friends!

Painting with Veggies

This week we learned our letters and vegetables by doing a great craft. Painting with veggies. For more information on this check out my craft blog. The kids had a great time. We read a book that Aunt Teri sent to them forever ago but they read it all the time. Then we painted using veggies to apply the paint. This takes playing with your food to a whole new level. They made several pictures and plan on sending some to Grandma (check the mail mom).






I have learned that the only way I am going to get these two to pay attention when I try to teach them things is to make a game out of it or a new craft. I have noticed a big difference. Both of them can now recite the entire alphabet and count to 10. Jackson responds to music more and Elizabeth is excellent at repeating words and phrases. Each child is different and having two so close together has really brought this to my attention.

Our New Family Members

We have a few new family members. Last week Brandon went to trade in our car (more on that in the future, but don't worry it didn't happen yet), and he came home with two guinea pigs! We have been talking about getting them for awhile but Brandon really surprised us all by bringing them home out of the blue. They are so cute. The kids named them Piggy and Pirate. No surprises there. Here is what we have learned about them over the last week.

Piggy

Pirate

-They are super fast. We let them out of their cage and they run all over the playroom. Then when it is time to put them back in their cages they hide. It took me 20 minutes just to catch piggy (he is the skinny cunning one).
-They poop a lot.
-They like to nibble on straw.
-They can lift up their food bowel if it is empty. They will lift it up with their mouths like they are trying to tell me to get them more.

The kids love them and it is really fun to cuddle with the little guys. We even set up an obstacle course for them to go through.

Family Photo Session

As you can tell from my blog revamp we had our family pictures taken over the Christmas break as well. I know a little late for a Christmas card but that was when everyone would be together. This year we went for a more upscale look with grey, black, and red accents. I made Elizabeth's dress and my own skirt for the occasion. My friend Erin took the pictures. She is awesome and has the best eye for light and placement. I love all the pictures especially the ones of our smaller family because it is not often that I get a picture with all of us in it. She even took a proper head shot of me for my blog and school and whatever else I need it for which was very much needed. I already ordered two large canvases that I got deals on through Groupon and I can't wait to hang them up in our house.

Cancer Watch-The End of the Line

Today my mom went in for her regular chemo treatment when she got some surprising news...SHE IS DONE! The doctor decided that she has been through enough and no more chemo is needed. She will however have to undergo radiation of the lymph nodes now but hey anything is better than injecting your body with poison every week.

Her fingers and toes are numb, she has lost all of her fingernails on her hands, she is constantly tired and worn out, and she is still in pain from the surgeries so she is a little irritated with everyone. Now it is over. Her hair will grow back, her fingernails will grow back, she will finally have her body back.

She has been going to a physical therapist to help with the pain in her arm and underarm. Although she doesn't feel it is working I know it is because she is getting regular messages of the area, stretching, and her reach has already improved.

Tomorrow she is going to the chemo place one more time to take some pictures for a scrapbook and say goodbye, hopefully never to be back again. I am so happy for her. She is an amazing women, been through more than her share of trials and now she has overcome yet again. There is still a lot of recovery to go through over the next few months. Radiation, breast reconstruction, and a hysterectomy. It is a long road but the worst is over.

MOM as you know and I will always remember:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Tim 4:7

I love you and couldn't be more happy and proud!

Christmas Review-Part 2

As I said before we had a wonderful Christmas eve with our family. Brandon's dad told the story of the Savior's birth, a family tradition, and we shared our thoughts. It is really amazing to me how I can hear that story over and over, every Christmas, yet every Christmas I learn something new or have a new insight. I love that about the Church and the scriptures, no matter how many times you read it you will discover something new if the spirit is with you. Elizabeth spent the discussion bopping around from Aunt and Uncle. She just loved all the attention. Jackson was passed out, which actually made it a little easier because I wasn't distracted by little children. (They are just still so young and have short attention spans).




Elizabeth really loved spending time with everyone but I have to say Grandpa is by far her favorite. She loves him so much. He bought pirate and princess costume stuff for the swing for bling so naturally Jackson and Elizabeth took everyone's costumes. Lizzy actually put all the princess stuff on, even the clip on earrings. It was really cute.

Finally it was time for us to head home so we stuff our car and drove back to Albuquerque. The ride was surprisingly fast. We didn't even stop just straight though and it took us a little under 6 hours thanks to Brandon's new radar detector. When we got home we ordered some pizza, put on our jammies, and opened the presents that we left at home and that Santa brought. The kids went to town. It is truly amazing how quickly they learned how to unwrap! Jackson's favorites were his new Geotrax train sets and his Pirate's of the Carribbean ship. Elizabeth just loved everything, she couldn't decide.


And I made sure to give them each a new ornament for the tree. Jackson's was a spaceship and Lizzy got a dog. She thought of it more as a toy and of course was running it around the house which took about 5 minutes to break. (Reminder to myself, never buy anything glass no matter how safe you think it will be.)

It really was a wonderful Christmas and I am so grateful that we could spend it with the ones we love.