P365- Whew! Feb is flying by!

Feb 1st-

I thought this week was going to be THE week. . .I had jinxed us and the germs had finally won.  My girls are on a streak for the longest we have gone without a sick child visit.  Miss Sweet Pea was a little down and had a touch of fever. . . She was so sweet with her blankie and Pillow Pet. We did win however. . .no sick Dr visits yet!  Let the streak continue!

Feb 2nd

Daddy worked tonight so Pumpkin had the privilege of sleeping Mommy's bed.  She loves these special nights!   I love how she still sleeps with her hands under her cheek.  Too sweet!

Feb 3rd

We had growth group at our house this night.  I was a little bummed since I had a photo opportunity earlier in the day, but Pumpkin wasn't in the mood.  I thought I would miss a day.   Later I discovered this picture on my little camera.  Cracked me up!  I guess she wanted a picture of her shirt?  Kind of a fun angle. . .photographer in training!

Feb 4th

Friday fun night was going to be fun craft night this week.  I invited friends over to come get some craft therapy time in.  Instead of crafting, we looked through old American Girl magazines which I know will get lots of use at our house and just hung out.  It was so much fun catching up with the two special sisters that came over.  Pumpkin thought that Val had come to play just with her!  It didn't take much to convince Val to play Pretty Pretty Princess with her! 

Feb 5th

I was waiting for this day for a month!  I had been invited to a friend's open house quilting bee.  I was excited to see the quilt they were working on and learn their technique.  I never knew how they created the perfect itty bitty Mennonite quilting stitches before.  My girls were able  to go along and play under the quilt as well as with the new toys at the girl's apartment (nevermind they are in their 20s and still have kids toys!).  My favorite picture of the day was of Pumpkin learning how to quilt with Jessica.  Just the other night she asked to go back to the "big girls' house!"  So cute that she enjoyed them as much as I did!

Feb 6th

I heard there was a big game on TV today. . .however we spent it outside!  Pumpkin loves riding her bike and scooter between our house and her grandparents.  Mommy, Daddy, and Papa were busy building a fence while Sweet Pea napped.

Feb 7th

Zoo day!  In celebration of Mommy and Daddy having the day off together, we became members of our local zoo!  We enjoyed the morning looking at all the animals.  I have taken pictures of Pumpkin by this giraffe display for years. . .it will be fun someday to make a collage showing how she has grown!  She loved feeding the giraffes.  Sweet Pea loved the zebras. . .silly girl with her love of black and white!

Whew!  I can't believe it is already the second week of February!  Where has the time gone?  I can't wait for the rest of the month .. . lots of photo opportunities are coming!  Stay tuned for a new baby, birthday parties, and everyday silliness!

P365- One month complete! Only 11 more to go!

January 25th
I really do not have words for this picture. . . She just started taking dance classes and loves to wear all of my shoes.  This outfit was definitely one that left me speechless! 

 January 26th
Miss Pumpkin received her new dance shoes in the mail and had so much fun breaking them in.  She was practicing her dance moves- jumping and twirling around the house.   She even slept in her shoes!

January 27th

Piggie tails!  Need I say more?  She's just too cute!

January 28th

 I realized that I am doing a great job of capturing my family in pictures, but typically I'm not in the photos.  I couldn't think of a way to get myself in the pictures easily, but Pumpkin fixed that for me.  She found my point and shoot camera and decided it was hers for a day.  She loved taking pictures of everything she saw (and sometimes nothing of all!).  Here is the one she took of me and Sweet Pea. .. not bad huh?

January 29th

We had a family game night at the boys house.  The girls had a blast playing with their cousins and I was lucky enough to capture this picture of four of them snuggled on the couch together watching Toy Story 3.

January 30th

I was gettting ready for church and I came out of my bedroom to find Pumpkin on the couch cushions watching cartoons like this. . . .

January 31st

Playing ball down the hallway with Bear in their own unique style!  They had a blast laughing at our silly dog falling over his HUGE puppy paws. 

Woohoo! I made it a month and still loving it!  I hope to continue to improve my skills at both photography, editting, and my writing skills for my blog!  Enjoy!

P365- A whole week's worth!!!

January 18th
Can you spot the chocolate chip???  This is our kitchen floor and many times I am on my hands and knees looking for chocolate chips, raisins, and all sorts of other things that blend with my floor!  Trust me.. . .there is a chocolate chip in this picture!

January 19th

Miss Pumpkin was asked to be a flower girl in her Aunt Ninny's wedding in April.  We went to a local bridal store to get an idea of what kind of dress would look best on her and still coordinate with her Aunt Ninny's.  This was her favorite in the store, but is not the one she will be wearing.  It was hard to keep her still. .  .

