Cheap Entertainment

Last Sunday at my mom and dad's house after church, I wanted to set up a little "studio" and take people's pictures. I asked my mom to sit in so I could figure out the settings, and in true form, she was being a goofball-making a silly face for each picture despite me and Tiff saying "Mom!" and rolling our eyes. She got us laughing, and it evolved into everyone sitting for a goofy portrait session! Tiff settled in for a nap with Camdyn, and my battery died before they woke up, so Camdyn is the only grandchild missing. I'm getting everyone else next week!!

The original Goofball!

I finally made her take a "normal" one, so we also followed suit with each kid and had them take a "normal" one, too!

...and her offspring!!

Caleb Marshall

Lainey Ruth

Elliott Haydn

Haydn Charles

Hutch Warren

Gwyneth Rae

John & I even got in on the fun (I mean... How could you resist?!!!)

My mom and I are going to do a fun project with these pictures!! I can't wait!

Snow! Glorious Snow!

Have I mentioned before how much I am LOVING the snow this year? We are getting so much of it.. It's great! I love not going anywhere, just loading up on a bunch of supplies and being home for days on end, only going outside to feed the animals and get the mail. Ahhhh. This is the life!


I was trying to take pictures of the snow, and it's hard to get a concept of just how much we have. Here is the front of our house. See the porch? We usually have two steps down to the ground. Today I made of fool of myself! (I know, and this is different how?) I don't know, but it was so embarassing that I have to tell you. I went to put some mail out in the box, and there was this huge drift going to the mailbox. Instead of walking around it where John had snow-blowed and going onto the road like any normal adult would, I thought, "Hey, I'll just run through it!" Yeah, I know. What was I thinking? Add on top of this I was wearing John's snowboots, and I have a stack of birthday invitations to mail. I started off strong, running through it. Then, my boots started falling off, and man! It was deep. (Past my knees). Finally, my feet stopped, but the rest of me didn't. I fell forward, dropped my invitations and was Stuck. I pulled my foot out of my boot trying to get it out of the drift. Let me just put it this way. It wasn't pretty. Plus, the whole time I'm laughing out loud. I mean, what else am I supposed to do?! I regain my composure. Walk calmly to the cleared path, and put my mail in the mailbox. THEN, I notice (why didn't I look before?) that our neighbor-kid (early 20's) is sitting in his truck at the end of his driveway watching me. Yeah. Hi, neighbor!!!

Here's Haydn by the scene. See my meandering path?The rest of the story... In my embarassment, I forgot to put the flag up, and Yep! The mail didn't get taken!!! Have a great day! I think I'll let John take out the mail today!

Feet Pajamas

The other night when I was tucking the boys into boys into bed, I was admiring how cute they looked in their feet pajamas. Then I had the realization that it probably won't be very long until Haydn won't wear them ): I snapped some pictures of Haydn in his. I think these pictures are the ones that I will pull out in twenty years and have the fondest memories of. The little things that are part of every day life. Kissing the kids goodnight after the "nigh-night" story and prayers, their sweet little faces all soft and clean from their bath. Tucking them in "snug as a bug in a rug", and handing them their stuffed animal. Rolling your eyes as they beg for one more drink of water because they are so "firsty". Yeah, I'm sure these are the ones that will bring a smile to my face, and maybe a tear to my eye. But for now, I'm going to appreciate these moments. Try to breathe them all in and store them in my memories for those nights when I'm lying in bed wondering where they are... It's past curfew.

Saturday Afternoon Playdate

We had Jackie, Trey and Nick Evans over on Saturday for lunch and to play. Jackie brought over the most delicious cookies, and we drank at least a pot of coffee (Jackie and me, NOT the kids! Please!!!-they don't need any more energy!) and ate an undisclosed amount of cookies while we chatted the afternoon away (in between all of the excitement!) I think the kids all had a great time, except for Gwyneth while we were trying to take all of their picture together! Gwyneth did enjoy herself most of the time. She even showed off some walking skills to Jackie. I didn't take many pictures of the day, because, well, we were just having too much fun! Jackie posted some good ones on her blog, if you want to check more out. Thanks for coming over guys, we'll have to do it again soon! I promise Hutch won't hold your kids up next time!

A Funny Face

I was playing with Gwyneth today, and she was making faces. She is such an animated little girl!

16 Things

I...

*have never had fake nails. Not even for my wedding day or for proms.

*have evidentally always had a thing for redheads. Stories say that I walked up to a redhead the first day of Kindergarten and kissed him. Almost twenty years later, I married one!

*love to take pictures. In 3rd grade, I took a photography project in 4H and received Outstanding of the Day at the State Fair.

*am not an animal person, despite growing up on a farm, and trying really hard to be one. I don't hate them, but I could really live without them.

*could read before I turned 3. (I peaked out early)

*love to play volleyball. Unfortunately, I'm not playing anywhere right now.

*never took swimming lessons.

*went to college 8 years, changed my major oh, about 4 times, and finally ended up with a M.Ed in Middle Child Education. This is what I wanted to do from when I was a kid, but for many different reasons didn't do until 8 years later!

*don't use the degree mentioned above! I stay home with my kids until they all go to school, and THEN I will put it to good use! I love this decision.

*learned to drive a stick shift AFTER I bought the car, on my way to Lima the next day, on my own, on I-75.

*have a thing for office supplies. I know, it's geeky, but so am I!

*don't really care for crowds. For instance, walking in front of everyone at High School basketball games- I hate it!!!!!

*don't watch much tv, but I can't miss The Biggest Loser!

*went through the windshield in my dad's truck when I was little when we got in a wreck, and I have a little bump, scar thingy on my forehead still.

*am a born-again Christian, and have a personal relationship with God.

*don't like to wake up in the mornings, so I have John ask me (in a whiny voice) if I'll please get up and make him some coffee before work. It works like a charm every time to get me out of bed.

There you go. Sixteen things about me that you may or may have not known. Jackie tagged me, and now I tag Kelly and Paula.

Playing with Daddy