 January 20th
Our girls received new dress up dresses. . .it is not unusual for our girls to be running around in different outfits at night.  We couldn't pass these up.  Our little Tinkerbell and Ariel. . .  love them!!!

January 21st

I put my little girls to work!  Mommy cleaned and organized the playroom.  As I started vacuuming, they also wanted to help!  What amazing helpers!  Hopefully they'll continue to help me as they grow up!

January 22nd

Pumpkin had a blast at gymnastics.  She was learning some new skills- handstands, cartwheels, and how to pull herself around the bars.  I loved watching her do her handstand and forward roll on the beam. 

 

January 23rd

Daddy's home!  Always a blast!  Since our playroom was clean, Pumpkin spotted the Hotwheels.  I had her wait for Daddy since he is better than Mommy at making cool tracks.  Boy was I right!  It was a challenge for me trying to get the entire track in the photo!  They had a blast! 

January 24th

Mommy is on the run again! Woohoo!  I asked Pumpkin after school if she wanted to go running after school and she was so excited!  So we bundled up and did what I call my "easy 2 miles."  I thought they were so cute bundled up in the stroller together!

P365- Two trips, a project, and a tired puppy!

January 12th
Pumpkin and Mommy went out to the "big hospital" for Pumpkins appointment.  She loves visiting this hospital and seeing all the "Georges" (the hospital mascot is George the Giraffe).  This trip she even brought her little George that she's had since she was in the NICU.  Since it was RSV season we didn't go up to the NICU and visit the babies, which she always enjoys.  Instead we hopped on different colored squares down the hallway, looked at the fun ceilings, and took pictures with the animals outside.  She was so happy they didn't take her blood, she handled the xray amazingly, but did not like her air pressure being taken (blood pressue!). 

January 13th
Daddy was off work tonight- Woohoo!  Pumpkin and him decided to build a lego car that Santa had left in his stocking. 

January 14th
Off to the cabin we went!  We arrived at the cabin friday night to spend the first part of our three day weekend with Grandma and Grandpa.  The cabin had lots of snow and the girls were excited to play the next day.  But first came bedtime. . .Miss Sweet Pea had to show off her fancy binky skills.  I can't wait to scrapbook her binky page. . .I have so many funny pictures of her and her pacifier.  It has been her best buddy over the years.

January 15th
Our boy cousins came up to the snow to play.  Our girls were so excited and we had a blast.  We started in the snow by the cabin and then went up to the lake to play.  It was an amazing year to sled at the lake.  I have so many pictures that will be its own blog post!  Here is one of my favs!

January 16th

Back at home we tried a craft that I found in a magazine. It didn't turn out as great as I wanted, but it was still fun.  Basically we made paper mache bowls with tissue paper.  I tried to coordinate them to their rooms, but the colors changed once it was wet.

January 17th-

We found a great way to wear out the dog.  He loved chasing the girls on the swing.  Giggles, giggles, and more giggles

Everyday life. . .

 January 8th, 2011

I was busy all day reorganizing the girls rooms, purging old baby clothes, and making their rooms more accessible for them.  In doing so, I found about 9 old baby shoe boxes.  Why I save these I do not know!?!?  If you have any great ideas for these boxes please let me know!  My girls found them and had fun playing with the boxes- hats, beds for their babies, and even make believe birthday presents!  Their imaginations are so cute and they had such fun playing together.

 

January 9th, 2011

My sister was gone for a week on a family vacation which left my family taking care of her dogs.  My girls loved their dog-sitting week.  They LOVED being able to go and play on theoutside toys- especially with their new trampoline that Santa had brought them.  Miss Sweet Pea still isn't able to get her feet off the ground (or trampoline. . .) but loves it.  Miss Pumpkin always wants me to jump with her and make her go high.  On our last day taking care of them, I brought the camera to capture the memory.  My girls were sad to leave, but we know when summer comes we will have lots of fun jumping and swimming at their house!

January 10th, 2011

Aunt Ninny came over and played Pumpkin's new game with her- "Don't spill the beans."  All three girls of them had a blast.  Then Sweet Pea was running around with her blanket on her head and we discovered how her hair would get static from her blanket.  Too cute!  Love her little hair and can't wait for more to come so we can put it into pig tails!  Miss Pumpkin was asked to be the flower girl in Aunt Ninny's wedding.  She was so cute- she asked if "Uncle was going to be her prince?"  So sweet!

January 11th, 2011

Miss Pumpkin had some work sent home from preschool and we have been working on it at night.    She was so good about doing her letters and cutting out her car.  She's been learning so much over the past year in preschool and it is so cute how she likes to teach me how to write letters.  I hope she does great next year in kidnergarten and that she stays enthusiastic when she goes!  Next year she will be having homework a few nights a week and we need to get used to this process!  I have workbooks at home and we are going to practice this routine a few times a week so that next year we will know how to survive the homework that comes with school!

Side note: As this is my Project 365 blog and I'm taking pictures daily I decided I should also A) Learn more of the functions of my camera.  I have a great camera and I've been watching tutorials and slowly learning to shoot without the auto mode!  Hopefully I'll see a difference at the end of the year!  B) Learn more about Photoshop.  I have the program but have not used it as I should!  So now I'm editting my photos more often and also learning how to create digital layouts!  Look for a new blogskin and header coming soon!!!  So exctied!!!

Ponies, Puppies, and Projects

January 4th:

Daddy took Miss Pumpkin with him to run errands and I wasn't surprised that they had hit up the dollar store on their way home. She had picked out a horse set ( a mommy and a baby) for herself. When she got home she was so excited to show me hers and then she ran to find her sister since she had gotten one for her sister as well! I know all girls loved horses, but I had no idea how much fun a 1 year old would have with them. They even took them in the bathtub!!

January 5th: 

Our puppy, Bear, has been growing nonstop!  We couldn't believe how much he had grown after we had been in Shaver over the winter break!  We are still working on training him and the girls are great at helping to get his energy out.  Of course he loves to find any toy he can to play with- the girls will shriek if he even gets close to a treasured doll!  One night I threw this Elmo across the room and he went nuts.  Elmo talks when you shake him. . either singing his ABCs, laughing, and saying things like "Elmo is so giggly. . giggly .. . giggly."  G would love to take Elmo out and shoot him, especially after a car ride one year where Elmo laughed when we hit every bump in the road!  G and I laughed and laughed watching Bear play with this Elmo.  Needless to say, this is a toy that neither G or I would be sad to see get eaten by the dog!

January 6th:

I had to work late this day and G picked up the girls from preschool.  I never know what to expect when I come home and Daddy has had them!  They could be shooting paintballs in the backyard, making something in the kitchen, or tearing out a wall in the house!!!  The girls were excited to show me that Daddy had taught them how to hug Bear.  Probably a needed lesson since Sweet Pea tends to tackle him.  He amazed me that he had taken a bunch of pictures of the girls playing with him.  He knows how much I love to scrapbook and thought I would appreciate the pictures- which of course I do!  This is my favorite one with both girls hugging Bear.

January 7th:

Back in October a long time friend taught me how to knit.  Now I think I may need to go to Knitters Anonymous.  I'm definited hooked.  I finished mittens for Sweet Pea and a hat for Pumpkin over the winter break.  Then I started another project (pictures soon!) and that one just needs to be sewn together and it is done.  Today I cast on for my latest project!  I'm so excited for this one. . .more details to come later as it is a gift for someone.  This is by far the biggest project I have done- both with the size of the needles (size 15!!) and the finished size of the project.  I'm hopeful to finish it this month and that I will love it.



I've enjoyed my first week of my renewed Project 365.  It is fun thinking about which moment I want to capture and what memory I'm going to include.  I know that this will be a journal of some special moments that will otherwise be forgotten in the mundane everyday life!  Happy Weekend!

It's not a resolution. . . .it's a goal

If you know me, you know I like to set goals.  I know that I don't always reach them- some get forgotten, some get pushed aside by new goals, and some just take too much time.  This past year I have reached several goals that I was proud of and this year I hope to continue with reaching new goals.  A number of years ago, a group of friends challenged each other to take a picture a day and post them in a blog.  Project 365- I think I made it that year until maybe day 40.  This year I've already started strong and have lasted for three days!  I'm going to do my best and take pictures daily and post on my blog.  If I am able to be successful then I'll plan on creating a separate blog just for my photos, but for now they will be posted on my regular blog to save time.  I'm hoping this gives me a different type of scrapbook than I do the old school way and will include some memories that wouldn't normally make the cut for my scrapbooks.  This will house day-to-day happenings in my life and home, while the scrapbooks document the bigger milestones.  Hope you enjoy!

January 1st

My little Tinkerbell and her stickers!!! She loves to decorate her face with stickers!

January 2nd

 Who knew that our kids would love to lock themselves in the dog crate!?!  They spend hours over the weekend playing "puppy" in the cage!  Then Daddy taught them how to play zoo keeper and put their stuffed animals in the cage. 

January 3rd

When we left the house this moring this was the view we saw.  It was so incredible I went home and got my camera to take a picture.  The low clouds around the foothills just took my breath away, especially with the green in the fields below.  When I first started my original P365 blog years ago I had a picture that showed the mountains after a rain.  Remembering that picture is part of why I started the project again.  Hopefully this year I'll have more success and a wonderful scrapbook to print next year!